Disneyland Resort Update

Update for January 19 – 25, 2009

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

News and Views

Annual Passholder preview of “it’s a small world”| Save the Date: MouseAdventure Spring, 2009| Haunted Mansion 40th anniversary event | This and That

Annual Passholder preview of “it’s a small world”

Details of an Annual Passholder preview of the newly refurbished “it’s a small world” attraction were published to the AP section of the Disneyland.com Web site last week. Previews are Thursday, February 5, 2009 from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. No advance registration is required—just present your valid annual pass to the cast members at the attraction. As usual, Disney reminds everyone that previews are on a first-come, first-serve basis and may involve long wait times, and that “each Guest must show a valid Annual Passport to be permitted entry during this specific preview time. Valid Theme Park admission is required. Event subject to change without notice.”

If you cannot make it to the preview, the ride reopens to the public on Friday, February 6, 2009. MousePlanet reader cstephens posted that Disney is releasing a series of commemorative pins that depict the Disney characters as they appear in the attraction (link).

Save the Date: MouseAdventure Spring, 2009

The Spring 2009 MouseAdventure will be held on Sunday, April 26 and Sunday, May 10 at the Disneyland Resort. That’s right—the Spring 2009 MouseAdventure event will be held twice!

We know that many players are especially eager to participate in the Spring 2009 event because of our announcement that the Fall 2009 event is planned for Walt Disney World. We want to make sure that everyone who wants to participate in the Spring event has the opportunity, so we have added a second, noncompetitive event to accommodate more players.

MouseAdventure – Sunday, April 26th

The competitive MouseAdventure event is scheduled for Sunday, April 26 at the Disneyland Resort. This weekend is designed for returning MouseAdventure teams as well as new teams who crave the thrill of competition. The two challenge levels we are offering are:

• Advanced – teams participate in our third edition of The Enchanted Race, correctly solving each quest before moving on to the next; speed counts! Due to the difficulty of this event, there are several restrictions: Registration is restricted to returning MouseAdventure teams (MouseAdventure Masters teams are invited to return and compete for prizes in this event); all players must be 18 years of age or older.
• Basic – teams solve many—but not all—of the same quests as the Advanced teams, but in a modified Mad Scramble format where speed counts to some degree. This event features all of the usual MouseAdventure activities, including the post-event mixer and award ceremony.

Prizes are awarded to winning teams in each division, and we will once again host T-shirt and mascot competitions.

MouseAdventure Day at the Park – Sunday, May 10

The MouseAdventure Day at the Park event is scheduled for Sunday, May 10 at the Disneyland Resort. This is a noncompetitive event—teams will be playing only for bragging rights. This event is designed for new MouseAdventure teams as well as returning teams who play “just for fun” and may prefer a less-intense, noncompetitive environment.

Day at the Park teams solve slightly modified versions of the Basic event quests, presented in the Classic MouseAdventure format where you can solve the quests at your own pace.

The MouseAdventure Day at the Park event will feature an extended sign in period with more time for pre-game socializing. Teams can also participate in T-shirt and mascot competitions before the main event begins. As this is a noncompetitive event, there will be no post-game mixer or award ceremony, and no prizes will be awarded.

Additional event details, including registration dates and pricing, will be announced in a future Disneyland Resort Update. If you’d like to receive this information directly by e-mail, be sure to sign up for the MouseAdventure Newsletter (link).

Haunted Mansion 40th anniversary event

Tickets for the Haunted Mansion 40th Anniversary Merchandise Event, scheduled for Wednesday, September 9, 2009, go on sale this week. There are four ticket packages offered for this event, to be sold on consecutive days. If you’re planning to buy tickets for the “Grinning Ghosts” ($475 per person) or “Foolish Mortals” ($430 per person) packages, those tickets go on sale Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. (Pacific time). Tickets for the “Dearly Departed” ($250 per person) and “Hitchhikers” ($85 per person) packages go on sale Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. (Pacific time). Full event details are available on the Disney Gallery Web site (link). Remember, each person in your party must purchase their own ticket in a separate transaction.

