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News and Views
Castle unwrapped
A single refurbished turret is visible above the blue tarps. Photo by
Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix
Disney removed the top level of scaffolding and tarps from Sleeping Beauty
Castle last week, revealing a single, newly refurbished turret. This small
glimpse of bright new paint and a sparkling tile roof have park visitors
anxious to see the rest of the castle get unveiled in November.
The rest of Sleeping Beauty Castle is still under wraps. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
AP prices go up
Disneyland visitors must shell out extra Disney Dollars to purchase or
renew their annual passports. Prices of the top three annual passes jumped
$20 to $50 effective today; the SoCal Select pass, introduced last spring,
remains unchanged.
Annual Passport prices increase, but there is one less place to buy them,
as the Downtown Disney ticket booth is no longer open. Photo by Adrienne
Vincent-Phoenix.
The new prices are as follows:
- SoCal Select: $99
- SoCal: $149 (up from $129)
- Deluxe: $209 (up from $179)
- Premium: $329 (up from $279)
Thanks to reader Darkbeer for this information.
…but there’s room for one more. Any bidders?
DisneyAuctions.com is offering one lucky (and wealthy) fan the opportunity
to be immortalized inside the Haunted Mansion as the 1,000th “Happy
Haunt” by winning the “Disneyland Haunted Mansion 1000th Ghost
Experience” auction on eBay.com. The winning bidder receives a personalized
tombstone in the ride’s graveyard scene. The tombstone will be personalized
with the winner’s first name, and a “humorous epitaph (inspired by
the winner’s interests or hobbies) written and personalized by the team
at Walt Disney Imagineering.”
A most expensive tombstone can be yours, courtesy of Disney and eBay.
Photo © Disney.
The bidding started at $750 on Thursday and reached nearly $35,000 by
Saturday night. The auction ends just after 3:00 p.m. Pacific on October
21, with the winning bidder publicly announced on October 22. The winner
and a companion will be the ghosts of honor at a midnight “wake”
and “burial” ceremony on October 28. The winner also receives
a miniature replica of the personalized tombstone.
A scary holiday pumpkin welcomes guests to the Haunted Mansion Holiday.
Photo by Frank Anzalone.
The proceeds of the auction benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.
You can watch the final days and hours of the auction on the DisneyAuctions.com
Web site (link).
Club Libby Lu, Downtown Disney’s new tenant, opened this weekend. Photo
by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
The Incredibles invade Hollywood
After all, superheroes don’t need sleep. Photo © Disney
The El Capitan theater in Hollywood is hosting a special advanced show
of The Incredibles at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, November 5 (that’s
late Thursday night). The screening also includes a costume contest, free
coffee and pastry, and prizes. All attendees receive a commemorative,
numbered The Incredibles credential.
Tickets can be purchased in person at the theater, or through its Web
site (link).
Tickets are $10.50 for general admission or $19 for VIP seating, which
includes reserved seating, a drink, and popcorn. A $2 handling fee applies
to tickets purchased online.
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.
Mickey and Minnie take a ride on Main Street. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
- “it’s a small world” closes October 18 –
November 4.
- Matterhorn Bobsleds closed through November 23.
- Sleeping Beauty Castle closed through November 23.
- Sailing Ship Columbia closed through November 30.
- Fantasmic on hiatus through November during the
Sailing Ship Columbia refurbishment.
- Aladdin’s Oasis closed through March 11, 2005.
- Plaza Pavilion closed through March 11, 2005.
- Enchanted Tiki Room closed through March 11, 2005.
- Space Mountain closed through November 2005.
- Sleeping Beauty Castle walk-through closed indefinitely;
not listed on park maps or the Disneyland Web site.
Upcoming Disneyland closures
- Haunted Mansion closes January 10–25, 2005 to remove
Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay.
Disney’s California Adventure
Disney’s decorating department has already begun hanging holiday lights
in Downtown Disney. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Upcoming DCA closures
- Maliboomer reduced capacity (2 of 3 towers operating) November
1–25, 2004, and January 3–22, 31 – March 12, 2005.
- Jumpin’ Jellyfish reduced capacity January 21 – March
5, 2005.
