Disneyland Tips & Secrets

[Mouse Freak]

Hello- It's Mouse Freak! I purchased this e-book and thought I would share it with the rest of you... You might know alot of the information contained in this posting but All is interesting info and reading; ENJOY!!!


Disneyland Tips & Secrets Topics Listed Below:

Disneyland
Events
Rides
Celebrating Birthdays at Disneyland
Where to Stay
Timeshare
Something for Cops and Firefighters
Where to Find the Toilets
The Pricelist
Getting Upgrades
The Big Secret
More Upgrade Secrets
Other Ways to Get Discounts
Useful Links
FAQ
Great Money Saving Meal Tips
Extras
Bonus:
Insider: Club 33
Club 33 Membership Information


Disneyland Tips and Secrets Content Below:

It is imperative that you read this from start to finish.
Never leave a single word out so that you can take advantage of this
great opportunity to save more while having lots and lots of fun!
Make sure that you verify the actual schedules, rates and events
prior to hitting the road to Disneyland. You may visit their website at
www.disneyland.com.
If you are planning to visit the world-renowned theme park, this
guide will not only give you a glimpse of all the fun and adventure that
you can have but of the realistic ways to save your dough.
Inside, you’ll find the big secret that is not really that big but I’m
sure it will save you tons once you get your hands on it. So hold tight to
this, read it thoroughly and never skip a word.
DID YOU KNOW THAT EVEN IF YOU ONLY EXPECT TO BE
AT THE PARK FOR A DAY, IT IS STILL A TAD CHEAPER TO
TRADE IN FOR AN ANNUAL PASS?
Got you there, eh? As I said, this e-book will unlock doors for
you so before the whole world gets to Mickey’s lap for a measly few
cents, read this from page one to the last and head to Disney’s counter
NOW!
And how about this…
If you get a park hopper, you can only use one pass for one park
a day, unless you get a park hopper—that gives you the license to “hop”
from one park to the other all in a day’s work! But wouldn't you want
the greater freedom of going to any park you want at any time? Think
about it.
Those are just two of the little and big secrets that you and I will
have once you finish reading this. So, get those eyes working
right…NOW!
NOT SO FAST, BUDDY!
Most of the time, when we unearth something really wonderful
and new, we rush off without knowing the basics, and often times, the
result isn’t exactly that great. Let’s not make that mistake here.
Before we get to the more interesting stuff, let’s get a few other
important things rolled out. What’s a guide without a roundup of what
Disneyland has to offer, after all? So, sit back, hold your horses and read
on.
What you are about to read will help you make the most of your
enchanting Disney escapade all the more exciting.
D I S N E Y L A N D
Welcome to the Magical World of Disney. Let me be a part of
your tour. I hope I can help you get the most out of it.
Year of a Million Dreams
As a former cast member, I am sorry to say that none of us really
know what this is all about. I think it has something to do with the fact
that the 50-Year Anniversary is so over.
The PR team has not been very clear about the remaining
999,000-plus "dreams." Disney has heavily hyped up the awards night—
go to Cinderella's Castle, all-expense paid trip to Disney parks around the
world to star in a parade, get invitations to private parties, have one-onone
time with princesses—to name a few. Well, here’s how it goes,
Disneyland and Florida’s Magic Kingdom will pass around 2,000 prizes
each every day to park guests randomly.
Every now and then the cast members hear a few more details of
the program. Based on our department and schedule, every single one of
us will attend a mandatory two-hour orientation in the main auditorium
at the Team Disney Anaheim building—that’s the resort's corporate
headquarters. The presenters will reveal how the Disney Dreams will be
given away and unveil the new shows, attractions, merchandise and
"celebration buttons."
The "special wishes" will be granted by the "Dream Squad" cast
members, wearing white vests over blue shirts and a pair of cutesy pants.
At random, they'll award guests with "dreams" such as "special pin
lanyards, VIP admissions to shows, or DreamEars—these are mouse ears
with blue sky and clouds on them. Cast members have to submit an
application for them to be a part of the squad, and the exact procedures
on how the dreams will be given away to successful hopefuls who will
later complain of it (the procedure) being really painful.
A new "Pixie Dust Pin" program will help create opportunities
for guest interaction with cast members who didn't make the Squad.
Regular employees will award guests with two identical Tinker Bell
pins—one for the guest to keep and the other for the guest to give to
another guest.
According to one cast member, "Everything was really
underwhelming. Nothing that would strike you as new or interesting
info. It was all stuff that's been going around, you know, suites, Golden
FastPass, food, etc. The Golden Fastpass is pretty silly, though; on slow
days it's useless. It is a small square that says 'Golden FastPass' with tabs
go around it. Each tab has a FastPass attraction name. So I imagine it's
just one use per attraction. Definitely a bummer compared to the 50th
year promotion."
Cast members also caught a peek at the new employee nametags:
white or silver with a castle-in-the-clouds design. So it can be used on
both coasts. The castle looks like a cross between Disneyland's and
Disney World's. In fact, whereas the 50th anniversary featured gold
everywhere—well, 50, after all is a GOLDen anniversary—the new
promotion's primary color scheme will consist of sky blue, white and
silver. The first merchandise tie-in clothing, which are imprinted with a
generic "Disney Parks: Where Dreams Come True" arrived at the
Emporium late last week.
New merchandise has begun to appear featuring a new, generic,
and pretty boring logo. New celebration buttons were also shown off.
There are redesigned favorites (Happy Birthday, My 1st Visit, Happy
Anniversary, Just Married, Honorary Citizen), plus several new occasion
buttons.
Beyond sharing too many secrets, the presenters spend most of
their time reminding cast members how to treat guests properly to make
their stay a pleasant one. Each cast member is handed a brochure that
outlined the basics of the promotion, but emphasized that they should
plan ways "to interact with guests, as well as spontaneous opportunities
to initiate guest interaction." The main idea is to give every guest a
"transformational experience."
Magical Beginnings
Feel the magic and see the magical world come to life through
the eyes of your little ones. No other program in Disney Park can hand
that experience to you than the Magical Beginnings! Say hello to
Disney’s all-new vacation package.
Most trips to Disneyland are made with those cute little ones in
tow. So make it the best first, second, third and so on for them. Explore
the ins and outs of the magical world with your kids and have lots of fun
yourself! The new vacation package is the best way to go about it. You
are invited to a Special Character experience, enjoy some of the most
popular shows in Preferred Viewing areas, get a hold of special Magic
Beginnings guide map—but who needs another guide when you have
THIS!—and a whole lot more. These packages are best for families or
groups with children aged 5 and below.
Packages for two nights start at $239.
Basic inclusions:
• One Early Entry into Fantasyland in Disneyland Park
• 3-Day Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Bonus Ticket, valid for
same day entry into both Disneyland Park and Disney's
California Adventure Park
• Accommodations at a conveniently located Disneyland Resort
Good Neighbor Hotel
• A Magical Beginnings guide map that highlights all of the fun
for you and your little ones.
• Mickey's Toontown Morning Madness—an interactive Guest
and Character experience.
• Preferred Seating to select shows in Disney's California
Adventure Park
• Preferred Viewing for Playhouse Disney - Live On Stage!
PLUS:
• EXCLUSIVE! WDTC Luggage Tag,
• EXCLUSIVE! WDTC Collectible Pin & Lanyard,
• EXCLUSIVE! WDTC California Fun Book.
