Disneyland Park Update

Update for July 2 – July 8, 2007

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

Celebrating Independence Day at Disneyland | Shriners parade to cause road closures on July 3 | Shading Nemo | Festival of Arts opens with Disney exhibit | Ratatouille at Disneyland | Google Calendar adds DisneyLink | Disney Gallery Anniversary Event | Jane Seymour event update | This and That

News and Views

The Fourth of July falls on a Wednesday this year, and so the Disneyland Resort theme parks will keep their normal summer hours. Disneyland will be open all this week from 8 a.m. until midnight; Disney’s California Adventure will open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m..

The “Remember…Dreams Come True” fireworks show is scheduled for 9:25 p.m. on Wednesday, followed immediately by “A Salute to America’s Golden Dreams” bonus fireworks finale at 9:42. Both shows are subject to cancellation due to wind conditions, a caveat cast members now seem to use anytime they speak about the fireworks.

If you’ll be visiting Disneyland on Wednesday and would like our hints on the best fireworks viewing spots in the park, be sure to see our Fireworks Viewing Guide.

The Shriners of North America are holding their annual convention at the Anaheim Convention Center through July 5. According to KNX radio, this is the first time the group has held its annual gathering in Anaheim, and over 20,000 participants are scheduled to attend.

The group takes to the streets on Tuesday for a parade around the Anaheim Convention Center, and surrounding streets—including a two-block stretch of Harbor Boulevard—will close at 8:30 am. A map of the parade route is available on the organization’s Web site (link).

A “sea” of blue umbrellas shades riders waiting to find Nemo. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

To shield visitors from the bright California sun during what has been more than a two-hour wait for the new Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage attraction, Disney has created a maze of shade umbrellas along the attraction’s queue. One cluster of the bright blue umbrellas is located on the Tomorrowland side of the queue, with another grouping in Fantasyland near Fantasia Gardens.

Disney’s PhotoPass has set up shop at the former Kodak Picture Spot location around the Submarine Lagoon, and will offer to snap your photo in front of the scenic backdrop.

The Laguna Beach Festival of Arts opened Sunday featuring an exhibit titled “Dream, Imagine, Create: The Art of Disney Parks.” The exhibit includes pieces created by Disney artists, as well as artwork created by aspiring junior artists from the Orange County Children’s Therapeutic Arts Center.

“Dream, Imagine, Create: The Art of Disney Parks” on display at the Laguna Beach Festival of Arts. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Disney artists and Festival of Arts artists Hal Lambert, Mada Leach and Howard O’Donnell, along with Disney VoluntEars, went to the center in April to encourage and guide the young participants. Twelve of the resulting images were selected for inclusion in this exhibit, and the young artists were invited to the Festival of Arts opening ceremonies.

Mickey Mouse, Festival of Arts President Anita Mangels, Imagineer George Scribner and Resort Ambassador Adonis Reeves unveil Scribner’s painting “Waiting for Mom.” Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Mickey Mouse, Disneyland Resort Ambassador Adonis Reeves and Festival of Arts President Anita Mangels were on hand Sunday morning for the unveiling of the exhibit’s featured painting, “Waiting for Mom,” created by Imagineer George Scribner. A “living tableau” re-creating the painting was also displayed during the brief ceremony.

Volunteers re-create “Waiting for Mom” in a living tableau. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

After the Laguna Beach Festival of Arts concludes on August 31, the artwork will be sold during an event scheduled for September 13 and 14 at the Disneyland Resort, with proceeds to benefit local charities.

You can now view all of the images created by Disney artists for this exhibit on the Disney Gallery Web site (link). If you want to see the exhibit in person, the Laguna Beach Festival of Arts is about 25 minutes south of the Disneyland Resort in good traffic. Admission is $7 ($4 for seniors and students), while Laguna Beach residents and children 12 and under get in free. Disneyland Resort annual passholders can purchase 2 for 1 tickets to the Festival of Arts by presenting their current passport at the box office.

Parking rates vary depending on where you find a spot, with the closest lots charging $10 or more. A tip for those planning to make the trip from Los Angeles or North Orange County: Avoid the toll road. Google Maps and MapQuest will advise you to take the 55 freeway south until it turns into the 73 toll road, and exit at Laguna Canyon Drive. If you do this, you will pay a minimum cash toll of $3.75 each way. The toll-free route is to take the I-405 south and exit at Highway 133 / Laguna Canyon Road / Exit 2.

The 2007 Laguna Beach Festival of Arts is open daily through August 31, except July 4 and August 25.

Emile and a character host (who is not Linguini) delight diners at Café Orleans in New Orleans Square. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Disneyland has been overrun by rats, in the form of Remy and Emile from the new Pixar release Ratatouille. According to cast members, Linguini will not be appear in the park, but one of the costumed character hosts (photographed above wearing chef’s attire) bears an uncanny resemblance to the film’s human star.

