California Archives - Page 29 of 58 - Uncle Walt's Insider
The first of many " Adventure" parks. Photo by Neon Tommy [CC BY-SA 2.0] via Wikimedia Commons.

Report: After California Adventure, Disney considered a new Adventure park for every state

The next would have been Disney's Rhode Island Adventure. BURBANK, CA -- Newly-released documents from the Disney Archive show that the company once considered building a "Disney's <State> Adventure" park in every state. When the California Adventure park opened in 2001, the Mouse anticipated that it would be a huge success, and a model to follow. Instead, critics savaged the park for several missteps: using "off the shelf" rides for one, and a general lack of churros. But the biggest criticism was for ...
April 20, 2019 by Marty in California, World
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Disney's new "I Have a Button" button. Photo by Marty, used without permission.

New Disney button celebrates having a button

Finally there's a button for guests who don't qualify for one of the other buttons! WALT DISNEY WORLD, FL & DISNEYLAND, CA -- Disney Parks and Resorts and Spas announced today that a new button is joining their lineup of free celebration buttons: the "I Have a Button" button. For years, guests at Disney parks (and resorts and spas) have been able to get a free button to announce special occasions. (The current lineup is "1st Visit," "It's My Birthday," "Happily Ever After," ...
April 18, 2019 by Marty in California, Florida
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The new ground cover at Universal Parks. Photo [CC0] via Pixabay.

Universal announces new “Smoke ’em if you got ’em!” policy

They're hoping smokers will abandon Disney parks, where smoking will soon be banned. UNIVERSAL CITY, CA -- Universal is always looking for ways to set themselves apart from Disney. Even so, the company's response to Disney's new smoking ban is surprising, as officials from NBCUniversal have announced a shocking new policy effective May 1st at all of their theme parks. The so-called "Smoke em if you got em!" policy will allow guests and employees to "light up" whenever, and wherever, they would ...
April 17, 2019 by Walt in California, Florida
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Main Street Wind Turbine Parade, RIP. Photo by Dquai [CC BY-SA 4.0] via Wikimedia Commons and Pexels.com.

“Main Street Wind Turbine Parade” suspended amid cancer concerns

Disney insists the measure is only precautionary. ANAHEIM, CA -- Showings of Disneyland's beloved and environmentally friendly "Main Street Wind Turbine Parade" have been halted, at least temporarily, after statements by a public official suggested the floats' wind turbines might cause cancer. "We're sure they're safe," says Disney (the company) spokesperson Jun Disney (no relation). "We've been running this particular parade for the better part of a decade. And only a handful of the Cast Members on the floats have reported cancer diagnoses ...
April 11, 2019 by Marty in California
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A non-Disney-friendly, and therefore worthless, stroller. Photo courtesy eBay.

EBay flooded with listings for oversized strollers, wagons for cheap

Disney Parks' new stroller policy has guests desperate to recoup their investment. EbAY H.Q., WHEREVER THAT IS [Note: have the intern look this up.] [Ed.: For the thousandth time, Marty, we do not have an intern. And it's your week to empty the trash.] -- As of next month, large strollers are no longer allowed in Disney Parks and Resorts and Spas. And suddenly some families find themselves with large strollers costing hundreds of dollars -- and pull-wagons of any size -- that ...
April 10, 2019 by Marty in California, Florida, World
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