Take a deep breath. That was for you as much as it is for us. This is not the happy and fun Disneyland Update we would like to be able to bring you. Hopefully, that day will come soon. But this week was filled with bad news that we need to share, as well as some observations at both Downtown Disney in Anaheim and Walt Disney World in Florida that have us concerned. All of which comes at a very bad time as California state representatives tour the Disney Parks on both coasts to figure out what to do about potential park reopenings.
But never fear, we’ve sprinkled in some moments of joy and nostalgia for you as well. It’s well worth the read, all the way through to the fattening ending.
Small Disneyland Protest
Speaking of reopening . . . a reopen Disneyland protest sort of happened over the weekend, but any good that could have come from it was deflated by some bad apples. . . .
You may have heard about the huge protest scheduled for Saturday morning at Disneyland. The protest was designed to call on the governor to reopen the parks. We arrived at 11am, just an hour after Downtown Disney opening, and found just a handful of protesters still there. It seems as though some opportunistic political operatives crashed the party and tried to make it all about recalling Califonia’s governor, which wasn’t the point of the Disneyland cast member protest at all.
It was quite easy to tell the difference between the two groups, the Disneyland protestors were standing, wearing masks, carrying handmade signs, being respectful, and mostly just trying to spread their love of Disneyland. The political protestors were sitting under a professional tent and sign, and noticeably not wearing masks. They also weren’t Disney fans and couldn’t answer any questions about Disney, the park shutdowns, or anything else. They had simply been paid to steal the attention away from the Disneyland protests.
Unfortunately, not many people showed up, and fewer still saw the protests because they were happening on the Harbor side of the resort. Parking for Downtown Disney is on the opposite side of the resort near the Disneyland and Paradise Pier Hotels. So the protests were poorly designed and didn’t quite hit the mark.
The unfortunate thing is that the maskless party crashers are the exact opposite example that Disney needs to prove to the governor that the parks can reopen safely. As long as folks refuse to act in accordance with safety guidelines, the parks are likely to remain closed.
We did find one bit of news coverage of the protests, which is a little cringeworthy to watch (due to the reporter’s unfamiliarity with Disney terminology) but it will give you a good idea of the size and scope of the protests at their peak, probably a couple dozen individuals. There’s also some fun aerial images of the park you’ll enjoy in the video. And our hearts go out to the 95-year-old lady interviewed by the reporter. What a trooper for hanging out there in the sun to protest for the park and cast members she loves.
It’s unlikely that this small rally will do anything to help Disney’s attempt to reopen, and images of maskless protesters will certainly be used as evidence against Disney. It is a shame that this well-intentioned event backfired the way it did.
Theme Park Updates
We have a few little things to share from the Disneyland Resort theme parks this week before getting to the bigger news that we know you are wanting updates on.
Walt and Mickey getting a facelift
Some interesting new curtains popped up on Buena Vista Street at Disney California Adventure this week. We asked our readers what they thought it was for. A kind cast member sent us photos of the actual work (which we can’t share) but it turns out that both of the Walt & Mickey statues, the one at California Adventure and the one at Disneyland, are being refinished. Right now, they look bright and shiny with no oxidation, like a bright penny.
A Quick Stroll Through the Parks
In DCA, there’s really just one big project . . .
Avengers Campus remains under construction, even during the shutdown. We don’t know what Disney’s current timeline will be for opening the new land. It was originally set for a mid-summer 2020 grand opening, but that was obviously significantly delayed by park shutdowns. Of course, there’s no real urgency to get the new land open as long as the parks remain closed. And even when they do reopen, a new land is generally expected to increase attendance significantly, something Disney will need to strictly control for quite some time.
There’s not much going on in the rest of California Adventure, other than occasional testing of the World of Color fountains and general maintenance of the park.
However, over in Disneyland, there are projects everywhere. The Tomorrowland entrance is the newest project and will be one of the things guests notice first when they return. The two gardens at the front of the land are being transformed into 1960s modernist showpieces. They will set the tone for this transitional phase of the land . . . no longer Tomorrowland ’98, but not the new, new, new Tomorrowland either.
