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News and Views
50th activities and coverage
This section of the update has been updated with information received by MousePlanet after initial publication of the update. Incorrect information has been removed and new information is in blue. Much of it expands or contradicts the information we previously had.
On Friday, July 8, Disney finally released some more information about
events surrounding the 50th Anniversary scheduled for July 17…and
it still isn’t very helpful. Touting a “week-long series of events,”
the list is actually only five days long and the general public is only
invited to three of the five events. As for what will be happening on
the 17th, not much more is known. At 10:00 a.m. there will be a ceremony
of some sort in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle with Mickey Mouse, Michael
Eisner, Robert Iger, Art Linkletter, and Diane Disney Miller.
Based on information given to MousePlanet with our media credential
for the event, it sounds like the media presence will be more contained
than on May 5 (read our coverage here).
If you don’t want to tussle for good direct viewing, Jumbotron-type monitors
will be set up around the park so that everyone will, hopefully, be able
to watch it in some form. Five locations will have screens: Town Square, Central Plaza (the Hub), Small World Mall, somewhere in Tomorrowland, and the Rivers of America.
As for what else is going on that day, nothing has been officially announced. Every guest entering the park will receive a pair of gold Mickey Mouse ears, the ears are different than the ones sold in the park and can not be embroidered. There has been some back-and-forth on how to distribute the birthday cupcakes, and it now looks like they might be a gift with purchase at any “foods” location (this excludes OCV carts). There is still some talk that vouchers might be distributed as guests enter the park, and it definitely won’t be a free-for-all as with past milestone birthdays. The press release says “a day-long series of special events” without saying what they will are; in the absence of official information, many rumors swirl about. One certain event will occur at 4:45 p.m. when Walt’s dedication speech will be played over the park’s P.A. system, there will be no video on the large monitors and no “central area” for the event, it will just play over the entire park. There is some information floating about of a limited edition pin release with a complex procedure for claiming and purchasing the pin.
The most frequent question we’ve been getting at MousePlanet lately
is, “What will the crowds be like on the 17th, will I get in?”
It is going to be very crowded on the 17th and there is no guarantee that
you’ll get into the park. It is very likely you will, but the only guests
with guaranteed access are participants in the merchandise event who will
be inside the park before it opens. Beyond that, if the fire marshal decides
the park is at capacity (likely somewhere between 70,000 and 80,000 people),
then there is no guarantee for anybody. Being a guest at one of the three
on-property hotels may get you preferential entry, but if the gates are
closed they are closed completely.
Once the gates close, even reservations inside the park (Blue Bayou,
Club 33, Fantasmic seating, tours, etc.) inside the park are no guarantee
of entry. If the gates do close, the sale of tickets will stop (though
there is some talk that the ticket booths may not even open on the 17th)
and nobody will be allowed into the park, regardless of whether they are
trying to get in for the first time or to reenter after having been in
earlier. Before leaving the park for any reason, confirm at the gate that they are still allowing people into the park.
So what time should you show up to be sure you get in? Even if the park
quickly fills up, there will not be 70,000 people in line when the park
opens on July 17. It should be fine (though there are never any guarantees)
to show up around 8 a.m. and be fine getting in. It will likely be several
hours before the park fills, and it is possible it won’t fill until late
afternoon when people start arriving for the afternoon parade and evening
fireworks (a lot of people are hoping that Remember… Dreams Come
True will be part of one of the special events in the day-long series).
If you do want to camp out here is the setup:
- DCA will open at 2:00 am 7/17 for the purpose of holding guests waiting to get into Disneyland. – valid 7/17 DL admission will be required to enter DCA and ticket booths will be open. When guests queue up they will get their commemorative ears and whatever other gifts will be given out on the 17th. The commemorative ears are not the regular ones currently sold in the park, and they can not be embroidered. Limited refreshments will be available for sale inside DCA – Smoozies, Award Wieners (limited menu), ODV. Restrooms will be open. NO entertainment. It’s a line, not a party. When guests enter the park they will receive a wristband. If they leave for whatever reason, they will lose that wristband. If they return, they will have to rejoin the line wherever it currently is at that time.
- The Timon lot will be open, with tram service, for those who wish to camp out in DCA the morning of 7/17. The Mickey & Friends parking lot will open at 6:00 a.m.
- DCA will stop admitting people around 6 a.m. Guests who arrive after that will queue outside of the security checkpoints at either end of the Esplanade.
