Disney California Adventure to launch food experience in March

[Th3 DUd3]

To be fair, these are probably ideas (out of many) they have thought of themselves, but the logistics, financial reality, unions, Covid-rules, etc is probably why they never did them. Again, we only focus on DL here because we are big fans, but outside of KBF, no other theme parks anywhere in California (or much of the country which I remind people most of the theme parks are still closed as well) is during this because they probably just don't think it will be successful enough.

No, it was me. TP2000 can attest to it and you can go look at my history as to when I came up with everything that they are doing now.

 

[Stevek]

Can we open up hockey games at Honda Center and call it “The Samueli Ice Hockey Experience” And Angel Stadium will have “Moreno’s Field of Dreams Experience“?

Or the Anaheim Ducks tanking for a lottery pick experience OR the Los Angeles Kings tanking even worse lottery pick experience

 

[fctiger]

No, it was me. TP2000 can attest to it and you can go look at my history as to when I came up with everything that they are doing now.

I know that, I'm saying inside the company itself this was probably suggested just as many things at the time, they probably just felt it wasn't worth doing (and there were tons of logistical and union issues they had to think about). And to be more honest, they probably assumed the park would just be open again in a few months, especially once WDW opened so quickly so it was no point.

As said no other theme parks has really done this outside of KBF because it probably just doesn't seem worth it.

But of course things are very different now sadly.

 

[phillip sugarman]

Does everyone think Main Street will reopen along with California Adventure?

RUMOR: Main Street U.S.A. at Disneyland Park to Reopen March 14th, Exactly One Year After the Park Closed - WDW News Today

A daily-updated resource for news and information on the Disney resort around the world.

dlnewstoday.com

 

[cmwade77]

OK fair enough. Yes I looked around a few weeks ago and a lot of them were closed. But I guess it's because as you said it's winter time and a lot are just closed for this time.

But my point still stands. For the ones that are still closed, few attempted to do these kinds of events because the thinking probably is people show up to the parks to ultimately ride rides and not to eat food while gawking at closed attractions. It's probably just better staying closed.

I think in other parts of the country that may be true, largely due to weather, really we have the weather to support such events and we have enough people to bring in for atmosphere entertainment, etc. that it does work here when it wouldn't in large parts of the country. Knotts showed how well it works here.

 

[cmwade77]

Does everyone think Main Street will reopen along with California Adventure?

RUMOR: Main Street U.S.A. at Disneyland Park to Reopen March 14th, Exactly One Year After the Park Closed - WDW News Today

A daily-updated resource for news and information on the Disney resort around the world.

dlnewstoday.com

I think it is possible that we see DCA become a festival center and DL open for shopping and dining until the parks can fully reopen.

 

[cmwade77]

I know that, I'm saying inside the company itself this was probably suggested just as many things at the time, they probably just felt it wasn't worth doing (and there were tons of logistical and union issues they had to think about). And to be more honest, they probably assumed the park would just be open again in a few months, especially once WDW opened so quickly so it was no point.

As said no other theme parks has really done this outside of KBF because it probably just doesn't seem worth it.

But of course things are very different now sadly.

Well, the union issues were definitely problematic I am sure, which is something Knott's didn't have to deal with.

 

[fctiger]

I think in other parts of the country that may be true, largely due to weather, really we have the weather to support such events and we have enough people to bring in for atmosphere entertainment, etc. that it does work here when it wouldn't in large parts of the country. Knotts showed how well it works here.

OK but as I said, we still have at least a dozen parks here in California that are still closed and no one attempted it outside of KBF. I just think, as I said, putting on these events is probably just not deemed worth it. KBF did it and it is successful enough but it still didn't get bigger parks like Universal, Sea World or Disney to attempt it. And I think with DLR, they already had DTD to at least attract people to spend money without a huge amount of money.

I do think what Magic Mountain did for Christmas was a great event, having a drive through to see the Christmas lights, but after that, they haven't attempted anything else. For whatever reason, the event at KBF doesn't seem like it's catching on to any other parks, even as a weekend or holiday thing.

 

[cmwade77]

I agree. I am beginning to wonder if a slow “phase in” of rides could happen as a means of enticing visitors should Orange County get to “Orange Tier” in the late Spring or Summer. As one idea, what’s to stop them from upwelling a timed entry ticket to a “Pixar Pier Experience” treating the Pier as a “small amusement park” under the state guidelines. TSMM and TLM may need to be closed, but otherwise all other Pier rides and queues are already fully outdoors.

Even with the current strict capacity limit - spread over three of four (3 or 4-hour?) day parted shifts it would seem like a reasonable “add on” to a “food festival” ticket in the future if this continuing into May-July. Similar to the 2019 Galaxy’s Edge previews only with no overlapping “ shifts”.

