Update for March 5 – March 11, 2012
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News and Views
Lessons from One More Disney Day | Suspicious package delays Disneyland opening | The Road to Cars Land | This and That… | Crowd Forecast
[Author's Note: Despite the issues detailed below with One More Disney Day event at Disneyland, I personally enjoyed the 24-hour party, and would gladly do it again in four years if Disney repeats the event. As someone who spent the entire 24-hour period in the resort, I was never personally impacted by the parking hassles, ticket lines, or gate closures that caught so many late arrivals. In fact, had I not been monitoring the situation for MousePlanet, or waiting for friends to arrive after work, I would likely have been completely unaware of what was happening beyond the berm.
Although this event fell apart for many guests, my own experience was wonderful. I used my One More Disney Day to experience attractions I rarely visit, admire the shirts, costumes and hats created and worn by other visitors, sample treats from restaurants around the park, and have a blast with a group of friends I rarely get to spend so much time with. Hopefully Disney can address the issues with this promotion to ensure future events—like the upcoming opening of Cars Land—avoid the same problems.]
Lessons from One More Disney Day
A house party spirals out of control. Unexpected guests arrive with each ring of the door bell, and before long, hundreds, even thousands of people are dancing on the furniture, emptying the liquor cabinet, and trashing the yard—until the sun rises and everyone vanishes, leaving the hapless host wondering just where it all went wrong, and what they could have done to prevent it.
Could this be the plot of the next Disney Channel movie? No, this was the Disneyland version of the One More Disney Day event, a 24-hour party hosted at both Disneyland in California and the Magic Kingdom park in Florida. We can only imagine the reactions of senior Disney managers who woke up the next morning and checked their e-mail, only to find two wildly different reports from the Orlando and Anaheim theme parks.
An estimated 2600 people lined up before Disneyland opened on leap day, hoping to receive a free pair of Mickey Mouse ears. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
By most accounts, the Walt Disney World event was a smash hit. Although the Florida park saw large crowds turn out for the evening fireworks show, and reportedly experienced some frustration with transportation delays as thousands of arriving visitors temporarily exceeded the monorail and ferry capacity, the park never neared capacity.
Disneyland's event was, by many measures, also a rousing success. Though the resort did not quite break all-time attendance records (due no doubt to the early closure of Disney California Adventure), Disneyland attendance approached that of the highest New Year's Eve number the park has ever recorded. Almost all of the merchandise created for the event sold out, most restaurants ran out of the special menu items devised for the 24-hour party, and the extra performance of Mickey's Soundsational Parade and the bonus 1:00 a.m. showing of Fantasmic were packed to capacity. Inside the park, the mood was “New Year's Eve meets Grad Nite,” with a noticeably younger crowd arriving as the families and day guests went home for the night. Yet while the Florida park's attendance waned in the late evening hours, Disneyland became increasingly crowded as thousands of local annual passholders came to join the party.
A family from Banning, California was selected to lead the countdown to One More Disney Day. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
6:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. – the opening and closing moments of One More Disney Day at Disneyland. Video by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Even with 20/20 hindsight, and as someone who stayed for the entire 24-hour event, it's hard to believe just how quickly the park went from comfortably busy to completely packed, seemingly in mere minutes. Disneyland's managers seemed equally surprised by the sudden attendance spike, and the measures taken to address the problem seemed to come too late to really make a difference.
One Disney, two parties
From the outset, the Disneyland and Walt Disney World events were vastly different, with some East Coast Disney fans complaining that Disneyland was hosting a far better party. Disneyland promised a free limited edition “One More Disney Day” Mickey Mouse ear hat to the first 2,000 people to enter the park Wednesday morning, and even arranged for a parking lot to remain open overnight for those who wanted to wait for the party to start. Hundreds of people did just that, forming a line outside Disneyland shortly after the park closed Tuesday night. By 5 a.m. Disney estimated that there were 2,600 people waiting outside the gates.
2000 pairs of Mickey Mouse ears were distributed to the first guests to enter Disneyland Wednesday. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Following the opening “moment,” where a local family officially announced the start of One More Disney Day, eager guests flooded through the turnstiles to claim their Mickey Mouse ears. As anyone who has been to a Disney pin release will believe, the distribution process for the 2000 ear hats was a bit of a mess, with some guests given their hats before they entered the park, others issued wristbands to exchange for one of the special souvenirs once they got inside, and others told that they only needed to enter through a specific gate to snag the hat. The ear hat distribution point was positioned inside one of the two tunnels leading onto Main Street, U.S.A., causing a huge backlog once the gates opened. Disney also created a special button for the event, and readers have reported that they were able to get one as late as 7:00 p.m.
A row of park managers and cast members line Main Street to greet guests arriving for One More Disney Day. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Inside the park, lines immediately formed at the Emporium, where shoppers snapped up the logo clothing designed for the event. Many made a bee line for the Main Street lockers to stow their extra layers of clothing, and a long line formed at the Main Street Market House as savvy Disneyland regulars bought their first cup of coffee. The Market House offers free same-day coffee refills, a perk some guests seemed detemined to take full advantage of during the 24-hour party.
Others headed directly to their favorite restaurant, with lines forming outside the Jolly Holiday Bakery and River Belle Terrace. Though a posting on the Disney Parks Blog seemed to indicate that the special menu items created for One More Disney Day would only be available from 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., it turned out that many of the locations offered these items all day, with the chorizo and egg breakfast pizza at Redd Rockett’s Pizza Port becoming a popular breakfast alternative to the usual Tomorrowland Terrace fare.
By 7:00 a.m., Star Tours, Space Mountain and Indiana Jones Adventure all had stand-by lines of 35 to 45 minutes, though other popular rides like Pirates of the Caribbean were still walk-ons. The lines were still light by mid-morning, as it seemed that many of the early birds had returned to their hotels or homes to rest.
Breakfast was the first order of the day for many early visitors to One More Disney Day. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
We noticed that passholders were not required to get a hand stamp upon leaving Disneyland. The resort only ever requires passholders to obtain a hand stamp on days where there is a chance a park will reach capacity, in the event they later restrict admission to re-entering guests only. The absence of this measure by early afternoon was a strong sign that the resort still had no expectation that the park would reach capacity that day. Further indicating that Disney wasn't terribly worried about crowds, the television show Modern Family taped an episode inside Disneyland on Wednesday, with areas of the park closed off for the filming throughout the day.
A number of visitors wore pajamas to the 6:00 a.m. park opening, or changed into them at night to pose for photos with the characters. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
For most of the afternoon, the lines for Disneyland attractions—though larger than normal for an off-season weekday—were still fairly short. Attendance seemed to pick up around 4:00 p.m. as the earliest of the after-work crowd arrived, and grew steadily for the next several hours.
