Update for October 4 – 10, 2010
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News and Views
Mickey brings his Halloween party back to Disneyland | Crashing Mickey’s party | Resort destruction update | This and That…
Mickey brings his Halloween party back to Disneyland
Mickey’s Halloween Party returned to Disneyland from Disney California Adventure park this year, marking the first time the after-hours Halloween event has been offered at Disneyland since 1995. The event generally seemed like a scaled-down version of Walt Disney World’s much more established event, but there were some nice surprises in store and the new Mickey’s Costume Party cavalcade is a welcome treat.
A ticket to Mickey’s Halloween Party includes admission to Disneyland park up to three hours before the official start of the event, and a on the evening we attended, a section of the park gates were set aside for event guests. Once inside the park, guests were funneled past two stations where they received their event wristband, event map and trick-or-treat bag, while event guests who were already in the park could stop by the Plaza Pavilion to have their event ticket scanned and receive their event wristband.
MousePlanet reader Autopia Guy shares that there’s been a policy change regarding costumes for the party. While adults are normally not allowed to wear costumes into theme parks, and Disney had originally said that adults could only enter Disneyland in costume up to three hours before the event, the Resort has now decided to allow adults to wear costumes into both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure on Halloween Party event days only. This should help alleviate the concerns of adult guests trying to figure out when and where to change into their costumes for the parties.
Sleeping Beauty Castle is decorated with colored lights and projected effects. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
The event decorations are set up in the hours leading up to the event, and rely heavily on large inflatable figures and lighting effects projected on buildings and structures around the park. MousePlanet reader cstephens posted an extensive review of the event on her blog (link), and shared this photo taken by her husband of the logo projected onto the Matterhorn. Keep reading for even more photos and highlights of the event.
The event logo is projected onto the Matterhorn. Photo contributed by reader cstephens’ husband.
Event decorators use a number of inflated figures stationed around the park. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Mickey pumpkins decorate the central plaza area. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
The Main Street buildings are decorated with projected spider webs. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Dance parties and live entertainment
Tomorrowland Terrace and the French Market are both converted into dance parties during the event, and the Nightmare Before Christmas-themed “Club Skellington” was really well decorated, with a black velvet rope entrance and a pinstripe black carpet. Two performers dressed as scarecrows are stationed near the entrances to Tomorrowland and Frontierland, and entertain the crowd with their silly banter. A large number of character meet-and-greet locations are offered around the park, but the lines for these were very long, with the queue at the Princess Fantasy Faire looking as long as any normal day.
Buzz Lightyear dances with a young look-alike in Tomorrowland Terrace. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
The French Market is transformed into Club Skellington for the event. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
The popular talking scarecrows have a new perch inside Disneyland. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
The Rivers of America area was decorated with smoke effects and dramatic lighting. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Trick or Treat trails
Disneyland has recreated the treat trails used at DCA, but this park’s narrower walkways led to some traffic congestion. Early in the event the queue for the trail located in Fantasia Gardens (the old Motorboat Cruise dock between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland) extended towards the Matterhorn, backing up against a queue heading the opposite direction for the trail located between Pixie Hollow and the Matterhorn. If candy is your goal, avoid the stations in the very front of the park, and head to the more remote locations like Critter Country. Most of the trails were set up in a similar format, with one lit stand at either end of the trail, and two or three unlit stands in between. The spacing led to some long lines, but you could stop at four or five stations in a row. The candy selection included name-brand treats like M&Ms and Almond Joy bars, along with healthier options including sliced fresh apples and dried cranberries.
The treat trails are marked with lit signs and decor. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Healthy treats like sliced fresh apples and raisins are offered alongside the typical sweet treats. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Mickey’s Costume Party cavalcade
It might just be that Disneyland was trying to manage guest expectations when describing the new Costume Party cavalcade and wanted to avoid any comparisons to Walt Disney World’s frankly amazing Halloween parade, but I think it can be said that the Resort actually undersold their new Halloween offering. While nowhere as large, long, creative or jaw-dropping as Florida’s Boo to You parade, Mickey’s Costume Party is not the two-float wonder I expected. To be fair it does actually have only two floats–the other units are pushed down the street–but it’s a fun little procession. The lead unit is a Vampire Mickey that opens and closes its arms, followed by a float depicting a costume shop.
The lead float of Mickey’s Costume Party features a vampire Mickey figure that opens and closes its arms. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
The costume shop is the second parade float. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
The next section contained four oversized pumpkins, carved and decorated as a Pirate, a Princess, a Cowboy and a Monster. Each pumpkin was followed by a procession of costumed characters and dancers matching that theme. This was followed by the Grand Marshall vehicle, filled with guests who had been selected because of their Halloween costumes, accompanied by another large group of costumed characters.
