Disneyland Park Update

Update for December 3 – 9, 2007

Go directly to: News & Views | Current

Refurbishment/Attraction Closures | Park Events

| Discounts and Promotions | Park

Schedule/Blockout Dates

News and Views

Disneyland by Candlelight | Christmas

at Club 33 | Save the Date for MouseAdventure | Wildfire

Heroes Salute clarification | This and That

Disneyland by Candlelight

Despite a balky dining package reservation system and minor threat of rain,

Disneyland’s presentation of the Candlelight Ceremony and Procession appeared

to go off without a hitch this weekend. Some guests even had high praise for

the way the park handled crowd control for those guests who wanted to try

to claim seating in the very limited viewing area. Actress Jane Seymour served

as narrator for the 2007 event, and Disney composer and producer Bruce Healey

substituted for Candlelight’s regular conductor Nancy Sulahian, who is recovering

from surgery.

Though photos cannot convey the sense of pagaentry that Candlelight brings

to Disneyland, we hope you enjoy these images from the event. We’ve also included

some pictures from the constuction of the stage. While it takes a full week

to build and decorate the Candelight set, the entire stage is disassembled

overnight once the performances conclude, so the only traces remaining Monday

morning were some lighting trusses around Town Plaza.

Cast members prepare the seating area for Sunday’s second show. Photo by Adrienne

Vincent-Phoenix.

Guests line up on either side of Main Street to wait for Candlelight seating.

Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Actress Jane Seymour narrates the 2007 Candlelight Ceremony. Photo by Adrienne

Vincent-Phoenix.

Local school and church choirs join Disney cast members for the annual performance.

Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Disney composer and producer Bruce Healey leads the audience in singing “Silent

Night.” Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

The main stage is set on Monday. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Additional lighting is in place by Tuesday. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

By Thursday the greens are in place, along with seating for the orchestra.

Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Christmas at Club 33

The holiday photo tour continues this week with new photos from around the

Disneyland Resort, including the holiday decor from Disneyland’s Club 33.

Click on any photo to see a larger version.

Garland decorates the banister in the foyer. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Fresh pine boughs decorate the hallway. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

A Christmas tree and pine boughs decorate the lounge alley. Photo by Adrienne

Vincent-Phoenix.

Peacock feathers serve as a festive centerpiece. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Feathers and masks decorate the wall sconces for the holidays. Photo by Adrienne

Vincent-Phoenix.

A peek out a Club 33 window provides a close-up view of the New Orleans Square

decorations. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

A Christmas tree nestles in a corner of the foyer. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Mark your calendars: MouseAdventure returns April 13,

2008

MousePlanet is pleased to announce that our next MouseAdventure event will

be held Sunday April 13, 2008 at the Disneyland Resort. Further event details,

including park, format, cost, event capacity and registration dates will be

announced after the new year, but we wanted to give players as much advance

notice as possible so you can clear your calendars. Many thanks to the Disneyland

Resort event sales department for allowing us to confirm our event date so far

in advance.

Wildfire Heroes Salute clarification

As we published in our November 12 Disneyland Park Update, the Disneyland Resort

is offering a repeat of the Disney’s Wildfire Heroes Salute promotion first

offered in 2003 / 2004. Under the current offer, Southern California firefighters,

law enforcement and rescue workers receive a complimentary three-day Disneyland

Resort Park Hopper ticket when the present their valid identification at a Disneyland

Resort ticket booth.

We have been told that some MousePlanet readers may have come across the information

published on our site during the 2003 / 2004 promotion, and have arrived at

Disneyland expecting to purchase “companion tickets” for $39 each.

The $39 companion ticket was offered only during the 2003 / 2004 promotion.

Under the terms of the current promotion Eligible emergency personnel may also

purchase of up to five additional three-day Park Hopper tickets for $56 each,

a substantial discount from the regular $189 cost.

Both the complimentary ticket and any companion tickets are valid now through

February 28, 2008, with the exception of block-out dates of November 22-25,

2007; December 8-9, 2007; December 25, 2007 to January 6, 2008; and February

15-17, 2008. Complete details of the current offer, including residency requirements

and purchasing limits, are available at the Disneyland Web site (link).

