Disneyland Resort Update for April 4–10, 2016
Go directly to: News & Views | Join our Networks | Current Refurbishment/Attraction Closures | Resort Events | Merchandise Events | Discounts and Promotions | Park Schedule/Blockout Dates
News and Views
First bite of the Food & Wine Festival | Avengers assemble again for runDisney registration | Constructionland | Beyond the Berm | This and that… | Crowd Forecast
First bite of the Food & Wine Festival
The 2016 Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival runs through May 1. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
The 2016 Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival launched this weekend to a tremendous turnout. While there will inevitably be comparisons to the previous event, which went on “hiatus” in 2011, this really is a whole new venture for Disney's Anaheim resort. Everything seems new, from brand new “Festival Marketplace” booths dotting the performance corridor, to a pared-down schedule of events.
Despite some opening-day hiccups (including late-opening booths, technology challenges, and the running out of some popular dishes), Festival-goers seemed to be in good spirits throughout the weekend. Most of the booths had a constant line, as visitors sampled dishes and desserts, and enjoyed the various wines and beers on offer.
MousePlanet published a comprehensive guide to the Food & Wine Festival last Friday, with exhaustive details about tasting opportunities, beverage seminars, cooking demonstrations, celebrity chef appearances, and performances by featured artists. I invite you to bookmark our guide for quick reference before you attend the Festival yourself. In the meantime, I've got some highlights of the event here, and I'll cover things we didn't put in the guide when it was first published.
One late-breaking announcement was the addition of a new event called “A Conversation with Kurt Russell” on Saturday, April 16. Per Disney, “This special event will be a 90-minute question and answer session with Disney Legend Kurt Russell about his adventures and personal journey in winemaking, complete with wine tasting.” The cost is $199 per person, and can only be booked by calling (714) 781-3463.
Festival Marketplace
Like Epcot's Food & Wine Festival, the focus of this event are the Festival Marketplace booths—eight newly built structures that dot the DCA performance corridor. Each booth has a theme, with two or three dishes and one or two specialty beverages. There are even a handful of non-alcoholic beverages, like flower field lemonade.
Eight new booths were constructed to along the performance corridor in DCA for the Food & Wine Festival. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Each has a cash register, where you place your order before picking it up at the large side window. This set up is so much better than having the festival take over an existing restaurant (as in the previous iteration). As a bonus, each booth boasts a small, partially shaded adjacent structure where you can stand at eat your items. Some also have a small seating area with bistro tables. This is so much more civilized than trying to juggle multiple items on the go, or using a trash can as a table. Epcot definitely needs to add these to its event.
Food items start at $3.50, with the most expensive item the Zinfandel-braised wagyu beef with creamy polenta and spring pea puree, which sells for $8.00. Portion size and price are the most common complaints seen on social media, and when you compare the dishes to what you might get in a restaurant (even a Disney restaurant), it's clear there is a heavy premium on this special event.
Wine runs $5 to $25 for a 3-ounce pour; some are available as a 5-ounce pour at a higher price. Beer is priced at $7.50 to $9.25. Wine flights (with three selections) run $14 to $19, and beer flights (with four samples) are $11.25 and $12.25.
Many booths experience long lines throughout the opening weekend of the Food & Wine Festival. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Disney managers tell us that all eight Festival Marketplace booths will remain open from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. for the first 10 days of the Festival, a change from what Disney originally announced. This is great news for people who are enjoying the last week of the peak spring break season this week.
After April 11, Disney will experiment with different operating days and hours for the booths; we'll post updates as we learn them. I saw dozens of foods managers out during the weekend—some watching the crowds, and some working side-by-side with the cast members inside the booths. I think we'll see lots of operational tweaks and adjustments this week, as managers take what they observed over the weekend and try to improve the event for coming weeks and years.
Visitors can purchase a special design of the Disney gift card to use during the Food & Wine Festival. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Gourmet Lips sauces is one of the outside vendors at the Food & Wine Festival. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
The Wine, Beer and Spirit seminars are hosted on this outdoor patio. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Annual Passholder Tasting Passport—the big don't maybe
Updated 4/6/2016: Disney has dropped the price of the tasting passport to $39. Using the same numbers as below, the pass makes more sense for passholders, provided you only use it to purchase items that cost $6.00 or more. If you decide to get the passport, you're still better off paying cash for anything under $6, which includes all of the desserts and non-alcoholic beverage options.
None of the Marketplaces offer a discount to annual passholders, but APs can purchase a Tasting Passport for $45. The passport provides six tasting portions from the Festival Marketplaces, excluding alcohol. The passport itself is a plastic credential with six snap-off tabs, strung on a lanyard printed with an AP logo.
This passport makes almost no financial sense, and we recommend that you crunch the numbers before you purchase it. The average price of the 19 items you can purchase with this pass is $6.13, or $36.78 for six items. The pass is $45. At best, the passport saves you $6.84 if you use all six tabs to purchase the one $8 item offered at the Festival.
