Disneyland Resort Update

Update for March 15 – 21, 2010

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

News and Views

Give a Day, Get a Disney Day ends | Sherman Brothers honored with Main Street Window | Disney Parks announce Premier Pass | D23 anniversary and future event plans | Food & Wine Festival updates | MouseAdventure: Are You Game? | This and That

Give a Day, Get a Disney Day ends

Just last Monday we reported that Disney’s “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” program had exceeded all expectations, and was already close to reaching the one-million-volunteer mark. The Walt Disney Company announced Tuesday afternoon that the milestone had been reached and ended the promotion, just 10 short weeks after it began. Volunteers who had already signed up for a specific project when the program ended will still receive their admission voucher once they complete their service; those who waited too long to register can still find volunteer opportunities through the HandsOn Network, but will not receive free Disney park tickets as a reward.

For those who are confused about their status in the Give a Day, Get a Disney Day program, here’s a quick update of the information we provided last week:

I’ve already completed my volunteer service and received my voucher:

• If you have already completed your volunteer service and have received your confirmation and voucher, you are already “counted.” Your voucher is still valid through December 15, 2010 (subject to Resort-specific blockout dates).

I’ve already completed my volunteer service but have not received my voucher:

• If you registered through the Disney Web site and have already completed your volunteer service, you have already been counted, and your voucher should be issued within two weeks of your event. Once received, your voucher is still valid through December 15, 2010 (subject to Resort-specific blockout dates).
• If it’s been more than two weeks since you completed your service, the Disney Web site provides the following advice: “If you have not received any communication or seen the status of your volunteer activity change after 2 weeks, please contact the Guest Support Team for assistance. Please keep in mind that if you signed up for the program as part of a household, verification emails are sent to the lead volunteer.”

I’ve already signed up, but I haven’t completed my volunteer service:

• The easiest way to tell if you’ve been “counted” is to log into your Disney.com account and look to see if your volunteer service activity is listed. If so, you have already been “counted,” and you will receive a voucher once your service is completed and has been verified by the sponsoring organization. Once issued, your voucher will still be valid through December 15, 2010 (subject to Resort-specific blockout dates).
• If your volunteer activity is not listed under your account, you have not been counted, and will not receive a voucher. If you feel this is an error, you need to contact the volunteer organization directly for assistance.

I haven’t signed up yet:

• The program is over, and you can not register for a volunteer activity to earn a Disney Day. However, the HandsOn Network organizations still need help – especially those groups who had planned summer events and will have a hard time recruiting volunteers now that the program is over. Visit the HandsOn Network Web site for local opportunities (link).

We want to know what you think! If you are a volunteer, did “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” encourage you to volunteer more than you usually do? Are you going to continue working with the organization you found? Should the program have been extended this year?

If you represent a participating organization, how do you feel about the promotion ending so soon? How has “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” impacted your group’s activities this year? What was your greatest success and biggest frustration with the program? Write us at volunteers@mouseplanet.com and share your experience with us.

Sherman Brothers honored with Main Street Window

Songwriters Richard and Robert Sherman were honored with a tribute window on Disneyland’s Main Street U.S.A. in a special ceremony last Thursday. While these window dedications are usually private events, held before Disneyland park opens to the public, this ceremony was held mid-morning, and hundreds of Disney fans were allowed to gather on Main Street to watch. First to speak was Disneyland Resort President George Kalogridis, who said “Whether for film, television or his theme parks, Walt knew that the Sherman Brothers would create the perfect tunes to underscore his dreams.”

“Mother” and “Father” from the Carousel of Progress entertain the crowd with a medley of Sherman Brothers songs. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Kalogridis turned the ceremony over to “two, close, personal friends” of the Sherman Brothers – “Mother” and “Father” from the Carousel of Progress attraction. The couple said that after they sold their old place to “that singing eagle,” they had time to explore Disneyland and learned that the Sherman Brothers wrote far more than their attraction’s theme song, “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow.” Mother and Father performed a medley of Sherman Brothers hits, then Kalogridis introduced Thomas Schumacher, President of the Disney Theatrical Group.

Thomas Schumacher demonstrates how Richard Sherman teared up when asked about turning Mary Poppins into a Broadway production. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Retired Imagineer Marty Sklar pays tribute to his friends Richard and Robert Sherman. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Schumacher spoke about his experience working with the Sherman Brothers, saying “If you’re very very very lucky, every so often in your lifetime you have a chance to stand in the shadow of greatness, and that’s what it is to work with the Sherman Brothers.” Schumacher said he was at the world premiere of the Mary Poppins movie and described leaving the theater “filled with ennui” thinking about the song “Feed the Birds.” Years later, he was able to pitch the idea of a Broadway production of Mary Poppins to Richard Sherman. Schumacher then introduced retired Imagineer Marty Sklar, who jokingly grumbled about not wanting to follow “Mr. Showbiz.”

