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Show Notes for Episode 307
Former Jungle Cruise Skipper David Marley
We welcome former Jungle Cruise Skipper, historian, and author David John Marley to discuss his two stints as a skipper. Plus, we discuss current Disneyland Resort events, as always!
***Disney Resort Updates***
Check back daily as information is changing rapidly.
Due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 (Corona) Virus, Many Disney Parks, Cruise Lines, and Disney Vacation Club Resorts will be closed until further notice:
Please be sure to follow CDC and your State's guidelines during this crisis. We will get through this.
Shanghai Disneyland • Shanghai Disneyland is now open. Be sure to check their reservation system which requires everyone, including infants, to have a reservation. The resort capacity is 50%. You must go to Shanghai's web page for advance reservations. Please visit their site for details.
Walt Disney World • All 4 Walt Disney World theme parks are open.
• Additionally, Disney Vacation Club properties at Walt Disney World and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground have begun to reopen to Members and Guests. Disney Springs has already begun to reopen. Upon reopening, theme parks, Disney Resort Hotels, restaurants and other offerings may be modified, limited in capacity and subject to availability or closure. You must have an advance reservation and valid ticket.
• Face masks must be worn at all times. You may temporarily remove your face covering while actively eating, drinking or taking an outdoor photo, but you must be stationary and maintain appropriate physical distancing during this time.
• Park Hopping is allowed within strict rules:
1. You must make a reservation at one of the Parks.
2. You must go to that Park first.
3. Park Hopping does not start until 2PM.
4. Access to Parks is still limited to their maximum occupancy. Check the Park you want to go to before traveling to it to make sure it is accepting Hopping guests.
5. Check the Walt Disney World Park Hopper web page for updates to Park Hopping rules.
Disneyland • D23 announces Disneyland to reopen 4/30/2021!!!
• Ticket Sales begin April 15, 2021. Only California Residents will be allowed to enter the Parks and groups may not be larger than 3 households until further notice.
• Like Walt Disney World, you must have a valid ticket AND make a Park reservation for the day you are interested in attending.
• The Grand Californian is scheduled to reopen April 29, 2021.
• The State of California has updated it rules for Theme Parks and Stadiums to reopen. The new rule takes affect April 1, 2021 and will Theme Parks to open at 15% capacity as long as the county is in the Red Tier. Orange County was just moved into the Orange Tier which may allow Disneyland to increase its max capacity. Disneyland has already done a lot to prepare for opening and is in a good position to quickly open once they get the green light.
• The Downtown Disney District including Buena Vista Street only of DCA are open. Some table service is available following state and local rules.
• The Disneyland Annual Pass (AP) system is being cancel and refunds issued. Special discounts will continue (see Disneyland web page). A new system is in the planning for after the Parks reopen, but no details available at this time.
• Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park remain closed and will reopen at a later date, pending state and local government approvals.
• The State of California has announced guidelines for the opening of amusement parks.
Hong Kong Disneyland • The Park is officially reopened. Advanced reservations with names and contact numbers are required. The Park will be closed on Tuesdays and Thursdays except major holidays. Please visit their web site for current requirements.
Disneyland Paris • UPDATED 3/12/2021: Due to conditions, Disneyland Paris will not be opening on April 2nd as previously announced. No new date planned. Please visit their web site for up to date information on if the Park will reopened and requirements.
Disney Cruise Lines • UPDATE 3/9/2021 SHARE HOLDERS' MEETING - CEO Bob Chapek Just said he has no date for the Cruise lines, but hopefully if trends continue to be positive, maybe next Fall or later.
• Disney Cruise line has suspended US cruises at least through June 2021 and European cruises through September 18, 2021. NOTE: On 4/21/2021 I accessed the online booking system and it appeared to be allowing bookings in July. You would need to actually book a reservation to confirm this.
Aulani Resort • Phased reopening began November 1, 2020. The state of Hawaii has strict travel requirements which include a 10 quarantine or negative test within 72 hours of your arrival. Please visit HERE for the latest details.
