March 2020 – A Walk With The Mouse

Disney Cruise Line Cancels Departures Through April 28th Due To Pandemic

Posted on March 31, 2020 by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

As the world continues to face the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Disney Cruise Line has announced that they have extended their suspension of departures until Tuesday, April 28th. Previously, departures had only been suspended up until April 12th.

In fall 2019, the Disney Magic sails to Bermuda, Bahamas and Canada from New York, followed by Bahamian and Caribbean voyages from Miami. Aboard the Disney Magic, guests can experience new spaces and experiences, including dining at Rapunzel’s Royal Table. (Matt Stroshane, photographer)

From Disney Cruise Line’s COVID-19 landing page:

With the wellbeing of our Guests and team members as our top priority and in line with direction from health experts and government officials, Disney Cruise Line has decided to extend the suspension of all new departures through Tuesday, April 28, 2020.

Guests currently booked on affected sailings will be offered the choice of a cruise credit to be used for a future sailing within 15 months of their original sail date or a full refund. These Guests and travel agents will receive an email from us outlining details and next steps.

Guests who booked their reservation through a travel agent should contact them directly with any questions. Those who booked directly with Disney Cruise Line and have questions after receiving their email from us should call us at (866) 325-2112 or (407) 566-3510.

Below is a list of impacted sailings:

Disney Magic

March 14-19

March 19-23

March 23-28

March 28-April 2

April 2-6

April 6-11

April 11-16

April 20-25

April 25-30

Disney Wonder

March 20-25

March 25-29

March 29-April 5

April 5-10

April 10-12

April 12-19

April 24-29

Disney Dream

March 16-20

March 20-23

March 23-27

March 27-30

March 30-April 3

April 3-6

April 6-10

April 10-13

April 13-17

April 17-20

April 20-24

April 24-27

April 27-May 1

Disney Fantasy

March 14-21

March 21-29

March 29-April 4

April 4-11

April 11-18

April 25-May 2

Temporary Cancellation Policy Update

Given the current situation, we are offering temporary adjustments to our cancellation policy to provide more flexibility for our Guests. These adjustments may continue to evolve as more information becomes available.

All Guests scheduled to depart on the Disney Magic between April 29, 2020 and May 8, 2020 and on the Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy and Disney Wonder between April 29, 2020 and May 31, 2020 can change their reservation up until the day before embarkation and receive a 100% cruise credit to be used for a future sailing within 15 months of their original sail date. The credit is non-refundable and standard prevailing rates will apply. Guests who booked their reservation through a travel agent should contact them directly. Those who booked with Disney Cruise Line may call us at (866) 325-2112 or (407) 566-3510.

Disney Cruise Line Coronavirus (COVID-19) Additional Information

Disney Cruise Line consistently receives among the highest public health inspection scores and has health and safety protocols in place. We also have a comprehensive plan that outlines protocols for managing illness and closely follow the guidance of public health officials. In light of COVID-19, Disney Cruise Line is operating at elevated cleaning and sanitation levels. Among the procedures currently in place include:

Training for all of our Crew Members on how best to prevent the spread of illness onboard.
A health screening completed by all Guests and Crew Members to check for illness before they board the ship.
Extensive cleaning and sanitation of high-traffic areas (e.g., handrails, doorknobs and elevator buttons) and children’s facilities.
Cleaning of all staterooms twice a day and additional disinfection when necessary.
Discontinuing self-service at buffet locations.
Regular communication to Guests and Crew Members regarding how to prevent illness.
Hand-washing stations and sanitizing wipes conveniently located throughout our ships.
Medical clinics on our ships staffed with experienced doctors and nurses and stocked with supplies and medications to treat a variety of illnesses.

According to public health authorities, Guests can also help prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) and many other illnesses by frequently washing their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the restroom and before eating. Parents can supervise their children to ensure they wash their hands thoroughly. Guests are also advised to cover their nose and mouth with a tissue (or upper sleeve) when sneezing, and avoid sneezing or coughing into their hands or without covering their nose and mouth. Guests or Crew Members who show any symptoms of illness are advised to contact their ship’s Medical Center immediately.

Updates will be posted online as new information becomes available and Guests with specific questions may reach out to our Call Center at (866) 325-2112 or (407) 566-3510 or contact their travel agent. Please note that call volumes may be high.

New “Disney Castle Collection” To Debut on shopDisney

Posted on March 31, 2020 by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

If you need more collections to hoard, there’s an all-new merchandise series coming to shopDisney called “The Disney Castle Collection”, which celebrates the storied spaces of our beloved Disney heroines. All 10 releases will feature never-before-seen portrayals of their enchanted dwellings. Each series will include a high-end figurine and other products inspired by each castle. Live in the magic by collecting them all!

