When Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure reopened after historic 412-day closures, there were a number of experiences that were unavailable. Most of the attractions were open, but due to COVID regulations, there were certain activities that were deemed unsafe. Guests had to maintain a safe social distance, which meant that character interactions were a no-no, and rides were limited to just a few Guests at a time. Shows were also non-existent for a while, as performers could not wear masks, so they just didn’t perform.
One of the attractions that remained closed, even as the Parks opened up more, was the Red Car Trolley in Disney California Adventure. The Red Car Trolley took Guests down Buena Vista Street and through Hollywood Land, dropping them off at several locations, and ending its trip right outside Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!. The trolley then made its way back to Buena Vista Street. It was a really fun way to get around DCA.
Finally, in mid-May 2022, Disneyland took to its official TikTok page to share that the Red Car Trolley was finally coming back! The original post did not share when, simply saying that the attraction was returning in the summer. Well, now we have another exciting update — the Red Car Trolley will return on July 17! That’s just two days away! Disney shared the news on its Twitter page:
We’re “on track” to welcome you back aboard the Red Car Trolley – returning this Sunday, July 17th, to Disney California Adventure Park. Drop a ‼️ if you’re excited to climb aboard again! pic.twitter.com/Gk7PCZaMJy
Trolleys run continuously between the following locations:
Buena Vista Street near the Disney California Adventure Park Main Entrance
Carthay Circle across from Carthay Circle Restaurant
Hollywood Boulevard near the Disney Animation building
Sunset Boulevard near the Hyperion Theater
Rolling Right Out of History
The Red Car Trolleys are modeled after the Pacific Electric Railway trolleys that crisscrossed the Los Angeles area from 1887 until 1961, with more than 1,000 miles of active track.
If you are planning on visiting Disneyland Resort, it is important to remember that both a theme park ticket and a Park reservation are required to get into both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. If you live in Southern California, Disneyland currently has a great summer ticket offer available.
In early 2020, Disney CEO Bob Iger shocked and saddened Disney fans worldwide when he publicly announced that he would be stepping down from his CEO, effective immediately. Iger said that he would be stepping into the role of Executive Chairman and Bob Chapek would become CEO — with the two men working together for a smooth transition. Unfortunately, that smooth transition never happened, and the two men reportedly had a falling out and now barely speak. Iger has maintained his popularity with Disney fans — many of whom beg him to come back — while Chapek has struggled to find his footing, with petitions even circulating calling for his termination.
The Walt Disney Company CEO, Robert Iger arrives for the World premiere of Marvel Studios’ “Avengers: Endgame” at the Los Angeles Convention Center on April 22, 2019 in Los Angeles. (Photo by VALERIE MACON / AFP) (Photo credit should read VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images)
Now, in a bombshell new report from Business Insider, we are learning just how tumultuous Iger’s time working with Chapek was and how much he seems to regret the decision to name Chapek as his replacement. Per Business Insider:
Bob Iger thought he would spend his final year as Disney’s CEO on a global goodbye tour, bidding a personal adieu to the dignitaries and employees who helped create Shanghai Disney and theme parks from Tokyo to Paris.
Instead, according to several Disney sources and others familiar with Iger’s thinking, the executive spent 2020 and 2021 watching COVID-19 devastate the company he had led for 15 years — and regretting what he has called one of his worst business decisions: the selection of Bob Chapek as his successor.
According to insiders, Iger made an agreement with the Board of Directors that he would help guide Chapek as the company dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic and as Chapek figured out his own direction as CEO. Sadly, things didn’t go that way and Chapek made a series of decisions that Iger did not agree with and, to Iger’s surprise, Disney’s Board stood behind the new CEO.
Since becoming CEO, Chapek has made a series of decisions that have not gone over well with Disney fans and Disney shareholders. Not only did Chapek get into a public spat with Marvel star Scarlett Johansson, but he also fumbled the company’s response to Florida’s controversial Parental Rights in Education bill. Most recently, Chapek abruptly fired Disney’s Head of General Content — Peter Rice. Many felt that Rice directly threatened Chapek’s role as CEO.
None of those sat well with Iger, and he has not been quiet with those he knows about his feelings. According to Business Insider:
While morale is described as terrible among many content-side executives, Wall Street is giving Chapek the benefit of the doubt for now, counting on a rebound at the company’s parks, where margins are expanding thanks to big price hikes. After hitting an all-time high of over $200 in March 2021, Disney’s share price has fallen 41% year-to-date.
Iger meanwhile has continued to voice his regrets. He has said he did not know that Chapek was such a “novice” when it came to handling complex issues like talent management and political battles, and that Chapek was arrogant and uninterested in other people’s opinions, said the former Disney exec. Chapek defenders say he has made bold moves in restructuring Disney and led huge capital spending projects at the parks. A Disney spokesman declined comment.
