Disneyland Park Update

Update for January 30-February 6, 2006

Go directly to: News & Views | Current Refurbishment/Attraction Closures | Park Events | Discounts/Promotions | Park Schedule/Blockout Dates

News and Views

Flashback for APs

For the last few years there has been talk of taking the annual Disneyland cast member talent show, Flashback, public. This talent show, which brings together groups from all over the resort plays has historically played to crowds of other cast members at the Hyperion theater in Disney’s California Adventure (the three years of performances prior to 2001 were held in the Golden Horseshoe at Disneyland).

© Disney.

In addition to being a chance for cast members to vent a little bit, the performances (which have been known to tweak the nose of their employer) are also a fundraising event for Make-a-Wish Orange County. This has created some tension, as participants tend to view the event as something of their own not shared with the general public, while event organizers want to maximize the money they give to Make-a-Wish. Empty seats mean less money, and for the last couple years there was talk of finding some way to distribute any tickets not sold to cast members.

This year it looks like they’ve finally made good on that. Unsold tickets are now available to anybody who has purchased an annual pass (up to four tickets per pass). Tickets will be available until March 5, or when they have sold out, and the show is on Monday, March 6, 2006 at 8:30 p.m. Note that DCA will likely close at 6:00 p.m. on March 6 and tickets to Flashback are not good for park admission that day. Parking, however, is included with the ticket.

Ticket prices vary according to seat location, ranging from $10 to $45. To inquire about tickets, call 714-781-4400 and have your annual pass available.

MousePlanet covered the 2001 edition of Flashback and you can read about it here. There is no word on whether participants will be under stricter guidelines for the acts they can create.

Lady and the Tramp

A few weeks ago, we mentioned that the upcoming run of Lady and the Tramp at Disney’s El Capitan Theater in Hollywood would begin with a special panel discussion on the first night, Thursday, February 2. Further details are now available. The panel will be hosted by animation historian John Canemaker. Participating will be Eric Goldberg (director), Adreas Dejas (animator), Theo Gluck (restoration expert), Richard Sherman (songwriter), and Stan Freeberg (voice of Beaver in Lady and the Tramp). The panel will begin at 7:00 p.m. with a screening of the movie afterwards.

As of Sunday, January 29, tickets were still available in both the general admission ($11, $8 for children and seniors) and the VIP section ($20 regardless of age) and can be purchased online (link) or by phone at 1-800-347-6396 (DISNEY6). If you cannot make opening night, the movie will be showing without the panel discussion through February 14.

The reason for the screening is to showcase the newly restored print of Lady and the Tramp that was made for the new Platinum Edition DVD of Disney’s canine classic (later this spring the El Capitan will be showing the new Shaggy Dog movie, likely to not be a Disney canine classic). When the DVD hits the market on February 28, there will be a special purchase opportunity if you buy the DVD at Disneyland Resort. During the promotion (which ends March 18), the discs will be available for $19.99, $5 off the regular $24.99. The DVD can be purchased at Emporium and 20th Century Music in Disneyland, Off the Page and Greetings from California in DCA, and World of Disney at Downtown Disney. Annual pass discounts are available on top of the promotion discount.

© Disney.

This and that…

The events last week for the official opening of the Monsters, Inc.: Mike and Sulley to the Rescue attraction at DCA provided more than just Rice Krispie treats in the shape of a California roll. It also provided a chance to chat with various Disney executives and watchers. Unfortunately it is the nature of such conversations that names that would otherwise make the story solid can’t be shared, so for you, the reader, they must remain in the rumor category.

Since our detailing of the fall 2006 closure of River Belle Terrace for a complete redesign into a two-story restaurant, and the resulting closure of Bengal BBQ to make room for this expansion, several people have written to express hope that plans may change or doubts that the rumors are true. Based on a couple conversations at the Monsters event there is very little room for doubt or hope left.

Another conversation with an extremely well-placed executive gives hope that a future Disneyland Railroad event is at least being discussed as more than just pie-in-the-sky. This would be great news for all the railroad fans who have expressed repeatedly over the years how popular just such an event could be.