Traffic tie-ups and ticket booth lines
As darkness fell and thousands of local annual passholders left work and headed to the resort, the first reports of traffic delays began to surface. A MousePlanet staff member who arrived around 7:00 p.m. described the gridlock on the surface streets immediate around the resort, with inbound traffic eventually causing a back-up several miles long on Interstate 5.
The Mickey and Friends parking structure turned into a free-for-all, as the arriving cars were left to find their own parking spots in the nearly full structure. What has been described by a cast member as “a scheduling snafu” at the Toy Story parking lot left the toll booths unstaffed. There were intermittent reports that one parking lot or the other had briefly closed, but no official word from Disney.
Mickey and friends dressed in their pajamas for this One More Disney Day photo opportunity. Photo by Doug Williams.
After taking shuttles from the various parking lots, visitors were next confronted with a long wait at the two bag checkpoints, followed by lines of up to 40 minutes at the ticket booths. Readers sent photos showing the line waiting to get into Disneyland stretching to the middle of the Esplanade between the two parks; later, the line would extend all the way back to the DCA entrance gates.
Perhaps reassured by the reports coming out of Florida—where everything happened three hours ahead of California—Disneyland managers seemed completely unprepared for how much busier the park was about to become. But while Walt Disney World's party was winding down, Disneyland's was just getting started.
Food and souvenirs sales stronger than expected
The large array of menu items created for the One More Disney Day event drew a large crowd of hungry visitors eager to try the new dishes. By 8:00 p.m., the line for the Plaza Inn restaurant stretched into Tomorrowland, and several restaurants had already sold out of their special entrees. A cast member at Rancho del Zocalo said guests were complaining to her about lines at every Disneyland restaurant and food cart. The wait at the French Market reportedly wrapped around the building, and Cafe Orleans and the Blue Bayou were booked solid until dawn the next morning.
The Jambalaya Jazz Band performed at the French Market during One More Disney Day. Photo by Doug Williams.
The special merchandise created for the event was equally popular, and by early evening the little remaining inventory was consolidated to a single Main Street location. The Mad Hatter shop reportedly sold over 300 pairs of a regular Mickey Mouse ear hat embroidered with the One More Disney Day logo in just a few hours—at $21 a pop—with a long line waiting for more to be embroidered.
The Country Bears made a rare appearance during One More Disney Day. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Back in Frontierland, an unofficial line had already formed for the very limited-capacity “midnight snack” hosted by the Disney Parks Blog. Though Disney said hopeful attendees could not line up before 10 p.m., one reader let us know that there were already over 300 people waiting by 9 p.m. The 200 people who did get in were treated a dessert buffet, live entertainment, character meet-and-greets and reserved seating for Fantasmic. If you were not one of the lucky few, the Disney Parks Blog posted a photo recap last week.
…And then it got busy
The first official indication that attendance had spiked beyond expectation came at 9:30 p.m., when Disneyland published a Twitter message that read ” 'One More Disney Day' at Disneyland park is extremely popular. Disneyland park is currently full. Updates to follow.” While this message came as a surprise to those inside the park, the thousands stuck in traffic outside the resort knew all too well exactly how “popular” the park had become.
Lines of cars entering the Mickey and Friends parking structure just before midnight. Photo by Tony Phoenix.
This initial message was really the first step in the normal sequence of events leading to an eventual gate closure; in reality, Disneyland would not close the front gates for more than another hour.
Shortly after the “full” message went out on Twitter, traffic signs around the resort and on inbound freeways displayed a message reading “Disneyland is full,” and main entrance managers deployed a team of cast members to each ticket booth. These cast members alerted visitors just joining the line that the park was nearing capacity, and they might not be allowed to purchase a ticket. Normally when Disneyland reaches capacity, new arrivals are offered a ticket granting immediate admission to Disney California Adventure, and entry to Disneyland later that same night when the gates reopened. With DCA already closed for the night, there was no alternative to offer the hundreds of people still looking to buy admission.
Disneyland was closed to new arrivals for nearly two hours, leaving hundreds waiting outside the gates for the crowds to thin. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Meanwhile, traffic outside the resort worsened. The southbound I-5 freeway was now backed up all the way to Highway 91. One reader who made it into the park just before the gates closed said it took her two hours to get from the Disneyland Drive exit to the Disneyland main gate.
“So sorry, we're full“
Though the Mickey and Friends parking structure remained open, tram drivers warned new arrivals that the park was already closed. Downtown Disney restaurants and bars filled with people waiting for word that the gates had reopened. Just before 11:00 p.m., Disney published another update message on Twitter, saying, “'One More Disney Day' at Disneyland continues to be very popular. Disneyland park is currently full. Updates to follow.”
In fact, the resort had just closed the gates to new entries 10 minutes earlier, but was still allowing guests who had previously entered the park to re-enter. Even if you knew that re-entry was still allowed (something most visitors would only have learned by following updates from a site like MousePlanet), Disney did not set up a dedicated re-entry gate for these people, forcing them to make their way through the growing crowd to an open gate.
The line of cars trying to enter the Mickey and Friends parking structure at midnight stretched back to the 5 freeway. Photo by Tony Phoenix.
Some cast members tried shouting into the crowd asking if anyone was re-entering the park, but those waiting all the way back by the DCA entrance gates had almost no hope of making their way to the front. One reader stuck outside the gates said, “I didn't feel safe out there, and I wasn't going to risk ****ing someone off by cutting in front of them.”
Even cast members had trouble getting to work. One third-shift maintenance worker reported being late to work because it took nearly two hours to travel the 15 miles from home to the resort. Other workers were asked to extend their shifts to help keep rides and restaurants operating with as much capacity as possible, since it was clearly too late to call in added workers.
Special entertainment and bonus Fantastic packs in the crowds
Inside the park, Disney announced that the viewing area for Fantasmic was completely full. Some believe the 1:00 a.m. bonus Fantasmic, the show's first performance since closing in January for a seasonal hiatus, actually made the crowding situation worse than it might have been. Where many of the passholders who came out for the event may have been content to come for dinner, stay for the 10:00 p.m. parade and then go home, the opportunity to see Fantasmic seems to have lured many to stay an extra few hours.
Special shows and atmosphere entertainment kept the crowds energized during the 24-hour party. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Disneyland usually sees large crowds leave the park after the evening fireworks or second parade, and cast members at the main gate set up the exit gates and traffic control usually needed to handled the evening exodus. Instead, the small trickle of people heading to the exit gates after the 10:00 p.m. parade proved that capacity wasn't going to drop as park managers no doubt hoped.
