Disneyland Resort Update for January 4-10, 2016

Disneyland Resort Update for January 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

Last chance to see… | 2016 merchandise debut | This and that… | Crowd Forecast

Last chance to see…

Disneyland probably won't feel like the Happiest Place on Earth for many fans next Sunday, January 10. Disney is slated to close over a dozen rides, shows, and attractions at the end of the business day. Some are closing forever, others will be shuttered for a year or more to make room for the new Star Wars Land, and some are just closing for a few days or weeks for scheduled refurbishment.

This week also marks the end of the Holidays at the Disneyland Resort season, with the holiday-themed entertainment wrapping up on Wednesday, January 6. The Downtown Disney Winter Village closed as of last night, January 3.

If you're visiting the Disneyland Resort this week, here's what you want to make sure to see one last time. However, plan to share your final moments with thousands of your closest friends and passholders, as the seasonal blockout dates end as of Monday, January 4. SoCal and SoCal Select passholders who have been blocked out since mid-December will likely show up in droves to get in their final rides and say farewell to some beloved attractions.

Closing for the season – last day to see Wednesday, January 6

• Olaf's Snow Fest
• A Christmas Fantasy Parade
• Viva Navidad

Closing forever – last day to see Sunday, January 10

• Big Thunder Ranch BBQ
• Big Thunder Ranch petting zoo
• Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular

Closing for at least a year – last day to see Sunday, January 10

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

Closing for refurbishment – last day to see Sunday, January 10

• Jungle Cruise – Reopening date not official, but expected to be after April 3.
• Haunted Mansion – Reopens January 22.
• Autopia – Reopening date not official, but expected to be after April 3.
• Grizzly River Run – reopens January 14.

2016 merchandise debut

A new year means new merchandise collections for the Resorts. The 2016 Disneyland Resort theme (shared by Walt Disney World, incidently), is “Music, Magic and Memories.” The Florida versions of many of these items can be found online at the Disney Store website, but the Disneyland versions are only available from the theme parks at this time. Here's a look at the logos, and the formats you'll find at the stores.

The full version of the 2016 character logo—with all six characters—is available only in womens-cut shirts, like this athletic striped shirt. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

The pink version of the 2016 character shirt also has all six characters. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

The unisex grey version of the 2016 character shirt is missing Minnie and Daisy. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Minnie and Daisy appear on the Disneyland version of the character autograph book, but are strangely missing from the Walt Disney World version. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

The 2016 ornament lights up, and retails for $25. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

This version of the Sorcerer Mickey logo is available on a womens zip-up hooded sweatshirt. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

This stylized logo is exclusive to the Disneyland Resort, and comes only on a unisex crew-neck t-shirt. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

The adult crew-neck sweatshirt features this Sorcerer Mickey logo. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

The stacked 2016 logo is printed on the back of a grey zip-up hooded sweatshirt. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

A womens hooded sweatshirt features a colorful Sorcerer Mickey logo. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

The womens embellished t-shirt features Sorcerer Mickey. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

The 2016 logo is scattered on this nylon backpack. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix

Duffy the Disney Bear does not appear in the 2016 character logo, but this plush wears a 2016 print shirt. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

A jumbo Sorcerer Mickey plush has music notes printed around his 2016 logo robe. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

The jumbo Minnie Mouse plush represents the “Music” part of the 2016 slogan. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

This and that…

…We have some clarification about the recurring refurbishments scheduled for Soarin' Over California. Starting January 4, the ride will be closed Monday-Thursday each week until further notice so Imagineers can program the ride for the new Soarin' film. The ride will be open with the current film Friday, Saturday, and Sunday each week. Disney has not yet announced when the new film will debut to the public.

…Splash Mountain closes February 8 for refurbishment. The reopening date has not been announced, but the folks at TouringPlans.com say the refurbishment will last into mid-April.

…Disneyland has (again) extended the 20 percent merchandise discount offered to Disney Signature Plus, Disney Signature, Disney Premier, and 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.

…MousePlanet contributor Katie Metzger alerted us to a little-known offering inside the Star Wars Launch Bay. According to Katie there are trading cards available at each of the three meet-and-greet opportunities (the permanent Darth Vader and Chewbacca meet-and-greets, plus the random Boba Fett appearance). The Chewbacca card is especially handy, as it contains a decoder key for the Aurebesh writing around the room. As with the Jungle Cruise maps, supplies of these trading cards are limited, and may not be available when you visit.

