Disneyland Resort Update

Update for June 22 – 28, 2015

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

News and Views

All-American College Band returns for summer season | Inside Out pre-parade debuts at Disney California Adventure | WANTED: MousePlanet readers to help out at the D23 Expo | This and that… | Crowd Forecast

All-American College Band returns for summer season

The 2015 All-American College Band debuted last week, kicking off its 45th season. The band consists of musicians recruited from colleges around the country, selected during a lengthy audition process. The band is currently scheduled to perform Tuesday through Saturday through August 14, 2015. They are dark on Sundays and Mondays.

The 2015 Disneyland All-American College Band performs at Sleeping Beauty Castle. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

The group performs five sets per day:

• 3:00 p.m. – Hollywood Backlot Stage; Disney California Adventure
• 5:15 p.m. – Flag retreat; Disneyland Town Square
• 6:15 p.m. – Sleeping Beauty Castle
• 7:15 p.m. – Town Square
• 8:15 p.m. – Parade route, before the Paint the Night parade

The band also performs on the parade route as it marches between the 6:15 p.m. Castle set and the 7:15 p.m. Town Square set. You can watch a video of the band's Castle set on our MousePlanetVideo YouTube channel. This set features attraction theme songs and other familiar Disney anthems.

The band's set list includes attraction themes from the Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean and more. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

The 2015 Disneyland All-American College Band performs at Sleeping Beauty Castle on June 20, 2015. MousePlanet video.

Inside Out pre-parade debuts at Disney California Adventure

A new pre-parade stepped off last week at Disney California Adventure to coincide with the premiere of the new Disney Pixar film Inside Out. The float appears in front of the Pixar Play Parade, and features the five emotion characters from the film (Anger, Disgust, Joy, Fear, and Sadness). Jugglers accompany the float as it proceeds down the parade route. On most days, the pre-parade steps off at 5:05 p.m., 10 minutes ahead of the daily Pixar Play Parade.

Jugglers accompany the new “Inside Out” float during a new pre-parade at Disney California Adventure. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

This is a surprisingly detailed float when compared to some other pre-parade units we've seen. Given the box office success of the film, it wouldn't be a surprise to see it make a permanent addition to the Pixar Play Parade. You can see the new pre-parade in our video below. We've also posted the full performance of the Diamond Anniversary version of the Pixar Play Parade so you can check out the current show.

The five emotion characters from the new Disney Pixar movie “Inside Out” are represented on the new pre-parade float. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Inside Out merchandise is available at many theme park shops. The selection includes a mix of Disney Store items and Disney Parks-exclusive designs. The movie has also inspired some new menu items at Award Weiners in Disney California Adventure. The counter-service location has a new Jubilant Joy Dog and Angry HOT Dog, which you can wash down with a Joy-ful Splash or Spicy Fear-less Lemonade. Both drinks are available in a souvenir Inside Out tumbler.

The new float includes several kinetic elements, including spinning flowers and a looping track with balls. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

A new pre-parade based on Inside Out leads the Pixar Play Parade at Disney California Adventure. MousePlanet video.

WANTED! MousePlanet readers to help out at the D23 Expo

MousePlanet will be back for the 2015 D23 Expo in Anaheim, and we have lots of fun planned for the event. We are looking for readers to help out at our booth at the Expo, both during the event itself but also with the set-up and tear-down days.

Volunteers receive a MousePlanet shirt to wear at the Expo and keep afterwards. If you volunteer for two shifts, you also receive a one-day pass to the Expo to use on the third day. (So if you sign up for shifts on Friday and Sunday, you could spend Saturday at the Expo for free) If you were only planning to spend a day at the Expo to look around, this might be the perfect option for you.

Here's what we're looking for, and what you would be doing depending on the day:

If you're interested, please e-mail Adrienne for more information.

This and that…

…If you have an iPhone and love Starbucks, you'll be glad to know that the Downtown Disney Anaheim location participates in Mobile Order & Pay. This new service lets you order and pay for your drink in advance using the Starbucks app, and pick it up at the store without standing in line. For example, you can order your drink from your hotel room before heading into the parks, or order while you're waiting for a tram from the Mickey and Friends parking structure. The app is only available for the iPhone now, but an Android version is in the works.

…The Ghirardelli ice cream shop in Disney California Adventure has debuted a new display offering assorted fruits, nuts, and candies covered in milk or dark chocolate. The offering is priced at $9.95 per half pound, the same rate as the pick-a-mix assortment of wrapped Ghirardelli candies, but the two products can not be combined. Several readers have noted a seeming disconnect in this new offering, coming as it does as Ghirardelli is taking steps to remove all peanut products from its manufacturing facilities and restaurants. The Disney Food Blog reported that Ghirardelli recently discontinued the peanut butter-topped Gold Rush sundae at its Walt Disney World location, though the confection is still available at the Disney California Adventure shop.

