Disneyland Resort Update

Update for April 27 – May 3, 2009

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

News and Views

MouseAdventure: Trains, Trams and Monorails | Disney’s California Food & Wine Festival opens | Summer Nightastic promotion | 3-Day Summer Fun Pass | Nor Cal no-go | Marty Sklar retiring | This and That

MouseAdventure: Trains, Trams and Monorails

Over 700 players took part in the Spring 2009 MouseAdventure: Trains, Trams & Monorails event this weekend. A full recap and event results will be published next week, but we’d like to congratulate the winning teams and thank all of the players and crew who keep coming back for another dose of trivia and challenges.

We want to extend a special thanks to those teams who so generously contributed an amazing total of 697 boxes of macaroni and cheese to Second Harvest through our MouseAdventure Food Drive.

MouseAdventure: Trains, Trams & Monorails – Advanced division

Rank	Team	Final Adjusted Time
First	Simba’s Pride	4:54
Second	Peter’s Pans	5:02
Third	Oswald Returns	5:14

MouseAdventure: Trains, Trams & Monorails – Basic division

Rank	Team	Score (out of 570 points)
First	Team Happy Place	512
Second	Mickey’s Marauders	511
Third	Team 29	510
Fourth	Disney Pups	509
Fifth	Heffatooies	504
Best Family Team	The Kid Switches	479
Best New Team	Team 147	464

Our next MouseAdventure event in Sunday, May 10 at the Disneyland Resort. MouseAdventure: Day at the Park is a perfect “taste” of MouseAdventure for new players as well as returning teams who play “just for fun.” Registration closes Friday, May 1 (link).

A new MouseAdventure team tries to reassemble scrambled photos of Main Street buildings. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

If you just completed the Trains, Trams & Monorails event and want to chat with fellow players, join the conversation on our MousePad discussion board (link). If you’re registered for the Day at the Park event and want to get hints and tips from returning players and the MouseAdventure crew, come join the discussion (link).

Disney’s California Food & Wine Festival opens

When Disney first launched “Food and Wine Weekends” in 2005, MousePlanet’s Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix wrote of opening weekend: “You may enter DCA and wonder if the event was canceled. There are no signs outside or right inside DCA announcing it, the three open turnstiles were out of event programs when we entered, and I don’t think there’s even mention of it in the park map.” The fourth annual Disney’s California Food & Wine Festival is now underway, and what a difference a few years make. The Festival has now grown into a six-week event, festival banners are visible from the moment you approach the front gates to Disney’s California Adventure, and slick, full-color souvenir booklets are stacked at every turnstile.

Just beyond the Golden Gate Bridge, a huge white tent provides shade for the Showcase Stage while making the entire venue impossible to miss. Cast members stationed at the Festival Welcome Center, conveniently located inside the Sunshine Plaza, are ready to answer your questions and help you make reservations for over 100 Signature events. Even if sales of the Signature events are a little soft this year, Festival organizers can’t help but be pleased by the opening weekend crowds that packed the complimentary events and created long lines at the participating food locations.

Interview with Gary Maggetti about Disney’s Food & Wine Festival (part 1 of 2).

Interview with Gary Maggetti about Disney’s Food & Wine Festival (part 2 of 2).

With the Lucky Fortune Cookery is closed for renovation, the festival tasting menu usually offered at that venue has been replaced with “festival-inspired” dishes at many of the park restaurants. Many readers are disappointed that the smaller tasting portions have been replaced with full-size (and full-price) entrees; others seem happy that they can get meal-sized portions of favorite dishes like the White Cheddar Cheese Soup offered at the Pacific Wharf Cafe. Descriptions, prices and availability of these dishes are listed below.

Award Wieners

Riviera Lobster Salad in Brioche Baguette with Chips – $8.99
Prized as the King of Crustaceans! Divine mixture of Lobster, celery, onions, garlic, mayonnaise, lemon juice, herbs and seasonings served chilled in a Brioche Baguette.

Chalone Chardonnay $8.50
Canyon Road Merlot $7.75
Widmer Hefewizen $6.75
Stella Artois $6.75

Disney’s California Food & Wine Festival has expanded to six weeks for 2009. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix. 

Cove Bar

Chilled Seafood Martini – $10.99. Scallops, Shrimp and Dungeness Crab tossed with fresh Mangoes, Red and Green Onions, Serrano Chilies, fresh Cilantro, Avocado, Yuzu Juice with house-made Tortilla Chips.
Trio of Sliders – $14.00. Featuring Lobster, Pulled Pork and Pepper-Crusted Tenderloin.

Cucina Cucamonga

Chicken Tamales – $9.99
Two chicken tamales topped with Green Chili- Tomatillo sauce, shredded cheese, accompanied by Mexican rice, refried beans, Pico de Gallo, guacamole and sour cream.

Dulce de Leche Empanada – with Tropical Fruit $4.99

Bud Light Lime $6.25
Widmer Hefewizen $6.75
Martin Codax Albarino $7.75
Hahn Estate Merlot $7.75

Farmers Market

Garlic and Red Bell Pepper Hummus with Tabbouleh Salad – $7.49
Served with fresh vegetables and mini Boudin breadsticks.

Widmer Hefewizen $6.75
Stella Artois $6.75

The Showcase Stage offers improved sound, lighting and shade for the culinary demonstrations. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix. 

Pacific Wharf Cafe

White Cheddar Cheese Soup – $9.49
Featuring Karl Strauss Pale Ale in a Sourdough Bread Bowl.

