We chat with Donna Baranyay, who worked with us in Disneyland Day Custodial. She started when she was 17 and stayed for 16 years, including many years in “Dispatch”, also known as Custodial Central. Plus, we catch up on current events at the Disneyland Resort, as always.
***Disney Resort Updates***
Check back daily as information is changing rapidly.
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:
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%. You must 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.
• Face masks are no longer required in "Outdoor Common Areas" and "Pool Decks". You may temporarily remove your face covering while actively eating, drinking or taking an outdoor photo, but you must be stationary and maintain appropriate physical distancing during this time. Masks must be worn at all other times.
• Park Hopping is allowed within strict rules:
1. You must make a reservation at one of the Parks. They do still require this as a private company.
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 • Disneyland is now OPEN!!!!!!! Sadly only to California Residents until June 15, 2021.
• Ticket Sales have begin. Only California Residents will be allowed to enter the Parks and groups may not be larger than 3 households until further notice.
• Like Walt Disney World, you must have a valid ticket AND make a Park reservation for the day you are interested in attending. Park reservations can only be made 60 days out at the present time. Be sure to check availability of the dates you are interested in before purchasing tickets.
• Disneyland Park President Ken Potrock announces there will be a new form of annual passes. Detail will be announced later this year. "Legacy" Pass holders are still getting dining and merchandise discounts.
• The Grand Californian is open.
• The Paradise Pier will be opening June 15, 2021.
• The Disneyland Hotel will be opening July 1, 2021..
• The State of California has updated it rules for Theme Parks and Stadiums to reopen. The new rule took affect April 1, 2021 and Disneyland opened at 25% capacity as long as the county stays in the Orange Tier.
• The Downtown Disney District including Buena Vista Street only of DCA are open. Some table service is available following state and local rules.
• The State of California are working on new guidelines for amusement parks. The state has also announced that if conditions continue to improve as they are now, the state will do away with its tier system. Changes to mask requirements, capacity, etc. are in the works and will be announced. It is anticipated that the California residence requirement will also be eliminated.
Hong Kong Disneyland • The Park is officially reopened. Advanced reservations with names and contact numbers are required. The Park will be closed on Tuesdays and Thursdays except major holidays. Please visit their web site for current requirements.
Disneyland Paris • Due to conditions, Disneyland Paris is still closed. However, they have announced that they will be reopening June 17, 2021. There is a notice that their page is running slow due to high demand. Please visit their web site for up to date information on if the Park will reopened and requirements.
Disney Cruise Lines • UPDATE 3/9/2021 SHARE HOLDERS' MEETING - CEO Bob Chapek Just said he has no date for the Cruise lines, but hopefully if trends continue to be positive, maybe next Fall or later.
• Disney Cruise line has suspended US cruises at least through July 2021 and European cruises through October 9, 2021.
• They will be begin accepting bookings for Summer 2022. Early booking May 17th and general booking May 27.
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 is open but you must have reservation to enter the building. They will not admit you after 4p, even if you have a reservation. Please see their Welcome back page for details. They continue to provide virtual content. San Francisco County was recently moved into the Orange Tier, so please check their web page for current status. The World War II Special Exhibit opened March 19th in the Diane Disney Miller Exhibition Hall. See web page for availability and restrictions.
INFORMATION CORRECT AS OF June 11, 2021. Please check individual Resorts web pages for restrictions, requirements, and changes.
Disneyland Resort Current Event
Thu, June 3, 2021
Avengers Campus Unveiled in Epic Grand Opening Ceremony at Disney California Adventure Park
by Gabriel Gibaldi, Public Relations Director
“Last night, Super Heroes assembled to celebrate the momentous dedication of Avengers Campus in an epic ceremony at Disney California Adventure park!
“Disney CEO Bob Chapek was joined in front of Avengers Headquarters near the shining Quinjet by Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro and Marvel Studios President/Marvel Chief Creative Officer Kevin Feige, along with Paul Rudd, star of the ‘Ant-Man’ films, and Anthony Mackie from the hit Disney+ series “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.”
“We live-streamed the opening ceremony of Avengers Campus last night. In case you missed it, you can watch the entire ceremony now!”
Disney Parks Blog
Disneyland opens Avengers Campus to massive crowds, mile-long lines and disappointed fans
Marvel fans showed up before dawn to be the first visitors inside Avengers Campus on opening day only to be faced with massive crowds and stunningly long lines.
