Disney World
Smashing Pumpkins perform on Disney’s Magical Holiday Celebration
Billy Corgan and co. played an unreleased Pumpkins Christmas song and a cover of "Silver Bells." Smashing Pumpkins Perform on Disney’s Magical Holiday Celebration: Watch Scoop Harrison
Shanghai Officials Lock Disney Resort Guests Inside Park as Part of Zero-COVID Policy
Shanghai officials locked down the Shanghai Disney Resort on October 31st, refusing to allow theme park guests to leave until they had tested negative for COVID-19. As Reuters and Deadline report, the strict measures stemmed from China’s controversial zero-COVID policy. Officials said they were spurred to action after a 31-year-old woman who had visited the park in recent days tested positive for COVID-19. At 11:39 a.m. on Monday, they closed the gates to the main theme park and all surrounding grounds. According to unverified videos on social media, crowds of resort guests rushed towards the entrance to avoid the lockdown, only to find the gates already closed. Advertisement Related Video Those in the park were allowed to continue going on rides until testing concluded by 8:30 p.m. t...
Disney’s Jungle Cruise Ride Will Remove “Negative Depictions” of Native Peoples
Another round of changes are coming to both of America’s Disney parks. The iconic Jungle Cruise rides at Disneyland and Disney World will be modified to remove what the company calls “negative depictions” of native peoples. According to a new post on the Disney Parks Blog, the riverboat attraction that first opened at Disneyland in 1955 and was replicated at Disney World in 1971 will no longer feature dated scenes of people of color dressed in generic jungle attire. Instead, the ride will follow an actual storyline narrated by its beloved skippers, and the scenery will contain more animals and less offensive human depictions. These updates are being made to “reflect and value the diversity of the world around us.” “This is not a re-envisioning of the entire attraction,” explained Disney Im...
NBA to resume games after player protest, turn stadiums into voting sites
NBA players who boycotted games as part of a protest against racial injustice have agreed to resume the playoffs on Saturday in a deal that includes increased access to voting in the United States presidential election. The league and players association (NBPA) said on Friday. As part of the agreement, the NBA and its players will establish a coalition that will focus on access to voting for the Nov. 3 general election, promoting civic engagement, and advocating for meaningful police and criminal justice reform. “These commitments follow months of close collaboration around designing a safe and healthy environment to restart the NBA season, providing a platform to promote social justice, as well as creating an NBA Foundation focused on economic empowerment in the Black community,” NBA Comm...
Disney World Reopens Parks Amid Spike in Coronavirus Cases
Amid a record number of coronavirus cases in Florida, Walt Disney World in Orlando reopened its gates on Saturday for the first time in four months. Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom them parks reopened on Saturday, while Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios will reopen on July 15th. In guidelines announced prior to reopening, Disney said that all visitors to Disney World would be required to practice social distancing and wear face masks at all times (get yours here). Disney is also employing touch-free temperature checks and having its cast members remind guests to follow its guidelines within the theme park. There will be also be no parades, firework shows, character meet and greets, or any other events that could draw a large gathering. USA Today, which has...
Disney Deploys Stormtroopers to Remind Patrons of Social Distancing
While Disney World in Orlando won’t reopen until next month, the House of Mouse recently revived the outdoor shopping center at Disney Springs. New coronavirus safety measures include reduced capacity, mandatory face masks, and a pair of bumbling First Order stormtroopers reminding patrons to maintain social distancing. In a video posted by Attractions Magazine, the stormtroopers are much closer to entertainment than security. They stand above visitors on a balcony, pointing prop guns skywards, while scripted dialogue is piped through loudspeakers. Even from the few snippets, their distinct personalities come through. The male trooper is a grating brown-noser, while the female soldier hates her job and wishes she could be anywhere else. This tension between them provides an excuse for...
Disney World to Reopen in July with Reduced Capacity, Increased Safety Measures
Disney World’s Orlando theme parks and resorts are set to reopen in mid-July, albeit at a reduced capacity and with increased safety measures. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Disney formally presented its plan for re-opening to the Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force on Wednesday. As it stands now, the plan is for a phased re-opening, beginning with Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom on July 11th. The rest of the park — including Epcot — will be accessible beginning July 15th. Even then, however, Disney World will reopen at a lower capacity to ensure ample room for social distancing. Additionally, guests will be required to wear face masks at all times and have their temperature checked upon entering the park. Hand sanitizer stations will be readily available, and “cast memb...
