Disneyland Resort Update

Update for October 12 – 18, 2009

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

News and Views

DLR president Ed Grier announces retirement | HalloweenTime crowds pack Disneyland| D23 announces holiday events for members | No Candlelight dining for 2009 | MousePlanet Nights at Trick-or-Treat Party | Shopping update | DCA Construction Update| This and That

Disneyland Resort president Ed Grier announces retirement

After we went to press with last week’s park update, Disneyland Resort president Ed Grier announced his retirement in an e-mail message to cast members. His resignation was effective last Friday, and no replacement was named prior to his departure. Disneyland Resort Media Relations provided MousePlanet with copies of the e-mail messages from Grier and from Al Weiss, President of Worldwide Operations, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts; we’ve posted them in the MousePad discussion thread for this topic (link). .

David Koenig also commented on Grier’s departure in his MousePlanet blog:

There’s something about a three-year anniversary that must have Disneyland presidents beginning to box up the trinkets around their offices, as they are suddenly overwhelmed with the urge to “spend more time with their families.”Sure enough, Disneyland’s elusive leader “Senator” Ed Grier has now walked the plank, 72 days after celebrating the magical “3.” My prediction on how long he’d last was made, yup, just under three years ago (link).

If you’ve got a scorecard, Jack Lindquist was president 3 years 1 month, Paul Pressler 3 years 1 month, Cynthia Harriss 3 years 10 months, Matt Ouimet 2 years 9 months, and Ed Grier 3 years 2 months. Disneyland’s five presidents spent a combined 119 years working for Disney—and, except for Pressler, that “dream job” turned out to be the last stop for every one of them. My suggestion to the next Disneyland president: postmark your resume to Fall 2012.

HalloweenTime crowds pack ’em in at Disneyland

The Disneyland Resort experienced some of the worst crowding in recent memory this weekend, and the wildly popular HalloweenTime promotion seems to be getting most of the credit—or blame. The problems started Friday night when the early closure of Disney’s California Adventure park for that evening’s Mickey’s Trick or Treat party pushed thousands of guests across into Disneyland. As Disneyland Park neared capacity, park managers took the unusual (for October) step of restricting admission to only those guests who had previously been inside the park that day. The park stopped selling Disneyland admission tickets, and for a short time denied first entry to day guests and even annual passholders. The gates were reopened once the Halloween Screams fireworks ended and a portion of the crowd departed, but this was the first time since DCA opened that Disneyland has restricted admission without being able to offer those turned away the option of entering DCA instead.

Disneyland Resort visitors wait to board a shuttle from the rarely used Pongo parking lot. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

While attendance on Saturday and Sunday never quite reached the level that triggers restricted admission practices, the Resort was quite crowded all weekend, and parking was a mess all around. Guests trying to park in the Mickey and Friends parking structure at one point on Saturday afternoon were directed to the Buzz Lightyear lot near the southeast corner of Harbor and Katella, and once that filled, to the adjacent Pongo lot; others who arrived just 20 minutes later were allowed to park in Mickey and Friends, and said at least one level was completely empty. One MousePlanet staff member, arriving around 4:30 on Saturday, was parked in a cast member lot behind the Mickey and Friends structure.

While this weekend’s attendance was fueled in no small part by the Columbus Day weekend, it’s fairly safe to expect this level of crowding through the end of the HalloweenTime promotion; and especially on nights when DCA closes early for the Trick or Treat party. If you’re planning to visit the parks on one of the impacted days (weekends or party nights), plan to arrive before noon, and only leave the Resort when you’re done for the day. We also invite you to follow our MousePlanet Twitter account at (here) to get real-time updates from Disneyland, and share your experience with other readers.

D23 announces holiday events for members

MousePlanet’s Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix wrote about new D23 events in her MousePlanet blog last week (link)

Disney announced a series of holiday events for D23 members today, with activities scheduled on both coasts. Disneyland-area members can choose between the Candlelight Spectacular at Disneyland or the Disney and Dickens event in Los Angeles, while East Coasters can attend the two-day “Magic & Merriment” event at Walt Disney World.

