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News and Views

500,000,000 and counting

Left to right are Mickey Mouse, Bill Trow, daughter Aspen, 5; wife Ann-Marie and Disneyland Ambassador Becky Murphy. This was
Trow?s third visit to Disneyland. Photographer: Scott Brinegar

Disneyland welcomed its 500 millionth visitor on Thursday morning. Bill
and Ann-Marie Trow, with their daughter, Aspen, were surprised when they
passed through the front gates, setting off flashing lights and a shower
of confetti. The Orange County Register reports that the couple is from
Wentworth, Australia, and won prizes including a lifetime pass to the
Disneyland Resort and a guided VIP tour of Disneyland.

The what on earth?

Walt Disney World introduced its Magical Gatherings program late last
summer, a collection of travel packages and ammenities designed to lure
large groups, like family reunions, to the Florida resort.

Now is appears that Disneyland is about to enter the same market. Concept
art with the oh-so catchy slogan “The Happiest Homecomings on
Earth” has been making it’s way around the Team Disney Anaheim
building. One source speculates that this promotion will tie into Disneyland’s
50th Anniversary celebration, when visitors are encouraged to “return
home” to the original Magic Kingdom.

Snow White sneak peek.

Soft-opening previews of Snow White – An Enchanting Musical
begin Monday, Feb. 9. The show officially opens on Feb. 22.

Breakfast scramble

Hook’s Pointe restaurant in the Disneyland Hotel will discontinue breakfast
service this week. At the same time, Granville’s at the Disneyland Hotel
will begin serving breakfast featuring the same menu—and staff—as
Hook’s Pointe.

Hook’s Pointe will now be open for dinner only on weekends, holidays
and when the Disneyland Hotel is at or above 70 percent capacity. This
is part of a master plan to create a “dining hub” at the Disneyland
Hotel.

Surprise – another merchandise event

The Disneyland Resort has announced details of the Twilight Zone Tower
of Terror preview event. As expected, the event is merchandise driven,
with the lowest ticket $125 per person. Big spenders can splurge on the
$1,500 package, which includes a night at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel
at a dinner inside the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror ride.

As recently as last spring, Disneyland offered previews of the new Many
Adventures of Winnie the Pooh ride to annual passholders at no charge.
We hope that a similar event will be planned for APs before the Tower
of Terror opens. As one MousePlanet reader quipped, “How about I
pay nothing and just not be among the first 500 people to ride? I think
I can live with that.”

Complete details of the three packages can be found on our MousePad discussion
boards. (link)

New and improved – now with a pin!

Disneyland’s event staff must be getting desperate. After tickets went
on sale last Thursday, the event Web site was updated to feature a new
bonus for event attendees. In addition to the lunchtime “ball,”
the preview of Snow White – An Enchanting Musical and the
“Princess Academy” class, those who shell out $89 for the event
will get a commemorative pin.

Now, if they would just reinstate the Ball, event merchandise, and romantic dinner – without the ridiculous price tag – there might be some real interest in this event. As it stands, it is going to take more than a pin to bring customers to this watered-down Valentine’s Day brunch.

Shag at Disneyland, round 2

After the tremendous response to the Enchanted Tiki Room art and merchandise
created by artist Josh Agle, better known as Shag, Disneyland has announced
that another collection will be released on Jan. 24.

A new collection of merchandise based on the Shag original “Tangaroa”
will be released at Disneyland on Jan. 24. Photo courtesy of Disney.

This new collection is based on another of the four original paintings
designed for the 40th anniversary of the Enchanted Tiki Room. Products
will include a limited edition serigraph, a handbag, shirts, mugs and
more. Unlike the last event, no original artwork will be offered for sale,
and the artist will not appear.

According to Shag’s Web site, this will be the last release of product from the Tiki Room collection. Fans of the artist had heard that Disney wanted Shag to create another collection of merchandise for Disneyland. Unfortunately, fans may have a long wait. Shag is reportedly unhappy with the way Disneyland handled his personal appearance at the last event, and with the amount of ‘input’ that Disney merchants wanted regarding his art.

Current Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Disneyland

• Haunted Mansion closed January 5 to 16


• Mark Twain Riverboat closed through January 10


• Sleeping Beauty Castle walk-through closed indefinitely


• Space Mountain closed through 2005


• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad closed indefinitely

Disney’s California Adventure

• Superstar Limo closed indefinitely

Future Attraction Closures

• “it’s a small world” closed January 12 to 25


• Indiana Jones Adventure closed January 20 to April 2


• Pinocchio’s Daring Journey January 26 to February 19

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

January

• 75 Years with Mickey auction, January 31.


