12/15: Walt Disney Studios, AP Payment Plan, Pier Progress, lots of news, +MORE!

WELCOME TO THE WALT DISNEY STUDIOS!
The Walt Disney Studio Store, Disney Employee Center, and Studio Commissary at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank were open to the public this weekend. We shared the news during the week via Dateline Disneyland's Twitter mini-blog.






The Studio Store and Disney Employee Center share one building that is divided into two stores. The Studio Store is mostly theme park merchandise. The park-specific merch it had is from Walt Disney World, though, instead of the nearby Disneyland. The store also features a large selection of Disney DVD and Bluray.





The Disney Employee Center is smaller, but offers a more unique selection of merchandise with Walt Disney Company and ABC items.













The studio commissary was open to shoppers so they could grab a bite.










The walls in the dining area were lined with vintage photos.




Some snazzy new posters were going up next to the Commissary outdoor patio







Of course, most of the Studio grounds were off-limits to guests, but Pluto's Corner was accessible for guests to take photos at.


The famous Disney lot street sign.










...Alright.. let's head over to Disneyland now, shall we?



WELCOME TO DISNEYLAND!
We relayed some misinformation last week when we reported that Disney was postponing the monthly payment program for Annual Passports until January. In reality, Disney unveiled the new monthly payment program for Annual Passes last week, and the ads at the ticket booths are heavily promoting it.


$5.42 per month sounds awfully appealing, doesn't it? Just wait until you see the blockout dates!


The signage notes that the payment plans are currently only available to Southern California residents, but some have reported that all California residents can take advantage of the payment plan. We will have more detailed information about these new payment plans at the end of today's column.




MICKEY MOVES IN
The first signs of the Mickey Mouse makeover for the Sun Wheel are now visible. The new red and black color scheme can be seen through the scaffolding.








The back of the sun is getting new solid yellow paint.





The nearby Games of the Boardwalk have visible progress on their new facades.










THIS AND THAT
Sleeping Beauty's Winter Castle's ice-covered finials now glow at night -- a nice touch!




The new Olszewski Dumbo miniature is now available for $295 at select Disneyland Resort retail stores. More info: DisneyGallery.com: Robert Olszewski Product Release


Apparently it's already spring at the Fairfax Market fruit stand in DCA.


Brawny and Dixie can't wait for you to go on a picnic this spring!




AROUND THE PARKS



























DISNEYLAND WEEKLY HOURS AND INFO

THEME PARK HOURS 12/15 - 12/21
For a complete listing of theme park hours, please visit the Disneyland.com Theme Park Calendar

Disneyland Park
Monday - Wednesday: 9 am - 11 pm
Thursday - Sunday: 8 am - 12 am

Disney's California Adventure Park
Monday - Wednesday: 10 am - 8 pm
Thursday - 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

• 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 BLOCKOUT DATES

Blockout dates for December 2008
Southern California Select: 19-31st
Southern California: December 19-31st
Deluxe: 20th-31st
Premium: No blockout dates

First off, in case you didn't know, I had to take a couple of weeks off due to a personal emergency that I had no warning about. To all those who wrote and/or asked, thanks. I am just fine, and I will be getting back to the groove in the next few weeks. Expect things to return back to a normal schedule in 2009.

Lots of news to get to, so lets start.

Monthly Payments are now available for Disneyland Annual Passports

Disneyland is now offering Monthly Payments for all 4 types of Annual Passports for Southern California Residents (zip codes 90000-93599). This applies to both new purchases, and renewals.

The ticket booth windows advertise the new payment option. Photo: David "Darkbeer" Michael

For New Annual Pass purchases, you are required to make an initial payment of an adult one day/one park ticket (currently $69) and then spread out the rest of the amount over 12 monthly payments that is automatically charged to your Credit/Debit Card. So on the day of purchase you pay $69 plus the first monthly payment.

Renewals are not required to make an initial payment, and can just spread the entire amount over 12 months. Deluxe and Premium AP holders also get there regular $20 discount.

