Disneyland Resort Update for November 21 – 27, 2016
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News and Views
Thanksgiving Week | New promotion offers passholders an extra month free | A Very Merry Holiday Tea Party | Ginnifer Goodwin to narrate the 2016 Candlelight Ceremony and Processional | Dining packages available for the Paint the Night encore | World of Wow and the Festival of Foods | This and that… | Crowd forecast
Thanksgiving Week
The week of November 21–25 is Thanksgiving Break for much of the region, with most local schools closed this entire week for the fall holiday. Our partners over at TouringPlans.com predict this entire week to be busy at the Disneyland Resort, with Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday ranking 9 out of 10 on their crowd index.
Thanksgiving week means an extra helping of crowds at the Disneyland Resort, and it's a good bet many of them will want to see the new World of Color – Season of Light. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
The Resort is not quite doubling up on the entertainment schedule this year the way it did in 2015—for example, there is no second nightly fireworks show this year—but the entertainment schedule for Thanksgiving week should not leave anyone looking for something more to see or do. In addition to the major shows and nighttime spectaculars, there are more than a dozen atmosphere groups to be found between the two parks, including all of the new additions in DIsney California Adventure park for the Festival of Holidays. It's entirely possible to spend your entire day doing nothing but watching live entertainment at Disneyland or DCA during Thanksgiving week, and you might just find that to be one of the best Disney days you've have in quite some time.
| Park |
Show
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November 21–27 |
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| Disneyland | “A Christmas Fantasy” Parade |
1:30, 4:15 p.m.
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| Paint the Night Parade | ||
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Believe… in Holiday Magic fireworks
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9:30 p.m. | |
| Disney California Adventure | Frozen – Live at the Hyperion |
12:30, 3:30, 5:30 p.m.
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| Disney ¡Viva Navidad! Street Party |
Noon, 1:00, 2:15, 4:15. 5:15, 6:15 p.m.
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| Princess Elena's Musical Grand Arrival |
12:35, 1:50, 3:35, 4:50 p.m.
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| Buena Vista Street holiday tree lighting |
4:55 p.m.
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| World of Color – Season of Light |
New promotion offers passholders an extra month free
Updated 11/21/2016 with additional details:
A little more than a month after Walt Disney World rolled out its “13 months for the price of 12” deal, the Disneyland Resort now has a similar offer for annual passholders. Coming just in time for the peak purchase and renewal season, this new offer may help boost new purchases and renewals leading into what is going to be a construction-heavy year at the Disneyland Resort.
The 13-month passport offer is available to new purchases of three levels of annual pass: Deluxe, Signature and Signature Plus. It is not valid for either the Southern California Select or the Southern California Passport. While the Disneyland website says that you need to purchase these new passports between November 17, 2016 and February 11, 2017 to be eligible for the bonus month, we have learned that the offer is actually based on the dates new passes are activated. For example, a customer who purchased an eligible annual passport online, at a Disney Store or even at a local grocery store prior to November 17, 2016 but activates it during the offer period will receive an annual pass valid for 13 months.
Customers who purchase and activate a new annual passport during the offer period will also receive the 13-month pass, as stated in the offer details. However, customers can not purchase a new pass during the offer period and wait to activate that pass later in the year if they want to receive the bonus month.
Passholders who renew within 40 days of their pass expiration date and prior to November 17, 2017, also get 13 months for the price of 12. Again, this offer is not valid with the Southern California Select Passport or the Southern California Passport, but passholders who currently have one of those passes can opt to upgrade at the time of renewal to the higher level pass to receive the bonus offer. You can not upgrade to a higher-level pass more than 40 days before the expiration of your current pass to receive the bonus month.
As was the case when Walt Disney World announced its offer, the Premier Annual Pass, which is valid at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland, was not mentioned at all in the bonus month announcement. However, several front-line cast members and their leads (Disney-speak for managers) have confirmed for us that the extra-month-free offer is valid on Premier Annual Passports if they are purchased and activated at Walt Disney World or Disneyland during the dates of each Resort's respective offer dates (Oct. 2, 2016 through Jan. 3, 2017 for Walt Disney World; November 17, 2016 through February 11, 2017 for Disneyland).
New Deluxe, Signature and Signature Plus annual passes can be purchased through the Disneyland website, or by phone at (714) 781-7277. Deluxe, Signature and Signature Plus Passholders can also renew their pass online, or call the same number to renew. Premier annual passes can only be purchased in person at a Disneyland Resort ticket booth.