By BRADY MACDONALD
PUBLISHED: June 4, 2021
“Massive crowds of Marvel fans descended on the Disneyland resort for the grand opening of Avengers Campus amid pandemic social distancing restrictions that left many disappointed before they even set foot inside the new superhero themed land.
“Avengers Campus debuted at Disney California Adventure on Friday, June 4 after a yearlong delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic closure of the Anaheim theme parks.
“Marvel fans showed up before dawn to be the first visitors inside Avengers Campus on opening day only to be faced with massive crowds and stunningly long lines.”
…
“Kevin Pryor arrived at Disneyland at 3:45 a.m. to be among the first in line for Avengers Campus.”
...
“By 7:15 a.m., the half-mile long line switched back on itself 17 times and filled a service road and the bus depot area on the Harbor Boulevard side of the parks.”
...
“Nearly everyone in line had their smartphones out as the 7 a.m. as the boarding group lottery approached for the Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure attraction.
“The countdown began at 6:59 a.m. with fans shouting to each other ‘30 seconds left’ and ‘10 more seconds.’ The reaction was nearly instantaneous with joyous fans leaping for joy at their good fortune.”
...
“Martha Cervantes was disappointed that the Web Slingers boarding passes sold out almost instantly on the Disneyland app after waiting in line since 4:45 a.m.”
...
“Jimmy Hernandez was the first person in line at 2:30 a.m., but he failed to secure a Web Slingers boarding group during the 7 a.m. lottery.”
....
“Another Web Slingers boarding group digital distribution took place at noon, giving those who missed out on the 7 a.m. lottery a second chance of riding the new Spider-Man attraction.”
...
“Disney California Adventure was scheduled to open at 9 a.m., but the park swung open its gates by 8 a.m.”
Orange County Register
Fri, June 4, 2021
Now Open! First Recruits Assemble at Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure Park
by Gabriel Gibaldi, Public Relations Director
“Those who looked skyward spotted Spider-Man swinging into action high above Avengers Campus with gravity-defying, acrobatic feats never seen before in a Disney park. Guests were thrilled to join Spider-Man slinging webs in the land’s new attraction, WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure.
“And that’s just the beginning of the epic action. Guests trained with Black Panther and Wakanda’s elite guards, the Dora Milage.“
Disney Parks Blog
Dateline Disneyland: Avengers Campus Opening Was No Marvel
By Andy Castro -June 7, 2021
“Following several days of Cast Member and media previews, Disney California Adventure officially opened Disney’s first Marvel-themed land on Friday with great fanfare. The brand new Avengers Campus folds in the park’s existing Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission: BREAKOUT attraction and brings with it an all-new Spider-Man-themed attraction, super hero encounters, shopping, dining, and shows. Avengers Campus replaces the park’s carnival-style “A Bug’s Land” and brings to California Adventure a permanent space for the stories and characters from the wildly ambitious Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) — Disney’s second-largest live action film franchise.:
MiceChat
Simple Avengers Campus Fixes on the Way – Showtimes & Easier Food!
By Dusty Sage -June 11, 2021
“Disney California Adventure’s new Avengers Campus got off to a bit of a rocky start. On opening day, guests lined up for up to 8 hours for a chance to see the super-hero themed land. Unfortunately, the main attraction, WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure, requires a Virtual Queue spot in order to ride (with no standby available) and Mobile Order was practically required to eat in the land. With only a tiny shop and some character shows left for guests to enjoy, there were lots of guests who had waited the better part of the day to see a land that they really couldn’t experience much of. “
MiceChat
Disneyland welcomes hunger fighting ‘superheroes’ as first visitors to Avengers Campus
Second Harvest Food Bank, Orange County Food Bank and Community Action Partnership of Orange County employees were among the first Disney California Adventure visitors to enter Avengers Campus on Thursday, June 3.
By BRADY MACDONALD
UPDATED: June 4, 2021
“Disneyland rolled out the welcome mat for 150 food bank “superheroes” who fight hunger in Orange County as the first visitors to Avengers Campus — the new Marvel themed land dedicated to Spider-Man, Black Panther, Captain America and other comic book heroes.
“Second Harvest Food Bank, Orange County Food Bank and Community Action Partnership of Orange County employees were among the first Disney California Adventure visitors to enter Avengers Campus on Thursday, June 3.
