Disneyland Resort Update for August 29 – September 5, 2016

Disneyland Resort Update for August 29 – September 5, 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

Last chance to see… | Annual Passholder days at Disney California Adventure | Sprinkles to open location in Downtown Disney Anaheim | Half-marathon weekend at Disneyland | Disneyland's horses heading to a new Norco home | Construction Land | This and that… | Crowd forecast

Last chance to see…

Disneyland's Diamond Anniversary Celebration ends next Monday, September 5th, and this the final week to see all of the sparkle and dazzle of the 60th anniversary. This is also the final week to see the Disneyland Forever Fireworks at Disneyland, and World of Color – Celebrate at Disney California Adventure.

The setting sun casts a soft light on the Disneyland Railroad Station. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

World of Color will revert back to the original pre-anniversary show as early as Tuesday, September 6th. Disney had said that the Fantasy in the Sky Fireworks show would return on September 9, but so far the show does not appear on Disneyland's entertainment calendar, which was published through October 10 as of this writing.

The Paint the Night parade goes on hiatus starting next Tuesday, but is slated to return for a limited engagement during the holiday season. The Main Street Electrical Parade will return to Disneyland sometime in early 2017.

This is also the final weekend for the Jammin' on the Backlot dance party, the latest in a series of evening events at Disney California Adventure.

If you're hoping to get one last look at the Diamond Anniversary entertainment before it glows away forever, here is the performance schedule for this final week.

This is also supposed to be the final week to buy Diamond Anniversary souvenirs – at least from Disneyland. Readers on the east coast have already reported that overstock Diamond Anniversary merchandise is available at Disney's outlet stores in Florida. There are a few Disney Outlet stores in Southern California, and we won't be surprised in diamond-dazzled merchandise shows up at those shops shortly after the 60th wraps up.

As for the dazzling decorations, Disney hasn't announced any plans to offer the Diamond Ds or other such props for sale to the public. Cast members will probably have first pick of any decorations Disney decides to sell.

Annual Passholder days at Disney California Adventure

Disney is hosting a repeat of its AP Days event this Tuesday, September 6 through Sunday, October 2. Unlike the spring event, this celebration seems to be limited to Disney California Adventure. The fall event has a mixture of new and returning activities:

• With Stage 17 still in use for the Frozen preshow events, character meet-and-greet opportunities are slated for Stage 12 (last used as an arcade during the first Mad T Party event).
• The Paradise Garden Gazebo is also hosting a “red carpet” photo opportunity during the event.
• Passholders can collect a different button each week, with a new design released on Mondays.
• Seaside Souvenirs and the Studio Store are offering passholder-exclusive merchandise.
• Undisclosed “special activities” for passholders.

If you missed the first AP Days event, you can read more and see photos on MousePlanet.

Sprinkles to open location in Downtown Disney Anaheim

Disney last week filed a building permit for a new Sprinkles Cupcakes location to be build at Downtown Disney Anaheim. The shop will be right next to the first Starbucks in Downtown Disney, in a portion of the space recently vacated by Quiksilver.

There is no indication of when the shop could open. Another branch of the popular cupcake chain opened earlier this year at Disney Springs in Walt Disney World. That location features a “Cupcake ATM,” where customers can indulge their sweet tooth well after the bakery closes for the night.

Half-marathon weekend at Disneyland

The 2016 Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend events begin this Thursday, September 1, and continue through Labor Day weekend. The events draw tens of thousands of runners, walkers, friends, and family to the Disneyland Resort, and include road closures and operational changes that could impact anyone visiting during this weekend. Here's what runners, tourists, and spectators should know as we head into this busy weekend.

Non-runners

The Disneyland Resort is going to be very busy this weekend, which you may already know if you had a hard time finding a reasonably priced hotel room in the immediate area. The good news is that runners tend not to stay up late the night before races, so you should see lighter evening crowds than you might expect.

Staying at the Disneyland Hotel? The race expo takes place in that hotel's convention center, so expect extra crowds at the shops and restaurants. If you are staying at any of the three Disneyland Resort hotels, expect race-related noise Friday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings, beginning in the predawn hours, especially if your hotel room faces Disneyland Drive. If you are staying at the Grand Californian Hotel in a room overlooking Downtown Disney, expect to hear spectator cheering starting around 5:45 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.

