Disney News, Discussion & an Element of Fun - 2022 Edition

[1lilspark]

It's pretty crazy to me that they don't do the holiday parade and fireworks regularly ourside of parties.

I get that it's because I'm a Disneyland-er, so that's our norm but its just wild to me lol

At the very least having characters meet in seasonal outfits outside a party or Hollywood & Vine paywall would be lovely

The food at H&V has improved post Covid, so that is at least one positive thing

I know it was the case when they became family style but now that it’s back to buffet does it still hold true

 

[Aela]

At the very least having characters meet in seasonal outfits outside a party or Hollywood & Vine paywall would be lovely

I know it was the case when they became family style but now that it’s back to buffet does it still hold true

Good question. No idea!

 

[CarlyMur09]

Good question. No idea!

We ate there right after it became a buffet again. Was pretty decent, as we had eaten there when it was family style in May as well. Whole family was still pretty happy with the food.

 

[chiburple]

Good question. No idea!

Allears did a video reviewing the food, after it went back to buffet style, if anyone wants to get a sense of the current offerings & quality:

 

[mrsap]

Bob Weis Announces Retirement From Walt Disney Imagineering After 42 Years​

Former Walt Disney Imagineering head Bob Weis has announced his retirement from The Walt Disney Company after 42 years. Weis will officially retire on January 2, 2023.

 

[mrsap]

Wanted to add…

Some Diser’s over on the restaurant thread had questions, so I reached out to Disney through the MDE app and received some answers…

View attachment 711988View attachment 711987

One more reply to share…

“What this announcement means is essentially that the named restaurants have set aside availability exclusively for Guests staying in a qualifying Disney-owned/operated Resort that Guests who are not will not see or have access to book.

Being signed into your Disney account with a qualifying Resort reservation linked to your account will automatically enable the dining reservation system to tap into that availability while it remains available to book if all other availability the restaurant has released for non-qualifying Guests has been booked.

There's no special you need to do beyond having a qualifying Resort reservation linked to your Disney account and be signed into the same Disney account when requesting dining reservations.

Again, to be clear, this is not availability that's being set aside for booking once you're at the Resort.”

 

[mrsap]

Disney World Removes “Benefits of Becoming a Passholder” Web Page​

Disney World has removed the “Benefits of Becoming a Passholder” web page from its website via a redirect to the homepage. The redirect is a 301 “permanent” redirect, indicating that Disney doesn’t plan on offering the web page any longer.
The removal of the web page comes as Disney World is being sued by two Annual Passholders over COVID-era restrictions that have remained a part of daily operations such as the Disney Park Pass reservation system and park hopping restrictions. It’s unknown if the removal of the Passholder benefits web page is related to the lawsuit or a coincidence.

The web page previously showed the differences between the four tiers of Annual Passes, noting that only the lowest tier Pixie Dust pass is currently available. The web page also described the Water Park and PhotoPass add-on options for Passholders. The page went on to show various discounts available for Passholders before listing some of the restrictions of Annual Passes.

 

[mrsap]

Portion of Italy Pavilion Closed for Pavement Refurbishment at EPCOT​

A portion of the Italy pavilion is closed off to guests at EPCOT as Disney performs a significant pavement refurbishment project. The entire island is closed off to guests and has been for some time now as Disney works through a pavement replacement project. Disney has been doing a lot of pavement refurbishment projects around EPCOT’s World Showcase, with projects in Japan, China, and Germany over the past few months. Here’s a look at the work taking place in Italy.

 

[mrsap]

Normal Operations Resume at Club Cool With Unbranded Sample Cups at EPCOT​

Following a ration of sample cups at Club Cool, Disney has run out of the Coca-Cola branded sample cups and replaced them with unbranded cups as operations return to normal. Cast Members are no longer handing cups out at the entrance to the store and limiting the number of sample cups a guest can have. Instead, the sample cup dispensers have been fully restocked with unbranded cups as Disney awaits a backorder of the branded sample cups that guests are used to using. Throughout the cup saga, the amount of sample soda that guests could try remained unlimited.

 

[mrsap]

Details Revealed for Using ‘Hey, Disney!’ Amazon Voice Assistant With MagicBand+​

Amazon announced more details about the “Hey, Disney!” voice assistant coming soon to Echo devices.

