Update to Disney Cruise Line Health & Safety Policies

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

UPDATE: SeaMails have been sent to guests who booked through a travel agent on sailings departing from the U.S. Nov. 14, 2022 to Jan. 31, 2023 and all sailings departing on or after Feb. 1, 2023.

Beginning Nov. 14, 2022, for sailings departing from the United States, Disney Cruise Line will no longer require Guests (regardless of vaccination status) to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test prior to sailing. Disney Cruise Linecontinues to highly recommend that all Guests be fully vaccinated and encourages unvaccinated Guests to take a COVID-19 test two days prior to sailing.

SeaMail for Sailings departing from the U.S. Nov. 14, 2022 to Jan. 31, 2023:

Dear [Guest Who Booked Through a Travel Agent],

All of us at Disney Cruise Line look forward to welcoming you aboard soon. We are reaching out with important updates to the COVID-19 testing requirements for your sailing.

Beginning November 14, 2022, for sailings departing from the United States, Disney Cruise Line will no longer require Guests (regardless of vaccination status) to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test prior to sailing. Disney Cruise Line continues to highly recommend that all Guests be fully vaccinated and encourages unvaccinated Guests to take a COVID-19 test two days prior to sailing.

As our health and safety protocols and operational guidelines are subject to change, please visit the Know Before You Go section of our website for the latest information and answers to many frequently asked questions.

Guests booked on sailings departing from the U.S. November 14, 2022, through January 31, 2023, may modify or cancel their sailing by November 13, 2022 without any Disney-imposed cancellation fees. Please contact your travel agent for details on how to cancel or modify your booking. Please note that change fees and cancellation fees imposed by third-party suppliers, such as airlines and hotels, as well as travel insurance, are not refundable. Refunds will be processed back to the original form of payment. Standard cancellation policies and terms and conditions apply for any cancellation or modification requests received on or after November 14, 2022.

Guest must complete Online Check-in beginning 30 days prior to their sailing. You will need to submit the required documents as well as select a Port Arrival Time. All Guests, including our Platinum Castaway Club Guests, will need to select a Port Arrival Time. Please be aware that Guests will not be permitted at the terminal or in parking areas before their scheduled arrival time. Guests who arrive early will be asked to return at their scheduled arrival time. Online Check-in can be completed or modified up to one day prior to sailing. After completing Online Check-in, you will receive a Port Arrival Form by email. Bring this with you to the port to expedite your arrival.

We look forward to welcoming you aboard soon.

Sincerely,

The Cast and Crew

Disney Cruise Line

SeaMail for All Sailings Departing on or after Feb. 1, 2023:

Dear [Guest Who Booked Through a Travel Agent],

All of us at Disney Cruise Line look forward to welcoming you aboard soon. We are reaching out with important updates to the COVID-19 testing requirements for your sailing. 

Beginning November 14, 2022, for sailings departing from the United States, Disney Cruise Line will no longer require Guests (regardless of vaccination status) to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test prior to sailing. Disney Cruise Line continues to highly recommend that all Guests be fully vaccinated and encourages unvaccinated Guests to take a COVID-19 test two days prior to sailing. 

For sailings departing from International destinations, Disney Cruise Line adheres to the local laws, regulations and protocols in place, including those related to health and safety. Guests on these will be notified of any specific requirements closer to their sail date. In addition, we recommend that Guests review and stay up to date with any cruise-specific requirements, restrictions or recommendations that may be in place for travel to destinations outside of the United States. 

As our health and safety protocols and operational guidelines are subject to change, please visit the Know Before You Go section of our website for the latest information and answers to many frequently asked questions. 

Guests booked on sailings departing from the U.S. on or after February 1, 2023, may modify or cancel their sailing by November 17, 2022 without any Disney-imposed cancellation fees. Please contact your travel agent for details on how to cancel or modify your booking. Please note that change fees and cancellation fees imposed by third-party suppliers, such as airlines and hotels, as well as travel insurance, are not refundable. Refunds will be processed back to the original form of payment. Standard cancellation policies and terms and conditions apply for any cancellation or modification requests received on or after November 18, 2022. 

We look forward to welcoming you aboard soon.

Sincerely, 

The Cast and Crew

Disney Cruise Line

Disney Cruise Line Returns to the 96th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

One of the greatest ways for families to kick off the holiday season is by watching the iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade together.

Disney Cruise Line debuted an all-new cruise ship float during the turkey day tradition last year, and we are thrilled to share that the same stunning vessel will be returning to the parade later this month! This year, our majestic “ship” – inspired by the fantastical style of the Disney Wish – will float through the streets of New York once again, accompanied by an all-new performance in Herald Square.

This year’s live parade performance will be inspired by one of the new Broadway-style shows on board the Disney Wish, “Disney Seas the Adventure.” Minnie Mouse, Mickey Mouse and Goofy will lead an incredible cast of performers and Disney characters in this show-stopping number, which has quickly become a guest favorite aboard our newest ship. 

Be sure to tune in to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on NBC-TV on Nov. 24 from 9 a.m. to noon in all time zones.

We’ll “see you real soon” on 34th Street!