All of the extra entertainment proved very popular, with standing room only crowds packing the Golden Horseshoe for late night performances of Billy Hill and the Hillbillies, and long lines forming at three character greeting locations so guests could snap photos of a pajama-clad Mickey and friends, or rare appearances by the Country Bears.
Radio station-hosted dance club adds to the party atmosphere
At the Tomorrowland Terrace, local radio station KISS-FM hosted “Club 29,” a dance party that some claim resulted in some very un-Disney-like behavior among the mostly high school and college-age crowd that assembled in Tomorrowland. Twitter reports of a “rave” at Disneyland may have lured even more people to the event, and some visitors complained of intoxicated teens, inappropriate behavior, and the smell of marijuana in the smoking area.
Hundreds wait in line to purchase tickets for One More Disney Day, even after Disneyland closed the gates to new arrivals. Photo by Tony Phoenix.
For the first time in all of my Disney visits, I saw adults drinking from flasks they had snuck into the park, and was surprised when I left the parking structure the next morning by the beer cans and alcohol bottles littering the lot. Perhaps some saw this event as a way to relive their Grad Nite experience, and took full advantage of the lack of dress code and full-body pat downs to sneak in some normally-prohibited items. Some perhaps simply arrived already drunk. Fortunately these incidents appear to be isolated, and for every MousePlanet reader who complained of drunk and unruly visitors, more say they saw nothing of the sort during their One More Disney Day.
Disneyland gates finally reopen at 12:30 a.m.
By 12:30 a.m., the crowd waiting to get into Disneyland filled the Esplanade and stretched to the DCA entrance, with the bag check line reportedly reaching the World of Disney store. The restless crowd just outside the Disneyland gates periodically struck up a chant of “let us in,” only to be quelled by the managers and security officers inside the gates. When Disneyland finally reopened the gates nearly two hours after halting first entry, streams of guests poured into Disneyland to enjoy the last five and a half hours of the party.
A vocal crowd waits for Disneyland to reopen the main entrance during One More Disney Day. Video by Jennifer Rich.
Even with the park shutting down in a few hours, hundreds were still waiting at every open ticket booth to purchase tickets, with lines again approaching 40 minutes. Reader Oleg said people were still buying tickets when he left the park after 3:00 a.m., many purchasing the Southern California resident 2-day ticket so they could return the next day, and that the shuttles coming from the Toy Story parking lot were still filled with late arrivals.
This group concluded their One More Disney Day with breakfast outside the Jolly Holiday Bakery. We're still trying to figure out how they got a toaster through security. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
The rest of the event passed without incident, though we hear park managers were ready to close the gates again if in-park attendance did not drop sufficiently after Fantasmic ended. The most popular attractions still boasted lines of up to 120 minutes, and the restaurants continued to do brisk business right up to closing time.
The Disney characters returned to the Main Street train station to wave farewell to departing guests Thursday morning. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
As the sun rose over Disneyland and hundreds of sleep-deprived guests made their way to the exits, cast members lined Main Street U.S.A. to wave good-bye—and begin the clean-up process to get the park ready to reopen in just four hours. Some of the park managers had worked the entire 24-hour party, while other workers were just arriving to learn what had transpired overnight.
Lessons learned
Unfortunately, thousands of visitors had a poor experience, due primarily to Disney's lack of planning, failure to keep ahead of a rapidly changing situation, and confusing communication practices. Disney is famous for crowd management, but clearly, this was not the case for the event.
Disneyland reaches capacity several times a year, usually during the busy holiday season, and the resort has a time-tested system of limiting ticket sales and restricting admission to keep in-park attendance at the desired level. For this event, Disney may have made a serious error by assuming that the park would not reach peak capacity, and so never implemented the type of capacity-control measures used on busier days.
To make matters worse, there appeared to be no special plan to address the unique aspects of this 24-hour event as they pertained specifically to Disneyland. The crowds that swarmed Disneyland Wednesday night weren't normal vacationers who arrive during the day and can be diverted to DCA if Disneyland is getting too full. A large number were Annual Passholders, none of whom were blocked out on this off-season weekday, arriving after DCA had already closed for the night. The normal techniques used to slow admission didn't work the same way. Short of closing the parking lots—a step park managers did not seem willing to take—there was nothing Disney could do to stem the flow of guests arriving at the resort into the early morning hours.
As Disneyland managers evaluate the event and discuss how to better prepare for a next time, hopefully they also look to their social media channels. Disneyland's “we are full” announcement at 9:30 p.m. was not only inaccurate, but confusing and incomplete. What does “full” mean? While the word seems self-explanatory, consider that the park didn't actually close the gates for another hour, and even then, they still continued to allow re-entry.
The 11:00 p.m. announcement, made once the gates had actually closed, still failed to communicate that re-entry was allowed. There's only so much detail that can be included in 140 characters, but this may have been the time to use the official Parks Blog to post a more detailed update, to explain to guests exactly what was going on—or at least post two Twitter messages in quick succession.
What will this mean for Cars Land?
In the wake of One More Disney Day, several bloggers and readers have asked if Disney will be able to prevent a repeat once Cars Land opens this June. While blockouts for the least expensive annual passport begin before the rumored opening date of Cars Land, Southern California passes are valid for a few days after the new land opens. Deluxe passholders are only blocked out on Saturdays, and Premium passholders have no blockout dates at all. Annual passholder previews may help alleviate some of the demand, but it's not unreasonable to expect DCA to set attendance records in the days and weeks following the Cars Land opening. How will Disney respond if thousands of passholders descend again on Anaheim to see the newly reimagined California Adventure? Given the lack of preparation when they were overwhelmed by the demand to get into Disneyland, how will they handle the crowds trying to get into a single land with just a fraction of Disneyland's capacity?
While we agree Cars Land will be the biggest test DCA has faced since opening in 2001, the situation is not the same as faced the resort last week. For one thing, Disneyland will be open whenever DCA is open, meaning park managers can divert guests to Disneyland if (ok, when) DCA gets too crowded. Also, the resort will almost certainly treat the opening weeks of Cars Land as they would Christmas Eve or New Years Eve, with the usual capacity plans and practices in place. Disney definitely has some issues to resolve and plans to make before Cars Land opens, but how to handle 5,000 passholders arriving at midnight won't be among them.
Special thanks to MousePlanet staff members Stephanie Wien, Andrew Rich, Jennifer Rich and Tony Phoenix for contributing to this article as well as our One More Disney Day coverage via Spotify, and to all of the readers who contributed their photos and reports. For more discussion of One More Disney Day at Disneyland, visit our MousePad discussion forum.
