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Happy Inauguration Day! As America’s President retakes the oath of office in chilly Washington, the sun is rising over Anaheim on a warm Martin Luther King Day. Unlike some Superbowl stars, Obama probably won’t end his victory celebration by shouting, “I’m going to Disneyland!” But if you are visiting the Happiest Place On Earth this week, why not honor our Republic by spending some great moments with Mr. Lincoln as you enjoy this season’s short lines in Disneyland.

Crowd Calendar

Quietest Day: Wednesday 1/16 was a 2 out of 10 at the resort, with 2.5 at Disneyland, and 1.1 at DCA.

Busiest Day: Saturday 1/19 was an 9 out of 10 at the resort, with a 9.9 at Disneyland, and 7.5 at DCA.

Subscribe to the Touring Plans Disneyland Crowd Calendar for full details on predicted attendance for the next 30 days.

Special Events

• The annual Tinker Bell Half Marathon on 1/20 brought tens of thousands of running enthusiasts to Disneyland last weekend. Registration opens on 1/22 for the Disneyland Half Marathon in September.
• As part of the 2013 Limited Time Magic promotion, a tribute to the classic Golden Horseshoe Revue opened on 1/10. The show will be performed Thursdays through Mondays until February 4. Guests can request same-day tickets to the show, or purchase Annual Passholder dinner packages. Watch this new video featuring Disneyland employees involved in the new production reminiscing about the original Golden Horseshoe show.
• Also as part of Limited Time Magic, Disney announced a Lunar New Year celebration will be held in DCA’s Pacific Wharf area on February 8-11.

• Disneyland Annual Passholders now receive one hour early entry into both parks on Saturdays and Sundays through April 14, 2013 (except 1/19, 1/20, & 2/3). Advanced registration is not necessary, and the benefit may be used more than once.
• Artist showcase events began January 12 at WonderGround Gallery, and continue each weekend in January from 1-4 p.m. At the nearby Vault 28 store, new couture HARVEYS handbags will be released on February 9.
• New merchandise featuring Oswald the Lucky Rabbit is being released, including a limited edition pocket watch exclusively sold at DCA’s Elias & Sons store.

• The Fossil store in Downtown Disney closed temporarily for remodeling.
• As part of the the Limited Time Magic campaign, the New Orleans Bayou Bash returned on January 18, bringing Mardi Gras food and music to Disneyland on weekends through February 12.

• Disneyland released this video of Imagineer Marty Sklar’s 2009 retirement ceremony, in which he received a coveted window on Main Street USA.
• The Blue Sky Cellar near Cars Land reopened on 1/19 with new exhibits previewing the new Fantasy Faire in Disneyland Park. Newly released concept art depicts the interior of Fantasy Faire’s Royal Hall meet and greet.

• A new online special currently offers a 3-Day Disneyland Park Hopper for $220, a $30 savings. Tickets must be purchased online by February 27 and used by March 11.
• This video from the Disney Parks blog celebrates this months 10-year anniversary of DCA’s Aladdin stage show.
• Disneyland Resort is still taking photos of all guests holding multi-day tickets. This results in slow entry procedures; be prepared to arrive extra early (at least 45 minutes pre-opening) to be one of the first people into the park.

Openings, Closings, and Refurbishments

• Construction continues on the new Princess Fantasy Faire and Fantasyland Theatre through spring 2013.
• Big Thunder Mountain is closed 1/7 through 10/30 for a major refurbishment of the track and scenery. Due to construction, the Big Thunder Trail connecting Frontierland and Fantasyland will be closed on weekdays.
• Big Thunder Ranch was closed 1/7 through 1/17 for holiday decor removal.
• Haunted Mansion reopened on 1/17 after its holiday decor was removed.
• Fantasmic! will not be performed 1/7 through 2/14.
• The Mark Twain Riverboat is closed 1/7 through 3/28 for refurbishment.
• The Main Street train station is closed 1/7 through 3/28, and the Primeval World portion of the ride is under refurbishment 1/7 through 1/23.
• Grizzly River Run is closed 1/7 through 2/28 for refurbishment.
• The Imagineering Blue Sky Cellar was closed 1/7 though 1/18 to install a new exhibit.

