Disneyland recently announced the end of thier annual passholder program, but now they have announced that Annual Passholders who held active Passports as of March 14, 2020 will be designated as Disneyland Resort Legacy Passholders and still recieve special benefits.
“As a Legacy Passholder, there are magical extras that celebrate you. From special offerings and Park news to discounts on select food and beverages and merchandise at select locations in Downtown Disney District and Buena Vista Street,” Disney said in an email sent to former Disneyland Passholders.
Disney took to Twitter today to share the new Annual Pass news for “Legacy Passholders,” as you can see in the post below:
Welcome, Disneyland Resort Legacy Passholders! Thank you for having been a Disneyland Resort Annual Passholder as of March 14, 2020, the date of our Parks’ closure. Get ready to be delighted with magical extras that celebrate you.
— Disneyland Legacy Passholders (@DisneylandAP) January 27, 2021
The Disneyland legacy passholder website promises additional unannounced “special surprise and delight moments” are still to come.
“We’re working on adding more magic during this limited time,” according to the legacy passholder website. “So, get ready to be surprised, delighted and, most of all, celebrated — because that’s what being a Disneyland Resort Legacy Passholder is all about.”
Today, Disney announced that they are building on the story of the Jungle Cruise at both Disneyland park at Disneyland Resort and Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort.
The additions will include new adventures that stay true to the experience you know and love – more humor, wildlife and skipper heart – and also reflect and value the diversity of the world around us.
Take a look at the details in the video below:
“As Imagineers, it is our responsibility to ensure experiences we create and stories we share reflect the voices and perspectives of the world around us,” Carmen Smith, creative development and inclusion strategies executive at Walt Disney Imagineering, said in a statement. “With Jungle Cruise, we’re bringing to life more of what people love – the humor and wit of our incredible skippers, while making needed updates.” Disney engaged several cultural advisers to weigh in.
The ride, which takes passengers on “scenic and comedic boat tour of exotic rivers across Asia, Africa and South America,” according to its Disney World’s description, had been criticized for its depictions of Indigenous people.
Disneyland has canceled its annual passholder program.
The company updated its current annual passport page online to alert customers that it will, “be issuing appropriate refunds for eligible Disneyland Resort Annual Passports and sunsetting the current Annual Passport program.”
“We want to thank our Annual Passholders for their understanding during this closure period,” Disneyland Resort President Ken Potrock wrote in a statement published on Disney Parks’ Twitter as you can see below:
The move was made out of concern that demand by fans using the popular membership program could overwhelm Disney’s capacity-constrained Anaheim theme parks once an extended coronavirus closure eventually comes to an end.
“Due to the continued uncertainty of the pandemic and limitations around the reopening of our California theme parks, we will be issuing appropriate refunds for eligible Disneyland Resort Annual Passports and sunsetting the current program. We are currently developing new membership offerings that will utilize consumer insights to deliver choice, flexibility, and value for our biggest fans,” Disneyland Resort President Ken Potrock said in a statement.
Disneyland will offer a pro rata refund, which is the total value of the passport minus the usable value left, to eligible customers. Customers can check online for more information on how to get and calculate their refund.
In a recent D23 fan club email, Disney confirmed that Avengers Campus, the upcoming Marvel-themed attraction at Disney’s California Adventure park, is expected to open in this year.
Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Disneyland had to alter or delay many of its plans for 2020. While the park has been closed since March of last year and still has no confirmed date for reopening, the company is apparently planning to get back on schedule and Avengers Campus will debut in 2021 in California Adventure at Disneyland Resort.
Avengers Campus invites you to team up with the Avengers and their allies in a fully immersive land at Disney California Adventure park. Avengers Campus is comprised of several heroic locations—each hosted by a different Super Hero or their ally—to share their unique powers, technology and knowledge with recruits. Take a look below at all the details:
Sling webs with Spider-Man
The first key location, the Worldwide Engineering Brigade—also known as WEB—is home to the first Disney ride-through attraction to feature a favorite neighborhood her: Spider-Man. This new family-friendly attraction, WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure, invites guests to put their web-slinging skills to the test.
The innovative technology adapted specifically for this attraction includes a seamless blend of 3D and new interface, which allows guests to go on a mission and experience what it’s like to have super powers and sling webs alongside Spider-Man.
WEB is all about how bright young innovators like Peter Parker are inventing new technologies that let all of us become Super Heroes. Being able to authentically represent Peter’s character was a critical element to our story, and thanks to our Studio partners, I’m excited to share that Tom Holland will reprise his role as part of this attraction experience. It was an honor to get to work with Tom, and I can’t wait for guests to experience the amazing talent, humor, and heart he’s bringing to this attraction when it opens this summer.
“Suit up” with the latest gear, including Spider-Bots from WEB
The WEB Suppliers store is where you will find the latest WEB inventions, including interactive Spider-Bots much like the ones you will see in the new attraction, WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure. Each Spider-Bot has a remote control, and all eight articulated legs move forward and backward. Best of all, you can tap into your inner WEB inventor by customizing your Spider-Bot with tactical upgrades to harness the powers and styles of favorite Super Heroes, including Black Panther, Iron Man and Black Widow, as well as Ant-Man and The Wasp.
Other must-have items at WEB Suppliers include a specially-designed backpack to carry Spider-Bots when they are not in action, Spider-Man light goggles, a take-home spider web kit and Funko Pop! vinyl figurines of Spider-Man and Iron Man.
Nearby, the Campus Supply Pod is the place to power up with official Avengers Campus gear, including performance fleece hoodies and tees, headwear, drinkware and other Super Hero supplies.
Enjoy tiny treats and big bites
When it’s time to take a break from the heroics, three new dining spots at Avengers Campus will offer dishes that are rich in both flavor and storytelling.
Pym Test Kitchen is a food innovation science lab where the food and drinks tell a story. Just as Ant-Man and The Wasp use “Pym Particles” to grow and shrink just about anything, Pym Technologies applies this innovative science to the creation of shareable bites, inventive-sized entrees and sweet treats. You will be able to taste-test such items as the Impossible™ plant-based large and micro meatballs with pasta, or the “Pym-ini,” a panini served by the slice or as a long, multi-portion sandwich.
Adjacent to the Pym Test Kitchen, an oversized beer can overhead signals that grown-up beverage tastings are available at Pym Tasting Lab. Adults can order a craft beer, ranging from a blood orange hefeweizen to an amber lager or try one of the Pym Research Staff’s Pym Particle-infused cocktail experiments.
Next, the Avengers have invited the crew of their favorite “shawarma joint” in New York, the Shawarma Palace, to open a second location at the Campus. Enjoy favorite shawarma-inspired snacks at this food cart, which is decked out with memorabilia since the Shawarma Palace owners are huge Avenger fans. Lastly, Taneleer Tivan did not limit his collection to lovable misfits; he is also curating a weird and wonderful menu of intergalactic eats at the Terran Treats food cart near Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!
Team up with the Guardians of the Galaxy
Speaking of, we will continue to celebrate Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!, the fan-favorite attraction that opened in 2017, as one of the anchor attractions of Avengers Campus. This rockin’ adventure blasts you straight into the “Guardians of the Galaxy” story, alongside characters from the blockbuster films and comics. As you help Rocket bust his pals out of the Collector’s Fortress, you will experience raucous mayhem, music inspired by the soundtracks from the movies and thrilling free-fall drop sequences!
Encounter a formidable villain in a land full of heroes
Last but certainly not least, throughout Avengers Campus, Super Heroes will come to life in ways that are more exciting than ever. You may have heroic encounters with Iron Man, Captain Marvel, Black Widow, Doctor Strange, the Guardians of the Galaxy, Black Panther, the Dora Milaje, Thor and even villains like Loki. We’re excited to also share that Ant-Man and The Wasp will be making their first appearances in the park, and Iron Man himself will be debuting his new armor in Avengers Campus: the Mark 80.
You may even have the chance to witness Spider-Man swinging into action high above Avengers Campus with gravity-defying, acrobatic feats never seen before in a Disney theme park.
At a nearby ancient sanctum, Doctor Strange will train recruits in the mystic arts by bringing this ancient sanctum to life with powerful spells. At night, the area glows even more vividly with majestic colors and lights, pulsating with mystic energy.
Finally, every hero needs a formidable villain to fight… the villainous Taskmaster, who will have a role in the upcoming film “Black Widow,” will be seen for the first time at a Disney park at Avengers Campus. Taskmaster’s abilities include photographic reflexes. Taskmaster can replicate Super Hero moves, making this new villain a balanced foe for the Campus heroes.