The California events are not inexpensive—the Candlelight Spectacular event at Disneyland is $275 per person, which includes park admission. There is no discount for those who already have an annual pass, and the ticket is only valid the day of the event and only for the person who purchased it, so APs cannot even hand off their unnecessary $97 ticket to a friend. The event includes reserved seating for A Christmas Fantasy Parade, a private dinner event inside Stage 17 at Disney’s California Adventure, reserved seating for Candlelight Processional and Ceremony, and dessert and a panel discussion with the Candlelight producers back at Stage 17.

The Disney and Dickens event is essentially a screening of Disney’s A Christmas Carol, followed by dinner at the Tam O’Shanter Restaurant, one of Walt Disney’s favorite restaurants. Tickets are $95 per person.

Oddly enough, the Walt Disney World Magic & Merriment event is a steal considering everything that is included. The $195 per person fee includes two one-day, one-park tickets ($158 value); admission to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party ($42.55 value); and two one-day admissions to Disney Quest ($80 value). And those are just the tickets that come with the package—you also get reserved seating for CandlelightLights! Motors! Action! (including alcohol); private, after-hours viewing of The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights; private luncheon at the Diamond Horseshoe Saloon; opportunity to tour the Cinderella Suite; reserved seating for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Parade; access to the D23 Member Lounge; and a private “Holidays Around the World” presentation.

Another odd difference between the WDW and the Disneyland events—the WDW tickets can be used up until Wednesday, December 30 (instead of only on the event dates), and there is no stated restriction that the tickets may only be used by the event guest, as there is with the Disneyland tickets. In other words, if you already hold a Walt Disney World annual pass, you can probably give these tickets to someone else.

If I were a D23 member deciding between Disneyland’s overpriced dinner-and-a-show events and Walt Disney World’s two-day extravaganza, I know which one I’d choose. In fact… I think I’m going to see if my DVC home resort has any availability that weekend.

But back to California, this new event really adds another layer of unwelcome complication to the annual fiasco that is the sale of the Candlelight Dining Packages. As of this writing, Disneyland has not made any announcement about how (or even IF) non-D23 members can purchase the dining package, and this just means there will be even fewer seats available when (and IF) tickets do go on sale. [After this blog entry was posted, Disneyland announced that there will be no Candlelight dining packages offered in 2009]

That Florida is looking better and better all the time…

Full details of all three events is available at the “Expo and Events” tab of the D23 Web site (link). Tickets for all three D23 holiday events go on sale Thursday, October 15 at 10 a.m. PST.

No Candlelight dining for 2009

MousePlanet’s Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix wrote about new D23 events in her MousePlanet blog last week (link)

The day after D23 announced their 2009 event holiday event schedule, which includes a $275 per person Candlelight Spectacular event at Disneyland (link), a Disneyland Resort spokesperson confirmed for MousePlanet that the Resort will not offer a Candlelight dining package this year. Visitors who want to see the annual holiday event can either spring for the pricey D23 Candlelight Spectacular package (and for D23 membership, if they are not already a member), or devote most of a weekend day to saving a spot on Disneyland’s Main Street.

While this decision came as a shock to many of our readers, is it really that surprising in retrospect? Disneyland has never pulled off a successful Candlelight dining offering, and with each passing year the frustration and complaints mounted. In a blog post last year (link) I detailed six years of broken processes and poor communication that have marked Disneyland’s efforts at offering a Candlelight dining plan, and wrote
“The time has long since come to decide what Candlelight means to the Disneyland Resort. If it’s really intended to be an private event, a “thank you” of sorts for corporate sponsors, senior executives and Club 33 members, then hold it after park hours on a December week day, much as you do the Cast Member holiday parties, and be done with it. But, if Candlelight is going to remain a public event, then it’s time to get serious about making this truly a Disney experience.”

With this announcement, I think we have Disney’s answer. Instead of fixing the myriad but not insurmountable problems with the Candlelight dining packages (which I still maintain could have been easily resolved by offering brunch instead of dinner, and hiring an outside firm to handle package sales), they’ve decided to scuttle the program entirely – or at least hand it off to D23 to try and manage.

