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Park Update: Disneyland Resort Your weekly fix of the latest in the Land |
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| News, events, park hours, show schedules, and more |
Update for January 5 – 11, 2004Go directly to: News & Views | Current Refurbishment/Attraction Closures | Park Events | Discounts/Promotions | Park Hours/Blockout Dates | Events/Entertainment ScheduleNews and ViewsNotes from the New YearThe Disneyland Resort rang in the New Year with a week of capacity crowds, park closures, and a return to the Rose Parade. On December 27, Disneyland halted sale of one-day tickets around noon, when the park reached capacity. Cast members estimate that there were over 80,000 people in the park. Electronic signs flashed a “Disneyland is full” message to travellers as they approached the resort parking lots. Visitors who could not buy tickets to Disneyland were encouraged to visit Disney's California Adventure park, or spend time in Downtown Disney until the park resumed ticket sales in the evening. This scenario was repeated daily until New Year's Eve, when the crowds subsided.
Perhaps visitors were put off by the reports of overcrowding, which were unusual enough that they made the local newspaper. Perhaps it was the fear of a terrorist attack at the park. And perhaps it was the weather—New Year's Eve was cold and slightly windy, and a storm was moving in. Whatever the reason, frequent New Year's Eve visitors noted that crowds at both parks felt lighter than in previous years.
Those who did brave the parks found a variety of entertainment options all around. California Adventure was the home of the “Noon Year's Eve” celebration, aimed at families with small kids. After dark, the park hosted several live bands and disc jockeys. Disneyland had a live disc jockey in the esplanade in front of “it's a small world,” and crowds in the area were featured in a live broadcast at 9:00 p.m. (celebrating the East Coast midnight moment).
Many people make New Year's Eve at Disneyland an annual tradition. For example, a large crowd spent the evening swing dancing to music from the Eric Ekstrand Ensemble. Ragtime pianist Rod Miller dressed for the evening in a rhinestone-studded tuxedo, and his fans brought refreshments and decorations, and spent the evening gathered around the piano. A large, mixed group of pin traders, NFFC members and readers of several different Disney Web sites counted down the hours until midnight at the Plaza Pavillion, where they played card and board games, traded pins and took turns making snack runs.
Some visitors said that Disneyland's midnight fireworks were less impressive than in previous years, but those who spent the evening at DCA got a special treat. Disney tested new pyrotechnic launchers over Paradise Bay, and those who saw the show said that the excessive smoke that doomed the LuminAria show from a prior year was not in evidence this New Year's Eve. These new launchers are said to be part of the resort-wide fireworks show planned for Disneyland's 50th anniversary.
On New Year's Day, Disney made a record-setting return to the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena with its float called “A Sudden Drop in Pitch.” The float, a replica of the Tower of Terror attraction currently under construction at DCA, claimed the record as the tallest float to ever appear in the parade.
Make that a portion of the parade. Instead of completing the parade and joining the other floats on display in Pasadena, the Disney float peeled off the parade route early, and began a trip back to the Disneyland Resort, where the float will be on display at Disney's California Adventure through Tuesday, January 20. On Saturdays and Sundays, visitors can watch scheduled “show moments,” when the float will run through its parade routine, which includes lightning effects and a sudden drop of the “elevator.”
This past Sunday, cast members said that the float was experiencing electrical problems. Although the stunt performers appeared in the elevator, the lightning effects were not visible and the car did not drop. Around the base of the float, Disney characters and performers in fright wigs greeted the crowds. Decorators replaced wilting and dead flowers with fresh roses and daisies.
A tent in the Pacific Wharf Amphitheater featured a video and photographs of the construction and decoration of the float. Another tent housed artist renderings of the interiors of the Tower of Terror attraction. Decorators demonstrated floral techniques, and a craft area was set up for children to make their own paper flowers.
The Disney float has been not been without controversy, with some questioning whether the theme and name of the float—of a tall “tower” in peril and too reminiscent of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center—in poor taste; while others were simply annoyed that the float was not put on display in Padasena with the other Rose Parade entries. Other fans dismiss these concerns, and are thrilled that Disney has returned to the Rose Parade.
