Disneyland Resort Update

Update for July 5 – July 11, 2010

Go directly to: News & Views | Join our Networks | Current Refurbishment/Attraction Closures | Community Events | Resort Events | Discounts and Promotions | Park Schedule/Blockout Dates

News and Views

Editor’s Note: I’d like to offer a huge “thank you” to Britt Winslow and Andrew Rich for taking over the Disneyland Resort Update during my vacation.

All Star parade means All Star traffic | Resort guests get World of Color perk – do you qualify? | When Color is cancelled | Costco has a new offer, but read the fine print | Fall refurbishment schedule update | Kids Sail Free to the Mexican Riviera | Resort Construction Update | This and That…

All Star parade means All Star traffic

If you expect to be in the Anaheim area on Tuesday, July 13, be prepared for some major road closures around the Disneyland Resort as a result of the Major League Baseball All-Star Parade. The parade kicks off at the Anaheim Convention Center at 11:30 a.m. and travels north on Harbor Boulevard on a red carpet three-quarters of a mile long before ducking backstage into Disney property. The parade resumes inside Disneyland Park near the “it’s a small world” attraction in Fantasyland, and makes its way down Main Street, U.S.A. before concluding in Town Square.

The public can view the parade along Convention Way as the procession leaves the Anaheim Convention Center, or along the 3/4-mile stretch between Convention Way and Disney Way. If you happen to have tickets for Disneyland that day, you can also catch the parade as it concludes inside the park.

Streets around the Disneyland Resort will close for the MLB All Star Parade on July 13. Mapquest image edited by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Although the parade itself will only be in the eastbound lanes of Convention Way, the entire road will be closed from 10:00 to 1:00. And while the parade then uses the southbound lanes of Harbor Boulevard, both sides of the street will again be closed during the procession,with some southbound lanes closing as early as 2:00 a.m. that morning to install the red carpet, with all lanes in both directions closed between 10:00 a.m. through approximately 2:00 p.m. Also closed from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. is Katella Boulevard between West Street and Clementine to accommodate the parade.

Your best parking option to see the parade on the city streets is Disney’s Pumbaa lot, which opens at 4:00 in the morning and is located an easy walk away from the parade route on Disney Way near Harbor Boulevard . The Mickey and Friends parking structure opens at 7:00 a.m., which is a good option if you plan to visit the parks that day. Avoid the Toy Story lot, however, unless you plan on arriving before 9:30 a.m. and staying past 2:00 p.m.—although it opens at 7:00 a.m., unless Disney opens the rear route from the Katella cast member lot, you cannot enter or exit the Toy Story lot the middle of the day.

Resort guests get World of Color perk. Do you qualify?

Though this has actually been the practice since the day after World of Color opened to the public, the Disneyland Resort formally announced Saturday that Resort Hotel guests have priority access to the World of Color Fastpass machines via the Grand gate into Disney California Adventure park from Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel. On days when DCA opens at 10:00 a.m. (the standard opening time for that park), the Grand gate opens at 9:00 a.m. for hotel guests, half an hour before the main entrance gates open at 9:30 for all other guests. This gives resort guests a 30-minute advantage over everyone else waiting for a World of Color Fastpass ticket, and helps reduce the wait resort guests experience in the Fastpass line.

The sign calls for a room key, but we’ve been told a same-day receipt will work, too. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

The announcement in the Disney Parks Blog (link) indicates that this perk is available to guests staying at the three Disneyland Resort Hotels (the Disneyland, Paradise Pier and Grand Californian hotels). However, we’ve been told that you don’t actually need to book a room at one of the hotels to use this entrance—but you do need to be a “guest” at the hotel. What’s the difference, you ask? Simply put, Disney considers anyone who uses a service of its on-property hotels to be a “guest,” including shops and restaurants. Although there are numerous places to shop and dine on hotel property, in order to be a “guest” on the morning you want to use the entrance, we can think of three places specifically: Have breakfast with Chip and Dale at Storytellers Cafe, make a purchase (of, for example, a bottle of water) at Whitewater Snacks, or pick up a small item at Acorns Gifts & Goods—and you’re a Resort guest. Cast members should accept your same-day receipt in lieu of a hotel room key and grant you access through the Grand gate, but this is another one of those policy-versus-practice matters, and we haven’t put it to the test ourselves. If you’d like to share your experiences, please drop us a note, or post to our MousePad discussion boards.