“For many of us who are deeply loyal to him,” Iger’s choice of Chapek was “confusing,” this person said. “No one expected it to fall apart this fast.”
Even though Iger is no longer a part of Disney and his relationship with Bob Chapek is non-existent, friends say that the former Disney executive is “still rooting for Disney to win.”
Is everyone ready for DOLE Whip Day? We sure hope so because July 21 is just around the corner. This year to celebrate this momentous foodie occasion, we’ve put together each and every place guests can get their hands on this classic fan favorite, including some exclusive offerings just for DOLE Whip Day being offered from July 21 through 24. Going forward we will be enjoying this day on the third Thursday in July – so everyone mark their calendars for next year!
From Aloha Isle at Magic Kingdom Park, to The Tropical Hideaway at the Disneyland park, even on the high seas aboard a Disney Cruise Line Ship, there are plenty of goodies to enjoy. With multiple flavors and concoctions of DOLE Whip to try, there’s truly something for everyone.
Walt Disney World Resort
Magic Kingdom Park
Aloha Isle (Located in Adventureland)
Pineapple Float: DOLE pineapple juice served with a choice of DOLE Whip, vanilla soft-serve, or swirl (available with Tiki Sipper for additional cost)
Raspberry Swirl Float: DOLE Whip and raspberry swirl served with DOLE pineapple juice
Pineapple Upside-Down Cake served with choice of DOLE Whip, vanilla soft-serve, or swirl
DOLE Whip Cup: Choice of DOLE Whip, vanilla soft-serve, or swirl
Coconut Cup: Choice of coconut or coconut and DOLE Whip swirl
Raspberry Swirl Cup: DOLE Whip and raspberry swirl
Storybook Treats (Located in Fantasyland)
Soft-serve Cup: DOLE Whip lime, chocolate, or vanilla soft-serve, or swirl in a cup
Snow White Cone: DOLE Whip lemon in a blue cone garnished with a chocolate bird and sugar bow
Sunshine Tree Terrace (Located in Adventureland; Mobile Order available)
Orange Bird Cone: DOLE Whip orange atop an orange cone with sprinkles
DOLE Whip Flight: DOLE Whip orange swirled with DOLE Whip watermelon, DOLE Whip lemon swirled with blue butter cookie soft-serve, and DOLE Whip and Vanilla soft-serve swirl
Resorts
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Contempo Café (Available July 21 through August 20; Mobile Order available)
DOLE Whip Cupcake: Yellow cupcake filled with DOLE Whip mousse and garnished with a cherry (New)
Disney’s Old Key West Resort
Good’s Foods to Go (Mobile Order available)
Key Lime Swirl: DOLE Whip lime and vanilla soft-serve swirl topped with graham cracker crumbs
DOLE Whip Key Lime Martini: DOLE Whip lime served with Parrot Bay Coconut Rum and garnished with a lime (New) (available July 21 through 24)
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Pineapple Lanai
“Tamatoa-inspired” Dipped Cone: DOLE Whip raspberry swirled with DOLE Whip orange in a white chocolate-dipped waffle cone and coated with “shiny” gold sugar (available July 21 through 24)
50th Celebration DOLE Whip: Your choice of DOLE Whip with a 50th white chocolate medallion, umbrella, and EARidescent glitter
Pineapple Float: DOLE pineapple juice served with a choice of DOLE Whip, vanilla soft-serve, or swirl
DOLE Whip with Rum Floater: DOLE Whip with Parrot Bay Coconut Rum
Barefoot Pool Bar and Oasis Pool Bar
Frozen Margarita with DOLE Whip Lime: Corazón Blanco Tequila blended with DOLE Whip lime and chili-lime seasoning
Frosty Pineapple: DOLE Whip with Captain Morgan Private Stock Rum
Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace
Spikey Pineapple: Barbancourt Pango Rhum blended with DOLE Whip
Disneyland Resort
Disneyland Park
The Tropical Hideaway (Located in Adventureland; Mobile Order available)
DOLE Whip
DOLE Whip Float: DOLE pineapple juice topped with DOLE Whip
DOLE Whip Swirl Float: DOLE pineapple juice topped with choice of two different DOLE Whip flavors: mango, watermelon, or pineapple
DOLE Whip Swirl: Swirl any flavors: mango, watermelon, or pineapple
Disneyland Hotel
Tangaroa Terrace Tropical Bar & Grill (Mobile order available)
DOLE Whip
DOLE Whip Float: DOLE pineapple juice topped with DOLE Whip (available with Parrot Bay Coconut Rum)
Disney’s Vero Beach Resort
DOLE Whip Cup: Choice of DOLE Whip, vanilla soft-serve, or swirl (available with Parrot Bay Coconut Rum)
DOLE Whip Lime topped with Graham Cracker Crumbs (available with Parrot Bay Coconut Rum)
Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa
Little ‘Opihi’s
DOLE Whip pineapple, mango, watermelon, and vanilla soft-serve
DOLE Whip Fresh Fruit Sundae with sprinkles in a waffle bowl topped with fresh pineapple (Moana-themed) or watermelon fruit (Stitch-themed)
Mickey and Minnie Waffle Bowl featuring DOLE Whip with sprinkles
Ulu Cafe
Churro Pineapple DOLE Whip with Li hing fresh pineapple (New) (available July 19 through 21)
DOLE Whip (available with vanilla soft-serve swirl)
Disney Cruise Line
Indulge in DOLE Whip at the following locations across the Disney Cruise Line fleet:
Frozone on the Disney Magic, Disney Dream, and Disney Fantasy
Sulleys Sips on the Disney Wonder
Wheezies Freezies on the Disney Wish
We hope you enjoy all these tasty treats for DOLE Whip Day, from July 21 through 24, and every single day of the year too. Be sure to try all the flavors and combinations at Disney Parks, resorts, and Disney Cruise Line. Happy snacking!