Sklar honored the brothers, saying “Just as their songs created a musical genre for Disney films and television, Dick and Bob Sherman injected musical magic into the Magic Kingdom in a way no one had every imagined before,” and shared a few inside jokes from his days working on Disneyland attractions, Sklar ended by saying “Two brothers, Richard and Robert Sherman, wrote tunes and words that would last as long as there are Disney lands and worlds somewhere on our truly small planet.”

Thomas Staggs, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, explains the history of the tribute windows. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Richard Sherman watches as Mickey Mouse reveals the tribute to he and his brother. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Sklar introduced Thomas Staggs, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts who quipped “I have no idea what Marty was complaining about – I just followed two creative legends. I think they were doing their staging and said ‘we need two legends, and a suit.’ Guess who I am?” Staggs explained the history of the tribute windows, and then called on Mickey Mouse to help unveil the window, and asked Richard Sherman to come forward to see the tribute. With a burst of confetti, Mickey tugged the rope to reveal the door.

It would be fitting to place the Sherman Brothers’ tribute window above the 20th Century Music Shop, but the store’s lone window is already occupied by the tribute to Van France. Instead, the Shermans were honored with a door in the building’s facade. Staggs read the inscription, and presented Richard Sherman with a replica of his window.

Two Brothers Tunemakers
Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman proprietors
“We’ll write your tunes for a song!”

Confetti swirls around Richard Sherman and Mickey Mouse after the Sherman Brothers’ tribute window was revealed. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Father and Mother listen to a radio broadcast from Robert Sherman in England. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Robert Sherman now resides in England, and was unable to attend the ceremony in person. “Mother” and “Father” proudly displayed their latest bit of “state of the art technology,” and tried to tune the vintage radio to capture “an exclusive broadcast, direct from London, England.” As they tried to find the signal, the radio played snippets of Sherman Brothers hit, then the audience heard Robert Sherman’s voice saying about the window “It is such a thrill to be honored in this way, a window on Main Street, Disneyland. It’s an enduring legacy and an acknowledgement of the work my brother Richard and I have contributed, and it is a testament to the notion that with a with a little bit of inspiration and a lot of perspiration, dreams can become manifest.”

Richard Sherman came next to the podium, and talked about his first trip to Disneyland about three months after the park opened. “The problems and pressures that I had all slipped away and I was in this wonderful, magical, special, special world. It was the most wonderful day I’d ever spent.” Richard then sat down at the piano to perform “Feed the Birds,” which he called Walt Disney’s favorite song.

Richard Sherman accepts his tribute window during a Disneyland ceremony. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Richard Sherman performs Walt Disney’s favorite song, “Feed the Birds.” Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

The Sherman Brothers wrote the score for The Parent Trap in 1961, and were tapped by Walt Disney to create the theme for “it’s a small world” for the 1964 World’s Fair. The Disney company claims the song as one of the most-translated and most-performed songs on Earth. The duo went on to compose dozens of songs for Disney films, theme park attractions and parades, including the score for Mary Poppins, the theme “Miracles from Molecules” for Disneyland’s Adventure Thru Inner Space, “The Tiki Tiki Tiki Room” for Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room, and “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” for the Carousel of Progress.

While the Sherman Brothers are best known by Disney fans for their theme park and movie scores, the brothers had a wide-ranging career composing songs for radio, theater and television. Their work included the score for Snoopy Come HomeChitty Chitty Bang BangBeverly Hills Cop 3 (Robert Sherman makes a cameo appearance in the film). Their awards include several Top Ten hits; three Grammy Awards; two Academy Awards; 24 gold and platinum albums; five Golden Globe nominations and a National Medal of Arts award presented by President George W. Bush. The Sherman Brothers have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; were named Disney Legends in 1990; and were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Disney Parks announce Premier Pass

At the Disney Shareholders meeting Wednesday morning, Walt Disney Company President Bob Iger officially announced today a 2-Resort “Premier Pass” valid at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort. Details of the new Annual pass were also posted to the official Disney Parks Blog (link). The Premier Pass is $700 ($722.75 with Florida sales tax applied to 1/2 of the ticket value, due to differences in tax codes).

The Premier Pass has no exclusive benefits, but affords the holder the benefits of a Premium Annual Pass at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World:

Disneyland benefits include:

• Admission to Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure 365 days per year, with no blockout dates.
• Park-hopper privileges.
• Free parking at Disneyland Resort pay lots.
• Discount of 10% off most merchandise purchases from Disney-owned stores at the Resort.
• Discount of 15 to 20% off food purchases at most Disney-operated restaurants.
• Discount of 20% off selected guided tours.
• Subscriptions to Backstage Pass, the Annual Passholder magazine. Access to AP-only rates at the Disneyland Resort Hotels.

