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Update for May 31 – June 5, 2011
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News and Views
Mickey's Soundsational parade premieres at Disneyland | Disneyland debuts two new rides Friday | Now serving: Tangaroa Terrace and Trader Sam's | New pool and water slide open at Disneyland Hotel |Summer ticket and hotel discounts | Mlle. Antoinette's Parfumerie reopens at Disneyland | AP tickets on sale for Mickey's Halloween Party | So long, and thanks for all the tortillas | This and That... | Crowd Forecast
Mickey's Soundsational parade premieres at Disneyland
Disneyland's new parade opened this weekend to high praise from MousePlanet readers who caught one of the debut shows. Early feedback on our MousePad discussion forum includes comments such as, "My girls absolutely loved it!," "It was great!," "We all absolutely loved it," "Loved the new parade!," and "What a huge improvement from Celebrate: A Street Party."
Mickey's Soundsational Parade is a return to the classic parade format, with no show stops and no audience participation bits. Steve Davison, Vice President, Parades & Spectaculars for Walt Disney Imagineering Creative Entertainment, said, "This is the fastest tempo we've ever done in a parade. Initially everyone said, 'You can't do a parade that fast,' and I said, 'Why not? Let's try it!'"
In a Disney first, Mickey Mouse actually plays the drums live during the parade. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Each parade unit consists of a main float preceded by themed dancers, and often is followed by a smaller satellite float. The parade is led by a six-person drum line, and features Mickey Mouse actually playing an acoustic drum set on the lead float. John Addis, Senior Show Direction, Disney Entertainment Productions, said the members of the drum line were recruited from Georgia and Florida, and some appeared in the movie Drumline.
Art directors Kevin Kidney and Jody Daily designed the parade floats to resemble a pop-up book. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Each unit has a unique soundtrack, woven together by the parade's Soundsational theme. The parade incorporates Disney staples with The Little Mermaid and The Lion King each prominently featured on a main float, but also features newer films with Rapunzel's tower from Tangled as the icon of the princess / heroine float, and an entire unit devoted to Tiana and The Princess and the Frog. Art directors Kevin Kidney and Jody Daily designed the floats to resemble a pop-up book, and it will require repeated viewing to see all of the fantastic detail incorporated in their designs.
The Three Caballeros return to Disneyland in Mickey's Soundsational Parade. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
This parade truly offers something for everyone. If Disney princesses aren't your thing, watch as Donald, Jose and Pancito make an appearance on the Three Caballeros float. Mary Poppins has shrugged off the indignity of her role in the Celebrate: A Street Parade, and now glides down the street with Bert on a pair of motorized "carousel horses" She is surrounded by a troupe of dancing chimney sweeps in a beautiful unit that closes the parade and is sure to delight Mary Poppins fans.
Mary Poppins rides a carousel horse in Mickey's Soundsational Parade. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Watch the video below for highlights from the new parade, and read the full review on MousePlanet.
Highlights of Mickey's Soundsational Parade. Video by Steven Ng.
Disneyland debuts two new rides Friday
The wait is almost over. After the successful previews for cast members, contest winners, annual passholders and lucky park visitors who just stumbled across a "soft opening," two new rides officially open this Friday at Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure.
The grand opening events kick off Thursday afternoon with a ceremony for The Little Mermaid – Ariel's Undersea Adventure at DCA. Walt Disney Company President and Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger, Disneyland Resort President George Kalogridis, and actress Jodi Benson, the voice of Ariel in The Little Mermaid and in the new attraction, are scheduled to appear.
The attraction was "soft open" in dress-rehearsal mode for much of the weekend, with reported wait times anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour. Annual passholders, according to an invitation Disneyland sent out last week, can preview the attraction during regular park hours today and tomorrow, May 31 and June 1 by simply presenting their annual passports at the attraction entrance. This is not a contest, and you do not need to register in advance or bring a print-out of the email invitation.
The Little Mermaid – Ariel's Undersea Adventure opens Friday at Disney California Adventure. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
On Friday, the focus shifts to Disneyland for the re launch of Star Tours – The Adventures Continue. When we last saw Darth Vader, he had had failed to ruin the grand opening of the Walt Disney World version of the ride two weeks ago, and instructed his henchmen to set a course for Anaheim. We expect the Disneyland ceremony to be the conclusion of this mini-saga, but we have heard Star Wars creator George Lucas will not make an appearance at the Anaheim event.
Star Tours is still holding annual passholder previews, though enforcement seemingly changes from hour to hour. On Friday afternoon, any park guest could get a Fastpass ticket for Star Tours during the hours between the scheduled previews, and we've heard reports of day guests being allowed to ride before and after the AP preview periods. Unless you won a slot in the AP preview contest, we do not recommend that you go to Disneyland for the express purpose of riding Star Tours before Friday's opening, but if you're already in the park, it wouldn't hurt to keep checking back to see if the general public is being allowed to ride during your visit.
