News Round Up

[rteetz]

Disney introduces new photo pass experiences with special animations

http://m.wdwmagic.com/other/photopa...ted-magic-shots-with-memory-maker-package.htm

 

[rteetz]

Disneyland Christmas happenings as well as more frozen

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...ith-frozen-additions-and-returning-favorites/

 

[rteetz]

The street party may be running differently as concrete work is done to Main Street

http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2014/11/move-it-shake-it-dance-play-it-street.html

 

[rteetz]

Permits have been filed for what seems to be the rumored third theater for Soarin. It expires in 2016

http://m.wdwmagic.com/attractions/s...culation-of-adding-a-third-theater-builds.htm

 

[skier_pete]

Permits have been filed for what seems to be the rumored third theater for Soarin. It expires in 2016

http://m.wdwmagic.com/attractions/s...culation-of-adding-a-third-theater-builds.htm

I've always wondered that if they put in a new movie if they would make the old movie go away completely. While I wouldn't mind a new movie, I would really miss the old one, especially the music. We listen to the Disney parks CD a lot, and the music is so evocative of the ride.

 

[rteetz]

I've always wondered that if they put in a new movie if they would make the old movie go away completely. While I wouldn't mind a new movie, I would really miss the old one, especially the music. We listen to the Disney parks CD a lot, and the music is so evocative of the ride.

New movie is supposedly coming Shanghai is supposed to debut with it then it will come here.

Also interesting thing about that permit. Each Soarin theater has 87 seats. The project is being called project 87.

 

[rteetz]

Star tours 2 confirmed for Disneyland Paris

http://dlrpexpress.fr/article.php?i=MarkSteadconfirmeStarToursII

 

[rteetz]

The Disney store online will begin selling magic bands. The bands will be link it later and are only the seven solid color bands no special, limited edition.

 

[WDW_Diane]

Disney partners with Mylan to use EpiPens in medical situations http://m.wdwmagic.com/other/walt-disney-company/news/07nov2014-mylan-and-walt-disney-parks-and-resorts-form-strategic-alliance-to-increase-awareness-of-anaphylaxis-and-bring-epipen-auto-injectors-to-disney-parks.htm

As if I needed another reason to love Disney Parks and Cruise Line! I have to carry epi pens for a food allergy and love knowing they're extra prepared to take care of me on land or at sea.

 

[rteetz]

Olaf was doing a special meet and greet at the Christmas party tonight. No word of course if that will continue or if he will appear during the day as well.

 

[mom2rtk]

Olaf was doing a special meet and greet at the Christmas party tonight. No word of course if that will continue or if he will appear during the day as well.

Wow, that's pretty big news! I wish they'd do something like that at DLR.

 

[rteetz]

Wow, that's pretty big news! I wish they'd do something like that at DLR.

The Disneyland Christmas party is going to be focused around frozen so I wouldn't be surprised if Olaf does show up eventually.

 

[rteetz]

The Disney Parks Christmas special will be the Disney Parks Frozen Christmas celebration.

 

[rteetz]

The food truck park in DTD will open in the fall. The fake rail line sky line seating area thing has been axed they will now just be pure decor, apparently disney had some problems with compliance and other things they just scraped the idea of people going on top of these things all together. New concept art outside the park shows seating around the area on the ground rather than on top of the track high line.

Also the hangar bar next to the boathouse has gone vertical.

 

[rteetz]

Memory maker is now available to purchase after your vacation. Previously is was only before or during your vacation.

 

[rteetz]

Interesting blog from the dis

http://blog.wdwinfo.com/2014/11/09/reduce-theme-park-lines-invest-in-new-attractions/

 

[rteetz]

Tonight's MVMCP is sold out

http://www.wdwmagic.com/events/mick...key's-very-merry-christmas-party-sold-out.htm

 

[wallrock]

Interesting blog from the dis

http://blog.wdwinfo.com/2014/11/09/reduce-theme-park-lines-invest-in-new-attractions/

Many of us have tossed the argument in the artical around a few times in this forum.

Disney won't expand because they don't have to. They can repackage existing activities/events and sell them again and again.

Speculation is running amok on what will happen in Hollywood Studios but there's been nothing official stated, and whatever comes in won't be an expansion but rather a replacement for what's been removed.

I can only go by what I observe, and MyMagic has been far from a success at the guest level from my perspective. The crowd levels were usually the same (give or take a few hundred) each year during the time we went to the parks. We go every year around Halloween and up through 2013 many rides were either relatively short or practically walk ons. It was humorus to see the Haunted Mansion's wait time sitting at a symbolic 13 minutes, even when wait times were less than five.

Now 2014 arrives and the Halloween visit is marked with delays. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, while new and sought after by guests, had wait times in the 70-plus time frame most of the times we walked by. That massive line didn't really take the itch off of other wait times. The Haunted Mansion wait time never dropped below 30 minutes, it's a small world was between 20 and 35 minutes several times (something I haven't seen in years), Buzz Lightyear at 40 minutes. There was even a wrapping line of sorts to get on the People Mover.

Is this due to the MyMagic system? Not sure, but 2013 was the last year that this thing wasn't rolled out. Now it's implemented and wait times are three times higher than before for the same time of year. While there has been some increased attendance (or a balancing out of guests throughout the year) I don't think the change was enough to cause a threefold increase in wait times.

