This week, stay at home orders closes down some recently open spaces, some dining it still available, Disney tickets extended, new merchandise comes to the stores, mobile ordering comes to World of Disney, we talk to Jeff from Mousetalgia, and more!
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News:
This week, California entered into another stay at home order for much of the state. The new order allows retail stores to remain open at 20% capacity, but restricts all on-premise dining options. Carthay Circle, Award Wieners, Taste Pilots, Fiddler, Fifer & Practical Cafe, and outdoor vending carts will close. Retail that sells food will remain open, like Marceline’s and Trolley Treats. Disney is evaluating opening more retail locations to soak up the demand for the existing stores. 350 Cast Members are returning to furlough. – https://www.micechat.com/276877-rollback-disneyland-resort-operations-changes-on-the-way/ and https://t.co/pp0ivoplh0 and https://www.micechat.com/276793-disneyland-update-two-steps-forward-and-two-steps-back/
Downtown Disney locations that are not owned by Disney are hit and miss on what is remaining open. For the full list, please check the link in our show notes and, as always, check the Disneyland Mobile App. – https://www.mouseplanet.com/12820/Disneyland_Resort_Update_for_December_7__13_2020#news1
With the stay at home order in effect through California, the planned re-opening of Disney’s Grand Californian has been delayed. The hotel was supposed to reopen the Disney Vacation Club Villas on Sunday, December 6th. If you booked a stay and would like to reschedule, head on over to the DVC website to make changes. – https://dlnewstoday.com/2020/12/breaking-disneys-grand-californian-hotel-spa-reopening-delayed-due-to-stay-at-home-order/ and https://t.co/Vyux6WweEL
For listeners who have Disney Theme Park tickets that have expiration dates, Disney has posted updated guidelines. Unused non-promotional tickets will be extended to December 16, 2021. Tickets still expire 13 days after first use, or December 16th, whichever is first. For guests who have partially used tickets, those remaining days will be expended to December 16th, 2021. – https://www.micechat.com/276793-disneyland-update-two-steps-forward-and-two-steps-back/
A whole range of items are now available at Downtown Disney. A new Jack Skellington AP popcorn bucket, which lights up in different colors is $20, Mickey can be spotted inside of a snow globe sipper, also an AP only offering for $17.69. A new holiday insulated tumbler is at the World of Disney for $23.99, a White Christmas Tree Popcorn bucket for $18.99, and a new pair of Minnie ears, this time in “cornflower blue” for $29.99. – https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2020/12/04/whats-new-at-downtown-disney-jack-skellington-popcorn-buckets-a-store-reopening-and-cornflower-blue-minnie-ears/
As we reported on earlier this summer, the El Capitan Theatre is expanding their custom marquee messages to the holiday season. Pricing ranges from $25 to $200, depending on what you want. The theatre is also offering to-go “Winter Cheer” bundles that include Disney Parks popcorn buckets. For full details, visit the link in our show notes. – https://dlnewstoday.com/2020/12/el-capitan-theatre-offering-custom-holiday-marquee-messages-disney-parks-popcorn-bucket-bundles-and-more-for-winter-cheer-promotion/
Guests have become accustomed to mobile ordering of food around the parks, so Disney has added mobile ordering to World of Disney. The system is in testing at the moment, but it may help speed up your shopping experience. Guests will grab a designated shopping bag, scan items you wish to buy and place them in the bag, pay for the items through your phone, and then show a cast member a QR code as you exit. – https://www.micechat.com/276793-disneyland-update-two-steps-forward-and-two-steps-back/
With the closure of the parks this holiday season, a gap in holiday entertainment for some guests has appeared, and Disney has offered a solution. The 2019 Epcot Candlelight Processional has been posted online to take the place of the annual holiday event. The event posted online is hosted by Neil Patrick Harris. – https://dlnewstoday.com/2020/12/video-disney-releases-full-performance-of-candlelight-processional-featuring-neil-patrick-harris-at-epcot-from-2019/
Dusty Sage over at MiceChat posted a tour of Walt Disney’s Storybook Mansion in the Hollywood Hills. The tour was posted to the Storybook Mansion Facebook page, and is linked in our show notes. This was the mansion where Walt’s picture was taken and appeared on the cover of his biography, “Walt Disney: An American Original” and featured in the Disney+ show “Prop Culture.” – https://www.micechat.com/276793-disneyland-update-two-steps-forward-and-two-steps-back/
The National Minority Supplier Development Council has named Disney the “Corporation of the Year” for positively impacting the diverse supplier community. It is the highest honor that NMSDC offers. – https://dpep.disney.com/disney-named-corporation-of-the-year-by-national-minority-supplier-development-council/
Discussion Topic:
Jeff Baham from DoomBuggies.com, the Mousetalgia Podcast, and his book “An Unofficial History of Disney’s Haunted Mansion“.