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Disneyland Halloween Stories with Jim Korkis
Show Notes for Episode 294
In this episode we welcome back author Jim Korkis to the show to talk about Halloween at Disneyland, which extends into stories about The Haunted Mansion and much more! Get his books and his latest Book Vault of Walt Volume 9 Halloween Special Edition.
The Sweep Spot is a podcast with full episodes every two weeks, focusing on the Disneyland Resort. Lynn Barron and Ken Pellman, former Disneyland Day Custodial Foremen are your hosts.
***Disney Resort Updates***
Due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 (Corona) Virus, Most 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. The resort is increasing it's capacity from 30% to 50% and will be updating their reservation system August 24, 2020. Go to Shanghai's web page for advance reservations. 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. You must have an advance reservation and valid ticket.
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. However, the State of california announced it is working on plans to allow theme parks to reopen and will soon have an announcement.
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 December 6, 2020.
Aulani Resort • Currently closed but announced they are working towards a phased reopening beginning November 1, 2020.
INFORMATION CORRECT AS OF September 25, 2020. Please check individual Resorts eb pages for restrictions, requirements, and changes.
Disneyland Resort Current Event
New commercial ramps up pressure on Newsom to reopen Disneyland
The new ad was released by the Reopen O.C. Now coalition of Anaheim, Buena Park and Garden Grove city leaders and the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce.
By BRADY MACDONALD
PUBLISHED: September 25, 2020
"A new commercial calls on Gov. Gavin Newsom to reopen Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm and other California theme parks as the major tourist destinations approach the 200-day mark of coronavirus closures."
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"The new ad was released by the Reopen O.C. Now coalition of Anaheim, Buena Park and Garden Grove city leaders and the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce.
"California theme parks closed in mid-March amid the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. and remain shuttered while they await guidelines for safely reopening from the state."
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"An announcement on California theme park reopening guidelines is coming 'very, very shortly,' Newsom said in mid-September."
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"The Disneyland-area mayors joined a growing chorus of city leaders and theme park associations calling on Newsom to reopen Disneyland, Universal Studios Hollywood, Knott’s, Six Flags Magic Mountain, SeaWorld San Diego, Legoland California and other amusement parks throughout the state."
Orange County Register
Black Panther mural pays tribute to Chadwick Boseman at Downtown Disney
The 'King Chad' mural by artist Nikkolas Smith was unveiled on the side of the former ESPN Zone building in the outdoor shopping center next to Disneyland.
By BRADY MACDONALD
PUBLISHED: September 24, 2020
"A former Walt Disney Imagineer is paying tribute to the late actor Chadwick Boseman with a mural of the 'Black Panther' star making the Wakanda salute on the side of a Downtown Disney building.
"The 'King Chad' mural by artist Nikkolas Smith was unveiled on Thursday, Sept. 24 on the side of the former ESPN Zone building in the outdoor shopping center next to Disneyland."
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"Boseman died of cancer at the age 43 in late August. The actor was best known for playing King T’Challa in Marvel’s Black Panther and Avengers superhero movies. He also starred as baseball player Jackie Robinson in '42,' singer James Brown in 'Get On Up' and Supreme Court justice Thurgood Marshall in 'Marshall.'
"Smith worked on the Marvel-themed Avengers Campus themed land coming soon to Disney California Adventure as one of his last jobs as an Imagineer."
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"The Boseman tribute will remain in Downtown Disney through Dec. 31."
Orange County Register
Artist Nikkolas Smith’s “King Chad” Mural Unveiled at Downtown Disney
Sep 24, 2020
"Long live the king. A new mural paying tribute to Chadwick Boseman and the spirit of Black Panther is now on display at Downtown Disney. Artist Nikkolas Smith posted the unveiling of his artwork on Instagram and stated why this project in particular was so important to him."
Laughing Place
Disneyland opens Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge pop-up shop in Downtown Disney
Disneyland has converted the WonderGround Gallery retail space in Downtown Disney into a pop-up Star Wars Trading Post selling once-exclusive Galaxy’s Edge merchandise.
By BRADY MACDONALD
PUBLISHED: September 15, 2020
"Disneyland has converted the WonderGround Gallery retail space in Downtown Disney into a pop-up Star Wars Trading Post selling once-exclusive Galaxy’s Edge merchandise."
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"The Star Wars Trading Post pop-up shop in Downtown Disney is selling Jedi robes from Black Spire Outfitters, dejarik board games from the Toydarian Toymaker, pre-built droids from Droid Depot and cuddly porgs from the Creature Stall. There are even legacy lightsabers from Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities."
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"Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge merchandise will be available in the Disney owned and operated WonderGround Gallery for the foreseeable future, according to Disney officials. The WonderGround Gallery will return to Downtown Disney at a later date.
"Disney once boasted that the merchandise sold in Galaxy’s Edge would be exclusively available in the Star Wars land. But COVID-19 has changed everything."
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"None of the Galaxy’s Edge merchandise was supposed to show up in Tomorrowland’s Star Trader gift shop or the Emporium on Main Street U.S.A. Now the storytelling bubble has been burst so completely by coronavirus that exclusive Galaxy’s Edge merchandise is being sold at an off-planet shop in Downtown Disney."
You can listen to show 294 on iTunes or go to Libsyn service here.