To quote the last two sentences in the article: "There are endless opportunities for Disney to expand. After all, guests demand it."

That's funny. Guests are demanding yet they still open their wallets for the price increases. The 'demand' will be heard by corporate when people close those wallets. Yes my wallet still opens every year, but it's opening less and less. The stays are shorter, the purchases have dropped and we've switched from the deluxe category to the moderates for our stay. Oddly enough the amount of money we spend each year remains more or less the same.

 

[rteetz]

Many of us have tossed the argument in the artical around a few times in this forum. Disney won't expand because they don't have to. They can repackage existing activities/events and sell them again and again. Speculation is running amok on what will happen in Hollywood Studios but there's been nothing official stated, and whatever comes in won't be an expansion but rather a replacement for what's been removed. I can only go by what I observe, and MyMagic has been far from a success at the guest level from my perspective. The crowd levels were usually the same (give or take a few hundred) each year during the time we went to the parks. We go every year around Halloween and up through 2013 many rides were either relatively short or practically walk ons. It was humorus to see the Haunted Mansion's wait time sitting at a symbolic 13 minutes, even when wait times were less than five. Now 2014 arrives and the Halloween visit is marked with delays. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, while new and sought after by guests, had wait times in the 70-plus time frame most of the times we walked by. That massive line didn't really take the itch off of other wait times. The Haunted Mansion wait time never dropped below 30 minutes, it's a small world was between 20 and 35 minutes several times (something I haven't seen in years), Buzz Lightyear at 40 minutes. There was even a wrapping line of sorts to get on the People Mover. Is this due to the MyMagic system? Not sure, but 2013 was the last year that this thing wasn't rolled out. Now it's implemented and wait times are three times higher than before for the same time of year. While there has been some increased attendance (or a balancing out of guests throughout the year) I don't think the change was enough to cause a threefold increase in wait times. To quote the last two sentences in the article: "There are endless opportunities for Disney to expand. After all, guests demand it." That's funny. Guests are demanding yet they still open their wallets for the price increases. The 'demand' will be heard by corporate when people close those wallets. Yes my wallet still opens every year, but it's opening less and less. The stays are shorter, the purchases have dropped and we've switched from the deluxe category to the moderates for our stay. Oddly enough the amount of money we spend each year remains more or less the same.

I agree. Disney could but doesn't have to. DHS will see something you can't keep closing without something coming it's just what exactly is coming is yet to be seen.

It has been proven that the new FP system is changing the lines in parks. Touring plans did a big study on it.

 

[skier_pete]

Speculation is running amok on what will happen in Hollywood Studios but there's been nothing official stated, and whatever comes in won't be an expansion but rather a replacement for what's been removed.

You are right on one hand that they are "replacing", but considering that the Backlot Tour, American Idol, and Jack Sparrow I have experienced each only once over the last 10 trips, and probably would never bother with again in the future, this "removal" doesn't affect my trips, while "replacement" would certainly do so.

I can only go by what I observe, and MyMagic has been far from a success at the guest level from my perspective. The crowd levels were usually the same (give or take a few hundred) each year during the time we went to the parks. We go every year around Halloween and up through 2013 many rides were either relatively short or practically walk ons. It was humorus to see the Haunted Mansion's wait time sitting at a symbolic 13 minutes, even when wait times were less than five.

Now 2014 arrives and the Halloween visit is marked with delays. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, while new and sought after by guests, had wait times in the 70-plus time frame most of the times we walked by. That massive line didn't really take the itch off of other wait times. The Haunted Mansion wait time never dropped below 30 minutes, it's a small world was between 20 and 35 minutes several times (something I haven't seen in years), Buzz Lightyear at 40 minutes. There was even a wrapping line of sorts to get on the People Mover.

Is this due to the MyMagic system? Not sure, but 2013 was the last year that this thing wasn't rolled out. Now it's implemented and wait times are three times higher than before for the same time of year. While there has been some increased attendance (or a balancing out of guests throughout the year) I don't think the change was enough to cause a threefold increase in wait times.

I think October has become more and more crowded over the years - with this being the greatest increase time of year. So, I think partly it's due to that. However, I think MyMagic has done two things - (1) more people are using the FP/FP+ system, (2) more rides are on the FP+ system. Because of this, a rides like Haunted Mansion and IaSM have longer lines, because people are choosing to ride them as a FP ride - so that makes standby longer. I noticed that it seemed like BTMRR and Jungle Cruise had SHORTER standby lines than they used to (because they had more FP riders) while others like HM were longer. It's a "spread the crowds out" effect, which is precisely what Disney wants.

The one thing I would point out though - if they DO announce an expansion at DHS - then that's TWO parks in which they are adding (significant) ride capacity, and they already did this at MK. Yes, I KNOW the argument that "they only added one net ride" but they added SIGNIFICANT park capacity between LM, 7DMT, Dueling Dumbos, Storytime with Belle, the Princess M&Gs, and BOG. Sure, whine all you want that some of those aren't rides - but that's not the argument it's park capacity - even a restaurant adds to park capacity.