The Blue Sky Cellar hosts a lounge for annual passholders during the Food & Wine Festival. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
If you don't want that much wagyu beef and would instead like to sample some of everything, you would pay $46.71 to purchase one of each of the six most expensive food items. That's a tiny savings, which is completely lost if you use the passport to purchase even one item that costs $5 or less (which all of the desserts are priced at).
Our advice: Avoid the tasting passport unless you really, really want the lanyard it comes with. It won't save most people money, and it definitely does not save time. After purchasing the lanyard (which is available only at a kiosk outside the Blue Sky Cellar), you still must wait in line at each booth to place your order, and pay for any items you aren't using the pass for.
The passholder lounge inside the Blue Sky Cellar includes a showing of “Seasons of the Vine” short film. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
At $35, the pass might be a more attractive option for passholders, but right now it's a waste of money, and I cringed to see how many people were wearing them this weekend.
However, passholders do have one nice bonus at this event, in the form of the passholder lounge in the Blue Sky Cellar. The lounge is open daily during the festival, and offers a shady place to escape the heat. While inside, you can pick up an AP-exclusive button, with a new design each week. You can also collect recipe cards of some of the marketplace offerings, and watch “Seasons of the Vine.” a short film that debuted with DCA opened in 2001.
Disneyland Resort annual passholders can collect a new button and recipe card set each week at the Blue Sky Cellar. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Hollywood Backlot
The Mad T Party entrance arch to the backlot remains in place during the Food & Wine Festival. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Event planners had less than 12 hours to remove the Mad T Party overlay and get the Hollywood Backlot ready for the Food & Wine Festival. While much of the infrastructure is still in place—the stage, the bars, the entrance arch—the overt Alice in Wonderland references are gone. Gone too is the Frozen overlay of the Studio Store, which is now one of two central locations for Food & Wine Festival merchandise.
The “Frozen” overlay has been removed from the Studio Store, which is now stocked with merchandise from the Food & Wine Festival. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
A limited selection of merchandise was created for the festival, including an annual passholder-exclusive shirt. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
The merchandise selection is somewhat limited for this first year back. There's the obligatory wine glass and apron, plus three versions of a T-shirt (one exclusive to annual passholders), a baseball cap, a set of bar towels, and a party plate that is crafted with a cutout to hold your wine glass.
The Backlot Stage is home to the the culinary demonstrations, the free (and sample-free) seminars featuring a variety of chefs. This venue offers shade and bench seating, plus lots of standing room for late-comers.
Chef Jamie Gwen presents one of the culinary demonstrations during the Food & Wine Festival. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
The former Mad T Party stage is billed as the Lifestyle Stage. It has very limited seating and no shade for the audience, so be sure to arrive early and bring your sunscreen if you want to catch one of the performances.
The former Mad T Party stage in the backlot was quickly converted for use during the Food & Wine Festival, and is now billed as the Lifestyle Stage. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Both of the Backlot Bars are open during the festival, offering both specialty drinks and snack plates.
The bars in the backlot were put to use during the Food & Wine Festival. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
The Mad T Party overlay and House of Cards dance floor was removed from the front of Stage 12. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Avengers assemble again for runDisney registration
Early registration opens at 9:00 a.m. (PDT) tomorrow, April 5 for the 2016 Super Heroes Half Marathon Weekend (formerly Avengers Half Marathon Weekend). This early opportunity is for Walt Disney World annual passholders, Disneyland Resort annual passholders, and Disney Vacation Club members only. Disney Visa card holders are no longer able to register early for runDisney events. General registration opens next Tuesday, April 12.
Here are some tips runDisney published last summer to help runners prepare to register as quickly as possible:
- Create a profile (login and password) at Active.com prior to registration opening.
- Be ready to register at noon ET (9 a.m. Pacific time). Follow rundisney.com and the runDisney social media channels for the registration link.
- Once you're in the queue, you have 15 minutes to complete the registration process. After 15 minutes, your spot is no longer guaranteed.
- If you receive an “on hold” message this means the queue is currently full. Continue to check back.
- Have everyone in your party register only themselves for a faster registration process.
To the runDisney list, we add our own two tips:
- Log onto your affiliated website before registration opens, so you can access the registration link as soon as it is posted.
- If you are both an annual passholder and a Disney Vacation Club member, it's better to use the links on the passholder website. The DVC website often posts the links well after registration opens, and in some cases not before the early registration allocation has sold out.
The links to the affiliated sites are:
After you register for your event, come add your name to the Team MousePlanet race roster to connect with other runners and share training tips.
| Event | Pricing |
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Infinity Gauntlet Challenge Saturday, Nov. 12/Sunday, Nov. 13 |
Price: $340 Registration includes both Saturday's Doctor Strange 10K (6.2 miles) and Sunday's Super Heroes Half Marathon (13.1 miles), with a bonus (third) Infinity Gauntlet Challenge medal (and participant shirts for the two races and the challenge). |
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Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon Sunday, Nov. 13 |
Price: $199 Registration for Sunday's 13.1-mile half-marathon event only. |
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Doctor Strange 10K Saturday, Nov. 12 |
Price: $120 Registration for Saturday's 6.2-mile 10K event only. Warning: You cannot get the bonus Infinity Gauntlet Challenge medal if you register for the half-marathon and 10K events separately. |
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Captain America 5K Friday, Nov. 11 |
Price: $80 Registration for Friday's 3.1-mile event only. |
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runDisney Kids Races Saturday, Nov. 12 |
Price: $20 Registration for Kids Races (in various age categories). |
Constructionland
The view of Disneyland from the Mickey and Friends parking structure has been dramatically altered due to the Star Wars Land construction, and it's possible to see clear into New Orleans Square now because of the trees removed from the berm around the park. Reader Dan Rice also shares some photos from inside the park, where the track for the Columbia and Mark Twain is being removed from the riverbed.
