So many feelings and emotions today folks. What should have been an update about forward momentum for the reopening of California parks, new Disneyland surveys, and the one year anniversary of Galaxy’s Edge, has taken such a sad turn. Yes, we’ll get to all of that below, but our nation’s unrest has also made its way to the theme parks and Disney itself. Let’s start with the good news:
California Now in Late Stage 2 Reopenings – But Some Areas Already in Early Stage 3
California is currently in the second stage of the state’s four-stage plan to reopen businesses. While there is no official date for when the third and fourth stages will begin, the third stage isn’t expected to take more than a month, and some areas may reach Stage 3 before others. In fact, some counties, such as San Diego and Orange County, are already allowing some Stage 3 businesses to reopen. For example, restaurants in Orange County are reopening for in-restaurant table service, with distancing restrictions in place. The same is true for shops and malls. State officials have confirmed that theme parks can reopen in Stage 3, but don’t expect Disneyland to be the first to throw their doors open (they are opening a full month after their competitors in Orlando).
I created this infographic for you explaining California’s reopening roadmap:
Who might those first theme parks be? Some of San Diego’s biggest tourist attractions, including Seaworld, Legoland and The USS Midway Museum presented plans to county health officials on Wednesday, outlining their hope of reopening by July 1. Their request will now need to move to state officials. We do expect their request to be accepted given their extensive health and safety guidelines:
Bob Chapek commented on Disney park reopenings with CNBC last week. While he was predictably aloof, there were some interesting tidbits. On the question of demand for the parks, he does believe that there will be strong demand. They still have a tremendous number of reservations on the books and the reopening of Disney Springs has been strong. We have some data regarding this as well in our poll results below.
Disney Springs Back in Business – Our Opening Day Experience!
Shanghai Disneyland continues to add 5,000 guests per week to their daily attendance as they slowly increase capacity in the park. Bob also noted that the consumer products segment of the company has done very well with guests shopping from home. He thinks that there’s an overall need for magic in our lives and feels that Disney is uniquely suited to deliver.
You can listen to the full interview below:
Disneyland Pushes Hotel Reservations to After July 15
If you’re expecting an early July opening for Disneyland, you may need to readjust your plans. Disneyland has pushed its earliest hotel reservations to July 16th. They will begin contacting guests with reservations before this date to reschedule their vacations. But this means Disneyland likely won’t be opened before the 16th.
Survey Says!
Disneyland Surveys Passholders About Park Reopening Plans
We received a Disneyland passholder survey late last week that contained all sorts of interesting information. Among the things Disney wanted to know was if guests would be interested in making show reservations on the mobile app, mobile ordering park merchandise, and the bizarre concept of resort food delivery to your home (which we can’t imagine actually happening). But most of the survey involved park safety options, and whether guests will even be able to afford to visit. We shared images of many of the questions and turned others into polls our readers could take. We have the article linked below and have some of the results for you below. Fascinating stuff!
POLL: “Thinking about when the Disneyland Resort theme parks reopen, which best describes you?”
Nearly 6,200 of you voted in this poll (THANK YOU!!!). About half of those respondents would be comfortable visiting Disneyland on opening day. Another third would wait until they felt it was safe to visit. only 12% would wait “a long time.”
POLL: “How Soon Will You Visiting Various Local Attractions?”
There were 7 attractions listed, so there’s a lot of data here. There were 3,269 responses at the time I prepared these results. Here are the poll results:
So, about 12% would visit Knott’s on opening day. 9.3% would visit Las Vegas. 7% would visit Legoland. 7.5% would visit SeaWorld. 29% would visit local beaches or piers. And 13% would visit Universal Studios Hollywood.
Obviously, Disney fans are overwhelmingly ready to return to Disneyland as soon as possible (35.5%). That’s an example of why questions are asked in different ways. The earlier question gave just three possible responses which resulted in 50% voting for opening day since there weren’t additional options for the early months of park operations. This question had far more granularity, which offered guests more logical options over a longer period:
POLL: Passholder Financial Concerns
Disney also wanted to know how concerned passholders were about their job security, ability to pay bills, and the ability to provide for themselves and their families. On all three questions, the results were fairly consistent. About 65% are not concerned, 21% are somewhat concerned, 6.5% are very concerned, and about 6% are extremely concerned. So, approximately a third of Disney’s passholders have some level of concern about their jobs and finances.
