Disney News on Parade

For August 28th, 2020

We cover a range of topics today from Bob Iger’s comments on CDC as well as reinstalling wages at the Disney executive level. Cast Member furloughs continue and NBA makes a protest inside the Disney bubble about tragic events occurring outside. A security guard gets attacked for asking a guest to wear his mask, and Disneyland is poised to reopen. All this and Halloween news at Walt Disney World. Join us for this week’s Disney News on Parade.

You can find our podcast here on Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, MyTuner, and ListenNotes. Photos and video follow, but for a more complete narrative, check out the podcast.

Bob Iger Cries Out Against the CDC

ABC News shared this week about the CDC’s abrupt change, telling people testing might not be necessary. Medical professionals and public health experts swiftly pushed back, calling the move baffling and dangerous because it would reduce the country’s visibility on the virus ahead of flu season.

What makes this article interesting for this source is that Bob Iger stepped out into the sunlight of Twitter and shared the following:

Disney Execs Rumored To Receive Their Pay Back

Variety reported that Disney has reinstated executive salaries for most of those impacted by temporary pay cuts amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to those familiar with the situation.

As of April 5, the company reduced salaries of vice president-level executives and above by 20%; senior VP pay was trimmed by 25%, and exec VP-level staff saw a 30% reduction. CEO Bob Chapek had taken a 50% salary cut. Executive chairman Bob Iger is foregoing his salary for the entire year.

Cast Member Furlough to Continue

Meanwhile, Disney Cast Members received an email from Disney this week stating:

“We continue to manage through this pandemic, and based on your role, you will continue to remain on furlough until further notice. When we initially notified you of your furlough, we could not have anticipated that it could exceed six months. However, due to business circumstances that were not reasonably foreseeable at the time and given the unprecedented and ongoing nature of the pandemic and its impact on our businesses, we regret to inform you that we now reasonably expect your furlough could extend beyond six months from your initial furlough date. We wish we had been able to provide you with more notice, and we have acted as quickly as we could, given the rapidly changing situation.”

NBA protests in the Disney Bubble

The Milwaukee Bucks’ decision to sit the fifth game of their first-round playoff series against the Orlando Magic, which was scheduled for Wednesday, eventually led to the rest of the day’s NBA postseason slate being postponed. Thursday’s matchups were called off as well. Meanwhile protests against brutal violence continue in Wisconsin.

While the season was potentially in ” jeopardy” players made the call Thursday to continue the season and have had positive communications with owners amid the recent playoff protest, according to the Bleacher Report.

Thirteen teams are left inside the Disney World campus in Orlando, Florida, where the remainder of the league ledger is being held.

Guest Arrested for Striking Epcot Security Guard in Protests of Masks

According to the Orlando Sentinel, an Orlando man struck an Epcot security guard when he was reminded to follow the theme park’s mask rules, an Orange County sheriff’s report says, the first known crime report involving such a confrontation at Disney World.

Enrico Toro, 35, is accused of hitting the guard in the head and threatening to kill him, which led to Toro’s arrest Aug. 14, the arrest affidavit said.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Meets with Orlando Area Parks

WESH shared that executives from all three theme parks told Florida Governor Ron DeSantis that the reopenings have been a success and claim they’ve created some of the safest environments in the world.

The governor in return replied that the state would be open to allowing the theme parks to increase capacity at their attractions.

“We think the capacity can be increased. When you have the kind of protocols they have in place, you know, we’re very comfortable at the state level that they’re doing it in a good way.”

Disney Annual Passholders Receiving More Days

To limit attendance Disney guests must make a reservation to visit. This has been a big issue

At the start of this week, additional days were added for shareholders wishing to visit the parks. On Thursday evening, even more days were added.

Some bloggers have noted that the reservation system is here to stay, quoting Josh D’Amaro, head of all Disney theme parks and experiences world-wide. Rather, what Josh noted was several technologies that emerged while dealing with this pandemic, to include the reservation system, and then noted that many of them are not going away.

Josh D’Amaro Notes Disneyland is “Ready to Reopen”

Josh was interviewed by the CEO of the U.S. Travel Association Roger Dow. In that interview he noted the following:

Josh also noted: “The reality is we don’t have an opening date for Disneyland right now. We don’t have any California guidelines for opening. And as soon as a date and those guidelines are set, I can tell you we are ready to reopen.”

In the wake of awaiting that day, Disneyland and Disney California Adventure park has started turning on its lights at night, as if to send a message that they are determined to someday reopen.

California currently sits with the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases of all 50 states. Florida’s number is not far behind.

Halloween

Although no Halloween parties will be held at the Magic Kingdom, the parks will be decorated and the guests will be invited to wear costumes during operating hours from September 15th to October 31st. There will also be lots of treats. Here’s the list.

Magic Kingdom

• Mickey Cinnamon Roll (Available at Main Street Bakery) – Mickey-shaped cinnamon roll drizzled with orange and white icing 
• Cinnamon Donuts (Available at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Café) – Served in a Hitchhiking Ghost Novelty container 
• Hades Nachos (Available at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Café) – Black bean nacho chips with “fiery” buffalo chicken, lettuce, tomato, sour cream, salsa, and jalapeño 

• Pumpkin Spiced Waffle Sundae (Available at Sleepy Hollow) –Pumpkin spice-flavored waffled topped with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, caramel drizzle, and sprinkles 
• Poor Unfortunate Souls Float (Available at Storybook Treats)– Cream cheese soft-serve, black raspberry syrup, and Coke 
• Pumpkin Spice Milkshake (Available at Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies) – Topped with whipped cream, caramel drizzle, sprinkles, and a Mickey-shaped marshmallow straw
• Pumpkin Spice Soft-Serve Sundae (Available at Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies) – Served as a sundae topped with whipped cream, caramel, and sprinkles
• Constance’s For Better or For Worse Wedding Cake (Available at Liberty Square Market) – Citrus cake with raspberry Bavarian cream, whipped cream flowers, and a chocolate axe.

