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Show Notes for Episode 281
Disneyland 1990
In this episode we take a look at Disneyland in the 1990. There was quite a bit going on, and the year Ken started working at Disneyland, and Lynn Graduated from high school. we had a lot of fun talking about which attractions were there then, and everything else in between. Plus the latest in the Disneyland Resort Current Events.
Disneyland Resort Current Event
***BREAKING NEWS***
Due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 (Corona) Virus, ALL Disney Parks, Cruise Lines, and Disney Vacation Club Resorts will be closed until further notice:
Disney is over whelmed with people attempting to rebook / Cancel so please be patient with them. They are modifying their cancelation policy to accommodate guests. Many booking services can be handled online (links above). They are reportedly going to extend AP's by one month.
Please be sure to follow CDC and your State's guidelines during this crisis. We will get through this.
Disneyland and Disney World extend coronavirus closures ‘until further notice’
The temporary closures at Disneyland, Disney California Adventure and the four Disney World theme parks have been extended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Disney officials said.
By Brady MacDonald
PUBLISHED: March 27, 2020
"Disney’s Anaheim theme parks closed on March 14 and initially planned to remain closed through the end of the month. Disneyland’s three hotels and the Downtown Disney outdoor shopping mall closed on March 17.
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"Disneyland’s employees, known as cast members in Disney parlance, will continue to be paid through April 18 during the coronavirus closures of the parks."
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"Disneyland unions sent a letter to Disney’s labor relations leaders on Thursday, March 26 that said cast members remained in a 'state of limbo' and filled with 'anxiety and uncertainty' while they waited for work schedules to be posted after March 31.
"The letter was sent on behalf of Workers United Local 50, which represents 7,850 food and beverage workers at the Disneyland resort, and the Coalition of Resort Labor Unions, which represents more than 20,000 theme park employees.
Disneyland cast members were very concerned about medical insurance, rent, food and their economic well-being, according to the letter written by Workers United Local 50 president Chris Duarte."
Orane County Register
Coronavirus fallout: Why closing Disneyland is such a blow to American optimism
By Todd Martens
March 14, 2020
"The walls of Disneyland’s fairy tale castle — buoyantly pink and cheerfully blue still at this very moment — have stood through multiple wars, civil rights movements, economic downturns and nearly every societal trend, change or tragedy.
For whatever was happening in America, and regardless of the corporate directives of the Walt Disney Co., the pirates, the ghosts and the island birds still sang. It’s taken for granted that Disneyland stays open, like a high-priced roadside attraction that stands as a symbol of the stability and the seemingly ever-lasting appeal of American pop art. Throughout its six decades, Disneyland has taken the pulse of American culture, be it the romance of Main Street, U.S.A., and New Orleans Square, or the Western action of Frontierland and the intergalactic hopefulness of Space Mountain.
"Disneyland has proven so remarkably durable that it has been replicated and re-imagined multiple times and in numerous spaces, spreading American ideals to not just Walt Disney World in Florida but to parks in Tokyo, Paris, Hong Kong and Shanghai.
"And yet come Monday — following the closing of Disneyland Resort and earlier shutdowns in Asia — every single Disney theme park in the world is scheduled to be closed, and a global heartbeat that began in Anaheim will stop beating for the first time in our history. Vietnam, the AIDS crisis, the economic crash of 2008 and even the death of the park’s founder, Walt Disney, couldn’t stop Disneyland from humming.
"But today the silence in Anaheim and beyond is sending a rather loud message: We are, at this moment, broken.
When Disneyland’s turnstiles have in the past been locked into place, they held steady only briefly, as if for a short momentary pause to catch our collective breath."
LA Times
Fans escape reality at Disneyland before it closes. For service workers, uncertainty abounds
By Priscella Vega
March 14, 2020
"For several dedicated Disney fans, it was clear it would take much more than gloomy skies and the COVID-19 pandemic to keep them from enjoying the last hurrah Friday before the Anaheim theme park temporarily shut down following Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recommendation that gatherings of 250 or more people be canceled across the state.
"Disneyland was still the place where people of all ages could visit to escape life’s cold realities. Souvenir shops along Main Street, U.S.A., bustled with tourists and locals who bought limited edition collectibles as well as ponchos to shield themselves from the rain. Families and couples waited in line near the Mad Hatter gift shop to pose for photos with characters such as Goofy and Minnie Mouse."
