News Round Up 2019

[rteetz]

I am so surprised people are so unenthusiastic to stay at a brand new resort! I can't wait for Riviera and hope the price drops soon so I can afford it. It looks like it is going to be beautiful and as long as the Italian/French theming is on point, I see no reason to not love it!

I would love to stay there one day. It's not my first choice but I wouldn't pass on the opportunity. I don't expect price drops to happen anytime soon though.

 

[rteetz]

News

Blizzard Beach Water Park Will Be Closed Thursday, Jan. 24 Due to Cold Weather Predictions

 

[rteetz]

News

Blizzard Beach Water Park Will Be Closed Thursday, Jan. 24 Due to Cold Weather Predictions

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I am so surprised people are so unenthusiastic to stay at a brand new resort! I can't wait for Riviera and hope the price drops soon so I can afford it. It looks like it is going to be beautiful and as long as the Italian/French theming is on point, I see no reason to not love it!

I think the pricing point is what is shocking people - and I get that I am cheap (about many things, hotels being one of them) but I couldn't touch staying there without a massive discount so it is almost a non-issue for me

I am excited about the roof top restaurant (assuming everyone can have access to it) - theming isn't my favorite, but I am sure it will be nice

 

[Bay Max]

I think it could fit at DHS - another “world” to immerse you in

I can't imagine DHS getting any new lands anytime soon after SW:GE.

 

[intertile]

But I can hardly ever book that at 7mos and am not an owner there. That's the issue. Riviera will add capacity to the area for the 7 month-ers like me. For that, I welcome it.

Not to be a Debbie Downer, but I don't think it will add as much capacity to the system as you may think...for the 7 monthers. Unless you are traveling off-peak times of the year. Reason being is that, DVD will only declare a small percentage of the units/points at a time. As the resort sells, they will declare more until it is eventually sold out. Obviously when it is sold out, you will be competing with owners. Before it sells out though, there will be low availability as DVD will be using the undeclared inventory for cash reservations. Your best bet will probably be to make a reservation as soon as possible after it opens. It isn't a coincidence that the resort will open in the fall before SWGE...they are banking on a DVC resort to get filled up on cash reservations, and get tons of potential customers with pixie dust in their eyes after seeing SWGE to want to buy into the resort. It's brilliant actually, most of these people will make decisions without any research into DVC at all.

 

[intertile]

I can't imagine DHS getting any new lands anytime soon after SW:GE.

I guess that depends on your definition of "SOON". Nothing is imminent, but 3-4 years is very possible.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I can't imagine DHS getting any new lands anytime soon after SW:GE.

I guess that depends on your definition of "SOON". Nothing is imminent, but 3-4 years is very possible.

There has been a lot of chatter of an update to the Echo Lake area - possibly involving Indiana Jones ... so I think that would be the area - and definitely nothing that would start now, but yeah, a couple of years after GE opens I think is possible. I have seen some talk that Disney still thinks DHS would need another new area eventually to be a "complete" park

 

[ksromack]

I'm with you personally, @mom2rtk... I think being able to WALK to the most popular theme park in the world should put BLT further ahead of Riviera than the way they've priced the latter. I've been saying since the beginning that even a loooong walking bridge to IG to get to Epcot would have made Riviera enticing to us. No matter how convenient the gondolas end up being, it's worse than being able to walk.

Poly and VGF aren't walkable, but they are still just a monorail away from the most popular theme park in the world.

I agree with this and wonder if it is feasible to have a long walkway much like the beautiful walkway from Portofino to Universal Studios? That walk is a mile, I believe.

I am so surprised people are so unenthusiastic to stay at a brand new resort! I can't wait for Riviera and hope the price drops soon so I can afford it. It looks like it is going to be beautiful and as long as the Italian/French theming is on point, I see no reason to not love it!

It's the cost, I think. I would certainly stay there if it were discounted but I cannot imagine staying in a room without a real bed. Us old folks need a good bed, especially after being on our feet all day in the parks!

Another thing.....once SWGE opens and no one can get rooms on the gondola system.....I'm betting Riviera sells! I also expect CBR and Pop/AoA up their prices.

