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February 5, 2010 at 4:45 pm EST
Disneyland and California Adventure will be closing early again today as the rains have affected normal operation of the park. The parks have been closed early twice in the last month. The forecast does continue into tomorrow so if you plan to go to the resort, be aware that several attractions may be closed and shows canceled.
Disneyland park will close at 8 PM and California Adventure at 6 PM.
Update: Tonight, the 6th, it has been reported that Disneyland Park will close at 9:00 PM and DCA at 6:00 PM.
Topics: Disney's California Adventure, Disneyland |
Disney Hotel Workers to Fast
February 4, 2010 at 5:44 pm EST
The OC Register reporting on the ongoing dispute between Disney Hotel Workers and Management:
Some Disney hotel workers today said they are willing to risk their own health by joining a hunger strike for the sake of securing free healthcare benefits.
Today, the Disney hotel union, Unite Here Local 11, announced that 10 members plan to start a hunger strike on Tuesday to draw attention to a two-year contract dispute. The participants plan to consume only water for at least seven days.
Disney officials say the union is using the strike to distract from the negotiations stalemate.
“This is just another tactic from Local 11 leadership to distract from the fact that after two years their members are still without a contract,” said Suzi Brown, a Disneyland Resort spokeswoman, in a prepared statement Wednesday.
The main contention is over healthcare costs: Disney wants employees to contribute to the company health plan. The union wants to keep providing its own free health care for about 2,150 members, with Disney kicking in more funds.
In the past two years, employees say workloads also have increased, some leading to health problems, said Ada Briceno, the union’s secretary-treasurer. Disney officials say that the workload has remained about the same and injury reports have collectively decreased in the past two years at the three hotels: Grand Californian, Paradise Pier and Disneyland.
“We are offering Local 11 the same reliable and affordable heath care coverage in which members of the other 30 of 31 unions at Disneyland Resort and more than 66,000 Disney employees nationwide participate,” Brown said in a prepared statement.
Basema Sharaf, the widow of a hotel cook, said her husband died on the job of a heart attack, which she attributed to his failure to take breaks and to working extra hours.
“He worked under a lot of pressure and stress at Disneyland,” Sharaf said.
Kristi Richards, a Grand Californian Hotel cashier who worked with Musa Sharaf, tearfully said she is fasting to pay respect to her co-worker and support others.
In the past, Richards said she went to work while sick because she couldn’t afford to lose money, as employees have lost sick days because of the contract dispute. But she has since saved up vacation time to take a week off. See a previous story about the sick-pay issue HERE.
“I’ve done everything I can do,” Richards said. “I’m basically out of ideas.”
The participants plan to camp out in tents on the sidewalk in front of the Grand Californian Hotel starting at 5 p.m. Tuesday and are inviting others to join in.
It is illegal to block the sidewalk and officers have been talking to union organizers about logistics, said Sgt. Rick Martinez, an Anaheim Police Department spokesman. Briceno said participants plan to leave room for pedestrians to pass by, but they are willing to get arrested.
“We’re hoping it doesn’t come to that,” Briceno said.
On Friday, Disney urged union officials to meet with a federal mediator, which union leaders said they would do. But Disney had yet to receive a response from the union as of this morning.
Topics: General News, Resort Hotels |
Passholders to get Food and Wine Tickets Early
February 4, 2010 at 4:50 pm EST
From Disney Parks Blog:
The most voracious fans of Disney’s California Food & Wine Festival know that the fifth annual Festival will celebrate “The Art of Flavor” from April 16 through May 31 this year. But the date they’re really craving is the first day of ticket sales. We’ve got that news for you today.
Tickets for selected Signature events go on sale February 4 for Disneyland Resort Annual Passholders only, at the Special Offer Page. General sales of all Festival Signature events will begin on February 16 at 10 a.m., at www.disneyland.com/foodandwine.