When Color is canceled

Disneyland Resort park maps carry a warning that all entertainment is subject to change without notice, and frequent visitors have almost certainly experienced a situation where a stage show, parade, or fireworks were canceled due to weather or technical difficulties. The resort does not make a habit of offering compensation to guests who spent time waiting for a canceled show, but the first cancellation of a performance of the new World of Color show has many MousePlanet readers asking if Disney needs to rethink its policy.

According to reports from MousePlanet readers, a large water pipe (which some have described as a water main) broke during the first showing of World of Color on Sunday, June 27, drenching some guests and flooding a portion of the viewing area. Disney allowed guests to enter the viewing area for the 10:15 p.m. show, but then announced that the show was canceled due to technical difficulties (click here to listen to an audio file of audience reaction when the announcement was made, as recorded by MousePlanet reader dulongsynth).

What should Disney do when the show can’t go on? Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Reader MOUSELUVR and many other readers were part of the crowd turned away when the show was canceled, and shared their experiences on our MousePad discussion board. Their stories paint a picture of confused cast members issuing conflicting statements, and of a guest relations team seemingly unprepared for the crush of angry customers demanding refunds. World of Color is unique among Disney shows in that several thousand meals are sold each night to visitors as part of dining packages that offers access to a reserved viewing area for the show. These meals, which range from $15 picnic lunches to $40-plus table service meals, have sold out every night since the show debuted three weeks ago. Disney markets these packages heavily on its Web site and print materials related to World of Color, including, most recently, the DCA park map itself. In their marketing, Disney specifically calls these offers a “package,” and refers to them as a way to experience a “dinner and a show.”

While Disney states that the packages are non-refundable, many customers have an expectation that when they purchase a dinner-and-show package, they’re going to receive both parts of their purchase. For example, reader Sophie832 said, “Unlike Fantasmic, parades, or fireworks, at least half of the viewing for this show is based on paid tickets.” Reader charpaul agreed, saying “I would not have purchased an overpriced dinner at Ariel’s if it did not come with the preferred dining option tickets.”

Other readers disagree, taking the attitude that “stuff happens” and arguing that Disney cannot control the weather or broken water pipes. Reader danyoung said, “You’re paying for dinner, and getting a pretty nice dinner for a pretty nice price. The [World of Color] ticket is a bonus to that dinner—an important bonus, of course, but as at least one [cast member] said, the ticket itself has no value.” Reader AJDerrick said, “Everyone invests something to see [World of Color], whether it’s waiting in line for the [Fastpass] or shelling out the dough for a meal that comes with a pass. Can they give those people who waited to get a [Fastpass] their time back?”

Readers who took the time to file a complaint with Guest Relations reported various results. Reader kaybee2 said, “There were easily 1,000 people in line to make a complaint, and you would think that they would give everyone something, but they offered nothing to any of us,” Reader cosmogrrl said, “We had a dinner package for the 10:15 show, and they did indeed give us nothing.” MouseVII said, “We had asked for a refund, but were told we paid for a $40 meal with the preferred viewing ticket as a gift, and they can’t refund a gift or a meal.” One reader had a little more luck with his complaint —Orz shared that Disney gave him “two DCA-only tickets to use within the next 6 months” so he and his wife could return to see the show another day.