An overview of the Star Wars Land construction site, as seen from the Mickey and Friends parking structure. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
The former transportation service building appears to be mostly emptied, and is slated for demolition. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
If you look carefully, the Pirates of the Caribbean entrance (and New Orleans Square crowds) are visible from the Mickey and Friends parking structure. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
The former burning settler's cabin is visible from the Mickey and Friends parking structure, and has not been demolished. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Construction workers are pulling up the track used by the “Mark Twain” and “Sailing Ship Columbia” as they navigate the Rivers of America. Photo by Dan Rice.
The banks of the Rivers of America are nearly bare of trees and brush due to Star Wars Land construction. Photo by Dan Rice.
Beyond the Berm
MousePlanet reader Julia sent us a whole roster of events from Legoland and Sea World to fill in our Beyond the Berm calendar. We also note that this Thursday, April 7 is the grand opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood.
Knott's Berry Farm
- Knott's Berry Farm Ghost Town 75th Anniversary – March 19 to September 5
- Knott's Scary Farm – dates to be announced
Legoland California
- Star Wars Days at Legoland California – June 4 & 5.
- Red, White and Boom! at Legoland California – July 4.
- Brick-Or-Treat at Legoland California – October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29.
- Kids' New Year's Eve at Legoland California – December 31.
Sea World San Diego
- Magic Weekends at Sea World San Diego – April 2 to May 1.
- Summer Nights at Sea World – May 28 to September 5.
- Seven Seas Food Festival at Sea World San Diego – May 7 to June 12.
- Sea World's Summer Vibes – June 17 to August 15.
- Halloween Spooktacular at Sea World – September 24-25; October 1–2; 8–9; 15–16; 22–23; 29–30.
- Wintery Wonderland at Sea World – November 21 to January 3
Universal Studios Hollywood
- Universal Studios The Wizarding World of Harry Potter grand opening – April 7
- Halloween Horror Nights – dates to be announced
This and that…
…The Pixar Play Parade is on hiatus until the end of the Food and Wine Festival at Disney California Adventure.
…Carthay Circle Restaurant and Lounge are scheduled to be closed May 9 & 10 for refurbishment.
…Pirates of the Caribbean and the Blue Bayou restaurant are scheduled to close for refurbishment on May 9. Both locations are currently showing as closed at least through May 15. The Paint the Night dining package is not available at the Blue Bayou during the closure.
…The Starbucks in Downtown Disney last week debuted the Starbucks Evening menu, offering wine, craft beer and “small plates” of warmed appetizers. The menu is available starting at Noon every day, hours earlier than the Evenings menu is served at most Starbucks locations. The new Starbucks under construction on the west side of Downtown Disney will also feature the Starbucks evenings menu when it opens later this summer.
A sampling of the appetizers on the new Starbucks Evening menu, including a flatbread, artichoke dip, and bacon-wrapped dates. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
…A new a capella group began performances in Downtown Disney this weekend. The group is scheduled Friday, Saturday, and Sunday afternoons, now through September.
An a capella group began regular performances in Downtown Disney this weekend. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
…The LittleMissMatched store in Downtown Disney Anaheim is now closed.
…The MousePlanet Newsletter is here! The newsletter contains a recap of the week's articles (in case you miss a day), news that may have developed since the weekly Updates were published, and tips about what's happening at the Disney theme parks for the coming weekend. We'll also include a fun MouseAdventure bonus, such as an Eye Spy or a trivia question. To subscribe to our free newsletter, just enter your e-mail in the box below.
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Crowd Forecast
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Current Refurbishments and Attraction Closures
Note: Not all attraction closures have been officially confirmed by Disney, and are all subject to change at any time. Refurbishment schedules are estimates only. We recommend checking for updates as you plan your visit. All information is subject to change without notice. To get the most recent updates, visit Disneyland.com—this information is no longer available from the automated phone service.
Disneyland
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – closed April 11–14 for refurbishment.
- Matterhorn Bobsleds – closed April 18–May 6 for refurbishment.
- Autopia – closed for extensive refurbishment. Scheduled to reopen April 29.
- Jungle Cruise – closed to remove the Jingle Cruise overlay, and for extensive refurbishment. Scheduled to reopen May 6.
- Blue Bayou – closed for refurbishment May 9, at least through May 15
- Pirates of the Caribbean – closed for refurbishment May 9, at least through May 15
- Disneyland Monorail – closes April 11 for refurbishment. Reopening date not official, but expected to be May 19.
