DLW 198: Genie/Genie+/Lightning Lane

This week, a ton of Magic Keys information and questions answered, how it compares to the old Flex pass, new Splash Mountain retheme info, become your own PhotoPass photographer, a new sweet treat, all the details on the Genie+ service coming in the fall, and more! Our 4 year anniversary, plus our 200th episode are coming up and we need your help! Give us a call at (657) 345-4445 and leave us a short message about what you like about the podcast, or anything else that you want to say about our 4th anniversary and 200th episode! Why do you listen? What is your favorite part, why are you a supporter if you are, or anything else you want to share. We will play some of the messages on the 200th episode coming up in a couple of weeks! 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! 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!

News:

For those Weeklyteers who haven’t already purchased their Magic Keys to Disneyland, the Disney Parks Blog has posted a frequently asked questions post to help answer common questions that folks have been wondering. Some of the most important takeaways relate to where and when to buy the Keys. – https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2021/08/planning-to-purchase-a-disneyland-resort-magic-key-pass-your-top-magic-key-questions-answered/ and https://www.micechat.com/297956-breaking-news-disneyland-delivers-a-new-magic-key-pass-program-replacement/ The day that we post this episode is the big day that the Magic Key program launches at the resort. Magic Key holders will have an exclusive lounge in both parks for a limited time. The Magic Key Terrace in Disney California Adventure will be a permanent location for Keyholders to relax with friends and family, overlooking Route 66 and Avengers Campus. The more limited time location in Disneyland at the old Starcade location will offer charging for cell phones, photo ops, and other perks. The location in Disneyland will be open September 1st through October 31st. – https://www.ocregister.com/2021/08/23/disneyland-sets-opening-dates-for-exclusive-annual-passholder-bar-and-lounge/ We have compared the new Magic Key Enchant level pass to the previous Flex Pass from 2019 many times. This week, The Orange County Register wrote an entire article comparing the two passes. The biggest differences are the lack of “good to go” days that the Flex Pass had, where Flex holders didn’t have to make a reservation at all, with the new Enchant level always requiring a reservation. Additionally, the Flex pass had 350 days where guests could use the ticket, compared to the 216 days of the Enchant key. Enchant key holders can make twice as many reservations than the old Flex pass. – https://www.ocregister.com/2021/08/24/magic-key-vs-flex-pass-how-the-new-and-old-disneyland-annual-passes-compare/ Fans wanting to know more about what the retheme of Splash Mountain will entail should check out the video released this week on the Disney Parks Blog. As part of Disney’s World Princess Week, they got together some of the creative minds behind the upcoming changes and made a 30 minute short talking all about it. Still no word on when Splash Mountain will be transformed, but this video is a must for those wondering what is next for the attraction. – https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2021/08/gather-around-the-table-for-a-conversation-and-peek-at-the-latest-developments-of-the-upcoming-attraction-inspired-by-the-princess-and-the-frog/ and https://www.micechat.com/262305-breaking-news-splash-mountain-to-become-princess-and-the-frog-themed/ Since Disneyland reopened at the end of April, Guest Relations had been stationed outside of City Hall in the Tour Gardens. This week, they were able to relocate back into City Hall. Also, one of Tage’s favorite things has returned on Main Street – the Market Street fruit cart! This cart is located outside the main doors to the Market House and in front of the Main Street lockers. The location sells a variety of fruit and some beverages. – https://www.micechat.com/299488-disneyland-update-the-winds-of-change-are-blowing/ A lot of guests love the Disney PhotoPass service, but sometimes there isn’t a PhotoPass Photographer around when you want that perfect photo! Andres, a Disneyland Resort photo specialist from planDisney shared some of his tips on getting the perfect photos when at the resort. His key points are to get creative, find new locations, be patient, and use what you have. To get all the tips and details on how to make the most of your photos, check out the link in our show notes at dlweekly.net. – https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2021/08/capture-magical-disney-memories-through-photos-with-tips-from-plandisney-panelist-andres-v/ OMG!! Disney has teased three new characters coming to the Oogie Boogie Bash this year. In a short video released online, they teased a spider toy crawling along to tease Sid from Toy Story, a dress on a mannequin to tease Cruella, and a maniacal laugh and a directors chair to tease Agatha Harkness from Wandavision. – https://www.instagram.com/reel/CS9ih2flBXB/ Halloween is starting to move in around the resort this week. Frontierland already has a lot of Halloween/fall decorations installed, and over at the Haunted Mansion, Jack and his gang are decking the halls. – https://www.micechat.com/299488-disneyland-update-the-winds-of-change-are-blowing/ A new set of ears have arrived in time for the Halloween celebration at the