Disneyland Resort Update

Update for May 31 – June 6, 2010

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News and Views

Countdown to Color: show times and dining packages announced | Excuse me, I think you dropped your apostrophe | Mickey’s Halloween Party – Treat or Trick? | Silly Symphony Swings debuts |Another makeover for the Disneyland Hotel | Disneyland opens two new stores | DCA construction update | This and That

Countdown to Color: show times and dining packages announced

The countdown to World of Color continues, and Disney has launched a new World of Color site that gives a sneak peek at some of the images used in the production, and looks as if it will eventually serve as a portal to information about the new show at the California Adventure park. Right now the “Showtimes and Info” link goes to a page that contains neither, but the official Disneyland site now lists two performances nightly; 9:00 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. The second show starts 15 minutes after DCA officially closes for the night.

We continue to hear rumors that a third show may be added based on park attendance levels each night, but Disney is keeping mum on the possibility. It’s interesting to note that two Cast Member preview nights have been announced for June 6 and 7, and both of those previews include an 11:15 p.m. show. If a third show is added on any given night, we expect that there will be no “Showpass/Fastpass” or preferred viewing/dining package offered. For those willing to stay up and wait in line, the third show may provide the best opportunity to see the show from the “preferred” viewing area without paying for a dining package.

MousePad discussion board. You can make reservations 60 days in advance by calling 714-781-DINE (714-781-3463). As Disney is treating this as a restaurant reservation and not as a Priority Seating offer, no credit card deposit is required when you call.

Work continues on the World of Color platform. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Operators initially told callers that the package included vouchers for a reserved seating area for the show. The script quickly changed, however, and subsequent callers were told that the package came with “access” to a preferred viewing area, with no guarantee for seating. To add to the confusion, there was apparently some miscommunication between the management of the Wine Country Trattoria and the Disney Dine Line, which resulted in Dine Line booking more tables than were allocated to the World of Color dining package. Dine Line cast members spent the weekend calling people who had booked World of Color packages at the Trattoria in order to change their reservations to fit them into the allocated tables. Callers are still being warned that admission to the viewing area is first-come, first-served, so it sounds like you’ll probably need to wait in line after your meal to get the best spot in the reserved viewing area.

Cast members still aren’t entirely certain how the World of Color seating areas will be assigned. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Disney is clearly trying to tie up some loose ends with this package, and there has still been no official word about the “picnic” program we wrote about in a past Update. We expect additional information to be made available this week. In the interim, our advice to people who are interested in the dining package is to go ahead and make your reservations, then wait to see how it all plays out. If the early reports indicate that the package isn’t worth the hassle and expense, then you can cancel your reservation. However, if it turns out that this package is everything you could hope for, you’ll already have your spot and won’t be fighting with hundreds of other callers to make a reservation.

With the countdown heading into the final days, Disney will begin promoting the new show with a television spot that should start airing today. The commercial gives the final name for the show as “Disney World of Color,” and also introduces the new name for the host park.

Excuse me, I think you dropped your apostrophe

In announcing the new commercial for World of Color, the Disney Parks Blog also posted the brand new logo for Disney’s California Adventure, saying, “It’s so new that if you touch the screen, you just might get paint on your fingers.” The new logo clearly renames DCA as “Disney California Adventure,” and the commercial refers to DCA as “the Disney California Adventure park.”

DCA has a new name and (another) new logo. Photo © Disney.

Readers have had mixed reactions to the new logo, with MousePlanet staff member Andrew Rich joking, “Now Disney is afraid of using apostrophes?” and reader danyoung pointing out, “This from the company that gave us the ‘Lightyear’s Above The Rest’ sign in Tomorrowland for how many years?” Other readers have called the new logo “fresh and friendly,” and “fun, ‘cartoonish’ and sunny,” though reader Gone2Disneyland points out that the font used looks similar to a Looney Tunes logo.

1943 Looney Tunes logo from Wikipedia.

The logo also looks like the titles used on any number of Disney and Mickey Mouse comics over the decades, including the 1931 logo below.

1931 Mickey Mouse comics logo. Photo © Disney.

According the Disney, part of the DCA redevelopment plan includes a new entrance that will “let Guests travel back in time to the romance and excitement of 1920s Los Angeles,” the era when “a young and energetic Walt Disney stepped off the train from Kansas City.” The park’s front entrance is being redesigned into Buena Vista Street, “an idealized version of a city that has always been a beacon of bright optimism and new opportunity.” The new logo can certainly be said to be inspired by early Hollywood and the beginnings of the Walt Disney Studios, but reader Mary Kraemer asked, “Wasn’t the point of re-doing DCA to make it the California that Disney experienced when he first arrived in the state?” Removing the possessive from “Disney’s” seems to be a move away from the theme of “Walt Disney’s California Adventure.” It will be interesting to see if Walt Disney World follows suit, changing the names of their parks to “Disney Animal Kingdom” or “Disney Hollywood Studios.”

