Disneyland Resort Update for August 28 – September 3, 2017

Disneyland Resort Update for August 28 – September 3, 2017

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News and Views

CHOC Walkers step out to raise millions at Disneyland even | Half marathon weekend at Disneyland | Disney Vacation Club members invited to a Halloween party | Groot vs. Monsters in Disney California Adventure | This and that…

CHOC Walkers step out to raise millions at Disneyland event

The 27th annual CHOC Walk in the Park took place Sunday (yesterday) morning, with 12,000 walkers taking park in the largest annual fundraiser for Children's Hospital Orange County. The 3.1-mile route took participants through Disneyland, Disney California Adventure and Downtown Disney. All along the route, Disney characters greeted walkers and posed for photos, while local bands and cheer squads performed for the crowd.

Team MousePlanet completes its tenth CHOC Walk, and has raised over $4600 so far. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Black Widow poses for photos along the route of the 2017 CHOC Walk. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Team MousePlanet was back for our 10th CHOC Walk, and over 40 MousePlanet readers and staff helped to raise over $4,600 for CHOC this year. Combined with our other fundraising efforts, Team MousePlanet has raised over $67,000 for Children's Hospital Orange County since 2008. We'd like to recognize our Medallion-level fundraisers this year—teammates who raised over $275 each and received a 2017 CHOC Walk lanyard and medallion:

• Helga Bergthold – $580
• Cooper Bergthold – $550

This year's event saw the walk move from its traditional early-October weekend to a new August date. Some feel the change in date contributed to the 15 percent drop in participants between 2016 and 2017, noting that it was especially hard for large school-based teams to organize and raise funds so quickly after the start of the school year. Still, CHOC hoped to meet its goal by raising a record $3.1 million during 2017 during the post-walk fundraising campaign.

The change in date didn't deter the 395 members of Justin's Helpers from raising over $50,000 for Children's Hospital Orange County during the 2017 CHOC Walk. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Members of the Loara High School band perform near the finish line of the 2017 CHOC Walk. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

There is still time to support Team MousePlanet for the 2017 event. Visit our team page to make a general team donation, or help push a member over the next fundraising milestone. Donations are gratefully accepted through September 27, 2017.

Thank you to all of the readers who walked, to those who donated, and those who helped cheer us on. We hope to see you again in 2018!

Ariel greets a young fan during the 2017 CHOC Walk. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Half marathon weekend at Disneyland

The 2017 Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend events begin this Thursday, August 31, and continue through Labor Day weekend. The events draw tens of thousands of runners, walkers, friends, and family to the Disneyland Resort, and include road closures and operational changes that could impact anyone visiting during this weekend. Here's what runners, tourists, and spectators should know as we head into this busy weekend.

Non-runners

The Disneyland Resort is going to be very busy this weekend, which you may already know if you had a hard time finding a reasonably priced hotel room in the immediate area. The good news is that runners tend not to stay up late the night before races, so you should see lighter evening crowds than you might expect.

Staying at the Disneyland Hotel? The race expo takes place in that hotel's convention center, so expect extra crowds at the shops and restaurants. If you are staying at any of the three Disneyland Resort hotels, expect race-related noise Friday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings, beginning in the predawn hours, especially if your hotel room faces Disneyland Drive.

If you are staying at the Grand Californian Hotel in a room overlooking Downtown Disney, expect to hear spectator cheering starting around 5:45 a.m. on Friday morning, as the Disneyland 5K passes right outside your window.

While all of the races take place before park opening or outside the parks, you may still experience traffic delays and extra crowds. Give yourself plenty of time if you are driving to the resort in the morning; race-related road closures are scheduled from 12:01 to 8:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, and from 12:01 to to 10:00 a.m. on Sunday. For detailed road closure information, see the Road Closures page of the official Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend event guidebook.

Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure open at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. 8:00 a.m. early entry for hotel guests and eligible ticket holders is at Disney California Adventure on Friday, at Disneyland on Saturday, and back at DCA on Sunday.

Spectators

Disney does not allow you to view the half marathon race course from inside either Disneyland or Disney's California Adventure unless you purchase a $79 ChEAR Squad package. Online registration is still open, and you may be able to packages at the race expo (lower exhibit hall). There is no theme park viewing for Friday's 5K or Saturday's 10K events.

If you want to come cheer on the runners without purchasing a spectator package, or plan to cheer at the 5K or 10K events, Disney recommends specific viewing areas on property. All of these viewing areas are accessible only by foot; so walk from either the Mickey and Friends parking structure, or from your hotel if staying nearby.

