It’s time to jump into fun at the Disneyland resort as we traverse Disneyland and Disney California Adventure in a search for news you can use. Yes, Halloween is beginning to creep into the park, with the first signs showing un in the shops on Main Street U.S.A. Next we see that the Haunted Mansion has closed its doors to make way for Jack Skellington and his crew. There is some great news ahead for the fans of the Legends of Frontierland game. We also found an interesting new offer Disney is making to folks who get their picture taken on Splash Mountain. All of this, plus a look at the new Ghostly Materials exhibit at Disneyana Gifts, water returning to the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, closing dates for Space Mountain‘s change over for Ghost Galaxy, and a look at the smattering of Halloween merchandise in the exit lobby of Tower of Terror.
We would also like to thank Sean Allice for his photo contributions today as they help flesh out the details as you will soon see.
But first, a special offer for our readers at the Anabella Hotel in September. If you are headed to Disneyland next month, take a look and give the Anabella a call:
- MiceChat readers get a special 20% discount when they ask for the “MiceChat” special rate.
- PLUS, during the month of September, in addition to the 20% discount, Micechatters that call in and mention code “B42” receive breakfast for two each day at the beautiful Tangerine restaurant.
Guests must call Anabella directly at 714-905-1050 to reserve their rooms and must mention “MiceChat” and “B42” to receive both offers.
*Offer not available September 7-10 and September 24-27.
August 29 – September 5
- We expect this weekend to build up to normal Labor Day crowds.
- Halloween is creeping closer, with the Haunted Mansion closed as of this week so that Jack can wreck the halls.
- For two weeks of crowd projections, check out Tomorrowplan in the Mouseaddict app.
The free Mouseaddict app for iPhone and iPad features more than five dozen categories of searchable resort information, weather forecasts, park and show schedules, the latest news and articles from MiceChat, and more. Download free on the App Store or at mouseaddict.com.
Halloween Time Galloping into the Parks
Halloween is well on its way to Main Street U.S.A. The first signs are, of course, pouring into the highly detailed shops and displays. Disney Showcase is always the first to see the changeover and they are nearly all set for this year.
Main Street Cinema Idea
As a nice little touch for Halloween Time, we have an idea. There are some wonderful Halloween themed early Disney animated shorts, Skeleton Dance by Ub Iwerks, Haunted House starring Mickey Mouse, The Mad Doctor starring Mickey Mouse and more. Why not play some of those wonderful cartoons in the Main Street Cinema for Halloween Time? Disney, if you are listening, take the idea and run with it. It will cost you next to nothing and would be a delightful addition to the theater. We invite our readers to take a look at the videos below and let us know if you like the idea of vintage spooky Disney cartoons being played in the Main Street Cinema:
Mickey Mouse in the Haunted House
The Mad Doctor
Skeleton Dance
Fortuosity
The wonderful Fortuosity shop on Main street has been decorated with a murder of crows in its annual Halloween decor. Alfred Hitchcock would be pleased.
Castle Bros.
While the refurb walls have come down from in front of the Castle Bros. store the sign has yet to return.
China Closet
Along with the construction on the east of Main Street, Halloween has also begun to crawl into the China Closet.
Main Street Windows
Along Main Street, more and more windows are becoming festooned with festive pumpkins.
Ghostly Materials at Disneyana Gifts
The Haunted Mansion recently celebrated its 45th anniversary with the obligatory merchandise event and gallery show. You can check out the new pieces of art at Disneyana Gifts in the new Ghostly Materials exhibit.
Taking up only the second room of the gallery, the exhibit is a mansion fan’s dream. It is also notably heavy on Hatbox Ghost ephemera. Shall we begin crossing our fingers again for his eventual return?
Legends of Frontierland Extended
The popular interactive game, Legends of Frontierland: Gold Rush, has been extended for an unspecified period of time. To Quote Disney…
Originally scheduled to ride off into the sunset on September 1, this guest favorite will be around a bit longer
Adventureland Trading Company
Today is, apparently, the last day for the Adventure Trading Company game in Adventureland. As a special send off, they will be collecting the stories of the local Juju Traders with story packets, available for sale at Indiana Jones Outpost. Inside each story packet is a Story Tag, which adventurers can use to record their greatest Juju tales. They will then report to Aladdin’s Oasis, where Adventure Trading Company representatives and local historians will be on hand to collect their stories and thank the “head storytellers” of Adventureland with a special mystery Juju. It’s all led to this folks!
Haunted Mansion Holiday
Master Gracey and the usual ghosts and ghouls are now out of the mansion until next year. The Mansion is currently down until the morning of Friday, September 12th when it returns as the wildly popular Haunted Mansion Holiday.
