News Round Up

[Mouse of Mystery]

Well this is almost too much to bear. We were at HS a couple of weeks ago and even with kids that had never been there before we had a hard time finding enough to do to justify more than a day. My wife and I both love the theme of the park though, so we're very excited at the planned expansion.

 

[rteetz]

Large photo update from AK

http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2015/06/animal-kingdom-update-new-starbucks_22.html

 

[rteetz]

Tokelau will open July 1st

http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2015/06/tokelau-longhouse-opens-july-1-at.html

 

[mvk]

Well this is almost too much to bear. We were at HS a couple of weeks ago and even with kids that had never been there before we had a hard time finding enough to do to justify more than a day. My wife and I both love the theme of the park though, so we're very excited at the planned expansion.

Yeah it might not be more than one day, but its most certainly worth the price of a 4th day add on ($30), and even worth the 3rd day add on ($83). Tower of Terror, Rock N Roller Coaster, Toy Story Midway Mania, Great Movie Ride, Star Tours, Beauty and the Beast, Muppets 3D, Indy Jones Stunt Show, Little Mermaid, Frozen sing-a-long, Disney Jr on Stage, Fantasmic, and Frozen Fireworks.... that's a pretty full day and well worth the price of admission. Now, for someone who goes multiple times per year, yeah, it could get stale to see some of the shows over and over... but that is no reason to shut down the park for a year as some have suggested.

 

[mom2rtk]

Yeah it might not be more than one day, but its most certainly worth the price of a 4th day add on ($30), and even worth the 3rd day add on ($83). Tower of Terror, Rock N Roller Coaster, Toy Story Midway Mania, Great Movie Ride, Star Tours, Beauty and the Beast, Muppets 3D, Indy Jones Stunt Show, Little Mermaid, Frozen sing-a-long, Disney Jr on Stage, Fantasmic, and Frozen Fireworks.... that's a pretty full day and well worth the price of admission. Now, for someone who goes multiple times per year, yeah, it could get stale to see some of the shows over and over... but that is no reason to shut down the park for a year as some have suggested.

IMO, the tiering of FP+ diminishes the value of what one pays to get into this park as well.

 

[mvk]

IMO, the tiering of FP+ diminishes the value of what one pays to get into this park as well.

I don't believe that is the case. Sure, you have to wait in a longer line for at least one attraction if you don't get in at rope drop, but it's still easily doable. And if you get your FP+ in early, you pull extra FP+ and can enjoy other attractions with just about zero wait time.

 

[rteetz]

Selfie stick ban now in effect

http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions...fect-at-all-walt-disney-world-theme-parks.htm

 

[rteetz]

Flame tree BBQ now back open

http://www.wdwmagic.com/dining/flam...en-with-new-enhancements-and-updated-menu.htm

 

[rteetz]

Info on where characters will be moving from the animation building at DHS

http://wdwnt.com/blog/2015/06/updat...-12th-2015-latest-details-on-character-moves/

 

[Ismo]

IMO, the tiering of FP+ diminishes the value of what one pays to get into this park as well.

The tiers at EP & HS are annoying, but they are there to manage the lines (a bit). I can't even imagine what the wait times would be if you could get FP+ for both TSMM and RnR.

In saying that, I hope that with the extra rides they are adding to HS there won't be a need for tiers anymore. HS's problem is that only 3 rides really need FP+.

All these little updates are making me extra excited for any official announcements to come though. I might start planning my 2021 trip now!

 

[rteetz]

Water in the springs at DTD

http://savepleasureisland.blogspot.com/2015/06/pi-update-springs-flooded.html

 

[rteetz]

Hub construction update

http://damouse.com/2015/06/30/all-of-the-new-cinderella-castle-spires-now-in-place/

 

[rteetz]

Soarin expansion update

http://damouse.com/2015/06/25/soarin-expansion-continues-as-steel-building-takes-shape/

 

[luisov]

4 billion? They may as well bring DisneySea to America. I'm pretty positive about this overhaul, but a 3 billion investment on theme parks is completely exorbitant if true.

 

[Madteaparty001]

4 billion? They may as well bring DisneySea to America. I'm pretty positive about this overhaul, but a 3 billion investment on theme parks is completely exorbitant if true.

Bite your tongue! (I mean that in the nicest way) We've been begging, moaning, and throwing proverbial trash at Disney to show DHS the love it deserves, so let's not speculate when they do, let's rejoice.

 

[Bay Max]

Captain EO is coming back to epcot July 19th. FP bookings are available. (Don't waste them on it)

Ugh. Seriously?

 

[minnie-apple-mouse]

Special thanks to rteetz on all the updates, and a few others of course.

I've never been too worried about WDW expansion, or even price increases.

But at least to me, it seems like WDW has been improving quite a bit.

At MK happen to think FL and the hub alone have been amazing improvements. That park is really getting dressed up IMO. The new restaurant sounds pretty cool. Heck even the Frozen castle lighting was a can't miss for us. 7DMT is secretly a favorite of ours now as well.

AK improvements sound awesome, esp the night show.

EPCOT-yea needs more, but Frozen and more Soarin access sounds good.

DHS if this is all actually coming even if over 3 to 5 years sounds amazing, and needed.

DTD was never on our list-but is rapidly rising fast. 4 times the size of City Walk and the water ways should dress it up nicely. Some amazing dining coming.

DVC additions are new options for us members. Every time they add it's just wonderful to have more choices. POLY/CR/GF have suddenly become very affordable. And even WL is improving. SSR was a not in my life until DTD changed-now its a sure thing on occasion anyway.

Lastly-US/IOA, that's there for all of us to enjoy as well. Zero chance of staying there for us-but great day trips followed by FP+ evenings at WDW.

Thanks again.

 

[jcnewton]

So is this $4 Billion number I keep seeing for DHS becoming the widely accepted number for the expansion? I only ask because some Googling revealed the budget for ALL of Shanghai Disney is about $5.5 Billion. $4B for DHS sounds like an ungodly amount of money. Hopefully that includes all the bells and whistles.

 

[nkosiek]

So is this $4 Billion number I keep seeing for DHS becoming the widely accepted number for the expansion? I only ask because some Googling revealed the budget for ALL of Shanghai Disney is about $5.5 Billion. $4B for DHS sounds like an ungodly amount of money. Hopefully that includes all the bells and whistles.

I think that includes work at MK and EP as well. Also, don't forget the cost of labor in the US versus China and the fact that we'll probably be importing much of the materials whereas China has to import little outside of oil. I'm still in the wait and see mentality.

 

[wareagle57]

So is this $4 Billion number I keep seeing for DHS becoming the widely accepted number for the expansion? I only ask because some Googling revealed the budget for ALL of Shanghai Disney is about $5.5 Billion. $4B for DHS sounds like an ungodly amount of money. Hopefully that includes all the bells and whistles.

I'm pretty sure the only thing we've seen about 4 billion is that it is UNDER 4 billion. That could mean a lot of things, but I would assume it means it is at least 3 billion.