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In this episode we welcome back Skipper Kyle to the podcast to talk about his most recent time working at Disneyland on the Jungle Cruise, and lots more! Kyle was a guest on our show on episode 75 and 128, Kyle is also the host of The Jungle Crews Podcast. 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.
Walt Disney World Resort has joined with other Florida Amusement parks to discuss with Florida state official on what procedures to follow when they re-open. The procedures have been decide, although a date for reopening has not been decided.
When will Disneyland and other parks reopen? How will they keep visitors safe?
By Hugo Martín
April 23, 2020
"After all, the amusement park experience is infamous for packing bodies tightly together in snaking lines and cramped ride vehicles. Parks increasingly use fingerprint readers at entrance gates and interactive touchscreen technology for ticketing, maps and restaurant ordering. And what about roller coaster grab bars and those turnstiles everyone pushes through to enter and exit?
"The quick answer is that no one knows for sure, but industry experts have already been discussing what new procedures will be added to protect guests and workers from spreading the virus once that happens."
...
"On several online Disney discussion forums, theme park fans say they have uncovered a plan, presumably leaked by a Disney employee, for allowing guests to return to the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.
"The plan, titled the Secure Circuit protocol, would reopen the park with limited capacity, no parades, no castle shows, no firework displays and health checks performed at every security checkpoint. In addition, the protocol would require guests to sign a form, clearing Disney of any liability for potential exposure to the novel coronavirus."
Los Angeles Times
How Disneyland Could Reopen Sooner Than Expected
By Brady MacDonald
April 24, 2020
"Opening Disneyland sooner than expected after the coronavirus outbreak will likely require the Anaheim theme parks to scan temperatures, employ virtual queues, bring back E-tickets, limit capacity, direct foot traffic, shorten visits, reduce riders, alter parades and a whole lot more."
...
"The Disneyland resort will almost certainly open in phases. Expect the shops and restaurants in Downtown Disney to reopen first, followed by the hotels and then the theme parks. It would make sense to open one of the Anaheim theme parks before the other. And for that first theme park to open in phases with limited attractions at first and new additions introduced as restrictions ease over time."
...
"Limiting visitors to a 5- or 6-hour stay when the park reopens could allow Disneyland to create three sessions per day — morning, afternoon and evening. The morning session could run from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. with an afternoon session from 1 to 6 p.m. and an evening session from 6 to 11 p.m. Stretching the stays to 6 hours would require an hour overlap between sessions. Disney employed this strategy during the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge previews. Graveyard shifts would still have time to deep clean the park each night after the three daily sessions."
...
"The priority in Disneyland’s post-coronavirus era will be to reduce lines, crowds and touchpoints. Signs will help mark off 6 feet of social distancing in queues — whether for attractions, food or bathrooms. Individuals, couples, families and small groups of friends will be encouraged to move through the resort with a cushion of space around them.
"Temperature checks could be added to the metal detectors and bag inspections at security checkpoints. Proof of a coronavirus test via a contact tracing mobile app could potentially be necessary to enter the resort. Guests and cast members may need to wear protective masks and/or gloves. Disney executive chairman Bob Iger has mentioned all these potential precautions in press interviews."
...
"Ride operators and guests will have to prepare for attractions accommodating fewer riders and having longer load times in the post-coronavirus era. Cast members could be tasked with cleaning the touchpoints on ride vehicles between each ride cycle — from the lapbars to the seats to the seatbelts. Attractions with 3D glasses might switch to 2D versions — if possible — as guests become more cautious about the spread of germs."
...
"Guests could select the attractions they would like to experience when they purchase tickets online. Each guest might be limited to 5 attractions — one each from a tiered A to E ticket-like menu."
MiceChat
Disneyland coronavirus closure could stretch to June with attendance slump through 2021, analysts warn
An analysts report from J.P.Morgan estimates that the shuttering of all 12 Disney resorts around the globe amid the COVID-19 pandemic could cost the Disney Parks, Experiences and Products division $5 billion in lost revenue in fiscal year 2020.
By Brady MacDonald
PUBLISHED: April 12, 2020
"The big bright spot: Disney+ surpassed 50 million subscriptions. The J.P.Morgan analysts see the new streaming service as a core driver of the company’s 'extensive ecosystem of consumer touch points' that eventually will benefit Disney’s theme parks once normal operations resume."
Orange County Register
Disneyland Reopening ‘Unlikely’ Through August as California Rules Out Mass Gatherings
By Brady MacDonald
April 14, 2020
"Newsom didn’t specifically mention theme parks, sporting events, concerts or theaters in his announcement regarding mass gatherings of hundreds, thousands or tens of thousands of people."