Noel, Noel, Noel, NoelCircle D Ranch cast members received a holiday surprise when they reported for work Christmas morning and discovered that Jekel, a white quarter horse mare, had given birth. The newborn fillie was named Noel in honor of her natal day, and cast members tell us she is adorable. Another year, another dollarThe Monday after New Year's is the day that Disneyland usually raises the price of admission. In November, the Disneyland Web site was updated with new prices for 2004. The three-day park hopper was to increase by $10 per adult, and the two-day hopper to decrease by $1 per person. New 5- and 6-day Park Hopper Bonus tickets were introduced, and all of these changes were to take effect on January 5th. It seems there was a change in plans. When Disneyland opened on Monday, ticket prices were unchanged. The Disneyland Resort Web site has been updated with the new/old prices, (though the two-day park hopper ticket is still listed for $1 less on the Disney site than at the park ticket booths). The new 6-day Park Hopper Bonus ticket previously advertised on the Disneyland Web site has vanished, but the 5-day version remains. Current prices and packages for 2004 are as follows: New 5-Day Park Hopper Bonus Ticket
Each ticket comes with a $10 ESPN Zone Arena Game Card. This ticket is not available at the Disneyland Resort ticket booths. A $55 discount, ($50 for ages 3-9), applies to this ticket when you purchase it in advance through the Disneyland Web site (link). 3-day Park Hopper
A $5 discount applies to this ticket when you purchase it in advance through the Disneyland Web site (link). 2-day Park Hopper
One-day One Park Ticket (Disneyland or Disney's California Adventure)
Current Refurbishments and Attraction ClosuresDisneyland
Disney’s California Adventure
Future Attraction Closures
Note: Refurbishment schedules are estimates only. All information is subject to change without notice. To get the most recent updates, call Disneyland at (714) 781-7290.Park EventsJanuary
February
April
May
Current Discounts & PromotionsNew AAA ticketsAAA announced new ticket plans for the Disneyland Resort:
The new prices took effect December 24, 2003, and all tickets include free parking. Live an Artful Life with an OC Arts CardThe Disneyland Resort partnering with Arts Orange County sponsor the OC Arts Card, which provides cardholders with benefits such as savings on tickets, classes, merchandise and memberships at more than 40 nonprofit arts venues in the local Orange County community. Annual passholders can purchase the 2004 card for $37.50, 25 percent off the regular price. In addition, the first 500 passholders to purchase a card receive a second card for free. For more information or to order a card, visit the OCArts card Web site (link) or call (888) 556-5160. To receive the annual passholder discount, use offer code C04DIAP. The first card is mailed immediately; those who are among the first 500 will have the second card mailed at a later time. Disney's Wildfire Heroes Salute“Disney's Wildfire Heroes Salute” entitles active California firefighters, law enforcement and rescue personnel, with proper organization and photo ID, to one free three-day park hopper ticket. They can also make a one-time purchase of up to five three-day park hopper companion tickets for $39 each. Discounted hotel rates are also available at the three Disneyland Resort hotels. The promotion is valid through March 31, except for blackout dates of February 14 to 16. For more details, visit Disneyland's Disney's Wildfire Heroes Salute Web page (link) or call (714) 520-5069. Have a Coke and a passSpecially marked 12-packs and two-liter bottles of Coca-Cola in Southern California are currently offering a $20-off coupon towards the purchase of a new Deluxe or Premium Disneyland Resort Annual Pass. The coupon is valid through January 31. A Nightmare deal at CostcoIn September, MousePad member Tiki Junki purchased a copy of The Nightmare Before Christmas at a local Costco store, and discovered a Disneyland Resort offer inside. The $13 Special Edition DVD comes with a voucher for up to four pre–issued Fastpass tickets for the Haunted Mansion, and a voucher for one free cloisonné pin from the Le Bat en Rouge Shop in New Orleans Square. The vouchers are good until March 31, and are redeemable at Disneyland—there is nothing to mail in, and no four-to-six-week wait for the passes and pin to arrive. Annual Passholders nights at the Disneyland Resort hotelsAnnual passholders can also book a room at the Paradise Pier hotel for $59. This offer is valid only on Sunday nights, through March. Get 5 days and 4 nights for the price of 3Book a package at the Disneyland Resort for a minimum four-nights through the Walt Disney Travel Company, and the package price includes one night's free accommodations at participating hotels. Your package will also include a five-day Disneyland Resort park hopper ticket for the price of a three-day Disneyland Resort park hopper ticket. Click here for a list of participating hotels and dates. City Pass available with AAA packagesYou can purchase the Southern California City Pass with Walt Disney Travel Company packages. A Southern California City Pass booklet includes admission to five separate entertainment options:
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's for an additional charge of $47 per pass ($32 per pass for children 3 through 9). Note: The Southern California City's 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. AAA Passport Plus PackageFor $122.75, you can get a 5-day park hopper and the following extras:
A $13.75 FedEx fee applies to each reservation, (not per person). This package is available without an air or hotel purchase, and must be purchased at your local AAA affiliate office at least 5 days before you plan to use the tickets. Many readers have experienced difficulties when trying to purchase this package from their local AAA affiliate. Be sure to read this thread on our MousePad discussion boards, for more information about the package and tips on how to help your AAA travel agent book your package. AAA-Disney's Resort Magic PackageThis package requires a minimum 2-night hotel stay, and includes:
You can book this package through your local AAA affiliate travel agent. Park Hours/Blockout DatesDL: Disneyland
Visit our Annual Passholders Blockout Dates 2003-2004 page to see more dates. Entertainment Schedule
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Did you recently notice something new or different in the park? Are you a CM with something intriguing to share? Heard any good rumors lately, or know of something our readers will wanna know? Send them in so we can follow up on them!
2005 • January: 3, 10, 17, 24 2004 • January: 5, 12, 19, 26 2003 • Jan: 6, 13, 20, 27 2002
Don't forget our Park Updates: Walt Disney World, published on Mondays. |
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