This isn’t the first time Disneyland has offered meal packages in conjunction with show, but even so, Disney does not seem to have a consistent policy for handling canceled shows. When rain threatened to cancel the Candlelight Processional several years ago, MousePlanet staff members Tony and Adrienne were warned by the server before being seated to dinner that the meal would not be refunded if the show was canceled. On the other hand, MousePad Community Leader Malcon10t posted that when a performance of Fantasmic was canceled, her group was refunded the money they spent to purchase the Fantasmic dessert package, even though they had already received the dessert box.

What’s your opinion? Does Disney need to revise its policy on refunds when the show is canceled, or is this just the risk guests have to accept when they book a World of Color dining package? Share your thoughts on our MousePad discussion board.

Costco has a new offer, but read the fine print

Costco has introduced a new offer for Southern California residents, but be sure to read the fine print before you buy to make sure this ticket is really a deal for your specific situation. The 4-day park hopper ticket is $199, and is valid through May 31, 2011. There is no “fuse” on this ticket, so you could use the first entry this week, and your remaining dates next year.It has a few blockout dates, including August 22-23 and the entire period between December 15 to January 1. Curiously, there are no blockout dates for Spring 2011, so keep that in mind if your return trip might fall during the usual spring break period. The ticket does not include Magic Morning entry, but does come with a $50 Disney gift card.

The advance-purchase price of a 4-day Park Hopper is $199 when purchased through the Disneyland Web site, so if that’s the ticket you were already planning to purchase, and the blockout dates don’t interfere with your travel plans, the $50 gift card is a nice incentive to purchase this ticket. But, if you had thoughts of using the Costco ticket to upgrade to a longer-term Park Hopper ticket or to an Annual Passport, think again. While Costco will charge you $199 for the ticket, its “upgrade value” is only $151. If you upgrade to another pass or an AP, you pay the full difference. Suddenly your “free” $50 gift card isn’t so free, and you’ll only save a total of $2 when you upgrade.

If you plan to use up the ticket before September 30, 2010 and want more than four days at the Resort, consider purchasing the “5-Day Park Hopper Bonus Ticket for the Price of 3 Days” for $184, or the “6-Day Park Hopper Bonus Ticket for the Price of 3 Days” for $199 from Disneyland.com. You won’t receive the $50 gift card, but you’ll get an additional one or two days at Disneyland for the same or less money, as well as Magic Morning access.

Fall refurbishment schedule update

For those planning to visit the Disneyland Resort this fall, check the newly updated refurbishment schedule to make sure your favorite rides will be operational when you visit:

Disneyland Rides:

• Star Tours – closed July 27, 2010 to May 19, 2011
• Haunted Mansion – closed August 30 to September 16 to install holiday-theme overlay
• Horse Drawn Streetcars – closed September 7–30
• Main Street Vehicles – closed September 7–30
• Space Mountain – closed September 12–16 to install holiday theme overlay
• Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin – closed September 20 to December 16
• Indiana Jones Adventure – closed September 22 (one day)
• Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters – closed July 19–23
• Mark Twain Riverboat – closed September 27–30

Disneyland Stores:

Newsstand – closed September 7–30

Disneyland Restaurants:

• Village Haus Restaurant – closed August 30 to December 19
• French Market – closed September 13–17

DCA rides:

Toy Story Midway Mania! – closed August 30 to October 10

DCA restaurants:

• Catch-a-Flave – closed September 7–16
• Pizza Oom Mow Mow  – closed September 7, 2010 to May 24, 2011 to convert to Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta

Kids sail free to the Mexican Riviera

MousePlanet reader and Mouse Ear Vacations travel agent Mary Kraemer alerted us to a Kids Sail Free offer on board the Disney Cruise Line for the 10-Night Mexican Riviera cruise departing April 17, 2011. Children (ages 17 and under) traveling with two full-fare guests can sail free when the stay in the same stateroom, though government taxes and fees not included.

Mary says the 10-Night Mexican Riviera cruise includes stops at Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán, Manzanillo and Cabo San Lucas, plus five fun-filled days at sea. The offer is only available to U.S. and Canada residents and is valid for stateroom categories 4-11 only. This offer cannot be combined with any other offers, discounts or on-board credits. The number of cabins allocated to this offer is limited, and must be booked by July 31, 2010.

