Disneyland Park Update

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

News and Views

Making Memories

For Disneyland’s 25th anniversary, the theme was Family Reunion. Nearly
25 years later, the folks at the Happiest Place on Earth have revisted
the theme of “family” with “The Happiest Faces on Earth… a
Disney Family Album.”

“Faces,” which was introduced as part of The Happiest Homecoming
on Earth celebration on July 17—the park’s 49th anniversary—gives
guests a chance to “be the twinkle in Mickey’s eye” by submitting
photos, which will be used in montages around the resort.

Bright and early Saturday morning, more than 1,000 cast members and their
friends and family gathered to rehearse how they would create gigantic
picture of Mickey Mouse by holding 3-foot-by-3-foot color images of resort
CMs over their heads. And at 10 a.m. on a hot, windless day they did it—twice!

More than 1,000 Disneyland Cast Members creating a giant photo collage.
© 2004 Disney. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

Among the card holders: Becky Murphy, Disneyland ambassador to the world;
sisters Lorena and Lily, facilities and engineering CMs who have several
family members that also work around the resort; Mark, a cast member for
36 years who met his wife more than 30 years ago at Casa Mexicana (now,
Rancho del Zocalo); Joey, an entertainment cast member who was initally
told “sorry, we can’t use you,” who has now been at the resort
for 31 years; Disneyland President Matt Ouimet; and, of course, Mickey
and Minnie.

Ouimet reminded the crowd that Walt Disney wanted Disneyland to be a
“home away from home” where they could make memories with friends
and family. He then invited everyone to “return home” this year
by submitting those magical photo memories over the next sixth months,
which will be on display for the 18-month 50th birthday celebration, beginning
in May 2005.

The Martinez family from Portland, Oregon were selected as the first
family to submit their picture into the drop box, put in by daughter,
Taylor.

Photo info: Everyone is encouraged to submit their color or black
and white photos beginning from now through Dec. 31, 2004 to be considered
for use. A photo release form is available online and must be included
with all photo submissions, along with appropriate contact information
(name, address, e-mail and phone number). Participants in the program
are encouraged not to send original photos.

Photos can be submitted three ways:

• Via e-mail through www.disneyland.com/photos;
• In person at drop boxes located around the Disneyland Resort (including
  one at City Hall)
• Photo imagery can also be sent via the following mailing options:
  
  U.S. Postal Service:
  
  Happiest Faces on Earth
  
  PO Box 30464
  
  Salt Lake City, Utah 84130-0464
  
  
  
  FedEx/UPS:
  
  Happiest Faces on Earth
  
  c/o Data Services Direct
  
  2481 S. 1560 West
  
  Woods Cross, Utah 84087

Not all photo submissions will be used for various reasons. Confirmation
emails and letters will be sent in spring 2005 to all participants confirming
receipt of photo and, if the photo is used, notification of the general
placement of the photo in the collages.

Say “cheese.”

Upcoming NFFC Show & Sale Information

Special Offer for MousePlanet.com Readers!

This is just a quick reminder that the NFFC will again be hosting the
World’s Largest strictly Disneyana Show & Sale – on Sunday,
July 25, 2004 at the spacious Crowne Plaza Resort Hotel in Garden Grove,
California (about 1.5 miles south of the Disneyland Resort on the southwest
corner of Harbor Boulevard and Chapman Avenue).

NFFC will have over 150 tables covered with every imaginable Disney-themed
collectable old and new. From classic toys to litho art and PVC action
figures to Walt Disney Art Classics pieces – paper and buttons and mini-bean-bag
plush and clothing and plates and books and decals and videos and DVDs
and music and promotional items and pins—Something for every Disney
collector!

The entry price for the Show & Sale is $6 for the general public, but
is only $5 for NFFC members (with valid NFFC membership card), for Disney
Company Cast Members (with valid ID card) and for MousePlanet.com readers
(who print this information and bring it along to the show)! There is
also a $25 early-bird entry for those wishing to enter the show at 10:30
a.m.

The Show & Sale hours are:

• 9:00am – for attendees of the NFFC’s National Convention .04
• 10:30am – for NFFC members not attending this year’s National
  Convention
• Noon – 5:00pm – for the general public.

The show and sale closes promptly at 5:00 p.m., so come early.

The NFFC has put together another great National Convention this year.
Our 20th – for the schedule of seminars and events you can check the Web
site (link).

Mickey’s All-American Pin Festival 2 Salutes the American Olympic Team

The Disneyland Resort Merchandise division has arranged for another exclusive
pin opportunity for NFFC: ONLY NFFC 2004 – 20 Years – Keeping
the Magic ALIVE! Conventioneers will be able to purchase this wonderful
pin—created for the second annual Mickey’s All American Pin Festival
(MAAPF)—as will only be sold to those attending the event.

The pin is back-stamped “Mickey’s All American Pin Festival, NFFC
Member Exclusive, Limited Edition 1,000” and has the 2004 Disney
Pin Trading logo. This is the only MAAPF Olympic pin in this limited
an edition of only 1,000 pins, and the only pin in this promotion
that will be released to a private organization.

Mickey is featured on this two-inch-by-two-inch pin dressed in classic
Greek attire shaking the victorious Donald’s hand with the 2004 USA Olympic
logo across the bottom. Aside from being a very collectable triple collectable—Olympics,
Disney and NFFC—the pin is also a great way to support America’s
team as portion of the Original sale price of this pin has been donated
by the Walt Disney Company and the NFFC to support America.s Olympians
as they participate in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.

