Disneyland Park Update

This is the most basic package and is called Black Pearl. The price for this package is $225 per person. As near as can be determined from the provided descriptions the only difference between the Black Pearl package, the Wicked Wench package, and the Flying Dutchman package is that the latter two come include hotel rooms. For $450 per person the Wicked Wench package adds one night’s accommodation at the Disneyland Hotel; for the Grand Californian Hotel get the Flying Dutchman package at $525 per person. As usual, a couple attending the event can get two consecutive nights of hotel.

Excuse us for editorializing, but unless there are further details to come this is entirely underwhelming. Notice another standard pricing consideration that hasn’t been mentioned? There is no discount for people with annual passes. As the description pages say “Separate theme park admission is required.” If you spend at least $225 to attend an event honoring Pirates of the Caribbean, unless you have a Deluxe or Premium Annual Pass you will need to pay additional money to actually ride Pirates of the Caribbean.

So why are they requiring separate park admission? The best guess is that nothing on the schedule for the event will actually require you to enter the park. The movie screening is in Downtown Disney, it can be assumed from this that the pirate encounter and Taste of the Bayou will be in a hotel ballroom. The special line for Pirates is in the park, but you aren’t required to use it. The merchandise purchasing and picket up will almost certainly be in the Grand Californian ballrooms.

To recap, what does it appear you are getting for $225? A movie ticket (which will cost $10 a few hours later). A Blue Bayou tapas menu. Some kind of pirate encounter (most likely in a hotel ballroom). The chance to meet artists who will sign the merchandise you may have purchased. And, of course, the opportunity to purchase merchandise that if recent history is any example will mostly be available in the park a few days later. On top of that, if you get one of the room-included packages, you get a hotel room that you won’t sleep in until after 3:00 o’clock in the morning. If you have the means you can go ride a an attraction that will have been open for nearly two-weeks. And a couple knickknacks.

We know that putting together these events is difficult for the Walt Disney Event Services people and that the hoops and bureaucratic nightmares would leave shaking our heads. Unfortunately, with this event, as currently detailed, it is nearly impossible to see where the value is coming from. The commemorative keepsakes really need to be awesome.

As always, event details are subject to change without notice and more details may be made available as time goes on. One would have to assume, for example, that the list of merchandise available for purchase would be made available around the time that registration opens on April 24 at 11:00 a.m. PST. Registration will only be available online through the Disney Gallery Web site. We’ll try to keep you apprised of any changes, but you can keep an eye on things for yourself at that Web site (link). A quick note for people who don’t use Internet Explorer for browsing the Web. The style sheets on the information pages are messed up and you may see what initially look like empty pages; that is just the text appearing as yellow writing on a white background. If you select the text on the page with your mouse you’ll be able to read it.

Mickey’s Halloween Treat

We added this to last week’s DLR Park Update after it was initially published so it is probably news to some of you. Originally the update just confirmed that Mickey’s Halloween Treat at Disneyland would be returning to DCA this autumn. Then last Monday Disney actually put the tickets on sale a full six months before the events will actually be happening.

©Disney.

The event price has gone up to $29 for tickets at the gate. Annual Passholders can purchase tickets now for $19 per person. Last year they sold 5,000 tickets per date and it is unknown at this time whether that number has been increased. The dates currently available are:

Some were confused by language in the disclaimers that seemed to indicate that adults would not be allowed to wear costumes to the event. It has been confirmed that what they were trying to say is that adults will be allowed to wear costumes only to the event and not into the parks prior to the event. Young children, however, are able to wear costumes into the park during regular hours.

Annual passholders can purchase tickets online through the Annual Passholders page (http://www.disneyland.com/ap then select Special Offers) or by calling 714-781-4400.

This and that…

…From the category of fun things cast members have to put up with. Yesterday (Sunday), Indiana Jones Adventure at Disneyland suddenly closed for about 20 minutes due to a security issue. Apparently as someone called the rides control center at around 3:45 and said “I just want you to know that there is a bomb in the air conditioner. Have fun.” The attraction was immediately cycled down and evacuated. Anaheim Police Department explosives dogs were quickly on scene (they’re usually on property anyway) and after an check out the all clear was given.

