Disney News, Discussion & an Element of Fun - 2023 Edition

[DisSurfer878]

Disney clarifies TRON Lightcycle Run virtual queue policy for late arrivals

On the webpage for TRON, the wording now states, "Late arrivals may not be accommodated."

During the soft opening period, some guests were frustrated by securing a boarding group from home or their hotel but could not get into the park quickly enough to reach TRON inside their arrival window. Disney has been offering a late arrival grace period of around one hour, but guests arriving outside of that time have usually been denied entry.

What bothers me about this (and we were discussing it on the DISabilities) is if they're not going to be more lenient for guests utilizing DAS (and there are reports they haven't been).

The point of a DAS return time is that it is open ended and the guest can return whenever is possible for them.

Since there is no "traditional" way to get a DAS time right now, I personally feel like all DAS guests should be accommodated at returning later than their time because that's the very nature of disability- you don't know when your disability will prevent you from doing something and how long it will take before you're able to function again.

We would love to make it exactly on time every time, but my partner's disability has foiled us many times and delayed us literally hours.

 

[OKW Lover]

Major Seven Seas Drive Reroute Will Go Through Magic Kingdom Parking Lot

https://blogmickey.com/2023/03/majo...te-will-go-through-magic-kingdom-parking-lot/

Looking at this there are several points that are left up in the air. FWIW, I live in the area and drive that stretch very regularly so I know the traffic pattern.

It looks to me that this "reroute" is not at all a rerouting of Seven Seas Drive. Instead it's just providing better access to the CM parking that is across from the Poly. Notice that the new road that goes from SSD into the parking area does not connect up with Floridian Way. It just dead ends in the cast parking.

It doesn't look like access to the Poly is any different that what currently exists. It does make the current intersection of SSD to Floridian Way a bit different by improving an intersection that has become much busier now that the roadway from World Drive routes people to the Grand Floridian and the Poly through there.

 

[HokieRaven5]

What bothers me about this (and we were discussing it on the DISabilities) is if they're not going to be more lenient for guests utilizing DAS (and there are reports they haven't been).

The point of a DAS return time is that it is open ended and the guest can return whenever is possible for them.

Since there is no "traditional" way to get a DAS time right now, I personally feel like all DAS guests should be accommodated at returning later than their time because that's the very nature of disability- you don't know when your disability will prevent you from doing something and how long it will take before you're able to function again.

We would love to make it exactly on time every time, but my partner's disability has foiled us many times and delayed us literally hours.

Hopefully as the ride continues operation updates can be made to how they work with guests who utilize DAS.

 

[HokieRaven5]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1643267192291749891

 

[rangerxenos]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1643251951931469827

Good luck telling Disney to not continue raising prices on this product.

This. Is. INSANE.

 

[soniam]

I see it hitting $100 easily by this time next year. Remember all that Iger talk about prices being too high. I guess he forgot.

I think this is an incredible outlier week. It’s the week before Easter, which is always busy and a big school holiday week. It’s also Tron opening week. Not quite the perfect storm but close. I don’t see it remotely going to this price without significant changes to the system. I don’t see many people paying 3 times the highest price if the experience doesn’t massively improve. They want ti actually make money off this. I think it will go higher, but I think it will stay under $50 with the current process.

 

[ak517]

Hopefully as the ride continues operation updates can be made to how they work with guests who utilize DAS.

I was there during the soft-open period and got group 11, and we got called at 8:46 with a "by time" of 9:46. Our situation was a little funny so I spoke with three cast members to try to figure out the best solution (which ultimately we ended up winging it). I found out that there is an unofficial but very firm 1-hour extension of your "by time," which presumably accounts for the potentially lengthy build up of people in the VQ (we waited ~an hour before even tapping in), and users with DAS can request a return time in accordance with their VQ boarding group that extends their "by time" by one hour. I didn't use that feature, so I'm not sure how it actually works. I posted my experience in the VQ thread, and I would hope that others post updates there now that the ride is officially open.

 

[Genie+]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1643251951931469827

Good luck telling Disney to not continue raising prices on this product.

Easter week and Christmas through New Years tie for the most expensive weeks at WDW. Tickets, rooms, everything is as expensive as it gets.

 

[sachilles]

I think the no late return policy for Tron is to discourage people from pulling an early time and just waiting until it gets dark to ride with all the purty lights.

That's a good point.
I imagine if they really wanted, they could do two virtual queues for tron. One for before 6pm and one for post 6pm, limiting your choice to one or the other for the day. Add a little luck of the choice.

