Last Friday, the Disneyland Resort distributed a flyer to update cast members on the parking relocations planned for this coming Sunday, June 17 and discussed in “Parking Lost.”
Attempting to assuage employees fearful that they’ll be marked late, the memo states:
“Traffic congestion around the resort is anticipated. Please plan your commute in advance and allow ample time, particularly if you have never been to your alternate parking location. Even with planning, you may encounter delays. Be safe and don’t stress—if you are running late, stay calm and call or text your area when it is safe to do so. Traffic and parking will be monitored, and leaders will be notified of delays. Get to your work location safely, as soon as you can.”
Cast members are being directed to park in a particular lot based on the start time of their shifts:
- Prior to 4:59 a.m. – KCML (Katella Cast Member Lot)
- 5:00 to 6:59 a.m. – Honda Center
- 7:00 to 10:14 a.m. – Angel Stadium of Anaheim
- 10:15 a.m. to 12:14 p.m. – Anaheim GardenWalk
- 12:15 p.m. to 3:44 p.m. – KCML
- 3:45 p.m. to 7:59 p.m. – Angel Stadium of Anaheim
- 8 p.m. or later – KCML
The lots will open one hour before the earliest start times. Note that schedulers are attempting to divert cast members away from the Angel Stadium/Honda Center area as the clock approaches the 12:35 p.m. game time for the Angels. That should minimize the traffic during the morning hours, to help ensure minimal delays for those working the early shift. Any serious delays for them will likely come after their shifts, as they shuttle back to their cars contending with 30,000 to 40,000 baseball fans leaving the stadium. But, at that point, their shifts are over and their employer would presumably grow less concerned with the length of their commute. (I assume Disney is also hoping for a quick ballgame that doesn’t crossover into the arrival times for the late afternoon/early evening shift starts.)
If everything goes according to plan, the strategy will be repeated the following Sunday, June 24. Cast members, of course, are afraid it will continue to be repeated any time huge crowds are expected. And they see recent upgrades to the Katella Cast Member Lot as a tip-off. “The renovations made to KCML make it look like a guest parking lot,” says one employee. “There’s a new double-lane entrance with a toll booth that doubles as a guard shack. The old entrance is reserved for shuttles and busses. The exit will be shared by all. Gate arms were installed where cast members have to scan their IDs to gain entry.”
He says the new entrance has already caused a number of problems, ranging from traffic backups to a gate arm supposedly landing on one cast member’s car.
In addition to a map of the area, the flyer closes with management’s now-familiar line: “As a reminder, driving to work and parking in a Cast lot is not expected or required and is just one commuting option. Other commute alternatives available to Cast Members include carpooling, riding the bus or train, vanpooling, bicycling or walking. For more information, please contact Disney Commuter Assistance at 8232-RIDE.”
The resort is bracing for more than 100,000 visitors between the two parks (60,000+ at Disneyland and 40,000+ at Disney California Adventure), possibly breaking the record notched this past February’s Leap Day/”One Extra Disney Day.” Ironically, June 17 may mark the reversal of one long-standing crowd control maneuver: this time, guests may actually find themselves turned away from DCA and be forced to settle on Disneyland instead.
