Update for March 10 – 16, 2014
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News and Views
First look at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, scheduled to reopen March 17 | Annual Passholders invited to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad preview | Captain America joins fellow Avengers in Innoventions | Disneyland Resort introduces guide for visitors with Cognitive Disabilities | MouseAdventure registration opens tomorrow | This and that… | Question of the Week | Crowd Forecast
First look at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, scheduled to reopen March 17
After a 14-month refurbishment, Disneyland's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reopens to the public on Monday, March 17. As we previously reported, the ride is now open for a cast member “test-and-adjust” period, and MousePlanet was invited to preview the ride last Friday.
[Note: Skip to the next topic to avoid spoilers about the attraction—the photos in this section are safe to view, but you should avoid both the rest of text in this section, as well as the videos.]
Before the first ride on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in over a year, we had the opportunity to talk with program manager David Smith about the renovation. He said the goal of the project was, “to try and keep a classic attraction from changing too much, because people love the old attraction,” while they also wanted to “make it safer and make it more exciting for people.”
Disney employees and their guests are among the first to ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad during cast previews. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
For riders, the biggest change to Big Thunder Mountain will likely be the effects added to the final lift tunnel—what Disney is billing as an “explosive new finale.” Those are not the only additions riders will notice, however. Bats fly to the left side of the train as you enter the first tunnel, and new air effects (like those used in the hall of spears in the Indiana Jones Adventure attractuib) make it seem as if the bats are flying past you. The Rainbow Caverns seem more colorful and vibrant, and the waterfall at the top of the first lift seems to have an added mist effect.
A pair of animatronic snakes shake their rattles at passing trains. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
I was also happy to see that the wildlife along the second lift had been restored—the turtles move their heads, the rattlesnakes shake their tails, and the possums swing from their tree. The dynamite-eating goat is back, and his culinary preference ties neatly into the ride finale.
The famous dynamite-chewing goat has returned to Big Thunder. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
As you enter the final lift, new signs warn of blasting ahead. A broken lantern on the left side of the train has set a cluster of fuses ablaze, and new lighting shows the flames racing your train up the hill towards a large store of dynamite. The resulting “explosion” is loud, colorful, and ocassionally accompanied by several massive puffs of smoke from above and the sides of the track.
A family of possum swing above the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad track. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
These effects were not working during the media preview, and so were not shown in our first ride-through video posted on YouTube. The effects were consistently working by the second day of cast previews, however, and we were able to take a quick video showing the complete scene.
Signs throughout the attraction warn of blasting ahead, and hint at the new finale. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
As much as I like is sequence, I'm happy that the smoke effect does not make or break the new ending. The smoke effect was not functional the first five times I rode, and, had I not already known what to expect, I would have had no idea anything was missing. The sad fact is that effects break, and often aren't repaired as quickly as fans want—and these are definitely situations where the absence of an effect itself is a distraction (one need only look at Splash Mountain for examples of this). Even if you happen to ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad when the smoke effect isn't working, I think you'll agree that the new explosion is still a vast improvement over the original “earthquake” finale.
A full ride-through of the newly refurbished Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, with an introduction by David Smith, program manager for the refurbishment. MousePlanet video.
Video of the final lift sequence with the “explosive” finale effects. MousePlanet video.
From an operational standpoint, the main piece of the refurbishment was the replacement of about half a mile of track, everything except the lifts and the spur track between the maintenance bay at the loading area. About quarter million pounds of steel was recycled from the old track. The retained track and the chasis of the existing trains were modified to properly fit the new track. The five locomotives have brand new bodies, but the names and color scheme remain unchanged.
The five Big Thunder Mountain Railroad locomotives have new bodies, but their names have not changed. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Raising an issue our readers have repeatedly asked, I asked Smith what caused the delay that kept the attraction from reopening last October as originally planned. Smith was very forthright in discussing the delay, saying his team needed more time to work with the new software controls for the ride. Smith said:
“It's just a very complicated thing, You have five trains running on a track, potentially at the same time. We wrote a completely a new software system to control the trains. With the brand-new track, it runs a little different, a little faster in the beginning. Working out the complicated interplay between the various trains and the station was a challenge. Safety is obviously our biggest key, and when you have multiple trains on the track, the number one job is to keep them separated. That is done with software, and wanted to take the time to get it right.”
