Disneyland Park Update

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News and Views

Aladdin cancelled until December 21 – A memo sent out on Saturday announced that all performances of Disney's Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular at Disney's California Adventure would be cancelled until December 21 to allow for “cast training” and minor production tweaks to the show. The rumor is that the cast is being trained in how to improvise when the show's elaborate and trouble-prone special effects fail during a performance.

Still looking for a holiday job? If so, head over to Disneyland casting, where you might find yourself hired, trained, and on stage in 72 hours. Casting shortages are especially acute in the stores, where current cast members are being asked to work six or seven days a week until Christmas to handle the rush of holiday shoppers.

“Your current passport is no longer valid” – MousePad member Karen W. alerted us to a problem that Annual Passholders may experience after renewing their pass by mail. In previous years, the barcode and serial number did not change when the pass was renewed, and expired passes could be used to gain park admission. In an effort to reduce fraudulent use of expired passes, however, Disneyland is assigning new serial numbers and barcodes to renewed Annual Passports. As soon as they put your new pass in the mail, the barcode from your yet-unexpired current passport becomes invalid. If you try to use your current passport, even if it has yet to expire, the passport is rejected. Main gate cast members are supposed to know about this situation, and override the system to accept these passes, but not all will do so without calling a supervisor. While this only affects you while your new pass is in the mail, it can cause uneccesary delays at the main gate, and make it difficult to obtain Fastpass tickets. If you renew by mail, be sure to start using your new pass as soon as you receive it.

160 Downtown Disney parking spaces will become valet parking on weekends.

Where has all the parking gone? If you have tried to park in Downtown Disney on a recent weekend, you might have noticed that the parking lot was exceptionally full, yet there were about 160 empty parking spots behind short metal fences. According to a parking supervisor, the valet lot will be moved on weekends into the Downtown Disney lot, closer to the valet stand, so guests have a shorter wait for their cars. Once the parking lot fills, self-park guests will have to use the overflow lot.

Y Arriba Y Arriba space still vacant – A Disneyland manager says that no new tenant has been found to fill the Downtown Disney location left vacant when Y Arriba Y Arriba closed in June. Three different concepts are being pitched to Disney, including a Mexican restaurant. The often-rumored Cheesecake Factory/Starbucks combination is not one of the contenders – our source says that the Cheesecake Factory has not even submitted a proposal. Disney is expected to approve a concept and issue a letter of intent in the spring.

Avalon Cove gets new name and new decor – Avalon Cove restaurant, in Disney's California Adventure, under Disney operation since original tenant Wolfgang Puck pulled out last summer, will soon be renamed Ariel's Grotto. The restaurant will offer pretty much the same menu served since last November, and will sport new Disney-theme decor. The Cove Deck keeps its name and too-short hours.

New Haunted Mansion exhibit at the Disney Gallery – Sketches and concept artwork from the upcoming Haunted Mansion movie are now on display at the Disney Gallery in New Orleans Square. These sketches by artist Nathan Schroeder depict sets from the movie, including the Grand Ballroom and the Graveyard.

New Walk in Walt's Footsteps Tour now available –After a month of Annual Passholder previews, the newly revamped Walk in Walt's Footsteps tour is now available to all Disneyland visitors. The tour now includes a peek into Club 33, and lunch in the Disney Galley. [Read the review of the new tour by Sue Kruse.]

Unlimited Fastpasses for AAA travel customers – Travelers who book a Disneyland package through AAA in 2003 receive an “unlimited” Fastpass. Unlike the one-time use Fastpass tickets currently offered, the unlimited Feature allows visitors to obtain another Fastpass without waiting for the time window to expire on the first Fastpass. AAA discounts are detailed in the Discounts and Promotions section below.

Current Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

This modified vehicle is used to measure clearances around the Matterhorn track.

• King Arthur Carrousel
• Matterhorn Bobsleds
• Sleeping Beauty Castle
• Superstar Limo

Park Events

• New “Walt in Walt's Footsteps” Tour now available to all guests.
• “Holiday Time At Disneyland” Tour, now through January 5, 2003.
• Holiday entertainment, now through January 5, 2003.

Current Discounts & Promotions

Get a 5-Day Park Hopper ticket for the price of a 3-Day ticket when you order online from Disneyland.com. Tickets are valid until January 7, 2003, and restrictions apply – see site for details.

Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen – Kids eat free, 4:30–6:00p. [See restaurant for details.]

Annual Passholder 20% renewal coupons valid through January 31, 2003.

AAA members who book Disneyland vacation packages through AAA can take advantage of a number of discounts and offers:

Two free days promotion:

• Purchase three- or four-day hopper passes and receive two free days (making them five- and six-day passes). Days need not be used consecutively, but the passes expire 14 days after first use.
• Purchase Disneyland packages and receive two free days, so you pay for a three-day hopper pass when buying a five-day package (more on packages below)
• Promotion is expected to last through 2003.

Disneyland packages for the remainder of 2002 include the following extra benefits:

• Preferred head-of-the-line seating to Aladdin & Jasmine's StoryTale Adventure.
• Preferred head-of-the-line seating for any one show at DCA: Aladdin at Hyperion, Millionaire, Bug, or MuppetVision.
• One-time use unrestricted Fastpass per guest, in addition to the regular Fastpasses you can get with your hopper passes.
• One $10 ESPNZone GameCard per guest

Park Hours

Entertainment Schedule