Resort Construction Update

Construction work continues on the Wonder Tower at the Disneyland Hotel, and you can see from outside the building that one floor of the tower has been partially demolished already, with the exterior windows already removed. Although Disney is working on half of the tower at a time and allowing guests to occupy rooms on the other side of the tower, the construction walls around the base of the building mean detours for guests trying to enter or exit the tower. The Wonder Tower is the farthest removed from the main complex, and furthest from Downtown Disney and the Monorail station, but the relative isolation of the building has been a selling point for those who prefer the peace and quiet of a room overlooking the beautiful landscaping. Now that the construction activity is picking up, guests who are staying at the hotel should consider requesting a room in the recently refurbished Dreams Tower to avoid the hassles.

Construction outside the Wonder Tower might be enough to make you request a different location at the Disneyland Hotel. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Work has progressed to the Wonder Tower, as the Disneyland Hotel refurbishment continues. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

The Fall refurbishment schedule posted above lists September 7, 2010 to May 24, 2011 as the dates for the conversion of Pizza Oom Mow Mow to the new Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta. While Pizza Oom Mow Mow is still open, construction walls have finally gone up around the neighboring Burger Invasion.

It’s been closed for months, but Burger Invasion is finally behind construction walls. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Work continues on the Little Mermaid attraction, with cranes lifting steel beams into place throughout the day. When viewed from across Paradise Bay, the new building is really taking shape.

As viewed from across Paradise Bay, the Little Mermaid building is really taking shape. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

A crane lifts pieces of the steel into position. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

A close up look at the construction inside the Little Mermaid building. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Over in Cars Land, workers have begun shaping the metal form covering the wall which will form a visual barrier between Cars Land and Paradise Pier. The wire mesh forms visible in the photos below will eventually be covered to look like rocks.

The backdrop wall for Cars Land is taking shape behind the Pacific Wharf. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

The backdrop wall for Cars Land is taking shape behind the Pacific Wharf. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

This and That…

Don’t miss Charles Phoenix’s Retro Disneyland Slide Show

…Time is running out to reserve your tickets to the MousePlanet 10th Anniversary Party featuring Charles Phoenix’s Retro Disneyland Slide Show on Saturday, July 17. At press time, there were fewer than 20 seats still available for the show, and we expect them to sell out this week. Don’t miss out!

…For those interested in the latest Disneyland Resort product releases, merchandise programs and promotions, you can now view the July issue of the merchandise newsletter at our MousePad discussion board. Highlights include the Kingdom Keepers III: Disney in Shadow book-signing by Ridley Pearson on Saturday, July 24, special candy and bakery offers from the Resort, and details of the “Sizzling Summer Sale” for passholders and Disney Vacation Club members at the World of Disney store on July 24.

…Disney Vacation Club opened sales for its first DVC Resort in Hawaii last week. Aulani, Disney Vacation Club Villas, Ko Olina, Hawaii, is scheduled to open its first phase in fall 2011, making it the 11th DVC property in the United States. The DVC sales center at the Disneyland Resort has been remodeled to match the decor of the proposed new Villas, and DVC and D23 members were invited to a series of receptions and presentations last week to learn about the new property.

Disneyland is testing a new program to let customers design their own Disney baseball cap. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

…The World of Disney store is testing a new “Build-a-Cap” program. A plain black baseball cap is offered for $12.95, and can be personalized with a variety of patches for $3.95 each. The patches attach to the cap with a Velcro-style hook-and-loop system, so they do not need to be sewn or heat-sealed to the cap.

