We welcome back designer and former Imagineer Tim Delaneyto discuss Disneyland memories, going all the way back to the 1950s! Plus, we catch up on current events at the Disneyland Resort, as always.
Check our Disney COVID-19 Tab for updated information of COVID-19 resort requirement updates.
Disneyland Resort Current Event
Our web master Russell was injured in a fall from a ladder and his right arm is in a brace making it difficult to type. We apologize for the delays in getting our show notes up for this and the next couple shows but he insists in continuing with our web page.
First Look: Disney Merriest Nites After-Hours Event at Disneyland
By Natalie Kipper -November 12, 2021
“Disneyland held its first after-hours holiday event last night (November 11th, 2021), Disney Merriest Nites. Tickets are now sold out for all six nights, a small number of dates compared to Oogie Boogie Bash during Halloween. This season was likely a test to see how popular the event would be for more nights in the future. For those of you heading to one of the event nights, or are simply curious to see what was available, here’s a look at Disney Merriest Nites at Disneyland!”
Disneyland’s It’s a Small World floods, holiday opening delayed
It’s a Small World experienced some flooding that affected machinery used to operate the attraction during the early morning hours on Wednesday, Nov. 10 while Disneyland was closed to the public.
By BRADY MACDONALD
UPDATED: November 12, 2021
“Flooding that occurred during the process of refilling the flume on It’s a Small World will delay the reopening of the classic boat ride as Disneyland prepares to kick off the winter holiday season and launch the new Merriest Nites after hours event.
“It’s a Small World experienced some flooding that affected machinery used to operate the attraction during the early morning hours on Wednesday, Nov. 10 while Disneyland was closed to the public, according to Disneyland officials.”
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“The holiday version of It’s a Small World was supposed to reopen on Thursday, Nov. 11 for the first Merriest Nites after hours event and be ready for the kickoff of the holiday season at Disneyland on Friday, Nov. 12.
“No estimated reopening date has been announced for It’s a Small World at Disneyland.
“The nightly lighting ceremony on the facade of It’s a Small World that happens around dusk during the holiday season will still take place each night. In addition, the Small World facade will still be used for video projections during the ‘Believe in Holiday Magic’ fireworks show.”
Disneyland’s “It’s a Small World Holiday” Tradition Delayed Indefinitely
Nov 11, 2021
Disneyland News: Small Issue Results in Big Problem for Small World Holiday
By Dusty Sage -November 11, 2021
“The good news is that the sets themselves were not damaged, but it’s still too soon to know how long it will take to fix the pumps and other electrical equipment. “
Disneyland adds Life Day celebration to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
Life Day is being celebrated in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Disneyland with menu items and in other ways beginning Nov. 12, according to Disneyland officials.
By BRADY MACDONALD
PUBLISHED: November 10, 2021
“The fictional Star War holiday of Life Day will be celebrated along with other real world winter holidays this season in the Black Spire Outpost outer rim village of the Star Wars land at the Anaheim theme park.
“Life Day is being celebrated in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland with menu items and in other ways beginning Nov. 12, according to Disneyland officials.”
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“Galaxy’s Edge did not celebrate Life Day in winter 2019 after the Star Wars land first opened at Disneyland and the park was closed in winter 2020 amid COVID-19 pandemic.
“During the Life Day holiday season, Wookiees dressed in traditional red robes gather around a trimmed tree and exchange gifts with relatives.”
Special Life Day Food and Beverage Offerings Available at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland
Nov 9, 2021
“As Star Wars fans are well aware, November 17th is Life Day and fans can celebrate with some new special food and beverage offerings at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland.
“Guests can find several new Life Day food and beverage offerings around Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Park.”
Free Downtown Disney VR experience expands Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge universe
Free previews of the Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge virtual reality experience will be held Nov. 21 to Jan. 5 from noon to 8 p.m. daily at the former ESPN Zone in Downtown Disney.
By BRADY MACDONALD
PUBLISHED: November 5
“Free previews of the Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge virtual reality experience will be held Nov. 21 to Jan. 5 from noon to 8 p.m. daily at the former ESPN Zone in Downtown Disney.
“The VR action-adventure experience expands on the story of Black Spire Outpost and the world of the “Star Wars” planet of Batuu, the setting for the 14-acre Galaxy’s Edge themed land at Disneyland.
“Players take on the role of a droid repair technician turned hero when space pirates attack their ship and they crash on Batuu.”
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“Reservations may be required for the Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge VR experience in Downtown Disney depending on availability. You’ll either be issued a return time or directed to an outdoor queue when you show up at the former ESPN Zone.
“VR players must be 13 years or older and are required to wear a face covering while indoors due to COVID-19 health and safety precautions.”
Fri, November 5, 2021
ILMxLAB and Meta Quest to Preview Special VR Experience Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge in Downtown Disney District for a Limited Time at Disneyland Resort
by Valerie Lee, Public Relations Manager, Disneyland Resort
Disneyland tests Web Slingers standby line without virtual queue
The Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure attraction will test the standby queue starting on Thursday, Nov. 4 with the option to reinstitute the virtual queue whenever necessary, according to Disneyland officials.
By BRADY MACDONALD
PUBLISHED: November 3, 2021
“The Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure attraction will test the standby queue starting on Thursday, Nov. 4 with the option to use the virtual queue whenever necessary, according to Disneyland officials.
“The twice-a-day distribution of virtual queue boarding group return times for the Web Slingers attraction at 7 a.m. and noon each day through the Disneyland mobile app will be paused during the test.”
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“Visitors hoping to ride Web Slingers will need to check the Disneyland app to see if the attraction is deploying a standby queue, virtual queue or a hybrid model.”
