Show Notes for Episode 287
Listen to our Show
Disneyland’s Frontierland Details, and history, and more
In this episode we take a look at one of the original lands in Disneyland, Frontierland. We discuss what attractions are in this land, and some that are no longer there. We talk about the Restaurants, Stores, and the details in this land. Plus some Cast Member stories and more. 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.
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 Just announced they are opening July 15, 2020.
Disney Cruise Lines - Disney Cruise line suspends cruises through July 27, 2020.
INFORMATION CORRECT AS OF June 22, 2020. Please check individual Resorts eb pages for restrictions, requirements, and changes.
Disneyland announces plans for historic reopening after coronavirus closures
The park is looking to reopen for its 65th anniversary.
By MARLA JO FISHER Orange County Register
UPDATED: June 11, 2020
"The long-awaited park reopening is scheduled for Friday, July 17, which is Disneyland’s 65th birthday. Fans have been speculating for months when the park would reopen and saw plans for the other Disney parks take shape first, which was likely because of California’s stricter protocols for social distancing.
"The opening will occur in phases, with the Downtown Disney District opening first on July 9. Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, Disney Vacation Club and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel plan to reopen on July 23, pending regulatory approval. Disneyland and Disney California Adventure parks expect to reopen July 17.
"To control crowds, there will be a new theme park reservation system for all guests, including annual passholders. All must obtain an advance reservation to get into the parks. Temporarily, park tickets and annual passes are not for sale."
...
"No one except a skeleton staff has been allowed inside the park since it closed March 14 — the first time in its history there was an extended closure. Disneyland and Disneyland California Adventure were last open to the public on March 13, with an original plan to stay closed through the end of March. But as COVID-19 spread across Southern California and the U.S., the closures were extended."
...
"Disney expert David Koenig has been talking to employees who are returning to work to get the complex ready to reopen after being furloughed. A skeleton staff of some 300 remained on the property to do maintenance and water the landscaping.
"'As one insider shared with me days before the troops started returning from furlough: ‘The park is filthy. The kitchens, restaurants, stores and attractions are covered in a thin layer of dust. The kitchens and restaurants will have to be thoroughly cleaned before accepting any food deliveries,’” Koenig wrote in a piece for the Micechat fan blog."
Orange County Register
BREAKING NEWS – Disneyland Announces Reopening Date!!!
June 10, 2020
"At long last, Disneyland has set a reopening date of July 17th. Downtown Disney opens July 9th. Our beloved Disneyland has been closed since March 14th, 2020 due to the worldwide health crisis. It was a tearful “See ya real soon” when we departed on that last working day. Since then, all we’ve wanted to know is WHEN WILL DISNEYLAND REOPEN?! Today, Disneyland answered that question. If all goes well, you’ll be able to visit Disneyland again in time for the historic park’s 65th anniversary this July."
MiceChat
When Every Southern California Theme Park Plans to Reopen
By Brady MacDonald - June 12, 2020
"Southern California theme parks have targeted reopening dates as the state moves closer to allowing Disney, Universal and other major parks to finally welcome back visitors following more than three months of closures."
MiceChat
Wed, June 10, 2020
Disneyland Resort Proposes Plans to Begin Phased Reopening July 9, with Proposed Reopening of Theme Parks July 17
by Michael Ramirez, Public Relations Director, Disneyland Resort
"Because theme park capacity will be significantly limited to comply with governmental requirements and promote physical distancing, the Disneyland Resort will manage attendance through a new theme park reservation system that will require all guests, including Annual Passholders, to obtain a reservation for park entry in advance. Theme park reservations will be subject to availability. More details about this new reservation system will be available soon. At this time, there will also be a temporary pause on new ticket sales and Annual Passport sales and renewals. Additional details will be available soon. Please check Disneyland.com for the most current information."
Disney Parks Blog
Wed, June 10, 2020
The Magic is Returning
by Josh D'Amaro, Chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products
"We are purposefully taking baby steps during this very intentional phased approach. As one of the first major theme parks to close our operations and the last to reopen, we have been deliberate about keeping the health and safety of our cast, guests and local communities top of mind. And as we look forward to bringing our cast members back to work, and welcoming you back as cherished guests – we know it will take all of us working together responsibly to recapture the magic."
Disney Parks Blog
California developing guidelines for reopening Disneyland and other theme parks
Shuttered since mid-March, most California theme parks have proposed reopening dates along with detailed COVID-19 health and safety plans that still need to be approved by state officials.
By BRADY MACDONALD
PUBLISHED: June 16, 2020
"Shuttered since mid-March, California theme parks have proposed reopening dates along with detailed COVID-19 health and safety plans that still need to be approved by state officials."
Orange County Register
Disneyland rolls out new coronavirus health and safety guidelines
Disney parks chief medical officer Pamela Hymel rolled out the new guidelines as Disneyland and Disney California Adventure prepare to reopen on July 17 pending government approval.
By BRADY MACDONALD
PUBLISHED: June 18, 2020
"Disney parks chief medical officer Pamela Hymel rolled out the new guidelines as Disneyland and Disney California Adventure prepare to reopen on July 17 pending government approval."
...
