Disneyland continues through the winter off-season with refurbishments, construction

Seasonal rain washed out what could have been big crowds visiting the Anaheim area for various convention and special events. Despite the rain, Disneyland refurbishments and construction projects continue through the winter months. Guests visiting the parks will be greeted with construction walls as both parks undergo various refurbishment projects big and small as well as construction on the new Fantasy Faire princess meet-and-greet area next to Sleeping Beauty Castle. Meanwhile, Disney’s various Limited Time Magic offerings including New Orleans Bayou Bash! and the very popular Golden Horseshoe Revue continue to entertain weekend guests.

Get a closer look at today’s update! Click on any photo in today’s column for a large, high-resolution version of the image.

Welcome to Disneyland!

Main Street Station’s refurbishment project continues…

Our friends from Touring Plans have their weekly crowd forecast below:

The wonderfully low off season crowds continue this week. Except for Sunday. Something big happens on that day… Super something? Anyway, TouringPlans.com can help you navigate the parks with our per-park Crowd Calendar, Lines – Mobile Wait Times App that gives access to current and estimated wait times for attractions, and Touring Plans detailing the best plan of attack for hitting the attractions. Now more than ever, it’s a good time to subscribe to TouringPlans.com to plan your strategy to avoid the crowds!

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.

— Fred Hazelton, Statistician, TouringPlans.com

[center][/center]	[center]Overall Crowd Prediction[/center]	[center]TouringPlans.com Crowd Tips[/center]
Tues., Jan. 29	[center]2 /10[/center]	Here are some quick-hit notes that we hope you’ll find helpful as you prepare your visits for the week: Sunday is a 8 out of 10. There are no Annual Pass blackouts in effect this Monday through Friday. Thursday is the best day to visit Disneyland. Fastpass tickets for Radiator Springs Racers usually “sell out” within the first hour of DCA’s regular park hours.
Wed., Jan. 30	2 /10
Thu., Jan. 31	2 /10
Fri., Feb. 1	5 /10
Crowd levels are based on a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being the least crowded conditions and 10 being most crowded.See Disneyland crowds for the next 365 days. Get Disneyland wait times on your iPhone, Android, or Smartphone.Do more. Wait less. Dateline Disneyland is sponsored by TouringPlans.com.

Our big MiceAge 10th Anniversary Celebration Weekend is almost here! Join us this weekend for lots of fun and excitement including Disney Legends, special events and much more.

Our big Disney Legends Breakfast and Book Signing and Yesterland tours have sold out, but you can still join us for our special Anniversary Cocktail Reception with Alice Davis — but hurry, only a few tickets remain! We’ve also got numerous other free meet-ups and events you can join in on — for more information, visit the full schedule here.

Construction Kingdom

Construction on the upcoming Fantasy Faire, which we previewed for you last week with our tour of the new Blue Sky Cellar exhibit, continues next to Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Lots of nice detail work continues to emerge throughout the area…

Back in Fantasyland, not much progress can be seen yet at the upcoming “Mickey and the Magical Map” stage show coming to the Fantasyland Theater.

New flag

Nearby, “it’s a small world” is now closed while its holiday overlay is removed.

The flume is dry

Some holiday garland and Christmas lights are still up for now…

Christmas lights are already down on most of the facade, though

In Frontierland, the Pioneer Mercantile is still getting some refurbishment work done…

Nearby, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad’s major 10-month refurbishment project continues…

A new “Happiest Horses on Earth” sign on the construction walls details Disneyland’s equine history.

Along the Rivers of America, the Fantasmic and Mark Twain Riverboat refurbishment projects continue…

Another Fantasmic! pit has been dredged in front of the Tom Sawyer Island raft dock.

Because of this, Tom Sawyer Island is currently closed.

A few steps down the river, the Mark Twain Riverboat is still in dry dock as it continues its restoration project

And nearby, Splash Mountain is now closed for its off-season refurbishment.

Limited Time Magic: New Orleans Bayou Bash!, A Salute to the Golden Horseshoe Revue, and Lunar New Year Celebration

Disney’s Limited Time Magic promotion continues this week with two offerings. The very popular Salute to the Golden Horseshoe show will run for its final weekend this week. Hopefully the show proved popular enough to warrant Disney adding a permanent version of the show to the Golden Horseshoe Saloon.