- Disneyland Railroad – closed for Star Wars Land-related construction around the Rivers of America. Expected to reopen spring 2017.
- Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes – closed for Star Wars Land-related construction around the Rivers of America. Expected to reopen spring 2017.
- Fantasmic! – on hiatus for Star Wars Land-related construction around the Rivers of America. Expected to return summer 2017.
- Pirates Lair on Tom Sawyer Island – closed for Star Wars Land-related construction around the Rivers of America. Expected to reopen spring 2017.
- Sailing Ship Columbia – closed for Star Wars Land-related construction around the Rivers of America. Expected to reopen spring 2017.
- Mark Twain Riverboat – closed for Star Wars Land-related construction around the Rivers of America. Expected to reopen spring 2017.
- Starcade – closed indefinitely.
Disney California Adventure
- Muppet*Vision 3D – closed indefinitely due to the Frozen Fun overlay.
- Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular – closed. Frozen Live at the Hyperion opens May 27.
- Grizzly River Run – closed April 18 – May 18 for refurbishment.
- Silly Symphony Swings – closes April 11 for refurbishment. Reopening date not official, but expected to be June 10.
- Carthay Circle Restaurant and Lounge – Closed May 9 & 10 for refurbishment.
Disneyland Resort
- Starbucks #2 – A second Starbucks location in Downtown Disney is now under construction, and expected to open summer 2016.
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 in-park events, official or unofficial, that should be listed here, please send us an e-mail (link).
2016
- Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration – through September 5
- MouseAdventure – Sunday, April 10. This event is sold out; sign up for the MouseAdventure Newsletter for more information about future events.
- MouseAdventure Day at the Park – Sunday, April 17. Registration is open at www.mouseadventure.com.
- 2016 Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend – May 5–8. The 5K, 10K, and Pixie Dust Challenge events are sold out, but the half-marathon event is still available. Details on the runDisney website. Volunteer Registration now open.
- Dapper Days at the Parks (unofficial event) – Sunday, May 1. More information at the event website. This popular event grows larger each year, so it's worth making note of the date if you plan to visit the park during this weekend.
- Grad Nite events – This party for high school seniors graduating in 2016 will be held on these dates: May 13, 14, 18, 20, 21, 23, 25, 31; June 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, 15, 17. The 2016 event includes admission to Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park during regular operating hours, and a private party in Disney California Adventure park from 10:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.
- Season of the Force – no end date announced.
- 2016 Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend – September 1–4. Registration is still open for the Dumbo Double Dare and Disneyland Half Marathon races. Volunteer Registration opens May 24, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. PDT. Details on the runDisney website.
- Gay Days Anaheim (unofficial event) – September 30 – October 2. More information at the event website.
- 2016 CHOC Walk in the Park – Sunday, October 30 at the Disneyland Resort. Registration will open in May. MousePlanet readers, friends, and family are invited to register with Team MousePlanet and walk with our group. More information on the event website.
- Dapper Day Fall Soiree (unofficial event) – Sunday, November 6. More information at the event website. This popular event grows larger each year, so it's worth making note of the date if you plan to visit the park during this weekend.
- 2016 Super Heroes Half Marathon Weekend – November 10–13. Formerly called the Avengers Half Marathon, early registration for annual passhlders and Disney Vacation Club members opens April 5. Registration opens April 12. Volunteer Registration opens July 19, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. (PDT).
2017
- 2017 Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend – January 12–15, 2017. Registration opens June 14, 2016.
- “Use it or lose it” weekend – January 28–29, 2017. Our designation for the final weekend of January, which marks the deadline for cast members, community groups, and Club 33 members to use their remaining complementary admission tickets from the 2016 allocation.
- 2017 Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend – May 11–14, 2017. Registration opens September 20, 2016.
We also recommend checking the convention calendar at the Anaheim/Orange County Visitor and Convention Bureau website. When looking at that site, remember to note both the number of people and the number of rooms resulting from each convention. A gathering of 25,000 people booking few room nights (indicating most will be driving in to the area for their meeting) can impact traffic around the resort much more than a crowd of 25,000 staying in area hotels. Of course, that second group is going to make finding a hotel room more difficult (and possibly more expensive), so it's best to book your own room as early as possible if you see that a big convention is in town during your trip.
Non-Disney Resort Events
Notable events at parks and attractions around Southern California. If you know of an event that should be listed here, please send us an e-mail (link).
Knott's Berry Farm
- Knott's Berry Farm Ghost Town 75th Anniversary – March 19 to September 5
Legoland California
- Star Wars Days at Legoland California – June 4 & 5.
- Red, White and Boom! at Legoland California – July 4.
- Brick-Or-Treat at Legoland California – October 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29.
- Kids' New Year's Eve at Legoland California – December 31.
Sea World San Diego
- Magic Weekends at Sea World San Diego– April 2 to May 1.
- Summer Nights at Sea World – May 28 to September 5.
- Seven Seas Food Festival at Sea World San Diego – May 7 to June 12.
- Sea World's Summer Vibes – June 17 to August 15.