MousePlanet will cover all of the festivities, and we will post photos and video as quickly as possible. For the most current coverage, watch our MousePad discussion forum and follow @MousePlanet and @MousePlanetAVP on Twitter.
Now serving: Tangaroa Terrace and Trader Sam's
Last June, Disney announced an ambitious remodel of the Disneyland Hotel common areas, and the first phase opened this weekend with the debut of Tangaroa Terrace, a "fast casual" restaurant with a Polynesian theme, and Trader Sam's, an theme bar featuring design elements of Disneyland's classic Adventureland attractions. Both locations drew a crowd of hotel guests and curious locals over the weekend, with lines as long as 60 minutes to get one of just 45 seats inside the tiny Trader Sam's on opening night.
Tangaroa Terrace and Trader Sam's are now open at the Disneyland Hotel. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Tangaroa Terrace offers a selection of made-to-order and grab-and-go food at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We have posted a full menu in our dining guide, which includes dishes like grilled cinnamon-spiced oatmeal cakes, banana-topped french toast at breakfast, and barbeque chicken sandwiches and Hawaiian burgers at lunch. Later this week the restaurant will begin offering nightly dinner specials, like miso-glazed salmon or a grilled rib eye steak.
Tangaroa Terrace advertises casual island dining. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Trader Sam's features a drink menu of specialized cocktails, like the Hippopotomai-Tai and the Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Rum, and a selection of bar food, including tamarind-glazed island pork "wings" and panko-crusted Chinese long beans.
The tiny Trader Sam's bar has room for just 45 people. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
In addition to the indoor seating offered at Tangaroa Terrace and Trader Sam's, the two locations share a patio overlooking the new pool area. The "restaurant" side provides tables and chairs for diners, while the "bar" side features more comfortable lounge furniture and low tables. An outdoor fireplace located near Trader Sam's also features two comfortable seating areas.
An overflow crowd enjoys live music on the Trader Sam's patio. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Britt Winslow will serve up his review of these two new eateries Thursday on MousePlanet. If you have had a chance to try either of the new locations, please share your experiences on our MousePlanet Reader Review system - you could be the first to review Tangaroa Terrace or Trader Sam's.
New pool and water slide open at Disneyland Hotel
The Disneyland Hotel also debuted a new pool area this weekend, featuring a new swimming pool and spa, a water play area with four slides, and the first of six planned private cabanas. The focal point of the area is the towering monorail-theme dual water slide, boasting one 26-foot-tall, 187-foot-long slide, and another one 13-foot-tall, 112-foot-long slide. Two slides 3-and-a-half feet tall and 19 feet long are located at the base of the tower, along with an array of bubble jets and fountains, providing a milder thrill for younger kids and non-swimmers. The structure is topped with a replica of the original Disneyland park sign, and dual water curtains. Lighting effects on the tower make the water curtains appear to change color at night.
Overcast skies and even a few sprinkles weren't enough to keep Disneyland Hotel guests from enjoying the new pool area on opening day. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
The new swimming pool is four feet deep, and is spanned by a pedestrian bridge that will eventually provide access across the courtyard without entering the gated pool area. A new spa is located at one end of the new pool deck, and is lightly themed with a Minnie Mouse bow painted around the edge.
The water play area includes a zero-entry splash area and pop jets. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Three of six planned cabanas have been built in the pool area, though they are still in what one cast member termed the "test and adjust" phase. Disney says the cabanas will feature a "a flat screen TV, refrigerator, safe, phone and ceiling fan," though not all of these amenities are yet available. A fresh fruit platter and six bottles of water are stocked in each cabana, and you can order additional food and drinks from Tangaroa Terrace and Trader Sam's through a dedicated poolside server.
The water slide offers two longer slides through a monorail figure, and two short slides for younger children and non-swimmers. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Cabanas can be reserved for the entire day for $185, or for a four-hour block (either 9am-1pm or 1:30-5:30) for $115. Each cabana can accommodate up to six guests, though we were told that larger parties can book a cabana provided no more than six people occupy it at any time.
The original and new pool areas are connected by a new four foot deep swimming pool. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Construction continues on the remainder of the pool area renovation, and the entire project is not scheduled for completion until summer, 2012.
Summer ticket and hotel discounts
Starting Friday, Southern California residents can purchase a discounted ticket that offers three one-day admissions to either Disneyland or Disney's California Adventure (one park per day). The ticket is $139 for adults and children, $31 more expensive than the 2010 offer. You can upgrade the ticket to a park hopper for an additional $15 per person. The ticket goes on sale June 3, and is valid through September 5, 2011, but is blocked out July 2-4 and August 21-22. The ticket has a 45-day "fuse," which means you must use all three admissions within 45 days of the first use, or forfeit the unused days.
