Lynn and Ken discuss Critter Country at Disneyland, a unique area for Disney Parks, with alittle history as well. 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.
• Disneyland is raising prices on daily tickets.
• 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 October 30, 2021. Please check individual Resorts web pages for restrictions, requirements, and changes.
Disneyland Resort Current Event
Our web master Russell was injured in a fall from a ladder and his right arm is in a brace making it difficult to type. We apologize for the delays in getting our show notes up for this and the next couple shows but he insists in continuing with our web page.
Disneyland teases return of beloved Main Street Electrical Parade
Disneyland teased the return of the Main Street Electrical Parade in a video posted Tuesday, Oct. 26 on the Disney Parks official TikTok account.
By BRADY MACDONALD
PUBLISHED: October 26, 2021
“Disneyland teased the return of the the Main Street Electrical Parade in a video posted Tuesday, Oct. 26 on the Disney Parks official TikTok account.
“Disneyland has not yet announced an official return date for the parade.”
...
“Disneyland has been conducting rehearsals for the Main Street Electrical Parade since August, according to WDW News Today. The Main Street Electrical Parade will celebrate its 50th anniversary in summer 2022, according to WDW News Today.”
...
“After its initial run, the Electrical Parade disappeared for two summers in 1975 and ‘76 to make way for a bicentennial-themed parade and again in 1983 and ‘84 for a parade celebrating Disneyland’s newly renovated Fantasyland.”
Disney Parks Teases Return of Main Street Electrical Parade
Oct 26, 2021
Disneyland Teases the Return of the Main Street Electrical Parade
By Mike Kindrich -October 26, 2021
FIRST LOOK: Plaza Point Holiday Shoppe NOW OPEN at Disneyland
By Natalie Kipper -October 21, 2021
“What was once Disneyland’s Main Street Photo Supply Co. reopened today as the Plaza Point Holiday Shoppe. The store, located on Main Street, USA, will have merchandise for holidays all year-’round, with items from celebrations like Lunar New Year and Halloween included seasonally. Here’s a look at the brand new holiday store!”
UPDATED: Disneyland Christmas Offerings 2021 (Parties, Fireworks, Parades, Food and More)
By Nathan Villamor -October 27, 2021
“The Holiday season is almost here, and Disneyland will be offering traditional and new offerings this year. We’ve updated our article with new information about food and holiday party details for 2021.”
Plaza Point Holiday Store Now Open at Disneyland
Oct 21, 2021
Disneyland brings back nearly 80% of workforce with full staffing expected by end of year
The Disneyland resort has 25,000 cast members currently working and plans to hire hundreds more each week with a job fair planned for early next month.
By BRADY MACDONALD
PUBLISHED: October 25, 2021
“Disneyland has added 15,000 employees to its workforce in the six months since returning from an extended COVID-19 pandemic closure during the continuing phased reopening of the Anaheim theme park resort.
“The Disneyland resort has 25,000 cast members currently working and plans to hire hundreds more each week with a job fair planned for early next month, according to Disneyland officials.
“That’s 6,000 more Disneyland employees than were on the payroll in August, 10,000 more than June and 15,000 more than March when the theme park resort first began emerging from a yearlong coronavirus closure. But Disneyland still has 7,000 fewer employees than the 32,000 on staff before the pandemic — when the Disney theme park resort was the largest employer in Orange County.”
Orange County Register
Disneyland Contract Troubles Leave Cast Concerned
By Dusty Sage -October 29, 2021
“Tensions are reaching a low boil for many of Disneyland’s union cast members. Talks on contract renewals for the Teamsters and SEIU contracts (and possibly others) seemingly broke down yesterday and the unions began sending messages to employees letting them know that things aren’t going well and that Disney hasn't responded to the new proposals and mediation had been canceled.“
Disneyland restaurant reservations snapped up months in advance
The widespread lack of restaurant reservations at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure has left diehard Mouseheads searching at all hours of the night for last-minute cancellations or the latest batch of bookings as soon as they are released.
By BRADY MACDONALD
PUBLISHED: October 18, 2021
“The scenario that Disneyland fans feared is coming true as dining reservations are nearly completely booked months in advance with tables snapped up within minutes of becoming available at popular spots like Blue Bayou, Carthay Circle and Oga’s Cantina.
“The widespread lack of restaurant reservations at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure has left die-hard Mouseheads searching at all hours of the day and night for last-minute cancellations or the latest batch of bookings as soon as they are released online.”
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“The Disneyland Dining online calendar is dynamic and constantly changing — which means unavailable reservations can become available again at any time.”
“Disneyland doesn’t offer a dining alert option, but the MouseDining third-party website will send you an email when reservations pop up. But you have to move quickly — they don’t last long.”
Disneyland raises ticket prices for most types of admission
Ticket prices for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure increased an average of 6% on Monday, Oct. 25 with some single-park, parkhopper and multi-day tickets climbing more than 8%.
By BRADY MACDONALD
PUBLISHED: October 25, 2021
“Ticket prices for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure increased an average of 6% on Monday, Oct. 25 with some single-park, parkhopper and multi-day tickets climbing more than 8%. The lowest-priced one-day single park ticket remained unchanged from 2019 at $104.
“A sixth tier was added to Disneyland’s former five-tier pricing system — raising the top price for a single-day, single park ticket from $154 to $164 and the most expensive parkhopper ticket from $209 to $224.