Before you meet Darth Vader, ask an Imperial trooper if they have a trading card for you. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

The Chewbacca trading card contains a decoder for the Aurebesh alphabet. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

If you're lucky enough to find Boba Fett inside the Star Wars Launch Bay, be sure to ask his cast member handler if they have any trading cards. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

…Disney has filed for several permits related to an “ABC Film Shoot” at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure to take place sometime in January. We don't know exactly when the taping will happen, or what show is in production.

…The Merchandise Events section below has been updated with the Artist Showcase schedule at the WonderGround Gallery through the end of February, 2016.

…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.

Join the MousePlanet Newsletter E-mail:

Crowd Forecast

Join Our Networks

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

2016

• Jungle Cruise – closes January 11 to remove the Jingle Cruise overlay, and for extensive refurbishment. Reopening date not official, but expected to be after April 3.
• Haunted Mansion – closed January 11–22 to remove the Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay.
• Autopia – closes January 11 for extensive refurbishment. Reopening date not official, but expected to be after April 3.
• Disneyland Railroad – closes January 11 due to the Star Wars Land-related construction around the Rivers of America. Expected to reopen spring 2017.
• Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes – closes January 11 due to the Star Wars Land-related construction around the Rivers of America. Expected to reopen spring 2017.
• Fantasmic! – on hiatus effective January 11 due to the Star Wars Land-related construction around the Rivers of America. Expected to return summer 2017.
• Pirates Lair on Tom Sawyer Island – closes January 11 due to the Star Wars Land-related construction around the Rivers of America. Expected to reopen spring 2017.
• Sailing Ship Columbia – closes January 11 due to the Star Wars Land-related construction around the Rivers of America. Expected to reopen spring 2017.
• Mark Twain Riverboat – closes January 11 due to the Star Wars Land-related construction around the Rivers of America. Expected to reopen spring 2017.
• “it's a small world” – closes January 25 – February 4 to remove the holiday overlay.
• Splash Mountain – closes February 8 for refurbishment. Reopening date to be determined, but after February 14.
• 20th Century Music Company – closes January 25 – February 11 for refurbishment.
• Starcade – closed indefinitely.

Disney California Adventure

2016

• Luigi's Flying Tires – closed for conversion to Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters. Reopening date unknown.
• Soarin' Over California – Starting January 4, the ride will be closed Monday-Thursday each week until further notice for programming of the new Soarin' film. The ride will be open with the current film Friday, Saturday and Sunday each week.
• Olaf's Snow Fest – closes January 6 for the season.
• Grizzly River Run – closed January 11–14 for refurbishment.
• It's Tough to be a Bug! – closes January 19. Starting January 21, the theater will host a sneak peek of the upcoming movie Zootopia.
• World of Color – on hiatus January 19 – February 1.
• Muppet*Vision 3D – closed indefinitely due to the Frozen Fun overlay.
• Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular – closes January 10. Replaced in summer 2016 by a new Frozen musical.

Disneyland Resort

• Goofy's Kitchen – closed for refurbishment beginning January 19 through February 9. During this time, Disney's PCH Grill offers a Beach Side Bonfire Dinner Buffet with Mickey & Friends, in addition to the ongoing Surf's Up Breakfast… Starring Mickey & Friends. PCH Grill will remain closed for lunch.

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, 2016
• Holidays at the Disneyland Resort – through January 6.
• 2016 Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend – January 14–17. All running events are sold out, but ChEAR Squad packages are still available. Details on the runDisney website.
• MouseAdventure – Sunday, April 10. Sign up for the MouseAdventure Newsletter for more information as it is released.
• 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.
• Dapper Days at the Parks (unofficial event) – Sunday, May 1, 2016. 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 opens February 2, 2016.
• Dapper Day Fall Soiree (unofficial event) – Sunday, November 6, 2016. 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 Avengers Half Marathon Weekend – November 10–13. Registration opens April 15, 2016.

2017

• 2017 Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend – January 12–15, 2017. Registration opens June 14, 2016.
• 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.

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

• Winter Break – December 21, 2015 – January 8, 2016. Most local schools are closed.
• Spring Break(s) – March 14 – 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.
• Local School Holiday – Monday, March 28. Most local schools not already on Spring Break will be closed for Cesar Chavez Day.
• 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

Current Discounts & Promotions

Disneyland prices as of October 4, 2015.

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:

• GN – Grad Nite.
• MA – MouseAdventure (www.mouseadventure.com)
• 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.