Even With Pay Cuts, Disney’s Biggest Executives Made MILLIONS in 2020

2020 was a challenging year for many businesses and individuals all around the world.

A Peek at Disney World Now

When it comes to the Walt Disney Company, 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in months where the theme parks were closed (Disneyland Paris is still closed at the moment), thousands of employees that were furloughed or laid off, and some big financial losses in the parks division. During 2020, some Disney executives also agreed to take some pay cuts — but did those pay cuts actually impact their salaries in a big way? We’re taking a look now.

The Pay Cuts

In late March of 2020, we shared some details about the reductions in salary that two Disney executives would be taking. Specifically, these were the reductions agreed to:

  • Disney Executive Chairman Bob Iger would forgo his entire salary; and
  • Disney Chief Executive Chairman (CEO) Bob Chapek would take a 50% salary reduction.

Bob Chapek ©Bloomberg

Other Disney executives also received a reduction to their salaries as a direct result of these difficult times, some by 20%, others by 25%, and others by 30%.

The Pay Cuts End

These pay cuts didn’t last terribly long though. In August of 2020 we learned that the temporary salary reductions at Disney would be lifted near the end of the month. At the time, it was unclear, however, if that would impact Bob Iger and Bob Chapek’s salaries at the time.

Bob Iger ©New York Post

As Disney’s proxy statement indicates Iger agreed to continue to forgo parts of his base salary through the last payroll period in fiscal 2020 (which ended in October of 2020). Chapek’s salary reductions only remained in place through August of 2020.

What Was the Impact?

When Chapek and Iger first announced their individual salary cuts, we took a look at just how much they were actually giving up as these were really just cuts to their BASE salaries. The wrinkle here is that Iger and Chapek get compensation through several means beyond their base salaries. In fact, their base salaries really only make a small percentage of their total income. Earlier this year, we got a look at what Chapek and Iger really earned in 2020, and now we’re breaking it down in terms of what impact their pay cuts really had.

Bob Iger

In 2019, Bob Iger earned the following according to Variety:

  • $3 million in salary;
  • $21.8 million bonus;
  • $10 million in stock awards; and
  • $9.6 million in stock options.

All in all, Iger’s total compensation in 2019 was around $47 million.

When you look at this break-down it’s clear that in forgoing his entire salary, Iger was actually forgoing the smallest portion of his overall earnings.

Bob Iger ©Bloomberg

So, what happened in 2020? According to Disney’s proxy statement, Iger received the following in 2020:

  • $1.57 million in base salary;
  • $6.96 million in stock awards;
  • $9.59 million in option awards; and
  • $1.14 in all other compensation.

The chart also shows $1.78 million in “change in pension value and non qualified deferred compensation earnings.” All in all, Iger earned about $21 million for 2020.

Compared to 2019, that’s about a 55% difference. But, where did that difference really come from? Not salary. In terms of salary, Iger really only lost about $1.3 million by taking his pay cut for part of 2020. The biggest hit to his salary came from the loss of the bonus, as Disney did not issue bonuses to its top executives in 2020.

©Disney

Iger is frequently one of the highest paid executives. In the chart above, you can see that he earned $65 million in 2018. But, his “salary” in 2018 was actually lower than it was in 2019. The real differences in overall compensation seem to come when other factors like stock awards, option awards, or bonuses are impacted.

Bob Chapek

The situation is pretty similar for Bob Chapek. There are no 2019 or 2018 figures to compare his salary to, but according to the Los Angeles Times, Chapek’s salary was expected to be:

  • $2.5 million in base salary;
  • plus a target bonus of $7.5 million; and
  • an annual long-term incentive award of $15 million.

Disney CEO Bob Chapek

According to Disney’s proxy statement, in 2020 Chapek earned the following:

  • $1.81 in salary;
  • $6.13 in stock awards;
  • $3.37 in option awards; and
  • $140,626 in other compensation.

Disney’s figures also show $2.71 in “change in pension value and non qualified deferred compensation earnings.”

All in all, Chapek earned about $14.16 million in 2020.

©Disney

As you can see from the numbers, the biggest portion of Chapek’s overall compensation for 2020 didn’t come from his salary. Instead, Chapek earned over $9 in stock awards and option awards, far more than what his base salary was or was expected to be. The biggest impact to his overall compensation appears to be, like Iger, the loss of a bonus. Again, just like Iger, while salary forms a part of Chapek’s overall compensation, it doesn’t form the largest part of his compensation.

What Does it All Mean?

