March 2022 – Page 6 – A Walk With The Mouse

Disney Guests Jump Out of Moving Attraction Vehicle at EPCOT

Posted on March 21, 2022March 21, 2022 by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Epcot

As of late, we have seen Guests jump out of moving ride vehicles for various reasons. One Guest jumped off of Big Thunder Mountain to retrieve his cell phone while another Guest jumped out of the Living With the Land boat to steal a cucumber.

Just yesterday, another pair of Guests jumped out of a moving attraction at EPCOT.

On the Gran Fiesta Tour inside the Mexico pavilion at EPCOT, a couple decided to jump out of the moving boat as they were “worried about their kid”.

Disney World Guest Lorna C. explained that towards the end of the ride, the couple did not wait for the ride to come to a complete stop before exiting the vehicle. Instead, they jumped out of the moving boat as they “were worried about their kid who was patently waiting at the end of the ride.”

The Cast Member told them multiple times to remain seated, but the Guests did not listen and, instead, they proceeded to yell at the Cast Member. The other Guests inside the ride ended up being stuck as the Cast Member had to delay the ride as they continuously told the couple to stay seated, who, clearly, did not listen.

Eventually, the ride started up again and Cast Members were able to help the remainder of Guests out of the ride and to safety. Once exited, Lorna C. said she saw the couple who jumped out of the boat with their kid outside of the attraction with Cast Members and a manager.

It is unclear if the Guests were escorted out of the Park, but we are glad to hear everyone was safe.

Jumping out of a moving ride vehicle after being told to stay seated at all times is extremely unsafe and a violation of the rules at Walt Disney World and Disneyland. Depending on the scenario, a Guest can be removed from the park and even receive a lifetime ban for breaking the rules such as these.

For Disney World’s full rules and regulations, visit their website here. Additionally, if you are ever unaware of whether something is or is not allowed, you can always ask a nearby Cast Member.

Writer on ABC Drama Placed On Leave Pending Investigation

Posted on March 21, 2022March 21, 2022 by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

One of the main things you are taught in Intro to Writing classes is “write what you know.” And while many truly magical stories have been created by things we know nothing about — J.R.R. Tolkien created an entire language for his incredible novels — some of the best stories are pulled right from the writer’s lives. One of those writers, who based her scripts on her life, was Elisabeth Finch. Finch has written for the popular ABC show Grey’s Anatomy — created by Shonda Rhimes — since 2014.

However, it is now being reported that Finch may have fabricated large pieces of personal information about her life. This includes a cancer diagnosis. ABC — which is owned by Disney — has placed Finch on Administrative leave pending an HR investigation. Elisabeth Finch has also published stories about her life in pieces for Elle magazine, Shondaland.com, and even The Hollywood Reporter. The last of which is now reporting on her potential web of lies.

Per The Hollywood Reporter:

Sources confirm to The Hollywood Reporter that Disney’s human resources and legal departments are conducting an internal investigation to determine if elements including her cancer diagnosis and abortion while undergoing chemotherapy, among other subjects, were not accurate. Reps for Shondaland did not immediately respond to calls and emails from THR. The Ankler earlier reported that an investigation was launched by Disney…
Multiple sources tell THR that the doubt over the validity of Finch’s personal details arose after the writer cited a family emergency and left the writers’ room to address a family matter. When colleagues phoned Finch’s wife, Jennifer Beyer, similarities to the story Finch told her colleagues and Beyer’s history matched. Beyer raised concerns with Disney and Shondaland execs, prompting Finch to be placed on administrative leave. Finch and Beyer are now said to be going through an “acrimonious divorce,” as one source described it.

THR spoke to some of Finch’s colleagues about the investigation, and they were shocked. Some have worked with Finch for years and do not believe that there is a “smoking gun” to conclude that she did in fact lie. Many of them have been supporting her through her journey and do not want to believe that she would lie to them about such life-altering experiences.

Finch has written for a number of other successful television shows, including True Blood and The Vampire Diaries. Neither Disney nor Finch nor her representatives have commented on the investigation at this time.