Walt Disney Family Museum • The Walt Disney Family Museum closed but anticipates opening April 22, 2021. They continue to provide virtual content. San Francisco County was recently moved into the Orange Tier, so please check their web page for current status. The World War II Special Exhibit opened March 19th in the Diane Disney Miller Exhibition Hall. See web page for availability and restrictions.
INFORMATION CORRECT AS OF April 19, 2021. Please check individual Resorts web pages for restrictions, requirements, and changes.
Disneyland Resort Current Event
Disneyland reopening day reservations ‘sold out’ — with a very important asterisk
There are still plenty of tickets and reservations left for May and June at both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure.
By BRADY MACDONALD
UPDATED: April 16, 2021
“Advance reservations for the reopening day of Disneyland are ‘sold out’ for both single-park and parkhopper tickets, but there is still a way to get into the Anaheim theme park when it returns after an extended coronavirus closure.”
...
“Demand has been extraordinary for tickets and reservations for the first two months of dates at Disneyland and DCA. Fans that logged onto the Disneyland website at 8 a.m. on Thursday, April 15 waited hours in a virtual queue for the privilege of purchasing tickets and making advance reservations. Many Mouseheads have been staring at a message saying their virtual wait is ‘more than an hour’ all day long.”
...
“As you might expect, ticket sales and advance reservations for Disneyland and DCA are extremely fluid. That means reservation dates can sell out at any time. Check the Disneyland reservation calendar for the latest availability.”
Orange County Register
Easy Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Disneyland Tickets & Reservations
Apr 16, 2021
“The magic of Disneyland is coming back April 30th and yesterday, the resort began selling tickets again, allowing Guests to make reservations for their visit. Long virtual queues and technical glitches prompted many fans to wait for the demand to die down, which it has. Here’s what you can expect going forward when planning your next visit to ‘The happiest place on earth.’”
Laughing Place
Which Disneyland and DCA rides will be open — and closed — when the parks return
Disney has confirmed more than 45 rides and attractions will return when the Anaheim theme parks reopen on April 30.
By BRADY MACDONALD
PUBLISHED: April 6, 2021
“Disneyland and Disney California Adventure will return with many but not all of their 80-plus rides, attractions and shows when the Anaheim theme parks reopen later this month after a yearlong coronavirus closure.
“Disney has confirmed more than 45 rides and attractions will return when the Anaheim theme parks reopen on April 30 — including Rise of the Resistance and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.”
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“Disney has warned that certain rides and attractions could be unavailable when Disneyland and Disney California Adventure reopen.”
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“Several notable rides will remain closed when the parks reopen — including Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, Matterhorn Bobsleds and Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters at Disneyland and Grizzly River Run and Golden Zephyr at Disney California Adventure.
“Jungle Cruise will not return with the park as the boat ride undergoes major storytelling updates to remove negative depictions of native people. The existing version of Splash Mountain will return when the park reopens — with the ‘Princess and the Frog’ transformation happening at a later date.”
Orange County Register
Fri, April 9, 2021
Attractions and Entertainment Reopening Details for Disneyland Resort Theme Parks
by Michael Ramirez, Public Relations Director, Disneyland Resort
“There will be plenty of magic to go around in different and new ways, including surprise appearances by favorite Disney friends! Plus, most of your favorite attractions will be available at both parks for you to enjoy. As we’ve noted previously, select attractions and certain experiences that draw large group gatherings—such as parades and nighttime spectaculars—will return at a later date. See full details on Disneyland.com.”
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“Hop aboard the wildest ride in the wilderness on the high-speed Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – a Disneyland park favorite – taking you past spires and buttes, and into tunnels and shafts of a dark and mysterious mine. If you prefer to rock out with Rocket, grove along to the tunes (and rollin’ drops) on Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! in Disney California Adventure park.”
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“Favorite characters may be spotted throughout the day waving to visiting friends, posing in the background of photos and having fun playing in the parks. At Disneyland park, you may see Mickey Mouse and some of his pals from the steps of the Main Street, U.S.A. railroad station. Or perhaps they may be found outside their homes in Mickey’s Toontown, waving a friendly welcome to visitors of all ages.”
