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News and Views
Time to “Remember”
by Shoshona Lewin, staff writer
When Walt Disney World celebrated its 25th birthday, it asked guests
to “Remember the Magic.” Now Disneyland wants its guests to
remember again when the Happiest Place on Earth celebrates it golden anniversary.
“Remember When” is the official anthem for the park’s 50th
birthday, which kicks off May 5. The song, written and produced by Grammy-winner
Richard Marx and sung by country star LeAnn Rimes, will be heard in TV
and radio commercials, at Disneyland in the “Remember, Dreams Come
True” fireworks show and possibly even at the global celebration
at resorts around the world, including the September 12 opening of Hong
Kong Disneyland.
LeAnn Rimes wearing golden ears provided by Mickey Mouse. Photo by Shoshana Lewin.
Rimes and Marx join other famous faces—and voices—representing
Disneyland’s 50th, including Kelsey Grammer (of TV show Frasier),
whose voice can be heard in the CGI-created “Come Home” commercials,
and Julie Andrews, the celebration’s honorary ambassador.
“[We wanted someone] who would cross genders and generations and
really represent this moment in time,” said Michael Mendenhall, executive
vice president of global marketing for Walt Disney Parks & Resorts,
in his introduction of Disneyland fan Rimes. “[LeAnn] embodies the
spirit of Disneyland.”
The announcement’s location at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank came
as a surprise to many Disney fans, who wondered why an event about Disneyland
was made 30 miles from the resort. The answer was probably convenience.
Rimes taped an episode of The Tonight Show on Thursday afternoon
in Burbank and performed Thursday night at the Roxy in Los Angeles.
“He wrote the most perfect song,” Rimes said of Marx. “It
goes from the lowest lows to the highest highs. It is one of the hardest
songs I ever had to sing.
At the end of the press conference, Mickey Mouse came out to present
Rimes, who said her favorite attraction at Disneyland is the Matterhorn
Bobsled, with a pair of coveted “golden mouse ears,” which will
be sold at the park starting in May.
Mendenhall said there are no plans at the moment to release the song
as a single, but guests can add one more Disney-themed album to their
collection when the new CD, The Official Album of Disneyland’s Anniversary,
debuts on May 3.
Although Rimes said the song “came out beautifully,” we’ll
have to take her word for it. No one at Thursday’s event had the chance
to hear it.
The game’s afoot
MousePlanet is pleased to announce the return of our popular MouseAdventure
event. This time around, we’re going to be in Disneyland Park on Sunday,
March 13, 2005.
In an effort to present a challenging event for our returning teams while
making the game accessible to new players, we are hosting two different
MouseAdventure games on the same day: MouseAdventure Open and MouseAdventure
Invitational: The Enchanted Race. If you are a returning MouseAdventure
participant, this event is unlike any you’ve ever attended. If you’re
new to MouseAdventure, this event is the perfect chance to “get your
feet wet.”
For the first time, we are hosting a post-game dinner and the award ceremony
inside Disneyland. You can read all the general details on the
registration page (link).
Registration closes on March 4 or when the event sells out, whichever
comes first.
The paint bucket brigade carries forth
MousePlanet reader Steve mentioned last week that the paint on the new
Buzz Lightyear building was starting to peel.
The Buzz Lightyear attraction is being repainted before it even opens,
possibly to repair peeling paint spotted on the building. Photo by Adrienne
Vincent-Phoenix.
It looks like the problem was serious enough that scaffolding has been
raised and the building receiving another coat. Rumblings from the Completely
Unsubstantiated Rumor Mill say that the ride may soft open for dress rehearsals
by mid-March.
In December, a member of our MousePad discussion boards spotted a gold
lamppost inside Disneyland, next to the Main Street lockers. We’re not
sure if this was a paint test with all of the poles to be repainted, or
if, like the ride vehicles from the opening-day attractions, only one
will be painted gold. Either way, it’s quite pretty, and worth the side
trip down Center Street to see.
Disneyland’s golden lamppost. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Workers are laying new ties and track for the Disneyland Railroad, which
is expected to reopen in just over a month.
Workers lay the new railroad track leading to the roundhouse. Photo by
Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Workers place the railroad ties as the new track installation continues.
Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
The New Orleans Square station is pretty torn up, but reopens well before
the Tomorrowland station, which at the moment has nothing more than a
shade structure.