To help you decide which package to choose, the Disneyland Resort merchandise department has posted full itineraries for each of the event packages (link), as well as images of many of the more than 60 collectibles that have been created for the event (link). This is the first time that such complete information has been made available before ticket sales have begun for a merchandise event.

This and That

…Though the off-season crowds at the Disneyland Resort are typically sparse right now, the lines at the ticket booths look more like the middle of Spring Break. The added time needed to redeem the free birthday admission offered during the “What Will You Celebrate?” promotion, as well as the extra handling required to process the monthly-payment annual passports, is creating especially long lines at the ticket booths. We urge readers to purchase admission media before you visit the Disneyland Resort. You can buy advance-purchase tickets online from Disneyland.com and through your travel agent. You can also purchase tickets from Disney Stores and Disneyland Resort Hotels; Disney Desks in selected local shopping centers; from select area hotels, and even from many local grocery stores. Tickets purchased from any of these locations are valid admission media, and need not be exchanged at a ticket booth before use. Tickets purchased from Costco and the Disneyland Resort portion of the City Pass must be exchanged at a Disneyland Resort ticket booth before use.

If you must purchase your tickets at a Disneyland Resort ticket booth, or if you need to redeem your free birthday admission or purchase an annual passport, keep in mind that there are two sets of ticket booths at the Resort. The cluster of booths on the West side of the Esplanade are frequently far busier than the cluster of booths on the East side. The photos below show the lines at each set of ticket booths just after Noon on a weekday last week. The wait at the Western booths was about 15 minutes, but there was no wait at all at the Eastern booths.

A long line of visitors waits at the ticket booths on the West side of the Esplanade. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

The wait is far shorter at the ticket booths on the East side of the Esplanade. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

…The El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood is presenting an exclusive engagement of Walt Disney’s Pinocchio January 23 – February 12. The theater will also host a panel discussion Thursday, January 22nd at 7pm. Tickets are available through the theater Web site (link), or by calling 1-800-DISNEY6. (1-800-347-6936)

…The Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks, which include Sea World in San Diego, are offering complimentary admission for active duty military representing all five service branches, active members of a reserve or National Guard unit, and/or up to three direct dependents. Eligible service members can receive one complimentary single-day admission per person, per year, to one of the following Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks:

• SeaWorld Orlando, San Diego, or San Antonio
• Busch Gardens Tampa Bay or Williamsburg
• Sesame Place
• Adventure Island
• Water Country USA

This offer is valid through 12/31/2009, and advance registration is required (link).

Some MousePlanet readers think Disneyland’s new 32-ounce cup is cause for celebration. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

…The Jewel of Orleans estate jewelry shop in New Orleans Square is now offering gift certificates in any denomination, usable for purchases, or applied towards an interest-free layaway.

…Disney historian and author Michael Broggie; Disney Legend and Imagineer Bob Gurr; Tinker Bell model Margaret Kerry; Disney Legend X Atencio and former Imagineer Terri Hardin will all participate in a “Friends of the Magic” cruise on Carnival Cruise Line this summer. The pre-cruise activities include a trip to the Disneyland Resort Monorail barn with Imagineer Bob Gurr to see the Monorail that he designed, and a trip to Walt’s barn with Michael Broggie. The 4-day cruise stops at Catalina and Ensenada. Fares start at $667 per person, double occupancy, taxes and fees not included. Additional information is available at www.legendscruise.net.

…Select casual-service restaurants at the Disneyland Resort have introduced a 32-ounce soft drink. The 32-ounce drink is $3.29, compared to $2.69 for the 20-ounce drink. During an introductory promotion, Disneyland Resort annual passholders can purchase the 32-ounce cup for $2.99 with any food purchase.

… Couples looking to celebrate Valentine’s Day at the Disneyland Resort have a few options available to them. None of the Disneyland Resort restaurants will offer a special menu for Valentine’s Day, and the Napa Rose restaurant at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Catal in Downtown Disney are already fully booked. The Blue Bayou restaurant inside Disneyland still has limited seating available. The remaining Downtown Disney restaurants, including Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen, and the Disneyland Resort Hotel restaurants, including Steakhouse 55 and Yamabuki, were still accepting reservations at press time.

