New Magic Kingdom Welcome Show & Main Street Opening UPDATE: Page 15 - Post #281

[ArielSRL]

I wonder if this will have any effect on how often they have earlier openings. It appears that with this change, they'll need Main Street employees to be at their "posts" earlier than before (are we speculating that guests will be let onto Main Street between 8-8:30 for a 9am open?). So 7-7:30 for an 8am open and 6-6:30 for a 7am open. Just wondering if that will play into their decision to open earlier than 9 during busier times. Maybe not, though.

 

[Mousetopia]

Actually, one more thing and then I swear I'm going to put my phone down. Some of the people in here who are complaining here are basically saying, "I paid a lot of extra money for my PPO meal or tour to be able to beat everybody onto an empty Main Street or into an empty Fantasyland ahead of the rest of the world." That's valid, but only because Disney has promoted that exclusivity as a perq on top of events that have nothing to do with the emptiness of Main Street or Fantasyland. I'm not saying those people are wrong, but I am saying that Disney created this problem by starting to tier guests in this increasingly upcharged manner in the first place.

People will have to revise their rope drop strategies, and they will. We will all adapt. Will all figure out where we have to stand to get to our favorite headliner the fastest after January 9 as opposed to before January 9. That's not a big deal. But I'm finding it really hard to have sympathy for people who are kvetching that spending more money should give them a right to be able to beat everybody else out in enjoying Magic Kingdom in the morning. If stacking Main Street lessens that feeling, or eliminates Disney's ability to promote exclusive park time just because you're having a meal before rope drop, then I'm all for it. If you and your kids miss 7DMT because of it, your lives will go on and you will still have a great vacation.

I have not seen one post saying a poster feels they feel they have a "Right" or entitlement to anything beyond breakfast with a ppo reservation. Perhaps that is a bit of a strong statement? I certainly never felt that way..but I do plan for the perk AND hope it works that way. ...And on the other side of that..I am fully prepared that it might not and would not feel angry with Disney if it did not..I would however be disapointed and sorry I had paid too much for breakfast and would likely not try it the next time.

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

These are the Main Street Vehicles, an often overlooked attraction at MK. There is no charge, but seating is limited. There are a few different styles, including A horse-drawn trolley, fire engine, old-timey car, and the omnibus, which is a double-decker. They pick up at the front of Main Street (near the flag pole) and go to the Castle.

And they only run in the morning hours. The front of the upper deck of the omnibus is awesome.

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

I have not seen one post saying a poster feels they feel they have a "Right" or entitlement to anything beyond breakfast with a ppo reservation. Perhaps that is a bit of a strong statement? I certainly never felt that way..but I do plan for the perk AND hope it works that way. ...And on the other side of that..I am fully prepared that it might not and would not feel angry with Disney if it did not..I would however be disapointed and sorry I had paid too much for breakfast and would likely not try it the next time.

Multiple people said it above. The people promising to cancel their PPO reservations because they will no longer have exclusive ride and Main Street time. That's why other people like me are saying good, go ahead and cancel. Because a lot of other people really want those PPO dining experiences irrespective of getting on 7DMT early or photo ops on an empty Main Street, but get shut out of those ADRs by people who reserve them primarily so their kids can ride 7DMT first. It's kind of a toxic way of working the system that really needs to go.

 

[wendow]

My dh told me this news last night. I almost cried. Of all the things that Disney has taken from us in the last couple of years, this is one of the hardest for me to accept. My family loves the welcome show. We never miss it when at WDW. I wake my kids up frequently at home singing the song to them and it just seems to get everyone up happy and on the 'right side of the bed'.

I understand Disney's motivation but I'm just so sad. The castle shows are way too 'overdone' to me and we rarely watch those. Maybe this one will be better... :/

 

[Mousetopia]

These are the Main Street Vehicles, an often overlooked attraction at MK. There is no charge, but seating is limited. There are a few different styles, including A horse-drawn trolley, fire engine, old-timey car, and the omnibus, which is a double-decker. They pick up at the front of Main Street (near the flag pole) and go to the Castle.

I am pretty good at overlooked attractions..enjoying them but in all my many trips NOT ONCE have I done this! I will investigate!

 

[WEDWDW]

I remember when they actually let the FOTD ride the Train.

It was during then Toontown days.

They would take the FOTD back to TT on a Main Street Vehicle and the Characters would come out of the TT houses and have a Meet with the FOTD and then they would all board the Train and ride to the Main Street Station for MKW together.

Besides staying in Cinderella Castle Suite,that had to be the most Magical experience at WDW and it was FREE!