So, what do all of these figures and numbers mean? Well, Iger and Chapek’s overall compensations were impacted by their decisions to voluntarily take pay cuts of all or part of their salaries. But, the majority of their overall compensations come from sources other than their base salary. So, while they did agree to take pay cuts, they still made millions in 2020.

Bob Chapek

How did these pay cuts for Iger, Chapek, and the other executives impact the company’s finances overall? That’s not clear, but Disney did still report billions in losses when it comes to the Disney parks in 2020. If these pay cuts were not taken, could the Company have been in a worse spot financially? It’s possible, but not clear.

Spaceship Earth

Things are looking up for Disney’s future overall though. Disneyland’s theme parks have reopened after over a year of closures, several Disney movies are slated to be released in theaters and/or Disney+ this year, Iger has called Disney+ a “beacon of hope,” cruises have a bit more direction for when they may return to sailing this year, and more changes continue to be made all around the country that could impact Disney’s operations.

Tree of Life

What will the next year look like when it comes to Disney’s finances. We’ve seen a bit about their losses based on their first quarterly report of the 2021 fiscal year, and another quarterly report will be released soon. We’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for more updates and will let you know what we find.

Click here to see Chapek’s comments on the future of Disney’s reservation system and more!

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Don’t Miss Out on Any Disney Fun!

Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today!

With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We’ve done the research for you, so you’ll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family’s needs!

With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you’ll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet.

Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today!

Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today!

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The post Even With Pay Cuts, Disney’s Biggest Executives Made MILLIONS in 2020 first appeared on the disney food blog.

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier: Episodes 4-6 Soundtrack Available Now

Available today, Marvel Music/Hollywood Records releases The Falcon and The Winter Soldier: Volume 2 (Episodes 4-6) digital soundtrack featuring music by composer Henry Jackman The music of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier comes from composer Henry Jackman, who also composed the soundtracks for Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Captain America: Civil War. The soundtrack […]

The post The Falcon and the Winter Soldier: Episodes 4-6 Soundtrack Available Now appeared first on LaughingPlace.com.

Don’t Read This Post If You’re Trying to Save for Your Next Disney Trip

DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission.

It’s the end of the week, which means it’s time to treat yo self!

It’s time to treat yo self!

How about a little online shopping?! Tons of new Disney items arrived online and we can’t wait to show them all to you!

Captain America Merchandise

If you’ve seen the finale of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, then you’re going to love this new line of merchandise that Disney released. If not…look away!

©Disney

You can snag your own Captain America shield if you’d like, and then you can buy the apparel to match! You’ll look just like Sam Wilson — ready to save the day.

©Disney

Yay, we have a wholle collection to keep our love for Marvel going strong until Loki premiers. Guess we’ll just have to rewatch the MCU movies until then!

Read MORE about the Captain America Merchandise Here!

Ears

Three new pairs of ears landed online this week, so you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding some that you like! If you’re a fan of pink, you can order the Hot Pink and Gold Ears OR the Lavender and Pink Ears.

That’s a LOT of pink!

A new pair of designer ears also came online this week. We had a hard time finding them in the parks and they sold out FAST on shopDisney.

Denim Ears

Who knew people were so crazy about denim?!

See Both Pairs of Pink Ears Here!

Kate Spade

Did you love Disney’s fabulous polka-dotted Kate Spade collection? Well, you can now score some of the items online!

Rockin’ the dots

With a purse, zipper pouch, and wallet, you’ll be decked out in Minnie Mouse style. What can we say? She’s a fashion icon!

Shop the Kate Spade Items Online Here!

Reusable Items

Want to do good for the environment with your shopping? Then you need to check out Disney’s new line of Reusable items — the items you can use over and over again!

You can roll it up!

This collection is full of creative solutions, like a water bottle that you can roll up for easy storage or reusable snack bags. These products would all be great for a busy park day!

Click Here to Check Out the Reusables!

Castle Collection

If you haven’t seen Disney’s Castle Collection, then you need to check it out…the designs are simply stunning. Series 7 dropped this week and it’s inspired by Jasmine’s castle from Aladdin. 

©Disney

You can snag merchandise made to match the Arabian design, like the castle figurine, a puzzle, or even a pin. Make sure to check out the full list!

See All the Agrabah Castle Items Here!

Small World Funko POPs

Last but not least, some new Funko POP designs landed online, even though they won’t arrive at your doorstep for another few months. These “it’s a small world” figures are inspired by different countries from the ride!

©Target

Boy, are they cute! You can pre-order them now and receive them sometime this summer — they plan to ship by July 27th.

