Disneyland Park Update

Update for July 17-23, 2006

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

News and Views

Discounts return

The big piece of work for this Park Update is the return of the Discounts and Promotions section. The reason it disappeared in the first place was because the guy responsible for it (*cough*Alex Stroup*cough*) wasn’t very good at keeping it current. It was too much like shopping for him, and he has an allergic reaction to shopping.

Since it disappeared, a lot of people have written in asking for it to come back. The readers are (almost) always right, so with a promise to reform his ways, the section has returned and will hopefully remain current. Your help is greatly appreciated, however. If you see that something has gone out of date, don’t hesitate to give a kick in the rear. If you see a ticket discount or travel promotion that you think would be a good addition, send it on in. You can click here to go directly to the Discounts and Promotions section, but don’t forget to come back up and read the rest of the update.

Happy really long 50th Anniversary!

Though it will be hard for the average guest to tell, today is the 51st anniversary of Disneyland. To celebrate this historic date, Disneyland will continue celebrating its 50th anniversary for another couple months.

It does not appear that there will be a lot in the way of ceremony for this birthday. The daily rededication ceremony (introduced as part of the 50th Anniversary celebration) will be moved from its regular 10:00 a.m. time to 4:45 p.m. It will at least be somewhat tweaked to differentiate it from the 50th. We’re not even sure if there will be much in the way of merchandise as it might have difficulty competing with the much more prominent 50th Anniversary stuff. The big event of the day will be something missed by almost everybody visiting the park today.

Disney took official publicity photos of Sunday morning’s appearance by the Happiest Balloon on Earth as it floated behind Sleeping Beauty Castle. A second showing was scheduled for this morning in the Esplanade. © Disney.

The Happiest Balloon on Earth (see these photos by Frank Anzalone from when it visited San Francisco) completes its run today before returning to the manufacturer. Early yesterday morning it was inflated and floated backstage at Disneyland, with only Disneyland cast members (and area motorists) on hand to enjoy the sight. That was just a test run, though, as well as an opportunity to get official photos of it in frame with Sleeping Beauty Castle. Today, if all went well, it was reinflated and floated above the Esplanade between Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure for the press and any early birds. The whole show was over by 7:00 a.m., however, so most people will have missed it.

Late Addition

MousePlanet’s Jeff Moxley was dedicated enough to get out to the park very early this morning to get us some photos of the balloon in the Esplanade.

Photo by Jeff Moxley.

Photo by Jeff Moxley.

Photo by Jeff Moxley.

Photo by Jeff Moxley.

Photo by Jeff Moxley.

Since Disney management is still focused on 1955, it got us to wondering about 1956. The following attractions opened in that year:

• Astro-Jets, the spiritual precursor of today’s Astro-Orbitor, were first installed in 1956. Over the years it was tweaked and renamed several times (Tomorrowland Jets in 1964, Rocket Jets in 1967) before being removed completely to make way for the quickly closed Rocket Rods as part of the new Tomorrowland.
• Junior Autopia, not to be confused with the later Midget Autopia, opened as a second Autopia attraction.
• Carefree Corner opened in what is now Main Street Photo Supply. It was an information center for the park until 1985.
• The Crane Company Bathroom of Tomorrow began a four-year run in April 1956. Though it looked at the modern technology associated with a need everybody experiences at least once during a day at Disneyland, it was not an interactive attraction.
• The Dairy Bar, sponsored by the American Dairy Association and remembered for its big plastic cow, opened. It would close with the Hall of Exhibits when Tomorrowland received its first of many updates in 1958.
• Everybody wants to ride the E-Ticket attractions, but there was a time when there weren’t even any D-Ticket attractions. D-Tickets were added to Disneyland ticket books in 1956.
• Fantasyland’s Mad Hatter shop opened in 1956. Main Street’s Mad Hatter didn’t open until 1958.
• The original Fantasyland Station was added to the Santa Fe & Disneyland Railroad. Eventually the station would be relocated to its current location to make room for “it’s a small world” (becoming Videopolis Station in 1988 and Toontown Station in 1992).
• July saw the addition of the Indian War Canoes to the Rivers of America. In 1971, in a move reminiscent of real history, the Indians were pushed out by the frontiersman and the attraction became Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes, one of the few 1956 attractions still operating today.
• In 1956 much of the area that is now under Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Big Thunder Ranch was updated to The Living Desert (from one of Disney’s Tru-Life Adventures documentaries). The Living Desert was home to the Rainbow Cavern Mine Train, Conestoga Wagon Rides, stagecoach rides, and the Rainbow Cavern Pack Mules.
• Guatemalan Weavers, an Adventureland shop, opened. In 1986 it became Safari Outpost, which in turn closed in January 1995.
• The Horseless Carriages and Omnibus #1 began their round-trips along Main Street.
• Everybody remembers what a fiasco the Mickey Mouse Club Circus was but after it closed in early 1956, George Keller continued doing his “Keller’s Jungle Killers” animal show until September 7.
• Oaks Tavern opened in Frontierland. In 1978 it became Stage Door Cafe, which is still there.
• The Silhouette Studio on Main Street opened January 19, 1956, replacing the very short-lived Grandma’s Baby Shop.
• The Skyway opened on June 23 and continued carrying guests over Disneyland until its sudden closure in 1994. The Fantasyland end of the Skyway can still be seen hidden among the trees on a hill above Casey Jr. Circus Train.
• Yes, Tom Sawyer Island was in the middle of Rivers of America from the opening day of the park, but it wasn’t until June 16, 1956, that the rafts went into operation and there was a way for park guests to get there.

