Early November Travelers! For those arriving Nov 1 ~ Nov. 17

[DisneyLover75]

However they did say they'd start previews of these attractions/restaurants on November 19th.. that's something?

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

we will have just left by Nov 19th...

 

[Kristina]

Ahhh !! I guess everyone's heard the news then? Of course I leave WDW on Nov. 19th ! Grrr!! So annoying...for me lol!
Oh well, like we always say..time to plan another trip and I'm doing that but..it's to Disneyland in 2013!

So much new stuff to see!

 

[Broncobilly83]

I am at least hoping the walls are taken down so we can see things, even if we can not go in them

 

[mistydoodles]

I asked the following question to Disney directly:

are the previews open to all guest or is it only for annual passholders?

and this is the response:

August 8, 2012 Melissa - The previews begin on Nov. 19 for all Guests! Annual Passholders may have an opportunity to attend previews prior to that date, though we don't have any details on that just yet.

SO EXCITED!!! We will be there from Nov 15th-23rd and I was worried that it meant we were not going to get to see the New Fantasyland. So happy!!!!

 

[Broncobilly83]

I asked the following question to Disney directly:

are the previews open to all guest or is it only for annual passholders?

and this is the response:

August 8, 2012 Melissa - The previews begin on Nov. 19 for all Guests! Annual Passholders may have an opportunity to attend previews prior to that date, though we don't have any details on that just yet.

SO EXCITED!!! We will be there from Nov 15th-23rd and I was worried that it meant we were not going to get to see the New Fantasyland. So happy!!!!

Unfortunately, we are not APs, as we only get out there maybe once every 2 years now. I am hoping pixie dust might shine on us, since we are Club Level this time, maybe someone in the concierge dept can hook us up, so to speak.

 

[FaerieFire]

ADR cancelation pending, with first dibs for the early November group: Monday, Nov. 5, 8:45 p.m. at LE CELLIER! for two people.
Let me know if you want it, and we can try to time the cancelation so you can hopefully get it... I'm going to offer it to the larger November group this afternoon if there are no takers here, so speak up quick if you want it!

°o° Lace — Planning our second WDW adventure, 11/1-10 AoA-LM (Sent from my iPad using DISBoards)

 

[exwdwcm]

Sorry, everyone...Fantasyland to open Dec. 6...

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...gic-kingdom-park-at-walt-disney-world-resort/

Hi guys- i've posted this in the FB group, but not here.

here is what I think will happen- based on my gut instinct, knowledge as a former cast member and historical info on past openings:

• mid/late October- soft openings start for FLE (could stagger areas)
• November- soft openings continue all month long
• mid November- soft openings for Be Our Guest (no ADRs, just walk ups)
• early/mid November- AP, DVC, cast member and media previews
• November 19th- public preview starts
• Dec 6th- grand opening

So the official grand opening (talking press/media there, ribbon cutting etc.) will be December 6th.

November 19th is previews open to the public (through Dec 6). This is the first time Disney has offered such a "public preview" and my guess is that it is to appease those that booked their trips knowing the "holiday 2012" date that was promised for FLE would/should include Thanksgiving week. So the area will be open to the public by Nov 19th. They do put in a little CYA (cover their well you know), that it could be down if they experience issues, but most likely all glitches will be worked out by Nov 19th.

So keep in mind, Nov 19th is Thanksgiving week. That means they will have already worked out all the testing, tuning, tweaking and cast member training BEFORE November 19th. Which means soft openings will occur BEFORE November 19th. Disney will not want to be risking the ride breaking down or doing last minute tuneups or training during one of the busiest weeks of the year. They will want to have all that out of the way before November 19th, which almost guarantees some soft openings in early/mid November at least.

Soft openings is an internal term/Disney community term, the public doesn't really know what it means. It is the period of time when Disney will open a new attraction or area in order to test and tune the ride and let cast members interact with real guests in their new role. It is sort of a practice run if you would.

Soft openings are NEVER published, advertised or communicated in advanced. Because it is a trial and error period, the area/ride could shut down at anytime if they discover a problem. Hence why they won't publish when it is open. It is sort of a walk by and be at the right place at the right time sort of thing. It could be open for a month or two for soft openings. It could be open all day long or only an hour a day. You never know.

When Expedition Everest opened. It went like this:

• Feb 2nd- soft openings started (I've heard from some they actually rode it even earlier than that in soft opening)
• End of March- AP/cast member and media previews
• first week of April- Grand opening

So you can see that did 2 MONTHS of soft openings at EE. It wouldn't surprise me if they did a month-2 months of soft openings for this area, or at least stagger some of the areas to open sooner.

So don't lose hope. There is a lot of hope that soft openings will be happening from mid-late October through all of November.

For Be Our Guest restaurant- they do soft openings as well. They want time for the cast members serving/cooking to get some training time. They will do soft openings, unannounced again, and those could happen in November too. The official opening date is November 19th. But prior to that, you might luck out if you walk by and they are open. During soft openings, they do NOT take ADRs, it is by walk up only. Again- right place, right time type of thing.

I encourage all of you to join our phone/text tree on the FB group and those going during your week can text you if they happen to see soft openings in progress. Of course we might hear about them starting as early as October in the disney community!

I don't have an insider or anything- this is just what i think will happen based on how disney has done openings in the past and what some of those experts in the disney community are saying on various boards/forums and groups.

 

[Sandy Mouse]

Hi guys- i've posted this in the FB group, but not here.

here is what I think will happen- based on my gut instinct, knowledge as a former cast member and historical info on past openings:

mid/late October- soft openings start for FLE (could stagger areas)
November- soft openings continue all month long
mid November- soft openings for Be Our Guest (no ADRs, just walk ups)
early/mid November- AP, DVC, cast member and media previews
November 19th- public preview starts
Dec 6th- grand opening

So the official grand opening (talking press/media there, ribbon cutting etc.) will be December 6th.

