A video has emerged showing a Disney character crashing during a popular performance.
Disney Parks worldwide offer Guests the chance to meet their favorite Disney characters, whether that be a classic Disney character, an intergalactic icon from the Star Wars universe, or a mighty hero from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Meeting Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Chip, and Dale, your favorite Disney princess, Winnie the Pooh, Captain Jack Sparrow, Chewbacca, Kylo Ren, Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, and many more can create an emotional and memorable moment for the young and the young at heart.
As you can see in the video, Goofy is riding on a jet ski when he hits a wave that knocks him off the vehicle and into the water. While the video labels this at Disney World, this actually took place at Tokyo DisneySea at Tokyo Disneyland Resort.
While the crash looked like it may have hurt, everything seemingly turned out okay at the Disney Park and Goofy was able to get back on his jet ski.
Anyone who has visited a Disney theme park knows that there is always a chance rides will be closed during your visit because they are being refurbished. Disney attractions undergo such heavy usage that refurbishments can range from minor fixes to months-long closures for more massive undertakings. However, it is more uncommon that Disney announces that it is closing one of its most popular attractions for a complete remake. But that is exactly what happened today at Tokyo Disney.
Tokyo Disney is one of Disney’s most popular overseas theme parks. From the incredible architecture to its amazing Tokyo DisneySea Park — which is completely different from any other Disney Park — to the incredible merchandise that makes U.S. Park goers jealous. It seems that there is nothing people don’t like about the Tokyo Disney Resort.
One of the most beloved attractions at Tokyo Disney is Space Mountain. The indoor roller coaster is similar to those found at the other Disney Parks, but that will soon change. On April 27, Disney announced that Tokyo Disney would be closing Space Mountain for 3 years! In that time, they are going to completely transform the ride. When it reopens, it will still be Space Mountain, but it will be a completely different ride experience.
The classic Space Mountain attraction, a guest favorite since Tokyo Disneyland opened in 1983, will be closing for a major renovation of Tomorrowland starting in 2024. By 2027 the new area will see a newly rebuilt Space Mountain attraction, keeping the original concept as a thrilling indoor coaster that takes guests on a high-speed journey through space, but will include enhanced performance and immersive special effects. These will give guests even more thrills throughout their journey and will provide a greater connection between Earth and the universe.
According to Walt Disney Imagineering Producer Kathleen Davis, “I’m thrilled to introduce this attraction to guests. It’s not only a whole new ride experience, but the story also has so much emotion. Through the queue and then on the ride, we see our connection to our planet and gain a new perspective for how special it is in all the universe. It’s a roller coaster with both thrill and heart.”
The Space Mountain renovation will go along with an all-new Tomorrowland plaza. Disney Guests often say that the various Tomorrowland sections at several Parks do not look like they are in the world of Tomorrow. However, in the image of Space Mountain shared by Disney, Tomorrowland definitely has a futuristic look.
With the transformation of Space Mountain, as well as the Tomorrowland Plaza, Tokyo Disney will show Guests how they can be a positive change for the environment, how the two function together, and how humans can be more appreciative of the planet.
The past month has been a tumultuous one for Disney with scandal after scandal popping up and surrounding the company seemingly every few days.
Now, according to Netolabo, the Tokyo Disney Resort operator has now been ordered to pay damages to an unnamed woman who filed her lawsuit back in 2018 due to violations of safety and accusation of harassment. The woman worked at the Resort as a character performer for over a decade. The Oriental Land Company, where she worked as a character performer for thirteen years.
Reportedly, supervisors at the Park spread rumors about her and other Cast Members working there, saying things like “Women over 30 shouldn’t work here, why don’t you quit already” to the woman. In a statement to the press, she said “I have endured this for many years, but nothing will change if I just put up with it. My dream is to have a workplace where I can continue to work with peace of mind, where there is no power harassment.”
Also included in the lawsuit was an incident involving the woman’s finger. According to the suit, the woman’s finger was injured after a Guest twisted in, The woman said her claims for worker’s compensation were quickly dismissed, claiming she was told “You’re an entertainer, you have to put up with that sort of thing. You’re so weak,” the boss reportedly said.
