Disneyland Park Update

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News

and Views

“We are closed. Go away (but please come back

tomorrow!)”

Start spreading the news: Disneyland is closing to the

public on Wednesday, May 4, 2005 to make final preparations for the park’s 50th

Anniversary celebration, scheduled to start the next day. The resort has begun

notifying Annual Passholders in their renewal notices, and vacationers who book

through Disney Travel.

Disney’s California Adventure (DCA) park will be

open on May 4 to accommodate those who still intend to visit the resort that day,

or who perhaps miss the announcement.

Fire on the theater

As we

reported in last week’s Park Update: Disneyland, a

small electrical fire in the Playhouse Disney sign forced the evacuation of DCA’s

Hollywood Backlot District on May 15. Eyewitness reports of the duration of the

closure ranged from 90 minutes to over eight hours.

Fire

from Playhouse Disney in Disney’s California Adventure park is visible to park

visitors. Photo by Rod Overbo, used with permission.

Several readers have

confirmed that the area was closed for just over an hour, and told us that the

fire was put out by the Disneyland fire department, with help from Anaheim firefighters.

MousePlanet reader Rod Overbo happened to be in the area when the fire broke out,

and was able to to snap a photo of the “904-visible” (Disneyspeak for

a fire visible to park visitors) at Playhouse Disney in Disney’s California Adventure

park.

Final year of frights?

Tickets to the 2004 Haunted Mansion

Holiday event at Disneyland go on sale at 9:00 a.m. (Pacific time) today (Monday,

May 24). Four packages— named after major characters from Nightmare Before

Christmas—are available, ranging from the $2,275 “Jack’s Christmas

Morning Surprise” package to the $85 “Zero” ticket:

The

Jack’s Christmas Morning Surprise package ($2,275):

• Two nights

  at the Grand Californian Hotel

• Breakfast at a Disneyland Resort Hotel restaurant

• Lunch at Granville’s Steakhouse
• Midnight “breakfast” in the

  Haunted Mansion Holiday attraction

• Park admission for the events
• Hors

  d’oeuvres during the Haunted Mansion Holiday event

• Event entertainment
• Ride

  on the Haunted Mansion Holiday attraction

• Artist meet & greet
• Opportunity

  to prepurchase event merchandise

• Parting gifts

The Sally’s Christmas

Gift package ($525):

• One night at the Grand Californian Hotel

• Breakfast at a Disneyland Resort Hotel restaurant
• Park admission (after

  7:30 p.m.) for the event

• Hors d’oeuvres during the Haunted Mansion Holiday

  event

• Event entertainment
• Ride on the Haunted Mansion Holiday attraction

• Artist meet & greet
• Opportunity to prepurchase event merchandise
• Parting

  gifts

The Mayor’s Christmas Party package ($175):

• Park

  admission (after 7:30 p.m.) for the event

• Hors d’oeuvres during the Haunted

  Mansion Holiday event. [Repeat-event guests note that this level of package has

  previously included a multi-course sit-down meal, now downgraded to hors d’oeuvres.]

• Event entertainment
• Ride on the Haunted Mansion Holiday attraction
• Artist

  meet & greet

• Opportunity to prepurchase event merchandise
• Parting

  gifts

The Zero’s Christmas Tree package ($85):

• Park

  admission (after 9:15 p.m.) for the event

• Refreshment
• A “spirited

  entertainment moment”

• Ride on the Haunted Mansion Holiday attraction

• Opportunity to prepurchase event merchandise
• Parting gift

A reader

asked, “Do they realize the irony of that name? Because ‘zero’ is about what

you get for your $85!” Others noted that the “shopping ticket”

at last month’s Tower of Terror event was only $59.

Disneyland sources tell

us that this is the last year that the Haunted Mansion Holiday event will take

this format at Disneyland, and speculate that the Nightmare Before Christmas-themed

events will move to Walt Disney World in 2005. Disneyland could then host events

based on the “classic” Haunted Mansion, or move onto a new attraction.