- Disneyland will open at 7:00 a.m. for an “unpublished opening.” The DCA crowd will be escorted into Disneyland at that time. The security checkpints will re-open once the DCA crowd is inside Disneyland, bag check’s will resume and people will be allowed to go right into Disneyland. It is estimated that it may take as long as an hour to get all of the DCA crowd into Disneyland, so the 8:00 announced opening time might be accurate for those who do not camp inside DCA.
- They probably will not do the softer, staggered closes we’re familiar with as attendance increases. There is a maximum capacity number, which has not been disclosed, and the park will close when that number is reached. When the gates close, it will be a hard close – NOBODY gets, regardless of their story.
At the end of the day, it isn’t going to be much better. As guests who
were at the park on the Fourth of July were reminded, when Disneyland
has huge crowds leaving all at once, they stop running the trams and require
you to walk back to your car (the tram loading areas would quickly overload
and lead to logistical nightmares). If you leave Disneyland on the 17th
after the fireworks, don’t be surprised if you have to walk back to your
car.
Finally, for those people not able to visit the park this weekend, keep
checking in with MousePlanet for continuous coverage. We’re not sure how
much interest there will be, but our intent is to cover the weekend as
we did the celebration kickoff on May 4 (link).
Most of the MousePlanet staff will be at or around the park this weekend
and we’ll provide updates every time we have one. All of this will start
on Friday morning when we’ll have information from the July 14 ceremony
in Hollywood where Disneyland will be getting a star on the Walk of Fame
near the El Capitan Theater, and continue with the official openings of
Turtle Talk with Crush and Space Mountain. Saturday will likely be pretty
quiet, and who knows what is coming on Sunday? We’ll cover it all, though.
Here is the press release announcing some of the events
ANAHEIM, Calif., July 8 /PRNewswire/ — The countdown to July 17 and the actual 50th anniversary of Disneyland has begun. Various memorable events are planned throughout the week of July 11 to commemorate what U.S. President Ronald Reagan called “one of America’s national treasures.”
Although the Disneyland “Happiest Homecoming On Earth” 50th anniversary celebration festivities continue through 2006, the actual anniversary is one of this summer’s highly anticipated events. To commemorate this milestone occasion, the following special events are planned to salute 50 years of Disneyland:
July 13 — Fred Segal
Famed Hollywood boutique Fred Segal salutes the 50th anniversary of Disneyland with an invitation-only evening of high, fun fashion as its Santa Monica locale debuts the new “Disney Vintage” apparel line saluting Disneyland during a star-studded evening Wednesday, July 13.
July 14 — Hollywood Salutes Disneyland
The stars will shine on Thursday, July 14, as Disneyland is honored
on the occasion of its milestone 50th anniversary by the Hollywood Historic
Trust and Johnny Grant, honorary mayor of Hollywood. In recognition
of its 50th anniversary, Disneyland will receive the coveted Award of
Excellence star adjacent to the “Hollywood Walk of Fame” during
a 10:30 am ceremony next to the El Capitan Theatre. Accepting the award
in person on behalf of Disneyland and its 20,000 cast members will be
Michael D. Eisner, chief executive officer of The Walt Disney Company,
Robert Iger, CEO-elect and president of The Walt Disney Company and
Mickey Mouse. Joining them will be an additional eye-popping cast of
49 Disney Characters on-hand to celebrate the moment.
July 15 — Space Mountain Returns/Premiere of Turtle Talk With Crush
The Disneyland Resort will welcome two new attractions to Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure on Friday,
Space Mountain blasts-off into a new era of thrills as the popular Disneyland attraction reopens in a ceremony attended by legendary U.S. Astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first man to step foot on the lunar surface of the moon (August 11,1969). The high-speed interstellar adventure reopens following nearly two years of being re-Imagineered for the 21st century. As the signature attraction of Tomorrowland, “Space Mountain” beckons guests anew to its special brand of intergalactic thrills.
A new wave of fun washes ashore at Disney’s California Adventure as Olympic Gold Medalist swimmer Amanda Beard helps to open Turtle Talk with Crush, an all-new attraction inside the park’s “Disney Animation” exhibit. The California native and four-time Olympic medalist will introduce guests to the park’s new and unbelievable encounter experience with Crush, the sea turtle from the Walt Disney Pictures presentation of a Pixar Animation Studios film “Finding Nemo.”
July 16 — An Evening of Magic
On Saturday, July 16, there will be stars over the Pacific and aboard the Disney Magic in the Port of Los Angeles as The Walt Disney Company salutes the Make-A-Wish Foundation and 50 years of making dreams come true. Hollywood celebrities and dignitaries will be aboard to help raise money for this renowned organization.
