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News
and Views

Castle gets makeover tests…

A turret on the castle gets a coating of gold paint along half of its awning.
Photo by Karl Buiter.

Various preparations have begun at Disneyland towards
its 50th Anniversary celebration next year, including a makeover test of the new
paint job for Sleeping Beauty Castle.

…While Rocket Rods track lays
fallow

Some parts of the park are being completely neglected, such as parts
of the track for the scrapped Rocket Rods attraction in Tomorrowland. This does
not pose a safety hazard, since the ride has not been operational in a while.
Regardless, the portion of the track in this photo is visible to park guests.

The foliage is getting pretty overgrown on this portion of the Rocket Rods track.
Photo by Karl Buiter.

Close Call At Disney’s California Adventure

by
David Koenig

Reader Joseph Titizian reported that on Friday, June 11, Disney’s
California Adventure nearly suffered its first guest fatality, by someone who
wasn’t even a theme park guest. About 3:00 in the afternoon, he said, “We
were turning the bend past Soarin’ towards Grizzly when I noticed something odd.
On the sloped roof of the sixth floor of the Grand Californian, just outside of
her balcony, was a small child no more than five or six years old. She had just
hopped over her balcony onto the sloped area around it wandering around, looking
out at Disney’s California Adventure. We couldn’t believe our eyes!”

Each
balcony has a table and two chairs that small children commonly stand on to get
a better view over the railing. As well, the balconies are “inset” into
the roofline, so the gravel-covered roofs are just a few feet below the railing—making
it easy and tempting for someone to climb over. The roofs are about five feet
deep, slope downward, and at the top concierge level, are about 50 feet above
the ground below.

As these photos show, the upper-floor balconies at the Grand Californian Hotel
provide ready access to the roof for anybody willing and able to climb over the
railing. Photo by Alex Stroup.

“As
we walked closer,” Titizian continued, “The girl climbed back over,
but by the time we had reached the Grizzly ride entrance she was back over on
the roof, walking around, doing a little dance, at one point turning around, facing
back into her room and waving. By now a group of concerned guests had gathered
frozen in fear feeling helpless not knowing what to do! The ticket takers at the
DCA/Grand Californian gate wandered out to see what was going on, and helplessly
walked back to hopefully call Security. The child who was barefoot and looked
quite disheveled continued to wander and prance as the crowd got more anxious.”

The
crowd stood by helplessly, saying things like “Where’s the mother?”
“Someone do something!”, and “Oh, my God, she is going to fall!”
Finally, a female guest in a loud, forceful voice, yelled to the girl, “You
get back over there right now, Baby! Go, or you are going to get a spanking! Where
is your mother? Get inside right now! Get inside the house! Go to your Mommy!”

“This
obviously caught the attention of the girl,” he related, “who sheepishly
climbed over the balcony and hid behind the balcony railings. Not once did her
parents come outside during this entire incident. And Disney Security was nowhere
to be found! Here’s hoping that they visited the room and kicked those horrible
people out of the Grand Californian. It makes you wonder what kind of people are
staying in some of the most desirable and expensive rooms at the Grand Cal!”

A
security officer expressed little surprise at the alleged incident and lack of
response. “That’s what is happening when you have cutbacks,” he said.
“DCA has only about four officers patrolling that park. But it all boils
down to that old saying of ‘guests are idiots.’ Fortunately, the kid did not get
hurt.”

Adrienne Krock, MousePlanet’s Parenting in the Park
editor, said, “I think it’s unfortunate that security didn’t get there because
they could have at least figured out what room the child was in to let the ‘responsible’
adults know what happened. The lack of supervision for that child is shocking
and sad. We often don’t think ahead, and many of us do not have balconies at home
or have balconies that can access rooftops. This is an important reminder to be
aware of our surroundings and be on alert for dangers when we are traveling away
from home.”

All Aboard the Disneyland Railroad Guide

The editor
of The Carolwood Chronicle, the newsletter of the Carolwood Pacific Historical
Society (link), has written
an encyclopedic reference guide to the Disneyland Railroad.

Written by Steve
DeGaetano and illustrated by Preston Nirattisai, Welcome to the Disneyland
Railroad: The Completely Disneyland Railroad Guide is expected to become available
to the public in October. The book documents, in elaborate detail, the history
and operation of the Disneyland steam trains. Steve has designed this book to
appeal to Disney fans as well as rail buffs.

Welcome Aboard the Disneyland Railroad is expected to makes its debut this October,
in plenty of time for Disneyland’s 50th Anniversary celebration next year. ©
Steve DeGaetano and Steam Passages Publications, reprinted with permission.

