Rumors of Light (ROL discussion thread)

[Indybill]

BRG doesn't take ADRs - its walkup only

You can make reservations on OpenTable for Big River Grille (BRG). Do be aware it is not open on Monday's. For instance, using MDE for April 26 at BRG, it says nothing available, but on OpenTable there are reservations available every 15 minutes from 3:30PM to 9PM. I am thinking that for some reason they just don't let reservations be made through MDE right now even though they are listed which is why people think its only walk-up.

Another note: many restaurants in Disney Springs and Swan & Dolphin are on OpenTable (Morimoto's, Boathouse, Paradiso 37, etc.) and we have found they sometimes have reservations available through Open Table when MDE says they are full. For those of you not familiar, it is completely free to use OpenTable and it has an awesome app.

 

[TheFloatingBear]

TheFloatingBear, I was so looking forward to seeing you gently drift down the ROL in your honey pot...

Oh you may still see me floating in my honey pot down the river, followed by the alligators and security guards...especially if I have one of those Sexy Alligator or Maggie Cosmos!

 

[KMWoolley]

Others have mentioned this so I may look into it!

There's even a thread going so you can see what other DISser's are going the day you do.

 

[Karlius]

NOW I'm fretting about the raised crowd levels, with no ROL, no nighttime AK anything, and probably looking at a surge of locals before EMM hits the next week. I feel so horrible. My husband scraped together so much money so that we could do this (this is the most expensive trip we've ever done, and it's only three days ) and so that I could have my Kidani Village Savannah dream room. I'm worried that he's going to be miserable with the crowds. Wishing we hadn't spent so much money on me.

You seem pretty set. The Kidani Village room is where I wish I was going to be a few days after you leave.

 

[TheFloatingBear]

There's even a thread going so you can see what other DISser's are going the day you do.

Yes, I saw that thread...I will go check that out today - thanks! I've considered 1900 Park, but I don't want to spend the time traveling to a resort and I alsu just resent having to spend $ on Dinner in order to see Lady Tremaine!!

 

[capegirl]

QUOTE="maryj11, post: 55498026, member: 39219"]It would be great if we knew how many tickets are being sold for this early morning event. That way we may be able to figure out how crowded it may be.[/QUOTE]

I read somewhere along the line, but I'm not sure if it's accurate, that there may be up to 1,000 tickets sold for this event. Knowing that the park will open for everyone at 9:00, most people will head to the rides first, and go for breakfast around 9:00. If this happens, then the event will not have much of an impact on standby lines when MK opens, but who knows? Personally, eating breakfast during prime park time would drive me crazy, I would be rushing through breakfast to hightail it over to BTMRR and Splash because I wouldn't want to waste a FP. It will be interesting to see what kind of impact this event will have.

Sorry for the messed up quote. iPhone causing me grief this morning, on it's last legs.

 

[tinkerhon]

Great comment and I agree 100%.
To finish my venting, I just sent another letter to George, covering most of your points listed above.
I have also challenged him to read the Comments that did get through on yesterday's Blog and keep in mind that the most negative ones never even got past the Moderator. I expect to get another empathetic phone call back, with 'promises' that my concerns will make it up the line, but honestly, unless I get a call from George himself, I really don't think that is going to happen.
I'm getting more and more cynical when it comes to Disney and I don't like it.

Totally agree and great comments--- the way this has been handled has been awful --- and honestly, how come the "charge extra" events don't seem to have all of these problems and months of uncertainty?

 

[Clumsy_Chica]

You seem pretty set. The Kidani Village room is where I wish I was going to be a few days after you leave. But I am now thinking what is EMM?

Early Morning Magic https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/early-morning-magic/

 

[dachsie]

This!!!



I guess we will both be experiencing AK After Dark that day! I will be one with the Rumors of Light button asking Donald for my dining package tickets.

I am getting a Tshirt and a button to wear that day.

 

[Karlius]

Early Morning Magic https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/early-morning-magic/

Been so focused on ROL and then the late night event that I totally missed that. Thanks!!!

 

[TheFloatingBear]

I think I've reached the depression stage of grief. We'll be there 4/22 - 4/24, and originally selected this weekend because of projected low crowd levels. Then ROL was announced and I knew crowd levels would go up, but ROL was worth it to me so I didn't worry.
NOW I'm fretting about the raised crowd levels, with no ROL, no nighttime AK anything, and probably looking at a surge of locals before EMM hits the next week. I feel so horrible. My husband scraped together so much money so that we could do this (this is the most expensive trip we've ever done, and it's only three days ) and so that I could have my Kidani Village Savannah dream room. I'm worried that he's going to be miserable with the crowds. Wishing we hadn't spent so much money on me.

That said, my itinerary is done. I finished it up last night and decided this morning that I'm not messing with it anymore no matter what happens. I'm just wishing everything works out.

4/21 Get off work, go home and finish packing. Drop our puppy off with MiL so she can puppysit. Drive over to Ramada Kissimmee Gateway for the night, we'll probably roll in around 10pm. It's 2.5 miles from AKL, so it'll be a short trip in the morning.

