A small electrical fire Saturday morning at the Playhouse Disney show resulted in the temporary closure of the Hollywood Backlot District, and a bit more excitement for visitors who had come to ride DCA's new Tower of Terror. Three Anaheim fire trucks responded to the fire, which was reportedly traced to a sign on the exterior of the Playhouse Disney building, while tourists were evacuated from the area and redirected to other areas of the park.
Playhouse Disney remained closed after an electrical fire Saturday morning
forced the evacuation of the Hollywood Backlot. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Although the initial report was that the fire was “visible” on-stage, it generated nothing more than smoke and was quickly extinguished. Nobody was injured, although the attraction did not reopen Saturday. Reports differ on how long the Hollywood Backlot was closed, with a DCA cast member saying the area was closed for no more than 90 minutes, and park visitors saying the area was closed for over eight hours. The area was definitely open by 8 p.m., and a special event dinner in the Hollywood and Dine building proceeded without a problem.
Attendees of the 2004 Celebration of Walt Disney Art Classics convention got to hear a few of the merchandise plans for the upcoming Disneyland 50th Anniversary celebration. Among the items being developed for the occassion:
Randy Thornton, Corey Burton and Craig Hodgkins (left to right) address
the Walt Disney Art Classics convention. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Thornton also revealed some of the CD titles to be included in the third phase of the Wonderland Music Project, scheduled for release in July:
Los Angeles Mayor Jim Hahn and Councilwoman Janice Hahn were among the officials present to formally announce that the Disney Cruise Line will make the Port of Los Angeles its temporary home when the Disney Magic comes to the West Coast in May 2005.
Admiral Mickey arrives at the Port of Los Angeles. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
The Hahns were joined by Admiral Mickey Mouse and Sailor Minnie Mouse, as well as Scott Tanner, director of travel industry sales for the Disneyland Resort, and members of the Disneyland Band.
Scott Tanner (left, next to Mickey) and LA Mayor Jim Hahn (right, next
to Minnie), announce that the Disney Magic is making the Port of Los Angeles
its temporary home. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Councilwoman Hahn said that the Port of Los Angeles would soon be known as the Happiest Port on Earth, and related that she and Mayor Hahn had been at Disneyland's opening day nearly 50 years ago. Mayor Hahn spoke of the economic impact the Disney cruises would have on the local area, generating $2 million in spending and $500,000 in wages for the city.
Councilwoman Janice Hahn introduces her granddaughter McKenna to Minnie
Mouse. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Mayor Hahn noted that the Los Angeles World Cruise Center is currently the second largest in the state. “We want it to be number one, and Disney is going to help us get there,” he said.
Scott Tanner presents the first boarding pass to Mickey and Minnie. Photo
by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
The Disney Cruise Line will begin operations from the Port of Los Angeles on May 28, 2005, when the first of 12 seven-day cruises departs for the Mexican Rivera. The Disney Magic returns to its home port in Florida in August.
The Disney VoluntEARS Walk Team invites MousePlanet readers to join Disneyland Resort Cast Members in an upcoming walk to raise money for the AIDS Services Foundation of Orange County:
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The Disneyland Resort VoluntEARS are putting together their seventh walk team for AIDS WALK ORANGE COUNTY on Sunday, June 6, 2004 at the University of California, Irvine campus. The walk starts at 9:30, with the Team Photo at 8:30am. It's a 7K walk with a fabulous Family Fun Zone, Food Festival and Health Expo after the walk. Mickey and Minnie are scheduled to be there in their yellow VoluntEARS T-shirts too! Disneyland has always reached out to the community and this is a great way for our true Disney fans to help out and be part of our team. We encourage all of your readers to join us that morning and raise money and awareness for this devastating disease. Did you know that Anaheim has the second highest infection rate in Orange County for HIV/AIDS? All of the money raised goes to benefit AIDS Services Foundation of Orange County, the largest most comprehensive not-for-profit AIDS-service provider in the county. It's really easy to join the Team. Simply visit www.aidswalk.org/oc and click on the Disneyland Resort VoluntEARS hompage, or they can call Disneyland Resort Community Relations at (714) 781-0602. Each walker who raises a minimum of $50 will receive a special, limited edition cloisonne pin (while supplies last), plus they'll get a VoluntEARS T-shirt, a chance to win some cool prizes and be part of the Disneyland Resort Team Photo! We'd love to invite your readers to join us. Together we can make a difference. Together we make it happen. |
In addition to signing up as an official VoluntEAR, MousePlanet readers are invited to join Team MousePlanet informally for the walk. Our team, which will be led at the event by MousePlanet staff Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix, will be unofficial, and not registered as a formal group with the event. Team MousePlanet is a casual group that provides support, encouragement and camaraderie for those wishing to lead a healthy lifestyle. Follow Team MousePlanet on our MousePad discussion board.