Sales will begin—on a voucher only basis—on July 21st at the
NFFC’s Convention Registration/ NFFC Club table at the Crowne Plaza Resort
Hotel, and will continue throughout the remainder of the week, or until
the edition of 1,000 is sold out. This very exclusive pin will sell for
$12 and will be limited to three pins per registrant.

Any pins available after July 24 will be sold at the NFFC’s Strictly
Disneyana Show & Sale on July 25 for $15 each.

Operators are standing by

The Disneyland Resort has started accepting reservations for 2005, including
the all-important birthday dates of May 5 (the start of the 18-month celebration)
and July 17, Disneyland’s 50th birthday.

Works starts on Sleeping Beauty Castle

The postponed refurbishment of Sleeping Beauty Castle is expected to
begin this week, and continue through September 18.

Hold your questions, please

The Disneyland Resort has quietly shuttered the information board at
its Disney’s California Adventure (DCA) park, and reduced hours at the
two Guest Relations booths located in the esplanade between Disneyland
and DCA. The move has impacted the Guest Relations department schedule
to the point that some cast members are asking for transfers to departments
where they can get more hours.

The two Guest Relations booths in the entry plaza are shuttered. Photo
by David Michael.

One cast member said that none of the three locations were really serving
their purpose. DCA is rarely crowded enough that a board inicating wait
times is useful, and having a second guest relations location—placed
in Paradise Pier because of the unusual layout of the park—was deemed
unecessary. DCA’s wait time board has been relocated to the existing Guest
Relations booth in the Sun Plaza.

Disney had hoped visitors would use the two esplanade locations to make
same-day dining reservations or to book guided tours. Instead, cast members
at those booths spend their days giving directions to tourists unfamiliar
with the city transportation system, or playing solitare on the computer
terminal. The booths are now open for three to four hours each morning
when the parks open, and then 3 to 4 hours in the evening at park closing.

Fastpass reworked

Earlier this year, Disney discontinued the use of Fastpass at two DCA
movie attractions, Muppet*Vision 3-D and “it’s tough to be a bug.”
Now two Disneyland rides—the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean—have
stopped using the system. MousePlanet reader David Michael stopped by
the resort last week, and reports that Fastpass is still in use at the
remaining Fastpass rides. In addition, Star Tours and Roger Rabbit’s Cartoon
Spin in DIsneyland, and Grizzly River Run in DCA are disconnected from
the rest of the Fastpass network, meaning that you can obtain Fastpass
tickets to those rides without affecting your elligibility to get other
passes.

A cast member tells us that Fastpass will return with the Haunted Mansion
Holiday overlay, and that no final decision has been reached about whether
to install the system again for the “it’s a small world” holiday
overlay. There is still no word on whether the Matterhorn Bobsled will
get a Fastpass installation during its fall refurbishment.

Disneyland security officers reject contract.

As we reported last week, Disney called for a re-vote on its most recent
contract offer to the security department. For the third time, union members
have rejected Disney’s proposed 11-month contract.

Got any interesting news or rumors? Contact us here.

Current Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Disneyland

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

• Sleeping Beauty Castle walk-through closed indefinitely. (No
  longer listed on park maps or the Disneyland Web site)
  
• Sleeping Beauty Castle refurbisment through August 3.
  
• Space Mountain closed through 2005.
  
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad closed indefinitely, pending
  results of the DOSH inspection.
  

Disney’s California Adventure

• Superstar Limo closed indefinitely. (No longer listed on park
  maps or the Disneyland Web site)
  

Future Closures

• Aladdin’s Oasis closes July 30 – March 12, 2005.
  
• Plaza Pavilion closes July 30 – March 12, 2005.
  
• Enchanted Tiki Room closes July 30 – March 12, 2005.
  
• Snow White’s Scary Adventures closes August 16 – September
  10.
  
• Pirates of the Caribbean two day rehab September 1 & 2.
  
• Star Tours reduces capacity, as each of the four cabins rotate
  through refurbishment September 7–22.
  
• Haunted Mansion closes September 7 – 30 for installation
  of Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay.
  
• Mad Tea Party closes September 7 – 13
  
• Maliboomer reduced capacity (2 of 3 towers operating) November
  1–25, January 3–22, 31, 2005 – March 12, 2005.
  
• Matterhorn Bobsleds closes September 7 – November 24.
  
• Sailing Ship Columbia closes September 7, return date not posted.
  
• Haunted Mansion closes January 10–25, 2005 for removal
  of Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay.
  
• Jumpin’ Jellyfish reduces capacity January 21, 2005 –
  March 5, 2005.
  

Disneyland Resort Hotels

• Disneyland Hotel Convention Center lobby, upper level &
  lower level closed July 16 – September 1.
  

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

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 invites all readers to walk
  this event as a group. 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
tickets are available for purchase through Thursday, September 30, 2004.

Please note that the tickets expire on October 13, 2004, or
13 days after first use, whichever comes first. The first use must occur
on the date of purchase.

Some Annual Passholders have received a postcard about this special offer
in the mail. Passholders can hand the postcard to friends and family,
who can then use it to purchase up to 5 of the discounted tickets without
the Passholder even being there.

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 game of the Anaheim Angels baseball
team, which plays at nearby Angel Stadium of Anaheim (formerly Edison
Field):

• 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 from 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.
  Completely blocked.
  
• SC – Southern California Annual Pass.
  Completely blocked.
  
• 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 July 19 to 28 at Disneyland.com here
(printer-friendly version here).