• Cast Member Create-A-Pin Contest pin release, date not announced.
  (Moved from November 2003)

February

• Sleeping Beauty’s Royal Ball, details available at the Disney
  Gallery Web site (link).
  February 14.


• Snow White – An Enchanting Musical premieres February
  22, “soft opening” previews begin February 9.

April

• Tower of Terror event, details available at the Disney Gallery
  Web site (link).
  April 22 & 23

May

• Twilight Zone Tower of Terror Opening at DCA. May 4


• A Celebration of Walt Disney Art Classics – “A Disney
  Blast to the Past” May 14 to 16.

Current Discounts & Promotions

New SoCal Salute announced; two parks, two days at one-day price

Beginning January 6 through April 30, the Disneyland Resort will be offering
a new version of the SoCal salute. Residents may enjoy a day at Disneyland
and a day at Disney’s California Adventure for the price of a one-day
ticket. Eligible residents may purchase up to five “2fer” tickets per
day with proof of Southern California residency (zip codes 90000 through
93599, or Northern Baja California residents within zip codes 21000 through
22999; valid ID required). “2fer” tickets are priced at the regular one-day
ticket prices for the Disneyland Resort theme parks — $47 for ages 10
and up, $37 for ages 3 through 9 — and are available at Resort ticket
booths as well as at www.disneyland.com. The first day of use must occur
on the date of purchase; the second day of use must occur within 30 days
of purchase or before April 30, 2004, whichever occurs first.

New AAA tickets

AAA announced new ticket plans for the Disneyland Resort:

• 2-day adult Flex Passport $98 (children: $78)


• 5-day adult Flex Passport $129 (children: $99)

The new prices took effect December 24, 2003, and all tickets include
free parking.

Live an Artful Life with an OC Arts Card

The Disneyland Resort partnering with Arts Orange County sponsor the
OC Arts Card, which provides cardholders with benefits such as savings
on tickets, classes, merchandise and memberships at more than 40 nonprofit
arts venues in the local Orange County community.

Annual passholders can purchase the 2004 card for $37.50, 25 percent
off the regular price. In addition, the first 500 passholders to purchase
a card receive a second card for free.

For more information or to order a card, visit the OCArts card Web site
(link)
or call (888) 556-5160. To receive the annual passholder discount, use
offer code C04DIAP. The first card is mailed immediately; those
who are among the first 500 will have the second card mailed at a later
time.

Disney’s Wildfire Heroes Salute

“Disney’s Wildfire Heroes Salute” entitles active California
firefighters, law enforcement and rescue personnel, with proper organization
and photo ID, to one free three-day park hopper ticket. They can also
make a one-time purchase of up to five three-day park hopper companion
tickets for $39 each. Discounted hotel rates are also available at the
three Disneyland Resort hotels.

The promotion is valid through March 31, except for blackout dates of
February 14 to 16. For more details, visit Disneyland’s Disney’s Wildfire
Heroes Salute Web page (link)
or call (714) 520-5069.

Have a Coke and a pass

Specially marked 12-packs and two-liter bottles of Coca-Cola in Southern
California are currently offering a $20-off coupon towards the purchase
of a new Deluxe or Premium Disneyland Resort Annual Pass. The coupon is
valid through January 31.

A Nightmare deal at Costco

In September, MousePad member Tiki Junki purchased a copy of The Nightmare
Before Christmas at a local Costco store, and discovered a Disneyland
Resort offer inside. The $13 Special Edition DVD comes with a voucher
for up to four pre–issued Fastpass tickets for the Haunted Mansion,
and a voucher for one free cloisonné pin from the Le Bat en Rouge
Shop in New Orleans Square. The vouchers are good until March 31, and
are redeemable at Disneyland—there is nothing to mail in, and no
four-to-six-week wait for the passes and pin to arrive.

Annual Passholders nights at the Disneyland Resort hotels

Annual passholders can also book a room at the Paradise Pier hotel for
$59. This offer is valid only on Sunday nights, through March.

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 the package price includes 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.

City Pass available with AAA packages

You can purchase the Southern California City Pass with Walt Disney Travel
Company packages.

A Southern California City Pass booklet includes admission to five separate
entertainment options:

• 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 children 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.

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