DCA "Sneak Preview" Event Update
December 21, 2001
by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix, staff writer
But first: Below is the new Merchandise Bag being used throughout the
resort. Say goodbye to the classic black and white Mickey Mouse / Disneyland
logo bag.
Promotional art © Disney
The worst thing about this generic monstrosity? It's clear yellow. See
through Yellow. "Hey, everyone, I just bought Mickey Mouse undies"
clear see through yellow.
The cool thing about this? The Disneyland "Where the Magic Began"
logo. THAT explains the Sorcerer Mickey merchandise all over Disneyland.
Let's hope they trash this bag, but keep that logo.
Wouldn't you know it? Seven days before Christmas, smack dab in the middle
of last- minute- shipping- week, and I trip in the parking lot of the
post office and almost break my ankle. It could have been worse - it could
have happened last week!
The good news is that I had literally just dropped off the last of the
MouseShoppe Holiday Priority Mail packages, and FedEx will pick up anything
we still need to ship this week. But instead of the festival of baking,
cleaning and cooking I had scheduled for this week, I've suddenly found
myself grounded in front of the computer. (With my leg elevated to the
proper angle, of course!)
Thank goodness the Mailman decided to bring me something fun to read
from Disneyland. (I think they are trying to make up for not sweeping
their parking lot!) I just received the Event Packet for the California
Adventure (DCA for short) "Sneak Preview" Event. While I was
reading over the packet, I received an IM from another MousePlanet columnist,
asking if there were still tickets left for the event. "I doubt it",
I replied, "but I'll find out."
Imagine how shocked I was to learn that the event is only about half
sold! Although Event Services won't tell us how many tickets were available,
estimates have placed it as high as 1800 people. Even 900 tickets is way
more than were even available for the Divas Event.
So, since I have all of this time on my hands, I thought I'd share with
you the contents of the California Adventure Merchandise Event packet.
We have answers to a lot more questions, and maybe something in here will
make you want to call and order tickets!
The packet contains:
• The Event Itinerary
• The Logo Merchandise Pre-Sale Process explanation letter
and order form
• The Limited-Edition Merchandise Random Selection Process
explanation letter and order form
• An Additional Information letter and
• A Business Reply envelope to mail back your order forms
The Itinerary
10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.: Event Registration at the Grand Californian.
This is nice for people who are staying at one of the hotels and spending
the day at Disneyland. You can register for the event early, and avoid
the lines later.
10:00 a.m. - 12:30 a.m.: Merchandise Pick Up at the Grand Californian.
This is REALLY nice. You have a 14 and a half hour window to pick up and
inspect your merchandise. You can get to the event a little early, get
your merchandise and take it back to your room or car. This should also
really cut the amount of time that you are in line during the event.
2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., and 7:00 p.m. - 12:30 a.m.: Event Store will be
open at the Grand Californian. This is where you can buy logo merchandise
that was not sold during the Pre-Sale process. Again, they are making
it easy for you to get all of your merchandise transactions completed
before the event starts, so you are free to enjoy the evening without
dragging merchandise around or standing in lines. If you want this to
be even easier, you can have your items shipped right to your home for
an additional fee.
4:00 p.m.: Event Guests may enter the park.
5:00 p.m. - 6:20 p.m.: Panel Discussion in the Hyperion Theater.
6:30 p.m. - 11:00p.m.: Scavenger Hunt ("Park Challenge") and
Dinner.
Midnight: Event Ends.
Logo Merchandise:
I can finally show you photos of the merchandise I've told you about!
Here are the 4 logos which will be prominently featured on all of the
merchandise.
Promotional art © Disney
Paradise Pier / Sun Wheel
Promotional art © Disney
Golden State / Grizzly Rapids
Promotional art © Disney
Hollywood Pictures Backlot / Superstar Limo
Promotional art © Disney
"Sneak Preview" Event Logo
(I would have liked a shirt with JUST this logo on it. Look for this
logo to be placed on the back of the t-shirts and sweatshirts, and the
chest patch of the denim jacket)
Promotional art © Disney
T-Shirts: Silk-screened with the logos above, with the Event logo patch
on the back. One per guest.
Promotional art © Disney
Sweatshirt: This features the Paradise Pier logo on the front, in a "silk-screen
and embroidery treatment", and the Event logo patch on the back.
One sleeve will be silk-screened with "A Fun New State of Disney
Magic". One per guest.