 

[intertile]

There has been a lot of chatter of an update to the Echo Lake area - possibly involving Indiana Jones ... so I think that would be the area - and definitely nothing that would start now, but yeah, a couple of years after GE opens I think is possible. I have seen some talk that Disney still thinks DHS would need another new area eventually to be a "complete" park

EchoLake and Launch Bay area are in the talks(not necessarily both at the same time). Nothing concrete or imminent.

 

[SG131]

There has been a lot of chatter of an update to the Echo Lake area - possibly involving Indiana Jones ... so I think that would be the area - and definitely nothing that would start now, but yeah, a couple of years after GE opens I think is possible. I have seen some talk that Disney still thinks DHS would need another new area eventually to be a "complete" park

I agree that HS could use one more land, but the idea of Indiana Jones really doesn't excite me.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Not to be a Debbie Downer, but I don't think it will add as much capacity to the system as you may think...for the 7 monthers. Unless you are traveling off-peak times of the year. Reason being is that, DVD will only declare a small percentage of the units/points at a time. As the resort sells, they will declare more until it is eventually sold out. Obviously when it is sold out, you will be competing with owners. Before it sells out though, there will be low availability as DVD will be using the undeclared inventory for cash reservations. Your best bet will probably be to make a reservation as soon as possible after it opens. It isn't a coincidence that the resort will open in the fall before SWGE...they are banking on a DVC resort to get filled up on cash reservations, and get tons of potential customers with pixie dust in their eyes after seeing SWGE to want to buy into the resort. It's brilliant actually, most of these people will make decisions without any research into DVC at all.

I understand all of that. I'd expect it to be like BLT... it was most definitely easier to get rooms at 7mos earlier on than it was once it was completely sold -- despite them declaring a smaller amount earlier on. I'm expecting a window where it's more possible to book Riviera at 7mos than BCV or BWV is right now.

And this increases the stock of cash rooms as well. Sometimes we've done that at BWV when we couldn't get something DVC.

Let me put it this way: it certainly doesn't HURT me as a current DVC owner for Riviera to be coming on line, no matter how I look at it.

 

[ksromack]

I agree that HS could use one more land, but the idea of Indiana Jones really doesn't excite me.

I think Indiana Jones has worn out its welcome at least as far as franchises go?

 

[intertile]

Let me put it this way: it certainly doesn't HURT me as a current DVC owner for Riviera to be coming on line, no matter how I look at it.

Yes, Agreed.

 

[Firebird060]

Heres a random question, anyone have a updated timeline for the Star Wars hotel, I haven't seen much news about it lately

 

[MissGina5]

I SO love your positivity on these boards -- thank you for not getting dragged down by the inevitable negativity that crops up anywhere online -- I LOVE IT!

Oh gosh thank you! Positivity is my favorite haha

 

[TheMaxRebo]

NEWS

The "surprise" Town Sq Meet and Greet is now on the app so you can see who is meeting that day ... today it is Remy and Emile

 

[siren0119]

Heres a random question, anyone have a updated timeline for the Star Wars hotel, I haven't seen much news about it lately

They haven't done much more than clear the land for it, so I would imagine that's at least a year or two from when the Land opens. Will be watching those aerials for when the foundation starts to go in!

 

[wareagle57]

News

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Announces Family-Friendly Events in Honor of the Park’s 60th Anniversary

I'm shocked to learn this park was around more than 10 years before Disney. I assumed Disney was the first in the Central Florida theme park game.

 

[scrappinginontario]

It will be no more convenient then the friendship boats that take you from Epcot to Hollywood studios or the bw or beachclub/yacht or swalphin. The only Beni for the Gondolas is that it gives a non bus option to a few other non Deluxe resorts.

I think it will be much more convenient than the Friendship boats due to it's continuous load. More than once I have waited for a Friendship boat only for it to fill to capacity before I could get on. The next boat was 15-20 mins later. The capacity of the gondolas compared to the capacity of the Friendship boats is much higher in the same amount of time.

The Skyliner will be quicker than the boats.

I agree! Higher capacity. No wait for 'traffic'. Continuous load. Skyliner will be quicker for sure!