Disneyland Resort Update for August 25-30, 2015

by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix, staff writer
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Update for August 25–30, 2015

Go directly to: News & Views | Join our Networks | Current Refurbishment/Attraction Closures | Resort Events | Merchandise Events | Discounts and Promotions | Park Schedule/Blockout Dates


News and Views

Ripples of the Force | Is it really the end of run at Tomorrowland Terrace? | The Little Man (returns?) to Disneyland | Join Team MousePlanet at Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend | 2015 CHOC Walk Ambassador's Luau | Disney Parks Moms Panel search kicks off September 8 | This and that... | Crowd Forecast

Ripples of the Force

With the big Star Wars Land expansion officially confirmed, Disneyland is making the first public moves in its years-long process to bring the new land to life. It is no easy matter to clear 14 acres of land that currently houses, among other things, a petting zoo, an outdoor theater, a barbecue restaurant, a vehicle repair shop, and a farm.

As we've previously reported, some work—like creating a new fueling station for the Disneyland trams—is already underway. Other projects can't start for months, but notices are going out to departments and cast members impacted by pending work. Here's a rundown of what we believe is in the works, including operational changes that may impact your next visit:

Location Changes

Big Thunder Ranch

Disney has confirmed that the Halloween Carnival is not returning to the Big Thunder Ranch area when Halloween Time begins next month, and that the Conjure a Villain experience is not being offered this year.

This news has fueled speculation that the area may close as soon as the new fiscal year begins in October, athough we have yet to see any demolition or building permits filed for work in that area.

Note: The Pasta in the Park party offered as part of Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon Weekend in November is scheduled to be held in the Jamboree area, although it would be simple for Disney to move it to another venue. Interestingly, there is no Pasta in the Park party offered for Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend in January.

Big Thunder Ranch BBQ

Cast members at this location were notified last week that the Big Thunder Ranch BBQ closes as of January 11, 2016.

Innoventions

Disneyland cast members were notified last week that the Star Wars Launch Bay will share a space with the "reimagined Super Hero HQ" in Tomorrowland. As we've previously reported, the Marvel headquarters is under construction inside the former Innoventions building. No opening date was given, but based on audition notices posted for the new experience, we expect it to be sometime after October 11. We expect the upper level of Innoventions will house the Super Hero HQ, with the Star Wars Launch Bay on the lower level.

Disney Visa card holders received word of a new character meet-and-greet opportunity to open sometime this fall at Disneyland. We also expect this "Star Wars Imperial Meet ‘N’ Greet" to be inside Innoventions.

Is it really the end of run at Tomorrowland Terrace?

Several readers have asked about reports that bands performing at Disneyland's Tomorrowland Terrace received "end of run" notices last month. Disney is contractually required to provide notice to performing groups when they will not be scheduled for a period longer than three months. According to these notices, there are no performances scheduled after Wednesday, September 30.

Some of the groups, including the 80z Allstars and Hard Day's Night, recently performed their last Tomorrowland Terrace shows of this contract at Disneyland. Others have their final performances coming up, including Suburban Legends on Sunday, August 30, and Tomasina on Thursday, September 24.

This change has fans questioning what the future holds for the Tomorrowland Terrace and the bands. The end-of-run notice given to the Disneyland Band in April spelled the end for the traditional version of that group, which then relaunched with mostly new performers and a new show style.

A Disneyland Resort spokesman told MousePlanet, "We constantly review and evaluate our entertainment offerings, and have recently substantially increased the music presence throughout the Resort. We are excited about some of the new changes coming to Tomorrowland later this year with Seasons of the Force, the Star Wars Launch Bay and Super Hero HQ."

In this case, we expect that the end of run is more of a hiatus, prompted in part by a major refurbishment of the Tomorrowland Terrace stage expected to start in October. The stage is used for both the Jedi Training Academy show and the nighttime bands, and has been plagued in recent weeks with malfunctions that have forced the cancellation of some performances. Disney only releases entertainment scheduled about 40 days in advance, but we expect Jedi Training Academy will also go on hiatus when the work begins.