MiceChat
Five big guest safety enhancements expected when Disney’s Parks and Resorts reopen
by John Frost
April 13, 2020
"It’s likely that whatever procedures and guidelines Disney arrives at will be fluid for a while as Disney adjusts to the new normal, which itself is likely to evolve over time."
Disney Parks Blog
Disneyland cancels Grad Nite parties due to coronavirus
Thousands of students will be affected
By Marla Jo Fisher
PUBLISHED: April 17, 2020
"'In light of recommendations by school and government officials to limit gatherings for the remainder of the academic year, we are making the difficult decision to cancel Disneyland Resort Grad Nite 2020,' the announcement reads."
...
"Grad Nite began in the early 1960s and promoted as a clean, safe way for high school seniors to celebrate their graduations. It originally lasted all night, until 6 a.m.
"Typically, about 1,000 schools or more participate in the after-hours party with special discount tickets. Students typically arrive in late afternoon by the busload, with chaperones, and are able to visit Disneyland and Disney California Adventure and then stay after closing for a special party from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Disney California Adventure. The party was moved from Disneyland to Disney California Adventure in 2013."
Orange County Register
Disney to stop paying 100,000 workers but is still on track to give shareholders $1.5 billion
Move will save company up to $500 million a month. Theme parks and hotels have already been closed for almost five weeks.
By City News Service
PUBLISHED: April 20, 2020
"Walt Disney Co. will stop paying more than 100,000 employees this week, nearly half of its workforce, as the world’s biggest entertainment company tries to weather the coronavirus lockdown, it was reported Monday.
"Suspending pay for thousands of so-called cast members will save Disney up to $500 million a month across its theme parks and hotels, which have been shut in Europe and the U.S. for almost five weeks, the Financial Times reported."
Orange County Register
Disneyland Update – Bob Iger and the Wild Frontier
By Dusty Sage
April 13, 2020
"One of the things Bob Iger is trying to figure out is what the Disney Company will look like when this crisis is over. The New York Times report confirmed that Mr. Iger is charting a leaner post-pandemic company. Meaning, not all jobs are likely to return.
"You theme park fans should expect major changes to your parks experience beyond the level of staffing. Bob Iger spoke to Barrons reporters last week about the potential need for more invasive screening of guests when the parks open. He specifically mentioned temperature checks, but that would just be window dressing on the much larger effort needed to keep guests safe from contagion.
"We discussed this unique situation with theme park insider, Andy Garfield, and looked at ways the parks may adapt and what may need to go away for now (one of those things could be character meet-and-greets):"
MiceChat
MiceTube Live - Disney Theme Park Temperature Checks & Other Necessary Changes
Disneyland Update – It’s About Time
By Dusty Sage
April 20, 2020
"So many Disney fans have reached out asking about the parks and what’s going on with them. The short answer is not much that can be seen. A couple of MiceChat friends have shared photos from the perimeter of the Disneyland Resort from the past two days. Entering the Resort itself is prohibited."
MiceChat
Disneyland Video News Update: Reopening When? Universal Still Building! Small Parks Faltering & More
By Dusty Sage
April 22, 2020
"The latest Disneyland news direct from the MiceChat crew. Let’s look at when the theme parks might reopen. We’ll warn you, it’s probably not what you want to hear. But there is a silver lining and someone at Disney has just been granted superpowers which just might help the company be a leader in getting the state economy restarted. We’ll also delve into the financial situation of several theme park companies. Some of them may be forced to sell or close parks – the likely candidates might surprise you. And not to worry, we’ll lift you up at the end with some favorite theme park items you can get from home! Press play and join Dusty, Doug, Chloe and Logan as they transport you Disneyland and beyond . . . "
MiceChat
The New Tomorrowland That Almost Was: LucasPort
By David Derks
April 21, 2020
"Disney has a long history of developing theme park experiences with legendary filmmaker George Lucas. During their partnership, they created attractions unique to Disney that redefined theme park experiences. These include the 3-D musical adventure Captain EO starring music icon Michael Jackson and Academy Award-winning actress Anjelica Huston, the groundbreaking flight simulator ride Star Tours, and the innovative Indiana Jones Adventure.
"Well before the development of these attractions, Disney Legend Tony Baxter, George Lucas, and a crew of Imagineers were reimagining a Tomorrowland that would place guests in a futuristic metropolis with environments inspired by Star Wars in a multi-level venue called LucasPort. If created, it would have revitalized Disneyland’s Tomorrowland."
You can listen to show 283 on iTunes or go to Libsyn service here.
Disneyland Skipper Kyle, Again
Show Notes for Episode 283