Customers can purchase chocolate-covered almonds, malt balls, and cherries from the Ghirardelli shop in Disney California Adventure. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

…The California Screamin' Diamond Celebration photo spot is open in Disney California Adventure. Families may find that it's easier for their children to pose at this location than at the Grizzly Peak photo spot, because the bench behind the front section is high enough to properly position smaller subjects.

MousePlanet parenting columnist Adrienne Krock (right) and her youngest child enjoy a virtual ride on California Screamin'. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

…Reader Dawn Moreno asks us to pass along a reminder to parents not to leave belongings in unattended strollers, especially when visiting Downtown Disney. Dawn writes that her family discovered their stroller and contents were stolen during an early June visit to Downtown Disney. She said she was advised to lock her stroller and put an identifying marker on it. Our Parenting in the Parks columnist Adrienne Krock has touched on stroller security many times over the past 15 years, but the advice from one of her earliest MousePlanet columns has stood the test of time:

“I do know that some people take bicycle locks with them and lock their strollers up, so that is an option to consider if you're concerned about this. One thing to keep in mind is that some attractions, such as Alice in Wonderland and Small World are along parade routes, so if you're going to lock your stroller, try to find out where the route is and park your stroller so that it will not be in the way.

“Just because you can not find your stroller where you left it does not mean it's been stolen. At times, while we're in attractions or shows, the cast members (CMs) may have to move strollers around. Sometimes this is done to make room for an oncoming parade, other times they are efficiently organizing the stroller parking area to make room for more strollers. You need to keep in mind that you may not find your stroller in the same place where you left it.”

Just remember that you should never lock or chain your stroller to a fence or gate. This is a security flag for Disneyland, and you will likely return to find your lock has been cut (at best), or, at worst, your stroller being searched by the Anaheim Police Department and its bomb-sniffing dogs.

Of course, locking your stroller does nothing to prevent your possessions from being stolen if you choose to leave them unattended. While you're less likely to find someone rummaging through your unattended diaper bag while you're on the Mad Tea Party, your purse, camera bag or day bag are fair game for passing opportunists. Be careful not to leave your phone or camera in the stroller tray, since those are quick to grab and easy to conceal.

…Vinylmation collectors might be interested in a one-of-a-kind original Mickey Mouse figure created for the grand opening of the Aulani Resort in Hawaii. The artist original Vinylmation figurine was created by kapa artist Dalani Tanahy. All proceeds from the auction benefits Children's Hospital Orange County. The auction closes Wednesday, June 29 at 7:50 p.m. (Pacific).

All proceeds from the sale of this one-of-a-kind Vinylmation figure benefit Children's Hospital Orange County. MousePlanet photo.

…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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Crowd Forecast

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MousePlanet

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 > option 4.

Disneyland

• Captain EO – closed; reopening date unknown.
• Innoventions – closed; reopening date unknown.
• Starcade – closed for renovation; reopening date now TBD.
• Peter Pan's Flight –closed through July 1 for refurbishment.

Disney California Adventure

• Blue Sky Cellar – reopening date now TBD.
• Luigi's Flying Tires – closed. Ride to be removed and replaced. Reopening date unknown.
• Muppet*Vision 3D – closed indefinitely due to the Frozen Fun overlay.

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).

2015

• 2015 Paint Your Way To Miracles and Magic – Saturday, June 27. Registration now open at the event website.
• All-American College Band Reunion – Saturday, August 1. Performance at 3:45 p.m., stepping off from Town Square.
• 2015 Taste of Downtown Disney District – Thursday, August 13 from 5:30 – 10:00. Tickets information to be announced at the event website.
• D23 Expo – August 14-16 at the Anaheim Convention Center. Tickets available on the event website.
• 2015 Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend – September 3–6. All events are sold out. Details at the runDisney website.
• Dapper Day Fall Soiree (Unofficial event) – September 18. Details at the Dapper Day website.
• Gay Days at Disneyland (Unofficial event) – October 2–4. More information on the event website.
• 2015 CHOC Walk in the Park – Sunday, October 11 at the Disneyland Resort. Registration is now open via the event website. MousePlanet readers, friends, and family are invited to register with Team MousePlanet and walk with our group.
• Utah Education Association convention (UEA, a.k.a. “Utah Escapes to Anaheim”) – October 15-16. Expect unusually large attendance levels October 16–20 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.
• 2015 Avengers Half Marathon Weekend – November 12–15. Most events are sold out, but space remains in the half marathon race. Details on the runDisney website.

2016

• 2016 Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend – January 14–17. Registration opens June 16.
• 2016 Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend – May 5–8. Registration opens August 11.
• Utah Education Association convention (UEA, a.k.a. “Utah Escapes to Anaheim”) – October 20–21.

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.

Merchandise Events

Current Discounts & Promotions

Disneyland prices as of February 2015.

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.

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!

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
• EA – 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

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.