Mickey’s Halloween Party – Treat or Trick?

MousePlanet broke the news earlier this month, and now Disney has confirmed that the Resort’s after-hours Halloween event will be hosted at Disneyland this year, not California Adventure. The event has a new name, and is now called “Mickey’s Halloween Party.” The events will be held every Tuesday, and Friday night in October; plans to also hold the event on Sundays were scrapped, though there will still be an event on Halloween Night, Sunday October 31. Tickets go on sale starting this Friday, June 4 for Disneyland Resort Annual Passholders, Disney Vacation Club Members and Disney Visa Cardholders. Remaining tickets will go on sale to the general public on Friday, July 16. Pricing and specific event times will not be announced until Friday, but expect the tickets to be more expensive than for the DCA version of the event.

Along with the welcome confirmation that the Halloween Party is returning to Disneyland, Disney slipped the following into its announcement: “Mickey’s Halloween Party guests will have exclusive access to one of the most popular fireworks spectaculars ever—Halloween Screams!” We’d previously reported a rumor that Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy and the Halloween Screams fireworks would be offered only during the event, and unfortunately it looks like part of the rumor was accurate. While Haunted Mansion Holiday and Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy will be open to day guests during Halloweentime, Halloween Screams will only be presented on party nights. This doesn’t mean that Disney won’t present some form of fireworks show during Halloweentime, however; look for a scaled-down pyrotechnic display to be offered the rest of the time.

For this new Halloween Party, Disneyland is borrowing a page from Walt Disney World and adding a mix-in period to the start of the event. Rather than closing Disneyland early, clearing it of day guests, and then reopening the park only to event guests, Disneyland will allow Halloween Party guests to enter the park as early as 3:00 p.m. on event nights, and ticket holders receive a special event wristband. When the park closes to day guests at 6 or 7 (depending on the night),only those guests with wristbands are allowed into certain areas or onto attractions. The Trick or Treat locations will not open until the official start of the Halloween Party. Walt Disney World has been successfully using this system for years at both their Halloween and Christmas parties; hopefully Disneyland picks up the trick of separating event guests from day guests in their first trial.

MousePlanet staff and MousePad Community Leaders are hosting an unofficial “MousePlanet Night at Trick-or-Treat Party” on Friday, October 15. Come meet your fellow MousePlanet readers and start your trick-or-treating off right with some MousePlanet goodies. Be sure to stop by our MousePad discussion board to let us know if you plan to attend so we can have enough treats for everyone!

Silly Symphony Swings debuts

The new Silly Symphony Swings does not officially open until June 11 but the ride began “soft opening” runs right on schedule last Friday morning, though cast members did have to warn riders not to lean on the rails while in line because the paint wasn’t entirely dry. The former Orange Stinger ride has been rethemed to the 1935 Mickey Mouse short feature “The Band Concert,” with the music of Rossini’s “William Tell Overture.” Corey Burton provides the attraction’s narration.

Silly Symphony Swings has opened at DCA. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

The ride has two main line—one for single swings and one for tandem swings, plus an entrance for guests with mobility impairments who need more time to board. Silly Symphony Swings now have “tandem” swings, which one child between 40″ and 48″ tall and one adult. If a family does not need a tandem swing, then a lone adult may sit in the adult (red) seat side. Adults, however, may not sit in the yellow seat of a tandem swing, and two adults are not permitted to share a tandem swing.

The ride offers single and tandem swings. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

The ride does not have a stated weight limit (the Orange Stinger did briefly when the attraction first opened), but riders who cannot fit into the seat and lower the safety bar may not ride. The ride lasts about one minute, and the load cycle can take up to 5 minutes.

The Silly Symphony Swings platform covers a shaded boardwalk with views of Paradise Bay. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Along with the new ride comes the new boardwalk beneath the ride platform. Designed to be used as an overflow queue on busy days, this serene, shaded area has several alcoves with benches—perfect for enjoying the view of Paradise Bay.

Video of the new Silly Symphony Swings from the ride platform, taken on the first soft opening day of the attraction. You can hear a female cast member warning riders not to lean against the rails because some of them are not yet dry. MousePlanet video by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Video of the new Silly Symphony Swings from across Paradise Bay, taken on the first soft opening day of the attraction. The construction noise in the background is from the Little Mermaid attraction. MousePlanet video by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Disney video showing the installation of the Band Leader Mickey figure atop the Silly Symphony Swings. Video © Disney.

Another makeover for the Disneyland Hotel

Disney announced last week a major makeover of the Disneyland Hotel’s pool area and common grounds, including a brand-new pool area with Monorail-themed water slides and a new dining complex. All three towers of the Disneyland Hotel will be renamed—yet again—and will be themed to a specific Disneyland park land.

