The DisGeek Podcast

Your Guide to the Happiest Place on Earth

Disney Parks Reach Capacity with Holiday Crowds

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From the OC Register:

Disneyland traditionally fills up during the holiday season, often prompting the park to temporarily shut its gates.

But this week’s crowds appear to be bigger than usual at both parks. Perhaps that was because some visitors postponed trips originally planned for last week until the heavy rain arrived.

Disney stopped visitors from entering both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure after the parks filled to capacity Tuesday.

It was the second day in a row for restrictions at Disneyland, which was stuffed by 10 a.m — just two hours after the park opened.

Disney California Adventure’s gates were closed shortly before 1 p.m.
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Pixar Play Parade Put On Hiatus

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From the OC Register
Disney California Adventure will put its parade on hiatus for most of next year as crews work on major construction projects in the $1 billion park makeover.
The final Pixar Play Parade is set for Jan. 3. The parade will return in November, said John McClintock, aDisneyland Resort spokeswoman.

In the parade’s place, Disney will run mini, roaming shows, called Pixar Pop-Ups. The pop-up shows will be based on Pixar movies and use characters and items from the parad.

The first show, based on “The Incredibles,” is set to begin Jan. 7. The other shows are based on “Monsters Inc.” and the “Toy Story” movies. They will begin Jan. 21 and Feb. 4, but Disney has yet to announce which one will begin first.
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Disney California Adventure Entrance Details

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From LA Times:

An intense, 16-month construction project designed to transform the Disney California Adventure entryway from a nondescript strip mall into a circa-1920s Los Angeles streetscape will begin in earnest Jan. 4.

As part of an ongoing, $1.1 billion makeover, the sweeping and extensive reimagineering will wall off 4 acres of the main entrance between the C-A-L-I-F-O-R-N-I-A letters, Sunshine Plaza, Grizzly Peak and Hollywood Studios Backlot. The remade entryway, dubbed Buena Vista Street, will be designed to evoke the era when a young Walt Disney first arrived in Los Angeles.

After the winter holiday season ends, construction walls will go up around the iconic C-A-L-I-F-O-R-N-I-A letters Jan. 4 so that crews can turn the plaza area into Streamline Moderne turnstiles modeled after the former Pan-Pacific Auditorium in Los Angeles.

Read the rest of the story at the LA Times

Disneyland ride closures schedule for early 2011

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From The Examiner:

Here are the dates of ride and attraction rehab closures at Disneyland from now (mid December) thru the end of January 2011:

Star Tours – CLOSED through to May 2011
Actually technically Star Tours is closed permanently– at least as it was once known. The ride is getting a complete makeover (hence the length of the closure) to reopen in the Spring as “Star Tours 2”.

Haunted Mansion – 1/3/11 through 1/13/11
This closure happens at least twice a year. The first to prepare it for Haunted Mansion Holiday (The Nightmare Before Christmas overlay), and this one to return the Mansion to it’s regular self again.

Mark Twain – 1/10/11 through 1/12/11
Just a couple of days to give it’s undercarriage a bit of a “who’s your father.”

Small World – 1/18/11 through 1/27/11
Same deal as the Haunted Mansion as the sparkling colorful lights are removed from the attraction until next Christmas.

Splash Mountain – 1/18/11 through 5/26/11
No official word on why it is scheduled to be closed for four months which means it is likely just a major refurbishing and January thru May are always the best times to accomplish such overhauls.

King Arthur Carousel – 1/31/11 through 2/2/11

For more information visit the Disneyland website