What Comes Next for Disney Acquisitions

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

Under the direction and leadership of former Disney CEO Bob Iger, the company went on an impressive buying streak. The number of properties Disney-owned properties expanded at an explosive rate. For those keeping track at home of the Walt Disney Company’s quest for world domination, in addition to Disney branded content, the company owns Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, ESPN, 20th Century Studios, Hulu, ABC, 21st Century Fox, Touchstone Pictures, Hollywood Records, A+E Networks, Searchlight Pictures, National Geographic, Hollywood Pictures, and a whole slew of non-Disney branded hotels in California. That’s…a lot. It seems like, eventually, Disney is going to own everything, so what’s next?

Well, nothing, actually. During his sit down with the Wall Street Journal, current CEO Bob Chapek said, “We have the best creative teams, the best brands, and franchises in the world,” said Chapek, speaking at the WSJ Tech Live 2022 conference Wednesday. “We’re quite happy to have the output level across our channels without having to be a buyer in the open marketplace. At this point, our plan is to have all our content creation self-contained.”

That means they aren’t looking to buy anything new for the foreseeable future. This could be because the company is trying to make up for COVID losses, or it could be that they intend to pour their creative dollars into their in-house streaming network, Disney+.

The latter certainly seems to be the case as Chapek expressed full confidence in Disney+ and its ability to beat out the rest of the competition, saying that “not everybody who’s out in the marketplace today will survive. This is a critical-mass business. Scale is really, really important to be able to thrive.” He believes Disney+ has that scale and will become the ‘must-have’ streaming service even as others around it falter, which he predicts will happen soon.

The CEO also said that Disney was currently in a great position in terms of content creation. After shutdowns and restarts from the pandemic, the company can “finally reach some level of stability in terms of producing content at the right cadence,” according to Chapek, “now we can very thoughtfully plan the amount of content we need for each channel without over producing or under producing.”

ESPN bets

As for whether he intends to sell off any of the brands they currently own? Not likely. When specifically asked about ESPN, which activist investor Dan Loeb recently recommended they sell off, Chapek expressed his desire to keep current assets, especially ESPN. “To the sports fan, it is the power brand out there,” Chapek said, adding that “There are dozens of companies that would love to have that.”

Bob Chapek

Time will tell whether Disney is done acquiring new properties for good or if this is a temporary strategy, but for now, it’s a safe bet that Batman won’t join the House of Mouse any time soon.

‘A Christmas Story Christmas’ First Look

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

Peter Billingsley spoke to People Magazine and gave them a first look at A Christmas Story Christmas.

Billingsley starts right off by saying, “Ralphie’s not really where he wants to be in his life but he’s still a dreamer, so he still has these fantasies of what his life could be, where it could go. And then he’s called home with some real responsibilities and burdens.”

Set in 1973, 33 years after the original film was set, we find an adult Ralphie Parker with two kids of his own. He is a struggling writer that goes back to his house on Cleveland Street in his fictional hometown of Hohman, IN for the holidays.

“He’s kind of now back on a quest. Nothing’s going to stop him. … He might not want to do it, but once he’s in, he’s in.”  Peter says of his character Ralphie.

A Christmas Story

The movie has actually been in development for almost four years now. Billingsley goal with the new movie was to “protect” it’s association to the original. This Christmas classic aires for 24 hours starting on Christmas Eve and has become a staple for many, many fans.

“The one word we used a lot was ‘tone,’ “ he tells PEOPLE. “The first [movie] has such an interesting, unique tone. It’s not the perfect family. They’re hostile at times, they’re loving and then there’s this interesting voiceover and this reverence and some pretty adult things that Ralphie’s having to go through.”

Billingsley isn’t the only actor from the original cast to be returning. His childhood friends Schwartz (played by R.D Robb), Scut Farkus (played by Zack Ward), Flick (played by Scott Schwartz), and Ralphie’s younger brother Randy Parker (played by Ian Petrella) will also be back for the new movie.

A Christmas Story Christmas debuts November 17th on HBO Max.

New Details Emerge on Disney World Truck Theft

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

Via DisDining.com

We recently reported on a family whose truck was stolen from a hotel parking lot during their Disney World vacation. Today new information has come to light and we wish it were good news. Recent reports state things have gone from bad to worse for the McClendon family since the October 17th theft.

In our earlier report we said that the family had quite a few belongings stolen from the truck including tools and electronics. A recent appearance by the McClendon’s revealed that the theft has shut down their small business. In an interview Cassidy explained that they own and operate a mobile mechanic business, which is why the tools were in the truck to begin with. The truck and tools were how the family made their living. “It really kind of shut us down pretty good – it was our business truck in more ways than one, so we are kind of dead in the water,” Ryan said.

She also went on to say that they are usually very careful and good about removing valuables. As a parent, I completely empathize with their situation. She explained that they got in late to their hotel in Lake Buena Vista and their two older children (9 and 4) were exhausted and fussing and their baby was crying and their only goal at the time was to get them to the hotel and in bed as soon as possible. Anyone who has ever traveled with children knows that struggle. She went on to say that they intended to go back down to get their things after the children were asleep but everyone was so tired that they all fell asleep. She did state that the truck was locked and they had the keys in their hotel room with them and that they had parked under a bright light.

The couple filed a police report with Orlando Police who did issue a statement saying that they were actively investigating. Surveillance cameras show the family arriving at the Comfort Inn and Suites at 10:30 pm and the truck leaving the parking lot just hours later at 1:30 am. The police don’t have much else to go on and have asked anyone with any information about the theft to contact them immediately.

Cassidy has posted her contact information publicly on Facebook and asked anyone with any information to contact them as well: