Disneyland Resort Update for January 8-14, 2018

by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix, staff writer

January 9, 2018

Disneyland Resort Update for January 8-14, 2018

News and Views

New Year, New Pier, and other refurbishments

A final look at Paradise Pier before it closed for the Pixar Pier makeover. Photo by Lisa Stiglic.

Cove Bar fans waited in hours-long lines to bid farewell to the location on Sunday. Photo by Lisa Stiglic.

The 2018 refurbishment season has officially begun, with the majority of Paradise Pier closed for conversion to Pixar Pier. Rather than repeat the list of everything that has closed in Paradise Pier for this project, it's much faster to list the locations that remain open during the work:

Toy Story Midway Mania

Really, that's it. Everything else, starting from the bridge into Paradise Pier all the way around to the Silly Symphony Swings is behind construction walls or otherwise shuttered for the refurbishment. Of note, at this time: Disney has no replacement for the Princess breakfast previously offered at Ariel's Grotto.

A California Screamin' coaster launches in front of the Cove Bar. Photo by Lisa Stiglic.

Disney sold commemorative T-shirts to mark the end of California Screamin'. Photo by Lisa Stiglic.

While that work is ongoing, there are several other refurbishments in Disney California Adventure, including The Golden Zephyr, The Bakery Tour, Redwood Creek Challenge Trail and Grizzly River Run.

The last remnants of the original 2001 Paradise Pier will soon be replaced by Pixar Pier themed signs. Photo by Lisa Stiglic.

The Sideshow barker inside Sideshow Tees might be replaced with a large Bing Bong figure from "Inside Out." Photo by Lisa Stiglic.

On the plus column, "it's tough to be a bug" reopens today for the first time since the Bug's Life Theater was used for the Coco movie preview. We're not sure how long this attraction will remain open—an earlier refurbishment calendar published by Disney showed the theater closing indefinitely later this month.

Over at Disneyland, the post-holiday refurbishments have begun, with Haunted Mansion Holiday closing to remove the Nightmare overlay. Dumbo the Flying Elephant is closed for the refurbishment we mentioned earlier, which will see a new shade structure added to the attraction's relocated queue. The Main Street Vehicles are also closed, as Disney replaces the entire horse-drawn carriage track for the first time since the park opened.

Build-a-Bear is now closed in Downtown Disney. Photo by Lisa Stiglic.

This has also been a week of big changes in Downtown Disney. Build-a-Bear has closed to make room for a new dining establishment, and Ridemakerz is slated to close on Wednesday. Curiously, the Disney Dress Shoppe, which is located between the two larger stores, is not closing until later this spring. That would seem to indicate that the Build-a-Bear and Ridemakerz locations will be developed into two different restaurants, and not one larger complex.

Ridemakerz is slated to close this Wednesday. Photo by Lisa Stiglic.

The VOID Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire virtual-reality attraction opened last week. Alan Dalinka reviewed the Walt Disney World version of the attraction last month on MousePlanet, so I'll refer you to his write-up for his take on the experience.

Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire is now open in Downtown Disney. Photo by Lisa Stiglic.

2018 ticket discount for Southern California residents

Southern California residents can visit the Disneyland Resort theme parks multiple days before May 24, 2018 for as little as $159 using a new discounted ticket that went on sale Monday morning.

The 2-Day So Cal Resident 1-Park Per Day ticket offers residents of Southern California and Northern Baja California admission to either Disneyland or Disney California Adventure on one day, and then a second visit to either park on another day on or before May 24.

You can use both days of this ticket at the same theme park, or visit one park one day and the other park on the second day, but you cannot use it to enter both parks on the same day. The ticket is $159 for ages 3 and up, a discount of 20% compared to box office prices and a $10 increase from the 2017 promotion.

You can also upgrade the ticket to a park-hopper, which allows entry to both parks each day, for an additional $45, a savings of up to $40 compared to the box office price of a two-day park-hopper ticket.

If you want an extra day to visit the parks, there is also a 3-Day 1-Park per Day option ($199) and a 3-Day Park Hopper ticket ($244) in the promotion.

You can either purchase tickets at the Disneyland Resort ticket booths, or online at Disneyland.com and print them at home. You can also purchase them by calling (714) 781-4636.

If purchased in advance of arrival, the three-day tickets include one Magic Morning admission. This benefit does not come with tickets purchased at the theme park ticket booths, so make sure to order online and print at home before you arrive. If purchasing at a participating third party ticket outlet, double-check that their 3-day tickets come with this feature.