DeGaetano
spent over 10 years researching his subject, interviewing Disneyland Railroad
engineers, firemen, conductors and roundhouse personnel, as well as subject experts
such as Michael Broggie and Bob Gurr. According to DeGaetano, he wanted to cover
every aspect of the Disneyland Railroad. “And I mean everything, down to
the story of the wheels,” he said.

“I knew there was interest
in the Disneyland Railroad from a Disney fan perspective,” DeGaetano said.
“I also knew that a lot of Disney fans appreciate ‘inside knowledge’ about
how certain attractions in their favorite theme park operate.” DeGaetano
also wanted to tell the story of the cast members who work on this attraction.
“These people are charged with keeping the trains running, and as they do
so, they provide us with a very strong link to Walt Disney himself,” he said.

The
Carolwood Pacific Historical Society is the only society in the world dedicated
to preserving Walt Disney’s live-steam railroading legacy.

The initial hardcover
book release will available numbered and in limited edition. It is expected to
be priced at $64.95. Those who pre-order before September 1 will also receive
a signed and numbered limited edition print of the E.P. Ripley train, which is
the same one that hangs in the home of Diane Disney Miller ($40 value). For more
information about the book, visit the DLRcad Enterprises Web site (link).

Mr.
Lincoln Return Uncertain

Reader Mike wrote to us with a concern about
the Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln attraction, which is scheduled to be shuttered
during Disneyland’s 50th Anniversary celebration that begins next year.

“I
asked a cast member if, after the 18-month, 50th-year-anniversary celebration,
Great Moments would return. The cast member replied that it was uncertain that
it would,” Mike said. “I was told that if the numbers do not pick up
soon, and if guests don’t make their sentiments known soon, it probably would
not return. I was also told that letting them know in City Hall about keeping
Great Moments is absolutely critical.”

Mike asked, “Is there a
mass campaign we could stage to deluge City Hall with? The historical significance
of this attraction is a major part of Mr. Disney’s legacy.”

Although
MousePlanet has not organized an official campaign, we suggest all persons visiting
the park who wish to see the attraction return take Mike’s idea to heart by attending
the attraction and keeping its attendance rate up, and by asking City Hall for
its return after the 50th Anniversary celebration is over.

Nightmare Before
Christmas screening cancelled

For many fans of Tim Burton’s Nightmare
Before Christmas movie, being able to get together with fellow fans and watching
a special screening at Disneyland’s Fantasyland Theater has been a great way to
kick off the holiday season.

Unfortunately due to the staging of the new
Snow White – An Enchanting New Musical show (read our review here,
and our photo essay here)
there, Disneyland has cancelled this year’s film screening of the movie.

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.

The Adventureland Bazaar continues to be open during its rehab. Photo by Karl
Buiter.

• 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

More makeover testing of the a castle turret. Photo by Karl Buiter.

• 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 16 and 17
• U.S.
  Postal Service first-day-of-issue dedication ceremony for the release a series
  of Disney postage stamps (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).
  Wednesday, June 23
• 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. [Note: MousePlanet staff will be organizing a group of readers
  to join “Team MousePlanet” for this event. Keep your eye here for details.]
  
• MousePlanet’s MouseAdventure quest-and-adventure event – a Sunday
  in October. [Read more about MouseAdventure here,
  and be reminded of it by sending e-mail here.]
  

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

Discounted
park hopper tickets for Annual Passholders

Disneyland Resort Annual Passholders
can purchase 2-Day Disneyland Resort Park Hopper tickets for a reduced rate of
$79 ($59 for ages 3 to 9). The offer runs through Thursday, September 30, 2004.

Thanks to MousePlanet reader Tinker Bell for alerting us to this promotion.

McDonald’s Tower of Terror early admission voucher

On Friday, June
18, the Disneyland Resort and McDonald’s launch a cross-promotion based on the
new Tower of Terror ride. McDonald’s customers who order a Big Mac Extra Value
Meal receive a voucher for early admission to Disney’s California Adventure (DCA)
to ride the Tower of Terror one hour before the park opens.

Each voucher
is good for one person, and valid DCA admission is required: you can’t just pop
in for the extra hour without buying a DCA ticket.

Vouchers are designated
for June, July, or August, and distributed chronologically at participating McDonald’s
while supplies last. Each voucher may be redeemed only during the month appearing
on the voucher.

Call (714) 781-7290 or Disneyland’s promotion Web page
(link) for more
information. [Note: As of June 13, the Web site was not yet active, and redirected
to the Disneyland Web site.]

Thanks to MousePlanet reader Opus1guy for
obtaining the information on this promotion from McDonalds.

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 our Annual
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.