Suspicious package delays Disneyland opening
As if the One More Disney Day event wasn't enough, Disneyland's main entrance team faced another challenge early Saturday morning when a cast member spotted a suspicious package in a tree outside the gates. Unable to determine if the package—described in some accounts as a backpack with a pipe sticking out of it—could be safely removed from the area, Disneyland closed their main entrance, and the Anaheim Police Department called for the Orange County bomb squad. The gates closed around 7:45 a.m., just prior to the park's scheduled 8:00 a.m. opening, and the hundreds of visitors waiting to get into the park were evacuated into the Downtown Disney area.
However, Saturday was a “magic morning” day at Disneyland, meaning Disneyland Resort hotel guests and visitors with certain types of tickets could enter Disneyland as early as 7:00 a.m. Disney won't say how many people were already inside the park when the gates closed, but photos posted from inside Disneyland that morning show nearly-empty walkways and almost no wait at the most popular attractions.
While the lucky magic morning crowd inside Disneyland was experiencing a once-in-a-lifetime chance to have the park all to themselves on a beautiful Saturday morning, thousands of visitors were arriving at the Resort. The Anaheim Resort Transportation system and all local hotel shuttle busses were stopped to help control crowding outside the east bag checkpoint, and tram service from the Mickey and Friends parking structure was halted to reduce the pileup in Downtown Disney. MousePlanet reader Ethan Smith said that he waited about 40 minutes to get into the parking structure, and was pleasantly surprised when Disney waived the parking fees.
MousePlanet reader Ethan Smith shares his video from Saturday morning, showing the backup at the parking structure and the line to get into Disney California Adventure.
At 9:52 a.m., the Disneyland Resort used its official Twitter account to say “Unidentified object in Disneyland Esplanade. In abundance of caution, we are keeping guests away from area at this time. Updates to follow.”
The crowds continued to arrive, and by DCA's scheduled 10:00 a.m. opening, the line for that park's small second entrance from the Grand Californian Hotel stretched all the way into the hotel lobby. Some complained that the previously scheduled closure of the Disneyland Monorail meant there was no alternate entrance available for Disneyland, though it is unlikely that the Monorail—which passes directly above the esplanade—would have been used anyway.
Around 10:30 a.m. Disneyland spokeswoman Suzi Brown told MousePlanet that the package had been deemed harmless, and that both park entrances would reopen shortly.
“The safety of our Guests and Cast Members is our top priority. In an abundance of caution and to allow the security teams the opportunity to learn more, we kept guests away from the area. Officials responded to an unknown object, which was determined to be harmless. The Resort has reopened. We thank our guests for their patience.”
Around noon, Disney announced, “As a thank you to our guests for their patience this morning, Disneyland Resort park hours have been extended tonight. Disneyland park will now close at 1:00 a.m. & Disney California Adventure park will close at 10:00 p.m. Also, an additional “World of Color” show at Disney California Adventure has been added tonight at 10:15 p.m. and an additional “Fantasmic!” show at Disneyland has been added tonight at 11:00 p.m.”
So, what was in the mysterious package? An early report from ABC channel 7 quoted Disney officials as saying the package had been left by students from Northern California as part of a game. This would not be the first time something like that happened—last February, a portion of Downtown Disney was closed for over an hour when a suspicious device was found, determined later to be a geocache container. However, ABC later updated their report to say that a man had contacted the Anaheim Police Department saying that the item was a “goodwill spiritual message for guests.” An Orange County Register article quotes Anaheim police Sgt. Bob Dunn as saying the department is “speaking further with the man who left the letter.”
While many complained about the length of time needed to deem the area safe and reopen the esplanade, it's hard to fault Disney for taking every precaution necessary to ensure visitor safety. Unattended packages found anywhere in the parks prompt an immediate security response, with a ring of cast members keeping guests away from the dropped backpack or abandoned cooler until the resort's K-9 team can deem the item harmless. Several weeks ago, a tour group stashed containers filled with boxed lunches under tables in the picnic area rather than stashing them in the nearby lockers. It should go without saying in this post-9/11 world, but Disneyland just isn't the place to leave your picnic lunch, geocache container, or “goodwill spiritual messages” unattended.
The Road to Cars Land
The Blue Sky Cellar in Disney California Adventure park reopened on leap day with a new exhibit titled “The Road to Cars Land.” Inside, concept art for the new rides lines the walls, scale models Cars Land and the new ride vehicles fill display cases on the upper platform, and a new preview video describes some of the inspiration behind DCA's soon-to-open new land. If you aren't already excited to step into the fictional town of Radiator Springs and take a ride on Luigi's Flying Tires, 10 minutes inside the Blue Sky Cellar should have you counting the hours until Cars Land opens. But for those who can't yet visit in person, we hope these photos give you an idea of what you can look forward to on your next visit. The reopening of the Blue Sky Cellar also means we can once again get a look into Cars Land from the outside patio.
The new Blue Sky Cellar exhibit, “The Road to Cars Land,” features scale models and concept art from the new DCA land. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
The entrance wall of the Blue Sky Cellar is covered with concept art, including ideas for attraction posters for the three new rides. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
More concept art shows additional detail of two new Cars Land attractions. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
This scene from Radiator Springs Racers should look familiar to anyone who has ridden Test Track. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Dozens of neon signs will bring Cars Land to life at night. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Samples of some Cars Land signs hang in the Blue Sky Cellar. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
A shovel used during the Cars Land ground breaking ceremony is displayed inside the Blue Sky Cellar. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
The new Blue Sky Cellar exhibit features a scale model of Cars Land. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
This maquette shows how the Test Track vehicle was modified to create the Radiator Springs Racers vehicle. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
A scale model of the Luigi's Flying Tires vehicle is displayed in the Blue Sky Cellar. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
The latest view down Route 66 into Radiator Springs. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
The colorful top of Fillmore's Taste-In is visible above the construction wall. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
This and That…
..Discussing the Matterhorn refurbishment in the January 10 Disneyland Resort Update, I wondered if Disney might add a single rider line to the ride when it reopens, to fill the extra seats that will result from the new odd-numbered seating configuration. Disneyland last week confirmed for us that the Matterhorn Bobsleds will have a single-rider line when it re-opens on June 15. There is still no official word if Disney will change the height requirement when the ride reopens. When it closed, the Matterhorn had a height requirement of 35 inches, which meant most children could usually ride it by age 3. The new seating configuration will be similar to Splash Mountain, which has a 40-inch requirement.
Some fans took advantage of One More Disney Day to capture hard-to-get photos at Disneyland. King Arthur Carrousel photo by Doug Williams.
