Update for September 7–12, 2004

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

News and Views

Ended Summer

Don't let the heat fool you. Summer is over, and the Disneyland Resort has resumed normal off-season operating hours. Weekday park hours are 10 to 8 for Disneyland, and 10 to 6 for Disney's California Adventure.

At Disneyland, Parade of the Stars and Snow White – An Enchanting Musical continue daily performances. “Disney's Imagine… A Fantasy in the Sky” fireworks will be offered on Friday and Saturday nights only, and the Sword in the Stone Ceremony returns to a Friday to Sunday performance schedule.

Over at DCA, Disney's Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular is now dark (closed) on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Disney's Electrical Parade will be presented Friday - Sunday nights.

ABC Primetime Preview Weekend

The ABC Primetime Preview Weekend returns to Disney's California Adventure next weekend. This year's event will be held September 10-12, and is a bit smaller than previous events. Here's the rundown of activities, and the list of actors scheduled to appear:

Friday, September 10 (Sneak Peek day - no stars attending)

TGIF “Sneak Peek” – Golden Dreams Theater
3:00 p.m.: 8 Simple Rules
4:00 p.m.: Complete Savages
5:00 p.m.: Hope and Faith
6:00 p.m.: Less Than Perfect

7:00 p.m.: America's Funniest Home Videos – Live! — Golden State Amphitheater

Disney is heavily promoting the one-day park hopper ticket through signs and even a new recording on the inbound parking trams. Photo by David Michael.

Saturday, September 11

ABC Star Q&A Showcase – Golden State Amphitheater

The Bachelor's Chris Harrison hosts live Q&A sessions with ABC stars from these shows:.
10:30 a.m.: Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
11:30 a.m.: George Lopez
12:30 p.m.: Less Than Perfect
2:15 p.m.: According to Jim
3:15 p.m.: Hope & Faith

ABC Preview Screening Room – Golden Dreams Theater
Get special sneak previews of this fall's new ABC programs. Selected screenings feature live Q&A sessions with the ABC stars from these shows!
11:00 a.m.: Wife Swap
12:45 p.m.: Complete Savages
2:00 p.m.: Rodney
3:00 p.m.: ABC Dramas
5:00 p.m.: The Benefactor

4:00 pm: ABC Primetime Parade of Stars – Disney's California Adventure Parade Route
See ABC Primetime stars as they ride in a series of convertibles.

6:30 pm: Jim Belushi and The Sacred Hearts – Golden State Amphitheater
A live performance on Saturday evening.

ABC Primetime Photo Locations – Golden State and Hollywood Pictures Backlot
Meet selected Primetime stars at these fan photo sessions.

ABC Lights, Camera, Action – YOU! Throughout Disney's California Adventure
Look for ABC cameras rolling throughout the park and join in promoting the fun and exciting Fall lineup.

Viewers Make The Choice – San Francisco East
Play the role of network TV executive. Watch a variety of coming-attractions trailers for ABC Primetime shows and offer your thoughts

Extreme Casting Kiosk – Outside Golden Vine Winery
Visit casting scouts to see if you might be a candidate for ABC's reality show, Extreme Makeover

ABC Kids Zone – Hollywood Pictures Backlot
Meet Ricky Ullman and the cast of the new series Phil of the Future. Catch an action-packed visit from the Power Rangers. Enjoy music and sing-a-longs with Radio Disney, play games and win prizes, and be on the lookout for more of your favorite ABC Kids characters.

