Rumors of Light (ROL discussion thread)

[KMWoolley]

I'm going to be honest here and say emailing guest relations often does nothing. You'll just get a standard Disney have a magical day type response. I'd suggest emailing people a bit higher up like Jenn from the blog.

Jenn who gave us "very soon" then didn't bother to repond to ANY of the Comments on her "Good Day from AK" Blog?
I think I'll have just as much success trying to lick my elbow or enjoy Stitch's Great Escape.

 

[jlundeen]

I just got another SURVERY from Disney - centering around MDE...overall, I think the app on both the website and the phone is pretty good...but I was not complementary about being able to make dining and fp reservations. This is the second survey I have received in the past month or so.... weird that they are only interested in the MDE stuff.

 

[elmoandzoey]

Then I would email executives. Guest services isn't going to do much.

Got a suggestion who to email?

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I complained about the ROL fiasco and got someone from guest services phone but although very nice, same old message.
Magic definitely disappearing, which is a big thing for me as all of us!

While this is all frustrating (not just RoL but how many things we don't have details on that are well within our planning window), I'm not even near this point. For me it's a matter of perspective. I know that RoL preview/ADR or not, our WDW trips are some of the best time we spend as a family all year. That will still be true for us unless A LOT changes.

 

[TheFloatingBear]

While this is all frustrating (not just RoL but how many things we don't have details on that are well within our planning window), I'm not even near this point. For me it's a matter of perspective. I know that RoL preview/ADR or not, our WDW trips are some of the best time we spend as a family all year. That will still be true for us unless A LOT changes.

I know we will have a wonderful trip, regardless of how much I can pin stuff down before, and I know that I will feel the magic when I'm there. But this cumulative process since deciding on this trip in late January - CM cuts, character cuts, hotel service cuts I've heard about, lack of information, schedule changes (more that I recall in years past), paying significantly more for lesser class room than a year ago - it's having an effect. I don't know how else to describe except I feel a bit like a cartoon character with a big "Sucker" for a head (I'm dating myself with that reference!).

And I know my DH is feeling disenchanted - and that has me worried! He's a value guy - loves Disney and knows it's a pricey trip, but we always have a blast so he feels like it's "worth it" - always a subjective term! But if he feels like the value is declining, he'll want to take a long break!

 

[KMWoolley]

While this is all frustrating (not just RoL but how many things we don't have details on that are well within our planning window), I'm not even near this point. For me it's a matter of perspective. I know that RoL preview/ADR or not, our WDW trips are some of the best time we spend as a family all year. That will still be true for us unless A LOT changes.

I whole-heartedly agree. I have trip planned (now 30 days out), all of my days are nicely planned with fastpasses and ADR and I was even willing to add Club Villains on my Anniversary as a treat. I have made many posts of late about RoL and frustration, but mostly to vent and have some fun. Even my day at AK has Fastpasses booked and an ADR, and I'll scramble like mad to fine tune and make adjustments if/when a schedule is released. In no way is this lack of details ruining my trip or making me fall out of love with Disney. A lot of the new special experiences (late EMH, early EMH) worry me, as it looks to be purely a cash grab without much benefit. I don't mind paying for something truly over and above (Club Villain, MNSSHP, MVMCP) so I'll wait to decide if I think Disney is on the wrong path.

 

[Maineiak]

I just got another SURVERY from Disney - centering around MDE...overall, I think the app on both the website and the phone is pretty good...but I was not complementary about being able to make dining and fp reservations. This is the second survey I have received in the past month or so.... weird that they are only interested in the MDE stuff.

I've received this survey about 10 times. Just got another one myself this morning.

 

[ArielSRL]

Our 60 day window opens in 13 days so I am just planning like we don't have ROL, nighttime safari, Frozen, etc. If any of that stuff actually materializes, I'll just change my plans. I am annoyed about the lack of ROL info and all the cost cutting and charging more that Disney is doing but as far as our trip, I have until June 4th so I don't have the time crunch going that some of you do. And yes, the cost cutting/charging more does make Disney a bit less magical in my eyes, but I have the advantage of having two little boys that don't know anything about all that stuff, therefore I will get to experience all kinds of magic through their experiences!

I really do wish Disney would get their act together for all you April and May people though!