While all of the races take place before park opening or outside the parks, you may still experience traffic delays and extra crowds. Give yourself plenty of time if you are driving to the resort in the morning; race-related road closures are scheduled from 12:01 to 8:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, and from 12:01 to to 10:00 a.m. on Sunday. For detailed road closure information, see page 9 of the official Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend event guidebook.

Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure open at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. 8:00 a.m. early entry for hotel guests and eligible ticket holders is at Disney California Adventure on Friday, at Disneyland on Saturday, and back at DCA on Sunday.

Spectators

Disney does not allow you to view the half marathon race course from inside either Disneyland or Disney's California Adventure unless you purchase a $79 ChEAR Squad package. Online registration is still open, and you may be able to packages at the race expo (lower exhibit hall). There is no theme park viewing for Friday's 5K or Saturday's 10K events.

If you want to come cheer on the runners without purchasing a spectator package, or plan to cheer at the 5K or 10K events, Disney recommends specific viewing areas on property. All of these viewing areas are accessible only by foot; so walk from either the Mickey and Friends parking structure, or from your hotel if staying nearby.

View all three race courses on pages 16-19 of the Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend event guidebook. You can also view individual courses:

• Half Marathon course
• 10K course
• 5K course

Detailed information for runners

This year marks the first time that runDisney will not make available a printed version of the race guidebook, so be sure to view the online version before you leave for the race expo. This digital guidebook contains much of the information you need for the event.

The runDisney Health and Fitness expo opens at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, and all runners participating in the 5K must check in before the expo closes at 8:00 p.m. that evening. The Expo is also open from noon to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, and from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday.

Friday should still be the best time to attend the expo if all you want to do is get your race packet and get out. If you want first pick of the race merchandise, plan to arrive well before the official 10:00 a.m. opening on Thursday. If you plan to be among the early birds, please be sure to bring water, sunscreen, and a hat to protect you during the wait.

Photopass

runDisney race photos are now taken by Disney PhotoPass cast members and are available through that program after the event. If you are an annual passholder with a pass that qualifies you for free PhotoPass photos, that means yours are now free.

If you don't have an annual pass, you can purchase race photos through the PhotoPass program, including any bundle purchases that will include other photos taken on your trip to the parks.

You can add the photos to your PhotoPass account by entering various race codes that include your race bib number as part of the code.

To add them via the iPhone My Disney Experience app:

1. From the list icon on the top left, select PhotoPass to go to the Disney PhotoPass page.
2. Select Link Photos to go to the My Disney PhotoPass code page.
3. Select Scan to Link Your Photos to go to the Link Your Photos page.
4. Select Enter a PhotoPass ID. In the field labeled “Enter the ID number,” enter the following for the appropriate races, replacing X-XXXX with your own bib number:
   • Half – 2016 LAND HLFX XXXX. Disneyland Half Marathon bib number of “12345” would enter 2016 LAND HLF1 2345.
   • 10K – 2016 LAND 10KX XXXX
   • 5K – 2016 LAND D5KX XXXX
   • KIDS RACES – 2016 LAND KIDX XXXX

   Note: If your bib number is fewer than five digits, add “0” to the beginning. For example:

   • A Disneyland Half Marathon bib number of “3333” would enter 2016 LAND HLF0 3333.
   • A 5K bib number of “678” would enter 2016 LAND- D5K0 0678.

Your photos may take some time to populate once you have entered your code. Make sure to look under the image for additional photos from the one you see on your screen. Swipe left to see the other photos taken in a burst from the same location.

You can also link these codes using your Disneyland smartphone application, or your Disney.com website profile.

To find your race bib number, go to the Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend waivers page and enter your last name and birth date. When your name appears on the results list, select PRINT to view the waiver form. On the very bottom of the form, look for the number after the word “bib”: This is your personal bib number.

Event merchandise

Disney has not offered a preview of the event merchandise for the Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend, but we expect something to be posted before the expo opens on Thursday. Official event merchandise is sold in the official race merchandise section of the expo. Remember, you do not need to collect your race packet before you enter the expo to shop, so if you're set on purchasing a specific item and are worried about it selling out, your best bet is to shop first, then get your race packet.

Runner tracking

To register for runner tracking for yourself or another runner, visit the runner tracking website and enter the participant's name or bib number. You can register for updates via text message, email, Twitter, or Facebook. A registration kiosk will be available at the Health and Fitness Expo. You can also sign up to receive runner tracking alerts by texting “dlhm” to 38909.