A Salute to the Golden Horseshoe Revue
Thursday through Monday, now through February 4
11:30 am, 12:45 pm, 2:00 pm, 4:00 pm, 5:15 pm

Annual Passholder Dinner Show Dates:
Thursdays through Mondays, January 10 through February 4, 2013

Time:
6:30 p.m.

Price:
$35 per Passholder, per show

Reservations:
Call (714) 781-PASS (7277) and select option 0

Menu:
Starter: Corn chips in a souvenir Golden Horseshoe boot mug
Entrees: Black forest ham and roast beef sandwiches
Sides: Golden raisin and carrot salad, Yukon golden potato salad, Very Berry fruit salad
Children’s Menu: 2 PB&J sandwiches with sides
Vegetarian Option: Vegetable and cheese sandwiches with sides
Beverages: Mint Julep, water, coffee
Dessert: Walt & Lilly’s 30th Anniversary Celebration Cake

Continuing for a couple more weekends, Disneyland’s New Orleans Bayou Bash will continue to bring its fun Mardi Gras offerings to New Orleans Square…

New Orleans Bayou Bash!
10:00 am – 5:00 pm
February 1-3, February 8-12

Next up for Limited Time Magic, Disneyland’s Lunar New Year celebration will return and move to Pacific Wharf at Disney California Adventure. The celebration will feature colorful performances from dancers, musicians, and martial artists as well as appearances from Mulan, Mushu, Mickey and Minnie.

Happy Lunar New Year Celebration
at Disney California Adventure
10 am — 5 pm, February 8 — 11

Disneyland also released information on special food items that will be available as part of the celebration, including potstickers and ginger milk tea.

Welcome to California Adventure

Disney has announced that Annual Passholders can enjoy California Adventure for up to two hours after regular park closing on Thursday nights throughout February.

Below, some information on the special extended hours for Passholders. For complete information, click here.

Annual Passholder Extended Hours
Dates:

• February 7, February 14, February 21 and February 28, 2013

Time
For 2 hours after regular park closing

Check-In and Wristbands
Check-in begins at 12:00 noon on the day of the event only, and must be completed in person.
Wristbands are required for access to attractions during Annual Passholder Extended Hours.
Wristbands are valid only for that day’s event and are subject to availability.
Passholders with wristbands may enter the event until thirty (30) minutes prior to the end of the event.

The off-season has brought along lighter crowds and some seasonal refurbishments to California Adventure as well. Grizzly River Run remains closed through the end of February for its refurbishment.

New logs going in

In Cars Land, work has wrapped up on one half of Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree’s resurfacing project.

The new floor treatment is perhaps a bit more plain than the original version, but hopefully it’ll last a little longer.

The other side of Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree (closest to the parade route), should go under the tents this week for its resurfacing.

This & That

A few new interesting merchandise offerings have recently popped up in various shops in the parks…

New Mickey’s Fun Wheel attraction poster t-shirt and hoodie

A new retro ceramic tumbler

Some interesting new magnets…

Oswald’s in California Adventure continues to get location-specific merchandise, which is really nice to see.

Oswald’s trading pin:

The popular Oswald ear hats are now in constant supply here

And finally, as part of Limited Time Magic, Disney has some specialty ear hats available only for a limited time.

Dateline Disneyland is sponsored by our good friends at the Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel & Water Playground. A short walk from the park, HoJo Anaheim is conveniently located next to Matterhorn Mountain at Disneyland with nearby dining, freeway access, FREE parking and FREE Wi-Fi. For more information on HoJo Anaheim, room rates, or to book your stay today, visit HoJoAnaheim.com/MiceChat MiceChat.com and Annual Passholder Discounts Available Every Day! The HoJo Anaheim is now offering deeper discounts for Disneyland Resort Annual Passholders! On select nights, Disneyland Resort Annual Passholders can get rooms for as low as $59 per night, plus tax. For more information visit the HoJo Anaheim Innsider Boards which features an up-to-date listing of available nights, or call (714) 776-6120 and ask for In-House Reservations to book. If your date isn’t listed, the HoJo Anaheim still offers rooms for 20% off their best available rate if you call (714) 776-6120.