What seating there is will be reserved for VIPs and invited guests, and those willing to pay for the D23 package. Everyone else will jockey for position in the standby viewing area, just as it was for the years (decades, really) before Disneyland first experimented with the dining package.

Now those who plan to see Candlelight this year anyway just have to think back to 1997, and try to remember their best strategy for getting a seat. For me, I remember arriving around Noon to find a spot, and waiting with friends for hours to see the show. We brought blankets and playing cards, and made a day of it. We didn’t have the best seat in the house, but we were there.

It still remains to be seen whether Disney will communicate how they plan to handle the standby seating this year, or if that process will be as much of a mystery as it has been in recent years. If the Main Street viewing area is set up as usual, there will be quite a number of benches and chairs at the back of the VIP seating area, and Disney always has some (if unannounced) plan for filling those seats, usually involving a long line down Main Street. We’ll post more information as we have it.

MousePlanet Nights at Trick-or-Treat Party

Come join MousePlanet readers, staff, friends and family at our first MousePlanet Night at Mickey’s Trick or Treat Party this Thursday, October 15. We’ll gather at the Bountiful Farms Market area at 7:00 p.m. (a half hour after the party starts) to hand out MousePlanet treats and take a group photo. The meeting area is near location #14 on the event map, at the tables to the west of the Bountiful Valley Farmers’ Market. Tickets are still available through the Disneyland Web site (link).

If you haven’t been following the discussions about HalloweenTime crowds and parking, be sure to leave yourself plenty of time to get to the Disneyland Resort for Thursday’s event, and be prepared to park in lots you never knew existed. If the Mickey and Friends parking structure is full, you may be directed to the Pumbaa, Buzz Lightyear, Pongo Anaheim Garden Walk or Anaheim Convention Center lots. Parking is included with your event ticket, so be sure to have that ready to show to the parking attendant.

Shopping update

As the holiday season approaches, the Disneyland Resort is welcoming a new host of retailers to Disneyland and Downtown Disney. As expected, the Main Street Magic Shop closed last week for a one-month renovation, (though a peek inside the store this weekend revealed that construction has yet to begin). When it reopens, it will be operated by Houdini’s Magic Shop. According to an announcement sent out to cast members, “Houdini’s will further enhance the Guest experience by offering an expanded assortment of quality products as well as certified magicians to perform demonstrations.”

Main Street Magic is closed for about a month while a new operator remodels the store. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Little Miss Matched has now opened in their permanent retail home, right next door to the temporary store they occupied this summer. A highlight of the colorful new storefront is an interactive display that customers can spin and turn to create new designs. The space just vacated by Little Miss Matched will be converted into a Disney-operated store offering holiday decorations and ornaments. That store is expected to open by the start of the holiday season at the Disneyland Resort in mid-November.

Little Miss Matched has moved into their permanent Downtown Disney home. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Ridemakerz has opened this week, moving into the the last of the three spaces created by the departure of Department 56 last year. The new shop offers customers the ability to purchase and customize a model car, starting with a basic chassis and moving through several stations to add sound effects, radio-control and hundreds of accessory options to their car. Ridemakerz is a temporary store, only expected to be in Downtown Disney through the holiday season, and employees had only a week to move into the former Department 56 space. Very few modifications were made to the existing store, and the transformation from collectibles store to model race car shop was less than complete. The two-story tree with a trio of animated penguins that dominated the entrance to the D56 store is still in place, but the tree has been draped with lengths of chain and decorated with sample cars, and the still-working penguins wear Ridemakerz T-shirts. The tiled D56 logo on the floor just inside the entrance has been covered with a Ridemakerz decal. (Caution: you’ll likely have to dodge one or more radio-control cars being “driven” across the floor by employees and young customers as you make your way into the store.) The store seems to be popular, and was crowded Saturday morning with customers designing, building and testing their creations. Ridemakerz also provides a much-needed alternative to Little Miss Matched, Build-a-Bear and Studio 365.

