Disneyland Resort Sending Cancellation Emails to Guests With Reservations Through September 12

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

While Walt Disney World’s phased reopening is well underway, the Disneyland Resort’s reopening remains stalled, with hotel cancellations now extending through September 12.

Guests with existing reservations has begun to receive emails notifying them of the cancellation, which read as follows:

Dear Guest, 

We are sorry to inform you that your upcoming visit with us will be impacted by several closures. We recognize that the COVID-19 situation is constantly evolving, and there are many factors that are helping us determine the timing of when various aspects of our business will reopen in a responsible way. 

Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park remain closed and will reopen at a later date, pending state and local government approvals. The Hotels of the Disneyland Resort are also closed and will reopen at a later date. Given this unprecedented situation, we appreciate your patience and understanding as we navigate through this process as responsibly as we can. 

Unfortunately, this means we are unable to accommodate your upcoming hotel room reservation. If you have already modified or cancelled your upcoming Disneyland Resort hotel room reservation or Walt Disney Travel Company vacation package, no further action needs to be taken. 

To provide additional flexibility, we are waiving Disney-imposed change and cancellation fees up to the date of check-in for reservations with arrivals through September 12, 2020. If you are unable to reach us before your check-in date for such time period, you will not be penalized or assessed Disney-imposed fees for cancelling your Disneyland Resort hotel room reservation or Walt Disney Travel Company vacation package after your check-in date. 

Note that some package components are nonrefundable and subject to third-party operator cancellation policies. You should work directly with any third-party operators you have used to book any parts of your vacation package that were not booked through the Walt Disney Travel Company, including flights, travel protection and car rentals. 

To cancel or modify your reservation, please contact the Walt Disney Travel Company at (714) 520-5050 between the hours of 7:00 AM PST and 9:00 PM PST, 7 days a week. If you are a Canada resident, please call (800) 496-6337. 

If you originally booked through a Travel Professional, please reach out to them directly if you have questions or would like to reschedule. 

We do anticipate heavy call volume and appreciate your patience as we work hard to respond to all inquiries. 

Sincerely
Disney Destinations, LLC

The resort had previously cancelled reservations through September 5. Currently, only the Downtown Disney District is open to guests.

The Walt Disney Company Restoring Salaries of Senior Executives to Pre-COVID Levels

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

During the COVID-19 theme park shutdown, Disney announced that Senior Executives for The Walt Disney Company would be taking salary cuts to help in the midst of the unprecedented effects of the pandemic on the company. Now, their paychecks are being restored while thousands of Cast Members remain on furlough.

Back in March, Bob Chapek sent out an email stating all senior executives would have their pays reduced throughout the closure period. Chapek had his salary reduced by 50%. Bob Iger agreed to forgo 100% of his salary. Various decreases in pay for SVPs, EVPs, and VPs were also enacted: VP by 20%, SVPs by 25%, EVP by 30%. The salary cuts went into place on April 5th.

According to an exclusive from Deadline, salary reductions will be lifted starting August 23rd. Walt Disney Company employees were informed yesterday that the pay reduction period would be ending this Sunday. Changes will be reflected in the executives’ next paychecks. It is unclear whether the pay restoration would impact Iger and Chapek. The salary cuts were meant to be temporary, and were to remain in effect until the company saw “a substantive recovery in business.”

As expected due to the theme park shutdown, results from the company’s recent Q3 earnings call were bleak, with a historic $2 billion reported in revenue loss from the company’s Parks, Experiences and Products division. However, Walt Disney World is operating at a meager profit, or at the very least exceeding variable costs, according to CEO Bob Chapek. Still, thousands of Cast Members, including performers, events staff, and more, are still furloughed at this time due to limited park hours and operations.

Movie Theaters Return with Reopening of AMC Theatres at Disney Springs

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

After months of unprecedented closures, guests can once again head on over to AMC Theatres, grab some popcorn, and settle in for a viewing of Ghostbusters on the big screen. Is it 1984 again? No, but it’s felt like decades since we last set foot inside of a movie theater.

For Yesterday only, the theater in Disney Springs offered special 15 cent tickets to various re-runs of popular recent films and some throwbacks, as well.

Outside, social distancing markers were set up along the queue to the ticket windows, however mobile ticketing is encouraged. While old Sonic the Hedgehog posters lined the exterior of the theater, there is an adorable Soul banner…“Coming Soon to Theaters”.

In the Concessions, where there are a few notable changes. First off is a simplified menu for shorter lines and quicker service. Condiments like ketchup, relish, and butter for popcorn are available by request, as are things like napkins, lids, and straws.

Grab & Go items are still available, as are Mobile Ordering Pick-Up windows.

Cash is no longer accepted at the Concessions stand. If needed, guests can use cash at the ticket booth to buy an AMC card, and then they can use that to purchase concessions.

Refills on popcorn and Coca-Cola Freestyle drinks are temporarily unavailable, and Crew Members fill up your drink or ICEE orders.

NEW Disney Skyliner Dooney & Bourke Crossbody Bag

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

A new Disney Skyliner crossbody bag from Dooney & Bourke has arrived at Walt Disney World.

The bag resembles a Disney Skyliner gondola. On the front of the bag, Mickey takes a picture while Minnie smiles next to him. The sun shines in the sky behind them.

On the other side of the bag, Daisy is awestruck by the sights while Donald studies a park map.

The bottom of the bag is flat and features the Disney Skyliner logo against a black background.

Disney Cruise Line Extends Cruise Date Flexibility Offer Through October 31

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

Disney Cruise Line is extending its “Cruise Date Flexibility” offer through October 31, 2020. This means changes can be made to any sailings booked by October 31, 2020, for cruises departing through May 31, 2021. Disney Cruise Line first announced the “Cruise Date Flexibility” offer in June with the offer ending on August 31, 2020. Details on the “Cruise Date Flexibility” offer is listed below.

In 2017, Disney Cruise Line guests set sail to Alaska’s Icy Strait Point on new itineraries departing from Vancouver, British Columbia. Pictured here, the Disney Wonder sails through Alaska’s Tracy Arm Fjord. (Kent Phillips, photographer)

Important Information:

  • Guests who have booked before October 31, 2020 have the ability to change their sail date up to 15 days prior to embarkation.
  • Guests scheduled to sail on or before May 31, 2021 may take advantage of this offer.
  • Guests who wish to change their sail date must move to a future sailing that commences prior to May 31, 2022. Standard prevailing rates will apply.
  • Guests cannot change their reservation back to the original sail date after taking advantage of this offer.
  • Should you cancel your new sail date, any cancellation fees applicable to the original sail date will be deferred and applied as a minimum cancellation fee to the future sailing.
  • Standard air cancellation fees apply for Guests who booked flights through Disney Cruise Line.