Annual Passholders will be able to register from February 4 through February 15 to get special reduced prices for these events: winemaker dinners, a new Brewmaster Dinner, and the Festival finale celebration “Taste Food-Wine-Life.” Annual Passholders must provide proof of membership online.
While you may be familiar with the winemaker dinners, here’s a little more information about “Taste Food-Wine-Life.” It’s a fun, high-energy evening that combines the best elements of the Food & Wine Festival into one grand finale celebration, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, May 29. The party has live musical entertainment, an outstanding selection of wines and a variety of food to taste. Not only do you get to see Disney chefs whipping up their specialty food dishes, you can talk to them about their creations as you sample their work.
If you’ve attended Disney’s California Food & Wine Festival in previous years, please share what you enjoyed most at the Festival.
Pricing and Times can be found at The Disneyland Annual Passholder Site
Topics: Disney's California Adventure, General News |
Jamie Nakagiri’s 1/30/10 DLR Photo Report
February 1, 2010 at 2:26 pm EST
Jamie Nakagiri, the first female team member in Disneyland News Today Podcast history, recently took a trip to the Disneyland Resort and has a plethora of photos to share in her first ever photo report:
Welcome to Disneyland, where we’re still celebrating….
Topics: Disney's California Adventure, Disneyland |
Chris Lastrapes’ 1/29/10 Disneyland Mini-Photo Report
January 29, 2010 at 3:43 pm EST
DLNT Reporter Chris Lastrapes made a quick trip to Disneyland park this morning and has a few newsworthy photos to share with us:
The Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor is closed for refurbishment
Topics: Disneyland |
Chris Lastrapes’ 1/22/10 DLR Photo Report
January 25, 2010 at 5:04 pm EST
Here is a photo report from DLNT’s newest reporter (yes, we moved him back again) Chris Lastrapes from 1/22/10:
The newly repainted queue for Captain EO
Topics: Disney's California Adventure, Disneyland, General News |
Myrna Litt’s 1/17/10 NFFC & DLR Photo Report
January 23, 2010 at 12:48 am EST
DLNT roaming reporter Myrna Litt went to an NFFC Show and the Disneyland Resort on a rainy Sunday and took these photos to share with us:
Myrna took a picture with Tony Baxter
Topics: Disneyland |
“World of Color” Comes Together
January 21, 2010 at 1:01 pm EST
Disney recently released two videos highlighting the creation process for California Adventures’ upcoming “World of Color” nighttime spectacular:
Topics: Disney's California Adventure |
This IS the Droid Your Looking For…
January 20, 2010 at 12:16 am EST
From the official Star Wars website:
This spring, visitors to Disney Parks in Florida and California will be able to pick up an exclusive new Hasbro astromech R2 unit, decked out in classic Mickey Mouse colors and ears! The new astromech, R2-MK, recently made a quick stop at Skywalker Ranch before heading to Walt Disney World in Florida and Disneyland Resort in California, and posed for this snap!
Here’s the announcement from Disney:
“The creative “Forces” at Disney and Lucasfilm are proud to announce an all-new character coming to the Disney Parks in April 2010. Every Jedi needs his own astromech droid, and Jedi Mickey is no exception. This spring we will be introducing Jedi Mickey’s own droid, R2-MK.
“This new character is exclusive to the Disney Parks, and he will be available at both Walt Disney World in Florida and Disneyland Resort in California. It will come packed as a Hasbro action figure 2-pack along with Jedi Mickey and will retail for $18.95.”
Topics: Shopping |
Myrna Litt’s 1/6/10 DLR Photo Report
January 19, 2010 at 5:50 pm EST
Our apologies again for the lateness of this photo report, we are interviewing new lead reporters for the Disneyland News Today site this week and updates should return to normal shortly. Here is a photo report from DLNT Reporter Myrna Litt taken on January 6th:
“Go wild in the parks” is a new campaign for the Disney Parks focusing on Anaheim and Orlando local visitors
Topics: Disney's California Adventure, Disneyland |