(Note: All offerings are subject to change and availability.)
Walt Disney World Resort is one of the best places to visit during the Halloween season, and one of the best Parks to be in is EPCOT. There are a ton of great decorations, delicious, seasonal food offerings, and, best of all, the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival will still be taking place. And this season, Guests will be able to experience two brand-new events. First, Disney World’s newest roller coaster — Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind — will be getting a holiday overlay. Second, a scavenger hunt will be making its way from the Disneyland Resort all the way to the East Coast — Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit!
Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit made its Disney debut last Halloween season at Disneyland Resort. The scavenger hunt at Disneyland was themed for Guests visiting the Downtown Disney District, but for Walt Disney World, the Pumpkin Pursuit will be held at EPCOT. Disney hasn’t shared any details on what else will be different for Disney World’s version of Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit, but here’s more information on it from the Disney Parks Blog website:
Partake in our new pumpkin hunt in the Downtown Disney District! First, purchase a game board and stickers at select Disney merchandise locations, including World of Disney, and search for 13 different hidden pumpkins throughout the district, each inspired by a different Disney character. Then, place the corresponding stickers on your game board! Whether players choose to hunt for pumpkins or not, they can return their game board to a redemption location at World of Disney or Disney’s Pin Trader for a chilling surprise.*
Of course, EPCOT is not the only Park that will be celebrating the spookiness of Halloween! Each of the other theme parks — Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom, and Animal Kingdom — will be full of decorations and seasonal food. The Magic Kingdom will also see the return of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary-Halloween Party. In 2021, MNSSHP was replaced by an After-Hours Boo Bash event, which seemed to be less popular than Not-So-Scary, so Disney brought back MNSSHP this year. Tickets are currently available for the Halloween party through the Walt Disney World Resort website.
Formula 1 is the fastest growing sport in America. The international auto racing series regularly sees about 1.4 million American viewers each week, that’s a 53% increase in viewership from last season. This rise in viewership is thanks, in part, to the tumultuous championship race at the end of last season where decisions by the race authorities allowed for a dramatic ending. Max Verstappen snatched the title of World Champion from the hands of race leader (and 6 time World Champion) Lewis Hamilton at the last second after a very tense and evenly matched season. The rise in viewership also owes much to Disney+ competitor, Netflix, who produces a show about the racing series called Formula 1: Drive to Survive.
It’s this series that prompted something of a bidding war for the rights to stream F1 races in America with Netflix vying to wrest the rights from Disney, who currently owns the streaming rights and regularly airs races on ESPN. In the end, Disney won out but it cost them. In order to keep the rights they paid 1500% more (you read that correctly, that’s 15 with two zeros). That’s not an insignificant chuck of change. In fact, that’s approximately 75 million dollars. This secures Disney the exclusive rights to stream the growing sport in America for another 3 years.
If this season is any indication, Disney made a good choice. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Redbull’s Max Verstappen are locked in a close race for the championship. Its either mans game at this point. Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton is throwing his hat in the ring as well and making a comeback against all odds. It’s definitely a season to remember.
Next year will see an additional race come to America which will drive the sports popularity even higher in the country. For years, the US Grand Prix in Austin Texas was the only time the racing circuit came to America, making it relatively easy to forget in the minds of Americans. Next year however, they will race in Austin as they’ve done for years, Miami for the second year in a row, and they will add a race through the streets of Las Vegas for the first time ever. That will be a race worth seeing and well worth Disney’s bid for the streaming rights.
This is not the first time F1 and Disney have teamed up! In 1995 F.O.C.A Administration (which would later become Formula 1) signed an exclusive merchandising deal with Specialized Licensing Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of Disney. More recently, however, F1 legend Michael Schumacher and current drivers Fernando Alonso, Sebastian Vettle, and Lewis Hamilton lent their voices in Pixar’s animated film, Cars.
