If you are a Disneyland annual Passholder who is eagerly awaiting the next installment in Tony Stark’s superhero saga, you’ll want to head to Tomorrowland for tonight’s (Friday, April 12) exclusive preview of a new Innoventions exhibit. In anticipation of the May 3 premiere of Iron Man 3, a Stark Industries interactive display has been temporarily installed inside the circular building. Guests will get the chance to see Stark’s iconic suits of armor up close, and experience a simulation of strapping one one.

Registration for tonight’s event begins at 1pm at Innoventions; a valid AP is required. Participants can preview the new attraction starting at 6pm, and can stay in the park to enjoy select Tommorowland attractions until 1am.

Here are the details direct from Disney:

Celebrate the theatrical release of Iron Man 3 with the opening of the new exhibit, Iron Man Tech Presented by Stark Industries, inside Innoventions. Annual Passholders can get a special preview of the exhibit before it opens to the general public, including the chance to virtually suit up with and test pieces of the Mark 42 armor. Plus, Passholders will have access to select Tomorrowland attractions for an additional 2 hours after regular Disneyland Park closing.

Iron Man 3 in theaters May 3, 2013!

With Limited Time Annual Passholder Magic, Annual Passholders have exciting opportunities, offers and events like this.

Date

April 12, 2013

Locations

Iron Man Exhibit Preview: Innoventions at Disneyland Park

After-Hours Select Attraction Access: Tomorrowland at Disneyland Park

Event Time

Iron Man Exhibit Preview: 6:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.

After-Hours Select Attraction Access: 11:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m. (2 hours after regular Disneyland Park closing, which may vary)

The following Tomorrowland attractions, dining and merchandise locations are currently scheduled to be available during the event to Annual Passholders showing their valid event wristband to the Cast Member at participating attractions:

Tomorrowland Attractions

• Space Mountain
• Star Tours: The Adventures Continue
• Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
• Autopia
• Astro Orbiter

Tomorrowland Dining and Merchandise

• Tomorrowland Terrace
• The Star Trader
• Space Image

Please note that available attractions and services are subject to change without notice. The remainder of the Park will not be open.

Event and Registration/Wristband Details

Annual Passholders may register in person for the event beginning at 1:00 p.m. on the day of the event near the entrance to Innoventions in Tomorrowland in Disneyland Park. There is no online or phone registration for this event. It is recommended that all members of your party register together.

All participating Guests (ages 3 and older) must be valid Annual Passholders on the day of the event. Children under 3 years of age are permitted to attend the event as long as space is available and wristband is obtained through the registration process.

All participating Annual Passholders must present their active Annual Passport to the event Cast Member, who will check event availability. Photo ID may be required. Event wristbands are required for admission to both the exhibit and the Tomorrowland After-Hours event.

Wristbands will be distributed upon event registration. Registration and distribution of event wristbands will be based on availability. Space is limited.

Admission to the exhibit area will be granted subject to capacity, scheduled park events and other restrictions.

The exhibit experience may include long wait periods, is subject to temporary closures and may be cancelled at any time. The event does not guarantee access to any attraction or location.

Registered Passholders who have received a wristband may enter the Tomorrowland portion of the event up until 30 minutes prior to the end of the event.

Wristbands may not be sold or transferred for commercial purposes and have no cash value.

Additional Information

• Valid theme park admission is required.
• Parking for this event will be at the Toy Story parking area and the Mickey & Friends parking structure.
• Standard parking fees will apply.
• Mickey & Friends parking trams and Toy Story shuttles will continue to run until 1:30 a.m., however, shuttle service to all other Resort parking lots will end at their normally scheduled times following Disneyland Park closing.

Annual Passholder Preview of Disneyland’s Iron Man Exhibit Tonight is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

Image copyright Disney

Between the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival and its newly expanded Flower & Garden Festival, it seems like Walt Disney World gets to have all the fun where cultural celebrations are concerned. But last week the Disneyland Resort announced that it would soon be getting some international excitement of its own.

For the weekend of May 25-27 (10am to 6pm daily), Opa! A Celebration of Greece will bring authentic Greek music, dance, art, food, history, and more to both parks at the Disneyland Resort. Activities will take place in both “it’s a small world” Mall in Disneyland park and Paradise Gardens in Disney California Adventure park.