Walt Disney World benefits include:

• Admission to all four theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios 365 days per year, with no blockout dates.
• Park-hopper privileges.
• Admission to both water parks: Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach
• Admission to Disney Quest, Wide World of Sports Complex (subject to restrictions) and Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course (subject to restrictions).
• Free parking at Walt Disney World Resort pay lots.
• Discount of 10 to 15% off merchandise from selected Downtown Disney and Animal Kingdom merchants.
• Eligibility to purchase membership for the Tables in Wonderland discount dining program.
• Discount of 10 to 15% off dining at selected restaurants in the theme parks, Downtown Disney and Resort hotels.
• Discounts on selected sports and recreation activities, including the Richard Petty Driving Experience, spa treatments and marina rentals.
• Discounts on selected event and entertainment tickets, including the AMC Theater in Downtown Disney and miniature golf.
• Discount of 15% off selected guided tours.
• Subscription to Mickey Monitor, the Annual Passholder magazine.
• Access to AP-only rates at the Walt Disney World Resort Hotels.

The new Premier Pass is now available for purchase or upgrade at the Disney theme parks, and reportedly eight of the new tickets were sold at Disneyland the first day they were offered. The passes are currently not available for sale on either the Disneyland or Walt Disney World Web site. At this time, the Premier Pass is not eligible for the monthly payment plan for Southern California Residents. If you live in Southern California and want to finance the pass, your best option is to purchase a Premium Annual Passport on the monthly payment plan, then immediately upgrade the pass to a Premier Pass. You’ll pay the entire difference between the two tickets at once, but at least you can continue to make monthly payments on the original cost of your Premium pass.

If you already had qualifying annual passes at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World, your passes will be upgraded to the new Premier Passport, and your new pass is being mailed to you this week. A Disney spokesperson declined to confirm how many people qualified for this perk, but the number is reportedly 700 to 800 passholders. If you’re among that number, your new Premier Pass will have the expiration date of the later of your two passes, so you’re essentially getting a free extension of the earlier-expiring pass. In other words, if your Disneyland Pass expires in June, but your Walt Disney World pass expires in December, your new Premier Pass will have the December expiration date, giving you 6 more months of Disneyland admission for free.

Originally the Disney Parks Blog incorrectly stated that you must already have a Premium Pass both both DL and WDW to qualify for the upgrade and extension. In fact, if you held any Annual Pass at each park (with the lone exception of the Epcot after-4 pass), your passes will be upgraded to the new Premier Pass. You are reading this correctly—if you had a SoCal Select pass in Disneyland and a basic Passport AP for Walt Disney World, you will soon be the proud owner of a shiny new Premier Pass—at no extra charge. Of course, when your Premier Pass expires you’ll have to renew it at the higher charge if you want to maintain your benefits.

If you already hold an AP to one Resort, you can upgrade your existing pass to a Premier Passport, but you’ll pay the full difference between the two regardless of when you bought it. The expiration extension was limited to those passholders who already held qualifying passes to both Resorts; anyone who upgrades an existing pass now retains their current expiration date. If you’ve just renewed your AP and want to upgrade it might not matter to you, but if your pass is due to expire soon, you might want to wait and just purchase a new Premier Pass when the time comes.

Examined closely, the new Premier Pass is ideally suited for those Disney fans who already had Premium passports to both Resorts, some Disney Vacation Club members, and people who don’t want to do the math. In reality, the Premier Pass is nothing more than a Premium Annual Passport to both domestic Disney Resorts, and costs less than purchasing the two passes separately. There are no exclusive benefits. The question becomes, do you really save any money by purchasing this pass? The answer just depends on your individual usage patterns. If you’re the person who already has a Premium Pass to both Resorts and always renews your passes the day they expire, then there’s no question, this pass can save you almost $300 per year. But, what if, like many people, you purchase or renew your AP at the start of one trip, and then make a second trip just before your pass expires, getting two (or more) trips out of one calendar year. If you’re this person, you’re unlikely to purchase another AP until your next trip, months in the future. Because the Premier Pass ties the two expiration dates together, passholders may find that they get less benefit from the pass, depending on their vacation plans. You might save a little by renewing, but you get less use out of your pass if that next trip isn’t for several months.

MousePlanet reader Burnt Toast provided a good cost comparison on our MousePad discussion boards (link), and it’s definitely a good idea to crunch the numbers before purchasing, upgrading or renewing the Premier Pass.

D23 anniversary and future event plans

MousePlanet’s Jeff Moxley attended the D23 First Anniversary party on Wednesday night, and filed this report:

On Wednesday night, D23 threw an after-hours party in Disneyland to celebrate its first anniversary. After a brief welcome in front of the castle followed by small fireworks display, guests were allowed into Fantasyland for three hours of rides, refreshments, and rare photo opportunities.

Fireworks kick off the D23 Anniversary party at Disneyland. Photo by Jeff Moxley.

All Fantasyland attractions (except for the Matterhorn, which is currently closed for refurbishment) were open, along with Captain EO and the Astro Orbiter in Tomorrowland. The Main Street vehicles also made an appearance, and the virtually nonexistent pedestrian traffic made for faster-than-normal trips between the hub and Town Square.

