Update for November 19 – 25, 2012
Go directly to: News & Views | Join our Networks | Current Refurbishment/Attraction Closures | Resort Events | Discounts and Promotions | Park Schedule/Blockout Dates
News and Views
Disney Lights the Holidays | A Close Look at Cars Land for the Holidays | Disney California Adventure Wins Thea Awards | This and That…
Disney Lights the Holidays
The Holidays at the Disneyland Resort were officially kicked off early last week with a ceremony in front of “it's a small world”. The event honored Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Mark Plummer, who was joined by his family, as they helped to light the 300,000 lights which illuminate the exterior of “it's a small world” Holiday. During the Holiday season the iconic attraction is transformed, featuring the children of the world singing and wishing guests happy holidays in various languages and cultures.
Disneyland Resort Ambassador, Jolie Hales introduces the Plummer family. Photo by Bryan Pugh.
Staff Seargeant Mark Plummer placed the star on the nearby Christmas Tree, lighting it and “it's a small world” Holiday. Photo by Bryan Pugh.
The Plummer family waves to the cheering crowd moments after lighting “it's a small world holiday”. Photo by Bryan Pugh.
Staff Seargeant Mark Plummer served in Iraq and was awarded the Purple Heart. The Plummer family was selected through Operation Homefront, a non-profit which provides assistance to the families of service members.
The Holiday season at the Disneyland Resort runs through January 6, 2013
A Close Look at Cars Land for the Holidays
It is no secret that Cars Land has had the attention of most Disneyland Resort visitors this past year. The new land inside Disney California Adventure park officially opened in June, 2012, and since then has helped to propel resort attendance. Jay Rasulo, chief financial officer for the Walt Disney Company recently referred to Disneyland Resort attendance growth as “substantial”, and Disney is not about to let the buzz surrounding their new land fizzle into the holiday season. In fact, Disneyland has begun to promote the holiday season centered on Cars Land. Cars character Tow Mater, posing as Santa Claus flying over the Disneyland Resort, is already showing across television commercials and on the web. Cars Land itself has also received a hefty holiday makeover for its first year.
“Snowy” the snow car greats guests a “Seasons Speedings” as they enter Cars Land at Disney California Adventure. Photo by Bryan Pugh.
John Lasseter, the creator behind Cars and the principle creative advisor for Walt Disney Imagineering, was heavily involved in the development of the Cars Land holiday overlay. The Disneyland Resort Enhancement Team, Pixar and Lasseter teamed up to contribute to the seasonal decorations, all of which were custom built specifically for use in Cars Land. The team began development on the decor eight months ago, prior to the grand opening of Cars Land. One of the main goals was to create a unique experience, one in which each of the characters from the Cars universe were seemingly involved in. The result has become garland featuring tools and tires, unique lighting displays and personalities reflected in Christmas trees.
Sarge's Surplus Hut features a large patriotic dispay for the holidays. Photo by Bryan Pugh
The hubcap covered Radiator Springs Christmas tree was inspired by an actual find on Route 66 and a special request from John Lasseter. Photo by Bryan Pugh.
The Cars Land holiday decorations are anything but subtle, especially when viewed during the day. Disney has also told us that there are plans to add more to the display in the coming years, one item already in development are taillight poinsettias. But the real beauty happens at night, when the holiday lighting displays, neon signs and background music mix to bring a road-side Route 66 Christmas to life.
Disney California Adventure Wins Three Awards
A mere six months following the completion of the park's multi-year makeover, Disney California Adventure has won three awards from the Themed Entertainment Association (T.E.A.). The Thea Awards pay tribute to “excellence in the creation of extraordinary experiences, attractions and places around the world.” T.E.A. announced the winners earlier this week at a summit in Florida. Each of the awards announced for Disney California Adventure park were for outstanding achievements.
Cars Land was recognized for its spectacular lighting and “overwhelming” rock work. The Cars Land award also made mention of the accurate recreation of Radiator Springs stating, “it looks like they took the plans for the…movie [Cars] and just pushed 'Print!' “.
Radiator Springs Racers, the signature attraction in Cars Land, was also recognized for its use of special effects, sophisticated in-vehicle sound and ride systems, design and technical innovation.
