Current Events 1/5/2024
Disneyland Resort Current Event
Disneyland restarts Magic Key annual pass sales
Sales of all four tiers of Disneyland Magic Key annual passes will start on Jan. 10.
By BRADY MACDONALD
PUBLISHED: January 4, 2024
“Sales of all four tiers of Magic Key annual passes will start on Wednesday, Jan. 10 no earlier than 9 a.m. Pacific time, according to Disneyland officials.
“Disneyland raised Magic Key prices in October to $1,649 for the Inspire Key, $1,249 for the Believe Key, $849 for the Enchant Key and $499 for the Imagine Key.
“The Imagine Key is available to Southern California residents with an installment plan for $25.84 per month after a $189 down payment.
“As in the past, Magic Key sales will be limited and individual tiers will likely sell out.
“Existing Magic Key annual passes can be renewed during the month before expiration.
“Disneyland paused new sales of annual passes in September”
Orange County Register
SALES REOPENING! Everything You Need To Know About Disneyland Magic Keys
By Dusty Sage -January 4, 2024
MiceChat
Disneyland to Resume Sale of All Magic Key Passes on Wednesday, January 10th
by Ben Breitbart | Jan 4, 2024
The Disneyland Resort has announced that all Magic Key types will soon go back on sale.
Laughing Place
Former Disneyland boss Dick Nunis dies at 91
Never one to rest on his laurels, Nunis always pushed Walt Disney to expand Disneyland to accommodate the millions of visitors that streamed through the front gates every year.
By BRADY MACDONALD
PUBLISHED: December 13, 2023
“Dick Nunis learned directly from Walt Disney how to run Disneyland and went on to play a key role in the development of the Anaheim theme park, Disney World, Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Paris.
“The Disney Legend and former Disneyland executive vice president died on Wednesday, Dec. 13 in Orlando, Florida at the age of 91, according to the Walt Disney Company.”
…
“After graduating from USC, Nunis landed a summer job at Disneyland in May 1955 just two months before the Anaheim theme park opened to the public.
“Nunis ended up working for Disney University founder Van France and together they trained future Disneyland employees in Walt Disney’s theme park philosophy. Their first students: Walt and his Disneyland executives.”
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“By 1971, when the Magic Kingdom opened in Florida, Nunis was named executive vice president of Disneyland and Disney World.
“In the 1980s, he oversaw Epcot and what would become Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
“Nunis consulted on the development of Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Paris as a member of the Walt Disney Productions Board of Directors.
“He retired in 1999 as the chairman of Walt Disney Attractions after 44 years with the company.”
Orange County Register
First look inside Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Disneyland — See photos
Disneyland and Disney World closed the Splash Mountain attractions earlier this year so Walt Disney Imagineering could transform the classic log flume rides with a new 'Princess and the Frog' theme.
By BRADY MACDONALD
PUBLISHED: December 18, 2023
“Walt Disney Imagineering offered the first look inside the new Tiana’s Bayou Adventure attractions coming to Disneyland and Walt Disney World as the former Splash Mountain rides continue to undergo extensive ‘Princess and the Frog’ makeovers.
“The brief peek inside the attraction showed Imagineers working in a scene with an old cabin framed by a magnolia tree and waving fields of tall grass set against a night sky in the background.
“The sneak peek of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure appeared during ‘Disney 100: A Century of Dreams’ on Disney-owned ABC as part of a special edition of the ‘20/20’ news magazine show.
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“It was unclear whether the “20/20” footage was filmed at Disneyland in Anaheim or the Magic Kingdom in Florida — but the twin ride makeovers are expected to be identical on both coasts.
“Disneyland and Disney World closed the Splash Mountain attractions earlier this year so Imagineering could begin the process of transforming the classic log flume rides. The dueling versions of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure are set to debut in late 2024.”
Orange County Register
Disneyland To Add “Pirates of the Caribbean” To Genie+ Lightning Lane Temporarily Starting Next Month [This month]
by Tony Betti | Dec 29, 2023
“Disneyland’s iconic Pirates of the Caribbean attraction is slated to be added to the lineup of attractions with Lightning Lane access through the Disney Genie+ Service.
“The addition is only a temporary one, being added to the list of available attractions as a result of nearby attractions being closed for refurbishment.
“Splash Mountain has already closed to make way for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, set to open later in 2024 – and in only a matter of days, The Haunted Mansion will also close for an extended refurbishment.”
