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Disneyland Park Update

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Update for October 15-21, 2007

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

News and Views

MouseAdventure | CHOC/Disneyland Resort Walk in the Park| New ART schedule | Nightmare at the El Capitan Theater | Indy and Tom Sawyer Island closures | This and That

MouseAdventure

MousePlanet’s 15th MouseAdventure event was held this past weekend at the Disneyland Resort, and we are proud to say that we once again broke our own record for the Biggest Event Ever. Over 650 players formed 190 teams to compete in the 6-hour challenge. Full results, including individual team photos and scores, will be posted in the near future.


MouseAdventure players await the trivia challenge. Photo by Kenji Luster.

A big thank you to the Disneyland Resort for providing the inspiration and setting for the event; to the staff and crew who work so hard to pull it all together, and especially to the teams who have turned our little scavenger hunt into a semiannual tradition.


Joe Stevano (left), co-creator of the Fall 2007 MouseAdventure, gives a hint to a team. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.


MouseAdventure teams search Main Street for an elusive clue. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Our next MouseAdventure event will be held in Spring 2008 at the Disneyland Resort. We will post the event date and registration dates as soon as we confirm them, but that announcement may be as little as 90 days before the event. We generally open registration around 60 days before the event, so there will be at least a month between the time we announce the event date and the time we begin accepting registrations. Our Fall 2007 event sold out in just 44 hours, so you’ll want to register quickly. Keep reading MousePlanet.com for more information—MouseAdventure updates are posted right here in the Disneyland Resort Park Update.

CHOC/Disneyland Resort Walk in the Park

The CHOC/Disneyland Resort Walk in the Park is this coming Sunday, October 21. This annual fundraiser for the Children’s Hospital of Orange County follows a path through Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure. Opening ceremonies start at 7:00 am on Main Street inside Disneyland. Participants must arrive by 8:45 am; latecomers who arrive after 8:15 am will be allowed to join the walk in progress inside DCA only.

There is still time to register for the Walk, and you can even sign in the morning of the event if you want. Walkers must raise or donate a minimum of $25 to participate, payable at registration. Additional information is available at the CHOC/Disneyland Resort Walk Web site (link).

Expect extra crowds on Sunday, as participants are offered the opportunity to purchase discounted park-hopper tickets after the event.


The DVC expansion of the Grand Californian Hotel will be joined by a new Hawaiian resort in 2011. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

New ART schedule

MousePlanet reader David Michael provided this update about a change in the Anaheim Resort Transit (ART) operation:

Noticed the Tram Routes have been changed and renamed, they are now NUMBERS instead of letters. The signage at the Resort, including the bus stops in the Lion King Tram Loading area have been changed. It looks like the Anaheim GardenWalk is a major reason for the change, as 13 out of the 16 new routes have a stop at the AGW. (Some restaurants are scheduled to open in mid November). Every route except Route 16 runs every 20 minutes. Route 16, the one that goes to the Block of Orange still is offered once per hour.

The other main change, the standard hours are now 8 AM to Midnight, as the GardenWalk will remain open later than the parks on many nights. (Also ART will start earlier on the days the DLR opens prior to 9 AM.)

A map of the new routes is available on the Anaheim Resort Transit Web site (PDF link).

Nightmare at the El Capitan Theatre

Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas returns to Hollywood’s El Capitan Theatre October 19th through November 18th. The El Capitan Theater will present the film digital 3-D, and a display of Nightmare& art and props will be on display inside the theater.


Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas in Disney Digital 3-DT at Hollywood’s legendary El Capitan Theatre, 6838 Hollywood Blvd. © Disney

According to the El Capitan press release, the engagement kicks off on Thursday, October 18 at 7:00 p.m. with a special opening night filmmakers’ panel featuring producer Denise Di Novi, director Henry Selick (who will offer an exclusive sneak peek at his new stop-motion feature, Coraline), and supervising animator Mike Belzer (who will present a live on-stage demonstration of the art of stop motion). The panel is hosted by Don Hahn, veteran Disney producer of The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast.

