Don't Know What I Don't Know

[katmigordon]

I used to have a real handle on the parks, but it's been 7 years now and I don't even know what I don't know anymore. What's changed? What's the same? Where do I start?

 

[gharter]

Read the stickies.
Park passes are the largest change. everyone in your party must have a park pass for each day for whatever park you plan to visit that day.
Park hopping now starts at 2pm and you must have tapped into the original park with your park pass before you can hop.
many restaurants, resorts and shows are still closed.
Park hours are greatly changed as well.
No parades. Some night shows are just starting to come back.
And much more . . .

 

[scrappinginontario]

The 'Here Now and Just Back' thread may also be helpful.

 

[MarkS2112]

HS is really overhauled and you need to have a plan for Rise of the Resistanc.

 

[katmigordon]

No plan to do either. We always hated HS and Rise is something I can do in Disneyland pretty much anytime I feel like going to explore it. We'll only have maybe 3 days in Disney World after our cruise, if I'm lucky so I have to really figure out how to streamline things to get the best out of it.

Maybe a longer trip in 2023 depending on how long wish cruises are - and if they're still going out of PC because I really want to go on the Wish in 23.

HS is really overhauled and you need to have a plan for Rise of the Resistanc.

 

[katmigordon]

Looking less at temp covid changes, and more at the permanent long haul stuff - I mean we won't be there until September of next year. Hopefully by then a lot of the covid stuff will have receded. We're mostly looking at Epcot and Animal Kingdom for the short time we have as I don't feel like I can get anything close to those experiences in Disneyland. If the Halloween Party this year really does have lower crowds - we'll probably do that too.

Read the stickies.
Park passes are the largest change. everyone in your party must have a park pass for each day for whatever park you plan to visit that day.
Park hopping now starts at 2pm and you must have tapped into the original park with your park pass before you can hop.
many restaurants, resorts and shows are still closed.
Park hours are greatly changed as well.
No parades. Some night shows are just starting to come back.
And much more . . .

 

[luv2cheer92]

It's kinda hard to say, because things could (and likely will) be so incredibly different a year from now.

I'm assuming you know Pandora is new at AK. Otherwise not really a whole lot much else that's new or different there. Animation Academy at Rafiki's is fairly new. Currently no night time show there.

Epcot is currently a huge construction zone. Future World, the front of the park, is a huge maze with walls up everywhere. Some of this will probably be down by next September though. Remy's is opening this fall and Guardians of the Galaxy has a potential chance of being open by next fall. Brand new fireworks show starting this October.

 

[kmrobins03]

If you like to rope drop, I suggest reading the rope drop thread. There is a ton of useful info for those of us who like to start the parks early! It can help you understand what might be different now vs pre Covid

 

[kmrobins03]

Another major change for me was navigating the parks. With many queues outside, there were some paths that I normally take blocked off by the queue. FOP comes to mind for this.. the back entrance from Asia to pandora is closed because the FOP line queues that way

 

[katmigordon]

What is this Remy's of which you speak? That's one of my favorite movies.

Epcot is currently a huge construction zone. Future World, the front of the park, is a huge maze with walls up everywhere. Some of this will probably be down by next September though. Remy's is opening this fall and Guardians of the Galaxy has a potential chance of being open by next fall. Brand new fireworks show starting this October.

 

[TangledHairDon'tCare]

Another major change for me was navigating the parks. With many queues outside, there were some paths that I normally take blocked off by the queue. FOP comes to mind for this.. the back entrance from Asia to pandora is closed because the FOP line queues that way

Is that something that just changed over the last couple of weeks? We used that entrance to Pandora a couple of times in July.

 

[TangledHairDon'tCare]

What is this Remy's of which you speak? That's one of my favorite movies.

A new ride in the France pavilion at Epcot!

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/attractions/epcot/remys-ratatouille-adventure/

 

[katmigordon]

OMG that looks amazing!
Wait 4D is that like some of the rides over at Universal? The ones where you feel like you're on a roller coaster - but you never actually move from the spot? I love those - they feel so real and it allows for much bigger ideas than a real roller coaster.

A new ride in the France pavilion at Epcot!

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/attractions/epcot/remys-ratatouille-adventure/

 

[luv2cheer92]

What is this Remy's of which you speak? That's one of my favorite movies.

If you want to spoil (or just see clips of) the ride, its an exact replica of the ride in Disneyland Paris, there are videos of it on YouTube.

 

[kmrobins03]

Is that something that just changed over the last couple of weeks? We used that entrance to Pandora a couple of times in July.

not sure I only went once to AK in late July.When I tried I to go past the rope, a cast member stopped me and made me enter from the front . Maybe it depends how long the FOP queue is? It was a long line the day I was there

 

[jimmymc]

Since many of the threads are long and tough to sort through, here are the biggest differences going on now:

• Pandora in Animal Kingdom replaced the character meeting area and Galaxy's Edge in Hollywood Studios replaced Lights, Motors, Action and the streets of America. These are fully immersive lands based on the popular movies. Toy Story Land was also added to Studios, which is less of a land and more of a trio of themed rides.
• You need boarding passes for Rise of the Resistance, just like in DL. We don't know yet if Remy's Ratatouille Adventure or other new rides will also need them.
• You now need park reservations to enter the parks, which you can make online when you buy your tickets. These seem here to stay, even after all other Covid restrictions are gone.
• You can still park hop, but only after 2 pm and after you visit the first park
• The Skyliner is a new type of transportation, like a fully enclosed gondola you would see at a ski resort. It connects Epcot International Gateway, Hollywood Studios, Riviera Resort (A brand new DVC-only resort), Caribbean Beach Resort, Pop Century, and Art of Animation.
• Tron Lightcycle Coaster in Magic Kingdom and Guardians of the Galaxy coaster in Epcot are under construction and might be opening in 2022, more likely 2023.
• Malestrom in Norway was rethemed to a Frozen ride and is now the most popular attraction in Epcot

Since you're a frequent visitor to Disneyland:

• Galaxy's Edge and both attractions are identical in both parks
• I love the Toy Story Land attractions. Slinky Dog is the most unique ride, while I believe Midway Mania is the exact same
• Pandora is nothing like anything in DL, so I would make it a point to do both attractions there along with everything else in the park.
• Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway is very similar to the one that's under construction in DL now, but I'm not sure when that one is scheduled to open
• Epcot has a food festival pretty much all year now. Food and Wine should be going on in September.
• Build in some resort hopping time. Because the property is so huge, the resorts are their own destinations with some of the best restaurants.

 

[mbcary]

not sure I only went once to AK in late July.When I tried I to go past the rope, a cast member stopped me and made me enter from the front . Maybe it depends how long the FOP queue is? It was a long line the day I was there

This just depends on the time of day. Earlier in the morning they have usually have that walkway blocked off. I'm not sure what exactly the criteria is for when they open it.

 

[jimmymc]

not sure I only went once to AK in late July.When I tried I to go past the rope, a cast member stopped me and made me enter from the front . Maybe it depends how long the FOP queue is? It was a long line the day I was there

I've been turned away during peak hours, which is between opening and around 3 pm. At that point a lot of guests hop back to the resort or another park and it opens up a little bit.