Remy and Linguini star in a new Emporium window. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Café Orleans offers a Ratatouille-inspired children’s menu, though the menu items have simply been renamed for the promotion—Mickey’s Cheesy Macaroni is now “Remy’s Cheesy Macaroni,” and the Citrus Chicken Drummettes are now “Gusteau’s Citrus Chicken Drummettes.” Children’s entrees are served with fresh cut fruit, but somehow the adorable “fruitatouille” name isn’t being used for the side dish. Regardless of what’s on the menu, kids are probably going to be more interested in the souvenir menu itself, a white paper “chef’s hat” with Remy hiding on the back.

The Emporium window is as detailed as the film, but a few tributes have been added to the props. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

The Emporium on Main Street has a new (and typically impossible-to-photograph) window devoted to Ratatouille. The window re-creates the “training” scene in Linguini’s kitchen, and is as full of intricate visual detail as the film. However, some of the “tribute” items in the window scene, including a bottle of wine with a “Lasseter” label, are not actually in the movie. The Emporium also stocks a section of Ratatouille toys, books and games.

If you use Google’s beta calendar program, you can now subscribe to the new DisneyLink calendar, which will place Disney events on your personal event calendar. The DisneyLink calendar includes events from all around the country, but does not appear to include a filter that would allow you to view only those events in your area.

Summer pin events are detailed on the DisneyLink calendar available through Google. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

The event titles shown on the calendar, such as “Mickey’s Pin Trading Nights,” often lack regional identifiers, so you’ll need to click on an event to learn that Mickey’s Pin Trading Nights take place in Orlando, while Mickey’s Pin Trading Morning are held in New York. The event information is also somewhat incomplete. For example, the listing for the Disneyland Resort Pin Trading Night on July 8 says that the event is held at Disneyland, and requests that participants park in Downtown Disney or the Mickey and Friends parking structure—without mentioning that the event itself is hosted in the Pacific Ballroom of the Paradise Pier Hotel.

Despite a few flaws, the program is an excellent resource for those who want to keep up on the latest in the world of Disney—just be sure to double check the details before you make plans. Here are the Disneyland-area events mentioned on the DisneyLink calendar for this week:

• Adora Belle Disneyland Dream Breakfast with Marie Osmond
  Sat Jul 7 8 a.m. – Sat Jul 7 10 am

• The Disney Gallery 20th Anniversary Product Release & Signing
  Sun Jul 8 9 a.m. – Sun Jul 8 12 p.m.

• Disneyland Resort Pin Trading Nights
  Sun Jul 8 5 p.m. – Sun Jul 8 8 p.m.

To sign up for Google Calendar or to add the DisneyLink calendar to your Google account, follow this link.

After we published our Park Update last Monday, the Disneyland Resort merchandise team updated its event Web site with additional details about this weekend’s Disney Gallery Anniversary event (link).

The Disney Gallery 20th Anniversary Product Release & Celebration will be held Sunday, July 9 from 9:00 a.m. to noon at The Disney Gallery in New Orleans Square. Charles Boyer, Bruce Boyer, James Coleman and Robert Olszewski will all be on hand to meet collectors and sign items purchased at the event.

Charles and Bruce Boyer will introduce a painting titled “Mickey Mouse – The Artist.” The original 24″ x 30″ canvas will be available for $18,500 and a limited edition giclee will be offered at $580. For the budget-minded, $35 “deluxe prints” will also be available.

“Twilight Beauty” by James Coleman. Disney photo.

James Coleman will unveil his painting “Twilight Beauty.” The original 24″ x 36″ canvas is offered at $30,350, with Limited Edition Giclees at $995. Disney photo.

Robert Olszewski’s Disneyland Marquee sculpture will not be available at the event, but you can pre-order one starting July 3. Disney photo.

Fans of miniaturist Robert Olszewski will have several items to choose from, including two versions (regular and Annual Passholder-exclusive) of a model Disneyland Marquee ($59), a Nightmare Before Christmas Heirloom Box ($60), and the next release in his Gallery of Light collection, “Beauty and the Beast” ($80). The Disneyland Marquee sculptures will not be available at the event, and Disneyland is offering collectors the opportunity to purchase the piece (and receive free shipping) online July 3 through July 13, 2007, or while supplies last.

You can place your order beginning tomorrow (Tuesday, July 3) at 8:00 a.m. Pacific from their event Web page (link).

As always, Disney requests that customers bring no personal items to be signed, and will limit signatures to two per artist, per collector.