Pirates of the Carribean
As part of the Year of a Million Dreams, which started on Oct. 1
2006, Disneyland has been receiving three new interactive shows—all
currently playing at Walt Disney World. The Tomorrowland Terrace
plays host to the Jedi Training Academy, the Fantasyland Theatre
receives the Princess Fantasy Faire, and Disney's California Adventure's
parade corridor holds the High School Musical Pep Rally.
One performer, however, heard that Block Party Bash will be cut
in half to accommodate the High School Musical Pep Rally.
If there’s one FUN thing going on, it’s the 40th anniversary
celebration for The Pirates of the Caribbean! It's a pirate's life for you in
the Year of a Million Dreams celebration!
On your next visit to the Disneyland® Resort, be sure to stop by
New Orleans Square in Disneyland® Park and wish the motley crew of
the Pirates of the Caribbean a happy 40th anniversary. These scallywags
have been sacking the Spanish Main since 1967 in the original version of
the classic Disney Theme Park attraction, which also happens to be the
last attraction created under the personal supervision of the great Walt
Disney himself. And if you haven’t spotted him already, be sure to keep
an eye out for the savvy buccaneer by the name of Captain Jack Sparrow,
star of the Pirates of the Caribbean movie series.
Ardent fans will surely want to mark this milestone
anniversary—and there’s a veritable treasure chest of commemorative
booty just waiting to be unearthed! Artist Amanda Visell produced a
series of stylized Pirates of the Caribbean prints in honor of the
attraction’s 40th. And Robert Olzewski, a well-known sculptor and
miniaturist, has created a special heirloom treasure chest box especially
for the occasion. There are even some new pirate-themed ornaments
crafted by the famed designer, Christopher Radko himself. It’ll be
perfect for your tree this yule!
The Call of Adventure, one of the three specially-themed dream
paths available to Guests at the Disneyland® Resort is open for pirate
wannabes. Back in May 25 2007, Pirate’s Lair at Tom Sawyer Island
opened to cater to swashbuckling pirates like you. Nothing could be
more perfect for those who want to try their hands at serious pirate
moves.
It ain’t a part if there’s no food, so enjoy the sumptuous buffet
laid out for you at the galley—awash with mouth-watering pirateinspired
treats to choose from in and around New Orleans Square. Eat
hearty, matey, because you’ll need all the strength you can muster for the
rest of your adventurous day!
Signature Events
The queue is getting longer by the minute. Make sure you have
reserved the most comfy spot in these once-in-a-lifetime celebrations.
Complimentary Events
Set your tastebuds ga-ga as the mouth-watering kitchen secrets
of California is opened to the culinary art aficionados. Be a part of the
trip back in time as the history of California’s cuisine unfolds.
Festival Wine Shop
The Golden Vine Winery serves as the hub for all festival
information including daily event schedules and same-day reservations,
whenever it’s available.
Feast with all the food that you can think of. For Disney’s
California Food and Wine Weekends, surely nothing could be more
delightful than the huge helpings of delicious tapas-sized treats with
loads of perfect wine and beer at the Lucky Fortune Cookery in the
Pacific Wharf.
At the Golden Vine Winery, you can pick the most awesome
wines, gourmet cooking products, and exclusive festival merchandise, or
hold your wineglass on the beautiful outdoor patio—picture perfect!
And because your convenience is important, items may be delivered to
Package Pickup near the Park main entrance so you won’t have to carry
your loot around the lot!
Taste of California
They are also adding more wine and food events to The Calif
Adventure Theme park to give you that real taste of California!
Disney's California Food & Wine Weekends
Let your nostrils and tastebuds feast at the rich aromas and
scrumptious California treats. If you’re a cooking show fanatic, you’ll
definitely have a blast as cooking demos, seminars and fine-meal
preparation instructions will be given to showcase the rich culinary
flavor of the Golden State.
Disney's California Food and Wine Weekends is sponsored by
the Vanity Fair® Premium Napkins every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Rockin' Space Mountain and Rockin' California Screamin'
This popular ride is seen to be up and running in spring. Talk
has it that the music for both rolling coasters will change to new popular
soundtracks and techno in the evenings. For now, expect to experience
rock ‘n roll once more. It will be kept in sync with the twists and turns.
While the PR for the golden anniversary says it was a blast,
merchandise cast members remarked that there is a huge pile of unsold
50th anniversary trinkets in the area. Most of the load will be destroyed
once they are pulled from the shelves.
Who hasn’t heard of Californication and Scar Tissue? The ever
popular group that has been recently nominated for six Grammy awards
will temporarily rock the Space Mountain at Disneyland and California
Screamin’ at Disney’s California Adventure. Truly rock fans from
across the globe will have their dreams come true as it is a part of the
Year of a Million Dreams extravaganza. The two parks will spice up the
place with new special effects and themes fully-customized to make each
twist and turn an experience of a lifetime.
From January 3 to April 26 of this year, guests will have a grand
time at the Space Mountain. This is because the widely-loved highspeed
interstellar adventure will have an all-new twist. The adventure
that has wowed its followers since the 70s will find new highlights that
will surely illuminate the throngs of rock fanatics. Its cutting edge
technology will sport RHCP’s famous song, Higher Ground—totally apt
for the ride of the century! The remake of Stevie Wonder’s 1989 hit will
create an out-of-this-world rock adventure. With new technology and
music in place, there’s no stopping the Rockin’ Mountain from rockin’
hot!
Riders of Rockin’ California Screamin’ at Disney’s California
Adventure will also tap their heels to a new rhythm. Perfectly tapped into
the airwaves is the 1999 hit of RHCP, Around the World. Riders will
definitely be rockin’ and screamin’ the 6,000-feet track away. This fourminute
ride is the world’s longest steel looping roller coaster and takes
guests from zero to 55 miles per hour in a flash.
Rockin’ Space Mountain and Rockin’ California Screamin’ are
just some of the highlights of the “Year of a Million Dreams” celebration
that began at Disneyland Resort in Southern California and Walt Disney
World Resort in Florida on October 1, 2006. For 15 months, Disney
Parks will be celebrating the realization of dreams, making literally
millions of dreams, big and small, come to life for eligible guests through
the Disney Dreams Giveaway. Over hundreds and thousands of moneycan't-
buy experiences—from exclusive Dream FASTPASSES for
popular Disney attractions to around-the-world vacations down to a stay
in the special Mickey Mouse Penthouse at the Disneyland Hotel—are
being awarded every now and then. In addition to the Disney Dreams
Giveaway, guests are enjoying all new immersive entertainment
experiences at the resort.
At Disneyland Park, guests are meeting, playing and learning
their royal ways with Disney Princesses at Disney Princess Fantasy
Faire, dueling with Darth Vader at Jedi Training Academy and creating
mayhem with Pirates in New Orleans Square. At Disney’s California
Adventure Park, guests young and old are getting jiggy with it, and
joining in the fun of the High School Musical Pep Rally. The Year of a
Million Dreams celebration lasts through 2007.
Monorail of the Future
See the first of an entirely new fleet come spring. Blueprints of
the new design were shown to the workers in the roundhouse. According
to one, "It is a combination of the current design and the ‘Ol Red. The
driver will be sitting in a cockpit blister. It is still unknown if it will be
completely automated—something that is hotly debated [over]. The
Monorail drivers still prefer having some kind of control."
