Update for August 9 – 15, 2004

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

News and Views

Crowning Glory on the Princess Diaries 2 Red Carpet

by Shoshana Lewin, staff writer

On August 7, Downtown Disney (Downtown Disney) was full of fans—those who waited hours to see the stars of Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement and the hand-held ones carried down the red carpet to ward off summer heat.

Stilt walkers dressed as maids, ball balancers and even the famous Genovian pear juggler entertained the waiting fans along ESPN Zone near the entrance to Downtown Disney's AMC Theaters. Some of them had arrived as early as 7:30 a.m. from Claremont, Riverside, San Pedro and even Chicago, hoping to get autographs from Princess star Anne Hathaway, Disney Channel teen-queen Raven, and American Idol Kelly Clarkson.

Garry Marshall and wife, Barbara, are among the first to arrive to the world premiere of Princess Diaries II at Downtown Disney. Marshall returned to direct the sequel. Photo by Alex Stroup.

At 1 p.m., as trumpeters announced the arrival of the celeb-laden limos (one of which broke down in the parking lot and had to be replaced), screams of “Kelly” and “Julie” (as in Andrews) permeated the air.

But the theme of the day was royalty, and everyone—from Disney princesses to teen queens—had their own views on it.

Thirteen-year-old cutie Emma Roberts, star of the new Nick series, Unfabulous, said her favorite is Sleeping Beauty, but her sister is a fan of Cinderella.

When asked which Disney princess he would date, 13-year-old Erik Per Sullivan, who plays Dewey on Malcolm in the Middle, as well as voices Sheldon the seahorse in Finding Nemo, said, with a smile, “They might be a little bit out of my league. I'm not a prince.”

American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson receives the biggest spectator response at the red-carpet world premiere of Princess Diaires II, held in Downtown Disney. Clarkson sings “Breakaway,” a tune from the Princess Diaries II soundtrack that has been released as a single. Photo by Alex Stroup.

Last Comic Standing's Tammy Pescatelli said she always had a connection with Snow White. “She was the only one with the dark hair and the blue eyes and she hung around with a bunch of little guys. And growing up in an Italian family… we're all really short.”

Halloweentown star, Kimberly J. Brown is partial to Little Mermaid and said she “watched that movie over and over and cried every time.”

Brown also gave MousePlanet the inside scoop on the Disney Channel's Halloweentown 3. The movie continues the Cromwell story by introducing an “exchange” program between the monster world and the mortal realm, and Brown confirmed that silver screen legend Debbie Reynolds will return in the role of Grandma Aggie. She added that Reynolds has become like a grandmother to her in real life, as well.

Real life “princess,” Miss Teen U.S.A., Shelly Hennig, who was crowned in Palm Springs the night before, was all smiles on the red carpet despite only having gotten two hours of sleep. When asked about her newly acquired royal status and if she was always meant to be wearing a crown, the former Miss Teen Louisiana said, “My dad said when I was born, I wasn't born a regular girl, I was born a princess… so he knew before I did.”

Princess Diaries II producer Whitney Houston, husband Bobby Brown, and daughter Bobbi attend the red-carpet world premiere of the movie at Downtown Disney. Photo by Alex Stroup.

Callum Blue, who plays Andrew Jacoby in Princess, said the film's romantic triangle, where he and Chris Pine (who plays Sir Nicholas), vie for Mia's heart, isn't too far off from real life. He then jokingly “spit” on the face of Pine in a photo handed to him of the two of them with Hathaway.

“Women become a lot more attractive when there's another guy after them,” said the sexy Brit. “It's just human nature.”

Princess producer Debra Martin Chase noted that she got involved with the project after reading the book. “I said, 'I could so relate to this.' Being a princess was my fantasy growing up. In some ways it is the ultimate fantasy,” she said. “I wanted my bedroom to be the Taj Mahal.”

Being a princess is one thing, but being a queen is something else. When Queen Clarisse aka Mary Poppins aka Julie Andrews reached the carpet, a buzz went through the crowd and a wave of smiles appeared on everyone's faces.