Indy and Tom Sawyer Island closures

Indiana Jones Adventure and Tom Sawyer Island both experienced unscheduled downtime last week. Tom Sawyer Island has partially reopened, though the Pirates Lair cave remains shuttered. Indiana Jones Adventure had not reopened as of Monday afternoon, and there are several explanations for the closure floating around the Internet. According to one rumor, one of the Indy ride vehicles derailed last Sunday afternoon, causing no injuries to passengers but requiring some repair work to be done on nearby props. Others put the blame on the attraction’s electrical system.


Indiana Jones Adventure closed unexpectedly last week. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Disneyland.com does not list the ride on the refurbishment schedule, and the resort’s Guest Relations department could not say when the ride would reopen. Estimates given by various sources range from “any day now” to “months.” Indiana Jones Adventure was also briefly closed in August for what one CM said was an unscheduled refurbishment of the attraction’s audio system.

Update: MousePlanet readers have reported that Indy reopened late Monday afternoon.

This and That

…Artist Jim Shore will participate in a product release and signing event at Disneyland on December 1st. No additional details are available at this time.

…Several MousePlanet readers spotted Pamela Anderson honeymooning with husband Rick Salomon at the Disneyland Resort this weekend. Anderson’s entourage was reported to include her children and several bodyguards.

…The Orange County registrar of voters has qualified a second Disney-backed initiative to go before Anaheim voters. The Anaheim City Council is expected to place the measure on the same June, 2008 ballot as the previously-qualified initiative.

…Space Mountain will be closed for two days in mid-January, 2008, prompting some speculation that the “Rockin’ Space Mountain” overlay may return for the spring season. Last year’s overlay featured music by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

…Choir cast members were told that Jane Seymour will narrate this year’s Candlelight Processional. Disney has not yet made a public announcement about this year’s event or any potential dining package.

…Disney is rumored to be ready to make a public announcement of a major overhaul of Disney’s California Adventure park sometime this week. We’ll post all the details as soon as we have them from Disney.


The future has that new carpet smell. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

…The Pioneer exhibit inside Disneyland’s Innoventions attraction has been removed, and the area recarpeted. Cast members are using the wide open space to demonstrate the Segway. The rotating Innoventions building is currently stationary, and visitors can enter without waiting for one of the periodic shows.

Current Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Disneyland


Work continues on Riverbelle Terrace. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Disney’s California Adventure

  • California Screamin’ may open at 1:00 PM Monday – Friday through Fall 2007 due to construction for Toy Story Mania!
  • Golden Dreams closed November 1 & 2 to remove the Halloween show.
  • Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue will be closed from November 26 at least through the end of January, 2008.
  • Midway Games closed for an unknown duration. The future of the games has been somewhat questionable due to the Toy Story Mania project, but some of the games remain open for now.
  • 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.

October

  • Mickey’s Halloween Treat. October 12, 19 and 26; 7:30 PM – 11:30 PM and October 11, 18, 25, 29, 30, and 31; 6:30 PM – 10:30 PM Tickets are $39 per person if purchased the day of the event. $29 advance-purchase tickets currently available through the Disneyland Web site (click on the “tickets” link). $27 discounted tickets are currently available to Annual Passholders via the Disneyland Annual Passholder Web site, and to Disney’s Vacation Club Members at the Disneyland Resort ticket booths.
  • CHOC/Disneyland Resort Walk in the Park Sunday, October 21 (link)
  • Nevada Day. Friday, October 26. All Nevada public schools closed to commemorate the admission of the state of Nevada into the union, possibly resulting in unusually high crowd levels at the Disneyland Resort. (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.’ One reader has told us that his Utah school district is closed for a “Fall Break” October 11 ? 15, so crowds may be more dispersed throughout the month than in past years.

November

  • Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs 70th Anniversary Celebration. November 16, 2007. See MousePlanet’s October 2, 2007 Disneyland Resort update for details (link).