A Very Merry Holiday Tea Party
MousePlanet reader Angela alerted us to a new Very Merry Holiday Tea Party at the Disneyland Hotel's Steakhouse 55. Here's the information from the Disneyland website, which is also where you can make reservations for the tea. As of this writing, the Saturday events are almost completely booked, but limited reservations are still available for most Sundays. Fridays have the best remaining availability.
From December 2 to 31, celebrate the season at a traditional tea service that’s brimming with holiday cheer.
Steakhouse 55 is hosting a jolly version of a traditional afternoon repast of sweets and savories, and of course, pots of tea. The seasonal menu offers a selection of teas accompanied by scones, tea sandwiches and petite sweets. Wines, ports, sherry and cordials are also available for an additional charge. Tea is served Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 12:00 noon to 3:00 PM.
Holiday Tea Menu:
- White Chocolate Cranberry Scone
- Smoked Trout Sandwich
- Christmas Tree-Shaped Cucumber Sandwich
- Cage-Free Egg Waldorf Salad Sandwich
- Wreath-Shaped Caprese Salad Sandwich
- Christmas Light and Santa Decorated Strawberries
- Gingerbread Cookies
- Choice of Peppermint, Organic Pear Green, or Mulled Spice Teas
Kids’ Holiday Tea Menu:
- White Chocolate Cranberry Scone
- Christmas Tree-Shaped Cucumber Sandwich
- Turkey and Swiss Snowman Sandwich
- Peanut Butter and Jelly Mickey Sandwich
- Desserts
- Choices of Herbal Infusions, Juices, Milk, or Hot Chocolate
Gluten-free and vegan options are available upon request.
Ginnifer Goodwin to narrate the 2016 Candlelight Ceremony and Processional
The Candlelight Processional takes place Saturday and Sunday, December 3 & 4 at Disneyland. Started by Walt Disney in 1958 as a community appreciation event, the show features a Candlelight choir made up of cast members and community choir members, who perform music provided by the Disneyland orchestra. Guest narrators are invited to read the Christmas story in between songs.
Once Upon a Time star Ginnifer Goodwin will narrate the 2016 Candlelight Ceremony and Processional, MousePlanet has learned. The actress, who stars as Snow White in the ABC-TV show, and is also the voice of Officer Judy Hopps in Disney's animated feature Zootopia, is the second Once Upon a Time performer to host the Candlelight ceremony at Disneyland. Co-star Lana Parilla hosted in 2015.
After trying a few times to make this a larger public offering, with dining packages and reserved viewing, Disney has returned to the practice of treating Candlelight as a private event that just happens to take place in the middle of an operating theme park. Invited guests include community and civic leaders, as well as media and Club 33 members.
Even if you are don't have an invitation to sit in the reserved seating area, you have some options if you want to view the ceremony and are willing to devote most of your day to saving a prime seat on Main Street.
Standby viewing is very limited, and on a first-come, first-served basis. Bench seating is available near the Christmas tree on the west side of Town Square; standing room-only locations are located near City Hall, the Opera House, and any open spaces behind the seating area in Town Square. Part of the stand-by viewing area for the first performance opens at park opening (8 a.m. each day, with Extra Magic Hour and Magic Morning at 7 a.m. on Saturday), and die-hard Candlelight fans will arrive at park opening to claim their bench or patch of curb to wait for the evening performance.
If you don't care about having the perfect sight line to the narrator's podium and are willing to wait for the second show of the night, the stand-by line for the second performance forms on Main Street as soon as the processional passes for the first performance, usually around 5:30 p.m. Check with the guest control cast members wearing red vests, and they can give you updated information on Candlelight day so you know exactly when and where to return.
Dining packages available for the Paint the Night encore
Disneyland's popular Paint the Night parade has returned for its holiday encore presentation, and as expected, the Paint the Night dining packages are once again being offered for visitors who want an easier parade experience.
The Paint the Night dining packages appear unchanged from those offered over the summer. The two dining options are with Blue Bayou restaurant and Aladdin's Oasis. As before, each option includes access to a reserved, standing-only viewing area for the parade.
Customers who book a Paint the Night dinner package can watch the parade from reserved viewing locations along the parade route. MousePlanet file photo.
The Blue Bayou package includes access to the reserved viewing area located on Main Street, U.S.A. That package includes your choice of starter, entree, and dessert from the standard Blue Bayou dinner menu.
