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News and Views

Disney responds

In response to “Annual Passholders second-rate citizens?” in
last week’s Park Update: Disneyland regarding an incident at the Disneyland
park entrance (link),
Bob Tucker, Director of Media Relations for the Disneyland Resort, provided
MousePlanet with the following comments:

“We believe the actions taken last week were handled in the
appropriate manner. We highly value our relationships with Annual Passholders.
They are very loyal and important Guests.”

Projections for the 50th

Forget inflatable cakes, giant top hats or gold paint—Disney has
landed on a new way to enhance Sleeping Beauty Castle for the upcoming
50th anniversary celebration.

The company is working with the Austrian special effects firm Pani to
decorate the castle with projected images. Using projected images lets
Disney present a unique nighttime show, while leaving the Castle intact
during the day.

These effects are far more advanced than the simple single-image “gobos”
used at Walt Disney World. Pani’s projectors are capable of “painting”
an entire building with still or moving images. The portfolio of images
on the Pani Web site (link)
are stunning, and the roster of clients impressive.

While the display planned for Disneyland is still top secret, people
who have seen a computer rendering are enthusiastic about the design,
which is said to tell a story about the castle itself.

Construction continues in Tomorrowland. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

No photos, please?

A MousePlanet reader, who posts as “Darkbeer” on our MousePad
message boards, related a strange encounter at Disneyland this past week.
He writes that he was taking photos of the construction in Tomorrowland
when “a very nice (cast member) came up to me and asked me to stop
taking photos… Then later, while in the Innoventions queue, I was
asked to erase the photo I just took of some of the repaving by another
CM…”

The Hatmosphere shop and adjacent restrooms are closed during construction.
Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Darkbeer, who contributes photos to Web sites including MousePlanet,
says that he was not in an off-limits area, and was taking the photos
from publically accessible, on-stage locations.

Autopia has a combined entrance and exit during the construction. Photo
by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

A MousePlanet photographer took photos in the same area this past weekend,
and was not asked to stop or to delete those photos. A Disneyland security
cast member said that security was not aware of any policy against photos
taken from public areas of the park.

Strike one

The Disneyland Resort avoided a walkout from the Hotel Employees and
Restaurant Employees union this weekend when H.E.R.E. agreed to extend
talks for 14 days past the January 31 contract expiration date.

Cast members say union representatives are preparing them for a strike
if Disney and the union cannot agree on a new contract to cover workers
at the Disneyland Hotel and the Paradise Pier Hotel. [Workers at the Grand
Californian hotel are covered by a separate contract which expires in
2005.]

At issue are wage increases, health care benefits, and work conditions
for the 1,300 workers covered under the contract. While talks continue,
managers from other business units are being trained at the hotels and
restaurants to take the places of workers should the union call for a
strike.

The new “critter” country

Guests can get up close and personal with a variety of crawly critters.
Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Disneyland installed a has a new meet-and-greet location located in front
of the Indy ride, which is currently closed for rehab. Cast members are
on hand to introduce guests to some of the Adventureland wildlife, including
a white cockatoo, a scorpion and a millipede.

Welcome to the Gift Shop

Disney has added a new offering to the Tower of Terror event, scheduled
for April 22 and 23. In addition to the $1,595 “Tip Top Club”
package, the $465 “Sunset Room Package” and the $125 “Stardust
Room” package, a new $59 ticket is available, appropriately called
the “Gift Shop” package.

The difference between the two low-end packages seems to be minimal.
Customers who buy the Stardust Room package will gain admission to Disney’s
California Adventure park at the beginning of the event, and will enjoy
“hors d’oeuvres & refreshments.” Those who opt for the less
expensive package will be admitted to DCA at 9:00 p.m., and will enjoy
“refreshments.”

All four packages include a ride on the new attraction and a “lovely
parting gift.” All four packages will also include a chance to purchase
event-exclusive merchandise, which some speculate fueled the decision
to add the Gift Shop package. “They just want us to pay $60 for the
chance to buy merchandise, and they aren’t even being subtle about it,”
wrote one collector. “They are going to be in for a shock—nobody
really collects Tower merchandise!”

A reader pointed out a strange feature of the two most expensive packages:
Each includes one night’s accommodations at Disney’s Grand Californian
Hotel. Since many people attend these events as a couple, Disney has usually
offered them a second night at the hotel, instead of two rooms at the
hotel for the same night.

This year, Disney is again offering a second night’s accommodations—but
at the Disneyland Hotel. Couples who purchase the top packages will get
just one night at the Grand Californian Hotel, and will then have to switch
hotels for their second night stay. Said one prospective customer, “I
cannot believe they are going to be so pettty as to make me change rooms
when I’m paying $1,600 per person for the event.”

Tickets for the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror Event will be sold through
DisneyGallery.com (link)
beginning February 9, 2004 at 9:00 a.m.

Current Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Disneyland

• Indiana Jones Adventure closed through April 2.


• Pinocchio’s Daring Journey closed through Feb. 19.


• Mark Twain Riverboat rehab extended through February
  6. (May be extended even further)


• Sleeping Beauty Castle walk-through closed indefinitely.


• Space Mountain closed through 2005.


• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad closed through March 4.


• Tomorrowland Railroad Station closed through February 22.


• Autopia – Fastpass unavailable January 26 through February
  22.

Disney’s California Adventure

• Orange Stinger closed through March 12.


• Superstar Limo closed indefinitely.

Future Attraction Closures

• Dumbo closed March 8 to April 1


• Peter Pan’s Flight closed April 19 to May 22.


• Enchanted Tiki Room closes in September for a two-month rehab.

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

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.


• Snow White – An Enchanting Musical “Reserved”
  Annual Passholder showtimes February 23 – 27 & 29 at 6:00 p.m.

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

The Disneyland Resort is offering a new version of the Southern Californian
resident salute through Friday, April 30. Residents may spend a day at
Disneyland and a day at Disney’s California Adventure for the price of
a one-day ticket.

Eligible residents can 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 the Disneyland Web site (link).

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, 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.

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.

Annual Passholders nights at the Disneyland Resort hotels

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

Annual Passholders can also book rooms at the Paradise Pier hotel for
$79 a night, Sunday through Thursday.

Weekend rates and discounts for the Disneyland Hotel and Disney’s Grand
Californian are higher. Make reservations at 714-956-MICKEY, and ask for
rate plan APN. Note: these offers run concurrently. If your trip
includes a Sunday night stay, be sure to ask for the lower rate for that
night.

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-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