Current Events 5/12/2023
Disneyland Resort Current Event
Disneyland Pauses Fantasmic! Performances Through May 28th
by Tony Betti | May 4, 2023
“Though originally revealed to be paused at least through May 14th, Disneyland has now said that performances of the popular nighttime spectacular, Fantasmic!, have been paused through at least May 28th.”
Laughing Place
Disneyland News: Updated Fantasmic Fire & Aftermath Info
By Dusty Sage -May 9, 2023
MiceChat
Disneyland pitches theme park expansion plans to neighbors
Disneyland is hosting a series of community coffees at city parks throughout Anaheim to introduce residents to Disney’s decades-long expansion initiative known as DisneylandForward.
By BRADY MACDONALD
UPDATED: May 8, 2023
“Disneyland is hosting a series of community coffees at city parks throughout Anaheim to introduce residents to Disney’s decades-long expansion initiative known as DisneylandForward.
“The DisneylandForward proposal seeks to update a 1990s Anaheim city plan to allow for a mix of theme park, hotel, retail, dining and entertainment on the eastern and western edges of the Disneyland resort.
“The long-term planning proposal dangles six possible projects based on 'Frozen,' 'Tangled,' 'Peter Pan,' 'Zootopia,' 'Toy Story' and 'Tron' as the types of lands and attractions Anaheim is missing out on under current city planning and zoning guidelines.”
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“The DisneylandForward Community Coffee events take place at public parks throughout the city of Anaheim.”
Orange County Register
Disneyland Resort Hosting a Series of Community Events to Introduce Residents to DisneylandForward
by Mike Mack | May 4, 2023
Laughing Place
Disneyland closing 3 classic Fantasyland rides this summer
Disneyland will temporarily close Peter Pan's Flight, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride and Alice in Wonderland on June 5 for standard seasonal refurbishments.
By BRADY MACDONALD
PUBLISHED: May 10, 2023
“Disneyland is shuttering one of its most popular Fantasyland attractions along with two of the oldest rides at the Anaheim theme park just after the unofficial start of summer for several weeks of seasonal refurbishment.
“Disneyland will temporarily close Peter Pan’s Flight, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride and Alice in Wonderland on June 5 for standard refurbishments, according to Disneyland officials.
“Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride and Alice in Wonderland will reopen about two weeks later on June 16. A reopening date has not yet been set for Peter Pan’s Flight, but the popular Fantasyland dark ride aboard an enchanted pirate ship soaring over London will be closed at least through June 21, according to the Disneyland website.
“The refurbishments of the three Fantasyland rides that share a common building next to Sleeping Beauty Castle are part of Disneyland’s standard operations for general maintenance and upkeep. Walt Disney Imagineering is not expected to make any notable show changes to the attractions.”
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“The Fantasyland ride closures starting on June 5 coincide with a string of days when Disneyland tickets will be at their lowest price of $104 — suggesting crowds will be light at that time.”
Orange County Register
Disneyland to run Incredicoaster during ‘World of Color’
Disneyland diehards who want to watch the water show from a new and unique perspective will need to time their rides on the roller coaster to coincide with the nightly performances.
By BRADY MACDONALD
PUBLISHED: May 5, 2023
“In the coming weeks, Incredicoaster, Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind and Jumpin’ Jellyfish may run later than usual in the evening during ‘World of Color – One’ performances as Disney California Adventure conducts operational tests on select attractions, according to Disneyland officials.
“Disneyland die-hards who want to watch the water show from a new and unique perspective will need to time their rides on the three attractions to coincide with the nightly performances.”
Orange County Register
What to expect when Avengers musical opens at Disneyland resort
'Rogers: The Musical' debuts June 30 in the Hyperion Theater at Disney California Adventure.
By BRADY MACDONALD
PUBLISHED: May 3, 2023
“Disneyland will bring “Rogers: The Musical,” based on the life story of Captain America, to the Hyperion Theater on June 30 for a limited run at Disney California Adventure.
“The 30-minute one-act musical billed as ‘a timeless story of a timeless hero’ will run Tuesdays through Saturdays most weeks.
“The backstory will follow the journey of Steve Rogers from his service in World War II to becoming Earth’s first known superhero to the birth of the Avengers.
“Marvel fans were introduced to the fictional ‘Rogers: The Musical’ in the first episode of the Disney+ series ‘Hawkeye.’ In the show, Hawkeye attends a performance of the Broadway musical about the life of Rogers, the first Captain America.”
Orange County Register
Get ready for the Grad Nite invasion of Disneyland
Grad Nite 2023 celebrations will be held on 15 dates in May and June at Disney California Adventure.
By BRADY MACDONALD
PUBLISHED: May 9, 2023
“Grad Nite 2023 celebrations will be held on 15 dates in May and June at Disney California Adventure.
“Grad Nite 2023 will take place on May 12, 14, 17, 19, 21, 24, 25, 30 and 31 and June 2, 4, 7, 9, 14 and 16. The dates fall on select weekdays (Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays) and weekends (Fridays and Saturdays).