Julie Andrews walks the red carpet with Minnie and Mickey. Andrews reprised her role as Clarisse Renaldi, the queen of Genovia, in the sequel to the popular Princess Diaries, released in 2001. Photo by Alex Stroup.

When asked what it was like to be Disney royalty, the Oscar and Emmy winner told MousePlanet, “Well, you get very spoiled. They do such a wonderful job of taking care of people. They have such good hearts and I feel very, very special.”

Other Princess faces included: Hector Elizondo (bodyguard Joseph); Larry Miller (hairdresser Paolo); a very blonde Heather Matarazzo (Mia's best friend, Lily), director Garry Marshall and daughter, Kathleen (the queen's right-hand, Charlotte); Caroline Goodall (Mia's mom, Helen); songwriter Diane Warren (writer of Lindsay Lohan's “I Decide,” off the movie's soundtrack); producer Whitney Houston; and many new faces sure to become household names in the near future.

Other notables and their families included, Bobby Brown, Marcia Gay Harden, Holly Robinson Peete, Michelle Trachtenberg, Ed Begley Jr., Jasmine Guy, Lainie Kazan; Survivor Jenna Lewis, Spy Kid Darryl Sabara, Amy Yasbeck, and Disneyland President Matt Ouimet.

Many Disney “couples” also graced the carpet, including Mickey and Minnie, Pocahontas and John Smith, Snow White and the Prince, Aladdin and Jasmine, Beauty and the Beast, and Cinderella and Prince Charming, who said the best thing about being with Cinderella is, “Waking up everyday married to the most beautiful woman in the world.”

Anne Hathaway, the last to arrive, is greeted by two younger princesses during the red-carpet world premiere of Princess Diaries II. Twenty-one-year-old Hathaway returns as Mia Thermopolis, the princess of Genovia, Photo by Alex Stroup.

After the screening at the AMC theater in Downtown Disney, a royal gala was held at Disney's California Adventure. Many of the stars entered the park via cars and were dropped off at the Hollywood Pictures Backlot where they walked down another red carpet to the Muppet Vision 3D/SuperStar Limo area. Everyone at the party left with a tiara (well, the women anyway) and a bag full of goodies including bath and body products, Lip Smackers necklaces and Sees candy—in addition to Fastpass tickets for Soarin' Over California and the new Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.

Later this week, MousePlanet will have a review of Princess Diaries 2 and of the post-movie Princess Tea at the El Capitan in Hollywood.

Hector Elizondo (left) and others are escorted via horseless carriage to a private party in Hollywood Pictures Backlot in Disney's California Adventure park after the world premiere of Princess Diaries II, held at Downtown Disney's AMC Theater. Elizondo reprised his role as bodyguard Joseph in the sequel. Photo by Alex Stroup.

Royal Rewards

The synergy continues from August 11 through September 30 with the Disneyland Resort's Royal Deal. The promotion allows guests purchasing one-day admission to either Disneyland or Disney's California Adventure and presenting their ticket stub from Princess Diaries 2 to receive a free mini movie poster (while supplies last), $5 in Disney Dollars, and up to 20 percent off on select merchandise at the resort. The offer is not good on any other admission tickets and is only valid at the main gate.

Fastpass disappears from Pooh attraction

[We were going to run an item here about Critter Country's Winnie the Pooh ride losing its Fastpass dispensers last Friday, but MousePad member superadamohx did such a good job reporting about it that we thought it best to simply share his post verbatim.]

If you've got a few old orange Winnie the Pooh Fastpass tickets lying around, save 'em somewhere special—because they're officially a thing of the past. As of this morning, Fastpass is no longer available for Pooh, and the ride's distribution machines have been taken over by Splash Mountain.

Little evidence that Pooh was ever a Fastpass attraction even remains; the distribution area signs were swapped for permanent Splash ones last night, and a simple sign covering the clock at Pooh's Fastpass return entrance announces that the service is not available.

The demise of Fastpass at Pooh confirms rumors that were spurred by the removal of Fastpass at several other resort attractions last month, including Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion. Attendance has never soared at the Critter Country attraction, with lines rarely exceeding 10 minutes.

