News Round Up 2016

[lockedoutlogic]

Soarin' was running at 80/20 FP/Standby - Ride capacity is roughly 750 per theater per hour, so the old way, there was 1200 per hour via FP+ and 300 per hour via standby.

The new way - if correct in that one theater is standby and two are FP+, gives you 1500 per hour via FP+, or a 25% increase. The standby capacity will go from 300 to 750, giving you a 150% increase is standby capacity. Good news for standby riders.

In theory this will shorten wait times.

In reality it probably just means more people will get in line, and the wait times will still be in the 1-2 hour range.

The fact is also there will be some overflow into the FP theaters - otherwise early and late the FP theaters won't be filled.

I agree...

And you know what I'm gonna say here - it's symptomatic of a bigger problem.

Soarin was built as a "middle of the road" attraction at California adventure. Yes...the truly awful version of that park.

And you have to beat people away with a stick in Florida.

I don't know if that's a puzzling sign for wdw...Epcot...or the customer drinking the sand.

Just insane.

 

[Budshark]

This is the classic example of characters selling something that isn't very good. A typically magic kingdom area phenomenon...

You mean its not normal for people to stand in line for over an hour to board an omnimover and look at mannequins lit by a black light? Waaaaattttt?

(Sorry still bitter over the fact that PP had almost NO working animatronics on last trip)

 

[MommaBerd]

Rumor

It looks like this Sunday could be the day where tickets increase...

In no way am I trying to be confrontational, but how is it that this is not just another guess? What gives this legs? We've been thinking "This Sunday will be the one" for a couple of weeks now.

Well actually the entirety of Jim and Len's thoughts on Frozen's FP+ dilemma is that Frozen Ever After as well as Three Caballeros will open with Future World and FEA will be FP exclusive until World Showcase opens at 11 and then the standby line will begin loading.

To me, this makes great sense and actually is a smart plan. I am very sure that Disney wants to avoid a "stampede" at rope drop, because it IS going to be a madhouse. Just take the craziness out of the equation for at least the first couple of hours of park opening and make it all FP+.

 

[Budshark]

In no way am I trying to be confrontational, but how is it that this is not just another guess? What gives this legs? We've been thinking "This Sunday will be the one" for a couple of weeks now.



To me, this makes great sense and actually is a smart plan. I am very sure that Disney wants to avoid a "stampede" at rope drop, because it IS going to be a madhouse. Just take the craziness out of the equation for at least the first couple of hours of park opening and make it all FP+.

Previously it was always "could be". I don't think rteetz was ever the one saying "this weekend" until now. Which means the chatter has hit a level where there's something behind it.

In terms of the madhouse that is FEA. Initially I'm sure it will be bad. We'll calm down soon enough though (although I still can't explain Peter Pan so who knows..) I think we've hit peak Frozen as the last trip, on several occasions the standby for Cinderella and Rapunzel was longer than A&E... so maybe? But new is new and there isn't much back there.

 

[rteetz]

In no way am I trying to be confrontational, but how is it that this is not just another guess? What gives this legs? We've been thinking "This Sunday will be the one" for a couple of weeks now.



To me, this makes great sense and actually is a smart plan. I am very sure that Disney wants to avoid a "stampede" at rope drop, because it IS going to be a madhouse. Just take the craziness out of the equation for at least the first couple of hours of park opening and make it all FP+.

I've heard from a couple people that the increase is likely this Sunday. I haven't seen these people say this previously.

 

[j2thomason]

I use it too-- but they no longer let you sit-- in the beginning they did, but there no longer is enough room to "sprawl".

I have used it several times because my 88yo mother who uses a wheelchair can't see Wishes anywhere else on Main St. She doesn't want to be behind the castle and when we stand on Main St. she only sees backs and butts. Taking the FP for Wishes away makes me sad

 

[rteetz]

News

Pixar party coming to WDW

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...ty-trading-event-at-walt-disney-world-resort/

 

[rteetz]

Photo update

Disney Springs update

http://savepleasureisland.blogspot.com/2016/02/ds-update-town-center-shopping.html?m=1

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

I use it too-- but they no longer let you sit-- in the beginning they did, but there no longer is enough room to "sprawl".

That's too bad. One of my favorite wdw memories of all time was lying on the grass watching wishes and the projection show. So relaxing and enchanting.

 

[rteetz]

Photo update

Another Disney Springs update

http://wdwnt.com/blog/2016/02/photo-report-disney-springs-22416-coca-cola-the-town-center-etc/

 

[mcd2745]

That bit about the restaurants makes no sense...I'm pretty sure Spice Road Table isn't doing great because a lot of people are picky eaters and/or scared of Moroccan food (even though it is really meat and potatoish). If they opened up another Italian place it would be booked solid. It isn't the location or the fact that there is another Moroccan restaurant, it is the food. Tony's is pretty awful Italian and I think it still does good enough business to justify it being there.

Completely agree. Spice Road made absolutely no sense from day 1. Marrakesh has got to be the most under-utilized restaurant inside any of the 4 parks. It's the one place that will always have ADRs available. So who thought another Moroccan restaurant would be a good idea? Another Italian restaurant, however? All they have to do is build a second Via Napoli along the water with the exact same menu - it doesn't even need to be unique - and it will be full every day. Even if they put an Olive Garden there it would be booked to capacity daily.