There is no Credit Check, other than the initial payment is charged on the Credit/Debit Card you want to use for the monthly payments. If for some reason, your monthly payment is not approved by the bank, your AP will be blocked at the Turnstiles, and you will be asked to go to Guest Services to fix the situation (usually a different Credit/Debit Card).

All AP holders wanting to make Monthly Payments will need to sign a contract that states you agree to make all 12 monthly payments.

While all the signage and advertising state that only SoCal residents can take advantage of the offer, some folks have reported that they could sign up if they lived in Northern and Central California, as the Contract is valid for all California Residents. No guarantee that you will be able to take advantage of the offer, but it doesn't hurt to ask nicely.

Disneyland&reg Annual Pass | Disneyland&reg Annual Passport | Disneyland&reg Yearly Pass

Clarification of the free birthday offer for Annual Passholders in 2009.

In the latest Backstage Pass (AP newsletter), Disney clears up one issue in regards to the free admission on your birthday.

If your AP is blocked out on your birthday, your ONLY option is to get a free Blockout Pass for that day, and are not eligible for the Birthday Fun Card or other alternative gifts.

If you want to get the Birthday Fun Card, you will need to upgrade your AP prior to your birthday.

Costco.com is offering two great online deals

First one is the offer that has previously only been available at the Southern California Costco stores.

That is a Deluxe AP at the regular price of $269, but you get a $50 Disney Gift Card as a bonus. The Disney Gift Card is good anywhere the Walt Disney Company accepts credit cards, including Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Store, etc.

If you are interested in getting a Deluxe with parking or a Premium AP, you can buy the Costco deal, and then just use the Gift Card towards the cost of the upgrade.

This is the best deal I know of for Annual Passports currently.

Costco.com - Deluxe Annual Pass & $50 Disney Gift Card

If you order online, there is a shipping charge, starts around $10 for 1 voucher, and about $2 more for each additional voucher.

Also, if you are a not a Costco Member, you can still purchase the vouchers, but with a 5% surcharge, which is $13.45 per voucher.

Also, while Costco will only ship to United States addresses, anyone is eligible to use the vouchers.

The second offer is the 2009 Southern California CityPass, which includes a 3 day Disneyland ParkHopper, a day at SeaWorld San Diego, a day at Universal Studios Hollywood and a day at either the San Diego Zoo or the Wild Animal Park. You must use all the tickets within a 14 day period.

Full price for all the tickets is $365 for adults, $306 for kids 3 through 9

The regular price of the Southern California CityPass is $259 for adults, $219 for kids.
(The price at any of the participating parks, or at CityPass.com)

CityPass.com - Visit 5 Southern California attractions for just $259, a $365 value!

Costco sells the CityPass at $227 for adults and $192 for kids.

Costco.com - 2009 Southern California CityPass®

Shipping is extra (similar to the Deluxe AP deal), and the non-member 5% surcharge also applies if applicable.

But if the CityPass matches up with your planned vacation, the Costco offer is the best price.

Costco.com - 2009 Southern California CityPass®

Entertainment cuts are coming to Princess Fantasy Faire

Photo: David "Darkbeer" Michael

The Princess Fantasy Faire staff has been informed that all the non-revenue generators will be eliminated, including most of the support staff as of January 5th, 2009. Most of the events in the stage area will no longer be offered.

Of course, the Meet and Greet with the PhotoPass photographers will remain, as will the merchandise area with the face painting, and the Enchanted Cottage food stand also will remain open.

It is expected that Disney will also cut back on other entertainment offerings to try and cut back on labor costs.

'Aladdin' musical returns to DCA

Last Friday, the Aladdin Musical came back from hiatus.

The show will remain with just one main cast, which means a 5 days a week
schedule, even during peak times.

The current schedule has Aladdin being offered Friday through Tuesday
(dark on Wednesday and Thursday) with shows at 12:10, 1:50, 4:15 and
5:50 PM.