 

[butterfly71076]

Here is what I see when I went into MK Dining. you can not click on it yet and the picture says place holder
Disney Early Morning Magic – Fantasyland
Experiences VaryPrices VaryMagic Kingdom Park
Table Service

I just saw this today. If Disney takes away the EMH that are included in a resort stay to make them in to a paid event, I won't stay on site anymore. I can stay at my brothers house for free.

I just got another SURVERY from Disney - centering around MDE...overall, I think the app on both the website and the phone is pretty good...but I was not complementary about being able to make dining and fp reservations. This is the second survey I have received in the past month or so.... weird that they are only interested in the MDE stuff.

I got the same survey, last week. I basically told them the making reservations would be so much easier if they released information in a timely manner while highlighting the lack of ROL information.

 

[TheFloatingBear]

Our 60 day window opens in 13 days so I am just planning like we don't have ROL, nighttime safari, Frozen, etc. If any of that stuff actually materializes, I'll just change my plans. I am annoyed about the lack of ROL info and all the cost cutting and charging more that Disney is doing but as far as our trip, I have until June 4th so I don't have the time crunch going that some of you do. And yes, the cost cutting/charging more does make Disney a bit less magical in my eyes, but I have the advantage of having two little boys that don't know anything about all that stuff, therefore I will get to experience all kinds of magic through their experiences!

I really do wish Disney would get their act together for all you April and May people though!

That's the best part! I'm sure I'll bounce back, but I think the Marie thing sent me over the edge yesterday, and I don't really know why? Kinda a little thing in the great scheme of things, however when I told my DD9, who's couldn't wait to meet Lady Tremaine this time around, that she wouldn't be there, her immediate response was, "Well, at least we have Marie!" D'oh!

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I know we will have a wonderful trip, regardless of how much I can pin stuff down before, and I know that I will feel the magic when I'm there. But this cumulative process since deciding on this trip in late January - CM cuts, character cuts, hotel service cuts I've heard about, lack of information, schedule changes (more that I recall in years past), paying significantly more for lesser class room than a year ago - it's having an effect. I don't know how else to describe except I feel a bit like a cartoon character with a big "Sucker" for a head (I'm dating myself with that reference!).

And I know my DH is feeling disenchanted - and that has me worried! He's a value guy - loves Disney and knows it's a pricey trip, but we always have a blast so he feels like it's "worth it" - always a subjective term! But if he feels like the value is declining, he'll want to take a long break!

I get what you're saying. But honestly, some of this stuff we have NO IDEA how/if it'll actually affect our trips. If we weren't obsessively on here, would we have gone on our trips and thought "gee... Service is terrible now... They must have cut CMs..." I don't know. Guess we'll see.

And every time someone rants about "CUTS!!", they rarely if ever balance it out with the NEW THINGS/PEOPLE being added. Staffing for the various nighttime parties at AK, staffing for RoL, staffing for new SW stage show. It's not all net outflows.

I guess I'm saying that if we weren't on DIS, it's possible our experience of our vacations wouldn't diminish at all.

The lack of info for planning gets to me. But again -- that's because I plan A TON. And because we always love to catch the newest stuff ASAP. If we were more laid back about that, like the VAST MAJORITY of guests are, it wouldn't be that big a deal not knowing park hours for AK yet -- we'd adjust, or not, once we found them out.

I think the negativity on DIS far outweighs the positivity. This thread has been largely positive -- with understandable frustration and venting thrown in in mostly a lighthearted way. Yulilin's SW thread is another one. But my goodness... All of the "going downhill", "more cuts", "I'm not going back" threads!! So many. It's why I mostly avoid them and periodically take a break from DIS altogether.

I'm as annoyed as anyone as an ultra-planner. I'm just saying I benefit from stepping back and getting perspective of the big picture for our family. For us, the magic is still there IN SPADES and makes all this stuff worth it. For others, perhaps not, and that's fair, too.

ETA: Btw... I am reminding MYSELF of all of this as much as anything with this post!!!!!

 

[KristiK]

I'm betting the early morning magic is not replacing extra magic hours, but will be on days without them to get people to pay for pre park opening access. Glad I got in my first pre park opening breakfasts last year!

