Update for October 10-17, 2005
Go directly to: News & Views| Current Refurbishment/Attraction Closures| Park Events| Discounts/Promotions| Park Schedule/Blockout Dates
News and Views
Final MouseAdventure reminder
Time is quickly running out to register for this weekend’s edition of MouseAdventure. We’re quickly approaching the 150 team mark, and would love to see that threshhold crossed before registration closes Wednesday morning. For more information about our event and instructions on how to register, see our MouseAdventure page (link).
Because we’ll be otherwise occupied and very tired by the end of MouseAdventure weekend, unless something big happens, we do not expect to publish a Disneyland Park Update next Monday, though the Walt Disney World Park Update will appear as usual.
Patina Group restaurant tour
The Patina Group operates three of the restaurants in Downtown Disney: Tortilla Jo’s, Catal, and Naples. Earlier this year they offered an Annual Passholder exclusive event that toured the three restaurants offering samples of the various menu items. As you can read if you visit this thread on our message board (link), it was very well-received.
Well, they’re doing it again. Here is the official announcement they sent out:
Exclusive Passholder Event
Dining Around Downtown DisneyJoin us for our second exclusive passholder event at the Patina Group’s Downtown Disney® District restaurants. Taste your way around the world, with stops at Tortilla Jo’s for real Mexican food, Catal for Mediterranean cuisine, and Naples Ristorante e Pizzeria to taste our new, authentic Neapolitan pizza.
Join us for this exclusive culinary adventure!
RSVP to kenriquez@patinagroup.com or 866-9-PATINAMonday, November 7
4 – 9pm
$10 per passholder
You’ll want to RSVP early, as the success of the first event is likely to make this one much more popular.
Second verse, same as the first
With California Screamin’ at Disney’s California Adventure now in pretty continuous testing, the rumors of its imminent reopening are coming fast and furious. The popular coaster has been down since July 29, when it experienced a minor collision (with no major injuries). Last last week, a very strong rumor popped up saying that the ride would be opening on Friday or Saturday. It did not.
Last Friday, Alex Stroup of MousePlanet spoke with Dean Fryer, spokesman for the Division of Industrial Relations, the parent organization for the California Department of Occupational Safety and Health, the agency responsible for investigating amusement park accidents in California. Here is how Alex recapped the conversation in a thread on our message board discussing the rumor.
Here is what I was told by Cal-DOSH. The report is in its final stages, out for executive and legal review. It still needs that review, go back to the investigators for probably minor, but possibly major, edits then back to executive/legal review.
Disney will then need to show compliance with the requirements of the report. Disney knows what will be required (though executive review could change them) so it is possible that once the report is issued they will be ready to immediately seek sign-off on the attraction reopening. The odds of these final steps taking place today (so that the ride could open tomorrow) are pretty unlikely. He wouldn’t give an estimate of when the report will be done since that would make presumptions about what would happen in the reviews. My sense was that, even if it all goes smoothly we’re still at least a week out from the report’s completion though easily longer than that.
He also said that it was possible for Cal-DOSH to sign off on the ride reopening before the report is complete (and this is more common in minor incidents), but that in this case it was really unlikely.
So, yes it is possible the ride will be open tomorrow, but I wouldn’t encourage anybody to go to the park in hopes that it will be.
So, what does all this means? It means “who knows?” As Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix pointed out in post that followed, MousePlanet was told much the same thing following the fatal Big Thunder Mountain Railroad accident—and then the ride reopened the next day. Disney has been seen testing with up to four trains simultaneously and may already have been emergency-stop tests. So, it could be a few days—or weeks—away, which is where we have been all along.
All the Internet wags will off course do their best to get wind of the reopening before it happens, but it is entirely possible that when it reopens it will take everybody by surprise. Or it may be the worst-kept secret and everybody will know a week before it happens. We’ll do our best to weed through it, though.
Tests continue to run with these water-filled plastic containers taking the place of real riders. Photo by David Michael.