Four costumed pumpkins introduce each section of the parade. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
The final float is the Sleeping Beauty Castle unit from the Parade of Dreams, beautifully decorated for Halloween. Some might grumble because Disney just reused an existing float rather than building a new unit, but this was no quick decor job. The stained glass panels have been replaced with Halloween images, fall foliage abounds – even the balcony railings have been replaced with metal spider webs. The float is beautiful, and it’s definitely worth the time to catch the show, especially if you wait until the less-crowded second performance.
The finale float is reused and redressed from the former Parade of Dreams. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
The decorations on the castle float are very detailed. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Halloween Screams
If there is anything new about Halloween Screams this year it wasn’t immediately obvious without reviewing and comparing video from last year, but the show was definitely the biggest draw of the night.
The Halloween Screams fireworks are now offered only on event nights. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Merchandise
Disneyland had a small selection of event merchandise for sale in several locations, including an event-logo shirt, pin and photo frame, along with a t-shirt for the Halloween Screams fireworks. Following up on the successful premium embroidery design created for the park’s 55th anniversary, Disneyland created an event-exclusive logo that could be embroidered on most styles of mouse ear hats. The embroidery is $15 in addition to the price of the selected ears, which makes for a $27 or greater souvenir, but the hidden Mickey spider design is very attractive.
This custom event embroidery is available for $15 at the Star Trader and Mad Hatter shops. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Tickets were still available for Friday’s event when it started, and none of the event dates have sold out yet this year. Remaining event dates are 5, 8, 12, 15, 19, 22, 26, 29, 31. Advance-purchase tickets are on sale now for Disneyland Resort Annual Passholders via the AP section of Disneyland.com; Disney Visa Card holders and Disney Vacation Club members can also purchase tickets by phone by calling 714-781-4000. Tickets are to the general public via Disneyland.com, or at the park ticket booths.
Crashing Mickey’s party
Mickey’s Halloween Party has been the topic of much discussion among MousePlanet readers, especially after it was announced that guests with event tickets could enter Disneyland three hours before the park closed on event nights, “mixing in” with day guests. Many wondered how—or even if—Disney planned to identify and separate event-goers from day guests once the park closed to the public for the night. Though Disney claimed steps would be taken to “sweep” people without event tickets from the park, some readers questioned how effective such measures could possibly be, and others announced their intention to “crash” the Halloween Party just to see the event-exclusive Halloween Screams fireworks show.
Last Friday night I decided to find out for myself how hard it would be to crash Mickey’s first party. Unfortunately, it wasn’t difficult at all.
I recognize I’m going to catch some flack for this piece, so let me address two issues up front. First, I had a valid ticket to that evening’s event. Second, I write this not as an instruction manual for those wishing to crash upcoming events, but to challenge Disney to provide valid ticket-holding event guests with the experience they paid for: exclusive access to the party and related activities. Regardless of whether it’s appropriate to write about my experience, ignoring the issue won’t help anyone solve it.
Signs outside Disneyland advise that the park would close at 7:00 p.m. for the party. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
When I arrived at Disneyland Friday night, there was no question that a special event was going on. Signs at the parking structure provided costume guidelines for the event, and more signs outside Disneyland’s entrance gates advised that the park would close at 7:00 p.m.
After purchasing my event ticket from the ticket booth, I used my annual passport to enter Disneyland via the main entrance shortly before 6:00 p.m, bypassing the marked event entrance gates. At this point, I opted not to stop by Plaza Pavilion to have my event ticket scanned, and did not collect an event wristband or treat bag.
Once inside, I met friends who were already in the park. After making a pre-event circuit of the park, we went to Plaza Inn for dinner. As we were waiting, we overheard one of the chefs tell another cast member that, starting at 7:30 (30 minutes after the park was officially closed to day guests), the restaurant would not serve people who were not wearing an event wristband. Some had speculated that Disney wouldn’t turn away paying diners, even if they didn’t have an event ticket, so I was glad to hear that Disney had a plan.
I later learned that those Main Street shops that were not open during the party remained open until 8:00 p.m. for the traditional “shopping convenience hour,” which meant any serious sweep of Main Street could not have begun until an hour after the event officially started.
My friends and I left the restaurant after the party started, and I noticed a manager outside the restaurant greeting guests as they entered the central plaza area. I assumed her function was to weed out day guests and direct them towards the park exit, so was surprised when she just wished us a good evening. I had deliberately chosen to wear a shirt with three-quarter length sleeves so that it would be obvious to anyone who cared to look that I wasn’t wearing a wristband, but I wasn’t given a second glance as I entered the central hub.
We made our way to the castle, where several cast members were watching over a roped-off area directly in front of the castle. I later learned that the prime fireworks viewing area in front of the castle was intended to be kept clear until managers received the notification that all day guests had been swept from the park.
