Show Notes for Episode 302
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Disneyland Night Custodial Manager Tom Theiss
We welcome Tom Theiss, who was a Night Custodial “Third Shift” Manager at Disneyland with 45 years as a cast member. Plus, we discuss current Disneyland Resort events, as always, but this time we are joined by Naomi of Petra's Pintorium.
We have authored two books: Cleaning The Kingdom: Insider Tales of Keeping Walt’s Dream Spotless and Cleaning The Kingdom: Night, Day, Past and Present.
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.
The Sweep Sport would like to welcome our new sponsor Petra's Pintorium.
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***Disney Resort Updates***
Due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 (Corona) Virus, Many 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.Be sure to check their reservation system which requires everyone, including infants, to have a reservation. The resort capacity is 50%. 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.
• Park Hopping is allowed within strict rules:
1. You must make a reservation at one of the Parks.
2. You must go to that Park first.
3. Park Hopping does not start until 2PM.
4. Access to Parks is still limited to their maximum occupancy. Check the Park you want to go to before traveling to it to make sure it is accepting Hopping guests.
5. Check the Walt Disney World Park Hopper web page for updates to Park Hopping rules.
Disneyland • The Downtown Disney District including Buena Vista Street only of DCA are open. Some table service is available following state and local rules.
• The Disneyland Annual Pass (AP) system is being cancel and refunds issued. Special discounts will continue (see Disneyland web page). A new system is in the planning for after the Parks reopen, but no details available at this time.
• 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.
• The State of California has announced guidelines for the opening of amusement parks. The biggest part of the announcement is that a county must be in tier 4 before a park can open. Orange county currently estimates it will not be in that tier until at least June 2020.
Hong Kong Disneyland • The Park is closed.
Disneyland Paris • November 25th, 2020, Disneyland Paris made the following announcement: The latest government measures announced for France do not allow us to deliver the Disneyland Paris experience and therefore the destination will remain closed until at least April 2, 2021.
Disney Cruise Lines • Disney Cruise line suspends cruises through January 31, 2021. The web page does appear to be booking future trips, the earliest being in May 2021.
Aulani Resort • Phased reopening began November 1, 2020. The state of Hawaii has strict travel requirements which include a 10 quarantine or negative test within 72 hours of your arrival. Please visit HERE for the latest details.
Walt Disney Family Museum • The Walt Disney Family Museum closed.
INFORMATION CORRECT AS OF February 6, 2021. Please check individual Resorts web pages for restrictions, requirements, and changes.
Disneyland Resort Current Event
Disneyland to remove ‘negative depictions of native people’ from Jungle Cruise ride
Walt Disney Imagineering will update Jungle Cruise scenes featuring shrunken head dealer Trader Sam and a rhino chasing a safari group up a tree while adding a new scene with a half-sunken boat overrun by chimps.
By BRADY MACDONALD
UPDATED: January 26, 2021
“Walt Disney Imagineering will update Jungle Cruise scenes featuring shrunken head dealer Trader Sam and a rhino chasing a safari group up a tree while adding a new scene with a half-sunken boat overrun by chimps.
“‘Imagineers are constantly looking for opportunities to enhance experiences, and when it comes to updating classic attractions, they employ a very careful and thoughtful approach,’ Disney officials said in a statement. ‘In this particular case, Imagineers created a storyline that builds upon what people love the most while addressing negative depictions simultaneously.’”
...
“The updates to the Jungle Cruise rides follow changes to the Pirates of the Caribbean and an upcoming makeover of Splash Mountain intended to address outdated cultural depictions in Disney theme park attractions.”
...
“Disney chairman Bob Iger said the changes to the Jungle Cruise demonstrate the company’s commitment to reflect the ‘values and rich diversity of our world’ in its theme park attractions.
“‘The exciting changes we’re making to one of Disney’s most popular classic attractions, Jungle Cruise, reflect our commitment to creating unparalleled experiences that reflect, not only the best in storytelling, but also the values and rich diversity of our world,’ Iger wrote on Twitter.
“The revamped rides will not be tied to the upcoming action-adventure epic film starring Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson as a riverboat skipper and Emily Blunt as an intrepid explorer. The ‘Jungle Cruise’ stars will not be depicted in the rides, although subtle storytelling nods will be made to the film.”
...