Disney's Seasons of the Force promotion is expected to begin in early 2016, almost certainly in time for Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend that begins January 14. Concept art shown of the promotion seems to indicate the "Galactic Grill" will be located at the Tomorrowland Terrace, and there may be some Star Wars-themed entertainment offered in the evenings.

Without a crystal ball or a look at Disney's five-year plan, we don't know for certain whether Disney will bring at least some of the Tomorrowland Terrace bands back after the Seasons of the Force promotion ends, but we think it's a safe bet.

The Little Man (returns?) to Disneyland

Until very recently, the name Patrick Begorra was known only to those types of Disneyland fans who might do well on a Disney-themed episode of Jeopardy. Begorra was introduced in a 1955 Little Golden Book The Little Man of Disneyland. According to the book, he was a leprechaun who lived in an orange tree on the chosen site of Disneyland, and was wooed by Mickey and pals into giving up his home to make room for the new park. In exchange, Begorra got to build a new home in the finished park.

The Little Man of Disneyland has a new home in Adventureland. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

The book invited readers to look for the leprechaun's hidden home during their visits to Disneyland. Some claim that there was once a tiny door tucked into the roots of one of the trees in Adventureland, created as a nod to the book. Others call the whole thing an urban legend. Either way, Disneyland visitors can now find Patrick Begorra's house in Adventureland, in the roots of the tree that holds the sign for the Indiana Jones Adventure. You will likely never spot it unless you're looking for it, but it's a fun little touch for those in the know.

Join Team MousePlanet at Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend

The 2015 Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend is just a few long runs away, and Team MousePlanet is preparing to cheer on the thousands of runners and walkers making their way through Anaheim. This year we hope to have enough volunteers to staff cheer stations at both the 10K and the Half Marathon.

Race participants

Team MousePlanet borrowed an idea from the women of Wellesley College at the Boston Marathon, and posts personalized cheer signs along the race course. If you would like your very own free personalized race sign, please visit our MousePad discussion forum and post your name, hometown, favorite (clean) inspirational phrase or whatever else we can use to customize a sign for you.

We'll do our best to make something colorful and clever for you, and you can look forward to seeing your sign somewhere on the course.

Cheer station locations

Catch our MousePlanet cheer station at both the Saturday 10K and Sunday half-marathon:

  • 10K – we hope to be along Harbor Boulevard, just before you turn onto Disney property before mile 2.
  • Half-marathon – we'll be between mile 6 and 7, on the right side of the road. It's a long grassy strip, with loads of room for signs.
Volunteers We welcome volunteers to help with all aspects of the Team MousePlanet cheer station, from slicing oranges and making signs in the days before the race, to handing out licorice and cheering during the event. For more information about our cheer station, please visit our MousePad discussion forum, or sign up for a volunteer shift on our VolunteerSpot page.

 

2015 CHOC Walk Ambassador's Luau

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the CHOC Walk, Childrens Hospital Orange County is hosting its first annual CHOC Walk Ambassador's Luau at the Disneyland Hotel. The event is on Saturday, October 10, the evening before the 2015 CHOC Walk. Here are the details from the event website:

This "Polynesian" themed event will feature activities for kids (BIG kids too), special photographs with Disney characters on the "Blue Carpet", face painting by Kaman's Art Shoppe, balloon art by Mr. Keith, Ambassador's silent auction, delicious luau inspired dinner, and authentic Polynesian entertainment – all to help raise awareness and funds to support CHOC Children's. We hope you will join us for this special event!

There are two packages available, and ticket prices range from $35 to $150 based on age and level. Get complete details and order tickets at the event website.

2014 saw Team MousePlanet as a participant in the 2014 CHOC Walk at the Disneyland Resort. Photo by Mark Hahn.

