We previously announced a proposed phased reopening of our theme parks for July 17, pending government approvals. We developed enhanced health and safety protocols for both cast and guests at Shanghai Disney Resort, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort that have been approved, allowing us to reopen in a responsible manner and bring our cast members back to work.
The State of California has now indicated that it will not issue theme park reopening guidelines until sometime after July 4. Given the time required for us to bring thousands of cast members back to work and restart our business, we have no choice but to delay the reopening of our theme parks and resort hotels until we receive approval from government officials. Once we have a clearer understanding of when guidelines will be released, we expect to be able to communicate a reopening date.
Our Downtown Disney District will reopen on July 9 as previously announced with health and safety protocols in place for our cast members and guests. The opening of our Downtown Disney District has been previously approved in line with restaurant and retail openings throughout California. The Master Services Union, which represents our retail cast at this location, previously signed an agreement for members to return to work.
In order to reopen our theme parks we need to negotiate agreements with our unions to return employees to work. We have had positive discussions and are very pleased to have signed agreements from 20 union affiliates, including the Master Services Council, which represents more than 11,000 of our cast members. The signed agreement details plans that include enhanced safety protocols that will allow us to responsibly reopen, and get thousands of our cast members back to work.
We thank our cast and guests for their patience during this unprecedented time while we await approval from government officials.
Theme Park opens with controlled capacity, enhanced health and safety protocols and will manage attendance through a new online reservation system
Today, Disneyland Paris announced a phased reopening of the resort starting with the Disneyland Park, Walt Disney Studios Park, Disney’s Newport Bay Club Hotel and Disney Village as of 15 July 2020. The reopening is in line with guidance from French government and health authorities and has been discussed with Union Representatives from the Comité Social et Economique (CSE).
In addition, and subject to the continued evolution of the situation, Disneyland Paris also announced the scheduled phased reopening of several other Disney hotels including Disney’s Hotel Cheyenne on 20 July, Disney’s Hotel Santa Fe on 3 August and the Disneyland Hotel on 7 September. Disney’s Sequoia Lodge Hotel and Disney’s Davy Crocket Ranch will remain closed during the summer with reopening dates announced at a later time.
“All of us at Disneyland Paris are excited to be on the path to reopening over the next few weeks,” said Natacha Rafalski, President of Disneyland Paris. “Making magic means even more, as we reflect on the resilience of our cast members and community, the enthusiasm of our guests and fans, and the positive momentum of many reopenings in the tourism industry across Europe. We are looking forward to the return of our cast members and reopening our gates for guests to once again enjoy.”
“We are thrilled to see one of the main tourism destinations in Europe and largest single site employer in France reopen to guests and its employees,” said Sophie Huberson, Executive Director of Le Syndicat National des Espaces de Loisirs, d’Attractions et Culturels (SNELAC). “This is an important milestone for the tourism and leisure industry in France and will be a critical step in our industry’s recovery.” SNELAC is the organization representing theme parks, leisure and cultural areas in France.
Safety Measures and Experience
The phased reopening will incorporate a deliberate approach, with enhanced health and safety measures implemented for both cast members and guests. This will include limits on attendance and require advanced ticketing and reservations to accommodate controlled guest density that supports government guidance on physical distancing. As a result, some experiences, shows or events will not be available or may be modified upon reopening depending on the evolution of the safety and sanitary measures and recommendations from public authorities. This includes offerings such as Disney Stars on Parade and Disney Illuminations night time spectacular which will return at a later date.
The Lion King: Rhythms of the Pride Lands and Jungle Book Jive—two top-rated entertainment spectaculars—will return later in the summer. While character meet and greets will be temporarily unavailable, characters will be in the parks in new ways to entertain and delight guests. Other experiences such as playgrounds and makeover experiences will remain temporarily unavailable. Additionally, FastPass services will be suspended in order to allow for the necessary queue management on attractions. Cast members and guests ages 11 and older will also be required to wear face coverings while at the resort. More information on specific measures are available on www.disneylandparis.com.
