News Round Up 2019

[NJlauren]

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)

Sorry Unrelated.....did I miss you August trip report??

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Sorry Unrelated.....did I miss you August trip report??

I wound up not doing one - or at least not yet. Just too much going on. At one point I was thinking of doing a mini-report or just like a family movie and sharing that.

Would there be interest in seeing something?

 

[rteetz]

News

New Star Wars book about Hondu on Batuu

https://www.starwars.com/news/hondo...es-price-excerpt-exclusive?cmp=smc|2063845027

 

[NJlauren]

I wound up not doing one - or at least not yet. Just too much going on. At one point I was thinking of doing a mini-report or just like a family movie and sharing that.

Would there be interest in seeing something?

Sure! I love your trip reports they are always helpful in planning my trips and we are doing our first August trip this year.

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

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

No I don't think the hotel hours will be longer than maybe an hour in the morning and one at night, I just think the value will come in being able to experience the land in the full way it was intended .Which I still don't think is possible if you go with regular crowds during the day

 

[TheMaxRebo]

News

New Star Wars book about Hondu on Batuu

https://www.starwars.com/news/hondo...es-price-excerpt-exclusive?cmp=smc|2063845027

"She moved through the crowded streets." - well, they got that part right


This is a pretty neat summary of the travels of the Falcon:

 

[Firebird060]

No I don't think the hotel hours will be longer than maybe an hour in the morning and one at night, I just think the value will come in being able to experience the land in the full way it was intended .Which I still don't think is possible if you go with regular crowds during the day

Your prob right but as far as Disney is concerned, the more people who come to experience the better for profit. Honestly the Star Wars IP really could be its own Park and not just a land if Disney really wanted to invest that far into it.

 

[shoreward]

New V.I.Passholder perks for January 2019

V.I.PASSHOLDER Perks for the New Year
We’re celebrating 2019 with new offerings and events—just for our Annual Passholders! Mark your calendar for the Potion Purple Premiere Pop-Up Event along with January Passholder perks.

Potion Purple Premiere Pop-Up Event
Start 2019 with the year’s first Passholder pop-up event at Magic Kingdom park on Thursday, January 10 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

Be among the first to purchase the new potion purple merchandise, including awesome adult and youth spirit jerseys, a “Vacation Mode” water bottle, a perfectly sized Loungefly mini backpack, a handy Loungefly wallet and a new women’s Mickey fashion tee.

Share our colorful passion by sipping and savoring the newest purple food and beverage offerings for purchase. Plus, discover more surprises—purple is popping up everywhere!

Important Details
Registration not required to attend this event. Valid annual pass card and photo ID required at check-in. Activities and offerings are subject to change without notice. Merchandise available while supplies last. The 20% Passholder merchandise discount is applicable for merchandise purchases during this event.

Special Food and Beverage Savings
Enjoy more Passholder perks! Save 20% on dinner at these Walt Disney World restaurants—with some also offering the discount on lunch—for a limited time from January 6 to 31, 2019.

• Biergarten Restaurant at Epcot
• Coral Reef Restaurant at Epcot
• The Hollywood Brown Derby at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• Hollywood & Vine at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen at Magic Kingdom Park
• Tiffins Restaurant at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park
• Tony’s Town Square Restaurant at Magic Kingdom Park
• Ale & Compass Restaurant at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
• Boatwright’s Dining Hall at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside (discount on dinner only)
• Cítricos at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (discount on dinner only)
• Disney’s Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
• Flying Fish at Disney’s BoardWalk Resort (discount on dinner only)
• Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort (8:30 PM show only)
• Jiko – The Cooking Place at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge (discount on dinner only)
• Sebastian’s Bistro at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort (discount on dinner only)
• The Wave… of American Flavors at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• Whispering Canyon Café at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort

Valid for the Passholder and up to three (3) Guests. Not valid for breakfast and special events, and may not be combined with any other discount or offer. Discount applies to the regular price of food and nonalcoholic beverages (excluding applicable tax and gratuity) during available lunch and dinner meal periods.

Passholder Specials at Epcot International Festival of the Arts
With one little spark of inspiration, we’ll debut an exclusive Passholder magnet just in time for the Epcot International Festival of the Arts, along with special offerings to enhance your experience.

 

[Hoodie]

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.

I've tried to use touring plans a couple of times and have found them SO far off, that I won't use them again. A couple of years ago they had a day in January at a 5. While we were in the park they upgraded to a 9. That's a HUGE miss. IASW had a 75 minute wait. That's not a 5.

 

[rteetz]

I've tried to use touring plans a couple of times and have found them SO far off, that I won't use them again. A couple of years ago they had a day in January at a 5. While we were in the park they upgraded to a 9. That's a HUGE miss. IASW had a 75 minute wait. That's not a 5.

I don't use them so much for crowd calendars. Crowd calendars are so hard to predict. I use TP for their rides app and room request options.

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

"She moved through the crowded streets." - well, they got that part right


This is a pretty neat summary of the travels of the Falcon:

That's interesting that they have the falcon on batuu after the newest trilogy, at I was told by an imagineer that the storyline took place before force awakens.

 

[rteetz]

News

Ed Moriarty, Former Walt Disney World Vice President, Dead at 77

 

[rteetz]

News

New Character Posters Released For “Dumbo”

 

[rteetz]

Photo Update

PHOTO REPORT: Epcot 1/4/19 (New Year’s Eve, Odyssey Remodel and More!)

 

[TheMaxRebo]

That's interesting that they have the falcon on batuu after the newest trilogy, at I was told by an imagineer that the storyline took place before force awakens.

yeah, I noticed that too - and it seems like the stories that are told by Hando took place before A New Hope ... per the chart, not really anything happened to the Falcon between Jedi and Force Awakens

 

[mikepizzo]

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

Meaning your friend is also an AP and gives you their magnet? How does your friend pick one up for you?

 

[SaintsManiac]

Meaning your friend is also an AP and gives you their magnet? How does your friend pick one up for you?

Her family of 4 all have APs, so she'll send me an extra every now and then

 

[PolyRob]

I don't use them so much for crowd calendars. Crowd calendars are so hard to predict. I use TP for their rides app and room request options.

Same! I find those other services to be invaluable. I actually just got my renewal notice today and will be doing it later today. I could not imagine entering HS post SWGE without it.

I also used TP for my first trip to Universal and it really helped me experience everything I wanted between both parks with a 1 day park-to-park ticket.

 

[rteetz]

News

Kevin from Disney•Pixar’s “Up!” is Headed to Disney’s Animal Kingdom

 

[sachilles]

Wonder if Kevin is part of the re-scripting of the Up bird show.
I saw the show in the fall, wasn't great, but maybe not quite as bad as I had feared. It could use a tune up.