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News and Views

Disney electrician dies after fall – 36-year-old Christopher

Bowman, an electrician who was working on the riggings and track of the

magic carpet platform for the Aladdin show in Disney’s California

Adventure park on April 22 when he fell approximately 42 feet to the seats

below, died Sunday, May 18. [Read David Koenig’s original

report.]

After his fall, Bowman was taken to UC Irvine Medical Center.

He never regained consciousness. According to the Los Angeles Times,

although Bowman was brain dead, he was kept on a ventilator so that his

organs could be donated.

“Disneyland Resort is mourning the loss of a member of our

cast member family. Our hearts go out to his family and friends,” resort

President Cynthia Harriss said in a statement.

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health

is investigating the fall. Division spokesman Dean Fryer has said investigators

are focusing on whether there was fall protection and adequate training.

They are expecting to release a report soon. An autopsy is scheduled.

Disneyland no-fly zone – Small plane pilots

for banner advertising businesses and helicopter tour operators cried

foul when the Federal Aviation Administration recently created a permanent

no-fly zone over Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Although the FAA may

have approved this in reaction to the need for increased security, critics

point out that persons bent on causing harm could still easily fly over

the parks.

“The sole and exclusive motivation for seeking these restrictions

is for the safety and enjoyment of our guests,” said Disney spokeswoman

Leslie Goodman in a recent Orlando

Sentinel article, explaining that meant everything from keeping

out “banner ads from trial lawyers” to pilots “buzzing the parks.”

According to the Orlando Sentinel, flight restrictions

are fairly common for special events (such as the recent Indy 500 race),

but it took extra work by Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and Sen. Richard Shelby

(R-Ala.), who were “instrumental in adding the Disney provisions.”

The actual announcement comes in the form of FAA “NOTAM”

(Notice To Airmen) #FDC

3/2123, which states:

EFFECTIVE 0303182000 UTC (MARCH 18 AT 1200 LOCAL) UNTIL

FURTHER NOTICE. PURSUANT TO RESTRICTIONS DETAILED IN SECTION 352 OF

PUBLIC LAW 108-7, AND 14 CFR SECTION 99.7, SPECIAL SECURITY INSTRUCTIONS.

AIRCRAFT FLIGHT OPERATIONS ARE PROHIBITED AT AND BELOW 3,000 FEET AGL,

WITHIN A 3 NAUTICAL MILE RADIUS OF THE DISNEYLAND THEME PARK (334805N/1175517W

OR THE SEAL BEACH /SLI/ 067 DEGREE RADIAL AT 6.7 NAUTICAL MILES.

This map must now be added to the Los Angeles Terminal Air Chart and on

the Los Angeles Sectional Aeronautical Chart in the vicinity of Disneyland,

CA, effective July 10, 2003, to remind pilots not to fly over Disneyland.

FAA illustration.

Disneyland unveils new tour – For those of you

who have never been to the Disneyland Resort or haven’t been since Disney’s

California Adventure opened, the company has created a new tour. It is

an expansion of its “Welcome to Disneyland” tour. If you have the time,

money and interest — and have no idea where to begin you vacation experience,

this is a good tour to take.

The “Red Carpet Experience” is a 2 1/2-hour tour about

Disneyland Resort. The tour includes both Disneyland park, and Disney’s

California Adventure park, a stop in Downtown Disney has to offer, a visit

through the hotels of the Disneyland Resort, and a VIP viewing of Disney’s

Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular at the Hyperion Theater in DCA. The

tour also includes bonus Fastpass tickets to two of popular attractions.

Price: $25 per person.

Tour length: Approximately 2 1/2 hours.

Language Info: Foreign language tours are available with advance notice.

Additional Info: Valid Park admission is required.

For information on this and other tours at the Disneyland

Resort in Southern California, contact Disneyland Resort Tour Services

at (714) 781-4400. Information subject to change without notice.

Better than your uncle’s vacation slides – The Travel Channel

is showing its series on theme parks this week:

• Thursday, May29: Theme Park Road Trip, part 1 at 7:00 p.m.
• Thursday, June 5: Theme Park Road Trip, part 2, at 7:00 p.m.

Consumer Reports releases amusement park ratings –

What comes out to be great news for Walt Disney World fans, turns out

to be a bit of a stinker for West Coast Disney park fans. The June 2003

issue of Consumer Reports magazine ranked Epcot, Disney Studios,

and Magic Kingdom as the parks with the most, second, and third highest

overall customer satisfaction ratings (based on a survey of 2500 people

for factors such as value, rides, shows, staff, souvenirs and crowds).

Unfortunately, the California parks didn’t fare nearly as well.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom ranked seventh, but still managed to pull ahead

of Disneyland. Probably no surprise is that Disney’s California Adventure

came in dead last in a list of 14 parks that includes other California

contenders such as SeaWorld San Diego (sixth), Knott’s Berry Farm (12th),

and Universal Studios Hollywood (13th). While the information presented

in the article may not be new for MousePlanet readers, the comparison

against other major U.S. parks is worth purchasing the issue.