POLL: “Thinking about when the Disneyland Resort reopens, which of the following mobile app options will you likely use, if offered?”
We really like this question. Given current circumstances, the more a guest can do on their own, without interaction with castmembers or needing to touch anything, the better. The Disneyland App, which allows you to reserve dining, check wait times, and find resort information is the most popular item. Mobile order for food and virtual queuing (also accessed through the Disneyland App) are close behind. The new concept of mobile ordering merchandise does not seem as popular, but sometimes guests need to get accustomed to an idea before it catches on. One thing that’s been around for a while that doesn’t seem to have caught on is the Disney Play app. I really like the idea of reserving a seat for a show. It beats waiting in line in the heat for a good spot for Frozen.
There were other questions asked as well, including choosing between three park reopening plans, and whether you’d be interested in the delivery of Disneyland Resort food to your home. All three options talk about cast member training, availability of hand sanitizer, significantly limited attendance, measures to support social distancing, and guests participating in a “pre-arrival health questionnaire.” Where the three options differ was in whether guests would have their temperatures checked and who should wear masks. Option 1 is the most lenient and does not include temperature checks, nor does it require masks for guests, rather simply suggesting they use them. Option 2 is the most stringent and requires temperature checks and the wearing of masks for all guests 3 years and older (except when dining). Option 3 is similar to option 2 but masks would be worn by guests 10 years and older.
As you’ll see from the poll below, more than 50% of responses were in support of one of the two required mask options. But a surprising 43.6% didn’t want masks to be required. That general lack of concern for the health and safety of Disney’s employees and fellow guests is a surprising result and does make us question if the parks should try to open early, given that so many guests don’t seem willing to take the simple steps necessary to help keep others safe.
The latest CDC recommendations, from just a few days ago, continues to strongly encourage the wearing of masks and explains why this is important:
Disneyland DVC Tower Details
This week, more news regarding the planned Disney Vacation Club tower at the Disneyland Hotel was revealed in an Anaheim town hall webinar. The 12-story, 350-room timeshare was displayed in a digital rendering for residents in the Walnut Street neighborhood across the way from the hotel.
Currently, there is no solid plan for a construction start date or estimated projection for completion as the project is still under consideration from the city of Anaheim. The initial plans were submitted back in November last year but still have not been confirmed.
The #DisneylandHotel DVC complex will consist of one main 12-story tower with a separate, ground-level pool area directly behind it. (The adjacent Frontier Tower, by contrast, is 13 stories.) pic.twitter.com/zwlUVHJIia
— Magic & Walnut (@MagicAndWalnut) May 22, 2020
After the fiasco between Disney and Anaheim regarding the cancellation of an upscale luxury hotel in the city last year, the initiated plan was scrapped. We’re curious to see how this project will affect travel to Disneyland for DVC members.
Walt Disney World Reopening
The last few weeks have been filled with news of various businesses reopening across the country with enhanced safety precautions to reintegrate aspects of daily life into a COVID-19 world. As a non-essential industry, theme parks have been shut down for months and are only now starting to reopen. In Florida, things are opening at a rapid pace. Last week, we compiled a list of every theme park in the Central Florida area that’s open or announced opening. While outdoor malls and shopping/dining districts have been open for a few weeks now at both Universal Orlando and Disney World, most theme parks will be opening very soon.
Since reopening a few weeks ago, our staff has visited both Universal CityWalk and Disney Springs on a regular basis. At Disney Spring, tenants have been operating since May 15, and this past week starting May 27th Disney-operated retailers began to open. Speaking of Disney retailers, all the Disney stores across the company shut their doors back in March. However, in an announcement this week, Disney stores will be opening in the coming weeks in the US and in Europe and Japan.
Calling All Shoppers: Disney Store Announces Reopening Plans!
Universal Orlando is set to open in just a few days on June 5th with special guidelines to enhance safety for guests and employees. We’ve got some special coverage coming this week about Universal Orlando’s reopening. So be sure to keep coming back to MiceChat to see what’s happening…
Back to the theme park! What’s most surprising about the Orlando parks resuming operations is that Walt Disney World is waiting over a full month before expecting to open their resort. WDW’s Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom are scheduled to open July 11th, and EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios will open July 15th. But they’re going to be pretty different than a normal day of operation at a WDW park. For a more detailed look into the changes ahead, check out the article below. Here are some of the highlights.