This is all just cosmetic. A nice homage to the past until a vision for the future can finally be approved. But that could now be significantly delayed. A shame too, since this is the land most in need of a major overhaul.
Haunted Mansion remains under construction, but you don’t need to worry too much about Splash Mountain, it will reopen with the park as you currently know it. No timeline has yet been announced for the Princess and the Frog overlay. And it’s quite possible that the project may end up significantly delayed due to the current budget crunch.
Fantasyland projects are also still underway, Snow White’s (not so scary) Adventures may be ready to debut with the park when it opens. Same with the King Arthur Carrousel.
And the major update to the park will be the expected 2022-opening Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway in ToonTown, which lingered all year and then suddenly had a growth spurt over the last month:
We have a lot more photos coming to you shortly. Stay tuned. But now, onto the really important stuff to you Disney fans. Here’s the current messy status of park reopening prospects, union negotiations, and a bit of speculation on our part.
Let’s start with the good news . . .
Disneyland Union Standoff Agreement
Disneyland appears to have reached an agreement with most of its unions on both the layoff and recall procedures. For the most part, union employees will be called back based upon seniority. No full-time workers will be let go from most of the unions, but part-time workers with low seniority have cause for worry. Union layoffs are expected to begin in the next couple of weeks.
Here’s the FAQ from the Teamsters which is quite similar to the agreements from the other unions that we’ve seen and heard about so far. And the somewhat confusing process for bumping someone out of their job if you have enough seniority:
That’s a mixed bag for cast members. Many are just starting to hear from their unions (the Teamsters notified members last night after 10pm) if they will likely be safe or not. But the calls from HR won’t come for a little while longer. That’s a long time for someone to be left in a stressful position. Our hearts go out to all of you dealing with job uncertainty.
What this means for Disney is that they also have agreement from the unions on who gets called back and in what order for park reopening as well. Of note, Disney reached an agreement with Local 50, which handles much of the foodservice, outdoor vending, and festivals. We’re not saying Disney is planning a festival, as Knott’s and SeaWorld have, but they could now do so if they wished. And following the successful test of DCA’s Stage 17 as a temporary retail location, we could eventually see Main Street and/or Buena Vista Street reopen for shopping as Disneyland slowly ramps up toward resuming park operations. If they really wanted to save some cast member jobs, they’d get those shops open right away.
UPDATED (10-19-20 at 10am) – Free Covid Testing for Cast Members
Disney’s retail worker union sent a message to its members this morning which was essentially the same as the one sent by the Teamsters last night. However, we did glean a bit of new information to us that Disney has agreed to free covid testing for cast. This has been a sticking point for unions for months. Disney had previously created a free testing program for Disney World cast and unions representing the Disneyland employees had been arguing for equal consideration. Here’s the information on the new program:
California Drama & Surprise Park Visits
Last week we detailed the ridiculous drama that is developing between Disney and the state of California, in which Bob Iger abruptly quit the state’s task force on recovery and the company started slinging insults at the governor. The governor dished a bit of shade Disney’s way as well, saying that the state was more concerned about safety and that there was no hurry to reopen theme parks. Later in the week, he distinguished a difference between smaller operators and big ones like Disney. That has us thinking he’s considering punishing Disney and letting some of the smaller parks reopen.
The tit for tat has continued this week with Disney CEO Bob Chapek criticizing the governor on CNBC’s Closing Bell program, “If you look at the history of Disney and what we’ve been able to do during the reopening — rather than arbitrary standards set up without regard to actual fact — and what we’ve been able to do as a company, I think you’d come to a different decision about reopening Disneyland.”
Unfortunately, that’s not entirely accurate. Disney hasn’t publically released COVID cases from its Florida parks, which has led many to claim that there have been no issues at all in the Disney parks. But that’s simply not the truth. While we believe the cases have been minimal based upon statements from various union representatives, a little transparency from Disney would likely calm nerves rather than create bad publicity for them. It’s a pandemic, no one expects Disney to be perfect, but some clarity would probably help. Additionally, things aren’t entirely magical at Walt Disney World, as you’ll see below.
