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Former Disneyland Attractions Cast Member Mason Nakamura
Show Notes for Episode 318
We welcome back former Disneyland Ride Operator Mason to talk about his time in Tomorrowland Attractions like Submarine Voyage and the Monorail, and Westside Attractions like Pirates of the Caribbean from 1987 to 1995. Plus, we catch up on current events at the Disneyland Resort, as always.
***Disney Resort Updates***
Check back daily as information is changing rapidly.
Please be sure to follow CDC and your State's guidelines during this crisis. We will get through this.
Shanghai Disneyland • OPEN. Be sure to check their reservation system which requires everyone, including infants, to have a reservation. 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.
• 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 coverings are required for all Guests (ages 2 and up) while indoors and in Disney buses, monorail and Disney Skyliner, regardless of vaccination status. This includes upon entering and throughout all attractions. Face coverings remain optional for all Guests in outdoor common areas.". 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 OPEN!!!!!!! Face coverings are required for ALL guests while indoors except while eating (see Disneyland's web page for complete details).
• 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 announced its new yearly pass system called Magic Key Pass.
• All Hotels are open.
• The Downtown Disney District is open. Some table service is available following state and local rules.
Hong Kong Disneyland • OPEN. 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 • OPEN. Please visit their web site for up to date information on COVID restrictions and Parkavailability.
Disney Cruise Lines • Disney announces the US ships will be sailing again starting August 2021.
• Disney Cruise line has suspended European cruises through October 9, 2021.
Aulani Resort • OPEN. 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 September 18, 2021. Please check individual Resorts web pages for restrictions, requirements, and changes.
Disneyland Resort Current Event
Disneyland makes Toontown ride ‘more relevant’ with Jessica Rabbit as central character
Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin at Disneyland is getting a new plot twist that throws Jessica
Rabbit into the lead role as a private eye determined to stamp out a Toontown crime wave.
By BRADY MACDONALD
PUBLISHED: September 14, 2021
“Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin at Disneyland is getting a new plot twist that throws Jessica Rabbit into the lead role as a private eye determined to stamp out a Toontown crime wave.
“Some scenes in Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin featuring Jessica Rabbit are being updated to be more relevant and reflect a new twist in the character’s story within the attraction, according to Disneyland officials. A scene featuring Jessica Rabbit and the weasels with an automobile as well as the finale scene of Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin are being updated, according to Disneyland officials.
,,,
“A Car Toon Spin scene featuring Jessica Rabbit tied up in the trunk of a car has already been updated with the damsel in distress replaced by barrels of cartoon-erasing paint thinner known as Dip in the trunk.”
Orange County Register
Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin to Receive Story Updates
Sep 15, 2021
“Toontown has been going through some significant updates with Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway being added to the location, and now updates being done to Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin.”
Laughing Place
Oogie Boogie Bash brings spooky Halloween fun back to Disney California Adventure
Oogie Boogie Bash kicked off on Thursday, Sept. 9 at Disney California Adventure with a Halloween parade, Disney villains walk-through experience, Mickey Mouse children’s show and trick-or-treating trails.
By BRADY MACDONALD|
PUBLISHED: September 10, 2021
“Oogie Boogie Bash kicked off on Thursday, Sept. 9 at Disney California Adventure with a Halloween parade, Disney villains walk-through experience, Mickey Mouse children’s show, trick-or-treating trails and holiday decor. The separate-admission Oogie Boogie Bash will take place on 24 more select nights through Oct. 31.
“Disney moved the after-hours Halloween event from Disneyland to Disney California Adventure in 2019 and rechristened Mickey’s Halloween Party as Oogie Boogie Bash. The Halloween event went on hiatus in 2020 due to the extended coronavirus closures of the parks.
“Disney ratcheted back the offerings for this year’s Oogie Boogie Bash, but die-hard Disney fans didn’t seem to mind with every night of Oogie Boogie Bash sold out before the event even started. Most of the returning elements remain unchanged from the 2019 Oogie Boogie Bash event with a few new villains taking up residence along the treat trails.”
...
“Most DCA attractions remained open during Oogie Boogie Bash with shorter wait times due to the limited capacity of the event. Toy Story Midway Mania had an uncharacteristically short 10 minute wait and Soarin’ Around the World was a virtual walk-on.
“Missing from Oogie Boogie Bash 2021: The villain-themed ‘World of Color’ show and ‘Descendants’-inspired dance party that were part of the 2019 after-hours event.”
Orange County Register
Oogie Boogie Bash Scares Up Halloween Fun at the Disneyland Resort
September 10, 2021
“We were able to take a peek at a Cast Member preview and also attend the first official night of Oogie’s spooky party this year. There have been some changes since the 2019 event, but much has remained. Let’s take a look at the treats and a few tricks…”
MiceChat
Disneyland announces first Merriest Nites after-hours event for Christmas holiday season
Disney Merriest Nites will run on five select nights in November and December during what has traditionally been the busy holiday season at Disneyland.
By BRADY MACDONALD
PUBLISHED: September 10, 2021
“Disney Merriest Nites will run on five select nights in November and December during what has traditionally been the busy holiday season at Disneyland. The separate-ticket event will take place on Nov. 11, 16 and 30 and Dec. 7 and 9.”