To the right, a row of cast member standing across the entrance to Tomorrowland were checking for wristbands on guests who wanted to enter that land, but only one cast member oversaw the flood of traffic entering Fantasyland; a job made more difficult by the fact that the queue for the Treat Trail located between the Matterhorn and Pixie Hollow had backed up onto the parade route. One lone cast member could not possibly monitor everyone walking past him into Fantasyland—and he certainly never spotted me.
Cast members check event tickets and issue wristbands as guests enter Disneyland for the party. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Once beyond that checkpoint, I stopped at several trick-or-treat stations, but was never challenged or asked to show a wristband. Where at first I was slightly hesitant as I approached the cast members, just waiting for someone to stop me, by the end of the night I held my treat bag open with both hands, clearly showing my bare wrists, and nobody blinked. I had been told that cast members would be checking for wristbands at attraction entrances, but did not observe this at any of the attractions I passed, nor was I questioned when boarding the one ride I went on.
During the event, I stopped at a dozen treat stations, entered both dance parties, walked around most of the park, entered stores, chatted with cast members, rode a ride and watched both the fireworks and the cavalcade. Apart from the one, easily bypassed checkpoint around the central hub, I quite simply saw nothing to indicate that there was any effort made to filter day guests from event ticket holders. Some MousePlanet readers who also attended Friday’s event have said that they were repeatedly asked to show their wristbands throughout the night. Perhaps I just encountered a series of inattentive cast members, but judging from reports I’ve seen elsewhere from people who really did crash Friday’s event, my experience was not unique.
Cast members check event wristbands as guests enter Tomorrowland. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Several cast members have told me that Disney decided on the “early admission” strategy for event ticket holders this year in part to help justify the huge increase in this year’s event ticket price. In some respects, a $54 ticket that grants nine hours of admission to Disneyland (including three hours of “normal” operation before the event starts) is an attractive prospect for people who only may only want to visit the park once every year or so, and is certainly more affordable than the $76 one-day pass.
The decision to make the Halloween Screams fireworks an event-exclusive show this year was reportedly meant to provide an additional incentive to lure people to spring for event tickets, yet by taking a wildly popular show that was offered to all park guests during last year’s HalloweenTime promotion and presenting it only during the extra-cost special event this year, the Resort has also created an added incentive for people to crash the party. Lest this be framed only as an Annual Passholder problem, vacationers who planned trips to visit Disneyland this year during HalloweenTime, only to learn that the park would now close early two or three nights a week due to this new party, may also feel justified in trying to hang around after the early park closing on an event night.
To be clear, I do not condone gate crashing. There’s a reason I bought a ticket to Friday’s event though I was fairly certain I would not really need one—because I don’t subscribe to the belief that I am somehow “entitled” to see the Halloween fireworks or attend the party. I think anyone found crashing the party should be kicked out on their ear, and I was honestly hoping to be able to report today that the enforcement was strict so as to deter anyone from trying to game the system. At the same time, any Disney executive with an Internet connection could have found ample evidence online (you need go no further than read posts from a few members of MousePlanet’s own discussion board) that there are people who do feel that the Halloween fireworks should be “free for all,” and that passholders should be allowed to attend the parties at no charge. The Resort has created a situation with an attractive reward (getting to enjoy the party and see the fireworks and parade for free) and a low risk (if you’re caught, you’ll likely just be asked to leave the park), and it’s not surprising that some people feel that to be an acceptable risk.
Are the fireworks enough to tempt some guests to try and cheat the system? Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
The fact that there would be people deliberately testing Disney’s sweep procedure at this first event of the year should have come at no surprise to anyone, and it’s really too bad that a greater effort was not made—if only just for opening night, and if only to send a message—to prevent party crashers. The next Halloween Party is tomorrow night; let’s hope that event managers took the lessons learned from Friday’s event and have devised a new way to make sure gate crashers are shown the door, and that ticket holders receive the “exclusive” event experience they paid for—without feeling that they’ve been suckered into buying an unnecessary ticket.
Resort destruction update
In sorting through this week’s construction photos, I realized that the vast majority of them actually show that which is being torn down around the Disneyland Resort. Over in Disney California Adventure park, three buildings that were part of the former farm area were moved or demolished. The Maliboomer is slowly shrinking from the park’s skyline, and work has begun to remove the tile mural from the park’s entrance.
The skyline of the former farm area undergoes dramatic changed, as three buildings are removed or demolished. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
The Farmer’s Market is nearly demolished. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
The top sections of the three Maliboomer towers are no longer there. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
The mural at the entrance to DCA is finally being demolished. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
A digital display inside DCA counts down to the start of ElecTRONica. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
The Disneyland Hotel renovation project continues, and most of the structures from the inner courtyard have been leveled.