“The news of the surprise first guests will come as a shock to legions of Marvel fans who booked reservations weeks in advance to be the first visitors in Avengers Campus on Friday, June 4 — the date billed for months as the grand opening of the new Marvel land at the Anaheim theme park.”
Orange County Register
Sat, June 5, 2021
Cast and Community Members Among First Recruits in Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure Park
by Kyleigh Johnson, External Communications Manager, Disneyland Resort
“Last week, cast members and their guests were invited into Avengers Campus to sling webs with Spider-Man, taste epic eats like shawarma (a must-try according to the Avengers!), encounter their favorite heroes and gear up with the latest WEB tech and apparel.”
Disney Parks Blog
Tue, June 8, 2021
Team Up with Earth’s Mightiest Heroes at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Park
by Gabriel Gibaldi, Public Relations Director
Disney Parks Blog
Disneyland’s new Spider-man ride delivers absurd web slinging fun with an upper-body workout
Review: The new Web Slingers interactive dark ride at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure is silly, foolish, ridiculous and crazy good fun.
By BRADY MACDONALD
UPDATED: June 7, 2021
“Riders aboard the new Spider-Man attraction will want to set their minds to play mode and stretch out their shoulders and arms before slinging virtual webs with their bare hands in what can only be described as manic and absurd hand-waving madness.
“The new Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure interactive dark ride at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure is silly, foolish, ridiculous and crazy good fun.”
Orange County Register
Thu, June 3, 2021
A Closer Look Inside WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Park
by Gabriel Gibaldi, Public Relations Director
“At the Worldwide Engineering Brigade – also known as WEB – Tony Stark has assembled young engineers who specialize in developing innovative technologies to equip and empower a new generation of Super Heroes. This workshop showcases the inventions of Peter Parker and the rest of the WEB Tech team, including Spider-Bots, which are designed to be robotic sidekicks capable of building anything a Super Hero might need.
“However, when Peter’s demonstration goes awry, the Spider-Bots are stuck in a replication loop, creating even more Spider-Bots!
“Donning 3D glasses, your mission will be to test-drive the aspiring inventor’s latest invention, the WEB Slinger vehicle, and put your web-slinging skills to the test! Through specially designed, innovative technology that recognizes body movements and gestures, you will reach out your hands and sling webs from your wrists, just like Spider-Man.”
Disney Parks Blog
How to Score a Boarding Group for WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure
By MiceChat Staff -June 2, 2021
“Disney California Adventure’s highly anticipated new ride, WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure, will be the top ticket in town when it opens on June 4th, 2021. But like Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disneyland, you won’t be able to just get in line and wait for it, this attraction will be using a virtual queue ONLY (which is also called a “Boarding Group” by Disney).”
MiceChat
Avengers Campus: Everything You Need to Know About Disneyland’s Newest Land
By Dusty Sage -June 4, 2021
“Heroic new adventures are just about to land at the Disneyland Resort. Superheroes assemble with new attractions, experiences, stunts, food, merchandise and more. The new Avengers Campus opened June 4th, 2021 at Disney California Adventure!”
MiceChat
6 Disneyland restaurants and bars set reopening dates — including Oga’s Cantina
The June 17 reopening dates suggest Disneyland is preparing to ramp up attendance capacity once state COVID-19 restrictions come to an end on June 15.
By BRADY MACDONALD
UPDATED: June 11, 2021
“Oga’s Cantina and five other restaurants and bars in Disneyland and Disney California Adventure are set to reopen for the first time since being shuttered in March 2020 by the COVID-19 pandemic. Disneyland and DCA reopened on April 30 after the yearlong coronavirus closure along with just over half the park’s 70+ food and beverage locations.
“The June 17 reopening dates for the returning Disneyland and DCA eateries suggest the Anaheim theme parks are preparing to ramp up attendance capacity once state COVID-19 restrictions come to an end on June 15.”
Orange County Register
Disney Imagination Campus Announced At Both Disneyland and Walt Disney World
Jun 11, 2021
“The Walt Disney Company has announced Disney Imagination Campus with sites at the Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort that seem to take over as the new Disney Youth Programs.”
Laughing Place
Disneyland Update – Avengers, Fireworks, Staffing & Crowds!
May 31, 2021
MiceChat
Disneyland Update – Happy Holidays Ahead!
By Dusty Sage -June 8, 2021
You can listen to show 311 on iTunes or go to Libsyn service here.
Show Notes for Episode 311
Donna's Disneyland Dispatches
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