RESORTSunday, June 13, 2021 REPORTERSPONSORED CONTENT Disneyland.com WHAT’S INSIDE Did You Know? Community Environmental Recipe Corner Tips From Disney Expert Spot the Differences FEATURE FIRST RECRUITS IN AVENGERS CAMPUS HARALD HERRMANN, CEO OF SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK OF ORANGE COUNTY (CENTER) WITH HIS TEAM MEMBERS AT AVENGERS CAMPUS. Cast and Community Members are First to Experience the All-New Land Before Opening to Guests June 4 ast members and invited to team up alongside the Avengers for a items like food, fresh produce, diapers, said Harald Herrmann, CEO of Second guests from the local com- special preview opportunity. baby wipes and other support to those Harvest Food Bank of Orange County. munity were the first recruits “We really appreciate the fact that in need. “For what our team was able to accom- to experience Avengers Disneyland Resort is acknowledging all “To be able to come here as guests plish for the community, along with the Campus prior to its opening the work we’ve done for the community,” of the park to celebrate and acknowl- support of the Disneyland Resort, has Cto the public June 4. said Rita Garcia, family support special- edge our team for their efforts and work made all the difference. This moment is a Slinging webs alongside Spider-Man, ist at Community Action Partnership of through COVID-19 is really special,” culmination of that.” tasting epic eats like shawarma (a must- Orange County. “I’m a huge Avengers try according to the Avengers!), training fan so it means a lot to me to be here.” with favorite heroes and gearing up with Invited guests from the two commu- the latest WEB tech and apparel were nity organizations were also able to enjoy just a few of the adventures cast mem- a heroic day in the new land on June 3. bers experienced when they brought “I am inspired by how our community their friends and families to Disney came together to support one another California Adventure park in the week through the pandemic, especially those prior to the Avengers Campus opening who helped feed people in need,” said to guests. Ken Potrock, Disneyland Resort Presi- “We have been working on this land dent. “With the opening of Avengers for so long and to finally be able to open Campus filled with Super Heroes, it’s it — especially to our cast — is just so only fitting that we shared this moment special,” said Patrick Finnegan, vice with the folks from Second Harvest Food president of Disney California Adventure Bank of Orange County and Community park. “This land has come alive.” Action Partnership of Orange County, To show appreciation for local heroes, whose heroic actions helped our com- the Disneyland Resort also invited staff munity when we needed it the most.” members from Second Harvest Food These partners were instrumental in Bank of Orange County and Community supporting our community throughout Action Partnership of Orange County the pandemic and helped get essential CAST MEMBERS EXPERIENCING AVENGERS CAMPUS PRIOR TO ITS OPENING ON JUNE 4. SUPER Cast Members Share Their Reactions to Avengers Campus Opening at Disney California Adventure Park It’s so nice to be back “as one big team, just to make people feel like I’m the most excited to they’ve escaped their be here opening Avengers troubles outside and have “ Campus. To be part of come into something this is a once-in-a-lifetime they’ve only ever dreamed opportunity. of. It’s super emotional but a beautiful experience. I’m - Howard Varner,” Custodial so excited! - Ian Hartdige,” Entertainment DESIGNED BY SCNG CUSTOM CONTENT + STORY CONTINUED ON P.3 2 Disneyland.com SPONSORED CONTENT Sunday, June 13, 2021 COMMUNITY Former ‘CHOC Kid,’ Imagineer Helps Bring Smiles to Patients at Children’s Hospitals By Lisa Greathouse group, Imagineers work with hospitals to enhance the hospital environment by Katie Barnes, a senior set decorator at introducing visually stunning murals (as Walt Disney Imagineering, jumped at long as 54 feet at CHOC) of favorite char- the chance to work on art direction and acters that brighten corridors and come installation of interactive Disney artwork to life when viewed through the Disney designed to ease the stress for children Team of Heroes app. Other elements and families at children’s hospitals include magic windows, magic art, and around the country. play spaces that draw the patients into When she found out her first project the enchanting world of Disney story- would be at CHOC (Children’s Hospital telling; Disney-themed Starlight Gowns of Orange County) — the hospital where and care packages inspired by favorite she spent much of her own childhood — characters; complimentary access to she knew it was meant to be. movie and TV content through the Dis- “The