The bridge over the former waterfalls has been demolished. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Almost nothing remains of the former shop and arcade complex at the Disneyland Hotel. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Almost nothing remains of the former shop and arcade complex at the Disneyland Hotel. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
The former Hook’s Pointe building is getting a new roof. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
At Disneyland, Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin and the Village Haus are both closed for a lengthy refurbishments, but the new Tangled meet-and-greet area is taking shape, having displaced some of the seating area outside the small Fantasyland shop that most recently housed Geppetto’s Candy Shoppe.
The exterior of the Village Haus sports a bright new paint job. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin is closed for refurbishment. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
This and That…
…The Print on Demand service reopened last week, after a lengthy closure due to unspecified technical issues. The service allows customers to order custom-printed posters from a large gallery of Disney artwork, including park attraction posters, and have the finished product shipped to their home. Matting and framing is available at an additional charge. Print on Demand is offered at Off the Page in Disney California Adventure Park, World of Disney store in Downtown Disney and at the Disney Gallery and Disneyana stores inside Disneyland.
…Reader David West wrote in to tell us about another school holiday that might bring added crowds to the Disneyland Resort. “Usually, Nevada students have a three-day weekend around Halloween for Nevada Day, but this year might see a big impact at the parks. Students in the Vegas School district have October 29 to November 2 off for Nevada Day and two teacher development days. It likely won’t be as bad as UEA [a similar holiday for Utah schools], but could contribute to some busy days at the park.” Thanks for the tip, David!
…If you’re the proud owner of the two-Resort Premier Annual Passport (for both Disneyland and Walt Disney World in Florida), you already know about some of the “perks” that come with that pass, such as having to present your photo ID whenever you enter a Resort parking lot because your pass inexplicably lacks your photo on it; waiting for cast members to call a manager to process the annual pass discount because, eight months after the pass was introduced, cash registers still cannot recognize them in their scanners; and you have trouble accessing the Annual Passholder section of either Resort’s Web site because it does not validate your Premier passport number. Now we’ve learned that Premier Passholders apparently do not receive renewal letters when their pass is about to expire, either. You almost get the feeling that Disney doesn’t really want Premier Passholders to renew that pass, which begs the question, why was it introduced in the first place?
If you have the Premier AP, pay attention to your expiration date and make sure to renew within 30 days to take advantage of any renewal discount you may be eligible for. There is no discount for renewing at the Premier level, but if you decide the Premier pass isn’t for you next year and you’d rather downgrade to a one-Resort passport, you may qualify for a discount on that pass. You can renew online (assuming the Web site will let you log in…), or in person at either Resort.
New Cars will be available at RIDEMAKERZ next weekend. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
…A MousePlanet reader who posts on Twitter as dougwilliamsjr told us last week that Downtown Disney retailer RIDEMAKERZ will begin selling radio controlled Lightning McQueen, Mater, and Sally cars. The base models start at $35 and $38, and will be available at RIDEMAKERZ retail locations starting October 8, but not be offered through their Web site until November.
…Rancho del Zocalo has added two seasonal dishes to its menu: A platter with two tamales for $9.99, and a platter with carne asada and one tamale for $11.49. Both platters come with rice, beans, shredded lettuce, sour cream, guacamole, and warm tortillas. They are not posted on the main menu board, but advertised with a small sign on the serving counter.
Receive a Haunted Mansion Holiday figurine as a gift when you make a purchase from Cafe Orleans or the French Market. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
…The French Market and Cafe Orleans restaurants are participating in a HalloweenTime promotion. When you spend $35 or more at either restaurant (after discount, not including tax), you receive a collectible pewter figurine. There are 13 figures available, and a new design is released each Sunday.
A sea of red-shirted visitors gathers for a planned group ride on the Mark Twain during last weekend’s Gay Days event. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
…The 13th annual Gays Days at the Disneyland Resort event was held last weekend, and the Orange County Register reported that the Knott’s Berry Farm participated as a sponsor of the unofficial event this year (link), quoting a Knott’s spokesperson as saying, “We thought it would be a good idea to participate and capture this market that’s there.” Gay Days drew an estimated 30,000 participants to their 3-day event (link).
…Last week, Team MousePlanet welcomed our 74th member to our CHOCWalk team. Team MousePlanet has raised $5,495.85 for Children’s Hospital Orange County so far. We’re hoping to raise $10,000 for this great local organization, and there are several ways you can help:
- Walk with Team MousePlanet – register to walk with us at the October 17 event, and earn prizes as you meet your fundraising goals (click here). Team MousePlanet Walkers receive a MousePlanet baseball cap at the Walk.
- Raise money with Team MousePlanet – register as a “Sleeping Bear,” (someone who is raising money, but cannot attend the Walk in person), and earn prizes as you meet your fundraising goals (click here).
- Sponsor a specific Team MousePlanet walker – sponsor a Team MousePlanet walker, and help them earn prizes (click here).
