Disneyland Resort Update

Update for August 10 – 16, 2009

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

News and Views

Come CHOC Walk with Team MousePlanet | Disney workers vote to reject contract proposal | DCA Construction Update | This and That

Come CHOC Walk with Team MousePlanet

Members of Team MousePlanet gather at the finish line after the 2008 CHOC Walk.

Team MousePlanet is registered for the 2009 CHOC Walk in the Park, Sunday October 18, 2009, and you are invited to join us in our quest to raise $10,000 for Children’s Hospital Orange County. Our 2008 team, (with the very generous support of MousePlanet readers) raised over $5000 last year, a very impressive result for our first year. CHOC has really upgraded its Web site this year, and it’s even easier for you to support team MousePlanet. You can:

• Walk with Team MousePlanet – register to walk with us at the October 18th event, and earn prizes as you meet your fundraising goals (click here). Team MousePlanet Walkers will receive a MousePlanet baseball cap at the Walk.
• Raise money with Team MousePlanet – register as a “Sleeping Bear,” (someone who is raising money, but can’t attend the Walk in person), and earn prizes as you meet your fundraising goals (click here).
• Sponsor a specific Team MousePlanet walker – sponsor a Team MousePlanet walker, and help them earn prizes (click here).
• Sponsor Team MousePlanet – a new option this year! (click here).

CHOC sent out an e-mail to some returning walkers to alert them that Disneyland Resort Annual Passholders will not be invited to join the cast member VoluntEARS CHOC Walk team this year, and Disney has confirmed that registration for the VoluntEARS team is limited to Disney cast members and their family & friends, using a special code available only to CMs. If you’ve previously registered with the VoluntEARS team and are looking for a new team, come join Team MousePlanet! Remember, it’s all ultimately going to the same cause, and the CHOC kids need your support.

Disney workers vote to reject contract proposal

Last December, Unite HERE Local 11 rejected a contract offered to its members by the Disneyland Resort, a move that angered some union members because the union did not put the contract to a vote of its membership. Last Thursday, Local 11 finally put Disney’s latest contract offer before their membership, and over 90% those members who voted rejected the proposal, (though only 55% of the union membership cast a ballot). In a statement, Local 11 said “Disney’s proposal would produce substantial hardship for Disney hotel workers. Many of these workers and their families would no longer be able to afford the cost of Disney’s health insurance and may be left uninsured.”

Following the vote, Disneyland Resort spokesperson Suzi Brown issued the following in a written statement,

“Based on our experience with Local 11 leadership over the last 18 months, we are not surprised by the outcome. Union leadership grossly distorted our offer—which despite the challenging economy and rising health care costs – included annual wage increases, affordable and stable health care coverage for Cast Members and their families and continued benefits eligibility for current full-time Cast Members. We had no confidence that this vote was an honest attempt to resolve the situation. Unfortunately, Local 11 continues to be the only Disney union whose members are without a contract agreement and the secure benefits they deserve. We have agreements in place with 30 other unions, many which were negotiated this year in a matter of weeks, that provide the same comprehensive, reliable Disney health care coverage being offered to Local 11 members.”

Disney says that the union has “grossly distorted our offer,” and there is definitely a major discrepancy between the numbers provided by each side. Local 11 said. “The company’s proposal would make it so that by 2014 hotel workers could have to pay up to $520 a month for family health coverage based on the Disney Signature Kaiser Plan,” a claim disputed by Disney, which says that the current rate for the comparable Kaiser family plan that already covers thousands of Disneyland Resort cast members is about $62 per month. Local 11 claims the $62 figure is a weekly premium, not monthly, and says that dental and vision coverage adds another $15 per week, bringing the actual cost to over $300 per month. The union estimates health insurance rates will climb 10% each year, and claims that cast members will pay over $500 a month by the end of the contract to maintain their insurance. Brown questioned their projections, pointing out that “we don’t know what health costs will be in five years.” A cast member trying to decide how to vote on this issue was put in the unfortunate position of trying to decide whether to believe their union or their employer, and a $200+ discrepancy in the current monthly premium is difficult to overlook.

