Disney Called Out For Denying Cast Members Preview of New Attraction

In just under one month, a brand-new attraction will open in Mickey’s ToonTown at Disneyland Resort. The Disneyland Park ride is Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, just like the hit attraction that can be found at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort. When a new attraction opens at a Disney theme park, some of the first people who get to ride are the fantastic Disney Cast Members. Being able to enjoy and experience the magic of a new attraction is an incredible perk, or at least it used to be.

In the past, Cast Member previews were a big event that happened right before an attraction was set to open. Unfortunately, it looks like Disney will not be doing full Cast Member previews for Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. According to Twitter user Jingle Bell Pepper 5000 (@Adorian1989), Disneyland Resort Cast Members had to opt into a contest for a chance to win a ride on the new attraction.

The fact that Cms had to opt-in for a *Chance to win* a preview for MMRR is beyond annoying. Knowing the way they’ve been lately, they’re probably having a ‘Media’ preview where all the invited ‘influencers’ would get to go ride it & threw Cms into the mix as an afterthought.

https://twitter.com/Adorian1989/status/1608006044541915137

More recently, Disney has been noticing the importance of social media, and the effect influencers can have on getting the word out about fun changes, new rides, new Disney Park food, and more. So, Disney has been inviting certain “influencers” and other media personnel to ride the attraction early. While this is usually fine, many are upset that Disney would leave out Cast Members in favor of those influencers.

100% this. A company can’t scream about caring about their cast members when they can’t even give everyone that works there something as simple as a Cast Preview. Media should not get special previews of new attractions or shows before CM’s/TM’s!

https://twitter.com/TheEntConnect/status/1608318695247589376

What upset others was that the Disney Park ride will be nearly identical to the one that is in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, with only some minor variations being made, so the press and “influencers” wouldn’t be using something all that different. However, the Cast Members would get the perk they so willingly deserve.

At this time, we do not know how Cast Member previews will work for future attractions.