A strangely decorated tree and T-shirt-clad animatronic penguins greet you at the entrance of Ridemakerz, Downtown Disney’s new tenant. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Your first (and possibly easiest) decision at Ridemakerz is selecting the car you will build and modify. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Once you’ve selected your car and narrowed down the hundreds of optional accessories, your car is assembled right before your eyes in an in-store body shop. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Finally, a Disney-operated store called D-Street is expected to open in the former Illuminations space in Downtown Disney. D-Street is supposed to be Disneyland’s answer to Walt Disney World’s TrenD store, which is somewhat confusing as Trend was described as WDW’s version of Disneyland’s Vault 28. As described, D-Street will carry pretty much the same type of edgy, urban merchandise currently offered at both Vault 28 in Downtown Disney and the Fortuosity Shop inside Disneyland. Once this store opens, Disney will operate a total of five permanent or temporary stores in Downtown Disney. A full shopping center is good for everyone, but Disney has to be hoping to attract some outside retailers to take over some of the space after the holiday season.

DCA Construction Update

MousePlanet reader John Garcia posted this little tidbit to our MousePad discussion boards last week, sparking hope that we might see something from the Paradise Pier this holiday season:

My [wife] has a friend who has been testing the valves for World of Color and has this to report: “The mist curtain and fire plumbing has been tested. There is stadium seating. They will start to fill the 16 millions gallon lagoon shortly. If Disney has its way, this may be up and running by the holidays.” He also says that the crews are working as late as they can at night to get this done for the holidays. The workers are asked to stay past 10 p.m. but if even one hotel guest complains about the noise, the work is stopped for the day (night).

Other sources indicate that the viewing area for the World of Color, originally expected to open in December, would not be complete until after the first of the year, and it’s clear that the lagoon was not refilled after Labor Day as originally rumored. It will be interesting to see if they can get the World of Color show platform and viewing area ready so much earlier than expected – and what type of show they’ll present if they do. It’s hard to image that Disney would introduce the World of Color show early, and especially not during the already-busy holiday season, but we might see a little holiday-themed “teaser” show designed to generate buzz about the World of Color in advance of the Spring 2010 debut.

While you contemplate that rumor, here are some photos of the ongoing construction in DCA.

What a difference several weeks makes—the new projector stands are in place in the Paradise Pier Lagoon. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Across the bay, work continues on the terraced viewing area, and new light fixtures have been installed. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

The terraced viewing area was expected to reopen in December, but recent reports indicate it may be as last as February. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

A row of projector towers has been installed behind the World of Color show platform. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Workers appeared to be repositioning or replacing some of the fountains the day this picture was taken. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

A faux rock fall will help hide the spot where the cable run for the World of Color show enters Paradise Bay. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

New light fixtures have been installed around the bay. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

It does look like workers are making preparations to at least partially refill Paradise Bay, and a walkway has been erected from the edge of the lagoon to each of the new projector towers.

A walkway provides access to the new projector towers behind the show platform. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

The projectors have shutters to help hide their true function during the daytime. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

The row of projectors runs between Mickey’s Fun Wheel and the World of Color show platform. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

It doesn’t look like much work has been done on the Silly Symphony Swings. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

As construction continues all around Paradise Pier, the path between construction walls can get a bit tight. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

This and That

…MousePlanet reader Madabbagator has come through once again with the latest information about the taping of the annual Disneyland holiday special, currently scheduled for the first weekend of November. The youth dance groups that perform in the parade were notified last week that their portion of the taping will take place on Saturday, November 7 as originally scheduled, but that ABC-TV’s will also tape additional segments with celebrity performers on Sunday, Nov. 8 and Monday, Nov. 9. We’ll update you here next week if there is any new information, but we recommend that you keep an eye on the 2009 Holiday Parade Filming thread (link) on our MousePad discussion board for the latest news.