After Governor Newsom claimed that he was in “No hurry” to issue theme park guidance, and the uproar that resulted, he did announce his next steps in getting to some sort of a plan.
Newsom sent inspectors to theme parks in Florida to check things out. California Health and Human Services Spokesperson, Kate Folmar, stated, “We sent health officials to open and operating theme parks out of state last week, independently of operators, to assess the health safeguards in practice. These visits will help inform our pending theme park guidelines.”
That may have you feeling hopeful, but has us worried. If officials were in the Disney World parks last week, they likely found them very busy, with some serious capacity issues and long lines, as we reported over the weekend:
Walt Disney World Update – How Much of a Good Thing is Too Much?
And if the state officials visit Downtown Disney, as we expect they will, they’ll likely find similar overcrowding issues there as well. Lines over an hour to get in, waits of up to three hours to access shops. Some serious issues making sure guests socially distance and wear masks. These are problems that Disney is increasingly facing as COVID fatigue has swept the nation. Not the best time for Disney to be under the microscope. They’ve got great plans on paper, plenty of social distancing markers on the ground, and enough hand sanitizer stations to disinfect an army, but none of that matters if guests won’t cooperate (and Disney fails to make them do so or escort them out). And that’s what the state is going to be looking for.
An example of the insanity – At 11:30am on Saturday morning we put our name in to visit Marceline’s Confectionary in Downtown Disney. We didn’t receive our return notification until THREE HOURS later.
And while most guests are absolutely wearing their masks, there are an increasing number who let that nose poke out, or take their mask off to sneeze or cough (what’s up with that?!) and Disney makes NO ANNOUNCEMENTS whatsoever in Downtown Disney about the expected rules. Knott’s does. SeaWorld does. Even Disney World parks do. Why does Downtown Disney think that guests who have waited an hour or more in the hot sun just to get into the shopping district are going to stop and read the safety signs or fully comply with the mask rule if Disney is giving them a wink and a smile by not playing a recorded spiel reminding them to cover up their nose and mouth at all times?! This is a serious lapse in judgment on Disney’s part and the state is likely to take notice when they visit. If your local Target can remind guests to wear a mask or consider shopping from home instead, so can Disney.
Indeed, Disney seems to be doing all the right things on paper. They have the right signs, they have the right website messages, and they are quick to yell at the governor about how great their safety program is . . . but none of that will matter to state inspectors if they see long lines, exposed noses, maskless protestors outside the park, and tweets like this one from Epcot:
Poor showing from guests tonight at EPCOT as far as mask compliance goes. We counted nearly 150 violations in one lap around World Showcase
How many Cast Members asked guests to correct? 1
How many Cast Members were roaming? 1@WaltDisneyWorld needs to do better pic.twitter.com/HhoTWp5Ezo
— BlogMickey.com (@Blog_Mickey) October 17, 2020
As happy as we were with Disney’s efforts in July when Disney World opened and then Downtown Disney in Anaheim followed, there has been a slow consistent slide as attendance has increased. And the spat with the state of California doesn’t seem to have made things better for guests. Disney is losing focus on the very mandate they keep telling the state is so important to them.
We hope for Disney’s sake that they are able to quickly address overcrowding, rule compliance, and guest comfort issues BEFORE state regulators visit— if it isn’t already too late.
That was REALLY hard for us to write. We don’t want to see more cast members lose their jobs if the parks don’t reopen soon. For months we have been supportive of Disneyland reopening based upon our observations at that time. But conditions are changing rapidly and we don’t think letting Disney get away with insulting public officials while not living up to their own standards is fair (or safe). It’s just getting too busy in the Disney Parks and shopping districts right now. 3 hour waits to shop and hours-long waits for attractions are barely acceptable in normal times, they certainly aren’t acceptable in the middle of a resurging pandemic.
UPDATED (10-19 12:30 PM) – Governor Newsome Theme Park Guidelines Update
In today’s California Covid Press Conference, Governor Newsom mentioned “Splitting Up” the theme parks as there are more than just Disney and Universal. He said that some comments on guidelines will be coming tomorrow (Tuesday). However, from recent comments from the governor and state, and as we mentioned above, it sounds like the plan is to issue different guidance for small parks and large ones like Disney.