We also invite you to join Team MousePlanet for the 2015 CHOC Walk, our seventh consecutive year. Thanks to the efforts and generosity of our readers, Team MousePlanet has raised over $48,000 for CHOC since 2008.Team registration is now open! Come join us for a day you won't soon forget.

One of the best things about walking with Team MousePlanet is that we take ccare of checking in our walkers who want us to do so. Instead of driving to Irvine the week before the race to collect your wristband and T-shirt, or paying the $10 shipping and handling charge, we can get your items for you. All you have to do is meet us in Downtown Disney the morning of the walk to collect your goodies, and then head right into Disneyland to start the walk.

Are you ready to CHOC Walk with Team MousePlanet? It's easy to sign up - just click here!

Disney Parks Moms Panel search kicks off September 8

On Tuesday, September 8, thousands of ordinary women with an extraordinary love for all things Disney Parks have the chance to apply to become part of the Disney Parks Moms Panel.

This small group, officially sponsored by Disney, answers questions submitted online from readers on everything from how to choose where to stay to the ins and outs of making Fastpass+ reservations, or which excursions are best on the Disney Cruise Line.

The application process is intensive. It usually starts with applicants filling out an online form with information about their Disney knowledge and questions about why they want to join the panel. That first wave of applicants is cut down to a smaller second round group, which then has a second round of questions to answer. Eventually, the third round contestants have a phone interview, where judges then make the final decision. Disney selects only a handful of people to join the Moms Panel each year. 

The first round of applications begins on September 8 and runs through noon, Tuesday, September 15.

Round 2 winners will be announced not long after the deadline, but specific details are not shared by Disney.

For more information about the Disney Moms Panel and how to apply, visit the official recruiting website

We're Hiring!

Do you love Disney and have a flair for writing? We're currently looking for columnists to cover new areas of the Disney universe for MousePlanet.com.

If you are interesting in adding your voice to MousePlanet, please contact us—we'd love to hear from you!

This and that...

...The House of Blues in Downtown Disney is slated to close in early 2016, according to an article in the Orange County Register. The restaurant and concert venue will reportedly move across Harbor Boulevard into the Anaheim Garden Walk retail complex, taking the place of a struggling movie theater. A Disney spokesman confirmed that the House of Blues would leave Downtown Disney, and said there are no immediate plans for the location.

The House of Blues will close in Downtown Disney in early 2016, and relocate to the Anaheim Garden Walk. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

This announcement came just as the House of Blues closed its iconic location on Hollywood's Sunset Strip. The large Anaheim venue may provide the House of Blues the ability to host larger concerts than the Downtown Disney location could accommodate, attracting bigger-name bands to the stage.

...Replying to a question about when Muppet*Vision 3D would reopen at Disney California Adventure, the official Disneyland Twitter account replied, "At this time there is no timeline as to if or when Muppet Vision 3D would return." This is the first we remember hearing that Disney had indicated the Frozen overlay was anything but temporary, though it's certainly not an unexpected development.

..The sixth and final Diamond Celebration photo location has opened in Disney California Adventure, near the entrance to Flik's Fun Fair.

The final Diamond Celebration photo location is open in Disney California Adventure. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

This new location gives visitors several ways to create a unique souvenir photo. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Some readers have requested a full list of the locations, so here they are in one place:

Disneyland

  • Matterhorn Bobsleds
  • Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
  • Haunted Mansion

Disney California Adventure

  • California Screamin'
  • Grizzly Peak
  • A Bug's Land

...The Haunted Mansion closes today for installation of the Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay. The ride will reopen on September 11 for the start of Halloween Time.

...As of this Update, tickets to Mickey's Halloween Party are still available for all nights except Halloween night, October 31. We expect October 2 to be the next event to sell out, so be sure to get your tickets if you have not yet purchased them.

