Strong attendance since the kick–off of Disneyland's 50th Anniversary
resulted in the unexpected extension of Disneyland Park hours last week.
Tacking an hour onto the end of the day, Disneyland will now be open until
10 p.m. Monday through Wednesday instead of 9 p.m.; Thursday closing remains
9 p.m. Starting this week, the park opens one hour earlier at 9 a.m.,
Monday through Friday and continues opening at 8 a.m. on Saturday and
Sunday.
Later this month when the park is in full summer hours, the park is scheduled
to operate daily from 8 a.m. until midnight.
The hours for Disney's Califonria Adventure remain unchanged in the face of flat attendance despite the kick–off and introduction of Block Party Bash.
The improved attendance seems to only be exacerbating from diners, with
complaints ramping up since early April. It seems that while attraction
queues have been hefty, they've been moving well and aren't anything out
of the ordinary. The story is different from any place you might get food,
though. MousePlanet has been receiving steady reports of incredibly long
lines that move at glacial paces, if the restaurant is even open at all.
These long lines even extend to various Outdoor Vending carts, and especially
in the hours before the fireworks, waiting 45 minutes to an hour to get
through counter–service lines seems increasingly common.
Rumors of staffing problems within food services remain unconfirmed,
but many people have experienced odd staffing situations. For example,
reader disney_leonard reports that on a recent evening at 6 p.m., just
two cash registers were open at Village Haus while behind the counter,
food was being prepared faster than it could be sold.
If it is true that the new food contract is creating huge turnover, don't expect this situation to resolve itself quickly. If you're visiting this summer you might want to plan some extra time for meals and make inquiries before assuming a particular location will be open when you want to eat. There's nothing more frustrating than being hungry and wandering from location to location only to move on because the doors are closed or the lines are too long.
All American Band reunion
We received the following e–mail from Randy Tiven, All–American
College Band 1975:
In 1971 Disney began doing something that later spread to all the departments.
They started a college work experience program in the then Entertainment
Division. In both parks every summer you would find an All–American
College Band , a Kids of the Kingdom group, and in WDW you'd also find
the Bahamian Police Band. In Florida, the program kept on until 1998.
It still exists in Disneyland.
This summer, on July 9–10 Disneyland Resort has asked back any
and every person who ever played in the college band in either
park to return to Disneyland to help celebrate its 50th birthday. So,
a mass band is planned in front of the castle on July 10 and will include
all who return for this event.
My particular band, the WDW 75 group will try to make it back from
the four corners of the US. We will even have our groupies, our Kids
of the Kingdom group represented as they felt very close to us and wanted
in on the action.
More information about it can be found with Lori Cook's office at Disneyland
Resort. E-mail Lori.M.Cook@disney.com
for more info.
Lori Cook has confirmed the information in that e-mail, though she notes
that the program returned to Walt Disney World in 2004. She also clarified
that while any participant is welcome to return only alumni musicians
will be perofrming on July 10. Singers and dancers will not be able to
do so.
Meanwhile, if anybody has any stories or memories they'd like to share from participating in this program, let us know, we'd love to compile them and make them available for everybody to read.
For those who didn't know the program existed and might be interested, auditions for the 2006 group will begin November. Further information can be found at the official Disney Web site (link).
Interactive Disneyland
Two new Disneyland–related online games went into “beta”
status online last week. Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters Online (link)
allows home players to actually interact and combine their scores with
people riding the in–park attraction at that moment. An unconnected
version of the game is available for play after park hours or if the ride
goes down. MousePlanet will have a full review of the game when it is
no longer a beta version, where it is still in development but published
for testing purposes. Unlike many Flash–based online games, Buzz
Lightyear Online requires you to download and install the game. During
beta testing, expect many defects and outages of the game.
Also now available in beta is Virtual Magic Kingdom (link). This entry into the massively multiplayer online role playing arena creates an online replica of Disneyland and online players can interact with each other and with a limited number of rides and games. Eventually it will also include tie–ins between the real park and the online creation.
