DLW 181: Adventures by Disney with Larry

This week, cast member previews have started, how the park is looking after being closed over a year, what to know before you go, what could have been in Galaxy’s Edge, an Imagineering marvel is shown off, we talk to Jerry about Adventures by Disney, and more!
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On Monday night, the Disney Parks YouTube page hosted a short, 8 minute “magical moment” to welcome Cast Members back to the resort and to light up Sleeping Beauty Castle once again. Josh D’Amaro was joined by Ken Potrock, and Disneyland Ambassadors Justin and Rafa to welcome everyone back to the Happiest Place on Earth. Some folks online held it together through the presentation until Walt Disney’s opening day speech played. – https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=ys3HYqmbo90&fbclid=IwAR0XACEz2gio8jNFKFD6qGIw_PW3zSOmiNW10HlxU7H_JRMAg-Dg9dQbHHY
For those Weeklyteers going to the parks in the near term, Disney has posted a Know Before You Go article on the Disney Parks Blog. The main points are to make sure that you have your ticket and theme park reservation confirmation, you have the latest version of the Disneyland app, if you are starting your day at Disneyland, be sure to try for a boarding group as early as 7am that day, and hotel guests can use online check-in before arrival. Once you get to the resort, Mickey and Friends, as well as Pixar Pals parking structures will be open, and guests will walk the tram route to the parks. Downtown Disney will be open at 10am on April 30th, and 9am starting May 1st going forward. Also, please remember to bring an appropriate face covering. Park hopping begins at 1pm, use mobile ordering for food and beverages, and please use contactless payments such as Apple Pay and Disney Gift Cards as much as possible. – https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2021/04/getting-ready-to-return-to-the-magic-heres-your-planning-checklist-for-your-visit-to-disneyland-resort/
Today was the first day of Cast Member previews, so there have been a lot of posts on social media, and on YouTube. Disneyland is looking great! There are still a few attractions under refurbishment, but the park overall looks spectacular.
A new billboard has popped up in ToonTown! Mickey and Minnie are working to hide the construction of Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway with the sign, reading “What big building? There’s no big building here!” – https://dlnewstoday.com/2021/04/photos-video-disneyland-unveils-humorous-billboard-to-hide-mickey-minnies-runaway-railway-show-building-in-toontown/
There is a new PhotoPass+ One Day package available at Disneyland! For $19.99, guests get access to unlimited downloads of Disney PhotoPass photos from one day, including select attraction and dining photos. The package can be purchased through the Disneyland mobile app. – https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2021/04/27/new-photopass-1-day-package-available-in-disneyland/
The mystery of what will go in place of Trader Sam in the World Famous Jungle Cruise has been answered by the Disney Parks Blog this week. Trader Sam will be operating the Lost and Found of the Jungle Navigation Company, at the direction of Alberta Falls, the proprietor. This is just one scene that will be updated for the Jungle Cruise at both Disneyland and Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. – https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2021/04/jungle-cruise-getting-ready-to-set-sale-with-help-from-old-friend/
Guests attending the reopening of Disneyland, and getting a chance to ride Rise of the Resistance in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. will want to check out the guide to getting a boarding pass for this popular attraction. The link in our show notes has been updated with the latest information, including the times and restrictions that are now in place. – https://www.micechat.com/247617-everything-you-need-to-know-about-getting-a-boarding-pass-to-ride-rise-of-the-resistance-at-disneyland/
Legacy Passholders should take a look in the Disneyland Mobile App to see what level of discount they have available to them. There are two categories – Legacy Passholder Discount A and Legacy Passholder Discount B. Discount A was given to the higher category passes like the Premier, Signature Plus, and Signature Annual Pass, and Discount B is for Deluxe, Flex, Southern California, and Southern California Select passholders. – https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2021/04/22/we-found-another-way-disneyland-is-changing-the-passholder-experience/
Another Imagineering marvel has been shown off online this week. A free roaming Groot animatronic character could be making its way to the parks in the future. This technology opens so many possibilities for interactive elements in the parks that are not limited by being stationary, or on wheels. The Groot character moves without any safety cables in parts of the video, and walks on two feet. Groot also moves his arms and has very realistic facial movements. – https://dlnewstoday.com/2021/04/photos-video-walt-disney-imagineering-has-created-a-free-roaming-groot-animatronic-character-that-will-change-the-industry-forever/ and https://techcrunch.com/2021/04/23/daily-crunch-meet-disney-imagineerings-new-robot/
In a follow up to one of our stories last week about the Disneyland Hotel getting guest scan in access, the fencing at the Downtown Disney entrance to the hotel has been uncovered and looks great! Still no word on when the hotel will open for reservations. – https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2021/04/23/whats-new-at-disneyland-resort-distancing-markers-unique-mugs-and-harveys-bags/
The Orange County Register reported on three unused ride concepts that Imagineers dreamed up for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge that didn’t make the final cut. The attractions come from the upcoming book “The Art of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.” The three attractions included a speeder bike concept, a bounty hunter ride concept, and the final concept was based on an Elee, a large animal, that guests could ride on the back of. – https://www.ocregister.com/2021/04/23/3-unused-star-wars-ride-concepts-dreamed-up-by-imagineering-for-galaxys-edge-at-disneyland/
The Orange County Register followed up the post with one discussing a restaurant that also didn’t make it into the final version of the land. The Kalikori Club was a table-service restaurant concept would have been located next to Oga’s Cantina, and would have featured two levels. – https://www.ocregister.com/2021/04/24/step-inside-the-star-wars-restaurant-imagineering-dreamed-up-for-galaxys-edge-at-disneyland/
Legacy Passholders were given the opportunity to attend an exclusive Star Wars shopping event on May 4th, known by Star Wars fans as May the 4th. Reservations for this event were full shortly after opening to passholders. Merchandise at the event will only be available during the event, with any unsold merchandse possibly being sold in the future in other Disney stores. Items include apparel, pins, and an all-new legacy lightsaber hilt. – https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2021/04/23/disneylands-new-reservation-only-shopping-event-is-all-about-star-wars/
With the conclusion of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier on Disney+ plast week, a new photo-op is coming to Disney California Adventure. Spoilers for those who haven’t completed the show – The Falcon becomes Captain America in the last episode, so this new photo space is likely to feature Sam as Captain America. – https://dlnewstoday.com/2021/04/new-sam-wilson-captain-america-photo-op-coming-to-disney-california-adventure/
Mother’s Day is just around the corner and there are a lot of options for food at the resort to enjoy. The Disney Parks Blog has posted a foodie guide to Mother’s Day at the resort. Ballast Point, Naples, Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen, and more have options in Downtown Disney. – https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2021/04/foodie-guide-to-mothers-day-at-disney-parks/
Even though the parks are reopening this week, some Weeklyteers might want to make some Disney magic at home. MiceChat has posted a recipe that they found online for the Honey-Lemon cupcakes that were offered at the Hungry Bear Restaurant about 10 years ago. The recipe doesn’t look too complicated and the end result looks delicious! – https://www.micechat.com/288032-celebrate-earth-day-disneyland-style-with-copycat-hungry-bear-honey-lemon-cupcakes/

Larry – Adventures by Disney – https://www.adventuresbydisney.com/