December

  • Candlelight Processional Saturday, December 1 and Sunday, December 2.
  • Jim Shore product release and signing.Saturday, December 1.

February 2008

  • Unofficial Homeschool Day at Disneyland. Friday February 1st, 2008. This event is open to all homeschool and alternative schooling families (link).

Spring 2008

  • Disney’s California Food & Wine Weekends. Spring 2008 (link)

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. 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 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 $66/$56

One Day Park Hopper

Regularly $91/$81

Southern California 1–Day Park Hopper – Disney is not currently offering a discounted 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, e-mail us to let us know.

Two Day Park Hopper

Regularly $132/$112

 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 Hopper

Regularly $189/$159

Advance Purchase 3-day Park Hopper Bonus Ticket ($169/$139) – 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)

Advance Purchase 3-day Park Hopper Bonus Ticket ($169/$139) Effective January 3, 2008

2008 “2 Days Free” offer – Buy a 3-day Parkhopper ticket and receive a 5-day Parkhopper Bonus ticket which includes one Early Entry admission. The Spring promotion is available starting January 7, and tickets must be purchased in advance – this offer is not valid at the Disneyland Resort ticket booth. The ticket must be used for the first time on or before April 24 and expires 13 days after first use or on May 7, 2008, whichever occurs first.

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).

You can also purchase the Southern California City Pass 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 $214/$184

Advance Purchase 4–Day Park Hopper Bonus tickets ($184/$154) – 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).

Advance Purchase 4-day Park Hopper Bonus Ticket ($184/$154) Effective January 3, 2008

2008 “2 Days Free” offer – Buy a 4-day Parkhopper ticket and receive a 6-day Parkhopper Bonus ticket which includes one Early Entry admission. The Spring promotion is available starting January 7, and tickets must be purchased in advance – this offer is not valid at the Disneyland Resort ticket booth. The ticket must be used for the first time on or before April 24 and expires 13 days after first use or on May 7, 2008, whichever occurs first.

AOCVCB 4-Day Bonus Ticket ($174/$145) – The discount (from the Anaheim-Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau) is $5 (adult) and $4 (child) and shipping on all orders is at least $10 Tickets include one early admission day (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday) (link).

Five Day Park Hopper

Regularly $234/$204

Advance Purchase 5–Day Park Hopper Bonus tickets ($194/$164) – 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).

Advance Purchase 5-day Park Hopper Bonus Ticket ($194/$164) Effective January 3, 2008

2008 “2 Days Free” offer – Buy a 5-day Parkhopper ticket and receive a 7-day Parkhopper Bonus ticket which includes one Early Entry admission. The Spring promotion is available starting January 7, and tickets must be purchased in advance – this offer is not valid at the Disneyland Resort ticket booth. The ticket must be used for the first time on or before April 24 and expires 13 days after first use or on May 7, 2008, whichever occurs first.

AOCVCB 5-Day Bonus Ticket ($183/$154) – The discount (from the Anaheim-Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau) is $6 (adult) and $5 (child) and shipping on all orders is $10.

Hotel / 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.

Disney’s Good Neighbor Dream Vacation Packages – This package is valid for arrivals June 29 – August 30, 2007, and starts at $214 per person. Package includes two nights at a Good Neighbor hotel; Park Hopper ticket (with admission to one Early Entry and/or one Toontown Morning Madness depending on ticket purchased and days visited); preferred seating at a DCA show; souvenir coin, luggage tag and lanyard with pin; a Downtown Disney Fun Card; and a “Character Call” from Mickey, Minnie or Goofy. (Sample pricing is for two adults and two children under 9 years-old sharing one room at the Jolly Roger Hotel, and includes a 3-day park hopper ticket per person. Other hotels and ticket combinations are available at a higher price) Reservations must be made by August 27, 2007. Call (866) 279-7165 for more information.