The Disneyland Hotel renovation plan calls for a brand new water play area and water slide. Photo © Disney.

In 2007 Disney renamed the original Marina, Sierra, and Bonita Towers, dubbing them the Magic, Dreams, and Wonder towers respectively. In 2009 a major renovation of the hotel guest rooms began with the Dreams (now the Adventure) Tower, a project which is expected to wrap up in June. Construction soon begins on the Wonder (now the Frontier) Tower, followed by the Magic (now the Fantasy) Tower. The Fantasy Tower is expected to be complete in 2012. Disney says “Large marquees featuring classic artwork for Adventureland, Frontierland and Fantasyland will identify each tower.”

The biggest change is to the common area between the three towers. The existing retail and arcade complex will be demolished and replaced with a new pool area. According to Disney:

“With a nod to the iconic original park signage, ‘Disneyland’ will be spelled out in familiar blocks atop a platform supporting two thrilling water slides. Reminiscent of the original Monorail station at the Disneyland Hotel, at each slide’s entrance will sit a replica Monorail Car that guests will glide through as they twist and turn their way to the water below. The larger of the two main slides sits 26 feet high and stretches 187 feet until it plunges into a splash pool. The second slide is 13 feet high and 112 feet long. For younger guests, the area will include a third two-lane mini slide that sits just 3 ½ feet high and is 19 feet long, as well as a series of small bubble jets in which to play.”

The existing Neverland Pool area remains in place, though Disney is giving the area a “complete cosmetic makeover,” (removing the Peter Pan theme entirely), with a new 4-foot-deep pool connecting the existing and new pool areas. A pedestrian bridge over the connector pool will allow guests to cross the property without walking all the way around the pool area. Disney is adding spas to both pool areas, as well as six rental cabanas, each with a flat screen TV, refrigerator, safe, phone, and ceiling fan.

The existing waterfalls and koi ponds will be demolished during the renovation of the Disneyland Hotel pool area. Photo © Disney.

A new “smart casual” dining area and a new bar are replacing the current dining complex, which houses Hook’s Pointe, Croc’s Bits ‘n’ Bites, the Wine Cellar, and Lost Bar. Disney says the new restaurant ” will take its architectural cue from the original Tahitian Terrace restaurant in Disneyland Park,” and that the new bar will be fully enclosed and “will feature specialty drinks and surprises for guests.”

Some of the hotel’s classic landscaping elements will be demolished as part of the construction, including the koi ponds and water falls outside the Bonita/Wonder/Frontier Tower. The unused Fantasy Waters stage and Cove Pool areas will be converted into a ” beautifully manicured lawn area” for outdoor events.

The first phase of the Disneyland Hotel renovation is nearly complete. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Construction of the new pool area and dining complex begins this August. From the press release, the new pool area and dining venues opens by Summer 2011, after which the existing pool closes for renovation. Disney says that a pool becomes available to all Disneyland Hotel guests during the construction period, and the entire project is expected to be complete by Summer 2012.

Disneyland opens two new stores

The new Candy Shoppe has opened in Fantasyland. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Geppetto’s shop in Fantasyland, which has housed a number of store concepts over the years—offering everything from cuckoo clocks to collectible dolls, faux heraldic badges to etched crystals—has reopened yet again, this time simply as the Candy Shoppe. The tiny store offers a variety of Disney-branded, pre-packaged sweets and treats, including candy apples.

The new Candy Shoppe offers prepackaged Disney treats. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Candy apples and more are on the menu at the Candy Shoppe. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

In New Orleans Square, the Jewel of Orleans has reopened as a high-end accessory store offering handbags by Steve Madden and Dooney & Burke; accessories by Tarina Tarantino, and Classic Hardware, plus a small assortment of collectibles, including Pokit Pals by Olszewski. Disney historians will breathe a huge sigh of relief to know that the reverse-painted mirrors created by Dorothea Redmond are still in place and intact.

Jewel of Orleans has reopened as a high-end accessories store. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Disney historians should be relieved to know that the reverse-painted mirrors created by Dorothea Redmond are intact. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

The store offers accessories from Tarina Tarantino, Classic Hardware, and more. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Disney Dooney & Burke bags plus Steve Madden accessories are now available in New Orleans Square. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

DCA construction update

The remaining walls were removed from Hollywood Blvd., though construction continues in front of the Tower of Terror and the Bug’s Land connector remains closed.

The construction walls have been removed from Hollywood Blvd. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Silly Symphony Swings has reopened, but the new park that replaced the former front half of the S.S. Rustworthy was not quite ready for opening day, and right now resembles nothing more than a patch of mulch surrounded by barricades and planted trees.