…The Orlando Sentinel reported last week that Disney Cruise Line withdrew an application for a permit to sail in Alaska’s Glacier Bay National Park between 2010 and 2019 (link). The article quotes Disney Cruise Line spokeswoman Rena Langley as saying “for now, Glacier Bay doesn’t fit in our future itinerary plans.” Disney Cruise Line has twice relocated one of their existing ships to the West coast for summer cruises to the Mexican Rivera, and with two new ships scheduled to be added to the fleet in 2011 and 2012, Disney Cruise Line fans had speculated that the company would permanently reposition one of the two existing ships on the West Coast.

…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. The Disneyland Resort Web site is currently only publishing refurbishment information about 6 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.

Current Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Disneyland

• Walt Disney’s Parade of Dreams – originally said to be dark through February 13, 2009, Disney has now announced that this parade will not return due to a repaving project on Main Street. The “Celebrate! street party” is scheduled to begin on March 27.
• “it’s a small world” – closed through February 5, 2009 to remove the holiday overlay.
• Haunted Mansion – closed through February 13, 2009 to remove the holiday overlay.
• Matterhorn Bobsleds – closed February 9-12, 2009, reportedly for a brief test of the new seatbelts.
• Jungle Cruise – closed February 10-12, 2009 for a brief refurbishment.
• Pirates of the Caribbean – closes February 15, 2009 for refurbishment. [Unconfirmed]
• Jedi Training Academy – closes February 22, 2009 for refurbishment.
• Matterhorn Bobsleds – closed February 23-28, 2009, reportedly to install the new seatbelts. [End date unconfirmed]

Disney’s California Adventure

• Sun Wheel – closed for refurbishment and to install the new Mickey face. No reopening date has been announced, but an employee publication lists April 24, 2009 as the return date.
• The Vineyard Room – closed. No announcement has been made about a potential replacement for this restaurant, but an employee publication lists October 4, 2009 as the return date.
• Golden Dreams – closed. This attraction will eventually be replaced with the new Little Mermaid ride.
• Burger Invasion – closed. No announcement has been made about a potential replacement for this former McDonald’s location, but an employee publication lists June 25, 2010 as the return date.
• Games of the Boardwalk – closed to install a new facade and new Disney-themed games. No reopening date has been announced, but an employee publication lists April 24, 2009 as the return date.
• Grizzly River Run – closes January 20-27, 2009 for refurbishment.
• Boudin Bakery & The Bakery Tour – closes February 9, 2009 for refurbishment.

Note: Refurbishment schedules are estimates only. All information is subject to change without notice. To get the most recent updates, call Disneyland at 714-781-7290.

Park Events

If you know of any events, official or unofficial, that should be listed here, let us know.

Spring

• Mini Gays Days at the Disneyland Resort (unofficial event) – Event planners have not formally announced the dates for their Spring event, but based on past scheduling it will likely be the weekend of April 3-5 (link).
• Disney’s California Food and Wine Festival – Daily, April 24 to June 7, 2009. No additional details are available at this time.
• MouseAdventure – Sunday, April 26 (competitive event) and Sunday, May 11 (noncompetitive event) at the Disneyland Resort (link). Additional details will be announced as available, so be sure to register for the MouseAdventure Newsletter to receive future announcements (link).

Summer

• Summer Pin Festival Kick-Off Event – Saturday, June 20, 2009 (link).
• Summer Pin Festival – Daily, June 19 to August 9, 2009 (link).
• NFFC 25th Anniversary Disneyana Convention – July 14-18.
• NFFC All Disneyana Show and Sale – Sunday July 19, 2009
• Pinbassador Inspirations Pin Release & Signing – Saturday, August 8, 2009 (link).
• SHAG “Spirited” Haunted Mansion 40th Anniversary Cocktail Reception – Saturday, August 8, 2009 (link). Tickets go on sale Wednesday, March 4, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. (Pacific time).
• SHAG Haunted Mansion 40th Anniversary Product Release & Signing – Sunday, August 9, 2009 (link).

