Update for July 6 – 11, 2004

Go directly to: News & Views | Current Refurbishment/Attraction Closures | Park Events | Discounts/Promotions | Park Schedule/Blockout Dates

News and Views

Disneyland's new picnic area

The former Big Thunder Ranch BBQ location officially reopens as a food service area this weekend. The new “Big Thunder Ranch Country Picnic” opens during peak lunch hours from July 4 through Monday, September 6. The location offers a “picnic style” menu of lunches, side dishes and desserts.

The Big Thunder Ranch Country Picnic opened this past weekend. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Country Fried Chicken Basket – Three savory pieces of chilled “Picnic-Style” fried chicken (breast with wing and thigh), plus potato salad with dill and a corn muffin with butter. 9.99 plus tax

Cast members tell us that the fried chicken comes from the Plaza Inn, where it is chilled and then sent to the Village Haus in Fantasyland to be packed into the picnic lunches.

Grilled & Chilled Vegetable Platter – A balsamic glazed grilled medley of Portobello mushrooms, caramelized carrots, whole scallions, sweet & hot roasted peppers, zucchini and sweet cherry tomatoes served chilled atop sweet lemon-basil rice. Includes corn muffin with butter. 9.99 plus tax

Country Fried Chicken Drumstick (child's meal) – Served “Picnic-Style” chilled in a Cook'd Up Comics Box with baby carrots or “Ants on a Log” (cream-cheese-stuffed celery sticks with raisins). Comes with juicy watermelon slice, plus milk or juice and color-changing fun straw. 5.99 plus tax

PB&J (child's meal) – Served in a “Cook'd Up” Comics Box with baby carrots or "Ants on a Log" (cream-cheese-stuffed celery sticks with raisins). Comes with juicy watermelon slice, plus milk or juice and color-changing fun straw. 5.99 plus tax

Favorite Picnic Fixin's

• Country Caramel Apple Pie 4.59 plus tax
• Granny's Pound Cake with Strawberries/Cream 5.49 plus tax
• Walloping Watermelon Wedge 3.49 plus tax
• Ugly Bug Krispie 3.29 plus tax
• Assorted Bottled Soft Drinks 2.59 plus tax

The area is decorated in true country picnic style—red checked cloths cover the tables±and giant plastic bugs make themselves at home all around. The location offers modified table service: place your order at the wagon near the entrance, and your meal is brought to your table.

Space Mountain's new look

Colored lights now higlight Space Mountain after dark, taking advantage of the fresh white paint job to reflect shades ranging from gold to purple.

Space Mountain sports a new evening look. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

New Disney's PhotoPass

On June 23, Disney Enterprises in Burbank filed three trademark applications with the U.S. Patents and Trademarks Office for “Disney's PhotoPass.” According to the paperwork filed, this new system is described as:

• Sales of photographs offered for sale through the Internet, stand-alone kiosks and through retail shops.
• Encoded cards used to store photographs.
• On-demand printing services for photographs.

There is some speculation as to what the new system is, but one theory we are offering to our readers is that this may be a new way for the Disney parks to handle photos taken of visitors throughout the park. Depending on the extent of the program, these could include guest photos taken by roaming photographers (for example, in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland), official character meet-and-greet photos, as well as souvenir ride photos. Guests could be given a physical ticket (or pass) with a code number that lets them retrieve their photos online after their trip, or they might be able to purchase a pass that they can keep during their trip, which allows them to store digital photos as they are taken of them through the park.

If we hear more about this new trademark application, we will be sure to pass it on to you.

Ears to the ground

…Francis's Lady Bug Boogie has reopened at Disney's California Adventure (DCA), after a lengthy refurbisment.

...An entertainment cast member wrote to say that their department was told the ABC Primetime and Super Soap Weekends would not be held at DCA this year, to avoid detracting from the parks' No. 1 marketing focus, the new Tower of Terror attraction. This conflicts with a story published last week in Amusement Business, reporting that the ABC Primetime Preview weekend will return to Disney's California Adventure this fall.

Disneyland's publicity office confirms that the event will be held the weekend of September 10 to 12, 2004. The event will be presented by Aloha Airlines.

Got any interesting news or rumors? Contact us here.