Halloween: Now an official Disneyland Holiday

Looking to the future, Disneyland made it official last week that fall and Halloween will get a separate treatment (instead of a promotional gap between the end of summer and the beginning of Christmas). Here is the press release that was sent out. It is short on details and high on hype, but it gives a sense of things to come.

If It’s October, It Must Be Disney’s HalloweenTime! Disneyland Resort to Become Fall Playground for Little Boos & Ghouls of All Ages

A Family-Friendly Tradition of Fall Fun Begins Sept. 29 With All-New Seasonal Event

ANAHEIM, Calif. (July 12, 2006) – The witching hour of midnight on Sept. 29, 2006, will mark the beginning of Disney’s HalloweenTime, an all-new seasonal event at the Disneyland Resort with whimsical dé, costumed Disney Characters, and interactive Halloween activities the whole family will find frightfully fun. Continuing through Oct. 31, the first-ever event will allow guests to enter a family-friendly world of Halloween delights.

“Disney’s HalloweenTime will be a wonderful opportunity for families to come together and enjoy the make-believe aspects of the holiday,” said Matt Ouimet, president of the Disneyland Resort. “We hope families will begin a new holiday tradition of celebrating Halloween with us here at the Disneyland Resort.”

The autumn motif will be immediately apparent as Guests approach Disneyland park where charming jack-o-lantern creations depicting Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Pluto and Goofy will adorn the rooftop of the Main Entrance. Upon entering the park, Guests will see the familiar imagery of the “Mickey Planter” below the Main Street Train Station transformed into a canvas of pumpkins and a masked Mickey face, featuring a skin-tone and ears created with real miniature white and orange pumpkins.

On Main Street, U.S.A. festive orange and yellow bunting will grace the quaint Victorian buildings while fall will be in full bloom in the flowerbeds and streetlamp flower boxes with a floral palette of green, purple, orange and yellow. A centerpiece of Town Square will be a 12-foot tall Mickey Mouse jack-o-lantern, complete with pumpkin ears. The carved Mickey image will greet Guests with a smile as they stroll down Main Street and will give them a playful wink as they depart while casting a warm glow at night.

The Central Plaza of Disneyland will also be specially decorated with Disney Character-inspired jack-o-lanterns surrounding the famous “Partners” statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse. Additionally, the Disney Characters themselves will get into the “spirit” of the occasion, wearing their favorite Halloween costumes, while meeting and greeting Guests in Town Square and the Central Plaza.

At the Halloween Round-Up in Frontierland little ones visiting Big Thunder Ranch will have fun enjoying crafts and listening to a few tall, and possibly spooky, tales. The round-up will also feature an array of tasty treats to satisfy the most monstrous of appetites including cotton candy in Halloween colors, plus little frights can participate in some Spooky-Kookie-Cookie decorating.

As part of Disney’s HalloweenTime the popular seasonal attraction “Haunted Mansion Holiday” returns in New Orleans Square to delight guests by showing what happens when the traditions of Halloween and Christmas collide, resulting in holiday mayhem. Inspired by the innovative animated film Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, “Haunted Mansion Holiday” depicts a holiday season as taken over by Jack Skellington and his friends from Halloweentown.

Across the Disneyland Resort esplanade, Guests to Disney’s California Adventure park will instantly be immersed in the spirit of Halloween fun as they encounter the iconic 11 foot tall “CALIFORNIA” entranceway letters—now seemingly made from giant pieces of candy corn. Once inside the park Guests will thrill to meeting an assortment of Disney Villains on the prowl while enjoying the enhanced atmosphere dé in the Hollywood Pictures Backlot.

Looming 183 feet high (the tallest attraction at the Disneyland Resort) and tempting guests to leave reality behind is the Hollywood Tower Hotel, site of the terrifying, other-worldly experience that is “The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.” The park’s popular supernatural adventure, based on “a lost episode” of the classic Twilight Zone™ television series, will take on an even more ominous presence with enhanced dé and creepy staff (such as the hotel maid whose shift never ends!).