…This Wednesday is the date Walt Disney World is reportedly going to begin enforcing the return time on Fastpass tickets issued for their four theme parks, and we're waiting to see if the Disneyland Resort will follow suit. MousePlanet's Mark Goldhaber first wrote about the pending policy “clarification” last August as it pertained to the Walt Disney World Resort. As explained in the February 13 Disneyland Resort Update, after Disney officially communicated the policy to Walt Disney World cast members, Disneyland employees learned the policy would also apply to the California resort. Still, some CMs believe any increased enforcement may be short-lived at Disneyland, or may be limited only to the new Radiator Springs Racers attraction when Cars Land opens this summer.
Some fans took advantage of One More Disney Day to capture hard-to-get photos at Disneyland. Snow White photo by Doug Williams.
…If you are a member of the Rainforest Cafe Safari Club, you may have already received the notice that Landry's, the parent company of the Rainforest Cafe, is ending the program effective March 31, 2012. Existing Safari Club members are eligible to “upgrade” to the new Landry's Club by visiting the company website and providing your Safari Club membership details. Landry's Club members still receive priority seating where available, a valuable perk on busy days, as well as a 10% discount on retail purchases from the Rainforest Cafe store, but the 10% discount on entrees and free appetizer offer have ended. Instead, you now earn a $25 gift card after spending $250, and are eligible for members-only offers and a $25 reward on your birthday. If you have unused Safari Club points or discounts, these will expire on March 31, 2012, so use them up before then if you can.
…The MousePlanet Newsletter is here! The newsletter contains a recap of the week's articles (in case you miss a day), news that may have developed since the weekly Updates were published, and tips about what's happening at the Disney theme parks for the coming weekend. We'll also include a fun MouseAdventure bonus, such as an Eye Spy or a trivia question. To subscribe to our free newsletter, go to the MousePlanet main page and enter your email address in the top right box labeled “Join the MousePlanet Newsletter.” Click Join, then fill out the fields in the registration page, including your first and last name. The Newsletter is free, but you must complete this registration to receive it, even if you may have signed up for one with us in the past.
…Visitors planning trips to the Disneyland Resort should make a point to check the Current Refurbishment/Attraction Closures section each week for the most recent updates. This week's additions include two-week closures of the Disneyland Monorail and the Mark Twain. The Disneyland Resort Web site currently only publishes refurbishment information about six weeks in advance. Be sure to check the most recent Park Update for the latest changes, as MousePlanet does not edit past Park Updates to reflect changes.
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Current Refurbishments and Attraction Closures
Note: Not all of these have been officially confirmed by Disney, and are all subject to change at any time. We recommend checking for updates as you plan your visit.
Diagrams of the new Matterhorn Bobsleds are displayed inside the Blue Sky Cellar. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Disneyland
- Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor – closed for renovation. Expected to reopen in Spring.
- Candy Palace – closed for renovation. Expected to reopen in Spring.
- Penny Arcade – closed for renovation. Expected to reopen in Spring.
- Blue Ribbon Bakery – closed. The space to be converted back to an indoor seating area for the Carnation Cafe, and is expected to reopen July 14.
- Matterhorn Bobsleds – closed through June 14 for refurbishment.
- Disneyland Monorail – closed February 27 through March 9 for refurbishment. From March 10-24 the Monorail will open at 10am.
- King Arthur Carrousel – closed March 6 & 7 for refurbishment.
Disney California Adventure
Seasonal refurbishments:
- Grizzly River Run – closed January 30 through March 9 for refurbishment.
Construction-related closures:
- Engine-Ears Toys – closed until summer 2012 for conversion into new Buena Vista Street “West Block” stores.
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Baker's Field Bakery – closed until summer 2012 for conversion to Clarabelle's Hand-Scooped Ice Cream
Bur-r-r Bank Ice Cream – closed until summer 2012 for conversion to Fiddler, Fifer, and Practical Cafe. - Greetings from California –closed until summer 2012 for conversion into new Buena Vista Street “East Block” stores..
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.
Resort Events
Check here to see if a large convention, competition or park event might fall during your next trip to the Disneyland Resort. If you know of any in-park events, official or unofficial, that should be listed here, please send us an e-mail (link).
2012
Spring / Summer
- ElecTRONica – Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights now through March 10. According to Disney the show continues through “Spring 2012,” but does not currently appear on the entertainment schedule after March 10.
- MouseAdventure Spring 2012 – We will host two MouseAdventure events next spring, a competitive event on Sunday, March 11 and a non-competitive “Day at the Park” event on Sunday, March 25. March 11 event is now sold out, but registration is still open for the March 25 event. Visit MouseAdventure.com for more information.
- SIGNin' in the Street – March 17 and 18, 2012. Described as a “celebration of creativity in the Deaf community,” the two-day event will feature live performances, movie and television screenings, panel discussions, workshops, meet-and-greet opportunities and special merchandise offers. The full schedule is available on the event website.
- Grad Nite events – this party for high school seniors graduating in 2012 will be held May 11, 17, 18, 24, 25, 31 and June 1, 7, 8, 14. The 2012 event includes admission to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure during regular operating hours, and a private party in Disneyland after the park closes to the public for the night.
- Celebrating 100 Years of Girl Scouting at Disneyland Resort – May 26 and 27.
- Destination D: 75 Years of Disney Animation – August 11 and 12. This D23 event returns to the Disneyland Resort in 2012. Additional details and registration information at www.Disney.com/D23.
- 2012 Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend – August 31-September 2. Event is now sold out.
Fall / Winter
- CHOC Walk in the Park – Sunday October 14. Registration will open on May 14.
2013
- 2013 Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend – January 18-20. No additional details are available.
We also recommend checking the convention calendar at the Anaheim/Orange County Visitor and Convention Bureau website. When looking at that site, remember to note both the number of people and the number of rooms resulting from each convention. A gathering of 25,000 people booking few room nights (indicating most will be driving in to the area for their meeting) can impact traffic around the Resort much more than a crowd of 25,000 staying in area hotels. Of course, that second group is going to make finding a hotel room more difficult (and possibly more expensive), so it's best to book your own room as early as possible if you see that a big convention is in town during your trip.
Current Discounts & Promotions
Several current promotions offer discounted admission to the Disneyland Resort. For your convenience, we have grouped the discount offers based on the number of days the tickets are valid. Check out the category that best matches the amount of time you plan to spend at the resort, and pick the offer that works best for you. And keep those tips coming—let us know if you find a better or different offer, so we can share it with other readers!
This first section is a list of discounts on ticket-only purchases. Though it has become more common in recent years, Disneyland tickets are rarely offered at deep discounts unless you are a resident of Southern California or Northern Mexico. For residents outside that area, the best discounts available tend to be simple advance purchase discounts.
If you know of any additional discounts, offers, promotions, or contests that should be listed in this section, drop us a line. Note, we are no longer listing offers from the Anaheim-Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau, as their convenience fee negates any savings.
