It was quite a week in the world of Disney news. From theme park guidelines to Disneyland Paris being forced to close again, with a heavy dose of politics mixed in — it feels like the last week was packed with a month’s worth of Disney-related news. Of course, packed news weeks have become the norm in 2020, haven’t they? As we head into this Election week, we find Disney Stores bracing for the worst; 28,000 Cast Members wondering what’s next after Disney laid them off Sunday; and Christmas arriving early in Downtown Disney.
And yeah, hey, it’s good to be back! Longtime readers will remember my long-running Dateline Disneyland blog here on MiceChat, which ended a few years back. It’s been a while but I’m happy to fill in for Dusty Sage while he’s away for a couple weeks. You’ll hear more about the exciting reason why in the next couple of days. Alright, we’ve got a lot to get through below, so let’s get started!
Closure chaos and layoffs send shockwaves through Disney
The global pandemic continues to rock Disney across the world. Last week, France announced a second shutdown which will last until at least December 1. The new shutdown bans residents from leaving their homes except for essential work and medical reasons. This second shutdown comes just a couple weeks after some French cities including Paris implemented a four-week city-wide curfew as virus cases continued to rise in record numbers. Soon after France’s announcement of the shutdown, Disneyland Paris issued a statement announcing it would close at the end-of-day on Thursday, October 29, in compliance with the national shutdown.
(File photo)
The resort, however, is still taking reservations for the peak Christmas holiday season, from December 19 – January 3. The Resort plans to close again January 4 – February 12. Although, reopening for the holidays will only happen should the rest of France is allowed to reopen. Disneyland Paris’ full statement is below.
In line with latest direction from the French authorities, Disneyland Paris will be closing end of day on October 29th.
In anticipation of celebrating the Christmas holiday season we will be taking reservations from December 19 – January 3 and hope to be open based on prevailing conditions and government guidance at that time.
Disneyland Paris will be closed from January 4 through February 12.
Please check back on the website for regular updates. If you have a booking with us during the above-mentioned periods,
please check here for our latest commercial conditions.We thank you for your continued loyalty and understanding during this difficult period.
(File photo)
Disneyland Paris is now the second Disney property that has had to close a second time due to an increase in coronavirus cases. Hong Kong Disneyland was the first to do so on July 15, following a COVID-19-related government mandate. The Hong Kong park reopened on September 25. The closure of Disneyland Paris comes as a warning sign for Floridian families that rely on Walt Disney World as its source of income and tourists that visit the sprawling complex. With America’s record virus infections, some experts think Walt Disney World will be forced to re-close at some point in the future. Financial analyst and investing company The Motley Fool, which often tracks Disney’s finances, posed the question late last week: “Will Disney World close before Disneyland reopens?”
Despite the Hong Kong and Paris closures, California Governor Gavin Newsom continues to come under fire from Disney and other California theme park operators. Newsom’s strict theme park reopening guidelines have come under intense criticism from theme park operators and the massive tourism industry surrounding the theme parks. Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu issued a scathing statement on October 20, rebuking Newsom’s guidelines and stating they would “destroy lives.” But with the news that Disneyland Paris has closed for a second time as Europe is engulfed in a deadly second wave of new virus cases, it’s a reminder why the governor has been so strict. On Tuesday, Newsom spoke out on the backlash he has received on theme park reopenings, saying:
“Self-evidently, we should be concerned about opening up large theme park which, by definition, people mix from all possible walks of life and putting ourselves and others at risk of seeing transmission rates rise.”
Newsom refused to acknowledge Disney or the park by name when speaking on Disney’s insistence it has reopened properties across the world safely:
“You bring up one theme park. California has dozens and dozens of theme parks. You bring up one particular operator of a theme park that does things very very differently than other operators. You have theme parks that are really cities, that operate hotels and restaurant facilities, not just organize around carousels and other amenities. You see others that are out on beaches and boardwalks that a very very different.”
With Disneyland Paris closed again and California COVID-19 cases surging, the question may not be is the governor being too strict, but is he being strict enough. But as the political back-and-forth on this issue continues in California, the true weight of the issue is being carried by Disney’s workforce, which continues to be laid off in devastating numbers. On Sunday, Disneyland cut 10,000 jobs as part of the company’s larger 28,000 layoffs in its theme parks division, including sweeping cuts to Walt Disney World’s entertainment department. Disney’s layoffs have come under harsh criticism, including from Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren. On Thursday Warren Tweeted the link to a CNN.com article about questions she issued to Disney regarding the layoffs and executive pay.
