With most of the MousePlanet staff focused on Sunday's MouseAdventure
event, we didn't have time to gather together everything that otherwise
might have ended up in this week's Park Update. Expect a normal Park Update
next Monday.
Disney War Presentation
Those in the Los Angeles area may be interested in a presentation by
Disney War author James B. Stewart. On March 16 at 7 p.m. Stewart
is speaking at the Music Center's Mark Taper Auditorium. Admission is
free, although seating is limited and reservations are recommended. For
information or tickets, call (213) 228-7025 or visit the Los Angeles Public
Library page for this event (link).
Construction update
Things are starting to quickly come out from behind construction walls:
The building itself it yet not open, but the construction wall at
Plaza Pavilion is down and the ouside seating area is completely available.
The lemonade cart that was recently removed from the Corn Dog Wagon
at the end of Main Street has reappeared in the back corner while the
piano at Refreshment (Coke) Corner has been given a more visible location
with plenty of room for everyone to gather around. Several pin carts
are also in the area.
Plaza Pavilion is available for seating again. Photo by Alex Stroup.
The frozen lemonade stand is now much more out of the way. Photo by Alex
Stroup.
The piano has a much more prominent location. Photo by Alex Stroup.
The pipe and surface work next to Matterhorn has all the appearances
of being complete. Expect that walkway to reopen soon. This path into
Tomorrowland may gain some popularity during times when stroller parking
and overflow lines at the newly opened Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters
attraction are causing bottlenecks at the main entrance to Tomorrowland.
Visitors can get small peeks past the Jungle Cruise's construction
wall to see the river drained though nothing much of what is being done
can be seen.
Most exciting for park guests last weekend was the return of the Enchanted
Tiki Room. The exterior waiting area looks absolutely fabulous with
all the new thatching and fresh paint. New tiki torches that have been
added to the roof of the juice bar are very dramatic and should help
draw guests to the attraction. New benches are available for seating
and provide a view of a refreshed Dole movie that is now sharp and easy
to watch. Inside, the show is identical, although everything is wonderfully
clean and, more importantly, everything that is supposed to move does.
As an indication of just how labor-intensive the maintenance on this
attraction must be, on Saturday evening, one of the more prominent singing
flowers had already stopped working. Though it was not open over the
weekend, all appearances are that the Dole Juice Bar should be open
soon—cast members could be seen bringing in napkins and other supplies.
The waiting area for the Enchanted Tiki Room looks great. Photo by Alex
Stroup.
The Enchanted Tiki Room has gotten a coat of fresh paint for everything,
and all the effects work well. Photo by Alex Stroup.
Every bird, flower, and tiki gets to participate again. Photo by Alex
Stroup.
Aladdin's Oasis remains shuttered, though all equipment has been moved
out of the outside waiting area and painters could be seen working in
that area.
The paint job on the Mark Twain Riverboat is quickly advancing and
reaction is mixed on just how much of the boat appears to be getting
the gold treatment. The entire skirt, all handrails, and all decorative
elements look to be getting the new paint. It shouldn't be long, though,
before we can see it in full and judge whether they went too far.
Over in Disney's California Adventure park, Disney Playhouse has opened
with its new JoJo section.
State of the Resort
In all our preparation for Sunday's MouseAdventure event, we forgot to
include the following in last week's Park Update. Since it was added later,
we're rerunning it for anybody who may have missed it.
Disneyland Resort President Matt Ouimet gave a “State of the Resort”
presentation to Anaheim politcal and business leaders the week before
last. Among the big three points in that presenation, the lesser two were
that Disney contributed more than $10 million to local causes in 2004
and that the resort generates $3.6 billion in third -party economic impact
to the region and supoprts more than 65,000 jobs.
The big announcement (at least for those not in the room) made it official
that Space Mountain is ahead of schedule and will be opening sooner than
the announced November date. Much sooner, on July 15 just in time for
the 50th anniversary. Here is the full text of the press release following
the announcement.