Updates on restaurants and refurb dates at Disneyland

No replacements for McDonalds

MiceAge was the first to report that McDonald's was leaving Disneyland
for good after Labor Day.

The Conestoga Fries wagon in Frontierland has been removed and the area remains open.

Harbour Gallery in New Orleans Square was original mentioned to reopen for Christmas Peak this year, but Disney has changed its mind, and now lists the date as N/A or TBD to Cast Members, and there is no idea if it reopens, what type of food will be offered.

Note, all the tables and chairs have been removed from the
Harbour Gallery area, including the secluded back patio. Photo: David "Darkbeer" Michael

Burger Invasion at DCA is listed to reopen on May 27th, 2011 (Memorial
Day Weekend).

Big Thunder BBQ will re-open to 'Celebrate'

Also, the Big Thunder Ranch Kitchen is scheduled to reopen on April 2nd, 2009. This area, the prior home to BBQ and currently the area where Santa's Reindeer Round Up is being offered (Stage show and cookie decoration). When it reopens, it will host special parties that match up with the "What will you celebrate?" marketing events. These meals will be open to the public.

One more date, the Paradise Pier Lagoon is scheduled to reopen on September 5th, 2009.

Of course, all these dates are subject to change.

Haunted Mansion Anniversary event packages finalized

Disneyana has postcards reminding Haunted Mansion fans to "save the date"

Disney has finalized the Haunted Mansion 40th Anniversary merchandise event packages and fleshed out the two most expensive packages which have been "TBA" until now.

• Grinning Ghosts - $475
  ONE (1) Night Accommodation at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel® & Spa (night of 09/09/09)*
  • Admission into Disney’s California Adventure® park (after 6:30 PM only)
  • Admission into Disneyland® park (after 9 PM only)
  • “Spirited Séance” - Haunted Mansion seminar
  • Wedding Feast or Famine Dinner
  • Spine-tingling Toast & Cake Slicing at the Haunted Mansion attraction
  • Ride through the Haunted Mansion Attraction
  • Haunting Photo Opportunity
  • Opportunity to purchase 40th Anniversary Haunted Mansion themed merchandise via Random Selection Process.
  • Commemorative Gifts
    • Crypt-ic Amenity
    • Wedding Favor
    • TWO (2) “Depart”ing Gifts
  
  
• Foolish Mortals - $430
  • ONE (1) Night Accommodation at the Disneyland® Hotel (night of 09/09/09)*
  • Admission into Disney’s California Adventure® park (after 6:30 PM only)
  • Admission into Disneyland® park (after 9 PM only)
  • “Spirited Séance” - Haunted Mansion seminar
  • Wedding Feast or Famine Dinner
  • Spine-tingling Toast & Cake Slicing at the Haunted Mansion attraction
  • Ride through the Haunted Mansion Attraction
  • Haunting Photo Opportunity
  • Opportunity to purchase 40th Anniversary Haunted Mansion themed merchandise via Random Selection Process.
  • Commemorative Gifts
    • Crypt-ic Amenity
    • Wedding Favor
    • TWO (2) “Depart”ing Gifts
  
  
• Dearly Departed - $250
  • Admission into Disney’s California Adventure® park (after 6:30 PM only)
  • Admission into Disneyland® park (after 9 PM only)
  • “Spirited Séance” - Haunted Mansion seminar
  • Wedding Feast or Famine Dinner
  • Spine-tingling Toast & Cake Slicing at the Haunted Mansion attraction
  • Ride through the Haunted Mansion Attraction
  • Haunting Photo Opportunity
  • Opportunity to purchase 40th Anniversary Haunted Mansion themed merchandise via Random Selection Process.
  • Commemorative Gifts
    • Wedding Favor
    • TWO (2) “Depart”ing Gifts
  
  
• Hitchhikers - $85
  • Admission into Disneyland® park (after 9 PM only)
  • Spine-tingling Toast & Cake Slicing at the Haunted Mansion attraction
  • Ride through the Haunted Mansion Attraction
  • Opportunity to purchase 40th Anniversary Haunted Mansion themed merchandise via Random Selection Process.
  • Commemorative Gift
    • ONE (1) “Depart”ing Gift

Disney settles Segway lawsuit

A Group of disabled Segway users sued Disney over the ban of Segway vehicles in the park. Some disabilities prevent people from sitting for long lengths of time, and that a standing vehicle is better for these individuals.