The park near Silly Symphony Swings isn’t quite finished. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

The park near Silly Symphony Swings isn’t quite finished. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Meanwhile, work continues on the Little Mermaid attraction, with the construction noise so loud at times that it drowns out the new Paradise Pier music loop.

Construction continues on the Little Mermaid attraction. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Construction continues on the Little Mermaid attraction. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Construction continues on the Little Mermaid attraction. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Construction continues on the Little Mermaid attraction. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Construction continues on the Little Mermaid attraction. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Construction continues on the Little Mermaid attraction. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Construction continues on the Little Mermaid attraction. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

The Radiator Springs Racer car was spotted making slow laps of the test track in Cars Land, but the ever-growing backdrop wall is making it increasingly difficult to get photos of the area from atop Mickey’s Fun Wheel.

Work continues on Cars Land. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Work continues on Cars Land. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Work continues on Cars Land. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

With the reopening of the Mark Twain and Splash Mountain, Disneyland is a mostly construction-free zone, though the refurbishment of the Tomorrowland Terrace continues. Fantasmic returned last Friday night and played to an enthusiastic crowd, some of whom arrived at park opening to claim a front-and-center spot for the first show. Twitter member @Dan_Tasmic posted a great photo of the Fantasmic Dragon, which had apparently gotten stuck above ground during a pre-opening tech rehearsal. He says the dragon was clearly visible to park guests from the time Disneyland opened Friday morning until show technicians were able to retract the mechanical figure sometime after Noon. Despite the glitch, the dragon appeared in both Friday performances.

The Maleficent dragon is stuck on stage following a technical rehearsal of Fantasmic Friday morning. TwitPic photo by Twitter member Dan_Tasmic

The Maleficent dragon is lowered back into its pit, after being stuck on stage following a technical rehearsal of Fantasmic Friday morning. You Tube video by DanTasmic.

This and That

…Registration is now closed for the 2010 Disneyland Half Marathon, scheduled for Labor Day weekend. After the race Web site announced that capacity was at 80 percent last week, the remaining spaces sold out in just a few days. If you’re registered for the event and want to chat with other walkers and runners, come join our Team MousePlanet discussion.

…Mark your calendars and come join Team MousePlanet for the 2010 CHOC/Disneyland Resort Walk in the Park. The Walk is scheduled for Sunday, October 17, 2010; registration details have not yet been announced. Keep an eye on our Team MousePlanet discussion for more information as it is available.

Some of the opening day sculptures have been restored to the World of Disney store. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

…Some of the oversize props that decorated the World of Disney store on opening day have returned to the store, including Lumiere in the East room, and the flying Dumbo from the West room.

…Visitors planning trips to the Disneyland Resort should make a point to check the Current Refurbishment/Attraction Closures section each week for the most recent updates. The Disneyland Resort Web site currently only publishes refurbishment information about six weeks in advance. Be sure to check the most recent Park Update (link) for the latest changes, as MousePlanet does not edit past Park Updates to reflect changes.

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Current Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Disneyland

• Tomorrowland Terrace – closed through July 2 for refurbishment. The Jedi Training Academy show is still offered while the restaurant is closed.
• Indiana Jones Adventure – closed June 1–3 for refurbishment. 

Disney’s California Adventure

Seasonal refurbishments:

• Blue Sky Cellar – closed June 3–9 to install a new exhibit.

Construction-related closures:

• Golden Dreams – closed. The building that once house this film-based attraction has been demolished, and will eventually be replaced with the new Little Mermaid ride.
• Burger Invasion – closed. No announcement has been made about a potential replacement for this former McDonald’s location, but an employee publication lists May 24, 2011 as the return date.
• Corn Dog Castle – closed due to construction in the area. An employee publication lists March 24, 2011 as its return date. During the renovation, corn dogs are available at Bountiful Valley Farmer’s Market.
• Souvenir 66 – closed due to construction in the area. An employee publication lists March 24, 2011 as its return date, and “Seaside Souvenirs” as the new name of the store.
• Golden Vine Trattoria – closed through June 9; will be renamed “Wine Country Trattoria.”
• Tower of Terror Fastpass – not offered through August 15 due to construction of the connector between Bug’s Land and Tower of Terror.
• Bug’s Land / Tower of Terror connector – the temporary connector path will be closed through August 15 to allow construction of a more permanent route between the two lands.

Downtown Disney

• Ridemakerz – closed for construction of their permanent space in Downtown Disney. The store is scheduled to reopen sometime in June.

Note: Refurbishment schedules are estimates only. All information is subject to change without notice. To get the most recent updates, call Disneyland at (714) 781-7290.

Resort Events

Check here to see if a large convention, competition or park event might fall during your next trip to the Disneyland Resort. If you know of any events, official or unofficial, that should be listed here, please send us an e-mail (link).

