News Round Up

[rteetz]

No - I actually agree with you - sometimes this thread gets bogged down in comments that would be better served in a separate thread - and I wasn't responding specifically to your post for you are not the first to say that. That's why I threw in the piece of news.

Now - a separate comment on the "Avatar in 2017". The reason Disney doesn't tie to a specific date this far out is that construction issues are unpredictable, and they could easily run into issues. At this stage - by saying 2017 - they could open it at any time. My guess is they would PREFER to open it earlier in the year, or at least before the summer season. While 2016 they'll have the new Frozen and Soarin' rides, it will be a year of little new stuff and lots of stuff on the horizon, which will likely adversely affect travel. (If you only go once in your life and you know all these things are coming in 2017/2018, are you booking in 2016? My guess is we will have pretty firm dates by the time they start looking at 2017 bookings, so probably by next summer.

Well Disney springs will also be completed in 2016 but many don't see that as a reason to book a trip.

 

[jcnewton]

Epcot parking currently full. Parking is being diverted to MK lot for Wine and Dine Half Marathon. It's also quite a bit warmer than usual this time of year for the runners!

 

[wareagle57]

Dumb - but probably very effective.

I think the Watermelon/Strawberry are a bit confusing.

 

[Eoghann]

I think the Watermelon/Strawberry are a bit confusing.

Watermelons are a bit bigger than strawberries and green. ;D

 

[jlundeen]

not sure if this is a real movie, but the concept is pretty funny!

http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/film-sh...-the-further-adventures-of-walts-frozen-head/

 

[rteetz]

Epcot parking currently full. Parking is being diverted to MK lot for Wine and Dine Half Marathon. It's also quite a bit warmer than usual this time of year for the runners!

Yes there was a heat advisory put of for the runners. They were also giving out cooling towels at the 5k this morning.

 

[rteetz]

not sure if this is a real movie, but the concept is pretty funny!

http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/film-sh...-the-further-adventures-of-walts-frozen-head/

Yes unfortunately true. These unauthorized movies in the parks are only going to lead to a crackdown on camera equipment in the parks.

 

[rteetz]

Vice President Joe Biden is in the Magic Kingdom today.

 

[jlundeen]

Vice President Joe Biden is in the Magic Kingdom today.

I bet that is a challenge for the Secret Service folks!

 

[soniam]

I bet that is a challenge for the Secret Service folks!

Yah, but he's not as protected at the president. Still, probably sucks for everyone involved, SS, him, park guests, CMs.

 

[luisov]

not sure if this is a real movie, but the concept is pretty funny!

http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/film-sh...-the-further-adventures-of-walts-frozen-head/

It's really funny that this rumor is still around. If I recall, a group of animators said they made up the whole thing as a joke a long time ago.

 

[Mr Mannn]

This is 409 pages long. Is there a master list for the ETA for new rides and lands posted anywhere?
Disney likes to debut new rides in the blistering heat of summer. All I know is Frozen sometime in 2016.
Avatar Land? Star Wars Land? Pixar Land?

 

[rteetz]

This is 409 pages long. Is there a master list for the ETA for new rides and lands posted anywhere?
Disney likes to debut new rides in the blistering heat of summer. All I know is Frozen sometime in 2016.
Avatar Land? Star Wars Land? Pixar Land?

Frozen May 2016
Avatar 2017 Disney hasn't officially announced at date for that.

Star Wars also not officially announced but most are saying 2019

Toy story land 2017-18.

 

[rteetz]

Well the weather in Orlando tonight is causing big problems for the Wine and Dine half marathon. The race was delayed after severe storms were passing through and now this has led Disney to shorten the course to an estimated 7.1 miles rather than 13.1.

This is a PR nightmare for rundisney and Disney but not much you can do wit the weather. However now that the storms have passed I don't see why they couldn't have run the half just delayed. Instead they had to shorten it which means Disney likely doesn't want to keep Epcot open later than originally planned. It really sucks for the runners who trained for that distance and/or are using the time to qualify for another event.

 

[jcnewton]

Well the weather in Orlando tonight is causing big problems for the Wine and Dine half marathon. The race was delayed after severe storms were passing through and now this has led Disney to shorten the course to an estimated 7.1 miles rather than 13.1.

This is a PR nightmare for rundisney and Disney but not much you can do wit the weather. However now that the storms have passed I don't see why they couldn't have run the half just delayed. Instead they had to shorten it which means Disney likely doesn't want to keep Epcot open later than originally planned. It really sucks for the runners who trained for that distance and/or are using the time to qualify for another event.

The comments on rundisney's Twitter have been expectedly negative. Like you said, not much Disney can do about the weather. I can't see them refunding partial fees for everyone so....how to please the people?

 

[rteetz]

The comments on rundisney's Twitter have been expectedly negative. Like you said, not much Disney can do about the weather. I can't see them refunding partial fees for everyone so....how to please the people?

Well I definitely think disney should do something. Maybe an extra free drink or something at the end of the race for all runners. This is the first weather related course change they gave ever had to deal with. But again the rain is gone why couldn't they just do the whole course and keep Epcot open longer at the end. It's not like the entire park is operating at the end of the race anyways.

 

[summerw]

Frozen May 2016
Avatar 2017 Disney hasn't officially announced at date for that.

Star Wars also not officially announced but most are saying 2019

Toy story land 2017-18.

Is the May for Frozen an official announcement?

 

[skier_pete]

Is the May for Frozen an official announcement?

I don't know about "official announcement". It's more than a rumor - Disney reps have publically stated May. But they have not given an official date - so it certainly could fall back slightly should problems occur.
Rteetz failed to mention Soarin' being down from January to June. Not official that it will reopen with the new movie though.
Also, Rivers of Light at Animal Kingdom is schedule to open "Spring 2016" which is rather vague - but most are assuming April or May. Not sure if the nighttime safari will be opening on the same timeline, but that is very likely. If they open Rivers of Light, that means they will need other things to entertain people in the park after dark.

 

[Flyerjab]

OTPN has some great photo walkthrough updates of DAK. There is a lot of focus on Discovery Island and some good photos of the signature TS going in behind Pizzafari.

http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2015/11/animal-kingdom-update-discovery-island.html#more

http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2015/11/animal-kingdom-update-discovery-island_7.html

 

[rteetz]

I don't know about "official announcement". It's more than a rumor - Disney reps have publically stated May. But they have not given an official date - so it certainly could fall back slightly should problems occur.
Rteetz failed to mention Soarin' being down from January to June. Not official that it will reopen with the new movie though.
Also, Rivers of Light at Animal Kingdom is schedule to open "Spring 2016" which is rather vague - but most are assuming April or May. Not sure if the nighttime safari will be opening on the same timeline, but that is very likely. If they open Rivers of Light, that means they will need other things to entertain people in the park after dark.

The Disney website lists maelstrom as closed unti the end of April so that would lead most to believe may opening for Frozen.