Disneyland almost caught Saturday Night Fever as a former Disney employee recently revealed John Travolta almost agreed to be used for one of the resorts most iconic attractions.
The iconic pre-show recording for Soarin’ Around the World is beloved among Disney fans, but it almost looked quite different.
Jim Clark is a former Disneyland imagineer, the position responsible for designing and building the theme park’s attractions, and he recently took to social media to discuss his time with the company as you can see in the post below:
It was mostly a scheduling issue, the little beard was just one more reason to lessen enthusiasm for the idea. Some of us lower level folk were more excited about Patrick Warburton.
One of the biggest revelations was that John Travolta was almost used for the ‘Soarin’ Around the World’ ride, but his work schedule, and facial hair, prevented them from using Travolta.
“Two months before (Disney’s California Adventure) opened; we still hadn’t shot the preshow. John Travolta was interested, but his movie’s schedule was making it difficult, plus he had this little beard,” Clark said in a since deleted tweet. Instead, the team used actor Patrick Warburton after seeing his performance during a screening of ‘Emperor’s New Groove.’
Despite the initial casting conflicts, many Disney fans would agree that they worked out for the best.
Travolta went on to voice the dog Bolt in Disney’s 2008 film, and Warburton, who is also known for voicing Yzma’s henchman Kronk in “The Emperor’s New Groove,” famously donned a black suit, striped tie, and delivered quotable lines like: “Have a nice flight.”
California released its long-awaited guidance for how theme parks in the state can safely reopen and it appears Disneyland will likely stay closed for several more weeks.
California will allow large theme parks to reopen with modifications when the counties where they’re located move into the state’s least-restrictive “yellow” tier, a change that likely puts theme parks at least weeks — and potentially months — away from resuming operations.
Orange County, where Disneyland is located, is currently in the second, “red” tier of the state’s four-tier reopening system, which represents a “substantial” spread of the virus. Under state guidelines, all theme parks must remain closed under this tier. Disney’s California Adventure theme park will also remain closed because Los Angeles County is also in a “widespread” tier.
The announcement was made Tuesday by California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly, who released the state’s much-anticipated reopening protocols for theme parks during the COVID-19 pandemic. The guidelines had been expected earlier this month but were delayed.
When theme parks do welcome back guests, larger locations will have to limit capacity to 25% and must require advance reservations, Ghaly said. Visitors will also have to wear face masks while in the parks, except when eating and drinking.
Just minutes after California’s Director of Health and Human Services on Tuesday unveiled restrictive new guidelines under which amusement parks in the state could reopen, the industry fired back.
“We have proven that we can responsibly reopen, with science-based health and safety protocols strictly enforced at our theme park properties around the world,” said Disneyland Resort president Ken Potrock. “Nevertheless, the State of California continues to ignore this fact, instead mandating arbitrary guidelines that it knows are unworkable and that hold us to a standard vastly different from other reopened businesses and state-operated facilities.”
Disney reopened its Florida theme parks in July with safety protocols and health measures that included reduced capacity at its parks and requiring all employees and guests to wear masks.
Continuing Disney’s trend of turning classic attractions like Pirates of the Caribbeanand Jungle Cruise into blockbuster movie franchises Disney is now developing a live-action Space Mountain movie.
Space Mountain is an indoor rollercoaster in the dark based on Jules Verne’s 1865 novel From the Earth to the Moon. The ride first landed at Disney’s Florida theme park, Walt Disney World Resort, in 1975. Two years later, the ride was implemented at California’s Disneyland.
Logline details for the project, which is still in the early stages, are being kept under wraps, but it is described as a family adventure and is intended for theatrical release.
Helming the project as producer and writer is Joby Harold — who is also currently writing and executive producing the upcoming Obi-wan Kenobi series for Disney+ — and his wife, Tory Tunnell, who is producing the film under their shared company, Safehouse Pictures.
Shortly after a petition hit the internet, Disney announced back in June that it was re-themeing Spash Mountain to the 2009 Disney Princess animated movie The Princess and the Frog and now another petition is gaining traction asking for the classic attraction to be themed to Black Panther, in honor of the late Chadwick Boseman.
Black Panther actor Chadwick Boseman passed away in September following a private four-year battle with colon cancer.