The suit was filed by the woman with damages reported to be ¥3.3 million or around $30,000. The woman claimed that the Oriental Land Company, the organization that runs and operates the Tokyo Disney Resort, failed to educate its employees on the prevention of harassment and also failed to take measures to relieve victim’s suffering. Now, a ruling was reached with the judge ordering Oriental Land to pay ¥880,000 or $7100 to the woman in damages.
In the midst of this legal drama, the Oriental Land Company released a statement saying “It is truly regrettable that some of our claims were not recognized in this judgment, and we will consider our future response after carefully examining the details of the judgment. In addition, no statements were found to fall under the category of ‘power harassment’ as claimed by the plaintiff. We apologize for the concern we have caused to our Guests and all those who support us on a daily basis.”
Disney Parks around the world have been struggling with a number of issues since they have reopened after forced closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have had to close more than once, others have mask mandates for all Guests at all times, Disneyland and Walt Disney World require all Guests to wear masks while indoors, whether it be on an indoor attraction or inside of a store. Disneyland Paris, in accordance with government guidelines, requires all Guests 12 and over to obtain a Health Pass, which proves that they have been vaccinated.
Tokyo Disney, however, has not seemed to struggle as much as other Disney theme parks during the pandemic. Both Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea were only closed for about four months before they reopened, much like Walt Disney World. Tokyo Disney is still taking the temperatures of all visitors before they enter the Park and Guests are required to wear masks at all times.
In an interesting turn, from November 22 through November 28, Tokyo Disney will be testing a new ticketing system. Guests who can prove that they are fully vaccinated will be able to purchase special theme park tickets. The Tokyo Disneyland website states the following:
okyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea will be cooperating in the Japanese government’s technical demonstration of using COVID-19 vaccine certificates and negative test results during the limited period of November 22 to 28, 2021. For this purpose, guests who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have received a negative COVID-19 test result will be able to purchase specified Park tickets for admission to Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea during this period
Tokyo Disney notes that these tickets can only be purchased online, but when the Guest arrives at Tokyo Disneyland or DisneySea, they must show the following in order to be able to use the tickets.
On your day of visit, please bring (1) a certificate (verifying vaccination, or negative test result) along with (2) personal identification. The cast member will check your certificate at the Park admission gate.
1. Either of the following COVID-19 certificates will be required (a copy or photo captured using smartphone accepted) verifying: ・Vaccination (indicating that two weeks have passed since the completion of second vaccination） ・Negative PCR result (using sample taken within three days before the date of entering the Park） ・Negative antigen result (using sample taken within one day before the date of entering the Park）
2. Personal identification (the original document, not a copy） With name and date of birth (passport, driver license, etc.）– Please note you will not be able to enter the Park without the required certificate and identification. – Guests ages 12 and under will not be required to present a certificate if accompanied by a guardian.– Please note that an email survey may be conducted at a later date, with regards to the technical demonstration involving the use of vaccine certificates and negative test results.
For right now, it looks like Tokyo Disney is testing this system to see how popular a discounted ticket program for vaccinated Guests will be. Park officials have not said whether this will become a permanent system in the future, or if the program will extend past its initial week.
While Tokyo Disney Resort generally has a very strict “no refunds” policy regarding ticket purchases, the continuous changes in capacity and risks of visiting the parks during States of Emergency has lead to many Guests foregoing visits after purchasing tickets. And with the latest round of quasi-emergency measures keeping capacity at 5000 Guests per day, those holding as-of-yet unused dated tickets are currently unable to schedule a potential revisit day. As such, the Oriental Land Company will introduce refunds for Guests holding unused dated tickets since the parks reopened last July.
Guests holding tickets dated July 1st, 2020 through June 11th, 2021 will be able to request a refund online starting sometime in late June, according to the Tokyo Disney Resort official website. Tickets must be unused and have passed their designated date of visit. Additionally, tickets will not be eligible for refund if they are purchased or have their date changed after May 11th, 2021.