There have been talks that say the seating arrangement has been
totally reconfigured to increase the capacity. This has not been very
clear in the illustrations of the new design but workers in the
Roundhouse believe that this could be true.
The Monorail is now operational on a limited capacity. For
more information, you can check out its page in Disney’s website
http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/en_US/parks/attractions/deta
il?name=DisneylandMonorailAttractionPage
Finding Nemo's Submarine Voyage
This looks like it’s all geared up for summer.
RIDES
High School Musical Pep Rally
We’re indeed all in this together so get that teen spirit of yours
ablaze with lots of dancing, cheering, and singing along to a medley of
the hottest tunes from the smash Disney Channel movie! You can shoot
hoops and cheer on the Wildcats while checking out the amazing
choreography of this high-energy show!
Be sure to go to disneyland.com and click on the "calendar" icon
at the top right of the page. You can then enter the dates that you are
going and see all that is happening on those days, i.e. parade and show
schedules, etc.
This is a lot of info to take in, but give it time, read it again
whenever you can, get ready to have that experience of a lifetime at
Disneyland. You’ll surely have a blast, at half the price!
Pirates of the Caribbean—perhaps one of the most enjoyable
stops ever!
Head for the open gates so you don’t have to wait that long.
According to a tip from Disney: Traverse treacherous waters deep into
the heart of the Caribbean and come face to face with the notorious
Captain Jack Sparrow! Hoist anchor and set sail through a seaport set
ablaze by pillaging pirates under the command of the barbaric Barbossa
hot on the trail of his wily nemesis, Captain Jack, and the temptation of
buried treasure. Classic Disney storytelling that adds a new layer of
adventure to this timeless attraction A Pirate's Life for You! Join the
ranks of the motliest crew of pirates to ever come ashore at the
Disneyland Resort. Take the pirate oath, listen to stories from the sea,
and sing along as you discover what it's like to become a Pirate of the
Caribbean! Disney Pirate entertainment includes:
• Captain Jack Sparrow—Everybody’s favorite pirate finally gets
the fame and recognition he craves during his own meet and
greets!
• The Bilge Rats—A band of cursed pirates recently escaped from
the attraction sing songs, tell stories and raise their battle cry of
freedom!
• The Bootstrappers—This rag-tag pirate musical act performs
authentic sea chanteys and even some Disney tunes!
• The Sailing Ship Columbia—A daily commandeering of the
Sailing Ship Columbia by a lone and crafty buccaneer!
All these and more at the Pirates of the Caribbean. Visit
DisneyParkPirates.com to learn more about the enhanced Pirates of the
Caribbean attraction!
Buzz Lightyear in TomorrowLand
Another new addition to the great rides is Buzz Lightyear. It’s
awesome! You get a laser tag gun, shoot at neon signs and have your car
keep the score for you. Even dads would love this one! Get a Fast Pass if
you happen to be in TomorrowLand, because the queue to this fun ride
gets really LONG! A Fast Pass ticket may even tell you to come back in
3 hours! Your best bet is to get to the park right at opening time and run
for the ride. You may then be able to ride 3 times back to back without
ever having to wait!
The Monsters Inc Ride
It is one of the newest but definitely not the hottest! It’s a bit
slow and boring. This is, however, great for babies and toddlers but this
is not something that you should stand in line for.
Princess Fantasy Faire
Care for some happy-every-after adventyre? Enter the enchanted
world of little princesses and knights in Princess Fantasy Faire. You’ll
be able to listen to some cute storytelling and other royal celebrations.
It’s a fun make-believe attraction. Surely your little ones will be
entertained.
You can find this attraction in the outdoor Snow White Theater.
The Princess will be available for pictures. There will also be a
Coronation that will be every hour. The girls will learn about being a
princess and the boys will learn about being a knight. This is a nice show
to go to and watch and sit for a while. You can relax while the kids can
interact with the Princesses and Princes.
Turtle Talk with Crush (From Nemo):
Remember that hip and cool sea turtle from Finding Nemo?
Have an in-depth chat with him. You’ll have a blast engaging in live and
unrehearsed conversations with Crush at Disney's California Adventure®
Park.
Disney's Aladdin - A Musical Spectacular!
Experience a 40-minute show that features larger-than-life
scenes, with breathtaking sets and amazing stage effects coupled with a
mouth-gaping script. Check out the mesmerizing musical numbers with
songs from the beloved animated classic. With dancing genies, soaring
carpets and imagination taking flight, this amazing production brings
your favorite characters from Disney's Aladdin to the glorious Hyperion
Theater. Your kids will surely love the flying carpet.
The Jedi Training Academy
Guests aged 4-12 will be randomly picked from the audience.
They will participate in the “training” of a Jedi. Official Jedi
merchandise is available next to the Jedi Training Academy. If you’re
one of those who get lucky, feel the Force flow within you as your Jedi
training begins. Hone your lightsaber skills as you and other Padawans
learn techniques and moves from a Jedi Master. Then, put your training
to the ultimate test as you do battle against the dark side. May the Force
be with you!
BIRTHDAYS
Normally, trips to Disneyland are made by people from other
places who happen to be in the vicinity, who want to see the cartoon
characters that they have come to love through the years, who celebrate
their birthdays or who want to make those who are celebrating their
birthdays happy. Indeed, what could be merrier than throwing your
birthday bash with Mickey and Minnie as special guests or with Goofy
calling you to greet you himself!
Birthdays at the Disneyland Resort are anything but ordinary.
BUT you can make it a tad more special that it already is with a little
tweaks here and there. Plan it in advance so you can maximize its great
potentials.
Birthday Greetings from Goofy
Where: City Hall
Age Range: All
Cost: Free
Go to the City Hall for your birthday treat. When you spot a
telephone that looks like it has been around since Walt Disney was
walking about the same hall, you’ve just hit the jackpot. The phone is
supposed to be Goofy’s official private line and it’s solely for greeting
birthday celebrants. There are not-so-private lines all across the park that
can be patched to Goofy but this one’s special.
Fantastic? Absolutely cool!
Birthday Stickers
Where: City Hall
Age Range: All
Cost: Free
Getting birthday stickers is one of the basic steps to a fantastic
true blue Disneyland birthday, and the best part is it’s FREE! It informs
park employees that you are celebrating your birthday, thus giving you a
more special treatment. You can definitely keep this sticker and place it
in a scrapbook or even in your photo album!
Fantastic? Nothing beats a freebie! Especially if you can keep it
forever.
Birthday Bucket
Where: Most resort restaurants at DL and DCA
Age range: 12 and below
Cost: $20
You can spot birthday buckets practically anywhere in the
Resort. But this is a cheaper alternative to having a birthday bash at the
Plaza Inn. Each birthday bucket contains a small cake, a birthday pin,
choice of toys that is theme-dependent and stickers. Kids and kids at
heart enjoy this special birthday treat.
Fantastic? It’s not exactly cheap but it’s still a tad cheaper than
throwing a real party. Besides, the birthday pin is a nice memorabilia.
Complementary Birthday Dessert
Where: Storytellers, Blue Bayou, Carnation Cafe
Age Range: All
Cost: Free with meal orders
Priority Seating: Call Disney Dining at (714) 781-3463
Most restaurants offer a birthday cake on the house plus a
customary Happy Birthday song along with a purchase of a meal.