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One Day, One Park Ticket – Regularly $80/$74 One Day Park Hopper – Regularly $105/$99 |
No discounts currently available to the general public. Check with your employer, school or credit union to see if any discounts are available through them. |
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Two Day, One Park per Day Ticket – Regularly $158/$146 Two Day Park Hopper – Regularly $173/$161 |
SoCal Resident 2-Day 1-Park per Day ticket ($99) The SoCal Resident 2-Day 1-Park per Day ticket offers residents of Southern California and Northern Baja California admission to either Disneyland or Disney California Adventure on one day, and then a second visit to either park on another day on or before June 8, 2012. You can use both days of this ticket at the same theme park, or visit one park one day and the other park on the second day, but you can not use it to enter both parks on the same day. The ticket is $99 for ages 3 and up. You can also upgrade the ticket to a park-hopper, which allows entry to both parks each day, for an additional $15, a savings of up to $59 compared to the box office price of a two-day park-hopper ticket. You can either purchase tickets at the Disneyland Resort ticket booths, or online at Disneyland.com and print them at home. You can also purchase them at participating Disney Stores and authorized third party ticket outlets, including many local grocery stores. There is no “fuse” on this ticket, which means you can use the first admission today and wait until June to use the second admission. You must, however, purchase the ticket by June 1, 2012. Tickets expires June 8, 2012, and are blocked out March 30-April 15, and June 4 and 5, 2012. While Disney states that proof of residency required for purchase and admission, MousePlanet readers who have purchased similar tickets from off-property retailers during past resident discount promotions consistently reported that they were not required to provide proof of residency at the time of purchase. However, be aware that Disneyland Resort Main Gate cast members can—and may—require proof of residency when you first use the tickets. Whether the residency checks occur is an oft-debated topic on our MousePad discussion boards, but it is your responsibility to know the official policy, regardless of what the park's actual practice may be. Now for the official fine print:
Check with your employer, school or credit union to see if other discounts are available through them. |
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Three Day, One Park per Day Ticket – Regularly $209/$193 Three Day Park Hopper – Regularly $224/$208 |
SoCal Resident 3-Day 1-Park per Day ticket ($129) The SoCal Resident 3-Day 1-Park per Day ticket offers residents of Southern California and Northern Baja California admission to either Disneyland or Disney California Adventure on three separate days by June 8, 2012. You can use both days of this ticket at the same theme park, or visit one park one day and the other park on the next day, but you can not use it to enter both parks on the same day. The ticket is $129 for ages 3 and up. You can also upgrade the ticket to a park-hopper, which allows entry to both parks each day, for an additional $15, a savings of up to $80 compared to the box office price of a three-day park-hopper ticket. You can either purchase tickets at the Disneyland Resort ticket booths, or online at Disneyland.com and print them at home. You can also purchase them at participating Disney Stores and authorized third party ticket outlets, including many local grocery stores. There is no “fuse” on this ticket, which means you can use the first admission today and wait until June to use the remaining admissions. You must, however, purchase the ticket by June 1, 2012. Tickets expires June 8, 2012, and are blocked out March 30-April 15, and June 4 and 5, 2012. While Disney states that proof of residency required for purchase and admission, MousePlanet readers who have purchased similar tickets from off-property retailers during past resident discount promotions consistently reported that they were not required to provide proof of residency at the time of purchase. However, be aware that Disneyland Resort Main Gate cast members can—and may—require proof of residency when you first use the tickets. Whether the residency checks occur is an oft-debated topic on our MousePad discussion boards, but it is your responsibility to know the official policy, regardless of what the park's actual practice may be. Now for the official fine print:
Promotional 3-Day Park Hopper Bonus Ticket ($199/$183) – A discounted price offered with advance purchase through the Disneyland Web site (link). This discount is not available at the theme park ticket booths, you must purchase online before you arrive. Tickets are valid January 4 to May 28, 2012. This discount is not available at the theme park ticket booths, so you must purchase online before you arrive. Disney is offering eTicket and Will Call service for this promotion, so you can purchase the tickets online the same day you plan to use them. Tickets must be purchased by, and first day of use must occur on or before, May 28, 2012. Tickets expire 13 days after the first day of use or on June 10, 2012, whichever occurs first. Tickets are blocked out March 30, 2012 to April 15, 2012. Advance Purchase 3-day, One Park Per Day Bonus Ticket ($199/$183) or 3-day Park Hopper Bonus Ticket ($214/$198) – A discounted price for advance purchase through the Internet or select dealers. First use must be on or before December 31, 2012. These tickets have a 13-day “fuse,” which means you must use all three admissions within 13 days of the first use, or forfeit the unused days. “Bonus Tickets” include one early admission day (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday). If purchased from the Disneyland website, this ticket can be purchased and printed at home the same day you plan to use it (eTicket service). You can also ask to pick up the ticket at Will Call ($5 fee) or have it mailed to your home ( $5-$25 delivery fee, depending on service.) Ticket may also be available from AAA offices in Northern California, Nevada, and Utah (not currently listed at the AAA Web site, you may need to call your local office). Disney Stores (California), Safeway supermarkets (California and Arizona), and participating travel agents. It is best to call and confirm before visiting a location, however. If purchased from AAA, the tickets come with free parking at the Mickey & Friends parking garage (a $15/day value). Disney Military Promotional 3-Day Park Hopper Ticket ($95) – A discounted price offered to active or retired U.S. military personnel or their spouses. Based on past offers, Disney defines “Eligible Service Members” as active or retired members of the US military, including active members of the National Guard or Reservists and active or retired members of the US Coast Guard. This discount is available at MWR/ITT offices at your military base, or at the Disneyland Resort ticket booths. Valid military ID is required. The price is the same for adults and children, and total of six tickets may be purchased per military member, regardless of who purchases the tickets (the member or their spouse). Tickets must be purchased by Sept 30, 2012. The ticket has the following blockout dates: December 24, 2011 to January 2, 2012; February 17 to 19, 2012; April 2 to 14, 2012; July 4, 2012. As far as we can tell, there is no “fuse” on this ticket, so you may have more than the standard 13 days from first use to use the remaining two admissions, but we highly recommend you contact your base MWR/ITT office for more details before making travel plans. Please note that this ticket is not a “bonus” ticket, and so does not include an early admission day. Check with your employer, school or credit union to see if other discounts are available through them. |
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Four Day, One Park per Day Ticket – Regularly $234/$216 Four Day Park Hopper – Regularly $249/$231 |