Weekly News & Information Round-Up
Weekly Theme Park Hours January 28 — February 3, 2013
[B]Disneyland Park[/B]	[B]Disney California Adventure[/B]
Monday-Thursday: 10 am – 8 pm Friday: 9 am – 11 pm Saturday: 8 am – 11 pm Sunday: 9 am – 11 pm	Monday-Thursday: 10 am – 8 pm Friday: 9 am – 10 pm Saturday: 8 am – 10 pm Sunday: 9 am – 10 pm
[CENTER]For a complete listing of theme park hours, visit the Disneyland.com Theme Park Calendar[/CENTER]
[center]Expected Crowd Levels[/center] [center]presented by TouringPlans.com[/center]
[CENTER][B]Disneyland Park[/B][/CENTER]	[CENTER][B]Disney California Adventure[/B][/CENTER]
[CENTER][B]LOW—MEDIUM[/B] [B]1.8—6.6[/B] out of 10[/CENTER]	[CENTER][B]MEDIUM—HIGH[/B] [B]2.7—8.3[/B] out of 10[/CENTER]
[CENTER]Crowd levels are based on a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being the least crowded conditions and 10 being most crowded. [B]For crowd predictions for the next 365 days, visit [/B]
[center]Closure and Refurbishment Schedule[/center]
[b][center]Disneyland Park[/center][/b]
[b]Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island:[/b] Closed through February 7 due to Fantasmic! refurbishment. [b]Fantasmic!:[/b] Dark through February 14 for refurbishment. [b]Mark Twain Riverboat:[/b] Closed through March 28. [b]Disneyland Railroad — Main Street Station:[/b] Closed through March 28. [b]Big Thunder Mountain Railroad:[/b] Closed for extensive refurbishment through October 30. [b]Splash Mountain:[/b] Closed January 22 through February 14 for refurbishment. [b]Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes:[/b] Closed January 22-23 [b]”it’s a small world”:[/b] Closed January 22, 2013 through February 28 to remove holiday overlay. [b]Mad Tea Party:[/b] Closed January 28 through February 14 for refurbishment. [b]Goofy’s Playhouse:[/b] Closed February 25 – March 7 for refurbishment. [B]Alice in Wonderland:[/B] Expected to close in 2013 to install permanent safety railing on outdoor ride portion. [B]Fantasy Faire:[/B] New princess-themed meet-and-greet area in former Carnation Plaza Gardens is under construction and expected to open in early 2013. [B]Fantasyland Theater presenting Mickey and the Magical Map:[/B] Fantasyland Theater closed August 12. Princesses have relocated to Small World Promenade allowing the Fantasyland Theater to close and prepare for the new “Mickey and the Magical Map” show scheduled to open this summer.
[b][center]Disney California Adventure[/center][/b]
[B]Grizzly River Run:[/B] Closed through February 28 for refurbishment. [B]Disney Junior — Live on Stage!:[/B] Closed through March 21 to install new show. [B]Muppet*Vision 3D:[/B] Closed through February 15. [B]Silly Symphony Swings:[/B] Closed February 4 through March 31 for refurbishment. [B]World of Color:[/B] Closed January 28-31, 2013 and February 4-7 for refurbishment.
[b][center]Downtown Disney and Disneyland Resort Hotels[/center][/b]
None.
[center]Headline Roundup A quick look at noteworthy Disney theme park headlines from around the web.[/center]
Walt Disney World’s “MyMagic+” RFID-based vacation reservation system is coming under scrutiny by the U.S. Congress. Will Disney allow the controversial new “Escape from Tomorrow” film that drew attention at Sundance to be released?

Alright, that wraps up this week’s edition of Dateline Disneyland! Thank you for reading and be sure to share your thoughts in the comments section below! We’re only here because of your continued support. If you’ve enjoy Dateline Disneyland over the last five years, please consider helping us out by donating a buck or two so we can pay the bills and keep the updates coming! You can donate with a click of a button via PayPal — click here! For more Disneyland news, be sure to read MiceChat’s weekly In the Parks blog. And be sure to check out our sister blog, Dateline Disney World – a fantastic weekly photo blog covering Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida! Thanks for reading. See you at Disneyland! [B]- Andy[/B]

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FTC-Mandated Disclosure: Promotional consideration for this edition of Dateline Disneyland was provided by TouringPlans.com | Do More. Wait Less. and the Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel & Water Playground.

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