Revenge of the Vivendi – Financially stressed Vivendi recently

announced “Revenge of the Mummy,” a new ride-through attraction

being developed for both of its Florida and Hollywood Universal Studios

parks. Even though Vivendi has already announced its desire to sell off

its parks, it hopes the $80 million price tag will keep the parks competitive

with Disney parks, which are busy constructing their own ambitious attractions,

including Mission: Space in Epcot, and Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at

Disney’s California Adventure.

The artist conception, of the Revenge of the Mummy attraction at the Universal

Studios parks on both U.S. coasts, evokes the sense of mystery and unknown

thrills. This ambitious attraction is expected to finish in Spring 2004.

PRNewsfoto.

“This really is the latest evolution for the entire ride industry,” said

Scott Trowbridge, vice president of design and creative development for

Universal Parks & Resorts. “The ‘Revenge Of The Mummy’ ride is the next

threshold attraction in our industry — there is no other ride like

it anywhere.”

Billed as “psychological thrill ride,” the attraction will hurtle passengers

through Egyptian sets, chambers, passageways and tombs in vehicles that

will move both backward and forward. During the ride, which will last

about five minutes, they’ll pass through a “ceiling of flame” hovering

inches overhead and encounter a skeleton warrior that will leap onto their

vehicles.

Current Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Disneyland

• Pirates of the Caribbean – April 28 – May 30
• Blue Bayou Restaurant – April 28 – May 30
• Sleeping Beauty Castle walkthrough – indefinite
• Space Mountain – through 2005

Disney’s California Adventure

• Superstar Limo – indefinite

Future Attraction Closures

• Indiana Jones Adventure – September 2 – October 24

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.

Park Events

May 25 – July 26, 2003 – Mickey’s All American Pin Festival. A

series of new product releases and mini-events are scheduled during the

nine-week promotion. More details and a complete schedule of release dates

are available on our MousePad

message boards.

Thursday, May 29 – “Evening in St. Helena” culinary event at

the PCH Grill, featuring Chef Chad Krahling (PCH Grill), with Flora Springs

Winery. Call 714-781-DINE for more information and reservations.

Friday, May 30 – Disneyland Resort Pin Trading Night –

Pacific Ballroom, Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel from 7:00 to 10:00

pm.

Saturday, May 31 – Actress & Character Model Margaret Kerry Willcox

will be on hand to sign a new limited-edition sericel, titled “Peter

Pan’s Golden Anniversary.” The event will take place from 10a, to

1:00p, at Disneyland’s Disneyana Shop.

ABC Super Soap Weekends return to Disney’s California Adventure

this spring. Stars from All My Children and One Life To Live

will attend May 31 and June 1, while General Hospital and Port

Charles celebs will be featured on June 7 and 8. Hotel packages are

available for the event, and include an exclusive breakfast with the stars

and a commemorative gift. Further details are available on our MousePad

message boards. To book your package, call (714) 520-5050.

Thursday, June 26 – “A Taste of New England” culinary event

at the PCH Grill, featuring Chef Marcel St. Pierre (Club 33), with Wild

Horse Winery . Call 714-781-DINE for more information and reservations.

Wednesday, July 9 – Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse

of the Black Pearl – Merchandise Special Event.

Thursday, July 31 – “Grilling Under the Stars” culinary event

at the PCH Grill, featuring Chef Jason Martin (Hook’s Pointe), with Niebaum-Coppola

Winery.

Wednesday, October 1 – Haunted Mansion Holiday Exclusive Dinner

Thursday October 2 – Haunted Mansion Holiday Event

Tickets for the 2003 Haunted Mansion Holiday merchandise special

events go on sale Tuesday, May 13 at 10:00 a.m. PDT. Disneyland is offering

four event packages, from $69 to $2250 per person. More details about

these events are available on our MousePad

message board, and at DisneyGallery.com.

Current Discounts & Promotions

Summer Annual Passholder special – The first

ticket promotion this summer is an Annual Passholder special. From May

21 to September 3, APs can purchase a 2-Day Disneyland Resort Park Hopper

for $69 (10+) and $49 (3-9). Just present your AP at any ticket booth.

Limit five tickets per Passholder, per day. Tickets are valid for 14 days

from date of first usage. First usage must be on date of purchase. Last

usage must be on or before Tuesday, September 16, 2003.

MouseSavers.com

reports hotel discounts through Expedia.com

for Disneyland Resort Hotels. Rates start at $136 per night.

New Annual Passholder discounts at Disneyland Resort

restaurants — or are there? A memo issued to hotel restaurants

last month detailed new

Annual Passholder discounts for many Disneyland Resort restaurants.

The discounts were to take effect on Monday, April 14. The biggest change

was that all passholders would receive at least a 10% discount at eight

locations, with premium passholders receiving a 15% discount at 12 locations.

Unfortunately, there is some confusion about these new discounts.

Some restaurants are already offering them, others claim that the discounts

take effect in May, while still others say that the discounts are not

changing at all. We’re trying to sort out the confusion for our readers.

Park hopping in Northern California – AAA members

in Northern California can now purchase 2-day Park Hopper tickets at their

local CSAA office. The tickets are available through Thursday, June 19.

