Disney Parks News: Starcruiser, Princesses, and Park Operations

Park Operations and Infrastructure Updates

• 🚶 A new security tent has been installed along the walkway between Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and Magic Kingdom, with the walkway itself estimated to be just under a mile.
• 🚢 The Monorail is not running at the Polynesian, making the walk to Magic Kingdom from the farthest point of the resort approximately a mile and a half (25-30 minutes).
• 🏃 Run Disney announced the virtualization of the January Walt Disney World Marathon and the Disney Princess Half Marathon in February, a move that was widely anticipated.
• ⏰ Park hours have been increased across all four Walt Disney World parks, with Magic Kingdom closing at 7:00 PM, Epcot at 9:00 PM, Hollywood Studios at 8:00 PM, and Animal Kingdom at 6:00 PM.
• 💡 Hollywood Studios is opening at 9:00 AM instead of 10:00 AM to accommodate crowds, allowing early access to rides like Runaway Railway and Slinky Dog Dash.

Disney's Content and Release Strategies

• 🎬 The delay of Black Widow to May 2021 and the premium video on demand release of Mulan are discussed, with Mulan's performance potentially indicating a financial disappointment for Disney.
• 💰 A $30 price point for premium content like Mulan is questioned, with suggestions that a $19.99 price for a Pixar film with a longer exclusivity window might be more successful.
• 🧪 Disney's legal obligation to announce premium offerings ahead of launch is mentioned as a factor in their release strategy.

Disneyland Reopening and Epcot Fireworks

• 🗣️ There is a push for Disneyland to reopen, with the mayor of Anaheim and others advocating for it, though Governor Newsom has many pressing issues.
• 🎆 A fireworks test for Epcot's