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News and Views

Cirque du SeeAiy?

From the what-will-they-think-of-next file, we’ve heard rumors that Disneyland
Resort President Cynthia Harriss has a novel idea for Disney’s California
Adventure park’s next summer promotion. If aging surf bands and high-flying
motorcycles won’t pack them in, what about clowns and acrobats?

According to our source, Disney has approached Canadian-based Cirque
du Soleil to produce a summer entertainment program for Disney’s California
Adventure. No word yet where the show, which has a working title of “Cirque
DCA,” would be presented in the park.

Staging may prove difficult. The Hyperion Theater would be an ideal venue,
but it’s unlikely that Disney would be willing to scrap the ultra-expensive
Aladdin production so soon. The Pacific Wharf Amphitheater, which
has hosted the Summer Concert Series and some of the X Games events, seems
too small for a stage the size that Cirque productions usually require.

If all else fails, Disney could probably raise a medium-top in the Timon
parking lot, where the X Arena is currently located.

“We embarass them, but they still want our money.”

The line to buy the new Stitch pins was over two hours long.

Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

The observation comes from a pin collector at the first “Stitch
Sunday” pin release this past weekend. Disney is releasing 17 new
Lilo and Stitch pins at Disney’s California Adventure park over the four
Sundays in August. To help manage supply and demand, cast members are
issuing wristbands to collectors before the park opens. Each wristband
entitles the collector to purchase up to two each of the limited edition
Stitch pins.

While this is a very fair way to make sure that more people have a chance
to purchase the hard-to-get pins, collectors are annoyed that the wristband
distribution began at 7 a.m. Sunday morning, three hours before DCA even
opened for the day.

Why the early hour? Disney probably wanted to avoid a repeat of the last
big Stitch pin release, when some collectors started lining up for that
pin’s wristband at 6:00. By the time wristband distribution began at 9:00,
a huge crowd had completely filled the picnic area.

Apparently, the merchandise department reasoned that if collectors were
already going to be there so early, it should distribute the wristbands
and get the crowds out of sight before the day guests started to arrive.
According to one cast member, “It just looks bad when a regular guest
gets off the tram or walks in from their hotel, and the first thing they
see is a huge line.”

Fortunately, those pin collectors who refused to get to the park before
dawn could still get wristbands until about 1:00 when distribution officially
ended. Even though they avoided the long lines for the wristband, they
still had to wait in a long line to actually buy the pin. Some collectors
waited over two hours just to reach the cash register.

Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, and now Rehabland

If you are planning a trip to Disneyland this fall, be sure to check
the updated list of refurbishments and attraction closures (below).
Splash Mountain will be closed for most of September, all of October and
the first week of November. Several other rides are closing for up to
a month this fall, for annual inspections and maintence.

Napelini under wraps

After months of negotiation with Disney, the Patina Group has finally
started work on Napelini. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Work has finally begun on the Patina Group’s latest addition to the Downtown
Disney landscape. Napelini will be located in the former Tin Pan Alley
space, right next to the Naples restaurant. The new eatery will offer
counter service and grab-and-go meals. Naples’ popular take-out pizza
window is being tacked to the side of the new cafe, with a new wall dividing
the pizza window from the Naples restaurant.

At least it’s not Christmas in July…

The World of Disney store has gone to the dark side.

Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Yes, folks, it’s Halloween already. What — you haven’t even sent
the kids back to school? Get with the program!

Disney has transformed one room of the massive World of Disney store
into Halloween central. The Showcase shop in Disneyland has also made
the switch. The primary focus is costumes, and there are a lot of them
this year.

Adult Mickey and Minnie costumes are sure to be a hit. Photo by Adrienne
Vincent-Phoenix.

Adult costumes are making a comeback. Most of these were shown in the
Disney catalogue last year, but it’s still good to see adult-sized Mickey,
Minnie, Cruella, and Maleficent costumes.

Even a princesses wardrobe needs some freshening now and then. Photo by
Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

You may already have shelled out $100 to buy that must-have dress for
your little princess last year, but now there are gloves, shoes and a
faux-fur trimmed cape to add to her wardrobe. Some of the non-traditional
female characters are getting their due now — costumes and wigs for
Mulan, Pochahontas and, finally, Alice in Wonderland are on display.

Current Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

More of the scaffolding has been removed around the Tower of Terror.
Photo by Tony Phoenix.

Disneyland

• Sleeping Beauty Castle walk-through – indefinite.
  (The Disneyland.com Web site shows this reopening on September 27)


• Space Mountain – through 2005

Disney’s California Adventure

• Superstar Limo – indefinite

Future Attraction Closures

• Splash Mountain: September 2 – November 6


• Tarzan’s Treehouse: September 8 – 10


• Sailing Ship Columbia: September 8 –
  19


• Redwood Creek Challenge Trail: September 8 –
  26


• Francis’ Lady Bug Boogie: September 8 – 26


• Haunted Mansion: September 8 – October 2, for
  the installation of the Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay


• “it’s a small world”:– October
  6 – November 7, for the installation of the “it’s a small world”
  Holiday overlay
  
• Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride: November 3 – 26


• Mark Twain Riverboat: November 3 – indefinite

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.