- Halloween Spooktacular at Sea World – September 24-25; October 1-2; 8-9; 15-16; 22-23; 29-30.
- Wintery Wonderland at Sea World – November 21 to January 3
Universal Studios Hollywood
- Universal Studios The Wizarding World of Harry Potter grand opening – April 7
School Holidays
Notable school holidays that may impact park attendance. If you know of any other holidays that should be listed here, please send us an e-mail (link).
2016
- Spring Break(s) –Through April 8. Most local schools are closed one week during this period. Expect the majority of school closures—and crowds—the weeks immediately before and after Easter Sunday, March 27.
- Nevada Day (observed) – Friday, October 28. A school holiday for our neighbors to the northeast creates a 3-day weekend and usually adds to the Halloween weekend crowds. Some Nevada schools take the entire week off as a Fall Break.
- Utah Education Association convention (UEA, a.k.a. “Utah Escapes to Anaheim”) – October 20–21. Expect holiday-level crowds October 19–24 as Utah students and families take advantage of a Fall Break scheduled around an annual state education convention. Not all Utah schools close for UEA, but the impact on the resort is significant enough to mention.
- Thanksgiving Break – November 21–25. Many local schools close for the entire week of Thanksgiving.
- Winter Break – December 19, 2016 – January 6, 2017. Most schools close only two of these three weeks, but some districts close all three weeks due to the Saturday Christmas.
Merchandise Events
| Date | Event |
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| April 8 (Fri) |
WonderGround Gallery – Artist Showcase: Jeff Granito 6–10 p.m. |
| April 9 (Sat) |
WonderGround Gallery – Artist Showcase: Jeff Granito 6–10 p.m. Off the Page
Lifestyle Stage – Performance by artist Craig Fraser. 3:30–4 p.m. |
| April 10 (Sun) |
Off the Page
Lifestyle Stage – Performance by artist Craig Fraser. 1:30–2 p.m. |
| April 15 (Fri) |
WonderGround Gallery – Artist Showcase: Jeff Granito 6–10 p.m. |
| April 16 (Sat) |
WonderGround Gallery – Artist Showcase: Jeff Granito 6–10 p.m. Off the Page
Lifestyle Stage – Performance by artist James C. Mulligan. 3:30–4 p.m. |
| April 17 (Sun) |
Off the Page
Lifestyle Stage – Performance by artist James C. Mulligan. 1:30–2 p.m. |
| April 22 (Fri) |
WonderGround Gallery – Artist Showcase: Jeff Granito 6–10 p.m. |
| April 23 (Sat) |
WonderGround Gallery – Artist Showcase: Ann Shen. 2–5 p.m. Lifestyle Stage – Performance by artist Trevor Carlton. 3:30–4 p.m. Off the Page – Artist signing experience: Trevor Carlton. 5–7 p.m. |
| April 24 (Sun) |
WonderGround Gallery – Artist Showcase: Ann Shen. 2–5 p.m. Lifestyle Stage – Performance by artist Trevor Carlton. 1:30–2 p.m. Off the Page – Artist signing experience: Trevor Carlton. 3–5 p.m. |
| April 29 (Fri) |
WonderGround Gallery – Artist Showcase: Jeff Granito 6–10 p.m. |
| April 30 (Sat) |
Off the Page – Artist Showcase: Steve Adams, Jeremy Fulton, Brian Kesinger, Noah, Mark Page, Javier Soto. 2–5 p.m. WonderGround Gallery
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| May 1 (Sun) |
Off the Page – Artist Showcase: Steve Adams, Jeremy Fulton, Brian Kesinger, Noah, Mark Page, Javier Soto. 2–5 p.m. WonderGround Gallery
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Current Discounts & Promotions
Disneyland prices as of February 28, 2016
Note: MousePlanet does not edit past Updates to reflect price increases; for up-to-date prices, check the most recent Disneyland Resort Update. 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. Note, we are no longer listing offers from the Anaheim-Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau, as their convenience fee negates any savings.
Don't get scammed! Never buy tickets from an unofficial or secondary outlet, such as through eBay or Craigslist. Never rent or purchase tickets from people approaching you outside the gates stating they have remaining days or leftover tickets. This practice is against the terms of use for Disneyland admission, and may result in denial of entry. It is also common for criminals to shoplift inactivated Disney theme park tickets from supermarkets to resell them. There is no way to determine if these tickets are valid until you try to use them to enter the parks. Only purchase Disney theme park tickets directly from Disney, an authorized seller, or travel agency.
