At the start of 2020, we saw the arrival of a new merchandise collection, the Minnie Mouse Main Attraction Collection. This collection mashes up fashionable Minnie Mouse with beloved Disney attractions. The latest for this series features Peter Pan’s Flight, and was expected to debut this Saturday, June 20. However, when you visit the shopDisney website there is a message that “Minnie will return soon.”
Minnie Mouse Main Attraction Summer DelayMinnie Mouse Main Attraction Peter Pan’s Flight Collection
Furthermore, the remaining series no longer show the months they are associated with. Next month, was supposed to be July’s collection featuring the King Arthur Carrousel at Disneyland. Seemed like a perfect tribute to Disneyland’s 65th anniversary as one of the park’s opening day attractions.
King Arthur Carrousel Minnie Mouse Main Attraction Collection
It’s not clear when the remaining series will be released, and whether or not they will be available in person at either Disney Springs or the parks once they open. In previous times, shopDisney had a statement: “New collection product launches and limited-edition merchandise will not be available for in-person purchases at Walt Disney World Resort until further notice. As always, Guests can find these items on shopDisney, subject to availability.”
We’ll keep an eye out for the latest updates on this beloved collection.
It is now more important than ever for theme park guests to utilize their cell phones while visiting the parks. With theme parks around the word adjusting their operations due to COVID-19, guests are having to adapt how they visit the parks as well. Shanghai Disneyland has launched a new virtual queue system called Standby Pass. This new system may give us some ideas of how visiting the domestic Disney parks may change in reflection of COVID-19 precautions. Let’s dive in to how the Shanghai Disneyland virtual queue system works.
Shanghai Disneyland App – Standby Pass
Theme park admission required
Much like Walt Disney World’s FastPass+ system, visitors must have admission to the parks before being able to using the Disney Standby Pass system.
Shanghai Disneyland App – Standby Pass
Virtual Queue is not the same as a FastPass
A Disney Standby Pass, which is a virtual queue, is not the same as having a FastPass. The purpose of the virtual queue is to reduce the amount of physical queue space being occupied by guests, which would make it difficult for social distancing. Disney Standby Passes will be released daily through the Shanghai Disneyland app on an hourly basis.
There are limitations on the amount of Standby Passes released, and they are on a first-come, first-served basis. The last Standby Passes will be distributed approximately two hours before the park closes each day.
Once the Standby Pass window that you’ve selected becomes valid, you must wait the posted wait time in the Standby line. In the first image below, only people with a valid Standby Pass for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train would be allowed into the queue, at which time they would expect to have a 5-minute wait with appropriate social distancing in the queue area. Without a Standby Pass, you would not be permitted to enter the queue.
Only guests inside the park can open the Shanghai Disneyland app to secure Disney Standby Passes. You must physically in the park, with each member of your party being in the park too. The Standby Passes are available for free with paid admission, unlike the Disney Premier Access (similar to Disneyland’s MaxPass–a paid FastPass system).
Using the Shanghai Disneyland app to acquire a Disney Standby Pass requires you to scan your park ticket’s QR code. You will also need to make sure your party is linked together in the app. The Standby Pass will be issued as an one-hour window. Once you confirm the selection you can go about your day in the park as you await your one-hour window to arrive.
Entering the attraction with a Standby Pass
Once the one-hour window has arrived for the Standby Pass, head to the attraction’s Disney Standby Pass return entrance. Disney Cast Members will scan each park ticket to verify the Disney Standby Pass. There is also a QR code in the app that can be scanned. The Disney Standby Pass is only valid for the specific return window on the date issued.
Once you’ve entered the Standby Entrance you will need to wait the posted wait time; the Standby Pass is not like a FastPass.
Shanghai Disneyland Standby Pass Information
Disney Standby Pass Test Expanded to More Attractions
The first test of the Disney Standby Pass began at the beginning of June. At the time the only attraction that offered Disney Standby Pass was The Adventures of Winnie The Pooh. Now the test has been expanded to two additional attractions. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Disney Color-Fest are now part of the test.
It is especially interesting to see a show, Disney Color-Fest, included in the test. Shows are usually not a good use of a virtual queue system. A shows present a different set of social distancing challenges than rides do. This could be a solution to some of the show-specific challenges with social distancing.
Simple Summary of the Disney Standby Pass Steps
Download the Shanghai Disneyland app
Enter the park and open the app and select “Get Standby Pass”
Scan the QR code on the ticket
Create a party in the app by linking everyone else’s tickets
Select the attraction your want
Confirm selection
Go to Standby entrance of the attraction at designated time with QR code that will generate in the app or the QR code on your park ticket
Shanghai Disneyland App – Standby Pass
You may recognize this process from that of the Virtual Queue that was in use for Rise of the Resistance at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This is also similar to the Virtual Queue that is currently in use at Universal Orlando. We’ll see what the future holds for this type of system at Walt Disney World.
Many Disney fans know of Gideon’s Bakehouse. The sweet shop is pretty darn famous for selling their loaded cookies at The Polite Pig in Disney Springs. But soon, this award-winning bakery will be opening its very own location in The Landing, across from Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar at Disney Springs.
Gideon’s is best known for small-batch, handmade, almost half-pound cookies, as well as cakes. Gideon’s popular cookie at Disney Springs currently is the loaded chocolate chip cookie, but they also have unique flavors like Peanut Butter Crisp, Cookies & Cream and Pistachio Toffee Dark Chocolate.
