Disneyland Resort Update for October 26 – November 1, 2015

Update for October 26 – November 1, 2015

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

Disneyland doubles up the entertainment schedule for Thanksgiving week | Testing new Fastpass technology in Tomorrowland | Here comes the Spider-Man | Disneyland Resort Hotel offer for Spring 2016 | This and that… | Crowd Forecast

Disneyland doubles up the entertainment schedule for Thanksgiving week

Disneyland visitors will have two chances to see the “Disneyland Forever” fireworks every night during the peak Thanksgiving week of November 21–28, according to the Orange County Register, although the official entertainment schedule posted on Disneyland.com does not currently list the second show.

The second fireworks show would be in addition to daily double doses of A Christmas Fantasy parade, Paint the Night parade, and Fantasmic scheduled that week, and most weekend days during the Holidays at Disneyland Resort promotion (November 13 through January 6).

Disneyland visitors will get two chances to see most of the nighttime entertainment offerings during the peak Thanksgiving week, including the Paint the Night parade. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

The Register says the second show would be presented at 6:30 p.m., after the second Christmas Fantasy parade, and before the first Paint the Night parade. The article quotes Disneyland Resort spokeswoman Suzi Brown saying, “Adding more entertainment options enhances the experience for all our guests during this popular time of year.”

Across the way, visitors also have two chances to watch the World of Color show most nights, with the holiday version World of Color – Winter Dreams presented first, and the 60th anniversary version World of Color – Celebrate presented second.

As is typical. Disneyland hasn't released information about the Candlelight Processional, but sources have told us the performances are on December 5 and 6, at 5:30 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. each night. The entertainment schedule shows two performances of A Christmas Fantasy parade that afternoon (1:00 and 3:15 p.m.), and two performances of the Paint the Night parade that evening (8:50 and 10:45 p.m.).

Testing new Fastpass technology in Tomorrowland

A Fastpass test conducted at Space Mountain last week has us wondering how soon we might see MyMagic+ or MagicBands at the Disneyland Resort. The test took place Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, with two different versions of Fastpass tested.

On Tuesday, readers at Disneyland reported that they received a normal Fastpass ticket at the kiosks as usual. When they returned to ride, they were directed to scan the barcode on their ticket at a temporary kiosk installed in the return line.

On Thursday, readers reported that their Fastpass tickets had an embedded RFID (radio frequency identification) chip in the ticket instead of a printed barcode. When they returned, they tapped the Fastpass ticket against the temporary reader, similar to the way Walt Disney World visitors tap their resort ID cards or MagicBands to use the Fastpass system.

What does this all mean for Disneyland visitors? We've been waiting to see how Disney would adapt the billion-dollar MyMagic+ program for the Disneyland Resort. The Los Angeles Times quoted Disneyland vice president Mary Niven as saying in May that MagicBands would not be coming to Disneyland, citing a different visitor demographic from the Florida resort, which has used the devices since 2013. Still, the “no wristbands” remark doesn't mean that Disneyland can't and won't include some other elements of the technology, perhaps going to paperless Fastpass using barcodes or RFID chips in admission tickets and annual passports.

Such an offering would likely require the rollout of a Disneyland version of the My Disney Experience smartphone application currently offered for Walt Disney World. The Florida-specific app allows visitors to make, track, and change their Fastpass reservations, and takes advantage of free in-park Wi-Fi, a service Disneyland does not yet offer.

Come share your thoughts about this test on our MousePad discussion forum.

@MousePlanet pic.twitter.com/Kzv9vhutEN

— Jaason (@Jaa_son) October 20, 2015

 

And Big Brother has arrived. RFID in the new Space Mountain fastpasses. Let's just hope it doesn't lead to full on Magic Bands.

A photo posted by runamuchow (@runamuchow) on Oct 22, 2015 at 10:36am PDT

Here comes the Spider-Man

Spider-Man makes his first appearance in a U.S. Disney theme park next month, according to the Disney Parks Blog. The webslinger, who has previously appeared in person at Disneyland Paris, will be featured in a temporary meet-and-greet at the Tomorrowland Expo Center. David Koenig has more about this highly anticipated debut, and the unfortunate consequence for another Marvel hero, in his MousePlanet blog.

Captain America may return for the runDisney Avengers Half Harathon weekend, but he won't be part of the starting lineup in Super Hero HQ. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

When Innoventions—er, I mean the Tomorrowland Expo Center—opens November 16, the second-story Super Hero HQ will be missing a superhero.

After 20 months on the job, Captain America will be on hiatus until just before the premiere of the film Captain America: Civil War on May 6, 2016. In his place will be the heavily publicized debut of Spider-Man.

The benching of Captain America has cast members scratching their heads. The only thing they can come up with is budgetary concerns, since the lion's share of the Expo's budget is going to the Star Wars exhibits—and collectible store—on the first floor.

If fans of the First Avenger wish to see him before he goes, drop by the park by November 8.

Although Iron Man had been expected to be appearing at Disneyland by now, reportedly the owners of Hong Kong Disneyland will be opening an Iron Man flight simulator attraction (similar to Star Tours) and demanded exclusive rights to have the costumed character at their park.

The other thing you won't see at the Expo is the building moving. Sadly, during this current rehab, much of the mechanisms that made the building rotate were removed. And if you're curious why, check out that hot new book, The People v. Disneyland:?How Lawsuits & Lawyers Transformed the Magic.