Ticket Prices and Promotions
| One Day Tickets |
Check the Disneyland website to see what type of ticket you need for the day you plan to visit. Seasonal pricing applies only to one-day tickets. No discounts currently available to the general public. Check with your employer, school or credit union to see if any discounts are available through them. |
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| Two Day Tickets |
2-Day So Cal Resident 1-Park Per Day Ticket ($149) – offers residents of Southern California and Northern Baja California admission to either Disneyland or Disney California Adventure on one day, and then a second visit to either park on another day on or before May 26, 2016. You can use both days of this ticket at the same theme park, or visit one park one day and the other park on the second day, but you cannot use it to enter both parks on the same day. The ticket is $149 for ages 3 and up, a $20 jump from the 2014 offer. You can also upgrade the ticket to a park-hopper, which allows entry to both parks each day, for an additional $40, a savings of up to $36 compared to the box office price of a two-day park-hopper ticket. 2-Day So Cal Resident Park Hopper Ticket ($189) – offers residents of Southern California and Northern Baja California admission to Disneyland and/or Disney California Adventure on two separate days on or before June 6, 2014. Get full details, terms and conditions of the 2016 So Cal Resident offer No discounts currently available to the general public. Check with your employer, school or credit union to see if any discounts are available through them. |
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Three Day Tickets |
3-Day So Cal Resident 1-Park Per Day Ticket ($179) – offers residents of Southern California and Northern Baja California admission to either Disneyland or Disney California Adventure on one day, and then two more visits to either park on or before May 26, 2016. You can use each day of this ticket at the same theme park, or visit one park one day and the other park on the next day, but you cannot use it to enter both parks on the same day. When purchased in advance, this ticket comes with one Magic Morning entry; tickets sold at the Disneyland Resort ticket booths do not include this benefit. 3-Day So Cal Resident Park Hopper Ticket ($219) – offers residents of Southern California and Northern Baja California admission to Disneyland and/or Disney California Adventure on three separate days on or before May 26, 2016. When purchased in advance, this ticket comes with one Magic Morning entry; tickets sold at the Disneyland Resort ticket booths do not include this benefit. Get full details, terms and conditions of the 2016 So Cal Resident offer No discounts currently available to the general public. Check with your employer, school or credit union to see if any discounts are available through them. |
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Military |
2016 Disney Military Promotional 3 – Day Park Hopper Ticket ($143) Through December 16, 2016, active and retired U.S. military personnel (including active and retired members of the United States Coast Guard, National Guard and Reservists) or their spouses can purchase the Disney Military Promotional 3-Day Park Hopper Tickets for $143 each [an increase of $11 from the 2014-2015 offer]. Disneyland tickets may be used January 3, 2016, through December 19, 2016, except that the tickets may not be used March 20 through April 1, 2016. Active and retired U.S. military personnel can purchase Disney Military Promotional Tickets for themselves and up to five additional family members or friends. No more than six Disney Military Promotional Tickets may be purchased by any eligible member of the U.S. military (or spouse) pursuant to this offer. All tickets and options are non-transferable and must be used by December 19, 2016. For complete information regarding Disney Military Promotional 3-Day Park Hopper Tickets and discounted resort rates, military personnel may visit the Disneyland Resort website, or participating U.S. military base ticket offices. |
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Four Day Tickets |
A discounted ticket available through MousePlanet travel partner Get Away Travel. Offer valid for travel through November 2015. Bonus Tickets include one Magic Morning early entry which allows access to select areas of Disneyland Park one hour before the park opens to the general public. (subject to change without notice) Ticket expires 13 days after first use. See Get Away Travel website for offer details and restrictions. No discounts currently available to the general public. Check with your employer, school or credit union to see if any discounts are available through them. |
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Five Day Tickets |
A discounted ticket available through MousePlanet travel partner Get Away Travel. Offer valid for travel through November 2015. Bonus Tickets include one Magic Morning early entry which allows access to select areas of Disneyland Park one hour before the park opens to the general public. (subject to change without notice) Ticket expires 13 days after first use. See Get Away Travel website for offer details and restrictions. Five Days for the price of Four Park Hopper Bonus Ticket – $300/$285 A discounted ticket available through MousePlanet travel partner Get Away Travel. The first day of use must occur on or before December 31, 2015. Bonus Tickets include one Magic Morning early entry which allows access to select areas of Disneyland Park one hour before the park opens to the general public. (subject to change without notice) Ticket expires 13 days after first use. See Get Away Travel website for offer details and restrictions. No discounts currently available to the general public. Check with your employer, school or credit union to see if any discounts are available through them. |
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| Six Day or longer tickets | No longer offered by Disneyland; some travel providers may offer tickets for 6 days or longer as part of a package to international customers; residents of Canada, Australia, or the U.K. should check with local travel agencies to see what options may be available. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Disneyland Resort Annual Passports |
California residents can take advantage of the monthly payment plan when purchasing any but the Premier Annual Passport.
