While it’s been a bit just over a week since our last update, there isn’t much news to report. We start with the big, sad news that Disney laid off 28,000 Cast Members before discussing updates from Disney World and from Disney parks elsewhere.
Cast Member Layoffs Begin, Entertainment Cuts Continue
We have a separate (ad-free) post discussing the layoffs and with links to some ways you can help.
PREVIOUS UPDATE + WDW MASTERPOST
In case you’re behind (it’s easy to fall behind these days…even for us), our last update was on September 24. If you’re brand new and would just like a thorough look at the Disney World reopening, we have a Disney World Reopening Masterpost that covers the basics and links to our deeper content.
Updates from Walt Disney World
Frozen Sing Along Reopens
A few weeks ago we celebrated the end of Disney’s dispute with the Actors Equity Union, but we noted that very little immediately changed. Well, not we’ve got some news—the Frozen Sing Along at Hollywood Studios reopened October 5.
Before I knew anything about the Equity dispute, I assumed the sing along was closed because 1000 people singing in an indoor space for 30 minutes is a really dangerous idea right now. I assume that’s partly why it’s stayed closed since Disney and Equity came to an agreement.
It’ll be interesting to see what changes Disney makes. Can you tell people not to sing along at a sing along? And will they comply if it’s Frozen?
Update: BlogMickey covered the return and answered some of those questions.
New Dining Mobile Order Option
I forgot about this last update, but Disney is rolling out a new app feature that allows guests to mobile order take out from hotel restaurants. They debuted the feature at Sanaa, our favorite Walt Disney World restaurant.
Anything that keeps business flowing while improving guest experience and reducing guest-guest and guest-CM contact is good with us.
Annual Passes Available To Select Groups
Specifically, former passholders whose passes expired or were cancelled can now purchase new annual passes.
Other Updates
Disneyland Reopening Is All Messy
The Disneyland reopening has become a bevy of non-updates. California has repeatedly indicated reopening guidelines were coming “soon” for around a month now, but they haven’t.
Well, then the guidelines almost were released, but they were so at odds with what the theme parks wanted that everyone agreed they shouldn’t release these guidelines and should instead work on them more.
And along the way, Disney Parks chairman Josh D’Amaro said California’s refusal to let Disneyland reopen exacerbated the need for layoffs.
Oh, and Disney Chairman Bob Iger just quit the reopening task force.
I still expect to get actual reopening updates on Disneyland…“soon”…but I guess we don’t know if that will be this week, this month, or sometime later.
Disneyland Paris Getting Standby Pass
Standby Pass is coming to Disneyland Paris. In case you’ve forgotten, with FastPass not in use in any Disney parks, most rides are simply “standby only”—walk up to ride, wait in line.
However, in Shanghai Disneyland, Disney has been using “standby pass” for a few rides. This system requires you to join a virtual queue, wait, and then return to the ride at a set time. This is sort of like FastPass, except that when standby pass is used it’s the only line option. It’s very similar to the Rise of the Resistance boarding pass, but with less chaos and uncertainty.
Now, Disneyland Paris is planning to use a similar system for select rides. I’m a big surprised we haven’t gotten this at Walt Disney World yet, but perhaps something about the operation of those parks makes it unnecessary, or perhaps we’ll see it soon.
Aulani Phased Reopening Planned
Aulani, Disney’s Hawaiian resort, will begin reopening on November 1. I’d probably be more open to visiting Aulani than Walt Disney World right now. I trust the hotels to manage capacity and distancing well, but theme parks are trickier.
An Aulani vacation also probably has significantly less “inside with other people” time than a Walt Disney World vacation since you won’t have indoor ride buildings or queues.