The timing of the vote also likely played a key role in the outcome. Disney had offered a ratification bonus of up to $1000 per employee if cast members voted to approve a contract by June 30, but the union declined to schedule a vote before that deadline. (The December contract proposal, rejected by the union without a vote of the membership, contained a similar bonus offer). After the bonus offer expired, Disney plastered backstage areas with signs criticizing union leadership for not allowing its members to vote, but the increasingly harsh tone of the Disney statements may be alienating members who were previously undecided about the contract. One worker who said they would have voted for the contract in December, instead voted against the most recent offer last week, and feels Disney’s hard line stance with the union had resulted in an even less-favorable contract than before. “Disney and the union are in a ****ing battle,” said the cast member, “and we’re stuck in the middle paying for it with the loss of our sick pay from the union, and more takeaways from Disney with each new offer.” The prospect of a $1000 bonus may have tempted far more CMs to vote to approve the contract, and Disney’s decision to turn that carrot into a stick (blaming the union for “costing” their members the bonus by failing to schedule a timely vote), may have backfired.

This latest development brings the prospect of a strike one step closer, and vacation planners seem to be growing increasingly anxious about the prospect of a strike during their vacation. Local 11 representatives say they are prepared to do whatever they need to achieve a fair contract for their members, though the union has not formally called for a boycott or strike at this time. Disney representatives say that the Resort is dedicated to providing “world class service” even if a strike is called.

DCA Construction Update

MousePlanet reader Kenji Luster submitted this week’s batch of photos documenting the progress of the construction projects at Disney’s California Adventure park.

Golden Dreams/Little Mermaid

Photo by Kenji Luster.

Photo by Kenji Luster.

Photo by Kenji Luster.

Photo by Kenji Luster.

Orange Stinger/Silly Symphony Swings

Photo by Kenji Luster.

Photo by Kenji Luster.

World of Color

Photo by Kenji Luster.

Photo by Kenji Luster.

Photo by Kenji Luster.

Photo by Kenji Luster.

Photo by Kenji Luster.

Photo by Kenji Luster.

Photo by Kenji Luster.

This and That

…Visible smoke and reports of a fire at a Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel restaurant sparked a brief evacuation of the hotel last Friday afternoon. A Disneyland spokesperson said the evacuation ended almost as soon as it began once the origin of the smoke was determined. A MousePlanet reader at the scene said that the fire department response seemed to be centered around Storytellers Cafe, and initial reports indicated that something had caught fire in the pizza oven. Later reports indicate that the fire may have involved an exhaust system possibly shared with the neighboring Napa Rose restaurant. The next day, workers at the new DVC property severed a gas main, and a portion of the Grand Californian hotel lobby was reportedly closed for a brief period.

…Brady MacDonald at the Los Angeles Times has a photo and some details about Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee!, debuting at Disneyland November 6 (link). The Disney Auditions Web site describes the show as “a colorful, vibrant riverboat extravaganza featuring songs and music from the jazz-filled world of Walt Disney Pictures’ newest animated release The Princess and the Frog.” Auditions for Dr. Facilier, Princess Tiana and Prince Naveena begin this week (link).

…Time is running out to buy the “5-Day Park Hopper Bonus Ticket for the Price of 3 Days” ticket. This Advance Purchase, offered for $179/$149 offers two extra days of park admisison when you purchase a 3-Day 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! Tickets must be purchased by 8/11/09 and first use must occur before 9/30/09. 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.

…We received this announcement from Shinteki about their upcoming Puzzle Hunt at Disneyland. Since MouseAdventure is heading East this Fall, the Shinteki organizers thought MA players might want to take a crack at their game. Shinteki Puzzle Hunts are usually held in the San Francisco Bay Area, and are much different than MouseAdventure. This is their first venture down to Southern California, and it should be a lot of fun. I highly recommend that you check out the practice puzzles on their site before you register (link).

…Disney’s Vinylmation characters have become hugely popular collectibles, and the solid-white figures introduced earlier this year offers a blank canvas for aspiring designers to customize their own figure. Merchandise cast members at Walt Disney World collectibles stores quickly realized the 9″ figure also makes a great way for guests to collect character autographs, and employees said they couldn’t keep the $39.95 figures in stock once they began displaying the figure covered with signatures. Disneyland, on the other hand, issued a memo to their stores last week advising that Disneyland characters will not sign the figures, and telling stores not to sell the blank sculptures for that purpose.