The Carthay Circle Restaurant and Lounge, located on Buena Vista Street, was recognized for “[Its] high quality service, distinctive setting and cuisine”.
The 19th annual Thea Awards will be presented at the Disneyland Hotel on April 6, 2013.
This and That…
… The Orange County Register is reporting that ABC is developing a television show to be based off of Disneyland's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad attraction. This report came only a few days after David Koenig broke the news here on MousePlanet that Rainbow Ridge, the historic remnants of the old Mine Train through Nature's Wonderland attraction, is set for removal during the upcoming Big Thunder Mountain Railroad refurbishment. The connection between these two stories is unconfirmed, but one factor is certain, if you want to say good-bye to a piece of Disneyland history now is the time. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad closes for its lengthily refurbishment on January 7, 2013.
… Prep & Landing Naughty vs Nice 4D is now playing in Hollywood Land at Disney California Adventure park. The holiday cartoon lasts approximately 25 minutes and features Lanny and Wayne, two Christmas elves in a race to recover North Pole technology which has fallen into the wrong hands. The screening is located in the Muppet Vision 3D Theater and is showing through November 6, 2013. Prep & Landing Naughty vs Nice is also featured during the nightly performances of World of Color.
… Thanksgiving is this week and it is not too late to plan your dining experience at the Disneyland Resort. Special holiday menus are available at a number of restaurants in each of the parks and hotels. You can view menus and pricing in our October 8, 2012 update.
Crowd Forecast
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Advertisement Crowd information and forecasts are provided by TouringPlans.com, the website of the Unofficial Guide to Disneyland, to help you better plan your trip to the Disneyland Resort. TouringPlans.com gathers wait time data from a team of in-park researchers and users of their Lines mobile phone application, and then predicts crowd levels for the next 365 days. Using a scale from 1 to 10, TouringPlans.com has a 90 percent accuracy of predicting the crowds to within 1 point, helping visitors prepare for their trips so they can “Do more. Wait less.”
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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.
Disneyland
- Plaza Gardens – closed until January 2014 for the construction of the new Fantasy Faire.
- Princess Fantasy Faire/Fantasyland Theater – closed until Summer 2013 for refurbishment of the Fantasyland Theater. The Princess meet-and-greet is relocated to the terrace near “it's a small world” until the new Fantasy Faire opens.
- Troubadour Treats – closed until Summer 2013 for refurbishment of the Fantasyland Theater. An internal document lists May 23 as the reopening date, but this may just be a placeholder.
- Indiana Jones Adventure – closed until December 7 for refurbishment.
- Haunted Mansion – closed January 7–17, 2013 for removal of Haunted Mansion Holiday.
- Primeval World – closed January 7–23, 2013 for refurbishment, will not effect the operation of the Disneyland Railroad.
- Fantasmic! – dark January 7 to February 14, 2013 for refurbishment
- Mark Twain Riverboat – closed January 7 to March 28 for refurbishment
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – closed January 7 to October 30, 2013 for a major refurbishment.
Disney California Adventure
- Mickey's Fun Wheel – closed for refurbishment November 26 to December 6.
- Silly Symphony Swings – closed for refurbishment January 7 to February 17, 2013.
- Grizzly River Run – closed for refurbishment January 7 to February 28, 2013.
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
Winter
- Holidays at the Disneyland Resort – Through January 6, 2013
- Candlelight Processional – Nightly, December 1–20. Performances times, narrator(s) and details available here.
2013
- 2013 Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend (sold out) – January 18–20.
- Grad Nite events – this party for high school seniors graduating in 2013 will be held on 22 dates in 2013: May 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, 31; June 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21. The 2013 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.
- D23 Expo – August 9–11. Tickets for the three-day convention are now on sale.
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
Disneyland prices as of May 20, 2012.