Ticketing and Reservation System
As Disneyland Paris welcomes guests back to the magic with a limited number of tickets available each day during the initial reopening, a new online reservation system will be available in early July. To ensure admission, guests in possession of or buying non-dated tickets, and Annual Pass holders, will need to register on this new online reservation system to obtain a reservation for park entry prior to their arrival. Guests who already have a dated ticket, do not need to register and reserve a date. Likewise, guests with packages that include park admittance will receive admission for the duration of their stay and do not need to use the new online reservation system.
Tickets and packages are now on sale on the resort’s website, Disneyland Paris call center and official travel partner channels, with a limited number of tickets available each day during the initial reopening phase. Ticket sales will not be available on site.
To provide guests with maximum flexibility, new booking conditions are now available to include cancellations and modifications without fees (excluding transport) on stays in the Disney Hotels anytime up to seven days before the arrival date. Specific details are available on www.disneylandparis.com.
As Disneyland Paris readies for reopening, guests are invited to check www.disneylandparis.com for the latest information. Fans and guests can continue to experience the magic of Disneyland Paris through athome.DisneylandParis.com, and use #DisneyMagicMoments on social media to share their stories.
This June marks National Safety Month – a month that acknowledges the importance of safety in the workplace, as well as in our communities, through education, leadership and advocacy.
At Disney, safety is an important tenet and it starts with our cast members. Our dedicated cast members are at the heart of every great Disney experience, and the secret to the magic. It’s for that reason that Disney’s Four Keys – including Safety, Courtesy, Show and Efficiency – were created to serve as a compass for our cast members to create happiness and serve others.
Safety is the first key as a reminder that it is a top priority in the decisions we make – both for our cast members, and for our guests. It’s a foundation that was introduced by Walt Disney himself many decades ago.
It takes a variety of highly talented team members in different roles, working together to promote a healthy and safe environment at our Disney Parks and stores. And as we continue with the phased reopening of our parks, resorts and stores around the world, we’re excited to introduce you to a just a few of these professionals who are helping shape, monitor and implement our enhanced health and safety measures. They’re working closely with industry groups, research universities and public health agencies to promote safe practices while we work, stay, and play at Disney parks, resorts and Disney stores.
Meet some of our team members
Dr. Pamela Hymel – Chief Medical Officer, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products
Dr. Pamela Hymel has been with Disney for nearly 10 years, serving as the Chief Medical Officer for Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, where she’s responsible for developing global occupational health and wellness strategy, as well as managing domestic occupational medicine clinics and programs, guest first aid services and wellness programs.
Dr. Hymel received her MD from Louisiana State University in New Orleans and a master’s in public health from Tulane University. From there, she went on to do her Internal Medicine and Occupational Medicine training at University of California, Irvine and is board certified in both areas.
“The programs I work on give me an opportunity to improve the health and wellness of our cast members,” said Dr. Hymel. “An example of an initiative we introduced at Disney is how our health and wellness team developed the Incredible Athlete pilots at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort. The program really integrated physical conditioning instruction with education on sleep and nutrition for optimum performance and is designed to help prevent injuries from occurring. It is very rewarding to know we are helping our cast optimize their performance at home and at work.”
Katie Kelly – Vice President, Worldwide Safety Services
Katie Kelly began her Disney journey nearly 17 years ago as a professional intern. Now, she serves as the Vice President of Worldwide Safety Services for Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, where she’s responsible for developing and implementing safety programs that keep the wellness of cast members and guests top of mind.
After receiving her bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and master’s degree in Engineering Management from University of Central Florida, she went on to become a licensed professional engineer in the states of Florida and California.
“The best part about working at Disney is that you get to share what you do with your kids,” said Kelly. “Seeing the joy that my kids have from visiting one of our theme parks is what drives my passion for the job. I want every one of our cast members to be able to experience that joy with their own family and that starts with promoting their safety here at work so that they can go home and enjoy time with their families at the end of the day.”