Click Here to See All the Small World Funkos!

That’s everything new for this week! Stay tuned to DFB for all the merchandise updates from the parks and online, as well as all the Disney World news!

Check Out Our Ultimate Disney World Packing List Here!

Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!

Don’t Miss Out on Any Disney Fun!

Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today!

With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We’ve done the research for you, so you’ll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family’s needs!

With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you’ll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet.

Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today!

Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today!

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Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. 🙂

Which of these new items is your favorite?

The post Don’t Read This Post If You’re Trying to Save for Your Next Disney Trip first appeared on the disney food blog.

What’s New in EPCOT: Harmonious Testing and a Snack Gets an Update

Welcome, DFB friends! We’re here to share what’s new in EPCOT!

Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure

And, we’ve got plenty of updates to share with you. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s dive right on in!

EPCOT Food Update

Morocco Pavilion

When we were over at Oasis Sweets & Sips in the Morocco Pavilion, we noticed that the Mediterranean Olives were in a different container compared to the last time we had them.

Mediterranean Olives

Okay, but how TASTY do these look?!

Mediterranean Olives

We’ll have to keep an eye on the price to see if there are any changes. But, for now, they are still $5.25!

Sangria Stand Menu

And, now we’re moving onto the construction!

Should a Baggy of Nuts Be This Expensive in Disney World? Asking For a Friend.

EPCOT Construction Updates

Harmonious

We’ve been closely watching the construction happening on Harmonious in the World Showcase Lagoon. Recently, we’ve seen the centerpiece get an upgrade, a new barge arrive, lights begin testing, and additional modifications on the upcoming nighttime spectacular.

Harmonious Construction

We noticed that the arms on the center barge were all raised up in the air like we’ve seen before. But, we didn’t spot any movement when we were walking around the World Showcase.

Barge Arms Raised

We’ll have to keep checking back, though, to see the progress on Harmonious as we wait for its opening date!

Why Disney Won’t Tell Us When the New EPCOT Fireworks Show Will Debut

EPCOT Crowd Updates

We saw a pretty wide range of wait times when we were in the parks, stretching from only 15 minutes at Spaceship Earth

Spaceship Earth Queue

…all the way to 40 minutes at Frozen Ever After.

Frozen Ever After Queue

While guests were waiting to head to Arendelle, they could visit with the Queen herself — Anna greeted everyone hanging out!

Frozen Meet and Greet Area

What a sweetheart!

Queen Anna

Well, that’s all for this What’s New at EPCOT! We’ll catch you next time with more updates. Check back with us for all the latest from Disney World.

Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!

Don’t Miss Out on Any Disney Fun!

Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today!

With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We’ve done the research for you, so you’ll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family’s needs!

With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you’ll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet.

Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today!

Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today!

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Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. 🙂

What are you looking forward to seeing the most in EPCOT? Let us know in the comments below!

The post What’s New in EPCOT: Harmonious Testing and a Snack Gets an Update first appeared on the disney food blog.

A New Collection of Mickey Bags Is Now Available for Pre-Order Online

DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission.

Who doesn’t love a good park bag? And the good news is that there are a TON of Disney bags PERFECT for carrying all your park necessities around!

Disney bags

But these bags are good for everyday use, too, and who doesn’t want to go shopping while supporting their favorite Disney characters on a bag, or favorite movie, or even a favorite Disney princess? But if you’re a Mickey Mouse fan, we found a new collection you are going to NEED!

This new collection is by Herschel and features a super fun Mickey Mouse print! First, there’s the Mickey Mouse Nineteen Hip Pack by Herschel, which even has a fun Mickey Mouse liner!

©Disney

You can now pre-order this hip fanny pack for $49.99.

Click Here To Pre-Order The Mickey Mouse Nineteen Hip Pack by Herschel

If you need something a little bigger to carry your stuff in, there’s also a Mickey Mouse Classic Backpack by Herschel that has plenty of space!

©Disney

This bag also has a fun bright yellow Mickey liner!

©Disney

You can pre-order it now for $69.99.

Click Here To Pre-Order The Mickey Mouse Classic Backpack by Herschel

Need a roomier bag that you can just strap over your shoulder? Check out the Mickey Mouse Lane Messenger Bag by Herschel. It’s got that same fun Mickey print on it!

©Disney

You can pre-order this bag now for $44.99.

Click Here to Pre-Order The Mickey Mouse Lane Messenger Bag by Herschel

There’s also another Mickey design for the backpack! Check out this sweet Mickey Mouse Nova Backpack by Herschel! This one is so very TRENDY.

