In this episode, we welcome Lisa Baxter, who helped open Disney California Adventure as a cast member and wrote the new book California Dreamin’ - Disney California Adventure: An Insider’s Journey. We also welcome Aaron and Scott from Bobsleds and Banthas podcast to discuss current events at the Disneyland Resort.
Disneyland Resort Current Event
***Disney Resort Updates***
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 • Walt Disney World theme parks are open.
• Additionally, Disney Vacation Club properties at Walt Disney World and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground have begun to reopen to Members and Guests. Disney Springs has already begun to reopen. Upon reopening, theme parks, Disney Resort Hotels, restaurants and other offerings may be modified, limited in capacity and subject to availability or closure.
Disneyland • The Downtown Disney District is open.
• The Hotels of the Disneyland Resort remain closed and will reopen at a later date.
• Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park remain closed and will reopen at a later date, pending state and local government approvals..
Hong Kong Disneyland • Hong Kong Disneyland Park officially reopened on Jun 18 with reduced capacity, enhanced health and safety procedures and a new reservation system for all guests. All guests entering the park will be required to undergo temperature screening and wear face masks.
• Magic Access members may make a reservation beginning 8 days prior to their visit. General guests may make a reservation beginning 7 days prior to their visit..
Disneyland Paris • Disneyland Paris announced a phased reopening of the resort as of 15th July 2020, starting with both theme parks, Disney’s Newport Bay Club hotel and Disney Village..
Disney Cruise Lines • Disney Cruise line suspends cruises through July 27, 2020.
INFORMATION CORRECT AS OF August 3, 2020. Please check individual Resorts eb pages for restrictions, requirements, and changes.
Is another Star Wars cantina coming to Disneyland’s Galaxy’s Edge?
The new Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge virtual reality experience introduces new locations and characters in Black Spire Outpost on the Star Wars planet of Batuu, the setting for the 14-acre lands at Disneyland and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
By BRADY MACDONALD
PUBLISHED: July 28, 2020
"The new 'Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge' virtual reality experience introduces new locations and characters in Black Spire Outpost on the Star Wars planet of Batuu, the setting for the 14-acre lands at Disneyland and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
“'We’re going to explore and expand on the story of Black Spire Outpost, which you can see at Galaxy’s Edge,' ILMxLAB director Jose Perez III said in a new video for 'Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge.'”
...
"The new 'Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge' from Lucasfilm’s ILMxLAB in partnership with Walt Disney Imagineering blurs the line between real-world theme park fantasy and video game hyperreality by bringing Batuu and Black Spire Outpost to the virtual world."
...
"The new Batuu bar in Galaxy’s Edge is called Seezelslak’s Cantina, run by a six-eyed Star Wars alien with a tendency for over-imbibing and a love-hate relationship with porgs.
"Concept art for the 'Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge' VR experience shows Seezelslak’s Cantina located next door to Oga’s Cantina. An open window in Seezelslak’s Cantina shows the distinctive Tuggs Grub food truck-like starship docked atop the Docking Bay 7 restaurant with Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities gift shop in the foreground, according to the concept art."
...
"A video preview of “Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge” offers a sneak peek at what Seezelslak’s Cantina could look like. A U-shaped bar is filled with large vessels for dispensing interstellar cocktails. Seezelslak spends his days in the unpopular bar shooing away cute but nettlesome porgs that have overrun the place.
"The bar owner is a six-eyed Azumel just like the alien who played sabacc with Han Solo and Lando Calrissian in the 2018 'Solo' film."
Orange County Register
Disneyland reveals Mickey’s ‘Ink and Paint’ pool coming to DVC timeshare tower
The new Mickey Mouse-themed interactive water feature was revealed in blueprints and renderings designed by Walt Disney Imagineering that were part of a 1,600-page Anaheim Planning Commission report detailing every aspect of the proposed Disneyland DVC timeshare property.
By BRADY MACDONALD
UPDATED: July 21, 2020
"Water jets will squirt arching sprays that appear to 'paint' red, yellow and black ink splats in the shape of an abstract Mickey Mouse on the bottom of a swimming pool coming to the planned 350-room Disney Vacation Club timeshare tower at the Disneyland Hotel.
"The new Mickey Mouse-themed interactive water feature was revealed in blueprints and renderings designed by Walt Disney Imagineering that were part of a 1,600-page Anaheim Planning Commission report detailing every aspect of the proposed Disneyland DVC timeshare property."
,,,
"Plans for the Disneyland DVC project are still under review by the city of Anaheim. No announcement has been made about when construction will begin."
...
"The 2,400-square-foot Disneyland DVC pool features a larger swimming area along with a smaller interactive water play area divided by a trellis above the pool area lined with lounge chairs."
...
"Earlier Disneyland DVC plans submitted to the city included a three-circle Mickey Mouse-shaped hot tub that is no longer featured in the latest plans."
...
"Disney has set a 2023 proposed opening date for the 12-story Disney Vacation Club tower, which could be pushed back by the extended coronavirus closure of the Disneyland resort and Disney’s plans to pause $900 million in construction and refurbishment projects at its theme parks as a result of the coronavirus outbreak."