Collage notifications
Last week another round of e–mail went out to participants in the
Happiest Faces on Earth program. The e–mail let the recipient know
if their photos have been used and in which murals. Not included is any
information on which photo or photos were used. For that information you
need to check one of the three kiosks inside the park. The kiosk locations
are next to City Hall, next to Mad Hatter on Main Street, and accross
from Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters in Tomorrowland.
Restored Bambi screening
The Academy of Arts and Sciences is screening a newly restored version
of Bambi (link).
Film critic and Disney film expert Leonard Maltin presents the 1942
film, and the screening will be followed by a panel of unnamed special
guests. Attendees will also be able to view the current gallery exhibit
of animation movie posters. The screening is Wednesday, June 15, at 8
p.m. Tickets go on sale today, June 1.
Tickets can only be purchased at the Academy (8949 Wilshire Blvd.), by mail (call 310–247–3600 for details), or at the door if tickets remain.
Hollywood Walk of Fame correction
In last week's item about Disneyland getting a star on the Hollywood
Walk of Fame we failed to list Donald Duck's star with all the others.
It is located at 6840 Hollywood Blvd.
Ears to the ground
…In an attempt to disperse the dense crowds in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle for the Remember… fireworks show, Disney management is rumored to be investigating alternative locations for projection effects currently only visible from right in front of the castle. This brings back to life the rumor of projections onto the sawmill at Tom Sawyer Island as it seems a likely candidate and would help keep the Fantasmic crowds on that side of the park.
…Herbie the Love Bug can currently be seen in the Esplanade between
Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure park. He is there to advertise
both the June 22 release of Herbie: Fully Loaded and the screenings
of it at Disney's El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.
Don't keep it to yourself! Send us your news tips,
rumors, and comments. E–mail us
here.
Haunted Mansion closed September 6–29 to install Haunted
Mansion Holiday overlay; closed Jan. 9–25, 2006 to remove overlay
Pirates of the Caribbean closed October 3 through December
13 (this is what we're hearing, it could change; feel free to send the
paniced emails, but that's the response for now).
Submarine Lagoon is currently beginning work on a new Finding
Nemo attraction; still unofficial at this time with an opening date
unannounced.
Disney's California Adventure
The former SuperStar Limo building is now the future Monster,
Inc.: Mike and Sulley to the Rescue which will open January 2006.
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.
Robert Olszewski merchandise release. June 18 at Disneyland
Park. A new Main Street piece in his “Disneyland in Miniature”
collection: Main Street Train Station. Also released
will be Dapper Dan and Fab Five character packs (link).
Shag merchandise release and reception. June 24 at the Paradise
Pier Hotel. Five new Shag paintings and associated merchandise will
be sold and a reception and meet–and–greet with the artist
will be held. Reservations are open (link).
Magical Milestone – A Pin Celebration. June 24 –
Aug. 15 at the Disneyland Resort (link).
USPS Disney Stamps. June 30 at Disneyana Shop in Disneyland
Park. Artist Peter Emmerich and other officials will be on hand. Guests
can purchase first day of issue cachets in various forms (link).
July
Happiest Music on Earth. July 2–4.
A concert at Hollywood Bowl presenting music from 50 years of Disneyland (link).
Disneyland star on Hollywood Walk of Fame. July 14.
Disneyland will get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, no details have yet been released.
Disneyland 50th Anniversary special event. July 15–17.
Three days of merchandising events with multiple purchase plans (link).
July 2005 NFFC convention. July 9–13. The Show and Sale
is scheduled for July 10.
Robert Olszewski merchandise release. July 16 at Grand Californian
Hotel. The first non–Main Street piece in his “Disneyland
in Miniature” collection: Mad Tea Party. Also Main Street Train.