There is no "fuse" on this ticket, which means you can use the first admission today and wait until May to use the second (or third) admission. You must, however, purchase the ticket by May 21, 2018. Tickets expire May 24, 2018, and are blocked out March 23 through April 8, 2018.

While Disney states that proof of residency required for purchase and admission, MousePlanet readers who have purchased similar tickets from off-property retailers during past resident discount promotions consistently reported that they were not required to provide proof of residency at the time of purchase. However, be aware that Disneyland Resort Main Gate cast members can—and may—require proof of residency when you first use the tickets. Whether such residency checks occur is an oft-debated topic on our MousePad discussion boards, but it is your responsibility to know the official policy, regardless of what the park's actual practice may be.

Now for the official fine print:

2-Day Promotional Ticket

Valid only for Southern California residents within ZIP codes 90000 to 93599 and Northern Baja California residents within ZIP codes 21000 to 22999; proof of residency is required for purchase and admission.
2-Day, 1-Park Per Day Ticket is valid for admission for two (2) days to either Disneyland or Disney California Adventure Park, but not to both parks on the same day.
2-Day Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Ticket is valid for admission for two (2) days to both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park on the same day.;
Each day of use constitutes one full day of use.
Tickets expire May 24, 2018.
Blockout days of March 23 through April 8, 2018 apply.
May purchase up to 5 tickets per person per day with valid I.D.
Tickets may not be sold or transferred for commercial use.
Offer may not be combined with other ticket discounts or promotions.
Tickets not valid before January 8.
Subject to capacity, restrictions and change without notice.

3-Day Promotional Ticket

Valid only for Southern California residents within ZIP codes 90000 to 93599 and Northern Baja California residents within ZIP codes 21000 to 22999; proof of residency is required for purchase and admission.
3-Day, 1-Park Per Day Ticket is valid for admission for three (3) days to either Disneyland or Disney California Adventure Park, but not to both parks on the same day.
3-Day Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Ticket is valid for admission for three (3) days to both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park on the same day.
Each day of use constitutes one full day of use.
Tickets expire May 24, 2018.
Blockout days of March 23 through April 8, 2018 apply.
May purchase up to 5 tickets per person per day with valid I.D.
Tickets may not be sold or transferred for commercial use.
Offer may not be combined with other ticket discounts or promotions.
Tickets not valid before January 8.
Subject to capacity, restrictions and change without notice.

Important Details about Magic Morning at Disneyland Park

Magic Morning admission allows admission into selected attractions at Disneyland Park before the park opens to the general public on Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday.
Each Guest must have valid, eligible theme park admission.
To enhance the Magic Morning experience, it is strongly recommended that Guests arrive at least one hour and 15 minutes prior to regular park opening.
Magic Morning admission is based on availability and capacity.
Applicable theme park, days and times of operation and all other elements including, but not limited to, operation of attractions, entertainment, stores and restaurants and appearances of characters may vary and are subject to change without notice.
Subject to restrictions and cancellation.

runDisney announces virtual Star Wars half marathon; promises return to California

Runners who thought they had no chance to earn a Kessel Run Challenge medal in 2018 have an unusual opportunity to snag the coveted prize, but it will be a very different experience than past race challenges.

We've covered in great detail runDisney's decision to cancel the already-announced Star Wars – The Light Side Half Marathon at the Disneyland Resort, and to place on hiatus running events on the West Coast for the rest of 2018 and possibly beyond. Beyond being a major disappointment and inconvenience for runners who had already planned trips to run in the 2018 Star Wars race weekend in California, the unexpected hiatus also impacted runners who had registered for the Kessel Run Challenge. This extra medal is awarded to runners who completed both the Light Side half marathon at Disneyland, and the Dark Side half marathon at Walt Disney World. With the Disneyland half of the challenge cancelled, there seemed to be no way runners could earn the medal in 2018.

Then last week runDisney announced the "inaugural" Star Wars Virtual Half Marathon, and said that runners who registered for this event and completed the Dark Side Half Marathon in Walt Disney World would be eligible for the Kessel Run Challenge medal.

To compete this hybrid challenge, runners must register for the Star Wars Virtual Half Marathon and the Dark Side Half Marathon. The virtual half marathon fee is $69, and the Dark Side half marathon is $185 (or $330 if you also want to add the 10K race and also finish the First Order Challenge). Runners who opt for the virtual combo will receive all of their medals in April at the Dark Side half marathon event.

If you don't care about the Kessel Run Challenge, you can register just for the Star Wars Virtual Half Marathon ($59), and have your medal mailed to you. There is no proof of time or completion required—you're really just buying a medal, and can run (or not) on your own schedule.