Storytellers at the Grand Californian offers a nice venue for a family
treat. There’s a make-it-yourself pizza which appeals to kids and a
chocolate-flavored, Mickey Mouse-shaped dessert in a to-go container.
The Carnation Café also gives out a birthday dessert with your
ordered food. Known for its comfort food, this café affords its patrons a
nice view of the Main Street.
The Blue Bayou is also a favorite party venue.
Prices for Celebration Cakes at Blue Bayou:
9" round Cake; serves 12 people - $30.12
1/4 sheet Cake; serves 20 people - $40.41
Prices already include tax and what-have-yous. Please verify
the availability and the updated prices prior to going there.
Fantastic? Well, any of these restaurants can spice up one’s
birthday celebrations. Reasonably worth it.
Happiest Birthdays on Earth
Where: Plaza Inn, Disneyland
Age Range: 12 and below
Cost: $10 per person aged 2 and above
Premium Annual Passholders get a 10 percent discount
Priority Seating: Call Disney Dining at (714)781-3463 or stop by the
Plaza Inn or City Hall
This is more children-targeted. It includes a cake with sprinkles
and frosting, punch and a plastic birthday drink cup, a party hat and a
special sticker. The celebrant is given a 40-60-minute birthday party that
Pat E. Cake hosts. It is filled with songs and a cake-decorating contest.
Everybody wins, of course.
Fantastic? Well, for $10, it’s indeed something. Not one that
you would want annually but it’s still a great way to celebrate your or
your kid’s birthday.
Club Libby Lu
Where: Downtown Disney
Age Range: 13 and below
Cost: Prices vary from $20 to $30 per person
Reservations: Call (714) 772-3793
Definitely a girl thing. It requires a deposit upon booking but
there is no minimum number of guests required. So it can be a quiet
family affair or a big splash with the girls.
Fantastic? Well, this has made quite a huge division among
patrons. It’s really your call.
Tortillas
Where: Mission Tortilla Factory Tour
Age Range: All
Cost: Free so long as you have a birthday sticker
DCA and Mission’s Tortilla Factory does not do lip service on
this. If cast members spot your birthday sticker, there is a very good
chance they will give you a whole bag of hot, fresh tortillas as a yummy
birthday gift. That’s grand but it’s not guaranteed. The trick lies in not
asking for anything. A smile and a subtle flashing of your birthday
sticker can prompt the cast members to offer you a bag of fresh tortillas
more often than not.
Fantastic? Getting one nice warm sack of tortilla speaks
volumes!
Build-a-Bear Workshop
Where: Downtown Disney
Age Range: mostly teens and younger
Cost: Prices start at $10 per guest
Reservations: Call 1 (877) 789–2327 (toll-free), at least 3 months ahead
This activity is not in the grounds itself. Howeveryou’re your
kids are up for a Disney Adventure, this is a great fun way to celebrate
one’s birthday. The entire upper part of the building is only for private
groups, a totally different scenario from the lower floor where it is
usually chaotic and crowded. A party leader is in-charge of helping the
visitors make a toy bear or any character that they can think of. They
then stuff it some more, name it, and create a personalized birth
certificate. The drawback? No food and drinks are allowed inside.
Fantastic? Well, it’s a tad more pricey than the first few options
but it does create a memento far more tangible then they are all
combined.
Character Dining Birthday Party
Where: At various character-dining locations around the resort.
Age range: Geared towards kids 12 and under
Cost: Purchase of meal plus $5 per guest
Priority Seating: Call Disney Dining at (714) 781–3463
Call Disney Dining and book for a place at Goofy's Kitchen.
Here’s how it goes: you pay an extra $5 for every person that you bring
along. Each one gets a plate, cup, a birthday hat and a goodie bag with a
Goofy pen and a toy. The birthday celeb gets a cupcake. If you want a
bigger cake, you’ll have to buy one. You can check the prices below.
You can also order cakes from the on-site hotel restaurants but there’s a
slight difference in the prices.
Cake prices:
6" cake - $12
10" cake - $18
1/4 sheet cake - $30
1/2 sheet cake - $45
Full sheet cake - $85
10" cheesecake - $25
Make sure that you make your reservations at least 24 hours
ahead. If you have orders, give it at least a 72-hour notice.
Other options include—the Lilo and Stitch Aloha Breakfast at
the PCH Grill in the Paradise Pier Hotel and the Royal Disney Princess
Breakfast at the Plaza Inn. The two offer a party set–up with party hat,
plate, cups, and small bag with a little treat inside for $5 on top of the
buffet cost.
Fantastic? That depends on your mood. If you are into Disney
characters and buffet meals, $5 per person will not seem much.
oooOooo
When planning for a birthday celebration, consider everything
that needs to be done, prepared, bought and all that jazz. Of course you
also need to think of what you really want and what you want to have to
make that celebration a truly memorable one.
Other than holding the shindig in the full-service restaurants in
the Disneyland® Resort, you can also try "My Disneyland Birthday
Party" at the Plaza Inn. This includes having Mickey and Minnie
around. There’s also a fun-filled activity at Goofy's Kitchen where you
can make a wish, blow out your candles and get Birthday Bags filled
with goodies.
For information and pricing on all these wondrous celebrations,
please call (714) 781-DINE
HOTELS
For more updated rates, please visit www.disneyland.com. From
what I gathered, the average tarriff rate at the Grand California Hotel,
Paradise Pier Hotel and The Disneyland Hotel ranges from a whopping
$200 to $425 a night!
There are, however, a lot of other, less expensive options. Our
friends’ new favorite hotel—they just returned this week—is The
Anabella Hotel. It charges $56 a night (one bed, off-season) and is really
nice. It’s more or less 10 years old and offered free parking. It’s got
clean, granite bathrooms and a refrigerator. It even offers free coffee and
newspaper in your room. Most importantly, it is just an 8-minute walk to
Disneyland’s gates. The kids were too tired when they got back from
Disneyland that they slept on the floor. They brought sleeping bags aptly
for this expected turn. Check the hotel that I’m talking about at
http://www.anabellahotel.com/
There are also two other hotels right ACROSS the gates of
Disneyland. Some of our friends have also checked into these hotels as
they are cheap. They are slightly old but they were really close to the
park. One can literally walk across the street and give Mickey Mouse a
high five. A small setback is the smell of the room—you know those old
houses that smell, well, old? But who cares! It’s a stone’s throw from
the park and you don’t really STAY in the hotel anyway! You can
always pack a small candle or an air freshener to mask the smell of the
years. We’re talking about the Desert Inn—usually $56 a night—and
The Ramada, which charges $89 per night. You can check the rates at
the www.anaheimdesertinn.com and at the www.ramadamaingate.com,
respectively. Or you can always veer to www.travelocity.com.
Usually when before I book into hotels, I always check the
following websites for tips, perks, recommendations, rates and whathave-
yous. There’s www.travelocity.com, www.cheaptickets.com,
www.mousesaver.com, www.AAA.com (this has a whole lot of Disney
area info), www.Costco.com, www.Delta.com (they are the official
airline for Disney and they have cheap packages, too).
Other than the ones I already mentioned, a few more hotels in
the vicinity range from cheap to so-so, some of the even offer discount
tickets to Disney.