Pizza Oom Mow Mow

Chicken Panzarotti – $8.99
Ravioli filled with fresh chicken, lightly tossed in Taleggio-Parmigiano sauce and topped with sun dried tomatoes and basil.

Lasorda Pinot Grigio $7.75
Lasorda Chianti $7.50
Widmer Hefewizen $6.75
Stella Artois $6.75

The new Festival Wine Walks offer samples of three different wines for $10. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix. 

Taste Pilots Grill

Tataki Salad (Seared Ahi Tuna) – $9.99
Ahi tuna marinated and seared medium rare atop a blend of Napa Cabbage, Romaine, Thai Basil, Sugar Snap Peas and Red Peppers, garnished with Orange Segments, Cucumbers, Carrots, Green Onions, Toasted Almonds and a Wasabi Aioli. Served with our Citrus Ponzu Vinaigrette.

New Harbor Sauvignon Blanc $8.75
Morello Sangiovese $7.50
Widmer Hefewizen $6.75
Stella Artois $6.75

Golden Vine Winery

Flight Selection – A wine flight is a tasting (2 oz) of three different served together, offering you an ideal way to explore and compare.

First-Class Flight: International Sparklers – $15
Nicolas Feulliate, Magicale, Paul Chenau Blanc de Blancs

Old Vines – $20
XYZin 10 Year, XYZin 50 Year, XYZin 100 Year

California Dreaming – $17
MacMurray Ranch Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, Moon Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, Brassfield Syrah

Flight of the Chardonnay – $21
Three exquisite Chardonnays from storied vineyards of Patz & Hall

Flight to Italy – $17
Torto Pinot Nero, Lasorda Pinot Grigio, Verve Negromano “Buono Viaggio!”

Riesling Flight – $13
Eroica, Washington State; Dr. Loosen, Mosel, Germany; Pfeffingen, Pflaz, Germany

Flight Around the World – $20
Martin Codax Alabarinyo, Spain; Matua Valley Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand; Don Miguel Gascon Malbec, Argentina; Black Pearl Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, South Africa

Appetizer Selection:

Spanish Jamon Serrano with Melon $13
Wine Country Cheese Platter served with Artisan Bread $15
Succulent Shrimp Flat Bread with Dill Marscapone $12
Kimchi Bulgogi Tacos (Kimchi and BBQ Beef Tacos) served on warm
Tortillas with fresh Cabbage, Korean Hot Chili Sauce, Kimchi,
Mozzarella and Cheddar cheeses $11
Duo of Pepper-Crusted Beef Tenderloin Sliders $12
Spicy Marinated Olives $7
Duo of Bruschetta: Tomato-Basil and Tapenade $9
Driscoll’s Strawberry and Ghirardelli Chocolate Parfait – Layers of
fresh Strawberries, Red Velvet Cake, Milk and Honey-Dark Chocolate
topped with sweet Cream Cheese $10
Assorted Cookies, Fruit, and Valrhona Chocolate Dipping Sauce $10

A selection of event-logo merchandise is offered for sale at a cart near the Showcase Stage. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix. 

The most popular addition to this year’s Festival seems to be the Festival Wine Walks located in the Bountiful Valley area. A $10 tasting passport lets you sample three vintages from a large selection of either “California Classics” or “Wines of the World.” Beer lovers can sample four “International Brews” at the Festival Beer Walk in the Pacific Wharf area.

MousePlanet’s Stephanie Wien attended the first Festival Wine Reception, and shares her impression of this Signature Event:

Gary [Maggetti, General Manager, Food and Beverage] opened the reception with a welcome and overview of how the DCA Food and Wine Festival has grown from small beginnings to the large number of events being offered this year. He then introduced Kathie Kennedy-Shab of Gallo wines who was also in attendance. She stated that there are 12 new wines being offered at this year’s reception from a wide geographic area.

There are three wine stations set up around the reception area with wines generally grouped by country of origin. You can try as many as you wish, as often as you wish, and some of the servers were quite generous with their pours. I was disappointed that we weren’t given any kind of tasting notes sheets that would have allowed me to write down my impressions of each wine I tasted for future reference. I made this suggestion, so hopefully something like that will be provided for subsequent receptions.

The were five food items offered: a beef skewer, a selection of three cheeses, a polenta cake, buttered-lobster quesadilla and a salmon roll with caviar. The standout to me was the lobster quesadilla, which was drizzled with a Meyer lemon aioli; the aioli had just the right amount of acidity to offset the richness of the lobster. A close second was the cheese selection, especially the honey-topped goat cheese from Russian River. It would have been nice to have more information on the cheeses and the other foods. Perhaps some kind of tasting notes pamphlet with a few recipes for the dishes that were served.

The reception didn’t seem to be overly crowded, although I’m not sure what the official count was. There were some bottleneck points in the service however, especially at the cheese station. The server had to put crackers on a plate, then cut a small piece of each cheese. If there had been more people, I can imagine the line would have gotten longer than the usual five people deep that it seemed to be for most of the reception. Also, some servers were more stingy about giving two of an item than others, which was somewhat comical given the size of the salmon appetizer (smaller than a soda bottle cap). They did a good job keeping the food fresh and warm.

Overall, I was not that impressed with the reception. The food and wine were good, but I’m not sure I would consider it a good value for $55. I was expecting a bit more in-depth information on the food and wine than what we received, but it would be a nice opportunity to have a pleasant evening with like-minded friends, and no doubt the cast members would do their best to answer any questions.