Halloween Time does not begin for two more weeks, but decorations are already being installed inside Disneyland shops and restaurants. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

...A few readers have asked why Disneyland is closing at 5:00 p.m. on September 10. Disneyland is holding a cast member recognition ceremony inside the park that evening. Disney California Adventure will remain open until 8:00 p.m.

...The new Princess and the Frog Enchanted Window debuted at Disneyland last week. The window was not functioning when we photographed it, but reader Katie Metzger got a look at it when it was working and shared these videos.

The frog forms of Tiana and Naveen perch on a lily pad in the new Princess and the Frog Enchanted Window. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

 

The second scene from the now-functional Princess & the Frog window at #Disneyland. Thanks Katie!

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Crowd Forecast

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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, August 25, 2015 3 / 10
Wednesday, August 26, 2015 2 / 10
Thursday, August 27, 2015 4 / 10
Friday, August 28, 2015 2 / 10

Disneyland crowds for the next 365 days.
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Current Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Note: Not all of 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

  • Le Bat en Rouge – closed through September 3 for refurbishment.
  • Haunted Mansion – closed through September 10 for installation of Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay.
  • Space Mountain – closed September 7–10 for installation of the Ghost Galaxy overlay.
  • Sailing Ship Columbia – closed September 8–11 for refurbishment.
  • Pirates of the Caribbean– closes September 14–29 for refurbishment.
  • Tomorrowland Theater (Captain EO) – closed; reopening date unknown.
  • Starcade – closed for renovation; reopening date TBD.
  • Innoventions – closed; reopening date unknown.

Disney California Adventure

  • "it's tough to be a bug" – closed September 7–17 for refurbishment.
  • Ariel's Grotto– closed September 15–17 for refurbishment.
  • Blue Sky Cellar – closed; reopening date now TBD.
  • Luigi's Flying Tires – closed. Ride to be removed and replaced. Reopening date unknown.
  • Muppet*Vision 3D – closed indefinitely due to the Frozen Fun overlay.

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).

2015

  • 2015 Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend – September 3–6. All events are sold out. Details at the runDisney website.
  • Halloween Time – September 11 through November 1.
  • Dapper Day Fall Soiree – (unofficial event) September 18. Details at the Dapper Day website.
  • Mickey's Halloween Party – September 25, 28, and 30; October 2, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 22, 23, 25, 27, 29 and 31. Tickets available now via the Disneyland website, by calling (714) 781-4400, or in person at a Disneyland Resort ticket booth. Halloween Night is sold out as of this Update; all other nights still available.
  • Gay Days at Disneyland – (unofficial event) October 2–4. More information on the event website.
  • 2015 CHOC Walk in the Park – Sunday, October 11 at the Disneyland Resort. Registration is now open via the event website. MousePlanet readers, friends, and family are invited to register with Team MousePlanet and walk with our group.
  • Utah Education Association convention (UEA, a.k.a. "Utah Escapes to Anaheim") – October 15-16. Expect unusually large attendance levels October 16–20 as Utah students and families take advantage of a 4-day weekend created by their school's participation in a state education convention. Not all Utah schools or teachers close for or attend UEA, but the impact on the Resort is usually noticeable enough to mention.
  • 2015 Avengers Half Marathon Weekend – November 12–15. Most events are sold out, but space remains in the half marathon race. Details on the runDisney website.

2016

  • 2016 Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend – January 14–17. All running events are sold out, but ChEAR Squad packages are still available. Details on the runDisney website.
  • 2016 Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend – May 5–8. The 5K and 10K events are sold out, but the half marathon and Pixie Dust Challenge are still available. Details on the runDisney website.
  • Utah Education Association convention (UEA, a.k.a. "Utah Escapes to Anaheim") – October 20–21.

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.

