New Al Lutz - Xmas Crowds, New DL E-Tickets, Lots of WoC News

[HydroGuy]

A very informative Al Lutz article was posted today on MiceAge: http://miceage.micechat.com/allutz/al010510a.htm

Here are some highlights:

o Christmas season was very busy and $uccessful for Disney

o DL attendance may rival MK attendance for 2009 (has been running 10-15% behind in recent years)

o DL looking seriously to add completely new E-ticket (i.e., headliner) rides to increase park capacity

o Some more background on Captain EO's return

o World of Color (WoC) to open late April with soft openings possibly in late March

o Updates to WoC ShowPass idea - going to use GRR FP machines?

o Shutdown of PP rides during WOC?

o WOC two shows a day?

o WOC to last 30 minutes - and everyone has to stand

o London Symphony Orchestra is slated to record the official soundtrack for WoC later in January

o WoC dining packages are being considered to avoid all the standing

 

[Sherry E]

Thanks, HydroGuy! This is what I was waiting for! I was very interested to hear about the facts and figures and crowds numbers after being there on 12/19 and seeing how crowded it was compared to that same weekend in 2008 and 2007. I had a feeling that 2009 numbers (for crowds, for AP holders, whatever) would be much higher than 2008's numbers. Also, another DIS-er just reported seeing slightly higher AP prices on the DLR website, which surprised me being just 5 months after they hiked up the AP rates the last time! So that clued me in to the fact that Disney must be making some changes early on this year to manage all these huge crowds/Ap holders somehow.

I am going to read the article now!

 

[rstamm]

It also said that there would be standing room only at WOC and that starting a hour before the show you would have to stand with about 9,000 people.

I am a bit claustrophobic and there is no way I am standing with 9,000 people and no way to move.

I thought I saw seating in the picutures like at fantasmic in WDW.

How are kids suppose to see the show with all the adults elbow to elbow, what if you kid has to go to the bathroom, I hope this is not true.

We will be staying at GCV, so I am hoping they have a viewing area like TOWL at BLT.

Is that right there is no seating at all?

 

[HydroGuy]

Like Fantasmic at DL there are no built-in seats. It is possible that, like Fantasmic, they may add reservable portable seats. That may be the connection to Ariel's Grotto discussed in the article.

Disney is aware of issues like this as it has done Fantasmic for 15 years now and the crowd and viewing issues are similar. The viewing area has had terraces added so those further back can see over those in front. Further, it would not surprise me if there is a "sit on the ground" area up front also like Fantasmic.

With so many kids coming to visit I seriously doubt Disney would design a show which could not be seen by children. We do not know exactly how they plan to handle this but I would not worry too much. Just keep an eye out on this forum to see the best way for kids to view the show.

 

[DLR29]

I read this this morning. Very very cool article! Lots of exciting news about the future, both near and far. I'm crossing my fingers that WoC will be having a soft opening on March 20th when I go with my high school band. That would be amazing!

 

[lulubelle]

Thanks for the link, Trey.
I am soooo excited for the WoC show!
I hope they "combine" the two SoCal AP's and significantly raise the price. There are way too many of them.

 

[jlmarr]

I hope they "combine" the two SoCal AP's and significantly raise the price. There are way too many of them.

They did raise the price on the SoCal APs by $25 each. Should help thin the crowds a bit. Unfortunately my brother was going to renew his pass and his DGD's pass this week but hadn't gotten around to it yet. So that's an extra $50, thank-you-very-much. Still worth it to him.

 

[disneydreamer74]

Yeah I read the article this morning and there was lots of great info! I was sooo excited to read that Disney is adding more to the parks, specifically E-ticket rides instead of consistenly redesigning old rides-great move!!This will definitely help with the overcrowding!!I have wanted this for years! still holding my breath for the Capt. EO opening,in fact, I will book my package when I get the dates in Feb.Hoping it is by Pres. day weekend. I was not happy with the news of standing only viewing for WoC show. Yikes. After spending all day in the park, mostly on our feet, I do not want to stand for a minimum of an hour for the show..That being said, as Hydroguy posted-there will likely be some changes to accomodate viewers. Crossing my fingers for that one!!!Was so proud of DLR fans for awesome park attendance rivaling big brother (Magic Kingdom)Woo Hoo!

 

[disneyfan1955]

Like Fantasmic at DL there are no built-in seats. It is possible that, like Fantasmic, they may add reservable portable seats. That may be the connection to Ariel's Grotto discussed in the article.

Disney is aware of issues like this as it has done Fantasmic for 15 years now and the crowd and viewing issues are similar. The viewing area has had terraces added so those further back can see over those in front. Further, it would not surprise me if there is a "sit on the ground" area up front also like Fantasmic.

With so many kids coming to visit I seriously doubt Disney would design a show which could not be seen by children. We do not know exactly how they plan to handle this but I would not worry too much. Just keep an eye out on this forum to see the best way for kids to view the show.