Disney’s California Food & Wine Festival runs daily through June 7. Daily schedules are available on the Festival Web site (link). Many of the event locations have relocated this year due to the ongoing construction around the Paradise Pier area, so be sure to consult the event map, available now on the Festival Web site, before you visit so you know where to go and what to expect (link).

Summer Nightastic promotion

The Disneyland Resort introduced a new Summer Nightastic marketing campaign last week, featuring Magical, an all-new fireworks show, and enhancements to Fantasmic! and Disney’s Electrical Parade. A new teen dance club in Tomorrowland, a nighttime overlay to the recently-opened Pixie Hollow, and what was described as glowing food, drink and merchandise will round out the after-dark promotion, offered nightly June 12 through August 23. The promotion was announced last week with a talk-show style presentation for local and national media outlets, and the segments give a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the new enhancements.

Disney’s Summer Nightastic promotion hopes to draw visitors to experience new and enhanced evening entertainment. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix. 

Magical

Steven Davison, Vice President Parades and Spectaculars at The Walt Disney Company, is back with his latest fireworks spectacular, Magical. Broadway star (and former Disneyland performer) Eden Espinosa will sing the show’s new theme, which will feature songs from Pinocchio, Mary Poppins and Dumbo. For the first time ever, Dumbo will “fly” above Sleeping Beauty Castle. Dumbo is being constructed by famed puppet designer Michael Curry, and Davison calls the puppet “the cutest thing since sliced bread.”

Disneyland’s new Magical fireworks show will debut June 12. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix. 

Eden Espinosa returns to Disneyland as the featured vocalist for the new theme song. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix. 

The show begins with the Magic of Childhood section. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix. 

Pyrotechnic “strings” are featured in The Magic of a Wish section. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix. 

Mary Poppins is represented by four songs in The Magic of Imagination section. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix. 

Eden Espinosa will perform “Baby Mine” as Dumbo flies above Sleeping Beauty Castle in The Magic of a Mother’s Love section. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix. 

Magical features new show effects, including colored searchlights and a flying Dumbo puppet. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix. 

The show concludes with the Magic of a Kiss section, and a multicolored finale. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix. 

Steven Davison talks about the new summer fireworks show, Magical (part 1 of 2).

Steven Davison talks about the new summer fireworks show, Magical (part 2 of 2).

Fantasmic

18 years after Fantasmic! first appeared at Disneyland, the show finally gets the three-dimensional dragon shown in the promotional materials. The 40-foot tall, fire-breathing dragon is now fully-automated, and weighs 5 tons. The show is joined by puppets of Flotsam and Jetsam, designed by puppet designer Michael Curry and built around personal watercraft. A new Crocodile figure will follow Captain Hook around the Rivers of America.

The all-new Maleficent Dragon rises above a castle tower. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix. 

Flotsam and Jetsam will join the cast of Fantasmic this summer. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix. 

Show Carla Carlisle talks about the changes to Fantasmic, and shares video of the new 40-foot tall Maleficent dragon.
 

Disney’s Electrical Parade

When the Electrical Parade came to Disney’s California Adventure, some of the parade floats did not make the return trip from Disneyland Paris. Snow White’s Mine Scene float and the two Pleasure Island units will return to the parade this summer, led by a brand-new Tinker Bell float. The floats have been renovated with new lighting, and will roll down the parade route to a new arrangement of “Baroque Hoedown.” You can hear a bit of the new arrangment in the introduction to the video below.

Tinker Bell replaces the Blue Fairy at the head of Disney’s Electrical Parade when it returns to Disney’s California Adventure in June. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix. 

Trails of Pixie Dust decorate many of the returning floats. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix. 

The Alice in Wonderland float will have a brand-new Cheshire Cat. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix. 

Captain Hook’s ship is taller, and has a new skull. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix. 

Disneyland Resort Senior Show Director Denny Newell talks about enhancements to Disney’s Electrical Parade, and the Pixie Hollow Enchantment.

Pixie Hollow Enchantment

Disneyland’s Pixie Hollow attraction opened in 2008 with one major challenge – the popular meet-and-greet area closes at dusk. During the Summer Nightastic promotion, Pixie Hollow and the nearby pond will be decorated with new brand-new lighting effects, fountains and music.

Pixie Hollow Enchantment. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix. 

TLT Dance Club

The TLT Dance Club at Tomorrowland Terrace in Disneyland is likely to be wildly popular with local teens, and a source of irritation to anyone trying to navigate through Tomorrowland after dark. DJs from local radio stations will provide the entertainment most week nights, and live bands, including up-and-coming Disney Channel stars, will perform some weekend nights.

3-Day Summer Fun Pass

Southern California and Northern Baja residents can take advantage of the newly-announced 3-day Summer Fun Pass to visit the Disneyland Resort three times within a 45-day period for $99, a savings of up to $100 off of an adult 3-Day Park Hopper Ticket. Unlike the Southern California 2Fer Ticket, the Summer Fun Pass is a park-hopper ticket, which lets you visit both Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure on the same day. This ticket has a 45-day “fuse,” (instead of the usual 13- or 30-day limit), giving you more time to plan your return visit, and is not valid on the 4th of July. The first use of the pass must be between June 1 and August 23, 2009, and the usual terms and conditions apply:

• Summer Fun Pass is a 3-Day Park Hopper Ticket valid for Southern California residents within ZIP codes 90000-93599 and Northern Baja California residents within ZIP codes 21000-22999.
• Proof of residency required for admission.
• TICKET IS NOT VALID ON 7/4/09.
• Tickets are valid 45 days from first use.
• First use must occur between 6/1/09 through 8/23/09.
• Each day of use constitutes one full day of use.
• Limit 8 tickets per person per day with valid ID.
• Tickets may not be sold or transferred for commercial use.
• Offer may not be combined with other discounts or promotions. [Except for the “What Will You Celebrate?” birthday admission offer.]
• Ticket not valid before 6/1/09.
• Other restrictions may apply. All offers, events, tickets, services, attractions and entertainment are subject to change without notice.