4/22 Hop over to Kidani early in the morning, they'll text when our room is ready. Take the bus to Epcot for F&G. Probably have an afternoon break in there back at the hotel if our room is ready. 8:30 dinner at La Hacienda de San Angel so that we can watch Illuminations from the windows (I'm actually super stoked for this, I've never had dinner during Epcot's fireworks)

4/23 Magic Kingdom. No dining reservations or anything because I'm expecting it'll be packed and we'll probably want to leave to go back to the hotel during the day. We're GOING to see the projection show on the castle and Wishes, though. This is not up for debate

4/24 Check out of Kidani by 11:00am. Bus over to Animal Kingdom. Lunch at Yak&Yeti @ 12:30. We'll probably stay until close riding Everest as much as we can. Then bus back to AKL Jambo for our farewell dinner at Jiko, 7:35. Pick up our car and head home.

Alright, so it's going to be an awesome trip. But I still can't help but feel a little deflated.

I hear you! Looks fun to me - we overlap one day at AKL but I'm at Jambo - the 22nd...

 

[Benihana]

Totally agree and great comments--- the way this has been handled has been awful --- and honestly, how come the "charge extra" events don't seem to have all of these problems and months of uncertainty?

Because they are not producing or providing anything for that "extra charge." They are merely charging money for experiences that already exist.

 

[Paigevon]

I am a bit confused. I was all the sudden able to score a 6:30 Tusker House on my AK day (5/16). Park hours are listed as closing at 6pm. Is it normal for reservations to be available a half hour after the park closes? Up until now the latest ones I have found are up to the park closing time...

I just checked my date and a 6:30 table for 6 was available! Yay! We'll be able to take advantage of the full park hours and then eat dinner. I'm happy about this at least. We'll be there 5/2!

On a slightly positive note, I was just able to score an 8:25 BOG breakfast for my new MK day Thank you SO much to the person who suggested the touringplans Reservation Finder. It worked like a charm within days. Too many pages to scroll through and find that post! I'm sure the sudden availability means there must be a Morning Magic event planned for that day, but oh well. I actually did want to try the breakfast at BOG and I suppose that might mean I will be able to get on some early rides for "free." I wonder if they will be able to distinguish early ADR guests from MM guests.

I think that was me! you're welcome!

I read somewhere the EMM guests will have stickers to differentiate them from other guests.... which sounds chaotic. My 4 year old always pulls off stickers and loses them and cries. :/ Maybe they'll make it link like unlimited fp for those three rides 7:45-10, or a card... that would make more sense.

 

[gwynne]

Because they are not producing or providing anything for that "extra charge." They are merely charging money for experiences that already exist.

Yup. They've figure a way to charge for air. How long 'till Shanghai is in the black?

 

[figmentfan423]

Oh and by the way I am walking as I read this thread. I have done 7 miles since I first heard the news lol!!!

Including a Leslie Sansone DVD I'm up to 12 miles and 2 yoga practices. If nothing else I'm going to be in great shape by August

 

[Paigevon]

Yup. They've figure a way to charge for air. How long 'till Shanghai is in the black?

--- Oops, wrong franchise.

 

[Benihana]

I just checked my date and a 6:30 table for 6 was available! Yay! We'll be able to take advantage of the full park hours and then eat dinner. I'm happy about this at least. We'll be there 5/2!


I think that was me! you're welcome!

I read somewhere the EMM guests will have stickers to differentiate them from other guests.... which sounds chaotic. My 4 year old always pulls off stickers and loses them and cries. :/ Maybe they'll make it link like unlimited fp for those three rides 7:45-10, or a card... that would make more sense.

Yes it was you! Thanks a bunch!!

Hmm... all the sudden availability for these late post-closing TH reservations cant help but get my wheels turning. I wonder if they are trying to put some people in the park around 8 in May for a super soft opening of ROL. One can hope!!

 

[dachsie]

Yeah .... I think once I saw Rhode was at AK and AKL I figured that this was going to get either a thumbs up or thumbs down and we'd finally have our answer. Can't help but think they should have started testing this long ago, it's not like the lake and structure under the water weren't ready for that. Oh well, maybe Disney has learned that since they rarely finish on original time frames .... don't get excited and DON'T POST an opening date until you have cleared all the hurdles and everything is on point. It surely wasn't worth the backlash .... enough of that already.

I feel in the dark. Who is Joe Rohde?

 

[ArielSRL]

I apologize to anyone who may have taken my post as offensive...I substituted symbols for swearing...silly me, thinking that was somehow a joke or less offensive. But apparently the filters look for that, so ... my bad.

My post was in response to the announcement of the early morning hours on Tuesdays and Saturdays starting the last week of April...which is when we will be there. I was venting my frustration...not only did they finally pull all hopes of ROL from us today, by starting this new "elite" special offer, they pretty well negated my diligently following THEIR rules of booking my BOG early reservation at day 180 from our arrival, to gain a small advantage of perhaps riding a couple of attractions before the crowds descended.

I was warned, and while not restricted from posting, a have a black mark against my DIS account for breaking their rules. Put this together with the ROL postponement, and the EARLY MORNING MAGIC, and I would say it has definitely been a less than Disney Day!!!

 

[tinkerhon]

Because they are not producing or providing anything for that "extra charge." They are merely charging money for experiences that already exist.

Exactly--- so for something new and exciting, and basically free ( sans lil extra for dining package) everyone that was planning for March or April gets screwed ?