At “it’s a small world” Mall, you can expect to enjoy:

• Olympics training with Hercules (sorry, Meg and Phil are not schedule to appear)
• Atmosphere entertainment by “The Citizens of Greece”
• Live performances from Greek musicians and dancers
• Special Greek food offerings

Over at DCA’s Paradise Garden, you’ll find:

• Greek wine tastings
• Live performances from Greek musicians
• Kalamatianó line dances
• Special Greek food offerings
• Atmosphere entertainment by “The Citizens of Greece”

On May 26 only, Greek celebrity Chef Argiro Barbarigou and Greek winemaker Christina Boutari will host a special dinner at the Golden Vine Winery in Disney California Adventure park. (Reservations and tickets available online starting March 25).

Opa! A Celebration of Greece Coming this May to Disneyland Resort is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

Photo copyright Disney

The brand-new Fantasy Faire at Disneyland Park doesn’t open to the public until tomorrow (March 12), but annual Passholders like our own Guy Selga Jr. have already been inside the princess-centric expansion adjacent to Sleeping Beauty Castle.

If you’re a Passholder who can’t get enough of Fantasy Faire, a free presentation and panel discussion will be held on Thursday, March 14, in Disneyland’s Main Street Opera House. Show Director Christopher Utley and Walt Disney Imagineering Creative Director Michel den Dulk will share “fascinating” details on the new mini-land’s design and construction, and answer audience questions.

Registration for Thursday’s 6pm show begins that morning at 11:30am at the Opera House, and must be done in person by all participating Passholders. Space is limited, so arrive early to register if you’re intent on attending.

“Making of Fantasy Faire” Presentation for Disneyland Passholders on March 14 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

Are you a Disneyland Resort Annual Passholder?

Do you love the Disney animated classic Peter Pan?

Would you like to spend a couple extra hours in Fantasyland this week?

If your answer to the following questions is “all of the above,” head over to Disneyland on Wednesday night (February 27, 2013) for the latest Limited Time Magic event. For one night only, Passholders can see a special screening of Peter Pan at the Main Street Opera House, in honor of the film’s recent Blu-ray release.

As an added bonus, select Fantasyland attractions will be open to participating Passholders for 2 additional hours past the park’s public 8pm closing time. Be warned, however, that my recent experience with extended Passholder hours at Disney California Adventure did not result in light crowds and short queues; in fact, it was exactly the opposite.

Film screening start at 11am on Wednesday. Passholders may register for the event in person at the Opera House beginning at 10am on the day of the event; online and advance registration is not offered. See here for details on the event direct from Disney.

Peter Pan Passholder Event at Disneyland this Wednesday is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

Photos by Seth Kubersky

If Disneyland is the Happiest Place on Earth, and February 14 is the Most Romantic Day of the Year, then Anaheim must be the best place imaginable to spend Valentine’s Day with your sweetheart — right? Well, I’m about to find out, as my wife and I are spending Valentine’s week in Anaheim.

On the plus side, weekdays in mid-February (like the 14th) are on the moderate side of our Crowd Calendar; Valentine’s Day, itself, is expected to be a 6 out of 10 at the Disneyland Resort. And from February 11 through 17, as part of the Limited Time Magic marketing campaign, Disney is rolling out some additional meet & greet opportunities and menu offerings.

Unfortunately, thanks to seasonal refurbishments many of our favorite attractions to experience together — including it’s a small world, Mad Tea Party, Big Thunder Ranch, Muppet*Vision, and Fantasmic! — will be unavailable on Valentine’s Day. Even so, there are plenty of romantic spots remaining around the Resort.

Here are just a few of my favorite places is Disneyland Resort to take that someone special. Please add your own suggestions in the comments below, and have love-filled 14th wherever you are!

Carthay Circle

There’s no better way to impress a date than a blowout meal at a fine restaurant, and Disneyland Resort gives you several special venues to spend your cash. Napa Rose, Blue Bayou, and Steakhouse 55 are all fine choices for fine Disney dining, and are accordingly often booked solid weeks in advance of holidays. but my new favorite supper spot is Carthay Circle Restaurant.

For starters, the decor is divine (especially for fans of old Hollywood and vintage Disney) and matched by the menu. Second, menu item prices are slightly lower than at the Resort’s aforementioned other top-tier eateries, especially at lunch. Third, it seems easier to get a table at Carthay on short notice; I was able to snag a table for 2 less than 2 weeks out, and some lunch spots for the 14th may still be available.

Last but not least, ordering a two-course meal (entree and appetizer or dessert) entities diners to VIP World of Color FastPasses, allowing entry into the central viewing area unavailable to ordinary guests. If you want the best view for Valentine’s Night’s biggest spectacle, a meal at Carthay is bite-for-bite your best value.