MousePlanet recommends that you purchase your admission tickets in advance of your visit whenever possible to avoid long lines at the ticket booths. The 3-day Summer Fun Pass will be offered at Disneyland.com, Disney Stores and at the Disneyland Resort ticket booths, as well as participating Vons, Albertsons, Ralphs, Stater Bros., Food 4 Less and Gelsons grocery stores. Toys ‘R’ Us and home furnishings retailer Dearden’s will also offer the tickets at their retail stores.

NorCal no-go

When the Disneyland Resort introduced the monthly-payment annual passport program last December, the terms of the offer and all of the posted marketing materials stated that the financing program was only available to residents of Southern California. Even so, a Disney ticket agent advised MousePlanet that Northern Californians could use the monthly payment program for Deluxe or Premium Passports with a supervisor’s approval, and several MousePlanet readers from Northern California reported that they had been allowed to finance their annual passes. Many of these same readers were surprised to receive a letter last week advising them “you were inadvertently sold a pass under a program in which you are, regrettably, ineligible to participate.” The letter went on to advise that no further payments would collected, but that the annual passports would be valid through the date printed on the pass. Once the current passport expires, the passholder can renew by making a standard, one-time payment.

After the initial shock wore off and readers realized their passport had not been canceled, but that they were actually being allowed to keep it for the full year without making additional payments, most were extremely happy – if still somewhat confused – by the unusual situation. For those Northern California readers who had still hoped to finance their annual pass, you should consider this loophole closed.

Marty Sklar retiring

MousePlanet’s Mark Goldhaber writes about the announced retirement of a true Disney original:

Disney Legend and Walt Disney Imagineering Ambassador Marty Sklar announced in a letter to all Imagineers last Friday that he would be retiring effective July 17. Sklar started his Disney career at Disneyland just before the park’s opening when, as editor of the UCLA Daily Bruin, he was recruited to create The Disneyland News, a tabloid newspaper set in 1890 that was sold on Main Street, U.S.A. during Disneyland’s first year. He returned to UCLA for his senior year at the end of the summer, but was back at Disney the following September working at Disneyland publicity and marketing to create Vacationland magazine.

Marty Sklar stands in front of Herb Ryman’s original Disneyland sketch during an event at the Oakland Museum of California in 2006. Photo by Frank Anzalone.

Sklar would go on to essentially become Walt Disney’s personal scriptwriter, crafting much of what Walt said in interviews, on TV and in official company publications. He advanced through the ranks at Imagineering, to Vice President of Concepts and Planning and eventually to President and Vice-Chairman and Principal Creative Executive before moving into more of a public-relations role as Imagineering Ambassador just over three years ago.

Sklar is the only cast member to have had an active role in the opening of all 11 Disney theme parks to date, and is a living piece of Disney history. He’s now working on a book about his career at Disney. We here at MousePlanet thank him for his role in Disney history and wish him well at all of his future endeavors.

This and That

…Retired Walt Disney Imagineers Rolly Crump and Don Edgren will be honored at a ceremony at Disneyland before park opening on Wednesday, April 29. The duo, who worked on attractions such as Pirates of the Caribbean, The Haunted Mansion, The Enchanted Tiki Room and “it’s a small world,” as well as New Orleans Square, will be honored with a window above the Silhouette Studio on Main Street, USA

…Fastpass service will not be offered at the following attractions through Thursday, April 30: Autopia, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, Grizzly River Run, Mullholand Madness and the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.

Construction continues on the viewing area for the Wonderful World of Color show. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix. 

…The Golden Zephyr is closed until further notice. No explanation was available for this unscheduled closure.

…Downtown Disney’s Illuminations store is scheduled to close today, giving employees a few last days to pack up unsold inventory before the end of the month.

Mickey’s Fun Wheel was unwrapped this week. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix. 

…The scaffolding around Mickey’s Fun Wheel came down this weekend, and the ride will begin testing this week in advance of the scheduled May 7th opening date.

Disneyland celebrated Earth Day with an interactive art project in Downtown Disney. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix. 

…MousePlanet readers always want to know when the holiday decorations will be added or removed from Disneyland. Based on some tentative dates we’ve seen, it looks like the 2009 holiday season will run November 20, 2009 – January 3, 2010.

…Visitors planning trips to the Disneyland Resort should make a point to check the Current Refurbishment/Attraction Closures section each week for the most recent updates. The Disneyland Resort Web site is currently only publishing refurbishment information about 6 weeks in advance. Be sure to check the most recent Park Update for the latest changes, as MousePlanet does not edit past Park Updates to reflect changes.

Current Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Disneyland

• Disneyland: The First 50 Magical Years – closed through September 25 to return Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln to the Main Street Opera House.
• Astro Orbitor – closed April 20 – June 12 for refurbishment.
• Pirates of the Caribbean – closed April 27 – 30 for refurbishment.
• Peter Pan’s Flight – closed May 4 – June 7 for refurbishment.
• Hungry Bear Restaurant – closes May 4 – 15 for refurbishment.
• Sailing Ship Columbia – closes May 18 – 20 for refurbishment.
• Snow White’s Scary Adventures – closed June 8 – July 3 for refurbishment.