July 17 — 50 YEARS OF DISNEYLAND MAGIC
Sunday, July 17, Disneyland celebrates its actual 50th anniversary with
a day-long series of special events highlighted by a heartwarming rededication
ceremony in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle at 10:00 am, featuring Mickey
Mouse, Michael D. Eisner (chief executive officer of The Walt Disney
Company), Robert Iger (CEO-elect and president of The Walt Disney Company),
Art Linkletter (Host of the Disneyland opening day live TV broadcast
in 1955) and Walt Disney’s eldest daughter, Diane Disney Miller.
July 7 Response
Following the London bomb attack on July 7, Disneyland Resort increased
security in certain areas, although the Department of Homeland Security
only increased the alert level for mass transit systems and airlines.
Security cast members began wearing their orange vests, which they do
whenever the alert level goes up, to increase visibility and awareness
of security. Prior to the park’s opening on July 8, the Anaheim Police
Department brought in its K-9 units and performed a thorough search of
both parks. The Anaheim Police Department’s dog wagon was left near the
Downtown Disney tram loading area for most of the day (without dogs),
apparently as another visibility effort.
Though bag checks at the security checkpoints were a bit more vigilant, they still did not seem sufficient to keep any serious contraband out of the parks.
Though no specific threat against Disneyland is known, the huge crowds
for the park’s anniversary on July 17 must be a period of heightened concern,
even without the London attack. During the evening of July 9, a suspicious
package in the short-term parking lot on Harbor Boulevard triggered a
response from security and the Anaheim Police Department. The lot was
closed for a period, and the Timon parking lot tram service was interrupted.
An investigation showed it to be a false alarm.
NFFC Convention
We have heard that single day passes to the annual NFFC (National Fantasy Fan Club) convention are still available. The convention started on Saturday, July 9, and runs through Wednesday, July 13. Single-day passes can be purchased at the door, as available, and cost $60. The convention is being held at the Crowne Plaza Resort in Garden Grove. For a schedule of events and further information, visit the NFFC Web site (link).
VMK tour clarifications
Last week’s update mentioned a Disneyland tour awarded to Virtual Magic Kingdom
members who complete the three available quests from the VMK kiosk in
Tomorrowland. The item included several misleading or incorrect pieces
of information. When it was described as a “behind-the-scenes”
tour, it was not our intent to imply that the tour would go backstage
at Disneyland. Rather it provides “behind-the-scenes” information
about the online Virtual Magic Kingdom game.
A cast member familiar with the tour informed us that the tour is only
two hours long rather than three, and access is given to three attractions
rather than five, and then only on a time and availability basis. This
is how the tour is defined and should be all you can expect. However,
based on reports from people who have been on the tour, it seems there
is some variety in length of tour and number of attractions offered.
Frequent photo contributor David Michael took the tour on July 3, and
has an extensive photo-journal of the experience (link).
Two new theme park CDs to debut tomorrow
Tomorrow, Walt Disney Records releases two theme park-focused CDs, new
and old. For those who have purchased the six-disc 50th anniversary A
Musical History of Disneyland set but do not have the equipment to
play the bonus vinyl record included in the set, fear not; tomorrow, you
can buy Walt Disney Takes You to Disneyland on CD (buy).
In 1956, the album was the first record released by Disneyland Records,
which later became Walt Disney Records. Walt Disney narrates a tour through
Disneyland, which features music from all lands of the park.
If you’d rather sing along to theme park tunes without having to compete
with the original voices, Disney’s Carafe Series: Theme Park Favorites
(buy) is being released the same day. Featuring songs such as
“: Yo Ho (A Pirate’s Life for Me),” “There’s a Great Big
Beautiful Tomorrow,” “it’s a small world” and the new Happiest
Celebration anthem “Remember When,” the CD also is coded in
CD+G format so that it will display lyrics on a screen when using a karaoke
machine while still being able to play in a standard CD player, and includes
both instrumental and vocal versions of eight songs.
Ears to the Ground
…A second piano has been added at Refreshment Corner in Disneyland.
The new piano is in the same location as the first piano, which was moved
several months ago to the porch at Plaza Pavilion, about 30 feet away.
Hopefully this is a sign that Rod Miller will be returning soon, and it
also sparks some interesting thoughts of “dueling pianos” type
entertainment.
…MousePad poster MonorailChris recently posted information (link)
that may be of interest to any former cast members at the now-gone Monorail
Café. A reunion picnic is being held on July 31 for these cast
members and their families. See the post for further details. Also, for
anybody else hosting similar unofficial events, feel free to send us your
information and we’ll see about helping you get the word out.