Scheduled to appear:

Less Than Perfect: Sara Rue, Andrea Parker, Sherrie Shepherd, Eric Roberts, Zachery Levi, Will Sasso, Patrick Warburton

Desperate Housewives: Teri Hatcher, Eva Longoria, James Denton, Ricardo Antonio Chavira, Stephen Culp, Nicolette Sheridan, Marcia Cross, Felicity Huffman

The George Lopez Show: George Lopez, Constance Marie, Masiela Lusha, Belita Moreno, Luis Armand Garcia, Valente Rodriguez

Lost: Matthew Fox, Evangeline Lilly, Dominic Monaghan, Harold Perrineau

life as we know it: Sean Faris, Chris Lowell, Kelly Osbourne

The Bachelor: Chris Harrison

The Benefactor: Mark Cuban

Complete Savages: Keith Carradine, Andrew Eiden, Shaun Sipos, Jason Dolley, Erik von Detten, Evan Ellingson, Vincent Ventresca

According to Jim: Jim Belushi, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Courtney Thorne Smith, Larry Joe Campbell

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition: Ty Pennington, Constance Ramos, Paul DiMeo, Michael Moloney, Tracy Hutson, Preston Sharp, Sweet Alice Harris

Jim Belushi and the Sacred Hearts

Sunday, September 12

ABC Star Q&A Showcase – Golden State Amphitheater
12:30 p.m.: Extreme Makeover
2:15 p.m.: 8 Simple Rules
3:15 p.m.: Growing Pains

ABC Preview Screening Room – Golden Dreams Theater
11:00 a.m.: The Benefactor
12:45 p.m.: ABC Dramas
2:00 p.m.: Complete Savages
3:00 p.m.: Rodney
4:45 p.m.: Wife Swap
6:00 p.m.: Special screening of Lost at the Downtown Disney AMC Theatres

4:00 pm: ABC Primetime Parade of Stars – Disney's California Adventure Parade Route

ABC Primetime Photo Locations – Golden State and Hollywood Pictures Backlot

ABC Lights, Camera, Action – YOU! Throughout Disney's California Adventure

Viewers Make The Choice – San Francisco East

Extreme Casting Kiosk – Outside Golden Vine Winery

ABC Kids Zone – Hollywood Pictures Backlot

Scheduled to appear:

NYPD Blue: Dennis Franz, Gordon Clapp, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Bill Brochtrup, Bonnie Sommerville, Henry Simmons, Jacqueline Obradors, Currie Graham

Rodney: Rodney Carrington, Jennifer Aspen, Nick Searcy

8 Simple Rules: Katey Sagal, Kaley Cuoco, Amy Davidson, Martin Spanjers, David Spade

The Bachelor: Chris Harrison

Growing Pains: Tracy Gold, Kirk Cameron, Chelsea Noble

Extreme Makeover: Dr. Garth Fisher, Dr. Bill Dorfman, Dr. Anthony Griffin, Sam Saboura, Dr. Jon Perlman, Michael Thurmond

Bring your walking shoes

MousePlanet reader David Micheal, who provided the photos for this week's Update, also alerted us to a policy change affecting guests of the Paradise Pier Hotel. Effective today, the “private entrance” into Disney's California Adventure—which led directly into the Paradise Pier section of the park, and was reserved for the exclusive use of Paradise Pier Hotels guests—is closed. Paradise Pier Hotel guests can now use the private entrance from the Grand Californian Hotel, which leads into DCA's Golden State District.

The private DCA entrance had been billed as an amenity for Paradise Pier Hotel guests since DCA opened. MousePad reader BJW reacted to the news by saying, “It was a perk that hotel guests were paying for that was included in the cost of their room. Park Inn, Days Inn, among others are much closer to the parks than Paradise Pier Hotel, have nicer rooms, and a much closer walk. There is now virtually no reason to stay at this hotel any more.” Other readers point out that the Grand Californian entrance is not much farther than the Paradise Pier entrance was, and this change does not alter the trek Paradise Pier Hotel guests still make to get to Disneyland park.

Mysteries, Myths, and Legends

Tickets for Disneyland's new "Mysteries, Myths, and Legends" tour were expected to go on sale Monday morning, but hopeful tour-takers must now wait until Friday to make their reservations. The final tour price has still not been announced, but is expected to be less than $40 per person. The tour will only be offered Monday to Thursday during the month of October, with a special Halloween evening tour still rumored. Call (714) 781-4400 to make reservations. We will update this information as more details become available.