Merchandise Events

Date Event
Fri., August 28 WonderGround Gallery – Artist Showcase with Jackie Huang, 5–9 p.m.
Sat., August 29

WonderGround Gallery:

Sun., August 30

WonderGround Gallery:

Wed., September 2 Disneyana – Book signing with Marty Sklar, 10 a.m.–Noon.
Fri., September 4 WonderGround Gallery – Artist Showcase with David Lozeau, 6–10 p.m.
Sat., September 5

WonderGround Gallery:

Sun,, September 6

WonderGround Gallery

Fri., September 11

Disneyana – Artist Showcase with Dave Avanzino, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

WonderGround Gallery – Artist Showcase with David Lozeau, 6–10 p.m.

Sat., September 12

Disneyana – Artist Showcase with Dave Avanzino, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

WonderGround Gallery – Artist Showcase with David Lozeau, 6–10 p.m.

Sun., September 13

WonderGround Gallery – Artist Showcase with David Lozeau, 6–10 p.m.

Fri., September 18

WonderGround Gallery – Artist Showcase with David Lozeau, 6–10 p.m.

Sat., September 19

WonderGround Gallery:

Sun., September 20

WonderGround Gallery – Artist Showcase with David Lozeau, 6–10 p.m.

Fri., September 25

WonderGround Gallery – Artist Showcase with David Lozeau, 6–10 p.m.

Sat., September 26 WonderGround Gallery – Artist Showcase with Serpenthes artist, Gabriela Ruiz, 2–5 p.m.
Sun., September 27 WonderGround Gallery – Artist Showcase with Serpenthes artist, Gabriela Ruiz, 2–5 p.m.

Current Discounts & Promotions

Disneyland prices as of February 2015.

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.

One Day, One Park Ticket – Regularly $99/$93

One Day Park Hopper – Regularly $155/$149

CHOC-tober one-day, one-park ticket – $50
CHOC-tober one-day parkhopper ticket – $78

A discounted price available to participants in the 2015 CHOC Walk, an annual fund raiser for Children's Hospital Orange County. The 2015 event is Sunday, October 11. Each walker who raises at least $65 can purchase up to five discounted tickets following the event. The tickets are valid starting October 11, 2015. CHOC has not yet announced the end date of the CHOC-tober promotion, but we will share details as soon as we know them.

For this 25th Anniversary event, CHOC has raised the minimum fund-raising commitment. There is no charge to register for the walk, but walkers (ages 3 and up) must commit to raise $65 before the event. We invite MousePlanet readers, friends and family members to join our team for the event.

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.

Two Day, One Park per Day Ticket – Regularly $185/$172

Two Day Park Hopper – Regularly $225/$212

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.

Three Day, One Park per Day Ticket – Regularly $235/$224

Three Day Park Hopper – Regularly $275/$264

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.

2014–2015 Disney Military Promotional 3–Day Park Hopper Ticket ($132)

A discounted price offered to Eligible Service Members or their spouses.

The 2014–2015 U.S. Armed Forces discount is valid through October 3, 2015. Under this program, active and retired U.S. military personnel can purchase Disney Military Promotional 3-Day Park Hopper Tickets for $132 each.

For the purpose of this offer, Disney defines "Eligible Service Members" as active or retired members of the U.S. military, including the National Guard, Reservists, and the U.S. Coast Guard. Valid military identification will be required for purchase. This discount is available at MWR/ITT offices at your military base or other at participating U.S. military sales outlets. The tickets are not available for sale at the Disneyland Resort ticket booths. 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). Disney has also clarified that the "Military member (or spouse) must accompany the persons using these tickets for Theme Park admission," which means you can not purchase these tickets and give them to someone who will be visiting without you present.

Unlike past years, this ticket is not blocked out on the 4th of July. 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.

For complete information regarding Disney Military Promotional 3-Day Park Hopper Tickets and discounted resort rates, military personnel may visit the Disneyland Resort website, or participating U.S. military base ticket offices.

Four Day, One Park per Day Ticket – Regularly $260/$245

Four Day Park Hopper – Regularly $300/$285

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.

Five Day, One Park per Day Ticket – Regularly $275/$259

Five Day Park Hopper – Regularly $315/$299

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.

