Update for May 3 – 9, 2010
Go directly to: News & Views | Current Refurbishment/Attraction Closures | Resort Events | Discounts and Promotions | Park Schedule/Blockout Dates
News and Views
Toy Story Midway Mania to get new game | Join us on a 2-night cruise getaway | Ariel’s Grotto update | DCA Construction Update | Park Hopper Bonus ticket offers | MouseAdventure registration open | This and That
Toy Story Midway Mania to get new game
We reported last week that Toy Story Midway Mania opened two hours after park opening at Disney’s California Adventure park several days in late April—and now we know why. Taking advantage of the inherent flexibility of a video-based attraction, Disney Parks announced that both the West Coast and East Coast versions of Toy Story Midway Mania will be updated in May with an new game featuring characters from the upcoming Toy Story 3 film. The new game, called “Rex and Trixie’s Dino Darts,” replaces the current Bo Peep’s Baaa-loon Pop game. Trixie, the new triceratops toy from the upcoming movie, is just one of many Toy Story 3 characters who will make an appearance in the attraction. Toy unicorn Buttercup joins Hamm in the opening Hamm & Eggs game, and five Toy Story 3 characters join Woody and Jessie in the prize scene. Disney has not given an exact debut date for the updated attraction; a cast member speculates that Disney might not publicize it at all, and just open the attraction one morning with the new game in place as a way to spark viral publicity.
Join us on a 2-night cruise getaway
As we reported two weeks ago, the Disney Cruise Line announced a two-night weekend getaway cruise on the Disney Wonder cruise ship, departing Los Angeles at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 21, 2011 and returning at 9:30 a.m. the following Sunday morning. This cruise fills the 2-night gap between the arrival of the Disney Wonder from Port Canaveral (via the Panama Canal) and the first of the 2011 Mexican Riviera cruises. It’s a real “cruise to nowhere,” as the ship won’t be making any port stops; Saturday is a “day at sea.” With inside cabins starting around $440, nearly 30 MousePad readers and MousePlanet staff members have already booked. We’d love to see you on this weekend getaway, too.
Ariel’s Grotto update
Last week, we passed along some information from MousePlanet reader ogold72 received from the Disney Dine Line about Ariel’s Grotto that sparked a bit of panic among readers with pending trips. It turns out this information was not completely accurate, and we regret any confusion the report caused. [To clarify, MousePlanet had called Disney Dine Line to confirm the report, and received the same information]. According to cast member from the restaurant itself, Ariel’s Grotto will no longer offer a character dining meal at dinner effective Friday, June 11, and will not book lunch reservations after 4 p.m. Starting June 11, some form of World of Color-related dinner package is expected to be offered at Ariel’s Grotto, but no details are currently available. In addition, the restaurant continues to accept breakfast and lunch reservations 60 days in advance, but dinner reservations are now only available 30 days in advance, which is consistent with the policy for Premium Viewing opportunities like the Fantasmic dessert package. This means we should have details of the World of Color dining package by May 10.
Disneyland posted another new teaser video from the World of Color last week, showing new a few new sequences and a peek inside the control booth.
DCA Construction Update
Your weekly glimpse into DCA’s ongoing makeover.
Park Hopper Bonus ticket offers
Disneyland’s Summer Park Hopper Bonus ticket offers started this weekend. Each ticket includes two days free and one Magic Morning admission. These tickets are valid for use from May 1, 2010 thru September 30, 2010. The tickets are NOT available at the Resort ticket booths, you must pre-purchase from the Disneyland Web site. Prices are as follows:
- 5-Day Park Hopper® Bonus Ticket for the Price of 3 Days: $184/$154
- 6-Day Park Hopper® Bonus Ticket for the Price of 4 Days: $199/$169
MouseAdventure registration open
Registration is now open for all three divisions of our MouseAdventure Anniversary event. For more information about MouseAdventure and to register, visit MouseAdventure.com. Be sure to register for the MouseAdventure Newsletter and follow our @MouseAdventure Twitter account for updates and news about future events.
This and That
…The Themed Entertainment Association reports that Disneyland park attendance increased by 8% in 2009, while attendance at most other Southern California parks, including Universal Studios and Knott’s Berry Farm, dropped as much as 6.5%. The association estimates that overall 2009 North American theme park attendance dropped nearly 2% compared to 2008. Disney does not comment on attendance figures, and would not confirm the findings.
Disney Parks Blog. Disneyland Paris will be the first to debut the show, which will temporarily replace their version of Honey, I Shrunk the Audience (the attraction has already closed for refurbishment of the theater). The film will open on Tokyo Disneyland on July 1st, followed by Walt Disney World on July 2nd.
…The Disney Parks Blog also released additional details about the Summer Nightastic promotion last week, including confirmation that the TLT Dance Club (at Tomorrowland Terrace) and the Pixie Hollow Enchantment (after-dark light effects) will return for 2010.
…The ongoing Red Car construction zone in the Hollywood Pictures Backlot, which includes a construction wall in the middle of Hollywood Blvd. and the closure of the connector between a bug’s land and the Tower of Terror areas, is creating a traffic flow problem through the area. On busy weekend days, the crowd standing in line for Award Wieners block the sidewalk in front of the restaurant and overflow into the narrow street, bringing traffic to a halt. With no alternate entrance into the area, the crowding will only be relieved when the construction walls come down later this month.
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.
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Current Refurbishments and Attraction ClosuresDisneyland
Disney’s California AdventureSeasonal refurbishments:
Construction-related closures:
Downtown Disney
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 EventsCheck 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
Fall
2011
Current Discounts & PromotionsSeveral 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).
Hotel/Travel PackagesDisneyland Resort Two More Days & Nights Free offer –This latest deal offers a five-night, five-day Disneyland Resort vacation package for the price of a three-night, three-day package, giving you two “free” hotel nights and two additional days of theme park admission. The offer is valid for arrivals May 1 and Sept. 26, 2010, and you must book by September 1, 2010 to receive this discount. You can choose to stay either at a Disneyland Resort Hotel or at one of the Good Neighbor Hotels. To book, call your favorite travel agent, book online at Disneyland.com, or call the Walt Disney Travel Company at 800-854-3104. Disneyland Resort Summer hotel discounts–If you are a Disneyland Resort annual passholder or already have valid admission for your next visit, you can take advantage of a second promotion that offers discounts at the three Disneyland Resort hotels with a minimum 2-night stay. The discounts are 40% at the Grand Californian Hotel, 35% at the Disneyland Hotel and 30% at the Paradise Pier Hotel. The offer is valid for arrivals May 1 and Sept. 26, 2010, and you must book by September 1, 2010 to receive this discount. To book, call your favorite travel agent, book online at Disneyland.com, or call the Walt Disney Travel Company at 800-854-3104. 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 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 DiscountsCharacter 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 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). Park Schedule/Blockout DatesDL: Disneyland DCA: Disney’s California Adventure Annual Pass blockout dates:
Disneyland Resort Special Events:
MousePlanet Special Events:
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. |