AP Refund Trouble
In the early months of the shutdown, Disney outlined some options for annual passholders. For prepaid and for monthly payment plan passholders, there were two options each. One option would be a default, the other would require a call to Disney customer service. But all those options made the process complicated and confusing to many, and not everyone is thrilled with Disney’s lack of communication or transparency about the refund process (for those who selected refunds or thought they did). Back in September, Disney asked its passholders if they were planning on canceling their annual pass and it appears that Disneyland is still working through their backlogs of refunds owed to former passholders. One of our contributors, David Koenig, was interviewed by CBS Los Angeles this week about the delay in AP refunds. The article references a MiceChat Facebook Group post showing hundreds of confused and/or concerned passholders.
It’s a tough time for everyone, and we could all use a little extra cash in this uncertainty, no matter the dollar amount. Yes, an annual pass is a contract that states access to the Disneyland Resort can be changed or revoked at any time, but we also expect Disney to uphold their commitments. If they offer someone a refund, that person has a valid expectation that the refund will come quickly. Hopefully, more information about Disney’s expected timeline for refunds will be shared in the near future.
Magical Moments – MiceChat Reader Photos
(YES . . . THIS IS A HAPPY SECTION . . . YOU NEED A BREAK!!)
What makes Disneyland so enjoyable across a wide group of people is its variety. You don’t have to necessarily be an attraction or show fan to enjoy Disneyland. You can sit for a spell and absorb the ambiance of Main Street, U.S.A or stroll through Fantasyland to watch the various character interactions with guests. This week, we asked the MiceChat readers to share their favorite photos of how they enjoy Disneyland— but it couldn’t be a show or a ride! We had a TON of responses (over 300!!), so this is just a small handful of the photos that were posted. Curious to see how Disneyland fans spend their time in the parks? Let’s find out…
From the moment you enter Disneyland, you leave behind your normal, everyday life. There’s so much to see, you could easily spend a day at Disney without going on any rides, just to take in all the decor and gardens. In fact, we wish they’d do that right now, as Knott’s, SeaWorld, and others have. . .
And in the nooks and crannies of the park, there’s quiet magic to be discovered.
One of our favorite things to do while enjoying a Disney day is to take our time while eating. It’s a simple pleasure to enjoy a cup of coffee and a pastry or a sandwich while people-watching.
If you time your visit to the Wishing Well just right, you’ll have the whole place to yourself, at least for a few moments that is. Listening to Snow White sing for just you is really special.
Although Big Thunder Ranch is a part of Yesterland now, it certainly was a great way to spend quality time at Disneyland.
Isn’t the Halloween Tree beautiful? We love the story and the history behind it. To learn more about this seasonal addition, plus several other ways to celebrate Halloween as a theme park fan, read HERE.
Popping over to DCA, there are just as many ways to enjoy your visit without ever needing to get in line for a ride!
We certainly love the festivals at DCA, and we sure hope that Disney chooses to reopen in some capacity to allow for a food & wine festival once again. We’re soon approaching what would be the Festival of Holidays… Here’s hoping!
The themed decor at Cars land provides a unique old-town feel that turns up the heat for a special visit.
While our prompt said no shows… we didn’t say anything about enjoying yourself before a showing of World of Color!
Of course, you don’t necessarily need to go into the parks in order to have a good time. The Disneyland Hotel has all sorts of enjoyable things to see and do.
Thank you to everyone who shared a photo with us this week! Disneyland houses some of our favorite attractions, but it’s so much more than just a plot of land with some fun rides. It truly is a place where we can bask in the ambient magic without ever needing to get in a queue. To see more of the photos submitted for this week’s theme, join our MiceChat Facebook group!
Let us know what your favorite non-ride and non-show ways to enjoy Disneyland are!
This & That
And now for some additional theme park news from this week.
Knott’s Taste of Holidays?