Note: MousePlanet does not edit past Updates to reflect price increases; for up-to-date prices check the most recent Disneyland Resort Update.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.
| One Day, One Park Ticket – Regularly $87/$81 One Day Park Hopper – Regularly $125/$119 | 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. | |
| Two Day, One Park per Day Ticket – Regularly $170/$158 Two Day Park Hopper – Regularly $200/$188 | Get Away Today Vacations – MousePlanet sponsor Get Away Today Vacations sells two-day tickets at a slight discount over the Disneyland main gate price. 2-day Park Hoppers are $197 for adults and $185 for children; 2-day 1/park/day tickets are $168 for adults and $156 for children Check with your employer, school or credit union to see if any discounts are available through them. | |
| Three Day, One Park per Day Ticket – Regularly $220/$205 Three Day Park Hopper – Regularly $250/$235 |
Get Away Today Vacations – MousePlanet sponsor Get Away Today Vacations sells three-day tickets at a slight discount over the Disneyland main gate price. 3-day Park Hoppers are $245 for adults and $230 for children; 3-day 1/park/day tickets are $217 for adults and $202 for children 2012-2013 Disney Military Promotional 3–Day Park Hopper Ticket ($125) – A discounted price offered to Eligible Service Members or their spouses. Disney Military Promotional 3-Day Park Hopper Tickets may be purchased August 17, 2012 through September 26, 2013, and are valid October 1, 2012 through September 28, 2013. Disney defines “Eligible Service Members” as active or retired members of the U.S. military, including the National Guard, Reservists and the U.S. Coast Guard. Valid military identification will be required for purchase. This discount is available at MWR/ITT offices at your military base or other at participating U.S. military sales outlets. The tickets are not available for sale at the Disneyland Resort ticket booths. 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 are blocked out December 23, 2012 to January 2, 2013; February 15–17, 2013; March 25 to April 5, 2013; and July 4, 2013. 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 $245/$225 Four Day Park Hopper – Regularly $275/$255 |
Costco 4-Day Park Hopper Ticket plus $50 Costco Cash card ($259.99) – The Fall 2012 version of this discount offer is a bit different than past deals, with several important changes:
At face value, the ticket is only $15 less than the rack rate for a Disneyland Resort 4-Day Parkhopper ticket purchased at the Main Entrance booths, and is more expensive than the child's ticket. The real “savings” comes in the form of the $50 Costco Cash Card. If you were already in the market for a 4-day Parkhopper and plan to spend $50 at Costco, this deal will save you $65.00, but it may not be a real value if you aren't an avid Costco shopper. Get Away Today Vacations – MousePlanet sponsor Get Away Today Vacations sells four-day tickets at a slight discount over the Disneyland main gate price. 4-day Park Hoppers are $270 for adults and $250 for children; 4-day 1/park/day tickets are $240 for adults and $220 for children Check with your employer, school or credit union to see if any discounts are available through them. |
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| Five Day, One Park per Day Ticket – Regularly $260/$240 Five Day Park Hopper – Regularly $290/$270 |
Get Away Today Vacations – MousePlanet sponsor Get Away Today Vacations sells five-day tickets at a slight discount over the Disneyland main gate price. 5-day Park Hoppers are $285 for adults and $265 for children; 5-day 1/park/day tickets are $255 for adults and $235 for children Check with your employer, school or credit union to see if any discounts are available through them. |
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| Six Day, One Park per Day Ticket Six Day Park Hopper | No longer offered by Disneyland. Some travel providers may offer 6-day or longer tickets to international customers as part of a package; residents of Canada, Australia or the U.K. should check with local travel agencies to see what options may be available to you. | |
| Disneyland Resort Annual Passports |
No discounts currently available for new purchases. California residents can take advantage of the monthly payment plan when purchasing any but the Premier Annual Passport.
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 PLUS $311/$263 |
2012 Southern California CityPass ($279/$239) – includes a 3-Day Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Bonus Ticket (including one early-entry day), a one-day admission to Sea World San Diego and a one-day admission to Universal Studios Hollywood. The CityPass expires 14 days after first use at any location, and the first use must occur by 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, though a shipping charge may apply depending on how quickly you need the ticket. 2012 Southern California CityPass PLUS ($311/$263) – includes a 3-Day Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Bonus Ticket (including one early-entry day), a one-day admission to Sea World San Diego and a one-day admission to Universal Studios Hollywood, PLUS one-day admission to either San Diego Zoo or San Diego Safari Park. The CityPass expires 14 days after first use at any location, and the first use must occur by December 31, 2012. This upgraded pass is only available for purchase directly from the CityPass website. 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. Extras when purchasing a Costco Disneyland travel package include 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 in 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 three DCA attractions (Disney's Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular, Muppet*Vision 3D, It's Tough to be a Bug!); 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
Annual Passholder offers – Disneyland has once again extended the 20% merchandise discount offered to Premium annual passholders. The discount is now valid through December 31, 2012.
