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Resort News - (8/25/10) It goes without saying that the story about the Muslim girl from Morocco wanting to wear her hijab to work at the Disneyland Resort really touched quite a few nerves last week. While the majority of readers who wrote in with comments seemed to express support for Disney’s position on the matter, I did receive 3 or 4 letters from readers who were not only shocked that Disney wouldn’t allow it, but kind of irked at me for posting my own support for Disney’s position on why she couldn’t wear it.
    While I wasn’t really planning on doing any kind of follow-up to the story, and was just going to leave well enough alone (since I do try to avoid political controversy here) the LA Times has posted a fantastic follow-up story of their own about the issue about how Disney is well within their rights to deny the request, and how historically from the start Disney Cast Members who work in the public eye as informed (and sign off on this matter at the time of hire) that they are to refrain from wearing religious items to work. For those who didn’t understand the issue, this sums things up far better than I could ever do, so please give it a read.
    In other news the Disneyland Half-Marathon has sold out for the 5th straight year and is expected to bring in over 19,000 athletes to the resort on September 5th.
    (8/23/10) Disneyland Resort CM’s have been approved for pay raises over the next 5 years under a new long term 5-year union contract, the longest term signed in the history of the park. While this applies to over 13,000 of the resort’s 15,500 CMs, the 2,100 member hotel workers union deal is still in limbo, unable to reach any agreement for the past 2.5 years.
    (8/20/10) It’s stories like this that drive me crazy… because the “religious freedom” you have in this country, no matter what it may be, does not grant you the right to do or wear whatever the hell you want while under the employ of another company. Case in point… Disney rightfully sent this girl home without pay (after she refused an offer to work in a backstage area) for suddenly trying to wear her “hijab” Muslim head covering to work in the Storyteller’s Restaurant.
    An immigrant from Morocco, this Cast Member has worked for Disney for 30 months now, but suddenly after being granted true US Citizenship last month, she decides to come into work wearing the hijab. Clearly she was looking to start trouble and make a fuss, because she arrived to work accompanied by members (plural) from the Council on American Islamic relations.
    While the constitution grants you the right of religious freedom and the right to wear whatever hat or head-covering you want on your own time…when you go to WORK to get PAID… you’ve got to following the grooming and uniform / costume guidelines of the company you work for. Disney attempted to accommodate her wishes and offered her a backstage position, which she turned down, opting to go home without pay. I don’t know if I’m more upset she did this or that the new felt like giving her some brief fame out of it.
    (8/5/10) On top of raising ticket prices, the cost of parking also went up to $15.
    (8/4/10) Disney has decided to jack up their ticket prices again at both the California and Florida parks.  Starting August 5th the price of a 1 day ticket to either Disneyland or California Adventure will now be $76 for adults (up from $72) and $68 for children (up from $62). You can find the new official Disney price list here.
    (7/17/10) The OC Registers talks a bit about Disneyland’s upcharge Halloween themed special ticket night events, and mentions that the price has over doubled in the 5 years since they started it. In 2005 a ticket to the event was just $18, last year it was as low as $32 depending on the night you went. This year the price is $49 on most nights and $59 for October 29th & 31st.
    (7/2/10) A huge construction update (over 250  pictures) throughout the Disneyland Resort has been posted to Original D.
    (5/28/10) Disneyland fans, be sure to check out the newly redesigned DLR Today website, which also has some nice artwork showing off the newly announced pool area for the Disneyland Hotel which will feature a slide tower topped off with a classic era Disneyland sign and enclosed slide sections that look like Mark III Red and Blue monorails… the ones with the pilot bubble on top.
    (4/29/10) Today’s Westcoaster update is all about the Disneyland Resort, stopping into both theme parks and everything in between.
    (4/27/10) Disneyland fans with an iPhone take note of a new App for you… the “Disneyland Secrets Gold!” Notescast App has arrived, revealing over 110 “secrets” about the park while you visit.
    (4/21/10) It’s unfortunate, but it looks like Disneyland is planning on adding doors to their parking lot trams. According to the reader who sent in this photo, they saw at least two trams running this past weekend, outfitted with the new doors.
    (2/22/10) Original D has posted a new construction update showing off the refurbishment of the Disneyland Hotel… complete with an appearance by the local fire department as a small fire broke out at the work site.
    (10/26/09) A Screamscape source tells me that Disney is speaking with the company behind the Characters in Flight balloon ride attraction at Walt Disney World about bringing another such Balloon experience to Downtown Disneyland.

Now though 2011 - Disneyland Hotel Renovation - (2/12/08) Renovations on the first of the three towers is expected to begin just before the start of the summer season.
    (7/26/07) Apparently approval has been given to start a complete renovation of the existing Disneyland Hotel. This will be a total redecoration from top to bottom, allowing the hotel to reflect the Disney theme inside and out. The planned rehab would begin in the first half of 2008 where they will renovate each of the three towers, one at a time, taking about 9-10 months to complete each one. MiceAge has already reported that the three towers will be renamed as well with new Disney appropriate names. The Marina Tower will become the Magic Tower, the Sierra Tower will become the Dreams Tower and the Bonita Tower will become the Wonder Tower. Hmmm… Disney Magic… Disney Wonder… those names have also been used for the two existing Disney Cruise Line ships. With two more vessels on the way, I can’t help but wonder if one will be named the Disney Dreams. They also mention that the private halls will be renamed as well: El Camino hall will become Frontier hall, Marina Ballroom will become the Magic Kingdom Ballroom along with other related name changes throughout.

2011 - Disney Cruise Line - (3/31/09) According to the Orlando Sentinel, the Disney Wonder will leave Florida to take roots in a new home at the Port of Los Angeles in 2011. The deal still has to be finalized, but they’re working on a 2 year port deal with a 3 year extension option as long as all works out.

???? - New Resort Hotel(s) - In Development - (2/12/08) Blue Sky Disney brings up the subject of adding two more hotels to the Disneyland Resort in the future. In addition to the rumored hotel plans for the Simba lot (next to the Paradise Pier hotel) they also claim that the hotel project along Harbor Blvd that we heard about last year was still in the works. The update mentions that it would provide a nice dramatic visual theme to those traveling down Harbor and serve as a portal to everyone entering the Disneyland Resort Esplanade area in the same fashion of how the Disneyland Hotel in Paris works placed over the park’s main entrance.
    (3/19/07) Rumors are running wild about all kinds of possible hotel development projects at the Disneyland Resort. In addition to expanding the Grand Californian, renovating the existing Disneyland Hotel and possibly building a new hotel, we’ve also heard a couple of rumors concerning the future of the Paradise Pier hotel. Proposals have been apparently drawn up for several options for the site ranging from renovation all the way to demolition to build a completely new and themed resort on the property. We’ve also heard that the Del Coronado style concept that was mentioned for the site along Harbor may actually be moved to the parking lot next to the Paradise Pier hotel instead. From memory, I seem to recall seeing plans from back when DCA was under construction showing off the Downtown Disney parking lot as the site for a future “Magic Kingdom” themed hotel as well, but it looks like they don’t’ want to risk closing that lot for the time being.