resort. This new set is another balloon set, which features Mickey trick or treating on the clear “balloon” section, with an orange Mickey Balloon design on the inside. The band is black and orange with Boo! embroidered on the side to complete the look. The balloon also lights up! The ears cost $29.99 and can be found around Disneyland. – https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2021/08/19/halloween-light-up-balloon-ears-have-arrived-in-disneyland/ There aren’t many Mickey ears that are for Star Wars fans, but Disney has just released a pair that are almost perfect. The new set feature the Galactic Republic logo on one ear, and the Rebellion logo on the other. On one side of the headband it reads “A long time ago”, with “in a galaxy far, far away” on the other. The material is a faux leather and are $29.99. – https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2021/08/24/the-perfect-mickey-ears-for-star-wars-fans-dont-exis/ Maleficent fans should be very excited for a new Spirit Jersey that is now available at Elias & Co in DCA. The jersey features yellow and green flames on the bottom, with Maleficent as a dragon silhouette, on a purple jersey, with Disneyland Resort in the same colors as the fire. The fron has the Disneyland “D” with EST. 1955 below and Maleficent breathing fire behind. The jersey can be yours for $74.99. – https://dlnewstoday.com/2021/08/photos-maleficent-spirit-jersey-roars-into-disneyland-resort/ Fire up your Disney+ account! Five new episodes of Behind the Attraction have landed on the streaming platform. Topics this time around include The Castles, The Disneyland Hotel, it’s a small world, Trains, Trams, and Monorails, and the Hall of Presidents. All of the new episodes have dropped, so no need to wait weeks to catch all of these episodes. – https://dlnewstoday.com/2021/08/new-episodes-of-behind-the-attraction-coming-to-disney-august-25th-first-look-at-castles-episode/ We have been talking about all the cool innovations that Imagineering have been working on over the last few years, and this week they showed off even more innovations on TikTok! Imagineering’s Project Expo is developing exoskeletons which cast members can utilize to interact with guests with larger characters than in the past. Some of the characters that could use this technology include the Hulk, Thanos, Sully, and maybe even a walk around Harold from the Matterhorn! Hopefully we will see these in the parks sooner than later. – https://dlnewstoday.com/2021/08/video-walt-disney-imagineering-releases-footage-of-new-character-exoskeletons-in-action/ Cast Members who are part of a union at the Disneyland Resort will have to be vaccinated for Covid-19, unless they apply for an accommodation through a negotiated process. No date has been set to satisfy this requirement, but cast members who do not get vaccinated and who are not granted an accommodation will be separated from the company with a “yes” rehire status. Disney will be hosting on-site vaccination clinics over the next several weeks. As of July 30th, salaried and non-union cast members had 60 days to get vaccinated. – https://dlnewstoday.com/2021/08/breaking-disney-reaches-agreement-with-unions-all-unionized-cast-members-will-be-required-to-be-vaccinated-against-covid-19/ Walt Disney World is kicking off “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” for it’s 50th anniversary starting on October 1st! Four of the merchandise collections will be available on shopDisney that same day! The Celebrations collection features favorite characters on items including Mickey ears, Dooney & Bourke accessories, apparel, plus, and more. The Castle Collection is inspired by Cinderella Castle, and will feature Spirit Jerseys, Minnie ears, and button-down shirts. The Vault Collection offers reproduction of items from the Walt Disney Archives. Finally, the Earidescent Collection features the color scheme from the 50th anniversary on all kinds of items. – https://dlnewstoday.com/2021/08/walt-disney-world-50th-anniversary-merchandise-collections-to-release-in-parks-and-on-shopdisney-october-1st/ For guests that want a fun way to hold their sundae over at Disney California Adventure, there is a new Together Again Mickey Ear Hat Bowl with Sundae. The sundae comes with a choice of sundae options, including The Oswald, Mint Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Chip Cookie Hot Fudge, Strawberry, or Mocha Almond Fudge, and is served in a Mickey Mouse Ear Hat Bowl. The bowl is similar to the one at Award Wieners previously. The sundae isn’t served directly in the bowl, but in a cup that is placed in the bowl. Grab one today for $13.99 at Clarabelle’s. – https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2021/08/17/a-new-mickey-ear-hat-souvenir-bowl-has-arrived-in-disneyland/

Discussion Topic:

Disney Genie Program https://d23.com/exclusive-disney-parks-experiences-and-products-chairman-josh-damaro-details-what-guests-can-expect-from-disney-genie/ https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2021/08/introducing-disney-genie/ https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2021/08/18/new-virtual-features-being-added-to-disneys-disability-access-service-program/ https://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/202108/8436/ https://www.micechat.com/299238-breaking-disney-parks-news-new-disney-genie-service-replaces-fastpass-more-this-fall/ https://www.micechat.com/299266-disney-parks-news-mobile-das-scheduling-and-virtual-pre-qualification-coming-this-fall/