Disneyland Resort Update

Update for May 11 – 17, 2009

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

News and Views

A fun Day at the Park for MouseAdventure teams | Resort construction update | This and That: Downtown Disney edition | This and That

A fun Day at the Park for MouseAdventure teams

Over 200 players took part in the MouseAdventure: Day at the Park event this weekend, the second of two MouseAdventure events held this Spring. We’d like to thank all of the players and crew volunteers for coming out to spend Mother’s Day with us. The contributions of the Day at the Park teams to our MouseAdventure Food Drive brought the total number of boxes of macaroni and cheese donated to Second Harvest to 777. Thank you to everyone who contributed!

Expect a full recap and event results for both of our events soon. In the meantime, results from the April 26th MouseAdventure: Trains, Trams & Monorails event are now available online (link). Photos and a recap from that event will also run this Thursday.
 

A MouseAdventure: Day at the Park team navigates through Tomorrowland. Photo by Andrew Rich. 

Resort construction update

During a media event last week, I told one of the Disneyland publicists that what I really wanted was an opportunity to have an Imagineer identify and explain all of the equipment being installed in the Paradise Pier Lagoon. The show platform for the Wonderful World of Color show is now dotted with hundreds of what are most likely water jets and lighting fixtures, and a giant water line now snakes around the south side of the platform. It’s all quite fascinating, but also very mysterious to those who aren’t engineers by trade.

The publicist looked out over the Lagoon and said, “Oh, I can tell you that… that’s a ladder… that’s a bucket… there’s a rope…” Not quite what I was looking for, but with that helpful bit of explanation, here are this week’s batch of intriquing-yet-incomprehensible construction photos, taken from all around the Disneyland Resort.

The Astro Orbitor is slowly being reassembled in preparation for its relaunch on June 13. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix. 

The Cosmic Waves water feature is under construction. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix. 

It appears that most of the water jets have been removed from the former water play area. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix. 

The pond outside Pixie Hollow has reopened after a brief refurbishment. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix. 

The new fountain and light installation will be used for the Pixie Hollow Enchantment overlay this summer. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix. 

Hundreds of new fixtures have been installed on the Wonderful World of Color show platform. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix. 

Each of the installations seems to be individually tagged. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix. 

A new walkway starts at the West ends of the viewing terrace. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix. 

The new walkway ends about midway around the viewing terrace, but there doesn’t appear to be an exit on the East side. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix. 

The walls of the upper level of the viewing area are being built up. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix. 

It looks like the show control tower will be located underneath the bridge. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix. 

The Orange Stinger has a new foundation. The ride will close at the end of July for nine months for refurbishment. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix. 

This and That: Downtown Disney edition

A quick recap of what’s new in the rapidly changing Downtown Disney area:

…The Downtown Disney Häagen-Dazs Scoop Shop is participating in the May 12 Free Scoop promotion. Visit the location anytime between 4p.m. to 8 p.m. to receive a free scoop of any of their “Bee-built” ice cream flavors (any flavor that includes honey or an ingredient that relies on bees for pollination). The promotion is part of the company’s “Help the Honey Bees” campaign (link).

LittleMissMatched will open a location in Downtown Disney this summer. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix. 

… It looks like fashion retailer LittleMissMatched will open a store in a portion of the space vacated in January by Department 56. A new sign was added to the space last weekend, and a recruitment ad was posted on Craigslist in mid-April (link). LittleMissMatched started in 2004 by selling mismatched socks in packs of three, and has grown into a lifestyle brand offering everything from baby clothing to a full furniture and bedding line (link). They still offer the funky mismatched socks—a line that has expanded to include men, women and babies—but have branched out into tourist-friendly flip flops, purses, lanyards, pajamas, slippers, luggage, and even stainless steel water bottles. The line is currently offered in select Macy’s stores, but very few other Southern California retailers carry the product. There is no word on an official opening date for the Anaheim location.

… The Old Men Rule stand operated by Island Charters has moved out of the kiosk near Compass Books and back onto the smaller cart it started at. A new tenant is now selling sea salt-infused home and body care items from the kiosk.

…Naples Ristorante & Pizziera has started offering pizza delivery to the three Disneyland Resort Hotels. The individual pizza ($15 to $18) can feed up to two adults, the regular pizza ($25 to $30), a family of four. Seven-topping combinations are offered, along with two salad options and bottled beverages. The restaurant will also include plates and napkins on request. Delivery is generally available between 4pm and 8pm, depending on how busy the restaurant is, and there is no additional delivery fee. Unfortunately, the restaurant does not offer delivery of their other menu items at this time.

…We reported earlier this year that Club Libby Lu would be replaced by a Disney-operated Studio Disney 365. We still don’t have an opening date for this store (beyond “Summer 2009”), but the Art of Disney Parks Web site (the ridiculously long and cumbersome new name for the former Disney Gallery Web site) has a few more details about the new location (link).

Ever wish you could rock out like some of your favorite Disney Channel stars or become a huge superstar and have paparazzi waiting to snap your picture? Now you can! With your star quality you can ride the wave of success to Hollywood, and have your 15 minutes of fame.

First, determine your level of star quality from fabulous & famous to secret star with a transformation that will not only make you look but also feel like your favorite celebrities. Next meet your fans and have your picture snapped by our waiting paparazzi and giving them a glimpse of what a true superstar looks like.

