The California version of a winter storm hit the Disneyland Resort this weekend, causing a cancellation of the Sunday evening performances of the Candlelight Processional. The wet weather also caused sporadic closures of Tom Sawyer Island and Tarzan's Treehouse due to flooding and slick surfaces. Honey I Shrunk the Audience was closed Sunday night due to a leak in the theater's ceiling.
Pedestrians carry umbrellas and don rain coats earlier in the day before
the Candlelight Procession is cancelled because of poor weather. Photo
by Frank Anzalone.
Those who attended the performances on Saturday noted a few changes to the production. For the first time, the first verses of "Candlelight Chorale" were sung as a duet between a male and female singer, later joined by the massed choir. The male singer also performed a verse of “Silent Night” in Spanish, another change from previous Candlelight productions.
Even with the cancellation of the Candlelight Procession, park guests
mingle around the Town Square area near the Main Street Disneyland Railroad
station, enjoying the sparkle and glitter of Christmas lights. Photo by
Frank Anzalone.
Those who took advantage of the Candlelight dining packages on Saturday reported few problems with the process, especially compared to the previous two years. Those who booked dining packages for Sunday's performances were allowed to cancel their reservations without penalty.
The “Come Out and Trade” program, first launched at Disneyland in November, has been extended. “Come Out and Trade” is held Monday through Friday (excluding holidays and rainy days) from approximately 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Plaza Pavilion on Main Street, U.S.A. A team of Disneyland Resort cast members, including some of the merchandise events staff, trade pins with visitors and help new collectors learn about pins.
Odds of ever reopening the walk-though in Sleeping Beauty Castle (closed on October 7, 2001 after the September 11 terror attacks) are slim following the recent removal of the dioramas. One cast member reported, “In an issue of the Disneyland Line, there was a story about the scenes being taken out of the castle to be put in storage for 'future use.' But the cast member newsletter does not tell about the damage that was done to take the scenes out. They made big holes to rip out where the window scenes once were. The interior of the castle is now one giant storage area for all sorts of stuff.” One scene—of Prince Philip kissing Sleeping Beauty—was restored and placed in one of the windows of the Emporium.
The exterior of Sleeping Beauty Castle, recently repainted to a festive
sparkle, is all that park visitors can enjoy, now that a permanent closure
of its interior walk-through seems certain. A “snow”-capped
Matterhorn is visible on the right. Photo by Frank Anzalone.
Fess Parker is being honored next Wednesday (December 15) with a personalized window in Frontierland, with a ceremony held at park opening. The window will be located above the newly renamed “Crockett & Russell Hat Co.” store next to the Pioneer Mercantille. Parker portrayed Davy Crockett in the Disney television series, starred in Disney's Old Yeller, and appeared in several more Disney productions before going on to co-produce and take the title role in the Daniel Boone television series.
Fess Parker talks about his role as Davy Crockett at the 2004 “A
Celebraton of Walt Disney Art Classics” convention. Photo by Adrienne
Vincent-Phoenix.
Parker is now the chief executive officer of Fess Parker's Winery & Vineyard, and operates Fess Parker's Wine Country Inn & Spa in Los Olivos, California, which is appears prominently in the current movie Sideways, starring Paul Giamatti.
The Disney Gallery has some big plans for 2005. All of these details and dates are subject to change, but here is a preliminary exhibit schedule MousePlanet was able to obtain:
Costco is offering a Southern California CityPass for $149.99 for adults and $114.99 for children ages 3 to 9. The CityPass includes a three-day Disneyland Resort park hopper ticket, one-day admission to Knott's Berry Farm, one-day admission to SeaWorld in San Diego, and one-day admission to either the San Diego Zoo or the San Diego Wild Animal Park.
The discounted Costco CityPass is $10.99 more than the advance-purchase price of a Disneyland Resort three-day park hopper ticket, ($5.99 more for children), and $9.01 less than the regular price of the three-day park hopper (children save $14.01). Either way, the ticket represents a great value for families planning longer vacations in Southern California.
The first admission must be used by March 31, 2005, and the pass expires 13 days after the first admission is used. The tickets are available at Southern California Costco stores, or at the Costco Web site (link). You must be a Costco member to purchase the tickets, and a shipping fee applies to Internet orders.
…The Rose Bowl-bound football teams from University of Michigan and University of Texas make their first official Rose Bowl appearance at Disneyland on Monday, December 27. An afternoon ceremony in front of the legendary Sleeping Beauty Castle honors the teams and their coaches. Rose Queen Ashley Moreno, her Royal Court, and Rose Parade Grand Marshall Mickey Mouse are also expected to participate.
According to a Disneyland press release, “The players and coaches will play a little football with Mickey and his pals,” after the ceremony, and then spend the rest of the day at the Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure park. The Disney appearance is an annual tradition for Rose Bowl teams. The event was moved to Disney's California Adventure after that park opened in 2001, but has now returned to Disneyland.
…Entertainment department cast members learned this weekend that the Parade of the Stars is not returning in January. The parade was slated for replacement in May 2005 with “Walt Disney's Parade of Dreams,” and there is no word on what, if anything, is taking its place for the three months until the new parade debuts.
…The Sailing Ship Columbia returned to service late afternoon on Sunday, after a lengthy refurbishment.
...The small-format Print on Demand poster printers are coming to the World of Disney store. World of Disney cast members are training to operate the printers, and the system is expected to be functioning as of this Thursday, December 9.
Got any interesting news or rumors? Contact us here.
Upcoming DCA closures
Costco is offering a Southern California CityPass for $149.99 for adults, and $114.99 for children ages 3 to 9. The CityPass includes a three-day Disneyland Resort park hopper ticket, one-day admission to Knott's Berry Farm, one-day admission to SeaWorld in San Diego, and one-day admission to either the San Diego Zoo or the San Diego Wild Animal Park. The first admission must be used by March 31, 2005, and the pass expires 13 days after the first admission is used.
The tickets are available at Southern California Costco stores, or at the Costco Web site (link). You must be a Costco member to purchase the tickets, and a shipping fee applies to Internet orders.
Disneyland Resort passholders can purchase one-day park hopper tickets for the same price as a one-day, one-park ticket. Limit five tickets per person, per day, with valid passport. Admission must be used on day of purchase. Effective through December 18.
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 through December 31, 2005. The package can be booked through the Disneyland Web site (link), or by calling (714) 520-5060.
AAA member can take advantage of these packages that include hotel nights and theme park tickets, along with extra amenities:
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 through December 23, 2004. You can book this package through your local AAA affiliate travel agent.
If you don't need a hotel room, the Passport Plus Package offers AAA members a discount on Park Hopper tickets, and comes with extra benefits:
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:
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| 12/6 | 12/7 | 12/8 | 12/9 | 12/10 | 12/11 | |
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DL: 10a–6p |
DL: 10a–6p |
DL: 10a–8p |
DL: 10a–8p |
DL: 9a–Mid |
DL: 8a–Mid |
| 12/12 | 12/13 | 12/14 | 12/15 | 12/16 | 12/17 | 12/18 |
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DL: 8a–Mid |
DL: 10a–8p |
DL: 10a–8p |
DL: 10a–8p |
DL: 10a–8p |
DL: 9a–Mid |
DL: 8a–Mid |
Visit our Annual Passholders Blockout Dates 2004 page to see more dates.
Entertainment schedule: Go directly to the Disneyland Resort schedule for December 6at Disneyland.com here (printer-friendly version here).
(Send an email to MousePlanet Staff)
