The dog days of summer are upon us at the Disneyland Resort. If you were too busy playing Pokemon Go to get out to the parks, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. But you did miss out on great weather and low crowd levels at the Happiest Place On Earth. Today’s update includes photos and news about Star Wars land construction, the new parking structure which is finally moving forward, Disneyland’s ever-changing security and hundreds of photos from the parks. – Dusty

Disneyland

Securityland

In the wake of increased high profile attacks across the country and around the world, Disneyland has really stepped up security throughout the resort area. Watch towers are on high alert in the parking lots, increased security presence (some with dogs) in Downtown Disney, lots of security personnel in the parks. And, of course, the bag check and metal detectors have been staffed with actual Disneyland security staff and more guests being sent through the scanners. The big question many are asking is if the security perimeter should be increased at the Disneyland Resort. Should bag check/scanning be pushed out to the entry points of the resort so all guests must be scanned before entering Downtown Disney or the hotels? It’s a challenging question both socially and operationally. But given the number of guests who congregate outside the security bubble of the Esplanade, it is a subject which will eventually need to be addressed.

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Enjoy a final moment of zen before the gauntlet of Disneyland’s security routine.
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Unlike Universal Studios Hollywood, which combines bag check and scanning into a single procedure for every guest, Disneyland sends everyone through bag check and then randomly selects guests for scanning through the metal detectors. When crowd levels are low, all guests may be sent through the detectors.
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In the past, it was very rare to see security with their dogs in public view. However, this has become the norm lately.
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White shirt security are found everywhere in the parks these days, with many plain clothes security also in the parks.
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Watch towers are in all of the lots. At times of low threat, they are often collapsed to the ground. But when needed, they are telescoped up for a better view of the lots they serve.
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A new procedure was in use this past weekend. A secondary gate was set up just past the security tents, preventing guests from attempting to avoid the metal detectors. The security officer at the gate acted as an overflow valve. If too many people were in line at the detectors, she would let some guests avoid waiting to be screened and allow them to flow out of security area.

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What do the security procedures do to the bag check lines? It can make them very long. This was just before noon on Sunday. The lines were moving very slowly. Sadly, if you pick the wrong line, you can get stuck for long periods of time while lines on either side of you move at a more rapid pace. Perhaps Disney should do as Universal does and set up a switchback and send guests to the next available line for back check and scanning. That would help keep the lines moving for all and allow security to take more time with individual guests who have lots of bags or who can’t seem to pull themselves back together following bag check.
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Let’s head into the park!

Summer Off-Season

Once the busiest time of year for Disneyland, Summer is the new off-season. Peak surge pricing for park tickets and hotel rooms, in combination with pass holder block outs have made Summer the most enjoyable crowd levels of the year. Most of the photos in this update were taken between 10am and 5pm on Friday the 8th of July, and from noon until 2pm on Saturday the 9th.  At no point during that time were the parks at more than moderate crowding conditions, and in most places the park actually felt uncrowded. This was unheard of a few years ago. Disney has successfully engineered a shift in crowds from the busy season to the off season. I’m sure Disney would rather that the parks were a bit more crowded than they currently are. The hotels in particular do not have the occupancy that Disney is accustomed to. So, some adjustment of the system will need to be conducted before next year.

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It was $119 for a one day/one park ticket this past weekend.

 

Our MouseAddict app recorded moderate crowding at Disneyland and California Adventure. If you’d like to track crowds in the park (including heat maps of where guests are congregating), you can find out more information HERE.

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Here you leave the high summer crowd levels of the past and enter the world of short waits and magical park experiences.

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Yo ho, yo ho, a 15 minute wait for me.

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Kindly drag your bodies into the very short line for this classic attraction.

 

A Romp Through Disneyland

This was one of the most enjoyable photo shoots we’ve had in a very long time. Instead of rushing to get all the shots as quickly as possible, we took the better part of the day to experience Disneyland as it is rarely seen these days – without the mad crush of guests. A simply delightful day.

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The princesses were in the entry plaza meeting with their littlest fans.
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Town Square takes on a small town feel when the trolley, omnibus, firetruck, and motor cars are all running. With the train currently closed, this is the perfect stage dressing for your first look at Disneyland.

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I’ve walked by the Disneyland Fire Department hundreds of times since I last stepped inside. Today, I felt like exploring.

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Gentlemen, pop into Castle Bros. on Main Street and gander at the awesome collection of new t-shirts.

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This one is my favorite.
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Extra credit if you recognized this as the lion from the Disney family crest.

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Tomorrowland still experiences a crowd crush in the tight walkways between the Astro Orbiter and the old People Mover platform.
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This area really needs to be opened up. The Astro Orbiter blocks too much of the pathway and forces even moderate crowds to be smashed into narrow paths on either side of the attraction. The Imagineers have been discussing this dilemma for nearly 18 years.

 

All the Season(s) of the Force attractions continue to operate. . .

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It would be great if they’d put a Rogue One trailer in this theater or build an actual attraction here.
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The Path of the Jedi film just isn’t cutting it any more.
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Hyperspace Mountain continues to be the longest wait in the park. Are you happy to have this overlay remain until Star Wars land opens, or do you want classic Space Mountain to return?