…
“Guests visiting the Disneyland Resort can find Pirates of the Caribbean in the Disney Genie+ Service starting on Monday, January 22nd, 2024. There has been no date announced for when it will be removed, but it is emphasized that this is only a temporary addition.”
Laughing Place
Disneyland Ambassadors pass title to next theme park spokespeople
Nataly Guzman Garcia and Mark Everett King Jr. will finish their two-year term as Disneyland Ambassadors on New Year's Eve and hand over the roles to Jada Young and Raul Aquino Rojas.
By BRADY MACDONALD
PUBLISHED: December 29, 2023
“Nataly Guzman Garcia and Mark Everett King Jr. will finish their two-year term as Disneyland Ambassadors on Sunday, Dec. 31 and hand over the roles to Jada Young and Raul Aquino Rojas who will begin their two-year term on Monday, Jan. 1.
“Garcia and King’s ambassadorships started on Jan. 1, 2022 — just eight months after Disneyland and Disney California Adventure emerged from a year-long pandemic closure.”
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“The first Disneyland Ambassador was selected in late 1964 by Walt Disney from a field of 135 applicants — all of them Disneyland cast members, Disney lingo for employees.
“Walt was always receiving requests for media interviews and to attend numerous events — like the 1964 Anaheim Halloween Parade. The six Disneyland Ambassador finalists participated in the parade — freeing Walt to focus on other pressing matters at the theme park and his movie studio.”
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“Disneyland Ambassadors endure an extensive selection process where they are judged on qualities like poise and personality. The all-female role was expanded to include men in 1995.
“Today, Disneyland Ambassadors also lead a series of behind-the-scenes cast member events — and represent the park’s 34,000 employees. In a modern twist, they also serve as brand ambassadors and social media influencers creating content published on Disney Instagram, Twitter and Facebook accounts.”
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“After the first of the year, you’ll be able to recognize Garcia and King in the parks by their gold name tags — issued to all Disneyland Ambassadors upon completion of their term.”
Orange County Register
5 fireworks shows coming to Disneyland in 2024
Disneyland will host the 'Believe in Holiday Magic,' 'Mickey’s Mix Magic,' 'Together Forever,' 'Wondrous Journeys' and Star Wars-themed fireworks shows over the next eight months.
By BRADY MACDONALD
UPDATED: December 22, 2023
“Fans of Disneyland fireworks will get to see five different pyrotechnic shows between now and the end of summer as the Anaheim theme park rolls out a familiar and somewhat complex lineup of nighttime entertainment for the first half of 2024.
“Disneyland will host the “Believe in Holiday Magic,” “Mickey’s Mix Magic,” “Together Forever,” “Wondrous Journeys” and Star Wars-themed fireworks shows over the next nine months.”
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“Disneyland will also bring back the Magic Happens parade on Feb. 2 with no end date announced.
“A Christmas Fantasy parade runs through Jan. 7 when the holiday season comes to a close.
“There are no plans for a Disneyland parade from Jan. 8 through Feb. 1.
“The new Better Together parade runs April 26 through Aug. 4 at Disney California Adventure as part of Pixar Fest.”
Orange County Register
New Concept Art Released For Disneyland’s Pixar Fest
by Marshal Knight | Jan 2, 2024
Disney has released new concept art for their upcoming Pixar Fest celebration.
“Disney Parks Blog posted a list of things to look forward to from Disney Experiences this year, and within that, revealed a new bit of concept art for the upcoming Pixar Fest at Disneyland Resort.
“The new concept art reveals the festival marquee at the start of Main Street U.S.A.”
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“Pixar Fest will take place at Disneyland Resort from April 26th through August 4th.”
Laughing Place
Disneyland Update: The Big Christmas Lock Out
By Mike Kindrich -December 11, 2023
MiceChat
DISNEYLAND UPDATE: The Long Wait, Magic Key Woes & Iger’s Uphill Battle
By Natalie Kipper -December 18, 2023
‘Twas the week before Christmas, and all through the Land, MiceChat was present, notes and camera in hand.
Disneyland Update: Unwrapping New Thrills & Holiday HumbugsDisneyland Update: Unwrapping New Thrills & Holiday Humbug
By Dusty Sage -December 25, 2023
MiceChat
Disneyland Update: Unwrapping New Thrills & Holiday Humbugs
By Dusty Sage - December 25, 2023
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