A Little Something to Distract You From the Disney News Bomb

by Beth Keating

Review

DisneyBizJournal.com

May 31, 2020

This week, Disney dropped an enormous info bomb on us. It has taken hours to sort through the fallout from all of their announcements, and there’s still more to come.  If your head hurts from contemplating all of those changes, and you need to take a brain break, head on over to Peter Hollens’ YouTube channel.

I’ve been a longtime fan of Peter Hollens, a classically trained vocal artist from Eugene, Oregon, who specializes in a cappella music. Peter has done some amazing collaborations with other artists you may have heard of (Hunter Hayes, Lindsey Stirling, David Archuleta, The Piano Guys, Home Free, Jason Mraz, and Brian Wilson, just to name drop a few), but he excels at putting his own spin on Disney tunes.  I’ll throw on his playlist when I’m prepping for a Disney trip, or just for fun.  If you aren’t familiar with a cappella, it’s music that is produced simply with the human voice, without instruments.  It’s amazing!  And I’m not the only one to think so. Peter has 2.5 million subscribers on his Youtube channel.

Peter has a collection of several dozen Disney tunes.  If you asked me which of his Disney pieces is my favorite, I’d be hard pressed to decide. Perhaps one of his medleys such as the “Epic Disney Medley” with Alex G (which also appears on the Disney Classics CD).  

For laughs, go to the “Princesses vs Princes Epic Disney Battle” or his  “Epic Disney Villains Medley with Whitney Avalon.” 

The “Ultimate Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean Medley” is also a favorite. Remember as you are watching that these songs are produced only with multi-tracked human voices, sometimes using over a hundred different tracks!

Peter isn’t just focused on Disney music, however. He has an assortment of pop, Broadway, folk and movie themed songs as well. There’s even a medley from Hamilton (does that count as a Disney song now?), as well as Games of Thrones, The Greatest Showman, Wicked, The Hobbit, The Witcher, and Star Wars (sorry, guess that’s Disney again, huh?). I dare you not to find yourself in tears when you watch “Homeward Bound” with the 300+ kids in the accompanying high school choir. Watch the Phantom of the Opera medley with Peter and his wife, Evynne, and you’ll get a true feel for Peter’s strength and range. 

Evynne also has a companion YouTube channel where she not only belts out some amazing Disney tunes herself, but offers up teaching videos that will help you become your best singing Disney princess self. There are also some lovely collaboration videos with her husband, especially the “Beauty and the Beast” one with elaborate costuming, filmed at the Elsinore Theatre in Salem, Oregon. Absolutely gorgeous!

If you are in the mood for a less polished but equally entertaining video, Peter recently joined up with Brian Hull for “The Disney Genre Challenge,” this time on Brian’s YouTube channel. (Brian enjoys doing impressions - Pity the poor folks at the fast food drive thrus when Brian is around, but his medleys in the voices of Disney characters are a hoot. Check out his version of the Disney and Pixar characters singing “This is Me” from The Greatest Showman. Brian is performing all 24 characters and the backgrounds himself.)

Brian and Peter have collaborated on several Disney medley videos in the past. Released late this week (May 29^th), “The Disney Genre Challenge” is a bit like goofing around in your basement on a Friday night with a bunch of friends.  The guys select a random Disney song from a bowl, and match it with an equally random musical genre and have to perform it on the spot. It’s silly and fun.  It also seems like a perfectly normal way to spend a quarantine evening these days. Perhaps your family can give it a shot one night. Until then, enjoy Peter and his friends.

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See related...

“Celebrate Epcot with New Release by Gijs Music”

“Relaxing Music for Your Disney Addiction”

See recent...

“Disney World Gets Official Go Ahead to Open, But Disney Has Cancelled Your Dining Plans and More”

“Disney Announces Reopening Dates for Walt Disney World”

“Return of My Guilty Pleasure: National Treasure”

“PRESS CLUB C Podcast with Ray Keating – Episode #10: Streaming Fueling the Nerd, Including the Disney Nerd”

“Is ‘The Wonderful World of Disney’ Still Wonderful?”