A half mile of track was replaced during the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad refurbishment, and a quarter-million pounds of steel was recycled. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Although the ride was closed for 14 months, Smith said the work represents six years of effort, starting with planning and continuing with design, fabrication, and installation. Disney says the project employed about 175 contractors per day during the peak period of the refurbishment.
An empty train splashes to a stop during testing of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Smith said that the ride is really only about two seconds shorter than before, but the trains may feel much faster because the new track is stiff and extremely smooth. That smoothness was noted by many riders during the previews, as well as how quiet the track now seems. While the trains may be quieter, the ride itself is definitely not—thanks to an “enhanced” audio system along the track.
The miniature town of Big Thunder was rebuilt during the ride's refurbishment. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Smith said that his team did not repaint the entire mountain, which is 104 feet tall at the highest peak, but “repainted large sections of it and blended it in” where needed. The restoration of the town at the end of the ride, officially known as just the town of Big Thunder but widely referred to as “Rainbow Ridge” because of its original use in the now-defunct Rainbow Cavern Mine Train attaction, was long overdue, and will keep fans busy as they try to spot new additions to the windows of the various buildings of the town.
Large sections of the Big Thunder Mountain were repainted during the 14-month refurbishment. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
The lengthy refurbishment also gave Disney an opportunity to make some modifications for wheelchair accessbility. The accessible entrance is now located by the right (north) track, and a wider gated platform provides room for riders to wait while providing an exit from the track. That entrance was regraded during the refurbishment to make it easier to navigate using a wheelchair.
A wider, gated exit platform serves as the accessible entrance to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
While two of the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad cars had previously been modified to make it easier for guests to transfer from a wheelchair, all five of the trains now have a transfer seat built into row 10. Row 10 also features added padding on the sides, which is helpful for people who need a little more support against the intertal forces of the ride.
Row 10 of each train is designed with a swing-out side door to assist riders who need to transfer from their wheelchair into the ride vehicle. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad opens to the general public next Monday, March 17.
New height measurement sticks are themed to look like water pumps. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Annual Passholders invited to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad preview
Once the test-and-adjust period ends—but before the ride opens to the general public on March 17—Disneyland Resort annual passholders are invited to preview Big Thunder Mountain Railroad March 13 through 16:
- Thursday, March 13, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. – all annual passes
- Friday, March 14, from 8:00 a.m. to midnight – blocked out is the Southern California Select pass; all other passes are valid
- Saturday, March 15, from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. – only the Premium and Premier passes are valid; all other passes are blocked out
- Sunday, March 16, from 8:00 a.m. to midnight – blocked out is the Southern California Select pass; all other passes are valid
There is no need to pre-register for this event, and passholders can ride as many times as they wish during the preview period—just show your valid annual pass to get a Fastpass ticket, or enter the standby queue.
Disneyland cast members wait outside Big Thunder Mountain Railroad on the first day of cast previews. Annual passholder previews begin this Thurday, March 13. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Based on the blockout schedule, Sunday looks to have the longest lines, with all but the Southern California Select passholders eligible to ride. Premium and Premier passholders will likely have the shortest wait if they attend the Saturday previews. Thursday night also has the potential to be extremely busy, as it is the only evening that Southern California Select passholders can attend the preview.
Captain America joins fellow Avengers in Innoventions
The new Captain America meet-and-greet opened this weekend in Innoventions, bringing a third Avenger to an attraction that is increasingly Marvel-centric. The new meet-and-greet is located in the small (approximately 1500 square foot) space once occupied by the Talk to Stitch offering, and much more recently housed the Nanooze Labs exhibit.
A new Captain America meet-and-greet replaces the former Nanooze Labs exhibit inside Innoventions. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Captain America is the third Avenger to claim a place inside Innoventions. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Walls in the queue provide a time line of the Captain America story for those who may need a refresher, and a lenticular panel depcits the physical change experienced by Steve Rogers after he was injected by the Super Soldier Serum. A small display case contains a Captain America uniform, and several shields are displayed on a wall at the attraction's exit.