LA Times
Final day at Disneyland before coronavirus shutdown: ‘It’s the last hurrah’
Disneyland and Disney California Adventure closed on Friday, March 13 and will remain closed through the end of the month due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
By Brady MacDonald
PUBLISHED: March 14, 2020
"Disneyland and Disney California Adventure closed on Friday, March 13 and will remain closed through the end of the month due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Disneylanders soaked in all they could on the last day before the coronavirus closure — chomping churros, licking lollipops and downing final doses of Dole Whips. At least for the next few weeks."
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"Cast members and costumed characters lined up to wave goodbye to departing visitors just before closing time on Friday night at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, according to social media posts."
Orane County Register
Disney closes Downtown Disney amid coronavirus outbreak
All of Disney’s company-owned and -operated stores at the Anaheim mall will close beginning Tuesday, March 17. No reopening date was announced.
By Brady MacDonald
PUBLISHED: March 16, 2020
"Disney will close the Downtown Disney shopping mall next to the shuttered Disneyland theme park amid concerns about the coronavirus outbreak.
"The Anaheim outdoor mall will close at 8 p.m. on Monday, March 16 and remain closed through the end of the month, according to Disneyland officials.
"Disney initially closed its company-owned stores at Downtown Disney and reduced operating hours at the mall before announcing the full closure of the mall starting on Tuesday, March 17.
"Disney operates World of Disney, Disney Dress Shop, Disney Home and Marceline’s Confectionery at Downtown Disney."
Orane County Register
Disneyland extends annual pass expiration dates during coronavirus closure
The update from Disneyland was sent to annual passholders by email and through the park’s mobile app.
By Brady MacDonald
PUBLISHED: March 14, 2020
"Disneyland will extend the expiration dates for passholders who have annual passes that are valid during the coronavirus closure period stretching through the end of March."
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"The update from Disneyland was sent to annual passholders by email and through the park’s mobile app and website."
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"Passholders on the monthly payment plan will continue to make their scheduled payments and will not be required to make any payments during that extended period."
Orane County Register
Disneyland and Disney World coronavirus closures could stretch until May, analysts warn
The JPMorgan analysts expect Disneyland Paris to remain closed through May 1 while Hong Kong Disneyland is expected to remain closed until the end of June.
By Brady MacDonald
PUBLISHED: March 26, 2020
"Disney’s theme parks in the United States could be closed until May as the country scrambles to get the coronavirus outbreak contained, analysts warn in a new research paper.
"An analyst report from JPMorgan estimates that the shuttering of Disney’s theme parks in Anaheim and Florida amid the COVID-19 pandemic could extend until May 1."
Orane County Register
Disneyland and Disney California Adventure halt construction during coronavirus closure
In line with direction from government and health officials, the temporary closure of Disneyland Resort includes construction sites, Disney officials said.
By Brady MacDonald
PUBLISHED: March 23, 2020
"Disney has halted construction on the Avengers Campus themed land at Disney California Adventure and Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway dark ride at Disneyland during the coronavirus closures of the Anaheim theme parks.
"In line with direction from government and health officials, the temporary closure of Disneyland Resort includes construction sites, Disney officials said.
"The Marvel-themed Avengers Campus is scheduled to open on July 18 while the Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway attraction in Toontown is set to debut in 2022."
Orane County Register
Disneyland coronavirus closure could cost SoCal economy $400 million
The closure of Disneyland could be costing the Southern California economy as much as $23 million a day, according to a Cal State Fullerton study.
By Brady MacDonald
PUBLISHED: March 18, 2020
"The unprecedented closure of Disneyland due to the coronavirus outbreak could have a $400 million impact on the Southern California economy while reducing visitor traffic at hotels and restaurants near the Anaheim theme park and slashing city bed tax revenues.
"An economic impact study commissioned by Disney offers a glimpse at just how big of a financial hit the COVID-19 closure of Disneyland could have on the park, the city and the region.
"The study by Cal State Fullerton’s Woods Center for Economic Analysis and Forecasting found that the Disneyland resort added $8.5 billion to the Southern California economy and generated more than $500 million in state and local taxes in 2018."
Orane County Register
Disney’s coronavirus closures could cost $500 million in lost theme park admission revenue
The global pandemic is so massive in scale that it has Disney accountants rounding to the nearest million to calculate the economic cost of the catastrophe.
By Brady MacDonald
PUBLISHED: March 21, 2020
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"The closure of every Disney theme park around the world could cost the entertainment company more than $500 million in lost admission revenue as its global attendance takes a 11 million visitor hit due to the coronavirus outbreak.
"Data analysis based on Disney’s 2018 annual report and 2018 attendance figures from Burbank-based Themed Entertainment Association offer a glimpse of the potential impact on attendance and admission revenue as the company’s theme parks in the U.S., France, Japan and China remain closed amid the COVID-19 pandemic."
