In this episode, we welcome Robyn Schatz Sarvis, who was a 1997 Disneyland Ambassador and had worked in several roles as a cast member. She has some great stories you won’t want to miss. We also 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. Due to new guidelines, they will be increasing daily capacity on August 24th. Please visit their site for details.
Walt Disney World • All 4 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 • As required by the government and health authorities in line with prevention efforts taking place across Hong Kong, Hong Kong Disneyland Park is temporarily closed until further notice.
• The resort hotels remain open with adjusted level of services. Enhanced health and safety measures that reflect the guidance of health and government authorities have been put in place, such as social distancing measures and increased cleaning and sanitization.
Disneyland Paris • The Disneyland Paris phased reopening introduces enhanced health and safety measures implemented for both Cast Members and guests. As the capacity of our Parks is significantly limited to comply with governmental requirements, Disneyland Paris is managing attendance through a new online registration system, subject to availability.
Disney Cruise Lines • Disney Cruise line suspends cruises through October 31, 2020.
INFORMATION CORRECT AS OF August 24, 2020. Please check individual Resorts eb pages for restrictions, requirements, and changes.
Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen Re-opens at Downtown Disney
Aug 12, 2020
"When Downtown Disney at Disneyland reopened last month, not everything was open. Many restaurants and shops guests were accustomed to experiencing had closed doors. Today, a fan favorite has returned, and Ralph’s Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen has reopened."
Laughing Place
State reviewing how and when to reopen Disneyland and other California theme parks
California theme parks currently closed by the COVID-19 pandemic can reopen during Stage 3 of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s four-stage roadmap for reopening California’s economy.
By BRADY MACDONALD
UPDATED: August 11, 2020
"California state officials are reviewing how and when to reopen Disneyland, Universal Studios Hollywood and other theme parks based on COVID-19 health data as the tourist destinations prepare to head into their sixth month of coronavirus closures."
...
"Plans to reopen Universal, Legoland and SeaWorld in June and Disneyland in July were put on hold indefinitely by a surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in California this summer that forced the state to rollback reopening plans..
"California theme parks currently closed by the COVID-19 pandemic can reopen during Stage 3 of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s four-stage roadmap for reopening California’s economy, according to state government officials."
Orange County Register
Will Disneyland keep annual passholders out for weeks at a time?
Disneyland has been closely watching and learning from the phased reopening of Walt Disney World although the California park has not yet released details about its planned advance reservation system.
By BRADY MACDONALD
PUBLISHED: August 12, 2020
"A Disneyland reservation system modeled after the one rolled at Walt Disney World could leave annual passholders blocked out of the Anaheim theme parks for days and weeks after the extended coronavirus closures eventually come to an end."
...
"Disney World’s new Park Pass reservation system gives the company virtually unlimited control over how many annual passholders can enter its four Florida parks and on what days.
"It’s a level of control Disney has never exercised before over passholders in Florida. In the past, passholders largely regulated themselves — by choosing a pass based on blockout dates and price. Passholders who chose the top-tier passes were essentially granted unlimited access to the parks — except during the busy week between Christmas and New Year’s.
"Now Disney World has turned every annual pass into the equivalent of Disneyland’s Flex Pass — which requires passholders to make advance reservations to get into Disneyland and Disney California Adventure on busy days." ...
"Disney World’s three separate reservation calendars — for annual passholders, hotel guests and daily visitors — offer starkly different levels of availability even as Disney World experiences lower than expected attendance.
"Daily ticketed visitors have their pick of all four of Disney’s Florida parks on any day they want for the next year or so. Overnight visitors staying at a Disney World hotel can go to any of the four parks on any day they want — except Disney’s Hollywood Studios on Labor Day weekend.
"Reservations for Disney World annual passholders are unavailable for about two weeks and only available for Epcot for the rest of August. All AP reservations for the Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios are booked through the end of the month."
Orange County Register
Disneyland evaluating COVID-19 testing options for cast members
Disneyland and Disney California Adventure remain closed indefinitely while they await still-unreleased state guidelines for safely reopening.
By BRADY MACDONALD
PUBLISHED: August 12, 2020
"Disneyland is evaluating COVID-19 testing options for its 31,000 employees at the Anaheim theme park resort as Disney World begins offering free coronavirus tests to its workers following a labor union agreement." ...
"Disneyland stage performers are represented by the American Guild of Variety Artists.
"In Anaheim, AGVA represents as many as 500 actors who perform in shows at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. AGVA actors include performers in “Frozen Live at the Hyperion” and “Mickey and the Magical Map” as well as atmosphere talent like the Dapper Dans and Five & Dime.
"AGVA actors were preparing for shows in the delayed Avengers Campus themed land and the canceled Oogie Boogie Bash event, according to AGVA Disneyland representative Steve Rosen."
Orange County Register
Disney rolls out pixie dust face masks for 100,000 Disneyland and Disney World cast members
The unique and unified Disney face coverings were made in partnership by Disneyland and Disney World costuming teams for their fellow cast members — Disney parlance for employees.
By BRADY MACDONALD
PUBLISHED: August 14, 2020
"More than 100,000 Disneyland and Disney World cast members will wear matching pixie dust face coverings with hidden Mickey star cluster designs that will distinguish them from mask-wearing theme park visitors in California and Florida.
"The unique and unified Disney face coverings were made in partnership by Disneyland and Disney World costuming teams for their fellow cast members — Disney parlance for employees." ... "The design features a field of stars and hidden Mickey constellations on a blue background with purple and red streaks.
"Cast members will choose from two mask styles — pleated or contoured — in multiple sizes made from lightweight, breathable and quick-drying material. The new masks made exclusively for cast members feature a contoured shape under the eyes, extended nose pinch area and adjustable spandex ear loops."
...
"The bi-coastal design team worked virtually to source and test a wide range of fabrics and features with an eye toward protection, function, comfort and style. The team relied on feedback from cast members throughout the design process, according to Disneyland costume designer Yonit Olshan." ...
"Disney cast members can take home the reusable and washable face coverings and personally care for them or let Disneyland and Disney World launder them."https://www.laughingplace.com/w/news/2020/08/14/disney-to-debut-exclusive-unified-masks-for-cast-members-to-wear/
Disney To Debut Exclusive, Unified Masks for Cast Members to Wear Aug 14, 2020
You can listen to show 291 on iTunes or go to Libsyn service here.
1997 Disneyland Ambassador Robyn
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Show Notes for Episode 291