Disneyland Park Update

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Refurbishment/Attraction Closures | Park Events
| Discounts/Promotions | Park
Schedule/Blockout Dates

News and Views

Imagine…

Disneyland introduced the new Imagine… a Fantasy in the Sky
fireworks show on Friday, June 4. Imagine is the last-minute replacement
for Believe… There’s Magic in the Stars. Disneyland cast members
have been told that this new show was designed to take advantage of new
launching technology in order to help protect the environment.

The “hidden Mickey” effect returns with the new fireworks show.
Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

The soundtrack for Imagine is a compliation of Disney theme park
music—much of it from Walt Disney World—and songs from Disney
films and cartoons. One spectator joked that every Disney song containing
the word “world” was used.

Some familiar effects light up the night. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Many of the “special” shells first introduced in Believe
are used in Imagine: The familiar comets, stars, hearts and double-rings
all make their appearance, often in the same “burst” sequence
used in Believe.

Launches from the Castle look a little different. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

The launchers on top of Sleeping Beauty Castle look to have been re-aimed
or repositioned, and the Castle effects appear father apart than before.
Some have speculated that those launchers have been repositioned so that
the planned rehab can take place on Sleeping Beauty Castle this summer
without affecting the fireworks.

The finale is similar to, but smaller than, the previous show. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Tinker Bell appears near the end of this show, making her flight from
the Matterhorn and over the Castle. A new light effect on the Matterhorn
has drawn some praise as a “new” feature in this show.

Reaction to the new show has been generally positive. Many MousePlanet
readers saying that the 10-minute show isn’t as good as Believe,
but not as bad as some had feared. The show will run nightly during the
summer, starting Friday, June 11.

Security matters

A cast member has posted to our MousePad discussion boards that Disneyland
security will no longer monitor access to the Katella Street cast member
parking lot. The policy goes into effect June 20.

This action is the latest in a string of cutbacks that have infuriated
members of the Disneyland security department, which is currently negotiating
a new employement contract. Members have complained that Disney wants
to slash the security force by as much as half. Some security cast members
have warned that a public walkout may be necessary to bring pressure on
Disney to maintain their budget.

Building towards the 50th

50th anniversary signs are plastered on every construction project in
Disneyland. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Several Main Street stores have learned that their locations will be
temporarily closed as work continues to restore Main Street for the 50th
Anniversary celebration. Chester Drawers closes in June for a four-week
remodel, which includes a new floor. Disneyana undergoes a similar remodel
in the fall, receiving new carpet and new display fixtures.

Ears to the ground

…Thomas Kinkade returns to Disneyland on June 17 to continue work
on his painting of Sleeping Beauty Castle. The artist will be working
near the Main Street Photo Supply store mornings from 10:00 to 11:00.
This is not a meet-and-greet or signing opportunity, and Disneyland requests
that you bring no personal items to be signed.

Robert Olzewski’s City Hall and Fire Station piece goes on sale June 26.
Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

…As previously noted, the next piece in Robert Olzewski’s “Disneyland
in Miniature” series—the City Hall and Fire Station complex—is
being released at Disneyland on Saturday June 26. Customers who purchase
the piece in person at Disneyland will receive a “day of issue”
plaque, and can have the piece signed by the artist.

A prototype of the new piece is on display at the Disneyana store on
Main Street, and several interesting features were noted, including the
roof of the Fire Station, which can be removed to reveal Walt’s apartment
inside.

Cast members also note that the price of the first piece in this collection,
Sleeping Beauty Castle, will be raised to $225 when the third piece is
released. Olzewski had originally told collectors that no piece in this
series would be more expensive that the Castle, originally offered at
$195. One cast member speculated that the price increase would allow Disney
room to introduce more expensive pieces that still cost no more than the
current selling price of the Castle.

…U.S. Postal Service will release a series of postage stamps, postal
cards and stationary featuring Mickey Mouse and friends on June 23. The
first-day-of-issue dedication ceremony will take place at Disneyland at
10:00 a.m. that day, and the stamps will be available at post offices
around the country on June 24.

The postal products will be available for purchase at Disneyland after
the ceremony, and two Disney artists will be on hand to sign your purchases.

Images of the four designs can be found on the USPS Web site (link).
More details about the event, and how to obtain a first-day-of-issue postmark,
can be found in the announcement on our MousePad message boards (link).

…An incident on Roger Rabbit Cartoon Spin Saturday resulted in the
ride’s temporary closure. According to one witness, a young guest was
slightly injured while on the ride, although it is unclear exactly what
happened. The injured visitor was taken to Disneyland’s Central First
Aid department, and the ride was open again on Sunday.

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 9, 10, 16 and 17
  
• 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):

• 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 June 7 to 16 at Disneyland.com here.