I agree. This is pretty much following the same procedure as Fantasmic!, which has done pretty well with traffic flow even though it is SEVERELY crowded

 

[Judy from Boise]

Yes, but there is a reason my family hasn't watched Fantasmic for years. Expecting the young and the old to stand for a 30 minute show (after a standing wait) is going to exclude many. It excludes me with my fibromyalgia. I would be in horrible pain. It would exclude my parents who I was hoping to bring in a few years for my 50th birthday. But at 75, and 80, that is not going to happen. I already was worried looking at how many little steps are used on the viewing areas inclines, as opposed to more safe ramps......

 

[HydroGuy]

Yes, but there is a reason my family hasn't watched Fantasmic for years. Expecting the young and the old to stand for a 30 minute show (after a standing wait) is going to exclude many. It excludes me with my fibromyalgia. I would be in horrible pain. It would exclude my parents who I was hoping to bring in a few years for my 50th birthday. But at 75, and 80, that is not going to happen. I already was worried looking at how many little steps are used on the viewing areas inclines, as opposed to more safe ramps......

That is a bummer, Judy. Hopefully you can splurge for the reserved seats?

 

[mareed]

Yes, but there is a reason my family hasn't watched Fantasmic for years. Expecting the young and the old to stand for a 30 minute show (after a standing wait) is going to exclude many. It excludes me with my fibromyalgia. I would be in horrible pain. It would exclude my parents who I was hoping to bring in a few years for my 50th birthday. But at 75, and 80, that is not going to happen. I already was worried looking at how many little steps are used on the viewing areas inclines, as opposed to more safe ramps......

We spent some time talking with a CM in the Blue Sky display at DCA about the viewing area. Now, I realize that CM's can give wrong info, but she said that one side of the area would be all ramps so that every level is accessible. The other side would be steps.

She also said that it would be all standing room. The standing thing really sounds lousy to me. Her explanation was that Disney's research shows that at events like concerts, etc. that are very exciting, that everyone stands as soon as it starts. And we know that once anyone towards the front stands, then all behind them must also stand. As others have said, I think this is just lousy for the children. With a seating area and a show that's fairly high up, even children can see well. But with people packed like sardines in a standing-room only area, a child standing behind an adult won't be able to see much at all. And then, we know there will be those children sitting on adult's shoulders who will have a great view, but ruining it for many behind them. I'm one who has no problem at all camping out in the sitting area for Fantasmic for 2-3 hours before the show, and I was really hoping for something like that for WoC, but it really doesn't sound like there will be. The way she stressed the "standing" part really sounded like there would be CM's making sure that people are standing to pack in as many as possible. Don't they do this around the hub at DL for the fireworks - make everyone stand? I have never watched the firerworks form that area because I just can't handle the standing. We either watch fireworks from RoA after Fantasmic or from Small World area (or HoJo balcony).

 

[nunzia]

Like Fantasmic at DL there are no built-in seats. It is possible that, like Fantasmic, they may add reservable portable seats. That may be the connection to Ariel's Grotto discussed in the article.

Disney is aware of issues like this as it has done Fantasmic for 15 years now and the crowd and viewing issues are similar. The viewing area has had terraces added so those further back can see over those in front. Further, it would not surprise me if there is a "sit on the ground" area up front also like Fantasmic.

With so many kids coming to visit I seriously doubt Disney would design a show which could not be seen by children. We do not know exactly how they plan to handle this but I would not worry too much. Just keep an eye out on this forum to see the best way for kids to view the show.

I'm worried aobut this also..I have trouble seeing Fantasmic at times. I think part of the design is meant to avoid this..we'll see if it works. I saw the Steve Davison WOC presentation at the Expo and the show will be very high...I don't remember the exact numbers but the water jets can shoot amazingly high..and it looks like the screens will be huge also, so I guess they think since so much action is high up, people will be able to see the majority of it. There is a viewing area on the DVC wing at the Grand Californian, and I guess that's for DVCers, but I don't know how many can fit or how good the views will be for those not in the front there either. I know that when I go in May I'll do whatever special viewing thing there is..the dinner thing at Ariel's sounds good..and I can bet the price will make the Fantasmic Dessert cost look like a value meal.
PS..they let us sit for awhile around the hub for fireworks, but them made us get up to fit in more people...I hope nothiing ever goes wrong or it would be very scary..

