Have not been to WDW in two years

[wconn1979]

Last trip if I remember correctly AK closed around 7pm. Now its open a lot later, what has changed there? I don't remember enough stuff to do in AK to stay till midnight!

I booked a trip yesterday for 4 nights and 5 days. It was last minute and I sprung it on my wife and kids without notice.

My oldest will turn 13 on June 10th which is right in the middle of the trip, so she is excited to spend another birthday at WDW.

I have not really kept up with the WDW news, what all has changed in the last 2 years?

Wesley

 

[gap2368]

Pandora is opining on may 27, so the park will stay open for this new land

 

[wconn1979]

Did not realize there was going to be a pandora in AK. Will have to research it now!

Thanks

 

[gap2368]

more then you want to know but here

https://www.disboards.com/threads/o...ormation-thread.3587311/page-58#post-57424329

 

[Klayfish]

Too much to list about things in all of WDW in the past two years, but specific to AK, yes it is now open at night. As noted above, there is Pandora opening in 6 weeks. It will have two new rides. There is also a new night time show, Rivers of Light. There are also street parties/festivals that take place throughout the park and a brief "show" at the Tree of Life. It's all pretty cool.

We'll see how Pandora changes the evening crowd, but in our last visit to WDW (last summer) night time was the right time to be in AK. Much cooler temps, and the crowd was much smaller.

 

[wconn1979]

Thank you gap, It was a good read. Looking forward to experiencing it.

more then you want to know but here

https://www.disboards.com/threads/o...ormation-thread.3587311/page-58#post-57424329

 

[wconn1979]

I had great luck with your dining, thought Be Our Guest is still not available. Here’s what I’ve put together for you:

6/8 Arrival – Epcot, Garden Grill for dinner at 7:15pm
6/9 Magic Kingdom, Chef Mickey’s for brunch at 12:15pm
6/10 Animal Kingdom, Tusker House at 4:15pm
6/11 1900 Park Fare at 8:55pm (this was the best time available all week)
6/12 Departure – Ohana at 11:40am

Well it was last minute but we at least got to book some good ADR.

 

[Mickey & Minnie Mom]

It's also been 2 years for us ... some of the things I've come across:

FastPass booking opens at 7 am EST instead of midnight
Frozen Ever After new and a Tier 1 FP option at Epcot, very popular
Pandora has introduced tiers at AK in that you can only book one or the other of new rides
Rivers of Light is new nighttime show at AK
No longer a nighttime parade at MK
Wishes is ending in May, new fireworks show is called Happily Ever After
Sum of All Thrills in Innoventions at Epcot is closed; Stormstruck as well
Disney Visa character meet and greet has moved from Innoventions to nearby Figment
Disney Visa character meet and greet offered at DHS
Soarin has updated movie and third theather added
Anna and Elsa now meet at Epcot not MK
Magic Band 2.0 is redesigned band; Purple now a color option
Disney Springs has opened many additional stores and restaurants
New family raft ride at Typhoon Lagoon
Shark Reef has closed at Typhoon Lagoon
Disney resort guests no longer charged a towel rental fee at water parks, show Magic Band
Preferred parking now an option at the parks for paying guests (additional $20 fee)
New Muppets Present ... Great Moments in American History show in Liberty Square at MK
New Skipper Canteen restaurant at MK
New Star Wars fireworks show at DHS
Third track added to Toy Story Mania
Sounds Like Summer concert series at Epcot cancelled
Tickets now have an "expiration" if not used by date, will only be value paid toward purchase of future ticket
Water park fun and more no longer sold, "option plus" only available with purchase of park hopper
Disney Quest will close July 2
Stitch's Great Escape seasonal operation
Lights, Motors, Action & Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground closed at DHS


Additionally, menu changes, renovations, updated tours, meet & greets and such.