Thanks to reader SuzanneSLO for the tip about the new Disneyland offer.
If you are looking to spend four days at Disneyland and are a Costco member, the updated Costco offer may appeal to you. For $199 you get a four day park hopper ticket and a $50 Disney gift card, which makes the effective cost of the ticket just $149, $5 less than the 3-day So Cal Resident Park Hopper. Of course this only makes sense if you have a use for the $50 gift card, but if you're spending 4 days at Disneyland, the popcorn and churros can really add up. The Costco offer is available online and in select Costco stores, and this ticket has no "fuse" - you can use the first admission today, and have until August 31, 2011 to use the remaining admission days before the ticket expires. The ticket is blocked out July 1-4, 2011 and August 21-22, 2011.
Mary Kraemer, frequent MousePlanet contributor and travel agent with MousePlanet sponsor Mouse Ear Vacations, alerted us to a new discount offer at the Disneyland Resort Hotels. This hotel-only package offers a 25 percent discount at the Paradise Pier Hotel or a 20 percent discount at the Disneyland Hotel and Grand Californian Hotel, and is valid for arrivals most nights June 19 through August 13, 2011.
The offer also includes two Fastpass tickets per person, per stay, and the fine print reveals that Disney will be operating a "specially created, limited time Disney's Fastpass return line for The Little Mermaid – Ariel's Undersea Adventure attraction" that will be available June 3 through September 11, 2011. We have not heard if or how Disney will be distributing Fastpass tickets for the Little Mermaid ride, beyond those mentioned in this offer.
Disneyland Resort Hotel guests may also have access to the Little Mermaid ride 30 minutes before Disney California Adventure opens each morning from June 4 through September 5, 2011. Hotel guests already receive early entry to DCA to claim Fastpass tickets for World of Color, so this offers them something else to do while waiting for the park to open.
Book by June 18 for arrivals most nights June 19 through Augugust 13, or June 19 through July 23, for arrivals most nights July 17 through Aug. 13, 2011. Travel must be completed by Aug. 14, 2011.
Mlle. Antoinette's Parfumerie reopens at Disneyland
Mlle. Antoinette's Parfumerie reopened at Disneyland Saturday in the small New Orleans Square space that had been home to an estate jewelry store and a high-end handbag shop. Disney describes the store as "a distinctive luxury boutique, that will be home to classic fragrances from Givenchy, Guerlain, Christian Dior, Acqua di Parma and Emilio Pucci." Luxury goods maker LVMH Group (Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton) operates the store, which features LVHM brands and Disney-exclusive editions of the Dance with Givenchy and Dior Hypnotic Poison fragrances.
Mlle. Antoinette's Parfumerie is now open at Disneyland. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
To celebrate its grand opening, the store offered complimentary bottle engraving on Saturday, and bottle painting Saturday through Monday. The location manager said that these special promotions will be offered periodically during the year, especially around holidays like Valentine's Day and Mother's Day.
A fragrance model gives perfume samples outside Mlle. Antoinette's Parfumerie in Disneyland. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
AP tickets on sale for Mickey's Halloween Party
Disneyland Resort Annual Passholders can now purchase tickets to the 2011 Mickey's Halloween Party events. The separate ticketed costume parties at Disneyland will be held on September 30; October 3, 7, 11, 14, 18, 21, 25, 28, 31. Ticket prices range from $44 to $64 depending on the date and when the tickets are purchased, with the peak nights increasing $5 over the 2010 event price:
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Advanced Purchase Annual Passholder Ticket Prices
- $44 special passholder discount for these dates: September 30; October 3, 11, 18, 25
- $59 regular admission price for these dates: October 7, 14, 21
- $64 regular admission price for these dates: October 28, 31
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Day-of-Event Ticket Prices
- $59 if purchased and used on these dates: September 30; October 3, 7, 11, 14, 18, 21, 25
- $64 if purchased and used on these dates: October 28 and 31
- All Dates – no charge for ages two and under
- Times – Monday and Tuesday nights from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.; Fridays and Halloween night: 7:00 p.m. to midnight.
Additional information is available on the Annual Passholder section of the Disneyland Resort Web site. (Note: Registration is required to view this content), or by calling (714) 781-4400.
According to a cast member at Disneyland's ticketing office, Disney's Vacation Club members and Disney Visa Cardholders are not eligible for the advance purchase discounted tickets this year as they have been in the past. Tickets go on sale to the general public on June 15, 2011.
The event details are similar to the 2010 party at Disneyland. Event guests will receive free parking for one vehicle, and can enter Disneyland up to three hours before the announced start time of the event.
The Halloween Screams fireworks are once again "exclusive" to Mickey's Halloween Party, and Disney will only present the show on event nights. On Saturday and Sunday nights (excepting Halloween, when there is a Halloween Party event), Disneyland will present an alternate fireworks show.