 

[rteetz]

News

Universal gives new detail about Reign of Kong.

http://orlandounited.com/2016/02/25669/

 

[skier_pete]

In no way am I trying to be confrontational, but how is it that this is not just another guess? What gives this legs? We've been thinking "This Sunday will be the one" for a couple of weeks now.

I've heard from a couple people that the increase is likely this Sunday. I haven't seen these people say this previously.

I suspect it is still a guess - just a slightly more educated one.
(A) Universal has already raised ticket prices - Disney rarely waits long to respond
(B) Disney lasted raised ticket prices mid-February of 2015 - they haven't waited > 1 year to raise ticket prices since MYW was instituted. These are the dates for ticket price raises, the longest period in here is 1 year and 3 days - meaning we are RIGHT NOW in the longest drought of a ticket price raise in 11 years. (1/2/2005,1/1/2006,8/6/2006,8/5/2007,8/3/2008,8/2/2009,8/5/2010,6/11/2011,6/3/2012,6/2/2013, 2/23/2014,2/22/2015)
(C) This Sunday is the start of the next fiscal month, and while they haven't ALWAYS used that (the last years were mid-month), it makes sense.

So - I think the easy thing to do if you are a Disney pundit is to say "It's gonna be this weekend" and if you are wrong say "Oh they decided to hold off."

Me - I think I am going to be buying our October tickets before this weekend - because even if it doesn't happen THIS weekend, it WILL be soon.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

That bit about the restaurants makes no sense...I'm pretty sure Spice Road Table isn't doing great because a lot of people are picky eaters and/or scared of Moroccan food (even though it is really meat and potatoish). If they opened up another Italian place it would be booked solid. It isn't the location or the fact that there is another Moroccan restaurant, it is the food. Tony's is pretty awful Italian and I think it still does good enough business to justify it being there.

This...100%

It's classic Jim hill making a case with evidence from the wrong crime

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

Completely agree. Spice Road made absolutely no sense from day 1. Marrakesh has got to be the most under-utilized restaurant inside any of the 4 parks. It's the one place that will always have ADRs available. So who thought another Moroccan restaurant would be a good idea? Another Italian restaurant, however? All they have to do is build a second Via Napoli along the water with the exact same menu - it doesn't even need to be unique - and it will be full every day. Even if they put an Olive Garden there it would be booked to capacity daily.

Exactly. People love Italian food.

Though personally, having eaten at Italian places in Germany (the country, not the showcase) I can't stand to eat American Italian. But that's a different discussion.

 

[rteetz]

This...100%

It's classic Jim hill making a case with evidence from the wrong crime

I'll give you the spice road table one but the rest of it makes a lot of sense really. I know you don't like Jim but I'm just saying.

 

[rteetz]

I suspect it is still a guess - just a slightly more educated one.
(A) Universal has already raised ticket prices - Disney rarely waits long to respond
(B) Disney lasted raised ticket prices mid-February of 2015 - they haven't waited > 1 year to raise ticket prices since MYW was instituted. These are the dates for ticket price raises, the longest period in here is 1 year and 3 days - meaning we are RIGHT NOW in the longest drought of a ticket price raise in 11 years. (1/2/2005,1/1/2006,8/6/2006,8/5/2007,8/3/2008,8/2/2009,8/5/2010,6/11/2011,6/3/2012,6/2/2013, 2/23/2014,2/22/2015)
(C) This Sunday is the start of the next fiscal month, and while they haven't ALWAYS used that (the last years were mid-month), it makes sense.

So - I think the easy thing to do if you are a Disney pundit is to say "It's gonna be this weekend" and if you are wrong say "Oh they decided to hold off."

Me - I think I am going to be buying our October tickets before this weekend - because even if it doesn't happen THIS weekend, it WILL be soon.

I haven't heard a specific rumor until this point so I think it might be more than an educated guess.

 

[dlavender]

News

Universal gives new detail about Reign of Kong.

http://orlandounited.com/2016/02/25669/

Sounds awesome.

 

[Reddog1134]

Photo update

Everyone loves work trucks and dirt outside their window on vacation right?

http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2016/02/disneys-wilderness-lodge-expansion.html

Just got back from there. Our view was fine, but we were in the DVC Villas facing the other direction. There was one construction vehicle as you took the walkway between the 2 buildings. A LOT of scaffolding on the main building near the pool area.

It didn't really impact our vacation. As a pin collector, I appreciated the "Sorry we're under construction" pins we got.

 

[jade1]

Soarin' was running at 80/20 FP/Standby - Ride capacity is roughly 750 per theater per hour, so the old way, there was 1200 per hour via FP+ and 300 per hour via standby.

The new way - if correct in that one theater is standby and two are FP+, gives you 1500 per hour via FP+, or a 25% increase. The standby capacity will go from 300 to 750, giving you a 150% increase is standby capacity. Good news for standby riders.

In theory this will shorten wait times.

In reality it probably just means more people will get in line, and the wait times will still be in the 1-2 hour range.

The fact is also there will be some overflow into the FP theaters - otherwise early and late the FP theaters won't be filled.

My bad-we always went to the left theatre with FP+ assuming it was strictly FP+ and the right was SB.

Either way more FP+ will be available (and they could easily go back to 80/20 further increasing FP+) or like you say SB will be much shorter than with 2 screens.