Disney was worried about the fact that Segways can go over 10 miles an hour and could cause problems and other guests being injured in the parks.

The settlement will have Disney buying at least 15 ESV's (Electric Stand-up Vehicles), these vehicles will be 4 wheeled and only go at slow speeds, but will allow the guests to remain standing while using them. Disney will rent them at both Disneyland and WDW, similar the current ECV's.

Disney also agreed to pay $70,000 in legal fees to the plantiff, and also give the three folks who filed the original suit a free week's stay at WDW including use of the new ESV's.

It seems to be a fair compromise, and reasonable in costs and expenses.

Disney Settles Segway Suit | NETCOT.com

Department 56 to close Downtown Disney flagship location

The Lenox Group, owners of Department 56 has filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy and announced it would close its store at Downtown Disney. This follows an earlier announcement that Club Libby Lu will be going out of business.

Both stores are offering markdowns, and are expected to close their doors shortly after the first of the year.

Downtown Disney store owner files for bankruptcy - Orange County Retail - OCRegister.com

10th Anaheim/OC Walk of Stars to be unveiled this afternoon

Photo: David "Darkbeer" Michael

Here is a press release from the City of Anaheim --

Donna and John Crean to be Honored with 10th Star on the Anaheim/OC Walk of Stars
ANAHEIM, CA - (December 9, 2008) - Donna and John Crean, Orange County business owners and generous philanthropists, will be honored with a star on the Anaheim/Orange County Walk of Stars in Anaheim, on Monday, Dec. 15 at 2:00 p.m. The ceremony will take place on Harbor Blvd., near the Disneyland main gate entrance.

Donna will be in attendance. Donna and John’s son, Andrew Crean, will accept the honor on behalf of his mother and late father, who passed away last year.

The Creans founded Fleetwood Enterprise, Inc. in 1950, and the company remains one of the country’s largest designer and manufacturer of recreational vehicles (RVs). Upon their retirement in 1998, John and Donna had grown the business to a $3 billion-a-year Fortune 500 company with 19,000 workers, 18 RV plants and 38 manufactured housing plants in 17 states and Canada.

The hallmark of the business was putting customers and employees first. The Creans frequently traveled across the country in their RV to talk to other RV owners about what they preferred or disliked in the product. John would return to the office headquarters and implement some of those changes. They were also one of the first employers to offer profit-sharing programs to their workers.

The Creans generously gave and continue to support numerous organizations and causes. Having said they were “blessed to be a blessing” (Orange County Register, June 9, 2007), the Creans established The Crean Family Foundation. John and Donna, inspired by a Lutheran church service minister, increased their tithing and were donated half of their annual earnings to charity. The Foundation’s recent and largest gift has been a $10 million donation to Lutheran High School in Irvine. Other beneficiaries include Anaheim’s Children’s Bureau of Southern California, the Anaheim chapter of Cystic Fibrosis, Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian, The Orange County Philharmonic Society, the YWCA Hotel for Women, the Crystal Cathedral, the Santa Ana Zoo, and children’s hospitals and homeless shelters.

The Crean family includes four grown children, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Parking for the Walk of Stars ceremony will be available in Disneyland’s Pumba Parking Lot, located off Disney Way, between Harbor Blvd. and Anaheim Blvd. Anaheim Resort Transit shuttle busses will take guests to and from the parking lot to the ceremony site.

