Rumors of Light (ROL discussion thread)

[Mambo Junkie]

I'm at peace with the ROL thing now. I've gotten beyond the frustration. Still not sure if I will go without an ADR or fp but that's because I'm not good with crowds. If I do we will go early then get the heck out. Let the kids to MickeyMinnie then go for a swim. I have lunch plans for TH.

 

[Rivergirl2005]

I would still like to know the dates of stuff (such as new Morning thing), however, so I can make an informed choice of where I want to be - or not be!

I'm not sure how I feel about the magical morning experience. My plan was Bog adrs and go to the seven dwarfs after....thanks to the dis, I was able to grab Adrs for every mk morning I have. I'll just wait it out and see how this event will affect my vacation. I plan on not purchasing it because I'd rather save that money for a souvenir....it will be interesting to see how it all plays out....

 

[jlundeen]

I would still like to know the dates of stuff (such as new Morning thing), however, so I can make an informed choice of where I want to be - or not be!

yep, me too. We have several RD and EMH morning/evenings planned, and if there are already going to be extra crowds due to these events, I'd like to know so we can either change our plans or at least be prepared.

 

[wdw4rfam]

Sometimes I miss the total blindness that I went into my first trip with!!

(And you know what, it was AWESOME!!!)

Isn't it funny? Our first trip, we stayed in value, no fast passes (it was before FP existed), no ADRs, no plans, or even looking at park hours. I don't know if I'd want to go in blind now though, because you HAVE to book all those, or you will be left in the cold with no place to eat ( except counter service). I do miss the old days though. ( except don't miss the value resorts)

 

[disfamz]

I am a huge fan of evening EMHs. December 2014 we had a party of 13 and in less than 3 hours we did every ride in the park at least once. I was never a morning person before my DD but now I might take part in the morning ones. I really only use them at MK though.

 

[jlundeen]

I'm actually quite surprised by how many EMH fans there are. EMH is like a "COME TO THIS PARK" beacon to resort guests. The first thing we do when making our schedule is cross off all the EMH parks.

At some times of the year, that means the other parks close at 7 or 9PM. I'd rather have the choice to stay longer in a park, even if it means putting up with more people. I don't do many rides at night, and if I do, it's with a FP, so lines aren't really an issue for me. Now, trying to EXIT a park and get on a bus for the resort - that's another story!

 

[Vernie822]

Isn't it funny? Our first trip, we stayed in value, no fast passes (it was before FP existed), no ADRs, no plans, or even looking at park hours. I don't know if I'd want to go in blind now though, because you HAVE to book all those, or you will be left in the cold with no place to eat ( except counter service). I do miss the old days though. ( except don't miss the value resorts)

Granted there are only two of us, but we did a bare minimum ADR/FP trip last summer. We only did 3 nights/4 days in the parks. We had a BOG lunch ADR and an Ohana dinner ADR that I grabbed a week beforehand.. and we booked everything else day of or the night before (Beaches and Cream, Via Napoli, Whispering Canyon, and Yak and Yeti). We did all of our FP's the night before and rope dropped TSMM because that was the only thing we couldn't get that we wanted. We didn't get to do 7DMT though.

I gotta say it was really, really fun doing that! BUT.. We visit a few times a year so not getting certain FPs or ADRs wasn't a big deal to us, it gave us the chance to experience some new things. I don't think it would be ideal for someone who doesn't visit often, or for their first trip.

 

[YodasMom]

I've about decided your family and mine are the only ones who do. They could turn every EMH in to a paid event and it won't mean a thing to me. We avoid EMH parks at all times. Now, I do not believe they will turn EMH to a paid only event, I believe these are in addition to EMH. But EMH has nothing at all to do with why we stay on site. Clearly, that is not the norm (which is exactly why we avoid EMH, most do go to that park for them)

No you're not the only ones.........LOL!!! I always avoid the EMH parks and go to the parks with lower crowd levels. Long, long ago when they first started the late EMH, I went, but it's been years since that's been advantageous for me. To each their own, though......

 

[keishashadow]

I am the Disney planner in our group and at this point I think if they actually do go through with opening ROL on 4/23 then it is already inside most travelers fast pass dates so we have all had to chose something else because thus far they have not even given us park hours beyond 6pm so ROL will be a standing room only for the first month until they start the Dining packages and FP+. Right now they only way they could do dining packages for the first few months would be through Triffins as it has yet to open so all dining slots would be open for dining packages. Otherwise join the friendly stampede with all of us thirsting for new sights.

jmho but don't think we can rule out that all the dining slots in other venues have necessarily been released for booking.