Mickey Mouse has some new wheels. A new mouse-themed Mini Cooper has arrived at the Disneyland Resort. The car is an official company vehicle, and will be used in park cavalcades and to shuttle VIPs around the area.
Keep your eyes peeled for Mickey's new ride. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
The custom-decorated car is so new it doesn't have license plates yet—Disney is still waiting for word from the DMV if the vanity plate they want is available.
In the May 3 Update, we provided incorrect requirements for children riding attractions alone. A cast member sent in this correction about the new policy.
“To ride alone you must be at least 7 years old. This is verified of course by simply asking the Guest how old they are. If you're under 7, you must be accompanied by a 'responsible party,' that's at least 16 years old or 54 inches tall. Most of the rides have more specific requirements that require the responsible party to be in the same row, or perhaps same vehicle as the child. This can create issues if there aren't enough responsible parties to share a row/vehicle with each child. In that case they'd have to do the standard child switch procedure.”
In the May 3 Update, we incorrectly reported about what online Fastpass vouchers could be redeemed for if the park had run out of Tower of Terror passes. The vouchers may be redeemed for Fastpass tickets to Grizzly River Run or California Screamin'.
If you book a three-night resort stay at any of the Disneyland Resort hotels during the 50th anniversary promotion, your package includes a four-day Park Hopper ticket, a special 50th anniversary commemorative clock and a Walk in Walt's Footsteps tour.
The “50th Celebration Package” is available only for three-night stays, with arrival dates May 5 through December 31, 2005. The package can be booked through the Disneyland Web site (link), or by calling (714) 520-5060
Disneyland Resort Annual Passholders save up to 20 percent on car rentals from Alamo Rent A Car and National Car Rental. Restrictions apply—get full details and the necessary discount codes on the Annual Passholder Web site (link).
Disneyland Resort Annual Passholders can save 50 percent off the regular price of tickets for the following home games of the Anaheim Angels baseball team, which plays at nearby Angel Stadium of Anaheim (formerly Edison Field):
Prices are: Terrace Box, $12.50 (reg. $25); Lower View Box, $7.50 (reg. $15); and Upper View, $6.00 (reg. $12).
Although there is no limit to how many tickets a passholder can purchase, you must use mail or fax in the order form provided at the Annual Passholder Web site, and you cannot purchase these tickets online or obtain them at the ticket window on the day of the game. See the passholder Web site for details (link).
If you are a AAA member, you can take advantage of these packages that include hotel nights and theme park tickets, along with extra ammenities:
Sample prices include:
AAA Disney's Resort Magic: Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel for two nights from $269/adult, $127/ages 10-17, $97/ages 3-9
AAA Disneyland Resort Good Neighbor Magic: Jolly Roger Hotel for two nights from $193/adult, $127/ages 10-17, $97/ages 3-9
These packages require a minimum two-night hotel stay, and are good for travel between April 18 to July 1, August 29 to November 21 and November 28 to December 23, 2004. You can book this package through your local AAA affiliate travel agent.
Prices:
An additional handling fee of $10 is charged per mailing address. These tickets are available to AAA members only when purchased through AAA offices.
For shorter stays, AAA offers 2- and 5-day tickets for the Disneyland Resort:
These tickets include free parking (the back of the passports note the free parking, so you will need the passport with you when you park your car).
The Southern California CityPass booklet includes admission to five separate entertainment options:
The CityPass is $172 ($129 for children).
You can purchase the Southern California CityPass with Walt Disney Travel Company packages. Instead of the Disneyland Resort Park Hopper ticket currently included in California packages from the Walt Disney Travel Company, guests can select a Southern California city for an additional charge of $47 per pass ($32 per pass for children 3 through 9).
Note: The Southern California CityPass does not include the $10 ESPN Zone Arena Game Card, or the California package's feature that allows guests to collect multiple Fastpass tickets at once for free in advance.
DL: Disneyland
DCA: Disney’s California Adventure
Annual Pass blockout dates: SoCal – Southern
California Annual Pass. Sel – Southern California Select Annual Pass.
DX – Deluxe Annual Pass.
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| 5/17 | 5/18 | 5/19 | 5/20 | 5/21 | 5/22 | |
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DL 10a–8p |
DL 10a–8p |
DL 10a–8p |
DL 10a–8p |
DL 9a–11p |
DL 8a–Mid |
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| 5/23 | 5/24 | 5/25 | ||||
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DL 8a–11p |
DL 9a–8p |
DL 9a–8p |
Visit our Annual Passholders Blockout Dates 2004 page to see more dates.
Entertainment schedule: Go directly to the Disneyland Resort schedule for May 10 to 16 at Disneyland.com here.
(Send an email to MousePlanet Staff)
