As we ramp up to the summer high season, readers have a lot of questions the latest ticket discounts. MousePlanet CEO and staff writer Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix kicks off this week’s mailbag by answering some reader questions regarding the Southern California resident requirements for certain discounts.
Carol W. writes:
I saw that Ralphs is selling 2fer tickets for Disneyland. I was wondering if you know if you must show proof of residency at Ralphs when purchasing, or do you show it at Disneyland?
The retailers do not require proof of residency to purchase 2Fer tickets. One member of your party will need to show proof of residency if you want to purchase the tickets at Disneyland. The tickets you purchase at Ralphs are valid for theme park admission, and do not need to be exchanged at the Disneyland ticket booths before entering the park, so it’s not uncommon for out-of-area visitors to purchase the tickets at one of the authorized retailers and use them at the theme parks, circumventing the residency requirement. If that’s your plan, just keep in mind that the tickets have printed on them the note that “proof of residency is required,” and the main entrance cast members may require one member of your party to show proof of residency when you first use the tickets. It’s uncommon, but not unheard of, and if this happens and you can’t demonstrate residency, you may be required to upgrade your ticket to the current undiscounted price of a 2-Day Park Hopper. I don’t want to put a crimp in your plans, but it would be irresponsible of me not to let you know what could happen.
Ryan E. writes:
I was reading the Summer Fun Pass details and had a question that I am not sure if you would have the answer too or not. Does only one person have to be a valid Southern California Resident, or will they be checking IDs to compare against the ticket at the front gate? I lived in Southern California until recently, but my family still lives there and they want to get tickets for us. Do you think if they bought the tickets for us it would be a problem? Some of them would be going as well. Thanks.
We’re getting a lot of questions on this situation, so you’re not alone in wondering how this promotion works.
Officially you must be a Southern California resident to use the tickets, or even to buy them at the Disneyland Resort ticket booths. Unofficially, none of the other authorized retailers (grocery stores, Toys r Us, Deardens) has required proof of residency in the past or is likely to start doing so this year. Tickets purchased at authorized retailers can be used directly at the gate, so that’s where you may be asked to show proof of residency.
The offer allows residents to purchase up to 6 or 8 (I’m typing this on my phone and don’t have the details directly in front of me) tickets at a time, and I’ve always considered that to be the implied “out of state relative” ratio – so long as one member of the group can demonstrate residency, the others won’t need to.
As always, Disney reserves the right to strictly enforce the written policy, which is that proof of residency is required. Hope this helps!
In the next group of letters, we catch up with MousePlanet columnist and Mouse Tales author David Koenig as he answers reader mail.
Andy G. writes:
In your “How EPCOT changed the World” article (October 1, 2007), you mention three rivers coming from the Lagoon. I’m familiar with the two side rivers but what became of the third river? Thanks in advance.
EPCOT was originally designed with a river to the west, a river to the east, and a river out the back with the American pavilion situated at the front, where the International Gateway is now. When the designers realized that having a huge American pavilion out front destroyed views of the lagoon, they moved it to the back and cut out the third river.
Martha writes:
Hello David, I love your column. I had moved away from California for several years, and when I returned, I noticed that some of the beautiful queue areas (Indiana Jones, Star Tours) are no longer full; guests are made to wait outside, and then walk through empty queue areas inside with show elements. I asked around, and was told it was due to a new fire code. Do you have any details on this, and when it occurred? I miss being entertained while waiting; the Indy queue area was especially great.
What you witnessed is not the result of any fire code, but more likely of how cast members now funnel guests through queues to accommodate FastPass. Ride operators must hold large numbers of stand-by guests back from large stretches of queues, so there’s ample room for FastPass riders to cut toward the front.
At regular intervals, batches of stand-by riders will be released into and can walk quickly through now-empty sections of the queues. It’s easy to see this in action on attractions like Autopia, where the stand-by guests are actually diverted to the side and can watch the FastPass riders pass in front of them. Disney has since designed attractions like Buzz Lightyear with a less visible “merge point” so it isn’t so obvious to stand-by riders what’s going on. Instead, they wait and wait and wait outside of an attraction, then are finally let in and may wonder what they’ve been waiting for since the line isn’t backed up inside.
Ted F. writes:
I have purchased your two books on Disneyland, and found them highly insightful, fun, tearful, and simply a must read for us Disneylanders who are old enough to remember Walt and what he tried and indeed did, accomplish. I was never foolish enough to think that after his passing, anyone could come close to his vision, and your continuing reports and those of other contributors on the discussion boards clearly show a lack of vision, among other things.