 

[mareed]

I'm worried aobut this also..I have trouble seeing Fantasmic at times. I think part of the design is meant to avoid this..we'll see if it works. I saw the Steve Davison WOC presentation at the Expo and the show will be very high...I don't remember the exact numbers but the water jets can shoot amazingly high..and it looks like the screens will be huge also, so I guess they think since so much action is high up, people will be able to see the majority of it. There is a viewing area on the DVC wing at the Grand Californian, and I guess that's for DVCers, but I don't know how many can fit or how good the views will be for those not in the front there either. I know that when I go in May I'll do whatever special viewing thing there is..the dinner thing at Ariel's sounds good..and I can bet the price will make the Fantasmic Dessert cost look like a value meal.
PS..they let us sit for awhile around the hub for fireworks, but them made us get up to fit in more people...I hope nothiing ever goes wrong or it would be very scary..

The CM I talked with also mentioned that WoC would be very high up. But in a very crowded standing situation where there's no room to leave a space buffer in front of you, children can't even see fireworks in the sky, because they just see the top half of the adult body in front of them. If there's enough room to leave a space buffer between bodies, then kids would be OK. But if there's that much room, them there would be room for everyone to sit (& be much more comfortable!). I don't know that I could stand for a 30 minute show after being on my feet in the park all day walking around, and then standing for however long in our spot before the show! The standing thing sounds really lousy to me, but we'll see...

Hopefully we'll get to see it on a trip this year. We won't fight insane crowds and viewing conditions for it though. We haven't seen Fantasmic at Disney Hollywood Studios since they switched it to only showing selected nights rather than every night and the waiting and viewing conditions for it have gotten crazy!

 

[DanT]

lets see....you go to DL early in the AM...you walk from the tram, Hotels, bus. You walk all day, you wait on line all day....all on your feet.
What is the difference to waiting an hour plus on line for your favorite attraction, and waiting for WoC?

Yes, the viewing part may be difficult for children, but the actual standing shouldn't be any different than the rest of your day.....should it?

 

[iheartdisney]

yeah, the standing thing sucks. Looks like another night time show I don't get to watch. Thanks Disney!

But not what upset me the most about WoC...closing Paradise Pier at night? It has no character at all during the day, its just concrete. But when the sun goes down and the lights come on, it comes alive. It just feels more magical. And now we get to kiss that goodbye during the summer when the rides will have to be closed down before the sun sets to accomadate the show that no one can watch.

Especially with the new proposed location of the Show Pass Machines- the only ones getting a pass will be those who can afford to stay at the Grand Californian and walk out the back door and into the line before the crowd at the front gate can round the corner at Soarin.

 

[nunzia]

lets see....you go to DL early in the AM...you walk from the tram, Hotels, bus. You walk all day, you wait on line all day....all on your feet.
What is the difference to waiting an hour plus on line for your favorite attraction, and waiting for WoC?

Yes, the viewing part may be difficult for children, but the actual standing shouldn't be any different than the rest of your day.....should it?

I find it is...I do fine walking or shuffling along, but standing stock still for a long while is pretty rough. And yes..I think kids will have a really hard time seeing even though it's high up..but Disney may not be considering tha, thinking that the height would solve the viewing problem..they should, but well...
Fantasmic may be easy to see this year

 

[iheartdisney]

lets see....you go to DL early in the AM...you walk from the tram, Hotels, bus. You walk all day, you wait on line all day....all on your feet.
What is the difference to waiting an hour plus on line for your favorite attraction, and waiting for WoC?

Yes, the viewing part may be difficult for children, but the actual standing shouldn't be any different than the rest of your day.....should it?

First...I don't wait in line for an hour or more. Thanks to Fastpass and proper planning, why would anyone wait an hour or more in line?

Second- Standing still for an hour or more is much different than walking for the same time period. (take it from a veteran who has stood her share of quarterdeck watches!) People faint when they are standing still, not when they are walking. When you are walking, your weight is constantly shifting, standing, your lower body gets to hold that weight still.

It will be really fun if they pack everyone in, standing room only, belly to butt formation in the summer heat, who wants to bet high/low of how many people will pass out?

 

[DDhunter]

Why do I get the feeling that Ariel's grotto will be nearly impossible to get reservations for dinner this summer...

 

[DanT]

First...I don't wait in line for an hour or more. Thanks to Fastpass and proper planning, why would anyone wait an hour or more in line?

Second- Standing still for an hour or more is much different than walking for the same time period. (take it from a veteran who has stood her share of quarterdeck watches!) People faint when they are standing still, not when they are walking. When you are walking, your weight is constantly shifting, standing, your lower body gets to hold that weight still.

It will be really fun if they pack everyone in, standing room only, belly to butt formation in the summer heat, who wants to bet high/low of how many people will pass out?

depends if they know how to stand Not locking their knees etc.
My point is whether you do or not, (I don't either), many folks that visit DL stand in lines of an hour or more to ride various attractions, wait around more than an hour to watch Fantasmic or Fireworks, or parades...
That is why for us that know how to use Fast Passes we don't.
I agree that standing stacked in a small area in the heat of a Socal summer evening is a recipe for a few cases of heat stroke, and fainting from standing incorrectly.