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. These are offered at Disney-operated stores only, and generally can not be combined—you must choose one of the eligible offers. If you're a passholder, the minimum purchase is calculated after your discount, and your discount does not apply to the promotional item. The current offers are:
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Disneyland shops
- Mickey tote bag for $15.95 with a minimum purchase of $25.
- Pin Trading Starter Set for $18.95 with a $40 purchase.
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Disney California Adventure shops
- Disney tote bag for $15.95 with a minimum purchase of $25.
- Expandable duffel bag for $17.95 with a minimum purchase of $25.
- Mickey Mouse watch for $17.95 with a $30 purchase.
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Downtown Disney/Disneyland Resort Hotel shops
- Expandable duffel bag for $17.95 with a minimum purchase of $25.
- Coastal tote bag for $15.95 with a minimum purchase of $25.
- Pin Trading Starter Set for $18.95 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. The new Select Club eliminated the entree discount and free appetizer offer that was included with the Safari Club, replacing them with a point-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 blockouts:
- SL – Southern California Select Annual Pass
- SC – Southern California Annual Pass
- DX – Deluxe Annual Pass
Early Admission: – full description available on the Disneyland website)
- MM – Magic Morning for 3-plus day ticket holders
- EMH – Extra Magic Hour for Disneyland Resort Hotel Guests
- TT – Toontown Morning Madness at Disneyland. Ends December 31, 2102.
Disneyland Resort Special Events:
- Grad Nite
- CCP – Candlelight Ceremony and Processional
- MA – MouseAdventure (www.mouseadventure.com)
| 11/18 | 11/19 | 11/20 | 11/21 | 11/22 | 11/23 | 11/24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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DL: 8a-12a None DCA: AP Events: |
DL: 8a-12a TT DCA: AP Events: |
DL: 8a-12a EMH/MM DCA: AP Events: |
DL: 8a-12a TT DCA: AP Events: |
DL: 8a-12a EMH/MM DCA: AP Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a TT DCA: AP Events: |
DL: 8a-12a EMH/MM/TT DCA: AP Events: |
| 11/25 | 11/26 | 11/27 | 11/28 | 11/29 | 11/30 | 12/1 |
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DL: 8a-12a None DCA: AP Events: |
DL: 10a-8p TT DCA: AP Events: |
DL: 10a-8p EMH/MM DCA: AP Events: |
DL: 10a-8p TT DCA: AP Events: |
DL: 10a-8p EMH / MM DCA: AP Events: |
DL: 10a-8p TT DCA: AP Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a EMH/MM/TT DCA: AP Events: |
| 12/2 | 12/3 | 12/4 | 12/5 | 12/6 | 12/7 | 12/8 |
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DL: 8a-12a None DCA: AP Events: |
DL: 9a-9p TT DCA: AP Events: |
DL: 9a-9p EMH/MM DCA: AP Events: |
DL: DCA: AP Events: CCP |
DL: 9a-10p EMH/MM DCA: AP Events: |
DL: 8a-12a TT DCA: AP Events: |
DL: 8a-12a EMH/MM/TT DCA: AP Events: |
| 12/9 | 12/10 | 12/11 | 12/12 | 12/13 | 12/14 | 12/15 |
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DL: 8a-12a None DCA: AP Events: |
DL: 9a-9p TT DCA: AP Events: |
DL: 9a-9p EMH/MM DCA: AP Events: |
DL: 9a-10p TT DCA: AP Events: |
DL: 9a-10p EMH/MM DCA: AP Events: |
DL: 8a-12a TT DCA: AP Events: |
DL: 8a-12a EMH/MM/TT DCA: AP Events: |
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.
