MK construction ruining the atmosphere?

[HookedOnDiz]

Does anyone know what the purpose of the construction is at the Hub? Will there be a noticeable change or is more a behind the scenes improvement?

 

[2Tiggies]

Does anyone know what the purpose of the construction is at the Hub? Will there be a noticeable change or is more a behind the scenes improvement?

This shows and explains better than I could. It's to increase capacity

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3241799

 

[UpstateMick]

I totally agree with you. It also seems off to raise prices out of nowhere and turn the most popular of your four parks into a mega construction zone at the same time. The view down main street of the hub and castle is the first thing I picture when I think of WDW. Planning refurbs on such a central location should have been better thought out.

I cant imagine the reaction a family who may not get to visit often or does not research like us disers will have when they first walk in....especially after paying up to $100 a ticket.

We just got back from a week in February and let me tell you, there is construction everywhere and it is very, very noticeable. I cannot imagine the aesthetic assault and chaos that will be the hub construction. That area in DW is one of the busiest and most photographed. We even had construction at our resort...we could not escape it. We tried Downtown Disney for an afternoon, got off the boat, walked through, and hopped on a bus. That area is disgusting with all of the construction, along with the beautiful Tusker House in AK being all walled. Everywhere we turned, construction, walls, scrims, pounding, sanding, and overall appearance issues, and it is only going to get MUCH worse in the next year. Throw the FP+ cherry on to of this refurb sundae and you got a whopper of a mess. We are planning on returning next February for a very short trip (usually go 10-11 days, but next one will be 4-5) only because we had promised friends we would be their "guides" We spent $6000 on our last trip, and for us, that is a lot of money. We cannot justify that expense until it all eases up a bit. Good news, head to HS, no construction was going on there at all. I think Disney just gave up on the Studios. EPCOT didn't have much going on as far as construction, but someone should take a wrecking ball to Figment. If MK is a fan favorite, you are going to me mightily disappointed with of all of the work. At least for us, we can't plop down that kind of dough for that much construction. Kudos to Disney for the changes, but for gods sake, one step at a time!

 

[2Tiggies]

I do have to wonder what Walt Disney himself would have made of this. He was big on keeping the fantasy element and the guest experience separate to the necessary workings of the park. While there is a limit to how discreet they can be with construction, I dont think it's the fact that they are building and working in the parks; it's how they have gone about executing this and the length of time it is taking. MK could easily merge with the Boneyard's Dig Site and the only difference would be a castle among dinosaurs

 

[drew64]

I do have to wonder what Walt Disney himself would have made of this. He was big on keeping the fantasy element and the guest experience separate to the necessary workings of the park. While there is a limit to how discreet they can be with construction, I dont think it's the fact that they are building and working in the parks; it's how they have gone about executing this and the length of time it is taking. MK could easily merge with the Boneyard's Dig Site and the only difference would be a castle among dinosaurs

Don't think he would notice as he opened a park while it was still unfinished with construction going on all around the guests who paid what was top dollar in those days to get in.

 

[DebbieB]

If you want to see a mess, you should have seen DCA in 2011. Construction walls blocking off the center of the park, from the entrance to the lake. You had to walk around the edges.

 

[Missyrose]

How long is the hub construction expected to take?

According to this Disney Parks blog post, the overhaul won't be done until sometime next year.

 

[rteetz]

According to this Disney Parks blog post, the overhaul won't be done until sometime next year.

correct the permit they filed is good until November 2015

 

[Postal68]

My visit to MK in 2010 was quite a bit less "Magical" due to the fact that Fantasyland had construction walls everywhere and numerous closed attractions. It looked and felt like a construction site. I think WDW is getting better about hiding construction but it seems to always be a work in progress. Sigh.....

Getting better??????

I think it's just the opposite. I remember for years and years they used to go out of their way(or at least it seemed to be) to do everything to hide every bit of construction they could. Now they do the bare minimum they have to. Throw up some painted walls and ...blam...we're done.

 

[decoy7375]

Thank you OP for asking this question. While I knew about the construction, the moat, the crane I had forgotten about the walls. We have an early breakfast at CP for the purpose of taking pictures without the crowds....really my dd is 20 she will live without Winnie the Pooh. Time to discuss canceling that ADR...