Promotional 4-Day Park Hopper Bonus Ticket ($219/$201) – A discounted price offered with advance purchase through the Disneyland Web site (link). This discount is not available at the theme park ticket booths, you must purchase online before you arrive. Tickets are valid January 4 to May 28, 2012. This discount is not available at the theme park ticket booths, so you must purchase online before you arrive. Disney is offering eTicket and Will Call service for this promotion, so you can purchase the tickets online the same day you plan to use them. Tickets must be purchased by, and first day of use must occur on or before, May 28, 2012. Tickets expire 13 days after the first day of use or on June 10, 2012, whichever occurs first. Tickets are blocked out March 30, 2012 to April 15, 2012. Advance Purchase 4-day, One Park Per Day Bonus Ticket ($219/$201) or 4-day Park Hopper Bonus Ticket ($234/$216) – A discounted price for advance purchase through the Internet or select dealers. First use must be on or before December 31, 2012. These tickets have a 13-day “fuse,” which means you must use all four admissions within 13 days of the first use, or forfeit the unused days. “Bonus Tickets” include one early admission day (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday). If purchased from the Disneyland website, this ticket can be purchased and printed at home the same day you plan to use it (eTicket service). You can also ask to pick up the ticket at Will Call ($5 fee) or have it mailed to your home ( $5-$25 delivery fee, depending on service.) Ticket may also be available from AAA offices in Northern California, Nevada, and Utah (not currently listed at the AAA Web site, you may need to call your local office). Disney Stores (California), Safeway supermarkets (California and Arizona), and participating travel agents. It is best to call and confirm before visiting a location, however. If purchased from AAA, the tickets come with free parking at the Mickey & Friends parking garage (a $15/day value). Check with your employer, school or credit union to see if other discounts are available through them. |
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Five Day, One Park per Day Ticket – Regularly $251/$231 Five Day Park Hopper – Regularly $266/$246 |
Promotional 5-Day Park Hopper Bonus Ticket ($231/$211) – A discounted price offered with advance purchase through the Disneyland Web site (link). This discount is not available at the theme park ticket booths, you must purchase online before you arrive. Tickets are valid January 4 to May 28, 2012. This discount is not available at the theme park ticket booths, so you must purchase online before you arrive. Disney is offering eTicket and Will Call service for this promotion, so you can purchase the tickets online the same day you plan to use them. Tickets must be purchased by, and first day of use must occur on or before, May 28, 2012. Tickets expire 13 days after the first day of use or on June 10, 2012, whichever occurs first. Tickets are blocked out March 30, 2012 to April 15, 2012. Advance Purchase 5-day, One Park Per Day Bonus Ticket ($231/$211) or 5-day Park Hopper Bonus Ticket ($246/$226) – A discounted price for advance purchase through the Internet or select dealers. First use must be on or before December 31, 2012. These tickets have a 13-day “fuse,” which means you must use all five admissions within 13 days of the first use, or forfeit the unused days. “Bonus Tickets” include one early admission day (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday). If purchased from the Disneyland website, this ticket can be purchased and printed at home the same day you plan to use it (eTicket service). You can also ask to pick up the ticket at Will Call ($5 fee) or have it mailed to your home ($5 to $25 delivery fee, depending on service.) Ticket may also be available from AAA offices in Northern California, Nevada, and Utah (not currently listed at the AAA Web site, you may need to call your local office). Disney Stores (California), Safeway supermarkets (California and Arizona), and participating travel agents. It is best to call and confirm before visiting a location, however. If purchased from AAA, the tickets come with free parking at the Mickey & Friends parking garage (a $15/day value). Check with your employer, school or credit union to see if other discounts are available through them. |
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Six Day, One Park per Day Ticket – Regularly $256/$239 Six Day Park Hopper – Regularly $271/$251 |
Promotional 6-Day Park Hopper Bonus Ticket ($236/$216) – A discounted price offered with advance purchase through the Disneyland Web site (link). This discount is not available at the theme park ticket booths, you must purchase online before you arrive. Tickets are valid January 4 to May 28, 2012. This discount is not available at the theme park ticket booths, so you must purchase online before you arrive. Disney is offering eTicket and Will Call service for this promotion, so you can purchase the tickets online the same day you plan to use them. Tickets must be purchased by, and first day of use must occur on or before, May 28, 2012. Tickets expire 13 days after the first day of use or on June 10, 2012, whichever occurs first. Tickets are blocked out March 30, 2012 to April 15, 2012. Advance Purchase 6-day, One Park Per Day Bonus Ticket ($236/$216) or 6-day Park Hopper Bonus Ticket ($251/$231) – A discounted price for advance purchase through the Internet or select dealers. First use must be on or before December 31, 2012. These tickets have a 13-day “fuse,” which means you must use all six admissions within 13 days of the first use, or forfeit the unused days. “Bonus Tickets” include one early admission day (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday). If purchased from the Disneyland website, this ticket can be purchased and printed at home the same day you plan to use it (eTicket service). You can also ask to pick up the ticket at Will Call ($5 fee) or have it mailed to your home ( $5-$25 delivery fee, depending on service.) Ticket may also be available from AAA offices in Northern California, Nevada, and Utah (not currently listed at the AAA Web site, you may need to call your local office). Disney Stores (California), Safeway supermarkets (California and Arizona), and participating travel agents. It is best to call and confirm before visiting a location, however. If purchased from AAA, the tickets come with free parking at the Mickey & Friends parking garage (a $15/day value). Check with your employer, school or credit union to see if other discounts are available through them. |
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| Disneyland Resort Annual Passports |
No discounts currently available for new purchases. Southern California residents can take advantage of the monthly-payment plan when purchasing any but the Premier Annual Passport.
Premier Annual Passport: $749 [Valid at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort; includes parking] Check with your employer, school or credit union to see if other discounts are available through them. |
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Southern California CityPass $279/$239 |
Southern California CityPass ($279/$239) – This pass includes a 3-Day Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Bonus Ticket (including one early-entry day), a one-day admission to either San Diego Zoo or San Diego Wild Animal Park, as well as one-day admission to Sea World San Diego and Universal Studios Hollywood. The CityPass expires 14 days after first use at any location, and is valid through December 31, 2012. Purchase CityPass through the Disneyland website or on-site at the ticket booths of Disneyland Resort or the other theme parks included in the pass. You can also purchase directly from the CityPass website if you're willing to pay the shipping charge. Check with your employer, school or credit union to see if other discounts are available through them. |
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Hotel/Travel Packages
Costco Travel Packages – Many different travel packages including visits to Disneyland and Disneyland hotels are available through Costco. When purchasing a Costco Disneyland travel package, extras that will be included are: Mickey's Toontown Madness admission (currently available Mondays, Wednesday, Fridays, and Saturdays), a character breakfast collectible pin and lanyard, and a Costco luggage tag per person, plus a $20 Disneyland Resort gift card per package.