 

[HokieRaven5]

I was there during the soft-open period and got group 11, and we got called at 8:46 with a "by time" of 9:46. Our situation was a little funny so I spoke with three cast members to try to figure out the best solution (which ultimately we ended up winging it). I found out that there is an unofficial but very firm 1-hour extension of your "by time," which presumably accounts for the potentially lengthy build up of people in the VQ (we waited ~an hour before even tapping in), and users with DAS can request a return time in accordance with their VQ boarding group that extends their "by time" by one hour. I didn't use that feature, so I'm not sure how it actually works. I posted my experience in the VQ thread, and I would hope that others post updates there now that the ride is officially open.

Thanks for the information.

Not saying that this is their thinking, but for a guest trying for the 7am boarding group, Disney could essentially say they gave you an initial 2.5-3 hour window to get from wherever you are to the attraction should you wind up with an early boarding group.

If you don’t wind up with one of those really early ones you get an estimate, but you were given time to get to the park. What happens while you’re inside the park that may cause delays, or other issues, as long as you’re polite about it, a CM could hopefully grant leniency.

For the 1pm, the assumption you’re in the park is already there.

 

[Smugpugmug]

I think this is an incredible outlier week. It’s the week before Easter, which is always busy and a big school holiday week. It’s also Tron opening week. Not quite the perfect storm but close. I don’t see it remotely going to this price without significant changes to the system. I don’t see many people paying 3 times the highest price if the experience doesn’t massively improve. They want ti actually make money off this. I think it will go higher, but I think it will stay under $50 with the current process.

This is what gets me the most. I wouldn't love to spend $100 for the current Genie+ system where you have to fight with other guests to get the ride you want at 7 am. But it looks to be heading that way unfortunately.

 

[HokieRaven5]

I think this is an incredible outlier week. It’s the week before Easter, which is always busy and a big school holiday week. It’s also Tron opening week. Not quite the perfect storm but close. I don’t see it remotely going to this price without significant changes to the system. I don’t see many people paying 3 times the highest price if the experience doesn’t massively improve. They want ti actually make money off this. I think it will go higher, but I think it will stay under $50 with the current process.

They’ll definitely push the limits during peak weeks and maybe others. How far they can go, depends on the guests.

 

[soniam]

This is what gets me the most. I wouldn't love to spend $100 for the current Genie+ system where you have to fight with other guests to get the ride you want at 7 am. But it looks to be heading that way unfortunately.

It’s been around for more than a year now, and the price just barely doubled. I think $100 is a big stretch.

 

[Smugpugmug]

It’s been around for more than a year now, and the price just barely doubled. I think $100 is a big stretch.

I could realistically see it going for $50 plus tax for peak periods like 4th of July and Christmas.

 

[soniam]

I could realistically see it going for $50 plus tax for peak periods like 4th of July and Christmas.

Maybe $49.99

 

[NJlauren]

Re genie + pricing, I don’t feel like the majority of us reading a Disney forum for updated news are who they are targeting at $35! Is it a lot yes, but I can tell you right now if I’m going for my first visit I’m paying it. But also with my kids I’m also probably paying it because, kids in crowds and heat and lines is not my idea of magic.

But I’m the rare exception I hate paying for Genie + but I don’t actually hate genie +

 

[HokieRaven5]

But I’m the rare exception I hate paying for Genie + but I don’t actually hate genie +

I also don’t hate Genie+ in terms of its functionality. I have mostly gotten more rides out of it the few times I’ve used it than I did previously with FP+.

 

[soniam]

Re genie + pricing, I don’t feel like the majority of us reading a Disney forum for updated news are who they are targeting at $35! Is it a lot yes, but I can tell you right now if I’m going for my first visit I’m paying it. But also with my kids I’m also probably paying it because, kids in crowds and heat and lines is not my ice of magic.

But I’m the rare exception I hate paying for Genie + but I don’t actually hate genie +

We would pay $35 but probably not something over $50. I think it’s fine. It has positives and negatives, just like all of the previous systems.

 

[NJlauren]

We would pay $35 but probably not something over $50. I think it’s fine. It has positives and negatives, just like all of the previous systems.

I wonder what my breaking point would be…. Also I think it depends on traveling party, how long my trip is etc. I’m going in June just me and DD8, I would pay $50 as we will only have 2 and a half park days and only 2 of us…. But would I pay more than that? I am not sure. I feel like more than $100 a day for 2 people seems insane so maybe I would buy it 2 days? Who knows… I will say it feels like a nickel and dime situation as the price creeps up.

If it’s $100 I want to not have to scheduled anything! Just walk up like at universal….I know it’s not an option but you get the idea.

 

[sherlockmiles]

My biggest complaint is not being able to pre-purchase. I preferred to have one less thing to have to worry about\deal with.
Now you have to get up, purchase genie, THEN start planning.