Disney Receives Massive Backlash For Guest’s Interaction With “Rude” Cast Member

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

For over 15 years, Guests around the world have loved getting to know Mickey’s first teddy bear Duffy and all of his friends, including ShellieMay (another bear), Gelatoni the Cat, and StellaLou the Bunny. More recently, Guests have also seen the creation of CookieAnn the dog at Hong Kong Disney, Mel the Turtle at Aulani, and LinaBell the Fox at Shanghai Disney. These adorable animals are not only available for sale as plush toys, but they also have a number of Guest meet and greets throughout the Parks.

Recently, a Guest videoed their less-than-stellar encounter with LinaBell at Shanghai Disney. The Guest then shared the video on Weibo — a Chinese blog site — and it quickly went viral as people were shocked by LinaBell’s behavior. In the video, the Guests ask LinaBell if they can touch her tail, and the pink fox gestures as if she wants them to leave. They then ask for a kiss and LinaBell pretends to take a kiss and throw it on the ground and stomp on it.

LinaBell Duffy and Friends

You can watch a video of the encounter here.

Disney has become known for the incredible character encounters that Guests can have, and some characters are so popular that Guests will wait upwards of an hour to have the chance to visit them. Guests were quick to chastise Disney and its seemingly untrained Cast Member for their behavior and shared their thoughts on the video. Vice News translated some of the comments in an article:

“She is supposed to be a brave, adventurous little fox, but some performers are making her look so rude,” a commenter posted on microblogging site Weibo.

“Can’t even give a kiss?” said one of the most liked comments the same site. “Then why spend money visiting Disney? To get offended?”

“The performers are working hard no matter what,” another top-voted comment said. “But please treasure visitors’ sincerity in visiting from afar and queuing for hours, just to exchange a few words with her.” 

Duffy and Friends LinaBell

While many were critical of the performer and demanded that they receive better training, some viewers empathized with the Cast Member, citing that they may have worked long hours in the heavy costume before the encounter that was filmed.

LineBell was only introduced to Disney fans this past September, but her popularity has skyrocketed, and the pink fox constantly trends on social media when new videos of her are posted. Fans have also taken to noticing when different people play her and try to guess who is portraying LinaBell on any given day.

Disney has not responded to the Cast Member’s actions, or its training policies and possibly revamping them at this time.

Local government demands Guests of Disney Park be tested for COVID by today

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Hong Kong Disneyland closed its gates for the entire day Wednesday, and according to Disney’s website, it continues to be closed today. The site says that the decision to cease operations temporarily came from “an abundance of caution” related to a single confirmed case of a novel coronavirus infection among its visitors to the park on Sunday.

A similar scenario took place at Shanghai Disneyland only weeks ago. After that park’s closure, visitors inside the gates were subjected to mass testing by health care workers, per orders from government authorities.

When the positive result was discovered at Hong Kong Disneyland, it was announced that the park would close for the day on Wednesday. Unlike Disney’s U. S. parks, Hong Kong Disneyland is not wholly owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company. Disney’s fifth theme park to be built is owned by a joint venture company, Hongkong International Theme Parks Limited, the Hong Kong Government, and The Walt Disney Company.

The Guest who was positive after COVID testing had only recently come into the country from Indonesia and had complied with the mandatory quarantine for 21 days.

Because the government of Hong Kong, which is somewhat separate from the government of mainland China, has ownership in the Hong Kong Disneyland Park located in Lantau Island, decisions to close because of the pandemic, or for any other reason are not solely left to Disney, and this is even more obvious within the confines of the global coronavirus crisis. The Hong Kong government is instrumental in decisions about closures at Hong Kong Disneyland, and it is the entity responsible for Hong Kong laws and statutes related to COVID-19 and the measures implemented to help slow or stop the spread of the virus.

When the decision to close was made, the government also announced that visitors at Hong Kong Disneyland on Sunday, November 14 would be required to have COVID testing performed. That mandatory testing must be completed by today, Thursday, November 18.

Hong Kong Disneyland has seen multiple COVID related closures, beginning with its initial closure in early 2020 as the coronavirus outbreak was in its infancy. Only weeks later, every Disney Park had fallen victim to early pandemic closures in an effort to keep Guests and Cast Members safe.

Disney Park closed after a singular positive COVID test set to reopen November 3

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Shanghai Disney Resort, which suddenly closed its gates to any new Guests on Sunday evening, October 31, will reopen Wednesday, November 3, according to the Shanghai Disney Resort website.

The announcement reads as follows:

“Shanghai Disneyland and Disney Town will resume operations on November 3, 2021 (Wednesday). On November 3, the operating hours of Shanghai Disneyland will be 10:00-19:00, and the operating hours of Disney Town will be 10:00-21:00.
All cast and third-party staff returning to work in Shanghai Disneyland and Disney Town have completed two nucleic acid tests within 48 hours in accordance with the requirements of epidemic prevention and control, and the results are all negative, and will strictly follow the city’s epidemic prevention and control Requirements for autonomous health monitoring. All environmental samples collected were negative.”

The Resort, located in Chuansha New Town, Pudong, Shanghai, China, made the announcement after remaining closed for two days following the news that one singular visitor over the weekend had indeed tested positive for the novel coronavirus. In an effort to stop any potential spread, the Resort closed its gates and began administering COVID tests to Guests who were already on property enjoying the parks.

The move on the part of the Resort, which is a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company and the Shanghai Shendi Group, highlights the efforts China has been taking to keep the COVID-19 virus at bay in its country. The reaction on the part of the Disney Resort seems extreme by many accounts, but Shanghai Disney must adhere to restrictions and guidelines set forth by the Chinese government, whether Disney’s guidelines in this scenario would have called for such a closure or not.