The On the Go meal at Aladdin's Oasis includes access to the reserved viewing area near “it's a small world.” Pick-up times for the pre-packaged meals begin as early as noon each day, and you can opt to eat inside Aladdin's Oasis or take the meal and eat elsewhere in the park.
Paint the Night is currently scheduled for select nights now through January 8, 2017. Visit the Paint the Night Dinner Package website to see the current performance schedule and make reservations online. You can also make reservations by phone by calling (714) 781-3463 between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.
World of Wow and the Festival of Foods
Last Thursday, contributing writer Todd Pickering and I had the opportunity to attend a holiday media event at the Disneyland Resort, which was my first chance to really explore the Festival of Holidays offering at Disney California Adventure, and to see the new World of Color – Season of Light show. For all the details, visit us later this week for a great article from Todd, who will look at the diverse entertainment offerings at DCA as part of the Festival of Holidays event, and also about the new Princess Elena's Musical Grand Arrival cavalcade.
The World of Color – Season of Light ends with a Peace on Earth message. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
We'll also share more photos and video from the World of Color – Season of Light show, but I wanted to take the opportunity in this update to encourage readers to go see the new show, especially if you've been critical, as I have, of past versions. For me, this version of the show fixes the flaws I've found in the earlier editions, and I appreciate that was no attempt to shoehorn a story line into this show. It's all color, water, video, fire, and lasers set to holiday music—and it just works. It starts out a little slow, but there's something in there for absolutely everyone, and it's truly one of the most effective uses of all that amazing technology I've seen thus far. It's good enough that I'd book a dessert party or a dining package just to get a decent vantage point to see it again. If you've seen it, I'd love to hear your thoughts.
I was also really looking forward to finally sampling the Festival of Holidays marketplace booths after seeing the menus. Given the large crowds and long lines that were common throughout the spring Food and Wine Festival at DCA, I was surprised during three separate visits to find short or no lines at all for the holiday food marketplaces. After checking the menus, I don't think the dishes are to blame. With very few exceptions, the offerings should be familiar to most festival-goers, and the photos and descriptions are definitely appetizing.
Unfortunately, the prices went up and the portions got smaller between the spring and winter events, and would-be customers seem to be put off. Where the average menu item was around $6 during the spring event, it's over $7 during this Festival of Holidays event, with 10 “entree” items at or above $8. For those prices, you get two- or three-bite portions of the dish, small pork sliders and tiny tamales that are better described as tapas.
One or two might be interesting to share as a snack, but these dishes make no sense as a meal, especially when you can just walk over to the Paradise Garden Grill and get an entire street taco plate for $11.00. The same can be said of the Modelo Negro beer, which is $8.75 at the Fiesta en Familia marketplace booth, but $8 at DCA counter service restaurants. Desserts are a much better deal in most cases, and are regular-size portions at prices consistent with other resort restaurants.
Unfortunately, I think Disney really missed the mark with this pricing strategy, and I'm wondering how long festival managers will hold out before either dropping prices across the board, or offering some sort of incentive to passholders to boost sales. Disney fans are willing to pay a premium, but there is a limit, and I think the current prices are about $2.00 above that limit.
This and that…
A local children's choir performs at the lighting ceremony for “it's a small world” holiday at Disneyland. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
…Disneyland is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the “it's a small world” Holiday overlay in 2016 with a handful of hidden “20s” added inside the attraction. Keep an eye peeled as you sail through “The Merriest Attraction on Earth” for the icons tucked away in the 10 show scenes.
Sprinkles is now open in Downtown Disney. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
…The Sprinkles Cupcake bakery opened last week in Downtown Disney. The bakery moved into the space vacated earlier this year by jewelry store Something Silver. The new location does not have one of the famed Cupcake ATMs.
Tortilla Jos has expanded their patio seating area, and installed a new visual barrier to block views of the soon-to-be-demolished House of Blues building. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
…The website upladvr.com has a nifty graphic showing an overview of the Star Wars Land construction site before work began and now. You can use a slider tool to compare then and now images, and see the changes.
…Downtown Disney parking may be more difficult than usual during the next several weeks as work continues to build the new security checkpoints near the ESPN Zone.
Fences surround the construction site where workers have begun to prepare for installation of a new security checkpoint leading into Downtown Disney. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
The Downtown Disney Christmas tree has been installed in a different location this year because the original site is part of the construction area for a new security checkpoint leading into Downtown Disney. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
…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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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
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
- 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.
- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror – closes January 3, 2017 for transformation into a new Guardians of the Galaxy attraction.