…Come join CHOC Walk with Team MousePlanet, and help us raise money for Children’s Hospital Orange County at the 2009 CHOC/Disneyland Resort Walk in the Park. To help encourage more participants to sign up and start raising funds, CHOC extended their “Free Registration” offer. Register for Team MousePlanet and you can create your account and start fundraising without having to pay the normal $50 registration fee up front. Walkers will still need to raise a of minimum of $50 to participate in the CHOC Walk on October 18, but you’ll have until Saturday, October 17 to raise the funds.

…To assist MousePlanet readers who want to participate in The Year to Volunteer, we’re looking for readers to act as MousePlanet hosts at qualifying volunteer opportunities across the country. While details of specific opportunities won’t be available until after the promotion begins in January, we already have MousePlanet readers and staff in upstate New York; Buffalo, NY; Southern Utah; Ventura County, Los Angeles County, Riverside County, Orange County, San Francisco Bay Area and Fresno/Bakersfield, CA; and Houston, TX; who have expressed interest in coordinating a local volunteer event. If you would like to coordinate and host a group volunteer event in your area, please e-mail us at volunteers@mouseplanet.com, and we’ll keep you in the loop as more information becomes available. Hosts will be responsible for selecting a volunteer opportunity from the HandsOn Network site (which means you get to choose a program or organization that’s important to you!), and coordinating with local MousePlanet readers who want to volunteer for your activity. To give readers the most time to use their tickets, we encourage hosts to schedule their activities early in the year.

…Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen is still accepting reservations for their Haunted Gingerbread House Workshop. This private event is open only to Disneyland Resort annual passholders, and will be held on Saturday, October 24, 2009 and Sunday, October 25, 2009 from Noon – 2:00 PM Tickets are $45.00 (plus tax) per Gingerbread kit, and includes candy and unlimited sodas for the decorator and one guest. Decorators under the age of 12 must be accompanied by a parent, and additional guests may attend for $10 per person. Chef Darrin Finkel will demonstrate building and decorating a basic Gingerbread house, then participants are set loose to design, build and decorate their own creation. To reserve your kit, call (714) 776-5200 during normal office hours (Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.). Full payment by credit card is required when you make your reservation.
 

Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen is hoping to start a new holiday tradition with Haunted Gingerbread House decorating classes. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

…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

Workers replace patio doors with new solid windows at the Disneyland Hotel. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Disneyland

• Sailing Ship Columbia – closed October 12–15.
• Royal Street Verandah – closed through October 16 for refurbishment.
• Gadget’s Go Coaster – closed through October 26 for refurbishment.
• Disneyland Railroad – closed October 13–28.
• The Enchanted Cottage – closed through November 4 for refurbishment.
• “it’s a small world” – closed October 26–November 12 for installation of the holiday overlay.
• Big Thunder Ranch Petting Farm – closed November 2–12 for installation of the holiday overlay.
• Casey Jr. Circus Trains – closed through November 19 for refurbishment.
• Storybook Land Canal Boats – closed through November 19 for refurbishment.
• King Arthur Carrousel – closed December 8–10 for refurbishment.
• Disneyland: The First 50 Magical Years – closed through December 16 to return Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln to the Main Street Opera House.

Disney’s California Adventure

Construction-related closures: 

• The Vineyard Room – closed. No announcement has been made about a potential replacement for this restaurant.
• Golden Dreams – closed. The building that once house this film-based attraction has been demolished, and 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 24, 2011 as the return date.
• Paradise Pier Lagoon – currently drained while workers complete several construction projects in the area. The Lagoon was scheduled to be refilled after Labor Day, but construction delays have moved the date back to mid-October.
• Golden State Amphitheater – area closed for construction of new viewing area for Disney’s World of Color water show. The area is now scheduled to reopen in Spring, 2010.
• Corn Dog Castle – closed due to construction in the area. An employee publication lists March 24, 2011 as the return date. During the renovation, corn dogs are available at Bountiful Valley Farmer’s Market.
• Souvenir 66 – closed due to construction in the area. An employee publication lists March 24, 2011 as the return date.
• Orange Stinger – closed through April 28, 2010 for refurbishment and renovation into the Silly Symphonies Swings.