Dick Van Dyke
While Disneyland still hasn’t released any official details about this year’s Candlelight Processional on December 3 and 4, they have announced internally that Dick Van Dyke will be the host and narrator of this year’s ceremonies. It will be his second time taking such duties; the first time was in 1965.
Segway tour
It looks like Disney’s California Adventure is finally getting its first park tour. And it is one perfectly suited to the parks wide walkways. Though nothing has been announced on the Disneyland Web site and the reservations agents at 714-781-4000 don’t yet have any information (and may not until very shortly before the inaugural tour), AAA has received the following announcement.
New Tour Will Have You “Cruising” in California
“Cruzin’ Disney’s California Adventure park” is the latest tour offered to Guests seeking a new and thrilling way to explore the Disneyland Resort. Scheduled to debut on November 7, 2005, this tour comes with a surprising, two-wheeled twist!
That’s because you will have the opportunity to participate in a one-hour training course to become proficient on a Segway vehicle. After the training, you will ride through Disney’s California Adventure park, maneuvering your vehicle over different terrain and through various locations. Each participant will also receive an exclusive cloisonné pin designed for this tour experience. Unique photo locations and opportunities will also be highlighted on this tour.
No price information is yet available, nor can you make a reservation. We’ll provide further updates as information comes available. Presumably it will be similar to the Segway tour offered at Ecpot.
Coolest car update
Another week and seven more cars have been given away. While the odds of you getting one of the seven qualifiying tickets aren’t so good, it appears your chances of winning the car if you do aren’t bad at all. Last Monday there were only three finalists, then three again on Thursday, and four on Friday.
Last Monday’s winner had the whole clan present. Photo by David Michael.
Those autumn crowds
Surprisingly strong attendance at Disneyland in this post-Labor Day off-season has prompted a sudden expansion of Disneyland’s hours. Disneyland will now be opening at 9:00 a.m. on all weekdays rather than the originally scheduled 10:00 a.m. Monday-Thursday. The hours at DCA remain unchanged. Early Entry days will now be one hour earlier.
Dangerous popcorn
In last week’s update, we noted that a performance of Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular had been interrupted by fire alarms and an evacuation of cast and crew. Since the next show went on as scheduled we assumed it was a minor event or false alarm but asked for details if anybody had them.
Several people wrote in reporting that it was the bane of all workplace environments: Microwave popcorn. It seems someone let their bag go too long and it burned, setting off the fire alarms. This is annoying enough when it interrupts the 3:00 p.m. planning meeting at your local cube farm, so it must be really irritating when you’re doing live theater.
Don’t keep it to yourself! Send us your news tips, rumors, and comments. E–mail us here.
Current Refurbishments and Attraction Closures
Don’t keep it to yourself! Send us your news tips, rumors, and comments. E–mail us here.
Disneyland
- Snow White, An Enchanted Musical closed. On hiatus during off season; expected to return for final season in summer 2006.
- it’s a small world closed October 24–November 10 to install holiday overlay; closed January 9-25, 2006, to remove overlay
- Pirates of the Caribbean closed March 6–June 16, 2006 for major refurbishment and possible show updates.
- Disneyland Monorail closure beginning sometime in January 2006. Not yet announced, though expected involve almost a complete rebuilding of Tomorrowland Station to accommodate Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, a complete refurbishment (though not reconstruction) of the track, and hopefully new monorails to replace the existing vehicles.
- Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage is currently under construction and will open sometime in 2007.
Disney’s California Adventure
- California Screamin’ is still closed following an accident on July 29, 2005. Reopen date has not yet been announced.
- Department of Untapped Hilarity (D.U.H.) on hiatus. May return.
- Disney’s Electrical Parade on hiatus for the off season, except for a two week run starting December 16.
- Monsters, Inc.: Mike and Sully to the Rescue is under construction and will open in early 2006.
- Rizzo’s Props and Pawn Shop closed and is being rethemed, most likely into something Monsters, Inc., related.