Numerous dessert buffet tables offer sweet treats throughout Fantasyland. Photo by Jeff Moxley.

Tables were set up along Storybook Land/Casey Jr. corridor and along Small World mall with complimentary cupcakes, cookies, and other goodies along with drink stations that included coffee, tea, and water. Beer and wine were also available for purchase in several locations.

Walt Disney’s Electric Runaround is parked for party guests to see, and is also used the next day to drive Richard Sherman to his window dedication ceremony. Photo by Jeff Moxley.

Several vehicles were brought out to Small World mall for photo opportunities, including Walt’s “Electric Runaround” car, the Grand Marshal Car, and Cinderella’s Crystal Coach. There were also quite a few characters who are not often seen in the park outside of parades available for photos, including Clarabelle Cow, Clara Cluck, the 3 Little Pigs, several of the Country Bears, and Jiminy Cricket.

Park guests have photo opportunities with the Disneyland Grand Marshal Car. Photo by Jeff Moxley.

Disney VIPs were also on hand for the festivities, including Imagineers Tony Baxter and Bob Gurr, voice actors Bill Farmer (Goofy), Jennifer Cody and Michael-Leon Wooley (The Princess and the Frog), and Kathryn Beaumont (Alice and Wendy), actors Dan Roebuck (“Dr. Arzt” from LOST), David Stollery (“Marty” from Spin and Marty), and Margaret Kerry (live-action model for Tinker Bell), Disney’s chief archivist Dave Smith, Disneyland Senior Show Director Denny Newell, and composer Richard Sherman, who was honored with a window on Main Street the next day.

To wrap up the evening, everyone in attendance was given a commemorative pin featuring Mickey in his band leader costume from the Mickey Mouse Club.

A number of MousePlanet readers attended the event and shared their experiences on our MousePad discussion boards. As with most things, people’s experience seemed largely to depend on their expectations going in to the event. Those who arrived expecting a 3-hour dessert party in Fantasyland seemed to enjoy themselves. After the initial crush, lines for the Fantasyland rides were reportedly rarely over 10 minutes, and most guests said they were able to ride everything they wanted to at least once. Many members complimented the dessert selection, and the opportunity to get photos with seldom-seen characters. MousePlanet reader Kuzcofan, who attended with his wife, said, “We had a fantastic time and we will definitely go again next year if they have it.” Reader Nikara agreed, and said, “it was a lovely night, worth the cost.”

Several rarely seen characters, including the Country Bears, make an appearance during the D23 Anniversary party at Disneyland. Photo by Jeff Moxley.

Those who expected something more akin to the old Annual Passholder parties were a little more disapointed. One D23 member said that he really enjoyed himself, but felt that event needed a special opportunity (other than drinking beer in Fantasyland) that couldn’t be had during a normal trip to Disneyland—something like a walk-through of one of the Fantasyland dark rides, or a behind-the-scenes look at something the public doesn’t get to see. Another D23 member said that she thought that the fireworks and recording of Walt Disney’s dedication speech were nice touches, but wished D23 head Stephen Clark had personally addressed the crowd.

Photopass photographers are on hand to capture pictures with Cinderella and her coach. Photo by Jeff Moxley.

While the event information listed some of the Disney notables who were on hand, the special guests were not set apart or identified in any particular way. “The dim or non-existent lighting and the cold temperatures made it impossible for me and my wife to figure out where to go to find these folk,” MousePlanet reader Oleg C. said. “After thinking about it, though, it was probably better for the special guests to not be mobbed by lines of people.”

Earlier that day, D23 announced plans for 2010 and 2011, starting with the confirmation that the D23 EXPO will skip a year, and return to the Anaheim Convention Center on August 19 to 21, 2011. For 2010, a new members-only event called Destination D will be held September 24 and 25 at the Disneyland Resort, and will alternate annually with the D23 EXPO. The full press release is available on our MousePad discussion board.

Food & Wine Festival updates

Several Disneyland Resort chefs will participate in demonstration events at Bloomingdales department stores the weekend of March 24-26. Chefs, dates and times are posted below:

• Wednesday, March 24 Sherman Oaks 1:00 p.m. and Century City 5:00 p.m. – Marcel St. Pierre, Chef de Cuisine of Club 33 at the Disneyland
• Thursday, March 25 Newport Beach 1:00 p.m. – Christopher R. Faulkner, Chef de Cuisine at Storytellers Café at the Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel
• Thursday, March 25 Costa Mesa 6:00 p.m. –  Jason Martin, Chef de Cuisine at Steakhouse 55 at the Disneyland Hotel
• Friday, March 26 San Diego 6:00 p.m. –  Christopher R. Faulkner, Storytellers Café

Some of these events require reservations and a deposit, but registration details were not immediately available. We’ll post an update to our MousePad discussion board as soon as we have more information.

MouseAdventure: Are You Game?

