News Round Up 2016

[mom4praise]

News

Hearing As of April Wishes will no longer be a FP+ option...

I just made my FastPass reservations for the end of April yesterday and it was not an option.

 

[ErinTwinmom]

Except the park as current only has 5 rides - so taking it from 5 to 9 is a pretty big expansion. Plus it is never just about rides. If you think about that it seems like Star Wars land will also have two restaurants, and also probably some sort of new show. I'm not so sure Toy Story Land will have additional attractions. I still say they are missing out where they should be putting at least one more kiddie ride in TSL.

If anything as a mom I would like Andy's backyard or star wars land to have some sort of playground area. Rides are great but sometimes they need to run and I need to sit. All the other parks have something but with "Honey I shrunk the kids" gone, I hope that's in the plan.

 

[jlundeen]

Illuminations was still an option for end of Apr though.

 

[ErinTwinmom]

I've heard Illuminations might also be included in that.

I hope so, save the newbies from wasting there fast passes.

 

[rteetz]

Illuminations was still an option for end of Apr though.

Good to know. So far it seems Wishes is only going to be gone but I have heard Illuminations might also get rid of FP+.

 

[Spacedog1975]

Except the park as current only has 5 rides - so taking it from 5 to 9 is a pretty big expansion. Plus it is never just about rides. If you think about that it seems like Star Wars land will also have two restaurants, and also probably some sort of new show. I'm not so sure Toy Story Land will have additional attractions. I still say they are missing out where they should be putting at least one more kiddie ride in TSL.

I still wonder that both lands won't have space within their footprint for future expansion.

 

[Spacedog1975]

News

Hearing As of April Wishes will no longer be a FP+ option...

I just did my FP for trip in April last night and there wasn't an option for Wishes.

How weird. They've got band readers set up at all those astroturf areas and everything. Perhaps people just aren't making use of the FP option.

 

[skier_pete]

If anything as a mom I would like Andy's backyard or star wars land to have some sort of playground area. Rides are great but sometimes they need to run and I need to sit. All the other parks have something but with "Honey I shrunk the kids" gone, I hope that's in the plan.

Actually that would be a great idea - though I wonder if HISTK will be closed permanently or not. I would agree they should put in a play area, though.

 

[rteetz]

I still wonder that both lands won't have space within their footprint for future expansion.

I think Star Wars will. Toy story probably not.

 

[jlundeen]

Good to know. So far it seems Wishes is only going to be gone but I have heard Illuminations might also get rid of FP+.

Well, I'm not so sure they will dump the Illuminations one until more other stuff opens in EPCOT. Right now, I have a hard time trying to find 3 things to reserve FP for...especially with TT and MS both being Tier 1.

 

[rteetz]

Well, I'm not so sure they will dump the Illuminations one until more other stuff opens in EPCOT. Right now, I have a hard time trying to find 3 things to reserve FP for...especially with TT and MS both being Tier 1.

I think that will change with frozen at Epcot. Anyways I just saw that illuminations is in fact going to be next.

 

[dlavender]

News

Hearing As of April Wishes will no longer be a FP+ option...

Why are they doing this?

Is it to make way for a "pay" only option?

 

[rteetz]

Why are they doing this?

Is it to make way for a "pay" only option?

Budget cuts...

 

[dlavender]

Budget cuts...

As in no Wishes nightly?

Edit: I did some reading through, and it just seems like wishes will still take place, but they don't want to pay someone the 2 hours per night to babysit the FP area? I guess its a pennies business.....

 

[rteetz]

As in no Wishes nightly?

Edit: I did some reading through, and it just seems like wishes will still take place, but they don't want to pay someone the 2 hours per night to babysit the FP area? I guess its a pennies business.....

Your edit is correct.

 

[Spacedog1975]

Saving on the babysitter. I guess that makes sense. Wouldn't it make more sense to have the babysitter multitask as a popcorn or swag sales person?

Of course I think fast passes for parades and fireworks are a bit silly, anyway.

 

[summerw]

I'm soooo bummed we will just miss Rivers of Light (we leave the 13th).

I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around discontinuing the Wishes FP+. What is that 8 hours of man hours? That is NOTHING to Disney financially. I can understand one less Fantasmic as that's a lot of CMs for crowd control plus all the performers and fireworks. How could Wishes FP CM hours mean anything at all to them?

 

[rteetz]

I'm soooo bummed we will just miss Rivers of Light (we leave the 13th).

I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around discontinuing the Wishes FP+. What is that 8 hours of man hours? That is NOTHING to Disney financially. I can understand one less Fantasmic as that's a lot of CMs for crowd control plus all the performers and fireworks. How could Wishes FP CM hours mean anything at all to them?

It's really something. These cuts are Disney acting like they are going out of business yet they are doing quite well.

 

[jknc]

It's really something. These cuts are Disney acting like they are going out of business yet they are doing quite well.

Does anyone know how the occupancy rates are this spring/early summer? Just spitballing here but perhaps they don't forsee the parks being as busy as prior years.
After all it was unusual for them to offer free quick dining at the value resorts this summer.

 

[Eoghann]

Does anyone know how the occupancy rates are this spring/early summer? Just spitballing here but perhaps they don't forsee the parks being as busy as prior years.
After all it was unusual for them to offer free quick dining at the value resorts this summer.

There's really not much pointing to that so far. They've had record attendance in the last few years and people in the parks have been reporting they are more crowded than ever.

The only thing that might hurt is the exchange rate and I'm not convinced that's a big enough disincentive.