If you’d like more information, visit the Team MousePlanet discussion to chat with other participants. If you’re participating in MouseAdventure Holiday: Trick or Treat on Sunday, October 17, rest assured that there is plenty of time to complete the CHOC Walk and make it to the Paradise Pier Hotel for MouseAdventure sign-in. Several of the MouseAdventure crew members are also walking with CHOC Walk, and you know the game won’t start without them.
…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 currently only publishes refurbishment information about six weeks in advance. Be sure to check the most recent Park Update (link) for the latest changes, as MousePlanet does not edit past Park Updates to reflect changes.
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Come out and play with MousePlanet!Would you like to meet your fellow readers and MousePlanet staff? Come join us for one of our community events!Trick or Treat! MousePlanet is hosting an unofficial “MousePlanet Night at Mickey’s Halloween Party” on Friday, October 15. This casual meet is hosted by MousePlanet staff and MousePad Community Leaders. Join the discussion and get more information on MousePad. If you’re planning to attend, be sure to let us know so we can have enough treats for everyone! CHOCWalk with MousePlanet – Sunday, October 17. Mark your calendars and come join Team MousePlanet as we help raise funds for Children’s Hospital Orange County in their annual charity walk through the Disneyland Resort. Registration is now open. If you’d like more information, visit the Team MousePlanet discussion to chat with other participants. There are several ways you can help!
Come Sail Away! Join nearly 80 MousePlanet readers, community leaders and staff members on a 2-night West coast “Cruise to Nowhere” on board the Disney Wonder, January 21-23, 2011. For more information about this cruise, visit our MousePad discussion boards or contact your favorite travel agent. If you’ve already booked, please add your name to the roll call! |
Current Refurbishments and Attraction Closures
Disneyland
- Star Tours – closed for refurbishment and addition of elements for Star Tours 2.0. Expected to open in May 20, 2011.
- Village Haus Restaurant – closed through December 19 for refurbishment.
- Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin – closed through December 16 for refurbishment.
- Donald’s Boat – closed October 12–21 for refurbishment.
- it’s a small world – closed October 25 to November 11 to install the holiday overlay.
- Sailing Ship Columbia – closed November 1–3 for refurbishment.
- Pirates of the Caribbean – closed November 2–3 for refurbishment.
- Blue Bayou restaurant – closed November 2–3 due to Pirates of the Caribbean refurbishment.
- Jungle Cruise – closed November 15–17 for refurbishment.
- Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride – closed November 29 to December 2 for refurbishment.
Disney California Adventure
Seasonal refurbishments:
- Toy Story Midway Mania! – closed through October 11 for refurbishment.
- it’s Tough to be a Bug! – closed October 25–29 for refurbishment.
- Redwood Creek Challenge Trail – closed November 1–18 for refurbishment.
Construction-related closures:
- Burger Invasion – closed through May 24, 2011 for conversion into Paradise Garden Grill.
- Corn Dog Castle – closed due to construction in the area. An employee publication lists March 30, 2011 as its return date.
- Souvenir 66 – closed due to construction in the area. An employee publication lists March 30, 2011 as its return date, and “Seaside Souvenirs” as the new name of the store.
- Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular – closed through October 7 due to construction of the Red Car Line through the Hollywood Pictures Backlot.
- Pizza Oom Mow Mow – closed through May 24, 2011 for conversion to Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta.
- Mulholland Madness – closed October 11, 2010 to April 20, 2011 for conversion to Goofy’s Sky School.
Downtown Disney & Disneyland Resort Hotels
- Disneyland Hotel Guest Laundry – closed due to construction. Hotel guests can use the laundry facility at Disney’s Paradise Pier hotel during the refurbishment.
- Disneyland Hotel Fitness Center – closed due to construction. The fitness center equipment has been relocated to one of the hotel meeting rooms; ask the front desk for the most recent information as you check in.
- Lost Bar, Croc’s Bits ‘n’ Bites, Hook’s Pointe and the Wine Cellar – closed. These four locations will be replaced by a new bar and fast casual restaurant during the Disneyland Hotel courtyard renovation project set to begin August 14. During construction, the only remaining bar at the Disneyland Hotel is the Lounge at Steakhouse 55, which has extended its operating hours, and will be closing at 1:30 a.m. nightly.
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).
Fall
- HalloweenTime at the Disneyland Resort – September 17 to October 31
- Utah Education Association convention (UEA, a.k.a. “Utah Escapes to Anaheim”) – October 14–15. (Link). Expect unusually large attendance levels October 14-17 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.
- Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland – October 1, 5, 8, 12, 15, 19, 22, 26, 29, 31. Advance-purchase tickets are on sale now for Disneyland Resort Annual Passholders via the AP section of Disneyland.com; Disney Visa Card holders and Disney Vacation Club members can also purchase tickets by phone by calling 714-781-4000. Tickets are to the general public via Disneyland.com.
