News Round Up

[rteetz]

That's good news. It was really successful last year, and it seemed like lots of people loved it. Hopefully they go higher quality like DCA with some of the decorations. Now that they're moving to the American Idle theater it should get better.

I think it just means there isn't going to be much to do at DHS. I also think the frozen craze is slowing down just a bit not a lot but a little bit. With up coming construction most likely at DHS they need something to get people there and this is it.

 

[rteetz]

I enjoy the thread and the discussion. When I don't have time to read everything I just skim and look for the news. But lengthy discussion can make it hard to go back and find a specific post or news report for reference in planning trips, etc.

One possible solution, could someone create a second thread for news round up discussion? Report the news here on the news round up thread, Discuss the news on a sister thread, news round up discussion.

Just a thought, but I will follow either way.

That's why I am thinking of going to a table of contents type model where the first page has all of the news posts listed with dates. Then the rest of the thread is open for discussion and if you want to find the news and a link you just go to the first page.

 

[rteetz]

Miceage Update on the new leader of Disney Parks and Resorts. It's a bit comic what he's having to learn.

http://micechat.com/96582-bob-chapek-disney-parks-and-resorts/

I think he'll be coasting for a bit because Staggs left a lot already in the works that he doesn't really need to get involved. They set it up so he could just be the face for the next couple years. Will be interesting to see what the parking situation in Anaheim becomes.

 

[rteetz]

MK hub update

http://m.wdwmagic.com/attractions/m...e-magic-kingdom-central-hub-redevelopment.htm

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Here is something to discuss. Disney has announced frozen summer fun live for a second year. They must really need to get people into that park.

http://m.wdwmagic.com/events/frozen...ve-at-disney's-hollywood-studios-for-2015.htm

Since its news...I'll talk about it

I think it's kinda a cry for help...

The park is in basic mothballs...and even if they are gonna blow the lid off a huge redo this year...

They paid 4 billion on Lucasfilm... And obviously they knew well in advance because they relaunched the Star Wars franchise with movie and television with months...

It's been 3 years...and the "ground zero" park for Star Wars at their largest property - studios...is in kinda shambles.

And they want to start selling 10 billion in product worldwide NOW for the new movie rollout.

Does this not seem like really bad planning?

And frozen is on a dangerous path as well... The buzz has faded and they are now exploiting it.

Everybody loves princesses...

But the little mermaid, beauty and the beast, etc was allowed to die/breath in the late 90's and early 00's before they have resurrected and capitalized on them anew.

I don't know if you can keep the pedal on frozen for 5+ years...
Even those that love it... Are gonna start to get annoyed soon.

 

[Reddog1134]

I don't know if you can keep the pedal on frozen for 5+ years...
Even those that love it... Are gonna start to get annoyed soon.

Just ask my 7 year old sister.

 

[luisov]

They actually finished the hub quite quickly. I thought the main work would extend up to August. At this point they are just missing the new castle towers aren't they?

In regards of the Frozen Summer fun... yeah, I said this not long ago, but I'm really intrigued to know how they'll make DHS work in its current state for the next 5 years, when we are supposed to see an actual expansion. The Great Movie Ride and Midway Mania are getting updates, but is that enough?

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Just ask my 7 year old sister.

I would talk to her when she's 9

 

[wareagle57]

Are there any before and after shots of the hub? I'm having a hard time visualizing what it looked like before. The new FP areas are kind of obvious, but the area closer to the hub doesn't really look different to me.

 

[rteetz]

Are there any before and after shots of the hub? I'm having a hard time visualizing what it looked like before. The new FP areas are kind of obvious, but the area closer to the hub doesn't really look different to me.

The center of the hub of that's what your talking about wont change much except for some new planters. The FP areas were water before.

 

[justgot2havefun]

here are the two photos: First shows original layout, the the finished mockup.

They are basically adding more room at the bottom for people to leave after fireworks and at closing, and an additional path around the hub so when people are watching fireworks, other guests can still navigate the park

 

[Reddog1134]

I would talk to her when she's 9

Not sure if my point came across but she's already tired of the over-saturation. Of course, she's 7 going on 30.

 

[rteetz]

here are the two photos: First shows original layout, the the finished mockup.

They are basically adding more room at the bottom for people to leave after fireworks and at closing, and an additional path around the hub so when people are watching fireworks, other guests can still navigate the park

Work just began within the last couple weeks starting to take out the rose garden and add the northern sections of the hub paths. It was also spotted by someone on wdwmagic that the castle turrets are being prebuilt outside the magic kingdom near where the airplane runway is located.