Captain America's World War II uniform is on display inside Innoventions. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Once you're face-to-face with Captain America, prepare to show off your own muscles in a superhero pose, while a PhotoPass photographer takes your picture. You can purchase the photos at the Main Street Photo Supply, or download them from the PhotoPass website.
Fans line up to meet Captain America at Disneyland, some waiting over an hour to see the Avenger. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
A collection of shields lines the exit of the Captain America meet-and-greet at Disneyland. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
At times during the opening weekend, the line to meet Captain America wrapped around the upper floor of Innoventions, meeting the still-substantial line of people waiting to meet Thor in the Treasures of Asgard exhibit. The Iron Man Tech display is still open as well.
Crowd control is provided by Innoventions cast members, and the character hosts who work directly with the superhero are dressed in dark suits reminiscent of the Agents of Shield uniform.
Disneyland Resort introduces guide for visitors with Cognitive Disabilities
When Disney introduced the new the Disability Access Service program in late 2013, the company said it was working on a guide to help visitors with cognitive disabilities plan their visits. That guide is now available, and provides a wealth of information on everything from how to prepare a family member for their trip, to resources for visitors with special dietary needs.
For many parents, the most helpful part of this guide is a detailed chart of the rides and entertainment options for each park, listing sensory elements like strong scents, loud noises, sudden motions, or water effects that might startle sensitive visitors. The chart also details the type of restraint used on each ride and how long the experience lasts.
Additional sections provide advice on where to find quiet places in the parks as well as what to bring, and includes photos to help prepare a family member to ride the trams and go through bag check before entering the park.
You can obtain the guide at Disneyland's City Hall, the Chamber of Commerce at Disney California Adventure, or as an online PDF to read before your visit. This new guide is a companion to the existing guidebooks for guests with disabilities, which are available for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure.
[Note: Thanks to Lisa at the Babes in Disneyland blog for reporting the availability of the new guide.]
MouseAdventure registration opens tomorrow
We are proud to present our Spring 2014 event, “MouseAdventure Card Games: Deuces Wild!” Alex is back with a brand new game in the Card Games format first introduced in 2012. Whether you've played every game since 2000 or are forming a team for your very first MouseAdventure, there's a division that will suit you just right.
Event: MouseAdventure Card Games: Deuces Wild!
Date: Sunday, April 27, 2014
Location: MouseAdventure Card Games will deal you a series of quests and challenges to be solved throughout Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, and Downtown Disney.
We are offering both Basic and Advanced divisions – If you crave even more of a challenge, register for the Advanced division and try your hand at all of the Basic Division quests many at a more difficult level.
Registration for all divisions opens tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m. (Pacific) on Tuesday, March 11 online at MouseAdventure.com.
Registration closes on April 11, or whenever the division sells out. Space for each division is extremely limited. Players must be at least 6 years of age and one player on each team must be at least 18 years of age.
More information about MouseAdventure can be found at MouseAdventure.com. Be sure to sign up for our MouseAdventure Newsletter, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for the most recent updates.
This and that…
…Disney has announced that the separate Facebook and Twitter accounts maintained for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure will merge effective today, March 10. The DCA Today Facebook account will merge into the existing Disneyland Today Facebook account, and the @DCAToday Twitter account will be discontinued in favor of the existing @DisneylandToday Twitter account. The announcements indicated that the accounts will now also include updates about the Disneyland Resort Hotels and the Downtown Disney district, though a follow-up from the @DisneylandDTD Twitter account said “we will still be your go-to for all things happening at the Downtown Disney District at Disneyland!” Downtown Disney also has a Facebook page, but it has not been updated in nearly a year.
…A new Starbucks cafe is scheduled to open today in Downtown Disney Anaheim, following a brief “opening moment” at 8:30 a.m.. Disney says the new location will offer a “unique Starbucks coffeehouse experience.”
