Disneyland Park Update

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News and Views

After 32 years, the front door of the Haunted Mansion is wheelchair accessible.
Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix

Haunted Mansion reopens – With Jack Skellington safely evicted for eight months, the Haunted Mansion has reopened with a few additions. The front gate now opens onto three queue lines: one for standby guests, one for FastPass guests, and one that is used as an exit for guests with wheelchairs. Also new is a ramp build up to the front porch, allowing guests who can not leave their wheelchairs to enter the Mansion through the front door, instead of using the narrow doorway at the side of the house. For guests able to leave their wheelchair behind, a parking area has been carved out, helping to ease congestion in the special assistance queue. To accommodate the wheelchair parking lot, the hearse has moved, leaving the “ghost horse” grazing in the middle of a planter.

The hearse was moved to make room for a wheelchair parking lot.
Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix

Inside, a new seating area has been added to the ballroom scene, with two chairs and a book-strewn side table placed behind the waltzing ghosts. The hidden Mickey on the ballroom table is missing, but this seems to happen every time the Mansion comes back from a rehab—it should return in a few weeks. The “singing busts” are the most striking change, looking much cleaner, clearer, and brighter than before.

The reconstruction of the Matterhorn nears completion.
Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix

Testing, 1, 2, 3 – Costumed Cast Members were seen training at the Matterhorn this weekend. The big holes in the side of the mountain have been filled and construction seems to be nearing an end. The attraction is scheduled to reopen on February 13.

The Mark Twain sits in the drained Rivers of America.
Photo by Tony Phoenix

We still can't figure out the toaster… – Construction continues around the Rivers of America. The river has been drained to the bottom, and scraped free of accumulated muck and debris. (The Orange County Register had an amusing story about the “souvenirs” found in the riverbed.) The tree fort on Tom Sawyer's Island has been surrounded by scaffolding, and the crocodile used in Fantasmic! was transferred from the river to a backstage workshop with a helicopter.

Green screens hide the new Pooh ride vehicles from public view.
Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix

Actors prepare to film a commercial for Disneyland's newest attraction.
Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix

What's going on behind the green screens? – It's hard to tell, but Disneyland filmed a commercial for the new Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh attraction this weekend. The front of the attraction was hidden from guests view, as the new ride vehicles were cycled through the loading area. The seating area underneath the Hungry Bear restaurant served as an informal green room for the actors appearing in the commercial. The ride is set to open in April, 2003.

New Aladdin windows at the Grand Californian Hotel.
Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix

Meanwhile, over at Disney's California Adventure – Love it or hate it, Aladdin is drawing in the crowds. One Cast Member joked, “When Aladdin is performing, half of DCA's guests are in that [1800-seat] theater.” Another CM said that the Hollywood District, which currently opens at 11:30 a.m., may start opening with the rest of the park to allow a fourth daily performance of Aladdin to be scheduled on weekdays. Annual Passholders have had the perk of reserved seating for the shows, but weekend crowds have been such that this is now offered only on weekdays.

Tuesday crowds, waiting for Aladdin, snake through the Hollywood District.
Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix

Unfortunately, DCA seems to have forgotten how to deal with crowds. The streets of Hollywood begin to fill an hour before each Aladdin performance. Though unmarked, separate queues form for FastPass, standby, annual passholders, travel-company-voucher holders, and guests with disabilities. For the unitiated it is easy to become confused and frustrated as lines have been seen to come full circle, both beginning and ending in the same place, right outside the theater.

Current Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Disneyland

• “it’s a small world” – through February 6
• Matterhorn Bobsleds – through February 12
• King Arthur Carrousel – through February 13
• Disney Gallery – January 26 – early March
• Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes – through March 27
• Rivers of America – through March 27
• Mark Twain Riverboat – through March 27
• Sailing Ship Columbia – through March 27
• Sleeping Beauty Castle – indefinite

On Tom Sawyer's Island, the tree fort is covered in scaffolding.
Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix

Disney’s California Adventure

• Superstar Limo – indefinite

A map of Tom Sawyer Island is posted on the construction walls surrounding the river.
Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix

Future Attraction Closures:

• Splash Mountain – February 24 – March 13
• Critter Country – February 24 – March 13
• Mad Tea Party – March 10 – March 28
• Pirates of the Caribbean – April 28 – May 30
• Blue Bayou Restaurant – April 28 – May 30
• Indiana Jones Adventure – September 2 – October 24
• Space Mountain – Sept 2003 – August 2004

Natural gas lines used in Fantasmic are visible on the riverbed.
Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix

Please note that refurbishment schedules are estimates only, and that all information is subject to change without notice. You can get the most recent updates by calling Disneyland at (714) 781-7290 before you visit.

Park Events

Haunted Mansion Holiday Exclusive Dinner – October 1, 2003

Haunted Mansion Holiday Event – October 2, 2003

Current Discounts & Promotions

Alaska Airlines airfare and hotel specials – Alaska Airlines is offering two specials for travel to the Disneyland Resort. A MousePad member alerted us that the airline is again offering the popular Kids Fly Free special, which includes airfare, hotel, park-hopper tickets, and more. This special offer can only be booked by calling Alaska Airlines at 1-800-468-2248. Adults traveling without kids can take advantage of other special hotel and air packages by booking at the Alaska Airlines Web site.

Free coffee on Main Street – Receive a free small coffee when you buy a mug at the Market House on Main Street, USA. This offer is only valid at the Market House, and is for a limited time only.

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.

MousePad member Darkbeer alerted us to a new AAA promotion – 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

This package is available without an air or hotel purchase. See your local AAA office for more details.

Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen – Kids eat free, 4:30–6:00p. [See restaurant for details.]

Park Hours

Entertainment Schedule