12/8: Candlelight at 50, Pardoned turkeys, more holiday fun, theme park news, +MORE!

WELCOME TO DISNEYLAND!



Set-up for Candlelight 2008 covered Town Square this weekend.








50 YEARS OF CANDLELIGHT
Candlelight 2008 marks the 50th Anniversary of the annual Christmas event. This year's event was guest narrated by actor and Disney enthusiast John Stamos.


The living, singing Christmas tree.










Special celebrity guest narrator John Stamos.




Happy 50th Anniversary to such a great Disneyland holiday tradition.




PARDONED TURKEYS
Disney released some publicity photos of the National Thanksgiving Turkeys acting as Honorary Grand Marshals for the "Christmas Fantasy" parade on Thanksgiving Day.






The turkeys, Pumpkin and Pecan, alternate in their on-stage home at Big Thunder Ranch.







THIS AND THAT
Fantasy Faire Gifts near "it's a small world" is now open after a brief refurbishment.


The damage on the Monorail beam next to Tomorrowland Terrace has been patched up. Looks like it needs more work though.





Over at DCA, work continues at Paradise Pier.









More of the popular Skyway and Monorail attraction poster shirts have arrived at the Fortuosity Shop on Main Street. These shirts are also available at the Star Trader in Tomorrowland.


And new Robert Olszewski Pokit Pals are available at Disneyana and World of Disney.







And the Disneyland Resort Hotels are all decked out for the holidays, too.
















AROUND THE PARKS




























SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THEME PARK
NEWS ROUND-UP

DISNEYLAND RESORT

NEWS BRIEFS

Payment plan passes: The planned monthly payment plans for Disneyland Resort Annual Passports has been delayed until January 2009 while final operational details are worked out.

Special Offers: Disneyland is currently offering several special offers including an 3-day "Everyone Gets in at the Kid's Price" package, and a "Get a 4th Night FREE* When You Stay For 3" offer. For complete details and more offers, visit the Disneyland.com Special Offers page

THEME PARK HOURS 12/8 - 12/14
For a complete listing of theme park hours, please visit the Disneyland.com Theme Park Calendar
Note: Disneyland Park will close early Monday and Tuesday in order to host its annual Cast Member Holiday Party. Please plan your visit accordingly.

Disneyland Park
Monday - Tuesday: 8 am - 6 pm
Wednesday - Thursday: 9 am - 10 pm
Friday - Sunday: 8 am - 12 am

Disney's California Adventure Park
Monday - Tuesday: 10 am - 9 pm
Wednesday - Thursday: 10 am - 6 pm
Friday - Sunday: 10 am - 9 pm

CURRENT ATTRACTION CLOSURES

Disneyland Park

• Walt Disney's Parade of Dreams Dark during seasonal run of "A Christmas Fantasy" parade.

Disney's California Adventure Park

• Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular: Show reopens December 12, 2008.
• Sun Wheel: Closed. Will re-open as Mickey's Fun Wheel in April 2009.
• Games of the Boardwalk: Closed. Will re-open with new themes in April 2009.

ANNUAL PASSHOLDER BLOCK OUT DATES

Block out dates for December 2008
Southern California Select: 13,14,19-31st
Southern California: December 13,19-31st
Deluxe: 20th-31st
Premium: No block out dates

SPECIAL EVENTS AND MERCHANDISE RELEASES

Olszewski Product Release
December 13th, 9am -11am - Disneyana, Main Street USA
Robert Olszewski is releasing two new pieces on December 13th - "Dumbo the Flying Elephant" attraction miniature ($295.00 plus tax). And a new “Gallery of Light” piece inspired by The Nightmare Before Christmas titled “Jack and Sally Embrace” ($80 plus Tax).


Haunted Mansion 40th Anniversary Events
The Haunted Mansion will celebrate its 40th anniversary next August and to celebrate such a big milestone Disney is having several Haunted Mansion merchandise events. So start planning now, and start saving!