I also wonder if the Red Car (and/or Main Street vehicles) could be exempted as operational as transportation vehicle.

As I pointed out before, I think it is very clear the train could run because it is definitely transportation as we have seen in various places throughout the state, including pumpkin patches, zoos, parks, etc. I would think the argument could be made for the Trolley, Monorail and Main Street Vehicles as well.

As for rides, well I still think Disney could use the technicality that the California courts have deemed all rides as transportation when there were battles over if they had to be accessible or not. So, one could say that all rides are indeed transportation and can open as long as they adhere to the guidelines of transportation. But I don't think Disney or any other theme park will push that one and at present rides cannot reopen until Yellow tier, so hopefully the legislature will get their way with the bill and get them at least pushed into Orange.

Due to union agreements, Disney has to bring back full time CMs first and once brought back they have to be given a certain minimum number of hours a week (36 I believe, but not positive) and due to California Labor laws they couldn't have them constantly working 7 days straight to accomplish the minimum number of hours without paying a lot of overtime. So the number of hours the event is open for is likely to be 8 to 9 hours per day. Now they could find ways to do timed tickets I suppose limiting it to 3 to 4 hours per ticket, but I doubt that would go over well.

 

[DrAlice]

I would suspect that BV will no longer be open to the public and will instead be included as part of the extra admission price.

Maybe. Although, they have BVS closed at the edge of Carthay Circle and at the edge of the Soarin' building (before the gate that was used during the BVS renovation). They could theoretically use that gate for ticketed food/wine guests and run the festival around that corridor from GRR, through SF, down the parade corridor to the entrance to CarsLand/rope at Carthay. This would leave the current area of BV street open for everyone for shopping/dining, while the food/wine festival experience is controlled to ticket holders.

Complicated? Yes, but would maximize the shoppers in BVS as people wait for their reservation time to enter the food/wine thing. I guess we'll find out the plan soon enough.

So, guesses on how fast it sells out? 10 minutes? 10 seconds?

 

[fctiger]

It has more to do with Disneyland's No Alcohol policy to why DCA is doing this fest and DL is not. Also, DCA has the infrastructure for festivals they do 2 per year now. Idk why they would do it in Disneyland.

That's an amazing point! Yes, alcohol is what fuels these events more than anything. Since Disneyland still has that very outdated rule, it just makes more sense to set these things up at DCA where you can drink literally everywhere. The day that can be done at DL, they would probably have these kinds of events there, but that day will probably never come.

 

[el_super]

Of course this is the part where I say why not the rides then? At least start with outdoor rides. Limit capacity and put zip code restrictions on guests if you re worried about people traveling. Why is is the inside of a store ok for Sacramento but the Ferris Wheel isn’t?

You can't guarantee that people from different households won't meet up at the park. Even if you put zip code restrictions on entering, unless you are prepared to militantly enforce ID checks at each attraction entrance, you can't be sure.

 

[Stevek]

Maybe. Although, they have BVS closed at the edge of Carthay Circle and at the edge of the Soarin' building (before the gate that was used during the BVS renovation). They could theoretically use that gate for ticketed food/wine guests and run the festival around that corridor from GRR, through SF, down the parade corridor to the entrance to CarsLand/rope at Carthay. This would leave the current area of BV street open for everyone for shopping/dining, while the food/wine festival experience is controlled to ticket holders.

Complicated? Yes, but would maximize the shoppers in BVS as people wait for their reservation time to enter the food/wine thing. I guess we'll find out the plan soon enough.

So, guesses on how fast it sells out? 10 minutes? 10 seconds?

If they give Legacy Passholders first crack, the rest of us are hosed. They'll buy up all the available tix.

 

[cmwade77]

OK but as I said, we still have at least a dozen parks here in California that are still closed and no one attempted it outside of KBF. I just think, as I said, putting on these events is probably just not deemed worth it. KBF did it and it is successful enough but it still didn't get bigger parks like Universal, Sea World or Disney to attempt it. And I think with DLR, they already had DTD to at least attract people to spend money without a huge amount of money.

I do think what Magic Mountain did for Christmas was a great event, having a drive through to see the Christmas lights, but after that, they haven't attempted anything else. For whatever reason, the event at KBF doesn't seem like it's catching on to any other parks.