Promotional art © Disney
Denim Jacket: A limited edition of 250. This will also feature the Paradise
Pier logo, this time rendered as a leather appliquÚ on the back. The sneak
preview logo will be embroidered on the front left chest. One per guest.
Promotional art © Disney
CloisonnÚ Pins: Three designs, one of each logo above. They are 1.5"
x 2", and will come in a "uniquely designed package" These
are a Limited Edition of 3600, and WILL be backstamped with the edition
size and event date. Limit two per style, per guest.
Attraction Posters. Again, the same three attractions will be featured
(as shown above). These are a limited edition of only 500, and will be
matted, and debossed with the event logo. They measure 14" x 18".
One per guest, per style.
To order this merchandise, you need to return the order form from the
packet in the enclosed Business Reply envelope. It must be post-marked
by January 5th. You are not guaranteed to receive any of the items you
select, but your card will be charged before the event for the items you
are able to get. Unsold items will be available at the Event Store, and
there will not be a "Wish List" for merchandise to be sold after
the event.
Limited Edition Merchandise / Random Selection Process:
Ah yes, the return of the RSP. Here's how it works:
There are 4 Limited Edition Items.
Promotional art © Disney
1) Tim Delaney Inaugural - Original Art
Promotional art © Disney
2) John Hench Inaugural - Original Art
3) Tim Delaney / California Letters Lithorgraph. 40' x 20". Limited
Edition of 250
4) John Hench Lithograph, 38" x 15". Limited Edition of
250
If you are interested in any of these, you rank your choices from 1-4
on the order form and return it. (If you only want one item, don't bother
marking the other items!)
Your name will be entered into a computer, and a list of lucky guests
will be generated for each item. One person will be selected for each
of the two Original Art pieces, and 250 people (of those who indicated
interest) will be selected for each lithograph.
If your name is selected to buy one of these items, your card will be
charged before the event. You will get to see the items at the event.
At the Divas Event, you could return the items if you were not happy with
them. I'm going to hope that the same is true this time, despite the statement
"At the time of purchase, all sales are final", which you are
asked to sign on the RSP form.
This process irritated guests at the Divas Event, and seemed to result
in a lot of unsold merchandise. People were really hesitant to buy items
they had never seen, and the descriptions left a lot to be desired. At
least this time you can see what the artwork looks like before the event.
With fewer items to choose from, this should work a lot better.
Basically, it's a lottery. If you get chosen, you win the ability to
purchase your item. If you don't win, you can always hope that someone
else decides not to buy their litho, and you can get it at the Event Store.
Dinner: It seems that the sampler tickets have been abandoned in favor
of a "meal voucher". According to the literature, this voucher
will be valid for the "face value" at all restaurants, except
the Mondavi and Puck eateries, and is not good towards the purchase of
alcohol. Of course, the face value was not disclosed. They are probably
waiting until they finish raising the prices at the restaurants before
they settle on an amount.
Well, that's one question answered - there will be a meal. That hard
part will be getting your group to decide on one restaurant. I know the
MousePlanet group will have a tough time with this. Let's just hope one
of the restaurants has great Chinese food for me AND a Martini Bar for
Fab! You have 4 and a half hours to redeem your voucher, during which
you are also supposed to be doing the:
Park Challenge: NO information was given about this.
Are there teams? Are there prizes? Is there trivia or is it a pure scavenger
hunt? Is 4.5 hours enough time for dinner and the Challenge, or will we
need to grab hot dogs on the fly? I've asked a lot of people for the answers
to these questions, and I'm hearing conflicting rumors. Yikes! I guess
we'll see when we get there, but darn it, I want advance notice if I need
to be making team t-shirts!
The additional info page informs you that you'll need to present your
ID to register, and your Annual Pass or CM ID to use the discounted tickets.
You are reminded to dress warmly and comfortably.
Are you beginning to change your mind about not going to the event? As
of yesterday, there were still plenty of tickets available. If you're
an AP, $65.00 gets you admission to the new park before almost anyone,
dinner and a commemorative gift. Even if you're not a big trivia fan and
could care less about the merchandise, I think it's a deal. If nothing
else, you can spend the time riding all of the rides that you wouldn't
be able to hit when the park is more crowded.
To order tickets, call Walt Disney Event Services at 866.247.1203. (Tell
them MousePlanet sent you!) And, I'll see you there!
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