A tough week
Fire destroyed many of Theme Park Insider's neighbors' homes this week.
Two weeks ago, Theme Park Insider’s hometown of Pasadena, California welcomed the nation for the annual Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game. A week later - just last week, Pasadena made the news for a far less welcomed reason.
The Eaton Fire tore through the area, destroying thousands of homes - mostly in the community of Altadena, Pasadena’s northern neighbor. Mountain wave winds approaching 100 mph blew embers from what could have been a run-of-the-mill mountain wildfire miles into the urban street grid. The direction of the winds is the only reason that I am able to write this today from my home, while more than two dozen of our friends now have no home.
So please forgive me for not being able to devote my full attention to the theme park beat this week. We evacuated soon after watching the fire start just two miles to our north, as smoke and ash filled the inside of our home, and a second fire broke out just to the south of us, threatening our best escape route. (LA’s amazing fire crews swiftly extinguished the second fire.)
We returned the next morning, grateful that our place suffered no damage beyond a blanket of ash and debris from trees blown down by the hurricane-force winds. But we soon discovered that many friends were not so lucky.
On Theme Park Insider’s Facebook page this week, I wrote about a public middle school in Altadena that burned and asked followers to support our school district’s efforts to assist the many students, families, and teachers who have lost their homes in this fire. Here is that link: Pasadena Educational Foundation.
Altadena is home to many Disney cast members, and Disney has pledged $15 million to help provide relief to victims of the Eaton Fire and the Palisades Fire across town. Other studios also are donating: another $15 million from Warner Bros. and $10 million from NBCUniversal, among them.
The people of the Los Angeles area have been amazing this week. Aid stations have popped up all over my neighborhood, as people donate and distribute water, food, clothes, and toiletries to whoever needs it. Chef José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen is serving meals. If you’ve ever doubted the inherent goodness of the vast majority of people, this week in LA should restore your faith in humanity.
That said, it’s been troubling to many who live here to read the bad-faith lies about the fire that have spread in the news and on social media. Yet again, I refer people to the amazing Joe Rohde’s Instagram for a lesson - this time, about the fires and their cause.
And yet… the news continues outside our resilient Los Angeles community. I am continuing our daily update of Theme Park Insider’s visitors guides. If you’ve missed any, here are those park-by-park updates:
And here is the rest of the week’s theme park news:
What is the best 'first coaster' for kids at Disney? Happy birthday to Disney's Space Mountain, which is 50 years old this week. Disney promotes Space Mountain as a great first non-kiddie coaster for children. But is it the best?
Disney looks smaller to get bigger with cruise line expansion: Industry sources are reporting that Disney Cruise Line is commissioning a new class of its cruise ships, to begin sailing in 2029.
Knott's gets ready to celebrate 75 years of Peanuts: The new year means a new round of festivals at the nation's theme parks. Starting February 8 at Knott's Berry Farm, it's the return of Knott's Peanuts Celebration.
New tastes take the spotlight at EPCOT Festival of the Arts: Walt Disney World has announced this year's Food Studios menus for the 2025 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts, which starts January 17 and continues through February 24.
Thank you to everyone who has reached out to me this week, via email or social media. Your concern means the world to me and is appreciated, greatly.
Best wishes to everyone for better weeks ahead,
Robert Niles
Robert, thank you for sharing your update. While I did not have to evacuate (I live in OC), I have friends who did and also lost their homes. It's absolutely heartbreaking. I'm glad to hear you and your family are doing well. Sending love and good vibes to your friends and the entire LA community.