This Spring, MousePlanet celebrates the 10th Anniversary of MouseAdventure with three fun-filled events. Whether you’ve played every game since 2000 or are forming a team for your very first Adventure, there’s a division just right for you!  More information about MouseAdventure can be found at www.mouseadventure.com.

Advanced Division
MouseAdventure Anniversary: Decades
Saturday, May 22 – Sunday, May 23

Hop aboard the MouseAdventure Time Machine for a whirlwind Journey through Disneyland Resort History. Teams begin this two-day event Saturday morning with breakfast at Aladdin’s Oasis inside Disneyland Park, then embark on a day (and night) of fun in Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure. You never know where the Time Machine will send you next!

On Sunday, Advanced teams will resume the Adventure with an entirely new set of quests to solve, then return to the Paradise Pier Hotel for the post-event Award Ceremony. This is guaranteed to be the most challenging MouseAdventure ever! Registration is restricted to returning MouseAdventure teams, and all players must be 18 years of age or older. (MouseAdventure Masters teams are allowed to register and compete for prizes in this division).

Registration for the Advanced Division is $250 per 2-person team, plus $30 each for the 3rd or 4th player on a team. Registration includes breakfast at Aladdin’s Oasis, two days of MouseAdventure fun, and admission to the post-event Award Ceremony on Sunday. Each player will need admission to Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure on Saturday and Sunday.  MouseAdventure registration does not include theme park admission.

Registration for the Advanced Division will open at 9am on Tuesday, March 16th online at mouseadventure.com. Registration for this division is extremely limited, and no waiting list will be formed once the division fills.

Basic Division
MouseAdventure Anniversary
Sunday, May 23

Celebrate 10 years of MouseAdventure with this “blast from the past” featuring some of your favorite quest formats.

Registration for the Basic Division is $95 per team, and includes admission to the post-event Award Ceremony on Sunday. Each player will need admission to Disneyland on Sunday.  MouseAdventure registration does not include theme park admission.

Registration for the Basic Division will open at 9am on Tuesday, March 16th online at mouseadventure.com. Registration will close on May 13, or whenever the division sells out. No waiting list will be formed once the division fills. Players must be at least 6 years of age and one player on each team must be at least 18 years of age.

Day at the Park Division
MouseAdventure Anniversary
Sunday, June 6

Designed for new MouseAdventure teams as well as returning teams who play “just for fun,” teams in the Day in the Park event will solve slightly modified versions of the Basic division quests in a relaxed, non-competitive setting. Teams play only for bragging rights, and there is no post-event Award Ceremony: results will be posted on the Web site about a week after the event. If you’ve ever wondered what a MouseAdventure event is all about, this is the perfect opportunity to find out!

The MouseAdventure Day at the Park event features an extended sign-in period with a pre-game new player orientation session. Teams can also participate in T-shirt and mascot competitions before the main event begins.

Registration for the Day at the Park Division is $55 per team. Each player will need admission to Disneyland on Sunday.  MouseAdventure registration does not include theme park admission.

Registration for the Day at the Park Division will open at 9am on Tuesday, March 30th online at mouseadventure.com. Registration will close on May 27, or whenever the division sells out. No waiting list will be formed once the division fills.

Last week we offered teams two ways to win free registration for the Basic event. Players who were registered for our MouseAdventure Newsletter received a little challenge along with the event announcement:

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The series of numbers above can be found printed on over 70 things at the Disneyland Resort – but you can’t buy any of them. Do you know where these numbers can be found?

Players submitted their best guess, and we randomly selected a winner from one of only 11 players to correctly identify the numbers as the bar code of the sample Disneyland ticket that is pictured on the front of each Fastpass machine. Congratulations to Alyssa Truman from team Peter’s Pans for what turned out to be a real team effort. Alyssa tells us she was out of town when the newsletter came out, and so sent her teammate into Disneyland to check out a hunch.

These numbers stumped most of the players who erntered our Newsletter contest, but 11 players correctly identified the sample barcode depicted on Disneyland Resort Fastpass machines. Photo by Joe Stevano.

We also offered a far easier contest via our MouseAdventure Twitter account. Players simply had to send a “Tweet” that said “My team wants to win FREE registration for the Spring 2010 MouseAdventure event!,” and we randomly selected one winner from all eligible entries. Congratulations to Noble Smith from team Lite Magic.

Be sure to register for the MouseAdventure Newsletter and follow our MouseAdventure Twitter account for future contests.

This and That

…As we first reported in December, Disneyland park introduced a program called Express ticketing to sell 1- and 2-day tickets directly at four marked turnstiles few hours each morning. Under this program, which has returned for the Spring Break period, customers pay for the tickets with a credit card (sorry, no cash), then receive the printed tickets and can enter the park immediately. This effectively creates four more ticket booths during the busiest season, and is aimed at reducing the lines in the Esplanade. Customers who want to purchase multi-day passes or Annual Passports, or those who are paying with cash or travelers checks, will still use the regular ticket booths. If you already have park admission and are just trying to enter the park, be sure to avoid the ticket-selling turnstiles, as those lines are a little slower.