Actually a lot of Southern California parks have been attempting to do something, some Northern California as well, I will go through the major theme parks starting south and work my way north to show what they have been doing, I will leave zoos and aquariums out of this unless they also have theme park elements:

• Bellmont Park
  • Reopened all allowed portions
  • Closed what was required with ICU change
  • Reopened all allowed portions
• SeaWorld
  • Reopened as a Zoo/Aquarium with shows
    • Initially outdoors only, then indoors was allowed for a while, then back to outdoors only
  • Closed with ICU capacity change
    • Reopened as a Drive-Thru light event
  • Reopened again as a Zoo/Aquarium with shows
    • Currently outdoors only
• Legoland
  • Reopened their walk-through area(s) if you spent a certain amount or stayed at their hotel
  • Closed with ICU change
  • Reopened again with same criteria, hotel reopens soon
• Disneyland/DCA
  • Reopened Downtown Disney
  • Expanded Downtown Disney into DCA
  • Closed what had to due to ICU changes
  • Expanded Again
  • Will do festival
• Knott's Berry Farm
  • Various food festivals, complete with atmosphere entertainment
• Universal Studios
  • Citywalk Reopened in varying forms
  • Unlike most other theme parks, they still have revenue coming in from use of the studio portion
• Magic Mountain
  • Drive Thru Event

Now admittedly, I am not completely sure that the rest are in any particular order going further north:

• Great America
  • Has announced an official reopening date, although I will believe it when I see it.
• Six Flag's Discovery Kingdom
  • Marine portion reopened
  • Closed with ICU change
  • Reopened Marine portion on select dates
• Gilroy Gardens
  • Same official reopening as Great America, again I will believe it when I see it

I am sure there are others, but these are the ones that I know for sure and do show that the parks aren't sitting idle ignoring options to bring in money, but different parks have taken different approaches. And keep in mind Northern California doesn't enjoy the same weather we do here either, so they are also a bit more limited on what they can and can't do from that perspective.

 

[cmwade77]

If they give Legacy Passholders first crack, the rest of us are hosed. They'll buy up all the available tix.

Or they could put a limit on the number of advance ticket sales or limit them to specific dates. But most likely, I think we will simply get a discount, hopefully a nice one on the tickets.

 

[el_super]

Does everyone think Main Street will reopen along with California Adventure?

I don't.

 

[cmwade77]

That's an amazing point! Yes, alcohol is what fuels these events more than anything. Since Disneyland still has that very outdated rule, it just makes more sense to set these things up at DCA where you can drink literally everywhere. The day that can be done at DL, they would probably have these kinds of events there, but that day will probably never come.

It isn't antiquated at all, there is a large portion of the population that really enjoys going places where alcohol isn't sold, so it makes it nice to have an option like that.

 

[BuzzedPotatoHead89]

You can't guarantee that people from different households won't meet up at the park. Even if you put zip code restrictions on entering, unless you are prepared to militantly enforce ID checks at each attraction entrance, you can't be sure.

But you can’t guarantee that now either at your local zoo, shopping mall, living room, etc. If you have this be part of an advanced online reservation/ticketing system with an embedded QR code and you limit it to parties of 4 or 6 persons per reservation, it seems like a reasonably failsafe approach.

I do think indoor attractions should be reviewed differently on a case by case basis but I actually think that opening outdoor attractions for large parks in Orange (if not red tier) makes sense.

In all honestly in the broad scheme of things, I’m far more concerned about folks fraudulently skipping the line to get vaccinated before their priority group than I am if someone wants to “game Disney” to ride with their friends for an open air ride (with face masks) on Mad Tea (Non)Party or the Pixar “No Paling Around” Fun Wheel.

 

[cmwade77]

But you can’t guarantee that now either at your local zoo, shopping mall, living room, etc. If you have this be part of an advanced online reservation/ticketing system with an embedded QR code and you limit it to parties of 4 or 6 persons per reservation, it seems like a reasonably failsafe approach.

I do think indoor attractions should be reviewed differently on a case by case basis but I actually think that opening outdoor attractions for large parks in Orange (if not red tier) makes sense.

In all honestly in the broad scheme of things, I’m far more concerned about folks fraudulently skipping the line to get vaccinated before their priority group than I am if someone wants to “game Disney” to ride with their friends for an open air ride (with face masks) on Mad Tea (Non)Party or the Pixar “No Paling Around” Fun Wheel.

Not to mention theme parks, zoos, etc. shouldn't be responsible for forcing people to follow the rules, in fact no one should be forced to follow them, just be aware of the risks they are taking. And I don't even think we need to review on a case by case basis, I think attractions should be allowed to reopen and I think theme parks should get the exact same tiers as zoos, aquariums and museums, Purple outdoors, everything else at varying indoor levels.

 

[Stevek]

Or they could put a limit on the number of advance ticket sales or limit them to specific dates. But most likely, I think we will simply get a discount, hopefully a nice one on the tickets.

Yeah, I'm sure they will limit either advanced sales or the number of tix legacy can buy in each sale and overall i.e. APs get 20% of available tix for any one day and Billy Bob Legacy AP can purchase 3 different days.