As the countdown begins to May 5, 2005, and the launch of the 50th
anniversary of Disneyland, the “Happiest Homecoming on Earth,”
another countdown is now underway in Tomorrowland for the re-launch
of “Space Mountain.” The anticipation has begun as one of
the most popular adventures at Disneyland gets ready to blast-off into
a new era of thrills!
“We’re very happy to announce that ‘Space Mountain’
will re-open on July 15 as one of the many celebratory festivities leading
to our actual 50th anniversary on July 17,” said Matt Ouimet, president
of the Disneyland Resort, during a State of the Resort presentation
today for local government and business leaders. “Guests will find
the classic elements they love, combined with new technology and special
effects that make the experience even more of a 'wow!"
“Space Mountain,” the high-speed interstellar adventure that
has captivated Disneyland guests since its debut in 1977, re-opens following
nearly two years of enhancements and improvements. As the signature
attraction of Tomorrowland, “Space Mountain” will once again
beckon guests to its gleaming white spires and ominous slopes to experience
anew the intergalactic adventure inside.
The attraction will return to its regular flight schedule with enhanced
narrative elements and state-of-the-art special effects within the attraction
and queue area, while retaining its essential theme and flight path
through the dark reaches of outer space.
Ardent “Space Mountain” fans will find the attraction sporting
a new generation of special effects, new rocket vehicles and a brand-new,
custom soundtrack. Through an all-new queue and hi-tech launch port
inspired by today’s era of space exploration (Mars Rover, Hubble
telescope, etc.), guests will feel as if they have a first-hand look
into the cosmos.
After boarding their rockets, guests will be wowed by a feeling of
disorientation in the launch tunnel, hurling them towards a close encounter
with a large meteorite. Following an exhilarating race through space,
the experience will culminate with a new finale featuring a longer re-entry
tunnel filled with spectacular lighting effects.
The initial concept for “Space Mountain” originated with
Walt Disney himself back in the mid-1960s, when it was known simply
as “Space Port” and destined to become an addition to Tomorrowland
at Disneyland. The concept became a reality in 1975 when, after more
than a decade of planning, the first incarnation of “Space Mountain”
actually premiered in the Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort
in Florida.
“Space Mountain” had its southern California premiere at
Disneyland two years later on May 27, 1977. The U.S. Mercury Astronauts,
America’s first men in space, were on hand for the grand opening
ceremonies and to christen the 118 foot tall “mountain.”
The re-launch of “Space Mountain” joins an incredible array
of new and exciting adventures, attractions and spectacular entertainment
premiering at Disneyland during its “Happiest Homecoming on Earth”
50th anniversary celebration, launching May 5, 2005. Other highlights
include the fun-filled and interactive “Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters”
in Tomorrowland, the spectacle of “Walt Disney’s Parade of
Dreams,” “Remember . . . Dreams Come True,” (the biggest
fireworks spectacular in Disneyland history), the engaging retrospective
“Disneyland: The First 50 Magical Years” and the energetic
“Block Party Bash” at Disney’s California Adventure.
Don't keep it to yourself! Send us your news tips,
rumors, and comments. E-mail us here.
Note: Disneyland is progressively refurbishing more and more attractions
as the park readies for its 50th anniversary celebration in 2005.
Aladdin's Oasis originally scheduled to open March 13
Disneyland Railroad opens March 18
Mark Twain Riverboat opens March 18
Splash Mountain opens March 18
Mr. Toad's Wild Ride opens March 18
Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln opens April 16 with installation
the 50th Anniversary exhibit in the Main Street Opera House
Disney Gallery closed March 28 – May 4
Honey I Shrunk the Audience closed April 4–8
Disneyland Railroad Tomorrowland station opens May 3
Jungle Cruise opens May 4
Casey Jr. Circus Trains closed April 4 – May 3
Storybook Land Canal Boats closed April 4 – May 4
Space Mountain opens July 16
Haunted Mansion closed September 6–29 to install Haunted
Mansion Holiday overlay; closed Jan. 9–25, 2006 to remove overlay
Disney's California Adventure
It's Tough to be a Bug! closed April 4 – May 4
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.
