Rumors of Light (ROL discussion thread)

[10CJ]

Maybe that is why Oct is the ROL goal. They will need something else at night once MSEP goes down.

 

[Ydnameht]

I haven't looked in on this thread in ages. Glad to see it's still going!

I was so looking forward to RoL for my April trip. Obviously that didn't happen. I consoled myself with the knowledge that surely it would be running by my upcoming October trip. Not holding my breath but I'm still hoping!

And now I find out that MSEP shuts down 3 days before I get back to WDW. My nights may be seriously lacking in lights. And rivers.

 

[bluezy]

But what would they replace it with? If PTN is staying at DL to be used over the holidays, what else might they be replacing MSEP with?

I heard they were putting the ROL floats on wheels and using those for the new parade. Just a rumor, though.

 

[goldie09]

I heard they were putting the ROL floats on wheels and using those for the new parade. Just a rumor, though.

 

[HopperFan]

I heard they were putting the ROL floats on wheels and using those for the new parade. Just a rumor, though.

I have been saying that for months. Add wheels, hitch them up to some butterfly CMs, light those bad boys up and roll. All they need is a few CMs with boom boxes to walk with it and .............. well with this news it will be the best parade out there ............ oh wait, it will be the only parade out there.

 

[mom2rtk]

Maybe that is why Oct is the ROL goal. They will need something else at night once MSEP goes down.

I can totally see that being the case. But I would hope that by now they see that it's ready when it's ready and the kinks are worked out, and not a minute sooner.

 

[HopperFan]

THINKING OUT LOUD ONLY:

No night parade at MK eliminates a "couple" hours from start to finish AND it will begin getting dark earlier. They could save tons of money on operations and salaries to shoot the fireworks as soon as they can, and close the park. This is what worries me, that Disney could be moving towards the Universal route with hours.

OR increase the number of parties or paid events ...............

I hope they get their "stuff" together because I don't know how many more blows WDW can take. At this point I'm rethinking several trips I had planned for this fall. I'm done paying for these crowded parties and I am concerned the direction night hours will take given what is happening. The only thing that would pull me is to use my AP, and that is sad.

 

[mom2rtk]

THINKING OUT LOUD ONLY:

No night parade at MK eliminates a "couple" hours from start to finish AND it will begin getting dark earlier. They could save tons of money on operations and salaries to shoot the fireworks as soon as they can, and close the park. This is what worries me, that Disney could be moving towards the Universal route with hours.

OR increase the number of parties or paid events ...............

I hope they get their "stuff" together because I don't know how many more blows WDW can take. At this point I'm rethinking several trips I had planned for this fall. I'm done paying for these crowded parties and I am concerned the direction night hours will take given what is happening. The only thing that would pull me is to use my AP, and that is sad.

Sorry, can't "like" that post. But it does make far too much sense. Sadly.......

 

[disneymath]

Not liking this MK night parade, or rather lack thereof, business ... since my very first visit thirty-years ago (I was 9, where has the time flown?) the MK night parades have held a special place in my heart. I'm legally blind (distance vision only) and light sensitive, so I miss a lot of the details of daytime parades and stage shows.

MSEP's (and Spectro's) colourful lights against the dark sky work for me, they aren't too bright and being able to get close to the floats and performers means I can pick up on so many of the details. (Now, I know I can, and I actually do sometimes, pay for preferred seating at the stage shows, but it's just not the same as being right there curbside.)

I'm ok with MSEP being replaced by another night parade, but at the moment there doesn't seem to be any sort of replacement in the works let alone a parade. That just makes me sad.

 

[HopperFan]

I'm ok with MSEP being replaced by another night parade, but at the moment there doesn't seem to be any sort of replacement in the works let alone a parade. That just makes me sad.

This is how I feel ..................

 

[disneymath]

@HopperFan ... That about sums it up ... would not mind a bit if we're proven wrong though!

 

[HopperFan]

@HopperFan ... That about sums it up ... would not mind a bit if we're proven wrong though!