View all three race courses on pages 16-19 of the Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend event guidebook. You can also view individual courses:

• Half Marathon course – theme park map
• Half Marathon course – full map
• 10K course
• 5K course

Detailed information for runners

NEW for 2017 – All races begin at 5:00 a.m., 30 minutes earlier than usual. This will make for some rough mornings, especially if you're running multiple races or participating with children, but the good news is that the early start may help runners avoid the worst of the heat wave expected for the weekend.

Disney stopped distributing paper guidebooks last year, so be sure to view the online version before you leave for the race expo. This digital guidebook contains much of the information you need for the event.

Expo and parking

The runDisney Health and Fitness expo opens at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, and all runners participating in the 5K must check in before the expo closes at 8:00 p.m. that evening. The Expo is also open from noon to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, and from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday.

NEW for 2017 – Runners heading to the Expo should remember that Downtown Disney no longer offers free parking. A new policy went into effect August 1, eliminating the previous two-hour grace period. An hourly $12 parking fee is now calculated in 30-minute increments, allowing for just a 15-minute grace period for drivers who are dropping off or picking up passengers.

Customers can receive two hours of complimentary parking in the lot when they spend at least $20 in one transaction at any Downtown Disney shop, kiosk, or quick-service restaurant. Visitors can also receive up to four hours complimentary parking with validation from the AMC Theaters, or one of the table-service restaurants in Downtown Disney.

Disneyland Resort Hotel restaurants will not offer validation for the Downtown Disney parking lot, nor will shops or restaurants inside the theme parks.

If you have an annual passport with parking entitlement, your cheapest option is to park in the Mickey and Friends parking structure and walk to the Expo. If you do not have free parking available to you, then your options are to park in Downtown Disney and try to dash in and out in under 30 minutes or an hour to pay only $6 or $12, park in Downtown Disney and shop or eat somewhere to get the two-hour validation, or pay the full $20 fee to park all day in a Disneyland theme park lot.

Photopass

runDisney race photos are now taken by Disney PhotoPass cast members and are available through that program after the event. If you are an annual passholder with a pass that qualifies you for free PhotoPass photos, that means yours are now free.

If you don't have an annual pass, you can purchase race photos through the PhotoPass program, including any bundle purchases that will include other photos taken on your trip to the parks. The best value is to purchase MaxPass for $10/day, which will include all of your race photos.

You can add the photos to your PhotoPass account by entering various race codes that include your race bib number as part of the code.

To add them via the iPhone My Disney Experience app:

1. From the list icon on the top left, select PhotoPass to go to the Disney PhotoPass page.
2. Select Link Photos to go to the My Disney PhotoPass code page.
3. Select Scan to Link Your Photos to go to the Link Your Photos page.
4. Select Enter a PhotoPass ID. In the field labeled “Enter the ID number,” enter the following for the appropriate races, replacing X-XXXX with your own bib number:
   • Half – 2017-LAND-HLFX-XXXX. Disneyland Half Marathon bib number of “12345” would enter 2016 LAND HLF1 2345.
   • 10K – 2017-LAND-10KX-XXXX
   • 5K – 2017-LAND-D5KX-XXXX
   • KIDS RACES – 2017-LAND-KIDX-XXXX

   Note: If your bib number is fewer than five digits, add “0” to the beginning. For example:

   • A Disneyland Half Marathon bib number of “3333” would enter 2017-LAND-HLF0-3333.
   • A 5K bib number of “678” would enter 2017-LAND-D5K0-0678.

Your photos may take some time to populate once you have entered your code. Make sure to look under the image for additional photos from the one you see on your screen. Swipe left to see the other photos taken in a burst from the same location.

You can also link these codes using your Disneyland smartphone application, or your Disney.com website profile.

To find your race bib number, go to the Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend waivers page and enter your last name and birth date. When your name appears on the results list, select PRINT to view the waiver form. On the very bottom of the form, look for the number after the word “bib”: This is your personal bib number.

Runner tracking

To register for runner tracking for yourself or another runner, visit the runner tracking website and enter the participant's name or bib number. You can register for updates via text message, email, Twitter, or Facebook. A registration kiosk will be available at the Health and Fitness Expo. You can also sign up to receive runner tracking alerts by texting “dlhm” to 38909.