“Grad Nite celebrations will run from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. at DCA with dance parties, themed food and drinks and meet-and-greet photo ops with Disney characters dressed in graduation gear.
“High school seniors had three Grad Nite ticket options to choose from:
“The Grad Nite private party experience with access to DCA starting at 9 p.m.
“All-day DCA admission that includes the Grad Nite party
“A parkhopper option with admission to both parks and the after-hours party
“DCA will close to day visitors by 9 p.m. on Grad Nites.”
Orange County Register
Disneyland feral cat beloved by annual passholders [has moved to a farm out in the countryside]...dies after years of mouse hunting Nutmeg the feral cat who patrolled Disney California Adventure for rodents and visited annual passholders at the Magic Key Terrace has passed away.
By BRADY MACDONALD
UPDATED: May 9, 2023
“Nutmeg the feral cat who patrolled Disney California Adventure for rodents and visited die-hard Disneylanders at the Magic Key Terrace has passed away,”
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“The legend of Nutmeg grew as Magic Key Terrace drink masters named a secret menu cocktail in the cat’s honor and Walt Disney Imagineering drew design inspiration from Nutmeg and other feral cats for the annual passholder hideaway.
“The Magic Key Terrace secret menu drink was made for the passholder ‘in crowd’ that knows and loves Nutmeg, according to Disney California Adventure culinary director Jeremiah Balogh.”
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“Imagineering had custom Mexican tile made with cat designs that line the columns of the terrace interspersed with other accent tiles for a 2022 makeover of the Magic Key Terrace.”
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“Disneyland provides feeding stations, neutering and medical care for the feral felines that provide an invaluable service — even if their mere presence might make Mickey and Minnie a little nervous.
“The Cats of Disneyland have legions of fans with 112,000 followers on Instagram and 17,000 more on Twitter.”
Orange County Register
Anaheim ‘hospitality worker bill of rights’ heads to city leaders
City council can opt to adopt the ordinance or deny it, which would place it before voters as a ballot measure.
By KEVIN SMITH
UPDATED: May 3, 2023
“A union seeking higher wages and workplace protections for Anaheim hotel and event center workers is ready to place a ‘hospitality worker bill of rights’ ordinance before the city council for a vote.
“The city’s mostly non-union hospitality workers gathered more than 26,000 valid signatures for the UNITE HERE Local 11-led initiative — far more than the 16,643 that were needed. The city council is tentatively scheduled to consider the measure on May 16.
“The council will have the option of adopting the ordinance, sending it back for economic review or denying it. If it opts to deny the ordinance, the measure will be placed before voters as a ballot initiative.”
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“If passed by the City Council, the ordinance would provide:
“Panic buttons with a security guard on call, mandatory training and security protocols to protect hotel housekeepers from sexual assault and threatening conduct by guests and others
“Fair pay when housekeepers are assigned heavy workloads and a prohibition on mandatory overtime after 10 hours
“A $25 minimum wage for hotel housekeepers and other hotel and event center workers with an annual increase in wage to reflect the cost of living
“Protections ensuring workers are retained when new owners or operators take over”
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“Pete Hillan, a spokesman for the California Hotel & Lodging Association, says the proposed ordinance will have heavy economic impacts for small family-owned hotels in the city and Anaheim’s overall budget.
“‘If they go to an immediate $25 minimum wage, that’s a 63% increase from the current minimum of $15.50 an hour,’ he said. ‘That’s an extraordinary amount. It would lead to higher costs at small hotels and put some of them at risk of going out of business.’
“Hillen said Anaheim’s hotels – most of which are small, family run businesses – generate 58% of the city’s general fund.
“‘We are advocating that the city send this back for an economic study,’ he said.”
Orange County Register
Disneyland Update: Fantasmic Aftermath, Spring Things & Construction Views
By Andy Castro -May 1, 2023
“From construction to crowds, there’s a lot going on at Disneyland right now! On Friday, Disney unveiled a heartwarming tribute to its longtime non-profit partners at the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Over on the Rivers of America, it’s been a full week since the headline-making Fantasmic! dragon fire. The popular nighttime show remains dark while Disney sorts through the aftermath of the blaze. Meanwhile, construction rages on everywhere — from Tiana’s Palace to San Fransokyo Square, both parks have major projects underway… and don’t forget about the Hotels and Downtown Disney! We’ve got a full Dateline Disneyland update for you on all of the latest goings on and construction news at the Resort.”
MiceChat
Disneyland Update – The Crowd Awakens
By Dusty Sage -May 8, 2023
“It’s been a beautiful week at Disneyland, (nearly) perfect weather, gorgeous scenery, and a week full of Disney news. After a brief post-spring break lull, the crowds returned in full force this week. We’re quickly approaching the summer season, so crowd trends are sure to change again once more Magic Keys are blocked out. We’ve got some interesting strategies to ensure you’ll still have a good time, even on the busiest days. Plus, we’ll catch up on the latest Disneyland news and construction updates you’ll want to know about. Let’s get this Update started!”
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