Disney has released more information about the July 28 Jane Seymour “Breakfast Tea in the Garden” event, including images of the merchandise to be offered at the event. The event merchandise includes four original images of “Sleeping Beauty Castle,” one each in oil on canvas, pastel on paper, water color on paper and pen and ink on paper, priced from $24,800 to $2,980. Limited Edition Giclee on canvas reproductions are available for $795 (unframed) and $995 (framed). A $35 Unframed Deluxe Print and copies of Seymour’s “Making Yourself At Home” book round out the offering.

Sleeping Beauty Castle by Jane Seymour. Disney photo.

You can make your reservations for the breakfast event through the Disney Gallery Web site (link). Once registered, you must complete the online RSP forms to place your merchandise requests by July 9. Breakfast event packages start at $120 per person. Jane Seymour will also be available from 1:30—3:30 that afternoon at the Disney Gallery to greet fans and sign purchases.

…Guests who check into a Disneyland Resort Hotel through August 12 will receive a “Hidden Mickey” pin packs as part of Mickey’s Pin Festival of Dreams promotion. The pin pack contains randomly selected Hidden Mickey pins, and is limited to one per reservation. Click here to see the series of 12 pins designed for this promotion. (link)

A Limited Edition Fourth of July watch is now available at Disneyland. Disney photo.

…Disneyland released a Limited Edition Fourth of July watch at New Century Timepieces on Main Street this weekend. The watch, designed by artist Eric Scales, retails for $250 and includes a reproduction of the original artwork.

…After we reported last week about the schedule for the upcoming NFFC convention, Dennis Ritchey from the NFFC contacted us about a change to the Ryman Arts Benefit Breakfast on July 16th:

We were informed by Club 33 that they have cancelled our event in the Club that day. With that said the event has now been moved to the Napa Rose. It will include a buffet breakfast and Marty Sklar will be our very special guest. Marty is also a member of the Board for Ryman Arts. The cost is now $60 per person which includes the breakfast, tax and tip and a $15 donation to Ryman Arts. Opportunity drawings and silent auction items will also be available during the event.

The good news is we have plenty of seats available with the larger venue. So as the saying goes, every cloud does have a silver lining.

If any of our NFFC members are interested in attending a registration form should be posted shortly on the website at nffc.org. The event will run from 8 a.m. – 11 a.m. on July 16th in the Napa Rose.

…Disneyland is now offering a “Magic Apple” drink, a lightly carbonated frozen treat made from 100 percent apple juice. Magic Apple is available in Toontown and at the Fantasia Freeze cart, conveniently located near the usual end of the line for Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage. That cart also offers the Finding Nemo Snak Pac, an $8 combo that comes with two bottles of water and two cups of “E.A.C. Crunch trail mix.”

Light reflects off the submerged portholes of a Nemo submarine. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

…Although the Virtual Magic Kingdom (VMK) kiosk closed at Disneyland last month, players will soon have another reason to make a trip into the park. VMK producers announced last week that a new Finding Nemo quest will be distributed to visitors waiting in line for Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage. Inside that quest (which is really more of an activity book to entertain you while you wait than an actual VMK-style “quest”), will be a card that you can use to give your VMK character the middle piece of a virtual submarine in the VMK game. The front and back pieces of the sub are available by downloading and playing the online Finding Nemo Virtual Lagoon game. Get more information about the Virtual Lagoon game at the VMK promotions page (link). The cards have yet to appear at Disneyland, but we’ll make a note in a future Park Update when they are available.

…Construction has finished in the Downtown Disney parking lot, and a new row of handicapped spaces—including more van-accessible spots—has been added.

Current Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Disneyland

• None Scheduled .

Disney’s California Adventure

• Midway Games close June 20 for an unknown duration. The future of the games has been somewhat questionable due to the Toy Story Mania project.
• Toy Story Mania under construction. Opens 2008.

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

• The Art of Disney Parks ~ Where Dreams Come True exhibit.

  July 1 ? August 31 at the Festival of Arts. For information about the Festival,

  visit the official Web site (link).

• Adora Belle Disneyland Dream Breakfast with Marie Osmond.

  July 7 at Disneyland. Tickets on sale now. See the event Web site (link)

  for more details.

• “Disneyland in Miniature” Product Release & Signing.

  Sunday, July 8 at Disneyland. The Disneyland marquee accessory will be available

  for purchase as part of a larger Disney Gallery anniversary event.

• “Breakfast Tea in the Garden” with Jayne Seymour. Saturday,

  July 28 at Disneyland. Tickets go on sale June 27, 2007 at 11 AM Pacific

  / 2 pm Eastern through the Disney Gallery Web site (link).

August

• Bats Day in the Fun Park (unofficial event) Friday-Sunday,

  August 17-19. (link)

• “Disneyland in Miniature” Product Release & Signing.

  Date TBA, at Disneyland. New releases include the Plaza Pavilion / Enchanted

  Tiki Room / Aladdin’s Oasis sculpture and additional Main Entrance accessories.