“Single-day, single park ticket prices increased 0% to 8.1%: Tier 1 ($104), Tier 2 ($119), Tier 3 ($134), Tier 4 ($149), Tier 5 ($159) and Tier 6 ($164).
“Parkhopper tickets rose 3.1% to 8.4%: Tier 1 ($164), Tier 2 ($179), Tier 3 ($194), Tier 4 ($209), Tier 5 ($219) and Tier 6 ($224). Parkhopper tickets provide admission to both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure on the same day.
“Multi-day tickets saw similar spikes. Two-day, one-park tickets rose to $255 (from $235) while two-day parkhoppers climbed to $315 (from $290). Three-day tickets now cost $330 for single park per day access and $390 for the parkhopper.
“The daily theme park parking rates also rose from $25 to $30. Self parking at the Disneyland resort’s three hotels also climbed from $25 to $40. Hotel valet parking jumped from $35 to $50.”
Going Up – Disneyland Ticket Price Increase Today!
By Dusty Sage -October 25, 2021
“It’s never really a surprise when Disneyland raises ticket prices… if anything it’s shocking that it’s taken them this long to do it. The last time Disneyland adjusted their prices was in February of 2020. They reopened the parks after a closure of over a year on April 30th with their previous ticket pricing structure still in place.“
Disneyland Resort Raises Prices on Tickets and Parking, Adds Sixth Tier to Demand Pricing
Oct 25, 2021
Disneyland sells out of top-priced Magic Key annual pass
The Dream Key has proven very popular and is currently sold out with the other Magic Keys — the Believe Key, Enchant Key and Imagine Key — remaining on sale at this time, according to Disneyland.
By BRADY MACDONALD
PUBLISHED: October 25, 2021
“Disneyland has sold out of the top-priced Magic Key after just two months as complaints from angry passholders continue to echo throughout social media about the widespread lack of reservations available for the $1,399 pass with no blockout dates.
“The Dream Key has proven very popular and is currently sold out with the other Magic Keys — the Believe Key, Enchant Key and Imagine Key — remaining on sale at this time, according to Disneyland.”
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“Disneyland’s loyal fan base has grown increasingly furious over the apparent prioritization of daily ticket buyers over annual passholders.
“‘The Dream Key is more like a Nightmare Key,’ Jane Friday wrote on Instagram. ‘It’s an unbelievable amount of money to spend to have nothing but weekday reservations available.’”
Disneyland Magic Key Dream Key Passes Currently Sold Out
Oct 25, 2021
Disney Imagineering relocation shifts creative balance of power from California to Florida
Walt Disney Imagineering will be based at the new Lake Nona campus in Orlando, Florida near the Walt Disney World resort, according to a Disney Parks, Experiences and Products spokesperson.
By BRADY MACDONALD
PUBLISHED: October 29, 2021
“The secretive creative lab started seven decades ago by Walt Disney for the construction of Disneyland will soon bid farewell to Southern California when the headquarters for Walt Disney Imagineering moves to Central Florida.
“Walt Disney Imagineering will be based at the new Lake Nona campus in Orlando, Florida, near the Walt Disney World resort, according to a Disney Parks, Experiences and Products spokesperson.
“An opening date has not been set for Disney’s Lake Nona campus. Imagineering’s relocation from California to Florida is expected to continue through the end of 2022.
Imagineering won’t relocate to Florida until the Lake Nona campus is ready due to the specialized space requirements necessary for Audio-Animatronics and other technological needs, according to a Disney Parks spokesperson.”
“The new 60-acre Lake Nona campus represents a $864 million investment by Disney, according to the Orlando Business Journal.”
“Disney can take advantage of significant tax savings by moving its parks division to Florida, according to Martin Lewison, a theme park expert at Farmingdale State College in New York.”
“Disney has acknowledged the relocation of the Imagineering headquarters from California to Florida will disrupt the lives of its employees and their families and could lead to the loss of creative talent who choose not to move and the potential poaching of key executives by other firms, according to Orlando Business Journal.”
Dateline Disneyland: Monorails Glide, Trams Stay Parked, Magic Keys Fail to Unlock
By Andy Castro -October 18, 2021
“Honk! The Disneyland Monorail is back! The iconic Highway in the Sky has returned to daily operation at Disneyland for the first time since the park’s extended closure. But as the Monorail takes to the skies, the Disneyland Parking Trams remain out of commission, with no timeline on when they might return. We look into this as well as give you a glimpse of the first signs of the holidays, update you on Magic Key woes, fill you in on the latest refurbishment projects, and much more in today’s Dateline Disneyland!”
Big Disneyland Update – Tram Return, Prices Up, Dream Key Out, Holidays Collide & More!!!
By Dusty Sage -October 25, 2021
“Important Disneyland Update for you today, folks. As we prepare to transition from Halloween to the Holidays, Disneyland has been packing in the guests. It’s been wall-to-wall people for weeks. And, since there hasn’t been a ticket price increase since February of 2020, a big adjustment will hit today. But that’s not the only big change, if you held off on your decision to buy the Dream Key, you waited too long. But that’s actually good news. We’ll explain below. Plus, trams to return, Christmas snow has already fallen on the castle, park news, construction, photos, and more. Oh…. and Captain America is now a zombie!”
You can listen to show 321 on iTunes or go to Libsyn service here.
Show Notes for Episode 321
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Disneyland's Critter Country