Ears to the ground

The Disneyana shop has a display of current and upcoming sculptures in the Disneyland in Miniature series by artist Robert Olzsewski. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

…Town Square, the fourth piece in the Disneyland in Miniature series by Robert Olszewski, will be offered for sale on Saturday, October 30 at the Disneyana shop on Main Street. The first accessory pieces for the series, including Main Street vehicles and the Christmas tree, will also be offered for sale. The release of the Emporium building has been postponed until December.

...In an effort to continue promoting its 50th anniversary “Happiest Faces On Earth” Disney photo collage project, Disneyland Resort Annual Passholders can get a a free “Happiest Faces On Earth” mini photo album when they purchase $15 worth of merchandise at the following stores in the resort:

• Emporium in Disneyland
• Greetings from California in DCA
• World of Disney store in Downtown Disney

The offer is good through September 30. For more details, visit the Annual Passholder Web page at Disneyland.com (link).

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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.

Work continues on Sleeping Beauty Castle. Photo by David Michael.

• Snow White's Scary Adventures closed through September 10.
• Sleeping Beauty Castle closed through November 23.
• Sailing Ship Columbia closes September 7 – November 30.
• Fantasmic on hiatus through November during the Sailing Ship Columbia refurbishment.
• 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.
• Sleeping Beauty Castle walk-through closed indefinitely; not listed on park maps or the Disneyland Web site.

  Upcoming Disneyland closures

• 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.
• Matterhorn Bobsleds closes September 7 – November 13.
• Mad Tea Party closes September 20 – October 21.

There is no show here today, but park guests can enjoy the Enchanted Tiki Scaffold. Photo by David Michael.

Disney's California Adventure

• Superstar Limo closed indefinitely; not listed on park maps or the Disneyland Web site.
• Who Wants to be a Millionaire – Play It! closed indefinitely.

  Upcoming DCA Closures

• King Triton's Carousel closed September 20–30.
• Maliboomer reduced capacity (2 of 3 towers operating) November 1–25, 2004, and January 3–22, 31 – March 12, 2005.
• Jumpin' Jellyfish reduces capacity January 21 – March 5, 2005.

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

• ABC Primetime Weekend September 10, 11, 12.
• 2004 Haunted Mansion Holiday Event Thursday, September 30.

October

• Disney's Swim with the Stars - Tour concludes October 2–5 in Anaheim. Details at the organizer's Web site (link).
• Gay Days – Details at the organizer's Web site (link). October 2 at Disneyland, October 3 at DCA.
• Retro Slide Show Tour of Disneyland – at the Downtown Disney AMC Theaters. Performance artist Charles Phoenix presents his slide show retrospective of Disneyland. Admission is $20. Tickets available online (link) or at (866) 468-3399. Sunday, October 3.
• CHOC Walk – this fun-walk through Disneyland park is a fundraiser for the Children's Hospital of Orange County (link). Sunday, October 3.
• MousePlanet's MouseAdventure puzzle-and-quest event – Sunday, October 10 at Disney's California Adventure. Full details and online registration form available here.
• Disneyland in Miniature by Robert Olszewski product release. October 30 at Disneyland. Town Square, the fourth piece in the Disneyland in Miniature series, will be offered for sale at the Disneyana shop on Main Street. The first accessory pieces will also be offered for sale.

December

• Disneyland's Candlelight Procession and Ceremony, with guest narrator Marie Osmond. Saturday, December 4 and Sunday, December 5.

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

Free mini photo album for Annual Passholders

In an effort to continue promoting its 50th anniversary “Happiest Faces On Earth” Disney photo collage project, Disneyland Resort Annual Passholders can get a a free “Happiest Faces On Earth” mini photo album when they purchase $15 worth of merchandise at the following stores in the resort:

• Emporium in Disneyland
• Greetings from California in DCA
• World of Disney store in Downtown Disney

The offer is good through September 30. For more details, visit the Annual Passholder Web page at Disneyland.com (link).

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 five 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 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 now through 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 this week.
• SC – Southern California Annual Pass. Completely blocked this week.
• 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 September 7–12 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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