Disney’s HalloweenTime, a new seasonal tradition, will be presented throughout the Disneyland Resort from Sept. 29 – Oct. 31, 2006. Information about vacations at the Disneyland Resort is available at www.disneyland.com, by calling (877) 700-DISNEY, or by visiting local travel agents. Additional insights can be found on the Official Disneyland Resort Audio Podcast at www.disneyland.com/podcast or via the Disneyland Resort Video Podcast that can be accessed thru a “Disneyland” search on the iTunes Podcast Directory.

No mention is made of Halloween editions of fireworks or parades at Disneyland but there is still no official confirmation of just how much longer than the rest of the 50th Anniversary celebration those shows will last. After the announcement, people immediately started to wonder how this would compare to Disneyland Paris’s all-out Halloween celebration. It is unlikely to be on par with that, particulary in its first year. Though the press release mentions additional insights to be found in the Disneyland podcast and new video podcast, the most recent releases are still about the Pirates of the Caribbean premiere.

This and that…

…Just a minor thing, but the postage stamp machine that used to be in the exit area of the Opera House has been moved because of the tightness of the space following the expansion of Main Street Mad Hatter. It can now be found at the lockers on Main Street.

…Not that it is news to anybody but the addition of Disney Vault 28 to the lineup of Downtown Disney stores this fall has been officially announced (link). We also forgot to mention it, but Illuminations is once again open, though in a smaller space.

…Since it just wouldn’t be a Park Update in Summer 2006 without something pirate-related, a new Pirates of the Caribbean-based scultpure series has been announced from the Walt Disney Classic Collection. The series is inspired by concept artwork created by Marc Davis for the attraction and the first item is a skeletal helmsman. The open-edition piece is designed by Jacqueline Perreault Gonzalez. It goes on sale at the park October 14, 2006. Presumably the series will have more than one sculpture, but the others have yet to be announced.

© Disney.

…A Cars “pre-parade” has been added to the entertainment schedule at Disney’s California Adventure park for the rest of the summer beginning this Friday (June 21 through August 31). We haven’t received much in the way of details about this but it sounds like it will probably be more of a “meet-and-greet” than actual parade. The mock-ups of characters from the movie that have been touring the country are ending that tour and they will begin appearing at DCA. The current schedule is for six appearances every day.

…DCA’s Aladdin stage show will go dark in September for about a month to do maintenance on the stage and theater, as well for the new cast to rehearse. There have been persistent rumors for the past several months that the show was going to be closed permanently. While anything is certainly possible, we have information that cast members of the show have recently been signing contracts that run through April 2007. If anybody has additional information one way or another, we’d love to hear it.

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

Current Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Disneyland

The early framework of new exteriors between the cave and new show building in the submarine lagoon are beginning to take shape. Photo by David Michael.

• Matterhorn Bobsleds closed August 28 – November 22 for complete refurbishment.


• Haunted Mansion closed September 5 – 28 for installation of Haunted Mansion Overlay.


• Golden Horseshoe closed September 5 – October 6 for refurbishment, kitchen update, and menu change. No word yet on what will be done with Billy Hill and the Hillbillies show during closure.


• Snow White – An Enchanted Musical ends September 4. Last performances ever will be on this date. No replacement show has yet been announced.


Watching these workers do their thing shows just how close the new structure comes to the existing monorail track and why it was necessary to put the monorail into shuttle mode during construction. Photo by David Michael.

• Disneyland Railroad closed September 18 – 22 for unknown reasons, probably general maintenance.


• Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage is currently under construction and will open sometime in 2007.


• Gadget’s Go Coaster closed beginning October 2 for approximately six weeks. General maintenance with no ride changes expected.

Some work has been done in the Matterhorn end of the lagoon but nothing nearly so dramatic as at the other end. Photo by David Michael.

Disney’s California Adventure

• Francis’ Lady Bug Boogie closed June 17 – July 13 for general maintenance. Still closed for unknown duration.
• Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular dark beginning September 11 for about a month. Rumors of permanent closure appear unfounded as new cast members have signed contracts through April 2007.
• California Screamin’ closed October 2 – 5. Everybody was expecting a long maintenance closure so this information is suspect at this time and will most likely eventually be changed to show a multi-month closure.

Paradise Pier Hotel

• Yamabuki closed July 31 – September 8 for complete 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.

July

• Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp’s Adventure DVD re-release. June 20 – July 15. DVD available for $5 off at Disneyland Resort stores.


• Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest at El Capitan Theater. July 7 – September 4. Accompanying the run of the movie will be props and costumes from the movie.
  
