More encouraging news re: Rivers of Light

[emi6891]

I already have breakfast at tusker house reserved for 11/12...if they do offer a ROL package by then would it be added on to my already existing reservation or do I have to make a new one?

You will most likely have to make a new one as the dining package is probably similar to Fantasmic dining packages which are separate from regular reservations. Maybe people with prior reservations will be contacted about changing/upgrading but I wouldn't bet on it.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I already have breakfast at tusker house reserved for 11/12...if they do offer a ROL package by then would it be added on to my already existing reservation or do I have to make a new one?

You will most likely have to make a new one as the dining package is probably similar to Fantasmic dining packages which are separate from regular reservations. Maybe people with prior reservations will be contacted about changing/upgrading but I wouldn't bet on it.

To my knowledge they have NEVER contacted people with existing reservations in a case like this, nor can you "add the package" to an existing ADR. It's a separate block of ADRs. You'd have to make a new one with the package, and can cancel the old.

 

[Metalliman98]

To my knowledge they have NEVER contacted people with existing reservations in a case like this, nor can you "add the package" to an existing ADR. It's a separate block of ADRs. You'd have to make a new one with the package, and can cancel the old.

I agree, but as I understand TH is a fairly popular restaurant, so unless they held back ADR capacity for these packages, wouldn't they have to offer the option of adding to those who already had reservations, just from a logistical standpoint?

 

[AngiTN]

I agree, but as I understand TH is a fairly popular restaurant, so unless they held back ADR capacity for these packages, wouldn't they have to offer the option of adding to those who already had reservations, just from a logistical standpoint?

No, they didn't do that for Jungle Book and it's highly unlikely they'll do it for RoL either.
TH isn't like CRT or CM, it's not that hard to book

 

[vinotinto]

I agree, but as I understand TH is a fairly popular restaurant, so unless they held back ADR capacity for these packages, wouldn't they have to offer the option of adding to those who already had reservations, just from a logistical standpoint?

We don't know if Disney will change how it has been done, but with the Jungle Book packages, the existing reservations at Tiffins and Tusker House were not converted to JB packages. They released packages based on availability, so off times were the first ones available (I remember a lot of 3:00-4:00 pm "dinner" packages when they first came out). Also, TH has multiple rooms, just like BOG. They can decide to open additional rooms and staff additional rooms, if needed.

EDIT: @AngiTN beat me to it!

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I agree, but as I understand TH is a fairly popular restaurant, so unless they held back ADR capacity for these packages, wouldn't they have to offer the option of adding to those who already had reservations, just from a logistical standpoint?

No, don't think so. They didn't do that with JB as @AngiTN said.

However, there ARE times when booking TH can be difficult -- unlike Tiffins so far. They might have held back a block of ADRs already. If not, perhaps they'll just add a token few (which will be tough to get at first), and have packages at Tiffins. Then after some time goes by it will become easier to get the TH ones.

Just guesses. We don't know.

What I DO know is that they have NEVER (at least in the last 12 yrs or so) allowed people to "convert" an existing ADR to a package or contacted people to ask them if they wanted to switch their regular ADR to a pkg. Unless I missed it. Just a mess for them logistically, and no compelling motivation to do so that I can think of.

 

[rteetz]

http://blogmickey.com/2016/09/rivers-light-dress-rehearsals-wrap-soon/

 

[Metalliman98]

No, don't think so. They didn't do that with JB as @AngiTN said.

However, there ARE times when booking TH can be difficult -- unlike Tiffins so far. They might have held back a block of ADRs already. If not, perhaps they'll just add a token few (which will be tough to get at first), and have packages at Tiffins. Then after some time goes by it will become easier to get the TH ones.

Just guesses. We don't know.

What I DO know is that they have NEVER (at least in the last 12 yrs or so) allowed people to "convert" an existing ADR to a package or contacted people to ask them if they wanted to switch their regular ADR to a pkg. Unless I missed it. Just a mess for them logistically, and no compelling motivation to do so that I can think of.