I would like to be charitable and believe than runDisney officials came up with this virtual race concept to appease runners who were truly disappointed by the abrupt cancellation of the Disneyland event and subsequent loss of the Kessel Run option, but the cynic in me looks at this as runDisney looking for another way to drive revenue in a year where they stand to lose half of their income from domestic races. This may also be a way to boost registration numbers for the Dark Side Half Marathon, which has not yet sold out.

However, there is some truly good news for West Coast runDisney fans this week. During this past weekend's Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend events, runDisney officials promised that running events will return to the Disneyland Resort once Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge and related construction projects are finished. This is good news for West Coast runners, but the fact that runDisney has dubbed this virtual race an "inaugural" event, instead of a one-time special event, is a hint that there will likely also be a virtual Kessel Run Challenge for 2019 as well. Don't be surprised if Disney launches virtual Tinker Bell and Avengers races to round out the year, if this virtual Star Wars event is a hit.

2018 SoCal CityPASS

With the new year comes the annual update to the SoCal CityPASS. Here are the new prices and features:

Southern California CityPASS ($353/$324) – includes a 3-Day Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Bonus Ticket (including one early-entry day), a one-day admission to Sea World San Diego, and a one-day admission to LEGOLAND California. The CityPASS expires 14 days after first use at any location, and the first use must occur by December 31, 2018. Purchase CityPASS through the Disneyland website 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 website, though a shipping charge may apply depending on how quickly you need the ticket.

When you purchase the CityPASS, you have the option of adding a one-day admission to either San Diego Zoo or San Diego Safari Park for an extra $44/$36. This upgraded pass is only available for purchase directly from the CityPASS website.

You can also upgrade your CityPASS to add more days at participating locations:

Add a second day at LEGOLAND for $25. Purchase this upgrade at LEGOLAND on the day you use your CityPASS.
Add LEGOLAND Water Park for $30 for ages 3+ ($5 for ages 2 and under). Purchase this upgrade at LEGOLAND on the day you use your CityPASS.
Upgrade your Disneyland ticket to another ticket or annual passport of equal or greater value. For the current Southern California CityPASS, a credit of $315 for ages 10+ ($303 for ages 3–9) will be applied toward another ticket of equal or greater value. Purchase the upgrade at Disneyland before the end of your third visit.

Prices listed above are subject to change without notice.

2018 Military Salute update

Disneyland's 2018 Military Salute offer took effect January 1, and is valid through December 19, 2018. The promotion has a blockout period of March 23 to April 8. For the second year, Disney has also added a special PhotoPass promotion to the ticket.

From January 1 to December 19, 2018, active and retired U.S. military personnel who are eligible for the Military Salute offer can also purchase the Disney PhotoPass Collection for $49, a discount of 50 percent over the usual $99 price. The Disney PhotoPass Collection includes digital downloads of all available PhotoPass photos linked to your account, a voucher for a dining print package and a Disneyland Resort Gallery Disc with 350 high-resolution professional photos from around Disneyland Resort.

We've recapped the 2018 Military Salute offer below, and you can find all of the detailed terms and conditions on the Disneyland website:

Discount Type	Description
Ticket discounts	Now through December 16, 2018, active and retired U.S. military personnel (including active and retired members of the United States Coast Guard, National Guard, and Reservists) or their spouses can purchase: Disney Military Promotional 3-Day Park Hopper Tickets for $168 each [an increase of $12 from the 2017 offer] Disney Military Promotional 4-Day Park Hopper Tickets for $188 each [an increase of $7 from the 2017 offer] Disneyland tickets may be used January 1 through December 19, 2018, except that the tickets may not be used March 23-April 8. Active and retired U.S. military personnel can purchase Disney Military Promotional Tickets for themselves and up to five additional family members or friends. No more than six Disney Military Promotional Tickets may be purchased by any eligible member of the U.S. military (or spouse) pursuant to this offer. All tickets and options are nontransferable and must be used by December 19, 2018.
Hotel discounts	The new offer is valid most nights from January 1 through December 19, 2018. Like the ticket offer, hotel discounts are not valid March 23 to April 8. Disney does not publish the actual discounted rates, and instead asks eligible U.S. military personnel to call (714) 520-7088 to check pricing, availability and to make reservations. In past years, the offer was generally 30 to 40 percent off, based on room category. Unlike the Walt Disney World version, the Disneyland offer allows the eligible service member to book up to two rooms, and allows spouses (with valid and proper ID) to qualify in the absence of the service member.
PhotoPass discount	From January 1, 2017 – December 19, 2018, active and retired U.S. military personnel who are eligible for the Military Salute offer can also purchase the Disney PhotoPass Collection for $49, a discount of 50% over the usual $99 price. The Disney PhotoPass Collection includes digital downloads of all available PhotoPass photos linked to your account, a voucher for a dining print package and a Disneyland Resort Gallery Disc with 350 high-resolution professional photos from around Disneyland Resort. Note: We strongly suggest visitors consider the MaxPass product instead of this PhotoPass offer unless the dining print package and Disneyland Resort Gallery Disc is something you'll use. MaxPass costs $10 per day, or $40 for the duration of the longer promotional ticket. MaxPass also includes free digital downloads of all PhotoPass photos taken during the trip.