- MousePlanet Night at Mickey’s Halloween Party (unofficial event) – Friday, October 15. Come meet your fellow MousePlanet readers and start your trick-or-treating off right with some MousePlanet goodies. Be sure to stop by our MousePad discussion board to let us know if you plan to attend so we can have enough treats for everyone!
- 2010 CHOC/Disneyland Resort Walk in the Park – Sunday, October 17. Mark your calendars and come join Team MousePlanet as we help raise funds for Children’s Hospital Orange County in its annual charity walk through the Disneyland Resort. Registration is now open. If you’d like more information, visit the Team MousePlanet discussion to chat with other participants.
- MouseAdventure Holiday: Trick or Treat – Sunday, October 17 (link). The event is sold out and registration is now closed.
- Nevada Day (observed) – Friday, October 29 (in Nevada). This state holiday creates a three-day weekend, and many families head to the Disneyland Resort. This year some school districts, including Clark County (Las Vegas) have added two “professional development” days, creating a school holiday October 29 to November 2.
Winter
- Holiday Time at the Disneyland Resort – November 12, 2010 to January 2, 2011.
2011
- West Coast 2-night “Cruise to Nowhere” on the Disney Wonder – January 21–23. Nearly 80 MousePlanet readers and staff members have booked this weekend getaway, the first West Coast Disney Cruise for 2011. For more information about this cruise, visit our MousePad discussion boards or contact your favorite travel agent. If you’ve already booked, please add your name to the roll call!
- Sixth annual Disney’s California Food & Wine Festival – April 29 to June 12. No additional details are available at this time.
- Spring 2011 MouseAdventure – no details yet. Visit MouseAdventure.com to sign up for our newsletter.
- D23 Expo – August 19-21, 2011 at the Anaheim Convention Center. Tickets for the D23 Expo 2011 are now on sale (link).
- Sixth annual Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend – September 2–4. Registration for the 2011 event is scheduled to open Jan. 3, 2011.
We also recommend checking the convention calendar at the Anaheim/Orange County Visitor and Convention Bureau Web site (link). When looking at that site, remember to note both the number of people AND the number of rooms resulting from each convention. A gathering of 25,000 people booking few room nights (indicating most will be driving in to the area for their meeting) can impact traffic around the Resort much more than a crowd of 25,000 staying in area hotels. Of course, that second group is going to make finding a hotel room more difficult (and possibly more expensive), so it’s best to book your own room as early as possible if you see that a big convention is in town during your trip.
Current Discounts & Promotions
Several current promotions offer discounted admission to the Disneyland Resort. For your convenience, we have grouped the discount offers based on the number of days the tickets are valid. Check out the category that best matches the amount of time you plan to spend at the resort, and pick the offer that works best for you. And keep those tips coming—let us know if you find a better or different offer, so we can share it with other readers!
This first section is a list of discounts on ticket-only purchases. Though it has become more common in recent years, Disneyland tickets are rarely offered at deep discounts unless you are a resident of Southern California or Northern Mexico. For residents outside that area, the best discounts available tend to be simple advance purchase discounts.
If you know of any additional discounts, offers, promotions, or contests that should be listed in this section, drop us a line (link). Note, we are no longer listing offers from the Anaheim-Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau, as their convenience fee negates any savings.
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One Day, One Park Ticket – Regularly $76/$68 One Day Park Hopper – Regularly $101/$91 |
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 $151/$136 Two Day Park Hopper – Regularly $161/$146 |
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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Three Day Park Hopper – Regularly $206/$185 |
Advance Purchase 3-day Park Hopper Bonus Ticket ($186/$165) – 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 (a $15/day value). |
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Four Day Park Hopper – Regularly $231/$199 |
Costco 4-Day Park Hopper Ticket ($199) – A special offer for Costco members who are also residents of Southern California, this ticket is currently not sold online but must be purchased in Costco stores. Unlike most other park hopper tickets, this ticket has no “fuse” – you can use the first admission today, and have until May 31, 2011 to use the remaining admission days before the ticket expires. The ticket is blocked out August 22-23 and the entire period between Dec 15, 2010 – Jan 1, 2011, and has an “upgrade value” of $151. The ticket states that visitors “Must reside within ZIP codes 90000-93599” and that “Proof of residency required upon redemption.” The ticket you purchase at Costco is a valid admission ticket, and you can take it directly to a main entrance gate to use it. We’ve been told that, to prevent the unauthorized “transfer” of tickets between visitors (i.e., you use the first two days of the ticket and give it to a friend to use the second two days), visitors will be required to write their name on the ticket when it is first used for admission, and to show ID with that same name upon subsequent admissions. Obviously minor children will be exempt from the ID requirement, but will also be required to write their name on the ticket when it is first used. Adults should plan to have ID with them to use the ticket. Advance Purchase 4-Day Park Hopper Bonus tickets ($201/$178) – 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 $15/day value). These tickets are now valid through January 3, 2011. |