As with the past events, the park is specially decorated for the parties with costumed characters throughout the park and plenty of trick-or-treating for kids and adults alike. The event Web site says "nearly all Disneyland® Park attractions" and some restaurants are open as well and there is live entertainment, craft stations and character meet-and-greet at several locations. All party goers are encouraged to wear costumes, but should keep in mind the following guidelines from Disney:
All event attendees—including adults—may dress in their favorite Halloween costume and must follow these and other guidelines as determined solely by Disney:
- Costumes should be child-friendly and may not be obstructive, offensive or violent.
- Guests may wear masks. However, masks must not obstruct vision and eyes must be visible at all times.
- Guests that dress like Disney Characters may not pose for pictures or sign autographs for other Guests.
- Costumes should not drag on the ground.
- Costumes should not contain sharp objects, pointed objects or materials that may accidentally strike another Guest.
- Costumes should not contain any weapons which resemble or could easily be mistaken for an actual weapon.
- Guests of all ages may only wear costumes to the Mickey's Halloween Party event and during the designated hours prior to the scheduled event for which they have valid tickets. During normal Park operating hours, costumes are only permitted for Guests ages 9 and younger.
Guests that do not adhere to these guidelines may be refused entry into the event unless their costume can be modified to meet the above standards.
Adults with valid event tickets may enter Disneyland in costume at 3:00 pm for Monday or Tuesday events, or at 4:00 pm for the Friday and Halloween events. If you're spending the day at Disneyland and also hold a valid ticket to that night's event, you'll have to wait until 3:00 or 4:00 to don your costume.
So long, and thanks for all the tortillas
The Mission Tortilla Factory in Disney California Adventure served its last tortilla on Memorial Day. The walk-through exhibit opened with DCA in 2001, and was often cited as an example by people critical of the attractions offered at the new park. The factory had production lines for corn and flour tortillas, and was popular with visitors looking for a quick, free snack.
Cast members would not comment on the pending closure or possible replacement this weekend, but the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company is rumored to be moving in once Mission clears out. No word yet if the Ghirardelli presence will include a "factory" tour or samples; if the location will simply be a branded store, like the Werther's Karamell-Küche in the Germany pavilion of Walt Disney World's Epcot park; or if it will be a Ghirardelli ice cream shop and soda fountain like the one in Walt Disney World's Downtown Disney.
This and That...
...A scale model of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is now on display at the Disneyland Hotel. The model is located in the recently reopened lobby of the Wonder tower, soon to be renamed the Frontier Tower. According to a plaque inside the case, the display is a recreation of the original concept model created by Walt Disney Imagineering.
A scale model of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is on display at the Disneyland Hotel. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
The scale model was created by Walt Disney Imagineering during the design of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
The highly detailed model shows elements of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad that are difficult to see from the ground. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
...Footwear retailer Sanuk opened their permanent Downtown Disney store this weekend, in the space previously occupied by Basin. Sanuk opened a temporary store in Downtown Disney in November 2009, but closed the following March when neighboring Ridemakerz expanded its own temporary location into a larger permanent store.
Footwear retailer Sanuk opened a permanent Downtown Disney location this weekend. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
...We noticed that an outdoor vending cart at Disney California Adventure was selling cinnamon rolls this weekend. No idea if this is just a test, or a permanent new offering.
...Downtown Disney retailer Ridemakerz has a new collection of vehicles themed to the upcoming Cars 2 movie. The new chassis include Lightning McQueen with a World Grand Prix paint job, and new character Finn McMissile.
...Visitors planning trips to the Disneyland Resort should make a point to check the Current Refurbishment/Attraction Closures section each week for the most recent updates. The Disneyland Resort Web site currently only publishes refurbishment information about six weeks in advance. Be sure to check the most recent Park Update for the latest changes, as MousePlanet does not edit past Park Updates to reflect changes.
Crowd Forecast
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Advertisement Crowd information and forecasts are provided by TouringPlans.com, the website of the Unofficial Guide to Disneyland, to help you better plan your trip to the Disneyland Resort. TouringPlans.com gathers wait time data from a team of in-park researchers and users of their Lines mobile phone application, and then predicts crowd levels for the next 365 days. Using a scale from 1 to 10, TouringPlans.com has a 90 percent accuracy of predicting the crowds to within 1 point, helping visitors prepare for their trips so they can "Do more. Wait less."
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Current Refurbishments and Attraction Closures
Disneyland
- Star Tours: The Adventures Continue – currently offering annual passholder previews. The new ride is scheduled to reopen to the public on June 3.
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – closed May 31 to June 9 for refurbishment.
- Matterhorn Bobsleds – closed June 13 to 17, June 20 to 24, and July 11 to September 1 for refurbishment.
Disney California Adventure
Seasonal refurbishments:
Construction-related closures:
- Burger Invasion – closed through June, 2011 for conversion into Paradise Garden Grill.
