Disneyland Park Update

Update for July 23 – July 29, 2007

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

Fall MouseAdventure date announced | Extreme Makeover: Theme Park Edition | City council postpones vote in zoning issue | The Art of Disney Parks | This-and-That

News and Views

Fall MouseAdventure date announced

We are finalizing contracts with Disney this week, but in the interest of giving
teams as much notice as possible, we can now announce that the Fall 2007 MouseAdventure
will be held Sunday, October 14 at the Disneyland Resort. Additional details,
including format, location, cost, registration dates, event capacity, hotel
discounts and more will be included in next week’s Disneyland Park Update.

Extreme Makeover: Theme Park Edition

Writer Honor Hunter at the Blue Sky Disney blog (link) posted last week that Disney executives have approved a massive renovation and expansion of Disney’s California Adventure, with a budget in excess of that spent to build the park the in the first place. Hunter does not cite specific numbers, but other Disney writers have said over $1 billion has been earmarked for the project. (The Disneyland Resort expansion project was said to have cost $1.4 billion, but that figure also included the construction of the Grand Californian Hotel and Downtown Disney, with slightly under half the budget going directly into DCA.)

Hunter also talks about other developments in the Resort, including new DVC units at the Grand Californian Hotel (a topic discussed here previously), two new Disney hotels near the Paradise Pier Hotel, and the long-rumored “update” of Star Tours. MousePlanet readers have been discussing how they would spend the money to improve DCA – join the discussion here.

City council postpones vote in zoning issue

The Anaheim City Council decided during its July 17 meeting to give Disney
and developer SunCal two more weeks to try to reach a compromise over proposed
development of a parcel of land near Disney property. The city council was scheduled
to vote at the meeting whether to overturn its previous decision to support
a residential development planned for the parcel, or whether to place the issue
before Anaheim voters in a general election. The council’s action, reached after
nearly three hours of commentary by over 60 Anaheim residents, postpones action
until the July 31 council meeting.

Get your MousePlanet gear!

The MousePlanet.com store is now open for business (link)! You can get shirts, mugs, hats and even a Teddy Bear! Check it out and show your MousePlanet pride!

The Art of Disney Parks

Event and art festival tickets went on sale last Wednesday for the Dream, Imagine,
Create – The Art of Disney Parks event scheduled for September 13 –
14 at the Disneyland Resort. The two-day event will include a cocktail reception,
silent auction, live auction, breakfast, luncheon and “dream sale.”

Attendees can purchase a variety of merchandise through the Random Selection
Process. The RSP items include the usual assortment of event-logo pins, apparel
and accessories, plus collectibles like a gold-plated “E” ticket. The originals
of most of the artwork created for the Disneyland exhibit at the Laguna Beach
Festival of Arts will be offered for sale, as will smaller reproductions of
many of the pieces. Prices range from $8,000 for originals, to $35 for reproductions.

The live auction features many items from Disneyland’s 50th Anniversary event,
including portions of the crowns that decorated Sleeping Beauty Castle, some
of the “50” icons that were scattered around the park, and frames for some of
the Happiest Faces on Earth photo mosaics. All of the auction items listed so
far are fairly large elements, and few collectors will have room to display
them. Smaller pieces will be available at the Dream sale, an event Disney is
describing as an “open air shopping experience.” The event will be staged in
the Lilo parking lot near Downtown Disney, and collectors who remember the “Walt’s
Garage” sales from the Official Disneyana Conventions will have an idea of what
to expect. Look for signs, banners, props, brochures, and souvenirs from the
50th Anniversary.

Participants can attend some or all of the events, depending on which package
they purchase, and the packages are surprisingly affordable for this event.
The top “Castle Landscape” package is $795 per person, and includes two nights
accommodations at the Grand Californian Hotel. The Disneyland.com Web site is
quoting the same room at the Grand Californian hotel at 680.00 for the two nights.
If a couple were to each purchase tickets, Disney is offering the option of
four nights at the hotel in lieu of two rooms for two nights. Disneyland.com
is quoting the same four nights 1,360.00. Either way, the event portion of the
package, with cocktail reception, one breakfast, one lunch, admission to the
silent and live auctions, plus earliest admission to the Dream sale and the
event gifts, works out to $115 per person (recent events have been $200 per
person or more). The least expensive package is $45 per person, and includes
admission to the live auction and admission to the Dream sale at 1:30pm. If
you can’t attend the event in person, you can register to bid by phone at the
live auction for $35.

An art festival is also scheduled for September 15 – 16 in Downtown Disney,
and local artists will display their creations. Complete event details, including
photos of the available event merchandise and some of the auction lots, is available
at the Disney Gallery Web site (link).

This and that

…Disney Vacation Club members have a new discount at the Disneyland Resort.
DVC members can now purchase discounted tickets to Mickey’s Halloween Treat
at Disney’s California Adventure. Tickets are $24 each if purchased before July
31, or $27 if purchased anytime between August 1 and the day before the event.
Unlike the discounted tickets available to Disneyland Resort annual passholders,
these tickets cannot be purchased online. Members must show their DVC membership
card at any Disneyland Resort ticket booth to receive the discounted rate.

…Time is running out to see the Disney Gallery. Next weekend’s event with
actress and artist Jane Seymour is the last official event at the Gallery as
we know it, and the Gallery is scheduled to close on July 31st.