Six Day or longer tickets No longer offered by Disneyland; some travel providers may offer tickets for 6 days or longer as part of a package to international customers; residents of Canada, Australia, or the U.K. should check with local travel agencies to see what options may be available.
Disneyland Resort Annual Passports

California residents can take advantage of the monthly payment plan when purchasing any but the Premier Annual Passport.

  • Premier Annual Passport ($1,099) – valid at both Disneyland Resort and Florida's Walt Disney World Resort; includes parking.
  • Premium Annual Passport ($779) – includes parking.
  • Deluxe Annual Passport ($549)
  • Southern California Annual Passport ($389) – renewal only, not currently available for new purchase
  • Southern California Select Annual Passport ($299)
  • Parking Add On ($169) – add-on to Deluxe, SoCal and SoCal Select passes; blocked out July 4 and December 31. Renewal only, not currently available for new purchase
  • Blockout Day Ticket – no longer available.

Check with your employer, school or credit union to see if any other discounts are available through them.

2015 Southern California CityPASS $334/$291

 

2015 Southern California CityPASS ($329/$286) – 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, 2015. 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 $48/$38. This upgraded pass is only available for purchase directly from the CityPASS website

Prices listed above are valid until December 31, 2015

Check with your employer, school or credit union to see if any other discounts are available through them.

Other Discounts

Did we miss an offer? If you know of an authorized discount on Disneyland Resort tickets, standing offers for Annual Passholders from non-Disney vendors, or other promotions which might interest our readers, please drop us a note!

Discounts for everyone

Purchase with Purchase offers – Disneyland Resort shops frequently offer a reduced–price souvenir (often a tote bag, watch, or blanket) with a qualifying minimum purchase. These are offered at Disney-operated stores only, and selection may vary by location.

Recently, Disney has begun allowing customers to purchase more than one of the offers in a qualifying transaction, so if you spend $40 or more you can buy both items currently available if you wish. If you're a passholder, the minimum purchase is calculated after your discount, and your discount does not apply to the promotional item. Current offers:

  • Disneyland Mickey Mouse Backpack for $19.95 with a purchase of $40 or more.
  • Disneyland Pin Trading Starter Set for $19.95 with a purchase of $25 or more.

Landry's Select Club – members of the Landry's Select Club get priority seating at the Rainforest Cafe when available (which makes a huge difference on busy days). This club replaces the former Rainforest Cafe Safari Club, and runs on a point-based system that gives you a $25 gift certificate after you spend $250. Membership now costs $25, but comes with a $25 birthday reward. We recommend that you prepurchase your membership before your visit so you can take advantage of the priority seating benefit.


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 percent 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).


Character Dining Vouchers – discounted character dining vouchers are available for purchase online, in advance of your trip, through Get Away Travel.

Discounts for Annual Passholders

Disneyland Resort merchandise – Disneyland extended the 20 percent merchandise discount offered to Premium annual passholders through December 31, 2015. All other passholders receive a 10% merchandise discount. Visit the Annual Passholder discount page for specific details and exclusions.

Guided Tours – 15% off the regular price of 6 guided tours – Walt in Walt's Footsteps; Cultivating the Magic; Discover the Magic; Happiest Haunts; Welcome to Disneyland; and Holiday Time at Disneyland. Visit the Annual Passholder discount page for specific details and exclusions.

Dining – 10 to 15% off at a variety of Disneyland Resort locations, including Disney-owned and independent restaurants. Visit the Annual Passholder discount page for specific details and exclusions.

Discounts for Disney Visa cardholders

Character Meet-and-Greet – cardholders have access to a private character meet-and-greet photo opportunity at Disney California Adventure, and receive one free 5"x7" photograph per visit.


Disneyland Resort merchandise – Cardholders also receive 10 percent off qualifying merchandise purchases of $50 or more from Disney-operated retail stores.