Disney's Resort Magic and Good Neighbor Magic Packages – Package includes accommodations one of the three resort hotels or at one of 40 Good Neighbor hotels; Souvenir Park Hopper ticket with voucher for admission to Mickey's Toontown Morning Madness, plus one Magic Morning (early entry) for three-day or longer Park Hoppers; preferred seating at four DCA attractions (Disney's Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular, Muppet*Vision 3D, It's Tough to be a Bug!, Golden Dreams); Preferred Showing of Turtle Talk with Crush (Priority Viewing at the first Turtle Talk with Crush show of the day, on any one day – one voucher per Guest); Disney Dream coin keepsake (one per package), luggage tag and lanyard with pin; a Downtown Disney Fun Card; and a “Character Call” from Mickey, Minnie, Goofy or Crush. Contact Disney Travel or your favorite travel agent.
Contact a MousePlanet sponsor travel agency for assistance in booking your next trip
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Other Discounts
Purchase with Purchase offers – Disneyland Resort shops frequently offer a reduced-price souvenir (often a tote bag, watch, or blanket) with a qualifying minimum purchase. The current offers are:
Disneyland shops:
- Mickey tote bag for $13.95 with a minimum purchase of $25
- Fleece throw blanket for $17.95 with a $40 purchase.
Disney California Adventure shops:
- Mickey tote bag for $13.95 with a minimum purchase of $25
- Mickey Mouse watch for $17.95 with a $40 purchase.
Downtown Disney / Disneyland Resort Hotel shops:
- Sports duffel bag for $16.95 with a minimum purchase of $25
- Fleece throw blanket for $17.95 with a $40 purchase
Character Dining Vouchers – Discounted character dining vouchers are available for purchase online, in advance of your trip, through Get Away Travel.
Disney Visa – Cardholders have access to a private Character Meet 'N' Greet photo opportunity at Disney California Adventure, and receive one free 5×7 photograph per visit. Cardholders also receive 10% off qualifying merchandise purchases of $50 or more from Disney-operated retail stores, 10% off at selected Disneyland Resort restaurants, (Big Thunder Ranch, River Belle Terrace, French Market, Cocina Cucamonga, Steakhouse 55, PCH Grill and Storyteller's Café), and 20% off the “Welcome to Disneyland,” “A Walk in Walt’s Footsteps,” and “Discover the Magic” guided tours. See the Disney Visa website for terms and conditions.
Landry's Select Club–Members of the Landry's Select Club get priority seating at the Rainforest Cafe when available (which makes a huge difference on busy days), and a 10% discount on retail purchases. This club replaces the former Rainforest Cafe Safari Club as of March 31, 2012. If you are already a Safari Club member, you can migrate your membership to the new Landry's Select Club at no charge, and start to earn points in the new program. All Safari Club points and benefits expire on March 31, so if you have any gift certificates left to redeem, you have just a few weeks to do so. The new Select Club eliminated the entree discount and free appetizer offer that was included with the Safari Club, replacing them with a points-based system that gives you a $25 gift certificate after you spend $250. If you are not yet a member of either the Safari Club or the Landry's Select Club, you can pre-purchase your membership before your trip. Membership now costs $25, but comes with a $25 reward.
ESPNZone MVP Club – Membership in the MVP Club does not offer any discounts on food. However, once a member you can make an online reservation for your party up to three days in advance and will get a 25% increase in points purchased when playing games in the Sports Arena (and 40 bonus points at activation). You must register online and your membership card will then be mailed to you within two weeks. The card must then be activated at any ESPNZone by the person who signed up for the card and ID will be required (link).
Park Schedule/Blockout Dates
DL: Disneyland
DCA: Disney California Adventure
Annual Pass blockout dates:
- SL – Southern California Select Annual Pass
- SC – Southern California Annual Pass
- DX – Deluxe Annual Pass
Disneyland Resort Special Events:
- MM – Magic Morning at Disneyland
- TT – Toontown Morning Madness at Disneyland
- Grad Nite
- MHP – Mickey's Halloween Party at Disneyland
MousePlanet Special Events:
- MA – MouseAdventure (www.mouseadventure.com)
| 3/4 | 3/5 | 3/6 | 3/7 | 3/8 | 3/9 | 3/10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-9p SL MM |
DL: 10a-8p DCA: 10a-8p TT |
DL: 10a-8p DCA: 10a-8p MM
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DL: 10a-8p DCA: 10a-8p TT |
DL: 10a-8p DCA: 10a-8p MM |
DL: 9a-12a DCA: 10a-9p TT
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DL: 8a-12a
DCA: 10a-9p SL/SC MM / TT |
| 3/11 | 3/12 | 3/13 | 3/14 | 3/15 | 3/16 | 3/17 |
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DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-9p SL MM MA |
DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-9p TT |
DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-9p MM
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DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-9p TT |
DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-9p MM |
DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-9p SL TT
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DL: 8a-12a
DCA: 10a-9p SL/SC/DX MM / TT |
| 3/18 | 3/19 | 3/20 | 3/21 | 3/22 | 3/23 | 3/24 |
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DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-9p SL MM |
DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-9p TT |
DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-9p MM |
DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-9p TT |
DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-9p MM |
DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-9p SL TT |
DL: 8a-12a
DCA: 10a-9p SL/SC/DX MM / TT |
| 3/25 | 3/26 | 3/27 | 3/28 | 3/29 | 3/30 | 3/31 |
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DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-9p SL/SC MM MA |
DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-9p TT |
DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-9p MM |
DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-9p TT |
DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-9p MM |
DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-10p SL/SC TT |
DL: 8a-12a
DCA: 10a-10p SL/SC/DX MM / TT |
| 4/1 | 4/2 | 4/3 | 4/4 | 4/5 | 4/6 | 4/7 |
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DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-10p SL/SC/DX MM |
DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-10p SL/SC TT |
DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-10p SL/SC MM |
DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-10p SL/SC TT |
DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-10p SL/SC MM |
DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-10p SL/SC/DX TT |
DL: 8a-12a
DCA: 10a-10p SL/SC/DX MM / TT |
Visit our Annual Passholders Blockout Dates page to see more dates. You can see future calendar schedules at Disneyland. As always, specifics are subject to change without notice (or occasionally, without us noticing) so when information conflicts between what is presented here and that presented by Disney, it is best to assume Disney's information is correct.
Visit the Park Hours section of our Disneyland Park guide for additional details about Magic Morning and Toontown Morning Madness, including available attractions.
Entertainment schedule: Go directly to the Disneyland Resort schedule for this week at Disneyland.com here.