Downtown Disney
- Anne Geddes. New flagship store for baby stuff designer. Taking up part of former location of MainSpring. Opening in October.
- Sunglass Icon. A new sunglasses store owned by Oakley. Signage indicates a summer opening, no word of actual date.
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
October
- MousePlanet’s MouseAdventure. October 15 and 16. MousePlanet’s in-park game will be held on this weekend. Registration is open (link).
- Mickey’s Halloween Treat. October 21, 22, 28, and 29 at Disney’s California Adventure. A separately ticketed trick-or-treating event at DCA from 7:30-10:30 each night. Tickets are $20, and until September 15, Annual Pass holders may pre-purchase tickets for $15 at 714-781-4400. Online ticket purchases are available through the Disneyland Annual Pass Web site. Tickets can also be pre-purchased on site at the Disneyland Guest Services window (link).
- “To the Head of the Team, Zero!” October 22 at Disneyana. A new Nightmare Before Christmas sculpture release in the Walt Disney Classics Collection. Artists David Bird and Elisabete Gomes as well as creative director Dave Pacheco will be on hand for the release and signing (link).
November
- SHAG Park Map release. November 12. Details not currently available (link).
December
- Candlelight Processional. December 3 and 4. Details not yet available.
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 | Southern California 1–Day Park Hopper ($61/$71) – Residents of Southern California (zip codes 90000–93599) and and northern Baja California, Mexico (zip codes 21000–22999), can buy discounted one–day park hoppers. You can purchase up to eight tickets at a time, one order per day, and two orders in any seven–day period. Valid ID showing zip code will be required with ticket for admission. |
| Two Days | AAA Flex Passport ($98/$78)– Some AAA offices offer a 2–day Flex Passport at $98 for ages 10 and up, or $78 for ages 3–9. This ticket does not require a hotel or package purchase—check with your local office to see if the ticket is available in your area. A reader let us know that AAA offices in Oregon and Idaho do not offer the 2–day version of this ticket, but instead offer a 3–day pass. Advance Purchase 2–Day Park Hopper ($105/$85)– Available for online purchase directly from Disney (link) or Northern California, Nevada, and Utah AAA offices (link). |
| Three Days | AAA Flex Passport ($129/$99)– Some AAA offices offer a 3–day Flex Passport at $129 for ages 10 and up, or $99 for ages 3–9. This ticket does not require a hotel or package purchase – check with your local office to see if the ticket is available in your area. |
| City Pass($185/$127)– The cost of a CityPass increases to $185 for ages 10 and up, but decrease to $127 for ages 3–9. The pass includes a 3–Day Disneyland Resort park hopper bonus ticket (includes a $10 ESPN Zone game card and one early admission), one day admission to Knott’s Berry Farm, Sea World San Diego, and either the San Diego Zoo or San Diego Wild Animal Park. The CityPass still expires 14 days after first use. Purchase CityPass through the Disneyland Web site, at the Disneyland Resort, at the other theme parks included in the pass, or directly from the CityPass Web site (link). The Southern California City Pass can also be purchased online from Costco at a cost of $164.99/$112.99 (link). | |
| 3–Day Park Hopper Bonus tickets ($109/$109)($139/$109)– The park hopper bonus tickets currently include one early entry admission to Fantasyland, and a $10 ESPN Zone game card. You can take advantage of the Advance Purchased discount as detailed above. These tickets expire 13 days after first use or January 15, 2006, whichever comes first. The first visit must occur before January 2, 2006. Both offers are available at the Disneyland Web site (link) and from AAA. You must buy these tickets in advance; they are not available at the Disneyland Resort ticket booths. Several readers wrote to tell us that the Safeway stores in Central and Northern California, and Vons stores in Las Vegas, are also offering the 3–Day Park Hopper Bonus tickets. Check with your local Safeway store for details, as the dates and benefits may differ. | |