Fourth Night Free at Good Neighbor Hotels – This package is valid for arrivals September 2 to December 16, 2007, and starts at $257 per person. Package includes hotel accomodations; Park Hopper ticket; admission to one Early Entry and one Toontown Morning Madness; preferred seating at a DCA show; souvenir coin, luggage tag and lanyard with pin; a Downtown Disney Fun Card; and a “Character Call” from Mickey, Minnie or Goofy. (Sample pricing is for two adults and two children under 9 years-old sharing one room at the Best Western Pavilions, and includes a 3-day park hopper ticket per person. Other hotels and ticket combinations are available at a higher price) Reservations must be made by December 13, 2007. Call (866) 279-7165 for more information.

Fourth Night Free at Disneyland Resort Hotels – This package is valid for arrivals August 19 to December 12, 2007, and starts at $345 per person. Package includes hotel accomodations; Park Hopper ticket; admission to one Early Entry and one Toontown Morning Madness; preferred seating at a DCA show; souvenir coin, luggage tag and lanyard with pin; a Downtown Disney Fun Card; and a “Character Call” from Mickey, Minnie or Goofy. (Sample pricing is for two adults and two children under 9 years-old sharing one room at the Disneyland Hotel, and includes a 3-day park hopper ticket per person. Other hotels and ticket combinations are available.) Reservations must be made by November 12, 2007. Call (866) 279-7165 for more information.

2008 “2 Days Free” offer – When you buy a 3-, 4- or 5-day Parkhopper ticket, Disney will add two free days. In other words, you’ll pay the 3-day rate ($189) and receive a Parkhopper Bonus ticket good for five days. You can maximize your savings by taking advantage of the advance purchase discount, and pay just $169. The Parkhopper Bonus ticket includes one Early Entry admission. The Spring promotion is available starting January 7. The ticket must be used for the first time on or before April 24 and expires 13 days after first use or on May 7, 2008, whichever occurs first.

Other Discounts

Disney Vacation Club membershave 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 $27 if purchased anytime between August 1 and the day before the event. Members cannot buy these tickets online, and must show their DVC membership card at any Disneyland Resort ticket booth to receive the discounted rate.

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.

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 two 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

  10/15 10/16 10/17 10/18 10/19 10/20
 

DL: 10a–8p
DCA: 10a–6p

DL: 10a–8p
DCA: 10a–6p

DL: 10a–8p
DCA: 10a–6p

DL: 10a–8p
DCA: 10a–5p

DL: 8a–12p
DCA: 10a–6p

DL: 8a–12a
DCA: 10a–9p
SL/SC
10/21 10/22 10/23 10/24 10/25 10/26 10/27
DL: 10a–12a
DCA: 10:30a–9p
SL

DL: 10a–8p
DCA: 10a–6p

DL: 10a–6p
DCA: 10a–6p

DL: 10a–8p
DCA: 10a–6p

DL: 10a–8p
DCA: 10a–5p

DL: 8a–12a
DCA: 10a–6p

DL: 8a–12a
DCA: 10a–9p
SL/SC
10/28 10/29 10/30 10/31 11/1 11/2 11/3
DL: 8a–12a
DCA: 10a–9p
SL

DL: 9a–9p
DCA: 10a–5p

DL: 10a–8p
DCA: 10a–5p

DL: 10a–8p
DCA: 10a–5p

DL: 10a–8p
DCA: 10a–6p

DL: 8a–12a
DCA: 10a–9p

DL: 8a–12a
DCA: 10a–9p
SL/SC
11/4 11/5 11/6 11/7 11/8 11/9 11/10
DL: 9a–11a
DCA: 10a–9p
SL

DL: 10a–8p
DCA: 10a–6p

DL: 10a–8p
DCA: 10a–6p

DL: 10a–8p
DCA: 10a–6p

DL: 9a–8p
DCA: 10a–6p

DL: 8a–12a
DCA: 10a–9p

DL: 8a–12a
DCA: 10a–9p
SL/SC

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.

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