Construction continues in and around the New Orleans station. Photo by
Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Workers install the new roof above the Enchanted Tiki Room juice bar.
Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
As promised, we checked out the Haunted Mansion to get photos of the
changes to the ride. In the queue area, the mausoleum is under refurbishment.
The Haunted Mansion mausoleum is being refurbished. Photo by Adrienne
Vincent-Phoenix.
Inside the long hallway just after the elevators, the May / December
portrait was replaced with this painting. The image “flashes”
between regular and skeletal in time with the lightning outside the mansion.
This painting replaced the May / December portait in the Haunted Mansion.
Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Unfortunately, photos of Madame Leota’s floating crystal ball proved
difficult to capture without using a flash, or causing the ride to stop
in the seance room. The ball does float high above the seance table, and
actually moves around quite a bit.
Splash Mountain is still closed, as a new “fleet” of logs are
prepared. An area cast member assures us that riders will indeed face
forward in the new logs, and that the rear seat is intended for two people. [Note: This item originally reported the rear seat was for just one person.]
Work continues on Splash Mountain. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
The rolling repaving project is currently working around the Matterhorn
and Triton’s Gardens area. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
More Mice
The wear and tear of thousands of park visitors have begun to take their
toll on the 75 Mickey sculptures scattered around Disney’s California
Adventure, and several more are surrounded by the rope barriers designed
to keep little Timmy from using them as a piece of playground equipment.
Statue #2, “All the World’s His Stage,” designed by Susan Lucci.
Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Statue #5, “Base Mouse,” designed by Gary Baseman. Photo by
Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Statue #8, “Big City Mouse,” designed by Kelly Ripa. Photo by
Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Statue #11, “Crazy Style Mickey,” designed by MEAR ONE. Photo
by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Statue #12, “Delivery Man Mickey,” designed by Kelly Kozel and
Sharon Noh for the Coca-Cola Company. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Statue #13, “Dunk Mouse,” designed by Shaquille O’Neal. Photo
by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Two of the figures have elluded our photographer: “True Blue”
by Marlee Matlin, and “Viva Mickey” by Luis Armand Garcia. If
you’ve spotted either sculpture, be sure to drop a note here,
so we can add their photos to the collection.
Ears to the ground
Disneyland has revealed dates and a logo, but few details about the 50th
Anniversary merchandise event. Photo © Disney.
…Disneyland has posted a little more information about the 50th
Anniversary special event, now scheduled for July 15–17, 2005:
It’s not just another walk in the Park! Journey back with us, to a time when this magical place was only Do you too dream of going home to Main Street, discovering castles Please continue to watch www.DisneyGallery.com (link) |
…The Napa Rose restaurant at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel features
live jazz in the Napa Rose Lounge, Wednesday through Friday, from 6:30–10:30
p.m.
…David Koenig shares this e-mail:
The Disneyland Resort Alumni has announced that their 50th Reunion/Dinner
will be held on Saturday July 30 at the Disneyland Hotel’s Grand Ballroom.
1400 former cast members are expected. If you are an Ex-Disneylander
and would like to be a part of this once-every-five-years event, please
contact Yumiko Esail either by email: Yume@Pacbell.net or by mail at:
P.O. Box 2762, Toluca Lake, Ca. 91610-0762. The club will announce additional
details, including cost and entertainment, by the end of the month.
Don’t keep it to yourself! Send us your news tips,
rumors, and comments. E-mail us here.
Current Refurbishments and Attraction Closures
Disneyland
Note: Disneyland is progressively refurbishing more and more attractions
as the park readies for its 50th anniversary celebration in 2005.
Will the teacups spin again when the Mad Tea Party reopens this week?
Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
- Big Thunder Ranch opens Feb. 11
- Mad Tea Party opens Feb. 11
- Minnie’s House opens March 5
- Aladdin’s Oasis opens March 12
- Plaza Pavilion opens March 12
- Enchanted Tiki Room opens March 12
- Disneyland Railroad opens March 18
- Mark Twain Riverboat closed February 1 – March
17 - Splash Mountain opens March 18
- Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride closed February 28 – March 17
- Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln closed February 22 – April
15 to install the 50th Anniversary exhibit in the Main Street Opera
House - Disney Gallery closed March 28 – May 4
- Honey I Shrunk the Audience closed April 4 – April 8
- Disneyland Railroad Tomorrowland station opens May 3
- Jungle Cruise closed February 28 – May 3
- Casey Jr. Circus Trains closed April 4 – May 3
- Storybook Land Canal Boats closed April 4 – May 4
- Haunted Mansion closed September 6–29 to install Haunted
Mansion Holiday overlay; closed Jan. 9–25, 2006 to remove overlay - Space Mountain closed thru Nov. 4
Disney’s California Adventure
Reburbishment work in the Golden State area of DCA. Photo by Adrienne
Vincent-Phoenix.