Spring/Summer

• Grad Night events – Thursdays June 3, and 10, Wednesday June 16, Thursdays June 17 and 24. Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure close earlier on these nights to prepare for the after-hours graduation parties.
• MouseAdventure 10th Anniversary Events – Day at the Park (non competitive) June 6. Registration is now closed.
• KOST 103.5FM World of Color Preview – Tuesday, June 8. The only known “public” preview of DCA’s new show will be offered to listeners who win tickets from LA-area radio station KOST. Full rules and methods of entry are available on the promotion Web site (link).
• World of Color Media Preview – Thursday, June 10. DCA’s new water-and-light show debuts to a group of invited media and celebrities. DCA closes at 5pm this night due to the media event and a previously-scheduled Grad Night event.
• World of Color Premiere – Friday, June 11. DCA’s new water-and-light show debuts to the public.
• Summer Nightastic! at the Disneyland Resort – Daily, June 11 through Aug. 29. The summer promotion includes Fantasmic and the “Magical” fireworks show in Disneyland, plus the new World of Color show.
• 2010 Major League Baseball All-Star Game – Tuesday, July 13. Angel Stadium plays host to the 2010 All-star Game. The Anaheim Convention Center also hosts the Major League Baseball All-star FanFest July 9–13. Both events should bring added crowds to the Disneyland Resort during what might already be a busy week as Disneyland marks its 55th Anniversary.
• Disneyland 55th Anniversary – July 17. No events have been announced to commemorate the anniversary.
• MousePlanet’s 10th Anniversary Party – Celebrate the 10th Anniversary of MousePlanet and the 55th Anniversary of Disneyland than with Charles Phoenix’s Retro Disneyland Slide Show. Tickets are on sale now.
• NFFC–Disneyana Fan Club 2010 Disneyana Convention – July 13–17 (link).
• NFFC–Disneyana Fan Club All Disneyana Show and Sale – Sunday, July 18 (link).

Fall

• Destination D – September 24 & 25 at the Disneyland Resort (link). Open only to D23 members, tickets will be available this summer.
• 5th Annual Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend – September 3–5. Registration is now closed.
• 4th Annual Not Back to School Days Rally and Conference (unofficial event) – September 8–11. Event includes education and social opportunities for home educators (link).
• 13th annual Gays Days at the Disneyland Resort (unofficial event) – October 1–3, 2010. Event attendance will be higher at Disneyland on Saturday, DCA on Sunday (link).
• Utah Education Association convention (UEA, a.k.a. “Utah Escapes to Anaheim”) – October 14–15, 2009. (Link). Expect unusually large attendance levels October 14-17 as Utah students and families take advantage of a 4-day weekend created by their school’s participation in a state education convention. Not all Utah schools or teachers close for or attend UEA, but the impact on the Resort is usually noticeable enough to mention.
• MousePlanet Night at Trick-or-Treat Party (unofficial event) – Friday, October 15. Come meet your fellow MousePlanet readers and start your trick-or-treating off right with some MousePlanet goodies. Be sure to stop by our MousePad discussion board to let us know if you plan to attend so we can have enough treats for everyone!
• 2010 CHOC/Disneyland Resort Walk in the Park – Sunday, October 17, 2010. Mark your calendars and come join Team MousePlanet for the 2010 CHOC Walk. Registration details have not yet been announced, so keep an eye on our Team MousePlanet discussion for more information as it is available.

2011

• D23 Expo – August 19-21, 2011 at the Anaheim Convention Center (link). Tickets for the D23 Expo 2011 go on sale August 19, 2010.

Current Discounts & Promotions

Several current promotions offer discounted admission to the Disneyland Resort. For your convenience, we have grouped the discount offers based on the number of days the tickets are valid. Check out the category that best matches the amount of time you plan to spend at the resort, and pick the offer that works best for you. And keep those tips coming—let us know if you find a better or different offer, so we can share it with other readers!

This first section is a list of discounts on ticket-only purchases. Though it has become more common in recent years, Disneyland tickets are rarely offered at deep discounts unless you are a resident of Southern California or Northern Mexico. For residents outside that area, the best discounts available tend to be simple advance purchase discounts.

If you know of any additional discounts, offers, promotions, or contests that should be listed in this section, drop us a line (link).