Disney won’t answer my questions because it has no good answers for why it spent its emergency fund handing out billions of dollars to wealthy executives and shareholders, and then left workers holding the bag. https://t.co/hzW8k7gXSs
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) October 28, 2020
Senator Warren’s criticism of Disney comes following Disney’s reinstatement of full executive salaries in August. The company had reduced executive salaries when the pandemic first hit. That move certainly made Disney look tone-deaf and unsympathetic in a time when its furloughed frontline employees are struggling to pay rent and buy food in the middle of a pandemic.
Meanwhile, the pandemic continues to force changes to traditional Disney events and entertainment offerings. The latest change comes in the form of Disney’s annual theme park Christmas day special being reimagined. According to the entertainment news website Deadline, this year’s special is “expected to be a mix of highlights through the years, along with some new elements.”
At Disneyland, guests with reservations between now and November 14 can now modify or cancel their reservations or Walt Disney Travel Company packages.
Disney braces for Election Day
Disney has historically been a pretty political entertainment company, especially in the realm of its theme parks. Attractions like Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, The Hall of Presidents, The American Adventure, all celebrate America, its role in the world and its creators and leaders. Former Disney CEO and current Executive Chairman Bob Iger joined and resigned from both President Donald Trump’s business advisory council and California Governor Gavin Newsom’s Economic Recovery Task Force. Recently, Disney Channel aired a Black Lives Matter spot and the company as a whole donated $5 million to non-profit organizations in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. And now, short of endorsing a particular candidate, Disney is encouraging its fans to turn out the vote this election cycle by posting a series of “VOTE” graphics on several official company Instagram and Twitter accounts, including Walt Disney Imagineering, Disney+, and the main Disney account. All of the posts include the caption “Make your voice heard.”
Make your voice heard. pic.twitter.com/0yCE5cb1Dt
— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) October 27, 2020
Meanwhile, Disney Stores across America are bracing for the worst should the election results provoke violent protests and demonstrations. Disney Store employees were notified late last week that stores located in outdoor/open-air malls would be boarding up windows and doors ahead of Tuesday’s election. In addition to protecting stores from looting, all Disney Stores in outdoor malls have created evacuation plans for Cast Members should the mall be unable to support them if the situation becomes dangerous.
Make your voice heard. pic.twitter.com/RMIw7PPyo6
— Disney+ (@disneyplus) October 27, 2020
Hopefully, the plans made for Disney Stores and their Cast Members prove to be unnecessary and the election results don’t lead to violence. Regardless, it is reassuring to know that Disney is prioritizing the safety of its Cast Members and planning ahead for what could prove to be a rough week.
As Disney encourages voters to head to the polls, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden rolled out an ad targeted squarely at Central Florida voters whose lives have been thrown into uncertainty as the COVID-19 pandemic decimated the swing state’s huge tourism economy. The ad places the blame on President Trump for failing to properly protect Americans from the virus and the 28,000 Disney Cast Member families that are now struggling to make ends meet after Disney’s massive COVID-19-related layoffs. From race relations to COVID-19, this election is incredibly consequential.
If you are an eligible voter, we’d like to echo Disney’s calls for you to do your part and vote. Learn more about making your plan to vote at makeaplan.com
Christmas arrives in Downtown Disney
Halloween hadn’t even passed yet but Downtown Disney was already celebrating Christmas by the end of last week. While holiday decorations haven’t been rolled out in Downtown Disney common areas, Disney-run retail stores are fully stocked with holiday merchandise and World of Disney is now decked out for the season.
Halloween window displays made way for festive holiday decorations.
Inside, World of Disney is in familiar holiday mode, with garland strung up throughout the sprawling store, vibrant seasonal merchandise displays, and plenty of festive goods to buy.
Gorgeous garland covered in sparkling lights is strung up throughout the store.
Tons of seasonal merchandise is now available, including special Spirit Jerseys, t-shirts, onesie pajamas, greeting cards, ornaments, Christmas candies, holiday toys, and much more. For an in-depth look at this year’s holiday merchandise line-up, check out Natalie’s merchandise update.
Christmas merchandise and decorations have arrived at other stores in Downtown Disney as well, including the Disney Dress Shop, Disney Home, and the Disneyland Backlot Premiere Shop.
Mobile queueing and ordering expands in Downtown Disney
Disney has changed its virtual queueing for high-demand stores in Downtown Disney. Guests now scan a QR code with their mobile phone to join the virtual queue, rather than having to join by asking a Cast Member. The new system is easier and reduces contact between guests and Cast . . . and is arriving just in time for Buena Vista Street to reopen, which will almost definitely need this streamlined system for shopping and dining locations.
