DISNEYLAND RESORT IN CALIFORNIA ACCEPT HOTEL BOOKINGS FROM JULY 1

BY GABRIELLE

Reservations to stay at the Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel can now be made for July 1 onwards.

Reservations for dining and merchandise experiences at the resort cannot be made until the Anaheim parks set a re-opening date.

Disneyland and Disney California Adventure were closed on March 14 because of the coronavirus pandemic. The sites remain closed until further notice.

On May 11, Shanghai Disneyland theme park re-opened following be closed for 107 days due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

DISNEYLAND RESORT TO UPGRADE SNOW WHITE’S SCARY ADVENTURES DARK RIDE

BY GABRIELLE

Snow White’s Scary Adventures in Fantasyland is to undergo a major refurbishment in 2020, with old show props, scenes and sets to be replaced with new ones.

As well as new props and sets, the $445,000 refurbishment will include the installation of new structural beams, the renovation of rock work and electrical upgrades. Suggestions have also been made that projector platforms will feature in the attraction to create special effects.

Snow White’s Scary Adventures opened in 1955 at Disneyland Resort, alongside Mr Toad’s Wild Ride, Peter Pan’s Flight, Mad Tea Party and King Arthur Carousel.

In 2015, Peter Pan’s Flight was significantly refurbished. In 2003, King Arthur Carousel was restored and a year later work was carried out on the Mad Tea Party.

DISNEY ANNOUNCES THEME PARKS’ LEADERSHIP OVERHAUL

BY GABRIELLE

Disney has announced it is reorganising the leadership of its theme parks. The management overhaul will see Josh D’Amaro lead Walt Disney World Resort and Rebecca Campbell head up Disneyland Resort.

Moving from the role of president of Disneyland Resort, which he has had since March 2018, Josh D’Amaro will take on the position of president of Walt Disney World Resort in November.

Rebecca Campbell will succeed D’Amaro as president of Disneyland Resort. Campbell has more than 20 years’ experience at Walt Disney Company.

Talking about the appointment and the move to California, Josh D’Amaro said: “I have been incredibly honoured to lead the Disneyland Resort, and humbled to work alongside our amazing cast members.

“From the moment I arrived in Orange County, I felt welcomed and proud to engage with this community.

“Over the past two years, we’ve worked hard to ensure that Disneyland is a great place for our guests to visit and for our cast to work.

“At the same, the Walt Disney World Resort is undergoing one of its most significant transformations in its history.

“My ties to the Cast of the Walt Disney World Resort and to the Central Florida community run deep, and I look forward to rejoining the team,” D’Amario continued.

Rebecca Campbell also shared her enthusiasm for her new position, saying: “As a lifelong fan of Disney parks, I am thrilled for the opportunity to lead the Disneyland Resort.

“I can’t wait to work closely with my fellow cast members to continue to deliver great experiences for our millions of guests, and to ensure that the Disneyland Resort remains a great place to work and is a leading community partner in Anaheim and Orange County.

“This is a period of incredible investment in the Disneyland Resort, and I am excited to help bring more of the world’s favourite stories from Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars to life for our guests,” said Campbell.

A further leadership change will see George Kalogridis taking on the role of president of Disney Segment Development and Enrichment. Kalogridis has led Walt Disney Resort since 2013.