Update for June 17 – 23, 2013
Go directly to: News & Views | Join our Networks | Current Refurbishment/Attraction Closures | Resort Events | Discounts and Promotions | Park Schedule/Blockout Dates
News and Views
Disneyland celebrates Independence Week | Will there be a Tink 10K? | Toontown dry ice blast suspect released | This and that…
Disneyland celebrates Independence Week
The Disneyland Resort is stretching the Fourth of July holiday into an “Independence Week” celebration from July 1 to 7. The highlight of the week-long event, which is being tied to a Limited Time Magic promotion, is a nightly performance of the “Disney's Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky” fireworks show at Disneyland park at 9:30 p.m. “Magical” returns as the summer fireworks show starting July 8.
Disney has added “Glow with the Show” technology to “Celebrate America,” so bring your light-up Glow with the Show ears to see what new effects have been added to the fireworks show.
“Glow with the Show” is also incorporated in a patriotic preshow to World of Color at Disney California Adventure.
Disneyland is also featuring special Independence Week desserts at select locations, including red, white and blue Mason jar desserts at Carnation Cafe and apple pie pockets at Main Street food locations.
Will there be a Tink 10K?
With the inaugural Disneyland and Walt Disney World 10K races selling out in record time, it seemed almost certain that runDisney would add a 10-kilometer (6.2-mile) distance to its 2014 Tinker Bell Half Marathon weekend, but there was no mention of a new race when early registration opened last week.
While many considered that to be the final word, a MousePlanet reader came across a sign that there may still be a surprise in store.
Our reader came across a page on the Active.com website (the company runDisney uses for race registration) that listed prices for add-ons to the Tinker Bell Half Marathon weekend, including the ChEAR Squad packages, Pasta in the Park party, and commemorative merchandise. Among these items are pins for both the half marathon and 5K races, as well as one for the 10K. There is no other mention of a 10K on the page, which also does not include a list of or prices for the weekend's other races.
Is this a sign that there is a new 10K in the works, or did Active.com just cut and paste the event information from another runDisney event? We probably won't know until registration officially opens July 9.
Runners who want to ensure a spot in the Tinker Bell Half Marathon before registration opens to the public on July 9 can still take advantage of an early registration offer by also signing up for the 2014 Princess Half Marathon in Walt Disney World. We assume that runners who do so would be able to add the 10K race (if there really is going to be one) when registration reopens July 9, just as they will need to add on the Pasta in the Park party and any commemorative event merchandise that was not offered via the Princess registration.
The other thorny issue will be what happens if runDisney adds not only a new Tink 10K but also a new “challenge,” like the Dumbo Double Dare and the Glass Slipper Challenge for those who run both the 10K and Half Marathon in the same event. runDisney currently requires runners to register for such the challenge itself as its own event—that is, not as separate a la carte registrations for individual components that comprise the challenge, so there will need to be a way for people who signed up for Tink during the Princess preregistration to sign up for the new challenge if in fact one is offered.
Toontown dry ice blast suspect released
The Associated Press reports that 22-year-old Christian Barnes, the former Disneyland cast member charged with causing two dry ice blasts in Toontown on May 28, has been released from jail on his own recognizance. Barnes was originally held on a half-million dollar bail, which the judge reduced to $50,000 during the arraignment.
Barnes is accused of placing dry ice from his outdoor vending cart into plastic bottles. According to a report by CBS Los Angeles, Barnes left one bottle inside his cart before leaving for a break, and dropped the second bottle in the Toontown trash can on his way to the break room behind Toontown. Both bottles exploded, with the second blast triggering an hours-long closure of Toontown and an investigation by the Orange County Sheriff's department bomb squad. Disney said that there had been no injuries or damage from the blasts. Barnes is charged with possession of a destructive device, a felony charge that could mean up to seven years in prison and restitution for the police response. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
As more details come out, it seems this is less an isolated incident, and instead a prank that went too far. A former Disneyland employee who worked in the outdoor vending department from 1993 to 1997 tells MousePlanet that dry ice pranks were common when she worked there. “You get bored when you're on those wagons,” she said, saying that cast members would pass the time by playing with the dry ice used to keep the ice cream frozen. She said, “We'd add dry ice and water to an empty box and shake it to make popping sounds,” or “put dry ice in empty Coke bottles to watch the smoke.”
While this former cast member said she never personally created a dry ice “bomb,” she knew that other cast members made them and left them in the cart “if you knew who your next person was going to be and you wanted to play a joke on them.” She said managers were likely unaware of the pranks, recalling, “We really didn't have supervision at all.”
Barnes is due back in court on July 17.