The star honoring John and Donna Crean represents the10th star in this ever-growing monument to community and visionary leaders. The Creans join Walt Disney, Margaret and Carl Karcher, Henry and Susan Samueli, the Yorba family, the Taormina family, Gene Autry, Monsignor John Sammon, restaurateur Bruno Serato, and The Righteous Brothers on the Anaheim/Orange County Walk of Stars.

The star is located next to Gene Autry, which is near the corner of Harbor Blvd and Disney Way. (Timon Parking Lot Entrance).

Hollywood's El Capitan Theatre celebrates the holidays

The El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood has started a new Hollywood holiday tradition with the unveiling of its new holiday store windows. The Theatre is also showing Disney's latest animated feature, Bolt in Disney Digital 3D. The following press release has more details.

Southland's Holiday Headquarters at the El Capitan Theatre and Disney's Soda Fountain and Studio Store
Come enjoy a whole new tradition for Hollywood at the Holidays! Stop by Disney's Soda Fountain and Studio Store for a sundae and see the brand new holiday store windows featuring Mickey & Minnie Mouse decorating the house for the season. These animated creations bring back the wonder and beauty of classic holiday department store windows.

The El Capitan Theatre and Disney's Soda Fountain and Studio Store are open all holidays, including Christmas Day, and New Year¹s Day. Store hours are from 9:30am-10:00pm daily.

Then, see an all-new live stage show "Disney's Holiday Spectacular," and enjoy Walt Disney Pictures' latest animated comedy-adventure, "Bolt," presented in dazzling Disney Digital 3-D�, now through January 4th.

Commenting on the announcement, Lylle Breier, senior vice president, worldwide special events for Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, said, "We are pleased to make Hollywood the headquarters for the holidays beginning with our first ever store windows featuring Mickey Mouse in four scenes from bringing home the tree, getting out the ornaments, and enjoying the holidays with Minnie Mouse.

"Then our El Capitan guests are in for a very special treat this holiday season with a fantastic LIVE Disney character stage show before every showing of Disney's newest 3-D film "Bolt." It's a show that is sure to get everyone in the holiday spirit."

Inside the El Capitan, "Disney's Holiday Spectacular" -- An All New Live Stage Show, transforms the theater into a winter wonderland and features an ensemble of Disney¹s top animated stars celebrating the season.

Following "Disney's Holiday Spectacular" Walt Disney Pictures' "Bolt" takes Disney animation to a whole new level of fun and technical excellence with its engaging story, inspired animation, and superb vocal talents. "Bolt" follows the adventures of a super-dog TV star (voice of John Travolta), whose daily routine is filled with adventure, danger, and intrigue at least until the cameras stop rolling. When the sheltered star is accidentally shipped from his Hollywood soundstage to New York City, he begins his biggest adventure yet a cross-country journey through the real world to get back to his owner and co-star, Penny (voice of Miley Cyrus).

Armed only with the delusions that all his amazing feats and powers are real, and the help of two unlikely traveling companions a jaded, abandoned housecat named Mittens (voice of Susie Essman), and a TV-obsessed hamster named Rhino (voice of Mark Walton) Bolt discovers he doesn't need superpowers to be a hero. The film is directed by Chris Williams and Bryon Howard. Clark Spencer was the producer, and John Lasseter served as executive producer.

To celebrate the El Capitan¹s special engagement, Disney¹s Soda Fountain and Studio Store (located adjacent to the theatre), will be unleashing a special "Bolt Sundae." This mouth-watering sundae will include rich vanilla ice cream, real brownie pieces, hot fudge and caramel, topped off with a chocolate "Bolt" dog tag!

Daily showtimes are 10:00 am, 1:00 pm, 4:00 pm, 7:00 pm, and 9:55 pm. Tickets are available at the El Capitan Theatre (6838 Hollywood Blvd.), online at www.elcapitantickets.com , or by calling 1-800-DISNEY6. Special group rates for parties of 20 or more are available by calling 1-818-845-3110.