…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

• Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters – closed July 19 to 23 for refurbishment.
• Star Tours – closes July 26 for refurbishment and addition of elements for Star Tours 2.0. Expected to open in May 20, 2011.
• Haunted Mansion – closed August 30 to September 16 to install the Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay.
• Village Haus Restaurant – closed August 30 to December 19 for refurbishment.
• Horse Drawn Streetcars – closed September 7–30 for refurbishment.
• Main Street Vehicles [Horseless Carriage, Omnibus, Fire Engine] – closed September 7–30 for refurbishment.
• Newsstand – closed September 7–30 for refurbishment.
• Space Mountain – closed September 12–16 to install the Ghost Galaxy overlay.
• French Market – closed September 13–17 for refurbishment.
• Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin – closed September 20 to December 16 for refurbishment.
• Indiana Jones Adventure – closed September 22 (one day)
• Mark Twain Riverboat – closed September 27–30 for deck oiling.

Disney’s California Adventure

Seasonal refurbishments:

• Toy Story Midway Mania!– closed August 30 to October 10 for refurbishment.
• Catch-a-Flave – closed September 7–16 for refurbishment.

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.
• 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 is closed through August 15 to allow construction of a more permanent route between the two lands.
• Pizza Oom Mow Mow – closed September 7, 2010 – May 24, 2011 for conversion to Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta.

Downtown Disney

• 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 events, official or unofficial, that should be listed here, please send us an e-mail (link).

Spring/Summer

• Summer Nightastic! at the Disneyland Resort – Daily, June 11 to Aug. 29. The summer promotion includes Fantasmic and the “Magical” fireworks show in Disneyland, plus the new World of Color show. DCA has extended park hours to 11:00 p.m. and added a third World of Color show on most nights since the show opened.
• Vinylmation Signings at D Street – July 11 & 25; August 7 (trunk show), 14 & 21; September 11 (link).
• 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. The only in-park event commemorating the anniversary so far announced is a merchandise release on Saturday, July 17 from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. in the Disney Gallery on Main Street. See the Art of Disney Parks 55th Anniversary page for details.
• 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).
• Sizzling Summer Sale at the World of Disney Store – July 24, 2010, from 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. (link).
• Kingdom Keepers III: Disney in Shadow book signing by Ridley Pearson – Saturday, July 24, from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. (link).

Fall

• 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).
• Vinylmation Signing at D Street – September 11 (link).
• Destination D – September 24 & 25 at the Disneyland Resort (link). Open only to D23 members, tickets will be available this summer.
• 13th annual Gays Days at the Disneyland Resort (unofficial event) – October 1–3. 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. (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.
• Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland – October 1, 5, 8, 12, 15, 19, 22, 26, 29, 31. Advance-purchase tickets are on sale now for Disneyland Resort Annual Passholders via the AP section of Disneyland.com; Disney Visa Card holders and Disney Vacation Club members can also purchase tickets by phone by calling 714-781-4000. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, July 16 via Disneyland.com.
   
• MousePlanet Night at Mickey’s Halloween 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. Mark your calendars and come join Team MousePlanet as we help raise funds for Children’s Hospital Orange County in their annual charity walk through the Disneyland Resort. Registration is now open. If you’d like more information, visit the Team MousePlanet discussion to chat with other participants

2011

• West Coast 2-night “Cruise to Nowhere” on the Disney Wonder – January 21-23. Nearly 60 MousePlanet readers and staff members have booked this weekend getaway, the first West Coast Disney Cruise for 2011. For more information about this cruise, visit our MousePad discussion boards or contact your favorite travel agent. If you’ve already booked, please add your name to the roll call!
• Spring 2011 MouseAdventure – no details yet. Visit MouseAdventure.com to sign up for our newsletter.
• 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 ($199) – A special offer for Costco members who are also residents of Southern California, this ticket is currently not sold online but must be purchased in Costco stores. Unlike most other park hopper tickets, this ticket has no “fuse” – you can use the first admission today, and have until May 31, 2011 to use the remaining admission days before the ticket expires. The ticket is blocked out August 22-23 and the entire period between Dec 15, 2010 – Jan 1, 2011, and has an “upgrade value” of $151. The ticket states 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.