Not beyond realm of possibility to hope that those who are currently holding existing reservations may be given opportunity to 'flip' them to a package.

Ala DL they also could slap together a 'picnic' package at a CS or dedicate one of them for ADRs w/RoL pkg as to viewing sites.

 

[keishashadow]

I've about decided your family and mine are the only ones who do. They could turn every EMH in to a paid event and it won't mean a thing to me. We avoid EMH parks at all times. Now, I do not believe they will turn EMH to a paid only event, I believe these are in addition to EMH. But EMH has nothing at all to do with why we stay on site. Clearly, that is not the norm (which is exactly why we avoid EMH, most do go to that park for them)

WDw is certainly all about crowd control and we skip EMH parks when staying offsite, especially the am ones & MK in particular.

problem is if they do eliminate 'free' EMH, those who follow the skip-that-park strategy may suddenly find themselve in more far more crowded parks.

 

[elmoandzoey]

Maybe Pooh is having a field day on the ROL lake so they can't get it done in time???

 

[Mambo Junkie]

To be honest we have never utilized the EMH. We are not early risers and the one time my son did go to Epcot EMH he said it was too crowded. I hate to admit it but I love the up charge events like MNSSHP, P&P, and MVMCP. Lighter day and evening crowds. I did not love the Wishes dessert party and I think the charge for the late nights/early mornings is too rich for my blood with what you get for the money. With a little bit of planning you can accomplish all of that for free. As for staying offsite in September that's because it's just me and hubby and we plan to use our US passes on that visit. Also, I haven't been to that resort in several years and I absolutely love it there. Small, quiet and private, and just a mile from DS.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

Maybe Pooh is having a field day on the ROL lake so they can't get it done in time???

are you saying Pooh took a poo?

 

[tstidm1]

From the videos that were posted a few pages back, I don't think it's going to open late unless they aren't ready with the Seating area yet. I think why it's being held back is either they aren't sure how many showings during the Spring they want to do or Tiffins is a big maybe. Maybe, we aren't getting FP + for this attraction at the moment. They are cutting all FP + for Wishes and MSEP in the near future, so this wouldn't surprise me. I just hope that sometime before April 22nd we get May hours for AK.

 

[AngiTN]

WDw is certainly all about crowd control and we skip EMH parks when staying offsite, especially the am ones & MK in particular.

problem is if they do eliminate 'free' EMH, those who follow the skip-that-park strategy may suddenly find themselve in more far more crowded parks.

I'd guess it will disperse the crowds so hopefully nothing is impacted significantly. Where EMH puts them all in 1 place and it does impact the crowds significantly

 

[Marlyn]

I'm actually quite surprised by how many EMH fans there are. EMH is like a "COME TO THIS PARK" beacon to resort guests. The first thing we do when making our schedule is cross off all the EMH parks.

I avoid the EMH parks, however, I do use EMH. I go for the EMH then pop over to another park for the day. Or I go to a non EMH park for the day and then hop over to the EMH park for evening EMH hours. Best of both worlds that way.

 

[TXStormtrooper]

-

 

[jlundeen]

WDw is certainly all about crowd control and we skip EMH parks when staying offsite, especially the am ones & MK in particular.

problem is if they do eliminate 'free' EMH, those who follow the skip-that-park strategy may suddenly find themselve in more far more crowded parks.

I guess a lot also depends on park closing times, which are usually staggered, I'm assuming for the most efficient use of the busses. But if one park is open later than the others, that's probably where the crowds are going to be.

 

[keishashadow]

I'd guess it will disperse the crowds so hopefully nothing is impacted significantly. Where EMH puts them all in 1 place and it does impact the crowds significantly

everytime I think I have WDW down pat they throw me a curve If nothing else it keeps me on my toes. Just hope it doesn't get to the point where a low-key, spontaneous trip isn't do-able.

 

[jlundeen]

everytime I think I have WDW down pat they throw me a curve If nothing else it keeps me on my toes. Just hope it doesn't get to the point where a low-key, spontaneous trip isn't do-able.

I don't know what it's like to take a low-key, spontaneous trip to Disney...ha ha ha...

While we don't do the commando park thing any more, I don't do well in chaos (which is why dealing with this ROL thing is REALLY hard!!), so I plan out park days, ADRs FPs, etc. However, that doesn't mean plans don't change on the fly...but that's about as spontaneous as we get....

EDITED: We always leave an OPEN section in each day for folks to go back to rest at the resort, do pool time, shop, or just stay in the parks...so there is SOME flexibility built in.