Disneyland Resort has begun accepting new reservations for dates starting July 1, after closing indefinitely amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
Disneyland in Anaheim has pushed back the date it will begin accepting reservations for the Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Grand California Hotel and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel. The park said it now will accept reservations on July 1 or later. The previous date was June 1.
According to the Disneyland website, dining reservations and bookable merchandise experiences at the Disneyland resort are also unavailable until the Anaheim parks set a reopening date.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the theme park has been closed since March 14th. A notice on the Disneyland website disclosed that “a reopening date has not been identified.”
This also comes after the Disney Parks Chief Medical Officer announced Health Considerations to reopen Disney World & Disneyland.
Disney Parks Chief Medical Officer Pam Hymel has released plans and considerations for reopening resorts, retail, restaurants, and theme parks at Walt Disney World and Disneyland.
“Together, with our colleagues in operations, and local health and government authorities, we’re evaluating several new and enhanced safety measures to do our part towards helping us stay well while we work, stay, and play at a Disney resort and a Disney store,” Hymel said.
Take a look below at some of the ideas Disney is exploring:
Phased reopening: We’re looking at all of our locations and how best to begin the reopening process, including a gradual reopening and/or partial reopening of certain locations. For example, the opening of retail and dining locations prior to the opening of our theme parks.
Physical distancing and capacity measures: As you can imagine, managing guest density in queues, restaurants, hotels, ride vehicles and other facilities throughout the park and across the resort is a major focus, as we implement physical distancing guidelines based on guidance from health authorities, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and appropriate government agencies. This will likely include implementation of guest capacity measures to comply with state and federal guidelines. We’re also exploring ways to use technology to aid us in these efforts, like with our Play Disney Parks App and through virtual queues at Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
Cleanliness and sanitization: We’re planning increased cleaning and disinfection, determining where that should take place (for example, in high-traffic areas), and the cleaning products and processes we’ll use.
Screening and prevention support: We’ll follow guidance from the government and the medical community regarding enhanced screening procedures and prevention measures, including those related to personal protective equipment (PPE), such as face coverings. Some measures, like adding hand sanitizers and hand washing stations across our resorts, have already been implemented.
Cast training: We’re further emphasizing our strong culture of health and safety amongst our cast members, and will continue to provide new training and reinforcement as we get closer to reopening.
These are just a few examples of the many areas Disney is developing plans for and given the constantly changing global health environment, these practices may evolve as they consider the latest guidance.
In the meantime, Disney’s focus remains on the health and safety of the entire Disney community – including the wellbeing of the Cast Members who are caring for and securing Disney Parks and resorts during the closure. They have already implemented a number of enhanced health and safety measures, such as increasing the frequency of cleaning and disinfection in work areas, adjusting practices to promote physical distancing, and providing Cast with access to necessary PPE, including face coverings.
As some parts of the country slowly start returning to business, Disney is resuming construction on two major Disneyland Resort projects during the parks closure.
“Disney construction crews have returned to resume limited “essential work” on Avengers Campus and Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway while the Anaheim theme parks remain closed amid the COVID-19 pandemic,” according to the OC Register.
Following the coronavirus closures of the Anaheim theme parks in mid-March, construction has been halted at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure.
In line with direction from government and health officials, essential work will be performed periodically by limited crews to protect Avengers Campus, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway and other projects at the Disneyland resort, according to Disney officials.
The skeleton crews will be weather protecting the Avengers Campus project at Disney California Adventure and receiving steel deliveries for the Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway dark ride at Disneyland. The work crews at the Anaheim parks will include some Disneyland employees, Walt Disney Imagineering staffers and third-party contractors.
The limited construction marks the first signs of progress at the Disneyland resort as Disney prepares for the eventual reopening of its Anaheim theme parks.
Disney’s two Anaheim theme parks, three hotels and outdoor shopping mall remain closed until further notice due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A phased reopening of Disney Springs will begin on May 20 after the shopping destination closed has been closed for more than a month due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Following the guidance of government and health officials, a limited number of shopping and dining experiences that are owned by third-party operating participants will begin to open during this initial phase. The rest of Walt Disney World Resort will remain closed, including theme parks and resort hotels.