Finally, the most common question we’ve been getting so far this year has been for details about the Pirates of the Caribbean 2 premiere at Disneyland this summer. It seems safe to say that nobody yet has a really good idea of just what will be happening (or at least nobody was willing to even hint at it), so asking questions about how to get into the premiere is going to be fruitless for a while (and the answer to that question likely will be: “unless you have good connections or win a contest you’re not getting in”).

Another question that cropped up a lot since last Tuesday is what affect do we think results from making John Lasseter a “chief creative advisor” to Walt Disney Imagineering as part of the Pixar purchase? Frankly, at this point, who knows. From a creativity standpoint, it seems like it could only be an improvement, but it remains to be seen just how Lasseter will choose to divide his time from among his various responsibilities (not only will he be involved in all the Pixar movies but all the Walt Disney Feature Animation projects as well). It also depends a lot on what he and WDI are allowed to do. Lots of pretty pictures can be drawn in offices, but if money is committed to build the attractions it doesn’t matter a whole lot just how much creative talent is on hand. Anyway, it will likely be a couple years at best before major impact will be felt inside park attractions.

Don’t keep it to yourself! Send us your news tips, rumors, and comments. E–mail us here.

Current Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Disneyland

• Snow White, An Enchanted Musical closed. On hiatus during off season; expected to return for final season in summer 2006.

• Goofy’s Bounce House. Closed permanently as of January 8, 2005. Will be replaced with outdoor toddler playground.

• Haunted Mansion closes January 18 – March 9 for removal of the Nightmare Before Christmas overlay and more extensive refurbishments.

• Pirates of the Caribbeanclosed March 6 – June 16, 2006 for major refurbishment and show updates. Must reopen in time for Pirates of the Caribben: Dead Man’s Chest in late June (movies opens nationally July 7).

• Blue Bayou Restaurant closed March 6 – June 16, 2006 for the duration of the Pirates of the Caribbean closure.
• Cafe Orleans Restaurant rumored to close March 6 – June 16, 2006, for redesign into full service restaurant.
  
• Disneyland Monorail goes into shuttle mode (one way trips only) January 2006. Complete closure for station redesign will not happen until later in 2006.

• River Belle Terrace unofficially to close in September or October 2006 for complete redesign into larger two-story restaurant.
  
• Bengal BBQ rumored to close permanently in September or October 2006 to provide room for expansion of River Belle Terrace.
  
• Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage is currently under construction and will open sometime in 2007.

Disney’s California Adventure

• Department of Untapped Hilarity (D.U.H.) on hiatus. Might return for the 2006 summer season.


• Redwood Creek Challenge Trail closed January 3 – February 28, 2006, for major refurbishment.
  
• Grizzly River Rapids closed January 30 – February 2, 2006 for minor refurbishment.

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

If you know of any events, official or unofficial, that should be listed here, let us know.

Febuary

• Free Crispitos at Rancho del Zocalowith annual pass. Entire month of February. Free Crispitos dessert (tortilla chips flavored with cinnamon sugar) with the purchase of an adult entree and beverage.
  
• Lady and the Tramp at the El Capitan. From February 2 – 14. On opening night (February 2) the 7:00 p.m. show will include a panel discussion about the movie though no list has been released of panel members. Tickets can be ordered here.
  
• Robert Olzewski release of Astro Orbitor and Mark Twain Riverboat figures. February 18 at Disneyana (link).
  
• Discounted Lady and the Tramp DVD. February 28 – March 16. Purchase DVD at Emporium, 20th Century Music, Off the Page, Greetings from California, or World of Disney for $5 off regular price of $24.99.

July

• Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest premiere: Details unknown but the world premiere is again expected to be held in Disneyland’s New Orleans Square. The movie opens July 7 and the premiere will be up to two weeks prior to that.

September

• Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend. September 15-17. For more information and registration see the official Web site (link, warning: horribly annoying embedded music)

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

Visit our Annual Passholders Blockout Dates 2006 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.

Entertainment schedule: Go directly to the Disneyland Resort schedule for this week at Disneyland.com here.