©Disney

This one also has that fun yellow print on the inside. Pre-order this bag now for $79.99.

Click Here To Pre-Order The Mickey Mouse Nova Backpack by Herschel

So there you have it — some great choices for bags that you can take to Disney Parks, to the grocery store, shopping, etc. And we’ll let you know if we spot any other cool Mickey bags online or if we see these in the parks!

See Which Tangled Sidekick Just Got Its Own Bag!

Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!

Don’t Miss Out on Any Disney Fun!

Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today!

With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We’ve done the research for you, so you’ll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family’s needs!

With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you’ll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet.

Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today!

Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today!

ready-to-shop-button
Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. 🙂

What do you think of this collection? Let us know in the comments!

The post A New Collection of Mickey Bags Is Now Available for Pre-Order Online first appeared on the disney food blog.

How Disability Access Service and Rider Switch Work Right Now in Disneyland

We’ve been bringing you all the updates from Disneyland’s BIG reopening!

Disneyland is OPEN Again!

After getting ready with details about tickets, Park Passes, and more, we FINALLY got the chance to go in the park and now Disneyland has officially reopened! So far, we’ve shared a look at how Disneyland is handling their lines and their churros (VERY important), and we’ve given you a look at the crowds. Now we’re bringing you an important update on some other parts of the Disneyland parks’ operations.

Disability Access Service

Guests with certain disabilities may be unable to tolerate long lines. In that case, they may be able to use the Disability Access Service (DAS) when they visit Disneyland to get a return time for attractions. As one Disneyland publication explains, “this service allows Guests to schedule a return time that is comparable to the current queue wait for the given attraction.” Guests can then enjoy other theme park offerings and return back to the ride when their return time starts.

We saw Disney World resume pretty normal operations of DAS after its closure, and now, the same appears to be generally true on the west coast.

Indiana Jones Adventure Line

Once a guest’s DAS is set up, the guest will need to go up to a Guest Services Kiosk in the park to get a return time for an attraction.

Today we did see guests going up to a Guest Services kiosk to request their return times, so it does look like that is generally operating in the same way that it was before.

Entering Disneyland

Be sure to reach out to Disneyland for any questions that might be specific to your needs.

Rider Switch

As far as Rider Switch goes — that is still an option in Disneyland! What is rider switch? If one guest doesn’t meet the boarding requirements for a ride or doesn’t want to ride, one adult (or guest 14 years old or older) can wait with the non-rider while the rest of the group goes to enjoy the ride. Then, they can switch roles and allow the supervising guest to ride the attraction without waiting in the regular line.

Pirates of the Caribbean

Rider switch is available in Disneyland but the process will depend on each attraction. When we spoke to a Guest Relations Cast Member, they noted that they haven’t received any official update on how the system will operate, but that it is essentially up to each attraction to come up with how to accommodate rider switch within the new guidelines.

Throughout our day, we asked some Cast Members at specific attractions about their rider switch policies. At Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, the Cast Member said that for rider swap, they are utilizing the exit to let the guests enter the ride when they switch.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Queue

The Cast Member there did note that each ride is handling it differently though, because their queues are all different. The Cast Member also said that later in the day they aren’t anticipating as much of a line, so in those cases it might be just as easy to hop back in the standby line.

Strollers and Wheelchairs

As before, you’ll be able to rent strollers, wheelchairs, and ECV vehicles for your Disneyland visit as well. We found the strollers and other items available to rent inside the Pixar Pals Parking structure. The Disneyland website also notes that they should be available outside the Disneyland Park Main Entrance.

Strollers and More Available for Rent

There were a number of options available depending on your needs.

Different Options

So, if that’s something you need for a future Disneyland visit, note that they are still available.

Do keep in mind that Disneyland does require all guests ages 2 and over to wear an approved mask at all times, unless they are eating/drinking while stationary and physically distanced from others.

Face Mask

We’ll keep bringing you the latest details from Disneyland’s reopening! As always, stay tuned to DFB for more Disney news.

Click here to see LOTS of updates from Disneyland’s Reopening!

Are you visiting Disneyland soon? Let us know in the comments!

The post How Disability Access Service and Rider Switch Work Right Now in Disneyland first appeared on the disney food blog.

Buckle Up for HUGE News About Cruises, Disneyland, Rides, Masks, and Social Distancing

What a week it has been!!

Time for a Cruise? ©Disney

From HUGE Disney Cruise Line news to Disneyland reopening and some big announcements about the Jungle Cruise, we’ve got it all. Wondering what changes could impact your next vacation, what’s going on with Park Passes, and more? Buckle up — we’re about to take you through all the biggest Disney news from this week!