- Jumpin’ Jellyfish reduced capacity Feb. 22 – March 4
- Playhouse Disney closed Feb. 22 – March 10
- Maliboomer reduced capacity (2 of 3 towers operating) thru
Feb. 22
- It’s Tough to be a Bug! closed April 4 – May 4
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.
Park Events
February
- Dining Around Downtown Disney at the Disneyland Resort – exclusive
annual passholder event at Joachim Splichal’s Downtown Disney Restaurants.
Monday, February 28, 4 – 9 p.m. Taste the flavors of the world
at the Patina Group’s Downtown Disney District restaurants. Visit Tortilla
Jo’s for real Mexican food and a live mariachi band, Catal for Mediterranean
cuisine, and Naples Ristorante e Pizzeria for Italian favorites. RSVP
to events@patinagroup.com or (714) 776-4000. $10 per passholder, each
guest must show valid annual passport to participate.
March
- Indiana Jones Adventure 10th Anniversary event. March 3 at
Disneyland. Tickets on sale now (link).
- MousePlanet’s MouseAdventure event – Sunday, March 13
at Disneyland. Registration now open (link).
May
- Disneyland closed on May 4, 2005
to “put the finishing touches” on the 50th Anniversary celebration.
DCA open on May 4.
- Disneyland’s 50th Anniversary celebration begins May 5.
June
- 2005 Summer Pin Festival. June 24 – Aug. 15 at the Disneyland
Resort. No details have been announced (link).
July
- Disneyland 50th Anniversary special event. July 15 – 17. No
details have been announced, but Disney is taking an interest list (link)
for those who want to receive e-mail updates about the event.
- July 2005 NFFC convention. July 9–13. The Show and Sale
is scheduled for July 10.
Current Discounts & Promotions
Several current promotions offer discounted admission to the Disneyland
Resort. For convenience sake, 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 which works best for you. And keep those tips coming – let us
know if you find a better / different offer, so we can share it with other
readers!
One Day | No discounts offered to the general public for single-day admission. |
Two Days | Southern California 2Fer Ticket ($53/$43) through April 28, Tickets: $53 for ages 10 and older, $43 for ages 3 to 9. You must According to the official promotion details, Southern California Reader James tells us that he purchased these tickets at the |
Good Neighbor Hotel Park Hopper Plus tickets ($105/$85) | |
AAA Flex Passport ($98/$78) – Some AAA offices offer A reader let us know that AAA offices in Oregon / Idaho do not | |
Three Days | AAA Flex Passport ($129/$99) – Some AAA offices offer |
Good Neighbor Hotel Park Hopper Plus tickets ($114/$114) | |
City Pass ($172/$129) through March 31, 2005 | |
City Pass ($185/$127) effective April 1, 2005 | |
Costco City Pass promotion ($149.99/$114.99) Available at Southern California Costco stores or at the Costco | |
3-Day Park Hopper Bonus tickets ($109/$109) ($139/$109) If you plan to visit the Disneyland resort after April 28, take Both offers are available at the Disneyland Web site (link), Several readers wrote to tell us that the Safeway stores in | |
Four Days | Costco Play 4 Days ticket ($89/$89) – Costco You get a voucher to exchange at a Disneyland Resort ticket booth The ticket is valid through June 23, 2005, or until the fourth |
Good Neighbor Hotel Park Hopper Plus tickets ($134/$134) | |
4-Day Park Hopper Bonus tickets ($129/$129) ($159/$129) If you plan to visit the Disneyland Resort after April 28, you Both of these ticket offers are available through the Disneyland | |
Five Days | Disney’s AAA Passport Plus Package 2005 ($169/$139)
An additional handling fee of $10 is charged per mailing address. Several readers report that their local AAA offices do not offer MousePlanet has contacted AAA offices around the country and The Auto Club of Southern California (ACSC) is not participating |
5-Day Park Hopper Bonus tickets ($139/$139) ($169/$139) If you plan to visit the Disneyland Resort after April 28, take Both of these ticket offers are available through the Disneyland | |
Alaska Airlines “Kids Fly Free” promotion through | |
Six or Seven Days | Disney’s AAA Passport Plus Package 2005 – The Parkhopper
An additional handling fee of $10 is charged per mailing address. Several readers report that their local AAA offices do not offer The Auto Club of Southern California (ACSC) is not participating |
Special thanks to MousePlanet reader David Michael for some of |
Alaska Airlines “Kids Fly Free” promotion returns
Alaska Airlines is repeating the popular “Kids Fly Free” promotion
for travel to the Disneyland Resort, and is offering park ticket and hotel
discounts as well.