- Pizza Oom Mow Mow – closed through June 2011 for conversion to Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta.
- Mulholland Madness – closed through June, 2011 for conversion to Goofy's Sky School.
Downtown Disney & Disneyland Resort Hotels
- Disneyland Hotel Guest Laundry – closed due to construction. Hotel guests can use the laundry facility at Disney's Paradise Pier hotel during the refurbishment.
- Disneyland Hotel Fitness Center – closed due to construction. The fitness center equipment has been relocated to one of the hotel meeting rooms; ask the front desk for the most recent information as you check in.
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.
Resort Events
Check here to see if a large convention, competition or park event might fall during your next trip to the Disneyland Resort. If you know of any in-park events, official or unofficial, that should be listed here, please send us an e-mail (link).
2011
- ElecTRONica – Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights through Labor Day weekend.
- Grad Nite events – The after-hours parties for graduating high school seniors will be held Thursday, June 2; Wednesday, June 8; Thursday, June 9 and Thursday, June 16. Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure close earlier on these nights to prepare for the after-hours graduation parties.
- Paint the Way to Miracles and Magic – June 18, 2011 Downtown Disney District. To buy tickets click here.
- D23 Expo – August 19-21, 2011 at the Anaheim Convention Center. Tickets for the D23 Expo 2011 are now on sale event website.
- Sixth annual Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend – September 2–4. Registration for the 2011 event is sold out, but you can join the wait list at the Run Disney website.
- Fall 2011 MouseAdventure at the Disneyland Resort – Saturday, September 24 (Advanced division) and Sunday, September 25 (Advanced, Basic and 101 divisions) at the Disneyland Resort. Visit MouseAdventure.com to sign up for our newsletter.
- CHOC Walk in the Park – Sunday October 16, 2011. Registration is now open via the event website.
- Fall 2011 MouseAdventure at Walt Disney World – Saturday, November 12, 2011. Visit MouseAdventure.com to sign up for our newsletter.
We also recommend checking the convention calendar at the Anaheim/Orange County Visitor and Convention Bureau Web site (link). When looking at that site, remember to note both the number of people and the number of rooms resulting from each convention. A gathering of 25,000 people booking few room nights (indicating most will be driving in to the area for their meeting) can impact traffic around the Resort much more than a crowd of 25,000 staying in area hotels. Of course, that second group is going to make finding a hotel room more difficult (and possibly more expensive), so it's best to book your own room as early as possible if you see that a big convention is in town during your trip.
Current Discounts & Promotions
Several current promotions offer discounted admission to the Disneyland Resort. For your convenience, 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 that works best for you. And keep those tips coming—let us know if you find a better or different offer, so we can share it with other readers!
This first section is a list of discounts on ticket-only purchases. Though it has become more common in recent years, Disneyland tickets are rarely offered at deep discounts unless you are a resident of Southern California or Northern Mexico. For residents outside that area, the best discounts available tend to be simple advance purchase discounts.
If you know of any additional discounts, offers, promotions, or contests that should be listed in this section, drop us a line (link). Note, we are no longer listing offers from the Anaheim-Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau, as their convenience fee negates any savings.
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One Day, One Park Ticket – Regularly $76/$68 One Day Park Hopper – Regularly $101/$91 |
No discounts currently available to the general public. Check with your employer, school or credit union to see if any discounts are available through them. |
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Two Day, One Park per Day Ticket – Regularly $151/$136 Two Day Park Hopper – Regularly $161/$146 |
No discounts currently available to the general public. Check with your employer, school or credit union to see if any discounts are available through them. |
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Three Day Park Hopper – Regularly $206/$185 |
3-Day So Cal Resident Ticket ($139) and 3-Day So Cal Resident Park Hopper ($154) – The 2011 3-Day So Cal resident discount ticket is $139, $31 more expensive than the 2010 version, and offers Southern California residents three one-day admissions to either Disneyland or Disney's California Adventure. The ticket is the same price for adults and children. This base ticket is NOT a park hopper, and allows admission to only one park per day. For an additional $15 per person, you can upgrade to a 3-day Park Hopper ticket that allows admission to both parks each day. The ticket goes on sale June 3, and is valid through September 5, 2011, but is blocked out July 2-4 and August 21-22. The ticket has a 45-day "fuse," which means you must use all three admissions within 45 days of the first use, or forfeit the unused days. Disney Military Promotional 3-Day Park Hopper Ticket ($99) – A discounted price offered to active or retired U.S. military personnel or their spouses. Based on past offers, Disney defines "Eligible Service Members" as active or retired members of the US military, including active members of the National Guard or Reservists and active or retired members of the US Coast Guard. This discount is available at MWR/ITT offices at your military base, or at the Disneyland Resort ticket booths. Valid military ID is required. The price is the same for adults and children, and total of six tickets may be purchased per military