DLW 131: Shanghai Disneyland Returns

This week, Bob Chapek talks about reopening the parks around the world, what that is going to look like, Disney sending out surveys asking about re-openings, a glimpse inside the parks from cast members, construction restarts at the resort, we talk Shanghai Disneyland reopening and what that means for Disneyland, and more!

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News:

Disney CEO Bob Chapek was interviewed on CNBC this week talking about what it is going to take to reopen the US parks. Chapek began talking about attendance and demand. They are really encouraged by what they are seeing from Shanghai’s first day. They are going to be very disciplined on how they open up, and are going to take their time. Chapek said that it has to be Disney operations in partnership with guest behavior to make it successful. The biggest challenge that he sees is getting guests to comply with things like masks, especially in the hot weather. – https://wdwnt.com/2020/05/bob-chapek-talks-about-the-future-of-phased-disney-parks-reopenings-films-and-his-role-as-ceo-on-interview-with-cnbc-emphasizes-guests-must-wear-masks-and-do-their-part-for-u-s-reopenings/ and https://www.cnbc.com/video/2020/05/11/watch-cnbcs-full-interview-with-disney-ceo-bob-chapek.html

The Resort has updated their resort operations page online with updates on how they will handle the reopening of the parks. Things that we have talked about on the podcast previously are on the guidelines like capacity limitations, social distancing, experiences being modified, and more. – https://www.micechat.com/258995-disneyland-update-weeks-not-months/

With the opening of the Shanghai Disney Resort in China, we have seen what mass temperature screenings at the parks would look like and there is a real possibility that these measures will also be coming to Disneyland. The machines that would be used for this would scan guests as they pass an entrance and only guests with an elevated temperature would be pulled aside for additional screening. – https://www.micechat.com/258995-disneyland-update-weeks-not-months/

Disneyland has been sending out surveys to guests trying to determine what guests want, expect, and would be comfortable with. What company, resort, local, state, and federal measures would be needed before they would come back and more. – https://www.micechat.com/258995-disneyland-update-weeks-not-months/

Reopening anything at the Disneyland Resort could be a ways off still, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel with the beginning of the phased reopening of Disney Springs out in Walt Disney World. For those not familiar with Disney Springs, it is basically Disney World’s version of Downtown Disney. The shopping and dining district will open with a limited number of third-party establishments. The rest of WDW will remain closed including the theme parks and resort hotels. – https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2020/05/disney-springs-begins-phased-reopening-on-may-20/ and https://wdwnt.com/2020/05/wdwnt-weekly-recap-shanghai-becomes-the-first-resort-to-reopen-disney-springs-phased-reopening-set-to-begin-this-month-a-shopdisney-security-scandal-company-losses-and-more/

With the update to the phased reopenings in the state of California, Disneyland might be closer to opening than many anticipated. Theme parks are not scheduled to open until Phase 3, which wasn’t expected to happen until late summer or later, but Governor Newsom said it could come in less than a month. – https://www.micechat.com/258995-disneyland-update-weeks-not-months/

On the evening of May 6th, Disney security teams at Disneyland and Walt Disney World shared some images from inside the parks during their shifts. Some of the iconic places that Security Duty Manager Tina shared were Sleeping Beauty Castle, the Mark Twain parked on the Rivers of America, New Orleans Square, Storybook Land and more. – https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2020/05/follow-along-with-our-security-teams-for-a-peek-inside-walt-disney-world-and-disneyland-resorts/

The Disneyland Resort has extended their previous offer for guests who had a vacation booked from March 16th through June 30th could take advantage of up to 20% off Disneyland Resort hotel stays between July 1st through December 31st of 2020. The deal is good on stays Sunday through Thursday only. – https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2020/05/08/news-disneyland-extends-offer-for-guests-affected-by-the-closures-through-july/#more-336242

The Orange County Register has reported this week that limited construction has resumed at the Disneyland Resort. Crews have returned for essential work on Avengers Campus and Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway. This is great news considering that there was a fear that at least the Runaway Railway might be put on hold indefinitely due to losses that Disney has sustained due to COVID-19. Crews returning to work on the upcoming attraction puts that rumor to rest for now. – https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2020/05/07/news-limited-essential-construction-is-starting-up-again-at-disneyland-resort/ and https://www.ocregister.com/2020/05/07/disneyland-construction-crews-return-for-limited-essential-work-during-coronavirus-closure/

Even after the successful Dapper Days at home last month, the official in person Dapper Days has been canceled. The Summer Dapper Day Outing and Expo was scheduled to take place in April, then was rescheduled for June. The events for the summer of 2020 have now been canceled all together. At this time, their November events are still on the calendar for November 14th and 15th. There is also the possibility of a smaller Dapper Day event in August, but that is to be determined. – https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2020/05/08/news-disneylands-summer-dapper-day-and-expo-canceled/

At the rate that we are getting Disney recipes, we might not need the parks to reopen! Just kidding! Jack-Jack Cookie Num Nums is the latest recipe to be released. According to the MiceChat article where someone used the recipe to make them, they taste just like the ones that you can get on Pixar Pier. – https://www.micechat.com/258497-how-to-make-jack-jack-cookie-num-nums-at-home/

One of the most popular things during the stay at home orders have been things that people can work on at home and help pass the time. Things like Legos and puzzles have been popular. Puzzles at our local stores have been sold out for weeks now, and even online retailers like Amazon have been sold out as well. ShopDisney has released some Disney themed puzzles that, at least for a couple of designs, are not sold out as of recording. – https://wdwnt.com/2020/05/shop-new-character-puzzles-from-ravensburger-are-ready-for-assembly-on-shopdisney/

Black Tap Restaurant is selling prints of it’s artwork displayed in the restaurant to support the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. Each print will be available for 2 weeks. The first print is $60 and features Fumero’s Grampa City. – https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2020/05/06/disneylands-black-tap-restaurant-is-selling-prints-of-its-iconic-artwork-to-support-restaurant-workers/

Discussion Topic:

Shanghai Disneyland Reopens

BBC – https://www.bbc.com/news/in-pictures-52620179

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaAuKVPevms

Business Insider – https://www.businessinsider.com/disneyland-shanghai-china-reopening-pictures-before-after-coronavirus-covid-19-2020-5#the-opening-ceremony-of-the-park-featured-a-stage-full-of-dancers-and-well-known-disney-characters-17

New York Times – https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/11/business/shanghai-disneyland-reopens.html

WDW News Today – https://wdwnt.com/2020/05/photos-shanghai-disneyland-reopens-after-nearly-four-months-in-the-aftermath-of-covid-19/