Disney’s California Adventure

Refurbishments: 

• Sun Wheel – closed through May 7, 2009 for refurbishment and to install the new Mickey face.
• King Triton’s Carousel – closed March 9 – May 21, 2009 for refurbishment.
• Redwood Creek Challenge Trail – closes May 18 – 22 for refurbishment.
• Golden Zephyr – closed until further notice.

Construction-related closures: 

• The Vineyard Room – closed. No announcement has been made about a potential replacement for this restaurant, but an employee publication lists October 4, 2009 as the return date.
• Golden Dreams – closed. This attraction will eventually be replaced with the new Little Mermaid ride.
• Burger Invasion – closed. No announcement has been made about a potential replacement for this former McDonald’s location, but an employee publication lists May 12, 2011 as the return date.
• Paradise Pier Lagoon – currently drained while workers complete several construction projects in the area. The Lagoon is scheduled to be refilled after Labor Day 2009.
• Golden State Amphitheater – area closed for construction of new viewing area for Disney’s World of Color water show. The area is scheduled to reopen December 18, 2009.
• The Lucky Fortune Cookery – This restaurant area, largely unused for the past several years except during special events, is closed through June 18, 2009 for renovation into a new counter-service restaurant.
• Corn Dog Castle – closes June 1 because of construction in the area. An employee publication lists May 26, 2011 as the return date.
• Souvenir 66 – closes June 1 because of construction in the area. An employee publication lists May 26, 2011 as the return date.
• Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill – The restaurant will close once the Lucky Fortune Cookery reopens on June 18, and will be closed through September 14 for renovation into a new counter-service restaurant.
•  

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

Park Events

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

Spring

• Disney’s California Food and Wine Festival – Daily, April 24 to June 7, 2009. A listing of many of the signature and complimentary events is now available on the event Web site (link). Online registration is now open for available Signature Events.
• MouseAdventure: Day at the Park – Sunday, May 10 at the Disneyland Resort (link). Registration closes Friday, May 1. Be sure to register for the MouseAdventure Newsletter to receive announcements about future events (link).
• Bats Day in the Fun Park (unofficial event) – Sunday May 3, 2009 (link).
• CHOC Food & Wine Festival at Downtown Disney – Thursday, May 7, 2009 (link).
• 2009 Grad Nite events – Thursdays, May 14, May 21, May 28 and June 4; Wednesday, June 10; Thursdays, June 11 and June 18.

Summer

• Summer Pin Festival Kick-Off Event – Saturday, June 20, 2009 (link). The event is now sold out (link).
• Summer Pin Festival – Daily, June 19 to August 9, 2009 (link).
• Unofficial Star Wars Day at Disneyland – June 27 (link).
• NFFC 25th Anniversary Disneyana Convention – July 14-18, 2009.
• MousePlanet.com “birthday” party at the Celebration BBQ at Big Thunder Ranch – Saturday, July 18, 2009. Stay posted for additional information as it becomes available.
• NFFC All Disneyana Show and Sale – Sunday July 19, 2009
• Pinbassador Inspirations Pin Release & Signing – Saturday, August 8, 2009 (link).
• SHAG “Spirited” Haunted Mansion 40th Anniversary Cocktail Reception – Saturday, August 8, 2009. Tickets are now on sale (link).
• SHAG Haunted Mansion 40th Anniversary Product Release & Signing – Sunday, August 9, 2009 (link).

Fall

• 4th Annual Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend – September 4-6, 2009. Registration is now open (link).
• Haunted Mansion 40th Anniversary Merchandise Event – Wednesday, September 9, 2009. (link). All four event packages are now sold out.
• D23 Expo – September 10 – 13, 2009 in Anaheim, California (link).
• UEA / “Utah Escapes to Anaheim” – October 1-2, 2009. (Link). Expect unusually large attendance levels as Utah students and families take advantage of an education convention.
• 12th annual Gays Days at the Disneyland Resort (unofficial event) – October 2-4, 2009. Event attendance will be higher at Disneyland on Saturday, DCA on Sunday (link).
• CHOC/Disneyland Resort Walk in the Park – Sunday, October 19, 2009. Registration will open in the summer (link). Team MousePlanet will once again participate in this event, and additional details will be announced as they are available.

Current Discounts & Promotions

Several current promotions offer discounted admission to the Disneyland Resort. For your convenience, we have grouped the discount offers based on the number of days the tickets are valid. Check out the category that best matches the amount of time you plan to spend at the resort, and pick the offer that works best for you. And keep those tips coming—let us know if you find a better or different offer, so we can share it with other readers!

This first section is a list of discounts on ticket-only purchases. Though it has become more common in recent years, Disneyland tickets are rarely offered at deep discounts unless you are a resident of Southern California or Northern Mexico. For residents outside that area, the best discounts available tend to be simple advance purchase discounts.

If you know of any additional discounts, offers, promotions, or contests that should be listed in this section, drop us a line (link).