One Day, One Park Ticket – Regularly $72/$62 One Day Park Hopper – Regularly $97/$87	No discounts currently available to the general public. Check with your employer, school or credit union to see if any discounts are available through them.
Two Day Park Hopper – Regularly $151/$131	AOCVCB 2-Day Park Hopper Ticket ($149/$129) – The discount (from the Anaheim-Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau) is $2 off the box-office price for both adults and children. You can now print these tickets at home, though a $1 per-ticket convenience fee applies. If the $1 per ticket net savings isn’t enough of an incentive to pre-purchase your tickets, think of all the time you’ll save by not having to stand in line at the Disneyland Resort ticket booths (link). These tickets are now valid through January 3, 2011.
Three Day Park Hopper – Regularly $204/$174	3-Day Summer Fun Pass ($108) and 3-Day Summer Fun PLUS Pass ($129) – The 2010 3-Day Summer Fun Pass is $108, $9 more expensive than the 2009 version, and offers Southern California residents (ZIP Codes 90000–93599) and Northern Baja California residents (ZIP Codes 21000–22999) three one-day admissions to either Disneyland or Disney’s California Adventure within a 45 day period. The ticket is the same price for adults and children. Unlike the 2009 offer, this base ticket is NOT a park hopper, and allows admission to only one park per day. For an additional $21 per person, you can upgrade the Summer Fun Pass to a Summer Fun PLUS Pass, a 3-day Park Hopper ticket that allows admission to both parks each day. Both tickets have a 45-day “fuse,” (instead of the usual 13- or 30-day limit), giving you more time to plan your return visits, but have more block out dates than last year: July 2-4 and August 22-23. The first use of the pass must be between June 11 and August 29, 2010. The Summer Pass can be purchased at www.disneyland.com, the Disneyland Resort box office, Disney Stores, Disneyland Resort Hotels, and a variety of southern California supermarkets and retail chains, including Vons, Albertsons, Ralphs, Stater Bros., Food 4 Less, Gelson’s and Deardens. Disney states that “resident ID is required,” but MousePlanet readers who purchased these tickets from off-property retailers last year consistently reported that they were not required to provide proof of residency at the time of purchase. However, be aware that Disneyland Resort Main Gate cast members can – and may – require proof of residency when you first use the tickets. Whether this will happen to you is an oft-debated topic on our MousePad discussion boards, but we feel it would be irresponsible for us to not at least make our readers aware of the “official” policy, regardless of what the park’s actual practice may be. Advance Purchase 3-day Park Hopper Bonus Ticket ($184/$154) – A discounted price for advance purchase through the Internet or select dealers. Available at the Disneyland Web site (link) where shipping is included if you order more than 10 days prior to your travel date. Also available from AAA offices in Northern California, Nevada, and Utah (not currently listed at the AAA Web site, you may need to call your local office). Disney Stores (California), Safeway supermarkets (California and Arizona), and certain travel agents may also sell these tickets. It is best to call and confirm before visiting a location, however. “Bonus Tickets” include one early admission day (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday). If purchased from AAA, the tickets come with free parking at the Mickey & Friends parking garage (an $11/day value) AOCVCB 3-Day Bonus Ticket ($179/$149) – The discount (from the Anaheim-Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau) is $5 off the advance purchase price for both adults and children. You can now print these tickets at home, though a $1 per-ticket convenience fee applies. If the $4 per ticket net savings isn’t enough of an incentive to pre-purchase your tickets, think of all the time you’ll save by not having to stand in line at the Disneyland Resort ticket booths. Tickets include one early admission day (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday) (link). These tickets are now valid through January 3, 2011.
Four Day Park Hopper – Regularly $229/$199	Costco 4-Day Park Hopper Ticket ($159.95) – A special offer for Costco members who are also residents of Southern California (link). Unlike some recent offers, this ticket has no “fuse” – you can use the first admission today, and have until August 23, 2010 to use the remaining admission days before the ticket expires. The ticket has no further blockout days in 2010, and can be upgraded to any Annual Passport except the SoCal Select pass. The Costco Web site states in three different places—including a bold, bright red headline—that visitors “Must reside within ZIP codes 90000-93599” and that “Proof of residency required upon redemption.” The ticket you purchase at Costco is a valid admission ticket, and you can take it directly to a main entrance gate to use it. We’ve been told that, to prevent the unauthorized “transfer” of tickets between visitors (ie, you use the first two days of the ticket and give it to a friend to use the second two days), visitors will be required to write their name on the ticket when it is first used for admission, and to show ID with that same name upon subsequent admissions. Obviously minor children will be exempt from the ID requirement, but will also be required to write their name on the ticket when it is first used. Adults should plan to have ID with them to use the ticket. Advance Purchase 4-Day Park Hopper Bonus tickets ($199/$169) – A discounted price for advance purchase through the Internet or select dealers. Available at the Disneyland Web site (link) where shipping is included if you order more than 10 days prior to your travel date. Also available from AAA offices in Northern California, Nevada, and Utah (not currently listed at the AAA Web site, you may need to call your local office). Disney