• Mickey Monster Mash Burger (Available at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café) – Burger with Meunster cheese, potato barrels, bacon, and sriracha aïoli 
• Headless Horseman Rides Again (Available at Sunshine Tree Terrace) – Strawberry DOLE® Whip with Fanta Strawberry and a Headless Horseman Novelty Straw 
• Not So Poison Apple Cupcake (Available at Pinocchio Village House) – A spiced apple cupcake with pecan crunch buttercream themed after a poison apple 
• Orange and Black Sugar Churros (Available at Various Churro Carts and Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Café) 
• Oogie Boogie Dice Novelty Glow Cubes (Available at Various Quick-Service Restaurants) 

• Jack Skellington Sipper (Available at Various Quick-Service Restaurants and Outdoor Vending Locations) 
• Oogie Boogie Premium Popcorn Bucket (Available at Various Popcorn Carts) 
• Mickey Pumpkin Premium Popcorn Bucket (Available at Various Popcorn Carts) 
• Halloween Base Popcorn Bucket (Available at Various Popcorn Carts)

• Hitchhiking Ghost Premium Popcorn Bucket (Available at Liberty Square Popcorn Cart) 
• Hitchhiking Ghost Sipper (Available at Various Quick-Service Restaurants) 
• Madame Leota Sipper (Available at Sleepy Hollow) 

Epcot

• Halloween Cupcake (Available on Halloween Day Only at Sunshine Seasons) – Choice of vanilla or chocolate cupcake with buttercream and a Mickey Pumpkin garnish 
• Nemo & Squirt’s Noggin Concoction (Available on Halloween Day Only at Coral Reef Restaurant) – Chocolate brownie stuffed with a chocolate chip cookie topped with white chocolate-covered pretzels and a Mickey Pumpkin Garnish 
• Halloween Sugar Cookie (Available on Halloween Day Only at Traveler’s Café and Garden Grill) – Sugar cookie topped with Halloween Sprinkles 
• Liquid Nitro Cake Pop (Available on Halloween Day Only at Desserts & Champagne Marketplace in World Showplace for EPCOT Taste of International Food & Wine Festival) – Liquid nitro chocolate cake pop with Halloween sprinkles 
• Oogie Boogie Premium Popcorn Bucket (Available Canada Popcorn Cart and Fife & Drum) 
• Green Cauldron Premium Popcorn Bucket (Available at Eats at EPCOT Experience and Mission Space Popcorn Cart) 
• Halloween Base Popcorn Bucket (Available at all EPCOT Popcorn Locations) 
• Tire Pumpkin Novelty Straw (Available at Sunshine Seasons and Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue) 

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

• Scar Cupcake (Available at Creature Comforts, Flame Tree Barbecue, and Restaurantosaurus) – Red velvet cupcake with toasted marshmallow filling, chocolate marshmallow frosting, chocolate pebbles, white chocolate flames, and an edible icing image  
• Spooky Apple Punch Specialty Beverage (Non-Alcoholic) (Available at Flame Tree Barbecue and Isle of Java) – Sprite with Monin Apple Syrup poured over ice, garnished with a rocky candy apple straw, a gummy worm, a Novelty Poison Apple Glow Cube, and a sugar lime rim 
• Rotten Apple Punch Specialty Beverage (Alcoholic) (Available Flame Tree Barbecue) – Angry Orchard and Fireball Cinnamon Whisky over ice, garnished with a rocky candy apple straw, a Novelty Poison Apple Glow Cube, and gummy worms 
• Tire Pumpkin Novelty Straw (Available at Tamu Tamu, Trek Snacks, Restaurantosaurus, TriloBites, and Outdoor Vending Ice Cream Carts)  
• Purple Cauldron Premium Popcorn Bucket (Available at Trek Snacks) 
• Halloween Base Popcorn Bucket (Available at Trek Snacks) 

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

• Poison Candied Apple (Available at Trolley Car Café) – Apple and caramel mousse covered in red glaze with a crunchy candy base 
• Pumpkin Cheesecake Cannoli (Available at PizzeRizzo) – Pumpkin cheesecake mixed with a hazelnut praline crunch in a cannoli shell 
• Pumpkin Tiramisu (Available at Rosie’s All-American Café) –Layers of cream mascarpone and spiced pumpkin cake 
• Box of Bones Chocolate Éclair (Available at Backlot Express)– Chocolate éclair with dark chocolate mousse and white chocolate bones 

• Frozen Apple Cider (Non-Alcoholic) (Available at Rosie’s All-American Café, Backlot Express, and PizzeRizzo) – Served with a Novelty Poison Apple Glow Cube 
• Frozen Apple Cider with Crown Royal Regal Apple (Alcoholic) (Available at Rosie’s All-American Café, Backlot Express, and PizzeRizzo) – Served with a Novelty Poison Apple Glow Cube 
• Orange Cauldron Premium Popcorn Bucket (Available at Anahiem Produce, Hollywood Popcorn, and Animation Popcorn) 
• Tire Pumpkin Novelty Straw (Available at Rosie’s All-American Café, Backlot Express, PizzeRizzo, and Anaheim Produce) 

Tron Construction

Construction continues to play out for Tron Lightcycle Run alongside of Space Mountain.

The show building is largely enclosed, but look down at the bottom of the building.

A closer view indicates the canopy being assembled to go over the coaster.

Epcot Construction

Did you catch our last Epcot Update? It includes lots of photos and a complete podcast about the massive construction happening at that park. You can check it out here.