 

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Much of the loop is from the classic 1958 episode of the DISNEYLAND television series – Magic Highway U.S.A. (Thanks for the correct info, and for your work in bringing this great video to the new Autopia,  Jesse Haskell!) For your reference (it is well worth a watch), here’s the original video with a delightful introduction from Walt Disney himself.

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Some punny license plates are shown on the screen as well: IMG_0123

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Although the crowd levels were a delight, the bright California sun can wear you down. The refreshing waters of the Sub Lagoon were certainly inviting. IMG_0156

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Not far down the Matterhorn path is the old Motor Boat Cruise dock, which is a fantastic spot to stop and rest.

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As I sat for a while on the dock, enjoying a cool bottle of water, I could hear Small World in the distance. There was no question about it, that would be my next stop.

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I’ve loved this dragon since I was a kid.

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Something is missing from Small World at the moment . . .
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The pink hippo is away for refurbishment.

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Although the Rain Forest scene was removed to add the America scene, I’m so thankful that these amazing characters were saved and shoehorned into the Polynesian room.

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At first glance, ToonTown is bright and cheerful.

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Star Wars land is being constructed just behind Gadget’s Go Coaster. The green fence is your clue.
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But not everything in ToonTown is perfect. Some of the hills need refreshing.
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Many of the shingles need to be scraped and repainted.

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The paint on Donald’s boat is peeling.
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The squishy floor of Donald’s boat is in bad shape.

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ToonTown is hard to keep in good condition with its bright colors and intricate details.

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One of my favorite things to do in Fantasyland is to look up. While you are busy riding attractions and keeping an eye on the kiddies, you are missing out on some fantastic details up on the rooftops! IMG_0250

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for many years, the Village Haus restaurant was one of the worst spots in Disneyland to stop and refuel. But there are actually some fun things on the menu these days and the ambiance is really quite lovely. If you can snag a spot inside, this is a great escape from the sun (and the very infrequent rain). IMG_0261

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The flatbread is great.
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And the chicken sausage on pretzel roll is absolutely delicious.
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the menus are animated, I captured this screen in mid rotation.

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Lots of wonderful detail.

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StarWars Land Construction

Everything’s coming up Star Wars these days and Disney simply can’t get this new land open soon enough. Vertical construction has begun. It’s a mad race now to get river reopened as soon as possible so the rest of Star Wars land can proceed in secret. UPDATED: The Disney Parks Blog posted this new concept art of Star Wars land which will be placed on the construction fence inside the park today. It doesn’t reveal anything new, but it’s always fun to look at concept art:

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Click for larger image. What do you think of the concept art folks. You can just make out the train around the top of the river. That’s Big Thunder Trail on the right. Lots of rock work to hid the show building. This is obviously just a piece of Star Wars land. But fun to see.
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The ToonTown station is closed while the North West portion of the track is rerouted.
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Track has been removed right up to the ToonTown train platform.

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Just beyond the train station, you can see vertical construction through the service gate at the Fantasyland Theater.
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Cast and crew of the theater have been complaining about loud construction behind the theater.
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We can see more of the vertical construction behind Big Thunder Mountain.

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Meanwhile, construction screens have gone up all over Tom Sawyer Island. IMG_0324

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IMG_0314 There’s a tremendous amount of work going on in the former Big Thunder Ranch area.

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Here’s the opposite side of the construction we saw from Big Thunder Trail.

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That’s the construction we saw from the other side of the Fantasyland Theater.

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That’s the Hungry Bear on the lower right.

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MORE STAR WARS CONSTRUCTION PHOTOS AND NEWS FROM DARTH DAVER – HERE

To support the thousands of extra daily guests who are expected to visit Star Wars land, a new parking structure is on the way to the space behind the Pumbaa lot and behind the Carousel Hotel. Buildings are already coming down in the area where the huge new structure will be built.

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The Carousel Hotel on Harbor Blvd (on the left) will soon come down. A walkway from the new parking structure will come right through this space and connect to the tram plaza.

 

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The buildings behind the Carousel and Pumbaa parking lots are now coming down.

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Much thanks to Darth Daver for the additional photos of the building removal for the new parking structure below: PKG Const-July 9-11

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California Adventure

 

Soarin’ Through California Adventure

Just across the Esplanade from Disneyland, California Adventure has been going through some modest changes of its own. IMG_0398

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Nikon said I should take a picture, so I did.

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It was getting to be pretty late in the day. I was hot, tired and ready for a little relaxation. So I’ll let you in on a little secret. One of my favorite hidden away spots in California Adventure is the Alfresco Tasting Terrace above the Wine Country Trattoria. It’s a fantastic spot to take in some stunning views and sit back with a glass of wine. IMG_0434

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Just take those stairs up to the 2nd floor.

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The rooftop patio offers a stunning vista.

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This little lady calls the hillside behind the patio home. She’s the sweetest cat. I’m told by the staff the she is quite friendly and is well taken care of by Disney.
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Just across from the wine patio is my favorite entry into Cars Land. So, I thought I’d take you for a little stroll to see how things are looking in Radiator Springs.