The only thing I was thinking was if they didn't hold any reservations back and the place was fully booked or nearly so, then it wouldn't do much good to announce the packages and not have any availability because the restaurant is already full. Obviously that probably wouldn't be a concern the farther out the reservations are, but the ones within a week to ten days of the show debut might have that issue, and I would think would be candidates for an email letting people who have reservations know that packages are available.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

The only thing I was thinking was if they didn't hold any reservations back and the place was fully booked or nearly so, then it wouldn't do much good to announce the packages and not have any availability because the restaurant is already full. Obviously that probably wouldn't be a concern the farther out the reservations are, but the ones within a week to ten days of the show debut might have that issue, and I would think would be candidates for an email letting people who have reservations know that packages are available.

Not sure this is a problem from their perspective, though.

If they announce pkgs at TH and Tiffins, people in the first few days might be annoyed that they can't get a TH one (in a scenario where there isn't space there).

Then it sorts itself out. If I'm Disney, not sure there's a problem here... they'll fill the theatre and TH regardless.

ETA: And again -- if they take the time (ie spend money) notifying some ADR holders with an email, it will be the first time to my knowledge. Never saw anyone post anything to the contrary in 12 yrs. There's a first time for everything, but I don't see why they'd do it, personally.

 

[HopperFan]

The only thing I was thinking was if they didn't hold any reservations back and the place was fully booked or nearly so, then it wouldn't do much good to announce the packages and not have any availability because the restaurant is already full. Obviously that probably wouldn't be a concern the farther out the reservations are, but the ones within a week to ten days of the show debut might have that issue, and I would think would be candidates for an email letting people who have reservations know that packages are available.

At the basics the whole point of offering Dining Packages is to fill the restaurants. If the restaurant is currently full, they have no need for it, and it can then be just offered for any openings they have or may open up with cancellations.

This show will also be full no matter what so - they can just offer more FP+ in what is the Dining Package seating until such time that it all finds it's balance.

Hard to get packages create demand. AND what they will probably have open are Tiffins packages and now they can fill it up with the demand.

 

[Duck143]

How big is the theater? Do you think people will line up for hours before and not get in? I know its all speculation, but I have FP+ all scheduled and not sure I would be able to get a FP for ROL if it opens...

 

[Candycane83]

I think it might be like F! package when they released it late for Dec and H&V was already fully booked for dinner. You could drop your reservation and pick it up as a package. Just speculating this may work.

 

[HopperFan]

How big is the theater? Do you think people will line up for hours before and not get in? I know its all speculation, but I have FP+ all scheduled and not sure I would be able to get a FP for ROL if it opens...

About half the size of Fantasmic ................ that alone is a "good" visual.

They are going to have to come up with something to handle this AND very key to outcome is it's ability to reset and how many times they will run each night.

But then again, it also depends on the final show .... JB Alive was not filling the theaters. Standby was more than half empty when I went.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

JB Alive was not filling the theaters. Standby was more than half empty when I went.

With good reason, sadly. Hopefully minus the bugs, RoL will be a big improvement...

 

[Duck143]

Can anyone tell me how you can search to keep an eye on ROL Dining packages? It may be my only chance of scoring a spot for ROL seating.

 

[HopperFan]

With good reason, sadly. Hopefully minus the bugs, RoL will be a big improvement...

Hopefully .... the animal and flower floats are beautiful. Hoping they don't diminish them..

 

[twoolle]

Can anyone tell me how you can search to keep an eye on ROL Dining packages? It may be my only chance of scoring a spot for ROL seating.

I am in the same boat. Wondering if saving the animal kingdom restaurants as a shortcut then opening/refreshing every so often will do it? But I also think people on the DIS will give us the heads up first. It should be a little encouragement there will most likely be 2 shows per night, right?

 

[rteetz]

Disney is being very cautious with this rollout. We will likely see AP previews but probably not previews for regular day guests. Also don't be surprised if the opening date announcement happens like right before it actually opens.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

With all this hoopla going on and on about this show, I truly hope it's not the let down that JB was!

 

[cigar95]

With all this hoopla going on and on about this show, I truly hope it's not the let down that JB was!

This show has the advantage that it was actually designed for the show space. Much of the Jungle Book show took elements that were being designed for other uses and plugged in very quickly to provide a show for the busy season, so as not to make the roll-out of AK nights a complete flop. Hence the feeling that the show wasn't quite right.