DLW 180: Original Fantasmic! Cast Member Vanessa

This week, new rules when the parks reopen, dining location and menu updates, more mobile ordering locations, where to grab a great hotel deal, lightsabers might cost more, we talk to a friend of Mickey from Fantasmic!, and more!
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Some of the rules at the parks will be updated when they reopen. Most notably, Disney reserves the right to request a guest to leave if they are not wearing an approved face covering, violating any of the existing park rules, or for using profanity or offensive language towards Cast Members or other guests. This is in response to the guests that have caused altercations in Walt Disney World upon it’s reopening. – https://blogmickey.com/2021/04/following-guest-outbursts-at-disney-world-disneyland-warns-against-profanity-towards-cast-members/ and https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2021/04/16/news-disney-will-kick-guests-out-for-using-profanity-towards-others/
With the parks reopening in just over a week, the Disney Parks Blog has posted their Dining Guide. Select locations will open for dining booking on April 22nd, with limited capacity. Reservations can be made up to 60 days in advance. For a complete list of the locations that will be open, with links to the menus, check out the link in our show notes. – https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2021/04/disney-parks-foodie-news-dining-guide-to-disneyland-resort-reopening/
One thing that the food guide does not explicitly touch on is the more limited menus when dining returns. Currently, the Plaza Inn only has fried chicken as an entree for example. Beignets are also disappearing from Cafe Orleans, making them only available at the Mint Julep Bar. – https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2021/04/19/no-beignets-there-are-some-major-menu-changes-at-this-disneyland-restaurant/ and https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2021/04/20/we-hope-you-really-like-chicken-big-menu-changes-are-coming-to-this-disneyland-restaurant/
More locations are being added to the long list of locations accepting mobile ordering. The Tropical Hideaway, French Market Restaurant, and the Plaza Inn will now be mobile friendly. Studio Catering Company in DCA will also join this list. – https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2021/04/19/mobile-order-will-be-available-at-four-more-restaurants-when-disneyland-reopens/
Last minute dining reservations can now be secured through the mobile walk-up waitlist feature. This allows guests to get on a wait list for the location without having to interact with the host for the location. For now, it is only in place at Lamplight Lounge and Carthay Circle Lounge. – https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2021/04/20/theres-a-new-way-to-get-last-minute-dining-reservations-at-disneyland-resort/
Dining locations at the Grand Californian Hotel and Spa, including GCH Craftsman Bar, GCH Craftsman Grill, and Hearthstone Lounge, will be open for dining, but you must be a hotel guest to eat there. The hotel, along with these locations, is reopening on April 29th, one day before the parks return. – https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2021/04/16/disneyland-hotel-dining-will-be-open-to-a-select-group-upon-reopening/
With limitations being put on who can enter the hotel areas of the resort, scan in gates are being added to the Disneyland Hotel entrances. These scan in gates are expected to be used in the evenings after the grounds close to the public to allow hotel guests only onto the property. – https://wdwnt.com/2021/04/photos-disneyland-hotel-will-be-open-to-all-guests-during-the-day-scan-in-gates-to-be-available-for-hotel-guests-at-night/
Visit Anaheim has some great deals listed on their site for local hotels. Some of the promotions include Legacy Passholder rates, regular discounts, and a free limited-edition Disneyland Resort castle stainless steel water bottle. These deals seem to run until June 30th, but act fast as they are sure to book up fast! Visit the link in the show notes for all the locations and deals! – https://www.visitanaheim.org/hotel-spring-promotions/
Last week, we talked about the updates coming to the Haunted Mansion, including updates and additions to the pet cemetery. Disney Parks posted some closer looks at this area of the attraction on their TikTok account, which WDW News Today posted on their site. – https://wdwnt.com/2021/04/video-closer-look-at-refurbished-pet-cemetery-at-the-haunted-mansion-in-disneyland/
Force sensitive folks who want to build their own lightsabers at Savi’s Workshop may find the price has gone up. In Florida, at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the price just increased from $199 to $219 per builder. The price at Disneyland is still listed at $199, but that could change before reopening. – https://wdwnt.com/2021/04/handbuilt-lightsaber-price-increased-at-savis-workshop-in-disneys-hollywood-studios/
One of the last holdouts in Downtown Disney has reopened for guests. Splitsville Luxury Lanes returned this past week with some new health and safety measures. Bowling is open with limited availability, and indoor and outdoor dining is open. Like most other locations, plexiglass has been installed where groups might be close together, face masks must be worn except for when eating and drinking, and a lot of sanitation will be utilized. – https://dlnewstoday.com/2021/04/photos-splitsville-luxury-lanes-reopens-with-enhanced-health-and-safety-measures-at-downtown-disney-district/
With April being Earth Month, Disney has announced that some of its classic dolls will be packaged without plastic, and instead use 100% recyclable packaging. The dolls with this packaging will be available at shopDisney, select Disney Stores, and Disney Parks. Also, someone in the comments noticed that they included a boy and a girl playing with the dolls, which helps to normalize those who wish to do so. – https://www.instagram.com/p/CN2bYIjjwum/

Original Fantasmic! Cast Member Vanessa