 

[Postal68]

The crane is still up because they're doing refurbs to the castle.

So I would assume the projection show on the Castle before the fireworks show isn't running currently?

 

[The V Gang]

I read the disney blog post on this project. In the comments section a few others voiced the same concerns yet the writer (disney?) Did not respond.....yikes

 

[Postal68]

I read the disney blog post on this project. In the comments section a few others voiced the same concerns yet the writer (disney?) Did not respond.....yikes

Funny Post on the blog in response to the video about the Hub expansion from Sharon post on Feb 27th

"When will the improvements be completed? We are heading down next week and I’d love to see it completed!"

Uhhhh.................

 

[reginaastralis]

So I would assume the projection show on the Castle before the fireworks show isn't running currently?

That show is running, we watched it and cried last night.

OP (and others) I am NOT a glass half full kind of person, I'm totally and completely a pessimist, but we just got back from the MK last night from a day trip.

First, the monorail was down so we had to take the ferry boat. DD does not like the boat, so there was a total meltdown about riding a boat. But then she got to the top of the boat and had a blast. She turned to me and said "Man, I'm glad Disney made me try something new." We could see the construction going on at the Poly, so we got to have a discussion about what was going on to the beach.

When we watched the Dream Along with Mickey show, there were guys to the side on a lift working on the castle. Yep, it was noticed by dd and the girls around us, but only because they started giggling because it looked like the guys were watching the show from up above.

Then, as we were getting in line for Enchanted Tales with Belle, SOMETHING happened on the Mine Train Coaster (Seriously, no idea what) but everyone in the area started clapping and cheering .. I think they moved the car like two centimeters ... lol

Anyways, my point .. the construction in the hub was loud ... and it was pretty crowded by the castle with the walls. But our day was unbelievable, and everything ended up with a great spin on in, construction included.

 

[jimim]

Our trip is exactly 7 was weeks away but instead of the usual pre trip excitement I'm feeling nervous. FP+, higher crowds, refurbs, castle crane and now the draining of the castle moats and bigtime construction on a new hub at MK (our favorite park) are making me panic. For any recent or current visitors to MK - is all of the construction, cranes, scrims, walls and empty concrete rivers killing the magical atmosphere in the most magical place on earth?

we have been there multiple times during all this and what can u do? Stuff just can't pop up over night.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[JanaDee]

I read the disney blog post on this project. In the comments section a few others voiced the same concerns yet the writer (disney?) Did not respond.....yikes

They don't ever respond to any comment that isn't 100% supportive/positve towards Disney.

 

[JanaDee]

That show is running, we watched it and cried last night.

OP (and others) I am NOT a glass half full kind of person, I'm totally and completely a pessimist, but we just got back from the MK last night from a day trip.

First, the monorail was down so we had to take the ferry boat. DD does not like the boat, so there was a total meltdown about riding a boat. But then she got to the top of the boat and had a blast. She turned to me and said "Man, I'm glad Disney made me try something new." We could see the construction going on at the Poly, so we got to have a discussion about what was going on to the beach.

When we watched the Dream Along with Mickey show, there were guys to the side on a lift working on the castle. Yep, it was noticed by dd and the girls around us, but only because they started giggling because it looked like the guys were watching the show from up above.

Then, as we were getting in line for Enchanted Tales with Belle, SOMETHING happened on the Mine Train Coaster (Seriously, no idea what) but everyone in the area started clapping and cheering .. I think they moved the car like two centimeters ... lol

Anyways, my point .. the construction in the hub was loud ... and it was pretty crowded by the castle with the walls. But our day was unbelievable, and everything ended up with a great spin on in, construction included.

Other than draining the moat, i don't think any construction in the Hub has started.

 

[sean57]

I was there when they first started construction on the new fantasyland and it was also my first time EVER to Disney world and it was the most MAGICAL experience i have ever had! I dream of going back every day.

So no i don't think what little construction is going on now will damper your experience...just don't let it!

 

[reginaastralis]

Other than draining the moat, i don't think any construction in the Hub has started.

You're correct, it was the construction near the back of the castle, which I'm assuming from the pictures is going to have something to do with the moat in the front. It was definitely loud, and the walls at the back of the castle were pretty crowded.