News Round Up 2016

[Bay Max]

News

Resort specific cups coming back?

http://wdwnt.com/blog/2016/10/photo-disney-parks-moving-back-resort-specific-cups/

If only they'd go back to hotel-specific refillable mugs!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Rumor
From ScreamScape:

"In an interesting bit of news mentioned to me, those leaks last week about the Star Wars Stormtrooper battle/escape themed dark ride were apparently fairly on target, including the bit about getting out of the vehicle in mid-ride to walk around a themed environment before jumping back on and taking off once again on your dark ride experience.
The trick here is that when you get out to explore the environment, you will apparently be going on a specific path, where I imagine you will be kept separate from other guests somehow either by timing your experience to run through specific rooms in a specific order, or perhaps you will enter into one specific room of a group of identical rooms. Either way, from what I'm told, the actual vehicle you return to will not be the exact same one.
Between this and a ride experience that takes place inside a very large multi-level building structure, and an experience being designed from the bottom up to be the most intense themed adventure story attraction that Disney can tell, we are looking at something coming down the pipe that will be like nothing any of us have experienced before. "

They also mention something about a rumor in regards to converting the Rock' N Rollercoaster being converted into some sort of Hyperspace Mountain for the release of Rogue One, and how this has been dropped.....

Personally, I find it more surprising that anyone thought this would happen. Shut down yet another ride at DHS for over a month to try and add some kind of Rogue One overlay? That is nuts.

I still find the whole getting out of a vehicle, doing stuff, getting back in thing, hard to picture and just ripe for issues ... I suppose it it was set up almost like the first ride is a "pre-show" experience, then you walk somewhere, and then get on a ride (and the first and second vehicles could look similar) it could work

I mean, that is basically the Haunted mansion - you ride the "stretching room" get out and walk to your doom buggy ... key is what really happens during that "walking section" to make it linear and keep people moving

 

[mcd2745]

Photo update

Pizzerizzo update

http://www.wdwmagic.com/dining/pizz...rizzo-latest-at-disneys-hollywood-studios.htm

Given that it has a sign that says "Pizza Planet" (presumably as nod to the former name)...it makes it seem unlikely to me that a new (and hopefully improved) Pizza Planet would be part of TSL.

 

[twebber55]

Given that it has a sign that says "Pizza Planet" (presumably as nod to the former name)...it makes it seem unlikely to me that a new (and hopefully improved) Pizza Planet would be part of TSL.

i think the sign actually says Best Pizza on the Planet as a little nod to what was there, not saying you re wrong but i dont know if it the same pizza

 

[Iowamomof4]

Given that it has a sign that says "Pizza Planet" (presumably as nod to the former name)...it makes it seem unlikely to me that a new (and hopefully improved) Pizza Planet would be part of TSL.

I'm more convinced by the fact that it just wouldn't make sense to have 2 pizza places in the same park.

 

[smitch425]

I'm more convinced by the fact that it just wouldn't make sense to have 2 pizza places in the same park.

Weren't there already two pizza places in the park? Or did Catalina Eddie's have a different menu before Pizza Planet closed?

 

[Iowamomof4]

Weren't there already two pizza places in the park? Or did Catalina Eddie's have a different menu before Pizza Planet closed?

Oh, I don't know. I don't think of Catalina Eddie's at all, generally speaking, so I wouldn't think of it as a pizza place. Does any quick service that has pizza on their menu count as a full-fledged "pizza place" or only the places that have "pizza" in their name? Like Pizzafari or Pizza Planet? I guess that's what I was meaning by my post.

