A Blog About Disney Stuff

The National Basketball Association and the National Basketball Players Association announced today that they have finalized a comprehensive plan for a July 30 restart to the 2019-20 season, which includes stringent health and safety protocols, a single-site campus at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and the goal of taking collective action to combat systemic racism and promote social justice.

In addition, the NBA and Disney have reached an agreement that makes the Arena, the Field House and Visa Athletic Center at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex the venues for all games for the remainder of the season, which will resume with 22 teams returning to play and with no fans in attendance.

The NBA and the NBPA confirmed today an agreement on health and safety protocols that will govern the resumption of the season.  The rigorous program, which addresses risks related to COVID-19 and focuses on the well-being of players, coaches, officials and staff, was developed in consultation with public health experts, infectious disease specialists and government officials.

As announced on Wednesday, the NBA and the NBPA have agreed in principle that the goal of the season restart will be to find tangible and sustainable ways to address racial inequality across the country.  Leaders from the NBA and the NBPA have also discussed strategies to increase Black representation across the NBA and its teams, ensure greater inclusion of Black-owned and operated businesses across NBA business activities, and form an NBA foundation to expand educational and economic development opportunities across the Black community.  In recognition that long-term change can only come from an informed and sustained commitment, conversations regarding these efforts will continue and additional details will be released at a later date.

“We have worked together with the Players Association to establish a restart plan that prioritizes health and safety, preserves competitive fairness and provides a platform to address social justice issues,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.  “We are grateful to our longtime collaborator Disney for its role in playing host and making this return to play possible, and we also thank the public health officials and infectious disease specialists who helped guide the creation of comprehensive medical protocols and protections.”

“It is very exciting to officially announce the restart of the 2019-2020 season,” said NBPA Executive Director Michele Roberts.  “It has taken true collaboration between the League and the Union – special kudos to our Executive Committee and several other team reps – along with the continued support and assistance from medical experts, public health officials and many others.  Additionally, our platform in Orlando presents a unique opportunity to extend the ongoing fight against systemic racism and police brutality in this country.  We will continue to work with our players and the League to develop specific plans in Orlando as well as long-term initiatives to bring about real change on these issues.”

“We’re glad to be able to provide a unique venue where the NBA can resume its season at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex,” said Josh D’Amaro, Chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products.  “We look forward to welcoming the players, coaches and staff to Walt Disney World Resort as they prepare for the exciting return of professional basketball.”

Under the competitive format for the restart, the 22 participating teams will be the eight teams in each conference with the highest current winning percentages and the six teams that are currently within six games of the eighth seed in either conference.

The restart will begin with each participating team playing eight “seeding games,” as selected from its remaining regular-season matchups.  The complete game and national television schedules for the seeding games will be announced tonight.  The NBA and its broadcast and technology partners are collaborating to enhance game telecasts and bring fans an immersive, interactive viewing experience.

At the conclusion of the seeding games, the seven teams in each conference with the highest combined winning percentages across regular-season games and seeding games will be the first through seventh seeds for the NBA Playoffs for that conference.  If the team with the eighth-best combined winning percentage (regular-season games and seeding games) in a conference is more than four games ahead of the team with the ninth-best combined winning percentage in the same conference, then the team with the eighth-best winning percentage would be the eighth playoff seed in that conference.

If the team with the eighth-best combined winning percentage in a conference (Team 8) is four games or fewer ahead of the team with the ninth-best combined winning percentage in the same conference (Team 9), then those two teams would compete in a play-in tournament to determine the eighth playoff seed in the conference.  The play-in tournament will be double elimination for Team 8 and single elimination for Team 9.

The NBA’s standard playoff tiebreaker procedures will be used to break any ties on the basis of winning percentage.  Once the 16-team playoff field is set, the NBA Playoffs will proceed in a traditional conference-based format with four rounds and best-of-seven series in each round.  The 2020 NBA Finals will end no later than Oct. 13.

 

Source Disney

From our friends at chipandco.com
Filed Under: Parks & Resorts, Resorts, Walt Disney World, Wide World of Sports, Disney World, nba, NBA Season

Actors’ Equity Union Calls For Walt Disney World to Delay Reopening. With a record breaking increase in COVID-19 cases in Florida overnight, it comes as no surprise that many Cast Members are fearful of returning to work “too soon” and catching the virus from guests and co-workers. The Actors’ Equity Association is verbally speaking out against the Disney Parks decision to postpone opening for Disneyland, but refusing to postpone the re-opening date for Walt Disney World Resort despite the upward track of COVID-19 cases in Florida.

“If Disneyland has postponed, it is unclear how Walt Disney World can responsibly move toward reopening when coronavirus cases are much worse in Florida,” shared Mary McColl, the executive director of Actors’ Equity Association. “For weeks, we have made it clear to Disney that testing is a fundamental part of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for everyone, from the guests to the cast.”

McColl continued, “It is deeply disturbing that while coronavirus cases in Florida surge, Disney is refusing to provide regular testing to one of the few groups of workers in the park who by the very nature of their jobs, cannot use personal protective equipment. Now is the time for Disney to pause, focus on the science and put the safety of their actors and stage managers first by making regular testing available.”

The magic is returning. Read a message from Josh D’Amaro regarding our Disney parks and experiences around the world. https://t.co/YjTECaKZh8 pic.twitter.com/5t2naFeLEs

— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) June 10, 2020

Though, the union only speaks professionally for entertainers and performers who work at Walt Disney World Resort, their concern stems to other Cast Members within the company as well. A primary concern being that performers and entertainers will not be able to wear proper PPE while performing for guests.