Orane County Register
Disney hotel coronavirus closures could cost company $140 million worldwide
The unprecedented shuttering of Disney’s 12 theme parks around the globe amid the COVID-19 pandemic has left many of the 37,000-plus rooms empty in the 37 hotels at the company’s resorts in the U.S., France, Japan and China.
By Brady MacDonald
PUBLISHED: March 20, 2020
"The closure of Disney theme parks around the world due to the coronavirus outbreak could cost the media giant at least $140 million in lost hotel bookings and related revenues, according to the company’s annual report.
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"Disney had approximately 13 million room nights available at its domestic and international hotels in 2019, according to the company’s annual report. At the time, guest spending averaged $353 per room at Disney’s domestic hotels with a 90% occupancy rate, according to the report.
"That $353 rate consists of the average daily cost of a hotel room as well as guest spending on food, drinks and merchandise at the hotels, according to the annual report.
"The Disneyland resort’s three hotels — Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel — have approximately 2,400 rooms combined. Disney’s Anaheim hotels closed a few days after the parks to allow guests time to make travel arrangements."
Orane County Register
Disney faces $3.4 billion coronavirus one-two punch at U.S. theme parks, analysts warn
A report from research firm MoffettNathanson paints a grim picture of the financial impact of shuttering Disney theme parks in Anaheim, Florida and around the world amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
By Brady MacDonald
PUBLISHED: March 27, 2020
"Disney theme parks in the United States face a potential $3.4 billion revenue loss due to the ongoing coronavirus closures at the Disneyland and Disney World resorts along with the economic recession projected to follow, analysts warn in a new research paper.
"An analyst report from research firm MoffettNathanson paints a grim picture of the financial impact of shuttering Disney theme parks in Anaheim, Florida and around the world amid the COVID-19 pandemic."
Orane County Register
Disneyland paying employees $59 million during coronavirus closure, study shows
Disney will continue to pay its employees while Disneyland and Disney California Adventure are shuttered through the end of March by the COVID-19 pandemic.
By Brady MacDonald
PUBLISHED: March 19, 2020
"A study by Cal State Fullerton’s Woods Center for Economic Analysis and Forecasting found that the Disneyland resort paid $1.2 billion in 2018 to its cast members, Disney parlance for employees.
"Breaking down the findings of the study by day and calculating the financial impact of the 18-day closure provides a glimpse of just how much the Disneyland resort will be paying its cast members during the COVID-19 closure of the Happiest Place on Earth and its sister park next door.
"More than 35,000 people work at the Disneyland resort and several thousand more rely on related businesses for their employment, said Cal State Fullerton economics professor Anil Puri, the director of the Woods Center for Economic Analysis and Forecasting."
San Gabriel Valley Tribune
Disney furlough of theme park employees in April could save $500 million, analysts say
An analyst's report from JPMorgan estimates that furloughing some employees in April at the Disneyland, Walt Disney World and Disneyland Paris resorts could amount to $500 million in cost savings amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
By Brady MacDonald
PUBLISHED: March 26, 2020
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"A month-long furlough of Disney theme park employees in April along with other measures could save the entertainment giant $500 million during the coronavirus outbreak, according to a new analyst’s report.
"An analysts report from J.P.Morgan estimates that furloughing some employees in April at the Disneyland, Walt Disney World and Disneyland Paris resorts could amount to $500 million in cost savings amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Disney’s two Anaheim theme parks, four Florida parks and two parks in France remain closed through the end of March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The shuttering of Disney’s domestic parks was preceded by closures of Disney parks in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Japan."
Orane County Register
Disney warns coronavirus outbreak could change consumer behavior at theme parks and other businesses
Disney expects the impact of the COVID-19 disruptions will have an 'adverse impact on our financial and operational results.'
By Brady MacDonald
PUBLISHED: March 19, 2020
"According to the SEC filing, the impact to Disney’s bottom line depends on a series of “unknowable” factors that include:
Changes in consumer behavior as a result of disruptions from COVID-19
The fixed costs of the company’s theme parks
The cost of borrowing as a result of the COVID-19 impact on capital markets
The duration of the coronavirus pandemic
The impact of governmental regulations imposed in response to the pandemic"
Orane County Register
Are more virtual queues in Disneyland’s post-coronavirus future?
A new 'Virtual Queues' section has been added to the Disneyland app while the Anaheim theme park remains shuttered during the coronavirus outbreak.