Update: MousePlanet reader David let us know that Disney notified participants that the breakfast portion of the Jane Seymore event has been cancelled “due to soft attendance.” Those who purchased the breakfast package will receive a full refund, and will also be able to attend a private autograph and photo session with Jane Seymour Saturday morning to have their event merchandise signed. Disneyland is also offering free shipping for those who decide not to attend the morning session. Note – the meet & greet and free shipping offers are available only to those who had already registered for the breakfast event. If you did not register for the breakfast, you can still attend the afternoon meet & greet from 2 – 4pm at the Disney Gallery in New Orleans Square.

…Author Gail Carson Levine and illustrator David Christiana are signing their
latest Disney Fairies book, Fairy Haven and the Quest for the Wand, at
the World of Disney Store in Downtown Disney on Sunday, August 5 from 2:15 to
4:15 p.m.

Current Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Disneyland

None Scheduled.

Disney’s California Adventure

Midway Games closed 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

“Breakfast Tea in the Garden” with Jane 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

“Disneyland in Miniature” Product Release & Signing. Saturday, August 4 at Disneyland. New releases include the Plaza Pavilion/Enchanted Tiki Room/Aladdin’s Oasis sculpture and additional Main Entrance accessories..

Fairy Haven and the Quest for the Wand book signing. Sunday, August 5 at the World of Disney. Author Gail Carson Levine and illustrator David Christiana will be on hand from 2:15 to 4:15 p.m. to sign the latest Disney Fairies book.

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

August 17-19. (link)

September

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

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

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. Registration now available at Disney Gallery Web site. (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.

MouseAdventure. Sunday, October 14. Additional details will be released shortly.

CHOC/Disneyland Resort Walk in the Park Sunday, October

21 (link)

2007 UEA convention. October 29 to 30 (in Utah). any 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.’ One reader has told us that his Utah school district is closed October 11 – 15th, so crowds may be more dispersed throughout the month than in past years.

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).

One Day One Park

Regularly $83/$73

Southern California 1–Day Park Hopper – Disney is

not currently offering a Southern California 1-Day Park Hopper at the

Web site. Southern California AAA offices and Vons Supermarkets may be

selling these tickets, but call ahead to confirm. Proof of residency will

be required when redeeming them at Disneyland (Vons will

happily sell you the ticket voucher regardless of where you are from but

you still need to be an appropriate resident to use it. If you do see

these available anywhere, email us to let us know.

Two Day Park Hopper

Regularly $122/$102

AOCVCB 2-Day Bonus Ticket ($119/$100) – The discount

(from the Anaheim-Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau) is $3 (adult)

and $2 (child) and shipping on all orders is at least $10 (link).

So if you are ordering more than 10 days in advance and your discount would

be less than $10, you’ll still come out ahead by ordering at the Disneyland

Web site.

Three Day Park Hooper

Regularly $179/$149

Advance Purchase 3-day Park Hopper Bonus Ticket ($159/$129) –

A discounted price for advance purchase through the Internet or select

dealers. Available at the Disneyland Web site (link)

where shipping is included if you order more than 10 days prior to your

travel date. Also available from AAA offices in Northern California, Nevada,

and Utah (not currently listed at the AAA Web site, you may need to call

your local office). Disney Stores (California), Safeway grocery stores

(California and Arizona), and certain travel agents may also sell these

tickets. It is best to call and confirm before visiting a location, however.

“Bonus Tickets” include one early admission day (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday,

or Saturday). If purchased from AAA, the tickets come with free parking

at the Mickey ∧ Friends parking garage (an $11/day value)

Southern California CityPass($235/$189) – This pass

includes a 3-Day Disneyland Resort park ticket (including one early-entry

day). It also includes one day admissions to SeaWorld San Diego, Universal

Studios Hollywood, and either the San Diego Zoo or San Diego Wild Animal

Park. The CityPass expires 14 days after first use at any location. Purchase

CityPass through the Disneyland Web site (link)

or onsite at the ticket booths of Disneyland Resort or the other theme

parks included in the pass. You can also purchase directly from the CityPass

Web site (link)

though this has a minimum $7.50 shipping charge (no shipping charge from

the Disney Web site if purchased more than 10 days in advance).

The Southern California City Pass can also be purchased online from Costco

at a cost of $209.99/$169.99 (adults/child),

5% surcharge if not a Costco member and shipping fees apply. Booklets

may be available for sale in some stores but varies widely. If you want

to buy in person it would be best to call ahead and confirm availability.

If you do buy at a Costco, you will initially purchase a large plastic

container which you must trade for ticket books prior to leaving

Costco!

AOCVCB 3-Day Bonus Ticket ($155/$126) – The discount

(from the Anaheim-Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau) is $4 (adult)

and $3 (child) and shipping on all orders is at least $10. So if you are

ordering more than 10 days in advance and your discount would be less

than $10, you’ll still come out ahead by ordering at the Disneyland Web

site. Tickets include one early admission day (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday,

or Saturday) (link).

Four Day Park Hopper

Regularly $209/$179

Advance Purchase 4–Day Park Hopper Bonus tickets ($179/$149)

– A discounted price for advance purchase through the Internet or

select dealers. Available at the Disneyland Web site (link)