Disneyland employees wade into Pirates of the Caribbean waters to evacuate stranded riders
The Pirates of the Caribbean water ride at Disneyland broke down for approximately 90 minutes on Halloween night around 6 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 31, according to riders who had to be evacuated.
By BRADY MACDONALD and BRIAN ROKOS
UPDATED: November 3, 2021
“Riders stuck on the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction were evacuated by Disneyland employees wearing fisherman-style rubber waders who walked through murky waters and pushed stranded boats to “land” so visitors could escape the swashbuckling cruise cut short.
“The Pirates of the Caribbean water ride at Disneyland broke down for approximately 90 minutes around 6 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 31, according to riders who had to be evacuated.
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“Pirates of the Caribbean riders — including Southern California News Group reporter Brian Rokos, who was visiting the park as a guest — snapped photos of Disneyland employees walking through waist-deep water pushing the stranded boats while wearing fisherman waders.”
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“Pirates of the Caribbean boats located close to “land” were quickly evacuated, but riders stuck at ‘sea’ waited 90 minutes to be rescued. Disneyland Fire Department rescue personnel helped some riders off of stranded boats. Other boats were pushed to safety by wading cast members, Disney parlance for employees.
“Rescued riders were routed through a labyrinth of behind-the-scenes ‘backstage’ hallways and a break room with arrow-shaped signs that read ‘Return to Park.’ Five fire vehicles and several firefighters were staged just outside the backstage exit to Pirates of the Caribbean.
“Evacuated riders were rewarded with two front-of-the-line FastPasses for any ride in the park — except the Rise of the Resistance or the holiday version of the Haunted Mansion.”
Disneyland police blotter: Here are some of the crimes reported in September
Anaheim Police Department call logs show officers responded to a bomb threat and cases of assault and battery, grand theft and trespassing at Disneyland in September.
By BRADY MACDONALD
UPDATED: November 2, 2021
“Anaheim Police responded to more than 30 calls at Disneyland in September that resulted in some type of action taken by officers on cases including a bomb threat, assault and battery and grand theft.”
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“To put Disneyland’s relatively low crime statistics into context, it’s important to understand how many people visit Disney’s Anaheim theme parks on a daily, monthly and annual basis.
“Disneyland and Disney California Adventure welcome the equivalent of a small city’s population with 78,000 visiting the parks on a daily basis, according to the Themed Entertainment Association/AECOM. That’s nearly a quarter of Anaheim’s population of 350,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
“In a typical month, Disneyland and DCA attract nearly 2.4 million visitors, according to the 2019 TEA/AECOM report. That’s just over half the size of the city of Los Angeles. In an average year, Disney’s two Anaheim theme parks host 28.6 million visitors, according to the TEA/AECOM report. That’s nearly three-quarters of the size of the California population.”
Disney’s Q4 Earnings Report Precipitates Stock Tumble – The Factors At Play!
By Caitlyn Wisser -November 10, 2021
“Chapek pointed out that, from 2019, the per capita spending at WDW (that is, how much each guest is paying at the parks) has increased 30%. And, according to Chapek and the Walt Disney Company’s CFO Christine McCarthy, that number is only expected to grow. (Does anyone else hear the sound of price increases and further service reductions?)
“In fact, when asked about the impact of inflation on that per capita spending, McCarthy stated that they expected that percentage to grow. In order to do so, she did not rule out a couple of rather controversial changes. She indicated that the Company might change suppliers to keep operating costs down, and she also said they are looking into creating smaller portion sizes. This second point came along with a quip about guests’ ‘waistlines,’ with McCarthy saying their guests might appreciate the smaller offerings. A dismaying comment.”
Disney Not Subject to Anaheim’s “Living Wage” Ballot Measure
Nov 3, 2021
“Disneyland and its contractors will not be required to follow the guidelines of a 2018 ballot measure that would have increased workers’ pay to at least $18 by 2022, a judge has ruled.”
UPDATED: Disneyland Reaches Agreement With Unions
By Dusty Sage -November 5, 2021
“For those of you following along with Disneyland’s tense negotiations with various unions, it appears that things have finally been settled. Disneyland today announced that they’ve reached a ‘tentative’ agreement with the Master Services Council, which represents several unions (see full story below).”
Disneyland Resort Reaches Tentative Agreement with Master Services Council
Nov 5, 2021
“The new tentative agreement has the full support of the unions that are part of the Master Services Council.
“Voting on the agreement will occur on November 17, 2021.”
Disneyland Update: Spooky Time Ends & Christmas Moves In!
By Lilliana Parker -November 1, 2021
“Snow has begun to fall at the Disneyland Resort as holiday enchantments push out pumpkins. Now that Halloween has ended you’ll be seeing Christmas trees in no time at all. But not everything is magical right now at Disneyland. Cast member unions are in tough negotiations with the company over updated contracts. Let’s take a look at what’s happening at the resort…”
Dateline Disneyland: Holidays take shape, Eternals suit up, Magic Keys Sputter
By Andy Castro -November 8, 2021
Walt Disney World and Disneyland Welcome Back International Travelers
Nov 8, 2021
“As of today, the United States has reopened its borders to travelers from around the world, and Walt Disney World and Disneyland are both ready to welcome back international guests.”
Ken joined our friend Ralph of Casino Skunk Productions on The Secret Society show to discuss Ralph’s experiences with Custodial at the Disneyland Resort. Watch it on Youtube!
You can listen to show 322 on iTunes or go to Libsyn service here.
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Show Notes for Episode 322
Disneyland Memories with Imagineer Tim Delaney