This and that…
…If you're still looking to purchase Disneyland Resort tickets at the pre-increase price, Get Away Today has been given an extension once again to sell tickets at the pre-increase prices through June 25. [Disclosure: Get Away Today is a MousePlanet sponsor.] The company's website states that the offer ends June 20, but we've confirmed that MousePlanet readers have a few extra days to take advantage of the lower prices.
…MousePlanet reader Cindy Stephens shared the new prix fixe World of Color menu offered at Carthay Circle. The new fixed-price menu offers a choice of two starters, seven entrees, and two desserts. The meals are $59 per person, and includes a soft drink, iced tea, or coffee. Following the meal, diners each receive tickets for the “center stage viewing area” for World of Color.
Crowd Forecast
|
Advertisement Unofficial Guide to Disneyland, to help you better plan your trip to the Disneyland Resort. TouringPlans.com gathers wait time data from a team of in-park researchers and users of their Lines mobile phone application, and then predicts crowd levels for the next 365 days. Using a scale from 1 to 10, TouringPlans.com has a 90 percent accuracy of predicting the crowds to within 1 point, helping visitors prepare for their trips so they can “Do more. Wait less.”
|
Join our networks |
|||||
Facebook
|
|
||||
Current Refurbishments and Attraction Closures
Note: Not all of these have been officially confirmed by Disney, and are all subject to change at any time. We recommend checking for updates as you plan your visit.
Disneyland
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – closed through October 30 for a major refurbishment.
Disney California Adventure
- None at this time
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 in-park events, official or unofficial, that should be listed here, please send us an e-mail (link).
2013
Summer
- Grad Nite events – This party for high school seniors graduating in 2013 continue to be held on these upcoming dates: June 19, 20, 21. The 2013 event includes admission to Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park during regular operating hours, and a private party in Disneyland Park after the park closes to the public for the night.
- Ninth Unofficial Star Wars Fan Day at Disney – Sunday, June 30. This unofficial gathering of Star Wars fans is on a mission to convince Disney to bring Star Wars Weekends to the West Coast. More details on the event website and Facebook page.
- D23 Expo – August 9–11. Tickets for the three-day convention are now on sale.
- Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend (sold out) – August 30 through September 1 at the Disneyland Resort.
Fall
- Halloween Time – September 13 to October 31.
- 23rd Annual CHOC Walk in the Park – October 13. Team MousePlanet registration details coming soon.
Winter
- Holidays at the Disneyland Resort – November 12 through the first week of 2014.
2013
- Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend – January 17–19. Registration for all weekend activities opens to the general public on July 9; limited registration opens June 11 for those also registering for the Disney Princess Half Marathon.
We also recommend checking the convention calendar at the Anaheim/Orange County Visitor and Convention Bureau website. When looking at that site, remember to note both the number of people and the number of rooms resulting from each convention. A gathering of 25,000 people booking few room nights (indicating most will be driving in to the area for their meeting) can impact traffic around the resort much more than a crowd of 25,000 staying in area hotels. Of course, that second group is going to make finding a hotel room more difficult (and possibly more expensive), so it's best to book your own room as early as possible if you see that a big convention is in town during your trip.
Current Discounts & Promotions
Disneyland prices as of June 2, 2013.
Note: MousePlanet does not edit past Updates to reflect price increases; for up-to-date prices, check the most recent Disneyland Resort Update. 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. Note, we are no longer listing offers from the Anaheim-Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau, as their convenience fee negates any savings.