member, regardless of who purchases the tickets (the member or their spouse). Tickets must be purchased by September 28 and used by October 1. The ticket has the following 2011 blockout dates: February 18–21; April 17–23; and July 1–4. As far as we can tell, there is no "fuse" on this ticket, so you may have more than the standard 13 days from first use to use the remaining two admissions, but we highly recommend you contact your base MWR/ITT office for more details before making travel plans. Please note that this ticket is not a "bonus" ticket, and so does not include an early admission day. Advance Purchase 3-day Park Hopper Bonus Ticket ($186/$165) – A discounted price for advance purchase through the Internet or select dealers. Available at the Disneyland Web site (link) where shipping is included if you order more than 10 days prior to your travel date. Also available from AAA offices in Northern California, Nevada, and Utah (not currently listed at the AAA Web site, you may need to call your local office). Disney Stores (California), Safeway supermarkets (California and Arizona), and certain travel agents may also sell these tickets. It is best to call and confirm before visiting a location, however. "Bonus Tickets" include one early admission day (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday). If purchased from AAA, the tickets come with free parking at the Mickey & Friends parking garage (a $15/day value). |
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Four Day Park Hopper – Regularly $231/$199 |
Costco 4-Day Park Hopper Ticket plus $50 Disney gift card ($199) – A special offer for Costco members who are also residents of Southern California, this ticket is available online and in select Costco stores. Unlike most other park hopper tickets, this ticket has no "fuse" - you can use the first admission today, and have until August 31, 2011 to use the remaining admission days before the ticket expires. The ticket is blocked out July 1-4, 2011 and August 21-22, 2011. This ticket comes with a $50 Disney gift card, and has an "upgrade value" of $151 if you want to update the 4-day ticket to a higher value ticket or annual pass. The ticket states that visitors "Must reside within ZIP codes 90000-93599" and that "Proof of residency required upon redemption." The ticket you purchase at Costco is a valid admission ticket, and you can take it directly to a main entrance gate to use it. We've been told that, to prevent the unauthorized "transfer" of tickets between visitors (i.e., you use the first two days of the ticket and give it to a friend to use the second two days), visitors will be required to write their name on the ticket when it is first used for admission, and to show ID with that same name upon subsequent admissions. Obviously minor children will be exempt from the ID requirement, but will also be required to write their name on the ticket when it is first used. Adults should plan to have ID with them to use the ticket. Advance Purchase 4-Day Park Hopper Bonus tickets ($201/$178) – A discounted price for advance purchase through the Internet or select dealers. Available at the Disneyland Web site (link) where shipping is included if you order more than 10 days prior to your travel date. Also available from AAA offices in Northern California, Nevada, and Utah (not currently listed at the AAA Web site, you may need to call your local office). Disney Stores (California), Safeway supermarkets (California and Arizona), and certain travel agents may also sell these tickets. It is best to call and confirm before visiting a location, however. "Bonus Tickets" include one early admission day (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday). If purchased from AAA, the tickets come with free parking at the Mickey & Friends parking garage (an $15/day value). These tickets are now valid through January 3, 2011. |
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Five Day Park Hopper – Regularly $251/$219 |
Advance Purchase 5-Day Park Hopper Bonus tickets ($211/$186) – A discounted price for advance purchase through the Internet or select dealers. Available at the Disneyland Web site (link) where shipping is included if you order more than 10 days prior to your travel date. Also available from AAA offices in Northern California, Nevada, and Utah (not currently listed at the AAA Web site, you may need to call your local office). Disney Stores (California), Safeway supermarkets (California and Arizona), and certain travel agents may also sell these tickets. It is best to call and confirm before visiting a location, however. "Bonus Tickets" include one early admission day (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday). If purchased from AAA, the tickets come with free parking at the Mickey & Friends parking garage (a $15-per-day value). |
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Six Day Park Hopper – Regularly $256/$230 |
Advance Purchase 6-Day Park Hopper Bonus tickets ($216/$190) – A discounted price for advance purchase through the Internet or select dealers. Available at the Disneyland Web site (link) where shipping is included if you order more than 10 days prior to your travel date. Also available from AAA offices in Northern California, Nevada, and Utah (not currently listed at the AAA Web site, you may need to call your local office). Disney Stores (California), Safeway supermarkets (California and Arizona), and certain travel agents may also sell these tickets. It is best to call and confirm before visiting a location, however. "Bonus Tickets" include one early admission day (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday). If purchased from AAA, the tickets come with free parking at the Mickey & Friends parking garage (a $15/day value). |
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| Disneyland Resort Annual Passports |
No discounts currently available for new purchases. Southern California residents can take advantage of the monthly-payment plan when purchasing any but the Premier Annual Passport.