…David Koening reported the return of the Royal Coronation and Princess Storytelling shows this summer in his MousePlanet Blog last week.

The Royal Coronation and Princess Storytelling shows will be returning to Disneyland’s Princess Fantasy Faire for the summer. The tentative dates for the revival are from some time in June until August 15.

Originally part of the “Year of a Million Dreams” promotion, the two shows—though popular—were discontinued to save money.

A cast member shared, “Some TDA managers were giving a tour of the Park to a big honcho. He questioned why the stage was closed. The TDA managers must not have given a very good answer, because we are getting the shows back. But first, the stage must be rehabbed. It has been sitting unused for over a year.”

The Entertainment division worker wasn’t sure who the “big honcho” was, but speculated it may have been the park president, George Kalogridis, who has been scouring the grounds to identify quick opportunities to increase capacity and alleviate the constant congestion.

…The Napa Rose Restaurant hosts a Napa Valley Wine Tasting on Wednesday, March 24. According to the event invitation posted on Facebook (link), “The Napa Valley Vintners are hosting a consumer appreciation night at the Private Dining Room in the Napa Rose Restaurant. The Napa Valley Vintners are providing a unique selection of wines from dozens of Napa Valley wineries. Wines will be paired with food prepared by Napa Rose chefs, and guests will have an opportunity to meet the people behind the wines.” Seating is limited, and reservations are required. As of press time, there were only seven spots available. The cost is $60 per person, call 714-300-7170 to make your reservation.

The wall outside Disneyland’s former stroller rental location is decorated with attraction posters. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

…The Orange County Register‘s Around Disney Blog reported last week that the public auction of the Garden Walk shopping center, originally scheduled for March 8, was postponed until April 8, 2010. The outdoor shopping center, located across Harbor Blvd. from the Disneyland Resort, opened in 2008. While the chain restaurants which line the Katella edge of the property are seemingly busy most nights, the movie theater, bowling alley, retail stores and fast food locations inside the center struggle to lure customers. Several of the storefronts have never been leased, while some major tenants have already closed their doors.

…The new Toy Story parking lot is expected to open by the end of March. The lot, which is currently under construction behind the Katella cast member lot near the intersection of Harbor and Katella, is a replacement for the Buzz and Pongo lots used during busy periods last year. As a note, Disneyland Annual Passholders with parking privleges on their pass are no longer restricted to the Mickey and Friends structure. Passholders can use their parking pass at any of the Disneyland Resort pay lots.

…The Disney Dine Line is accepting reservations for the Mother’s Day Buffet at the Grand Ballroom in the Disneyland Hotel. Call 714-781-3463 to make reservations.

Workers plant the gardens of the Golden State Amphitheater. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

…We reported last week “the rails in the viewing area for the World of Color were being painted last week, and it looks as if the planters are almost ready for the horticulture department to work their magic.” A MousePlanet reader wrote to correct us, saying that Disney had contracted the landscaping to an outside firm. Whomever is doing the planting, the work began this week, and the park is one step closer to opening.

…The RIDEMAKERZ store in Downtown Disney closed Sunday in preparation for a planned renovation and expansion. Footwear retailer Sanuk, which was leasing the other half of the space left vacant when Department 56 moved out last year, ended their lease Sunday and is moving out to make room for the RIDEMAKERZ expansion. Sanuk employees said that the company was trying to find another spot to move within Downtown Disney.

A wider parade route is taking shape in front of the Tower of Terror. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

…As we reported in January, the a new “performance corridor” is being created through Disney’s California Adventure, starting at the Tower of Terror. The existing gate to the east of the Tower of Terror will be replaced with a wider gate, and the path between the new gate and Hollywood Blvd. is being widened (cutting across a section of the current Hyperion Theater queue) to allow the parade floats to better fit through the new performance corridor. Some of the construction walls around the courtyard were removed last week, revealing the new, wider parade route.

…The Disneyland Resort has implemented “seasonal pricing” at the following character meals through April 18, 2010. The upcharge is $2 to $6 per person, and varies by location. Restaurants impacted by this change are:

• Ariel’s Grotto – Ariel’s Disney Princess Celebration
• Plaza Inn – Breakfast in the Park with Minnie and Friends
• Goofy’s Kitchen
• Disney’s PCH Grill – “Surf’s Up! Breakfast with Mickey & Friends”
• Storyteller’s Café character breakfast

…April 1 is the last date to book the current Disneyland Resort Buy 3, Get 2 Free and Alaska Airlines Kids Fly Free offers. Details in our Discounts and Promotions section below.