DS and I talking all night and he's been online with several other groups ..... they have so many thoughts.

One talked of Disneyland getting to keep both, MSEP for slow season, PTN for peak and holidays.

So many potential options ......... but no night time parade for their biggest park/resort that generates the money it does is just crazy.

But given all the dropped balls this year, who knows what to think. I still think PTN was supposed to come here, and we do know that DL was going ballistic at it leaving their park. Maybe more backtracking that Disney has gotten so good at.

What if ............. WDW is now going to get an all new parade? FoF was a HUGE hit! I could be okay with that.

All I know is I hope they announce something sooner than later or this could fester really really big.

 

[KateP85]

DS and I talking all night and he's been online with several other groups ..... they have so many thoughts.

One talked of Disneyland getting to keep both, MSEP for slow season, PTN for peak and holidays.

So many potential options ......... but no night time parade for their biggest park/resort that generates the money it does is just crazy.

But given all the dropped balls this year, who knows what to think. I still think PTN was supposed to come here, and we do know that DL was going ballistic at it leaving their park. Maybe more backtracking that Disney has gotten so good at.

What if ............. WDW is now going to get an all new parade? FoF was a HUGE hit! I could be okay with that.

All I know is I hope they announce something sooner than later or this could fester really really big.

How long does it take to design/build a new parade? I don't know how these things work. Would something be ready to replace MSEP in 8 weeks?

 

[mom2rtk]

DS and I talking all night and he's been online with several other groups ..... they have so many thoughts.

One talked of Disneyland getting to keep both, MSEP for slow season, PTN for peak and holidays.

So many potential options ......... but no night time parade for their biggest park/resort that generates the money it does is just crazy.

But given all the dropped balls this year, who knows what to think. I still think PTN was supposed to come here, and we do know that DL was going ballistic at it leaving their park. Maybe more backtracking that Disney has gotten so good at.

What if ............. WDW is now going to get an all new parade? FoF was a HUGE hit! I could be okay with that.

All I know is I hope they announce something sooner than later or this could fester really really big.

I keep thinking on this as well and just can't make sense of it in my head.

I don't see any way DL plans to keep both parades. That just makes no sense at all. There clearly is another shoe to drop in all of this. I don't think this is about DLR guests going ballistic at PTN leaving their park. My personal thought is that this is all about cost cutting. Both parks will be without a night parade for some time. DLR will not have one for over a month, maybe substantially more depending on what they mean by PTN appearing on "select nights" during the holiday season. I still think there's a high likelihood it will only appear a few nights over Christmas week and we'll completely miss out in mid November.

I think your thoughts earlier in this thread are pretty close to the right story. They are getting ROL finally ready to go and will be "all in" with the AK night schedule and are looking for ways to offset it elsewhere. I think sending MSEP to DLR is just a nod to Walt's original park as they prepare to permanently retire it.

I'm surprised DLR even has a place to keep both parades for right now.

 

[BookGirl305]

.

 

[HopperFan]

How long does it take to design/build a new parade? I don't know how these things work. Would something be ready to replace MSEP in 8 weeks?

No.

I think for sure we'll be dark till January at earliest now. Depending on the plan at this point. New? Replicate existing? Two completely different time frames.

Whatever it is, it will have ramifications. Perfect time to utilize hoppers to get more done in less days tickets and explore other Orlando options. UO needs to jump all over this with ticket deals.

And all their canned responses of zero commitment after 2016 could have been blowing smoke and giving them scramble time to pacify DL. PTN could still be coming, just later.

 

[CheriePenguin]

I am SO bummed! We're almost finished with our touring plans and FP plans for our Oct. 23rd WDW stay. We especially planned for Wed - EMH night - at MK so we could see MSEP and Wishes, even though it was likely to be more crowded. Now if there is NO nighttime parade at all it will be a HUGE disappointment.