One Day, One Park Regularly $69/$59 One Day Park Hopper Regularly $94/$84	Southern California 1-Day Park Hopper – Disney is not currently offering a discounted Southern California 1-Day Park Hopper at the Web site. Vons Supermarkets may be selling these tickets, but call ahead to confirm. Proof of residency will be required when redeeming them at Disneyland (Vons will happily sell you the ticket voucher regardless of where you are from but you still need to be an appropriate resident to use it. If you do see these available anywhere, e-mail us to let us know.)
Two Day Park Hopper Regularly $143/$123	2009 “Southern California 2Fer Ticket” ($69 / $59) – Visitors who live in Southern California and Baja California, Mexico can now purchase the 2009 “Southern California 2Fer Ticket.” This special ticket offers admission to either Disneyland or Disney’s California on one day and then to the other park on a second day for the price of a one-day, one-park ticket ($69 for adults and $59 for children ages 3 to 9). The 2009 promotion also features a return of the “Southern California 2-Day Park Hopper Ticket” for $94 for adults / $84 for ages 3-10. This is $25 more than the 2Fer ticket and allows you to visit both Disneyland and DCA on the same day. The offers includes much the same fine print as previous promotions: Tickets valid for Southern California residents within Zip codes 90000-93599 and Northern Baja California residents within Zip codes 21000-22999. Proof of residency required. The 2Fer ticket is valid for one day at Disneyland park and another day at Disney’s California Adventure park , but not for both parks on the same day. The 2-Day Park Hopper Ticket may be used at both parks on the same day. Tickets expire 30 days from first visit. First visit must occur between January 6, 2009 and June 3, 2009. [Note: This is a full two months longer than the 2008 promotion, and does not exclude the Spring Break period as such offers usually do.] Each use constitutes one full day of use. Limit 8 tickets per person, per day with valid ID. Tickets may not be sold or transferred for commercial use. Offer may not be combined with other discounts or promotions. [Except for the “What Will You Celebrate?” birthday admission offer as explained below.] Subject to restrictions and change without notice. You can purchase these tickets starting January 6, 2009 at the Disneyland Resort ticket booths, as well as Disneyland Resort Hotels and Disneyland.com. Vons stores, The Disney Stores and the Disney Desks at places like South Coast Plaza and The Grove may also carry the tickets, but we have not been able to confirm this yet. [Note: in past years, it has taken quite some time for non-Disney outlets to receive the tickets, so don’t be surprised if your local Vons store or mall Disney Desk doesn’t have them yet.] The 2009 offer is slightly complicated by the “What Will You Celebrate?” promotion, and special options are available to eligible residents with birthdays between January 6 and June 3. If you live within the residency area and your birthday is on or between January 6 and June 3, you will receive a “2Fer Birthday Ticket” instead of a one-day, one-park ticket. The 2Fer terms and conditions apply to this ticket. You must use the first day of your 2Fer on your birthday. You can upgrade the 2Fer Birthday Ticket to the Southern California 2-Day Park Hopper Ticket by paying $25. The 2Fer ticket is considered valid admission media for the purposes of the “What Will You Celebrate?” offer, so people who already have a 2Fer can receive one of the three Alternate Gifts. AOCVCB 2-Day Park Hopper Ticket ($141/$121) – The discount (from the Anaheim-Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau) is $2 off the box-office price for both adults and children. You can now print these tickets at home, though a $1 per-ticket convenience fee applies. If the $1 per ticket net savings isn’t enough of an incentive to pre-purchase your tickets, think of all the time you’ll save by not having to stand in line at the Disneyland Resort ticket booths (link).
Three Day Park Hopper Regularly $199/$169	Advance Purchase 3-day Park Hopper Bonus Ticket ($179/$149) – A discounted price for advance purchase through the Internet or select dealers. Available at the Disneyland Web site (link) where shipping is included if you order more than 10 days prior to your travel date. Also available from AAA offices in Northern California, Nevada, and Utah (not currently listed at the AAA Web site, you may need to call your local office). Disney Stores (California), Safeway supermarkets (California and Arizona), and certain travel agents may also sell these tickets. It is best to call and confirm before visiting a location, however. “Bonus Tickets” include one early admission day (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday). If purchased from AAA, the tickets come with free parking at the Mickey & Friends parking garage (an $11/day value) Advance Purchase 3-day Park Hopper Bonus Ticket ($179/$149) – available through the Disneyland Web site (link). You can print these tickets at home, though the tickets from the Anaheim-Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau Web site (see below) are slightly less expensive. AOCVCB 3-Day Bonus Ticket ($174/$144) – The discount (from the Anaheim-Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau) is $5 off the advance purchase price for both adults and children. You can now print these tickets at home, though a $1 per-ticket convenience fee applies. If the $4 per ticket net savings isn’t enough of an incentive to pre-purchase your tickets, think of all the time you’ll save by not having to stand in line at the Disneyland Resort ticket booths. Tickets include one early admission day (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday) (link). Advance Purchase 2009 Everyone Plays for the Kids’ Price! 3-Day Park Hopper Ticket ($149) – This promotion is valid January 6 through April 30, 2009, and includes one one Magic Morning admission. Currently available for purchase through the Anaheim-Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau Web site (link). Disney’s Armed Forces Salute 3-Day Park Hopper Ticket (Free/$94) – Through June 12, 2009, each active or retired member of the U.S. military can receive one complimentary three-day “Disney’s Armed Forces Salute” Park Hopper ticket valid for admission to both Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure parks. During the offer period, active or retired US military personnel also may make a one-time purchase of an adult or child three-day “Disney’s Armed Forces Salute Companion” Park Hopper ticket for up to five family members (including spouse) or friends for the price of an adult 1-Day Park Hopper ticket. Disneyland Resort hotels are also offering special room rates for active or retired military personnel. For example, at Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel, active or retired members of the military and their families may find hotel rooms starting at $119 per night during value season, with great savings during other times of the offer period. This offer is available through June 12, 2009, and the number of rooms available at these special rates is limited. For information regarding “Disney’s Armed Forces Salute” at the Disneyland Resort, or to make reservations, military personnel may call 714/956-6424. Full details of the offer, including eligibility guidelines and other restrictions, are posted on our MousePad discussion board (link).