Disneyland Resort
- House of Blues Anaheim – closed. The 23,000-square-foot restaurant and concert venue is slated for demolition.
- Pandora Jewelry – under construction in Downtown Disney, and scheduled to open in late 2016
- Curl Surf – under construction in Downtown Disney, and scheduled to open in late 2016
Disneyland Resort Hotels
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Grand Californian Hotel Pools – Closed January 3 – spring 2017, All three of the pools at the hotel will be closed for refurbishment, including the Redwood Pool and water slide, the Fountain Pool, and the Mariposa Pool. The cabanas will also close during this time. The closure is not currently listed on the hotel's website. During the refurbishment, which is expected to last at least through March, people staying at the Grand Californian Hotel can use the pool facilities at the Disneyland Hotel or Paradise Pier Hotel.
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
- Holidays at the Disneyland Resort – through January 8, 2017
- 2016 Candy Cane dates – The official dates for 2016 are:
- Disneyland Candy Palace – November 25, 30; December 2, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 24
- Disney California Adventure Trolley Treats – November 26, 29; December 3, 6, 8, 10, 13, 15, 17, 20, 25
- Candlelight Ceremony and Processional – Saturday, December 3 and Sunday, December 4, with two performances each night.
- 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 10K and Half Marathon events. 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.
- Dapper Day Spring Outing to Disneyland (unofficial event) – Sunday, April 23. 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.
- 2017 Grad Nites: May 5, 6, 10, 17, 19, 20, 24, 30 and 31; June 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10, 14, 16 and 17.
- 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.
- Dapper Day Fall Outing to Disneyland (unofficial event) – Sunday, November 5. 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.
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 Merry Farm – November 19, 2016 – January 8, 2017
- Military Tribute Days – November 28 – December 16, 2016
- Fire and Law Tribute Days – November 28 – December 16, 2016
- Fire and Law Tribute Days – January 9–31, 2017
Legoland California
- Holidays at Legoland – November 25, 2016 – January 1, 2017
- Kids' New Year's Eve – December 31, 2016.
- Star Wars Days – March 4–5, 2017.
- Red, White and Boom – July 4, 2017.
Sea World San Diego
- Sea World's Christmas Celebration – November 18, 2016 to January 1, 2017.
- Lunar New Year – January 28 – February 21, 2017.
Universal Studios Hollywood
Six Flags Magic Mountain
- Holiday in the Park – November 19 to 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
- Thanksgiving Break – November 21–25. Many local schools close for the entire week of Thanksgiving.
- Winter Break – December 19, 2016 through January 6, 2017. Most schools close only two of these three weeks, but some districts close all three weeks due to the Sunday 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 to April 14. The four-week period during which most local schools will observe a one-week spring holiday.
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 |
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 |
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 through December 19, 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 |
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 |
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 |
Disney California Adventure Park Fun Pass Technically not an annual pass, this Costco-exclusive is valid only at Disney California Adventure for 365 days after activation. The pass costs $329.99, the same price as the existing Disney Southern California Select Passport that also includes admission to Disneyland. The new Costco pass comes with 19 blockout dates during the remainder of 2016, and 41 blockout dates through December 1, 2017. Those 60 combined blockout dates most closely resemble those of the existing Deluxe Annual Passport, and cover the peak Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year travel periods, plus most holiday weekends and every Saturday between March 13 and August 19. 2016 – 2017 blockout dates:
The Disney California Adventure Park Fun Pass also includes the same 10 percent merchandise and food discount as offered with the Southern California Select Passport. Like that pass, the new DCA pass does not include parking, nor is there an option to add a parking pass onto this ticket. The new Fun Pass also includes a Disney collector pin featuring Ariel and the DCA logo. If you're looking to buy this as a holiday gift, note that the pass expires one year after the first use, and the first use must be by December 1, 2016. That doesn't necessarily rule it out as a stocking stuffer, but Christmas will have to come very early so your recipient can activate the pass before the deadline. The pass is available only at Costco stores and from Costco.com. This is not a member-exclusive item, and in our test, the Costco website did not add a surcharge when the pass was purchased by a non-member. The pass is mailed in five to seven business days, though a two-day shipping option is available at an added charge. 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 |
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 six 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 image download 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 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. As of January 23, 2016, 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. 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 “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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Customers can add a Snowman Mickey tote or Disneyland castle throw blanket to their qualifying purchase for $20. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix. 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
The Disneyland website does not list the blockout dates for the Costco-exclusive Disney California Adventure Park Fun Pass. The blockout dates are as follows:
- 2016 – September 3, 4; November 11, 24, 25, 26; December 19–31
- 2017 – January 1, 2; February 18, 19; March 18, 25; April 1, 8, 9, 14, 15, 22, 29; May 6, 13, 20, 26, 27, 28; June 3, 10, 17, 24; July 1-4, 8, 15, 22, 29; August 5, 12, 19; September 2,l 3; November 10, 11, 23, 24, 25.