Current Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Disneyland

Note: Disneyland will progressively begin closing more and more attractions as the park readies for its 50th anniversary celebration in 2005.

• Sleeping Beauty Castle walk-through closed indefinitely. (No longer listed on park maps or the Disneyland Web site)
• Space Mountain closed through 2005.

Disney's California Adventure

• Superstar Limo closed indefinitely. (No longer listed on park maps or the Disneyland Web site)

Future Closures

• Sleeping Beauty Castle closed mid-July – September 18.
• Aladdin's Oasis closed July 30 – March 12, 2005.
• Plaza Pavilion closed July 30 – March 12, 2005.
• Enchanted Tiki Room closed July 30 – March 12, 2005.
• Snow White's Scary Adventures closed August 23 – September 11.
• Star Tours reduced capacity, as each of the four cabins rotate through refurbishment September 7–22.
• Haunted Mansion closed September 7 – October 1 for installation of Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay. Closed January 10–25, 2005 for removal of Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay.
• Maliboomer reduced capacity (2 of 3 towers operating) November 1–25, January 3–22, 31, 2005 – March 12, 2005.
• Matterhorn Bobsleds closed September 13 – November 24.
• Jumpin' Jellyfish reduced capacity January 21, 2005 – March 5, 2005.

Disneyland Resort Hotels

• Disneyland Hotel Grand Ballroom closed July 2–16.
• Disneyland Hotel Convention Center lobby, upper level & lower level closed July 16 – September 1.

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 Events

September

• 2004 Haunted Mansion Holiday Event Thursday, September 30.

October

• CHOC Walk – this fun-walk through Disneyland park is a fundraiser for the Children's Hospital of Orange County (link). Sunday, October 3. [Note: MousePlanet staff invites all readers to walk this event as a group. Keep your eye here for details.]
• MousePlanet's MouseAdventure quest-and-adventure event – a Sunday in October. [Read more about MouseAdventure here, and be reminded of it by sending e-mail here.]

May 2005

• Disneyland closed on May 4, 2005 to “put the finishing touches” on the 50th Anniversary celebration. DCA open on May 4.
• Disneyland's 50th Anniversary celebration begins May 5.

Current Discounts & Promotions

Discounted park hopper tickets for Annual Passholders

Disneyland Resort Annual Passholders can purchase 2-Day Disneyland Resort Park Hopper tickets for a reduced rate of $79 ($59 for ages 3 to 9). The tickets are available for purchase through Thursday, September 30, 2004.

Please note that the tickets expire on October 13, 2004, or 13 days after first use, whichever comes first. The first use must occur on the date of purchase.

Some Annual Passholders have received a postcard about this special offer in the mail. Passholders can hand the postcard to friends and family, who can then use it to purchase up to 5 of the discounted tickets without the Passholder even being there.

McDonald's Tower of Terror early admission voucher

The Disneyland Resort and McDonald's have a cross-promotion based on the new Tower of Terror ride. McDonald's customers who order a Big Mac Extra Value Meal by July 18 receive a voucher for early admission to Disney's California Adventure (DCA) to ride the Tower of Terror one hour before the park opens.

Each voucher is good for one person, and valid DCA admission is required: you can't just pop in for the extra hour without buying a DCA ticket.

Vouchers are designated for July, or August, and distributed chronologically at participating McDonald's while supplies last. Each voucher may be redeemed only during the month appearing on the voucher.

Call (714) 781-7290 or Disneyland's promotion Web page (link) for more information.

Thanks to MousePlanet reader Forbin for alerting us to the promotion, and to reader Opus1guy for obtaining the information on this promotion from McDonalds.

50th Anniversary Package

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.

The Disney Treasures offer for APs

Annual Passholders can receive a copy of The Disney Treasures book, worth $60, when they apply for a Disney Visa card. The book will be mailed after the cardholder uses the new account. Apply by phone at 1-800-640-5306, and mention card code 26FF.

Car rental discounts

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).

Anaheim Angels tickets

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):

• Boston Red Sox: Thursday, July 15, 7:05 p.m.
• Seattle Mariners: Sunday, August 1, 1:05 p.m.

Prices are: Terrace Box, $12.50 (reg. $25); Lower View Box, $7.50 (reg. $15); and Upper View, $6 (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).