Alfresco Lounge

If dining at Carthay Circle is too rich for your blood (or wallet) why not sit and sip in pseudo-Sonoma instead? The often-overlooked Alfresco Lounge at the Golden Valley Winery, located outoors on the second level of Wine Country Trattoria, looks out over the Blue Sky Cellar towards a postcard-perfect perspective on Cars Land.

Head upstairs a little before sunset, grab one of the comfy sofa seats, and order a glass (or flight) of California wines. Time it right, and you can can be sipping Chardonay just as the switch is flipped on Radiator Springs’ lovely neon lighting. Just one word of advice: don’t order the delectable Fritto Misto platter to nosh on unless you’re sure your date likes mussels and squid. Otherwise, you’re not getting a kiss no matter how nice the view is.

Grand Californian Fireplace

Ok, so what if even a couple cups of vino are out of your price range (not to mention a pair of park passes) but you still want to visit a romantic Disneyland venue? Park in the Downtown Disneyland lot (free for up to 3 hours) and walk into the Grand Californian hotel. Just inside the lobby you’ll find the coziest spot on property: a giant stone fireplace surrounded by rocking chairs.

Order a coffee or cocoa from the Heathstone Lounge around the corner, then pull a seat up to the fire. Temperatures on Valetine’s Day are expected to reach into the low 70s, but don’t let that stop you and your sweetie from cuddling by the flames. If you’re lucky, a limber-fingered pianist will be along to play romantic melodies. And if you the inside seating is too crowded with other couples, step outside and look for another fireplace near the backside of its bigger sibling.

Pinocchio’s Daring Journey

This may seem a strange pick for my final romantic place, but “dark rides” have been associated with romance since their amusement park ancestors were known as “tunnels of love.” Since Disneyland’s opening day, amorous adolescents have savored first kisses (or seventh, or seventieth) while whirling through black-lit plywood fantasy worlds.

The long-lost Adventure Thru Inner-Space Ominmover ride is well-remember by baby boomers as the most intimacy-friendly attraction Disneyland has ever seen, but modern rides like Star Tours or Indiana Jones Adventure are far too rough and/or exposed to become amorous on. What you want is an indoor ride with small, smoothly-moving semi-private vehicles. As Fantasyland’s least popular ride, Pinnoccio’s Daring Journey is the perfect choice; you’ll almost always get a car all yourselves with little or no waiting, and the ride is designed so that different vehicles barely glimpse each other once inside the show building.

A final word of warning: even if you aren’t in view of your fellow guests, there are hidden low-light cameras inside every ride that give attraction Cast Members a full view of your activities. So don’t get too carried away with the Valentine’s spirt until you’re back at the hotel, and keep your on-ride petting PG-rated. That’s the way Walt would have wanted it.

Four Romantic Spots at Disneyland Resort to Spend Valentines’s Day 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

Last week, Disneyland Resort bid farewell to the Christmas season and sailed into 2013 with festivities, fireworks, and fierce crowds. The end of the holidays brings a brigade of closures and refurbishments, but also arriving are a wave of limited-time events and merchandise to welcome the new year.

Crowd Calendar

Quietest Day: Wednesday 1/2 was a 6 out of 10 at the resort, with 5.1 at Disneyland, and 5.1 at DCA.

Busiest Day: Monday 12/31 was a 10 out of 10 at the resort, with a 10.0 at Disneyland, and 10.0 at DCA.

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

Special Events

• New Year's Eve was celebrated on 12/31 with special entertainment, fireworks, and massive crowds. Disneyland's Holiday season concluded on 1/6/2013.

• Jeff Reitz and Tonya Mickesh visited Disneyland on all 366 days of 2012, and were rewarded on 12/31 with honorary Disneyland citizenship and a stay in the Disneyland Dream Suite.

  
• A Cars Land themed float was a highlight of the 124th Tournament of Roses parade on New Years Day.
• New 2013 themed souvenirs are now on sale throughout the Disneyland resort, and new limited-edition pins featuring fragments from Disneyland attractions will be released throughout the new year.
• Disney announced that Mickey and the Magical Map will debut in the refurbished Fantasyland Theatre this summer. The new stage show will feature “a fantastic adventure through worlds of music, color and beloved characters” as Mickey explores the sorcerer Yen Sid's enchanted map.

• Disneyland celebrated 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. Details were released on how guests can request same-day tickets to the show, or purchase Annual Passholder dinner packages.
• 5 new “couture” ear hats (including a steampunk style one) are now on sale around the resort. As part of the Year of the Ear, Disney will introduce new ear hats for sale each month.

