DLW 151: Disneyland vs. California

This week, Anaheim wants to reopen, for a second Disneyland was accepting new guests, why no guidelines are worse then delayed guidelines, the D23 Expo has been moved, construction continues, new parking kiosks, we discuss the State of California and Disneyland reopening, and more!

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News:

The “Reopen O.C. Now coalition of Anaheim, Buena Park and Garden Grove city leaders and the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce” released an ad targeted at the Governor of California Gavin Newsom to get him to release the guidelines for reopening theme parks. The ad states that the represented area is hurting since most of the economy is based on travel related to the closed theme parks. They also make the case that all other areas of business have guidelines that allow them to operate, except for theme parks. – https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2020/09/25/new-ad-calls-on-governor-newsom-to-reopen-disneyland-and-other-california-theme-parks/

Last week it looked for a brief second as if Disneyland had reopened to guests! Unfortunately, it was just for filming something for the Disney social media team. We are guessing that it is a promotional video on how to enter the park safely once they are allowed to reopen. – https://www.micechat.com/271641-disneyland-update-a-tale-of-wild-extremes/

As many of us that want Disneyland to reopen, we also want it done in a safe, responsible way. As frustrated as Disney is at the State of California not providing guidelines to reopen, they are also not comfortable with the complete abandonment of any guidelines like has recently happened in Florida. The lack of any guidelines, with cases on the rise in Florida will deter guests from traveling to the parks, considering Florida just too unsafe, even if Disney is completely safe. Once California provides guidelines, that will be the happy medium that guests and Disney are the most comfortable with. – https://www.micechat.com/271641-disneyland-update-a-tale-of-wild-extremes/

If you are one of the lucky few who have a Premier Annual Passport, which allows access to all the Disney Parks in the United States for an entire year, this bit of news is for you. Disney is extending the pass expiration date 30 days at a time until Disneyland reopens. Once Disneyland does reopen, a final extension will be added to the pass. Any questions should be directed to the V.I.Passholder support line. – https://wdwnt.com/2020/09/disney-extending-premier-passports-30-days-at-a-time-while-disneyland-resort-remains-closed-full-extension-to-be-made-when-california-parks-reopen/

Disney Internships and College Program partipants can now request complimentary tickets for their participation in the programs in the Spring of 2020. Ticket requests must be made by September 20, 2021. For complete details, please see the link in our show notes. – https://wdwnt.com/2020/09/disney-internships-programs-now-accepting-complimentary-park-ticket-requests-for-spring-2020-participants/

With the continued uncertainty coming in 2021 with the continuation of COVID-19, Disney announced this week that the D23 Expo, originally scheduled for August, 2021, will be rescheduled to September 9th-11th, 2022. At the Expo, details will be revealed on how The Walt Disney Company will celebrate their 100th anniversary. Disney stated in the announcement that it will be an Expo “unlike any other.” Virtual D23 events will continue to be held through the year. – https://www.micechat.com/271829-breaking-2022-d23-expo-to-celebrate-100th-anniversary-of-the-walt-disney-company/ and https://wdwnt.com/2020/09/breaking-d23-expo-2021-officially-moved-to-september-2022-the-walt-disney-company-100th-anniversary-celebration-plans-to-be-announced/

Construction at Disneyland has continued to progress through the shutdown. The refurbishment on the exterior of the Emporium seems to have been completed and looks wonderful, and Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway is coming together fast! The steel framework is going up very quickly and seems like it will be completed in short order. – https://www.micechat.com/271641-disneyland-update-a-tale-of-wild-extremes/

Disney Cast Members all over the world are currently trained in the 4 keys – Safety, Courtesy, Show, and Efficiency. Recently, a fifth key has been added to this list: Inclusion. This has been added “to drive meaningful cultural change” in the world. – https://www.micechat.com/271641-disneyland-update-a-tale-of-wild-extremes/ and https://wdwnt.com/2020/09/disney-introduces-inclusion-as-fifth-key-in-cast-member-training-worldwide/

New pins that are given to Cast Members to use for pin trading have come to Disneyland and Walt Disney World. The new pins feature Carnivale Masks, Star Wars Droids, Marvel Icons, Pixar Shorts, a Disneyland D series, and California Activites. Over in Disney World, they include Pixar A Bugs Life, Castle Fill (which is Cinderella Castle filled in with a design, and the Lion King. Both resorts offer the Carnivale Masks, Star Wars Droids, and Marvel Icons, but each resort has a different design. – https://wdwnt.com/2020/09/photos-new-cast-member-hidden-disney-pins-arrive-at-walt-disney-world-and-disneyland/

Downtown Disney has been installing self-parking kiosks at the entrance to the parking areas recently. The new kiosks are not operational at this time and there is no word on when they will be activated. The self-service kiosk allows guests to grab a ticket on the way into the parking area, and there are pay stations as you return to the parking area from Downtown Disney to pay before you go back to your car. The pay stations are also still under wraps for now. Parking will be free for the first 3 hours with a $20 purchase from a store or quick service dining establishment, and 5 hours free if you validate with a table service restaurant. Otherwise, it is $14 per hour, charged in 30 minute increments up to a max of $56 a day. – https://www.micechat.com/271641-disneyland-update-a-tale-of-wild-extremes/

Downtown Disney has recently revealed a new art piece honoring the recent passing of Chadwick Boseman. The mural was designed and created by former Imagineer Nikkolas Smith. The mural depicts Chadwick and a youth cancer patient wearing a Black Panther mask, sharing a moment. Chadwick Boseman passed away after battling cancer. The inscription on the mural reads, “As a former Disney Imagineer, I had the honor of working on a major children’s hospital initiative and Avengers Campus as my final two assignments. Seeing Chadwick’s heart for people in-person, and later discovering his courageous battle with cancer, I was inspired to create this tribute to honor his life and legacy. To us, he was and will always be T’Challa. Long Live The King.” – https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2020/09/24/photos-new-black-panther-mural-added-to-downtown-disney-to-honor-the-life-of-chadwick-boseman/ and https://www.micechat.com/271641-disneyland-update-a-tale-of-wild-extremes/

Welcome to October! The Halloween season is now in full swing, and what better way to celebrate than to make some Disneyland Pumpkin Fudge. MiceChat has posted a copycat recipe for the yummy sweet treat online. With just a few ingredients, a couple of hours, and just 7 steps, this will be a fun treat to make at home. – https://www.micechat.com/270799-delicious-copycat-disneyland-pumpkin-fudge-recipe/

On October 30th, the Sanderson Sisters are returning once again for one night only! Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parks, and Kathy Najimy will hold a virtual charity event to support the New York Restoration Project. Tickets to the virtual event are $10 and available at the link in the show notes. Some limited edition merchandise is also available for pre-order including candles, totes, shirts, and treats. Also, if you are in the LA area, there will be a drive-thru experience hosted by Freeform that will feature Hocus Pocus and the Nightmare Before Christmas. – https://www.laughingplace.com/w/news/2020/09/26/hocus-pocus-cast-reunion-october-30th-for-bette-midlers-hulaween-charity-gala/

On this week’s Dancing with the Stars episode, it was once again Disney night. The contestants danced to Disney songs with the ballroom set made to pay tribute to the Main Street Electrical Parade! – https://wdwnt.com/2020/09/main-street-electrical-parade-appearing-on-dancing-with-the-stars-tonight-for-disney-night/

Discussion Topic:

Layoffs – https://t.co/EiBnCNBCqd

Legislators Ask CA to Open Theme Parks – https://www.ocregister.com/2020/09/29/19-state-legislators-call-on-newsom-to-reopen-california-theme-parks/