New Balance shoe sales

New Balance is again offering a virtual queue to save shoppers from having to stand in hours-long lines at the expo, and as with some of the previous events, only participants registered for the runDisney events can sign up for the virtual queue on the first day of the expo, giving them a “head start” in getting one of the exclusive runDisney shoes. Everyone else must wait until Friday to enter the virtual queue.

In a change from past events, each person can register for the Virtual Queue only once per event weekend. If you register for a Thursday spot but don't show up, you'll have to wait in the standby line.

Once you've registered, you'll be assigned a group and return time. You'll receive a text message or email reminder when it's time to come try on your shoe, and must return within an hour of your assigned time. During your fitting, you can try on other styles and sizes as available. Runners can purchase up to six pairs during the expo.

Running, walking, or cheering during the Disneyland Half Marathon weekend events? Join Team MousePlanet!

Visit the MousePad discussion forum to request a free personalized race sign for the 2016 Disneyland Half Marathon. MousePlanet file photo.

Disneyland's horses heading to a new Norco home

The Happiest Horses on Earth may have a new home in the Inland Empire, according to a report in The Press-Enterprise. Disney is reportedly planning to open a new horse ranch on a property in the city of Norco.

Following the closure of their former ranch to make room for Star Wars Land, Disneyland horses may move to this 5.25-acre lot in the city of Norco. Photo by Kevin Krock.

According to the article, the 5.3-acre site on Valley View Avenue would include corrals, barns, and training arena. Norco claims the nickname “Horsetown, U.S.A,” and the city is well-known for its equine-friendly infrastructure.

Disneyland proposes to build a new horse ranch on this lot in the city of Norco. Photo by Kevin Krock.

The horses living at the new ranch in Norco would rotate for three-day shifts at the Disneyland Resort, according to a quote from Disneyland spokeswoman Melissa Britt. The Disneyland horses moved to a facility in Anaheim after the park's Circle D Ranch closed to make room for Star Wars Land construction.

Construction Land

It's been a few weeks since we visited the Star Wars Land construction site, and wow are there a lot of walls now. Walls at right angles and oblique angles, walls that look like they're sloping, and a few walls that look like they're leaning on other walls for support. The site also sports a new pit, which is likely the foundation for the first of the land's new buildings.

This pit is likely the foundation for the first of the Star Wars Land buildings. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Among the most noticable changes over the past month has been the construction of walls around the south-east corner of the Star Wars Land site. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

A seemingly haphazard collection of walls has sprung up inside the Star Wars Land construction zone. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

This row of rebar likely marks another stretch of retaining wall for the Rivers of America. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

The back side of Toontown is partially concealed by the mountain of dirt in the Star Wars Land construction site. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

This and that…

…The Tower of Terror is closed for refurbishment August 29 through Sept 1.

…Disneyland shared a preview of the 2016 Haunted Mansion Holiday gingerbread house last week. The house is themed to Jack's girlfriend Sally, with Sally's arm appearing from inside the “sew” the house closed.

Sally is the inspiration for the 2016 Haunted Mansion Holiday gingergread house. Photo © Disney.

…The Orange County Register reported last week that a San Leandro couple have filed suit against Disney over a 2014 vacation during which they say they were bitten by bedbugs at Disney's Grand California Hotel. According to the suit, the couple and their three children all suffered bites across their bodies, with their youngest child, who was 4 years old at the time, suffering from permanent scars. The plaintiffs say Disney dismissed their concerns, telling the family they had probably been bitten by mosquitos.

…Disney has filed permits for a number of construction projects at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel, all of which are related in one way or another to increasing accessibility for guests under the Americans with Disabilities Act. In one project, the bathrooms of 29 accessible rooms at the hotel will be remodeled, and the closets of 30 rooms reframed. Other projects include modification of the pedestrian walkway to the hotel, and adding handrails to stairs that lead to the fifth floor patio.

…NBC4 reported last week that a Pasadena man has been charged with grand theft after allegedly selling fake Disneyland tickets to unsuspecting buyers via Craigslist. These scams pop up from time to time, and so we just repeat our caution that customers should only buy tickets from authorized sellers to avoid being ripped off. In each case, the buyers only learned that their tickets were unusable when they got to the theme parks.

…We have two MousePlanet auctions ending this week, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to Team Muscle Makers for UCMD, an organization founded by MousePlanet readers Melissa Martin Mayorgas and Lonna Eshelman. Take a look at this week's listings, and we invite you to bookmark the team's eBay for Charity page to be notified when new items are added.