| Four Days | 4–Day Park Hopper Bonus tickets($159/$129) – The park hopper bonus tickets currently include one early entry admission to Fantasyland, and a $10 ESPN Zone game card. You can take advantage of the Advance Purchased discount as detailed above. These tickets expire 13 days after first use or January 15, 2006, whichever comes first. The first visit must occur before January 2, 2006. These tickets are available through the Disneyland Web site (link) and from AAA. You must buy these tickets in advance; they are not available at the Disneyland Resort ticket booths. |
| Five Days | Disney’s AAA Passport Plus Package 2005($169/$139)– The 5–day Passport Plus park hopper ticket is $169 for ages 10 and up, and $139 for ages 3–9. This package includes:
An additional handling fee of $10 is charged per mailing address. These tickets are available to AAA members only when purchased through participating AAA offices. Several readers report that their local AAA offices do not offer this ticket, or that the benefits differ. You may remember that this also happened with the 2004 version of this package. MousePlanet has contacted AAA offices around the country and encountered the same problem. If your local AAA office does not offer the ticket, check with another AAA office in your area. The decision to offer this ticket seems to depend on which regional AAA “club” you belong to, and in some cases rest with the office manager at each location. The Auto Club of Southern California (ACSC) is not participating in this offer, and AAA Oregon/Idaho offers the 5–day tickets. Some readers have also been told that the California Diamond Fun Book is no longer available. |
| 5–Day Park Hopper Bonus tickets($139/$139) ($169/$139) – The park hopper bonus tickets currently include one early entry admission to Fantasyland, and a $10 ESPN Zone game card. You can take advantage of the Advance Purchased discount as detailed above. These tickets expire 13 days after first use or January 15, 2006, whichever comes first. The first visit must occur before January 2, 2006. Both of these ticket offers are available through the Disneyland Web site (link), and from AAA. You must buy these tickets in advance; they are not available at the Disneyland Resort ticket booths. | |
| Six or Seven Days | Disney’s AAA Passport Plus Package 2005– The Parkhopper Plus package may be available in 6– or 7– day increments at participating AAA offices. Check with your local AAA office for availability and pricing:
An additional handling fee of $10 is charged per mailing address. These tickets are available to AAA members only when purchased through AAA offices. Several readers report that their local AAA offices do not offer this ticket, or that the benefits differ. You may remember that this also happened with the 2004 version of this package. MousePlanet has contacted AAA offices around the country, and encountered the same problem. If your local AAA office does not offer the ticket, check with another AAA office in your area. The decision to offer this ticket seems to depend on which regional AAA “club” you belong to, and in some cases rests with the office manager at each location. The Auto Club of Southern California (ACSC) is not participating in this offer, and AAA Oregon/Idaho offers the 5–day tickets. Some readers have also been told that the California Diamond Fun Book is no longer available. |
Special thanks to MousePlanet reader David Michael for some of this information. | |
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 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 during “value seasons” from 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.
Free Child’s Member pass
While supplies last if you make a $75 purchase at Downtown Disney’s LEGO Imagination Center you will get one free child’s Membership Pass to Legoland in San Diego, CA. The pass is good for children ages 3-12 and comes with unlimited park admission, special discounts, and a subscription to the Legoland Newsletter.
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 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
| | | | | | | |
| 10/10 | 10/11 | 10/12 | 10/13 | 10/14 | 10/15 | |
|
| DL: 9a-10p | DL: 9a–8p | DL: 9a–8p | DL: 9a–8p | DL: 9a–Mid | DL: 8a–Mid |
| 10/16 | 10/17 | 10/18 | 10/19 | 10/20 | 10/21 | 10/22 |
| DL: 9a–10p | DL: 9a-8p | DL: 9a-8p | DL: 9a-8p | DL: 9a-8p | DL: 9a–Mid | DL: 8a–Mid |
| 10/23 | 10/24 | 10/25 | 10/26 | 10/27 | 10/28 | 10/29 |
| DL: 9a–10p | DL: 9a-8p | DL: 9a-8p | DL: 9a-8p | DL: 9a-8p | DL: 9a–Mid | DL: 8a–Mid |
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.