Several Downtown Disney quick-service snack locations had already rolled out mobile ordering for quicker, no-contact ordering.
While these 3rd party locations aren’t an integrated part of the official Disneyland app, mobile ordering with them is easy. Scan the QR code for the snack spot you want to order from using your smart phone, place your order, and pick up.
It’s great to see more of this becoming available in Downtown Disney as the small outdoor mall can get congested and, with social-distancing rules in place, lines for popular offerings like Salt & Straw or Jazz Kitchen beignets can get very long.
Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen Express is currently only open for beignets, which can now be mobile-ordered.
Disneyland pulls back social media presence
As demand for Downtown Disney is about to get even higher with Buena Vista Street reopening, Disneyland has pulled back some of its significant social media presence. Rather than posting operational updates to Twitter and Facebook, Disneyland will now push all operational updates to the Resort’s official app. The move comes as Disneyland’s social media team was significantly reduced due to COVID-19 layoffs. The popular and long-running @DisneylandToday Twitter account is now locked, with its final Tweet telling guests that “the Disneyland app is where it’s at!”
The @DisneylandToday Twitter account was very popular and had become the easiest way to get the latest official operational news from the Resort, especially now in the time of COVID-19. The Twitter account had recently been busy posting updates on the capacity status of Downtown Disney and was well-known for its long history of interacting with fans and answering questions from Twitter-using guests. With Buena Vista Street getting ready to reopen, hopefully this change works out and everybody looking to shop and dine on Buena Vista Street will be able to easily find the information they need. If you haven’t updated your Disneyland app lately, do so now — you’ll need the latest version in order to see the latest operational updates.
Buena Vista Street prepares for reopening
Work is underway in Disney California Adventure park to prepare Buena Vista Street for its reopening as an extension of Downtown Disney. The theme park area is expected to open within the next couple weeks for shopping and dining.
Plexiglass barriers are up at park entry turnstiles.
Holiday decorations aren’t up yet, but Buena Vista Street is getting ready for its opening this month. Safety signage is up along street lights, and storefronts are being cleaned up and readied for reopening.
You can spot safety signage on the street lights along Buena Vista Street.
The Walt and Mickey “Storytellers” statue is still under wraps after it recently got some TLC. In the background, you can see the new safety signage on the facade of the Carthay Circle Theater.
Workers were in the park last week, sprucing up Buena Vista Street for its upcoming reopening.
It’ll be exciting to be able to explore beautiful Buena Vista Street again soon.
If you’re one of those wondering when Disneyland might reopen for shopping, you may not need to wonder much longer. Should the reopening of Buena Vista Street prove successful (and it almost certainly will), Disney is expected to move forward with reopening Main Street for holiday shopping and dining perhaps just weeks after Buena Vista Street’s relaunch.
Runaway Railway construction progress
Even with Disneyland rides unable to reopen for the foreseeable future, constuction continues on the massive show building for Toon Town’s upcoming Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway dark ride.
Work on this is moving quickly and is expected to open in 2023.
A Celebration of America (and a reminder to VOTE!)
To wrap up our Election Week update today, we’re sharing some patriotic Disneyland photos (and video) from old Dateline Disneyland updates and from our MiceChat Facebook Group readers. Please be sure to get out and vote! Drop off your ballot at an official drop box or head to the polls — make your voice heard and do your part to move America forward! If you need help making your plan to vote, including finding your polling location, visit makeaplan.com
Save On Family Travel and Theme Park Tickets
Our travel partners at Get Away Today are here to help you with your theme park booking and rescheduling plans. Whether you are ready to travel again or not, there is no better time to LOCK IN LOW RATES on future theme park travel to places like Walt Disney World, Disney’s Aulani in Hawaii, or family destinations like San Diego. Right now is a great time for you to speak with Get Away Today. Give your family something to look forward to and put a vacation on the calendar. Snap up those deals while you can, with your MiceChat partners at Get Away Today- HERE
Let’s hear from you!
Alright, that does it for this week. What do you think of Disneyland Paris having to close again, California’s theme park guidelines, and Disney’s massive layoffs? Do you agree or disagree with Gavin Newsom and Elizabeth Warren on the politics surrounding Disneyland’s closure and layoffs? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below. We just ask that you please be respectful of one another in the comments section. Thanks for reading, we have lots more for you this week, including a Disney World Update and a surprise treat from Dusty!
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