…runDisney has confirmed registration dates for the Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon Weekend, scheduled for November 14–16, 2014 at the Disneyland Resort. Annual passholder early registration opens March 19, 2014 at 9:00 a.m. Pacific time. Registration opens for the general public March 25 at 9:00 a.m. Pacific. More information at the runDisney website. Based on the record-setting sellouts of the past several runDisney events, interested runners should mark their calendars and take advantage of any early registration opportunity they are eligible for. Disney Vacation Club members can also register early and save $10 off the entry fee—check the DVC Member website for updates, as this race has not yet been added to the event list.
…Registration continues through March 13 for the St. Patrick's Day event at Disney California Adventure for Disneyland Resort passholders whose passes expire between March 17 and June 17, 2014. This special event is part of a program to improve passholder renewal and retention rates. The after-hours event on Monday, March 17 will include “a variety of special offerings, surprises and experiences,” including a short preview of Muppets: Most Wanted.
If your pass expires during the target window, visit the Annual Passholder website to register for the event. Eligible passholders can invite up to 5 annual passholder guests, and those guests need not have passes that expire during the same March through June window. You need the names, birth dates and pass numbers of your guests to register them.
…You can still enter to win a trip to both Walt Disney World and the Disneyland Resort in the Disney Side of Summer Sweepstakes. Enter via Twitter once per day now through March 31. Full details and complete rules are on the Disney Parks blog.
…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, just enter your e-mail in the box below.
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Question of the Week
Reader sjhanksaz is planning to visit Disneyland from Arizona, and wants to know when California schools are taking Spring break.
When are spring breaks this year for California?
Looking for dates for a possible trip but I want to miss these dates.
FYI am in AZ and our Spring breaks for most schools are this week or the week after.
Do you have children in a Southern California school district? If so, when their Spring break? Come join the discussion on our MousePad forum.
Crowd Forecast
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Current Refurbishments and Attraction Closures
Note: Not all of attraction closures have been officially confirmed by Disney, and are all subject to change at any time. Refurbishment schedules are estimates only. We recommend checking for updates as you plan your visit. All information is subject to change without notice. To get the most recent updates, call Disneyland at (714) 781–7290, then select option 1, option 1, and option 4 at the next three prompts.
Disneyland
- Disneyland Railroad – refurbishment extended through March 15.
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – closed until March 17 for a major refurbishment. Cast member previews now through March 11; Annual Passholder previews March 13-16. The ride was to have reopened October 30, 2013.
- “it's a small world” – closed through April 9 for refurbishment and fall protection upgrade. The ride was to have opened February 12.
- Alice in Wonderland – March 10 – July 3 for refurbishment.
- Indiana Jones Adventure – closed March 17 through May 8 for refurbishment.
- Cafe Orleans – closed March 17-23 for refurbishment.
- Plaza Inn – closed April 20 through May 15 for refurbishment.
- “it's a small world” – closed April 20 through May 29 for refurbishment.
- King Arthur Carrousel – closed April 28 through May 8 for refurbishment.
- Pirates of the Caribbean – closed April 28 through May 22 for refurbishment.
- Westward Ho – closed April 28 through May 15 for refurbishment.
- Space Mountain – closed May 12 through June 26 for refurbishment.
- Matterhorn Bobsleds – closed May 27 through August 14 for refurbishment.
- Club 33 – closed until June 30 for refurbishment and expansion.
- Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage – closed for refurbishment. A reopening date of September 26 is listed on a cast member document, but this date is likely just a placeholder.
Disney California Adventure
- Blue Sky Cellar – closed indefinitely.
- Redwood Creek Challenge Trail – refurbishment extended through March 18.
- Wilderness Explorers Ceremony – dark through March 18 due to Redwood Creek Challenge Trail refurbishment.
- The Little Mermaid – closed March 20 through May 9 for refurbishment.
- It's Tough to be a Bug – closed March 31 through April 18 for refurbishment.
- Grizzly River Run – closed April 21 through June 19 for refurbishment.
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).
- Mini Gay Day at Disneyland – Sunday, March 29. (Unofficial event) More information on the event website.