Magic Mirror event – Merchandise event at Downtown Disney's
World of Disney March 18–20 (link).
Olszewski event – Merchandise event Saturday, March 26
(link).
April
Swarovski Sunrise Breakfast merchandise event – Saturday,
April 9 at Grand California Hotel. Release of six new Disney crystal
figurines froms Swarovski. $95/person or $430 with hotel stay. Registration
now open (link).
May
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.
June
2005 Summer Pin Festival. June 24 – Aug. 15 at the Disneyland
Resort. No details have been announced (link).
July
Disneyland 50th Anniversary special event. July 15 - 17. No
details have been announced, but Disney is taking an interest list (link)
for those who want to receive e-mail updates about the event.
July 2005 NFFC convention. July 9–13. The Show and Sale
is scheduled for July 10.
Several current promotions offer discounted admission to the Disneyland
Resort. For convenience sake, we have grouped the discount offers based
on the number of days the tickets are valid. Check out the category that
best matches the amount of time you plan to spend at the resort, and pick
the offer which works best for you. And keep those tips coming - let us
know if you find a better / different offer, so we can share it with other
readers!
One Day
No discounts offered to the general public for single-day admission.
You might find discounted tickets, starting at around $41 for ages
10 and up, through your employer, student organization or professional
association. Check with your group activity office or human resources
department.
Two Days
Southern California 2Fer Ticket ($53/$43) through April 28,
2005 – The spring “resident salute” discount
is a 2Fer ticket, with one admission to Disneyland and one admission
to Disney's California Adventure on two different days. Purchase
the “ticket card” in advance at Southern California-area
Vons and Pavillions grocery stores (or at the Disneyland Web
site), scanned and activated at the time of purchase. Walk up
to the main entrance, present the ticket card and proof of Southern
California residency to gain admission.
Tickets: $53 for ages 10 and older, $43 for ages 3 to 9. You must
use the second admission within 30 days of the first admission,
or by April 28, 2005, whichever comes first.
According to the official promotion details, Southern California
residents can buy up to eight 2Fer tickets per day, but each member
of your party must be able to provide proof of Southern California
(zip codes 90000 through 93599) or Baja California (ZIP codes 21000
through 22999) residency to use the tickets.
Reader James tells us that he purchased these tickets at the
Disneyland Resort ticket booths, and was allowed to purchase the
tickets for his out-of-state relatives. He says his relatives were
never asked for proof of residency.
Southern California 2-Day Park Hopper at 1-Day Park Hopper Price
through April 28, 2005 – Residents of Southern California
and Baja California, Mexico, can purchase a standard 2-Day Park
Hopper pass for the price of a 1-Day Park Hopper. It appears this
offer is available only online at Disney's Web
site (you need to enter an eligible ZIP code).
Tickets: $73 for ages 10 and older, $63 for ages 3 to 9. You must
use the second day of admission within 30 days of the first admission,
or by April 28, 2005, whichever comes first.
According to the official promotion details, Southern California
residents can buy up to eight passes per day, but on only two days
in any seven day period. Expect each member of your party must be
able to provide proof of Southern California (zip codes 90000 through
93599) or Baja California (zip codes 21000 through 22999) residency
when presenting the tickets at the main entrance.
Good Neighbor Hotel Park Hopper Plus tickets($105/$85)
through April 28, 2005 – Disneyland resort Good Neighbor
hotels can offer a 2-Day Park Hopper Plus ticket at $105 for ages
10 and up, or $85 for ages 3 to 9. No advance purchase is required,
and some hotels may even sell them to visitors who are not staying
at that property. These tickets are valid through April 28. 2005.
