News Round Up 2016

[rteetz]

For those hoping for a big announcement at universal studios Hollywood you will be disappointed. They announced a new logo and some new city walk additions.

 

[rteetz]

Today in Disney History

14 years ago today Lilo and Stitch premiered.

 

[eXo]

For those hoping for a big announcement at universal studios Hollywood you will be disappointed. They announced a new logo and some new city walk additions.

Yea... that required an announced press conference. Clowns.

 

[Maineiak]

Yea... that required an announced press conference. Clowns.

My guess is they're trying to change the narrative. Too much press for Shanghai, FEA, Disney Springs, etc....gotta keep in the public eye?

 

[rteetz]

My guess is they're trying to change the narrative. Too much press for Shanghai, FEA, Disney Springs, etc....gotta keep in the public eye?

Possibly but Universal Studios Hollywood should announce something big not hold a media press conference for something like that. Disney doesn't hold a press conference for that they'd just post it on their blog.

 

[a4matte]

The projection mapping AA has been around for a while (It's used on all the Cars in the Carsland ride.) The technology is pretty amazing. They essentially are projecting a movie on the face of the character - and the projector's movement has to be in sync with the movement of the character in order for it to work. Yes, the dwarves in the mine train ride use the same technology. The effect makes a live action AA look more like the animated character. Next time you are on the mine train (and now this ride apparently) really LOOK at the faces of the characters and observe how seemless it all is.

The faces are projected from inside the head, similar to how Madame Leota is done now. Originally Leota was a projection from the outside, then they made a way to project from the inside with fiber optics - originally this was kinda dim though, so they switched back to outside projection until they could do it better, which they now can.

All internal, they've just been getting better and better as the technology has evolved.

 

[Rommie]

I knew they would impress with the animatronics, but they're simply, jawdropping. First time I watched the video at work, on my cellphone, I couldn't believe it wasn't just a screen showing Elsa. So glad Frozen Ever After looks like a superior ride, but I STILL think they should have invested more, with all the Frozen popularity, ya know.

 

[RhodyOrange]

I just checked MDE to see what the wait time for FEA was and it said the ride was temporarily closed. Does this mean it broke down? Or is it so crowded they just stopped letting new people in line?

 

[rteetz]

I just checked MDE to see what the wait time for FEA was and it said the ride was temporarily closed. Does this mean it broke down? Or is it so crowded they just stopped letting new people in line?

Could be either

 

[rteetz]

Standby line for frozen ever Afer has reopened with a posted 50 minute wait.

 

[Irish_Mike]

Standby line for frozen ever Afer has reopened with a posted 50 minute wait.

I'll believe that in 2018.

MDE is still showing temporarily closed

 

[rteetz]

I'll believe that in 2018.

MDE is still showing temporarily closed

The ride closed back down shortly after I posted that.

 

[rteetz]

News

AK is expanding its bus loading zone

http://www.wdwinfo.com/news-stories/disneys-animal-kingdom-expanding-bus-loading-area/

 

[rteetz]

News

New Epcot guide maps

http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2016/06/updated-epcot-park-map-now-includes-all.html

 

[916chipndale]

News

AK is expanding its bus loading zone

http://www.wdwinfo.com/news-stories/disneys-animal-kingdom-expanding-bus-loading-area/

Interesting, they just expanded three years ago. Hopefully means less resorts sharing

 

[SureAsLiz]

I just checked MDE to see what the wait time for FEA was and it said the ride was temporarily closed. Does this mean it broke down? Or is it so crowded they just stopped letting new people in line?

The ride did not break down this evening. They did close the standby line and only allow FP through. The wait was about 45 minutes at 7 (though they were telling people it was closer to 90)

I thought the ride was beautiful. The animatronics and projections were fantastic - very fluid and felt like the actual characters. Olaf and Sven were also amazing. Those two specifically made me feel like I was really in the movie rather than on a ride. I really enjoyed that, even though it was a boat ride, I never saw another group and each room was designed for 1 boat at a time with the characters and story following you specifically rather than just happening around you.

The queue was also fantastic. I could easily spend time in there just taking everything in. Same with the Royal Summerhus (which a very kind CM told me is pronounced Summer-Hoose). They are Tangled bathroom level of detail.

Of all the new things to open this weekend (Star Wars fireworks, Soarin, Friendship Faire), this was by far my favorite.

 

[soniam]

No breakfast burrito to go with my first margarita of the day? I'm crushed.

Sounds like a good location for some new refreshment stands.

I am actually hoping, now that Kringla is open in the mornings, that I can get school bread and a liquored coffee or aquavit shot. I don't know if they start selling the alcohol until a certain time or not. I think I am going to need that to get through the standby line for FEA at rope drop next month However, if it gets really bad, I'll just get the pastry and coffee

 

[wareagle57]

Just because it didn't make it to production doesn't mean it wasn't a true rumor

It also doesn't mean it won't happen. I'm almost thinking Disney decided to open it WITHOUT FP, and issue too many FPs to intentionally with the idea that they'd have to keep closing the standby line to accommodate the FP guests, and lining people all the way to China obviously can't keep happening. So instead of making us furious they let us think it's necessary, when really they planned it to be that way all along. But maybe I'm giving them too much credit.

 

[saskdw]

The ride did not break down this evening. They did close the standby line and only allow FP through. The wait was about 45 minutes at 7 (though they were telling people it was closer to 90)

I thought the ride was beautiful. The animatronics and projections were fantastic - very fluid and felt like the actual characters. Olaf and Sven were also amazing. Those two specifically made me feel like I was really in the movie rather than on a ride. I really enjoyed that, even though it was a boat ride, I never saw another group and each room was designed for 1 boat at a time with the characters and story following you specifically rather than just happening around you.

The queue was also fantastic. I could easily spend time in there just taking everything in. Same with the Royal Summerhus (which a very kind CM told me is pronounced Summer-Hoose). They are Tangled bathroom level of detail.

Of all the new things to open this weekend (Star Wars fireworks, Soarin, Friendship Faire), this was by far my favorite.

How long is the ride?

Is it short like Maelstrom was? Hoping it's a little longer.

 

[luisov]

How long is the ride?

Is it short like Maelstrom was? Hoping it's a little longer.

It is about 5 minutes long. It does feel longer than Maelstrom... Probably about 1 minute longer, I'd say.