- MouseAdventure Card Games – Deuces Wild – Sunday, April 27 at the Disneyland Resort and brought to you by MousePlanet. Registration opens Tuesday, March 11. Be sure to register for the MouseAdventure Newsletter to get the latest information as it is released.
- Grad Nite events – This party for high school seniors graduating in 2014 will be held on these dates: May 16, 17, 21, 22, 24, 28, 30, 31; June 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 18, 19. The 2014 event includes admission to Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park during regular operating hours, and a private party in Disney California Adventure park from 10:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.
- Bats Day in the Fun Park – May 16–18. (Unofficial event) More information on the event website.
- Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend – August 29–31 (Labor Day weekend). All events are full.
- Dapper Day Fall Soiree – Friday, September 12. More information at the event website.
- Gay Days at Disneyland – October 3–5. (Unofficial event) More information on the event website.
- Utah Education Association convention (UEA, a.k.a. “Utah Escapes to Anaheim”) – October 16–17. Expect unusually large attendance levels October 17–21 as Utah students and families take advantage of a 4-day weekend created by their school's participation in a state education convention. Not all Utah schools or teachers close for or attend UEA, but the impact on the Resort is usually noticeable enough to mention.
- 2014 CHOC Walk in the Park – Sunday, October 12 at the Disneyland Resort. Event details and registration information will be available at a later date.
- Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon Weekend – November 14–16, 2014. Annual passholder early registration opens March 19, 2014; registeration opens for the general public March 25. More information at the runDisney website.
2015
- Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend – Mother's Day (May 10) weekend. No additional details 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
Disneyland prices as of June 2, 2013.
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.
Don't get scammed! Never buy tickets from an unofficial or secondary outlet, such as through eBay or Craigslist. Never rent or purchase tickets from people approaching you outside the gates stating they have remaining days or leftover tickets. This practice is against the terms of use for Disneyland admission, and may result in denial of entry. It is also common for criminals to shoplift inactivated Disney theme park tickets from supermarkets to resell them. There is no way to determine if these tickets are valid until you try to use them to enter the parks. Only purchase Disney theme park tickets directly from Disney, an authorized seller, or travel agency.
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One Day, One Park Ticket – Regularly $92/$86
One Day Park Hopper – Regularly $137/$131 |
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 $175/$162
Two Day Park Hopper – Regularly $210/$197 |
2-Day So Cal Resident 1-Park Per Day Ticket ($129) – 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 6, 2014. 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 cannot use it to enter both parks on the same day. The ticket is $129 for ages 3 and up, a $30 jump from the 2012 offer. You can also upgrade the ticket to a park-hopper, which allows entry to both parks each day, for an additional $35, a savings of up to $46 compared to the box office price of a two-day park-hopper ticket. 2-Day So Cal Resident Park Hopper Ticket ($164) – offers residents of Southern California and Northern Baja California admission to Disneyland and/or Disney California Adventure on two separate days on or before June 6, 2014. Check with your employer, school or credit union to see if any other discounts are available through them. |
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Three Day, One Park per Day Ticket – Regularly $225/$209 Three Day Park Hopper – Regularly $260/$244 |
3-Day So Cal Resident 1-Park Per Day Ticket ($159) – offers residents of Southern California and Northern Baja California admission to either Disneyland or Disney California Adventure on one day, and then two more visits to either park on or before June 6, 2014. You can use each day of this ticket at the same theme park, or visit one park one day and the other park on the next day, but you cannot use it to enter both parks on the same day. When purchased in advance, this ticket comes with one Magic Morning entry; tickets sold at the Disneyland Resort ticket booths do not include this benefit. 3-Day So Cal Resident Park Hopper Ticket ($194) – offers residents of Southern California and Northern Baja California admission to Disneyland and/or Disney California Adventure on three separate days on or before June 6, 2014. When purchased in advance, this ticket comes with one Magic Morning entry; tickets sold at the Disneyland Resort ticket booths do not include this benefit. 