Rumors of Light (ROL discussion thread)

[butterfly71076]

Haha! Apparently my comment was not accepted on the blog. It doesn't show up as pending approval anymore and it's not there

Mine wasn't approved either. I didn't think it was bad, just the same as others. Oh, well, the message has been delivered!

 

[lunaland]

Well, I give up. We are sticking with our original plan of not going into any of the parks. We are 40 days out now from our trip with no news. I'm not buying park tickets before I even know that the park will be open at night (the only time we could visit). Sorry, Disney. I wanted to pay you for two tickets to a park that I could only spend a few hours in. I wanted to pay for the best dining package you offered. I wanted ROL t-shirts and popcorn buckets and who knows what else. But I need to know that your park will be open! So instead I'll use those few hours at Seaworld for free. I'll give them my food and souvenir money, and they'll be happy to take it.

 

[jlundeen]

Mine wasn't approved either. I didn't think it was bad, just the same as others. Oh, well, the message has been delivered!

I think they only take comments for so long...maybe because so many were saying the same thing - and not what they wanted to hear - they closed it to comments.

 

[TheFloatingBear]

I may need an intervention today, people.


Not sure how my fellow April peeps are feeling, but I'm starting to loose my usual optimism. It's not that I don't think I will have a fabulous trip regardless nor I would let something like this dominate, however, I feel like I need to shift my focus soon from hoping ROL is a highlight of the trip to understanding that I might not catch it at all - or if I do, it will be because we get lucky in the chaos of opening night. Holy run-on sentence, where is my editor? Again, it wouldn't matter quite so much if I thought we were coming back sometime soon...


Having said that, however, those gorgeous pictures that @elmoandzoey posted have me looking forward to seeing AKL at night, ROL or not!

 

[Paigevon]

Haha! Apparently my comment was not accepted on the blog. It doesn't show up as pending approval anymore and it's not there

Mine was very nice, although did mention I'd appreciate some planning info like the others, and it's not listed and no longer pending. :/

 

[Aries14]

I called this morning too. The cm was very nice and said the same - not booking packages at this time, they did not know when they will. She also very strongly told me that it WILL be announced on the blog and Disney website before it is open for booking. She seemed to make it clear that we would know when it opens and that it will be posted before the opening.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

I would take a guess that there might be a private party in the works on April 18th. Not necessarily something open to the public.

 

[lugnut33]

For those giving up keep in mind all the frustration you get to miss out on, like when they actually do offer the packages and the website insta-crashes. You get to miss out on the 3 hour phone call.

 

[emilymad]

My comment on the blog didn't get accept either. I basically only said that I was trying to plan my ADRs like Disney wants us to and it was becoming very difficult and frustrating. Oh well.

I could have written that as beautiful as the costumes look it doesn't help if no one gets to see them!

 

[rteetz]

Thanks for the update. Is Toy Story going to be opening that third track soon? I know I have seen dates, but can't remember now! (And I'm hoping they bring Mr. Potato Head back soon!)

Had its one day refurb yesterday. It has a delayed opening today to finish up work that wasn't done yesterday.

 

[rteetz]

Here is my thinking based on what's happening. April 15th and 16th previews were cancelled because they think they won't be ready. April 17th is still on for now. April 22nd is still the official opening. There is also supposed to be an AK media event on the 19th.

 

[DG-12]

So, just some perspective on this whole thing.
We went in December last year and for months I left a spot open for Skippers Canteen. I kept calling and checking and pretty much hoping for it to open on time. It didn't and they never made a "significant" announcement. It just sort of opened with like a weeks notice. My point is just- this is par for the course with Disney.
I hope it gets done soon because I understand why people are upset. I just am not sure why people are surprised this has gone this way.

 

[jlundeen]

I may need an intervention today, people.


Not sure how my fellow April peeps are feeling, but I'm starting to loose my usual optimism. It's not that I don't think I will have a fabulous trip regardless nor I would let something like this dominate, however, I feel like I need to shift my focus soon from hoping ROL is a highlight of the trip to understanding that I might not catch it at all - or if I do, it will be because we get lucky in the chaos of opening night. Holy run-on sentence, where is my editor? Again, it wouldn't matter quite so much if I thought we were coming back sometime soon...


Having said that, however, those gorgeous pictures that @elmoandzoey posted have me looking forward to seeing AKL at night, ROL or not!

Hang in there, my friend! At the very least, you will have a wonderful trip, and if it doesn't work out that ROL is part of it, hey, there are 3 other parks with incredible night time activities!

I went through exactly what you are saying last week...add in to that the end of winter blues (Minnesota) and I was really in a bad way last week...especially Friday, when they had been saying "FRIDAY IS THE DAY" all week...when Friday came and went, with only the "try tomorrow" advice, then Saturday came and went with no more relief, I finally pulled my head up off the desk, had a glass (or two of wine) and decided that I wasn't going to let their lack of planning and project management ruin my trip.

HANG IN THERE EVERYONE!!

 

[moobar25]

My comment made it in (first at the top)! No response though - big surprise.
I need sleeeeep! Wish they would throw us a bone already. Everything is set except the AK day. GRRRRR

 

[gwynne]

So, just some perspective on this whole thing.
We went in December last year and for months I left a spot open for Skippers Canteen. I kept calling and checking and pretty much hoping for it to open on time. It didn't and they never made a "significant" announcement. It just sort of opened with like a weeks notice. My point is just- this is par for the course with Disney.
I hope it gets done soon because I understand why people are upset. I just am not sure why people are surprised this has gone this way.

People that are new to Disney special events and/or openings may be surprised. Others that have been through the booking challenges of these sorts of events aren't surprised at all. It's a mix on this thread and the nice thing is we share current information as it evolves.

 

[nilla]

You mean this?
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/entertainment/animal-kingdom/rivers-of-light/

It's back today

 

[nilla]

She also very strongly told me that it WILL be announced on the blog and Disney website before it is open for booking. She seemed to make it clear that we would know when it opens and that it will be posted before the opening.

Translation: "Stop calling us!"

 

[jlundeen]

Translation: "Stop calling us!"

Hey, I look at it as a way to justify all the call center jobs...all the calls they are getting need to be handled so, she should look at it as job security...

 

[disneyfam31]

The good news is that we can all make back up plans. I have an ADR for dinner at TH @ 6:30 on our AK day (which also happens to be the last day of our trip). Worst case, if the show is delayed / cancelled, we will head to another park that has later hours. I'm certainly not going to let this ruin our trip, but it has been frustrating as I don't want to keep checking every…single…day.

Thanks to everyone who keeps checking and updating this thread! It is helpful (and a bit of comic relief at times!).

 

[gwynne]

Translation: "Stop calling us!"

You forgot to add "Have a magical day!"