The Disney version of Alexa will be available on any Echo device, but a special version will be embedded in Echo smart displays and speakers at Disney resort hotels. MagicBand+ will also be compatible with “Hey, Disney!” Guests at home or in Disney resorts can play games with their Echo and MagicBand+, which will act as a game show-style buzzer reacting with lights and haptics.

“Hey, Disney!” will help resort guests with their questions about parks and provide concierge services. Over 25 Disney character voices, including from Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and Muppets, will be included. Relevant characters will be used for alarms, weather reports, and more. For example, Olaf will give weather reports.

“Hey, Disney!” will be available to U.S.A. customers with a Kids+ subscription or in the Alexa Skills Store soon.

 

[lotsohugginbear]

UPDATE:

Disney World Responds to Disney Park Pass Lawsuit​

Here’s the statement via Gabrielle Russon:

“Annual Passholders continue to be some of our biggest fans and most loyal guests. We’ve been upfront with Passholders about the updates we’ve made, and we offered them the flexibility to opt in or opt out of the program early in the pandemic, including refunds if they desired. This lawsuit mischaracterizes the program and its history, and we will respond further in court.”

As a pass holder, I think the law suit is frivolous. But, this quote is a bit disingenuous. At the start of the pandemic,
they certainly did not say that the Theme Park Reservations were here to stay. That was rumored, but was not
stated as a certainty from Disney to its pass holders.

 

[LSUmiss]

Disney World Removes “Benefits of Becoming a Passholder” Web Page​

Disney World has removed the “Benefits of Becoming a Passholder” web page from its website via a redirect to the homepage. The redirect is a 301 “permanent” redirect, indicating that Disney doesn’t plan on offering the web page any longer.
The removal of the web page comes as Disney World is being sued by two Annual Passholders over COVID-era restrictions that have remained a part of daily operations such as the Disney Park Pass reservation system and park hopping restrictions. It’s unknown if the removal of the Passholder benefits web page is related to the lawsuit or a coincidence.

The web page previously showed the differences between the four tiers of Annual Passes, noting that only the lowest tier Pixie Dust pass is currently available. The web page also described the Water Park and PhotoPass add-on options for Passholders. The page went on to show various discounts available for Passholders before listing some of the restrictions of Annual Passes.

Did they ever stop renewals of APs in CA or was it just no new ones like here?

 

[jesskeys91]

Did they ever stop renewals of APs in CA or was it just no new ones like here?

I believe they stopped everything there for a long time.

 

[disney-inspired]

Did they ever stop renewals of APs in CA or was it just no new ones like here?

At the onset of the pandemic, they were just extending expiration dates or giving a full refund. I opted for the refund since at that time they didn't have any idea of when they were reopening.
I bought my new AP - now named Magic Key - in Oct 2021. Now magic keys are only renewed and no new sales at this time.

 

[LSUmiss]

At the onset of the pandemic, they were just extending expiration dates or giving a full refund. I opted for the refund since at that time they didn't have any idea of when they were reopening.
I bought my new AP - now named Magic Key - in Oct 2021. Now magic keys are only renewed and no new sales at this time.

But once the park opened back up, did they ever stop renewals?

 

[disney-inspired]

But once the park opened back up, did they ever stop renewals?

I checked and they cancelled annual passes completely in August 2020, so no renewals either. Magic key program was launched August 2021. When the park reopened there were no APs or MKs yet but since the MK program rolled out, I don't think renewals have been paused.

 

[Ms Bibbidi]

But once the park opened back up, did they ever stop renewals?

Yes. They stopped Magic Key renewals for a few weeks and restarted renewals. At WDW renewals were not stopped.

 

[LSUmiss]

Yes. They stopped Magic Key renewals for a few weeks and restarted renewals. At WDW renewals were not stopped.

Ok just wondering if it was b/c of the lawsuit & if they’ll do the same with wdw.

 

[Ms Bibbidi]

Ok just wondering if it was b/c of the lawsuit & if they’ll do the same with wdw.

DLR lawsuit was filed November 9, 2021. Disney did not stop renewals until about May 28, 2022. Disney then restarted renewals August 18, 2022. I do not know if the stopping renewals and restarting was connected to the lawsuit.

No info on if Disney will stop renewals of annual passes at Disney World.

 

[scrappinginontario]

I wonder if Akershus will be the same set up with Belle or if they'll move it to Anna and Elsa. It seems they'll have princesses during your meal which CRT doesn't have just yet.

I can’t see them moving Anna and Elsa over due to their popularity. It would greatly decrease the number who could meet them and they would not have the same characters in such close proximity.