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95 minutes may seem like a horrible wait, but it’s quite a bit better than the 3 digit waits the attraction was commanding a year ago. Still, better to use fastpass or single rider than wait for an hour and a half.

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Here’s something fun. The Popcone now offers ALL of the flavors all the time. Until recently, they offered buttered and a rotating list of flavors each week. Now you can pick from any of the flavors. What’s your favorite flavor?

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The World of Color stadium has a small built-in water play area which is rarely turned on. This is one of the few times I’ve ever seen it in operation and some very happy kids were taking advantage of the opportunity to cool off.

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With crowd levels so low, we thought we’d check to see if Garden Grill was still open.
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The good news is that it IS open. The bad news is that it still isn’t busy.
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It’s not just the Garden Grill that’s suffering. Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta is also a ghost town.

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Almost as popular as Radiator Springs Racers on a hot day is Grizzly River Rapids. IMG_0526

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The geysers weren’t working the day we took these photos.

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Surprisingly, Soarin’ isn’t getting the super long lines I was expecting to see. IMG_0546

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Even on a day with reasonable waits, this is a very tight and uncomfortable queue to wait in.
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There are a few new-ish things going on in Hollywood Land.
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Have any of you tried out the Jammin’ on the Backlot party yet? The decor looks minimal during the day. Curious what your thoughts are of the actual party.
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Peter’s Dragon is previewing to mostly tiny crowds.

The preview in the old Muppet Theater is a bit long and sort of boring. However, the official trailer looks a bit more promising.

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Jamin’ on the Backlot is a family friendly dance party.

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Just around the corner from the dance party is the Spiderman meet and greet. Lot’s of folks were lined up to meet the webslinger.

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Just a tip. Frozen remains very popular. You really need a Fastpass to see this show. They let very few standby into each showing.
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At this performance, only about 150 standby were allowed into the theater.

 

Again, looking for shade, I ducked into the Animation building. IMG_0589

One of my favorite shops is at the exit, Off the Page. IMG_0590

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Hipster Mickey. A sure sign that the end of the world is nigh.
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Here’s a simple thing to smile about. Not only is Disney selling vinyl records in the parks again, these are reissues of classics. If you don’t have “A Day at Disneyland,” it’s worth buying a record player just to relive the glory days of Disney.
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Picture disks!
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Lady and the Tramp was my very first movie. Ask me to tell you the story one day. It still makes me cry. So happy to see this album.
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I know . . . right?!

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Thomas Kinkade was prolific. He passed away in 2012, but his artwork remains quite popular with some.
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Toot Toot Tootsie Goodbye!

 

Downtown Disney

Take My Money Please

Whenever possible, I avoid the trams and walk back to my car. On this trip, I took my time through Downtown Disney. There were quite a few fun things to share from Disney’s shopping district.

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Carmel apple dipped in white chocolate. What are they making with these? . . .
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Dory! Delicious Dory!
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Where the sock store was, you’ll find a hat store now.

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A new Starbucks is soon to open on the end of Downtown Disney near the AMC Theater and Disneyland Hotel.

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House of Blues is now long gone from Downtown Disney (they relocated to Garden Walk).

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I love WonderGround Gallery. This past weekend was an “Artist Takeover” by Jasmine Beckett-Griffith.
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Her artwork is one part goth, one part 70’s Big Eyes, with tons of whimsy thrown in for good measure. Some REALLY fun pieces here.

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I almost never visit Vault 28 since it became a mostly women’s store. However, I’m glad I stopped by on this trip.
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Sure, you can find most of these items in the parks. But they are displayed so nicely here. Don’t you dig those trash can salt and pepper shakers?
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Alice in Wonderland tea service.
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Finding Dory is still wowing movie-goers. $643 million dollars worldwide so far.
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This was bizarre. A lady and gentleman were giving away some sort of religious books between ESPN Zone and Downtown Disney parking. The table looked like they had just illegally set it up. They were kind of hiding out of the main traffic of Downtown Disney. I wonder if this was something legit or they just set up shop until they were thrown out. Unfortunately, they were proselytizing when I walked by. Not the sort of thing that you’d expect to find in Downtown Disney.
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Gawrsh. Looks like we’ve come to the end of another update!
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Today’s MiceChat Disneyland Update was shot and written by Dusty Sage. Each Monday we’ll bring you Disneyland photos and news from a variety of different points of view. We’ll be back next week with more fun from Walt’s original Magic Kingdom!

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Are you a great photographer? Do you love the parks? Would you like to contribute to the Disneyland Update or other MiceChat columns? Please contact Dusty Sage: [email protected]

Dusty Sage
Dusty is the founder and CEO of MiceChat.com. When he's not visiting theme parks and writing, editing or speaking about Disney and theme parks worldwide, Dusty is involved in multiple Disney related projects and charities. He helped save and restore the charming Walt Disney Birthplace in Chicago, launched the Dick Van Dyke Foundation, and is the curator of Walt Disney's historic 1930's estate in Hollywood. If you've got news or photos to share with the MiceChat community, or would like to book Dusty for an upcoming event, please contact [email protected]