 

[rteetz]

Rumor
From ScreamScape:

"In an interesting bit of news mentioned to me, those leaks last week about the Star Wars Stormtrooper battle/escape themed dark ride were apparently fairly on target, including the bit about getting out of the vehicle in mid-ride to walk around a themed environment before jumping back on and taking off once again on your dark ride experience.
The trick here is that when you get out to explore the environment, you will apparently be going on a specific path, where I imagine you will be kept separate from other guests somehow either by timing your experience to run through specific rooms in a specific order, or perhaps you will enter into one specific room of a group of identical rooms. Either way, from what I'm told, the actual vehicle you return to will not be the exact same one.
Between this and a ride experience that takes place inside a very large multi-level building structure, and an experience being designed from the bottom up to be the most intense themed adventure story attraction that Disney can tell, we are looking at something coming down the pipe that will be like nothing any of us have experienced before. "

They also mention something about a rumor in regards to converting the Rock' N Rollercoaster being converted into some sort of Hyperspace Mountain for the release of Rogue One, and how this has been dropped.....

Personally, I find it more surprising that anyone thought this would happen. Shut down yet another ride at DHS for over a month to try and add some kind of Rogue One overlay? That is nuts.

Yes I saw this but I'm always hesitant to post things from screamscape because their rumors are often "way out there".

Micechat and screamscape are the only ones saying this get out of the vehicle stuff right now. Other insiders say it is a multi level attraction but there is no getting out of the vehicle. Maybe the getting out part was from an earlier version which has since been modified?

DHS needs to attract visitors and doing that overlay would attract visitors however again screamscape was the only one reporting that rumor.

DHS is still supposed to close GMR next year so that would be taking a ride out before anything opens. Like they always say it usually gets worse before it gets better.

 

[rteetz]

Given that it has a sign that says "Pizza Planet" (presumably as nod to the former name)...it makes it seem unlikely to me that a new (and hopefully improved) Pizza Planet would be part of TSL.

Correct there will be no pizza planet in TSL

 

[Travis B]

I still find the whole getting out of a vehicle, doing stuff, getting back in thing, hard to picture and just ripe for issues ... I suppose it it was set up almost like the first ride is a "pre-show" experience, then you walk somewhere, and then get on a ride (and the first and second vehicles could look similar) it could work

I mean, that is basically the Haunted mansion - you ride the "stretching room" get out and walk to your doom buggy ... key is what really happens during that "walking section" to make it linear and keep people moving

Totally agree - I just can't buy the 'in an out of the vehicle' stuff. Either this is totally fabricated or something is getting misinterpreted along the line. Guests 'running' through scenes while trying to watch what's going on and/or participating in the action is a nightmare both in terms of safety and logistics. There's a reason guests are restrained while on attractions. Regardless of how innovative this new experience is, there are certain time-honored principles that will always apply to running attractions for a mass audience.

 

[circus4u]

All presentations announced for Walt Disney World’s ‘D23 Destination D: Amazing Adventures’
http://www.**************.net/2016/...-worlds-d23-destination-d-amazing-adventures/

 

[mikepizzo]

Totally agree - I just can't buy the 'in an out of the vehicle' stuff. Either this is totally fabricated or something is getting misinterpreted along the line. Guests 'running' through scenes while trying to watch what's going on and/or participating in the action is a nightmare both in terms of safety and logistics. There's a reason guests are restrained while on attractions. Regardless of how innovative this new experience is, there are certain time-honored principles that will always apply to running attractions for a mass audience.

While I'm not sure if it would work, I don't think it's TOO far out of the realm of possibility.

I can see walking through a queue, getting in a ride vehicle, experiencing that part of the ride, and then getting out of the vehicle. This first "ride" is now over and the vehicle leaves the area to loop back to the beginning. Now you are on a specific path, I'm assuming with possibly two guides, one in front and one in back. Now the path you are on is restricted with possible live actors playing Storm Troopers or whatever in an area that is not accessible to the public (think Madame Leota in the Haunted Mansion). They put on a little play, do their bit, whatever, then you walk to another ride vehicle that looks exactly like the previous one (think "it's not safe to go via space, we'll have the ship loop around and pick us up on the other side") and then you finish the ride experience.

In essence, it sounds like it's going to just be two rides connected.

Too Long; Didn't Read

I can see it working if it was something like Queue1, Pre-show1, Ride1, Queue2/Pre-show2, Ride 2.

 

[mollmoll4]

Guardians Vol. 2 Teaser:

 

[jlundeen]

While I'm not sure if it would work, I don't think it's TOO far out of the realm of possibility.

