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Seth Kubersky from The Unofficial Guide Books
Show Notes for Episode 286
In this episode we welcome Seth Kubersky who is a Co Author for the Unofficial Guide books for Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and Las Vegas. We talk all about how he got started writing for them and an interesting conversation about some changes hat could be coming to the theme parks.
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.
Shanghai Disneyland Shanghai Disneyland is now open but requires reservations. Please visit their site for details.
Walt Disney World Disney Springs has begun a phased reopening and has begun accepting guests. The Parks will begin reopening. Beginning July 11 for Magic Kingdom Park and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park followed by EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios on July 15. Please visit their site for details.
Disneyland Pending approval by government officials, Disneyland has scheduled July 9th to begin opening Downtown Disney, July 17th as reopening date for Disneyland and DCA, and July 23rd as opening dates for California Grand Hotel and Paradise Pier Hotel. No dates yet for Disneyland Hotel.
Hong Kong Disneyland Resort has no updates.
Disneyland Paris Resort has no updates, but does have great information if you have already booked a trip.
Disney Cruise Lines - Disney Cruise line suspends cruises through July 27, 2020.
INFORMATION CORRECT AS OF June 12, 2020. Please check individual Resorts eb pages for restrictions, requirements, and changes.
VR game takes players inside Disneyland’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
The new Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge virtual reality game is designed to connect the stay-at-home gaming world with the real-world theme park experience.
By Brady MacDonald
PUBLISHED: May 28, 2020
"A new virtual reality game set in the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge themed land at Disneyland will let players explore the outskirts of the Black Spire Outpost village in a live-your-own-adventure experience while the Anaheim theme park remains closed amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The new Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge virtual reality game is designed to connect the stay-at-home gaming world with the real-world theme park experience."
...
"The new action-adventure virtual reality game is a joint project between Lucasfilm’s ILMxLAB and Oculus Studios." ...
"The new Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge VR game will be available later this year."
Orange County Register
How the new Disney Standby Pass virtual queue system works
The new Disney Standby Pass online reservation tool launched by Shanghai Disneyland during a trial operation period allows visitors to create a queuing schedule using the park’s digital smartphone app.
By Brady MacDonald
UPDATED: June 4, 2020
"Disney has begun testing a new virtual queue system designed to encourage social distancing amid the COVID-19 pandemic that could be rolled out to Disneyland and other Disney theme parks around the globe.
"The new Disney Standby Pass online reservation tool launched by Shanghai Disneyland during a trial operation period allows visitors to create a queuing schedule using the park’s digital app."
...
"The Disney Standby Pass system at Shanghai Disneyland works similar to the paid MaxPass upgrade at Disneyland. The Anaheim theme park used a virtual queue system for Rise of the Resistance that allowed visitors to snap up “boarding group” spots for the popular Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge attraction. Disneyland added a new “Virtual Queues” section to the park’s smartphone app in late March."
...
"Disney Standby Passes will be released daily through the Shanghai Disneyland app on an hourly basis.
"Daily quotas will be limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. The last Standby Passes will be distributed approximately two hours before the park closes each day."
Orange County Register
Disneyland and other California theme parks can reopen in Stage 3, state says
Disneyland, Universal Studios Hollywood, Knott’s Berry Farm, Six Flags Magic Mountain, SeaWorld San Diego, Legoland California and other theme parks fall into Stage 3 of California’s roadmap for reopening plan, according to state officials.
By Brady MacDonald
PUBLISHED: May 26, 2020
"Disneyland and other California theme parks currently closed by the COVID-19 pandemic can reopen during Stage 3 of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s four-stage road map for reopening the state’s economy, according to state officials.
"Disneyland, Universal Studios Hollywood, Knott’s Berry Farm, Six Flags Magic Mountain, SeaWorld San Diego, Legoland California and other theme parks fall into Stage 3 of California’s road map for reopening, according to state officials."
Orange County Register
Disneyland surveys passholders about masks, temperature checks and health questionnaires
Disneyland passholders were asked a series of survey questions about protective face masks, temperature checks at park entrances and pre-arrival health questionnaires.
