food IS a theme park
The Walt Disney Company is experiencing somewhat of an executive shakeup following the announcement of several new appointments for members of the team.
©Disney | Walt Disney Company Headquarters
Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro announced the new roles, including a new position to “oversee major events integration” along with new heads for Disneyland Resort, Disney Signature Experiences, and Shangai Disney Resort.
A LOT of exciting things are happening over on the West Coast at Disneyland Resort.
Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland
A new reimagined ToonTown just reopened. A new Tiana-themed restaurant is on the way. Tarzan’s Treehouse is becoming Adventureland Treehouse. The DisneylandForward project is moving forward. PLUS Disney CEO Bob Iger announced in February 2023 that a new Avatar project at the resort was in the works. We now have an update on that Avatar project!
To ensure we are equipping our readers with all the information they need, we will continue to report on all travel, safety, and COVID-related news that could impact a Disney Parks visit.
Disneyland has made a LOT of history in its time, but who could have predicted that the park would be forced to close for over an entire year? Since reopening, Disneyland has introduced a new attraction, brought back some classic festivals, and introduced new characters to the park. Although Disneyland has been open since late April 2021, the resort isn’t operating quite like it did before the pandemic.
Disneyland
During the phased reopening process, Disneyland has seen some major changes in its parks and resorts. While the health and safety guidelines continue to change, there are plenty of other operational changes both guests and Cast Members have had to contend with as Disneyland reopened.
The Disneyland Hotel has been around since 1955, and it’s getting some BIG changes soon.
Disneyland Hotel
In fact, a lot of changes are coming to Disneyland Resort, including a huge Downtown Disney makeover, too. Construction has officially begun for a certain Disneyland Hotel project, and you can learn more here!
Between hotel reservations, park tickets, dining reservations, and more, there have always been a lot of steps to planning a Disney World vacation. But, when the parks reopened shortly after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, things only got more complicated.
Cinderella Castle
All of a sudden, now guests had to worry about where they needed to wear face masks, how they were going to secure those hard-to-get dining reservations with a shorter reservation window, and the biggie — making Park Pass Reservations for every single day of their trip. And, while many of the initial changes made to Disney operations have returned to “normal” — or at least a “new normal” — park pass reservations have withstood time. So, will you have to plan out what feels like your every move in Disney World forever? Let’s take a look. [Read more…]
The Disney parks changed a LOT when they reopened in 2020, so what still remains of those pandemic-era adjustments?
Scanning In!
Face mask requirements have been relaxed somewhat in the parks, many buffets have returned in full force, and the social distancing markers and language are almost entirely gone. But there’s one BIG change that has stuck around: Park Pass Reservations. And from a recent interview with the president of Disneyland, it sounds like they could be here for a while. [Read more…]
Before the Disneyland Resort parks reopened, Disney announced that the Disneyland Annual Passholder program would be discontinued.
Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland
When the announcement was made, Disneyland President Ken Potrock said that new membership offerings were in development that would provide, “choice, flexibility, and value for our biggest fans.” Recent comments from Disney executives indicate that these new membership options could be close to making their debut.
After its thirteen-month-long closure, Disneyland is preparing to officially reopen this Friday! In the meantime, the parks have begun to welcome back Cast Members and their guests for a three-day soft opening.
Disneyland
This week, we’re already seeing some of the changes that have come to Disneyland, including a full ride-through of the newly reimagined Snow White’s Enchanted Wish!
Disneyland Resort hasn’t even reopened yet, but there are BIG plans in the works for the theme parks!
Concept Art ©Disney
Although Disney California Adventure is currently hosting the A Touch of Disney dining and shopping event that opened up every part of the park EXCEPT for the rides, Disneyland will reopen both parks (including rides) on April 30th, over a year after it initially closed. Today, we got news that Disneyland is already planning for the future, though. Disney recently revealed some new “long-term plans for theme park, retail, and parking expansion.”
It’s been nearly a year since Disneyland Resort’s theme parks have been closed due to the pandemic.
Sleeping Beauty Castle
The parks were supposed to reopen last July, but that date was pushed back and government restrictions kept them from reopening. Today, California released new guidelines for reopening, allowing Disneyland Resort the possibility of reopening on April 1, 2021. Now, Disneyland’s President has shared more information on when they’ll release opening details!
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