Disney Parks had announced that Disneyland would re-open on it’s opening day anniversary, July 17th, but as cases rose in California, Disneyland officials shared that the park would not re-open as planned and a new date would be determined at a later time. Be sure to check back here at Chip and Co. for updates and all things Disney Parks!

Featured Photo Credit: Walt Disney World

Source: Deadline

From our friends at chipandco.com
Filed Under: Walt Disney World, News, Parks & Resorts, Actors’ Equity, Cast Members, Walt Disney World Resort

A few days ago, Disneyland started recalling its Cast Members. In the days since then, the reopening of Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure Park, and the Disneyland hotels have been postponed.

But many workers who have been furloughed since mid-April are concerned about returning to parks while cases in California are on the rise.

According to The Orange County Register, Disneyland and one of its largest unions have reached an agreement today regarding enhanced health and safety protocols that will be implemented upon the reopening of the resort.

Comprised of over 11,000 Cast Members, the union is now prepared to return to Disneyland after Disney agreed to several demands they presented. According to the new agreement they’ve just signed, employees will be eligible to receive two weeks of paid sick leave if they contract the virus.

All employees will also have to perform a mandatory at-home health check before heading to work and will be provided a thermometer by Disney, under the agreement. Cast Members who must work within six feet of guests will also be issued a plastic face shield.

At this time, Cast Members who are still concerned about their safety can decline the first recall notice and continue to remain on furlough and receive benefits, according to the union agreement. After that, Disneyland Cast Members who decline a second call to return to work must go on an approved leave of absence or be subject to termination.

As with Disney World’s reopening, a new Guest Experience Team will be on hand to help explain and enforce the new safety guidelines. “The safety and wellbeing of our cast members and guests are at the forefront of our planning, and we look forward to continued dialogue with our unions on the extensive health and safety protocols, following guidance from public health experts, which we plan to implement as we move toward our proposed, phased reopening,” a Disneyland stated.

For now, Disneyland is moving forward with the reopening of its shopping and entertainment district, Downtown Disney, on July 9th and you can read more about the health and safety precautions that will be in place here!

Click here for all the latest Disneyland news including updates to its change or cancellation policies!

Are you planning on going to Downtown Disney when it opens? Let us know if you’ll be there in the comments below.

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: disney california adventure, Disney News, Disneyland, Disneyland Column, Disneyland Resort, Downtown Disney Anaheim, Featured, agreement, cast members, delay, demands, furlough, reached an agreement, reopening, returning to work, union

Although Disneyland’s reopening has been delayed, we know it will reopen. So now maybe it’s time to start getting excited about the opening of Avengers Campus? Rikki has a great overview of what to expect in terms of attractions and experiences, and we now have a little more detail on what sort of food and merchandise is going to be available. Read on for more!

Merchandise

 

As you can probably expect, you’ll be able to get all manner of things emblazoned with Marvel Avengers logos–everything from mugs, hats and pins, to doodads, thingamabobs, and whatchamacallits.

One of the more interactive items planned is the opportunity to build your own remote-controlled Spider-Bot from WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure. They will be available at WEB Suppliers. We’ll update you with more details on how the process will work once they are made available.

Guests will be able to emulate their friendly neighborhood arachnid by picking up some Spider-Man light goggles (with 17 unique expressions) or Web Shooters, which go around the wrist and use lights and sounds to simulate web-shooting.

 

Funko POP! fans will have fun collecting Disneyland-exclusive vinyl figurines, including Spidey and Iron Man pictured above.

There will of course be plenty of Avengers-inspired attire. There are options for coordinating the whole family…

And clothing specially designed for the little ones, including superhero costumes.

Food and Drink

Avengers Campus is going to have some interesting food options, many of them at the Pym Test Kitchen, where Ant-Man and The Wasp’s shrinking and growing technology is put to work on food. This Impossible Spoonful (Experiment No. EE45) features massive and micro plant-based meatballs served in an oversized spoon with a miniscule fork.

Similarly, the Not So Little Chicken Sandwich (Experiment No. EE90) is an Asian-inspired fried chicken breast sandwich that is wildly out of proportion to its bun.

At Terran Treats, you’ll be able to try a Cosmic Cream Orb, “a crispy cream puff with whipped raspberry cheesecake mousse.”

Back at Pym Test Kitchen, Experiment No. EE746: PB³ Superb Sandwich is the unusual combination of peanut butter, banana, smoked bacon and strawberry jelly, served with a banana smoothie shot and tots.

Pym’s Tasting Lab will offer craft beer and other adult beverages with a laboratory theme. Pictured above, from left to right:  X-Periment, Molecular Meltdown, Honey Buzz and Particle Fizz

Kids will have plenty of fun options at Pym’s as well. Pictured above are the Proton PB&J Punch (Odwalla lemonade with flavors of strawberry and peanut butter), and Pingo Doce (from Avengers lore).

Check out Disney’s site for a complete rundown of food and merchandise options.

Are you looking forward to checking out the offerings at Avengers Campus? What are you sampling first, and what’s coming home with you on Day 1? Let us know in the comments!

 

The post Avengers Campus Food, Drink & Merchandise at Disney California Adventure appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Dining, Disney California Adventure, Disneyland (CA), Marvel, Merchandise, Avengers Campus