By Brady MacDonald
PUBLISHED: June 1, 2020
"Disneyland has begun surveying annual passholders about their feelings and opinions on potential COVID-19 health and safety protocols as the Anaheim theme park prepares to reopen following an extended coronavirus closure.
"Disneyland passholders were asked a series of survey questions about face masks, temperature checks at park entrances and pre-arrival health questionnaires, according to MiceChat."
...
"Disney is expected to deploy health and safety protocols at the Disney World and Disneyland theme parks that are similar to those used with the reopenings of the Shanghai Disneyland theme park and Disney World’s Disney Springs outdoor shopping mall.
"The Disneyland survey asked for feedback on how likely passholders would be to visit the Anaheim parks if certain health and safety measures were implemented. One series of questions focused on three potential reopening options with regards to masks, temperature checks and health questionnaires.
"In all three scenarios, Disneyland planned to make operational changes that are expected to soon become familiar as part of the “new normal” at theme parks in the coronavirus era: Reduced attendance, social distancing, enhanced cleaning protocols and COVID-19 employee training."
Orange County Register
Disneyland Survey Illuminates Reopening Options (Live Polls Included)
By Dusty Sage
May 30, 2020
"Disneyland is trying to figure out their reopening procedures. While they will certainly look at what worked well, and what could be improved, from the openings of Shanghai Disneyland and Walt Disney World’s Disney Springs, they are also asking questions of their potential future guests to see what they think. This particular version of Disneyland’s reopening survey was sent to selected annual passholders.
"We are sharing some of Disneyland’s survey questions below and have recreated some as poll questions that you can take right here on MiceChat."
MiceChat
Disneyland resort hotels push back reservations until mid-July
New reservations for the Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel are currently available for travel dates on July 15 and later.
By Brady MacDonald
PUBLISHED: June 1, 2020
"The three Disneyland resort hotels are no longer accepting reservations before mid-July as the closure of Disney’s Anaheim theme parks stretches toward three months amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
"New reservations for the Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel are currently available for travel dates on July 15 and later, according to Disneyland website."
Orange County Register
Disneyland wants to deliver Monte Cristo sandwiches and Dole Whips to your home
Disneyland annual passholders who were asked a series of survey questions related to the COVID-19 pandemic were thrown a curveball query about home delivery of Disneyland food and beverages.
By Brady MacDonald
UPDATED: June 3, 2020
"Disneyland foodies who have been craving Monte Cristo sandwiches, Mickey Mouse-shaped Beignets, Churro Toffee and Dole Whips during the coronavirus closure of the Anaheim theme park may someday be able to get their culinary favorites delivered directly to their home.
"Disneyland annual passholders who were asked a series of survey questions related to the COVID-19 pandemic were thrown a curveball query about home delivery of Disneyland food and beverages, according to MiceChat."
...
"Could a Disneydash or MickeyEats food and beverage home delivery service be far behind? Disney will have to see what the survey says."
Orange County Register
Disneyland Update – Red, White and Blue & Reopenings Too
By Dusty Sage
May 25, 2020
MiceChat
Disneyland Update – Unrest, Reopenings, Poll Results & Reader Photos
By Nathan Villamor
June 1, 2020
MiceChat
David Koenig Disneyland Rumor Mill: Tantalizingly Close
By David Koenig
June 4, 2020
"Disneyland should be weeks—if not days—away from a long-awaited announcement!
"All signs point to a mid-July reopening of Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, predicted by cast members who are starting to return to work after a near-two-month furlough."
...
"Everything will be sanitized. New systems and safety procedures will be installed. Markers will be placed throughout every queue for social distancing. Mothballed machinery will have to be tested. Returning workers will have to be trained.
"The Disneyland Resort officially employs 23,000. For more than six weeks, it had scaled back to an on-site workforce of about 300. A bare-bones Custodial crew kept the backstage trashcans and cast member restrooms clean. Landscaping workers watered the grass and trimmed overgrown trees. All flower beds were dug up and left bare."
You can listen to show 286 on iTunes or go to Libsyn service here.