Fall

• 4th Annual Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend – September 4-6, 2009. Registration is now open (link).
• Haunted Mansion 40th Anniversary Merchandise Event – Wednesday, September 9, 2009 (link). Tickets for the “Grinning Ghosts” and “Foolish Mortals” packages go on sale Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. (Pacific Time). Tickets for the “Dearly Departed” and “Hitchhikers” packages go on sale Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. (Pacific Time).
• 12th annual Gays Days at the Disneyland Resort (unofficial event) – Friday, Oct. 2 – Sunday, October 4. Event attendance will be higher at Disneyland on Saturday, DCA on Sunday (link).
• CHOC/Disneyland Resort Walk in the Park – Sunday, October 19. Registration will open in the summer (link). Team MousePlanet will once again participate in this event, and additional details will be announced as they are available.

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.

This information is pulled from many sources but much thanks go to MouseSavers.com for providing the bulk of the information. If you know of any additional discounts, offers, promotions, or contests that should be listed in this section, drop us a line (link).

One Day, One Park Regularly $69/$59 One Day Park Hopper Regularly $94/$84	Southern California 1-Day Park Hopper – Disney is not currently offering a discounted Southern California 1-Day Park Hopper at the Web site. Vons Supermarkets may be selling these tickets, but call ahead to confirm. Proof of residency will be required when redeeming them at Disneyland (Vons will happily sell you the ticket voucher regardless of where you are from but you still need to be an appropriate resident to use it. If you do see these available anywhere, e-mail us to let us know.)
Two Day Park Hopper Regularly $143/$123	2009 “Southern California 2Fer Ticket” ($69 / $59) – Visitors who live in Southern California and Baja California, Mexico can now purchase the 2009 “Southern California 2Fer Ticket.” This special ticket offers admission to either Disneyland or Disney’s California on one day and then to the other park on a second day for the price of a one-day, one-park ticket ($69 for adults and $59 for children ages 3 to 9). The 2009 promotion also features a return of the “Southern California 2-Day Park Hopper Ticket” for $94 for adults / $84 for ages 3-10. This is $25 more than the 2Fer ticket and allows you to visit both Disneyland and DCA on the same day. The offers includes much the same fine print as previous promotions: Tickets valid for Southern California residents within Zip codes 90000-93599 and Northern Baja California residents within Zip codes 21000-22999. Proof of residency required. The 2Fer ticket is valid for one day at Disneyland park and another day at Disney’s California Adventure park , but not for both parks on the same day. The 2-Day Park Hopper Ticket may be used at both parks on the same day. Tickets expire 30 days from first visit. First visit must occur between January 6, 2009 and June 3, 2009. [Note: This is a full two months longer than the 2008 promotion, and does not exclude the Spring Break period as such offers usually do.] Each use constitutes one full day of use. Limit 8 tickets per person, per day with valid ID. Tickets may not be sold or transferred for commercial use. Offer may not be combined with other discounts or promotions. [Except for the “What Will You Celebrate?” birthday admission offer as explained below.] Subject to restrictions and change without notice. You can purchase these tickets starting January 6, 2009 at the Disneyland Resort ticket booths, as well as Disneyland Resort Hotels and Disneyland.com. Vons stores, The Disney Stores and the Disney Desks at places like South Coast Plaza and The Grove may also carry the tickets, but we have not been able to confirm this yet. [Note: in past years, it has taken quite some time for non-Disney outlets to receive the tickets, so don’t be surprised if your local Vons store or mall Disney Desk doesn’t have them yet.] The 2009 offer is slightly complicated by the “What Will You Celebrate?” promotion, and special options are available to eligible residents with birthdays between January 6 and June 3. If you live within the residency area and your birthday is on or between January 6 and June 3, you will receive a “2Fer Birthday Ticket” instead of a one-day, one-park ticket. The 2Fer terms and conditions apply to this ticket. You must use the first day of your 2Fer on your birthday. You can upgrade the 2Fer Birthday Ticket to the Southern California 2-Day Park Hopper Ticket by paying $25. The 2Fer ticket is considered valid admission media for the purposes of the “What Will You Celebrate?” offer, so people who already have a 2Fer can receive one of the three Alternate Gifts. AOCVCB 2-Day Park Hopper Ticket ($141/$121) – The discount (from the Anaheim-Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau) is $2 off the box-office price for both adults and children. You can now print these tickets at home, though a $1 per-ticket convenience fee applies. If the $1 per ticket net savings isn’t enough of an incentive to pre-purchase your tickets, think of all the time you’ll save by not having to stand in line at the Disneyland Resort ticket booths (link).