November 19th is previews open to the public (through Dec 6). This is the first time Disney has offered such a "public preview" and my guess is that it is to appease those that booked their trips knowing the "holiday 2012" date that was promised for FLE would/should include Thanksgiving week. So the area will be open to the public by Nov 19th. They do put in a little CYA (cover their well you know), that it could be down if they experience issues, but most likely all glitches will be worked out by Nov 19th.

So keep in mind, Nov 19th is Thanksgiving week. That means they will have already worked out all the testing, tuning, tweaking and cast member training BEFORE November 19th. Which means soft openings will occur BEFORE November 19th.

Soft openings is an internal term/Disney community term, the public doesn't really know what it means. It is the period of time when Disney will open a new attraction or area in order to test and tune the ride and let cast members interact with real guests in their new role. It is sort of a practice run if you would.

Soft openings are NEVER published, advertised or communicated in advanced. Because it is a trial and error period, the area/ride could shut down at anytime if they discover a problem. Hence why they won't publish when it is open. It is sort of a walk by and be at the right place at the right time sort of thing. It could be open for a month or two for soft openings. It could be open all day long or only an hour a day. You never know.

When Expedition Everest opened. It went like this:


[*]Feb 2nd- soft openings started (I've heard from some they actually rode it even earlier than that in soft opening)
[*]End of March- AP/cast member and media previews
[*]first week of April- Grand opening


So you can see that did 2 MONTHS of soft openings at EE. It wouldn't surprise me if they did a month-2 months of soft openings for this area, or at least stagger some of the areas to open sooner.

So don't lose hope. There is a lot of hope that soft openings will be happening from mid-late October through all of November.

For Be Our Guest restaurant- they do soft openings as well. They want time for the cast members serving/cooking to get some training time. They will do soft openings, unannounced again, and those could happen in November too. The official opening date is November 19th. But prior to that, you might luck out if you walk by and they are open. During soft openings, they do NOT take ADRs, it is by walk up only. Again- right place, right time type of thing.

I encourage all of you to join our phone/text tree on the FB group and those going during your week can text you if they happen to see soft openings in progress. Of course we might hear about them starting as early as October in the disney community!

I don't have an insider or anything- this is just what i think will happen based on how disney has done openings in the past and what some of those experts in the disney community are saying on various boards/forums and groups.

Wow! We will be there November 1-7, so count me in on the notifications. How do I join the Facebook group?

 

[exwdwcm]

Wow! We will be there November 1-7, so count me in on the notifications. How do I join the Facebook group?

It's called November 2012 Diser's, just send me a request to join on FB- i am the admin of the group.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/357230897626183/

 

[Sandy Mouse]

It's called November 2012 Diser's, just send me a request to join on FB- i am the admin of the group.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/357230897626183/

Just sent one. Thanks.

 

[Soon2B4]

It's called November 2012 Diser's, just send me a request to join on FB- i am the admin of the group.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/357230897626183/

I sent a request also. I was so bummed when I saw the dates since we are leaving on 11/19, but having soft random openings does make sense. Here's to hoping!

 

[WANNABE@WDW]

Just sent you a request to join the November group.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

thanks for the info Michelle!!! I had a feeling they would maybe try out some earlier testing~especially since it's slated for such a busy time...this is great news!! i understand its all hinging on where you are when, but we are there the week before Tday, so I had a feeling we might be able to be in luck!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

oh!!! I hit my 3 month mark today!!!!!

 

[Broncobilly83]

It's called November 2012 Diser's, just send me a request to join on FB- i am the admin of the group.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/357230897626183/

Wish I could, but I do not do Facebook. Call me old fashioned,

Well, I hit the 90 day mark yesterday so it is all down hill from here. We only have $300 due on the trip by 9/23, but I plan to have that knocked out before the end of August (I told myself no payment on credit, only cash in the bank!)

I also got the "Plan Ahead For Your Disney Vacation" e-mail. I guess they send that on your 90 day mark.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Wish I could, but I do not do Facebook. Call me old fashioned,

Well, I hit the 90 day mark yesterday so it is all down hill from here. We only have $300 due on the trip by 9/23, but I plan to have that knocked out before the end of August (I told myself no payment on credit, only cash in the bank!)

I also got the "Plan Ahead For Your Disney Vacation" e-mail. I guess they send that on your 90 day mark.

ooohhh...I hope I get the email too!! I haven't gotten it yet!!
I don't do FB a lot either...I have it~mainly started it for using with a couple of my good friends out of state,..and I don't post much...just look at pics they send me of the families...and my settings for privacy are high...i have a couple of friends tho, they post every second of their day!!!! I just skim all of their posts!LOL~hope they don't have anything serious to say, as I will probably skip right over it!

 

[silverhaze269]

I also got the "Plan Ahead For Your Disney Vacation" e-mail. I guess they send that on your 90 day mark.

I got this too, and I found myself laughing a bit at it. Giving an e-mail to a DISser at 90 days out telling him/her to "plan ahead"...I think most of us had that covered about 90 days ago , if you had your trip booked then of course. It is cute though

 

[AnnaBeth2012]

I got this too, and I found myself laughing a bit at it. Giving an e-mail to a DISser at 90 days out telling him/her to "plan ahead"...I think most of us had that covered about 90 days ago , if you had your trip booked then of course. It is cute though

I never got an email from Disney at 90 days. I'm 83 days out. I guess I should check my spam before deleting it from now on!

 

[Broncobilly83]

So I was wondering, since this will be our first MVMCP, what do any of the attractions do differently than during normal park hours. When we did MNSSHP in 2010, there were cast members dressed up in costumes interacting with park guests like at Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion.