News Round Up 2016

[rteetz]

I think maybe I missed some news or announcement when I was at WDW last week ... not following how this could lead to major upgrades at Epcot. (Please enlighten me.)

(Sum of All Thrills is the build your own coaster simulator in an Innoventions building, right? If so, I've never done it myself, but my 9 year old nephew and brother-in-law tried it and weren't all that impressed.)

It was announced today that sum of all thrills and storm struck will close in September.

Innoventions will basically be nothing but the few meet and greets it has.

Epcot needs major work and work is heavily rumored. These closures could/should lead to major changes within the next few years at Epcot.

 

[Dentam]

Epcot needs major work and work is heavily rumored. These closures could/should lead to major changes within the next few years at Epcot.

I sure hope the rumors are true! The front of the park is pretty sad.

 

[disneymath]

It was announced today that sum of all thrills and storm struck will close in September.

Innoventions will basically be nothing but the few meet and greets it has.

Epcot needs major work and work is heavily rumored. These closures could/should lead to major changes within the next few years at Epcot.

Ah ok, I recall reading the Epcot rumours (and maybe something about the bigwigs actuallly going to Orlando for a meeting?).

Totally agree that Epcot needs work, but am skeptical that anything will get replaced in the short term. They have a lot going on down there in the swamp and there's only so many imagineers, construction workers (and more importantly dollars) to go around.

 

[rteetz]

Ah ok, I recall reading the Epcot rumours (and maybe something about the bigwigs actuallly going to Orlando for a meeting?).

Totally agree that Epcot needs work, but am skeptical that anything will get replaced in the short term. They have a lot going on down there in the swamp and there's only so many imagineers, construction workers (and more importantly dollars) to go around.

The board of directors was supposed to meet in Orlando during this summer. I don't know if that happened or not yet.

 

[rteetz]

News

Monorail platform coating at the GF

http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2016/08/monorail-platform-coating-at-grand.html

 

[rteetz]

News

Star Wars themed days coming to Legoland

http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2016/08/star-wars-themed-days-returning-to.html

 

[RAD]

Ah ok, I recall reading the Epcot rumours (and maybe something about the bigwigs actuallly going to Orlando for a meeting?).

Totally agree that Epcot needs work, but am skeptical that anything will get replaced in the short term. They have a lot going on down there in the swamp and there's only so many imagineers, construction workers (and more importantly dollars) to go around.

Especially now since they let go a bunch of imagineers this week.

 

[wareagle57]

I'll be honest. I don't think Disney cares if the buildings appear visible from outside the park. Not just Everest, but carsland from the back (or even California screamin') show the back of those buildings. I also don't find this an issue. They shouldn't be visible in the park, and that's fine.

I think they were making the opposite point. They were showing the extreme lengths disney went to, to theme the back side of Everest. It's not that they care if it's visible from outside of the park. They just don't want it to look like a show building.

 

[rteetz]

News

Now here is something interesting. Theme parks are seeing lower attendance but Orlando as a whole is seeing a record number of tourists within its first 6 months of the year.

http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/...rd-number-of-tourists-in-first-6.html?ana=twt

 

[LSLS]

News

Now here is something interesting. Theme parks are seeing lower attendance but Orlando as a whole is seeing a record number of tourists within its first 6 months of the year.

http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/...rd-number-of-tourists-in-first-6.html?ana=twt

Universal has seen a drop in numbers as well? Didn't know that. Perhaps all of those parks are pricing people out and people are just deciding they are better off at the beach.

 

[TwoMisfits]

News

Now here is something interesting. Theme parks are seeing lower attendance but Orlando as a whole is seeing a record number of tourists within its first 6 months of the year.

http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/...rd-number-of-tourists-in-first-6.html?ana=twt

The article said Florida has a record - I didn't see it say Orlando. It could be people still want warm weather, but at a cheaper price (as someone else said - at beaches)...

 

[rteetz]

News

Disney has begun casting for Moana

http://www.kennythepirate.com/2016/08/12/moana-meet-and-greet-coming-to-walt-disney-world/

 

[disneymath]

<snip> Perhaps all of those parks are pricing people out and people are just deciding they are better off at the beach.

You might be on to something with that thought.

We're just one family, but after our most recent trip, we've decided that our next few trips will see very few if any park days (especially in summer months). We'll still stay onsite (DVC), but will spend most of our time in the pools or at the water parks. I think we each have double-digit water park entitlements as the only things left on various non-expiration tickets ... so while we might help the water park "numbers", we wouldn't be helping their gate revenue. (We're also at the point where we're ready to expand beyond breakfasts in our villa to cooking some dinners there as well.) So maybe not exactly replacing the parks for the beach, but definitely replacing the parks with other activities.

 

[beer dave]

The article said Florida has a record - I didn't see it say Orlando. It could be people still want warm weather, but at a cheaper price (as someone else said - at beaches)...

I live in SW fl near the gulf. We have had a very large increase in what appears to be tourists this year. It has been increasing steadily over the years, but this year was bigger.

Off topic-- is anyone else having trouble with the DIS site? It keeps refreshing repeatedly making it impossible for me to navigate-- Then I get the kill pages pop up. It's only this site.......

 

[zaccaglin]

They might just leave it, who knows.

Go Away Green isn't always green.

Rumor

With the official announcement for the closure of sum of all thrills plans for Epcot are moving forward. We could be talking an Epcot 3.0 if all goes well.

I'm still holding out for Epcot 3.0 to pay tribute to the original Epcot Center. One could hope...

 

[zaccaglin]

News

Monorail platform coating at the GF

http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2016/08/monorail-platform-coating-at-grand.html

if only they would finish the Polys wood floor replacement before starting another....

 

[rteetz]

Go Away Green isn't always green.

I'm still holding out for Epcot 3.0 to pay tribute to the original Epcot Center. One could hope...

From what I know this won't be anything like the original Epcot center.

 

[jade1]

Go Away Green isn't always green. .

Never mentioned green or any color, I meant they might just leave it a visible building back, like the shot I posted of EE, hence "just leave it".

 

[afan]

Off topic-- is anyone else having trouble with the DIS site? It keeps refreshing repeatedly making it impossible for me to navigate-- Then I get the kill pages pop up. It's only this site.......

Yes! It's been happening for a couple of days now. I use Chrome. Just glad it's not just me. It's getting annoying, especially when typing a post.

 

[rteetz]

Never mentioned green or any color, I meant they might just leave it a building back, like the shot I posted of EE, hence "just leave it".

The back of EE was painted a bit to at least try and blend it in with the mountain. Sure you can tell it's not a mountain but at least it doesn't look like a boring show building.