Three Day Park Hopper Regularly $199/$169	Advance Purchase 3-day Park Hopper Bonus Ticket ($179/$149) – A discounted price for advance purchase through the Internet or select dealers. Available at the Disneyland Web site (link) where shipping is included if you order more than 10 days prior to your travel date. Also 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 certain travel agents may also sell these tickets. It is best to call and confirm before visiting a location, however. “Bonus Tickets” include one early admission day (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday). If purchased from AAA, the tickets come with free parking at the Mickey & Friends parking garage (an $11/day value) Advance Purchase 3-day Park Hopper Bonus Ticket ($179/$149) – available through the Disneyland Web site (link). You can print these tickets at home, though the tickets from the Anaheim-Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau Web site (see below) are slightly less expensive. AOCVCB 3-Day Bonus Ticket ($174/$144) – The discount (from the Anaheim-Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau) is $5 off the advance purchase price for both adults and children. You can now print these tickets at home, though a $1 per-ticket convenience fee applies. If the $4 per ticket net savings isn’t enough of an incentive to pre-purchase your tickets, think of all the time you’ll save by not having to stand in line at the Disneyland Resort ticket booths. Tickets include one early admission day (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday) (link). Advance Purchase 2009 Everyone Plays for the Kids’ Price! 3-Day Park Hopper Ticket ($149) – This promotion is valid January 6 through April 30, 2009, and includes one one Magic Morning admission. Currently available for purchase through the Anaheim-Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau Web site (link). Disney’s Armed Forces Salute 3-Day Park Hopper Ticket (Free/$94) – Through June 12, 2009, each active or retired member of the U.S. military can receive one complimentary three-day “Disney’s Armed Forces Salute” Park Hopper ticket valid for admission to both Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure parks. During the offer period, active or retired U.S. military personnel also may make a one-time purchase of an adult or child three-day “Disney’s Armed Forces Salute Companion” Park Hopper ticket for up to five family members (including spouse) or friends for the price of an adult 1-Day Park Hopper ticket. Disneyland Resort hotels are also offering special room rates for active or retired military personnel. For example, at Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel, active or retired members of the military and their families may find hotel rooms starting at $119 per night during value season, with great savings during other times of the offer period. This offer is available through June 12, 2009, and the number of rooms available at these special rates is limited. For information regarding “Disney’s Armed Forces Salute” at the Disneyland Resort, or to make reservations, military personnel may call 714/956-6424. Full details of the offer, including eligibility guidelines and other restrictions, are posted on our MousePad discussion board (link).
Four Day Park Hopper Regularly $224/$194	Advance Purchase 4-Day Park Hopper Bonus tickets ($194/$164) – A discounted price for advance purchase through the Internet or select dealers. Available at the Disneyland Web site (link) where shipping is included if you order more than 10 days prior to your travel date. Also 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 certain travel agents may also sell these tickets. It is best to call and confirm before visiting a location, however. “Bonus Tickets” include one early admission day (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday). If purchased from AAA, the tickets come with free parking at the Mickey & Friends parking garage (an $11/day value). Advance Purchase 4-day Park Hopper Bonus Ticket ($194/$164) – available through the Disneyland Web site (link). You can print these tickets at home, though the tickets from the Anaheim-Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau Web site (see below) are slightly less expensive. AOCVCB 4-Day Bonus Ticket ($189/$159) – The discount (from the Anaheim-Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau) is $5 off the advance purchase price for both adults and children. You can now print these tickets at home, though a $1 per-ticket convenience fee applies. If the $4 per ticket net savings isn’t enough of an incentive to pre-purchase your tickets, think of all the time you’ll save by not having to stand in line at the Disneyland Resort ticket booths. Tickets include one early admission day (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday) (link). Advance Purchase 2009 Everyone Plays for the Kids’ Price! 4-Day Park Hopper Ticket ($154) – This promotion is valid January 6 through April 30, 2009, and includes one one Magic Morning admission. Currently available for purchase through the Anaheim-Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau Web site (link). Costco Disneyland Resort Play 4 Days Exchange Certificate – Available through the Costco Web site (link), this $139 ticket (for ages 3 through adult) is good for four one-day admissions to Disneyland or Disney’s California Adventure. The tickets are non-transferable—the same person must use all four admissions. The ticket expires once the four admissions are used, or on July 31, 2009, whichever comes first. This is not a park-hopper pass, although you could probably use one admission per day at each park, in effect using the four admissions as a two-day park-hopper. The tickets are available only to Costco members who are residents of Southern California. Tickets must be purchased at Costco, with a limit of eight tickets per member per day. It is important to note that the item you purchase at Costco is an “Exchange Certificate,” not a valid park passport. Members must exchange the certificate at the Disneyland Resort Ticket booth to receive the Play 4 Days ticket. Proof of California residency in zip codes 90000 through 93599 is required to exchange the certificate for a valid ticket.