It’s no surprise that we’ve LOVED Knott’s Taste of Fall-O-Ween— in fact, we’ve thoroughly enjoyed everything that Knott’s has done since reopening for festivals (but no rides) back in July! And we’re not the only ones who think so: Taste of Fall-O-Ween has been sold out every single night of its run, even when Knott’s added extra days to the festival they sold out almost instantly. The Fall-O-Ween was magical in a way we really needed in these difficult times. So our question is, what’s next? The current fest is set to end on November 1st, but does Knott’s have something planned up their sleeve for the rest of the year? You bet they do!
We’ve heard on good authority to be on the lookout for an announcement from Knott’s any day now for their winter holiday-themed festival. Additionally, we heard a report that Knott’s has hired a bell choir for this yet-unannounced festival and practice is set to begin this week. So, at least one local theme park will be having Christmas this year! And if Taste of Fall-O-Ween was any indicator of how Knott’s can adapt to current restrictions while retaining its charm, we can’t wait for what they do for the holidays!
To read more about Knott’s Taste of Fall-O-Ween, and a refresher of Knott’s superbly sentimental and old-fashioned Christmas from last year, take a look at the articles below.
New Lightsabers Ahead
Last month, Disney held a poll to see which new Legacy Lightsaber would be added to Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge. The results came in this weekend, and the polls showed support for Cal Kestis’ saber (the playable character from Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order). You’ll find his saber at Dok Ondar’s Den of Antiquities sometime next year. There are also two new hilts coming this fall, but there’s no word as to which characters they’re from. We’re curious if those new lightsabers will make it to the Star Wars Trading Post in Downtown Disney or be available online through shopDisney, or if they will exclusive to Star Wars land. Apparently, some of the current sabers may also be retired.
You voted and the results are in! Check out which legacy lightsaber will be hitting Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge next year, along with a first look at two new legacy lightsabers coming this fall! https://t.co/p11HuuIlzQ pic.twitter.com/Mc2lYYCtnH
— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) October 16, 2020
A World of Hurt for Hotels
The current health crisis has upended the lives of people all over the world. Of all the industries impacted, travel and hotels have been among the hardest hit. More than two million hospitality jobs have evaporated since the initial shutdowns back in March, and as many as 38,000 of the 57,000 US hotels could be forced to close within the next six months according to Best Western CEO David Kong.
With so many of the hotels in the Anaheim reliant on the business from Disneyland visitors, many of the local hotels are on the ropes. For the sake of the employees dependent on the local economy of Anaheim, we really hope the city and state have a solution in the works to throw the industry a lifeline . . . and soon!
Speaking of hotels, the latest round of reservations for Disneyland hotels have been canceled through the remainder of the month. Disney will keep pushing reservations out every two or three weeks until they finally have a reopening date. At this point, expect another push into November soon.
Let’s Hear From You
This was a tough Disneyland Update to write, folks. We sincerely wish there was happier news to report from this week, but we also want to be as honest with you. Do you think that Disney’s harsh rhetoric with the state has actually hurt its case for reopening? Have you visited Disney World or Downtown Disney in the last couple of weeks as crowds have significantly increased? Do you think that will have an impact on California’s decision? Are you impatiently awaiting a refund on your AP? Any thoughts on what you’d like to see Knott’s offer for the holidays this year since Disney doesn’t seem willing to compete? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
One More Thing . . .
After all that heavy talk above, we’d like to leave you on a happy note. Here are two articles we ran this week that we think you’ll find fun . . . if they don’t make you gain weight . . .
Disneyland Foods We Miss the Most
Do you ever get a sudden craving for a Disneyland corndog? I know I’m not alone in this feeling… right? In any case, our Emmy-award nominated contributor Elaine Wu wrote up the five foods she misses most during the Disneyland shutdown. Take a look at the article below to see what made her list, and leave hear a comment on what your top 5 are!
Happy Haunts at Home
While we weren’t able to celebrate the Haunted Mansion’s 51st anniversary back in July, we’ve got a way to enjoy the spooky season at home. In the post below, you can learn how to make the wedding cake found in the Haunted Mansion, as well as a recreation of the edible version served in the park for the 50th anniversary last year!
Happy Haunts at Home: How to Make a Real & Fake Haunted Mansion Wedding Cake!
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