The construction site around the base of the Tower still shows that there’s a long way to go until opening day.
Photo by Tony Phoenix.

Park Events

July

• X Games Xperience at Disney’s California Adventure
  [July 1 – August 10]


• “Grilling Under the Stars” culinary event
  [Thursday, July 31] – at the PCH Grill, featuring Chef Jason Martin
  (Hook’s Pointe), with Niebaum-Coppola Winery.

September

• “Tinker Bell on Toy Block” sculpture and “Peter Pan on Board” giclée product release
  and artist appearances [Saturday, Sept 6] – 10:00 a.m. to 1:00
  p.m. at Off the Page in DCA. Get more details about the artists and
  merchandise on our MousePad message boards (link).
  


• ABC Preview Weekend at DCA [Sept 6 – 7]


• Spode “Disney Christmas Tree Celebration”
  pattern debuts at Disneyland [Saturday, Sept 13]


• Shag “One Enchanted Evening” merchandise
  release at Disneyland [Saturday, Sept 20]

October

• Haunted Mansion Holiday Exclusive Dinner [Wed,
  October 1]
  
• Haunted Mansion Holiday Event [Thur, October
  2]
  

December

• Marie Osmond “Enchanted Tiki Room Hostess”
  doll release and meet-and-greet at Disneyland [Saturday, Dec 6]


• Robert Olszewski “Central Plaza” sculpture
  release at Disneyland [Saturday, Dec 13]

The Tower blends into the landscape when viewed from the Hollywood Backlot – but what about the view from A Bug’s Land?
Photo by Tony Phoenix.

Current Discounts & Promotions

Special Lion King offer for Disneyland Annual Passholders

Pre-order The Lion King Platinum Edition DVD or VHS at the Disneyland
Resort between August 3 and September 20, and receive free shipping and
two free gifts: a limited edition plush Simba, and a limited edition pin.
The Lion King Platinum Edition DVD will include new scenes and
a new song by Elton John.

Half-Price Angels tickets for Disneyland Annual Passholders

Disneyland APs can purchase tickets to select games at a 50 percent discount.
Specific dates and prices can be found at the Annual Passholder Web site
(link).

Get $150 in Disney Dollars

Book a Walt Disney Travel Company Vacation package that includes a stay
of 4 nights or longer at one of the Disneyland Resort Hotels, and receive
150 Disney Dollars! Get more details from Disney Travel, or on the Disneyland
Web
site. (Thanks to MousePlanet reader Hastin for the information.)

Get 5 days and 4 nights for the price of 3

Book a package at the Disneyland Resort for a minimum four-nights through
the Walt Disney Travel Company, and your package price will include one
night’s free accommodations at participating hotels. Your package will
also include a five-day Disneyland Resort park hopper ticket for the price
of a three-day Disneyland Resort park hopper ticket. Click
here for a list of participating hotels and dates.

Play 4 Days pass

Southern California residents, (zip codes 90000-93599), can purchase
a new four-day ticket for just $79. The ticket is valid for four admissions
to either Disneyland or Disney’s California Adventure park, between June
1 and September 30, 2003. Residents can purchase just one ticket per person,
per day, so your out-of-town relatives will need to buy their own, regular-priced
admission.

The tickets can only be used at one park each day—no park hopping.
We understand that you can use two admissions—one to each park —
on the same day, effectively making this a $79 two-day park-hopper ticket,
a $20 discount from the regular adult price.

The tickets can not be used at Disneyland on June 28, and July 4, 5,
26, and August 2, 9, 16, 23, 29, 30, and 31. There are no block-out days
for DCA. Tickets are nontransferable, and you must show a valid ID each
time. These tickets can be applied towards the cost of a Deluxe or Premium
Annual Passport, (but not a Southern California Annual Passport), so long
as you upgrade when or before you use the fourth admission.

Disney’s Armed Forces Salute

Through Friday, December 19, all active members of the United States
military (including Coast Guard and activated National Guard and Reservists)
qualify for Disney’s Armed Forces Salute and can claim one free
3-day park-hopper tickets. Since the tickets expire on December 19, you
must claim them by December 17 to use all three day’s worth. The passes
can only be claimed at a park gate ticket booth. To claim the passes,
valid military ID must be shown; activated National Guard and Reservists
must also show their active duty orders.

In addition to the one free pass, each qualifying person can also purchase
up to five 3-day companion passes for $39 each. If the qualifying person
cannot visit a park to purchase these companion tickets, a spouse may
do so instead.

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.

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 City Pass with Walt Disney
Travel Company packages.

With a Southern California City Pass 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 city’s for an additional charge of $47 per
pass ($32 per pass for guests ages 3 through 9).

Note: The Southern California City’s 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.

5-Day Park Hopper promotion extended

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/Blockout Dates

DL: Disneyland

DCA: Disney’s California Adventure

Annual Pass blockout dates: SoCal
– Southern California Annual Pass. DX
– Deluxe Annual Pass

Visit our Annual
Passholders Blockout Dates 2003-2004 page to see more dates.

Entertainment Schedule