Stores (California), Safeway supermarkets (California and Arizona), and certain travel agents may also sell these tickets. It is best to call and confirm before visiting a location, however. “Bonus Tickets” include one early admission day (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday). If purchased from AAA, the tickets come with free parking at the Mickey & Friends parking garage (an $11/day value). These tickets are now valid through January 3, 2011. AOCVCB 4-Day Bonus Ticket ($194/$164) – The discount (from the Anaheim-Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau) is $5 off the advance purchase price for both adults and children. You can now print these tickets at home, though a $1 per-ticket convenience fee applies. If the $4 per ticket net savings isn’t enough of an incentive to pre-purchase your tickets, think of all the time you’ll save by not having to stand in line at the Disneyland Resort ticket booths. Tickets include one early admission day (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday) (link).
Five Day Park Hopper – Regularly $249/$219	5-Day Park Hopper® Bonus Ticket for the Price of 3 Days ($184/$154) Disneyland’s Summer Park Hopper Bonus ticket offer includes two days free and one Magic Morning admission. These tickets are valid for use from May 1, 2010 thru September 30, 2010. The tickets are NOT available at the Resort ticket booths, you must pre-purchase from the Disneyland Web site. Advance Purchase 5-Day Park Hopper Bonus tickets ($209/$179) – A discounted price for advance purchase through the Internet or select dealers. Available at the Disneyland Web site (link) where shipping is included if you order more than 10 days prior to your travel date. Also available from AAA offices in Northern California, Nevada, and Utah (not currently listed at the AAA Web site, you may need to call your local office). Disney Stores (California), Safeway supermarkets (California and Arizona), and certain travel agents may also sell these tickets. It is best to call and confirm before visiting a location, however. “Bonus Tickets” include one early admission day (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday). If purchased from AAA, the tickets come with free parking at the Mickey & Friends parking garage (an $11/day value). AOCVCB 5-Day Bonus Ticket ($204/$174) – The discount (from the Anaheim-Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau) is $5 off the advance purchase price for both adults and children. You can now print these tickets at home, though a $1 per-ticket convenience fee applies. If the $4 per ticket net savings isn’t enough of an incentive to pre-purchase your tickets, think of all the time you’ll save by not having to stand in line at the Disneyland Resort ticket booths. Tickets include one early admission day (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday) (link). These tickets are now valid through January 3, 2011.
Six Day Park Hopper – Regularly $254/$224	6-Day Park Hopper® Bonus Ticket for the Price of 3 Days ( $199/$169) Disneyland’s Summer Park Hopper Bonus ticket offer includes two days free and one Magic Morning admission. These tickets are valid for use from May 1, 2010 thru September 30, 2010. The tickets are NOT available at the Resort ticket booths, you must pre-purchase from the Disneyland Web site. Advance Purchase 6-Day Park Hopper Bonus tickets ($214/$184) – A discounted price for advance purchase through the Internet or select dealers. Available at the Disneyland Web site (link) where shipping is included if you order more than 10 days prior to your travel date. Also available from AAA offices in Northern California, Nevada, and Utah (not currently listed at the AAA Web site, you may need to call your local office). Disney Stores (California), Safeway supermarkets (California and Arizona), and certain travel agents may also sell these tickets. It is best to call and confirm before visiting a location, however. “Bonus Tickets” include one early admission day (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday). If purchased from AAA, the tickets come with free parking at the Mickey & Friends parking garage (a $14/day value).
Disneyland Resort Annual Passports	No discounts currently available for new purchases. Southern California residents can take advantage of the monthly-payment plan when purchasing any but the Premier Annual Passport. Premier Annual Passport: $700 [Valid at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort] Premium Annual Passport: $439 Deluxe Annual Passport: $299 Southern California Annual Passport: $219 SoCal Select Annual Passport: $169
2010 Southern California CityPass $269/$229	2010 Southern California CityPass ($269/$229)– This pass includes a 3-Day Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Bonus Ticket (including one early-entry day), a one-day admission to either San Diego Zoo or San Diego Wild Animal Park, as well as one-day admission to Sea World San Diego and Universal Studios Hollywood. The CityPass expires 14 days after first use at any location, and the first use must occur by January 3, 2011. Purchase CityPass through the Disneyland Web site (link) or on-site at the ticket booths of Disneyland Resort or the other theme parks included in the pass. You can also purchase directly from the CityPass Web site (link) though this has a minimum $7.50 shipping charge (no shipping charge from the Disney Web site if purchased more than 10 days in advance). You can also purchase the Southern California City Pass online from Costco at a cost of $239.99/$204.99 (link), which includes free UPS shipping. A 5% surcharge for non-members, and shipping fees to members in Alaska and Hawaii may also apply to your purchase. Booklets may be available for sale in some stores but varies widely. If you want to buy in person it would be best to call ahead and confirm availability. If you do buy at Costco, you will initially purchase a large plastic container that you must trade for ticket books prior to leaving Costco!