Another

source tells us that DCA may be the home of future Halloween events, noting that

the back story for the newly opened Tower of Terror ride claims that the lightening

strike that damaged the building occured on October 31, 1939.

Full details

and prices of the four packages are available at the Disney Gallery Web site (link).

Overhauling

the rehab schedule

MousePlanet reader Isaac sent us an updated copy of

the Disneyland Resort refurbishment schedule. Among the

changes, the Enchanted Tiki Room, Aladdin’s Oasis and the Plaza Pavillion will

be closed July 30, 2004 to March 12, 2005. This puts the squelch on rumors of

a Lilo & Stitch “Mele Kalikimaka” (Merry Christmas) overlay

of the Enchanted Tiki Room, and has launched speculation that the Plaza Pavillion

may once again be used as a restaurant.

Got

any interesting news or rumors? Contact us here.

Current Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Disneyland

• Peter Pan’s Flight closed through May 28.
• Carnation Cafe

  closed through May 29.

• Alice in Wonderland closed through July 2.
• Sleeping

  Beauty Castle walk-through closed indefinitely.

• Space Mountain

  closed through 2005.

Disney’s California Adventure

• Superstar

  Limo closed indefinitely.

• Francis’ Lady Bug Boogie closed indefinitely.

Future

Closures

• Sleeping Beauty Castle closed June 21 – Sept

  18.

• Aladdin’s Oasis closed July 30 – March 12, 2005.
• Plaza

  Pavilion closed July 30 – March 12, 2005.

• Enchanted Tiki Room

  closed July 30 – March 12, 2005.

• Snow White’s Scary Adventures

  closed August 23 – September 11.

• Star Tours reduced capacity as

  each of the four cabins rotate through refurbishment September 7–22.

• Haunted

  Mansion closed September 7 – October 1 for installation of Haunted Mansion

  Holiday overlay. Closed January 10–25, 2005 for removal of Haunted Mansion

  Holiday overlay.

• Maliboomer reduced capacity (2 of 3 towers operating)

  November 1–25, January 3–22, 31, 2005 – March 12, 2005.

• Matterhorn

  Bobsleds closed September 13 – November 24.

• Jumpin’ Jellyfish

  reduced capacity January 21, 2005 – March 5, 2005.

Disneyland Resort

Hotels

• Disneyland Hotel Grand Ballroom closed July 2–16.

• Disneyland Hotel Convention Center lobby, upper level & lower level

  closed July 16 – September 1.

• Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel pool slide

  & kiddies pool closed through June 5.

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

May

• Grad Nights

  May 27

June

• Grad Nights June 3, 9, 10, 16 and 17
• AIDS

  Walk Orange County. Join

  Team MousePlanet and the Disneyland VoluntEars at this fundraising walk at

  UC Irvine (link). June

  6

• The next piece in Robert Olzewski’s “Disneyland in Miniature”

  series—the City Hall and Fire Station complex—is being released at Disneyland.

  June 26

September

• 2004 Haunted Mansion Holiday Event

  Thursday, September 30. Reservations accepted at the Disney Gallery Web site (link)

  on May 24 at 9:00 a.m. PDT.

October

• CHOC Walk –

  this fun-walk through Disneyland park is a fundraiser for the Children’s Hospital

  of Orange County (link).

  October 3.

May, 2005

• Disneyland closed on May 4, 2005

  to “put the finishing touches” on the 50th Anniversary celebration.

  DCA open on May 4.

• Disneyland’s 50th Anniversary celebration begins

  May 5.

Current Discounts & Promotions

50th

Anniversary Package

If you book a three-night resort stay at any of the

Disneyland Resort hotels during the 50th anniversary promotion, your package includes

a four-day Park Hopper ticket, a special 50th anniversary commemorative clock

and a Walk in Walt’s Footsteps tour.

The “50th Celebration Package”

is available onlyfor three-night stays, with arrival dates May 5 through

December 31, 2005. The package can be booked through the Disneyland Web site (link),

or by calling (714) 520-5060.

