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News and Views

A crowd gathers in Town Square for

Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Code Orange at Disneyland – With the nation
at war, and the terror alert standing at “orange-plus,”
the Disneyland Resort has noticeably increased its security. Anaheim
Police Department vehicles are prominently located around the
resort, stationed at the entrance to Downtown Disney, and are
parked in the short-term parking lot just off of Harbor and inside
the bus and shuttle area. Disneyland security employees and Anaheim
police officers have been occasionally spotted watching vehicles
as they enter the parking structure and surrounding ground lots.

Resort security is again wearing their bright-orange vests,

and uniformed Anaheim police officers are frequently spotted inside the

theme parks. The Disneyland K-9 unit has been spotted on stage several

times, once walking around Town Square, sniffing at trash cans and strollers.

Some visitors report experiencing more thorough package

checks at the main entrance, often being asked to remove items from bags,

or to open their overshirts and jackets.

Patriotic spirit has again filled the air. Attendance
at the nightly flag retreat ceremony, while not as high as immediately
following September 11, has drastically increased over the weekend.
Park stores have subtly shifted the flag-theme apparel and accessories
to more prominent locations within the shops.

Sneak previews for the Many
Adventures of Winnie the Pooh start this Tuesday.

Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

A soft, soft opening – If you could not
snag tickets to the annual passholder previews, you have another
chance to see The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh before it
opens to the public on April 11. Cast members have been seen training
on the attraction last week, and the ride is scheduled to open
for unannounced previews beginning March 25.

Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

A quiet policy change – Several MousePad
members have reported a change in the special assistance pass
policy at the Disneyland Resort. These passes are issued to visitors
who need special assistance to enjoy rides and attractions, such
as using a wheelchair entrance, avoiding stairs in a queue, and
waiting in a shaded area until a show begins.

In the past, special assistance passes have been necessary
only when visitors had a impairments that were not obvious, such
as sun sensitivity, or knee or back problems. Visitors who used
personal wheelchairs, had visible braces, or walked with a cane
or crutches were not required to obtain or show a pass to use
the alternate entrances. In fact, cast members often refused to
issue a special assistance pass to these visitors, saying that
their support equipment would serve as a pass.

Under the new policy, all guests who need special
assistance must obtain a pass from Disneyland’s City Hall, or
the Guest Relations Lobby at Disney’s California Adventure park.
We have been told that this change was requested by attractions
cast members to help reduce the number of people abusing the special
assistance entrances.

Unfortunately, the new policy is neither universally
known nor well-publicized among cast members. Visitors can spend
an entire day at the parks without having to show their pass,
then be asked for it at every ride the following day. Worse, when
a visitor is sent to City Hall to obtain the pass they have never
needed before, the cast member on duty may not know that a pass
needs to be issued. In trying to clarify these new rules, we encountered
three guest relations cast members who did not even know that
the policy had changed.

We certainly support efforts to crack down on abuse
of the special assistance entrances. Unfortunately, this new policy—which
mostly impacts those with permanent disabilities—is confusing,
arbitrary, and does nothing to address the real issue: As long
as Disney is willing to issue special assistance passes to anyone
who requests them, there will be people who abuse the system.

The Playhouse Disney sign is installed on the former Soap Opera
Bistro location.

Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Rain delays – The recent wet weather has
affected construction of Playhouse Disney at Disney’s California
Adventure. Workers erected a tent during the recent storm to allow
construction to continue despite the rain. We hear that construction
is running behind schedule, and that the exterior queue may not
be ready in time for the cast member previews.

The rain helps to refill the river…
a few weeks too early.

Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

The rain is also not helping with the Rivers of America

rehab at Disneyland. After last weekend’s storms, it looked as if workers

had begun to refill the waterway.

The daily DCA mini-marathon is about to

Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

The hottest ticket in town – As we discussed
in a previous update, ticket distribution policies for the Aladdin
show seem to change like the wind. The current scheme has cast
members distributing up to half of the day’s tickets starting
at park opening. As soon as the main gates open, the line for
Aladdin tickets forms beneath the Hollywood Pictures Backlot
entrance, and quickly winds around the Sun Plaza.

When the Hollywood Pictures Backlot opens, usually
at 11:30, the remaining tickets are distributed at a podium set
up outside the Hyperion Theater. The photo above shows a typical
weekday crowd waiting for the Hollywood district to open. Once
the rope drops, the crush of visitors heads towards the theater,
either to get in line for the 12:30 performance, or to obtain
Fastpass tickets for a later performance.

Ten minutes after the Hollywood
Pictures Backlot area opens in Disney’s California Adventure,
the queue for the Aladdin show Fastpass tickets already
turns the corner.

Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Many travel packages include vouchers for preferred
seating at a selection of shows, including Aladdin. Unfortunately,
there are only 50 seats set aside for these voucher-holders at
each performance. On weekdays, that means only 150 visitors can
redeem these vouchers. A cast member told us that they often see
more than 150 people per show with these vouchers, and offered
this suggestion: Get Fastpass tickets for Aladdin, and save your
vouchers for another show.

It’s bad show, and the theater isn’t even

Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Bad show – and we don’t mean Playhouse Disney –

As DCA prepares for the opening of Playhouse Disney, quite a lot of

construction is visible to the casual visitor. The large, open tent covering

the show’s queue area is filled with workers hammering and sawing as they

work to meet the looming deadline.

We should have used this as a MouseAdventure
puzzle.

Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Even worse, the construction is causing confusion for the
visitors as they try to navigate around the construction wall.
The signs (shown above) point the way to the entrance of the Gone
Hollywood store. That entrance was blocked off by a barrier and
a trash can for two days last week as workers repainted the store’s
doorway. When asked why the signs had not been removed—or
at least covered up—a cast member replied, “It’s only
for a week, and we’d have to get Imagineering to approve that.”
Apparently it is better to have a themed sign that leads people
right into a closed shop, than to have an accurate sign that the
Imagineers didn’t first approve.

Current Refurbishments and Attraction

Closures

Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Disneyland

• Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes – through April 11
• Rivers of America – through April 11
• Mark Twain Riverboat – through April 11
• Sailing Ship Columbia – through April 11
• Sleeping Beauty Castle walkthrough – indefinite

Construction continues on the Tower

of Terror.

Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Disney’s California Adventure

• Superstar Limo – indefinite

Construction continues on the Rivers of America.

Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Future Attraction Closures:

• Mad Tea Party – April 28 – May 15
• Pirates of the Caribbean – April 28 – May 30
• Blue Bayou Restaurant – April 28 – May 30
• Indiana Jones Adventure – September 2 – October 24
• Space Mountain – September 2003 – August 2004

Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Note: Refurbishment schedules are estimates

most recent updates, call Disneyland at (714) 781-7290.

Park Events

MousePlanet presents MouseAdventure:

Mad Scramble – Sunday, April 6, 2003, at Disneyland.

Annual Passholder Preview Events for Winnie the Pooh and Playhouse

Disney – April 8 and 9. Pre-register at Disneyland.com.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Case of the Black Pearl – Sunday,
June 29, 2003 at Disneyland. This event will include a preview
screening of the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie. Further details
are not available – keep an eye on the Disney Gallery Web
site for more details.

Haunted Mansion Holiday Exclusive Dinner – Wednesday, October

1, 2003.

Haunted Mansion Holiday Event – Thursday, October 2, 2003

Tickets for the Haunted Mansion Holiday events go on sale in late August

or early September – check this page for updates.

Current Discounts & Promotions

Attention race fans – The Auto Club has teamed up with the Disneyland

Resort and the NASCAR Winston Cup 500 to bring our members a special weekend

getaway package for Friday, April 25 through Sunday, April 27, 2003. Members

recede:

• Event tickets to the NASCAR Winston Cup Auto Club 500 on Sunday, April

  27

• Two or three nights’ accommodations at a select Disneyland Resort

  hotel

• Welcome reception including hot/cold hors d’oeuvres and a two hour

  open bar at the ESPN Zone on Friday, April 25

• Transportation to the California Speedway on Sunday, April 27
• Brunch at the California Speedway in the Auto Club Hospitality Tent

  on Sunday April 27

• Disneyland/Disney’s California Adventure 2-day/2-park pass
• Buffet breakfast each morning at selected Disneyland Resort restaurants.

Packages start at $687 a person. For more information, visit the AAA

Web site, or call your local Auto Club of Southern California

office.

City Pass now available with AAA packages – You can now purchase
the Southern California CityPass with Walt Disney Travel Company
packages.

With a Southern California CityPass booklet, you will receive admission

to five separate entertainment options. Admission includes:

• Three-day Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Ticket
• One-Day ticket to SeaWorld Adventure park
• One-Day ticket to the World-famous San Diego Zoo
• One-Day ticket to Knott’s Theme Park.

Instead of a Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Ticket currently included

in Walt Disney Travel Company-California packages guests can be select

a Southern California CityPass for an additional charge of $47 per CityPass

for guests ages 10 and up, and $32 per CityPass for guests ages 3 through

9.

Please note: The Southern California Citypass does NOT include the $10

ESPN Zone Arena Game Card, the Walt Disney Travel Company-California feature

to collect multiple Fastpass tickets at one time or two extra days of

Disneyland Resort Theme Park admission for free.