If you book an Alaska Airlines Southern California Vacations package
for travel between January 4 and June 29, 2005, one child (age 2-11) can
fly free with each paid adult ticket. The package also includes four nights
at the Holiday Inn Buena Park and airport transfers via Karmel Shuttle
(children 2-11 are free). The packages, including airfare and hotel, start
at $429 per person.
Even better, if you travel between January 4 and April 28, you also receive
a free child’s 5-day Disneyland Resort park hopper for each paid adult.
If you are traveling without children, you can instead purchase the adult
5-day park hopper ticket at the children’s price. Be aware, however, that
Disneyland considers 11-year-olds to be adults for the purpose of admission
pricing.
If Buena Park is too far away from Disneyland for you, you can upgrade
to a Disneyland Resort hotel and receive up to $200 Disney Dollars with
a stay of four nights or more before April 24, 2005.
Finally, if you book the package through alaskaair.com, you get 1500
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Bonus Miles per passenger. For more information,
visit the Alaska Airlines Web site (link).
You must book packages by March 21, 2005.
Disneyland Resort Annual Passholder offers and promotions
Get January AP rates at the Disneyland Resort, starting at $79 per night
at Paradise Pier Hotel. Promotion valid Sunday – Thursday for arrivals
January 2–31, 2005. Additional restrictions apply. Call (714) 956-MICKEY
(714-956-6425) to book.
50th Anniversary Package, revised
The Happiest Homecomings on Earth package has been revised for the new
year. The previous promotion was good only for three-night stays at the
Disneyland Resort hotels; the new offer is valid on longer stays and includes
Good Neighbor Hotels as well.
Instead of the 50th anniversary commemorative clock and Walk in Walt’s
Footsteps tour, the new packages include all the following:
- “Enchanting” commemorative certificate (one per package)
- Park Hopper bonus ticket, which includes one early entry into Fantasyland
and a $10 ESPN Zone game card. (Park hopper tickets can be upgraded
to an annual pass for an extra fee) - Preferred seating to select shows at Disney’s California Adventure
- Entry into Mickey’s Toontown Madness
- Walt Disney Travel Co. lanyard and pin (one per person)
- Walt Disney Travel Co. luggage tag
- Walt Disney Travel Co. fun book (one per package)
The “Happiest Homecoming on Earth” package is available for
arrival dates through December 31, 2005. The package can be booked through
the Disneyland Web site (link),
or by calling (714) 520-5060.
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
Sun | Mon | Tues | Wed | Thurs | Fri | Sat |
2/7 | 2/8 | 2/9 | 2/10 | 2/11 | 2/12 | |
DL: 10a–8p | DL: 10a–8p | DL: 10a–8p | DL: 10a–8p | DL: 9a–11p | DL: 8a–Mid | |
2/13 | 2/14 | 2/15 | 2/16 | 2/17 | 2/18 | 2/19 |
DL: 8a–11p | DL: 10a–8p | DL: 10a–8p | DL: 10a–8p | DL: 10a–8p | DL: 8a–Mid | DL: 8a–Mid |
2/20 | 2/21 | 2/23 | 2/24 | 2/25 | 2/26 | 2/27 |
DL: 8a–Mid | DL: 8a–11p | DL: 10a–8p | DL: 10a–8p | DL: 10a–8p | DL: 9a–11p | DL: 8a–Mid |
Visit our Annual
Passholders Blockout Dates 2005 page to see more dates. You can
see future calendar schedules at Disneyland.com here.
Entertainment schedule: Go directly to the Disneyland Resort schedule
for this week at Disneyland.com here.