|
Don't get scammed! Never buy tickets from an unofficial or secondary outlet, such as through eBay or Craigslist. Never rent or purchase tickets from people approaching you outside the gates stating they have remaining days or leftover tickets. This practice is against the terms of use for Disneyland admission, and may result in denial of entry. It is also common for criminals to shoplift inactivated Disney theme park tickets from supermarkets to resell them. There is no way to determine if these tickets are valid until you try to use them to enter the parks. Only purchase Disney theme park tickets directly from Disney, an authorized seller, or travel agency. |
||
|
One Day, One Park Ticket – Regularly $92/$86
One Day Park Hopper – Regularly $137/$131 |
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, One Park per Day Ticket – Regularly $175/$162
Two Day Park Hopper – Regularly $210/$197 |
Get Away Today Vacations – MousePlanet sponsor Get Away Today Vacations sells two-day tickets at a slight discount over the Disneyland main gate price. 2-day Park Hoppers are $197 for adults ($185 for children); 2-day 1/park/day tickets are $168 for adults ($156 for children). Check with your employer, school or credit union to see if any other discounts are available through them. |
|
|
Three Day, One Park per Day Ticket – Regularly $225/$209 Three Day Park Hopper – Regularly $260/$244 |
Get Away Today Vacations – MousePlanet sponsor Get Away Today Vacations sells three-day tickets at a slight discount over the Disneyland main gate price. 3-day Park Hoppers are $245 for adults ($230 for children); 3-day 1/park/day tickets are $217 for adults ($202 for children). 2012–2013 Disney Military Promotional 3–Day Park Hopper Ticket ($125) – a discounted price offered to Eligible Service Members or their spouses. Disney Military Promotional 3-Day Park Hopper Tickets may be purchased through September 26, 2013, and are valid through September 28, 2013. Disney defines “Eligible Service Members” as active or retired members of the U.S. military, including the National Guard, Reservists, and the U.S. Coast Guard. Valid military identification will be required for purchase. This discount is available at MWR/ITT offices at your military base or other at participating U.S. military sales outlets. The tickets are not available for sale at the Disneyland Resort ticket booths. The price is the same for adults and children, and total of six tickets may be purchased per military member, regardless of who purchases the tickets (the member or their spouse). Tickets are blocked out through July 4. As far as we can tell, there is no “fuse” on this ticket, so you may have more than the standard 13 days from first use to use the remaining two admissions, but we highly recommend you contact your base MWR/ITT office for more details before making travel plans. Please note that this ticket is not a “bonus” ticket, and so does not include an early admission day. Check with your employer, school or credit union to see if any other discounts are available through them. |
|
|
Four Day, One Park per Day Ticket – Regularly $250/$230 Four Day Park Hopper – Regularly $285/$265 |
Get Away Today Vacations – MousePlanet sponsor Get Away Today Vacations sells four-day tickets at a slight discount over the Disneyland main gate price. 4-day Park Hoppers are $270 for adults ($250 for children); 4-day 1/park/day tickets are $240 for adults ($220 for children). Check with your employer, school or credit union to see if any other discounts are available through them. |
|
|
Five Day, One Park per Day Ticket – Regularly $265/$244 Five Day Park Hopper – Regularly $300/$279 |
Get Away Today Vacations – MousePlanet sponsor Get Away Today Vacations sells five-day tickets at a slight discount over the Disneyland main gate price. 5-day Park Hoppers are $285 for adults ($265 for children); 5-day 1/park/day tickets are $255 for adults ($235 for children). Check with your employer, school or credit union to see if any other discounts are available through them. |
|
| Six Day, One Park per Day Ticket Six Day Park Hopper | No longer offered by Disneyland – some travel providers may offer tickets for 6 days or longer as part of a package to international customers; residents of Canada, Australia, or the U.K. should check with local travel agencies to see what options may be available. | |
| Disneyland Resort Annual Passports |
No discounts currently available for new purchases. California residents can take advantage of the monthly payment plan when purchasing any but the Premier Annual Passport.
Check with your employer, school or credit union to see if any other discounts are available through them. |
|
|
Southern California CityPASS $319/$279 Southern California CityPASS PLUS $353/$304 |
2013 Southern California CityPASS ($319/$279) – includes a 3-Day Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Bonus Ticket (including one early-entry day), a one-day admission to Sea World San Diego and a one-day admission to Universal Studios Hollywood. The CityPASS expires 14 days after first use at any location, and the first use must occur by January 2, 2014. Purchase CityPASS through the Disneyland website 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 website, though a shipping charge may apply depending on how quickly you need the ticket. 2013 Southern California CityPASS PLUS ($353/$304) – includes a 3-Day Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Bonus Ticket (including one early-entry day), a one-day admission to Sea World San Diego and a one-day admission to Universal Studios Hollywood, plus one-day admission to either San Diego Zoo or San Diego Safari Park. The CityPASS expires 14 days after first use at any location, and the first use must occur by January 2, 2014. This upgraded pass is only available for purchase directly from the CityPASS website. Check with your employer, school or credit union to see if any other discounts are available through them. Prices listed above are valid until January 2, 2014. |
|
Hotel/Travel Packages
Costco Travel Packages – many different travel packages including visits to Disneyland and Disneyland hotels are available through Costco.
Disney's Resort Magic and Good Neighbor Magic Packages – package includes accommodations in 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 three DCA attractions (Disney's Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular, Muppet*Vision 3D, It's Tough to be a Bug!); 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.
Contact a MousePlanet sponsor travel agency for assistance in booking your next trip
|
Other Discounts
Military 3-Day Park Hopper Discount – active and retired U.S. military can now purchase up to six 3-Day Disneyland Resort Park Hoppers at the discounted price of $125 each, a 50 percent savings off the regular adult price. The tickets may be used through September 28, 2013 with block-out days from March 25 through April 5, and July 4.