Last Week at Disneyland Resort (1/13/2013 – 1/19/2013) is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

All images copyright Disney

Happy New Year! 2012 saw some of the most substantial expansions in the history of the Disneyland Resort; with nothing on the scale of DCA’s reimagination on the horizon, 2013 can be seen as somewhat of a transitional year for the resort. Even so, there are a parade of updates, temporary additions, and notable refurbishments on their way in the coming months. As the signs of the holiday season swiftly disappear over the next week (shortly followed by the heavy crowds), look for some “limited time magic” to light up a historic Frontierland venue.

Crowd Calendar

Quietest Day: Weekdays after mid-month should see some of the slowest crowds of the year. Thursday 1/17 is predicted to be a 1 out of 10 at the resort, with 1.2 at Disneyland, and 2.8 at DCA.

Busiest Day: The Tinkerbell Half-Marathon over Martin Luther King Jr. Day Weekend will bring the biggest crowds since New Year. Sunday 1/20 should be a 10 out of 10 at the resort, with a 9.8 at Disneyland, and 8.1 at DCA.

Subscribe to the Touring Plans Disneyland Crowd Calendar for full details on predicted attendance for the next 30 days.

Special Events

• Disneyland’s Holiday season concludes on 1/6/2013, with the Holiday Fantasy daytime parade performing daily until then. Guided VIP tours of Disneyland’s holiday offerings are still available through 1/6.
• A Cars Land themed float was a highlight of the Tournament of Roses parade on New Years Day.
• The Tinker Bell Half Marathon and associated running events will be held at Disneyland Resort on 1/18-1/20. Registration for the races is already sold out. Expect extreme crowds around the resort that weekend.
• New 2013 themed souvenirs are now on sale throughout the Disneyland resort.

• Disneyland will celebrate the Hispanic holiday Three Kings Day (Día de los Reyes Magos) with special food and entertainment at Big Thunder Ranch on 1/4-6.
• As part of the 2013 Limited Time Magic promotion, a tribute to the classic Golden Horseshoe Revue will be performed Thursdays through Mondays from January 10 to February 4. No word yet on how admission to the sure-to-be-popular revival will be distributed.
• Also as part of Limited Time Magic, the Year of the Ear will introduce new ear hats for sale each month, begining with Disney Couture designs in January.

• Beginning 1/5, Disneyland Annual Passholders receive one hour early entry into both parks on Saturdays and Sundays through April 14, 2013 (except 1/19, 1/20, & 2/3). Advanced registration is not necessary, and may be used more than once.
• Now through 1/6, the Believe…In Holiday Magic fireworks show at Disneyland Park interacts with Glow With The Show light-up mouse ear hats. Temporary exclusive viewing areas for Glow With The Show hat holders have been established for Believe, Fantasmic!, and World of Color for the next couple weeks.
• A modest “holiday village” of merchandise and snack vendors continues operating near the ice skating rink in Downtown Disney through 1/6.
• Disneyland Resort is still checking photo IDs for all guests holding multi-day tickets. This results in slow entry procedures; be prepared to arrive extra early (at least 45 minutes pre-opening) to be one of the first people into the park.

Openings, Closings, and Refurbishments

• Construction continues through 2013 on the new Princess Fantasy Faire and Fantasyland Theatre.
• MuppetVision 4D has been temporarily replaced with the Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice 3-D short film for the holiday season. The Muppets should return after 1/6.
• A Prep & Landing sequence has also been temporarily added to World of Color performances through 1/6.
• Big Thunder Mountain is closed 1/7 through 10/30 for a major refurbishment of the track and scenery.
• Big Thunder Ranch is closed 1/7 through 1/17 for holiday decor removal.
• Haunted Mansion is closed 1/7 though 1/17 for holiday decor removal.
• Fantasmic! will not be performed 1/7 through 2/14.
• The Mark Twain Riverboat is closed 1/7 through 3/28 for refurbishment.
• Grizzly River Run is closed 1/7 through 2/28 for refurbishment.
• Silly Symphony Swings are closed 1/7 through 2/17 for refurbishment.
• World of Color will not be performed 1/28 through 1/31.

