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Paging Mr. Lincoln, Please Return to Disneyland

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Here’s some great news. An updated ‘Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln’ will return to Disneyland later this year. The move comes in conjunction with work to move the Disney Gallery to a new home in the current ‘Bank of Main Street’. If that’s what it takes to get Abe Lincoln back on stage at his rightful place, then so be it.

It will be very nice if Disneyland brings back the Audio-Animatronic Mr. Lincoln during the Bicentennial celebration too. Five years away was just too long. However, there is no date announced for his return, just ‘this year’.

To all of you who sent in letters and comments to Disneyland Guest Relations, thank you.

Update: OC Register quotes Disneyland spokesman who says this will be a significant change from the last version. That version only drew lackluster results from fans of the old show and new audiences alike.

Disneyland’s full press release below the cut:

Previously: Will Obama’s Win Return Lincoln to Opera House, Lincoln’s Bicentennial and still no Lincoln, and Two years later, no Lincoln.

Read More »Paging Mr. Lincoln, Please Return to Disneyland

Disneyland draws quick contract with largest union

Disney has agreed to a contract that ensures yearly raises for the employees in its largest union – the Master Services Council. This includes 6500 employees who work in the two theme parks. Meanwhile the situation drags on with Unite Here who is fighting for… Read More »Disneyland draws quick contract with largest union

Do your travel plans include Disney this year?

You know the economy is bad when the New York Times is telling its readers how to save money. This weekend the Times ran a report on all the great discounts being offered by Disney’s theme parks and resorts to attraction guests. It’s a pretty… Read More »Do your travel plans include Disney this year?

Disney Parks and Resorts Division Restructures for Cost Savings

The change that we all knew was coming has been announced. Once Disney announced that they would be offering severance packages to hundreds of Parks and Resorts Division Executives, I knew the next shoe to drop would be a further consolidation of the east and west coast management structures.

Frankly, Disney has been trending this way a long time. Disneyland lifers have been holding out against the move fearing they would lose some of what makes Walt Disney’s original park special, but the economic crisis has given Jay Rasulo the ammunition to install the changes.

This new action will result in some job loss even below the executive level that was offered severance packages. Unfortunately the details were not announced so we don’t know how deep job loss will go.

Two areas we know are going to get hit hard are: Imagineering and Theme Park Operations. At Walt Disney Imagineering everyone will be consolidated into a single group that handles design for all parks.

The operating infrastructure at Walt Disney World and the Disneyland Resort will also be merged to create a single domestic organization and “back-of-house” operation.

Disney execs were putting the final touches on these changes last week while in town for the American Idol Experience launch.

The changes announced today are effective immediately.

Disney’s Press Release on the reorganization is below the cut and don’t miss Jason Garcia’s coverage at the Orlando Sentinel.:

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Disney brand takes over Chinese Ice Festival

I had seen pictures of the Disney themed Harbin Ice Lantern Festival in China. But I didn’t realize that it was part of a legitimate licensing effort of the Walt Disney Company. What is perhaps the world’s most famous ice festival has become another of… Read More »Disney brand takes over Chinese Ice Festival

The Myth of Main Street Marceline

Over the years I’ve heard many rumors and myths concerning Disneyland’s Main Street U.S.A. It’s the first land you enter and it sets the tone for the whole experience, so there is no doubt its crafting was carefully considered by Walt Disney. I have heard… Read More »The Myth of Main Street Marceline

Two Disneyland Jungle Cruise Skippers ‘Spiel’ Their Way to Tokyo Disney Resort

Kevin Lively (right) and Mickey Wright winners of funniest skipper spiel contest (photo courtesy Disneyland Resort/Dan Downing) Earlier this year, Jungle Cruise skippers all around the world were preparing their funniest material for a chance at representing their respective Disney Parks in Tokyo this month.… Read More »Two Disneyland Jungle Cruise Skippers ‘Spiel’ Their Way to Tokyo Disney Resort

Abe Lincoln’s Bicentennial and still no Great Moments at Disneyland

Today marks the 200th anniversary of Abe Lincoln’s birth, and sadly the Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln attraction at Disneyland remains shuttered after ‘temporarily’ closing for Disneyland’s 50th celebration. If this disturbs you as much as it does me, please write to Disneyland Guest Relations and share your desire to see Honest Abe, an inspiration for Walt Disney and our current President, returned swiftly to his place of honor in the Opera House.

(Previously: Will Lincoln Return to Disneyland?)

Click below the cut for the address to send your letters

Read More »Abe Lincoln’s Bicentennial and still no Great Moments at Disneyland