One thing I just noticed, however: at the end of Gene Kelly’s Singing in the Rain sequence, a cop comes over to sternly look at him and his dancing. At the end of the Step in Time in Mary Poppins, a cop also comes into view at the end of the sequence. Was Walt trying to tie his film to Singing in the Rain, in some way? Step in Time is my favorite in Poppins, just was wondering if any connection that you knew of. Thank you again for your hard work – Walt would be proud, I have no doubt!
Thanks for the kind words! I’m quite familiar with Singin’ in the Rain, but am drawing a blank on “Step in Time.” There was no production connection between the two films, so any similarity is probably unintentional or subliminally borrowed. Something new to keep my eyes open for the next time I watch Mary Poppins!
An anonymous reader writes:
Thank you so much for your kind words re: the recent activity at Disneyland (“Firing Lineup,” April10, 2009). You are correct in that the loss of wonderful people is something that will be felt deeply and in how much they will be missed.
Thank you for your kindness in publishing that article. Although I’m still at DLR, many members of my “extended Disney family” are not…and your words are appreciated.
Barry G. writes:
You interviewed me at the old Fluor building in Irvine many years ago for your second book. Ironically, it was about the layoffs that John Cora and Glen Hicks conducted under the pretence of gaining training knowledge during the summer of 1973. Thank God I was blessed with being let go (though it was the worst thing that ever happened to me in my life).
Now 35 years later it happens again. The reason for downsizing is correct: in recessionary times, demand for entertainment dollars decline and cutbacks are inevitable. I only hope that those that were let go can understand this and get by the politics that forced their ouster from the company. There is life on the other side of the berm.
It’s great to hear from you. Your words would be a great encouragement to the thousands of loyal cast members who suddenly find themselves shut out. Hope life has been kind to you in the interim!
Finally, staff writer Stephanie Wien answers reader feedback on “Dieting at Disneyland” (February 21, 2006).
William A. Jr. writes:
I just read your great article on dieting at Disneyland but still have a question. I agree with everything you say to do and love the fact that you have a fruit cart there for healthy choices. My wife is on Jenny Craig and where she is fine with snack (will probably bring hers) and restaurants does not know what to do if we eat lunch in the park (but not in a restaurant) at just one of the stands. While myself and the rest of my family are eating hot dogs and/or pizza is there a menu at these same stands for healthy choices (chicken sandwiches, turkey dogs, etc.). Thanks for any and all help you can give me with this matter.
I’m glad you enjoyed the article! The food from the outdoor vending carts, or stands as you call them, is generally not on the healthy end of the spectrum. I would suggest picking one of the counter-service restaurants if you are looking for a quicker lunch. Redd Rockett’s Pizza Port in Tomorrowland had salads as well as pizza and pasta. That might be the best choice in Disneyland to meet all of your family’s requirements. In general, each dining location will have a healthier option on its menu, so you should be able to find something to your liking.
You can check out the menus at our website to get an idea ahead of time. Just go to the Disneyland Resort Guide and select the park you are interested in, then click on the Show Section link next to Dining to see a list of dining locations in Disneyland or Disney’s California Adventure. Have a great trip!
Betty writes:
I want to thank you for the nice site you have put on about eating at Disneyland. I was there last Sunday and was sort of scared going to my Weight Watchers meeting on the Tuesday as I had eaten a churro and also a double scoop of vanilla ice cream at the Ice Cream Parlour. I did take it in a cup though. Do you happen to know what a double scoop would be in points? I was shocked to learn the churro was 6 points, but I guess with having a chef salad for lunch and all the walking I did okay, as I lost 1.4 pounds. I have sent my Weight Watchers leader your site.
I’m glad you liked the article and found it useful! Congratulations on your weight loss; it’s great you tried to stay “on plan.” I’m not sure of the specific points value of the ice cream. As we said in the article, finding specific points values for foods is difficult. One way to figure it out though is through a little internet detective work.
Disneyland serves Dreyer’s ice cream in their ice cream shops. On Dreyer’s website, they state that the Grand vanilla has 140 calories, 8 g of fat and 0 g of fiber in one half cup serving. That’s three points per half cup. Assuming a scoop is about one half cup, that would be six points. It’s hard to say how much you had without seeing it though.
Whatever the case, it’s good you lost some weight and tried to stay aware of dining pitfalls. Thanks for referring your leader to our site!