See notable...

“Leadership Changes at the Walt Disney Company”

“Theme Parks: Pandemic, Disney and the Little Guys”

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Beth Keating is a regular contributor to DisneyBizJournal.

Disney World Gets Official Go Ahead to Open, But Disney Has Cancelled Your Dining Plans and More

by Beth Keating

News 

DisneyBizJournal.com

May 29, 2020

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings announced today (May 29) that Disney World had been granted the official go-ahead from the state to move forward with their re-opening plans. (The Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force had granted their approval on May 27, with additional approval from Mayor Demings, before sending the re-opening plans to the state for their okay.)  Guests can officially begin returning to the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom on July 11^th, with Epcot and Hollywood Studios following on July 15^th.  SeaWorld was also granted approval to open June 10^th. Universal had previously been granted approval to open June 5^th. 

That’s good news, right? Well, now for the bad news.  

I’m actually afraid to post this part of the article. It seems that, right now, as soon as I write something up, Disney releases another change, and the first article is scrapped … then the second, and the third. I wrote a story last night, and by the time I woke up this morning, the details of Disney’s opening plan had changed yet again.

This particular change, though, had me hyperventilating. I awoke to discover news that my Disney dining reservations were being cancelled.  We had a trip planned for later this year, and I had gone into work late on the morning of my 180 days-out-booking-window so that I could get the reservations that we wanted. By some miracle, I had managed to get each of the reservations that were on our wish list. Some of these tables had alluded us for years, but this time, we got everything we wanted, and in the time zones we wanted. The only thing still hanging was an open spot for Space 220, on the outside shot that it might actually open sometime during our lifetime.  One could only dream.

To people who are used to making hotel reservations nearly a year ahead of time, booking dining reservations 180 days out (yes, you need to decide where to eat six months ahead of your meal!), and arranging Fast Passes 60 days out, changing things on the fly is a little disconcerting.  I will admit to being the crazy Disney mom with the spreadsheets. It doesn’t matter that I have the My Disney Experience app, I still rely on paper printouts, color coded, with confirmation numbers dutifully cataloged. Magic Kingdom is loaded on the page in red; Animal Kingdom is in green; Hollywood Studios is purple… you get the picture.  It’s obsessive, I know.

So, fast forward to today, when my dining reservations went out the window. Although the reservations were currently still showing up on the My Disney Experience app at noon, I’m sure they’re going to disappear at any moment. According to a posting on the Disney Parks website: 

As a result of limited capacity, we have made the difficult decision to cancel all existing dining reservations and experience bookings, including Disney dining plans included in packages. Unfortunately, due to capacity reductions, the following will be cancelled: 

- Dining reservations

- Offerings and experience bookings such as behind-the-scenes tours

- Disney dining plans included in packages

- All FastPass+ selections.

Along with the cancellation of special experiences and dining packages, there are also changes coming to the hours of park operations, likely due to the absence of the nighttime fireworks shows which will not be taking place, as well as the need for extra time for cleaning down the parks under the new cleanliness guidelines. Extra Magic Hours are also temporarily suspended. 

Dining reservations, when they do reopen, will shift to a 60-day booking window to allow guests to make reservations closer to their actual arrival dates, and guests can expect that dining and tour experiences will operate under more limited attendance numbers. New ticket sales are also on pause. These changes are all being made to prepare for a new Park Reservation System that will have guests making reservations ahead of arrival for specific entry to the parks under reduced attendance limitations. Existing ticketholders and APs will be given priority in rebooking before the window opens to new ticket holders. According to Disney, guests who booked Resort hotel reservations with a Free Dining Package for dates between May 28, 2020 and September 26, 2021, will receive an automatic cancellation of their Disney dining plan and are invited to rebook their vacation for a later date with a 35% room discount. New bookings at Resort hotels are also paused while those with existing reservations are doing the rebooking dance. And, as most people are already aware, masks, temperature checks, and distance markers on the ground are already part of the Disney experience. 