Disney World Update: Everything We Know About the Reopening of the Parks
Park hours will be reduced, closing as early as 6 or 7pm, and EPCOT won’t open until 11am instead of the usual 9am! In order to enter one of the parks, guests need to have both a park reservation and valid admission.
Disney World is totally overhauling their reservation system. The previous version allowed guests to plan how they wanted to spend their vacation days up to 6 months in advance. Guests could choose which attractions they wanted to reserve their FastPass+ for and when and where they’d like to eat. Now, the reservations for restaurants are being moved to 60-days out and Fastpass+ has been discontinued for now. Current FastPass+ and dining reservations are being canceled. Personally, I appreciate not having to plan every aspect of my vacation 6 months in advance. This will work for me. Interested to see what the parks feel like again without Fastpass. It’s been so long.
We’re curious if this overhaul could be one of the first steps of introducing the Disney Genie app that was unveiled at the D23 Expo last year. The Disney Genie is supposed to release sometime in late 2020 and supposedly streamlines the Disney World planning process through the magic of AI. If the app works as promised, Disney Genie will be able to take what you’d like to experience and “quickly evaluate millions of options,” offering you an optimized plan for your day. For more about Disney Genie, check out the article below.
The Disney’s in the Details – MiceChat Reader Photos
If you’re a member of our MiceChat Facebook group, this is the section of the update you’re probably most looking forward to. Disneyland is filled to the brim with details that create the magical experiences that last a lifetime. We asked our MiceChatters to share their favorite details from the Disneyland Resort, and we had a tremendous outpouring of photos. The ones below are just a small handful of ones that were shared. To see the rest of them, be sure to join the MiceChat group! Let’s take a look at the details you all love at Disneyland!
Thank you so much to all the MiceChatters who shared what makes Disneyland special for them. We fall in love with Disneyland for a million and one different reasons, and each one of them is personal and individualized to you. This was just a small selection of all the photos shared. To see the rest, take a moment and join our MiceChat Facebook group. Keep an eye out this week for the theme for next week’s reader photo section!
Virtual Queueing at Knott’s?
It’s not just Disney and Universal that are looking for alternative measures for reopening their theme parks. According to an article in the OC Register, Knotts Berry Farm could be implementing virtual queues and reservations for its theme park as well.
The Knott’s Berry Farm app could soon be updated to include additional functionality to support new queuing options. The app will be used to reserve dates and timeslots for theme park visits, complete COVID-19 prescreening questionnaires, place mobile food orders, make contactless payments at stores and restaurants, and used for virtual queuing.
The upgrade for the mobile app makes a lot of sense in many respects. Currently, the app serves as a glorified version of their website. By adding the functions of contactless payment, mobile food ordering, and virtual queuing allow for a safer theme park visit and modernizing the Knott’s experience.
One Year Anniversary of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
May 31, 2019, was the first time that guests could visit an actual Star Wars location in person. After years of construction and planning, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge was the culmination of anticipation for any Star Wars fan. Unfortunately, first impressions of the land were… mixed.
It’s extensively detailed with plenty of rockwork to go around the land, and then some! And the three sections of the land are distinctly different from each other, the Resistance Outpost, The Marketplace, and the First Order Base. The cast members were intent and eager to play their characters of Batuuan citizens.
However, some of the land felt like it was pay-to-play because of the limited number of things to do in the land and the best parts costing extra. The land is the exact opposite of Disneyland’s charm; the desolate feel of the land and stormtroopers patrolling the area create a sort of hostile environment. And to top it off, there’s virtually no music in the land, so there are areas that just feel emotionally dead.
With that said, there are highlights. That first visit to the Millennimum Falcon can be an emotional high. There’s real magic in seeing the ship, walking through the crew quarters, and then flying the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy. The same can be said of Oga’s Cantina, where the drinks are sickeningly sweet, but the music is fun and the details are incredible. And if you have $200 burning a hole in your pocket, you can build a lightsaber in an almost religious experience.
And once Rise of the Resistance opened, it softened many of our staff’s opinions about the land. The attraction is a gamechanger that has revolutionized what to expect from a theme park ride.
Rise of the Resistance NOW OPEN – Is the Force Strong With This One?
Now that a year has passed, what’s your opinion of Galaxy’s Edge? Has it grown on you? What would make it better?