Four Day Park Hopper Regularly $224/$194	Advance Purchase 4-Day Park Hopper Bonus tickets ($194/$164) – A discounted price for advance purchase through the Internet or select dealers. Available at the Disneyland Web site (link) where shipping is included if you order more than 10 days prior to your travel date. Also available from AAA offices in Northern California, Nevada, and Utah (not currently listed at the AAA Web site, you may need to call your local office). Disney Stores (California), Safeway supermarkets (California and Arizona), and certain travel agents may also sell these tickets. It is best to call and confirm before visiting a location, however. “Bonus Tickets” include one early admission day (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday). If purchased from AAA, the tickets come with free parking at the Mickey & Friends parking garage (an $11/day value). Advance Purchase 4-day Park Hopper Bonus Ticket ($194/$164) – available through the Disneyland Web site (link). You can print these tickets at home, though the tickets from the Anaheim-Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau Web site (see below) are slightly less expensive. AOCVCB 4-Day Bonus Ticket ($189/$159) – The discount (from the Anaheim-Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau) is $5 off the advance purchase price for both adults and children. You can now print these tickets at home, though a $1 per-ticket convenience fee applies. If the $4 per ticket net savings isn’t enough of an incentive to pre-purchase your tickets, think of all the time you’ll save by not having to stand in line at the Disneyland Resort ticket booths. Tickets include one early admission day (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday) (link). Advance Purchase 2009 Everyone Plays for the Kids’ Price! 4-Day Park Hopper Ticket ($154) – This promotion is valid January 6 through April 30, 2009, and includes one one Magic Morning admission. Currently available for purchase through the Anaheim-Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau Web site (link). Costco Disneyland Resort Play 4 Days Exchange Certificate – Available through the Costco Web site (link), this $139 ticket (for ages 3 through adult) is good for four one-day admissions to Disneyland or Disney’s California Adventure. The tickets are non-transferable—the same person must use all four admissions. The ticket expires once the four admissions are used, or on July 31, 2009, whichever comes first. This is not a park-hopper pass, although you could probably use one admission per day at each park, in effect using the four admissions as a two-day park-hopper. The tickets are available only to Costco members who are residents of Southern California. Tickets must be purchased at Costco, with a limit of eight tickets per member per day. It is important to note that the item you purchase at Costco is an “Exchange Certificate,” not a valid park passport. Members must exchange the certificate at the Disneyland Resort Ticket booth to receive the Play 4 Days ticket. Proof of California residency in zip codes 90000 through 93599 is required to exchange the certificate for a valid ticket.
Five Day Park Hopper Regularly $244/$214	Advance Purchase 5-Day Park Hopper Bonus tickets ($204/$174) – A discounted price for advance purchase through the Internet or select dealers. Available at the Disneyland Web site (link) where shipping is included if you order more than 10 days prior to your travel date. Also available from AAA offices in Northern California, Nevada, and Utah (not currently listed at the AAA Web site, you may need to call your local office). Disney Stores (California), Safeway supermarkets (California and Arizona), and certain travel agents may also sell these tickets. It is best to call and confirm before visiting a location, however. “Bonus Tickets” include one early admission day (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday). If purchased from AAA, the tickets come with free parking at the Mickey & Friends parking garage (an $11/day value). AOCVCB 5-Day Bonus Ticket ($199/$169) – The discount (from the Anaheim-Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau) is $5 off the advance purchase price for both adults and children. You can now print these tickets at home, though a $1 per-ticket convenience fee applies. If the $4 per ticket net savings isn’t enough of an incentive to pre-purchase your tickets, think of all the time you’ll save by not having to stand in line at the Disneyland Resort ticket booths. Tickets include one early admission day (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday) (link). Advance Purchase 2009 Everyone Plays for the Kids’ Price! 5-Day Park Hopper Ticket ($164) – This promotion is valid January 6 through April 30, 2009, and includes one one Magic Morning admission. Currently available for purchase through the Anaheim-Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau Web site (link). Advance Purchase 5-Day Park Hopper Bonus Ticket for the Price of 3 Days ($179/$149) – Disneyland’s new Summer promotion offers two extra days of park admisison when you purchase a 3-Day or longer Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Bonus Ticket. These tickets must be purchased before your trip, either through the Disneyland Web site or as part of your vacation package. You can NOT purchase this promotional ticket from the Disneyland Resort ticket booths, so plan ahead! The Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Bonus tickets expire 13 days after first day of use or 10/13/09, whichever occurs first, and each day of use constitutes one full day of use.
Six Day Park Hopper Regularly $249/$219	Advance Purchase 6-Day Park Hopper Bonus tickets ($209/$179) – A discounted price for advance purchase through the Internet or select dealers. Available at the Disneyland Web site (link) where shipping is included if you order more than 10 days prior to your travel date. Also available from AAA offices in Northern California, Nevada, and Utah (not currently listed at the AAA Web site, you may need to call your local office). Disney Stores (California), Safeway supermarkets (California and Arizona), and certain travel agents may also sell these tickets. It is best to call and confirm before visiting a location, however. “Bonus Tickets” include one early admission day (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday). If purchased from AAA, the tickets come with free parking at the Mickey & Friends parking garage (an $11/day value). Advance Purchase 2009 Everyone Plays for the Kids’ Price! 6-Day Park Hopper Ticket ($179) – This promotion is valid January 6 through April 30, 2009, and includes one one Magic Morning admission. Currently available for purchase through the Anaheim-Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau Web site (link). Advance Purchase 6-Day Park Hopper Bonus Ticket for the Price of 4 Days ($194/$164) – Disneyland’s new Summer promotion offers two extra days of park admisison when you purchase a 3-Day or longer Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Bonus Ticket. These tickets must be purchased before your trip, either through the Disneyland Web site or as part of your vacation package. You can NOT purchase this promotional ticket from the Disneyland Resort ticket booths, so plan ahead! The Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Bonus tickets expire 13 days after first day of use or 10/13/09, whichever occurs first, and each day of use constitutes one full day of use.
Deluxe Annual Passport Regulary $269	Costco $50 bonus gift card offer – Costco members can receive a $50 Disneyland gift card when they purchase a Deluxe Disneyland Resort annual passport for $269 at a participating Costco location. The offer should be available at all Southern California Costco stores that currently sell Disneyland admission, but the vouchers may not have arrived in all locations yet. [A list of the 37 Costco locations within 50 miles of the Disneyland Resort is available on our MousePad discussion board (link), and we have noted which locations are confirmed to have these tickets available. If you are a Costco member and live near one of the stores that is not confirmed, please check the next time you’re there and then let us know so we can update the list.] There are no residency restrictions on this ticket, and it can be upgraded to a Deluxe with parking or Premium passport. Better still, the $50 gift card can be applied towards the cost of the upgrades, which nearly pays for the $59 parking option or drops the net cost of a Premium Annual Passport to just $339.
2009 Southern California CityPass $259/$219	2009 Southern California CityPass ($259/$219) – This pass includes a 3-Day Disneyland Resort park ticket (including one early-entry day), and single-day admission to either San Diego Zoo or San Diego Wild Animal Park, as well as SeaWorld San Diego and Universal Studios Hollywood. The CityPass expires 14 days after first use at any location. Purchase CityPass through the Disneyland Web site (link) or onsite at the ticket booths of Disneyland Resort or the other theme parks included in the pass. You can also purchase directly from the CityPass Web site (link) though this has a minimum $7.50 shipping charge (no shipping charge from the Disney Web site if purchased more than 10 days in advance). You can also purchase the Southern California City Pass online from Costco at a cost of $227/$192 (link), 5% surcharge if not a Costco member, and shipping fees apply. Booklets may be available for sale in some stores but varies widely. If you want to buy in person it would be best to call ahead and confirm availability. If you do buy at Costco, you will initially purchase a large plastic container that you must trade for ticket books prior to leaving Costco!