While these cancellations are enormously disappointing (we’ve tried to get some of those dining reservations over the course of multiple trips without success, and now they are gone again), I have confidence that Disney will figure out a way to make this right for guests. COVID-19 sent a huge whammy in their direction, too, and they are reacting to moment-by-moment changes just as we all are in our everyday lives.  Information is bound to change yet again as Disney prepares this new Parks Reservation System to come online. Some guests and Annual Pass Holders are already getting emails about procedures to change their reservations. And, of course, this is all contingent on whether or not the country experiences a rebound of COVID-19 cases, which could bring things back to a standstill.

Here are my apologies in advance, but by the time you read this, the information may already be obsolete.  I’ll just leave you with two links at which Disney has been posting their updates.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/experience-updates/

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/travel-information/

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See related...

“Disney Announces Reopening Dates for Walt Disney World”

“News on Theme Park Reopening Plans – Universal Orlando’s Big Step”

See recent...

“Return of My Guilty Pleasure: National Treasure”

“PRESS CLUB C Podcast with Ray Keating – Episode #10: Streaming Fueling the Nerd, Including the Disney Nerd”

“Is “The Wonderful World of Disney” Still Wonderful?”

See notable...

“Leadership Changes at the Walt Disney Company”

“Theme Parks: Pandemic, Disney and the Little Guys”

__________

Beth Keating is a regular contributor to DisneyBizJournal.

SECOND UPDATE: Disney Announces Reopening Dates for Walt Disney World

by Ray Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

May 27, 2020 (Second Update at 1:15 PM EDT)

The Walt Disney Company submitted its plan today with the reopening dates for its Walt Disney World parks.

The Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom are scheduled to reopen on July 11.

EPCOT and Hollywood Studios are scheduled to reopen on July 15.

There will be soft opening efforts in the days before in order to fine tune and assess policies.

Disney’s Jim McPhee told the Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force in a remote meeting that attendance would be limited – including on attractions, on transportation and at restaurants – and a new pre-arrival reservation system will be established. Of course, a variety of new safety protocols will be implemented upon reopening.

Update: The task force unanimously approved the Disney plan, as well as one from SeaWorld to reopen on June 11. The plans must receive okays from Mayor Jerry Demings and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

Also, under Disney's plan, fireworks and parades will be temporarily suspended, while cashless payments via contactless payments will be enhanced. Among the safety measures will be face coverings, temperature screenings and social distancing protocols.

Second Update: Via its Disney Parks Blog, Disney, in part, noted:

This phased reopening will demonstrate a deliberate approach, with limits on attendance and controlled guest density that aligns with guidance on physical distancing. That means certain experiences we know draw large group gatherings – such as parades and nighttime spectaculars – will return at a later date. In addition, “high-touch” experiences such as makeover opportunities, playgrounds and character meet and greets will remain temporarily unavailable, but characters will still be in our parks to entertain and delight our guests.  

Because theme park capacity will be significantly limited as we welcome guests back to the magic, we will manage attendance through a new theme park reservation system that will require all guests to obtain a reservation for park entry in advance. At this time, we are temporarily pausing new ticket sales and Disney Resort hotel reservations so we can focus on guests with existing tickets and reservations (Disney Vacation Club members can still make new reservations). Existing ticket holders and Annual Passholders will be able to make reservation requests in phases before new tickets are sold; we’ll be reaching out to these guests soon to provide additional details. We will resume new ticket sales and hotel reservations after that period of time. Theme park reservations will be limited due to attendance limitations and will be subject to availability. More details about this new reservation system will be available soon. 