Titled “Redesign Splash Mountain to Black Panther in honor of Chadwick Boseman,” the petition has gained more than 3000 signatures. You can read the petition’s official description below:
This is to petition to change Splash Mountain to Black Panther. Disney has announced to change Splash Mountain to Princess and the Frog, but in recent news encourage them to redesign splash mountain to Black Panther theme in honor of Chadwick Boseman.
Splash Mountain currently stars the animated characters from Song of the South, the 1946 film long criticized for stereotypes of “spiritual” black men and its seemingly nostalgic view of the antebellum South.
The current re-themeing plan is inspired by the all-time favorite animated Disney film, “The Princess and the Frog.” The story picks up after the final kiss where guests will join Princess Tiana and Louis on a musical adventure – featuring some of the powerful music from the film – as they prepare for their first-ever Mardi Gras performance.
According to the Disney Parks Blog, the idea for re-theming the 1989 thrill ride started over a year before the announcement and quite a bit of planning has gone into the reimagining so it’s not clear how much Disney will listen to the call.
California Governor Gavin Newsom said at a press conference Wednesday that Disneyland and other large theme parks in California won’t be reopening anytime soon.
In recent weeks, Disney officials and Orange County lawmakers have stepped up pressure on the state to release guidelines that would pave the way for operations to resume.
Newsom’s administration had been expected to release the guidance last Friday, but scrapped the plan after the proposal came under criticism from industry leaders.
“We feel there’s no hurry to put out guidelines, and we continue to work with the industry,” said Newsom.
“We don’t anticipate in the immediate term any of these larger parks opening until we see more stability in terms of the data,” he added.
Disney later issued a statement from Dr. Pamela Hymel, Chief Medical Officer, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products that read in part, “We absolutely reject the suggestion that reopening the Disneyland Resort is incompatible with a ‘health-first’ approach.”
The California Attractions and Parks Association also responded saying in part:
We find it disconcerting that Governor Newsom has no planned timeline for issuing guidance for theme parks, and of great concern that he does not anticipate theme parks opening soon. Each day that parks are closed further decimates the amusement park industry. The Governor’s “no big rush” approach is ruining businesses and livelihoods for thousands who could responsibly be back at work.
Disneyland has been shuttered since March, when businesses across the country shut down in response to the pandemic. While Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, reopened with reduced capacity in July, Anaheim’s Disneyland has remained closed even as California has seen a gradual reduction in the number of COVID-19 infections and deaths.
California was poised to release its theme park reopening guidelines amid the continuing coronavirus pandemic, but now Disneyland and other theme parks are asking Gov. Gavin Newsomnot to finalize COVID-19 health and safety reopening guidelines without first working with the industry.
Disneyland was originally slated to reopen July 17, a week after Disney World, but that plan was scuttled after coronavirus cases began spiking in California, labor groups argued it was too soon to reopen and California theme parks waited for state guidance.
But Disneyland, which has learned from the reopening of Disney World in Florida and its other parks around the world, and other California parks have indicated they’re ready to reopen as soon as they get the green light from the state.
Though California theme parks have urged Gov. Gavin Newsom to “expeditiously” let them reopen after closures of more than six months, the expected guidance from the state –based on seeing it in draft form – isn’t fully in line with what they had in mind, according to Erin Guerrero, executive director of California Attractions and Parks Association, which represents popular theme parks like Disneyland, Universal Studios, Knott’s Berry Farm and Legoland.
“We ask the Governor not to finalize guidance for amusement parks before engaging the industry in a more earnest manner, listening to park operators’ expertise, and collaborating with the industry on a plan that will allow for amusement parks to reopen responsibly while still keeping the health and safety of park employees and guests a top priority,” Guerrero said in a statement.
Guerrero said theme park leaders saw an initial draft of state guidance Thursday.
“While we are aligned on many of the protocols and health and safety requirements, there are many others that need to be modified if they are to lead to a responsible and reasonable amusement park reopening plan,” she said.
But state officials say they’re seeking input from stakeholders while making sure the plans keep safety front and center.
“Our Blueprint for a Safer Economy is driven by data and science to keep the risk of COVID-19 transmission low, and this upcoming guidance will be no exception,” California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said in a statement. “Given the size and operational complexities of these unique sectors, we are seeking additional input from health, workforce and business stakeholders to finalize this important framework – all leading with science and safety.”