This and That

…Anne Geddes will be on hand for a book signing at her store in Downtown

Disney on December 8 & 9, 2007. The signing will be held from 4-6pm on Saturday,

and from 2-4 on Sunday.

…The Hollywood Egyptian Theatre will host a screening of The Pixar Story

on Tuesday, December 11th, 2007 at 7:30pm, followed immediately by a Q&A

session with the film’s director / producer Leslie Iwerks and former Disney

board member Roy E. Disney. Ticket information is avaiable at the theater’s

Web site (link).

Santa holds court below the Grand Californian Christmas tree. Photo by Adrienne

Vincent-Phoenix

…If the line at Santa’s Reindeer Roundup is too long for your little ones,

you can also catch up with Santa at the Disneyland Resort hotels through December

24th:

• Paradise Pier Hotel lobby: 8:00 – 8:45 a.m.; 9:00 – 9:45 a.m.; 10:00 – 10:30

  a.m.

• Grand Californian Hotel lobby: 4:30 – 5:15 p.m.; 6:00 – 6:45 p.m.; 7:00

  – 7:45 p.m.; 8:00 – 8:30 p.m.

• Craftsman Club at the Grand Californian Hotel (December 15-24 only): 8:55

  – 9:15 p.m.

..Disneyland’s coveted candy canes will be available Saturday, December 8 at

park opening. There is a limit of two per person, and the treats tend to sell

out quickly. If you can’t make it to Disneyland right at park opening, a second

batch is usually sold after 11:00 a.m.

Downtown Disney’s Christmas tree is located near the ESPN Zone. Photo by Adrienne

Vincent-Phoenix

Current Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Disneyland

• River Belle Terrace

  closed through December 14 for remodel.

• Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor

  closed January 14 to 18 for refurbishment

• Mark Twain Riverboat

  closed January 14 to 17 for refurbishment

• Haunted Mansion closed

  January 7 to 24 to remove the Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay.

• Jungle Cruise

  closed January 28 to at least February 28, 2008 for refurbishment.

• “it’s a small world”

  closes January 25 for a nine-month refurbishment, and should re-open in late

  October 2008.

Year of a Million Dreams logos decorate the Disneyland gates. Photo by Adrienne

Vincent-Phoenix

Disney’s California Adventure

• Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the

  Rescue closed November 26, 2007 to February 14, 2008

• Playhouse Disney

  – Live on Stage! closes February 12 for refurbishment.

• Corn Dog Castle

  closed January 28 to February 1.

• 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.

December

• Robert Olszewski Peter Pan’s Flight Product Release & Signing.

  Saturday, December 8. 9 a.m. to Noon at the Disneyana Shop inside Disneyland

  park. (Link)

• Precious Moments Disney Theme Park Exclusive Product Release. Friday,

  December 14. These park-exclusive sculptures will also be offered at Walt

  Disney World, and can be pre-ordered November 6 to December 6 through the

  Disney Gallery Web site. (Link)

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)
• MouseAdventure. Sunday April 13, 2008. Additional details will be

  announced at a later date.

Summer 2008

• Disney Magic returns to Pacific Ocean itineraries. May

  25 to August 17, 2008.

• 2008 Disneyland Half Marathon. Sunday, August 31, 2008 (link)

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).

Hotel / Travel Packages

Disney’s 2007 / 2008 Wildfire Heroes Salute – The Disneyland Resort

is offering Southern California firefighters, law enforcement and rescue workers

a complimentary three-day Park Hopper ticket valid as part of the Disney’s Wildfire

Heroes Salute. The tickets are valid Tuesday, November 13, 2007 and are good

through February 28, 2008, with the exception of block-out dates of November

22-25, 2007; December 8-9, 2007; December 25, 2007 to January 6, 2008; and February

15-17, 2008. Eligible emergency personnel may also purchase of up to five additional

three-day Park Hopper tickets for $56 each, a substantial discount from the

regular $189 cost.

Complete program details, including residency requirements and purchasing limits,

are available at the Disneyland Web site (link).

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 accommodations; 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 accommodating; 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 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

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.