Premier Annual Passport: $700 [Valid at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort] |
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2011 Southern California CityPass $269/$229 |
2011 Southern California CityPass ($276/$229) – This pass includes a 3-Day Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Bonus Ticket (including one early-entry day), a one-day admission to either San Diego Zoo or San Diego Wild Animal Park, as well as one-day admission to Sea World San Diego and Universal Studios Hollywood. The CityPass expires 14 days after first use at any location, and the first use must occur by January 3, 2011. Purchase CityPass through the Disneyland Web site (link) or on-site at the ticket booths of Disneyland Resort or the other theme parks included in the pass. You can also purchase directly from the CityPass Web site (link) though this has a minimum $7.50 shipping charge (no shipping charge from the Disney Web site if purchased more than 10 days in advance). You can also purchase the Southern California City Pass online from Costco at a cost of $259.99/$209.99 (link), which includes free UPS shipping. A 5% surcharge for non-members, and shipping fees to members in Alaska and Hawaii may also apply to your purchase. Booklets may be available for sale in some stores but varies widely. If you want to buy in person it would be best to call ahead and confirm availability. If you do buy at Costco, you will initially purchase a large plastic container or a cardboard placard that you must trade for ticket books prior to leaving Costco! [Editor's note: The 2011 Southern California CityPass is not currently available from Costco.com as of March 2011. The link above searches Costco.com for the CityPass. If and when Costco.com begins carrying the CityPass again, the link will show a result for it.] |
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Hotel/Travel Packages
Summer discount offers – The Disneyland Resort released a new hotel discount for Summer 2011.
Room-only hotel discounts
The Resort is offering discounts of up to 25 percent on select Disneyland Resort Hotel stays for arrivals June 19 - Aug. 13, 2011. Travel must be booked by July 23, 2011, and a two-night minimum stay is required. Discount applies only to standard and concierge level rooms. There is a limit of two rooms per reservation, and a maximum of five people per room. Travel must be completed by Aug. 14, 2011.
The offer also includes 2 Fastpass tickets per person, per stay, and the fine-print reveals that Disney will be operating a "specially created, limited time Disney's Fastpass return line for The Little Mermaid – Ariel's Undersea Adventure attraction" that will be available June 3 - September 11, 2011.
Book online at the Disneyland.com Web site (link), call Walt Disney Travel Company at (714) 520-6425, or contact your favorite travel agent.
Costco Travel Packages – Many different travel packages including visits to Disneyland and Disneyland hotels are available through Costco.com. When purchasing a Costco Disneyland travel package, extras that will be included are: Mickey's Toontown Madness admission (currently available Mondays, Wednesday, Fridays, and Saturdays), a character breakfast collectible pin and lanyard, and a Costco luggage tag per person, plus a $20 Disneyland Resort gift card per package.
Disney's Resort Magic and Good Neighbor Magic Packages – Package includes accommodations one of the three resort hotels or at one of 40 Good Neighbor hotels; Souvenir Park Hopper ticket with voucher for admission to Mickey's Toontown Morning Madness, plus one Magic Morning (early entry) for three-day or longer Park Hoppers; preferred seating at four DCA attractions (Disney's Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular, Muppet*Vision 3D, It's Tough to be a Bug!, Golden Dreams); Preferred Showing of Turtle Talk with Crush (Priority Viewing at the first Turtle Talk with Crush show of the day, on any one day - one voucher per Guest); Disney Dream coin keepsake (one per package), luggage tag and lanyard with pin; a Downtown Disney Fun Card; and a "Character Call" from Mickey, Minnie, Goofy or Crush. Contact Disney Travel or your favorite travel agent.
Contact a MousePlanet sponsor travel agency for assistance in booking your next trip
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Other Discounts
Character Dining Vouchers – Discounted character dining vouchers are available for purchase online, in advance of your trip, through Get Away Travel (link).
Disney Visa Discounted Stroller Rental – If you have a Disney Visa card you can rent up to two strollers at a discount of 50%. This offer is valid only at the Main Gate rental location between Disneyland and Disney California Adventure.
Rainforest Cafe Safari Club – Members of the Rainforest Cafe get priority seating when available (which makes a huge difference on busy days), and a 10% discount on entrees for up to four people. Additionally, after signing up, your membership card will be mailed to you and be accompanied by a $10 award good for your next visit to a Rainforest Cafe. So if you know you will be eating there while at Disneyland and have a Rainforest Cafe local to you, it may make sense to prejoin the Safari Club so that you can use the award during your trip. See the Rainforest Cafe Web site for details (link).
ESPNZone MVP Club – Membership in the MVP Club does not offer any discounts on food. However, once a member you can make an online reservation for your party up to three days in advance and will get a 25% increase in points purchased when playing games in the Sports Arena (and 40 bonus points at activation). You must register online and your membership card will then be mailed to you within two weeks. The card must then be activated at any ESPNZone by the person who signed up for the card and ID will be required (link).
