News Round Up 2016

[Flyerjab]

I think it would be very interesting to see what Walt would think but we will never know.

That is such an intriguing statement. And for what it is worth, the WDW of today is most likely nothing like Walt had envisioned. Seeing some of the documentaries and reading about the later stage of his life, he was about to move beyond theme parks. The Florida Project was going to be EPCOT, his community of tomorrow. There was to be a theme park as part of that plan, but he was such a pioneering individual. He was not stagnant in anyway what-so-ever, and he appeared to moving on to something much, much bigger than a theme park. I think that what has been done in Florida was done to honor what he achieved in Anaheim, to a scale that was never attainable there.

But with what has been done now (i.e., purchasing brands), I would be curious to know what he would think about that. How many original Disney classics - beyond Mickey Mouse and his pals - were original Disney stories? Taking on Star Wars is no different than what Walt did with the Mary Poppins property, it is just on a much loftier business and cultural scale from both a monetary and zeitgeist perspective.

 

[WDWFigment]

Paging @WDWFigment - your services are required...

On it.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I didn't think so but now with our unexpected trip at Thanksgiving I know it will be on the kids must do list and I still want Soarin
Gotta start thinking now about strategy since we are coming during crazy holiday time!

My biggest worry is that both the Frozen ride and the Frozen meet & greet are made tier 1 and you can only have a FP for 1 ... that will be a fun conversation with my daughters

 

[DrivenByDisney]

So we were in Disney Springs on Monday afternoon and were sitting at Paradiso 37 chatting with a few CM's from STK. They have a lot of the walls down and you can see the waterfall/fountain area in "front" of the restaurant. But they were telling us about how the menu will most likely look and the price range.

Pretty much everything is a la carte and a steak will range from $35 to $90 for steaks. Sides will be around $12 to $15 each. "Specialty Cocktails" will be in the $20 and up range as well.

Nothing out of the ordinary from a STK property. We have eaten at the ones in Las Vegas and New York and these prices hold true there as well.

If you guys already know all of this, sorry. Just wanted to give some scuttlebutt from the horse's mouth as it were. One of the people we were speaking to was the bar manager.

 

[rteetz]

Spirited rumor update

Universal will be announcing new major additions coming to their parks and will be announcing more hotel expansion. (I'm guessing this will happen at the Kong and sapphire falls media events).

 

[DrivenByDisney]

Spirited rumor update

Universal will be announcing new major additions coming to their parks and will be announcing more hotel expansion. (I'm guessing this will happen at the Kong and sapphire falls media events).

We live about a mile from Universal and Volcano Bay is coming along nicely as well. You can see the steel structure that will be the "Volcano" and some of the slides have been up for a while now as well.

Looking forward to the new Kong attraction actually. Not a "huge" Universal guy, though they have some cool stuff coming up.

 

[luisov]

I read Universal just cancelled their plans for Japan's second park, though. I wonder if they are going through a rough patch as well.

 

[DDLand]

I read Universal just cancelled their plans for Japan's second park, though. I wonder if they are going through a rough patch as well.

Are you talking about the Okinawa Theme Park?
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/20...-to-build-theme-park-in-okinawa/#.VzRwrtq9KSN

They confirmed what we were already speculating. That park was an attempt to diversify away from Universal Japan. Once Comcast bought a large share in Universal Japan it seemed foolish to pursue a project that didn't focus on the core operations of Universal.

I think Universal Japan still has many expansions to come. Especially with resort performance such as this:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/universal-studios-japan-sets-new-873066

OLC's glacial pace is pathetic. Though I guess we could say the same thing about WDW, so...

 

[skier_pete]

My biggest worry is that both the Frozen ride and the Frozen meet & greet are made tier 1 and you can only have a FP for 1 ... that will be a fun conversation with my daughters

Easy answer: Two days at Epcot. Rope drop for Soarin/Test Track.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Easy answer: Two days at Epcot. Rope drop for Soarin/Test Track.

well, what if you don't go for that long and only have one day for EPCOT?

Plus we usually do a pre-park opening ADR at Akershus and have never done rope drop at EPCOT (and actually I have never ridden Test Track partly due to that)

Obviously your way is one way to do it ... not sure if I would call it "easy" though

 

[rteetz]

News

Merchandise for Disney Cruise Line Alaska Cruise.

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...uise-line-merchandise-for-the-alaskan-season/

 

[TexasKiwiPrincess]

My biggest worry is that both the Frozen ride and the Frozen meet & greet are made tier 1 and you can only have a FP for 1 ... that will be a fun conversation with my daughters

I really think they will bundle all those EPCOT Princess experiences together for a hard ticket Magic Morning. Either ADR Princess breakfast at Akershus with exclusive access to FEA and Anna/ Elsa meet and greet, or offer breakfast buffet style as they are in FL. Not sure how it would work with only 2 attractions located so close together, though.

 

[skier_pete]

well, what if you don't go for that long and only have one day for EPCOT?

Plus we usually do a pre-park opening ADR at Akershus and have never done rope drop at EPCOT (and actually I have never ridden Test Track partly due to that)

Obviously your way is one way to do it ... not sure if I would call it "easy" though

One day at Epcot? Madness!

Well then - forget your pre-park opening breakfast. Rope drop one or the other, and then do the 2nd right away. (I would M&G first, then the ride.) Save your ADR for lunch.

I really think they will bundle all those EPCOT Princess experiences together for a hard ticket Magic Morning. Either ADR Princess breakfast at Akershus with exclusive access to FEA and Anna/ Elsa meet and greet, or offer breakfast buffet style as they are in FL. Not sure how it would work with only 2 attractions located so close together, though.

Now that someone says this - it seems about a 100% probability of this happening. 1 hour early access to the ride and the M&G, followed by breakfast at Akershus a mere $109 a pop.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I really think they will bundle all those EPCOT Princess experiences together for a hard ticket Magic Morning. Either ADR Princess breakfast at Akershus with exclusive access to FEA and Anna/ Elsa meet and greet, or offer breakfast buffet style as they are in FL. Not sure how it would work with only 2 attractions located so close together, though.

"Magical Frozen morning hours" ... I could see that and depending on price might actually consider that. To get all that in first, and then still have your FP+ for the new Soarin' would be attractive. Plus they could throw in a mimosa or something which they can't at MK

 

[rteetz]

News

BB Wolfs sausage co. Soft opens

http://www.wdwmagic.com/dining/b.b....-sausage-co.-soft-opens-at-disney-springs.htm

 

[rteetz]

News

Say goodbye to Disney Dollars...

http://wdwnt.com/blog/2016/05/breaking-disney-dollars-to-be-discontinued-may-14th-2016/

 

[TexasKiwiPrincess]

News

Say goodbye to Disney Dollars...

http://wdwnt.com/blog/2016/05/breaking-disney-dollars-to-be-discontinued-may-14th-2016/

Always loved the idea, but consistently forgot to get them when we visited. Sad that they are discontinued but can't say we will miss something we never experienced.

 

[rteetz]

Always loved the idea, but consistently forgot to get them when we visited. Sad that they are discontinued but can't say we will miss something we never experienced.

We used them in 2003 but never did after. I lost a tooth in Disney and the tooth fairy gave me Disney dollars.

 

[rteetz]

 

[rteetz]