As finishing touches were being put on Shanghai Disneyland shortly before its grand opening in 2016, I was lucky enough to spend more than a month at the park taking photos of attractions, restaurants and merchandise locations. In my almost 20 years as a photographer with The Walt Disney Company, I’ve been privileged to take photos all over the world, but this was the very first time I was part of “opening” a new park. It was even more exciting because it was the company’s first park in mainland China.
Bob Iger famously described the Shanghai Disneyland as “authentically Disney and distinctly Chinese,” and I spent a long time looking for just the right image to capture the essence of that statement. The photo needed to blend Disney magic and China’s cultural spirit. To me, Enchanted Storybook Castle, with its celebration of all the Disney princesses, is the park’s centerpiece and a natural to represent Disney. So I kept walking in circles around the castle looking for a frame that included the castle and just the right piece of Chinese décor. Turns out, what I was looking for didn’t require any walking at all.
One day I took a trip on Voyage to the Crystal Grotto, the enchanting boat ride near the castle that includes scenes of characters from beloved Disney films. I was in the boat to take photos of the attraction, but I ended up finding the image I’d been searching for all this time.
As my boat rounded a bend in the river and we passed Mulan, I looked up and … there was the picture I was looking for. The beautiful golden dragon you see here was framed up perfectly with the castle in the background – and the lighting was just perfect. Of the thousands of pictures I took during my time in Shanghai, this one felt like it had the most “pixie dust” on it, given how it seemed to magically appear before my eyes.
The Disney Loungefly backpacks certainly get lots of attention. But, the smaller version wristlets offer just as much cute character as the backpacks, with a smaller price tag. The wristlets can sometimes be more convenient since you can readily access them instead of having to take them off your back.
We spotted a few new characters available as a Loungefly wristlet at Main Street Jewelers in Magic Kingdom. Mike Wazowski, a Toy Story Alien, polka dot and sequin Minnie Mouse inspired, and Stitch designs are available here as well as a few other designs on shopDisney online. Each one costs $40.00 and has convenient features like a belt loop so you can wear it on your hip, and a detachable wrist strap with clasp.
Disney Loungefly Wristlets at Magic KingdomDisney Loungefly Wristlets – Mike WazowskiDisney Loungefly Wristlets – Toy Story Alien
Do you prefer the Loungefly backpacks or the wristlets?
Today, we’re sharing a new episode of #DisneyCastLife highlighting favorite stories of cast members making magic at our parks and resorts around the world.
For more #DisneyCastLife stories, follow the Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort Ambassador team on Instagram at @WDW.Ambassador and @Disneylandambassador. And be sure to keep checking the Disney Parks Blog for more #DisneyMagicMoments.
I may be a writer, but the pictures our field team captured at EPCOT on a recent weeknight visit have me almost at a loss for words. To say visiting Walt Disney World right now is unlike any other time in our lives is an understatement. While not every park is empty every day, we are finding that during weekday evenings the parks are a lot less attended on the weekends, much more so than usual. That gave the opportunity for some wonderful photos on a recent evening.
EPCOT, looking towards Future World, July 2020EPCOT, Mexico Pavilion, July 2020
Take a look at these captivating photos from Christina Harrison on our team.
EPCOT, Italy Pavilion, July 2020EPCOT, Italy Pavilion, July 2020EPCOT, France Pavilion, July 2020EPCOT, France Pavilion, July 2020EPCOT, United Kingdom Pavilion, July 2020EPCOT, Canada Pavilion, July 2020EPCOT, Mexico Pavilion, July 2020EPCOT, Festival Booth, July 2020
Visiting Walt Disney World now is a whole new experience. There are some positive changes that guests are now experiencing inside Walt Disney World’s theme parks, besides the extensive health and sanitizing measures. In fact, some of the changes are ones that many Disney fans hope become permanent.
Character Cavalcades
Let’s face it, it is nice when you meet your favorite Disney character and you get to have a personalized interaction with them, but sometimes the interactions can be rushed, and sometimes it means waiting in a long line.
Parades are usually quite the spectacle. But they require waiting along the parade route in the hot sun, on the hard concrete. Many times you have to defend your territory from late arriving guests who might encroach on your space. Clearly, such scenarios are problematic now. So Disney, and other theme parks, developed a solution with their impromptu character cavalcades.
At Magic Kingdom we’ve seen the Winnie the Pooh characters taking a ride on the trolley along Main Street USA. At Disney’s Animal Kingdom practically everyone has fallen in love with the characters on themed boats sailing the Discovery River. The characters appearing on Hollywood Boulevard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in themed convertibles give me nostalgic Superstar Parade vibes. These new ways of presenting Disney characters are fun, popular, and in a way, more accessible that traditional meet and greets or parades.
Pocahontas and Meeko on the Discovery River
QR Code Menus and Mobile Ordering
I have been a big fan of using Disney’s mobile ordering system. I often will pull up the app while waiting in line for a ride or when en route from one experience to the next so I can order my food and pay right from my phone. I’ve never had a long wait once I have checked in on my phone to pick up my food order. The only negative experience I’ve had with Disney’s mobile ordering is some nasty looks as I swiftly skate past the line to order and snatch up my food from the mobile order window. Disney has put an emphasis on mobile ordering and I am here for it!
Now at table service restaurants in the parks and other locations, guests are asked to use their phone to scan a QR code to pull up the menu. This has been a popular practice in restaurants around the country. I think this is a great way to present a menu in a way that is easier to read for many guests. Those will vision challenges often struggle with dim lighting in restaurants and with overly themed fonts. QR code menus allow for guests to view the menu in a way that suits their needs. It also saves on paper and other resources.
Morimoto Asia Menu QR Code
Hand Sanitizer Everywhere and Sanitizing Rides
Before COVID-19 I did not care for hand sanitizer. But now, I am all about it – and I am sure I am not alone. While every guest is welcome to bring their own hand sanitizer, and I probably will once I finally return to the parks, it is so great that Disney and the other theme parks have it practically everywhere for free.
At the entrance and exit of every ride you’ll find sanitizer dispensers. You’ll also notice the cast members wiping down and sanitizing the vehicles throughout the day. I am sure many of us would be pretty okay with these practices sticking around from now on. I’d love to see the theme parks, and other businesses, take this a step further and use a sanitizing mist. There are companies who make sanitizing “tunnels” for guests to walk through to have their temperature checked and be misted with sanitizer. I’d totally welcome these being added to Disney property.
Magic Kingdom Reopening Hand Sanitizer at Treehouse Entrance
Designated Entrances and Exits
I try hard not to get annoyed, but it irks me when I am trying to enter or exit a building and there’s a bottleneck because of traffic flow. Now, Disney and other theme parks have implemented designated entrances and exits for many of their buildings. This allows for better physical distancing. It hopefully allows for better traffic flow too. I would not mind if this practice stuck around to allow for better traffic flow in and out of buildings.
Final Thoughts
It’s not always easy accepting the reality we are in. But out of every adverse situation there can be opportunities for positive change. Perhaps the theme parks will emerge with a renewed commitment to health, safety, and operational ease. I’d be remiss if I did not mention the mixed emotions many of us are experiencing right now. And I absolutely must recognize the Cast Members, Team Members, Managers, and more that are working in Orlando’s theme parks to keep them safe and fun.
Is there a new practice you’ve seen implemented that you’d like to be made permanent? Let us know in the comments.
From our friends at touringplans.com Filed Under: In the Parks, Observations, Trip Planning, Disney Characters, disney guidelines, disney protocols, disney reopening