AAA-Disney's Resort Magic Packages

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:

• Accommodations at Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel, the Disneyland Hotel, or Disney's Grand Californian Hotel
• Disneyland Resort Hotel self-parking and Fitness Center access
• Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Ticket – valid for entry into Disneyland park and Disney's California Adventure park with full park-hopping privileges
• Free ESPN Zone Arena Game Card – $10 value (one per person)
• Collect Fastpass tickets for multiple attractions at one time.
• Preferred seating at a choice of select shows in DCA
• An exclusive Walt Disney Travel Company collectible pin and lanyard (one per person)
• An exclusive Walt Disney Travel Company California Fun Book (one per package)
• An exclusive Disneyland Resort Magical Pocket Guide (one per package)

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 from August 29 to November 21 and November 28 to December 23, 2004. You can book this package through your local AAA affiliate travel agent.

Disney's AAA Passport Plus Package 2004

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:

• Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Ticket
• $10 ESPN Zone Arena Game Card
• Preferred Seating at select shows in Disney's California Adventure Park
• California Diamond Fun Book (one per package)
• Free parking at Disneyland Resort Theme Parks

Prices:

• 5-day: $129 (children: $99)
• 6-day: $159 (children: $129)
• 7-day: $184 (children: $149)

An additional handling fee of $10 is charged per mailing address. These tickets are available to AAA members only when purchased through AAA offices.

AAA ticket offers

For shorter stays, AAA offers 2- and 5-day tickets for the Disneyland Resort:

• 2-day adult Flex Passport $98 (children: $78)
• 5-day adult Flex Passport $129 (children: $99)

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).

CityPass

The Southern California CityPass booklet includes admission to five separate entertainment options:

• 3-day Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Ticket
• 1-day ticket to Sea World Adventure park
• 1-day ticket to either the world-famous San Diego Zoo or San Diego Wild Animal Park
• 1-day ticket to Knott's Theme Park (includes a free Knott's Berry Farm T-shirt with each child's City Pass)

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.

Park Schedule/Blockout Dates

DL: Disneyland
DCA: Disney's California Adventure
Annual Pass blockout dates:

• SL – Southern California Select Annual Pass. Completely blocked.
• SC – Southern California Annual Pass. Completely blocked.
• DX – Deluxe Annual Pass.

Visit our Annual Passholders Blockout Dates 2004 page to see more dates.

Entertainment schedule: Go directly to the Disneyland Resort schedule for June 7 to 16 at Disneyland.com here (printer-friendly version here).

Got any interesting news or rumors? Contact us here.

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!

PREVIOUS UPDATES

2005

• January: 3, 10, 17, 24
• February: 1, 7, 14, 21, 28
• March: 7, 14, 21, 28
• April: 4, 11, 18, 25
• May: 2, 9, 16, 23
• June: 1, 6, 13, 20, 27
• July: 5, 11, 19, 25
• August: 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
• September: 6, 12, 19, 26
• October: 3, 10, 24, 31
• November: 7

2004

• January: 5, 12, 19, 26
• Febuary: 2, 9, 16, 24
• March: 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
• April: 5, 12, 19, 26
• May: 3, 10, 18, 24
• June: 1, 7, 14, 21, 28
• July: 6, 12, 19, 26
• August: 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
• September: 7, 13, 20, 27
• October: 4, 11, 18, 25
• November: 1, 9, 15, 23, 29
• December: 7, 13, 20, 27

2003

• Jan: 6, 13, 20, 27
• Feb: 3, 10, 17, 24
• March: 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
• April: 7, 14, 21, 28
• May: 5, 12, 19, 27
• June: 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
• July: 7, 14, 21, 28
• August: 4, 11, 18, 25
• September: 2, 8, 15, 22, 29
• October: 6, 14, 20, 27
• November: 3, 11, 17, 24
• December: 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

2002

• Dec: 16, 23, 27

Don't forget our Park Updates: Walt Disney World, published on Mondays.

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MousePlanet® is not associated in any official way with the Walt Disney Company, its subsidiaries, or its affiliates. The official Disney site is available at www.disney.com. This MousePlanet Web site provides independent news articles, commentary, editorials, reviews, and guides primarily about the theme park resorts of the Walt Disney Co. All information on this site is subject to change. Please call destinations in advance to confirm the most up-to-date information.