As we continue to monitor conditions, and with the health of guests and Disney cast members at the forefront of our planning, we are making several operational changes. Disney Springs will begin to reopen in a way that incorporates enhanced safety measures, including increased cleaning procedures, the use of appropriate face coverings by both cast members and guests, limited-contact guest services and additional safety training for cast members.
We will apply learnings and ideas from leaders in the health and travel industries, and we’re also talking to our unions as we prepare for some cast members to return to work.
During the initial opening phase, Disney Springs will have limitations on capacity, parking and operating hours. Given this unprecedented situation, we appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding as we navigate through this process as responsibly as we can. Additional protocols and procedures may be announced closer to the opening date. Please check DisneySprings.com as we get closer to May 20 for the most current information on operating hours, locations and safety procedures.
A whole new world of Disney Magic can be virtually experienced now in the DisneyNOW app creating an even easier way for kids to access some of their favorite Disney Parks content from home
You can race around with the Parr family on the Incredicoaster at Disney’s California Adventure park, sing a tale as old as time with Beauty and the Beast stage show on Disney Cruise Line or even watch the new “Magic Happens” parade at Disneyland park!
DisneyNOW is a kids-safe app with the newest episodes and current seasons of your favorite Disney Channel shows, DCOMs and dozens of games.
Click here to access the Disney Magic Moments collection in DisneyNOW!
When you read “banana-stuffed sourdough bread, battered, deep-fried, and dusted with cinnamon-sugar” you know what’s coming – Tonga Toast! Today, Disney shared the recipe for the breakfast favorite and now you can make it at home!
Currently served at Kona Cafe and Capt. Cook’s, this decadent breakfast classic has been on the menu at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort since 1971.
This blissfully rich breakfast recipe is the perfect is a great way for the family to enjoy a taste of Disney magic. Take a look at the ingredients and instructions below:
Tonga Toast from Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Serves 4
Ingredients:
Sugar-Cinnamon
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
Batter
4 large eggs
1 1/3 cup whole milk
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
Tonga Toast
1 quart canola oil, for frying
1 loaf sourdough bread (uncut, 12 inches long)
2 large bananas, peeled
Directions:
For Sugar-Cinnamon:
Mix sugar and cinnamon in medium bowl (large enough to roll toast) with a fork until thoroughly blended. Set aside.
For Batter:
Whip eggs in medium bowl (large enough to dip toast) until well beaten. Add milk, cinnamon, and sugar. Mix well and set aside.
For Tonga Toast:
Using caution, preheat oil to 350°F in a large pot or a deep fryer. (If using a large pot, use a candy thermometer to make certain the oil does not get any hotter or it will burn.)
Slice the bread into four three-inch-thick slices.
Cut each banana in half crosswise, then each piece lengthwise.
Place a bread slice flat on the counter and tear out just enough from the middle (do not tear all the way through) to stuff half a banana into; repeat with each bread slice.
Dip stuffed bread into batter, covering both sides, allowing excess batter to drip off bread and place carefully into hot oil.
Cook 4-5 minutes until golden brown. If needed, turn toast over after 2 minutes and cook for another 2 minutes on other side. Remove and drain excess oil.
Roll toast in cinnamon-sugar. Repeat for each piece of toast.
The sixth installment to the Pirates of the Carribean franchise is unlikely to see the return of Johnny Depp’s Jack Sparrow as Disney is now eyeing a female lead for the reboot.
Late last year, it was announced that Disney is planning to reboot its Pirates of the Caribbean franchise without Johnny Deep. Now, according to insider Daniel Richtman, Disney is looking at Guardians of the Galaxy‘s Karen Gillan to star in the project.
With Gillan’s name being thrown into the mix, this would tie-in with previous rumours that a reboot will be focused on Pirates of the Caribbean Disneyland ride character Redd – a red-headed female swashbuckler.