• Anaheim Camelot Inn & Suites, formerly Park Inn
(www.camelot-anaheim.com) – you will get a free continental
breakfast. You can always bag some extra fruit and bread for
later—like when you’re stuck in a line or when the kids go
hungry.
• Howard Johnson Anaheim Hotel (www.hojoanaheim.com) --
offers free parking, and hotel to the park transfer via shuttle
• Candy Cane Inn (www.candycaneinn.net, toll-free
800.345.7057) --offers free parking, free continental breakfast.
• Tropicana Inn (www.tropicanainn-anaheim.com)
Timeshare
Do not forget, if you have any timeshare ANYWHERE, they
may take your points at Disney area condos, hotels and resorts. As an
added savings, you may even ask a friend or a relative in the area if they
have a timeshare that they do not use.
oooOooo
When you buy an annual passport, you will need the ticket to get
into the park and then they will tell you to go to the annual passport line
inside the park for a photo ID ticket. The counter is right inside the park.
You will see it upon entering the premises. It starts off Main St. at the
right hand side.
Check the queue when you walk it, it will probably be VERY
long. Or WAIT until the end of the day to do this, lest you get stuck in in
for over an hour. You can also wait until the park’s closing time, or
during a parade, or a firework show, and then run over there. You should
ask an employee beforehand and make sure that it doesn’t close early
that day. Remember, you need to get that Photo ID ticket the very same
day that you go into the park with your annual passport for the very first
time. Do not forget that or you’ll put all our efforts to waste.
If it’s your first time to visit Disneyland, or if you haven't been
since they added on California Adventure and Downtown Disney. Check
out this map before you go to the park so you can be familiar with the
area, every nook and cranny, and plan your trip in a more organized
manner: http://www.solarius.com/dvp/dl/disneyland-map.htm
Two shuttles run to and from the John Wayne airport & LAX:
the Airbus (Check out www.airportbus.com, or call 800.938.8933) and
the Supershuttle (Website: www.supershuttle.com)
EARLY BIRDS ALWAYS GET THE WORM SO READ
THIS PROPERLY. YOU CAN GET INTO THE PARK AN HOUR
EARLIER. ALMOST EVERY MORNING THE GATES OF DISNEY
ARE OPENED AN HOUR EARLY! THIS IS FOR EVERYONE!!!
THIS IS PRIMARILY BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO LET THE
PEOPLE INTO THE PARK WITH EARLY ENTRANCE TICKETS.
FOR YOU, THIS MEANS A CHANCE TO SHOP ON MAIN STREET
OR HAVE BREAKFAST AN HOUR BEFORE THE PARK
ACTUALLY OPENS—THEY BARRICADE THE END OF THE
MAIN STREET SO YOU CAN’T REALLY GET ONTO THE RIDES
UNLESS YOU HAVE AN EARLY ENTRANCE TICKET. THIS IS
ALSO A GREAT TIME TO GO IN EARLY AND PLAN YOUR DAY,
TAKE A BUNCH OF PHOTOS WHILE YOU’RE AT IT, TO
MAXIMIZE YOUR TIME INSIDE THE PARK.
NOTE: There are security checks points that EVERYONE
MUST go through before you even get to the ticket booths or entrance
lines to the park. Getting into the park can take quite a LONG time in
some days so make it a point on going an hour early. If for some reason
you are lucky enough to speed through the lines, remember that the park
is most likely open early anyway. Grab a daily calendar and plan your
day. OR go to the Main street café for one of the refillable coffee cups!
(See below).
VEGAN: The only two places that offer a decent meal for
vegans, to our best knowledge, that is, are The Blue Bayou, (portabella
mushrooms) and Critter Country with a vegan patty. However, ask if you
need to know how they are prepared or what is in the sauce.
FREE COFFEE! You can pump yourself up with free coffee
refills with the plastic mug you purchased at the Blue Ribbon Bakery on
Main Street right inside the main entrance gates. Not extraordinarily
cheap, but the mug portion is free of charge, and provides a daily
reminder of your trip when you use it for your daily coffee consumption
back home. The souvenir mug at White Water Snacks at the Grand
Californian Hotel also provides free refills as well.
FREE SODA! For free soda refills and a bit of a rest from all the
noise, go across the street from Disney to McDonald’s, or take a hike to
downtown Disney and go to the walk-in pizza kitchen. A slice of pizza is
$4 and you get free soda refills. We often eat at the pizza port near
Space Mountain. Drinks are self-served. I have asked on two occasions
about drink refills in there. Once they told me you are allowed one refill
and then another time they just said yes you could refill. We ate at Pilots
Grill one time and they said no refills at all, which was awful after
paying $2.75. Next time I'll go back to Pizza Port if we need to eat.
DISNEY GIFT CARD: If your kids are old enough to go around
the park on their own for a few hours, a fun idea for spending money is
to give them Disneyland gift cards. They come in $25, $50 and $100
denominations.
Shop, wine, dine, stay and play in Disneyland with the Disney
Gift Card! It's an ideal gift for Disney fans for all occasions! Guests can
use the Disney Gift Card instead of carrying cash—who knows what
could happen to your wallet while going around the park. It’s convenient
and it’s safe and is valid throughout the Resort. Use it to pay for just
about anything—tickets, food, merchandise, parking and even
accommodations at the Disneyland Resort Hotels.
To go directly to the page where you can pre-pay the cards, visit
http://attractiontickets.tickets.com/buy/TicketTrans?storeID
CHECK THIS OUT COPS AND FIREFIGHTERS: A friend
shared her experience with me. Read this: I wanted to let you know
about something you might want to add to your list of info. A few years
go, my husband and I went to Disneyland with another couple. The
husband was a firefighter and wanted to get some kind of firefighter
memorabilia. He went to the town hall and they called the Disneyland
Firestation, not the one on main street, but the real one behind it, where
the cast members dress. A fireman came out and directed us all back
there. He said any fireman or policeman could do that. We were able to
purchase unique firefighter t-shirts, mugs and more, that said Disneyland
FireDepartment, for really cheap prices. It was a neat experience, but I
don't think many people know you can actually do that.
IF you have never been to Disneyland or you haven't gone since
they added California Adventure and Downtown Disney, let me just
clarify the way it is set up now. Everything is RIGHT there when you go.
You don't need to take a tram to get from Disneyland to
Downtown or California Adventure. The downtown is not really a down
town, it's a cute little row of Disney stores (and some non-Disney stores)
with a lot of restaurants in between. It is so small that there aren't any
cars. It is a walking distance between the Disney hotels to the parks that
used to be the parking lot but is now called "Downtown Disney” and
California Adventure is right across from the main gate to Disneyland.
So you literally walk over there—I’m guessing it’s 50 yards. They still
run the monorail from the hotel but it's so close it's usually faster to walk
than to wait in line for the monorail. With most other hotels, you will
need to catch a free tram to get to and fro Disney. Remember the last
tram is usually a half hour after the park closing, so if you go to eat at
downtown Disney, you will miss the tram and could be walking back a
mile or so more.
TIPIf
you do not plan to stay at Disneyland the entire day, you can literally
park for free! The first 3 hours of parking in Downtown Disney is FREE.
After 3 hours then it is $6 per hour with a $30/day limit. Remember, after
you leave the parking garage, you can always return and get another 3
hours for no charge.