Gideon’s Bakehouse opened just over 3 years ago on a budget of $800 and a single employee. We’ve pushed through some unbelievable challenges to keep up with our growth and are now ready to take our next big step. We’re happy to announce our second location is coming this year to Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort. We’re a small team with a single owner and no partners or investors. We did this purely on our own steam fueled by you, our local community. This step is enormous, to say the least, but we’ve learned so much over the last few years, and we’re ready for this challenge. We’re proud to be a representative of the fantastic local food scene in Central Florida and look forward to chatting with visitors about our favorite parts of Orlando. We hope to have your support on this evolution of the Gideon’s experience. So what can you expect? We would tell you more, but we’re nothing if not a little dark and mysterious. Stay tuned, and be sure to follow our social media for all the fun updates!
Gideon’s is expected to bring an expanded menu of cookie and cake slices to Disney Springs, plus a unique line of iced coffees, like the Original Peanut Butter Iced Coffee. Guests will be able to find their favorite cookie flavors along with new and limited editions offered during special daily releases. The ever-popular Coffee Cake Cookie (previously only available one month a year) will be on sale every morning, with a Hot Cookie Hour each evening. (Oh my god….what? Hot Cookie Hour? Sign me up….right now!)
“This opportunity is truly a dream come true and will allow us to flex all of our creative muscle in both desserts and décor. We’re passionate, inspired, and ready,” said Steve Lewis, owner and creator of Gideon’s Bakehouse.
Gideon’s Bakehouse is anticipating opening later this year.
We all know that the NBA is coming to play at Walt Disney World’s ESPN Wide World of Sports and in order to do so, it was stated that the teams would need to quarantine in select hotels to make sure that players remained as healthy as possible from COVID-19. The question that was on everyone’s mind is which hotels would the players be staying at? According to USA Today, we have our answer and we know which teams are staying at which hotels.
The 22 teams will be split among three different Walt Disney World Hotels. They are Gran Destino Tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, and Disney’s Yacht Club Resort. The teams were separated by seed, so the higher seeded teams will be staying at the “nicer” accommodations and the lower seeded teams are the other accommodations. (I used nice in quotes because while I think all the Walt Disney World Resort Hotels are nice, apparently NBA players may have disagreed, but I digress.
Here is who is staying where:
The top seeded teams, the Bucks, Lakers, Raptors, Clippers, Celtics, Nuggets, Jazz and Heat will all be staying at Gran Destino Tower. Staying at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort will be the second tier of the Thunder, 76ers, Rockets, Pacers, Mavericks, Nets, Grizzlies and Magic. The lowest tier, the Blazers, Kings, Pelicans, Spurs, Suns and Wizards will reportedly be at Disney’s Yacht Club.
The tentative start date for the remainder of the season is supposed to be set for July 31.
From our friends at touringplans.com Filed Under: News, Walt Disney World (FL), Disney’s Grand Destino Tower, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, NBA, walt disney world
Hey everyone! As the guy that writes the monthly previews for Disneyland, the last few months have been, umm, challenging. With that said, we now know when things are going to start to reopen! The parks won’t be opening until July 17, but Downtown Disney will be opening before that, opening select restaurants and retail locations on July 9. With that in mind, here’s a listing of the things that are on my short list at Downtown Disney when we’re able to head back!
I have to be honest: the thing I’m most excited about is simply being there. I love the sights, the sounds, the smells, and just the energy of the Disneyland Resort. As such, the very first thing I’m going to do is — nothing in particular. Maybe I’ll grab a churro or a coffee at Starbucks, but I want to find a beautiful Southern California day, and just walk around and take it in for a little while. Bonus: Downtown Disney is a great place for people watching, and I plan to take full advantage of that opportunity while I’m at it.
Uva Bar
For me, if I’m not walking around taking in the atmosphere, the next best thing is sitting down somewhere where I’m still surrounded by great energy, and nowhere exemplifies that more than the Uva Bar. It’s located smack dab in the middle of the promenade near Catal (with whom it’s affiliated), such that you can enjoy a cocktail or some light fare while still being surrounded by the hustle and bustle of Downtown Disney. If, like me, you enjoy it as a nice afternoon respite but don’t want to get weighted down with a substantial meal, the Trio of Mediterranean dips, featuring hummus, baba ghanoush, and mouhammara with pita bread, and the Crispy Calamari with arugula, pickled peppers, and aïoli are great options to pair with a dry white wine, like a Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay. For more substantial fare, consider the Lamb Burger served with piquillo pepper, feta, arugula, and lemon-dill aïoli, or the Fish Tacos.
Disney is, for many, a place to indulge, and there are few places that provide an opportunity to do that like Black Tap Burgers and Shakes. Yeah, yeah, yeah, they have great burgers and all, but I’m making a beeline for one of the signature Crazy Shakes, which are essentially milkshakes that look like they are wearing a whole ‘nother dessert as a hat. Black Tap does have outdoor seating, providing the perfect place to do some people watching while treating myself to Sweet ‘N Salty Peanut Butter Shake.
I am a fan of craft beer, and one of the newer establishments at Downtown Disney, Ballast Point, is one of the best places to grab a beer. Ballast Point has been brewing award-winning IPAs out of San Diego for a while now, and their Downtown Disney tasting room is the perfect place to get a flight and sample a few. They do have a patio, and the upstairs (if it’s open) provides a great view of the Downtown Disney district while sipping on some amazing brews. The Sculpin IPA is the flagship beer, but they’ll have a revolving selection of options as well to check out.
At some point, I need to have a proper meal, and for me, Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen is going to be my first destination when that time comes. It’s got a large open-air seating area with a distinct French Quarter vibe, and the food is solid and remains one of the better options for a sit-down meal at Downtown Disney. I’ll be having some Gumbo Ya-Ya to start, of course, and probably some Barbecue Shrimp and Grits. Chances are pretty good there will be a Sazerac involved as well. All in all, not a bad visit, even without any parks to visit…
So, are you planning a trip to Downtown Disney when it opens in a few weeks? What is the first thing you’re looking forward to doing? Let us know in the comments!