Frozen Anna and Elsa Lithograph – El Capitan Theatre media event gift
Click HERE to bid on this item.

Saving Mr. Banks D23 Preview “A Jolly Holiday to All” Lithograph by Stacia Martin and 4-Postcard Set.
Click HERE to bid on this item.

…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 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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MousePlanet

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

• Haunted Mansion – closed through September 8 to install the Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay.
• The Disneyland Story presenting Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln – closed through September 29 for refurbishment.
• Hyperpace Mountain – closed September 6–8 to install the Ghost Galaxy overlay.
• Main Street Mad Hatter – closed September 6–9 for refurbishment.
• Stromboli's Wagon – closed September 4–10 for refurbishment.
• Indiana Jones Adventure – closed September 12–14 for refurbishment.
• Donald's Boat – closed September 12–18 for refurbishment.
• Gadget's Go Coaster – closed September 19–21 for refurbishment.

The following attractions are all closed for Star Wars Land-related construction around the Rivers of America, and are expected to reopen in spring 2017 or later:

• Disneyland Railroad
• Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes
• Fantasmic!
• Pirates Lair on Tom Sawyer Island
• Sailing Ship Columbia
• Mark Twain Riverboat

Disney California Adventure

• Tower of Terror – closed for refurbishment through Sept 1.
• Goofy's Sky School – closed for refurbishment September 26 & 27.
• The Little Mermaid – Ariel's Undersea Adventure – closed September 6–28 for refurbishment.
• Hot Dog Hut – closed September 6 – 29 for refurbishment.
• Muppet*Vision 3D – closed indefinitely. The theater has been renamed the Sunset Showcase Theater, and will likely be used for movie previews until a permanent replacement is found.

Disneyland Resort

• House of Blues Anaheim – closed as of May 31. Disney has not said not yet announced plans for the 23,000-square-foot restaurant and concert venue.

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

• 2016 Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend – September 1–4. Registration is still open for the Half Marathon event. All other race distances are sold out. Volunteer registration is no longer available. Details on the runDisney website.
• Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration – through September 5
• Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort – September 9 to October 31.
• Mickey's Halloween Party – September 23, 26, 28, 30; October 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, 14, 17, 19, 21, 24, 26, 29, 31. Tickets on sale now.
• Gay Days Anaheim (unofficial event) – September 30 to October 2. More information at the event website.
• MouseAdventure – Sunday, October 16. Registration opens soon.
• 2016 CHOC Walk in the Park – Sunday, October 30 at the Disneyland Resort. MousePlanet readers, friends, and family are invited to register with Team MousePlanet and walk with our group. Registration is now open at www.chocwalk.org
• 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. Registration is open for all events except the Captain America 5K and the runDisney Kids Races. Register via the runDisney website.
• Season of the Force – no end date announced.

2017

• 2017 Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend – January 12–15, 2017. Registration is still open for the Half Marathon event. All other race distances are sold out through runDisney, but charities like Team Muscle Makers have space available.
• “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.
• D23 Expo – July 14–16, 2017. Tickets are now on sale through the official D23 website.

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

• Ghost Town 75th Anniversary – through September 5
• Knott's Scary Farm – select nights September 22 to October 31.

Legoland California

• Brick-Or-Treat – October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29.
• Kids' New Year's Eve – December 31.

Sea World San Diego

• Summer Nights – May 28 to September 5.
• Halloween Spooktacular – September 24–25; October 1–2; 8–9; 15–16; 22–23; 29–30.
• Wintery Wonderland – November 18, 2016 to January 1, 2017

Universal Studios Hollywood

• Halloween Horror Nights – dates to be announced

Six Flags Magic Mountain

• Fright Fest – September 17, 18, 24, 25, 30, October 1, 2, 7-9, 14-16, 21-23, 28-30
• Holiday in the Park – November 19 – January 1

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

• Admissions Day/Labor Day Weekend – September 2–5. Most Los Angeles schools have a 4-day weekend.
• Columbus Day – Monday, October 10. Many locals schools are closed.
• 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.

2017

• Martin Luther King Jr. Day – Monday, January 16.
• Cesar Chavez Day – Friday, March 31. Many locals schools are closed.
• Spring Break – March 13 – April 14. The 4-week period during which most local schools will observe a one-week spring holiday.

Merchandise Events

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

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:

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.
• MHP – Mickey's Halloween Party at Disneyland

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.

The Seasons calendar is published on the Disneyland website for the next 8-11 months.

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