This week, an old dining area reopens with a refreshed look, layoffs may be coming across the Disney Company, good neighbour hotel shuttles find a new home, construction and updates continue around the resort, an opening day attraction may have an electrifying makeover, we continue our conversation with Rabbit Hole Quest Craft and Where in the Park and more!
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News:
The new shaded patio seating area downstairs at Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree is officially open! Diners can grab their barbecue and head down to the lower level, where Disney has even added a full fixin’s station so you don’t have to carry your condiments down the stairs. It is the latest addition in a resort-wide push to expand guest dining capacity, joining similar recent seating upgrades in Cars Land, Avengers Campus, and across from the Matterhorn. – https://www.micechat.com/447033-disneyland-update-imagineering-layoffs-attendance-candy-cane-dates-christmas-decor-construction/
Disney is reportedly laying off between 100 and 200 employees across its Experiences division, including Walt Disney Imagineering, theme parks, Disney Cruise Line, and Aulani in Hawaii. The cuts are reportedly part of a review of company priorities, investments, and project timelines. The layoffs come despite Disney Experiences accounting for more than 56% of the company’s operating income in 2025, and with numerous major theme park expansions and cruise ships currently in development. This is the latest in a series of workforce reductions across The Disney Company. – https://www.micechat.com/447033-disneyland-update-imagineering-layoffs-attendance-candy-cane-dates-christmas-decor-construction/
The latest TEA theme park attendance report just dropped, and while global theme park visits were basically flat, California Disney parks managed a tiny sliver of growth at just 0.4%—with Disneyland nudging up to 17.4 million guests and DCA hitting 10 million. Compare that to Florida, where every single major theme park actually lost visitors, showing that travelers might finally be hitting their spending limit on theme park vacations. – https://www.micechat.com/447033-disneyland-update-imagineering-layoffs-attendance-candy-cane-dates-christmas-decor-construction/
Heads up for your next park day: on November 2, third-party and Good Neighbor Hotel shuttles have shifted their pick-up and drop-off spots from the East Esplanade to a new Downtown Disney hub near Lululemon. While Disney’s official parking shuttles will stay put for now, off-property guests will face a noticeably longer trek through Downtown Disney just to reach the turnstiles. It is all part of the ongoing construction and long-term reimagining of the resort entrance, so be sure to factor extra walking time into your morning rope-drop strategy! – https://www.laughingplace.com/disney-parks/disneyland-shuttles-move-downtown-disney/
Over at the Disneyland Hotel, The Coffee House has emerged from behind construction walls with a brand-new dedicated mobile pickup window, designed to ease crowd congestion by keeping guests waiting for their drinks outside rather than cramming into the small shop. Meanwhile, inside Disneyland Park on the east side of Main Street, U.S.A., the gate used for crowd overflow and the Mickey and friends character meet-and-greet has also been refreshed. Replacing the former “Welcome Friends” sign, the redesigned gate now resembles a classic theater curtain to serve as a cleaner, more neutral backdrop for character photos. – https://www.micechat.com/447033-disneyland-update-imagineering-layoffs-attendance-candy-cane-dates-christmas-decor-construction/
Disneyland’s Autopia is preparing to say goodbye to its gas-powered engines in early 2027, and Disney Legend Bob Gurr has revealed some interesting details about the upgrade. Rather than installing batteries in each vehicle, the attraction will reportedly use an electrified track to power the cars. Gurr, who designed the original Autopia vehicles, says he’s been pushing for the switch for 26 years. The transition also follows a settlement with California air quality regulators over emissions violations. Meanwhile, Gurr says Honda will remain the attraction’s sponsor, although Honda says discussions about its future involvement are still ongoing. – https://www.laughingplace.com/disney-parks/bob-gurr-disneyland-autopia-electric-vehicles/
SnackChat:
Festival of the Holidays Foodie Guide – https://disneyparksblog.com/dlr/disney-eats-foodie-guide-to-disney-festival-of-holidays/
Discussion Topic:
Where in the Park – https://shop.whereinthepark.com/?ref=Dlweekly
Rabbit Hole Quest Crafts – http://www.rabbitholequestcraft.com/