Quick exit: If you ARE at a Disney Hotel, go over to where they
the new Nemo ride is and get the Monorail there back at night, it is much
easier than trying to get out of the main gates (there is still only ONE
way out of Disneyland!!). After the fireworks display, it can be very
difficult and slow going to get out. More often than not, people are
literally at a stand still. They will ask you to show your Disney room key
to get on the Monorail.
oooOooo
If you have a used Disney room key from a previous trip you can
show them that to get on the monorail at the Nemo ride. Ask your friends
if they have a used room key. This is really important for you to get on
this monorail. It has to be pretty current, not over a couple years old.
This monorail will drop you in Downtown Disney near your hotel.
So you have gotten the picture of what you will see inside the
parks. The next step is the planning part. So when, oh when are you
hitting the road to Disneyland? Check out the next part.
THE BEST TIME TO VISIT THE DISNEYLAND RESORT
Picking the best time to visit the Disneyland Resort depends
upon your interests.
• If you are not a fan of huge crowds, plan to visit between
Tuesdays and Thursdays in mid- September through mid-November,
mid-January to mid-March, or mid-April through mid-May.
During these times, the waiting time is usually shorter and
you get to do more. However, Disney's California Adventure Park
and Disneyland Park typically cut down their operating hours and
parades and shows when it’s off-season.
Also, there may be fewer entertainment and events, and
attractions as venues are usually being refurbished or renovated at these
slow times.
• If you want to visit while the park has extended hours,
entertainment, events and most attractions operating, book your stay
on weekends, or on extended holiday weekends on Christmas and
Spring Break, or in June to August. Be prepared, however, for long
exodus of guests from all over the country and out. You may even
have to wait an hour or two in line for something as not-so-exciting as
the Peter Pan or Dumbo ride!
For a complete list of schedules, events and others, go to the
Calendarsection at www.disneyland.com and enter the dates of your
visit. Or you can contact the Disneyland Resort Information Office (714)
781-7290.
For convention, please note the following abbreviations:
DLR=Disneyland Resort
DCA=Dsineyland California Adventure
August: Wanna Know a Secret?
The first half of August is often as busy at the Disneyland Resort
as the peak of the season in mid July.
Since several years ago though, the last two weeks of August,
especially the weekend before Labor Day, have been among the least
crowded periods of the summer season. Both Disneyland and DCA are in
full operation and open late. Because both parks are fully staffed for the
summer season, wait times for rides are, relatively, shorter than during
the peak of the season.
September: Do you remember?
It’s back-to-school season. On a typical year at the DLR, both
theme parks cut back on all staffing levels, entertainment offerings, and
operating hours right after Labor Day.
On weekdays, Disneyland is generally only open from 10AM to
8PM, while DCA is open between 10AM and 6PM. Weekend operations
are usually from 9AM to 11PM and 10AM to 9PM, respectively.
This is also one of those times in the entire year that is tagged as
an off-season. This is that time of the year when several of the parks'
most popular attractions are taken out of service for their regularly
scheduled maintenance. In addition, some attractions, like Haunted
Mansion and Small World, are closed for several weeks each fall while
workers install holiday season overlays.
IF YOU JUST CAN'T STAND CROWDS AND LONG
LINES AND DON'T REALLY MIND MISSING A FEW RIDES, THE
PERIOD BETWEEN LABOR DAY AND THE START OF THE
HOLIDAY SEASON MAY BE YOUR BEST BET.
October
The first weekend in October, the holiday season at Disneyland,
doesn’t get officially underway until Thanksgiving week. However,
unofficially Disneyland has become the Merriest Place on Earth a little
earlier each year. It takes weeks to fully decorate Disneyland and DCA
for the holidays. Holiday trimmings can be seen sprouting in various
areas of both parks well before the Halloween.
The real unofficial start of the holidays, for the past three years,
has been the first weekend in October. It's at this time that the Haunted
Mansion reemerges from its post-Labor Day hiatus with the Tim Burton
Nightmare before Christmas-inspired Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay.
The annual opening of Haunted Mansion Holiday draws thousands of
annual passport holders and locals back to Disneyland each year.
The first weekend in October is also typically the time when the
biggest unofficial event of the year takes place at the Disneyland Resort.
Gay Day 2, The Unofficial Gay Days at the Disneyland Resort
is a "mix in” where tens of thousands of gays, lesbians, and their families
and friends join the resort's other guests for a weekend of fun and
fantasy. The Unofficial Gay Days at the Disneyland Resort weekend
usually kicks off with a big dance at a local area hotel on Friday.
Saturday is Gay Day at Disneyland and Sunday is Gay Day at DCA.
Because the opening of Haunted Mansion Holiday and Gay Days
often coincides, crowds at the DLR during the first weekend of October
are often huge! Thus far, they have not risen to the level necessary to
force the closing of Disneyland's gates.
November thru December
The Merriest Place on Earth by Thanksgiving Week—all of the
Disneyland Resort's holiday decorations are up and in place. Both
Disneyland and DCA begin extended hours of operations.
SCHEDULES HAVE VARIED IN RECENT YEARS.
YOU'LL WANT TO CHECK THE ON-LINE DISNEYLAND RESORT
CALENDAR FREQUENTLY FOR UPDATES.
Over the past five years, the all-time popular Believe There's
Magic in the Stars fireworks show has given way to a special holiday
pyrotechnic display called Believe in Holiday Magic. To the tune of the
widely-loved White Christmas, this annual favorite concludes each
performance with a crowd-pleasing snow shower! Experience it to
believe!
Be sure you get to Disneyland some time in the Fall and Winter
when they make it SNOW on Main Street! It is such a treat to see the
kids’ faces when the "surprise" happens! Make a note of the actual dates,
but usually it starts the first week of November. It takes so many days to
decorate you can even see yuletide overlays sprouting in little spurts here
and there all across the park even before Halloween.
The busiest times of the holiday season at the Disneyland Resort
are typically Thanksgiving Week and the period between December 15
and New Year's Day. So popular have the holidays become at
Disneyland that it has become customary to CLOSE the gates to the park
on as many as five separate days during this time of year because it gets
realllly jam-packed.
Keep a few things in mind in visiting Disneyland.
As expected, weekdays are best for visiting the parks and
shopping for souvenirs and collectibles. It is advisable to arrive early
each day and ride as many rides as you can before late afternoon.
Arrive early each day and ride as many rides as possible before
late afternoon. Local guests will begin arriving as soon as school lets out
just to see the holiday fireworks and a snow shower show, if there’s one.
January and February—the Dog Days of Winter
Just like any other ordinary day of the year, the day after New
Year’s Day follows off-season operating schedules. Showtimes and
workhours are usually cut back and various shows and programs are
pulled out of the calendar for a thousand and one reasons. The Haunted
Mansion and Small World are closed anew to remove the previous
season’s decors followed by the rest of the pack.
AS WITH THE PERIOD IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING
LABOR DAY, IF YOU JUST CAN'T STAND CROWDS AND LONG
LINES AND DON'T MIND MISSING A FEW RIDES, THE PERIOD
BETWEEN NEW YEAR'S DAY AND THE START OF THE
ROLLING SPRING BREAK SEASON MAY BE A GOOD TIME FOR
YOU TO SCHEDULE YOUR VACATION.