AAA Flex Passport ($98/$78) – Some AAA offices offer
a 2-day Flex Passport at $98 for ages 10 and up, or $78 for ages
3-9. This ticket does not require a hotel or package purchase—check
with your local office to see if the ticket is available in your
area.
A reader let us know that AAA offices in Oregon and Idaho do
not offer the 2-day version of this ticket, but instead offer a
3-day pass.
Three Days
AAA Flex Passport ($129/$99) – Some AAA offices offer
a 3-day Flex Passport at $129 for ages 10 and up, or $99 for ages
3-9. This ticket does not require a hotel or package purchase -
check with your local office to see if the ticket is available in
your area.
Good Neighbor Hotel Park Hopper Plus tickets($114/$114)
through April 28, 2005 – Disneyland resort Good Neighbor
hotels can offer a 3-Day Park Hopper Plus ticket for $114, ages
3 and up. (Adults and children pay the same price) No advance purchase
is required, and some hotels may even sell them to visitors who
are not staying at that property. These tickets are valid through
April 28, 2005.
City Pass ($172/$129)through March 31, 2005
– The CityPass includes a three-day Disneyland Resort park
hopper ticket, one-day admission to Knott's Berry Farm, one-day
admission to SeaWorld in San Diego, and one-day admission to either
the San Diego Zoo or the San Diego Wild Animal Park. The CityPass
is $172 for ages 10 and up, and $129 for ages 3-9, and expires 14
days after first use or April 1, whichever comes first. You can
buy CityPass at the Disneyland Web site, at the Disneyland Resort,
at the other theme parks included in the pass, or directly from
the CityPass Web site (link).
City Pass($185/$127) effective April 1, 2005
– Starting April 1, 2005, the cost of a CityPass increases
to $185 for ages 10 and up, but decrease to $127 for ages 3-9. The
pass also comes with one early admission into Disneyland. The CityPass
still expires 14 days after first use. Purchase CityPass through
the Disneyland Web site, at the Disneyland Resort, at the other
theme parks included in the pass, or directly from the CityPass
Web site (link).
Costco City Pass promotion ($149.99/$114.99)through March 31, 2005 – Costco is offering the
Southern California CityPass for $149.99 for adults, and $114.99
for children ages 3 to 9. You must use the first admission by March
31, 2005, and the pass expires 13 days after the first admission
is used.
Available at Southern California Costco stores or at the Costco
Web site (link).
Non-Costco members can buy the tickets via the Web site with a 5%
surcharge. A shipping fee applies to Internet orders.
3-Day Park Hopper Bonus tickets($109/$109)($139/$109)
– The park hopper bonus tickets currently include one early
entry admission to Fantasyland and a $10 ESPN Zone game card. If
the Disneyland resort portion of your trip concludes by May 11,
2005, you can take advantage of the “Adults Play for the
Kids' Price” special. Through this advance purchase offer,
3-day park hopper tickets for ages 3 and up are $109, a savings
of $20-50 off the main gate price. Expires 13 days after first use
or May 11, 2005, whichever comes first.
If you plan to visit the Disneyland resort after April 28, take
advantage of the Advance Purchase discount to save $20 per
ticket, as detailed above. Expires 13 days after first use or January
15, 2006, whichever comes first.
Both offers are available at the Disneyland Web site (link),
some Southern California AAA offices, some Disney Stores, or your
travel agent. Must be purchased in advance, and are not available
at the Disneyland resort ticket booths.
Several readers wrote to tell us that the Safeway stores in
Central and Northern California, and Vons stores in Las Vegas, are
also offering the 3-Day Park Hopper Bonus tickets. Check with your
local Safeway store for details, as the dates and benefits may differ.
Four Days
Costco Play 4 Days ticket($89/$89) – Costco
offers a discounted 4-day Disneyland Resort ticket at $89 per person,
ages 3 and up for Southern California Costco members (zip codes
90000-93599). Not a park hopper; each day is valid for either Disneyland
or Disney's California Adventure admission. Unlike the CityPass,
you must buy these tickets in person at Costco.