Splash Mountain
In an ingenious evolution of technology and visitor behavior, Disney began offering digital versions of on-ride photos at Splash Mountain.
When the feature was first introduced, a sign near the photo screens at the exit of the attraction offered a price of $4.99.
Later in the week the price had dropped.
Instead of stationing a cast member to shoo away guests attempting to take watermarked, bootleg pics at the viewing screens, Disney has gotten clever. Guests can now ask to have a digital copy of their on-ride photos sent to their smart phones. As you can see, however, they are still finding that sweet spot on the price. Put this in the, “Why didn’t they think of this sooner?” file. We LOVE the idea. But only if the pics are $2.99 😉
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage is on track for a September 27th reopening. The Lagoon was in the process of being filled this week, slowly lifting the brightly-colored tendrils of kelp and seaweed. What is notable about this refurbishment is that while the ride has been down for nearly a year, very little substantial work seems to have been done.
The bleached surface of the lagoon floor remained virtually untouched while only the accents, like the orange coral and plastic fauna were plucked out and replaced. According to a recent MiceAge update, the lagoon that holds 9 million gallons of water and is still as leaky as ever. The subs themselves may have received a light maintenance package, but as we can see, their exteriors were not touched up.
The fact of the matter is that the lion’s share of the work, theoretically, has taken place inside the massive show building that sits under the sprawling Autopia track. Have they replaced the projectors? How do the show scenes look? Have they been spiffed up? Are the dry-for-wet scenes now indiscernible from the submerged ones? We will know on September 27th. Let’s hope they actually did some restoration during this mostly cost cutting “refurbishment.”
Space Mountain
The awesome Ghost Galaxy is returning to Space Mountain this fall for Halloween Time. In order to spook up the stars, Space Mountain will be closed for refurbishment September 8, 2014 to September 11, 2014. The attraction will reopen on Friday, September 12th. You can already see the preparations being made in the exterior areas for the frightening overlay. Digital projectors and the ear-splitting sound system are visible now.
Halloween in DCA
The Halloween bug is also invading Disney California Adventure. Here on Buena Vista Street, Julius Katz and Sons has begun selling the usual Hallow-merch.
Gazebo Watch 2014
It now appears that both gazebos are behind wraps. Will this refurbishment ever end?
Tower of Terror
The exit lobby of the Twighlight Zone Tower of Terror has become a sort of dumping ground for the maudlin merchandise for the Halloween season. But it all works well enough. If they aren’t going to keep this shop as a Tower of Terror exclusive, at least it’s still spooky themed.
Park Shots
As the summer winds down and the parks prep for fall, we stroll around Disney California Adventure for a few pictures.
AN ALL NEW MICECHAT PODCAST IS HERE! The MiceChat crew returns to Disneyland to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the Haunted Mansion and ponder the upcoming enhancements to the Fantasyland dark rides. As Disneyland prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary, there’s lots for us to talk and speculate about. So, join Doug, David and Dusty as we take you for a walk in the park. It’s an amazing audio adventure. Then, we’ll transport you to Scare LA, where Disney Legends Bob Gurr and Alice Davis have a few things to say about the amazing Haunted Mansion. Be sure to stick through to the very end of the show for a special surprise!
Join us, if you dare, in the fog-shrouded streets of Ghost Town for the 8th annual MiceChat Knott’s Scary Farm Halloween Haunt 2014. Leave the real world behind and enter a dream-land of spooky fun with fellow MiceChat readers.
There are two ticket types:
MiceChat Knott’s Haunt event ticket (Basic) – $119.99*
- Admission into Knott’s Scary Farm
- Backstage tour of a new maze before the event
- All you can eat Private Pre-scare Boofet dinner
- Special insider presentation during dinner.
- Early entry into Haunt
- Front of the line access to all mazes (excluding the up-charge Trapped maze)
- Skeleton Key access to select mazes
- Priority Seating for Elvira Ring-Mistress of the Park
MiceChat Knott’s Haunt event ticket with TRAPPED VIP Maze – $129.99*
- All of the above PLUS ADMISSION INTO TRAPPED: The New Experiment – special upcharge maze (Purchasing this ticket will gain you admission into the Trapped maze with the MiceChat group. By purchasing this ticket you will be randomly assigned a return time during event check-in at the beginning of the night. If you miss the reservation time you will forfeit your ticket.)
* Plus tax and PayPal processing fees
That’s right. You could buy your own ticket and wander around, aimlessly from line to line, starving to death from hunger, without a single person to hang out with. OR, you could pay one simple price and get an entire night of food, entertainment, friends, frights, and fun and exclusive insider opportunities!
Don’t forget to return next week as we explore the construction and Halloween preparations being made over at Universal Studios Hollywood. See you soon, In The Parks.
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