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Five Day Park Hopper – Regularly $251/$219 |
5-Day Park Hopper® Bonus Ticket for the Price of 3 Days ($184/$154) Disneyland’s Summer Park Hopper Bonus ticket offer includes two days free and one Magic Morning admission. These tickets are valid for use through September 30, 2010. The tickets are NOT available at the Resort ticket booths, you must pre-purchase from the Disneyland Web site (link). Advance Purchase 5-Day Park Hopper Bonus tickets ($211/$186) – 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 (a $15-per-day value). |
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Six Day Park Hopper – Regularly $256/$230 |
6-Day Park Hopper® Bonus Ticket for the Price of 3 Days ( $199/$169) Disneyland’s Summer Park Hopper Bonus ticket offer includes two days free and one Magic Morning admission. These tickets are valid for use through September 30, 2010. The tickets are not available at the Resort ticket booths; you must pre-purchase from the Disneyland Web site (link). .Advance Purchase 6-Day Park Hopper Bonus tickets ($216/$190) – 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 (a $15/day value). |
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| Disneyland Resort Annual Passports |
No discounts currently available for new purchases. Southern California residents can take advantage of the monthly-payment plan when purchasing any but the Premier Annual Passport. Premier Annual Passport: $700 [Valid at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort] |
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| 2010 Southern California CityPass $269/$229 |
2010 Southern California CityPass ($269/$229) – This pass includes a 3-Day Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Bonus Ticket (including one early-entry day), a one-day admission to either San Diego Zoo or San Diego Wild Animal Park, as well as one-day admission to Sea World San Diego and Universal Studios Hollywood. The CityPass expires 14 days after first use at any location, and the first use must occur by January 3, 2011. Purchase CityPass through the Disneyland Web site (link) 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 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 $239.99/$204.99 (link), which includes free UPS shipping. A 5% surcharge for non-members, and shipping fees to members in Alaska and Hawaii may also apply to your purchase. 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 or a cardboard placard that you must trade for ticket books prior to leaving Costco! |
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Hotel/Travel Packages
Fall discount offers – Disneyland has extended two discount offers for the three Disneyland Resort Hotels, with extra room-only discounts for travelers who book their trips before the end of September.
If you need a room and theme park tickets, Disneyland is offering a discount of up to $300 on a four-day, four-night vacation package, which includes 4-day Disneyland Resort Park Hopper bonus tickets and four nights at a Disneyland Resort hotel. This package also includes admission to one Magic Morning at Disneyland (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday), admission to Mickey’s Toontown Morning Madness at Disneyland (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, or Saturday), one Walt Disney Travel Company pin and lanyard per person, preferred seating to select shows in Disney’s California Adventure Park (where available; note that Aladdin will be on hiatus for much of the fall), and a Disney Character Call from Mickey, Minnie, or Goofy (offered to guests who book online).The offer is valid for arrivals from October 1 through December 16. Packages can be booked through December 1, and travel must be completed by December 20.
If you don’t need theme park tickets, you can save as much as 40 percent on a room-only reservation with a minimum two-night stay for both standard and concierge-level room rates:
Book October 1 and December 1, and save:
- 20 percent off at Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel
- 25 percent off at The Disneyland Hotel
- 30 percent off at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
Room-only packages include admission to one Magic Morning at Disneyland (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday).
Book online at the Disneyland.com Web site (link), call Walt Disney Travel Company at (714) 520-6425, or contact your favorite travel agent and ask them to look for the “Fall Package Offer.”
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 collectible pin and lanyard, and a Costco luggage tag per person, plus a $20 Disneyland Resort gift card per package.
Disney’s Resort Magic and Good Neighbor Magic Packages – Package includes accommodations one of the three resort hotels or at one of 40 Good Neighbor hotels; Souvenir Park Hopper ticket with voucher for admission to Mickey’s Toontown Morning Madness, plus one Magic Morning (early entry) for three-day or longer Park Hoppers; preferred seating at four DCA attractions (Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular, Muppet*Vision 3D, It’s Tough to be a Bug!, Golden Dreams); Preferred Showing of Turtle Talk with Crush (Priority Viewing at the first Turtle Talk with Crush show of the day, on any one day – one voucher per Guest); Disney Dream coin keepsake (one per package), luggage tag and lanyard with pin; a Downtown Disney Fun Card; and a “Character Call” from Mickey, Minnie, Goofy or Crush. Contact Disney Travel or your favorite travel agent.
Contact a MousePlanet sponsor travel agency for assistance in booking your next trip
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Other Discounts
Character Dining Vouchers – Discounted character dining vouchers are available for purchase online, in advance of your trip, through MousePlanet sponsor Get Away Travel (link).