Dr. Michael Hankins – Chief Physician, Walt Disney World
Dr. Michael Hankins has been with Disney for more than 27 years and serves as the Chief Physician at Walt Disney World Resort. In his role, he provides care for cast members at the Occupational Health Clinic within the park, as well as developing improvements to support the safety of all cast.
Dr. Hankins received his MD from University of Florida and a master’s in public health from Medical College of Wisconsin. From there, he went on to develop a background in Family Medicine with a strong emphasis on preventing illness and injury. In 1995, he worked to computerize our medical operation before most other medical clinics. Today, he is proud to provide cast members with the same level of medical care that he would expect his family to receive.
“The major focus throughout my career has been to advocate for and work toward improving the health and wellness of all cast members,” said Dr. Hankins. “Seeing the ongoing efforts within Disney aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of our cast members and preventing workplace injuries makes it easy for me to remain committed to support these efforts.”
Dr. Gabriel Guo – Chief Physician, Shanghai Disney Resort
Dr. Gabriel Guo has been with Disney for five years, currently serving as the Chief Physician of Shanghai Disney Resort, leading the resort’s medical team that consists of doctors, nurses and other healthcare specialists.
Having studied Clinical Medicine at Peking University in Beijing, China, his team provides health services to both cast members and guests at the resort. In response to COVID-19 related questions from cast members, a special “Ask Dr. Guo” segment was established, allowing Dr. Guo to answer a variety of health-related topics raised by cast members through a question and answer series.
“I believe that what my team and I do makes a difference, since we have the expertise to try to help those who aren’t feeling well,” said Dr. Guo. “We can help our guests and cast members have a healthy and happy experience at our park.”
Joseph Yip – Director of Security, Safety, Fire and Health Services, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort
Joseph Yip has been with Hong Kong Disneyland Resort for 15 years, currently serving as the Director of Security, Safety, Fire and Health Services. In his role, he is responsible for developing and coordinating Disney’s safety and health efforts at the resort for cast members and guests.
Having studied management science at University of Wales, UK, Joseph brings decades of experience to his role at the resort. He was an advocate for the creation of the Safety & Wellness Council and Committee, aimed to help leaders focus on guest safety methods, safety and wellness policies, and programs for cast members. Since 2006, HKDL has received more than 350 safety and wellness awards from different organizations.
“Family, happiness and good memories are the three key drivers that keep me always looking for opportunities to enhance the safety and wellness for our guests, cast members and loved ones,” said Joseph. “Safety is not just a core value of our business – but also an important part of our lives.”
Dr. Nicolas Duport – Medical Doctor, Disneyland Paris
Dr. Nicolas Duport joined the Disneyland Paris team earlier this year, currently serving as a Medical Doctor for the resort. In his role, he is responsible for proposing preventative health measures that aim to benefit the health and wellness of the resort’s cast members. Alongside his colleague, Dr. Cyril Warmberg, they coordinate closely with health, safety and security teams to ensure safety remains the top priority at the resort.
Dr. Duport received his master’s in epidemiology and public health at the University of Nancy I, followed by his doctorate in medicine at the University of Paris VII. He also received his diploma of specialized studies in public health and social medicine in 2003. He previously worked for Santé Publique France, the French equivalent of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as a scientific project manager for nearly 15 years. He also received his qualification in occupational medicine at the University of Reims earlier this year before starting his role with the Disneyland Paris team.
“There are many things unique to Disneyland Paris that I find really exciting, including a diversity of professions, a complete medical team of eight doctors working together within and to support a commercial business – which is very rare in France – and the chance to use all of my specialties in one place,” Dr. Duport said.
These professionals, along with their colleagues and teams will continue to work with their local industry partners, as well as health and government authorities to promote the health and safety of guests and cast members.
We’re looking forward to welcoming all of you back to our Disney parks, resorts and stores. Until we are together once again, we wish you and your families’ health, hope, and happiness!
From our friends at dpep.disney.com Filed Under: Disneyland Paris, Disneyland Resort, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, Parks and Experiences, Shanghai Disney Resort, Walt Disney World Resort
At Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, it is my privilege to work with an incredible team of cast members to help share the magic with our guests. Over the past few months, we’ve been moved by your understanding and patience as we navigated an unprecedented closure. During this time, we took measured steps to maintain guest offerings at our hotels, with adjusted levels of service, and in May we reopened additional dining experiences.