 

[HopperFan]

Throwing out a spitball-

who spends money in MK at night? No one. From 5-midnight, no one is shopping, no one is eating except quick service. The table service are all booked out on the dining plan and if MK isn't available, people easily head to another table service already. What you essentially have at MK after 8pm is masses of people lining the sidewalk for a parade, not spending money and a few people riding rides that are not at capacity (Disney spending money). I could see them offering dining at BOG and the castle and timing it so the last one finishes at the Kiss. People would flock to that the same way they flock to a PPO breakfast. FoF at 3, fireworks for everyone at 7, close at 8.

This is my rationale for them to stop doing evening EMH. They are a loss other than the offsite guests shopping before they leave. Eliminating them is a good financial decision.

I don't think they would cancel the parade to try to boost sales. As crowded as the parades are, there are still TONS of folks spending money and on the attractions. Without a parade I think guests are more likely to do more attractions. Getting more attractions done in your day is likely to reduce your days of tickets needed, leaving time to explore "off property" options.

I do think with out the two hours committed to run through two parades a night, and earlier sunsets ..... fireworks could be moved earlier and the park closed earlier. (like Universal and DL) This saves tons of money. This also means you have less time to get everything done and can not reduce your days tickets to go elsewhere. They trap you in and save money at same time.

BUT of course we are all trying to think this through logically and giving them lots of sinister credit ............... I think they (biting tongue) messed up. They were switching the parades and did not anticipate the UPROAR from DL. They now are going through with part 1, shut them down and get MSEP out there and fixed up. They are answering all questions with canned answers blowing smoke up .... with zero commitment to anything about PTN after 2016. And they have some time to sit around that table of everlasting chaos and try to figure out how to save another fail.

Stockholder me is not happy with their lack of foresight and planning. This ask forgiveness later is getting old.

 

[mom2rtk]

This is my rationale for them to stop doing evening EMH. They are a loss other than the offsite guests shopping before they leave. Eliminating them is a good financial decision.

I don't think they would cancel the parade to try to boost sales. As crowded as the parades are, there are still TONS of folks spending money and on the attractions. Without a parade I think guests are more likely to do more attractions. Getting more attractions done in your day is likely to reduce your days of tickets needed, leaving time to explore "off property" options.

I do think with out the two hours committed to run through two parades a night, and earlier sunsets ..... fireworks could be moved earlier and the park closed earlier. (like Universal and DL) This saves tons of money. This also means you have less time to get everything done and can not reduce your days tickets to go elsewhere. They trap you in and save money at same time.

BUT of course we are all trying to think this through logically and giving them lots of sinister credit ............... I think they (biting tongue) messed up. They were switching the parades and did not anticipate the UPROAR from DL. They now are going through with part 1, shut them down and get MSEP out there and fixed up. They are answering all questions with canned answers blowing smoke up .... with zero commitment to anything about PTN after 2016. And they have some time to sit around that table of everlasting chaos and try to figure out how to save another fail.

Stockholder me is not happy with their lack of foresight and planning. This ask forgiveness later is getting old.

Honestly? I've seen more uproar over ToT changing than I have over PTN ending. Maybe more uproar over the change from the spectacular 14 minute Disneyland Forever fireworks show to the less interesting 4 minute Fantasy in the Sky fireworks show.

I'm really not buying that this is about an uproar from DLR guests. I'm still going straight up cost cutting. Both parades may be parked in DLR by the end of the year, but both resorts are getting a huge cut in night parade showings.

 

[KateP85]

Honestly? I've seen more uproar over ToT changing than I have over PTN ending. Maybe more uproar over the change from the spectacular 14 minute Disneyland Forever fireworks show to the less interesting 4 minute Fantasy in the Sky fireworks show.

I'm really not buying that this is about an uproar from DLR guests. I'm still going straight up cost cutting. Both parades may be parked in DLR by the end of the year, but both resorts are getting a huge cut in night parade showings.

I don't think the uproar is coming from the DL guests - it's coming from DL CMs. The hourly cast being pissed might not cause the switch to be cancelled, but higher up saying they don't want to lose the parade might put a halt on things.