The first release in the collection will feature Cinderella Castle. The items will be available online via shopDisney on April 4 at 7:00 AM (PST). These collections tend to go fast, so make sure you have your credit card handy or already loaded onto shopDisney for a faster check-out process. This first series will also be available at your local Disney store at a future date, once the stores reopen after COVID-19 related closures.

The Cinderella Castle series will also feature an ornament, journal, pin, and Limited Release puzzle by Ravensburger.

In addition to the limited-release pins, a specially-designed case will also be available, which also includes a completer pin with the collection logo.

Other princesses (or rather, their castles) to be featured include Anna and Elsa from Frozen, Mulan, Snow White, Rapunzel from Tangled, Aurora from Sleeping Beauty, Jasmine from Aladdin, Ariel from The Little Mermaid, Merida from Brave, and Belle from Beauty and the Beast. Future release dates for the Disney Castle Collection will be revealed at a later time.

Disney Executives To Take Salary Cuts During the Park Closures

Posted on March 31, 2020 by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Disney has just announced that Senior Executives for the Walt Disney Company will be taking salary cuts to help in the midst of the unprecedented effects of COVID-19 on the company and the indefinite closure of Disney Parks across the globe.

Bob Chapek sent out an email earlier saying all senior executives will have their pays reduced during this period. Chapek himself is having his salary reduced by 50%. Bob Iger has agreed to forgo 100% of his salary. Various decreases in pay for SVPs, EVPs, and VPs have also been enacted: VP by 20%, SVPs by 25%, EVP by 30%. For reference, Bob Chapek’s base salary is currently $2.5 million, according to a document filed with the Securities and Exchanges Commission. He is also eligible for a bonus of “not less than 300% of the annual base salary.”

Here is the full email as posted by @ScottGustin via Twitter:

The salary cuts are temporary, but will remain in effect “until the company forsees a substantive recovery in business”, according to the email sent out by Bob Chapek to Cast Members earlier today. Salary cuts are to go into effect on April 5th.

Disney Recipe: Cheddar Cheese Soup From EPCOT

Posted on March 30, 2020 by Mathew Corn Disney Dining, Epcot

Visiting Canada is one of our favorites in the World Showcase at EPCOT, mainly due to our love of Le Cellier. The smell of maple popcorn and friendly faces are fantastic, but nothing compares to the food, especially around EPCOT’s Food & Wine Festival.

The Canadian Bacon Cheddar Soup is a guest favorite, on the menu regularly at Le Cellier, and now being served year round at the Refreshment Port just beside the Canada Pavilion. Now with the Food and Wine Festival Menus being announced, the soup has made it back into the booth this year, but you can make it right at home for that nostalgic Walt Disney World feeling, wherever you are.

Here is the recipe;

INGREDIENTS

1/2 Pound of Bacon, cut into 1/4-inch pieces

1 Medium Red Onion, shredded

4 Tablespoons of Butter or Margarine

1 Cup of All Purpose Flour

3 Cups of Chicken Stock

4 Cups of Milk

1 Pound of Old White Cheddar Cheese

1/2 Cup of Sharp Asiago Cheese

4 Dashes of Tabasco Sauce

4 Dashes of Worcestershire Sauce

Coarse Salt and Freshly Ground Pepper to taste

3/4 Cup of Pale Ale, room temperature

PREPARATION:

Cook the bacon in a 16-20 cup pot or saucepan over medium high heat, stirring frequently until lightly browned. Do not drain.
Add the onion and butter to the cooked bacon; sautéing about 5 minutes. Be careful not to leave it too long or it may burn.
Remove the pan from the heat, add the flour and stir constantly until the flour is incorporated into the existing ingredients.
Return the pan to the heat, whisking in the chicken stock, and bringing just to a boil.
Reduce the heat to medium-low and summer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add the milk and continue to simmer on medium-low for another 15 minutes. Do not let it boil after adding the milk.
Remove from heat and stir in the cheese, tabasco, worcestershire, salt and pepper to taste, until the cheese is melted and the soup is smooth. Stir in the ale. If you find the soup too thick, thin by adding in more warm milk.
Serve hot, garnish with any scallions or chives, or top with crumbled bacon.

We hope you enjoy making this delicious soup at home, and adding your own flair to it the next time you prepare it. We recommend serving it with a filet mignon, roasted potatoes, and roasted red peppers.