This Month at Disneyland Resort: January 2013 is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

All photos copyright Disney

September has arrived, bringing with it cooler temperatures, smaller crowds, and lengthy rehabs for numerous attractions at Disneyland.

Crowd Calendar

Quietest Day: Sunday 9/2 was a 7 out of 10 at the resort, with DCA crowds at 7.9 and Disneyland Park at 5.7.

Busiest Day: Tuesday 9/4 through Thursday 9/6 was a 1 out of 10 at the resort, with DCA crowds at 1.1 and Disneyland Park at 1.1.

Subscribe to the TouringPlans.com Disneyland Crowd Calendar for details on predicted crowds for the next 30 days.

Special Events

• The Disneyland Half-Marathon concluded on 9/2 with runner Jimmy Grabow setting a new record time of 1:05:29.
• Glow With The Show illuminated mouse ears now synchronize with nightly performances of both World of Color and Fantasmic!
• Disney released a unique multi-camera video featuring the Red Car Trolley on Buena Vista Street.

• Two horses from Disneyland's Circle D ranch participated in the Labor Day parade in Norco, California.
• Disney announced that a Halloween Carnival will take over the Big Thunder Ranch beginning 9/14 through 10/31, featuring a villains meet & greet and “haunted” performances by Billy Hill and the Hillbillies.

• Registration was announced on 9/5, and quickly filled to capacity, for a “Get Spookier” meet-up of Disney Blog readers in Disneyland on 9/17.
• Disney announced that there will be no after-hours cast member Christmas Parties this year.

Opening, Closings, and Refurbishments

• The Pirates League makeover boutique has temporarily taken over New Orleans Court of Angels, now through Halloween.
• The Haunted Mansion closed on 8/27, and will reopen on 9/14 as Haunted Mansion Holiday.
• Space Mountain is closed today 9/10 through 9/13 for installation of the Ghost Galaxy effects.
• Several attractions, including Indiana Jones Adventure, Casey Jr Circus Train, and Storybookland Canal Boats, closed this week on 9/4 for extensive refurbishments lasting until the holiday season.
• Last Monday (9/3) was the final performance of the Magic, Memories, and You projection show. A new similar show will be introduced at Walt Disney World, but no replacement is expected in Anaheim.
• Toy Story Midway Mania! was scheduled to be closed on 9/5/12 for a computer software update.
• Construction continues on the new Fantasyland Theatre and Princess Fantasy Faire.
• Construction continues on the Earl of Sandwich in Downtown Disney.
• The former 15-minute parking zone off Harbor Boulevard has been converted into passenger drop-off and taxi lanes.

Last Week at Disneyland Resort (9/2/2012 – 9/8/2012) is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

All photos copyright Disney

The end of August equals the start of the slow September season at Disneyland. Crowds should be minimal for the next couple weeks, at least until the special Halloween events kick off on the 14th.

Crowd Calendar

Quietest Day: Tuesday 8/28 was a 2 out of 10 at the resort, with DCA crowds at 2.7 and Disneyland Park at only 1.2.

Busiest Day: Saturday 9/1 was a 5 out of 10 at the resort, with DCA crowds at 3 and Disneyland Park at 5.

Subscribe to the TouringPlans.com Disneyland Crowd Calendar for details on predicted crowds for the next 30 days.

Special Events

• The Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend was held 8/31 through 9/2, culminating in the running of the 2012 Disneyland half-marathon on Sunday.
• Disneyland Annual Passholders can make reservations to sample the new menu at Disney's Paradie Pier Hotel's PCH Grill, now through September 20.
• Annual Passholders were also invited on 8/28 to an exclusive viewing of Fantasmic! which kicked off the inclusion of “Glow with the Show” mouse ear lighting effects in the nightly production.
• Tickets went on sale for Passholder previews of the upcoming Frankenweenie exhibit at DCA, including a special dining experience. Registration for free previews begins on 9/5 for the 9/13 event.