…Don’t expect that the sudden end to the feud between Roy Disney and
Michael Eisner means that Disney will be at the park for the 50th Anniversary
celebrations. Roy Disney is already committed to participate in the 43rd
Transpacific Yacht Race from Los Angeles to Hawai’i. Disney has competed
in the biennial race 15 times since his first in 1975; the only race he
missed was in 1997, due to a broken leg. The 75-year-old Roy Disney has
announced that this will be his last race, meaning it is his last chance
to break the race record, which he set in 1999. Diane Disney Miller will
be the family representative on hand for the event at Disneyland.
Don’t keep it to yourself! Send us your news tips, rumors, and comments. E–mail us
here.
Current Refurbishments and Attraction Closures
Disneyland
Space Mountain
opens July 15 (with ongoing soft openings now).
Haunted Mansion closed
September 6–29 to install Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay; closed Jan. 9–25, 2006 to remove overlay
Pirates of the Caribbean
closed October 3 through December 13 (this closure does not have an official announcement supporting it; it should be taken as strong rumor and not certain fact). New rumors say that this refurbishment may be pushed out to early 2006 and be as long as four months. As soon as anything is confirmed, we’ll say so.
Submarine Lagoon
is currently beginning work on a new Finding Nemo attraction; still unofficial at this time with an opening date unannounced.
Disney’s California Adventure
The former
SuperStar Limo
building is now the future
Monster, Inc.: Mike and Sully to the Rescue
which will open January 2006.
Turtle Talk with Crush
is being installed in Animation Building; opens mid-July.
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.
Events
June
Magical Milestone – A Pin Celebration. June 24 – Aug. 15 at the Disneyland Resort (link).
July
Disneyland star on Hollywood Walk of Fame. July 14. Disneyland will get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, no details have yet been released.
Disneyland 50th Anniversary special event. July 15–17. Three days of merchandising events with multiple purchase plans (link).
July 2005 NFFC convention.
July 9–13. The Show and Sale is scheduled for July 10.
Robert Olszewski merchandise release. July 16 at Grand Californian Hotel. The first non–Main Street piece in his “Disneyland in Miniature” collection: Mad Tea Party. Also Main Street Train.
September
Robert Olszewski merchandise release. September 10 at Disneyland Park. Several new pieces in his “Disneyland in Miniature” collection: Disney Showcase/Magic Shop/20th Century Music and Jungle Cruise as well as a pin trading cart and a marching band character pack.
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!
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Fourth Night Free
Get a fourth night free if you stay at any of the three Disneyland Resort hotels for three or more consecutive nights. Visits must happen August 28 through December 18, 2005 (link).
2005 Resort Magic Package
This package (link) for couples includes two nights’ lodging and a park hopper tickets. Travel must occur “value seasons” now through July 2, 2005; August 28–November 21, 2005; and November 27–December 23, 2005.
50th Anniversary 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)
Two versions of the package are available. For $349 per person (double occupancy) you can stay at one of the on–property Disney hotels. For $229 per person (double occupancy) you can get the same package while staying at the Jolly Roger Hotel or Red Roof Inn Maingate.
50th Anniversary Package
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 must be booked online through the Disneyland Web site (link) by December 28, 2005.
Kids Fly Free
Alaska Airlines “Kids Fly Free” promotion through June 29, 2005 –
Alaska Airlines has a package that includes either a free 5–day park hopper with each paid adult ticket, or an adult 5–day park hopper for the children’s price. You must book packages by June 1, and travel must be completed by June 29. Visit the Alaska Airlines Web site (link) for more details.
Free Stroller Rental
Holders of a Disney Visa card can get up to two free stroller rentals per day at the Disneyland Resort. This offer is valid through September 30, 2006 and you must present a valid Disney Visa card at time of rental.
ESPN Zone MVP Club
If you sign up online for ESPN Zone’s MVP Club (link), you can receive a $20 voucher (for food, merchandise, or game cards), a 40–point game card (about $10 worth), and an ESPN Zone mini–cooler. ESPN Club in Orlando is excluded from this offer. You must pick up these items in person, although they do not have to be used as the same store from which you get them. There are some fairly strict requirements for registering and getting your rewards, so make sure you read the details carefully (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
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7/10 | 7/11 | 7/12 | 7/13 | 7/14 | 7/15 | 7/16 |
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7/17 | 7/18 | 7/19 | 7/20 | 7/21 | 7/22 | 7/23 |
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Visit our
Annual Passholders Blockout Dates 2005 page
to see more dates. You can see future calendar schedules at Disneyland.
Entertainment schedule: Go directly to the Disneyland Resort schedule for this week at Disneyland.com
here.