Orange County Register
Anaheim Planning Commission Approves Disneyland Hotel Disney Vacation Club Tower Plans
Jul 20, 2020
"The City of Anaheim Planning Commission met on July 20th and approved the Disneyland Resort’s plans to build a Disney Vacation Club tower at the Disneyland Hotel."
Laughing Place
Disneyland cancels Oogie Boogie Bash due to coronavirus
The Oogie Boogie Bash separate-admission event at Disney California Adventure will not return this Halloween season, according to Disneyland officials.
By BRADY MACDONALD|
PUBLISHED: July 24, 2020
"The Oogie Boogie Bash separate-admission event at Disney California Adventure will not return this Halloween season as Disneyland awaits theme park guidelines that have yet to be released by the state, according to Disneyland officials.
"Universal Studios has canceled Halloween Horror Nights at both its California and Florida theme parks for this year."
...
"Knott’s Berry Farm has not yet announced whether Halloween Haunt will happen this year."
...
"The after-hours Halloween event — which runs on select nights in September and October — is one of the few times of the year when older kids and adults can wear costumes in the theme park."
Orange County Register
Disneyland Cancels Oogie Boogie Bash Halloween Time Event for 2020
Jul 24, 2020 1:56 PM Pacific Time
Laughing Place
More restaurants and stores reopen at Downtown Disney
The Downtown Disney outdoor shopping mall reopened to long lines and bustling crowds on July 9.
By BRADY MACDONALD
PUBLISHED: July 23, 2020
"Tortilla Jo’s and Ballast Point Brewing Company will reopen on Thursday, July 23 to rejoin restaurants that have already reopened at Downtown Disney. The California Sole shoe store debuted on Wednesday, July 22, replacing the former Sanuk sandal store."
...
"Tortilla Jo’s will welcome visitors on its outdoor patio and Ballast Point will serve diners on its outdoor upper deck while indoor dining remains prohibited in Orange County amid COVID-19 restrictions.
"Tortilla Jo’s and Ballast Point rejoin three other sit-down restaurants that have already reopened at Downtown Disney: Black Tap Craft Burgers & Shakes, Naples Ristorante and Uva Bar & Cafe.
"The Downtown Disney locations of Catal Restaurant, La Brea Bakery Cafe, Napolini Pizzeria, Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen and Splitsville Luxury Lanes remain closed."
Orange County Register
More Venues Reopening in Disneyland’s Downtown Disney District
Jul 23, 2020
"Several weeks ago, The Disneyland Resort began its phased reopening with the Downtown Disney District. Visitors to the popular destination may have noticed that not everything was open at the time, and today, we have an update regarding three of the venues of the popular shopping, dining, and entertainment district."
Laughing Place
Photo Update: Visiting Disneyland Resort’s Downtown Disney District – 7/30/2020
by Mike Celestino | Jul 30, 2020
Laughing Place
California theme parks reopen — without rides
California theme parks are returning with innovative solutions like zoo exhibits, food festivals, walk-through installations, shopping esplanades and possibly even haunted events while roller coasters, parades, fireworks and other activities that draw large crowds are prohibited.
By BRADY MACDONALD
UPDATED: July 31, 2020
"California theme parks are returning with innovative solutions like zoo exhibits, food festivals, walk-through installations, shopping esplanades and possibly even haunted events while roller coasters, parades, fireworks and other activities that draw large crowds are prohibited."
...
"Knott’s Berry Farm has found a way to survive during the pandemic while the state keeps theme parks closed with a food festival that has proven so popular that it has warranted a sequel."
...
"Six Flags is developing a modified version of Fright Fest in hopes of capturing pent-up demand for Halloween haunts and horrors at some of its reopened amusement parks across the U.S."
...
"In hopes of luring shoppers, Knott’s, Disneyland and Universal Studios Hollywood have also reopened outdoor malls located adjacent to the parks."
Orange County Register
Disneyland faces 32 million attendance drop over 2 years, analysts warn
A new report by Wall Street analysts Cowen and Company paints a grim picture of attendance losses at Disney’s Parks, Experiences and Products division.
By BRADY MACDONALD
UPDATED: July 24, 2020
"Disneyland faces a drop in attendance of 32 million visitors over two years amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but that pales in comparison to the nearly 100 million guests Disney’s U.S. parks could lose during that time, according to a new analyst’s report.
"A new report by Wall Street analysts Cowen and Company paints a grim picture of attendance losses at Disney’s Parks, Experiences and Products division."
...
"The Cowen analysts don’t expect Disney’s theme park division to recover from the pandemic and return to profitability until 2025.
"Other Wall Street analysts paint a rosier picture of Disney’s theme park rebound than Cowen and Company. Goldman Sachs analysts expect Disney theme park attendance and revenues to recover by 2022 or 2023."
You can listen to show 290 on iTunes or go to Libsyn service here.
Listen to our Show
Show Notes for Episode 290
California Adventure Former Cast Member and Author