• 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 the benefit may be used more than once.
• Artist showcase events were announced for each weekend in January from 1-4 p.m., beginning January 12 at WonderGround Gallery.
• A modest “holiday village” of merchandise and snack vendors continued 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.
• Disney recently confirmed that the Market House on Main Street USA will close later this year for conversion into a Starbucks. No word yet if the tradition of free coffee refills will remain.

• Exclusive viewing areas for Glow With The Show hat holders have been established for Disneyland fireworks, Fantasmic!, and World of Color performances. Originally intended for the holiday season, they seem to be sticking around until further notice.

  

Openings, Closings, and Refurbishments

• Construction continues through Summer 2013 on the new Princess Fantasy Faire and Fantasyland Theatre.
• MuppetVision 4D was temporarily replaced with the Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice 3-D short film for the holiday season. The Muppets returned after 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.

Last Week at Disneyland Resort (12/30/2012 – 1/5/2012) 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.

Did you get all the gifts you asked Santa for last week? The Disneyland Resort found exactly what it wanted under the tree this holiday season: record-setting crowds overrunning both its parks. Heavy attendance will hang around for the first couple weeks of the new year, when the resort returns to its pre-holiday look as the Cristmas decor comes down.

Crowd Calendar

Quietest Day: Monday 12/24 was an 8 out of 10 at the resort, with 7.6 at Disneyland, and 7.9 at DCA.

Busiest Day: Thursday 12/27 was an 10 out of 10 at the resort, with a 10 at Disneyland, and 10 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. Guided VIP tours of Disneyland's holiday offerings are still available through 1/6.
• The Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade was broadcast on ABC, featuring footage of Disneyland Resort.
• Players from the Wisconsin Badgers and Stanford Cardinals college football teams toured Disneyland together on December 26 prior to their Rose Bowl face off on New Years Day. A Cars Land-themed float will be a highlight of the Tournament of Roses parade on Tuesday.

• 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.
• Check out this cute video of the “roastie-toastie” dolls found inside Disneyland's popcorn vending carts.
• The Disney Parks Blogs released compilations of their Top 10 YouTube Videos and Top Disneyland-related stories from 2012.
• As part of the 2013 Limited Time Magic promotion, a tribute to the classic Golden Horseshoe Revue will be performed Thursday through Monday from January 10 to February 4. No word yet on how admission to the sure-to-be-popular revival will be distributed.

• 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.
• Holiday decor, seasonal songs, and nightly “snowfalls” have been added to DCA's Mad T Party now through New Years. The party will go to midnight on 12/31 with pyrotechnics at 12.
• The final 2012 days for freshly-made candy canes were 12/24 at Disneyland and 12/25 at DCA.
• Santa Claus posed for (paid) photos in the mornings at the Paradise Pier hotel, and in the evenings at the Grand Californian and Disneyland hotels.
• 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 now checking photo IDs for all guests holding multi-day tickets. This results in slow entry procedures; be prepared this holiday season to arrive extra early (at least 45 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.

Last Week at Disneyland Resort (12/23/2012 – 12/29/2012) is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

Last week was slow news-wise, but not attendance-wise, as the Disneyland Resort ramped up into the final week of the busy holiday season. Look for the largest crowds of the year to descend upon Anaheim between now and New Year's Day.

Crowd Calendar

Quietest Day: Tuesday 12/18 was a 5 out of 10 at the resort, with 4.7 at Disneyland, and 3.7 at DCA.

Busiest Day: Thursday 12/20 was an 9 out of 10 at the resort, with a 8.6 at Disneyland, and 8.6 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 continues through 1/6/2013, with the Holiday Fantasy daytime parade performing daily. Check out this Disney Parks Blog video of “Nighttime Holiday Magic” in the parks.
• The Candlelight Processional at Disneyland Park concluded on 12/20 with celebrity narrator John Stamos.
• Singer Brad Paisley recorded a performance in Cars Land for broadcast in the Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade on ABC.

• A new 10k race was announced for the 2013 Disneyland Half Marathon weekend (8/30-9/1). Registration begins at rundisney.com on 1/22.
• Disney released this video to celebrate the 60th anniversary of their Imagineering department on 12/21.
• Molly the Messenger, one of the Citizens of Buena Vista Street, has been delivering letters to and from Santa to children at DCA.
• 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.