Pooh's Fastpass machines are back to being used for Splash Mountain, as they were originally used. Photo by Alex Stroup.

When Pooh opened in April 2003, it took over the distribution location that Splash Mountain had used for several years. A new distribution area was built for Splash Mountain by the Haunted Mansion exit, in a place previously utilized on busy days as an extended queue. The long lines to get a Splash Mountain Fastpass, combined with the steady flow of guests exiting the Haunted Mansion, created a narrow, crowded “pinch point” that resulted in frequent confusion and frustration for guests.

Complicating the matter was that, in the midst of the move, Splash's Fastpass return entrace stayed exactly where it was—completely around the mountain from the distribution area. Guests frequently spent an hour or more in the slow-moving standby line only to be told that they waited patiently, valid Fastpasses in hand, in the wrong line.

Also, many visitors simply missed Splash's new distribution location and mistook Pooh's Fastpass machines for the Splash ones. Not much fun for guests who made the mistake, and even less fun for the cast member who had to break the news that they couldn't ride, since even on slow days, Splash's Fastpass distribution books out long before park closing. The closure of Pooh's Fastpass service and Splash's return to the previous distribution location, with much closer proximity to the Fastpass return entrance, should remedy these problems for good.

Splash Mountain's most recent Fastpass location is now closed up, with its signs covered. Photo by Alex Stroup.

The Splash Fastpass machines by the Mansion exit still remain, but they have been covered and closed off to guests. The “distribution” side of the marquis has been covered in an attractive burlap wrap.

Tween Scene

It looks like the Downtown Disney location recently vacated by Petals will reopen as a “club-style” boutique targeted at the lucrative tween market of preteens ages 9 to 12 (“in between” childhood and teen-aged) who have allowance money to spend. The new store will offer clothing and makeup.

Get ready for the tween invasion—Downtown Disney has a new tenant. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Ears to the ground

…Le Mascarade shop in New Orleans Square has reopened as a pin trading location. Cast members say they wish the store still carried the ecclectic mix of gifts and collectibles it was once known for, but “at least the doors are open.”

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Got any interesting news or rumors? Contact us here.

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Current Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Disneyland

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

• Sleeping Beauty Castle closed through November 23.
• Aladdin's Oasis closed through March 11, 2005.
• Plaza Pavilion closed through March 11, 2005.
• Enchanted Tiki Room closed through March 11, 2005.
• Space Mountain closed through November 2005.
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad closed indefinitely, pending results of the DOSH inspection. For more information about the latest accident, see our BTMRR Accident page.
• Sleeping Beauty Castle walk-through closed indefinitely; not listed on park maps or the Disneyland Web site.

Disney's California Adventure

• Superstar Limo closed indefinitely; not listed on park maps or the Disneyland Web site

Upcoming Closures

• Snow White's Scary Adventures closes August 16 – September 10.
• Pirates of the Caribbean closes September 2 for a one-day rehab
• Star Tours reduces capacity, as each of the four cabins rotate through refurbishment September 7–22.
• Haunted Mansion closes September 7 – October 1 for installation of Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay. Closed January 10–25, 2005 for removal of Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay.
• King Triton's Carousel closes September 20–30
• Mad Tea Party closes September 20 – October 21
• Maliboomer reduced capacity (2 of 3 towers operating) November 1–25, January 3–22, 31, 2005 – March 12, 2005.
• Matterhorn Bobsleds closes September 7 – November 13.
• Sailing Ship Columbia closes September 7 – November 30.
• Jumpin' Jellyfish reduces capacity January 21, 2005 – March 5, 2005.

Disneyland Resort Hotels

• Disneyland Hotel Convention Center lobby, upper level & lower level closed through 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 puzzle-and-quest 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). You can purchase these tickets through Thursday, September 30, 2004.

Note: 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.

50th Anniversary Package (Happiest Homecoming on Earth!)

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 of May 5, 2005 through December 31, 2005. The package can be booked through the Disneyland Web site (link), or by calling (714) 520-5060.

Thanks to reader Tina for providing us with an updated link for this package.

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).

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 August 9 – 15 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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