Discount Type

Description

Ticket discounts

Now through December 16, 2018, active and retired U.S. military personnel (including active and retired members of the United States Coast Guard, National Guard, and Reservists) or their spouses can purchase:

Disney Military Promotional 3-Day Park Hopper Tickets for $168 each [an increase of $12 from the 2017 offer]
Disney Military Promotional 4-Day Park Hopper Tickets for $188 each [an increase of $7 from the 2017 offer]

Disneyland tickets may be used January 1 through December 19, 2018, except that the tickets may not be used March 23-April 8.

Active and retired U.S. military personnel can purchase Disney Military Promotional Tickets for themselves and up to five additional family members or friends. No more than six Disney Military Promotional Tickets may be purchased by any eligible member of the U.S. military (or spouse) pursuant to this offer. All tickets and options are nontransferable and must be used by December 19, 2018.

Hotel discounts

The new offer is valid most nights from January 1 through December 19, 2018. Like the ticket offer, hotel discounts are not valid March 23 to April 8.

Disney does not publish the actual discounted rates, and instead asks eligible U.S. military personnel to call (714) 520-7088 to check pricing, availability and to make reservations. In past years, the offer was generally 30 to 40 percent off, based on room category.

Unlike the Walt Disney World version, the Disneyland offer allows the eligible service member to book up to two rooms, and allows spouses (with valid and proper ID) to qualify in the absence of the service member.

PhotoPass
discount

From January 1, 2017 – December 19, 2018, active and retired U.S. military personnel who are eligible for the Military Salute offer can also purchase the Disney PhotoPass Collection for $49, a discount of 50% over the usual $99 price.

The Disney PhotoPass Collection includes digital downloads of all available PhotoPass photos linked to your account, a voucher for a dining print package and a Disneyland Resort Gallery Disc with 350 high-resolution professional photos from around Disneyland Resort.

Note: We strongly suggest visitors consider the MaxPass product instead of this PhotoPass offer unless the dining print package and Disneyland Resort Gallery Disc is something you'll use. MaxPass costs $10 per day, or $40 for the duration of the longer promotional ticket. MaxPass also includes free digital downloads of all PhotoPass photos taken during the trip.

This and that…

...Disney has officially filed permits for the "Cleo parking structure," to be build adjacent to the Mickey and Friends parking structure on what is now the Pinocchio lot. The six-story, 2,409,554-square-foot parking structure is slated to open in 2019.

…The MousePlanet Newsletter is here! The newsletter contains a recap of the week's articles (in case you miss a day), news that may have developed since the weekly Updates were published, and tips about what's happening at the Disney theme parks for the coming weekend. We'll also include a fun bonus, such as an Eye Spy or a trivia question. To subscribe to our free newsletter, just enter your e-mail in the box below.



Join the MousePlanet Newsletter E-mail:

Crowd Forecast

Advertisement

"Do more. Wait less."

Save time and money at Disneyland. TouringPlans.com can help you avoid falling into the typical tourist pitfalls with our per-park Crowd Calendar, Lines App with access to current and estimated wait times, and Touring Plans detailing the best plan of attack for hitting the attractions. Our trip planning tools show you the least crowded park to visit every day, customized touring plans for visiting Disney’s best rides, honest restaurant reviews, how to save on Disney tickets, and so much more.

Below are the predicted resort-wide crowd numbers for select days generated by the TouringPlans professional statisticians as measured for the upcoming week. For the access to the full year and per-park crowd level predictions, visit our Crowd Calendar.

Date	Overall
Tuesday, January 9, 2018	3 / 10
Wednesday, January 10, 2018	2 / 10
Thursday, January 11, 2018	2 / 10
Friday, January 12, 2018	5 / 10
Saturday, January 13, 2018	7 / 10

Disneyland crowds for the next 365 days.
Get Disneyland wait times on your iPhone, Android, or smartphone.
Do more. Wait less.