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

Current Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Disneyland

• Bank of Main Street – closed through September 25 for conversion into the Disney Gallery.
• The Enchanted Cottage – closed through October 2.
• Disneyland: The First 50 Magical Years – closed through December 16 to return Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln to the Main Street Opera House.
• Pinocchio’s Daring Journey – closed through August 14 for refurbishment.
• The Enchanted Cottage – closed through November 17 for refurbishment.
• Casey Jr. Circus Trains – closed August 24 – November 19 for refurbishment.
• Storybook Land Canal Boats – closed August 24 – November 19 for refurbishment.
• Mark Twain Riverboat – closed September 8 – 10 for refurbishment.
• Space Mountain – closed September 8 – 24 to install the Halloween overlay.
• Minnie’s House – closed September 9 for refurbishment.
• Haunted Mansion – closed September 10 – 24 to install the Halloween overlay.
• Celebration Ranch – closed September 14 – 24 to install the Halloween overlay.
• Gadget’s Go Coaster – closed September 14 – October 26 for refurbishment.
• Pirates of the Caribbean – closed September 28 – October 2 for refurbishment.
• Blue Bayou – closed September 28 – October 2 for refurbishment.

Disney’s California Adventure

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.
• Corn Dog Castle – closed because of construction in the area. An employee publication lists May 26, 2011 as the return date. During the renovation, corn dogs are available at Bountiful Valley Farmer’s Market.
• Souvenir 66 – closed because of construction in the area. An employee publication lists May 26, 2011 as the return date.
• Lucky Fortune Cookery – The long-shuttered restaurant is relocating to the smaller space recently vacated by Cocina Cucamonga, and reopen after September 14 with a new menu. 
• Orange Stinger – closed through April 28, 2010 for refurbishment and renovation into the Silly Symphonies Swings.

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.

Fall

• 4th Annual Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend – September 4-6, 2009. Registration is now full (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).
• HalloweenTime at the Disneyland Resort – September 25 – November 1, 2009 (link).
• Utah Education Association convention (UEA, a.k.a. “Utah Escapes to Anaheim”) – October 1-2, 2009. (Link). Expect unusually large attendance levels as Utah students and families take advantage of a 4-day weekend created by their school’s participation in a state education convention. Not all Utah schools or teachers close for or attend UEA, but the impact on the Resort is usually noticeable enough to mention. Some Utah schools will close October 16th, possibly generating a second wave of visitors.
• 2009 Mickey’s Trick-or-Treat Party – October 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30 & 31. A separate ticket costume party at Disney’s California Adventure. Disneyland Resort Annual Passholders can purchased tickets now through the Passholder Web site (link). Remaining tickets will be available to the general public starting August 1st.
• MousePlanet nights at Mickey’s Trick-or-Treat Party – Thursday, October 15 and Friday, October 30. Come meet some of the MousePlanet staff, MousePad Community Leaders and your fellow readers at one of two Trick-or-Treat parties. Purchase tickets in advance through the Disneyland Web site, and be sure to let us know which night you’re planning to attend by posting on our MousePad discussion board so we can have enough treats for everyone (link).
• 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 18, 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.

Winter

• Holiday Parade Filming – Saturday, November 7th. [Subject to change] The annual taping of the Disneyland portions of the Walt Disney World Christmas special usually involves short, live performances by various musical guests and a shortened performance of the holiday parade at or near park opening.
• Holiday Time at the Disneyland Resort (unconfirmed) – November 20, 2009 – January 3, 2010

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 Ticket – Regularly $72/$62 One Day Park Hopper – Regularly $97/$87	Southern California 1-Day Park Hopper
Two Day Park Hopper – Regularly $151/$131	AOCVCB 2-Day Park Hopper Ticket ($141/$121) – The discount (from the Anaheim-Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau) is $10 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 $204/$174	3-Day Summer Fun Pass ($99) – 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 $104 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. The 3-day Summer Fun Pass will be offered at Disneyland.com (link), 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. 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). Disney’s Armed Forces Salute 3-Day Park Hopper Ticket (Free/$94) – [Extended through September 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 extended through September 30, 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 $229/$199	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). 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 $249/$219	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 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! Tickets must be purchased by 8/11/09 and first use must occur before 9/30/09. 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 $254/$224	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 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 – Regularly $289	Costco $269 Deluxe Annual Passport + $50 bonus gift card offer – [Extended through October, 2009] Costco members can purchase a Deluxe Disneyland Resort annual passport for the old rate of $269 at a participating Costco location, and receive a $50 Disneyland gift card as a bonus. The offer should be available at all Southern California Costco stores that currently sell Disneyland admission, and is available only through August 23rd. 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 $379. Vouchers must be purchased by August 23 and redeemed by October 31, 2009.
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.

Other Discounts

Character Dining Vouchers – Discounted character dining vouchers are available for purchase online, in advance of your trip, through MousePlanet sponsor Get Away Travel (link).

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.