"The new Disneyland COVID-19 health and safety protocols for visitors include:
Reduced capacity in the parks
Required face coverings for visitors 2 years old and older
Temperature checks for visitors prior to entering the parks
Physical distancing throughout the parks
Increased cleaning and disinfecting, especially in high-traffic areas
Additional handwashing and hand sanitizer locations
Contactless payments at shops and restaurants
Health and safety guidelines for Disney employees will include:
Required face coverings and temperature checks
Adjusting work practices to promote physical distancing
Increased cleaning in work areas
Encouraged to stay home when ill"
Orange County Register
Disneyland employee unions demand that the Anaheim theme parks not reopen on July 17
The Coalition of Resort Labor Unions wants Disney to delay reopening the theme parks, hotels and shopping mall at the Disneyland resort until it can be done safely in a way that protects the health and safety of cast members.
By BRADY MACDONALD
PUBLISHED: June 19, 2020
"A coalition of unions representing 17,000 Disneyland cast members have sent a letter demanding that California Gov. Gavin Newsom stop Disney’s Anaheim theme parks from reopening on July 17 out of concern for employee safety.
"'Disney wants clearance from the government to reopen the Disneyland Resort in July,' according to the letter from the Coalition of Resort Labor Unions. “Unfortunately, despite intensive talks with the company, we are not yet convinced that it is safe to reopen the parks on Disney’s rapid timetable.'"
Orange County Register
What Hong Kong Disneyland’s reopening could mean for Disney’s California parks
The reopening of Hong Kong Disneyland offers a glimpse of the 'new normal' Disneyland visitors can expect when the Anaheim theme parks finally swing open their gates after a 124-day closure.
By BRADY MACDONALD
PUBLISHED: June 18, 2020
"The reopening of Hong Kong Disneyland after an extended COVID-19 closure is expected to serve as a blueprint for Disney’s U.S. theme parks as they prepare to swing open their gates in mid-July.
"The Hong Kong Disneyland theme park reopened on Thursday, June 18 with additional health and safety measures including face masks, temperature checks, reduced attendance, social distancing and enhanced sanitization."
..
"Hong Kong Disneyland visitors were greeted with the new normal of a Disney theme park visit in the post-COVID-19 era as soon as they arrived at the resort. Fans streamed through temperature screening tents set up to scan hundreds of visitors per minute. Entry queues were dotted with 'please maintain social distance' and 'no standing please' signs on the ground.
"Once inside the park, visitors found more social distancing markers in attraction queues and limits placed on the number of people allowed in shops and restaurants. Parades, fireworks spectaculars and some shows were suspended during the initial phase of reopening. Up-close interactions with Disney characters were prohibited. Restaurants made digital menus accessible via QR codes using the Hong Kong Disneyland mobile app."
Orange County Register
Disneyland postpones after-hours Star Wars Nite tied to canceled Star Wars Celebration
The now-postponed separate-admission Disneyland After Dark event scheduled for Aug. 27 was tied to the just-cancelled Star Wars Celebration fan event at the Anaheim Convention Center.
By BRADY MACDONALD
PUBLISHED: June 15, 2020
"Disneyland has postponed a Star Wars Nite after-hours party that would have taken over parts of Tomorrowland and Galaxy’s Edge with galactic dance floors, interstellar cocktails and a fireworks spectacular themed to a galaxy far, far away.
"The now-postponed separate-admission Disneyland After Dark event scheduled for Aug. 27 was tied to the just-canceled Star Wars Celebration fan event at the Anaheim Convention Center."
...
"The 2020 Star Wars Celebration scheduled for Aug. 27-30 at the Anaheim Convention Center has been cancelled. Lucasfilm announced the Star Wars Celebration will return to the Anaheim Convention Center in 2022 on Aug. 18-21."
..
"Star Wars Nite is the second Disneyland After Dark event to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Villains Nite planned for April 30 was also postponed. Previous After Dark events included 80s Nite (Jan. 29) and Sweethearts’ Nite (Feb. 12 and 13) at Disneyland along with Pixar Nite (March 5) at Disney California Adventure."
Orange County Register
Disneyland Update – Rumors, Reopenings, and Renewal
By Nathan Villamor - June 8, 2020
"It’s happening! Theme parks across the nation are starting to open their gates for guests to enjoy once again. This past week, Universal Orlando theme parks reopened with a surprisingly well-received set of guidelines and safety procedures. There are rumors swirling around that Disneyland is nearly ready for a big announcement of their own. We’ll take a good look at that rumor, and also at other things happening in the Wonderful World of Disney this past week. Let’s get this show on the road!"
MiceChat
Disneyland Update – Reopening Questions, Aerial Photos, Splash Concerns
By Nathan Villamor - June 15, 2020
"For three long months, we’ve been awaiting good Disneyland news. It came last week when the park announced plans to reopen Disneyland and California Adventure on July 17th, pending state and local approval. Unfortunately, the statement seems to have raised more questions than answers as passholders and other potential visitors scramble to figure out how park reservations will work, whether their admission media will be valid, and try to determine what the new rules and regulations will be. We’ll take a look at what’s known, as well as share some AMAZING new aerial photos which show work being done right now in the parks!
"Plus, we have a reader photo section designed to put a smile on your face, and a reader poll that asks you to weigh in on the question about whether or not Disney should retheme Splash Mountain to remove its connection to Song of the South."
You can listen to show 287 on iTunes or go to Libsyn service here.