1. HUGE Cruise News

This week was a big one for cruise fans. Yesterday, Disney Cruise Line held a virtual presentation and showed off ALL kinds of incredible things coming to their newest ship, the Disney Wish

©Disney

We’re talking a new, interactive Marvel-themed dining experience, a Frozen-themed dining experience with some amazing looking special effects, tons of cool stuff in the kids’ clubs, a STAR WARS LOUNGE, a peek at the ship’s staterooms, Disney’s first attraction at sea, and so. much. more!

©Disney

Basically, if you’ve been missing Disney Cruises, you’re going to miss them even more once you check out all of this news!! The Disney Wish will start sailing in 2022, and booking begins next month!

©Disney

Wondering when cruising on other Disney Cruise Line ships (or other cruise lines) might start up again this year? We’ve got an update on that too as the CDC has now indicated cruises could resume as early as mid-July in American waters!

Click here to see EVERYTHING announced for the Disney Wish!

2. Disneyland Has Reopened

After being closed for OVER a year, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel AND Disneyland’s theme parks have finally reopened!!

Disneyland is Open Again!!

Earlier this week, we got a preview of the reopening, but today (April 30th) is the official reopening date for the Disneyland theme parks.

During our preview, we got a look at some of the park icons we’ve missed so much, how Disneyland is handling ride lines, the churro situation and how things have changed, a Monte Cristo update NOBODY asked for, and we got to see if anything has changed with Rise of the Resistance.

Ah the Joy of Being Back!

We’ll be continuing to cover more about Disneyland’s reopening throughout the day today, so keep an eye out for more updates from us here at DFB!

Click here to take a FULL ride through Snow White’s Enchanted Wish in Disneyland!

3. The PeopleMover is BAAAACCKKK!

Oh my goodness, we have been waiting to finally be able to say that the “PeopleMover is BACK” for a long time! But now, it is finally true. This past weekend, the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover reopened in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom after being closed for over a year for refurbishment.

We’re Back!

On its reopening day it hit a few snags, even having to evacuate Cast Members who were test riding it at one point. BUT eventually, it reopened.

So, the next time you’re in the parks and looking to take a leisurely ride through Space Mountain and all around Tomorrowland, you can hop on the PeopleMover!

Click here to take a ride with us to celebrate the PeopleMover’s reopening!

4. Big Jungle Cruise Updates

The Jungle Cruise attraction at both Disney World and Disneyland is receiving some reimagining at the moment that will give it a cohesive storyline, new characters, and more.

At Disney World, the ride is staying open while these changes are being made, so we’ve been watching as Disney changes parts of the ride. Previously, we saw them remove the Trader Sam animatronic, and recently we saw them remove some props from one scene.

No More Spears and Skulls Here

Perhaps most importantly this week, however, Disney shared some concept art for the NEW Trader Sam scene coming to the ride. Turns out that Trader Sam is in charge of the Lost and Found location (which he’s turned into a gift shop, of course). But, it looks like some animals may have taken over while he was out looking for more goods to add to his store!

©Disney

We’ll continue to look for more updates on the ride and keep you up to date. If you’re wondering when the Jungle Cruise will reopen at Disneyland, we got an update on that this week as well and you can click here to learn more!

See more about the new Trader Sam scene by clicking here!

5. Important Park Pass News

This week, we also got some important Park Pass news for Disney World. Disney has shared that they will be canceling select Park Pass reservations. Specifically, Park Pass reservations for dates where that same guest does not have a valid theme park admission for the same day will be canceled.

Make Sure You’ve Got Your Tickets and Park Passes All Situated

For example, if you originally had a valid theme park ticket and park pass for the same day, but then modify the dates of your trip and no longer have a ticket linked for the same days as those previous park passes you made, those will be canceled. So, it’s important to keep an eye out for any communication from Disney on that, make sure to link your tickets, and keep all of your tickets and Park Pass reservations updated for your upcoming trips.

Click here to learn more about the park passes Disney will be canceling.

6. Social Distancing, Mask Guidance, and More COVID-19 Updates

This week, we also got a number of updates when it comes to social distancing, masks, vaccine passports, and more.

First, in Orange County, Florida (where part of Disney World is located), the Mayor has provided an update regarding the social distancing and mask guidance there. Effective immediately, social distancing may be reduced in Orange County from 6 feet to 3 feet.