I can see walking through a queue, getting in a ride vehicle, experiencing that part of the ride, and then getting out of the vehicle. This first "ride" is now over and the vehicle leaves the area to loop back to the beginning. Now you are on a specific path, I'm assuming with possibly two guides, one in front and one in back. Now the path you are on is restricted with possible live actors playing Storm Troopers or whatever in an area that is not accessible to the public (think Madame Leota in the Haunted Mansion). They put on a little play, do their bit, whatever, then you walk to another ride vehicle that looks exactly like the previous one (think "it's not safe to go via space, we'll have the ship loop around and pick us up on the other side") and then you finish the ride experience.

In essence, it sounds like it's going to just be two rides connected.

Too Long; Didn't Read

I can see it working if it was something like Queue1, Pre-show1, Ride1, Queue2/Pre-show2, Ride 2.

What about the wheel chairs...I would think that the vehicles would need to be able to accommodate them as a roll on like Spaceship Earth, but then wouldn't it slow everything down to have to load and unload them?

 

[rteetz]

Guardians Vol. 2 Teaser:

Oooga oooga oooga Chaka! Hooked on a feelin! Now that's stuck in my head....

 

[jlundeen]

Oooga oooga oooga Chaka! Hooked on a feelin! Now that's stuck in my head....

me too!!!! Love the music (and everything else!!!) in the first one...can't wait for the second!

 

[rteetz]

News

Universal Japan opening Minion Park next year

https://www.usj.co.jp/company/company_e/2016/1019.html

 

[mikepizzo]

What about the wheel chairs...I would think that the vehicles would need to be able to accommodate them as a roll on like Spaceship Earth, but then wouldn't it slow everything down to have to load and unload them?

Could be, but we are talking about Disney...some master storytellers there. Perhaps there would be a "plan b" where if more time is needed at any point for any of the ride vehicles the appropriate vehicle would need to "wait for clearance to launch/land".

It's all speculation of course, but like I said, I don't see it as being TOO far of a stretch.

If it's really just 2 attractions back to back, I'm sure they could figure something out along the same lines that they already have in place when they need to slow the vehicles down for wheelchairs or the like.

 

[PxyShan]

We spent over 9 hours in the park with our party ticket on Friday, and it was the lowest crowds we've ever had for a party. The overall crowds last week were insane, so it was money well spent.

We were there 10/9-10/14 and I can second that insane crowd level. Granted, it's been a while since we've gone in the fall, and maybe we just ended up traveling with the pack, but there were just so many people. I will say that ride wait times were manageable (with the exceptions of SDMT, Peter Pan and Space Mountain), but trying to walk anywhere felt like you had to maneuver through walls of humanity. We only went to MK and EP.

Notes related to recent discussions here:

• MK bathrooms were consistently disgusting across the park. Not just "not up to Disney standards" - disgusting. There was literal poop smeared all over the floor at the Pinoccio bathrooms at one point. I've never seen them in that bad of shape before. I didn't see a single overflowing trashcan in the park though.
• The Tomorrowland rocks look really nice in person. They fit in well with the new paint scheme.
• There seemed to be some sort of FastPass testing or issues happening in Tomorrowland around Buzz Lightyear and Splash Mountain on 10/12 and 13 - not sure if anyone has heard anything about that? We had long FastPass return lines both days; it didn't seem to be an issue earlier in the day.
• Epcot was very crowded, and many of the adults I saw were well on their way to stumbling drunk. Every single bathroom in the world showcase had a line starting at 4pm and increasing through the night. It was rather disappointing - not a scene I was very proud to show my kids. I don't feel the need to ever go back during F&W.
• New Soarin' was cute. We were seated on the far left side which gave a huge curve to everything on the screen - the Eiffel Tower looked like the front end of a parentheses . ( I don't remember that being an issue with the California version, but maybe I just never rode it that far to the side. Anyone else have that experience?

 

[rteetz]

News

Selling of beverages being tested at All star music bus stops.

http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2016/10/bus-stop-beverage-test-at-disneys-all.html