 

[jeepnjudy]

Booooooo...my 2 sons LOVE the welcome show with the train! No offense but they could really care less about the castle, it's all about the trains in our family!

 

[iujen94]

I read through and didn't see anyone ask about the family of the day??? I don't think they will still do this since it's just a stage show now

We've been lucky enough to be Family of the Day at DL and WDW. At DL, the FOD does the countdown to the opening of the ticket turnstiles - standing just inside the turnstiles and facing the crowds. A cast member introduced you to the crowds. It was still super fun but not nearly as elaborate as FOD as WDW.

 

[WEDWDW]

We've been lucky enough to be Family of the Day at DL and WDW.

Were you FOTD back when Toontown was open?

 

[iujen94]

Were you FOTD back when Toontown was open?[/QUOTE]

I didn't realize Toontown was closed! Our one and only DL trip was in 2012, and Toontown was open then.

 

[yulilin3]

Were you FOTD back when Toontown was open?

I didn't realize Toontown was closed! Our one and only DL trip was in 2012, and Toontown was open then.[/QUOTE]
No I think @WEDWDW is talking about toontown here in WDW

 

[iujen94]

I didn't realize Toontown was closed! Our one and only DL trip was in 2012, and Toontown was open then.

No I think @WEDWDW is talking about toontown here in WDW[/QUOTE]

Oh - duh! We were WDW FOD maybe 2 years ago - no Toontown and I'm pretty sure Storybook Circus was already open.

 

[DizDad513]

Just heard the news about this, and haven't read any posts on here yet. But just have to say Booooo! Not happy, I love the welcome show. It's the best start to any park first thing in the morning!!! That is all for now. I will catch up on this discussion.... But boooo

 

[Missyrose]

We're now within 30 days of our MK day with the BoG PPO, and I had planned FP+s assuming we'd be in fantasyland PPO. Now I'm going to have to rearrange things to accommodate the changes, which is very frustrating.

If being at BOG helps you be in position for your FP+ reservations, then why rearrange at all?

 

[Elle23]

I for one am thrilled about this. It will be nice being able to relax and hang out on main street for a while without the pressure of getting to the rides ASAP (or any rides, period).

Granted....I'm a first timer, so I won't know any different, but I like the idea.

 

[rg35]

I'm happy about this idea for several reasons.

1) The pre-entry area is just way too crowded now. With bag check, metal detectors, etc., you wind up with too many people crammed into a small area and backups at the security stations.
2) In the off chance of any kind of incident carried out by someone prior to going through security, there is absolutely no cover and nowhere to go when the welcome show viewing area is crowded with people. While I am not walking around thinking about potential bad events, I do mentally prepare plans of action for what my family should do in case of emergencies. This includes things like noting which exits are nearest to where my family is sitting in a movie theater, and so forth. The welcome show really provides few options aside from being able to get near those tree planters which provide some level of cover.
3) Being able to just stroll around main street before official park opening will be nice.
4) I'm not really a huge fan of the welcome show as it is anyway. As yearly visitors, I just really can't wait to get into the park and it doesn't really matter if I see the show or not.

 

[Zhoen]

I have never seen the old welcome show, and had it on our itinerary for our upcoming trip in June. I was really looking forward to that.

Regarding the PPO ADRs, we did that for the first time on our last trip 5 years ago, and yes, the "empty" main street was amazing, and yes, it made my birthday princess feel really special that not only did Cinderella invite her to the palace for breakfast (she turned 5 that day, so she totally bought it...) but she got to go into the park before everybody else. She felt like a total VIP. It was that "perk" more than the characters and cold, Denny's-grade food that got me to shell out the $$$ for a PPO table-for 6. Having BTDT once, I wasn't planning for it this time, but I can certainly understand people who made their reservations hoping for that once-in-a-lifetime now feeling disappointed and maybe even cancelling.

Meanwhile, I guess I'll be watching the threads and the trip reports to see how this affects our plans for June. No point in heading out early just to spend more time in the shops.

 

[mom2rtk]

Maybe there's enough additional space in the MK compared to DL, but I just can't wrap my head around people "strolling" around Main Street and "relaxing" during this time. Too many people jockeying for position to get to their desired ride first. If you leave any space, people arriving after you try to worm their way through to get to the front of the waiting crowd.

It's going to be interesting to see how the reality of this works out.

 

[DisIsForMe]

Can I get through any crowds by saying "Excuse me, I have a PPO ADR at CRT, may I get through?" Or will I be looked at like I have mouse ears?