…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

• Rivers of America – closed through May 6 for major refurbishment. This also closes all attractions requiring use of the river: Sailing Ship Columbia, Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island and Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes, Mark Twain Riverboat (closed until May 14), as well as the Fantasmic! nighttime show (closed until May 27).
• Tomorrowland Terrace – closed through July 2 for refurbishment. The Jedi Training Academy show will be offered while the restaurant is closed.
• Matterhorn Bobsleds – closed April 12–16 and April 19–23 for additional work following a recent refurbishment.
• Little Red Wagon (Corn Dog Wagon) – closed through May 4 for refurbishment.
• Disneyland Monorail – closed April 19 & 20 for refurbishment.
• Disney Showcase – closed April 20 & 21 for refurbishment.
• Disney Showcase Annex – closed April 26 & 27 for refurbishment.
• Newsstand – closed April 26 through May 20 for refurbishment.
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – closed April 26 through May 16 for refurbishment.
• King Arthur Carrousel – closed May 8 through 10 for refurbishment.

Workers are making progress on the Disneyland Hotel renovations. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Disney’s California Adventure

The Golden State Amphitheater looks closer to opening. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Seasonal refurbishments:

• Golden Zephyr – closed through April 2 for refurbishment.
• Award Weiners – closed through April 14.
• Princess Dot Puddle Park – closed April 12–16 and April 19–23 for refurbishment.
• Redwood Creek Challenge Trail – closed April 12 through May 20 for refurbishment.

Construction-related closures:

• The Vineyard Room – closed. No announcement has been made about a potential replacement for this restaurant, though work to expand the venue is reportedly part of the refurbishment that has the Golden Vine Trattoria closed through April 26.
• 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 – work continues on the World of Color installation.
• 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 its 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 its return date, and “Seaside Souvenirs” as the new name of the store.
• Orange Stinger – closed through May 28 for refurbishment and renovation into the Silly Symphonies Swings.
• Golden Vine Trattoria – closed through April 26.
• Tower of Terror Fastpass – not offered April 15 through August 15 due to construction of the connector between Bug’s Land and Tower of Terror.
• Bug’s Land / Tower of Terror connector – the temporary connector path will be closed April 19 through August 15 to allow construction of a more permanent route between the two lands.

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.

Resort Events

Check here to see if a large convention, competition or park event might fall during your next trip to the Disneyland Resort. If you know of any events, official or unofficial, that should be listed here, please send us an e-mail (link).

Spring/Summer

• USA Nationals (cheerleading competition) – March 26–28, 2010 at the Anaheim Convention Center. This weekend event is held off Disney property and usually has a minor impact on the parks.
• Disney’s California Food and Wine Festival – Daily, April 16 through May 31. A limited schedule of the signature and complimentary events is now available on the event Web site (link).
• Bats Day in the Fun Park (unofficial event) – April 30 through May 1. Billed as a “dark alternative subculture gathering” (but more commonly known as Goth Day), this weekend event includes several on- and off-property gatherings (link).
• Grad Night events – Thursdays May 20, 27, June 3, and 10, Wednesday June 16, Thursdays June 17 and 24. Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure closes earlier on these nights to prepare for the after-hours graduation parties.
• MouseAdventure 10th Anniversary Events – Advanced Division May 22 & 23; Basic Division May 23; Day at the Park (non competitive) June 6. Registration opens Tuesday, March 16 (link).
• 2010 Major League Baseball All-Star Game – Tuesday, July 13. Angel Stadium plays host to the 2010 All-Star Game. The Anaheim Convention Center also hosts the Major League Baseball All-Star FanFest July 9-13. Both events should bring added crowds to the Disneyland Resort during what might already be a busy week as Disneyland marks its 55th Anniversary.
• Disneyland 55th Anniversary – July 17. No events have been announced to commemorate the anniversary.
• NFFC–Disneyana Fan Club 2010 Disneyana Convention – July 13–17 (link).
• NFFC–Disneyana Fan Club All Disneyana Show and Sale – Sunday, July 18 (link).

Fall

• 5th Annual Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend – September 3–5. Registration is now open (link).
• 4th Annual Not Back to School Days Rally and Conference (unofficial event) – September 8–11. Event includes education and social opportunities for home educators (link).
• 13th annual Gays Days at the Disneyland Resort (unofficial event) – October 1–3, 2010. Event attendance will be higher at Disneyland on Saturday, DCA on Sunday (link).
• Utah Education Association convention (UEA, a.k.a. “Utah Escapes to Anaheim”) – October 14–15, 2009. (Link). Expect unusually large attendance levels October 14-17 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.