• Disneyland’s 51st Birthday and MousePlanet’s 6th. July 17. MousePlanet/MousePad meet at Hub at noon.
  

August

• Fantasia at Hollywood Bowl. August 18 and 19. Live orchestral performances of songs from Fantasia with video clips from movie. Conducted by John Mauceri. August 18 (linklink)
  
• 64th World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon). August 23-27 at the Anaheim Convention Center (link).
  

September

• Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend. September 15-17. For more information and registration see the official Web site (link, warning: horribly annoying embedded music)
  
• Little Mermaid at El Capitan Theater. September 7-17. Restored edition in conjunction with DVD re-release. First screening will be accompanied by panel discussion (link).

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)

• Pirates of the Caribbean Sculpture Series. On sale October 14. Series by Walt Disney Classic Collection goes on sale at Disneyland Resort (link).

November

• Nightmare Before Christmas at El Capitan Theater. October 19-31 (link).


• Lion King returns to Pantages Theater. Beginning November 16 for eight week run. Call 323-463-4367 for details and tickets. Perusal tickets are available to Annual Passholders and Disney Visa members through June 10.

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!

This first section is a list of discounts on ticket only purchases. Though it has become more common in recent years, Disneyland tickets are still rarely see deep discounts unless you are a resident of Southern California or Northern Mexico. For residents outside that area, the best discounts available tend to be simple advance purchase discounts.

Unless otherwise states, all tickets currently available for purchase must be first used by January 2, 2007. All multi-day tickets expire 13 days after first use.

This information is pulled from many sources but much thanks must go to MousePlanet sponsor MouseSavers.com for providing the bulk of the information. If you know of any additional discounts, offers, promotions, or contests that should be listed in this section, drop us a line (link).

Travel Packages

2006 Resort Magic Package – This official Disney travel package (link) is $452/per person for two adults per two-nights. The $452 price is for the Paradise Pier Hotel and goes up for Disneyland Hotel or Grand Californian Hotel. In addition to the hotel room, the package includes appropriate park hopper tickets, one early admission (early admission days are currently Mondays, Tuesday, Thursdays, and Saturdays), a virtual prize for the Virtual Magic Kingdom online game, admission to Mickey’s Toontown Morning Madness (currently available Mondays, Wednesday, Fridays, and Saturdays), and Walt Disney Travel Company collectible pin and lanyard, luggage tag, and California Fun Book. Travel using this package must be booked by August 28, 2006, and completed by September 2, 2006.

2006 Good Neighbor Magic Package – This official Disney travel package (link) starts at $277/per person for two adults per two-nights. The $227 price is for the Jolly Roger Hotel and goes up for other Good Neighbor hotels. In addition to the hotel room, the package includes appropriate park hopper tickets, one early admission (early admission days are currently Mondays, Tuesday, Thursdays, and Saturdays), a virtual prize for the Virtual Magic Kingdom online game, admission to Mickey’s Toontown Morning Madness (currently available Mondays, Wednesday, Fridays, and Saturdays), and Walt Disney Travel Company collectible pin and lanyard, luggage tag, and California Fun Book. Travel using this package must be booked by August 28, 2006, and completed by September 2, 2006.

Costco Travel Packages – Many different travel packages including visits to Disneyland and Disneyland hotels are available through Costco.com. When purchasing a Costco Disneyland travel package extras that will be included are: Mickey’s Toontown Madness admission (currently available Mondays, Wednesday, Fridays, and Saturdays), a character breakfast per person, a $20 Disneyland Resort gift card, a collectible pin and lanyard, and a Costco luggage tag.

Other Discounts

Rainforest Cafe Safari Club – Membership in the Rainforest Cafe gets you a 10% discount on entrees for up to four people. It also gets you priority seating if available. Additionally, after signing up, your membership card will be mailed to you and be accompanied by a $10 award good for your next visit to a Rainforest Cafe. So if you know you will be eating there while at Disneyland and have a Rainforest Cafe local to you, it may make sense to prejoin the Safari Club so that you can use the award during your trip. See the Rainforest Cafe Web site for details (link).

ESPNZone MVP Club – Membership in the MVP Club does not offer any discounts on food. However, once a member you can make an online reservation for your party up to three days in advance and will get a 25% increase in points purchased when playing games in the Sports Arena (and 40 bonus points at activation). You must register online and your membership card will then be mailed to you within 2-weeks. The card must then be activated at any ESPNZone by the person who signed up for the card and ID will be required (link)

AAA Restaurant Discounts – AAA (American Automobile Association) members can receive a 10% discount (excluding alcohol) at Plaza Inn, Wine Country Trattoria Ariel’s Grotto, PCH Grill, and Goofy’s Kitchen.

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.