first time I walked in, the memo- ney Movie Moments program, Disney+, ries came flooding back,” said Katie, who and DisneyNOW apps; and children’s was diagnosed with a rare kidney disease hospital-centered Disney Institute train- and spent about seven years in and ing and themed staff badges to enhance out of CHOC for testing and treatment, the engagement between the patients beginning when she was just 18 months and care givers. old. “The idea that I would have the op- Disney’s commitment to children’s portunity to be part of bringing smiles hospitals, and CHOC, in particular, dates KATIE WITH ONE OF THE ARTWORK MURALS CREATED FOR CHOC. and positivity to not just the children back to 1960 when Walt Disney joined a here who are going through such a diffi- committee to help open the hospital. The hospital’s lobby, providing moments of ate and so gratifying.” In fact, Katie’s con- cult time, but also to the families and the Disneyland Resort continues to sponsor joy for CHOC patients and families. nection to the project goes even deeper; staff, well, it’s just really special.” the hospital’s major annual fundraiser, While Katie has warm memories of the program is also at Children’s Hospital The project is part of the Company’s CHOC Walk in the Park, which has being a patient at CHOC — she still has Los Angeles, where Katie says her 6-year- $100 million philanthropic initiative to raised millions for healthcare programs, her stuffed Choco bear — she doesn’t old daughter goes for treatment of the reimagine the patient journey in chil- education and research for children need to imagine how much brighter her same kidney disease Katie has. dren’s hospitals. Teams from every line of in Southern California. The resort has days would have been if she’d been able “I get to experience this as a designer, business across The Walt Disney Compa- contributed to major construction and to see favorite Disney characters during as an Imagineer and through the memo- ny, including Walt Disney Imagineering, additions to the hospital over the years, her stays. “During installation, kids and ry of what I went through,” she said. “But came together to deliver solutions that often brings Mickey Mouse and other staff would stop and say, ‘Whoa — there’s to get to experience it from the eyes of a are simple for hospitals to implement, characters to the hospital to visit pa- the Incredibles! Whoa — that’s Star parent and see my daughter’s enthusi- sustain and scale. In collaboration with tients, and together with Pixar, created Wars!’ The emotion these characters trig- asm and smiles, well, it makes the magic Disney’s Enterprise Social Responsibility the interactive “Turtle Talk” show in the ger and the change in attitude is immedi- of what we do that much stronger.” 5. As the Disneyland Resort by each individual address within service were recently celebrated DID YOU reopened after more than a year of the campus and were created to be in a special ceremony at Sleeping closure, cast members received new cool and comfortable, while helping Beauty Castle. KNOW? nametags imprinted with the words to ground guests in the immersive TRUE “Welcome Back.” storytelling of the land. Honoree Larry Snow marked 56 years FALSE TRUE with Disneyland Custodial in May. He is 1. The Disneyland Resort continues Below cast members’ names, the new one of the longest-serving cast members its phased reopening with the nametags read “Bringing Back the 10. Disneyland Resort cast members at the resort and was actually hired by Disneyland Hotel reopening July 2. Magic” to commemorate the historic who marked 50 and 55 years of Walt Disney at a group interview in 1965. TRUE. moment in time and celebrate their In addition to the now open Disney’s important role in creating magic. 1 Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel, reopening 6. At Avengers Campus, guests have June 15, this will mark all three hotels of the chance to witness Spider-Man the Disneyland Resort reopening. swinging into action high above with gravity-defying, acrobatic feats never 2. At Avengers Campus, Black seen before in a Disney park. Panther and the Dora Milaje appear TRUE for the first time at the Disneyland Resort. 7. Cast members working in FALSE Avengers Campus are referred to as Black Panther and the Dora Milaje have “Campus Representatives.” made appearances at the Disneyland FALSE Resort before, but Ant-Man and The Cast members are called “Campus Wasp, along with Taskmaster, appear for Personnel,” taking on unique roles the first time. at each address within the campus, inspired by different Avengers. 3. The “King Chad” mural, created 3 by concept artist and former 8. DisneylandForward shares plans Disney Imagineer Nikkolas Smith, to expand the Disneyland Resort.