Current Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Note: Not all attraction closures have been officially confirmed by Disney, and are all subject to change at any time. Refurbishment schedules are estimates only. We recommend checking for updates as you plan your visit. All information is subject to change without notice. To get the most recent updates, visit Disneyland.com—this information is no longer available from the automated phone service.

Disneyland

Haunted Mansion Holiday – closed through January 18 to remove the holiday overlay.
Splash Mountain – closed for refurbishment. No reopening date is available at this time, but at least through February 19.
Dumbo the Flying Elephant – closed for refurbishment. No reopening date is available at this time, but at least through February 19.
Main Street Vehicles – closed for refurbishment. No reopening date is available at this time, but at least through February 19.
"it's a small world" Holiday – closes January 22 to February 1 to remove the holiday overlay.
Casey Jr. Circus Train – closes February 5 for refurbishment. No reopening date is available at this time, but at least through February 19.
Storybook Land Canal Boats – closes February 5–15 for refurbishment.

Disney California Adventure

The Golden Zephyr – closed January 22–25 for refurbishment.
The Bakery Tour – closed through February 2 for refurbishment.
Redwood Creek Challenge Trail – closed January 2 for refurbishment. No reopening date is available at this time, but at least through February 19.
Grizzly River Run – closed through February 1 for refurbishment.
Cove Bar – closed as part of the Pixar Pier retheme. No reopening date is available at this time, though the location will temporarily reopen in April during Spring Break.

The following attractions closed January 8 as part of the Pixar Pier retheme. No reopening date is available at this time, and most of the locations will have new names when they return:

Games of the Boardwalk
California Screamin'
Mickey's Fun Wheel
Boardwalk Bazaar
Sideshow Shirts
Treasures in Paradise
Point Magu Tattoo
Don Tomas Turkey Legs
Hot Dog Hut
Ariel's Grotto
Cove Bar
Paradise Pier Ice Cream Company

Disneyland Resort

Build-a-Bear – store now closed to make room for additional dining offerings in Downtown Disney.
Ridemakerz – store scheduled to close January 10 to make room for additional dining offerings.
Splitsville Lanes – under construction in Downtown Disney. Expected to open January.

Disneyland Resort Hotels

Pinocchio's Workshop (group childcare) – closed. The space will be converted to the hotel fitness center.

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).

Disneyland After Dark after-hours event – Thursday, January 18. Tickets are now on sale at the event website. .
Lunar New Year Festival at Disney California Adventure – January 26 through February 18.
Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival – March 2 through April 12.
Pixar Fest begins – April 13. Debut of the new "Together Forever – A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular" fireworks show, as well as the first performances of the Paint the Night parade in Disney California Adventure, and Pixar Play Parade in Disneyland.
Dapper Day Spring Outing to Disneyland (unofficial event) – Sunday, April 22. More information at the event website. This popular event grows larger each year, so it's worth making note of the date if you plan to visit the park during this weekend.
2018 Grad Nites: May 4, 5, 11, 12, 15, 16, 18, 19, 22, 23, 29 and 30; June 1, 2, 5, 6, 8 and 9.
Moonlight Magic after-hours event for Disney Vacation Club members – Thursday, November 15. Reservations open October 4.

We also recommend checking the convention calendar at the Anaheim/Orange County Visitor and Convention Bureau website. 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.

Non-Disney Resort Events

Notable events at parks and attractions around Southern California. If you know of an event that should be listed here, please send us an e-mail (link).

Current Discounts & Promotions

Disneyland prices as of February 28, 2016.

Note: MousePlanet does not edit past Updates to reflect price increases; for up-to-date prices, check the most recent Disneyland Resort Update. 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. Note, we are no longer listing offers from the Anaheim-Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau, as their convenience fee negates any savings.

Don't get scammed! Never buy tickets from an unofficial or secondary outlet, such as through eBay or Craigslist. Never rent or purchase tickets from people approaching you outside the gates stating they have remaining days or leftover tickets. This practice is against the terms of use for Disneyland admission, and may result in denial of entry. It is also common for criminals to shoplift inactivated Disney theme park tickets from supermarkets to resell them. There is no way to determine if these tickets are valid until you try to use them to enter the parks. Only purchase Disney theme park tickets directly from Disney, an authorized seller, or travel agency.

Ticket Prices and Promotions

One Day Tickets

Ticket & Season	Adult one-park	Adult Park Hopper	Child one-park	Child Park Hopper
One Day – Value	$97	$157	$97	$157
One Day – Regular	$110	$165	$104	$159
One Day – Peak	$124	$174	$118	$168

Check the Disneyland website to see what type of ticket you need for the day you plan to visit. Seasonal pricing applies only to one-day tickets.