Openings, Closings, and Refurbishments

• Mouseinfo reported that the Voices of Liberty performances at the Main Street Opera House have been extended through the holiday season.
• The Pirates League makeover boutique has temporarily taken over New Orleans Court of Angels, now through Halloween.
• The Haunted Mansion closed on 8/27, and will reopen on 9/14 as Haunted Mansion Holiday.
• Several attractions, including Indiana Jones Adventure, Casey Jr Circus Train, and Storybookland Canal Boats, close this week for extensive refurbishments.
• Tonight (9/3) is the final performance of the Magic, Memories, and You projection show.
• Construction continues on the new Fantasyland Theatre and Princess Fantasy Faire.
• Construction continues on the Earl of Sandwich in Downtown Disney.

Last Week at Disneyland Resort (8/26/2012 – 9/1/2012) is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

All photos copyright Disney

The tourist hordes are having their last gasp at Disneyland, as the summer season rapidly draws to a close. But wait, there’s more! Like a horror movie villain, huge crowds are expected to crop up again as Disneyland’s low-end annual passes lift their black-out dates, allowing thousands of locals to experience Cars Land for their first time.

Crowd Calendar

Quietest Day: Friday 8/17 was slower than anticipated at a 7 out of 10 at the resort, with DCA crowds at 8.3 and Disneyland Park at only 4.1.

Busiest Day: Sunday 8/12 was a 9 out of 10 at the resort, with DCA crowds at 9.5 and Disneyland Park at 7.6.

Subscribe to the TouringPlans.com Disneyland Crowd Calendar for details on predicted crowds for the next 30 days.

Special Events

• The Glow With The Show mouse ears introduced this summer at DCA’s World of Color show will interact with Disneyland’s Fantasmic! starting August 28. A free private late-night viewing of Fantasmic! will be held that night for annual Passholders who register in person at any Disneyland ticket booth between now and August 23. Note that complimentary hats will not be provided at this event.
• Preliminary information was released about this year’s Candlelight Processional. The popular Christmas event will greatly expand to 40 performances over 20 nights, begining December 1st. Shows on December 1 and 2 will be invitation-only; the remainder will be available to annual Passholders and guests purchasing special dining packages. Information on pricing, booking, and location is not yet available, though there is speculation that the show will move from Town Square to the Fantasyland Theatre.
• A product launch event was announced for this coming Saturday (8/25) at Downtown Disney’s D Street store to celebrate the release of new Star Wars-themed Vinylmation collectibles.
• In celebrity-spotting news, singer Cheryl Crow and actors John Krasinski and Emily Blunt visited Cars Land last week.

• Disney released new YouTube videos featuring the shop interiors and interactive characters found along DCA’s Buena Vista Street.
• Chef Christine Weissman, formerly of Walt Disney World and the Disney Cruise Line, has been appointed the new Executive Chef of both Disneyland Resort theme parks.

• Who wants candy? Check out this video tour of the newly remodeled Candy Kitchen on Disneyland’s Main Street USA.
• The Orange County Register reported impressive increases in Anaheim hotel occupancy rates and room rates, thanks to the popularity of Cars Land.
• A warm-up meet-up inside Cars Land for 30 lucky runners in the upcoming Disneyland Half-Marathon was announced, and quickly filled to capacity.

Openings, Closures, and Refurbishments

• The Princess Fantasy Faire has closed, and the Fantasyland Theatre is being turned back into an entertainment venue. A new Fantasy Faire is being constructed near the hub at the former Carnation Plaza Gardens, schedule to open in 2013. In the meantime, the Princess Royal Walk meet & greets have been relocated to the elevated mall outside it’s a small world.
• In an effort to improve loading times and guest saftey, the colorful beach balls have been removed from Luigi’s Flying Tires. Weight is also being removed from the vehicles in an effort to increase their speed. The ride remains in operation.
• Construction continues on Earl of Sandwich at Downtown Disney, with the former newsstand out front now demolished.

Last Week at Disneyland Resort (8/12/2012 – 8/18/2012) is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.