September

• Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend. September 2 and 3. Family Fun

  Run 5K on Sunday, September 2, Half Marathon on Monday, September 3 (link).


Run 5K on Sunday, September 2, Half Marathon on Monday, September 3 (link).
• Los Angeles Unified School District schools closed. Thursday, September

  13th. This annual “no school” day usually results in huge crowds

  at the Disneyland Resort.

• The Art of Disney Parks ~ Where Dreams Come True event.

  September 13-14 at the Disneyland Resort. Will include an auction of artwork

  from the Festival of Arts exhibit and 50th Anniversary. Keep an eye on the

  event Web site for updates as they become available (link).

• Downtown Disney artist weekend. September 15-16. An exhibit

  ‘dedicated to the art of local artist participants.’ No additional details

  are available at this time.

October

• Gay Days at Disneyland (unofficial event) Friday, October

  5 through Sunday, October 7. Event attendance will be higher at Disneyland

  on Saturday, DCA on Sunday (link).

• Mickey’s Halloween Treat. October 5, 12, 19 and 26; 7:30

  pm. – 11:30 pm. and October 4, 11, 18, 25, 29, 30, and 31; 6:30 pm. – 10:30

  pm. Tickets currently available to Annual Passholders via the Disneyland

  Annual Passholder Web site.

• CHOC/Disneyland Resort Walk in the Park Sunday, October

  21 (link)

• 2007 UEA convention. October 29 to 30 (in Utah). Many Utah public

  schools close so teachers can attend the Utah Education Association convention,

  which creates a four-day weekend for the students. Expect the resort to

  be busy that weekend—some claim ‘UEA’ stands for ‘Utah Escapes to Anaheim.’

Summer 2008

• Disney Magic returns to Pacific Ocean itineraries. May 25-August

  17, 2008.

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. This first section is a list of discounts on ticket only purchases. Though it has become more common in recent years, Disneyland tickets are rarely offered at 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.

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

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

50% off Disneyland souvenir books. Disneyland is offering a 50% discount

on two souvenir books, “Remember the Moments” and “Disneyland

Then, Now & Forever.” The discount is valid while supplies last,

or through September 4th, 2007. The books are available at most large shops

at the Disneyland Resort, including the World of Disney and Emporium.

Disney Visa Free-Stroller Rental – If you have a Disney

Visa card you can rent up to two strollers for free at either Disneyland or

Disney’s California Adventure.

Yamabuki and Steakhouse 55. Disneyland Resort annual passholders save 30% off the entire check (excluding alcohol) Mondays through Wednesdays through August 15th. The discount is valid for lunch and dinner at Yamabuki, and breakfast and dinner at Steakhouse 55.

Dream Ears offer. Disneyland Resort Annual Passholders can purchase two “Where Dreams Come True” light-up ear hats for only $20, plus tax, at the World of Disney Store in the Downtown Disney District. A valid Disneyland Resort Annual Passport must be shown at time of purchase. Offer valid while supplies last. No discount will be offered in conjunction with this promotion. Subject to restrictions and change without notice.

Pirates watch and litho offer. May 20 through August 18. Customers can purchase a Pirates of the Caribbean watch and lithograph set for $10 with a qualifying $50 purchase at select store locations at the Disneyland Resort. Visit the promotion Web site for a complete list of stores and restrictions.

2 for 1 Festival of Arts tickets for Disneyland Resort annual passholders. July 1 ? August 31. Disneyland Resort annual passholders can purchase 2 for 1 tickets to the Festival of Arts by presenting their current passport at the box office. This offer does not include tickets to the Pagent of the Masters. Tickets are regularly $7 for adults, $4 for students and seniors.

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, which can make a huge difference on busy

days. 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.

Free Metrolink and ART weekends – Disneyland Resort annual passholders can participate in a joint promotion with Anaheim Transportation Network (ATN) and Metrolink. As part of Metrolink Weekends, Passholders can use Metrolink to travel for free to the Anaheim Metrolink station, then use a free ART pass to get to the Disneyland Resort. The offer is great for those who live in the Inland Empire or southern Orange County, but those who live north of Disneyland will have to get there the old fashioned way. The list of eligible origin stations is limited, and none of the southbound trains coming from LA are included in the promotion.

To take advantage of this promotion, you’ll first need to visit the promotional Web site at this link. (link) Use the username “train” and password “ap” to login. Once you register, you will receive by mail:

• One 4-trip ticket from Metrolink to be used on the Weekend Train
• One round-trip ticket for the ART system from Metrolink station to the Disneyland® Resort (a $5 value)
• A free 7-day pass on Metrolink (one 7-day pass per household).
• The Metrolink Weekends schedule is available at this link, and the ART operating schedule is available at this 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

Visit our Annual Passholders Blockout Dates 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.