Disneyland Resort Hotel offer for Spring 2016

We shared last week information from our partners at Get Away Today Travel about a Disneyland Resort hotel offer for Spring 2016. Sue from Small World Vacations let us know that Disney Visa cardholder can book this offer before it goes public on October 28.

• Disney Visa booking window: Until October 27, 2015
• Booking window: October 28, 2015 to March 10, 2016
• Travel dates: January 3, 2016 to March 31, 2016
• Travel dompleted by: April 1, 2016

Savings Percentage:

“Premium” room types include Premium, Deluxe, and Woods/Garden/Courtyard Rooms; select Concierge rooms; and Artisan and Regal Suites. Not valid on previously booked rooms. One night minimum stay.

Disney Visa cardholders can book through their travel agent, or by calling 866-285-1578. You can also visit the Get Away Today website, or call 1-855-GET-AWAY for a quote.

This and that…

…Disney has filed for a building permit to expand the Blue Sky Cellar in Disney California Adventure. The permit references a “DVC expansion,” so it looks like the Disney Vacation Club will take over the space. The permit covers a new patio cover, low retaining walls, and lighting.

…The Fossil store in Downtown Disney is closed for refurbishment through October 29.

Jedi Training Academy reopens November 20 with a new show, as part of the Season of the Force promotion. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

…Jedi Training Academy is closed through November 19 because of the Tomorrowland Terrace stage construction.

…Van Eaton Galleries is hosting an opening reception and preview of their upcoming “Collecting Disneyland” auction this Thursday, October 29. The auction is Saturday, November 21, with the consigned items on display at the gallery through November 20. You can view the auction catalog online, a 280-page trove of paper goods, props, costumes, ride vehicles, and more.

…The Merchandise Events schedule has been updated with events through November, though we expect additional appearances and releases to be to be added to the schedule.

Work continues on a refueling station for the Disneyland trams in the Pinocchio parking lot outside the Mickey and Friends parking structure. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

…D23 members can purchase tickets to the “Light Up the Season with D23” event to be held Friday, December 4 at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank. The two-hour event offers members the opportunity to visit the Studios lot, shop at the Studio Store, and dine at the Buena Vista Cafe. Photo opportunities, character meet-and-greets and an appearance by Santa are all included.

Tickets are $20 per person for D23 Gold and Gold Family members, or $30 per person for D23 General members. (Prices include $5 processing fee). Tickets go on sale November 2 and 10 a.m.. Visit the event page for more information.

…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 of 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.

“it's a small world” is closed for installation of the holiday overlay. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Disneyland

• Starcade – closed for renovation; reopening date TBD.
• Tomorrowland Theater (Captain EO) – reopens November 16 as part of the Season of the Force promotion.
• Innoventions – reopens November 16 as the Tomorrowland Expo Center.
• “it's a small world” – closed through November 5 for installation of the holiday overlay.
• Jedi Training Academy – closed through November 19 because of the Tomorrowland Terrace stage construction.
• Jungle Cruise – closed November 2–12 for installation of the Jingle Cruise overlay.
• Space Mountain – closed November 1–15 to remove the Ghost Galaxy overlay, and install the HyperSpace Mountain overlay.

Disney California Adventure

• Blue Sky Cellar – closed; reopening date now TBD. Permits have been filed to expand the location for use by the Disney Vacation Club.
• Luigi's Flying Tires – closed. Ride to be removed and replaced; reopening date unknown.
• Turtle Talk with Crush – closed through October 29 for refurbishment.
• A Bug's Land Theater – It's Tough to be a Bug on hiatus during The Good Dinosaur sneak peek.
• Muppet*Vision 3D – closed indefinitely due to the Frozen Fun overlay.
• Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular – closes January 10, 2016. Replaced in Summer 2016 by a new Frozen musical.

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).

2015

• Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration – through September 5, 2016
• Halloween Time – through November 1.
• Mickey's Halloween Party – October 27, 29, and 31. Tickets are sold out for all events.
• Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade taping at the Disneyland Resort – November 6–8. Taping of the West Coast portions of the Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade. The performances are usually taped on Friday and Saturday, with Sunday reserved as a back-up day in case of weather. Filming is always subject to change without notice; do not make a special trip just to see the filming.
• 2015 Avengers Half Marathon Weekend – November 12–15. Registration is closed. Details on the runDisney website.
• Holidays at the Disneyland Resort – November 13 through January 6.
• Season of the Force – begins November 16. No end date yet announced.
• Candlelight Processional – December 5–6. Performances are at 5:30 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. each night. Narrator(s) have not yet been announced.

2016

• Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration – through September 5, 2016
• 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.
• 2016 Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend – May 5–8. The 5K and 10K events are sold out, but the half-marathon and Pixie Dust Challenge are still available. Details on the runDisney website.
• Dapper Days at the Parks (unofficial event) – Sunday, May 1, 2016. More information at the event website.
• 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.
• 2016 Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend – September 1–4. Registration opens February 2, 2016.
• 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).

2015

• Nevada Day (observed) – Friday, October 30. A school holiday for our neighbors to the northeast creates a 3-day weekend and usually adds to the Halloween weekend crowds.
• Thanksgiving Break – November 23–27. Many local schools close for the entire week of Thanksgiving.
• Winter Break – December 21, 2015 – January 8, 2016. Most local schools are closed.

2016

• 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.

Other 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!

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
• SP – Signature Plus 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. 2015 dates: September 25, 28 and 30; October 2, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 22, 23, 25, 27, 29 and 31.

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.