News Round Up 2019

[amalone1013]

I agree - I was lucky this time that I got the regular AP Donald one and the F&W Mickey one in my trip the past August and then someone who was in WDW gave them my AP number and got me a Goofy snow flake one and mailed to to me .... but would be nice if there was a way to get them - even if we had to pay S&H

Agreed! I'm a sucker. We didn't get a regular Donald one when we got our APs back in September

Now I'm wondering where were we supposed to be able to get the Goofy ones? I might ask when we're there next weekend. Last December we did a random weekend trip but it was busy and late and it seemed like the Mickey with lights one last year would be gone, so I didn't even ask. But then we went in January and happened to buy a shirt at DHS, and they were like oh did you get your Christmas magnet? No? Here's 4!

 

[SaintsManiac]

I understand that they are supposed to be limited time and all of that, but I wish there was a way AP's can get a magnet without actually having to go to the parks. It would be really cool if they sent out these special AP magnets to out of state AP holders upon request.

Agree! I have a friend who picks them up from me from time to time, but I wish they would send them out!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Agreed! I'm a sucker. We didn't get a regular Donald one when we got our APs back in September

Now I'm wondering where were we supposed to be able to get the Goofy ones? I might ask when we're there next weekend. Last December we did a random weekend trip but it was busy and late and it seemed like the Mickey with lights one last year would be gone, so I didn't even ask. But then we went in January and happened to buy a shirt at DHS, and they were like oh did you get your Christmas magnet? No? Here's 4!

I believe Mouse Geer is the best place to get them - at least that is where we have gotten them in the past

 

[Capang]

Per the croslwds discussion I've been talking to people that have been here since Christmas. They said apart from Christmas day and more so New Years eve, the crowds have not let up.

In breaking crowd news, Muppets theater is PACKED. I've never seen the theater this full. The wait times on the app are *surprise* wrong. They are going up faster than the app can track.

 

[Mal6586]

Per the croslwds discussion I've been talking to people that have been here since Christmas. They said apart from Christmas day and more so New Years eve, the crowds have not let up.

In breaking crowd news, Muppets theater is PACKED. I've never seen the theater this full. The wait times on the app are *surprise* wrong. They are going up faster than the app can track.

I know that here, schools don't start back until next Tuesday the 8th, which is later than I ever remember being out for Christmas as a kid, so that extended holiday may have pushed some to either extend their vacations longer or to choose this week instead of Christmas week.

 

[Capang]

I know that here, schools don't start back until next Tuesday the 8th, which is later than I ever remember being out for Christmas as a kid, so that extended holiday may have pushed some to either extend their vacations longer or to choose this week instead of Christmas week.

Which is exactly why we are here now

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I know that here, schools don't start back until next Tuesday the 8th, which is later than I ever remember being out for Christmas as a kid, so that extended holiday may have pushed some to either extend their vacations longer or to choose this week instead of Christmas week.

Wow, that seems late - my kids were back the 2nd ... but yeah, makes sense that if you could, say, Christmas at home and then head to WDW would make sense (and maybe people thought it would be “less” crowded than around Christmas - but seems to be even more this week)

 

[rteetz]

How is this going to work with the new nighttime Mickey show? Maybe this won't require it to be behind scrim since I assume it's projection heavy.

Hopefully "Spring" means early spring. Never plan a Disney vacation around a wedding. We are trapped with our dates but I'm really wishing we did something else instead. No Paint the Night, apparently the worst crowd week of the year, and now this. And still no word on World of Color, though SURELY that will be open again by April.

Yeah I would assume they won’t have a giant scrim in front of the castle if they are still doing projections.

 

[rteetz]

Touring plans blog update on crowd level changes

https://blog.touringplans.com/2019/01/04/disney-world-crowd-calendar-update-for-january-2019/

 

[ejgonz2]

Re: TP, they probably updated their algorithm with more data. Usually they'll post a blog article about any major update so you can stay tuned to their blog page to see if that is forthcoming. Last year they did monthly updates but I haven't seen once since Oct so they've probably been working on a major update and this is it.

It's weird though because I also got an email and it's for next weekend, which is the marathon. Previously they had MK at a 5 and they just updated it to a 9. Duh it's going to be a 9 on marathon Saturday!

Per their message board, Len wrote they’ll be posting a blog post to explain.

 

[rteetz]

Per their message board, Len wrote they’ll be posting a blog post to explain.

Posted above.

I think they found their model was way too low and they are now overshooting. A jump from a 1 to a 9 is huge. I definitely think a 1 was too low so I am expecting more along the lines of a 6-7 type crowds for AK on Jan. 9th than 9.

 

[rteetz]

News

Major upgrades coming to AMC at Disney Springs

http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2019/01/major-upgrades-coming-soon-to-amcs-dine.html

 

[Firebird060]

At the end of the Day i think right now with the Economy being what it is, and the number of new things Disney is trying to roll out, the Crowd Calender maybe a bit harder to be accurate. For example I went to Disney the first week of March last year and the crowds were no where near the level TP was predicting, and this was pre ToyStory, when I went back in June, the crowds were low for that time. I Went in October and Crowds for TSL i though would be worse then they were but honestly a 45 minute weight for Slinky wasnt bad, All in all crowds will be what they will be, I think if you want a better Idea of what the crowds will be like, check the ADRs before your fastpass day, if you are seeing good Availabilty for alot of the harder to get Resos, then crowds have a better chance of being low. If you are seeing less or limited Avail for things that are normally easy to get seats for, think the opposite. I suggest again doing this right before your fast pass window. Again that is just my way of gauging things. TP goes more into depth but they also relies more on rider counts and Historical Data which can cause issues when things are happening outside of historic norms.