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
- 2016 Candy Cane dates – The official dates for 2016 are:
- Disneyland Candy Palace – November 25, 30; December 2, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 24
- Disney California Adventure Trolley Treats – November 26, 29; December 3, 6, 8, 10, 13, 15, 17, 20, 25
| 11/20 | 11/21 | 11/22 | 11/23 | 11/24 | 11/25 | 11/26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Ticket Season: DL: 8a-11p DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
Ticket Season: DL: 8a-12a DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
Ticket Season: DL: 8a-12a DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
Ticket Season: DL: 8a-12a DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
Ticket Season: DL: 8a-12a DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
Ticket Season: DL: 8a-12a DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: Candy Canes |
Ticket Season: DL: 8a-12a DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: Candy Canes |
| 11/27 | 11/28 | 11/29 | 11/30 | 12/1 | 12/2 | 12/3 |
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Ticket Season: DL: 8a-12a DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
Ticket Season: DL: 10a-9p DCA: 10a-8p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
Ticket Season: DL: 10a-9p DCA: 10a-8p AP Blockouts: Events: Candy Canes |
Ticket Season: DL: 10a-9p DCA: 10a-8p AP Blockouts: Events: Candy Canes at |
Ticket Season: DL: 8a-9p DCA: 8a-8p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
Ticket Season: DL: 9a-12a DCA: 9a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: Candy Canes |
Ticket Season: DL: 8a-12a DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: Events: Candy Canes |
| 12/4 | 12/5 | 12/6 | 12/7 | 12/8 | 12/9 | 12/10 |
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Ticket Season: DL: 8a-12a DCA: 9a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: |
Ticket Season: DL: 9a-12a DCA: 10a-9p AP Blockouts: Events: Candy Canes |
Ticket Season: DL: 9a-12a DCA: 9a-9p AP Blockouts: Events: Candy Canes |
Ticket Season: DL: 9a-12a DCA: 10a-9p AP Blockouts: Events: Candy Canes |
Ticket Season: DL: 8a-12a DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: Candy Canes |
Ticket Season: DL: 9a-12a DCA: 9a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: Candy Canes |
Ticket Season: DL: 8a-12a DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: Candy Canes |
| 12/11 | 12/12 | 12/13 | 12/14 | 12/15 | 12/16 | 12/17 |
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Ticket Season: DL: 8a-12a DCA: 9a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
Ticket Season: DL: 8a-12a DCA: 9a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: Candy Canes |
Ticket Season: DL: 8a-12a DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: Candy Canes |
Ticket Season: DL: 8a-12a DCA: 9a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: Candy Canes |
Ticket Season: DL: 8a-12a DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: Candy Canes |
Ticket Season: DL: 8a-12a DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: Candy Canes |
Ticket Season: DL: 8a-12a DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: Candy Canes |
| 12/18 | 12/19 | 12/20 | 12/21 | 12/22 | 12/23 | 12/24 |
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Ticket Season: DL: 8a-12a DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
Ticket Season: DL: 8a-12a DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: Candy Canes |
Ticket Season: DL: 8a-12a DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: Candy Canes |
Ticket Season: DL: 8a-12a DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
Ticket Season: DL: 8a-12a DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
Ticket Season: DL: 8a-12a DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
Ticket Season: DL: 8a-12a DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: Candy Canes |
| 12/25 | 12/26 | 12/27 | 12/28 | 12/29 | 12/30 | 12/31 |
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Ticket Season: DL: 8a-12a DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: Candy Canes |
Ticket Season: DL: 8a-12a DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
Ticket Season: DL: 8a-12a DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
Ticket Season: DL: 8a-12a DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
Ticket Season: DL: 8a-12a DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
Ticket Season: DL: 8a-12a DCA: 8a-10p AP Blockouts: Events: None |
Ticket Season: DL: 8a-2a DCA: 8a-1a 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.
The Seasons calendar is published on the Disneyland website for the next 8-11 months.
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