March and April—without the Madness
The Rolling Spring Break season at the Disneyland Resort
marks its new beginning in early March and lasts through Easter. This is
the resort's first up-tick in traffic since the holiday season. Theme park
hours are extended, shows resume a fuller schedule of performances, and
most programs and attractions are once again fully-operational. Having
said that, with the possible exception of Easter Weekend, neither
Disneyland nor DCA, in recent years, have ever come close to full
capacity during Spring Break season.
The Disneyland Resort is NOT a big Spring Break destination
for America's college students. This is probably because Disneyland is
does not allow booze inside its premises and bottles of wine in DCA are
a tad too expensive for college kids.
May thru November
Will probably see a slight plunge in the total number of guests
arriving at the Disneyland Resort.
The high-traffic season will begin with Memorial Day weekend
and peak around the second week of August. Post-Labor Day and News
Year's Day will be periods of both reduced visits by locals and operating
hours at the theme parks. And the Christmas holiday and rolling Spring
Break seasons should see increases in visits and operating hours.
oooOooo
TOILETS (MANUAL FLUSH)
While automatic flush toilets may be wonderful for keeping
restrooms clean, they can be very intimidating to children. Automatic
flush toilets rely on an electronic sensor to determine when the toilet has
been vacated and is ready to be flushed. Many children are too short for
the sensor to detect while they are sitting on the toilet. This causes the
toilet to flush. The flusher can be "fooled" by placing a hand over the
electronic eye which is usually on the wall behind the toilet—definitely a
no-no for that little tyke of yours.
Disneyland has manual flush toilets in some restrooms. Here is a
list of those locations:
• AAA Kiosk on Main Street, U.S.A. (South of City Hall)
• Plaza Pavillion
• Tiki Room
• Hungry Bear Restaurant (not urinals)
• Matterhorn Way/Path to Alice (not urinals)
• Village Haus (not urinals)
• Tom Sawyer's Island - Mill Dock
• Tom Sawyer's Island - Fort
• Club 33
• Main Street
• Tomorrowland
• Fantasyland
• Mickey's Toontown
• Frontierland
• Adventureland
• New Orleans Square
• Critter Country
• Mickey & Friends Parking Garage
Here's something you can print out and take with you!
Following the location description, we've added the following
abbreviations if the restroom has a particular amenity. If only one
restroom has it, the one containing it is specified:
HCA = Handicapped Accessible Stalls
HCAWS = Handicapped Accessible Stalls with Sinks
CT = Changing Table
DM = Diaper Machine
• Mickey & Friends Parking Garage Ground Floor Restroom
These restrooms are located on the ground floor of the parking
structure between the elevator and the escalators. HCA, CT, DM Main
Street, U.S.A.
• Main Gate
These restrooms are the only ones outside the park. HCA, CT, DM
• AAA Kiosk
These restrooms are located behind the AAA Kiosk to the left of
City Hall.
• City Hall
These restrooms are located between City Hall and the Fire Station.
HCA, CT, DM (Women's)
• Bank of Main Street
These restrooms are located to the right and behind the bank. HCA,
CT
• Carnation Cafe
These restrooms are located at the rear of the walkway between
Carnation Cafe and the New Century Timepieces. HCAWS, CT
(Women's)
• Plaza Pavilion
These restrooms are located on the porch to the right of the entrance.
They are located in a designated smoking area. CT (Women's)
• Special Services - North end of Main Street on the left next to
the Photo Supply Co.
Located there is the Baby Care Center and Central First Aid.
• Tomorrowland Entrance
These restrooms are tucked away on the right side of the entrance to
Tomorrowland on the backside of Plaza Inn Restaurant. HCA, CT, DM
• Space Mountain
These restrooms are located at the exit of Space Mountain and
Honey, I Shrunk the Audience. HCA, CT, DM
• Tomorrowland Depot
These restrooms are very well hidden behind the old Hatmosphere
kiosk across from the Tomorrowland Autopia. HCA, CT, DM (Women's)
• Fantasyland Path to Alice
These restrooms are located on the way from the Hub to Fantasyland
via the Matterhorn/Alice/Tea Party path. They are located in a large
castle to the left. HCA, CT
• Fantasyland Theatre
These are located to the left of Small World before the entrance to
Toontown. HCAWS, CT, DM (Women's)
• Village Haus Restaurant
These restrooms are located on the left of the pathway from
Fantasyland to Frontierland on the right-side of the restaurant. HCA, CT,
DM (Men's)
• Mickey's Toontown Goofy's Gas Station
These restrooms are located on the left side of the gas station. HCA,
CT, DM (Women's)
• Tom Sawyer's Island - Mill Dock
These restrooms are located opposite of the Mark Twain/Columbia
loading dock on the south end of the island.
• Tom Sawyer's Island - Fort
These restrooms are located inside the fort at the top of the hill on
the north side of the island.
• Adventureland Entrance
These restrooms are located behind the big rock structure you see in
front of you as you enter Adventureland from the Hub. The men's room
is around the rock to the left, and the women's is on the right. HCA, CT,
DM (Women's)
• Enchanted Tiki Room
These restrooms are located inside of the Tiki Room waiting area.
• Aladdin's Oasis
These restrooms are located inside the Aladdin's Oasis theater. They
are only accessible during presentations. Special unisex HCA on the
right of the entrance into the theater.
• New Orleans Square Blue Bayou Restaurant
These restrooms are located inside the restaurant.
• New Orleans Square Depot
These restrooms are located to the left of the Depot behind the
French Market Restaurant. HCA, CT, DM (Women's)
• Club 33
These elegant restrooms are located in the hall at the top of the
entrance staircase.
• Critter Country Hungry Bear
These restrooms are actually located below the serving and main
dining area on the lower level dining area. HCAWS, CT
PRICE LIST
Now, you’re all set. You have picked a date, packed your bags
and listed the places and events that you will see. But you must have
forgotten something—the tickets!
Make sure that the ticket prices are the same as the ones
advertised in the official website of Disneyland. You can visit it at
http://www.disneyland.com. Better safe than sorry, as the cliché goes.
Perks that usually come with tickets are only found in tickets
bought at the official website, http://www.disneyland.com
Promos and Specials
Promotional rates come and go. In a place where people can
afford to practically give away tickets like Disney, discounts and other
interesting offers vary.
Though it has become more common in recent years, Disneyland
tickets are still rarely see 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.
You can view the pricelist in the following page. Be sure to
double check everything at the official website.
Southern California Select Annual Pass: $183 for all ages, inclusive of
parking and admission to a few events.
Southern California Annual Pass: $213 for all ages, inclusive of parking
and admission to a few events.
Mickey’s Halloween Treat: $29 for all ages
For purposes of clarity, please be guided by the following convention:
Adult: Those who are aged 10 years and up.
Child: Those who are below 10 years old.
Five Day, Parkhopper: $159 Child / $189 Adult
Four Day, Parkhopper: $149 Child / $179 Adult
Three Day, Parkhopper: $129 Child / $159 Adult
Two Day, Parkhopper: $102 Child / $22 Adult
Single Day, Parkhopper: $73 Child / $83 Adult
Single Day, Single Park: $53 Child / $63 Adult
Premium Annual Pass: $359 for all people (parking is included).
Deluxe Annual Pass: $239 for all people ($298 with parking).