You get a voucher to exchange at a Disneyland Resort ticket booth
for a valid pass. Proof of local residency is required to exchange
the tickets, with a limit of 5 tickets per day. Tickets are non-transferable.
The ticket is valid through June 23, 2005, or until the fourth
admission is used. The ticket is not valid March 19 – April
2, 2005.
Good Neighbor Hotel Park Hopper Plus tickets($134/$134)
through April 28, 2005 – Disneyland Resort Good Neighbor
hotels can offer a 4-Day Park Hopper Plus ticket for $134, ages
3 and up (Adults and children pay the same price). No advance purchase
is required, and some hotels may even sell them to visitors who
are not staying at that property. Valid through April 28, 2005.
4-Day Park Hopper Bonus tickets($129/$129)($159/$129)
– The park hopper bonus tickets currently include one early
entry admission to Fantasyland, and a $10 ESPN Zone game card. If
the Disneyland resort portion of your trip concludes by May 11,
2005, take advantage of the “Adults Play for the Kids' Price”
special. Through this advance purchase offer, 4-day park hopper
tickets for ages 3 and up are $129, a savings of $30-60 off the
main gate price. These tickets expire 13 days after first use or
May 11, 2005, whichever comes first.
If you plan to visit the Disneyland Resort after April 28, you
can still take advantage of the Advance Purchase discount
and save $30 per ticket, as detailed above. These tickets expire
13 days after first use or January 15, 2006, whichever comes first.
Both of these ticket offers are available through the Disneyland
Web site (link),
through some Southern California AAA offices, through some Disney
Stores, or through your travel agent. You must buy these tickets
in advance; they are not available at the Disneyland Resort ticket
booths.
Five Days
Disney's AAA Passport Plus Package 2005($169/$139)
– The 5-day Passport Plus park hopper ticket is $169 for ages
10 and up, and $139 for ages 3-9. This package includes:
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 - may not be available
when you order)
Free parking at Disneyland Resort theme parks
Early entry into Fantasyland on select days
An additional handling fee of $10 is charged per mailing address.
These tickets are available to AAA members only when purchased through
participating AAA offices.
Several readers report that their local AAA offices do not offer
this ticket, or that the benefits differ. You may remember that
this also happened with the 2004 version of this package.
MousePlanet has contacted AAA offices around the country and
encountered the same problem. If your local AAA office does not
offer the ticket, check with another AAA office in your area. The
decision to offer this ticket seems to depend on which regional
AAA “club” you belong to, and in some cases rest with
the office manager at each location.
The Auto Club of Southern California (ACSC) is not participating
in this offer, and AAA Oregon/Idaho offers the 5-day tickets. Some
readers have also been told that the California Diamond Fun Book
is no longer available.
5-Day Park Hopper Bonus tickets($139/$139)($169/$139)
– The park hopper bonus tickets currently include one early
entry admission to Fantasyland, and a $10 ESPN Zone game card. If
the Disneyland Resort portion of your trip concludes by May 11,
2005, take advantage of the “Adults Play for the Kids' Price”
special. Through this advance purchase offer, 5-day park hopper
tickets for ages 3 and up are $139, a savings of $40-70 off the
main gate price. These tickets expire 13 days after first use or
May 11, 2005, whichever comes first.
If you plan to visit the Disneyland Resort after April 28, take
advantage of the Advance Purchase discount and save $40 per
ticket, as detailed in above. These tickets expire 13 days after
first use or January 15, 2006, whichever comes first.
Both of these ticket offers are available through the Disneyland
Web site (link),
through some Southern California AAA offices, through some Disney
Stores, or through your travel agent. These tickets must be purchased
in advance, and are not available at the Disneyland resort ticket
booths.