Event merchandise

Disney released a preview of the event merchandise to be offered for sale at the race expo, with a large collection of Pixar-themed apparel and collectibles. Unfortunately for collectors, Disney has confirmed there will not be a Dooney & Bourke handbag and accessory pattern released for this event.

Official event merchandise is sold in the official race merchandise section of the expo. If you want first pick of the race merchandise, plan to arrive well before the official 10:00 a.m. opening on Thursday. If you plan to be among the early birds, please be sure to bring water, sunscreen, and a hat to protect you during the wait. Remember, you do not need to collect your race packet before you enter the expo to shop, so if you're set on purchasing a specific item and are worried about it selling out, your best bet is to shop first, then get your race packet.

Running, walking, or cheering during the Disneyland Half Marathon weekend events? Join Team MousePlanet!

Visit the MousePad discussion forum to request a free personalized race sign for the 2017 Disneyland Half Marathon. MousePlanet file photo.

Disney Vacation Club members are invited to a Halloween party

Disney Vacation Club members and their guests are invited to a Halloween party at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel on Tuesday, October 31. The Haunted Mansion-themed event is held from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., and includes family-focused activities like carnival games, face painters, character appearances, and Halloween goodies.

The party is $25 per person, and reservations are required. Contact Member Services starting Thursday, Aug. 31 to make your reservation. Costumes are welcome, but must meet Disney's usual Halloween party guidelines.

Groot vs. Monsters in Disney California Adventure

Guardians of the Galaxy Monsters After Dark debuts September 15 at Disney California Adventure. Photo © Disney.

Disney announced its latest seasonal overlay last week with news that the Guardians of the Galaxy attraction will receive an after-dark makeover nightly through Halloween Time. According to the Disney Parks Blog, “Music continues to be at the heart of the experience, and an all-new song, “Monsters After Dark,” was created especially for this attraction by Tyler Bates, composer of the Guardians of the Galaxy films.”

The new version is offered September 15 through October 31 during the Halloween Time promotion. Fans might remember that the Tower of Terror also introduced an after-dark version before the ride closed for conversion to the Guardians theme. To some, this move is just an overlay on top of an overlay, and still not a return to the original Tower of Terror they long for.

This and that…

…A reader posted that the Disneyland smartphone application showed the ability to make Fastpass selections for Fantasmic and World of Color using the MaxPass system that rolled out earlier this summer. We had several MousePlanet readers check the app in-park on Sunday, and none were able to use MaxPass for the two shows. Disney has said MaxPass could not be used for entertainment offerings like Fantasmic, but we've long expected that feature to roll out eventually. For now, we have to assume that reader stumbled upon a test of new features, and you still have to collect Fastpass tickets for Fantasmic and World of Color in person from the mobile kiosks stationed in Disneyland and Disney California Adventure.

…The Grand Californian Hotel is requiring hotel guests to wear a wristband to obtain access to the newly refurbished pool areas. We do not know when the policy went into effect, but it is in place through September 4.

…The MousePlanet Newsletter is here! The newsletter contains a recap of the week's articles (in case you miss a day), news that may have developed since the weekly Updates were published, and tips about what's happening at the Disney theme parks for the coming weekend. We'll also include a fun bonus, such as an Eye Spy or a trivia question. To subscribe to our free newsletter, just enter your e-mail in the box below.

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Current Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Note: Not all attraction closures have been officially confirmed by Disney, and are all subject to change at any time. Refurbishment schedules are estimates only. We recommend checking for updates as you plan your visit. All information is subject to change without notice. To get the most recent updates, visit Disneyland.com—this information is no longer available from the automated phone service.

Disneyland

• Little Red Wagon (Corn Dog cart) – closed August 21 to September 8 for refurbishment.
• Space Mountain – closed August 21 to September 14 to install the Ghost Galaxy overlay.
• Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters – closed August 25 to September 26 for refurbishment.
• Haunted Mansion – closed August 28 to September 14 to install the Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay.
• Frontierland Shootin' Exposition – closed August 28–31 for refurbishment.
• River Belle Terrace – closes September 5 for refurbishment. Reopening date not published, but expected to be November 16.
• Plaza Inn and Minnie and Friends Breakfast in the Park – closed September 11–13 for refurbishment.
• Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage – closed for refurbishment September 18–21
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – closes October 2 for refurbishment. Reopening date not published, but after October 8.