Shag "Spirited" Haunted Mansion 40th Anniversary Cocktail Reception
Date: Saturday, August 8, 2009
Time: 8 PM - 11 PM
Location: Crystal Cove, Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel
It's sure to be a spirited and swingin' party tonight! With the hippest artist in town attending, groove with ghouls and spirits of all kinds as we celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Haunted Mansion in style.
More Information: DisneyGallery.com: SHAG "Spirited" Cocktail Reception


Shag Haunted Mansion 40th Anniversary Product Release & Signing
Date: Sunday, August 9, 2009
Time: 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Purchasing Location: Disneyana Shop, Disneyland park
Signing Location: Main Street Cinema, Disneyland park
More Information: DisneyGallery.com: Shag Product Release & Signing


Haunted Mansion 40th Anniversary Merchandise Event
Date: 09-09-09
Location: Disneyland® Resort
The Plot Thickens. . . After five husbands and five untimely deaths, the Black Widow Bride of the Haunted Mansion will wed once more. Has she found her soul mate? Or will another groom meet his doom? Join us, Foolish Mortals, and we'll dig up the answers at our ghostly celebration that everyone's dying to attend.
More Information: DisneyGallery.com: Haunted Mansion Merchandise Event

Disney's California Food and Wine Festival

Save the date! April 24th- June 7th 2009.
More information will be available soon.

KNOTT'S BERRY FARM

NEWS BRIEFS

Admission Discounts

McDonald's coupon: Now through January 4, pick up a money-saving coupon from participating So. Cal. McDonald's Restaurants to purchase Knott's Berry Farm adult tickets for just $34.99. That's a $17 savings.

Toys for Tots: December 13-14, and 20-21
Bring a brand new, unwrapped toy valued at $10 or more to donate to Toys for Tots for FREE admission to Knott's Merry Farm.

Knott's Holiday Dinner Feast To Go

Knott's Banquet-To-Go serves 6-8 and includes a 12-14 lb. whole Roasted Turkey or a 8-10 lb Honey-Glazed Ham, Mashed Potatoes with Giblet Gravy, Buttered Kernel Corn, Country Apple Stuffing, Cranberry/Tropical Fruit Sauce, Candied Yams, Bread and Butter Pickles, One Dozen Farm-Baked Rolls with Butter and Knott’s Boysenberry Preserves, plus your choice of Pumpkin or Boysenberry Pie. This entire meal is cooked fresh according to your pick-up time and boxed to go anywhere. All for just $69.95.
* Please allow 2 days notice when reserving.
* To place an order please call (714) 220-5055.

GRINCHMAS AT UNIVERSAL HOLLYWOOD

Universal Studios' new Grinchmas holiday offerings started this weekend.
Weekends: December 6 - 16
Daily: December 20 - 31
More information: UniversalStudiosHollywood.com

Make your Holiday Season a little mischievous and a Whole Lot of Fun with the new Grinchmas at Universal Studios Hollywood.[list][*]Meet the Grinch and take your photo for a one-of-a-kind holiday memento[*]Play in the Grinch's Winter Playground filled with real snow[*]See Whoville come to life on the Studio Tour backlot[*]Family fun activities including holiday cookie decorating[*]Nightly tree lighting ceremony at the 40-foot Whoville Tree

FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS AT THE WILD ANIMAL PARK

Dates and Times: From 4 to 9 p.m., December 13–23 and 26–30, 2008; January 2 and 3, 2009
More information: SanDiegoZoo.org
This holiday season offers the last opportunity to bask in the glow of the Wild Animal Park’s Festival of Lights! Next year, the event will move to the Zoo under the new name Jungle Bells. So this December, on the 20th anniversary of the first winter lights at the Park, gather the family and visit for the final Festival of Lights celebration.
Brand-new holiday and animal-themed light features created specifically for the Wild Animal Park will set the atmosphere for family fun, which includes Snow Hill (open daily, 4–8:30 p.m.), new craft activities, a Light Magic Show in Discovery Station, and a Black Light Puppet Show in Benbough Amphitheater.

THE SCIENCE OF GINGERBREAD AT THE DISCOVERY SCIENCE CENTER

The Science of Gingerbread holiday events at the Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana is on-going through January 4, 2009. For more information, visit www.DiscoveryCube.com