New tinted windows replace sliding patio doors and a faux balcony at the Disneyland Hotel. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

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

• HalloweenTime at the Disneyland Resort – September 25 to November 1, 2009 (link).
• 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). All other visitors can purchase tickets through the event Web site (link).
• 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).
• Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Product Release & Signing – October 17, 2009 (link). 9 to 11 am at the Disney Gallery in Disneyland.
• CHOC/Disneyland Resort Walk in the Park – Sunday, October 18, 2009. Team MousePlanet will once again participate in this event, and you are invited to register to walk with us (click here to register). Visit our MousePad discussion boards to meet other members of Team MousePlanet and discuss the Walk (link).

Winter

• Holiday Parade Filming – Saturday, November 7 and/or Sunday, November 8. [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 – November 13, 2009 to January 3, 2010
• Candlelight Processional – Saturday, December 5 and Sunday, December 6. The narrator has not yet been announced, and details of the dining package offering has not been released.
• D23 Candlelight Spectacular event at Disneyland – Sunday, December 6 (link). Private event open to members of the D23 club and their guests. $275 per person. Tickets go on sale October 15th.
• D23 Disney and Dickens event – Thursday, December 10 (link). Private event open to members of the D23 club and their guests. $95 per person. Tickets go on sale October 15th.
• MouseAdventure Holiday: Reindeer Games – Saturday, December 12, 2009 at the Disneyland Resort (link). There is still room for your team to join our first-ever holiday edition of our popular MouseAdventure event. This family-friendly format is a great way to enjoy the holiday season at Disneyland, and is perfect for new teams who want to try their skills at MouseAdventure.

2010

• 5th Annual Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend – September 3-5, 2010. Registration is now open (link).

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 ($149/$129) – 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). These tickets are now valid through January 3, 2011.
Three Day Park Hopper – Regularly $204/$174	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). These tickets are now valid through January 3, 2011.
Four Day Park Hopper – Regularly $229/$199	Costco 4-Day Park Hopper Ticket ($159.95) – A special offer for Costco members who are also residents of Southern California (link). Unlike some recent offers, this ticket has no “fuse” – you can use the first admission today, and have almost a full year to use the remaining admission days before the ticket expires on August 23, 2010. The ticket is blocked out the week between Christmas and New Years (inclusive of both holidays), and for the week of March 26 to  April 4, which gives you an idea of what Disneyland expects to be the peak Spring Break period. The ticket is not blocked out on any other holidays – including Labor Day, Thanksgiving or even the 4th of July – and can be upgraded to any Annual Passport except the SoCal Select pass. The Costco Web site states in three different places – including a bold, bright red headline – that visitors “Must reside within ZIP codes 90000-93599” and that “Proof of residency required upon redemption.” The ticket you purchase at Costco is a valid admission ticket, and you can take it directly to a main entrance gate to use it. We’ve been told that, to prevent the unauthorized “transfer” of tickets between visitors (ie, you use the first two days of the ticket and give it to a friend to use the second two days), visitors will be required to write their name on the ticket when it is first used for admission, and to show ID with that same name upon subsequent admissions. Obviously minor children will be exempt from the ID requirement, but will also be required to write their name on the ticket when it is first used. Adults should plan to have ID with them to use the ticket. Advance Purchase 4-Day Park Hopper Bonus tickets ($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). These tickets are now valid through January 3, 2011. 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).
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). These tickets are now valid through January 3, 2011.
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 admission 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
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 Sea World 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

Save $400 on a 4-Day/4-Night Disneyland Resort vacation package. The offer is valid for arrivals August 23 through December 20, 2009, and starts at $87 per person, per day with accommodations at Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel and a four-day park hopper ticket. The offer is not valid November 25–27, 2009. Annual passholders can book the same package—without the ticket requirement—through Costco travel or directly through the Walt Disney Travel Company, though the Costco version of the offer also includes the perks listed below.

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).

Disney Visa Discounted Stroller Rental – If you have a Disney Visa card you can rent up to two strollers at a discount of 50% 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.

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.