• Guided VIP tours of Disneyland's holiday offerings are available now through 1/6.
• 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.
• Holiday decor, seasonal songs, and nightly “snowfalls” have been added to DCA's Mad T Party now through New Years. The party will go to midnight on 12/31 with pyrotechnics at 12.
• Fresh hand-made candy canes were prepared at Disneyland's Candy Palace on Monday and Friday, and at DCA's Trolley Treats on Tuesday and Saturday. The final days for fresh candy canes will be 12/24 at Disneyland and 12/25 at DCA. Arrive at park opening to secure a wristband and be prepared for a long, long, wait if you want one of the $13 sweets!
• Santa Claus posed for (paid) photos in the mornings at the Paradise Pier hotel, and in the evenings at the Grand Californian and Disneyland hotels.
• A modest “holiday village” of merchandise and snack vendors continues operating near the ice skating rink in Downtown Disney.
• Disneyland Resort is now checking photo IDs for all guests holding multi-day tickets. This results in slow entry procedures; be prepared this holiday season to arrive extra early (at least 45 pre-opening) to be one of the first people into the park.
• Disney announced that DCA's Disney Junior – Live on Stage! Show will be revamped next year. Characters from “Doc McStuffins” and “Sofia the First” will join the show in mid-March.

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.
• A Prep & Landing sequence has also been temporarily added to World of Color performances.

Last Week at Disneyland Resort (12/16/2012 – 12/22/2012) 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

Looking to take a quiet stroll around the Disneyland Resort to check out the Christmas decor? Better get there quickly, because the busiest season the Anaheim resort has seen in years is rapidly approaching with the winter solstice! And while you're add it, be sure to take a spin on the “wildest ride in the wilderness” while you still can…

Crowd Calendar

Quietest Day: Tuesday 12/11 was a 3 out of 10 at the resort, with 2.6 at Disneyland, and 2.0 at DCA.

Busiest Day: Saturday 12/15 was an 8 out of 10 at the resort, with a 8.1 at Disneyland, and 5.0 at DCA.

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

Special Events

• Disneyland announced that Big Thunder Railroad will close January 7 through Fall 2013 for a major refurbishment. The trains and track will be replaced, and scenic elements will be refreshed, though the ride experience is expected to remain essentially the same.
• Disneyland's Holiday season continues through 1/6/2013, with the Holiday Fantasy daytime parade performing daily.
• The Candlelight Processional at Disneyland Park began on 12/1 and runs every day until 12/20. All tickets have already been distributed to VIPs and Annual Passholders, but limited standing-room-only viewing is available around Town Square. Due to stage equipment for the show, access to the Main Street Train Station is currently through the exits. Expect crowd congestion entering and exiting the park after 5pm on show nights.
• Have a sweet tooth? Check out the Santa Mickey cupcakes now on sale at Jolly Holiday Bakery, or use this recipe to make your own Big Thunder Ranch-approved s'mores.

• For a fun free craft, print out an assemble this paper toy soldier inspired by Disneyland's holiday parade.
• The Disney Moms Panel released another video documenting the “different magic” found around the Disneyland Resort during the holiday season.
• This photo blog reviews Disney's 75-year association with Pasadena's Tournament of Roses parade, which will continue on New Year's Day with a Cars Land-themed float.

• The Disney Gallery on Main Street USA was quietly updated with a new “Realms of Fantasy” exhibit featuring Fantasyland designs from Disney parks around the world.
• Imagineering recently conducted “play tests” of an interactive improvisation show at DCA. No word yet if the limited-time experiment will evolve into an actual attraction.

• Guided VIP tours of Disneyland's holiday offerings are available now through the end of the season.
• 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.
• Check out this video of the entertainment available at Big Thunder Ranch's Jingle Jangle Jamboree through the end of the season.
• Holiday decor, seasonal songs, and nightly “snowfalls” have been added to DCA's Mad T Party now through New Years.
• Fresh hand-made candy canes were prepared at Disneyland's Candy Palace on Monday and Friday, and at DCA's Trolley Treats on Tuesday and Saturday. Arrive at park opening to secure a wristband and be prepared for a long, long, wait if you want one of the $13 sweets!
• Santa Claus posed for (paid) photos in the mornings at the Paradise Pier hotel, and in the evenings at the Grand Californian and Disneyland hotels.
• A modest “holiday village” of merchandise and snack vendors continues operating near the ice skating rink in Downtown Disney.
• Disneyland Resort is now checking photo IDs for all guests holding multi-day tickets. This results in slow entry procedures; be prepared this holiday season to arrive extra early (at least 45 pre-opening) to be one of the first people into the park.
• Smartphone users can now enjoy the free official Disneyland Explorer app on their iPhones, and interact with the park through the new @DisneylandToday Twitter feed.

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.
• A Prep & Landing sequence has also been temporarily added to World of Color performances.

Last Week at Disneyland Resort (12/9/2012 – 12/15/2012) is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.