Valid only for active duty or retired U.S. Military, including the National Guard, Reservists, and the U.S. Coast Guard. Valid and active U.S. Military (or Military spouse) ID required for purchase and admission. Limited to one (1) purchase of up to six (6) tickets per valid ID and Military member (or spouse) must accompany the persons using these tickets for Theme Park admission.
Annual Passholder offers – Disneyland has once again extended the 20 percent merchandise discount offered to Premium annual passholders. The discount is now valid through December 31, 2013.
Purchase with Purchase offers – Disneyland Resort shops frequently offer a reduced–price souvenir (often a tote bag, watch, or blanket) with a qualifying minimum purchase. These are offered at Disney-operated stores only, and generally can not be combined—you must choose one of the eligible offers. If you're a passholder, the minimum purchase is calculated after your discount, and your discount does not apply to the promotional item.
Character Dining Vouchers – discounted character dining vouchers are available for purchase online, in advance of your trip, through Get Away Travel.
Disney Visa – cardholders have access to a private character meet-and-greet photo opportunity at Disney California Adventure, and receive one free 5×7 photograph per visit. Cardholders also receive 10 percent off qualifying merchandise purchases of $50 or more from Disney-operated retail stores, 10 percent off at selected Disneyland Resort restaurants, (Big Thunder Ranch, River Belle Terrace, French Market, Cocina Cucamonga, Steakhouse 55, PCH Grill and Storyteller's Café), and 20 percent off the “Welcome to Disneyland,” “A Walk in Walt's Footsteps,” and “Discover the Magic” guided tours. See the Disney Visa website for terms and conditions.
Landry's Select Club – members of the Landry's Select Club get priority seating at the Rainforest Cafe when available (which makes a huge difference on busy days), and a 10 percent discount on retail purchases. This club replaces the former Rainforest Cafe Safari Club as of March 31, 2012. If you are already a Safari Club member, you can migrate your membership to the new Landry's Select Club at no charge, and start to earn points in the new program. The new Select Club eliminated the entree discount and free appetizer offer that was included with the Safari Club, replacing them with a point-based system that gives you a $25 gift certificate after you spend $250. If you are not yet a member of either the Safari Club or the Landry's Select Club, you can pre-purchase your membership before your trip. Membership now costs $25, but comes with a $25 reward.
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 percent 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 California Adventure
Annual Pass blockouts:
- SL – Southern California Select Annual Pass
- SC – Southern California Annual Pass
- DX – Deluxe Annual Pass
Early Admission – full description available on the Disneyland website):
- MM – Magic Mornings for 3-plus day ticket holders, promotional “bonus” tickets, and Southern California CityPASS
- EMH – Extra Magic Hour for Disneyland Resort Hotel Guests
- EMH – Early Admission for Annual Passholders (not currently offered)
Disneyland Resort Special Events:
- GN – Grad Nite
- MA – MouseAdventure (www.mouseadventure.com)
| 6/16 | 6/17 | 6/18 | 6/19 | 6/20 | 6/21 | 6/22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
DL: 8a-12a None DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a None DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a EMH/MM DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a None DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: GN |
DL: 8a-12a EMH/MM DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: GN |
DL: 8a-12a None DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: GN |
DL: 8a-12a EMH/MM DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
| 6/23 | 6/24 | 6/25 | 6/26 | 6/27 | 6/28 | 6/29 |
|
DL: 8a-12a None DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a None DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a EMH/MM DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a None DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a EMH/MM DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a None DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a EMH/MM DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
| 6/30 | 7/1 | 7/2 | 7/3 | 7/4 | 7/5 | 7/6 |
|
DL: 8a-12a None DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a None DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a EMH/MM DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a None DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a EMH/MM DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a None DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a EMH/MM DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
| 7/7 | 7/8 | 7/9 | 7/10 | 7/11 | 7/12 | 7/13 |
|
DL: 8a-12a None DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a None DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a EMH/MM DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a None DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a EMH/MM DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a None DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a EMH/MM DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
| 7/14 | 7/15 | 7/16 | 7/17 | 7/18 | 7/19 | 7/20 |
|
DL: 8a-12a None DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a None DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a EMH/MM DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a None DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a EMH/MM DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a None DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a EMH/MM DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
| 7/21 | 7/22 | 7/23 | 7/24 | 7/25 | 7/26 | 7/27 |
|
DL: 8a-12a None DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a None DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a EMH/MM DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a None DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a EMH/MM DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a None DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a EMH/MM DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
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.