 

[Josh Hendy]

here are the two photos: First shows original layout, the the finished mockup.

They are basically adding more room at the bottom for people to leave after fireworks and at closing, and an additional path around the hub so when people are watching fireworks, other guests can still navigate the park

Thanks for the pix.

This might make the park feel a bit less crowded DURING the fireworks. But without widening Main Street or the exits under the train station, or expanding the ferry wharf or monorail capacity ... aren't they still going to have a lot of crowded-feeling, exasperated guests starting ... oh ... about 30 seconds after the last firework explodes? And continuing for at least 45 to 60 minutes afterward?

The long slog out of MK at closing and the crush to get on the ferry or monorail and then to get on a tramway is the time when my family has come closest to losing it in all our trips to WDW ... and crowds are larger now than even a few years ago.

 

[Reddog1134]

Thanks for the pix.

This might make the park feel a bit less crowded DURING the fireworks. But without widening Main Street or the exits under the train station, or expanding the ferry wharf or monorail capacity ... aren't they still going to have a lot of crowded-feeling, exasperated guests starting ... oh ... about 30 seconds after the last firework explodes? And continuing for at least 45 to 60 minutes afterward?

The long slog out of MK at closing and the crush to get on the ferry or monorail and then to get on a tramway is the time when my family has come closest to losing it in all our trips to WDW ... and crowds are larger now than even a few years ago.

I think it's creating more walkways WITHIN the park to help with guests going in opposite directions. Those that are leaving after the fireworks and those that are entering the lands to enjoy late hours.

 

[rteetz]

Thanks for the pix.

This might make the park feel a bit less crowded DURING the fireworks. But without widening Main Street or the exits under the train station, or expanding the ferry wharf or monorail capacity ... aren't they still going to have a lot of crowded-feeling, exasperated guests starting ... oh ... about 30 seconds after the last firework explodes? And continuing for at least 45 to 60 minutes afterward?

The long slog out of MK at closing and the crush to get on the ferry or monorail and then to get on a tramway is the time when my family has come closest to losing it in all our trips to WDW ... and crowds are larger now than even a few years ago.

The Main Street by passes are finished and open during majorly crowded times this will relieve congestion on Main Street. Exits under the train station is the only way.

 

[rteetz]

Boathouse construction update. This restaurant opens in April and is hiring 500 workers currently.

http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions...-boathouse-construction-at-disney-springs.htm

 

[clsteve]

Since its news...I'll talk about it

I think it's kinda a cry for help...

The park is in basic mothballs...and even if they are gonna blow the lid off a huge redo this year...

They paid 4 billion on Lucasfilm... And obviously they knew well in advance because they relaunched the Star Wars franchise with movie and television with months...

It's been 3 years...and the "ground zero" park for Star Wars at their largest property - studios...is in kinda shambles.

And they want to start selling 10 billion in product worldwide NOW for the new movie rollout.

Does this not seem like really bad planning?

And frozen is on a dangerous path as well... The buzz has faded and they are now exploiting it.

Everybody loves princesses...

But the little mermaid, beauty and the beast, etc was allowed to die/breath in the late 90's and early 00's before they have resurrected and capitalized on them anew.

I don't know if you can keep the pedal on frozen for 5+ years...
Even those that love it... Are gonna start to get annoyed soon.

They're laser focused (and wallet focused) on SDL first, the Champs-Élysées 2nd - investment overseas for future dividends returns, so we should be happy. And, The 60th Anniversary is 3rd - so, we should be happy.

Orlando's getting Avatar in 2017/18, so we should be happy. Heck, D23 will roll out the 2022 plan for SW - so we should be happy. I have 2 sets of MB's, so I should be happy.

Arrendale in Norway to close the gap, so we.... ahh, to heck with it.

The 5 Year Plan is still the 5 to 7 Year Plan, no matter how you slice and dice it. I just hope Anna and Elsa signed a per hour contract with royalties. They deserve it....

 

[Mouse of Mystery]

I'm not sure whether to be excited that we'll be visiting HS the week before Frozen or sad that we're going to miss it. I'm not sorry to be missing the crowds that will no doubt flock to it, but I wouldn't mind seeing the Frozen fireworks. I guess an aging Fantasmic! will have to suffice.

 

[circus4u]

Sunshine Tree Terrace opens in new location. Photos at http://www.wdwmagic.com/dining/suns...nshine-tree-terrace-opens-in-new-location.htm

Aloha Isle photos of new location here http://www.wdwmagic.com/dining/aloh...tion-in-the-magic-kingdom's-adventureland.htm