The adult price is $99; children ages 3 to 9 pay $79.

This ticket is also available at Disneyland ticket booths,

or at Disneyland.com.

The second day of the ticket must be used within 13 days of the first

use.

Free coffee on Main Street, revisited – Receive a

free small coffee when you buy a mug at the Market House on Main Street,

USA. This offer is only valid at the Market House, and is for a limited

time only. The Market House has just begun serving the Mickey’s Really

Swell Coffees as part of this promotion. Now you can try the Disney Blend,

Disney Decaf, French Vanilla and Hazelnut flavors sold at the parks.

Annual passholder discounts at Alamo – California residents

get discounts of up to 20% off Alamo’s retail rates in the United States.

Disneyland annual passholders can get a free Disneyland Resort Character

Breakfast voucher when the rent their car for 3 days or more from March

24th through August 31, 2003 at the Los Angeles Airport location. For

more details and the discount code you’ll need for this offer, visit the

annual

passholder section of the Disneyland Web site.

ESPN Zone discounts for annual passholders – Disneyland annual

passholders can get an Season Ticket Frequent Dining Card at the Downtown

Disney ESPN Zone. The Season Ticket entitles you to a free soda with your

meal purchase of $6.99 or more. Once you have made four meal purchases,

you receive the fifth meal and soda free, and get a chance to win a pair

of tickets to the ESPY Awards in 2004. See location for more information

and details.

City Pass now available with AAA packages – You can now purchase

the Southern California CityPass with Walt Disney Travel Company packages.

With a Southern California CityPass booklet, you will receive admission

to five separate entertainment options. Admission includes:

• 3-day Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Ticket
• 1-day ticket to Sea World Adventure park
• 1-day ticket to the World-famous San Diego Zoo
• 1-day ticket to Knott’s Theme Park.

Instead of the Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Ticket currently included

in California packages from the Walt Disney Travel Company, guests can

select a Southern California CityPass for an additional charge of $47

per pass ($32 per pass for guests ages 3 through 9).

Note: The Southern California Citypass does not include the $10

ESPN Zone Arena Game Card, or the California package’s feature that allows

guests to collect multiple Fastpass tickets at once for free in advance.

Anaheim Marriott Disney Package available for Marriott Rewards members

– Make your Disneyland vacation as easy as saying “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah”

with a Disneyland package at the Anaheim Marriott. For a low rate of $419,

through Saturday, May 31, you’ll find dreams really do come true with

this fabulously priced package.

Anaheim Disney Package includes:

• 2-nights in a luxury guest room
• 3-day Disneyland Resort Park Hopper tickets for two adults
• Free breakfast for two adults
• Children aged 3 through 9 eat for $1

Some restrictions apply. Membership in the Marriott Rewards program

is required. Click to learn more about this offer and for complete terms

and conditions.

Alaska Airlines airfare and hotel specials – Alaska Airlines

is offering two specials for travel to the Disneyland Resort. A MousePad

member

alerted us that the airline is again offering the popular Kids

Fly Free special, which includes airfare, hotel, park-hopper tickets,

and more. This special offer can only be booked by calling Alaska Airlines

at 1-800-468-2248. Adults traveling without kids can take advantage of

other special hotel and air packages by booking at the Alaska

Airlines Web site.

The “Get a 5-Day Park Hopper ticket for the price of a 3-Day

ticket” promotion has been extended through January 5, 2004 –

These tickets are available when you order online from Disneyland.com.

Restrictions apply – see

site for details.

AAA Passport Plus Package – For $122.75, you can get a 5-day

park hopper and the following extras:

• Multiple attraction FastPass (The “Unlimited” option)
• Breakfast in the park (one per person)
• Free ESPN Zone arena game card ($10 value)
• AAA Free parking at the Disneyland Resort Theme Parks

A $13.75 FedEx fee applies to each reservation, (not per person). This

package is available without an air or hotel purchase, and must be purchased

at your local AAA affiliate office at least 5 days before you plan to

use the tickets.

Many readers have experienced difficulties when trying to purchase this

package from their local AAA affiliate. Be sure to read this

thread on our MousePad discussion boards, for more information

about the package and tips on how to help your AAA travel agent book your

package.

AAA / Disney’s Resort Magic Package – This package requires

a minimum 2-night hotel stay, and includes:

• Accommodations at Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel, the Disneyland Hotel,

  or Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel

• Disneyland Resort Hotel self-parking and Fitness Center access
• Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Ticket – valid for entry into Disneyland

  park and Disney’s California Adventure park with full park-hopping privileges

• Free ESPN Zone Arena Game Card – $10 value (one per person)
• New. Collect FASTPASS tickets for multiple attractions at one time.

  Preferred Seating at a choice of select shows in Disney’s California

  Adventure

• Exclusive – Walt Disney Travel Company collectible pin and lanyard

  (one per person)

• Exclusive – Walt Disney Travel Company California Fun Book (one

  per package)

• Exclusive – Disneyland Resort Magical Pocket Guide (one per package)

You can book this package through your local AAA affiliate travel agent.

Park Hours

Entertainment Schedule