…Somehow we’ve failed to mention it before but the Annual Pass spotlight offer for April is a 20% discount on lunch at Yamabuki at the Paradise Pier Hotel. The offer is only good on weekdays from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and does not include alcohol.

…The Internet rumors remain strong that changes are coming to Haunted Mansion in time for Easter but we still haven’t been able to confirm them with any of our sources (and it has become cyclical as we hear it from cast members who it turns out heard it form the Internet). As of Sunday, however, there still haven’t been any significant show changes implemented.

…With hardly a moment to spare before the movie and attraction open in three months, the west room of World of Disney in Downtown Disney has been turned over to Pirates of the Caribbean merchandise. If you’re a fan of the movie and ride you’ll want to check it out.

Pirates of the Caribbean has taken over part of the World of Disney. Photo by
David Michael.

…Disney’s Electrical Parade is back from winter hiatus (earlier than expected thanks to Spring Break and new sponsor Sylvania). It will run daily at 8:45 p.m. until Sunday, April 23. After that it will be dark again until Friday, May 5, at that time on Friday, Saturdays, and Sundays. It’ll go back to daily when the summer schedule takes effect in June.

One of the Disney’s Electrical Parade floats as it returns for the first time since Christmas. Photo by David Michael.

…The schedule went as reported last week and Saturday saw the last performances of the Dapper Dans show as it has been for years. The new crew will begin rehearsals this week and could be back in the park as early as April 29, but definitely within a week of that. The new show is reportedly a bit more staged, with reduced guest interaction but details are slim at this point.

© Disney.

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

Current Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Disneyland

• Pirates of the Caribbean closed March 6 – June 26, 2006, for major refurbishment and show updates. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest will premiere at Disneyland on June 24. Ride may be available to public on June 25.

• Blue Bayou Restaurant closed March 6 – June 26, 2006, for the duration of the Pirates of the Caribbean closure.
• Cafe Orleans Restaurant closed March 13 – June 9, 2006, for redesign into full service restaurant.
• Fantasmic! dark June 17 – June 28, 2006, for activities surrounding premiere of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest.
• Disneyland Park opens and closes early June 24, 2006, for premiere of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest. Will open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 5:30 p.m. DCA will be open two hours later than usual until 11:00 p.m.
• Parade of Dreams dark June 24, 2006, for red carpet arrivals to premiere of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest.
• Golden Horseshoe closed May 15 – June 15 for refurbishment and kitchen changes.
• River Belle Terrace rumored 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.

The concrete shell is poured and new loading platforms have been built. Photo by David Michael.

• Snow White, An Enchanted Musical closed. On hiatus during off season; expected to return for final season in summer 2006.
• Disneyland Monorail goes into shuttle mode (one way trips only) January 2006. Complete closure for station redesign will not happen until later in 2006.

Disney’s California Adventure

• Department of Untapped Hilarity (D.U.H.) on hiatus. Might return for the 2006 summer season.
• Mullholland Madness closed April 24 – May 27.

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.

April

• The Wild at El Capitan Theater. April 14 – May 11. Each screening will feature an animal show using exotic birds from the Los Angeles Zoo (link).
• Jim Shore artist signing. April 29, 9:00-11:30 at Disneyana (link).
• Food & Wine Weekend #1. April 29-30 (details).
• MouseAdventure. April 30, registration is now open (link).

May

June

• Cars at El Capitan Theater. June 9 – July 4. Side show unknown.
• Prirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest. June 24. Presumptive date of world premiere of this new movie, to be held in New Orleans Square. Park will close early (5 p.m.) with celebrity red carpet arrivals earlier in the day. Has not yet been officially announced.

July

• Pirates of the Caribbean merchandise event. July 6 (link, registration open April 24)
• Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest at El Capitan Theater. July 7 – September 4. Side show unknown.

September

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

October

• Gay Days. October 6 – 8. Unofficial event (link).
• Mickey’s Halloween Treat. October 13, 20, 22, 26, 27, 29, 30, and 31 at DCA. (See Disneyland AP page for details)

November

• Lion King returns to Pantages Theater. Beginning November 16 for eight week run. Call 323-463-4367 for details and tickets.

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.