Alaska Airlines “Kids Fly Free” promotion through
April 28, 2005 – If you have to fly to Southern California,
Alaska Airlines has a package that includes either a free 5-day
park hopper with each paid adult ticket, or an adult 5-day park
hopper for the children's price. You must book packages by March
21, and like most current promotions, travel must be completed by
April 28. Visit the Alaska Airlines Web site (link)
for more details.
Six or Seven Days
Disney's AAA Passport Plus Package 2005 – The Parkhopper
Plus package may be available in 6- or 7- day increments at participating
AAA offices. Check with your local AAA office for availability and
pricing:
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 - may not be available
when you order)
Free parking at Disneyland Resort theme parks
An additional handling fee of $10 is charged per mailing address.
These tickets are available to AAA members only when purchased through
AAA offices.
Several readers report that their local AAA offices do not offer
this ticket, or that the benefits differ. You may remember that
this also happened with the 2004 version of this package. MousePlanet
has contacted AAA offices around the country, and encountered the
same problem. If your local AAA office does not offer the ticket,
check with another AAA office in your area. The decision to offer
this ticket seems to depend on which regional AAA “club”
you belong to, and in some cases rests with the office manager at
each location.
The Auto Club of Southern California (ACSC) is not participating
in this offer, and AAA Oregon/Idaho offers the 5-day tickets. Some
readers have also been told that the California Diamond Fun Book
is no longer available.
Special thanks to MousePlanet reader David Michael for some of
this information.
Alaska Airlines “Kids Fly Free” promotion returns
Alaska Airlines is repeating the popular “Kids Fly Free” promotion
for travel to the Disneyland Resort, and is offering park ticket and hotel
discounts as well.
If you book an Alaska Airlines Southern California Vacations package
for travel through June 29, one child (age 2-11) can fly free with each
paid adult ticket. The package also includes four nights at the Holiday
Inn Buena Park and airport transfers via Karmel Shuttle (children 2-11
are free). The packages, including airfare and hotel, start at $429 per
person.
Even better, if you travel through April 28, you also receive a free
child's 5-day Disneyland Resort park hopper for each paid adult. If you
are traveling without children, you can instead purchase the adult 5-day
park hopper ticket at the children's price. Be aware, however, that Disneyland
considers 11-year-olds to be adults for the purpose of admission pricing.
If Buena Park is too far away from Disneyland for you, you can upgrade
to a Disneyland Resort hotel and receive up to $200 Disney Dollars with
a stay of four nights or more before April 24, 2005.
Finally, if you book the package through alaskaair.com, you get 1500
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Bonus Miles per passenger. For more information,
visit the Alaska Airlines Web site (link).
You must book packages by March 21, 2005.
50th Anniversary Package, revised
The Happiest Homecomings on Earth package has been revised for the new
year. The previous promotion was good only for three-night stays at the
Disneyland Resort hotels; the new offer is valid on longer stays and includes
Good Neighbor Hotels as well.
Instead of the 50th anniversary commemorative clock and Walk in Walt's
Footsteps tour, the new packages include all the following:
“Enchanting” commemorative certificate (one per package)
Park Hopper bonus ticket, which includes one early entry into Fantasyland
and a $10 ESPN Zone game card. (Park hopper tickets can be upgraded
to an annual pass for an extra fee)
Preferred seating to select shows at Disney's California Adventure
Entry into Mickey's Toontown Madness
Walt Disney Travel Co. lanyard and pin (one per person)
Walt Disney Travel Co. luggage tag
Walt Disney Travel Co. fun book (one per package)
The “Happiest Homecoming on Earth” package is available for
arrival dates through December 31, 2005. The package can be booked through
the Disneyland Web site (link),
or by calling (714) 520-5060.
Entertainment schedule: Go directly to the Disneyland Resort schedule
for this week at Disneyland.com here.
Don't keep it to yourself! Send us your news tips,
rumors, and comments. E-mail us here.
PSST!
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!
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is not associated in any official way with the Walt Disney Company, its
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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.
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