Disney Visa Discounted Stroller Rental – If you have a Disney Visa card you can rent up to two strollers at a discount of 50%. This offer is valid only at the Main Gate rental location between Disneyland and Disney California Adventure.
Rainforest Cafe Safari Club – Members of the Rainforest Cafe get priority seating when available (which makes a huge difference on busy days), and a 10% discount on entrees for up to four people. 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).
Park Schedule/Blockout Dates
DL: Disneyland
DCA: Disney California Adventure
Annual Pass blockout dates:
- SL – Southern California Select Annual Pass
- SC – Southern California Annual Pass
- DX – Deluxe Annual Pass
Disneyland Resort Special Events:
- MM – Magic Morning at Disneyland
- TT – Toontown Morning Madness at Disneyland
- Grad Nite
- MHP – Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland
MousePlanet Special Events:
- MA – MouseAdventure (www.mouseadventure.com)
| 10/3 | 10/4 | 10/5 | 10/6 |
10/7 |
10/8 | 10/9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DL: 8a-12a
DCA: 10a-10p SL MM |
DL: 9a-8p
DCA: 10a-8p
TT |
DL: 8a-6p DCA: 10a-8p MM |
DL: 9a-8p DCA: 10a-8p TT
|
DL: 9a-10p
DCA: 10a-8p
MM |
DL: 8a-7p
DCA: 10a-11p TT
|
DL: 8a-12a
DCA: 10a-10p SL/SC MM / TT |
| 10/10 | 10/11 | 10/12 | 10/13 |
10/14 |
10/15 | 10/16 |
| DL: 8a-12a
DCA: 10a-10p SL MM |
DL: 8a-12a
DCA: 10a-9p
TT |
DL: 8a-6p DCA: 10a-9p MM |
DL: 9a-8p DCA: 10a-8p TT
|
DL: 8a-11p
DCA: 10a-8p
MM |
DL: 8a-7p
DCA: 10a-11p TT
|
DL: 8a-12a
DCA: 10a-10p SL/SC MM / TT |
| 10/17 | 10/18 | 10/19 | 10/20 |
10/21 |
10/22 | 10/23 |
| DL: 9a-12a
DCA: 10a-10p SL MM |
DL: 9a-8p
DCA: 10a-8p
TT |
DL: 8a-6p DCA: 10a-8p MM |
DL: 9a-8p DCA: 10a-8p TT
|
DL: 9a-8p
DCA: 10a-8p
MM |
DL: 8a-7p
DCA: 10a-11p TT
|
DL: 8a-12a
DCA: 10a-10p SL/SC MM / TT |
| 10/24 | 10/25 | 10/26 | 10/27 |
10/28 |
10/29 | 10/30 |
| DL: 8a-12a
DCA: 10a-10p SL MM |
DL: 8a-6p
DCA: 10a-8p
TT |
DL: 8a-6p DCA: 10a-8p MM |
DL: 9a-8p DCA: 10a-8p TT
|
DL: 9a-8p
DCA: 10a-8p
MM |
DL: 8a-7p
DCA: 10a-11p TT
|
DL: 8a-12a
DCA: 10a-10p SL/SC MM / TT |
| 10/31 | 11/1 | 11/2 | 11/3 |
11/4 |
11/5 | 11/6 |
| DL: 8a-12a
DCA: 10a-10p SL MM |
DL: 8a-8p
DCA: 10a-8p
TT |
DL: 8a-8p DCA: 10a-8p MM |
DL: 9a-8p DCA: 10a-8p TT
|
DL: 10a-8p
DCA: 10a-8p
MM |
DL: 9a-12a
DCA: 10a-10p TT
|
DL: 8a-11p
DCA: 10a-10p SL/SC MM / TT |
| 11/7 | 11/8 | 11/9 | 11/10 |
11/11 |
11/12 | 11/13 |
| DL: 8a-11a
DCA: 10a-10p SL MM |
DL: 10a-8p
DCA: 10a-8p
TT |
DL: 10a-8p DCA: 10a-8p MM |
DL: 9a-8p DCA: 10a-8p TT
|
DL: 8a-11p
DCA: 10a-9p SL/SC |
DL: 8a-12a
DCA: 10a-10p SL/SC TT
|
DL: 8a-12a
DCA: 10a-10p SL/SC MM / TT |
Visit our Annual Passholders Blockout Dates page to see more dates. You can see future calendar schedules at Disneyland. As always, specifics are subject to change without notice (or occasionally, without us noticing) so when information conflicts between what is presented here and that presented by Disney, it is best to assume Disney’s information is correct.
Visit the Park Hours section of our Disneyland Park guide for additional details about Magic Morning and Toontown Morning Madness, including available attractions.
Entertainment schedule: Go directly to the Disneyland Resort schedule for this week at Disneyland.com here.