Check with your employer, school or credit union to see if any other discounts are available through them. |
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Southern California CityPASS
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2016 Southern California CityPASS ($329/$294) – includes a 3-Day Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Bonus Ticket (including one early-entry day), a one-day admission to Sea World San Diego, and a one-day admission to LEGOLAND California. The CityPASS expires 14 days after first use at any location, and the first use must occur by December 31, 2016. Purchase CityPASS through the Disneyland website or on-site at the ticket booths of Disneyland Resort or the other theme parks included in the pass. You can also purchase directly from the CityPASS website, though a shipping charge may apply depending on how quickly you need the ticket. When you purchase the CityPASS, you have the option of adding a one-day admission to either San Diego Zoo or San Diego Safari Park for an extra $38/$30. This upgraded pass is only available for purchase directly from the CityPASS website. You can also upgrade your CityPASS to add more days at participating locations:
Prices listed above are valid until December 31, 2016 Check with your employer, school or credit union to see if any other discounts are available through them. |
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| Disneyland Resort & Universal Studios Combo Pass |
A special combo ticket available exclusively through MousePlanet travel partner Get Away Travel. The bundle includes either a 2-day or 3-day Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Ticket, plus a 2nd Day Free Universal Studios Hollywood Ticket. |
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Additional Discounts
Did we miss an offer? If you know of an authorized discount on Disneyland Resort tickets, standing offers for Annual Passholders from non-Disney vendors, or other promotions which might interest our readers, please drop us a note!
Discounts for:
| Everyone |
Purchase with Purchase offers – Disneyland Resort shops frequently offer a reduced–price souvenir (often a tote bag, watch, or blanket) with a qualifying minimum purchase. These are offered at Disney-operated stores only, and selection may vary by location. Recently, Disney has begun allowing customers to purchase more than one of the offers in a qualifying transaction, so if you spend $40 or more you can buy both items currently available if you wish. If you're a passholder, the minimum purchase is calculated after your discount, and your discount does not apply to the promotional item. Current offers:
Landry's Select Club – members of the Landry's Select Club get priority seating at the Rainforest Cafe when available (which makes a huge difference on busy days). This club replaces the former Rainforest Cafe Safari Club, and runs on a point-based system that gives you a $25 gift certificate after you spend $250. Membership now costs $25, but comes with a $25 birthday reward. We recommend that you prepurchase your membership before your visit so you can take advantage of the priority seating benefit. 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 percent 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). Character Dining Vouchers – discounted character dining vouchers are available for purchase online, in advance of your trip, through Get Away Travel. |
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| Annual Passholders |
Disneyland Resort merchandise – Disneyland extended the 20 percent merchandise discount offered to Premium annual passholders through December 31, 2016. All other passholders receive a 10 percent merchandise discount. Visit the Annual Passholder discount page for specific details and exclusions. Guided Tours – 15 percent off the regular price of 6 guided tours – Walt in Walt's Footsteps; Cultivating the Magic; Discover the Magic; Happiest Haunts; Welcome to Disneyland; and Holiday Time at Disneyland. Visit the Annual Passholder discount page for specific details and exclusions. Dining – 10 to 15 percent off at a variety of Disneyland Resort locations, including Disney-owned and independent restaurants. Visit the Annual Passholder discount page for specific details and exclusions. |
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Disney Visa cardholders |
Character Meet-and-Greet at Disney California Adventure – cardholders have access to a private character meet-and-greet photo opportunity at Disney California Adventure, and receive one free 5″x7″ photograph per visit. Star Wars Imperial Meet-and-Greet at Disneyland – cardholders have access to a private character meet-and-greet photo opportunity in the Star Tours Launch Bay in Tomorrowland. Offered daily from 4pm to 8pm. As of 1/23/16, Kylo Ren replaced Darth Vader at this location. Disneyland Resort merchandise – Cardholders also receive 10 percent off qualifying merchandise purchases of $50 or more from Disney-operated retail stores. Disneyland Resort dining – 10 percent off at selected Disneyland Resort restaurants, (Big Thunder Ranch, River Belle Terrace, French Market, Cocina Cucamonga, Wine Country Trattoria (lunch), Paradise Garden Grill, The Lounge at Steakhouse 55 (breakfast), Steakhouse 55 (breakfast), PCH Grill (breakfast and dinner), and Storyteller's Café (lunch). Downtown Disney District dining and merchandise – 10 percent off at Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen (maximum discount of $40, excludes alcohol), Wetzel's Pretzels, Ridemakerz, Alamo Rent a Car, and ESPN Zone. 15 percent off littlemissmatched purchases. Disneyland Resort Guided Tours – 15 percent off the “Welcome to Disneyland,” “A Walk in Walt's Footsteps,” “Discover the Magic,” and “Cultivating the Magic” guided tours. See the Disney Visa website for terms and conditions for all of these promotions. |
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U.S. military |
See “2015–2016 Disney Military Promotional 3–Day Park Hopper Ticket” above. |
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| Southern California residents | No discounts currently available to the general public. Check with your employer, school or credit union to see if any discounts are available through them. | |
| Hotel and travel package offers |
Costco Travel Packages – many different travel packages including visits to Disneyland and Disneyland hotels are available through Costco. Disney's Resort Magic and Good Neighbor Magic Packages – These package includes accommodations in one of the three resort hotels or at one of 40 Good Neighbor hotels, along with theme park admission. The packages also come with a variety of extra inclusions and bonuses, usually a souvenir pin and lanyard, and discount coupons for various Downtown Disney merchants. Contact Disney Travel at (714) 520-5050, book online through the Disneyland website, or call your favorite travel agent to inquire about these packages. |
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Park Schedule/Blockout Dates
- DL – Disneyland
- DCA – Disney California Adventure
Annual Pass blockouts:
- SL – Southern California Select Annual Pass
- SC – Southern California Annual Pass
- DX – Deluxe Annual Pass
- SG – Signature Annual Pass
Early Admission – full description available on the Disneyland website):
- MM – Magic Mornings for 3-plus day ticket holders, promotional “bonus” tickets, and Southern California CityPASS
- EMH – Extra Magic Hour for Disneyland Resort Hotel Guests
- EA – Early Admission for Annual Passholders (not currently offered)
Disneyland Resort Special Events:
- FW – Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival
- GN – Grad Nite.