Disney Parks Blog
List of All the Attractions, Shops, and Dining Locations Opening for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure for Reopening
Apr 6, 2021
“The Disneyland Resort website has been updated to include lists of all the attractions, shops, and dining locations available when the parks reopen on April 30.”
Laughing Place
Disneyland will open Avengers Campus in June after a yearlong delay due to the pandemic
By BRADY MACDONALD
UPDATED: April 9, 2021
“The new Avengers Campus themed land based on Marvel superhero stories will open on June 4 at Disney California Adventure, according to Disney officials.”
...
“Disneyland initially set a July 18, 2020 opening date for Avengers Campus just a few days before Disney’s Anaheim theme parks closed in March 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic first threatened the United States. The opening date for Avengers Campus had been pushed back to an indefinite “Coming soon” and then “Coming in 2021” — until now.”
...
“Avengers Campus appears to be nearly complete based on aerial photos of the 6-acre themed land with work continuing at a steady rate during the coronavirus closure of DCA.
“The first phase of the new land will open with a Spider-Man dark ride, Doctor Strange special effects show, Ant-Man and the Wasp restaurant and Marvel character meet-and-greets and rooftop shows. A second phase will open at an unannounced date with an Avengers E-ticket attraction. The existing Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout indoor drop tower ride will serve as the anchor for the new Avengers Campus.”
...
“The backstory of Avengers Campus envisions the land as a former Stark Industries secret complex that has been redeveloped by Iron Man’s Tony Stark as a training ground for the next generation of superheroes.
“The time is now and the place is Anaheim, California. The Marvel super heroes that will populate the land are conscious of the world around them. Avengers Campus isn’t locked into any particular timeline in the Marvel comics or the MCU. ‘The Snap’ in ‘Avengers: Endgame’ never happened. Iron Man and all your favorite Marvel characters are free to come and go from Avengers Campus as they please.
“The open-ended storytelling approach gives Walt Disney Imagineering and Marvel Studios the ability to adapt to new Marvel movies and react in real-time to new Disney+ shows.”
Orange County Register
Thu, April 8, 2021
Avengers Campus at Disneyland Resort Set to Open and Recruit Super Heroes June 4
by Gabriel Gibaldi, Public Relations Director
“You may even have the chance to witness Spider-Man swinging into action high above Avengers Campus with gravity-defying, acrobatic feats never seen before in a Disney theme park.”
Disney Parks Blog
Avengers Campus to Open at Disney California Adventure June 4
Apr 8, 2021
“When it opens, the new land will be home to an exciting new attraction – Worldwide Engineering Brigade – which, as you could probably guess based on the acronym, will takes guests on an adventure with your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.
“A second attraction will eventually open that will allow guests to board a quinjet and take an adventure to Wakanda and beyond.”
Laughing Place
How the Haunted Mansion will change when Disneyland reopens
Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion renovation brings new draperies, carpet, wallpaper and decor inside the attraction and fresh paint and plants on the exterior.
By BRADY MACDONALD
PUBLISHED: April 12, 2021
“Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion renovation brings new draperies, carpet, wallpaper and decor inside the attraction and fresh paint and plants on the exterior. The Haunted Mansion will return with the April 30 reopening of Disneyland following a yearlong COVID-19 closure.”
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“The 999 ghosts that call the Haunted Mansion home had a little help from Disneyland art director Kim Irvine and the Anaheim-based Walt Disney Imagineering team that worked on the attraction’s renovations.
“A changing portrait that may be familiar to longtime Haunted Mansion fans will be rejoining the portrait gallery between the elevator and load station in the attraction queue. The ‘April to December’ portrait shows a lovely young woman age instantaneously.
“A folding room partition now hides the ride load area, encouraging riders to notice the ‘April to December’ changing portrait before boarding their doom buggy.”