Park Schedule/Blockout Dates
DL: Disneyland
DCA: Disney California Adventure
Annual Pass blockout dates:
- SL – Southern California Select Annual Pass
- SC – Southern California Annual Pass
- DX – Deluxe Annual Pass
Disneyland Resort Special Events:
- MM – Magic Morning at Disneyland
- TT – Toontown Morning Madness at Disneyland
- Grad Nite
- MHP – Mickey's Halloween Party at Disneyland
MousePlanet Special Events:
- MA – MouseAdventure (www.mouseadventure.com)
| 5/29 | 5/30 | 5/31 | 6/1 |
6/2 |
6/3 | 6/4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-10p SL MM |
DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-10p TT |
DL: 9a-11p DCA: 10a-10p MM |
DL: 9a-11p DCA: 10a-10p TT |
DL: 8a-9p DCA: 10a-8:30p Grad Nite MM |
DL: 9a-12a DCA: 10a-10p SL TT |
DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-10p SL/SC/DX MM / TT |
| 6/5 | 6/6 | 6/7 | 6/8 |
6/9 |
6/10 | 6/11 |
|
DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-10p SL MM |
DL: 8a-12p DCA: 10a-10p TT |
DL: 8a-12p DCA: 10a-10p MM |
DL: 8a-9p DCA: 10a-8:30p Grad Nite TT
|
DL: 9a-8p DCA: 10a-8:30p Grad Nite MM |
DL: 9a-12a DCA: 10a-10p SL TT |
DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-10p SL/SC/DX MM / TT |
| 6/12 | 6/13 | 6/14 | 6/15 |
6/16 |
6/17 | 6/18 |
|
DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-10p SL MM |
DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-10p TT |
DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-10p MM |
DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-10p TT |
DL: 8a-9p DCA: 10a-8:30p SL/SC Grad Nite MM |
DL: 9a-12a DCA: 10a-10p SL/SC TT |
DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-10p SL/SC/DX MM / TT |
| 6/19 | 6/20 | 6/21 | 6/22 |
6/23 |
6/24 | 6/25 |
|
DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-10p SL MM |
DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-10p SL TT |
DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-10p SL MM |
DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-10p SL/SC TT
|
DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-10p SL/SC MM |
DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-10p SL/SC TT |
DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-10p SL/SC/DX MM / TT |
| 6/26 | 6/27 | 6/28 | 6/29 |
6/30 |
7/1 | 7/2 |
|
DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-10p SL MM |
DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-10p SL TT |
DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-10p SL MM |
DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-10p SL TT
|
DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-10p SL MM |
DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-10p SL/SC TT |
DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-10p SL/SC/DX MM / TT |
| 7/3 | 7/4 | 7/5 | 7/6 |
7/7 |
7/8 | 7/9 |
|
DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-10p SL/SC/DX MM |
DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-10p SL/SC/DX TT |
DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-10p SL/SC MM |
DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-10p SL/SC TT
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DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-10p SL/SC MM |
DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-10p SL/SC TT |
DL: 8a-12a DCA: 10a-10p SL/SC/DX MM / TT |
Visit our Annual Passholders Blockout Dates page to see more dates. You can see future calendar schedules at Disneyland. As always, specifics are subject to change without notice (or occasionally, without us noticing) so when information conflicts between what is presented here and that presented by Disney, it is best to assume Disney's information is correct.
Visit the Park Hours section of our Disneyland Park guide for additional details about Magic Morning and Toontown Morning Madness, including available attractions.
Entertainment schedule: Go directly to the Disneyland Resort schedule for this week at Disneyland.com here.
Comments
Once again, another great update. I am hear that Mickey's Soundsational Parade has gone back to the classic style of the Disneyland parades many years ago.
Shouldn't Mary Poppins be riding side-saddle?
Powers &8^]
I was thinking maybe CalOSHA had something to do with that.
Thanks for posting the parade video. I was out there on Sunday, and rode Ariel's new ride, but wasn't able to make the parade. It looks to be a lot of fun! To those concerned about long waits on the new Mermaid ride: "Don't worry, be HAPPY." This is the swiftest line I have ever seen for any ride at any park. Just like Haunted, guests use a moving walkway to board the ride conveyance (either a clam shell, for those able to walk, or a chariot, for those using wheelchairs and their companions) but this walkway moves so much faster. There were occasions when the whole ride stopped to allow slower guests access to a vehicle. However, even those stops don't prevent the line from moving right along. The first time I rode, the posted wait time was 20 minutes, but I was on the ride in 11 minutes. The second time, the posted wait time was 15 minutes, but I was on the ride in 10. Fast passes may not be any more necessary here than they are for Pirates.
The ride imagineers really hit one out of the ballpark this time. I especially enjoyed the musical selections and wonderfully animated scenes and plan to add this to my list of "must do's" for each visit to DCA.
Yes, Mary Poppins should be riding side-saddle. That was the way she rode in the movie.