The Shanghai Disney Resort closed at the very beginning of the pandemic after the never-before-seen COVID-19 virus was first detected in the city of Wuhan, China. It remained closed until mid-May of 2020, and even when it did reopen, the Resort welcomed Guests back in a very different environment under very different restrictions.

Though it had seen over 12 million Guests in 2019, the Chinese government only permitted the Disney Park to open its gates to 24,000 Guests per day. Disney CEO Bob Chapek had said he would lower that number further so that Cast Members could implement all the procedures and protocols that had been set in place to ward off any massive new outbreaks of the virus.

Guests returned to their beloved Chinese Disney Park devoid of parades, bare faces, and bare hands–gloves were required on many rides, and temperature checks at the gates were mandatory before entry to the parks. The park was able to increase its capacity by 50% on August 24, 2020.

Shanghai Disneyland tickets sellout for opening day

Harnessing the Sun to Power Disney Parks

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Happy belated Earth Day (and Happy Anniversary to Disney’s Animal Kingdom)! Disney has been hard at work to harness the power of the sun to power parks globally. Disney has announced there is a new solar facility coming online at Castaway Cay! When completed, this new solar array will power 70% of Disney’s private island in The Bahamas. This new facility represents a larger effort by Disney to power its parks more responsibly. Globally, these solar facilities are enough to power 65,200 homes for one year, the equivalent of 8 Walt Disney World theme parks!

From a Disney Cast Member;

As we celebrate Earth Day, I wanted to share some of the amazing work being done around the world to power the magic by harnessing the sun! I am incredibly proud to share that we’re continuing to make tremendous steps towards reducing our carbon footprint at our global parks and resorts with new solar facilities coming online around the world.

While using solar energy may not be a new concept, we are pushing the boundaries in our unique Disney way, including solar panels atop our most famous attractions at Disneyland Resort and Hong Kong Disneyland Resort and a solar farm in the shape of Mickey Mouse at Walt Disney World Resort. And coming soon are solar canopies at Disneyland Paris that will provide shelter for 9,500 guest vehicles, a facility that will power ~70% of Castaway Cay, Disney Cruise Line’s private island in The Bahamas, and two colossal solar facilities coming to Central Florida. To put all of this into perspective our Disney Parks, Experiences and Products solar portfolio around the world can produce enough energy to power eight Magic Kingdom Parks at Walt Disney World Resort.

Pretty cool, right? Through the innovative use of space, and with a touch of Disney magic, we are using the sun to conserve energy and power up in a responsible manner. Let’s take a tour around the world to see our solar arrays in action.

Powering ~70% of the island’s power, Disney Cruise Line will soon bring online 4,320 solar panels at Castaway Cay.

Walt Disney World has been basking in the glow of the Sunshine State and using solar energy for several years, and today, Walt Disney World and Reedy Creek Improvement District (RCID) are teaming up with local utility partners in Central Florida to develop two new 75MW solar facilities, which are expected to come online in approximately two years.

These new solar projects add to a not-so-hidden Mickey shaped solar array, built in collaboration with RCID and Duke Energy, sharing that authentic Disney flair across 22 acres of land, as well as the massive 270-acre, 57MW solar facility built in partnership with RCID and Origis Energy USA. When combined, Walt Disney World’s total solar facilities will produce enough renewable energy to power up to 40% of its total annual energy consumption.

Disneyland Paris is setting the standard for solar energy in Europe – working on one of the largest solar canopy plants in collaboration with Urbasolar. These solar canopies will provide practical and innovative use of 67,500 solar panels sitting atop an outdoor guest parking lot.

Hong Kong Disneyland is also setting an example locally, serving as home to the single largest solar panel site in Hong Kong. Across 20 attractions and buildings, the park has installed over 5,000 solar panels.

Soaking up the California sunshine, atop the Radiator Springs Racers attraction sits 1,400 solar panels that help power the magic at Disneyland Resort.

And solar power energizes Tokyo Disney Resort, generating enough power to fuel the iconic Dreamlights Parade with solar panels installed at eight backstage locations across the resort.

Since 2009, Disney has operated under a long-term vision to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions, and we’re just getting started. Our new set of ambitions goals commit us to achieve net zero emissions for our direct operations by 2030.

To learn more about how we help protect and celebrate the magic of nature not just during Earth Month, but all year round, be sure to tune into my Instagram handle, @DrMarkatDisney. Together, we can take better care of the world we share.

Virtual Ride Video of TRON Lightcycle Power Run

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom

We’re so excited for TRON Lightcycle Run to come to Magic Kingdom! We can’t wait to ride it. For now, we’ll have to settle for video of the ride experience that the Magic Kingdom version is based on-TRON Lightcycle Power Run at Shanghai Disneyland. Thankfully, Disney has released a virtual ride and learn video of TRON Lightcycle Power Run at Shanghai Disneyland.

From a Disney Cast Member;

Are you prepared for digitization? Then enter the Grid and hop aboard TRON Lightcycle Power Run at Shanghai Disneyland!

In this new “Ride & Learn” video, you’ll discover all sorts of fascinating insights into the creation and story of this thrilling and iconic roller coaster attraction. The feeling of launching out under its undulating canopy is unlike anything else I’ve ever experienced in a Disney park (especially at night!).

I’m typically a front-row coaster guy, but on TRON Lightcycle Power Run, I love sitting farther back, like you see in this video. From this perspective, you have a fantastic view of the glowing lightcycles as they race along in front of you and power through the Grid.