Disney Security Breaks Up Marriage Proposal and Removes Guest at Park

Posted on March 21, 2022March 21, 2022 by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Disney proposals can be some of the most magical moments on earth.

Disneyland Resort is known as the “Happiest Place On Earth” and it’s amazing to think about how many couples had their ‘happily ever after’ moment at Disneyland Park in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle or at Walt Disney World Resort in front of Cinderella Castle.

Still, that doesn’t mean every moment is quite as magical as the last.

TikTok user @_disney._stuff_ recently posted a video from an experience at Disneyland Resort, in Disney California Adventure, where a Guest saw their proposal plans vanish quickly.

Cast Member stopped Guest from proposing

@_disney._stuff_
Cast Member stopped guest from proposing. Vid cred GlennCochran #disney #disneyland #castmember #disneyparks #magickingdom #mickeymouse #disneyworld
♬ original sound – Disney Stuff!

As you can see in the video, the Guest was stopped by Disney security and escorted from the Park area. While the reason for the Guest’s paused proposal plans is unknown, it may have to do with him having balloons that were not Disney-approved. This is one of several rules and regulations that Disney has in place for its theme parks.

Disney California Adventure has plenty to offer Guests as they walk the roads Walt had in Hollywood, enjoy a hand-dipped corn dog at Award Wieners, check out the new Marvel-themed land in Avengers Campus, where they can meet Spider-Man, Loki, Ant-Man, Black Widow, Doctor Strange, and so many more characters. Don’t forget to check out the glowing lights in Cars Land and ride Radiator Springs Racers. And of course, you have to ride WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure and Guardians of the Galaxy: MISSION BREAKOUT. Rock on the Silly Symphony Swings as well, and go catch Jack-Jack on Incredicoaster!

At Disneyland, there is so much for Guests to enjoy! Now that the mask mandate has dropped for fully vaccinated Guests, Guests can enter buildings without a face covering if they so choose. Walking up to Sleeping Beauty Castle is always a dream, especially when you get to go inside and relive the story of Aurora and Malificent. Riding classics like “it’s a small world”, Pirates of the Caribbean, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, The Haunted Mansion, Matterhorn Bobsleds, Splash Mountain, and more will have you feeling the magic, and craving a churro! Toontown is currently gearing up for a massive change which will be revealed in 2023 with the reopening of the land, and the debut of Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway. Plus, now at Disneyland, Guests can enjoy Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge for some blue milk, or green milk, and ride Rise of the Resistance and Smuggler’s Run.

One of Disney’s Most Beloved Cast Members Is Retiring

Posted on March 18, 2022March 18, 2022 by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

When visiting the Disney Parks around the world, there are thousands of Cast Members that Guests can interact with on a daily basis. While many of those Cast Members go unrecognized, there are some Cast Members who become legends. One of those people is Maynard Smith. Smith has worked at Disneyland Resort for almost 30 years and seems to be almost as famous as the Park itself.

While Maynard has worked at a number of Disneyland attractions over the years, he is most well-known for making Guests laugh and smile at Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room. His ‘evil twin’ is also seen working at the popular Haunted Mansion attraction. Having seen Maynard Smith in action myself, he is truly one of a kind. He gets so into the role that he is playing, and it is clear to everyone that he absolutely loves what he does. He makes each and every interaction a truly memorable experience.

Sadly, we are now learning that Maynard will be retiring from his work at Disneyland. Maynard shared the news that his last day at The Happiest Place on Earth will be April 1 — and no, it is not an April Fool’s Day Joke. A Facebook group dedicated to the amazing Cast Member shared a message that he sent to them. The message from Maynard read:

Howdy folks:
Once upon a time, I was a freelance artist (primarily cartooning, sculpting, character design and humorous illustration), and in April of 1993 I was hired to create a children’s television show for a new TV station in Northern Idaho. However, the owner quickly ran out of money so I returned to Southern California on a Greyhound bus.
Being a freelance artist had its ups and downs, and at that point it was time to take a break and do something else. So I started thinking about other types of work that might be enjoyable, and then something came to mind from years before when I attended high school. During breaks and lunches, I would wander around campus greeting students and teachers and attempt to cheer them up with silly stories, and other goofy activities. Then in my senior year, I was given the position of school mascot, otherwise referred to as ‘Spirit Leader’ , a role that uniquely described what I like to do.
But where could I find a job that would allow me the freedom to act goofy and cheer people up with silly stories? The best place that I could think of was the jungle ride in Anaheim. So, I applied for a job, and for the last 28+ years (starting date: November 14, 1993) my ‘twin brothers’ and I have enjoyed the blessings of creating happiness in different locations throughout the park for people around the world.
My ‘twin brothers’ and I are now looking forward to a new adventure. Our hope is that we will be able to fulfill a longtime dream of combining visual arts and humorous storytelling (illustrated children’s books, greeting cards, and short videos). We will also be considering other creative opportunities, like voice-over for family-friendly productions, commercials, etc. Additionally, the resources and time otherwise spent on communting to-and-from work will now be conserved, so theoretically there will also be more time available for painting abstracts and making other art for the gallery.
So as of April 1st (April Fools’ Day) 2022, my ‘twin brothers’ and I will be retiring from the park, and moving on to other creative activities. However, even though the course of this river is changing directions, please feel free to remain seated in your kayaks, because this ride may become interesting.
My thanks to the people I’ve met along the way, the creator of that wonderful place in Anaheim, and The Big Guy Upstairs who blesses us everday.
I’ll be in the park on and off through April 1st, so feel free to stop by and say “Howdy”.
– Maynard (and his ‘twin brothers’)

According to The Orange County Register, Maynard grew up in Garden Grove, CA — which is only about 5 miles from Disneyland. Maynard spent his youth visiting The Happiest Place on Earth, so it seems as though his work there was predestined. Maynard became such a hit at the Resort that Guests would frequently seek him out whenever they visited.

Major Power Outage @ Disneyland

Posted on March 18, 2022March 18, 2022 by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Walking down Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland Park is a truly incredible experience — especially at night. The streetlights light your way as you gaze upon Sleeping Beauty Castle in all her glory. Unless you can’t see it because there is a power outage. While things like that don’t happen often, Guests on their way out of Disneyland had the lights go out on them. The outage left Sleeping Beauty Castle almost invisible in the dark.

TikTok user, TheJungleSkipper, and their friends recently visited Disneyland Resort. After a long day in the Parks, they were heading towards the gates. Suddenly, the lights around them went out and TheJungleSkipper was left stunned. He quickly whipped out his camera to film the unusual scene. As you can see in the video below, TheJungleSkipper was not the only one in his group stunned by what they were seeing.

@thejungleskipper
Walking through Disneyland last night and THE POWER WENT OUT! 😯 #Disneyland #Disney #Disnerd #DisneyParks #yerawizard
♬ original sound – Sherief Z

Even though power outages are rare, they do happen. And when they do, Disney relies on their power generators. However, the generators can only go so far. As you can see in the video, some of the streetlights and store areas are lit. Sleeping Beauty Castle, on the other hand, is nearly impossible to see at the other end of Main Street.

At the time this video was taken, it appears as though the theme park is getting ready to close for the evening. There are almost no Guests walking down Main Street, except TheJungleSkipper and his friends. That means that the rides were probably all closed for the evening, so there was no worry about the outage causing Guests to become stranded.

If you are ever at a Disney Park and the power goes out, it is important to remain calm and listen to what the Cast Members have to say. During outages, and especially ones that happen at night, being careful is your number one priority. The Cast Members will instruct you on what to do and how best to keep you safe. Again, power outages are rare, but Disney Cast Members have been trained on what to do in these situations.

There was no word as to whether or not the outage affected Disney California Adventure Park. Typically California Adventure closes earlier than Disneyland, so it is possible that there were no Guests in DCA at the time of the outage.

Luckily, it looks like the outage was only a blip on the radar. All Disney attractions were back up and operational — except for those closed for scheduled maintenance. The last big power outage at Disney occurred over the last 4th of July weekend. Disneyland experienced another evening outage that shut down nearly half of the rides at the Resort.