2013–2014 Disney Military Promotional 3–Day Park Hopper Ticket ($129) – a discounted price offered to Eligible Service Members or their spouses. The 2013–2014 U.S. Armed Forces discount is valid through September 25, 2014. Under this program, active and retired U.S. military personnel can purchase Disney Military Promotional 3-Day Park Hopper Tickets for $129 each. For the purpose of this offer, 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). Disney has also clarified that the “Military member (or spouse) must accompany the persons using these tickets for Theme Park admission,” which means you can not purchase these tickets and give them to someone who will be visiting without you present. Tickets are blocked out April 13, 2014 through April 20, 2014; and July 4, 2014. 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. For complete information regarding Disney Military Promotional 3-Day Park Hopper Tickets and discounted resort rates, military personnel may visit the Disneyland Resort website, or participating U.S. military base ticket offices. Check with your employer, school or credit union to see if any other discounts are available through them. |
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Four Day, One Park per Day Ticket – Regularly $250/$230 Four Day Park Hopper – Regularly $285/$265 |
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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Five Day, One Park per Day Ticket – Regularly $265/$244 Five Day Park Hopper – Regularly $300/$279 |
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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| Six Day or longer tickets | No longer offered by Disneyland – some travel providers may offer tickets for 6 days or longer as part of a package to international customers; residents of Canada, Australia, or the U.K. should check with local travel agencies to see what options may be available. | |
| Disneyland Resort Annual Passports |
Disney Vacation Club members can save on two Disneyland Resort annual passports during a special offer that starts February 6
The discounts are valid February 6 through April 30. The Disneyland Deluxe AP will be available for purchase through a new online ticket store that will launch on February 6. As before, the Disney Premier Passport will only be available for purchase in person at the Walt Disney World or Disneyland ticket booths. There is a note on the offer which reads, “Even if you've already purchased one, you can still take advantage of these limited-time savings. Purchase before April 30, 2014, and you can activate your new Pass or Passport when your old one expires.” Shortly after posting the offer, Disney amended the website to add, “anytime between now and Jan. 31, 2015.” 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 any other discounts are available through them. |
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2014 Southern California CityPASS $328/$284 2014 Southern California CityPASS PLUS $362/$309 |
2014 Southern California CityPASS ($328/$284) – 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, 2014. 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. – is the same as the CityPASS—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—with the addition of 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, 2014. This upgraded pass is only available for purchase directly from the CityPASS website Prices listed above are valid until December 31, 2014. Check with your employer, school or credit union to see if any other discounts are available through them. |
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Other Discounts
Did we miss an offer? If you know of an authorized discount on Disneyland Resort tickets, standing offers for Annual Passholders from non-Disney vendors, or other promotions which might interest our readers, please drop us a note!
| Discounts for everyone |
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 selection may vary by location. Recently, Disney has begun allowing customers to purchase more than one of the offers in a qualifying transaction, so if you spend $40 or more you can buy all three of the items currently available if you wish. If you're a passholder, the minimum purchase is calculated after your discount, and your discount does not apply to the promotional item. Current offers:
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 percent discount on retail purchases. This club replaces the former Rainforest Cafe Safari Club, and now runs on a point-based system that gives you a $25 gift certificate after you spend $250. Membership now costs $25, but comes with a $25 reward. We recommend that you pre purchase your membership before your visit so you can take advantage of the priorty seating benefit. = 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 percent 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). Character Dining Vouchers – discounted character dining vouchers are available for purchase online, in advance of your trip, through Get Away Travel. |
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| Discounts for Annual Passholders |
Disneyland Resort merchandise – Disneyland extended the 20 percent merchandise discount offered to Premium annual passholders through December 31, 2014.