Anaheim Marriott Disney Package available for Marriott Rewards members
– Make your Disneyland vacation as easy as saying “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah”
with a Disneyland package at the Anaheim Marriott. For a low rate
of $419, through May 31, 2003, you’ll find dreams really do come
true with this fabulously priced package.

Anaheim Disney Package includes:

• 2-nights in a luxury guest room
• 3-day Disneyland Resort® Park Hopper tickets for two adults
• Free breakfast for two adults
• Kids, ages 3-9, eat for $1

Some restrictions apply. Membership in the Marriott Rewards program

is required. Click to learn more about this offer and for complete terms

and conditions.

Kids Fly Free, again – United is now offering a Kids Fly
Free promotion, similar to the popular Alaska Airlines offer.
The United package includes:

• Round-trip Airfare on United Airlines
• 4-night hotel accommodations (fourth night is free at select hotels)
• 5-Day Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Ticket (for the price
  of a three-day, park-hopper ticket)
• $10 ESPN Zone Game Card
• And now one child (ages 2-11) flies free per paying adult,
  from select origin cities!

Tickets must be purchased by by March 7, 2003 for travel by April 7,

2003. Get complete details at the United

Vacations Web site.

SoCal Salute – The Southern California resident discount

ticket program runs January 6 – May 16, 2003. Instead of a discounted

ticket, residents of will get two one-day admissions for their $47/$37

– one for Disneyland, and one for Disney’s California Adventure.

This ticket is good for only one admission to each park (meaning you

cannot go to Disneyland twice on separate days). The two admissions do

not have to be used on consecutive days, but the first admission must

be on the same day as the ticket purchase, and the second must be used

by May 16, 2003. And while the ticket is not intended to be a park-hopper,

which would allow you to visit both Disneyland and DCA on the same day,

some readers have reported that they were allowed to use the ticket as

a one-day park hopper.

These tickets are nontransferable. You must provide proof of residency

at the time of purchase, and you will be asked to print your full name

on the tickets. When you return for your second admission, you need to

show ID matching the ticket. This offer is limited to 5 tickets per qualifying

person.

Alaska Airlines airfare and hotel specials –

Alaska Airlines is offering two specials for travel to the Disneyland

Resort. A MousePad member alerted

us that the airline is again offering the popular Kids Fly Free

special, which includes airfare, hotel, park-hopper tickets, and more.

This special offer can only be booked by calling Alaska Airlines at 1-800-468-2248.

Adults traveling without kids can take advantage of other special hotel

and air packages by booking at the Alaska

Airlines Web site.

Free coffee on Main Street –

Receive a free small coffee when you buy a mug at the Market House

on Main Street, USA. This offer is only valid at the Market House, and

is for a limited time only.

The “Get a 5-Day Park Hopper ticket for the price of a 3-Day

ticket” promotion has been extended through January 5, 2004 –

These tickets are available when you order online from Disneyland.com.

Restrictions apply – see

site for details.

AAA Passport Plus Package – For $122.75, you can get a 5-day

park hopper and the following extras:

• Multiple attraction FastPass (The “Unlimited” option)
• Breakfast in the park (one per person)
• Free ESPN Zone arena game card ($10 value)
• AAA Free parking at the Disneyland Resort Theme Parks

A $13.75 FedEx fee applies to each reservation, (not per person). This

package is available without an air or hotel purchase, and must be purchased

at your local AAA affiliate office at least 5 days before you plan to

use the tickets.

Many readers have experienced difficulties when trying to purchase this

package from their local AAA affiliate. Be sure to read this

thread on our MousePad discussion boards, for more information

about the package and tips on how to help your AAA travel agent book your

package.

AAA / Disney’s Resort Magic Package – This package requires

a minimum 2-night hotel stay, and includes:

• Accommodations at Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel, the Disneyland
  Hotel, or Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel
• Disneyland Resort Hotel self-parking and Fitness Center access
• Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Ticket – valid for entry
  into Disneyland park and Disney’s California Adventure park
  with full park-hopping privileges
• Free ESPN Zone Arena Game Card – $10 value (one per person)
• NEW! Collect FASTPASS tickets for multiple attractions at
  one time. Preferred Seating at a choice of select shows in
  Disney’s California Adventure
• Exclusive Walt Disney Travel Company collectible pin and lanyard
  (one per person)
• Exclusive Walt Disney Travel Company California Fun Book (one
  per package)
• Exclusive Disneyland Resort Magical Pocket Guide (one per
  package)

You can book this package through your local AAA affiliate travel agent.

Park Hours

Entertainment Schedule