By Brady MacDonald
PUBLISHED: March 19, 2020
"Disney has made no announcement yet about whether virtual queues will be used with the new Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure dark ride coming to Avengers Campus in July or any other attractions at Disney California Adventure or Disneyland when the theme parks reopen.
"The previously planned update is part of regular Disneyland app maintenance, Disney officials said. No decision has been made to use virtual queues with Avengers Campus attractions, Disney officials said. More operational details will be shared as Disney California Adventure gets closer to opening Avengers Campus, Disney officials said.
"Disneyland has used virtual queues as a crowd management solution for the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and the debut of the Rise of the Resistance attraction."
Orane County Register
Walt Disney’s grandson locked in legal battle for personal freedom, millions in inheritance
Bradford Lund tries to prove he is mentally capable of managing his affairs, but is trapped in a probate system susceptible to predators
By Tony Saavedra
PUBLISHED: March 22, 2020
"Entertainment visionary Walt Disney could not have imagined the struggle that grandson Bradford Lund has endured trying to claim his share of the family fortune.
"For 15 years, Lund, 50, has battled estranged family members, trustees and probate court officials, trying to show he is mentally fit to manage an inheritance worth hundreds of millions of dollars. He’s had to prove time and again that he doesn’t have Down syndrome, that he can handle such a massive infusion of funds.
"Now he is fighting not just for money, but for his freedom, after a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge appointed a guardian ad litem to temporarily make all his legal decisions."
Orane County Register
Important Disneyland & WDW Passholder Closure Updates
March 14, 2020
https://www.micechat.com/254297-disneyland-news-update-the-unthinkable-happens/
Disneyland News Update – The Unthinkable Happens
By Dusty Sage -
March 16, 2020
"A week ago we were enjoying Food and Wine Festival and obsessing over how long it was taking to build a new set of stairs in Tomorrowland. Then, a rapid set of events transpired which resulted in the Disneyland Resort making a sudden decision to close."
Disneyland Update Part 2 – Tragic Happens
By Dusty Sage -
March 17, 2020
"Ch-ch-ch-changes! Since we visited with you yesterday, things have unraveled a bit more at the Disneyland Resort. Our hearts break as new information hints that our nation may be locked down until August, or even longer. So what does that mean for Disneyland? We have some clues and thoughts for you below. Plus, our update below features photos and news from the parks just before they closed on Friday the 13th of March."
MiceChat
Disneyland App Refresh Hints at Theme Park Future
By Lilliana Parker -
March 18, 2020
"A brand new update to the Disneyland app was just released on mobile devices. The official note states “With this release we fixed bugs and improved overall app performance.” While we’re sure some bugs were squashed, there were some major features quietly added that hint at a new style of operation for our beloved park."
MiceChat
Disneyland Resort Update Part 3 – The End is Just the Beginning
By Dusty Sage -
March 19, 2020
"For a week when the parks are closed, there sure has been a lot for us to share with you. Today’s Disneyland Resort Update focuses on the final days in Disney’s California Adventure and Downtown Disney. A massive new land is now on the rocks. There are signs of a new reality for theme parks that Disney is already contemplating."
MiceChat
Disneyland Update – The Painful Afterglow
By Dusty Sage -
March 23, 2020
"It’s been just nine days since we said farewell to our beloved Disneyland. So much has changed in the world since that time. There’s so much pain and uncertainty out in the world right now. Which is why we are going to continue bringing you Disney news, fun, and entertainment throughout the day, every day, for as long as you need us. We’re here for you and we’re going to keep helping you scratch that Disneyland itch."
MiceChat
Disneyland News – Possible Food and Wine Extension, Haunted Mansion Enhancement, & More
By Logan Collins -
March 24, 2020
"While the gates to Disneyland remain closed and contractors have been sent home, behind-the-scenes planning has not stopped. A slew of recent permits filed with the City of Anaheim suggests that Disneyland has projects to complete when construction workers return. Those new filings include plans for various attraction improvements, upgrades, and a potential long extension to this year’s Food and Wine Festival!"
MiceChat
BREAKING NEWS – Disneyland Closure Extended!
By Dusty Sage -
March 27, 2020
"When Disneyland first announced its closure due to the global health crisis, they were the first in the industry to do so and set the standard by which other entertainment providers would follow. Their closure through March 31st was the date emulated up by almost everyone in the industry. However, as conditions throughout the world continue to deteriorate, including stay-at-home orders in California and Orlando, it was curious that Disney waited so long to confirm closure extensions. Leaving cast members and guests twisting in the wind of uncertainty."
You can listen to show 281 on iTunes or go to Libsyn service here.