This and That
We have a couple little tidbits for you . . .
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway Construction
This week, one of our staff took a brief drive past Disneyland and snapped this shot of Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. It’s a unique view of the construction lot. Plenty of equipment still on site.
Cast Members Send Thank-You Cards to Frontline Workers
In an act of encouragement and gratitude, Disney cast members sent out thank-you cards to healthcare workers across the nation. More than 17,500 customized cards were printed and sent out to nearly 40 hospitals across the U.S.
We love that Disney and its cast members are recognizing those working on the frontlines of our healthcare system. To learn more about the project and see more cards, check out the article below.
Planning For The Future
Theme parks will reopen, and there’s no better time to lock in low rates on future travel. Special comeback rates are now available at some of your favorite theme park hotels – discounted up to $100 off their regular nightly rates.
Our travel partners at Get Away Today are here to help you with your theme park shutdown concerns and rescheduling plans. We know you’re as uncertain about the future as we are. That’s why Get Away Today is offering the most flexible Disney travel options available:
Price Protection – If a better special comes out after you have booked, you’ll get the better deal.
Peace of Mind – Make hotel changes, reschedule dates, drop nights, change ticket vouchers and more, as many times as you’d like for a small, one-time fee.
Layaway Plan – Lock in your 2020 or 2021 Disneyland Resort vacation for just $175 down. By booking early, you secure your availability and have the flexibility to pay as you go. Make as many interest-free payments as you’d like, whenever you’d like, with final payment due just seven days prior to travel.
Give your family something to look forward to:
Visit Get Away Today HERE Or fill out a request form and they’ll call you back: Vacation Information Request Form HERE
Disney Weighs in on Inequality and Unrest
What inexplicable times we are living in. It’s hard to imagine that in 2020, we still don’t treat all of our citizens with the same respect and equality. We’d all like to think better of America, but we too often don’t live up to the promise of liberty and justice for all. Disney made statements similar to the following on nearly all of its social medial accounts yesterday:
But those social posts came after Disney sent a much longer statement to its employees. We strongly support Disney’s stand on this issue and are confident they’ll be putting their money and influence where their heart is:
Resolve in a Time of Unrest: A Message to Fellow Employees
Dear Fellow Employee,
The recent killing of George Floyd as well as other instances of lethal attacks and harassment of unarmed black citizens in our nation continue to drive outrage and calls for action by people of all cultural backgrounds, including many of our employees. Feelings of grief and anger cause us to confront the inscrutable idea that the lives of some are deemed less valuable – and less worthy of dignity, care and protection – than the lives of others.
While these devastating incidents are not new, there’s something unique about what’s happening in this moment. The pandemic coupled with these recent injustices have pushed the issues of racial disparity into the open.
We, too, are struggling to make sense of the recent tragedies that leave us feeling overcome with sorrow. While we don’t have all the answers, we resolve to use our compassion, our creative ideas and our collective sense of humanity to ensure we are fostering a culture that acknowledges our people’s feelings and their pain. We also realize that now more than ever is the time for us all to further strengthen our commitment to diversity and inclusion everywhere.
We intend to focus our efforts and resources to compassionately and constructively talk about these matters openly and honestly as we seek solutions. We intend to keep the conversation going, not just today, but for as long as it takes to bring about real change.
Bob Chapek, Bob Iger & Latondra Newton
It’s probably good that the parks aren’t open right now. There’s enough unrest in Florida and California that curfews were in effect last night near all of the parks on both coasts. Disney Springs closed early so guests and cast could get home before the curfew went into effect. The parks aren’t open in California, but shopping areas closed and the local Anaheim Packing House announced that they won’t be opening today.
Emotions are raw, and there’s much work and healing for this country to do. We must appeal to our leaders to seek solutions and not stoke the fires of hatred and intolerance. In the meantime, we wish everyone calm and safety.
Let’s Hear From You
With all the changes rapidly happening in California, do you think that Orange County is almost ready to allow the reopening of theme parks? What do you make of Disneyland’s surveys and our own results? Have your views on Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge changed since the land was first revealed? Let us know in the comments below!
MiceChat isn’t a political site. We are about theme parks and entertainment. The two don’t often cross. But today, they clearly do. We ask that you please keep your comments below respectful. Any hostility or bigotry will be deleted and the poster removed from the discussion. Now isn’t the time to throw fuel on the fire.