September
Robert Olszewski merchandise release. September 10 at Disneyland
Park. Several new pieces in his “Disneyland in Miniature”
collection: Disney Showcase/Magic Shop/20th Century Music and Jungle
Cruise as well as a pin trading cart and a marching band character pack.
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
Southern California 1–Day Park Hopper ($68/$58) –
Residents of Southern California (zip codes 90000–93599) and
and northern Baja California, Mexico (zip codes 21000–22999),
can buy discounted one–day park hoppers. You can purchase up
to eight tickets at a time, one order per day, and two orders in
any seven–day period. Valid ID showing zip code will be required
with ticket for admission.
Two Days
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.
Advance Purchase 2–Day Park Hopper ($105/$85) – Available for online purchase directly from Disney (link) or Northern California, Nevada, and Utah AAA offices (link).
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.
City Pass ($185/$127)– The cost of
a CityPass increases to $185 for ages 10 and up, but decrease to
$127 for ages 3–9. The pass includes a 3–Day Disneyland
Resort park hopper bonus ticket (includes a $10 ESPN Zone game card
and one early admission), one day admission to Knott's Berry Farm,
Sea World San Diego, and either the San Diego Zoo or San Diego Wild
Animal Park. 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).
The Southern California City Pass can also be purchased online from Costco at a cost of $164.99/$112.99 (link).
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.
You can take advantage of the Advance Purchase discount as detailed above. These tickets expire
13 days after first use or January 15, 2006, whichever comes first.
The first visit must occur before January 2, 2006.
Both offers are available at the Disneyland Web site (link) and from AAA.
You must buy these tickets in advance; they 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
4–Day Park Hopper Bonus tickets ($159/$129)
– The park hopper bonus tickets currently include one
early entry admission to Fantasyland, and a $10 ESPN Zone game card.
You can take advantage of the Advance Purchase discount
as detailed above. These tickets expire
13 days after first use or January 15, 2006, whichever comes first.
The first visit must occur before January 2, 2006.
These tickets are available through the Disneyland Web site (link) and from AAA.
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.
You can take advantage of the Advance Purchase discount
as detailed above. These tickets expire
13 days after first use or January 15, 2006, whichever comes first.
The first visit must occur before January 2, 2006.
Both of these ticket offers are available through the Disneyland
Web site (link), and from AAA.
You must buy these tickets in advance; they are not available at
the Disneyland Resort ticket booths.
Alaska Airlines “Kids Fly Free” promotion through
June 29, 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
June 1, and travel must be completed by June 29. 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.
Fourth Night Free
Get a fourth night free if you stay at any of the three Disneyland Resort
hotels for three or more consecutive nights. Visits must happen August
28 through December 18, 2005 (link).
2005 Resort Magic Package
This package (link)
for couples includes two nights' lodging and a park hopper tickets. Travel
must occur "value seasons" now through July 2, 2005; August
28–November 21, 2005; and November 27–December 23, 2005.
50th Anniversary 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)
Two versions of the package are available. For $349 per person (double
occupancy) you can stay at one of the on–property Disney hotels.
For $229 per person (double occupancy) you can get the same package while
staying at the Jolly Roger Hotel or Red Roof Inn Maingate.
50th Anniversary Package
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 must be booked online
through the Disneyland Web site (link) by December 28, 2005.
Kids Fly Free
Alaska Airlines “Kids Fly Free” promotion through June 29,
2005 – 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 June 1,
and travel must be completed by June 29. Visit the Alaska Airlines Web
site (link)
for more details.
ESPN Zone MVP Club
If you sign up online for ESPN Zone's MVP Club (link),
you can receive a $20 voucher (for food, merchandise, or game cards),
a 40–point game card (about $10 worth), and an ESPN Zone mini–cooler.
ESPN Club in Orlando is excluded from this offer. You must pick up these
items in person, although they do not have to be used as the same store
from which you get them. There are some fairly strict requirements for
registering and getting your rewards, so make sure you read the details
carefully (link).
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!
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.