Hotel / Travel Packages

Stay 3, Get 2 Free – Disneyland’s new Summer promotion offers 5 nights at a Disneyland Resort or Good Neighbor Hotel and 5 days of theme park admission for the price of three. The promotion is valid for arrivals through September 26, 2009, though the discounts are not available at the Good Neighbor Hotels until May 1. All travel must be booked by August 11, 2009 to receive this 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 accomodations one of the three resort hotels or at one of 40 Good Neighbor hotels; Souvenir Park Hopper ticket with voucher for admission to Mickey’s Toontown Morning Madness, plus one Magic Morning (early entry) for three-day or longer Park Hoppers; preferred seating at four DCA attractions (Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular, Muppet*Vision 3D, It’s Tough to be a Bug!, Golden Dreams); Preferred Showing of Turtle Talk with Crush (Priority Viewing at the first Turtle Talk with Crush show of the day, on any one day – one voucher per Guest); Disney Dream coin keepsake (one per package), luggage tag and lanyard with pin; a Downtown Disney Fun Card; and a “Character Call” from Mickey, Minnie, Goofy or Crush. Contact Disney Travel or your favorite travel agent.

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

Other Discounts

Mandara Spa at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel – The spa is offering a discount on select treatments booked Mondays through Thursdays. A flyer available at the hotel details the special offers available (link). A 20% service fee is added to all treatments, and the offer is subject to availability.

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

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

ESPNZone MVP Club – Membership in the MVP Club does not offer any discounts on food. However, once a member you can make an online reservation for your party up to three days in advance and will get a 25% increase in points purchased when playing games in the Sports Arena (and 40 bonus points at activation). You must register online and your membership card will then be mailed to you within two weeks. The card must then be activated at any ESPNZone by the person who signed up for the card and ID will be required (link).

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

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

Park Schedule/Blockout Dates

DL: Disneyland

DCA: Disney’s California Adventure

Annual Pass blockout dates:

• SL – Southern California Select Annual Pass
• SC – Southern California Annual Pass
• DX – Deluxe Annual Pass

Disneyland Resort Special Events:

• MM – Magic Morning at Disneyland
• TT – Toontown Morning Madness at Disneyland
• Grad Nite
• MTT – Mickey’s Trick-or-Treat Party at DCA

Visit our Annual Passholders Blockout Dates page to see more dates. You can see future calendar schedules at Disneyland. As always, specifics are subject to change without notice (or occasionally, without us noticing) so when information conflicts between what is presented here and that presented by Disney, it is best to assume Disney’s information is correct.

Visit the Park Hours section of our Disneyland Park guide for additional details about Magic Morning and Toontown Morning Madness, including available attractions.

Entertainment schedule: Go directly to the Disneyland Resort schedule for this week at Disneyland.com here.