Finally get in touch with your inner “fashionista” by choosing from a wide array of fashion apparel and accessories that will complete the look. And that’s a wrap!

This and That

…The first of the 2009 Grad Nite events is this Thursday. Disney’s California Adventure closes at 6 p.m. for the pre-event “Blast Off” party, and Disneyland closes at 8 p.m. to set for Grad Night. Aside from the slightly modified park hours, the after-hours parties for high school seniors do not have much of an impact on the daytime operation of the theme parks, but it is worth noting that middle school groups also visit the resort at this time of year to celebrate their own commencements. ESPN Zone in Downtown Disney also hosts an optional pre-Grad Nite event, so expect that venue to be more crowded than usual.

Souvenirs from the construction zone: Blue Sky Cellar merchandise is offered for sale at Disney’s California Adventure. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix. 

…Disneyland: The First 50 Magical Years is currently closed to return Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln to the Main Street Opera House. The attraction was scheduled to reopen September 26, but that date has now been pushed back to December 17.

…Cast members at Disneyland’s new Celebration Roundup and Barbecue tell us that the restaurant reached capacity for the first time late Sunday (Mother’s Day) afternoon, and the restaurant briefly stopped accepting diners without reservations. Fridays and Sundays continue to be the busiest days for the location. The menu and service have been tweaked a little since the restaurant reopened in April, but rumors that the popular cupcake dessert may be discontinued were firmly rejected by the location managers. MousePlanet has added this restaurant to our Travel Reviews listing, and we invite readers who have dined at the Celebration Roundup and Barbecue to share their experience with other readers (link).

…The Disneyland Resort has a new purchase-with-purchase offer this summer (link). Customers can purchase a Disneyland Resort Rolling Duffle Bag for $20 when they spend $50 in a single purchase at participating Disneyland Resort shops, including the World of Disney store in Downtown Disney. The promotion begins May 17, and the bags are available while supplies last. If this style is similar to the rolling duffel offered in similar promotions at Walt Disney World and the Disney Cruise Line, it is small enough to be used as a carry-on bag on most airlines.

…The May 19 Disneyland Resort Pin Trading Night will be held at the Magic Kingdom Ballroom of the Disneyland Hotel instead of the Paradise Pier Hotel ballroom. The event will be held from 3:00 to 6:00 pm.

…The Napa Rose Restaurant at the Grand Californian Hotel earned a new honor last week, when restaurant manager Joy Cushing passed the week-long Advanced Level sommelier exam. The Napa Rose now has five Advanced Level sommeliers working in the restaurant, the most of any restaurant in the world.

…Vinylmation Park 2 Series will be released at the Disneyland Resort later this Spring, and photos of the new designs are available on the Art of Disney Theme Parks Web site (link).

…The Web site Cinematical received an exclusive teaser poster for Disney’s The Princess and the Frog, and has a link to the just-released trailer on their Web site (link).

…Despite strong opening-weekend bookings and generally positive buzz, traffic at Disneyland’s Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique seems to be a little slower than hoped. During the frequent slow periods at the Boutique, Fairy Godmothers in Training can be spotted walking through Fantasyland, distributing flyers to the parents of potential princesses. The Boutique suffers from both a lack of signage and a relatively hidden location. There is nothing outside the location to indicate that the Boutique is anything other than yet another souvenir store, and customers who step into the cramped retail space at the entrance of the Boutique may not get far enough into the tiny shop to realize that there is a styling salon tucked away behind the racks of princess dresses. Some before-and-after photos (or at least a price sign) in one of the display windows outside the shop would go a long way towards explaining the concept to passersby.

…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. This week’s changes include the addition of a refurbishment for Pinocchio’s Daring Journey, and the official dates for the nine month Orange Stinger refurbishment. The Disneyland Resort Web site is currently only publishing refurbishment information about six 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 December 16 to return Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln to the Main Street Opera House.
• Astro Orbitor – closed through June 12 for refurbishment.
• Peter Pan’s Flight – closed through June 7 for refurbishment.
• Hungry Bear Restaurant – closed through 15 for refurbishment.
• Sailing Ship Columbia – closed May 18 – 20 for refurbishment.
• Snow White’s Scary Adventures – closed June 8 – July 3 for refurbishment.
• Pinocchio’s Daring Journey – closed July 20 – August 14 for refurbishment.
• The Enchanted Cottage – closed July 29 – November 17 for refurbishment.

Disney’s California Adventure

Refurbishments: 

• King Triton’s Carousel – closed through May 21, 2009 for refurbishment.
• Redwood Creek Challenge Trail – closed May 18 – 22 for refurbishment.
• Orange Stinger – closed July 27, 2009 – April 28, 2010 for refurbishment.

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. 
• Orange Stinger – closed July 27, 2009 – April 28, 2010 for refurbishment.

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

Park Events

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

Spring

• Disney’s California Food and Wine Festival – Daily, through 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.
• 2009 Grad Nite events – Thursdays, May 14, May 21, May 28 and June 4; Wednesday, June 10; Thursdays, June 11 and June 18.

Summer

• Precious Moments Product Release & Signing – Saturday, June 6 (link).
• 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. The event is now sold out (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.