News Round Up 2018

[TheMaxRebo]

Media event for Pandora ended on Thursday night and it opened to the public Saturday morning. I could see a similar instance for Toy Story and this event is just a kickoff for the summer for Star Wars updates in the park.

Yep that's what I was thinking too. They always have media in town that weekend to showcase what is new around the parks.

I was thinking they wouldn't want to run an event as they would want the time for any last minute updates to ensure smooth official opening .... but I see your way of thinking too and if they have a "month" to iron out the kinks you'd think they would be on

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Looking at the times for Epcot it's a 9pm close throughout August until the 31st when it closes at 10pm, could this be an indication of when Food and Wine starts again?

that would be quite a bit earlier as this past year, 2017, it didn't start until September 14th - but maybe ... they definitely have expanded it over the years

 

[PolyRob]

I am starting to wonder although we didn't hear about Pandora until February.

If it does not happen Memorial Day, I will definitely be cancelling that early June resort reservation I have haha

 

[rteetz]

News

Man accused of child molestation on test track

http://www.wdwinfo.com/news-stories/man-accused-of-child-molestation-on-test-track-at-epcot/

 

[pooh'smate]

that would be quite a bit earlier as this past year, 2017, it didn't start until September 14th - but maybe ... they definitely have expanded it over the years

In 2017 Food and Wine started August 31. http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-world/epcot/food-wine-festival.htm

 

[TheMaxRebo]

In 2017 Food and Wine started August 31. http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-world/epcot/food-wine-festival.htm

That's what I get for going with Google - thanks for this!

 

[skier_pete]

that would be quite a bit earlier as this past year, 2017, it didn't start until September 14th - but maybe ... they definitely have expanded it over the years

In 2017 Food and Wine started August 31. http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-world/epcot/food-wine-festival.htm

I was going to say this too...I would expect that they are going to stick with the Labor Day start to F&W. I'm sort of surprised they haven't already announced the dates.

After looking at that calendar, I am not sure that these are really the dates. The calendar looks identical to last years calendar - exactly. I think this is just a projected calendar. (Though it may be the same in the end.)

 

[pooh'smate]

That's what I get for going with Google - thanks for this!

Well your post had me freaked out because when we planned our upcoming trip we wanted to catch Food and Wine again this year. I had to go and check the dates again to make sure I had planned right lol.

 

[MissGina5]

Speaking of Moana's costume (YIKES btw, shorten it and make it a top level poncho duh!) Where is she meeting in Adventureland DL?? I am just wondering why if they seem to have the space in DL why she doesn't in WDW

 

[JaxDad]

News

Man accused of child molestation on test track

http://www.wdwinfo.com/news-stories/man-accused-of-child-molestation-on-test-track-at-epcot/

Dang! The mother handled this well. I don't think I could have stopped myself from pounding the guy.

 

[vacationer1954]

But I don't believe they'll ever have the infrastructure to completely remove the Magical Express buses. Will it continue to be included in the resort pricing in the future? Who knows. But I doubt it will go away.

I doubt it will go away as well, but lack of infrastructure isn't why. DME is relatively new, at least in terms of my memory of visits to WDW, so surely they can go back to the way it was for many years before DME existed. Practically every other comparable vacation destination still works the old way. I think the reason why that won't happen is that Disney gets to bump the hotel rates higher because they provide DME service.

 

[rteetz]

News

Electroland Music festival returns to DLP

http://wdwnt.com/2018/01/electroland-music-festival-returns-disneyland-paris-2018/

 

[Reddog1134]

I've been seeing more people reporting that Disney isn't allowing any BOG reservations after July 1st.

Was just told by Disney Dining that BOG dinner is closing for a few months starting July 1st until further notice. Anyone know if the Beast will be there for breakfast or lunch due to them re-imagining dinner?