Additionally, Disney Vacation Club resorts at Walt Disney World will reopen to members and guests and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground will begin to reopen on June 22. Disney Vacation Club resorts in Vero Beach, Florida, and Hilton Head, South Carolina, will also open to members and guests starting on June 15. Plans to support required physical distancing as well as enhanced cleaning measures, along with a number of other safety and cleanliness protocols, will be implemented as part of this planned phased reopening. 

Today, our World of Disney retail shop reopened at our Disney Springs shopping and dining complex at Walt Disney World. And in the coming weeks, Disney Stores will begin a phased reopening of operations globally, beginning with a select number of stores in the United States, in addition to stores in Europe and Japan. 

__________

See recent...

“Return of My Guilty Pleasure: National Treasure”

“PRESS CLUB C Podcast with Ray Keating – Episode #10: Streaming Fueling the Nerd, Including the Disney Nerd”

“News on Theme Park Reopening Plans – Universal Orlando’s Big Step”

“Is “The Wonderful World of Disney” Still Wonderful?”

See notable...

“Enjoy a Disney Discussion Doubleheader!”

“Leadership Changes at the Walt Disney Company”

“Theme Parks: Pandemic, Disney and the Little Guys”

__________

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of The Disney Planner 2020: The TO DO List Solution (now available at a deep discount) and the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

Get the paperback or Kindle edition of Ray Keating’s new book Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York.

Disney Networks Covering SpaceX Launch Today

by Ray Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

May 27, 2020

The May 27^th launch of two American astronauts – Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley – to the International Space Station (ISS) will be historic for a couple of reasons. First, it will be the first time in nearly 10 years that American astronauts will lift off for the ISS from U.S. soil. Second, and more notably, this will be the first time that a privately-owned company will transport humans to the ISS.

Two of Disney’s networks - ABC News Live and National Geographic – will begin coverage at 3:00 PM EDT on May 27^th. The liftoff is set for 4:33 PM EDT, weather permitting, from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with ABC joining the coverage just prior to launch. Live coverage will return on Thursday, May 28^th, when the spacecraft – the Crew Dragon capsule – is expected to dock with the ISS.

Where exactly will you find coverage? The following comes from the joint press statement:

ABC News Live provides “LAUNCH AMERICA: MISSION TO SPACE LIVE” to viewers on Hulu, The Roku Channel, YouTube TV, Amazon’s news app on Fire tablets and Fire TV devices, Xumo, Sling TV, Facebook, Twitter, ABCNews.com, the ABC News and ABC mobile apps, and standalone ABC News Live apps on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Roku and Apple TV. 

National Geographic provides “LAUNCH AMERICA: MISSION TO SPACE LIVE” to viewers on the NGTV app across all devices, On Demand on cable and satellite providers, NatGeoTV.com, Hulu, YouTube TV and other program providers.

What about the dicey weather for today? ABC News reported: “Should the launch be postponed prior to the live event, ABC News Live and National Geographic will air the special on the new launch date, which is determined by NASA and SpaceX and is slated for Saturday, May 30, from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. EDT.”

__________

See related...

“Disney in Space ... Beyond Star Wars”

See recent...

“Return of My Guilty Pleasure: National Treasure”

“PRESS CLUB C Podcast with Ray Keating – Episode #10: Streaming Fueling the Nerd, Including the Disney Nerd”

“News on Theme Park Reopening Plans – Universal Orlando’s Big Step”

“Is “The Wonderful World of Disney” Still Wonderful?”

See notable...

“Enjoy a Disney Discussion Doubleheader!”

“Leadership Changes at the Walt Disney Company”

“Theme Parks: Pandemic, Disney and the Little Guys”

__________

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of The Disney Planner 2020: The TO DO List Solution (now available at a deep discount) and the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

Get the paperback or Kindle edition of Ray Keating’s new book Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York.