The long-running franchise has tapped Chernobyl creator Craig Mazin to develop a story for the planned reboot alongside veteran writer Ted Elliott.
Deadpool writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick are no longer on board the project.
Shanghai Disney has been closed since January 25 due to the COVID-19 crisis and today there is a bit of good news. Disney will reopen its Shanghai theme park on May 11, the company said during an earnings conference call on Tuesday.
Disney reopened Disneytown, Wishing Star Park and the Disneyland Hotel in Shanghai in March. This will be the first Disney theme park to reopen after being closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“In Shanghai, we took the first measured steps towards reopening in early March, with the opening of some retail, dining, and entertainment experiences at Disneytown, Wishing Star Park and the Shanghai Disneyland Hotel,” Joe Schott, President and General Manager, Shanghai Disney Resort said today in a Disney Parks Blog post.
Disney has closed its theme parks in the U.S. — Disneyland and Walt Disney World — until further notice. All of its parks and resorts worldwide, from Paris to Hong Kong to Tokyo, are currently closed.
The company’s parks, experience and products segment fell 10% in the second quarter, compared to the prior-year quarter, to $5.5 billion.
To celebrate Star Wars Day, Lucasfilm has announced that Academy Award winner Taika Waititi will direct and co-write a new Star Wars feature film for theatrical release.
Joining Waititi on the screenplay will be Academy Award nominee Krysty Wilson-Cairns (1917, Last Night in Soho), who received a BAFTA Award for Outstanding British Film of the Year on the three-time Oscar-winning film, 1917.
This marks Waititi’s return to the world of “Star Wars.” The “Thor: Ragnarok” filmmaker directed the first-season finale of “The Mandalorian” and voiced the bounty hunter turned nanny droid IG-11.
It’s unclear if Waititi’s film is one of Disney’s three untitled “Star Wars” movies dated for Dec. 2022, 2024 and 2026 — or if it’s a separate project.
In addition, Emmy®-nominated writer Leslye Headland (Russian Doll, Bachelorette) is currently developing a new untitled Star Wars series for Disney+. Headland will write, executive produce, and serve as showrunner for the series, which adds to a growing list of Star Wars stories for Disney’s streaming platform including The Mandalorian, now in post-production on Season Two, and two other previously announced series: one based on Cassian Andor’s life prior to the events of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and another following the adventures of Obi-Wan Kenobi between Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars: A New Hope.
Release dates for both Waititi’s and Headland’s projects have not yet been announced.
It’s Star Wars Day, but you don’t have to travel to a galaxy far, far, away this year, as your very own Star Wars stories can now come to life at home with the all-new Droid Depot mobile app.
The out-of-this-world app, available for free download on the App Store and Google Play, brings your BB-series or R-series astromech droid unit from Droid Depot at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge to life for a galactic experience at home.
While these droids can interact with elements in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, now your droids can interact with you at home. For those of you who haven’t built an astromech droid unit yet, you’re in luck! You can also channel your inner droid builder in an all-new virtual experience where you can build a digital droid and create a whole new virtual collection of droids. Take a look at the video below:
Join the Resistance when you sync up with your Droid Depot astromech unit. Every Jedi, Sith Lord and Rebel alike will be able to program their droids, customize them by name, see their profiles, and pilot them on a virtual path around their home activating sounds and maneuvers using the app.
You’ll also be able to choose some favorite galactic jams by DJ R3X straight from Oga’s Cantina and choreograph your droid to dance its way through your home.
From the youngest Padawan to the most knowledgeable Jedi, there are also adventures that await you in strategy mode! Here you will be able to play a game of tic-tac-toe with your droid in both easy and difficult modes.
What are you waiting for? The Droid Depot app is available in the U.S. and Canada and can be downloaded for free on the App Store or Google Play. For the very first time, direct from a galaxy far, far, away, pre-built versions of BB-8 and R2-D2 interactive remote control droids from Droid Depot at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge are available for a limited time, while supplies last, on shopDisney.com – they’ll arrive at your home, ready to play as soon as you sync them with the app.
