DLW 179: Former Cast Member Andy

This week, Avenger’s Campus has an opening date, ticket information is online for the parks reopening, how to get your reservation, Cast Members get a sneak peek, all types of attractions updates, we talk to former Cast Member Andy, and more!
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We have an opening date for Avenger’s Campus! The new area in Disney California Adventure is landing on June 4th. This is just over a month after the parks reopen to the general public. A video has been posted showing off the main elements of the campus, including Web Slingers, Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout, Pym’s Test Kitchen, and Doctor Strange’s ancient sanctum. The WEB Suppliers Store will also be open on the 4th. – https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2021/04/avengers-campus-at-disneyland-resort-set-to-open-and-recruit-super-heroes-june-4/
Disneyland posted the ticket prices and availability calendars online this week. As of the recording of this episode, all days on the calendar are still open from April 30th to June 28th. This is expected to change once new ticket sales open the morning of April 15th, so this could change. The pricing for the tickets has not changed since the parks closed ticket sales last year. To check the current availability and to get tickets to the parks, check out the link in our show notes. – https://disneyland.disney.go.com/experience-updates/park-reservations/#drawer-card-new-tickets
Step by step guide to making reservations {walk through this} – https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2021/04/12/your-step-by-step-guide-to-making-a-disneyland-park-pass-reservation/
Cast Members get the greatest perk of all: visiting the parks before the general public! Cast Members are able to attend to a soft opening of Disneyland and DCA before they open to the public on April 30th. – https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2021/04/10/the-disneyland-resort-parks-will-host-a-soft-opening-for-cast-members/
A small thing that guests may notice when the parks reopen is the new nametags that the resort is rolling out. The saying at the bottom of the nametag is being changed to “Bringing Back the Magic” in place of “Where Dreams Come True” that is on the current nametags. – https://www.micechat.com/287392-disneyland-update-you-snooze-you-lose/
When hinges creak in doorless chambers, when strange and frightening sounds echo though the halls, that is when new news from the Haunted Mansion is present! What a great week for news of the changes that have happened since some of these attractions were last open to guests. New curtains, wallpaper, decor inside and out, and a few more surprises have been added and refreshed in the stately manor. – https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2021/04/haunted-mansion-home-improvements-at-disneyland-park/ and https://www.micechat.com/287447-disneylands-haunted-mansion-gets-spirited-updates/
Kim Irvine got the pleasure of showing off the completed King Arthur Carrousel on a video posted by Disney today. The newly refurbished attraction has had all of the horses touched up, the paint scheme updated to a more classic look with parchment white with purple, magenta, and other colors. – https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2021/04/even-more-beautiful-king-arthur-carrousel-at-disneyland-park/
Even though the parks will be open like they were in the “before times”, it hasn’t stopped changes from happening during the Touch of Disney event. Of course attractions have been cycling, preparing for guests in just a couple of weeks! In addition to this, the Incredibles have been seen on Pixar Pier. – https://www.micechat.com/287392-disneyland-update-you-snooze-you-lose/
With the reopening of Disneyland, there have been questions on how Rise of the Resistance is going to operate, since it was only open for a limited time before the parks closed. Just like in Walt Disney World, it will be on a virtual queue system through the Disneyland mobile app. Boarding groups will be opened in the morning, and once in the afternoon. Guests that have Disneyland reservations can request a boarding group in the morning. For the afternoon group, you have to have entered one of the parks prior to requesting a boarding group. – https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2021/04/attractions-and-entertainment-reopening-details-for-disneyland-resort-theme-parks/
Head of the Disney Parks, Josh D’Amaro showed off some impressive technology this past week during the press event to announce the opening of Avenger’s Campus. The awe inspiring things that he showed off were a Groot walking animatronic, and – the real show stopper – what appeared to be a real lightsaber! There was a patent filed a couple of years ago for the technology that is assumed to be running the device. What makes this version different from the ones that guests can construct themselves is that the blade seemingly extends from nowhere! No word on when or where these will appear in the parks, but it is expected to debut with the Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser Hotel in Disney World. – https://www.ocregister.com/2021/04/09/disney-teases-groot-walking-animatronic-and-real-star-wars-lightsaber/ and https://wdwnt.com/2021/04/how-disneys-real-star-wars-lightsaber-works/
With the return of the parks, some of your favorite Disney characters will be hanging around the parks. Characters will be available for socially distant photos with guests at a number of locations, including Main Street, Mickey’s Toon Town, the Royal Theatre in Fantasyland, Carthay Circle, the Pixar Pier Bandshell, and more. For a complete list of locations, check out the link in the show notes. – https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2021/04/attractions-and-entertainment-reopening-details-for-disneyland-resort-theme-parks/ and https://wdwnt.com/2021/04/disneyland-announces-character-interactions-for-april-30th-reopening/
One dining location that we were sad to see closed in California Adventure has reopened for guests! Flo’s V8 Cafe is open once again for the remainder of the Touch of Disney event. – https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2021/04/09/there-was-a-surprise-restaurant-reopening-in-disney-california-adventure-today/
Much like the TV show itself, the Wandavision photo op has ended at Touch of Disney. – https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2021/04/09/whats-new-in-disneyland-resort-black-widow-merchandise-character-encounters-and-more/
Josh D’Amaro posted an update heralding in the new 5th key into the 4 keys of Safety, Courtesy, Show and Efficiency. As we spoke of previously on the podcast, the 5th key is Inclusion. This is being rolled out across the company to new and updated shows and attractions, how teams work, and even park policies like the dress code. Now, gender-inclusive hairstyles, jewelry, nail styles, and costume choices; and appropriate visible tattoos are allowed. – https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2021/04/a-place-where-everyone-is-welcome/

Andy Mack – https://andymackvoice.com/