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Discounts for Disney Visa Cardholders |
Character Meet-and-Greet – cardholders have access to a private character meet-and-greet photo opportunity at Disney California Adventure, and receive one free 5″x7″ photograph per visit. Disneyland Resort merchandise – Cardholders also receive 10 percent off qualifying merchandise purchases of $50 or more from Disney-operated retail stores. Disneyland Resort dining – 10 percent off at selected Disneyland Resort restaurants, (Big Thunder Ranch, River Belle Terrace, French Market, Cocina Cucamonga, Steakhouse 55, PCH Grill and Storyteller's Café). Disneyland Resort Guided Tours – 20 percent 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 for all of these promotions. |
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Hotel and travel package offers |
Costco Travel Packages – many different travel packages including visits to Disneyland and Disneyland hotels are available through Costco. 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. |
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Discounts for US Military |
2013–2014 Disney Military Promotional 3–Day Park Hopper Ticket ($129) – a discounted price offered to Eligible Service Members or their spouses. The 2013–2014 U.S. Armed Forces discount is valid through September 25, 2014. Under this program, active and retired U.S. military personnel can purchase Disney Military Promotional 3-Day Park Hopper Tickets for $129 each. For the purpose of this offer, 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). Disney has also clarified that the “Military member (or spouse) must accompany the persons using these tickets for Theme Park admission,” which means you can not purchase these tickets and give them to someone who will be visiting without you present. Tickets are blocked out December 19–31, 2013; April 13–20, 2014; and July 4, 2014. 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. For complete information regarding Disney Military Promotional 3-Day Park Hopper Tickets and discounted resort rates, military personnel may visit the Disneyland Resort website, or participating U.S. military base ticket offices. |
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| Discounts for California residents | None at this time | |
A Mickey Mouse tote bag and Disneyland throw blanket are available with a qualifying purchase at participating Disneyland Resort stores. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Contact a MousePlanet sponsor travel agency for assistance in booking your next trip
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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 Mornings for 3-plus day ticket holders, promotional “bonus” tickets, and Southern California CityPASS
- EMH – Extra Magic Hour for Disneyland Resort Hotel Guests
- EMH – Early Admission for Annual Passholders (not currently offered)
Disneyland Resort Special Events:
- GN – Grad Nite
- MA – MouseAdventure (www.mouseadventure.com)
- MHP – Mickey's Halloween Party at Disneyland
| 3/9 | 3/10 | 3/11 | 3/12 | 3/13 | 3/14 | 3/15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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DL: 8a-12a None DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 9a-10p None DCA: 9a-9p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 9a-10p EMH/MM DCA: 9a-9p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 9a-10p None DCA: 9a-9p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 9a-10p EMH/MM DCA: 9a-9p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a None DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-11p EMH/MM DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
| 3/16 | 3/17 | 3/18 | 3/19 | 3/20 | 3/21 | 3/22 |
|
DL: 8a-12a None DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 9a-10p None DCA: 9a-9p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 9a-10p EMH/MM DCA: 9a-9p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 9a-10p None DCA: 9a-9p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 9a-10p EMH/MM DCA: 9a-9p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 9a-12a None DCA: 9a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 9a-12a EMH/MM DCA: 9a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
| 3/23 | 3/24 | 3/25 | 3/26 | 3/27 | 3/28 | 3/29 |
|
DL: 9a-12a None DCA: 9a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 9a-11p None DCA: 9a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 9a-11p EMH/MM DCA: 9a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 9a-11p None DCA: 9a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 9a-12a EMH/MM DCA: 9a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 9a-12a None DCA: 9a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 9a-11p EMH/MM DCA: 9a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
| 3/30 | 3/31 | 4/1 | 4/2 | 4/3 | 4/4 | 4/5 |
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DL: 9a-12a None DCA: 9a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a None DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a EMH/MM DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a None DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a EMH/MM DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a None DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 9a-12a EMH/MM DCA: 9a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
| 4/6 | 4/7 | 4/8 | 4/9 | 4/10 | 4/11 | 4/12 |
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DL: 8a-12a None DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 9a-11p None DCA: 9a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 9a-11p EMH/MM DCA: 9a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 9a-11p None DCA: 9a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 9a-11p EMH/MM DCA: 9a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a None DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a None DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
| 4/13 | 4/14 | 4/15 | 4/16 | 4/17 | 4/18 | 4/19 |
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DL: 8a-12a EMH/MM DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a None DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a EMH/MM DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a None DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a EMH/MM DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a None DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
DL: 8a-12a EMH/MM DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
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.