...
“The Merriest Nites events will be broken into six themed holiday parties with each tied to a land in the park and hosted by a familiar Disney or Pixar character — Mickey Mouse on Main Street U.S.A., Buzz Lightyear from ‘Toy Story’ in Tomorrowland, Princess Tiana from ‘The Princess and the Frog’ in New Orleans Square, Miguel Rivera from ‘Coco’ in Frontierland, Lilo and Stitch in Adventureland and Queen Elsa from ‘Frozen’ in Fantasyland.
“Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Mickey’s Toontown and Critter Country will remain closed during Disney Merriest Nites.”
...
“Disney Merriest Nites will start at 8 p.m. each night with event visitors able to mix-in with daily crowds starting at 5 p.m. each night. Ticket prices range from $165 to $175.”
Orange County Register
Fri, September 10, 2021
Celebrate the Holiday Season in a Merry, New Way with Disney Merriest Nites, an All-New After-Hours Event at Disneyland Park
by Michael Ramirez, Public Relations Director, Disneyland Resort
Disney Parks Blog
“Disney Merriest Nites” After-Hours Event Coming to Disneyland
Sep 10, 2021
Laughing Place
Disneyland Christmas Parties for $165 or More – Here’s What They Offer
By Nathan Villamor -September 10, 2021
MiceChat
Disney’s Tenaya Stone Spa inspired by California nature, architecture and indigenous cultures
The new Tenaya Stone day spa at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa opens on Thursday, Sept. 16.
By BRADY MACDONALD
PUBLISHED: September 15, 2021
“Walt Disney Imagineering developed the concept, backstory and design for the new Tenaya Stone Spa at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa to reflect the spirit of nature, California’s indigenous cultures and the hotel’s Arts & Crafts architectural style.”
...
“The new Tenaya Stone day spa at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa opens on Thursday, Sept. 16 with initial reservations limited to hotel guests staying at the Grand Californian, Disneyland Hotel and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel.
“The remodeled spa was designed by Walt Disney Imagineering and will be run for the first time by Disney. The former Mandara Spa — which was designed and operated by a third party — closed in July 2019.”
...
“The layout of the spa pairs four elements and colors with the four ordinal directions — air and red to the south, earth and white to the north, sun and yellow to the east and water and black to the west.”
...
“The 6,000 square-foot spa includes eight treatment rooms, four manicure and pedicure chairs, a relaxation lounge, changing rooms and a retail shop.
“Spa treatments will include the Tenaya River Stone Massage with heated rocks, Aromatherapy Massage with gem elixirs and flower essences, Wild Honey and Mud Body Renewal with peat mud nutrient mask and a Step in Time foot massage ideal after a long day of walking around the theme parks. Facials and make-up applications will be offered at a later time.”
Orange County Register
Wed, September 8, 2021
Bringing a Native American Influence to Tenaya Stone Spa
by Yvonne Lee, Internal Communications Manager, Disneyland Resort
Disney Parks Blog
Wed, September 8, 2021
Interior Design Elements Tell the Story of New Tenaya Stone Spa at Disneyland Resort
by Valerie Lee, Public Relations Manager, Disneyland Resort
Disney Parks Blog
Photos – A Look Inside the Tenaya Stone Spa at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
Sep 14, 2021
Laughing Place
FIRST LOOK: Disney Grand Californian Imagineering-designed Tenaya Stone Spa
By Dusty Sage -September 14, 2021
MiceChat
Disneyland Update Part I: Halloween Magic and Much More!
By PhotoMatt -September 6, 2021
“Halloween Time has returned to the Disneyland Resort. Main Street, U.S.A. is festooned with vibrant orange and yellow bunting. Halloween Time Mickey signs adorn each light post, and the giant Mickey pumpkin photo op has returned to it’s traditional location. Over at DCA, purple banners hang from the shops, and shiny-eyed bats are perched high above Buena Vista street. At night the trees glow in a beautiful and mesmerizing shade of purple. It’s simultaneously beautiful and playfully spooky. You’ll be able to experience the season from September 3rd through October 31st.”
MiceChat
Disneyland Resort Update Part 2: Conjuring a Treat!
By PhotoMatt -September 7, 2021
“There are a lot of things to look forward to for Halloween at Disneyland. The parks get dressed up in seasonal colors, special ride overlays and entertainment are produced, and there’s the cornucopia of fall goodies to be found. Sure, the Halloween Time decorations and entertainment at Disneyland are great, but let’s be honest, the best part is definitely the food. We’ll start today’s Update with the seasonal treats around the Disneyland Resort and then head through Downtown Disney to see what’s new. We’ll finish up by heading back into the parks for some glamour shots.”
MiceChat
Disneyland Update: Holiday Humbugs & Hopeful Happenings
By Dusty Sage -September 13, 2021
“This week’s Disneyland Update is a bit of a rollercoaster. While there’s a lot to look forward to, including the potential return of a classic, construction on a major new attraction, pumpkin treats, and Halloween decorations, there’s also some concerning news that we’d like to address.”
You can listen to show 318 on iTunes or go to Libsyn service here.