 

[jlundeen]

The first time we went to WDW was WAY back in 1986. It was SOOOO confusing, as we only had Disneyland to compare to. Back then the bus transportation system was VERY complex with little flags on each bus, and they gave you a handout with a guide. The buses when EVERYWHERE...from park to park, resort to park, resort to downtown, park to downtown, to the ticket center, and to all the other resorts! WOW...overwhelming for us country bumpkins....LOL. The next visit was a couple years later, and I was SO disappointed that some of the things we loved the first time around were no longer there....but there were NEW things that we fell in love with. And that same thing has happened with every additional trip. There are some things that I really miss that we'll never see again (Alien Encounter, the beautiful light canopy between future world and the world showcase, Horizons, Osborn Lights...I could go on and on), but there are some "new" and now "not so new" things I can't wait to go back for.

I guess, as Walt originally said, it's a place that will be constantly changing...and that can be bittersweet, but I do still love my Disney trips! Each has highs and lows, joys and disappointments....but I can't wait to get back there!!!

 

[yulilin3]

Off Topic:
Disney Early Morning Magic- Fantasyland

Guests Check-In beginning at 7:30am at the Main Entrance of Magic Kingdom, by the Far Left Hand Side Turnstiles. Guests will receive a sticker for identification.

At 7:45am Guests are allowed to enter Magic Kingdom. They will make their way to Fantasyland where they will be free to enjoy Peter Pan’s Flight, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.
no dates or prices have been given out

 

[DG-12]

Off Topic:
Disney Early Morning Magic- Fantasyland

Guests Check-In beginning at 7:30am at the Main Entrance of Magic Kingdom, by the Far Left Hand Side Turnstiles. Guests will receive a sticker for identification.

At 7:45am Guests are allowed to enter Magic Kingdom. They will make their way to Fantasyland where they will be free to enjoy Peter Pan’s Flight, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.
no dates or prices have been given out

So, just from someone with small people- this is something i might actually pay for. My children are up at the crack of dawn and we would have a lot of fun. The one that goes from 11-1 am would be worthless with little people.

 

[Vernie822]

Off Topic:
Disney Early Morning Magic- Fantasyland

Guests Check-In beginning at 7:30am at the Main Entrance of Magic Kingdom, by the Far Left Hand Side Turnstiles. Guests will receive a sticker for identification.

At 7:45am Guests are allowed to enter Magic Kingdom. They will make their way to Fantasyland where they will be free to enjoy Peter Pan’s Flight, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.
no dates or prices have been given out

Do we have any clue for a price on this?

 

[Vernie822]

So, just from someone with small people- this is something i might actually pay for. My children are up at the crack of dawn and we would have a lot of fun. The one that goes from 11-1 am would be worthless with little people.

Agreed. I am NOT a night owl by any means but I'm definitely an early bird.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Off Topic:
Disney Early Morning Magic- Fantasyland

Guests Check-In beginning at 7:30am at the Main Entrance of Magic Kingdom, by the Far Left Hand Side Turnstiles. Guests will receive a sticker for identification.

At 7:45am Guests are allowed to enter Magic Kingdom. They will make their way to Fantasyland where they will be free to enjoy Peter Pan’s Flight, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.
no dates or prices have been given out

Just 3 rides?! Huh...

I remember when they had early entrance for families with little kids in Fantasyland... that was free for resort guests, I believe... It was really cute: characters roamed, played with the kids, etc. and several rides were open. I forget what they called it... (I'm getting old!!)

 

[Vernie822]

Oh wait Totally missed that it was 3 rides!!

 

[DisMommyTX]

Yesteray, waiting for ROL bookings was the only hangup for our trip. 50 days out from a long weekend getaway, just DH and I. We try to go somewhere about twice a year, just for a couple nights. Now grandparents are saying they might not be able to keep the kids that weekend afterall. No problem, just because we scheduled off work 5 months ago, made hotel reservations as part of a Bounceback, reserved dining 180 days out, including V&A's for the first time ever, and have the Keys Tour booked. I can reschedule it for the next weekend, and make it one day shorter because they think 3 days may be too long. They'll let us know after they talk abut it.

Trying to leave the kids with anyone else would start a nuclear war, so I'll just go back to waiting for ROL bookings to be released. Don't even know what I would book if they became available today. Somehow I doubt that will be a problem! Longing for the good times of yesterday.