Five Day Park Hopper Regularly $244/$214	Advance Purchase 5-Day Park Hopper Bonus tickets ($204/$174) – A discounted price for advance purchase through the Internet or select dealers. Available at the Disneyland Web site (link) where shipping is included if you order more than 10 days prior to your travel date. Also 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 certain travel agents may also sell these tickets. It is best to call and confirm before visiting a location, however. “Bonus Tickets” include one early admission day (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday). If purchased from AAA, the tickets come with free parking at the Mickey & Friends parking garage (an $11/day value). Advance Purchase 5-day Park Hopper Bonus Ticket ($204/$174) – available through the Disneyland Web site (link). You can print these tickets at home, though the tickets from the Anaheim-Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau Web site (see below) are slightly less expensive. AOCVCB 5-Day Bonus Ticket ($199/$169) – The discount (from the Anaheim-Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau) is $5 off the advance purchase price for both adults and children. You can now print these tickets at home, though a $1 per-ticket convenience fee applies. If the $4 per ticket net savings isn’t enough of an incentive to pre-purchase your tickets, think of all the time you’ll save by not having to stand in line at the Disneyland Resort ticket booths. Tickets include one early admission day (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday) (link). Advance Purchase 2009 Everyone Plays for the Kids’ Price! 5-Day Park Hopper Ticket ($164) – This promotion is valid January 6 through April 30, 2009, and includes one one Magic Morning admission. Currently available for purchase through the Anaheim-Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau Web site (link).
Six Day Park Hopper Regularly $249/$219	Advance Purchase 6-Day Park Hopper Bonus tickets ($209/$179) – A discounted price for advance purchase through the Internet or select dealers. Available at the Disneyland Web site (link) where shipping is included if you order more than 10 days prior to your travel date. Also 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 certain travel agents may also sell these tickets. It is best to call and confirm before visiting a location, however. “Bonus Tickets” include one early admission day (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday). If purchased from AAA, the tickets come with free parking at the Mickey & Friends parking garage (an $11/day value). Advance Purchase 5-day Park Hopper Bonus Ticket ($209/$179) – available through the Disneyland Web site (link). You can print these tickets at home, though the tickets from the Anaheim-Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau Web site (see below) are slightly less expensive. AOCVCB 5-Day Bonus Ticket ($189/$159) – The discount (from the Anaheim-Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau) is $5 off the advance purchase price for both adults and children. You can now print these tickets at home, though a $1 per-ticket convenience fee applies. If the $4 per ticket net savings isn’t enough of an incentive to pre-purchase your tickets, think of all the time you’ll save by not having to stand in line at the Disneyland Resort ticket booths. Tickets include one early admission day (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday) (link).
Deluxe Annual Passport Regulary $269	Costco $50 bonus gift card offer – Costco members can receive a $50 Disneyland gift card when they purchase a Deluxe Disneyland Resort annual passport for $269 at a participating Costco location. The offer should be available at all Southern California Costco stores that currently sell Disneyland admission, but the vouchers may not have arrived in all locations yet. [A list of the 37 Costco locations within 50 miles of the Disneyland Resort is available on our MousePad discussion board (link), and we have noted which locations are confirmed to have these tickets available. If you are a Costco member and live near one of the stores that is not confirmed, please check the next time you’re there and then let us know so we can update the list.] There are no residency restrictions on this ticket, and it can be upgraded to a Deluxe with parking or Premium passport. Better still, the $50 gift card can be applied towards the cost of the upgrades, which nearly pays for the $59 parking option or drops the net cost of a Premium Annual Passport to just $339.
2009 Southern California CityPass $259/$219	2009 Southern California CityPass ($259/$219) – This pass includes a 3-Day Disneyland Resort park ticket (including one early-entry day), and single-day admission to either San Diego Zoo or San Diego Wild Animal Park, as well as SeaWorld San Diego and Universal Studios Hollywood. The CityPass expires 14 days after first use at any location. Purchase CityPass through the Disneyland Web site (link) or onsite at the ticket booths of Disneyland Resort or the other theme parks included in the pass. You can also purchase directly from the CityPass Web site (link) though this has a minimum $7.50 shipping charge (no shipping charge from the Disney Web site if purchased more than 10 days in advance). You can also purchase the Southern California City Pass online from Costco at a cost of $227/$192 (link), 5% surcharge if not a Costco member, and shipping fees apply. Booklets may be available for sale in some stores but varies widely. If you want to buy in person it would be best to call ahead and confirm availability. If you do buy at Costco, you will initially purchase a large plastic container that you must trade for ticket books prior to leaving Costco!