She said they are changing the format. Most likely a fixed menu like CRT so people can’t go and just order dessert or an appetizer. Will most likely be a 2 credit signature dining restaurant

 

[Roxyfire]

I doubt it will go away as well, but lack of infrastructure isn't why. DME is relatively new, at least in terms of my memory of visits to WDW, so surely they can go back to the way it was for many years before DME existed. Practically every other comparable vacation destination still works the old way. I think the reason why that won't happen is that Disney gets to bump the hotel rates higher because they provide DME service.

The context of that was to say, take away DME entirely and replace it entirely with Minnie Vans. That doesn't really work because they would never have enough drivers to take the place of all those buses. You are correct, they don't have to do the free transport but by offering it (and rolling it into the resort price) they keep people and their money onsite. Plus they look like a great company for offering free transportation to their customers. Any time there's a paid alternative to something, there's always some concern the free one will go away. Same thing happened with the Express Bus and we all know how that one turned out.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I doubt it will go away as well, but lack of infrastructure isn't why. DME is relatively new, at least in terms of my memory of visits to WDW, so surely they can go back to the way it was for many years before DME existed. Practically every other comparable vacation destination still works the old way. I think the reason why that won't happen is that Disney gets to bump the hotel rates higher because they provide DME service.

Just checked and DME started in 2005 - so over a dozen years at this point. I think it is more that it keeps people on property rather than just they can bump the hotel prices specifically due to it - definitely is something they can advertise as a feature and why hotel costs are more on site vs off - but more so that it just keeps people doing "just Disney" and everything Disney. Once you have a rental car or are more used to using Uber/Lyft it is that much easier to go off property

 

[Roxyfire]

I've been seeing more people reporting that Disney isn't allowing any BOG reservations after July 1st.

Was just told by Disney Dining that BOG dinner is closing for a few months starting July 1st until further notice. Anyone know if the Beast will be there for breakfast or lunch due to them re-imagining dinner?

She said they are changing the format. Most likely a fixed menu like CRT so people can’t go and just order dessert or an appetizer. Will most likely be a 2 credit signature dining restaurant

That's been a long time coming for sure. But would just ordering a dessert effect dinner? I thought that was mainly a breakfast problem. Honestly, they either need to end that PPO breakfast or make it fixed menu with TS credits. Heck, make lunch that way too, I don't care about dining credits. The way it operates is just like a TS anyway except you place your own order.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I've been seeing more people reporting that Disney isn't allowing any BOG reservations after July 1st.

Was just told by Disney Dining that BOG dinner is closing for a few months starting July 1st until further notice. Anyone know if the Beast will be there for breakfast or lunch due to them re-imagining dinner?

She said they are changing the format. Most likely a fixed menu like CRT so people can’t go and just order dessert or an appetizer. Will most likely be a 2 credit signature dining restaurant

yeah, that seems to be a big topic of late - actually was a Vox Populi article on it posted today: http://www.wdwinfo.com/walt-disney-...-restaurant-going-to-become-signature-dining/

I certainly can understand the motivation - be like how they responded to the popularity of Le Cellier by making it 2 dining credits, and, like is in what you quoted, takes away from people just ordering dessert (though you could still do a 1 credit pre-fix, they do it at Akershus for example)

I am a bit torn though as now you would have 2 (of a fairly limited number) of TS in MK being 2 credits - and both that are more aimed at families/kids. At the same time, if they made it a true signature experience with quality of food to match, I would be interested (I would not pay 2 credits, or for me the $ equivalent, for what it is now)

 

[TheMaxRebo]

That's been a long time coming for sure. But would just ordering a dessert effect dinner? I thought that was mainly a breakfast problem. Honestly, they either need to end that PPO breakfast or make it fixed menu with TS credits. Heck, make lunch that way too, I don't care about dining credits. The way it operates is just like a TS anyway except you place your own order.

you could definitely make all the meals a pre-fix price or something and still have it be 1 credit

 

[rteetz]

News

New Peter Pan magic shot coming to celebrate anniversary of the film

http://blogmickey.com/2018/01/peter...ebruary-celebrate-65th-anniversary-peter-pan/

 

[rteetz]

News

Apparently national plan for a vacation day is a thing

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2018/01/happy-national-plan-for-vacation-day/