Return of My Guilty Pleasure: National Treasure

by Ray Keating

News/Review

DisneyBizJournal.com

May 26, 2020

On my PRESS CLUB C Podcast, I ask each guest to play a game called “Tell Me Your Favorite.” It’s meant to be fun, and one of the questions is “Your favorite guilty pleasure?”

When it comes to movies, among my guilty pleasures are the National Treasure films. Apparently, I’m not alone as National Treasure and National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets did extremely well at the box office, and now there’s serious talk about not only a third film, but a Disney+ series.

Released in 2004, National Treasure earned $348 million globally on a production budget of $100 million, according to BoxOfficeMojo.com. Three years later, National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets pulled in $459 million, with a production budget of $130 million.

With the news of National Treasure returning, I sat down for a double feature, and did indeed renew my guilty pleasure. In both films, Nicolas Cage, hardly one of my favorites, nails it as treasure hunter Benjamin Franklin Gates, as does Diane Kruger as Abigail Chase. And yes, Justin Bartha performs his Riley Poole role as comic relief to delight.

And each movie turns out to be a fast-paced, tad-goofy, treasure-hunting romp across the nation and around parts of the world. The movie playfully toys with history, and such historical events, items and places as the Declaration of Independence, the Resolute Desk, the Statue of Liberty, the White House, the plot to assassinate President Lincoln, Mount Vernon, Independence Hall, Mount Rushmore, the Library of Congress, Trinity Church on Wall Street, Boston’s Old North Church, and much more. 

If you’re looking for solid history, the National Treasure movies are not for you. But if you’re open to adventure/action/mystery movies that are fun, and might even spark an interest to explore the actual history, then enjoy these films.

For good measure, there should be more to enjoy. As reported earlier this month by Variety, producer Jerry Bruckheimer said that a third National Treasure movie is being worked on, which would feature the stars of the original movies, as well as a Disney+ series that would have a younger cast. Bruckheimer was quoted, “Hopefully, they’ll both come together and we’ll bring you another ‘National Treasure,’ but they’re both very active.”

Bruckheimer told Collider, “The film version is being written right now. The television version is in process. We have a pilot script done and an outline of the future episodes.”

It’s time for Disney, Bruckheimer, Cage and Company to get to work in cranking out more of my National Treasure guilty pleasure. What’s the next treasure hunt?

__________

See related...

“‘Disney Gallery/Star Wars: The Mandalorian’ is Must-Watch on Disney+”

“‘Prop Culture’ on Disney+ is a Movie-Lover’s Treasure”

See recent...

“PRESS CLUB C Podcast with Ray Keating – Episode #10: Streaming Fueling the Nerd, Including the Disney Nerd”

“News on Theme Park Reopening Plans – Universal Orlando’s Big Step”

“Is “The Wonderful World of Disney” Still Wonderful?”

See notable...

“Enjoy a Disney Discussion Doubleheader!”

“Leadership Changes at the Walt Disney Company”

“Theme Parks: Pandemic, Disney and the Little Guys”

__________

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of The Disney Planner 2020: The TO DO List Solution (now available at a deep discount) and the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

Get the paperback or Kindle edition of Ray Keating’s new book Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York.

PRESS CLUB C Podcast with Ray Keating – Episode #10: Streaming Fueling the Nerd, Including the Disney Nerd

Ray Keating goes full nerd in this episode – with plenty from Disney and on Disney+. He mainly focusing on how online streaming services are fulfilling many of his nerd dreams pertaining to DC comics and movies – the Snyder Justice League cut! – Marvel comics, movies and shows, Star Wars, Star Trek, film stuff, and yes, Chuck. Join Ray, and embrace your inner nerd.

News on Theme Park Reopening Plans – Universal Orlando’s Big Step

by Ray Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

May 21, 2020

While the overall economy is not a light switch that can just be flipped back on, the switch on news about plans to reopen theme parks – or related to reopening at some point – has been flipped. The big news is about Universal Orlando moving to reopen on June 5.