At the end of the day crowd levels are just a guessing game be it a educated on or not

 

[TheMaxRebo]

At the end of the Day i think right now with the Economy being what it is, and the number of new things Disney is trying to roll out, the Crowd Calender maybe a bit harder to be accurate. For example I went to Disney the first week of March last year and the crowds were no where near the level TP was predicting, and this was pre ToyStory, when I went back in June, the crowds were low for that time. I Went in October and Crowds for TSL i though would be worse then they were but honestly a 45 minute weight for Slinky wasnt bad, All in all crowds will be what they will be, I think if you want a better Idea of what the crowds will be like, check the ADRs before your fastpass day, if you are seeing good Availabilty for alot of the harder to get Resos, then crowds have a better chance of being low. If you are seeing less or limited Avail for things that are normally easy to get seats for, think the opposite. I suggest again doing this right before your fast pass window. Again that is just my way of gauging things. TP goes more into depth but they also relies more on rider counts and Historical Data which can cause issues when things are happening outside of historic norms.

At the end of the day crowd levels are just a guessing game be it a educated on or not

Also just seems like summer is lower with the heat and more people willing to take their kids out of school - or just the variety of school calendars creating more opportunities. Also I think going without kids is becoming more common so again, school calendars playing less of a roll

But then the fall festivals and holidays are really attracting people so even this Fall seemed more crowded after a slower summer (we went in August and obviously had to deal with the heat but crowds were not bad at all)

 

[jade1]

The trouble this week IMO is the short hours. We visit a lot so no bigs for us, but feel bad for others.

Ex did tiffans last night, walked to FoP at 845 just to try, forget it. Closed at 9 but wait was 190 and line was out to the waterfall area. Now they could have roped off internal areas, but it still looked crazy

Should be 11 or midnight this whole week IMO. All parks.

 

[Firebird060]

I would love if Disney did a Disney After Dark Event that ran till 2 or 4 am that was 18+ only, I would pay a premium

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

Those galaxies edge details sound amazing.

I'm still scared the experience will never be what it was ideally meant to be, because of crowds.

It honestly sounds like the whole experience, the extra items, are tailored to small crowds.

Which might actually make sense, thinking of the small SW hotel. It hasn't been confirmed that they get exclusive access to the park, but I'm sure they will.

So basically it will be... Go to the park with the masses and only get a touch of the experience you could. Or pay the big bucks for the hotel stay and experience it fully.

Sigh. Not being rich sucks.

 

[Firebird060]

Those galaxies edge details sound amazing.

I'm still scared the experience will never be what it was ideally meant to be, because of crowds.

It honestly sounds like the whole experience, the extra items, are tailored to small crowds.

Which might actually make sense, thinking of the small SW hotel. It hasn't been confirmed that they get exclusive access to the park, but I'm sure they will.

So basically it will be... Go to the park with the masses and only get a touch of the experience you could. Or pay the big bucks for the hotel stay and experience it fully.

Sigh. Not being rich sucks.

I have been thinking about how they are going to do the exclusive access to that part of the Park, I really think its just going to be more like a hotel specific emh. In thinking that I also do not think the EMH will be super Long, more like a hour before the Park opens maybe 2. Since they will be "transported" directly to the land It prob wont have much of a impact on the rest of the guests.

Also a fun idea for that Area would be the ability to "Use the Force" to change areas around the land much like you can do in Adventure Land with the Pirate Treasure Hunts in MK

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I have been thinking about how they are going to do the exclusive access to that part of the Park, I really think its just going to be more like a hotel specific emh. In thinking that I also do not think the EMH will be super Long, more like a hour before the Park opens maybe 2. Since they will be "transported" directly to the land It prob wont have much of a impact on the rest of the guests.

Also a fun idea for that Area would be the ability to "Use the Force" to change areas around the land much like you can do in Adventure Land with the Pirate Treasure Hunts in MK

I wonder if regular EMHs will include access to Galaxy's Edge or if only the Hotel and or paid EMHs will have access. Will be really interesting as they will have to balance promoting people being willing to pay for hard ticket events without angering people sooooo much about how they can't really enjoy the land with the crowds

I seem to recall some talk of being able to use the Force in the land (though haven't seen as much of late). The way it was worded sounded a bit like how you can use the wants in the Wizarding World

 

[Lesley Wake]

New SoCal Disneyland ticket offer: https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...a-limited-time/?CMP=SOC-DPFY19Q2wo0103190007A

3-day, 1-park per day ticket for $179
3-day Park Hopper ticket for $234

Can be used on 3 consecutive days or any day up until May 23 (minus April 14-22)

Interesting how this price actually DECREASED from last years offer (3-day for $199) though last year there was a 2-day option too.