 

[Mom2Stitch]

It's also been 2 years for us ... some of the things I've come across:

FastPass booking opens at 7 am EST instead of midnight
Frozen Ever After new and a Tier 1 FP option at Epcot, very popular
Pandora has introduced tiers at AK in that you can only book one or the either new rides
Rivers of Light is new nighttime show at AK
No longer a nighttime parade at MK
Wishes is ending in May, new fireworks show is called Happily Ever After
Sum of All Thrills in Innoventions at Epcot is closed; Stormstruck as well
Disney Visa character meet and greet has moved from Innoventions to nearby Figment
Disney Visa character meet and greet offered at DHS
Soarin has updated movie and third theather added
Anna and Elsa now meet at Epcot not MK
Magic Band 2.0 is redesigned band; Purple now a color option
Disney Springs has opened many additional stores and restaurants
New family raft ride at Typhoon Lagoon
Shark Reef has closed at Typhoon Lagoon
Disney resort guests no longer charged a towel rental fee at water parks, show Magic Band
Preferred parking now an option at the parks for paying guests (additional $20 fee)
New Muppets Present ... Great Moments in American History show in Liberty Square at MK
New Skipper Canteen restaurant at MK
New Star Wars fireworks show at DHS
Third track added to Toy Story Mania
Sounds Like Summer concert series at Epcot cancelled
Tickets now have an "expiration" if not used by date, will only be value paid toward purchase of future ticket
Water park fun and more no longer sold, "option plus" only available with purchase of park hopper
Disney Quest will close July 2
Stitch's Great Escape seasonal operation
Lights, Motors, Action & Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground closed at DHS


Additionally, menu changes, renovations, updated tours, meet & greets and such.

Thank you for the comprehensive list! I think I knew about everything except the Disney Visa M&G move at Epcot-I've added it to my notes.

 

[wconn1979]

It's also been 2 years for us ... some of the things I've come across:

FastPass booking opens at 7 am EST instead of midnight
Frozen Ever After new and a Tier 1 FP option at Epcot, very popular
Pandora has introduced tiers at AK in that you can only book one or the other of new rides
Rivers of Light is new nighttime show at AK
No longer a nighttime parade at MK
Wishes is ending in May, new fireworks show is called Happily Ever After
Sum of All Thrills in Innoventions at Epcot is closed; Stormstruck as well
Disney Visa character meet and greet has moved from Innoventions to nearby Figment
Disney Visa character meet and greet offered at DHS
Soarin has updated movie and third theather added
Anna and Elsa now meet at Epcot not MK
Magic Band 2.0 is redesigned band; Purple now a color option
Disney Springs has opened many additional stores and restaurants
New family raft ride at Typhoon Lagoon
Shark Reef has closed at Typhoon Lagoon
Disney resort guests no longer charged a towel rental fee at water parks, show Magic Band
Preferred parking now an option at the parks for paying guests (additional $20 fee)
New Muppets Present ... Great Moments in American History show in Liberty Square at MK
New Skipper Canteen restaurant at MK
New Star Wars fireworks show at DHS
Third track added to Toy Story Mania
Sounds Like Summer concert series at Epcot cancelled
Tickets now have an "expiration" if not used by date, will only be value paid toward purchase of future ticket
Water park fun and more no longer sold, "option plus" only available with purchase of park hopper
Disney Quest will close July 2
Stitch's Great Escape seasonal operation
Lights, Motors, Action & Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground closed at DHS


Additionally, menu changes, renovations, updated tours, meet & greets and such.

Thank you for the list!!

 

[Mickey & Minnie Mom]

Thank you for the comprehensive list! I think I knew about everything except the Disney Visa M&G move at Epcot-I've added it to my notes.

Thank you for the list!!

Happy to help ... a couple of more I thought about:

4th (& beyond) FP+ can now be made through MDE on your phone -- don't have to use a kiosk including for FP at a different park

FP+ selections can be made one at a time -- do not have to make all 3 before completing selections for the day in order to secure that "must have" for the time/each day of trip; can go back and make the remaining 2 later