©Orange County, Florida

The Mayor has also provided an outline for when mask requirements may be modified in the county and eventually removed entirely.

Click here to learn more about those updates from Orange County, Florida.

Keep in mind that Disney World has NOT changed its distancing or mask requirements yet. Distancing requirements in Disney World continue to be 6 feet, and masks continue to be required at all times unless specifically permitted to be removed (like when actively eating or drinking while distanced from others and stationary).

We’ll be on the lookout to see if Disney does ultimately change any of its requirements due to this change from Orange County.

Be Sure to Stay Up to Date on Disney’s Mask Policies

Due to the distancing changes announced by Orange County Florida, the Mayor has indicated that theme parks (like Disney World) will be able to increase their capacity.

Social Distancing Reminder

Disney has not yet announced that they have increased capacity. The latest Disney shared was that they were operating at 35% capacity, and that future increases in capacity would largely depend on the situation with the COVID-19 vaccines and how many individuals become vaccinated. But, we’ll be on the lookout for any more updates.

Click here to see more about what the Orange County, Florida Mayor had to say about theme parks increasing capacity.

Recently, the CDC also announced some updates to its mask guidance, particularly when it comes to fully vaccinated individuals.

Remember to continue to wear face masks properly!

The CDC has now relaxed its outdoor mask guidance for individuals who have been fully vaccinated.

Click here to see more about the CDC’s updated mask guidance.

Again, Disney has not yet made any changes to its mask policies, so keep that in mind. Masks continue to be required for all individuals (including those who have been fully vaccinated) at Disney World.

Face Mask

When it comes to vaccine passports,  we also got a bit of an update on that this week. The Florida Governor had already signed an executive order banning vaccine passports in the state, but now the Florida legislature has taken action to make that ban permanent.

Click here to learn more about the bill about vaccine passports that was recently passed by the Florida House of Representatives.

And finally, this week the Florida Governor also extended Florida’s state of emergency. We’ll continue to keep an eye out for any more updates on that.

Health & Safety Information

Wondering what other news was released this week? Here’s a quick breakdown:

Now That’s One Pretty Cake!

New face mask!

It’s shrinking!

We’re here!!!

And that’s our wrap-up of the news from this week! We’ll keep an eye out for more news and keep you up to date on all the latest.

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The post Buckle Up for HUGE News About Cruises, Disneyland, Rides, Masks, and Social Distancing first appeared on the disney food blog.

Lowest Crowds All Month – Disney World Wait Times for Friday, April 30, 2021

Posted wait times were the lowest they’ve been all month in Walt Disney World, with every park’s average wait time the lowest or second-lowest they’ve been in the past 30 days.  Maybe everyone’s just getting in line early for VelociCoaster over at Universal.  Still, our fabulous Lines community has submitted 176 actual wait times so far today.  And while I was at Animal Kingdom this morning, I can confirm there are still many, many birds on the animal trails.  So many birds.

At Magic Kingdom today we observed 481 out of 500 guests (96%) wearing their masks in accordance with Disney’s guidelines.  Let’s do the rest of the numbers!

Magic Kingdom Wait Times

The average posted wait time was just 24 minutes at the Magic Kingdom today, and that masks the fact that the actual wait times we got were just 58% of that, or around 14 minutes per attraction.  Those are very low waits.

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh had an average wait time today of 24 minutes. Its 7-day average is 29 minutes, so today ranks #6 for this week. Its 30-day average is 28 minutes, so today ranks #29 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 24 minutes, so today ranks #161 for the past year. We received 5 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 69% of the posted wait time.

Magic Kingdom wait times for Friday, April 30, 2021
Astro Orbiter
Average Posted Wait
23
7-Day Rank
#6
30-Day Rank
#29
365-Day Rank
#233
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Average Posted Wait
25
Actual Waits Were
23%
7-Day Rank
#6
30-Day Rank
#27
365-Day Rank
#268
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
Average Posted Wait
19
7-Day Rank
#6
30-Day Rank
#29
365-Day Rank
#227
Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
Average Posted Wait
24
7-Day Rank
#1
30-Day Rank
#1
365-Day Rank
#1
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Average Posted Wait
13
7-Day Rank
#5
30-Day Rank
#28
365-Day Rank
#145
“it’s a small world”
Average Posted Wait
22
7-Day Rank
#6
30-Day Rank
#29
365-Day Rank
#260
Jungle Cruise
Average Posted Wait
36
Actual Waits Were
72%
7-Day Rank
#6
30-Day Rank
#29
365-Day Rank
#202
Mad Tea Party
Average Posted Wait
12
7-Day Rank
#6
30-Day Rank
#28
365-Day Rank
#166
Mickey’s PhilharMagic
Average Posted Wait
27
7-Day Rank
#5
30-Day Rank
#26
365-Day Rank
#110
Peter Pan’s Flight
Average Posted Wait
28
Actual Waits Were
99%
7-Day Rank
#6
30-Day Rank
#29
365-Day Rank
#199
Pirates of the Caribbean
Average Posted Wait
32
7-Day Rank
#5
30-Day Rank
#27
365-Day Rank
#233
Space Mountain
Average Posted Wait
40
Actual Waits Were
60%
7-Day Rank
#3
30-Day Rank
#18
365-Day Rank
#140
Splash Mountain
Average Posted Wait
66
7-Day Rank
#4
30-Day Rank
#21
365-Day Rank
#88
The Barnstormer
Average Posted Wait
10
7-Day Rank
#6
30-Day Rank
#28
365-Day Rank
#214
The Haunted Mansion
Average Posted Wait
17
Actual Waits Were
49%
7-Day Rank
#6
30-Day Rank
#30
365-Day Rank
#237
The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
Average Posted Wait
10
7-Day Rank
#6
30-Day Rank
#29
365-Day Rank
#236
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Average Posted Wait
24
Actual Waits Were
69%
7-Day Rank
#6
30-Day Rank
#29
365-Day Rank
#161
Tomorrowland Speedway
Average Posted Wait
12
7-Day Rank
#5
30-Day Rank
#27
365-Day Rank
#202
Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
Average Posted Wait
26
Actual Waits Were
81%
7-Day Rank
#3
30-Day Rank
#3
365-Day Rank
#4
Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress
Average Posted Wait
5
7-Day Rank
#1
30-Day Rank
#1
365-Day Rank
#1
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Average Posted Wait
47
Actual Waits Were
61%
7-Day Rank
#6
30-Day Rank
#28
365-Day Rank
#211
Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid
Average Posted Wait
17
7-Day Rank
#6
30-Day Rank
#27
365-Day Rank
#193

Animal Kingdom Wait Times

Na’vi River Journey had an average wait time today of 30 minutes. Its 7-day average is 38 minutes, so today ranks #6 for this week. Its 30-day average is 38 minutes, so today ranks #28 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 45 minutes, so today ranks #241 for the past year.

Animal Kingdom wait times for Friday, April 30, 2021
DINOSAUR
Average Posted Wait
33
7-Day Rank
#6
30-Day Rank
#29
365-Day Rank
#150
Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
Average Posted Wait
20
Actual Waits Were
64%
7-Day Rank
#3
30-Day Rank
#19
365-Day Rank
#176
Kali River Rapids
Average Posted Wait
32
7-Day Rank
#1
30-Day Rank
#13
365-Day Rank
#37
Kilimanjaro Safaris
Average Posted Wait
15
Actual Waits Were
40%
7-Day Rank
#6
30-Day Rank
#29
365-Day Rank
#207
It’s Tough to Be a Bug!
Average Posted Wait
25
7-Day Rank
#6
30-Day Rank
#27
365-Day Rank
#75
TriceraTop Spin
Average Posted Wait
5
7-Day Rank
#5
30-Day Rank
#21
365-Day Rank
#103
Na’vi River Journey
Average Posted Wait
30
7-Day Rank
#6
30-Day Rank
#28
365-Day Rank
#241
Avatar Flight of Passage
Average Posted Wait
55
Actual Waits Were
81%
7-Day Rank
#6
30-Day Rank
#27
365-Day Rank
#134

Hollywood Studios Wait Times

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway had an average wait time today of 34 minutes. Its 7-day average is 39 minutes, so today ranks #5 for this week. Its 30-day average is 39 minutes, so today ranks #26 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 55 minutes, so today ranks #284 for the past year. We received 17 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 92% of the posted wait time.

Hollywood Studios wait times for Friday, April 30, 2021

Rise of the Resistance is either having a rough day of operations, or there are simply not enough people in Hollywood Studios who want to ride Disney World’s best ride.  Rise didn’t start calling boarding groups until just past 9:00 a.m. today, about half an hour later than usual. And the calling of boarding groups is running at its slowest pace of the past week.  At its current rate, Rise of the Resistance is unlikely to get past boarding group 130, making it the worst day of the past week.  Maybe it’s lack of demand, and maybe it’s operational issues.

