Disneyland Park Update

Go directly to: News & Views | Current
Refurbishment/Attraction Closures | Park Events
| Discounts/Promotions | Park
Schedule/Blockout Dates

News and Views

Believe it or not

A little over a week ago, rumors started circulating on our MousePad
message boards (link)
that Disneyland’s beloved Believe… There’s Magic in the Stars
fireworks show would be replaced in June with a rehashed version of Fantasy
in the Sky. These dire reports were dismissed by some readers as “highly
suspect” or a “joke.” After all, Disneyland.com listed
performances of Believe… for June, and the internal resort
entertainment calendar listed performances through the end of July. Further,
why would Disneyland shelve such a popular show at the start of the summer
tourism season?

Disneyland’s popular Believe… show gives its final performances
over the past weekend. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

After last week’s Park Update: Disneyland was published, we received
confirmation that the rumors were true—the show was going away after
Memorial Day weekend, with the final performance on Sunday, May 30.

Suddenly Believe… was replaced on the Disneyland.com Web
site with a new show called Disney’s Imagine… A Fantasy in the
Sky. An e-mail message sent to Resort cast members on Thursday announced
that the new show would begin the following weekend, on Friday, June 4,
and a revised resort entertainment calendar was released with the new
show scheduled through August.

Part of the popularity of Believe… stems from its use of unusual
fireworks not seen before at a Disney park, such as the popular “comet
through a heart” effect. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Many park visitors are asking why. There are several interesting theories
running around the various Disney discussion boards and Web sites:

• Remember, the fireworks show planned to debut in less than
  a year for the 50th anniversary celebration, must be so disappointing
  that Disney has decided to replace the popular Believe…
  show with something so bad that anything would be considered
  an improvement.


• Disney is bowing to the pressure of local Anaheim residents who complain
  about the smoke and noise created by Believe…. The new show
  is said to be shorter than Believe…, and use fewer shells—most
  importantly, fewer low-burst shells that explode close to the ground.
  


• Believe… has been cancelled because the planned refurbishment
  of Sleeping Beauty Castle will prevent Disney from presenting the full
  show (no pyrotechnics from the Castle, no Tinker Bell flying over the
  scaffolded Castle). Rather than presenting a scaled-back version of
  Believe…, Disneyland dusted off an old concept.


• Disney was forced to dramatically alter the show because of California
  Assembly Bill 826, a measure designed to reduce perchlorate contamination
  in groundwater sources. Perchlorate is a main ingredient in fireworks.
  

While this last explanation is considered to be one of the more credible
ones, the timeline doesn’t make sense. AB 826 does not go into full effect
until January 2006. One provision does take effect on July 1 of this year:
A reporting requirement for perchlorate users within a five-mile radius
of a contaminated public drinking water well. Nothing in the bill, however,
seems to explain why Disneyland suddenly replaced such a popular show.

The glow from dozens of camcorder screens fills the viewing area in front
of Sleeping Beauty Castle as the show begins. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Whatever the reason, this change was made so quickly that many cast members
are just learning of it. Worse, there is now rampant speculation among
cast members that the holiday version of Believe… is also
in jeopardy.

Discover the Magic

A new tour, based loosely on the “Family Magic” tour currently
offered at the Magic Kingdom in Florida’s Walt Disney World, was introduced
at Disneyland this past weekend.

“Discover the Magic” is a designed for families with children
ages 5 to 9, and is highly character-focused. The tour starts with a meet-and-greet
with one of Mickey’s friends, who presents the group with a mystery to
solve. Participants then join a tour guide on a trip through Disneyland,
looking for clues and meeting characters along the way. These encounters
are just quick meet-and-greets, and are not designed as photo or autograph
opportunities.

The new Discover the Magic tour uses Disneyland as the set for a mystery
adventure. Photo courtesy of Disneyland, used with permission.

The tour includes a two rides, a trip onto Tom Sawyer Island for a special
adventure, and a light lunch midway through. It ends with a meet-and-greet
in Toon Town. The experience is highly interactive and requires a lot
of moving about, and a willingness (by parents, too!) to just be a kid
and be a little silly.

Strollers are not recommended on the tour. Guests with disabilities are
welcome, and should be aware that the nature of the tour includes climbing
stairs and crawling through caves on Tom Sawyer Island. When a guest with
mobility impairments participates, the tour can be adapted to avoid physical
barriers.

Tom Sawyer and a crew of “pirates” try to decipher a treasure
map during the Discover the Magic tour. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Tickets are $49 per person for the first two guests, and $39 per person
for each additional guest. There is a two-ticket minimum to book this
tour. Disneyland Annual Passholders can receive $10 off each ticket for
tours taken through Friday, July 2.

Initially, the tour is available on weekends only through June 13. Starting
June 19, there will be two tours per day for the rest of the summer. You
can book a tour up to 30 days in advance by calling (714) 781-4400, or
by visiting any Guest Services location.

Check back soon; MousePlanet will have a more detailed review of this
tour.

Costco offers “Play 4 Days” tickets

MousePlanet reader DJ_MENTOS let us know that Costco is again offering
“Play 4 Days” tickets to the Disneyland Resort. The $79 ticket
(for ages 3 through adult) is good for four one-day admissions to Disneyland
or Disney’s California Adventure. The tickets are non-transferable—the
same person must use all four admissions.

The ticket expires once the four admissions are used, or on June 30,
2004, whichever comes first. This is not a park-hopper pass, although
you could probably use one admission per day at each park, in effect using
the four admissions as a two-day park-hopper.

The tickets are available only to Costco members who are residents of
Southern California. A Costco membership and proof of residency is zip
codes 90000 through 93599 is required. Tickets must be purchased at Costco,
with a limit of five tickets per member per day.

The one-day Park Hopper is here

The Disneyland Resort quietly began selling one-day park-hopper tickets
this past weekend. The $69 ticket ($62 for Southern California residents)
allows you to visit Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure in the
same day.

Ears to the ground

…Snow White – An Enchanting New Musical will go “dark”
with no performances on June 15, 16, and 17. There will be only three
performances each day on June 14, 18, and 21 to 25.

Got any interesting news or rumors? Contact us here.

Current Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Disneyland

Note: Disneyland will progressively begin closing more and more attractions
as the park readies for its 50th anniversary celebration in 2005.

• 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 – September 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

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).
  Sunday, 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. Saturday, June 26
  

September

• 2004 Haunted Mansion Holiday Event Thursday, September 30.
  

October

• CHOC Walk – this fun-walk through Disneyland park is a
  fundraiser for the Children’s Hospital of Orange County (link).
  Sunday, 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

Costco offers “Play 4 Days” tickets

MousePlanet reader DJ_MENTOS let us know that Costco is again offering
“Play 4 Days” tickets to the Disneyland Resort. The $79 ticket
(for ages 3 through adult) is good for four one-day admissions to Disneyland
or Disney’s California Adventure. The tickets are non-transferable—the
same person must use all four admissions.

The ticket expires once the four admissions are used, or on June 30,
2004, whichever comes first. This is not a park-hopper pass, although
you could probably use one admission per day at each park, in effect using
the four admissions as a two-day park-hopper.

The tickets are available only to Costco members who are residents of
Southern California. Costco membership and proof of residency is zip codes
90000 through 93599 is required. Tickets must be purchased at Costco,
with a limit of five tickets per member per day.

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 only for
three-night stays, with arrival dates 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 (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
  
• An exclusive Walt Disney Travel Company collectible pin and lanyard
  (one per person)
  
• An exclusive Walt Disney Travel Company California Fun Book (one per
  package)
  
• An 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 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.

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 ourAnnual
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.