While we were checking out all of the new Halloween merchandise at the Magic Kingdom, we also noticed some new emerald ears. These ears are the latest sequin-covered Minnie Mouse ears to hit the parks.
It’s not easy being green, but these emerald ears would still make a great addition to any ear collection. They retail for $29.99.
Cast Members looking to return to the magic on their days off will find that Cast block-out dates for Employee Self-Admission, One-Day Park Hopper Guest Tickets, and Main Entrance Pass have been lifted through September 3, excluding days at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Park attendance will be managed via the Disney Park Pass reservation system. To enter a park, both a park reservation and valid Cast Admission are required.
The Hospitality Days Pass is still reflecting a full block-out through October 2020. At this time, the Cast Member block-out calendar does not extend past October.
Disney is currently up against a lawsuit surrounding the renovation of Walt Disney World’s Saratoga Springs Resort. Fire code violation and bullying are at the center of the lawsuit.
As shared by the OrlandoSentinel:
A fire code violation found at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa caused major construction delays and inflated costs during the hotel’s $48 million renovation, according to a lawsuit that depicts a legal fight between Disney’s timeshare business and an Orlando construction company.
The lawsuit filed by Validus Construction Services owner Nicole Wickens also accuses Disney’s construction team of making misogynistic comments and belittling her with memes and messages, such as texting pictures of hot sauce packets to “emphasize that Disney would put the ‘heat’ on Validus.”
Wickens sued Disney Vacation Club Management last month in Orange Circuit Court for unspecified damages for breach of contract and negligent misrepresentation.
Within two or three weeks into the project, when crews opened up a wall, they found a defect that violated fire and building code. “This life-safety issue existed at the property for more than 15 years without having previously been corrected by Disney,” the lawsuit said.
Disney’s project manager, John Gavin, accused Validus of leading the inspector to point out the fire code violation, the lawsuit said. “In so many words, Mr. Gavin accused Validus of refusing to maintain a conspiracy of silence.” The defect was the lack of proper fire protection in the cavities between floors, the lawsuit said.
Tensions also bubbled up between Wickens and Gavin who harassed and embarrassed her and her team, the lawsuit said. Gavin and the Disney team regularly sent memes to mock her when Validus reached out to discuss matters related to the project, the lawsuit said.
During the Walt Disney World closure most of the construction on property stopped. There were a few exceptions, one of which was rather large. A brand new building is being built in the Epcot Resort Area, and it is easy to see from World Drive. Many people assume that the new building is the Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser (the “Star Wars” hotel) but that is not correct. The new building is going to be a hotel, but it won’t have a “Star Wars” theme, and it will not be owned or operated by Disney.
The building that is under construction is The Cove. It will be part of the same complex as the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts, which are also not owned by Disney. They are owned and operated by Starwood Hotels and Resorts, which is a subsidiary of Marriot. That is why construction continued during the closure, because The Cove is not being constructed by Disney.
The Cove looks like it is going to be a magnificent place to stay. When finished, it will be a 14-story tower. Part of the focus will be business travelers, with plenty of meeting rooms and suites. There are 343 rooms planned, half of which will be business suites. The business suites will be able to transform into meeting areas if needed. State of the art equipment will be available for business meetings. There will also be a business center, two ballrooms, and a rooftop space.
The Swan and Dolphin are known for their dining experiences, and the trend will continue at The Cove. There will be a restaurant that can serve up to 90 people at any given time, and there will be a 50 person lounge. If you’re looking for a place to relax, there will be a lounge on the second story that will feature specialty cocktails.
Business travelers will also want to have fun, so there will be a 16,800 foot pool. It will feature several fountains, and will be surrounded by lavish landscaping. There will also be a fire pit. The Cove will have a health club as well.
Given the proximity to Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, The Cove is sure to be a favorite new place to stay for many. You will be able to walk or take a Friendship to either park, or watch the nightly fireworks from the rooftop. Fantasia Gardens miniature golf will also be just a short walk away. Disney’s BoardWalk, Beach Club, and Yacht Club resorts will also be within walking distance, opening up even more dining, shopping, and entertainment possibilities. The Cove will also be near the International Gateway entrance to Epcot. That gives guests easy access to the Disney Skyliner.
Guests who stay at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels are eligible for some of the benefits that people who stay at a Disney owned resort can receive. This includes Extra Magic Hours and the ability to make FastPass+ reservations 60 days in advance. Guests at those hotels are not eligible for Disney’s Magical Express or the Disney Dining Plan. It is safe to assume that the same will hold true at The Cove once it opens.
It was originally announced that the opening date for The Cove was to be March 1, 2021. That date was given before the closure and subsequent reopening of Walt Disney World, and it has not been said if the date will be pushed back. When complete, the complex (including the Swan and Dolphin) will have approximately 2,600 rooms between the three resorts.
Shanghai Disneyland was the first Disney property to reopen after extended COVID-19 closures back in May. And with CEO Bob Chapek stating that Shanghai is the model for other parks reopening, new developments are always important to watch. Now that the pandemic has seemingly slowed down within China, the Chinese Government is allowing tourism spots to raise capacity from 30% to 50%. As a result Shanghai Disneyland will increase its capacity effective August 24th, and will transition from its current phase of advance reservations to the next phase, according to the official Resort website. This makes Shanghai Disneyland the first Disney-owned park to increase capacity after reopening.
According to Shanghai Disney Resort, this new system will allow Annual Passholders and day guests to visit on any eligible date based on the conditions of their pass or ticket. Guests will still be required to make a reservation in advance, but the process will become much more flexible for both day Guests and Annual Passholders. Let’s start with the new system for Passholders.
Beginning August 24, 2020, Shanghai Disneyland Annual Passholders will no longer be required to obtain a visitation spot or choose the arrival time of their visit in advance. Instead, procedures will work as follows:
Annual Pass expiration dates will also be extended for the 212-day period between January 25th and August 23rd, 2020. For passes purchased during that period, the validity period will start counting on August 24th.
As with Annual Pass holders, General Admission ticketholders and tickets with specific dates will not be required to obtain a visitation spot beginning August 24th. Instead, they will only need to make a reservation by submitting their visit date and personal information to obtain a Shanghai Disneyland Reservation QR Code prior to their arrival at the park’s Main Entrance. Tickets will still not be sold on-site at ticket booths, but they may be purchased through the Shanghai Disneyland website or through travel agency partners.
Like with Annual Passes, General Admission ticket validity will be extended 212 from their original expiration dates. Ticket validity for General Admission tickets bought during the period between January 25th and August 23rd will start counting expiration from August 24th.
It’s interesting to see Shanghai Disneyland pave the way forward. They’ve already resumed parades and fireworks on a trial basis and are well on their way towards normality once again. We can only hope that these changes can safely make their way to Walt Disney World and the other Disney resorts soon enough! In the meantime, stay tuned to WDWNT for the latest news as the Disney Parks worldwide recover from the effects of COVID-19.