Disneyland Resort dining – 10 percent off at selected Disneyland Resort restaurants, (Big Thunder Ranch, River Belle Terrace, French Market, Cocina Cucamonga, Wine Country Trattoria (lunch), Paradise Garden Grill, The Lounge at Steakhouse 55 (breakfast), Steakhouse 55 (breakfast), PCH Grill (breakfast and dinner), and Storyteller's Café (lunch).


Downtown Disney District dining and merchandise – 10 percent off at Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen (maximum discount of $40, excludes alcohol), Wetzel's Pretzels, Ridemakerz, Alamo Rent a Car, and ESPN Zone. 15 percent off littlemissmatched purchases.


Disneyland Resort Guided Tours – 15 percent off the "Welcome to Disneyland," "A Walk in Walt's Footsteps," "Discover the Magic," and "Cultivating the Magic" guided tours.


See the Disney Visa website for terms and conditions for all of these promotions.

Hotel and travel package offers

 

Costco Travel Packages – many different travel packages including visits to Disneyland and Disneyland hotels are available through Costco.


Disney's Resort Magic and Good Neighbor Magic Packages – package includes accommodations in 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 three DCA attractions (Disney's Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular, Muppet*Vision 3D, It's Tough to be a Bug!); 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.

Discounts for U.S. military

See "2014–2015 Disney Military Promotional 3–Day Park Hopper Ticket ($132)" above.

Discounts for Southern California residents 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.

 

Park Schedule/Blockout Dates

  • DL – Disneyland
  • DCA – Disney California Adventure

Annual Pass blockouts:

  • SL – Southern California Select Annual Pass
  • SC – Southern California Annual Pass
  • DX – Deluxe Annual Pass

Early Admission – full description available on the Disneyland website):

  • MM – Magic Mornings for 3-plus day ticket holders, promotional "bonus" tickets, and Southern California CityPASS
  • EMH – Extra Magic Hour for Disneyland Resort Hotel Guests
  • EA – Early Admission for Annual Passholders (not currently offered)

Disneyland Resort Special Events:

8/23 8/24 8/25 8/26 8/27 8/28 8/29

DL: 8a-12a
None

DCA: 8a-10p
EMH

AP Blockouts:
SL

Events: None

DL: 9a-10p
None

DCA: 9a-10p
EMH

AP Blockouts:
None

Events: None

DL: 9a-10p
EMH/MM

DCA: 9a-10p
None

AP Blockouts:
None

Events: None

DL: 9a-10p
None

DCA: 9a-10p
EMH

AP Blockouts:
None

Events: None

DL: 9a-10p
EMH/MM

DCA: 9a-10p
None

AP Blockouts:
None

Events: None

DL: 9a-12a
None

DCA: 9a-10p
EMH

AP Blockouts:
None

Events: None

DL: 8a-12a
EMH/MM

DCA: 8a-10p
None

AP Blockouts:
SL/SC

Events: None

8/30 8/31 9/1 9/2 9/3 9/4 9/5

DL: 8a-12a
None

DCA: 8a-10p
EMH

AP Blockouts:
SL

Events: None

DL: 10a-9p
None

DCA: 10a-8p
EMH

AP Blockouts:
None

Events: None

DL: 10a-9p
EMH/MM

DCA: 10a-8p
None

AP Blockouts:
None

Events: None

DL: 10a-9p
None

DCA: 10a-8p
EMH

AP Blockouts:
None

Events: None

DL: 10a-9p
EMH/MM

DCA: 10a-8p
None

AP Blockouts:
None

Events: None

DL: 9a-12a
None

DCA: 9a-10p
EMH

AP Blockouts:
None

Events:
Disneyland 5K

DL: 9a-11p
EMH/MM

DCA: 9a-9p
None

AP Blockouts:
SL/SC/DX

Events:
Disneyland 10K

9/6 9/7 9/8 9/9 9/10 9/11 9/12

DL: 9a-11p
None

DCA: 9a-9p
EMH

AP Blockouts:
SL/SC/DX

Events:
Disneyland
Half Marathon

DL: 8a-12a
None

DCA: 8a-10p
EMH

AP Blockouts:
None

Events: None

DL: 10a-9p
EMH/MM

DCA: 10a-8p
None

AP Blockouts:
None

Events: None

DL: 10a-9p
None

DCA: 10a-8p
EMH

AP Blockouts:
None

Events: None

DL: 9a-5p
EMH/MM

DCA: 9a-8p
None

AP Blockouts:
None

Events: None

DL: 8a-12a
None

DCA: 8a-10p
EMH

AP Blockouts:
None

Events: None

DL: 8a-12a
EMH/MM

DCA: 8a-9p
None

AP Blockouts:
SL/SC

Events: None

9/13 9/14 9/15 9/16 9/17 9/18 9/19

DL: 8a-12a
None

DCA: 8a-10p
EMH

AP Blockouts:
SL

Events: None

DL: 9a-10p
None

DCA: 9a-8p
EMH

AP Blockouts:
None

Events: None

DL: 10a-9p
EMH/MM

DCA: 10a-8p
None

AP Blockouts:
None

Events: None

DL: 10a-9p
None

DCA: 10a-8p
EMH

AP Blockouts:
None

Events: None

DL: 10a-9p
EMH/MM

DCA: 10a-8p
None

AP Blockouts:
None

Events: None

DL: 8a-12a
None

DCA: 8a-10p
EMH

AP Blockouts:
None

Events: None

DL: 8a-12a
EMH/MM

DCA: 8a-9p
None

AP Blockouts:
SL/SC

Events: None

9/20 9/21 9/22 9/23 9/24 9/25 9/26

DL: 9a-12a
None

DCA: 8a-10p
EMH

AP Blockouts:
SL

Events: None

DL: 9a-10p
None

DCA: 9a-8p
EMH

AP Blockouts:
None

Events: None

DL: 9a-10p
EMH/MM

DCA: 9a-8p
None

AP Blockouts:
None

Events: None

DL: 9a-11p
None

DCA: 9a-8p
EMH

AP Blockouts:
None

Events: None

DL: 9a-11p
EMH/MM

DCA: 9a-8p
None

AP Blockouts:
None

Events: None

DL: 8a-7p
None

DCA: 8a-12a
EMH

AP Blockouts:
None

Events: MHP

DL: 8a-12a
EMH/MM

DCA: 8a-10p
None

AP Blockouts:
SL/SC

Events: None

9/27 9/28 9/29 9/30 10/1 10/2 10/3

DL: 8a-12a
None

DCA: 8a-10p
EMH

AP Blockouts:
SL

Events: None

DL: 8a-6p
None

DCA: 8a-8p
EMH

AP Blockouts:
None

Events: MHP

DL: 9a-9p
EMH/MM

DCA: 9a-8p
None

AP Blockouts:
None

Events: None

DL: 8a-6p
None

DCA: 8a-8p
EMH

AP Blockouts:
None

Events: MHP

DL: 9a-10p
EMH/MM

DCA: 9a-8p
None

AP Blockouts:
None

Events: None

DL: 8a-7p
None

DCA: 8a-12a
EMH

AP Blockouts:
None

Events: MHP

DL: 8a-12a
EMH/MM

DCA: 8a-10p
None

AP Blockouts:
SL/SC

Events: None

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

  1. By tea4two

    In addition to the MHP on 10/31, other sites are reporting that the parties on 9/25 and 10/25 are now sold out, too.

  2. By AVP

    Quote Originally Posted by tea4two View Post
    In addition to the MHP on 10/31, other sites are reporting that the parties on 9/25 and 10/25 are now sold out, too.

    Thanks for the heads up. Both nights were available as of Sunday night, so this just goes to show how quickly things change. I'll call Disney tomorrow to see if the ticket booths still have them.

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