- MA – MouseAdventure (www.mouseadventure.com)
- MHP – Mickey's Halloween Party at Disneyland
| 4/3 | 4/4 | 4/5 | 4/6 | 4/7 | 4/8 | 4/9 |
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Ticket Season: DL: 8a-11p DCA: 8a-9p AP Blockouts: Events: |
Ticket Season: DL: 8a-11p DCA: 8a-9p AP Blockouts: Events: |
Ticket Season: DL: 8a-11p DCA: 8a-9p AP Blockouts: Events: |
Ticket Season: DL: 8a-11p DCA: 8a-9p AP Blockouts: Events: |
Ticket Season: DL: 8a-11p DCA: 8a-9p AP Blockouts: Events: |
Ticket Season: DL: 8a-11p DCA: 8a-9p AP Blockouts: Events: |
Ticket Season: DL: 8a-12a DCA: 8a-9p AP Blockouts: Events: |
| 4/10 | 4/11 | 4/12 | 4/13 | 4/14 | 4/15 | 4/16 |
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Ticket Season: DL: 8a-11p DCA: 8a-9p AP Blockouts: Events: |
Ticket Season: DL: 9a-9p DCA: 9a-9p AP Blockouts: Events: |
Ticket Season: DL: 9a-9p DCA: 9a-9p AP Blockouts: Events: |
Ticket Season: DL: 9a-9p DCA: 9a-9p AP Blockouts: Events: |
Ticket Season: DL: 9a-9p DCA: 9a-9p AP Blockouts: Events: |
Ticket Season: DL: 9a-11p DCA: 9a-9p AP Blockouts: Events: |
Ticket Season: DL: 8a-12a DCA: 9a-9p AP Blockouts: Events: |
| 4/17 | 4/18 | 4/19 | 4/20 | 4/21 | 4/22 | 4/23 |
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Ticket Season: DL: 8a-11p DCA: 8a-9p AP Blockouts: Events: |
Ticket Season: DL: 9a-9p DCA: 9a-8p AP Blockouts: Events: |
Ticket Season: DL: 9a-9p DCA: 9a-8p AP Blockouts: Events: |
Ticket Season: DL: 9a-9p DCA: 9a-8p AP Blockouts: Events: |
Ticket Season: DL: 9a-9p DCA: 9a-8p AP Blockouts: Events: |
Ticket Season: DL: 9a-11p DCA: 9a-9p AP Blockouts: Events: |
Ticket Season: DL: 8a-12a DCA: 8a-9p AP Blockouts: Events: |
| 4/24 | 4/25 | 4/26 | 4/27 | 4/28 | 4/29 | 4/30 |
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Ticket Season: DL: 8a-11p DCA: 8a-9p AP Blockouts: Events: |
Ticket Season: DL: 9a-9p DCA: 9a-8p AP Blockouts: Events: |
Ticket Season: DL: 9a-9p DCA: 9a-8p AP Blockouts: Events: |
Ticket Season: DL: 9a-9p DCA: 9a-8p AP Blockouts: Events: |
Ticket Season: DL: 9a-9p DCA: 9a-8p AP Blockouts: Events: |
Ticket Season: DL: 8a-11p DCA: 8a-9p AP Blockouts: Events: |
Ticket Season: DL: 8a-12a DCA: 8a-9p AP Blockouts: Events: |
| 5/1 | 5/2 | 5/3 | 5/4 | 5/5 | 5/6 | 5/7 |
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Ticket Season: DL: 8a-11p DCA: 8a-9p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
Ticket Season: DL: 9a-9p DCA: 9a-8p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
Ticket Season: DL: 9a-10p DCA: 9a-8p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
Ticket Season: DL: 9a-10p DCA: 9a-8p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
Ticket Season: DL: 9a-10p DCA: 9a-8p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
Ticket Season: DL: 9a-11p DCA: 9a-9p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
Ticket Season: DL: 9a-12a DCA: 9a-9p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
| 5/8 | 5/9 | 5/10 | 5/11 | 5/12 | 5/13 | 5/14 |
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Ticket Season: DL: 9a-11p DCA: 9a-9p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
Ticket Season: DL: 9a-9p DCA: 9a-9p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
Ticket Season: DL: 9a-10p DCA: 9a-9p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
Ticket Season: DL: 9a-10p DCA: 9a-9p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
Ticket Season: DL: 9a-10p DCA: 9a-9p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
Ticket Season: DL: 8a-11p DCA: 8a-9p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
Ticket Season: DL: 8a-12a DCA: 8a-9p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
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.
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