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 “2Fer” ($72/$62) – The Spring 2010 2Fer ticket offers residents of Southern California (ZIP Codes 90000–93599) and Northern Baja California (ZIP Codes 21000–22999) admission to either Disneyland or Disney’s California Adventure on one day, and then a second visit to the other park on another day within 30 days of the first visit. Ticket ticket is $72.00 for adults (ages 10 and older) and $62.00 for children (ages 3-9) The first use must occur by April 12, 2010.The 2fer ticket can be purchased online at Disneyland.com/2fer, and printed from home for immediate use. You can also purchase the ticket at participating Disney Stores; Vons, Pavilions, Albertsons, Ralphs, Stater Bros, Gelson’s or Food 4 Less grocery stores; Toys R Us; Dearden’s; Korea Daily; the Disney Desk at the Irvine Spectrum and other participating locations.
Two Day Park Hopper – Regularly $151/$131	Southern California Two Day Park Hopper ($97/$87) – Offered to residents of Southern California (ZIP Codes 90000–93599) and Northern Baja California (ZIP Codes 21000–22999) Ticket must be purchased by, and first use must occur by, April 12, 2010. 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	Promotional 3-Day Park Hopper Bonus Ticket ($149) – A discounted price for advance purchase through the Disneyland Web site (link). The promotional Park Hopper ticket is valid January 5, 2010 thru April 29, 2010, and must be purchased in advance of your trip – you can’t get this discount at the ticket booths. “Bonus Tickets” include one early admission day (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday). Advance Purchase 3-day Park Hopper Bonus Ticket ($184/$154) – 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) AOCVCB 3-Day Bonus Ticket ($179/$149) – 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	Promotional 4-Day Park Hopper Bonus Ticket ($161) – A discounted price for advance purchase through the Disneyland Web site (link). The promotional Park Hopper ticket is valid January 5, 2010 thru April 29, 2010, and must be purchased in advance of your trip – you can’t get this discount at the ticket booths. “Bonus Tickets” include one early admission day (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday). 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 ($199/$169) – 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. AOCVCB 4-Day Bonus Ticket ($194/$164) – 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	Promotional 5-Day Park Hopper Bonus Ticket ($169) – A discounted price for advance purchase through the Disneyland Web site (link). The promotional Park Hopper ticket is valid January 5, 2010 thru April 29, 2010, and must be purchased in advance of your trip – you can’t get this discount at the ticket booths. “Bonus Tickets” include one early admission day (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday). Advance Purchase 5-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). AOCVCB 5-Day Bonus Ticket ($204/$174) – 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	Promotional 6-Day Park Hopper Bonus Ticket ($173) – A discounted price for advance purchase through the Disneyland Web site (link). The promotional Park Hopper ticket is valid January 5, 2010 thru April 29, 2010, and must be purchased in advance of your trip – you can’t get this discount at the ticket booths. “Bonus Tickets” include one early admission day (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday). Advance Purchase 6-Day Park Hopper Bonus tickets ($214/$184) – 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 (a $14/day value).
Disneyland Resort Annual Passports	No discounts currently available. Premium Annual Passport: $439 Deluxe Annual Passport: $299 Southern California Annual Passport: $219 SoCal Select Annual Passport: $169
2010 Southern California CityPass $269/$229	2010 Southern California CityPass ($269/$229)– This pass includes a 3-Day Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Bonus Ticket (including one early-entry day), a one-day admission to either San Diego Zoo or San Diego Wild Animal Park, as well as one-day admission to Sea World San Diego and Universal Studios Hollywood. The CityPass expires 14 days after first use at any location, and the first use must occur by January 3, 2011. 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 $239.99/$204.99 (link), which includes free UPS shipping. A 5% surcharge for non-members, and shipping fees to members in Alaska and Hawaii may also apply to your purchase. 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

Disneyland Resort Buy 3, Get 2 Free offer –The Disneyland Resort’s new Spring deal gives you 2 free nights at a Disneyland Resort Hotel when you book three nights AND purchase a 5-day “promotional” Park Hopper ticket. The offer is valid for arrivals through April 29, 2010 with travel completed by May 4, 2010, and you must book by April 1, 2010 to receive this discount. This offer isn’t as good as past Buy 3, Get 2 offers, in which both the hotel stay and the park ticket were upgraded from three to five days, but it does cover the spring break period.

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.

Alaska Airlines Kids Fly Free – Alaska Airlines is repeating the popular “Kids Fly Free” promotion for travel to the Disneyland Resort. If you book an Alaska Airlines Southern California Vacations package for travel between January 5 and April 30, 2010, one child (age 2-11) can fly free with each paid adult (18 and older) ticket. Passengers who book three nights at a Disneyland Resort Hotel are eligible for the Buy-3,Get-2-Free promotion, and can also purchase discounted Park Hopper Bonus Tickets as part of their vacation package. If you book the package through alaskaair.com, you get 1500 Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Bonus Miles per passenger. For more information, visit the Alaska Airlines Web site (link). You must book packages by April 1, 2010. Blackout dates of Jan. 15-17, Feb. 12-14, and Mar. 28 through Apr. 10, 2010 apply.

Disney’s Resort Magic and Good Neighbor Magic Packages – Package includes accommodations 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

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 location between Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure.

Rainforest Cafe Safari Club – Members of the Rainforest Cafe get priority seating when available (which makes a huge difference on busy days), and a 10% discount on entrees for up to four people. 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.