Rise of the Resistance boarding groups for Friday, April 30, 2021
Muppet*Vision 3D
Average Posted Wait
25
Actual Waits Were
77%
7-Day Rank
#6
30-Day Rank
#29
365-Day Rank
#133
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
Average Posted Wait
38
Actual Waits Were
76%
7-Day Rank
#2
30-Day Rank
#17
365-Day Rank
#184
Star Tours: The Adventures Continue
Average Posted Wait
29
Actual Waits Were
68%
7-Day Rank
#3
30-Day Rank
#23
365-Day Rank
#146
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Average Posted Wait
49
7-Day Rank
#5
30-Day Rank
#27
365-Day Rank
#163
Toy Story Mania!
Average Posted Wait
28
Actual Waits Were
71%
7-Day Rank
#4
30-Day Rank
#22
365-Day Rank
#144
Walt Disney Presents
Average Posted Wait
10
7-Day Rank
#1
30-Day Rank
#1
365-Day Rank
#1
Slinky Dog Dash
Average Posted Wait
59
Actual Waits Were
49%
7-Day Rank
#5
30-Day Rank
#24
365-Day Rank
#172
Alien Swirling Saucers
Average Posted Wait
27
Actual Waits Were
64%
7-Day Rank
#4
30-Day Rank
#23
365-Day Rank
#123
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
Average Posted Wait
34
Actual Waits Were
92%
7-Day Rank
#5
30-Day Rank
#26
365-Day Rank
#284
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
Average Posted Wait
40
Actual Waits Were
90%
7-Day Rank
#6
30-Day Rank
#30
365-Day Rank
#238
Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy
Average Posted Wait
19
7-Day Rank
#6
30-Day Rank
#29
365-Day Rank
#144

EPCOT Wait Times

Frozen Ever After had an average wait time today of 33 minutes. Its 7-day average is 42 minutes, so today ranks #6 for this week. Its 30-day average is 47 minutes, so today ranks #29 for the past month. Its 365-day average is 46 minutes, so today ranks #191 for the past year. We received 4 actual wait times today, and the actual wait averaged 68% of the posted wait time.

EPCOT wait times for Friday, April 30, 2021
Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros
Average Posted Wait
7
7-Day Rank
#4
30-Day Rank
#15
365-Day Rank
#172
Journey Into Imagination With Figment
Average Posted Wait
12
7-Day Rank
#6
30-Day Rank
#27
365-Day Rank
#153
Living with the Land
Average Posted Wait
8
7-Day Rank
#6
30-Day Rank
#29
365-Day Rank
#219
Mission: SPACE Orange
Average Posted Wait
40
7-Day Rank
#6
30-Day Rank
#24
365-Day Rank
#79
Soarin’
Average Posted Wait
47
Actual Waits Were
58%
7-Day Rank
#6
30-Day Rank
#28
365-Day Rank
#99
Spaceship Earth
Average Posted Wait
22
7-Day Rank
#6
30-Day Rank
#29
365-Day Rank
#116
Test Track
Average Posted Wait
47
7-Day Rank
#5
30-Day Rank
#29
365-Day Rank
#186
The Seas with Nemo & Friends
Average Posted Wait
14
7-Day Rank
#5
30-Day Rank
#26
365-Day Rank
#80
Frozen Ever After
Average Posted Wait
33
Actual Waits Were
68%
7-Day Rank
#6
30-Day Rank
#29
365-Day Rank
#191

The post Lowest Crowds All Month – Disney World Wait Times for Friday, April 30, 2021 appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

Courtney Stapleton, Emmanuel Kojo Cast as Leads of “Beauty and the Beast” European Tour

Disney’s tale as old as time, Beauty and the Beast will soon share its story across multiple stages in Europe. Today, Disney introduced the world to the actress and actor who’ll be bringing the roles of Belle and Beast to life later this year.   What’s Happening: Disney on Broadway has announced the leads for the […]

The post Courtney Stapleton, Emmanuel Kojo Cast as Leads of “Beauty and the Beast” European Tour appeared first on LaughingPlace.com.

LEGO Friends Weekend Begins This Saturday, May 1 at LEGOLAND Florida

LEGOLAND Florida has announced LEGO Friends Weekend starting this Saturday, May 1, where fans can meet the “Fab-Five,” participate in activities, and get special event food. What’s Happening: LEGOLAND Florida will be bringing LEGO Friends Weekend to the park starting Saturday, May 1. The event will allow guests to get socially distanced selfies with the […]

The post LEGO Friends Weekend Begins This Saturday, May 1 at LEGOLAND Florida appeared first on LaughingPlace.com.