DLW 240: A VIP Tour with Kawehi

This week, some retail changes for the D23 Expo, Magic Key Holders could have an easier way to get reservations, more electrical parade merchandise, new flower displays in Downtown Disney, we talk to VIP tour guest Kawehi, and more! Please support the show if you can by going to https://www.dlweekly.net/support/. If you want some DLWeekly Swag, you can pick some up at https://www.dlweekly.net/store/. Book your travel through ConciEARS at no extra cost to you! Be sure to mention that you heard about ConciEARS from DLWeekly at booking! DISCOUNTS! If you want some awesome headwear or one of a kind items, be sure to visit our friends over at All Enchanting Ears! You can use the promo code DLWEEKLY10 to get 10% off your order! We have partnered with the Howard Johnson Anaheim Hotel & Water Playground to get great deals for our listeners! Book your stay at the Howard Johnson Anaheim and get 15% off your stay (code 1000022077)! Magic Key Holders get 20% off their stay (code 1000025935) as well! Book now! Need the perfect bag for your days in the parks? Look no further than Designer Park Co.! Purchase the Rope Drop Bag as featured on Episode 222 and get 10% off your purchase! Use coupon code DLWEEKLY to get the discount.

News:

The D23 expo is getting a new, immersive retail experience called the “Expo Marketplace.” The 27,000 foot space will include everything from limited-time merch to the first items celebrating 100 years of Disney. You’ll find pins, t-shirts, hats, books, plush toys and so much more. Some of these spaces will require a virtual queue boarding pass. More details on a reservation system will come out later this summer and if you’re not able to attend, some of these items will make it to the ShopDisney store. – https://d23.com/d23-expo-marketplace-2022/ There’s some hope that magic key holders won’t have to keep refreshing the availability calendar for days to open up. Disneyland Paris launched a waiting list for Magic Key holders. With the new option, Magic Key holders put themselves on a waiting list for any day that may appear unavailable. If the day opens up, those on top of the waiting list are automatically given a reservation for that day. This is currently only available at the Paris Park, but that’s also where the Lightning Lane started before coming State-side, which definitely helps fuel some of the speculation. – https://www.ocregister.com/2022/06/15/will-disneyland-introduce-a-magic-key-reservation-waiting-list/ Guests that have seen the recently reopened World of Color and Fantasmic! nighttime entertainment may have noticed some updates. For World of Color, some elements were updated since parts to repair them were no longer available. From new 4k projectors to brighter lights on the Incredicoaster, the show looks amazing. Fantasmic! also received an extensive refurbishment to the entire show, which received some tech upgrades in 2017. – https://www.ocregister.com/2022/06/20/how-disneyland-updated-fantasmic-and-world-of-color-special-effects/ There has been a lot of merchandise already on sale for the 50th anniversary of the Main Street Electrical Parade, but some new items have hit the shelves. First up is a 50th anniversary pin for $19.99, which features the Mickey drum float from the start of the parade with the 6.17.22 date on the side. There is also a t-shirt for $39.99 that features Elliot and June 17, 2022 written out. A mug is also on sale for $19.99. – https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2022/06/19/whats-new-in-disneyland-resort-creepy-star-wars-busts-now-in-galaxys-edge/ Fans of a certain Space Ranger can now meet their hero in his younger form from the new Lightyear movie. The character is now a face character and not the same version of Buzz from the Toy Story movies. This version fits in well with the new movie since the movie is about the real Buzz that the toy from Toy Story is based on. Guests can meet the new Buzz every hour until 4pm daily. – https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2022/06/17/buzz-lightyear-gets-a-new-look-in-disneyland-and-we-have-thoughts/ Several pops of color In Downtown Disney can be traced back to a Colombian-inspired tradition. The floral displays, or silletas, are a celebration of flowers. Fittingly, they start with a massive display from Encanto’s Isabella and move throughout the district. The displays are a big display of inclusion and representation, such as LBGTQ+ Pride, Asian, Pacific Islander and Hawaiian heritage, Judaism, women, Indigenous and First-Nations people, Black, Hispanic, People of Latin heritage and people with different abilities. – https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2022/06/encanto-inspired-floral-displays-at-downtown-disney-district-represent-inclusion-at-the-disneyland-resort/ Last week, Cars Land turned 10 years old. The biggest part of the 1 billion dollar expansion of the Disneyland Resort opened on June 15, 2012. The Disney Parks Blog posted 10 ways to celebrate the anniversary. Meeting Cars Car-acters, getting the new Tow Mater popcorn bucket from Flo’s or the Cozy Cone Motel, taking a photo with Guido in front of Luigi’s, picking up a limited edition 10th anniversary Lightning McQueen and Tow Mater pin and more. – https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2022/06/10-ways-to-celebrate-cars-lands-10th-anniversary-at-disneyland-resort/ A shop on Main Street that has been closed since the start of the pandemic apears to be on the way to coming back. The Silhouette Shop on Main Street has posted some job listings looking for artists for the location, so hopefully this location will reopen soon. – https://www.micechat.com/324417-disneyland-news-update-buzz-construction-cars-land-anniversary/ A couple of quick updates from around the resort. Over in New Orleans Square, progress can be seen at Pirates of the Caribbean. The wall inside of the Blue Bayou restaurant has come down and the bayou is looking fresh! Concrete and cobblestone is being set in the outdoor queue area, and at this time is does not appear that Lightning Lane will be added to this classic attraction. The new planters at the entrance of Tomorrowland are now complete. – https://www.micechat.com/324417-disneyland-news-update-buzz-construction-cars-land-anniversary/ Guess what classic Disneyland treat has a new variation! If you guessed churro, you would be correct. This time, it is an orange pop churro, which is a churro covered in orange flavored and colored, and comes with a side of orange and vanilla dipping sauce for $6.75 near the Haunted Mansion. – https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2022/06/19/disneys-newest-churro-tastes-like-your-favorite-ice-cream-bar/ The Red Rose Tavern in Fantasyland has received some extended hours and a new “late nite dining” menu options. From 8:30pm until at least 11pm there are some offerings like classic poutine, a plant-based chili cheese poutine, firelight fries, and a pickle. The normal menu options are not available during the late nite dining time. – https://dlnewstoday.com/2022/06/review-staying-up-for-hawaiian-style-tenders-poutine-and-more-late-night-bites-at-red-rose-taverne-and-galactic-grill-in-disneyland/

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Kawehi – VIP Tour at Disneyland – https://disneyland.disney.go.com/vip-tours/ and (714) 300-7710