Hotel/Travel Packages

Disneyland Resort Two More Days & Nights Free offer –This latest deal offers a five-night, five-day Disneyland Resort vacation package for the price of a three-night, three-day package, giving you two “free” hotel nights and two additional days of theme park admission. The offer is valid for arrivals May 1 and Sept. 26, 2010, and you must book by September 1, 2010 to receive this discount. You can choose to stay either at a Disneyland Resort Hotel or at one of the Good Neighbor Hotels. To book, call your favorite travel agent, book online at Disneyland.com, or call the Walt Disney Travel Company at 800-854-3104.

Disneyland Resort Summer hotel discounts–If you are a Disneyland Resort annual passholder or already have valid admission for your next visit, you can take advantage of a second promotion that offers discounts at the three Disneyland Resort hotels with a minimum 2-night stay. The discounts are 40% at the Grand Californian Hotel, 35% at the Disneyland Hotel and 30% at the Paradise Pier Hotel. The offer is valid for arrivals May 1 and Sept. 26, 2010, and you must book by September 1, 2010 to receive this discount. To book, call your favorite travel agent, book online at Disneyland.com, or call the Walt Disney Travel Company at 800-854-3104.

Costco Travel Packages – Many different travel packages including visits to Disneyland and Disneyland hotels are available through Costco.com. When purchasing a Costco Disneyland travel package, extras that will be included are: Mickey’s Toontown Madness admission (currently available Mondays, Wednesday, Fridays, and Saturdays), a character breakfast collectible pin and lanyard, and a Costco luggage tag per person, plus a $20 Disneyland Resort gift card per package.

Disney’s Resort Magic and Good Neighbor Magic Packages – Package includes accommodations one of the three resort hotels or at one of 40 Good Neighbor hotels; Souvenir Park Hopper ticket with voucher for admission to Mickey’s Toontown Morning Madness, plus one Magic Morning (early entry) for three-day or longer Park Hoppers; preferred seating at four DCA attractions (Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular, Muppet*Vision 3D, It’s Tough to be a Bug!, Golden Dreams); Preferred Showing of Turtle Talk with Crush (Priority Viewing at the first Turtle Talk with Crush show of the day, on any one day – one voucher per Guest); Disney Dream coin keepsake (one per package), luggage tag and lanyard with pin; a Downtown Disney Fun Card; and a “Character Call” from Mickey, Minnie, Goofy or Crush. Contact Disney Travel or your favorite travel agent.

Other Discounts

Character Dining Vouchers – Discounted character dining vouchers are available for purchase online, in advance of your trip, through MousePlanet sponsor Get Away Travel (link).

Disney Visa Discounted Stroller Rental – If you have a Disney Visa card you can rent up to two strollers at a discount of 50% at either Disneyland or Disney’s California Adventure. This offer is valid only at the Main Gate rental location between Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure.

Rainforest Cafe Safari Club – Members of the Rainforest Cafe get priority seating when available (which makes a huge difference on busy days), and a 10% discount on entrees for up to four people. Additionally, after signing up, your membership card will be mailed to you and be accompanied by a $10 award good for your next visit to a Rainforest Cafe. So if you know you will be eating there while at Disneyland and have a Rainforest Cafe local to you, it may make sense to prejoin the Safari Club so that you can use the award during your trip. See the Rainforest Cafe Web site for details (link).

ESPNZone MVP Club – Membership in the MVP Club does not offer any discounts on food. However, once a member you can make an online reservation for your party up to three days in advance and will get a 25% increase in points purchased when playing games in the Sports Arena (and 40 bonus points at activation). You must register online and your membership card will then be mailed to you within two weeks. The card must then be activated at any ESPNZone by the person who signed up for the card and ID will be required (link).

Park Schedule/Blockout Dates

DL: Disneyland

DCA: Disney’s California Adventure

Annual Pass blockout dates:

• SL – Southern California Select Annual Pass
• SC – Southern California Annual Pass
• DX – Deluxe Annual Pass

Disneyland Resort Special Events:

• MM – Magic Morning at Disneyland
• TT – Toontown Morning Madness at Disneyland
• Grad Nite
• MTT – Mickey’s Trick-or-Treat Party at DCA
  

MousePlanet Special Events:

• MA – MouseAdventure (www.mouseadventure.com)

Visit our Annual Passholders Blockout Dates page to see more dates. You can see future calendar schedules at Disneyland. As always, specifics are subject to change without notice (or occasionally, without us noticing) so when information conflicts between what is presented here and that presented by Disney, it is best to assume Disney’s information is correct.

Visit the Park Hours section of our Disneyland Park guide for additional details about Magic Morning and Toontown Morning Madness, including available attractions.

Entertainment schedule: Go directly to the Disneyland Resort schedule for this week at Disneyland.com here.