DLW 137: When the Parks Aren’t So Magical

This week, Everything but Disneyland cleared to open, a look at what could be the reservation system when the parks do open, the Incredibles help with guidelines, things to “know before you go”, who doesn’t want the parks to open?, we talk to Lori about trips when things don’t go so magical, and more!

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News:

The plan that Disneyland proposed to the local and state governments was partially accepted last week, making it official that Downtown Disney, and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel are cleared to open, in line with the proposed plan. The plan for the theme parks are still being reviewed and have not been approved as of the recording of this episode. – https://wdwnt.com/2020/06/downtown-disney-district-disneys-grand-californian-hotel-spa-and-disneys-paradise-pier-hotel-approved-for-phased-reopening/

The new Disney Parks Pass system was launched this week for Walt Disney World guests that had existing reservations at the resort hotels. Guests needed to be signed into the My Disney Experience login, and have an active theme park ticket to proceed through the system. Be sure to have your park ticket, any hotel reservations, and your party created before you begin for the easiest path through the system. On the first day, guests were then put into a virtual queue with a very inaccurate wait time. At that point, you could “view availability” much like the Flex Pass calendar system. Green showed all parks available, yellow for some parks available, and grey for no parks available. You select a date and the available parks are displayed. Then you will need to select a time to visit the park. Afterwards, you need to review and confirm your reservation. Multi-day tickets are required to make a reservation for every day of the ticket. – https://dlnewstoday.com/2020/06/first-look-at-new-theme-park-reservation-system-for-disneyland-and-walt-disney-world-revealed/ and https://wdwnt.com/2020/06/how-to-access-the-new-disney-park-pass-system-at-walt-disney-world-new-availability-calendar-available/

With the parks planned reopening approaching, the Incredibles have shown up to help guests remember the guidelines to attend. Frozone will remind you to check your temperature, Mrs. Incredible will remind you to maintain proper distance with others, Dash wants you to wash your hands, and Edna Mode will remind you to cover up with a mask. – https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2020/06/together-lets-make-your-next-disney-day-incredible/

If you are one of the folks excited to get back onto Disney property, then July 9th can’t come soon enough. Disney has posted a Know Before You Go poster on what to know and be prepared for when you get back to the resort. Downtown Disney will be the first part to open and will require a few things from guests. Parking and entrances to the area will be limited. Guests will need to self-park in the Simba lot and enter Downtown Disney from the west entrance or walk from Harbor Boulevard on the east entrance. Guest’s temperatures will be screened and anyone with a temperature of 100.4 or higher will not be allowed entry. Cleaning and sanitation will be emphasized with hand sanitizer and hand washing stations in key areas. Guests must bring their own face masks and wear them at all times, except for when dining. Physical distancing will be expected, along with limited capacity. Hours will vary by location and could be limited. Cashless payment is recommended, if at all possible. – https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2020/06/heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-phased-reopening-of-downtown-disney-district-at-disneyland-resort-beginning-july-9/

Disneyland has started recalling cast members back from the furlough. The union representing food and beverage workers said that Disney was going to recall 775 cast members who will return to work on June 28th. The union represents more than 7,850 cast members. – https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2020/06/22/news-disneyland-has-started-recalling-cast-members-from-furlough/

Not everyone is as excited as we are that Disneyland is planning to reopen. Some of the Disneyland employee unions are demanding that the reopening be pushed back due to the recent rise in COVID-19 cases. The union represent 17,000 of the 31,000 cast members at the resort. The unions want Disneyland to check temperatures of cast members daily, and test employees for COVID-19. – https://www.ocregister.com/2020/06/19/disneyland-employee-unions-demand-that-the-anaheim-theme-parks-not-reopen-on-july-17/

June is National Safety Month, which recognizes the importance of safety in the workplace, as well as in communities through education, leadership, and advocacy. The Disney Parks Blog posted about this and introduced some of the cast members that help make Disney Parks safe around the world every month of the year. If you are interested in learning more about the health and safety team at Disney, check out the link in our show notes. – https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2020/06/recognizing-national-safety-month-at-disney-parks-around-the-world/

For members of the military that purchased a Military Salute Ticket, the expiration dates have been pushed back to December 16, 2021. There will be blockout days of December 19th, 2020 through January 4, 2021 and March 26th, 2021 through April 11, 2021. – https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2020/06/19/news-disneylands-2020-military-salute-tickets-are-being-extended/

As we reported on last week, Orange County had lifted the order to wear face masks when out in public. On June 18th, the State of California stepped in and requires face masks to be worn “in common public indoor spaces and outdoors when distancing is not possible.” Children ages two and under, as well as “persons who are seated at a restaurant or other establishment that offers food or beverage service, while they are eating or drinking” is exempt from the order. – https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2020/06/18/news-california-requires-the-wearing-of-face-coverings-in-public-areas/

The Bowers Museum, which currently houses the “Inside the Disney Archives – 50 Years of Preserving the Magic” exhibition has reopened! If you are going to be in the area and want to check out the exhibit, they opened on June 19th. All people in the building will be required to wear a face mask and to practice social distancing. If you had tickets to visit during the shutdown, you can still use them. For more details, visit the link in our show notes. – https://www.bowers.org/index.php/current-exhibition/inside-the-disney-archives-50-years-of-preserving-the-magic and https://www.bowers.org/index.php/visit/health-safety

Another addition to the Ink and Paint Collection is coming soon to shopDisney. Joining the collection is a Disney Store Key, which is all white printed with sketched outlines of classic animated characters and has a few splashes of red, yellow, blue, and green, plus dark blue accents on the stem and castle. No official release date has been announced. – https://dlnewstoday.com/2020/06/new-ink-paint-collection-disney-store-key-coming-soon-to-shopdisney/

Some of the sights from Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will be available for you to build in the form of Legos coming this September. The Resistance I-TS Transport set includes the ship that you board to escape Batuu in Rise of the Resistance and includes a Lego version of Vi Moradi and Lieutenant Bek. The set will be 932 pieces, with access to the cargo hold and cockpit. There are also studs that can be “shot” from the cannons. The set will be on sale for $99.99. – https://dlnewstoday.com/2020/06/shop-new-lego-star-wars-rise-of-the-resistance-i-ts-transport-set-including-vi-moradi-and-lieutenant-bek-figures-coming-this-september/

A visit to your local Target store might be a small way to get a little of the Star Wars Disney magic in your life. Some select Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge merchandise is reportedly coming to Target in the future. Items include Star Wars: The Black Series Hondo Ohnaka, a mountain trooper, and Captain Cardinal. The Vintage series will feature a Millennium Falcon inspired by Smugglers Run in Galaxy’s Edge. The Droid Factory build-a-droid experience will also come to the stores, along with some plush from the creature stall in Black Spire Outpost. – https://wdwnt.com/2020/06/select-star-wars-galaxys-edge-merchandise-reportedly-coming-to-target/