After Disney Springs started its partial reopening on Wednesday, May 20, now news arrives that Universal Orlando received approval on May 21 from the Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force to reopen the theme park at reduced capacity on June 5, after having employees do a kind of dry run on June 1 and bringing in invited guests on June 3 and 4, according to The Hollywood Reporter and other news reports.

In terms of how things would operate, the Reporter noted:

“Masks and temperature checks will be required for both visitors and employees. If a guest does not have a mask, one will be provided for them, officials said. Interactive play areas have been closed. There will be no more valet parking. Mist areas will be closed. There will be no more post-show meet-and-greets. All menus will be paper single-use in restaurants. Cash will still be accepted, but the park is trying to minimize it. Employees will self-check at home and then be checked again once they arrive to work. Signage will be placed throughout the park to remind visitors of social distancing, with at least six feet of separation required for ride and food lines.”

Universal’s plan also must be approved by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. CNN noted: “Gov. Ron DeSantis said Wednesday regarding theme park reopening proposals, ‘Obviously I want to get to yes, so I think if you work with your local [officials], you'll be in pretty good shape.’”

Universal Orlando’s CityWalk was partially re-opened on May 14.

Meanwhile, over at Disneyland’s website, the company provided an update on how things would look upon reopening (whenever that might be) Disney’s California parks. The key part of the statement was:

“Upon reopening, certain Disneyland Resort theme parks, hotels, restaurants and other locations may be limited in capacity and subject to restricted availability or even closure based on guidance from health experts and government officials. Furthermore, certain attractions, experiences, services and amenities will be modified, have limited availability or remain closed. Park admission and offerings are not guaranteed.”

So, Disney is keeping its powder dry for now on when its U.S. parks – for that matter, each of its parks other than Shanghai – will be reopening.

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of The Disney Planner 2020: The TO DO List Solution (now available at a deep discount) and the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

Get the paperback or Kindle edition of Ray Keating’s new book Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York.

Is “The Wonderful World of Disney” Still Wonderful?

by Beth Keating

Review 

DisneyBizJournal.com

May 21, 2020

When I was a small child, Sunday nights meant curling up in front of the television for the next offering in The Wonderful World of Disney. To a child growing up without cable and perhaps less than a dozen antennae channels to choose from, it was high theatre indeed. When The Muppet Show came on in the Sunday night time slot years later… well, it was nothing short of amazing. (Incidentally, Disney just announced that Muppets Now will debut on Disney+ July 31^st.)

It may not be on Sunday nights anymore, but this week, Disney launched a Wednesday night version of The Wonderful World of Disney. The name of the show has had a number of different incarnations over the decades, but the current iteration is called The Wonderful World of Disney Movie Night, and will air for at least the next three weeks. Moana kicked off the series last night. Thor: The Dark World will air May 27, followed by Up on June 3 and Big Hero 6 on June 10.  All movies air from 8-10 pm (EDT).

So, was the evening worth it? Is Disney’s movie night still wonderful? The answer is: it depends. For those of us who have access to Disney+, it is just as easy to watch the movie commercial free, and on our own timetables, on the streaming service. There wasn’t much magic added to the evening watching it on regular broadcast television, interrupted every 10 minutes by the requisite commercial break.

However, for those of you who exist in the Twitter-verse, there was some added value in that Lin-Manuel Miranda (who served as songwriter for Moana) and Auli’i Cravalho (the voice of Moana) hosted a watch party on Twitter with special guests and behind-the-scenes stories about the creation of the movie. Viewers could follow the stars’ tweets as they responded to the movie unfolding on TV, and there were more than a few interesting tidbits to glean from the creators.

Disney hasn’t yet announced whether there will be additional surprises in store for the next few Wednesday nights. Knowing Disney, it’s safe to assume that there will be, in order to draw viewers’ attention to the programming. 

Beth Keating is a regular contributor to DisneyBizJournal.