Disney California Adventure

• Muppet*Vision 3D – closed indefinitely. The theater has been renamed the Sunset Showcase Theater, and will likely be used for movie previews until a permanent replacement is found.
• Goofy's Sky School – closes August 21 for for refurbishment. Reopening date not published, but expected to be December 19.
• Soarin' Around the World –closed September 5–6 for refurbishment.
• Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! – Closed September 5–21 for refurbishment.
• Smokejumpers Grill – closed September 11–13 for refurbishment.

Disneyland Resort

• Splitsville Lanes – under construction in Downtown Disney. Expected to open late 2017.
• Build-a-Bear – closing in late September to make room for additional dining offerings.
• Ridemakerz – closing September 18 to make room for additional dining offerings.
• Chapel Hats – closing in late September to make room for additional dining offerings.
• Vault 28 – closing in late September to make room for new Star Wars virtual reality offering.
• Fossil – closing in late September to make room for new Star Wars virtual reality offering.

Disneyland Resort Hotels

• Pinocchio's Workshop (group childcare) – closed. No reopening date available.
• Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar – expected to close September 5—15 for refurbishment.

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).

2017

• Summer of Heroes at Disney California Adventure – through September 10
• Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend – August 31 through September 3. This event adds to the Labor Day weekend crowds. All events are now sold out, but you can get more information on the runDisney website.
• Halloween Time: September 15 through October 31.
• MouseAdventure at Disneyland Resort (unofficial event) – Sunday, September 17. Registration now open. More information on the event website.
• Mickey's Halloween Party at Disneyland – September 20, 22, 25, 27, 29; October 3, 6, 10, 13, 17, 20, 24, 27 and 31. Tickets on sale now.
• Gay Days at Disneyland (unofficial event) – October 6–8. More information on the event website.
• Dapper Day Fall Outing to Disneyland (unofficial event) – Sunday, November 5. More information at the event website. This popular event grows larger each year, so it's worth making note of the date if you plan to visit the park during this weekend.
• Super Heroes Half Marathon Weekend – November 9–12. This event adds to the Veteran's Day weekend crowds. Registration is still open for some events via the runDisney website.

2018

• Star Wars – The Light Side Half Marathon Weekend – Originally scheduled for January 11–14, 2018. Registration dates and details pending.
• Dapper Day Spring Outing to Disneyland (unofficial event) – Sunday, April 22. More information at the event website. This popular event grows larger each year, so it's worth making note of the date if you plan to visit the park during this weekend.
• Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend – Originally scheduled for May 10–13, 2018, but runDisney has since removed the date from the 2018 event listing. Registration dates and details pending.

School Holidays

Notable school holidays that may impact park attendance. If you know of any other school holidays that should be listed here, please send us an e-mail (link).

2017

• Utah Education Association convention (UEA, a.k.a. “Utah Escapes to Anaheim”) – October 19–20. Expect large attendance levels October 19–22 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.
• Nevada Day – October 28. Nevada schools are closed on Friday, October 28 to observe Nevada Day, creating a three-day weekend.

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.

Non-Disney Resort Events

Notable events at parks and attractions around Southern California. If you know of an event that should be listed here, please send us an e-mail (link).

Knott's Berry Farm

Legoland California

• Brick-or-Treat – Saturdays in October.
• Holidays at Legoland – November 24, 2017 through January 1, 2018
• Kids' New Year's Eve – December 31.

Current Discounts & Promotions

Disneyland prices as of February 28, 2016.

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.

Ticket Prices and Promotions

Additional Discounts

Did we miss an offer? If you know of an authorized discount on Disneyland Resort tickets, standing offers for Annual Passholders from non-Disney vendors, or other promotions which might interest our readers, please drop us a note!

Discounts for:

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
• SG – Signature Annual Pass

The Disneyland website does not list the blockout dates for the Costco-exclusive Disney California Adventure Park Fun Pass. The blockout dates are as follows:

• 2017 – January 1, 2; February 18, 19; March 18, 25; April 1, 8, 9, 14, 15, 22, 29; May 6, 13, 20, 26, 27, 28; June 3, 10, 17, 24; July 1-4, 8, 15, 22, 29; August 5, 12, 19; September 2,l 3; November 10, 11, 23, 24, 25.

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
• EA – Early Admission for Annual Passholders (not currently offered)

Disneyland Resort Special Events:

• FW – Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival
• GN – Grad Nite. 2018 dates TBD
• MHP – Mickey's Halloween Party at Disneyland. 2018 dates: September 20, 22, 25, 27, 29; October 3, 6, 10, 13, 17, 20, 24, 27 and 31.

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.

The Seasons calendar is published on the Disneyland website for the next 8-11 months.

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