Hotel / Travel Packages

Costco Travel Packages – Many different travel packages including visits to Disneyland and Disneyland hotels are available through Costco.com. 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 per person, a $20 Disneyland Resort gift card, a collectible pin and lanyard, and a Costco luggage tag.

Disney’s Resort Magic and Good Neighbor Magic Packages – Package includes accomodations 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.

Alaska Airlines “Kids Fly Free to the Disneyland Resort” promotion – Valid for travel between January 7 and June 17, 2009 when you also book your hotel through the airline. Significant restrictions apply to the promotion, including blockout dates. This offer can be a good deal for some families, but make sure that you compare the total quoted package price against the same elements if purchased a la carte. You may be able to take advantage of other published airfare specials and hotel discounts to create a less expensive vacation package. Unfortunately the Alaska Airlines Web site can be sluggish, making comparison shopping time consuming, but you should definitely do your homework before you buy.

Other Discounts

Disney Visa Free-Stroller Rental – If you have a Disney Visa card you can rent up to two strollers for free at either Disneyland or Disney’s California Adventure. This offer is valid only at the Main Gate rental locations at each park.

Rainforest Cafe Safari Club – Membership in the Rainforest Cafe gets you a 10% discount on entrees for up to four people. It also gets you priority seating if available, which can make a huge difference on busy days. Additionally, after signing up, your membership card will be mailed to you and be accompanied by a $10 award good for your next visit to a Rainforest Cafe. So if you know you will be eating there while at Disneyland and have a Rainforest Cafe local to you, it may make sense to prejoin the Safari Club so that you can use the award during your trip. See the Rainforest Cafe Web site for details (link).

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).

AAA Restaurant Discounts – AAA (American Automobile Association) members can receive a 10% discount (excluding alcohol) at Plaza Inn, Wine Country Trattoria Ariel’s Grotto, PCH Grill, and Goofy’s Kitchen.

Downtown Disney Patina Restuarant Discounts – Three Downtown Disney restaurants operated by the Patina Group are currently offering lunch and/or dinner specials. Check at the restaurant for menu and price details.

Park Schedule/Blockout Dates

DL: Disneyland

DCA: Disney’s 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
• MTT – Mickey’s Trick-or-Treat Party at DCA

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.