Ticket booths are located at both ends of the Esplanade (the
section between Disneyland Park and Disney's California Adventure) as
you approach either from the Harbor Blvd. side or the Downtown Disney
side. If you already have tickets, you can proceed directly to the park
entry gates; tickets are not sold at the entry gates.
UPGRADES
Anybody who wishes to upgrade to an Annual Passport from
another form of them park admission media must upgrade on the same
day as indicated in the original form.
If an upgrade to an Annual Passport is made from a multi-day
ticket, the Annual Passport will be backdated to begin on the first day
that the multi-day ticket was first used.
WHATEVER TICKET YOU TRADE IN, YOU CAN ONLY
TRADE IT FOR THE NEXT HIGHEST PRICE IN THE LADDER.
SAY, YOU HAVE A 3-DAY HOPPER THAT COSTS $149, YOU
CAN ONLY TRADE IT TO AT LEAST THE DELUXE PASSPORT.
BUT IF YOU CHANCE UPON A NICE CLERK AT THE COUNTER,
HE OR SHE CAN ACTUALLY LET IT SLIDE AND GIVE YOU
WHATEVER PASS YOU WANT. HOWEVER, YOU HAVE TO
MUSTER YOUR BEST TO HAVE THAT POKER FACE.
If you think getting an upgrade for less is exciting, think again.
GETTING IN FOR FREE
Yep, you read it right. I’m about to tell you how to get in the
magical world for FREE without using any magic tricks! Just a few
trade secrets to let you step into the realm of merriment without spending
a dime.
Cast Members and Park Employees—Spotting one or two can be more
than just a photo opportunity. It can also be your FREE TICKET.
Each cast member and park employee is given a few passes
daily. Passes mean free tickets. So it’s not really so bad. I mean most of
their families get to go in for free any day of the week, anytime of the
year, right? So what’s today’s passes!
You can catch any of these resort workers around the place,
outside the gates or even a few blocks away from the entrance. Inch
closer to them and ask them if they could spare a few tix for you and
your friends. You can, of course, offer a couple of twenties for the
passes. The passes are not worth anything to them anyway as they have
ZERO VALUE. You cannot even trade them in or upgrade them.
As cast members and employees, it is not proper for them to be
giving away passes when they’re clocked in so in case you see any one
of them, make sure that you grab your chance as fast as you can so as not
to get yourself and the employee in any trouble. If you can’t spot more
than one outside the gates, you can always use the one you already got to
go in and look for another employee on the lot.
Come on, a simple use of wits and streetsmarts won’t hurt Walt
Disney’s brainchild. They’re raking it in and you’re just saving a few
morsels for the rainy days.
Before you let those teeny weeny pangs of whatchamacallits get
to you, dig this—in April, Disney reported over $733,000,000 of net
profit for the first quarter of the year. That’s a huge hike from the
$657,000,000 of net profit that they reported at around the same time last
year. You’re just eating crumbs of the crumbs, so let’s have a grand
time at a much lesser price!
MORE UPGRADES SECRET
Did you know that you can actually trade in tickets for the next
one up the scales? Yep, like online games, you can use your ticket to get
a level up. So the next time a friend or a neighbor returns from Disney
with their tickets, get them. Do everything you can to get a hold of these
gold bullions!
Check this out—a 5-day bonus park hopper has the value of
$219 and you can trade that for a NEW annual pass. Yep, annual, my
friend!
So you were only planning to take spend a 3-day getaway in
Disneyland? No problem! Just add $20 to each used ticket and turn it
into an annual pass! That’s 3 days at the park for $50!!!! Dig that!
If you live in CA, you can even use that ticket all-year round for
just the extra $20 that you spent for the upgrade!
Too fast for you buddy? Let me try that one more time by giving
you an example.
My friends got 5 FREE tickets from their friends who had just
returned from Disneyland but they didn't use the last day of their 5-Day
Park hopper stubs! So I asked if they wanted to trade them in for annual
passes. They laughed their fat bottoms out because it sounded too
scammy for them. But they were curious so they called Disney up just
for the laughs.
Guess what? I wasn’t kidding! The tickets were good so long as
they were still valid and not expired. Oh, and they had to make sure that
it wasn’t signed at the back with someone else’s name. So if you’re
thinking about scouring the grounds for fallen and lost tickets, you’re
wasting your time because it doesn’t work that way, kiddo!
So, to make the long story short, they went through the magical
gates of Disney with 5 tickets. Each one was worth $219. And the
sweet deal there is that they traded them into annual passes by adding
twenty bucks.
Ain’t that super?
That's 5 annual passes for $100! Or only $20 a ticket! The lucky
group has gone to Disney 6 times already!
The experience opened up the floodgates of better ideas and we
figured the best way to get really cheap used tickets would be off Ebay.
So we checked out the friendly neighborhood online shop—Ebay—and
voila! we found someone who was auctioning off his used tickets with $1
as the starting bid. The rest, as they say, is history. We’ve been going
rubbing elbows with Mickey Mouse and Minnie every chance we get
using this valuable technique. Try it. You could be having the fun of
your life real soon.
One of our friends showed up one time to join us in our
Disneyland trip. You know how it is when you’re young and restless.
Most of the time you’re broke.
So yeah, our friend came with us with nothing more than the
desire to meet Donald Duck!
When we were at the park’s premises, we got lucky. Uh-huh.
We bumped into someone who was just leaving the resort. He agreed to
give us his used ticket for nada! So we hit the park and the booths and
the rides and the shows for less and went home happy and satisfied that
day.
Oh come on, don’t give me that disapproving look. We had fun.
We didn’t force our way in. We spent a whole lot of food, toys, and
other souvenir items while we were there. Everybody wins in this game.
So chill out!
Clear your head and focus on this—if you return to the ticket
counter with a valid ticket, ya know way before the ticket expires,
Disneyland offers a FULL DOLLAR VALUE toward any annual pass.
Still unclear?
Let me put it this way. You bought a 5-day hopper pass. You
want to upgrade to an annual pass. So what you do is trade your used or
unused ticket with an annual pass. You must do this before you leave the
park lest it expires. So you go to the ticket booth and you tell the guy at
the counter that you want to use your ticket to buy an annual pass. It
does not matter whether it is a one-day ticket or a hopper pass, you must
turn it in on its valid admission date. This is very important.
If you buy your ticket on Ebay, make sure that you read the fine
print. Double check the dates that have not been used and make mental
and physical notes of them.
Verify this but based on my personal knowledge, a single-day
pass for one adult costs $76. You can buy a 2-day, 3-day, 4-day or a 5-
day pass. The rates, of course, go downhill as the number of days go up.
Simple pricing principle, ya know.
So where can you find these tickets? Most people just throw
them away because they don't know that they can still use these when
they go home!
I’ll let you in on a secret. There are a few ways to get a ticket, if
you haven’t bought one just yet.
1) Spot a group of people near closing time that are getting on
trams or are getting ready to leave. Ask the peeps to sell their
tickets to you as a souvenir or something like it. Look through
their tix and check for the a) unsigned ones b) most expensive in
the stub.
2) Get the name of the person whose ticket is the most pricey. This
is useful in making a nice intro to the guys at the counter. You
can say, “It was so sweet of Jane to have bought us these tickets
but I believe, I can upgrade mine to an annual pass even if she
won’t.”
3) Pay the owner of the most expensive ticket. You don’t really
have to but it’s always good karma to do so.
4) If you can’t