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“A new cat statue next to the ‘April to December’ portrait is based on discarded Haunted Mansion concept art created by Disney Legend and Imagineer X Atencio. One eye of the cat statue will occasionally glow red.
“Eagle-eyed Haunted Mansion fans will want to keep an eye out for a new floating wicker chair in the seance scene, a dollhouse that has been added to the attic scene along with a smattering of trinkets belonging to Constance the black widow bride,”
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“The outdoor pet cemetery will feature subtle planting enhancements designed to reinforce the storytelling taking place in the attraction’s outdoor queue.”
Orange County Register
Mon, April 12, 2021
Haunted Mansion Home Improvements at Disneyland Park
by Michael Ramirez, Public Relations Director, Disneyland Resort
Disney Parks Blog
Disneyland Shares Look at New Home Improvements to the Haunted Mansion
Apr 12, 2021
Laughing Place
Tue, April 13, 2021
Even More Beautiful: King Arthur Carrousel at Disneyland Park
by Michael Ramirez, Public Relations Director, Disneyland Resort
“When we open our park gates on April 30, you’ll be delighted to discover a brightened version of the carrousel, sparkling with 14k gold leaf accents, vibrant details and bold colors.
“Each steed was hand repainted, and more than 30 colors were used. With each horse slightly different from one another, riders both young and young at heart can look forward to finding their perfect mount among the 68 leaping horses.”
Disney Parks Blog
Disneyland Shows Off Refurbished King Arthur Carousel Ahead of Park’s Reopening
Apr 13, 2021
Laughing Place
Disneyland adopts ‘gender inclusive’ hair and dress rules for employees
Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro announced the policy change to the Disney Look, which regulates cast members' hairstyles, fingernail decoration, jewelry and theme park costumes.
By BRADY MACDONALD
UPDATED: April 14, 2021.
“Disneyland will allow employees to choose from gender-inclusive hairstyles, fingernail styles, jewelry and theme park costumes that provide more flexibility of personal expression in a major change to the theme park’s dress code.”
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“The change to the Disney Look dress code will guide how cast members show up to work. All references to gender have been eliminated from the Disney Look guidelines. Under the policy changes, all cast members can show up to work in the gender-inclusive costume of their choosing.”
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“Previously, the Disney Look guidelines had specific rules on the length of men’s hair and sideburns. Men could not wear nail polish in the past. Disney famously did not allow mustaches and beards on men — a policy that has since changed. Previous Disney Look guidelines included specifics on female hairstyles and color.
“Hairstyles still must be of a naturally occurring hue. Bright pink, green and blue hair is still not permitted. Nail polish must be of one solid color with no charms or adornments.
“The changes to the Disney Look policy also address tattoos. All cast members can now have visible tattoos provided they have no offensive language, symbols or nudity. Tattoos are not permitted on the face, head or neck and they can’t be larger than a cast member’s hand.”
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“Inclusivity was added to the previous Four Keys — safety, courtesy, show and efficiency — that are taught to cast members during Disney Way orientation training.”
Orange County Register
Disney Updates Disney Look Guidelines Including Gender Inclusive Costumes and Visible Tattoos While Unveiling New Inclusion “Key”
Apr 13, 2021
“The Fifth Key:
“For over 50 years, Disney has utilized a simple set of prioritized operating guidelines for Cast Members known as ‘The 4 Keys.’
“A fifth key of Inclusion has been added as a way to make it clear that Disney values all people and they are appreciated for their unique life experiences, perspectives, and cultures.
“The fifth key will be located in the center of the previous keys, which Disney says represents Inclusion being at the heart of everything they do:
“Safety
“Courtesy
“Inclusion
“Show
“Efficiency”
...
“Earrings:
“Must be simple and be worn in matched pairs in gold, silver, or a color that matches the costume.
“Two earrings in each ear are permitted and may be clip-on or pierced, post, hoop, or dangle anywhere on the ear.
“They cannot exceed two (2) inches in length/circumference.
“Body piercings other than ear piercings are not allowed.”
You can listen to show 307 on iTunes or go to Libsyn service here.