“Concept art shows a culturally diverse group of boat passengers stuck up a tree — including a photographer, painter, bird watcher and butterfly collector. Nearby, five chimps have taken over a half-sunken boat — splattering paint on the rooftop canopy of the tramp steamer and releasing butterflies from a cage. One chimp with a parasol sits on the roof of the boat while another has taken over the helm and the skipper’s microphone. Some of the new figures will feature animatronic movements.”
…
“The revamped backstory of the Jungle Cruise ride will also dive into the mysteries of Disneyland’s Mekong Maiden and the Magic Kingdom’s Kwango Kate — tramp steamer boats that were decommissioned on each coast.
“The Jungle Cruise rides in Tokyo Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland will not be changed. There are no current plans to make changes to the Trader Sam’s locations at either the Disneyland Resort or Walt Disney World Resort, according to Disney officials.”
Orange County Register
Mon, January 25, 2021
New Adventures to ‘Cast’ Off Soon Along World-Famous Jungle Cruise at Disneyland Park and Magic Kingdom Park
by Michael Ramirez, Public Relations Director, Disneyland Resort
“Continuing a tradition that Walt Disney started more than six decades ago when he first enhanced the Jungle Cruise, the new creative concept for our river’s journey will be original to Walt Disney Imagineering, just like the attraction itself.”
Disney Parks Blog
Jungle Cruise to Receive Story and Diversity Updates at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World
Jan 25, 2021
Laughing Place
Disneyland to make the Jungle Cruise more inclusive after years-long complaints of racism
By TODD MARTENS
JAN. 25, 2021
“‘As Imagineers, it is our responsibility to ensure experiences we create and stories we share reflect the voices and perspectives of the world around us,’ Carmen Smith said in a statement provided by Disney. Smith is the creative development and inclusion strategies executive at Walt Disney Imagineering, the company’s division responsible for theme park experiences.”
LA Times
California Assembly bill seeks to speed reopening of Disneyland and other theme parks
California Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva announced plans to co-sponsor a bill that would require the state to allow all theme parks reopen in the same tier of Newsom’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy.
By BRADY MACDONALD
PUBLISHED: February 4, 2021
“A new bill proposed by California state assembly members would speed the reopening of Disneyland and Universal Studios Hollywood and override Gov. Gavin Newsom’s guidelines that have kept large California theme parks shuttered for more than 10 months.
“California Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Fullerton) announced plans to co-sponsor a bill that would require the state to allow all theme parks reopen in the same tier of Newsom’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy. The bill would be co-sponsored by Assemblywoman Suzette Martinez-Valladares (R-Santa Clarita), whose district includes Six Flags Magic Mountain.”
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“The California Attractions and Parks Association has said the decision to place the state’s large theme parks in the most-restrictive tier of Newsom’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy will keep the major tourist destinations closed indefinitely.”
Orange County Register
A Bipartisan California Bill Aims to Speed up Reopening Disneyland and Other Theme Parks
Feb 4, 2021
Laughing Place
Disneyland seizes opportunity to reboot annual pass program
The coronavirus pandemic left Disneyland with no option other than to end its annual pass program and launch a new membership program.
By BRADY MACDONALD
PUBLISHED: February 4, 2021
“Disneyland seized the opportunity to reboot its annual pass program during the pandemic and wrestle back some control over an estimated 1 million passholders who threatened to overwhelm a new advance reservations system when the Anaheim theme park reopens.”
Orange County Register
Disneyland gives ‘legacy’ passholders a new title and promises more perks
Those who had active annual passes when the park closed in March are now in line for new benefits.
By BRADY MACDONALD
PUBLISHED: January 28, 2021
“Disneyland is aiming to make good with its loyal fan base by bestowing them with a ‘legacy passholders’ title and offering new perks after ending the four-decade-old annual pass program and promising to launch a new membership replacement.
“Disneyland pass holders who had active annual passes when the park closed in March are now Disneyland Resort Legacy Passholders and in line for some new benefits.”
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“Annual passholders who had active passes when the park closed on March 14 will continue to receive discounts on food and merchandise at Downtown Disney and Buena Vista Street until a new membership program is announced. Disney will boost AP discounts to 30% on select dates from through Feb. 25 on select merchandise.”
Orange County Register
Disneyland Announces “Legacy Passholder” Program
Jan 27, 2021
“Disney has announced a legacy passholder program and title for Disneyland Annual Passholders who had been active as of March 14, 2020.”
You can listen to show 302 on iTunes or go to Libsyn service here.