The Disney Treasures offer for APs

Annual

Passholders can receive a copy of The Disney Treasures book, worth $60,

when they apply for a Disney Visa card. The book will be mailed after the cardholder

uses the new account. Apply by phone at 1-800-640-5306, and mention card code

26FF.

Car rental discounts

Disneyland Resort Annual Passholders

save up to 20 percent on car rentals from Alamo Rent A Car and National Car Rental.

Restrictions apply—get full details and the necessary discount codes on the

Annual Passholder Web site (link).

Anaheim

Angels tickets

Disneyland Resort Annual Passholders can save 50 percent

off the regular price of tickets for the following home games of the Anaheim Angels

baseball team, which plays at nearby Angel Stadium of Anaheim (formerly Edison

Field):

• Cleveland Indians: Friday, June 4, 7:05 p.m.
• Oakland Athletics:

  Monday, June 21, 7:05 p.m.

• Boston Red Sox: Thursday, July 15, 7:05 p.m.
• Seattle

  Mariners: Sunday, August 1, 1:05 p.m.

Prices are: Terrace Box, $12.50 (reg.

$25); Lower View Box, $7.50 (reg. $15); and Upper View, $6.00 (reg. $12).

Although

there is no limit to how many tickets a passholder can purchase, you must use

mail or fax in the order form provided at the Annual Passholder Web site, and

you cannot purchase these tickets online or obtain them at the ticket window on

the day of the game. See the passholder Web site for details (link).

AAA-Disney’s

Resort Magic Packages

If you are a AAA member, you can take advantage of

these packages that include hotel nights and theme park tickets, along with extra

ammenities:

• 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)

• Collect Fastpass tickets for multiple attractions at one time.

• Preferred seating at a choice of select shows in DCA
• 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)

Sample

prices include:

AAA Disney’s Resort Magic: Disney’s

Paradise Pier Hotel for two nights from $269/adult, $127/ages 10-17, $97/ages

3-9

AAA Disneyland Resort Good Neighbor Magic: Jolly Roger Hotel

for two nights from $193/adult, $127/ages 10-17, $97/ages 3-9

These

packages require a minimum two-night hotel stay, and are good for travel now through

July 1, August 29 to November 21 and November 28 to December 23, 2004. You can

book this package through your local AAA affiliate travel agent.

Disney’s

AAA Passport Plus Package 2004

If you don’t need a hotel room, the Passport

Plus Package offers AAA members a discount on Park Hopper tickets, and comes with

extra benefits:

• Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Ticket
• $10 ESPN

  Zone Arena Game Card

• Preferred Seating at select shows in Disney’s California

  Adventure Park

• California Diamond Fun Book (one per package)
• Free parking

  at Disneyland Resort Theme Parks

Prices:

• 5-day: $129 (children:

  $99)

• 6-day: $159 (children: $129)
• 7-day: $184 (children: $149)

An

additional handling fee of $10 is charged per mailing address. These tickets are

available to AAA members only when purchased through AAA offices.

AAA ticket

offers

For shorter stays, AAA offers 2- and 5-day tickets for the Disneyland

Resort:

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

  Flex Passport $129 (children: $99)

These tickets include free parking (the

back of the passports note the free parking, so you will need the passport with

you when you park your car).

CityPass

The Southern California CityPass

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 either the world-famous San Diego Zoo or San Diego Wild Animal

  Park

• 1-day ticket to Knott’s Theme Park (includes a free Knott’s Berry Farm

  T-shirt with each child’s City Pass)

The CityPass is $172 ($129 for children).

You

can purchase the Southern California CityPass with Walt Disney Travel Company

packages. 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 for an additional charge of $47 per pass ($32 per pass

for children 3 through 9).

Note: The Southern California CityPass does notinclude

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.

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 2004 page to see more dates.

Entertainment schedule:

Go directly to the Disneyland Resort schedule for May 24 to 30 at Disneyland.com

here.