Today, as our surrounding community takes steps towards recovery, I’m thrilled to announce that Hong Kong Disneyland will also reopen to the public on June 18.
We are proud to be part of the Hong Kong community, which has worked hard and shown fortitude in how it has handled the pandemic. As we carefully welcome guests back to our park, we will draw on the learnings from the recent reopening of Shanghai Disney Resort and Disney Springs at Walt Disney World. Similarly, we will also implement new and enhanced health and safety measures following the guidance of our local government and health care officials.
If you haven’t already, we encourage you to read the recent blog post from the Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Pamela Hymel to learn more about our approach. While some things will look and feel different than before, the magic continues and we’re excited to once again share our park with you because the magic begins with you.
During this initial reopening phase, the park will open with limited attendance. The park will implement social distancing requirements in queues, restaurants, attraction vehicles and at other facilities throughout the park, and will increase the frequency of sanitization and disinfection in high-guest contact areas.
As Hong Kong becomes the second Disney park to reopen, the rest of the Disney Parks family around the world continues to believe in magic and prepare for their own reopening moments. Like us they’re eager to welcome guests back to reunite with family and friends – to imagine all that is possible regardless of the situation, to celebrate postponed milestones and to make magical, new memories.
We’re also thrilled to share a sneak peek of magic in the making as we enter into the final stage of our Castle of Magical Dreams transformation, which will be a magnificent centerpiece of the park.
Stay tuned for more Disney Parks news and stories from Hong Kong Disneyland on reopening day! And remember, you can always experience the magic of Disney from anywhere you are on DisneyMagicMoments.com and share your stories with #DisneyMagicMoments on social media.
(EVERETT, WA)— May 20, 2020 – Funko (“Funko” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: FNKO), a leading pop culture consumer products company, brings new innovation and play to kids and families with Marvel Battleworld: Mystery of the Thanostones, a micro collectible, tabletop gaming system.
The new adventure game, based on the Marvel Universe, combines micro collectible characters, cards and gaming, allowing kids to battle against Thanos in gameplay unleashed through a Battle Ball. Each Battle Ball contains a surprise of two Marvel collectable characters, Hero Cards, Battle Cards and pair of dice, all for a highly accessible price point. Players can collect Marvel micro heroes ranging from icons like Iron Man, Captain Marvel and Groot, as well as characters like Valkyrie Gamora and Throg.
“We are thrilled that Marvel has chosen to expand the Funko collaboration to engage their younger fans with a new category of products and animation collaboration,” said Brian Mariotti, Chief Executive Officer of Funko. “Funko enters the toy aisle for the first time with a product offering of tremendous value. In addition to two micro-collectible characters inside the Battle Ball, the child can battle independently or team up with friends to defeat Thanos through game play. This kind of product assortment is both what kids want and what retailers are keen to offer parents.”
New Marvel Battleworld short-form animated content will be available across multiple platforms, including Disney XD, Marvel HQ, YouTube and more. Created by Funko Animation Studios, in collaboration with Marvel, this series will introduce children to a new plan by villain Thanos to trap Marvel heroes in Battleworld.
“Battleworld offers kids a completely new way to play and interact with the Marvel brand and universe of characters they know and love.” said Paul Gitter, SVP, Marvel Licensing. “The innovative tabletop gaming plus action-packed storytelling gives kids an immersive experience that’s fresh for the Marvel Brand.”
The line will be first to market at Target stores nationwide this June.
About Funko
Headquartered in Everett, Washington, Funko is a leading pop culture consumer products company. Funko designs, sources and distributes licensed pop culture products across multiple categories, including vinyl figures, action toys, plush, apparel, housewares and accessories for consumers who seek tangible ways to connect with their favorite pop culture brands and characters. Learn more at https://funko.com/, and follow us on Twitter (@OriginalFunko) and Instagram (@OriginalFunko).
