Rumors of Light (ROL discussion thread)

I just noted that we can now pre-order our BOG lunch. Is there any advantage to doing that? I'm afraid that when I order something now for the kids, they will decide on something entirely different when our actual visit comes around.....

I am also very undecided if I should look for a TH breakfast for us again. This whole ROL thing has left sort of a sour taste. We have the F! dining package set up for dinner at H&V so they have a character dinner there, even with the same characters. And I rather keep the F! dining package now that ROL isn't hapenning. Hmm..... How does the Harambe Market food compare to TH in "exoticness". That was one of the reasons why we went to TH as well.
Pre-ordering is the way to go. Otherwise you're in a long line. Or so I've heard. But you can wait to pre-order til the day before. Maybe even that morning, if you have a lunch ressie. We'll probably do it the day before.

But I'm also the weirdo who pretty much knows what I'm ordering at every Disney meal for our June trip already.
 
I feel in the dark. Who is Joe Rohde?

- The father of the Animal Kingdom
- One of Disney's TOP Imagineers
- Creative beyond your imagination
- Interesting, eccentric, artistic, visionary
- Never on budget but that comes from "art on the brain"
- Never on time but he's an artist, perfectionist
- Probably not the best of managers but then artists don't manage nor can be managed

Google him, he really is an interesting person but aggravates many for his "overruns" such as Avatarland.
He is in LOTS of Disney videos ... guy with all the earrings. And that is an interesting story too.

If you do twitter or Instagram you want to follow him.
His photos from his non-stop traveling are beautiful and he gives stories with them.
Honestly he alone is worth signing up for Instagram.
SO he posted pictures from AK and AKL and Jikos so we knew where he was.

rho695343LARGE.jpg
 

Ok, going to ask one more time before i switch all my ADRs around arrrrgh

Is there a snowball's chance RoL will be operating (soft opening even) the week of May 8th?

So I admittedly don't know a ton of Disney's "inner workings", and I really don't care to be honest.

But I was just wondering, could Staggs announced resignation yesterday and today's ROL news have any correlation? Just seems like very coincidental timing. Did Staggs have any part in ROL?

he was being groomed to succeed Iger, believe on his way up was in charge of resorts & parks.

Big River Grille does not take reservations, at least on the Disney site. Maybe the Open Table option as someone else mentioned. Otherwise, its a walk-up place. Nice for a lunch when you aren't quite sure what time you will be arriving on the first day....

have tried a few times when ESPN's line was too long. Sadly, just not our 'thing'

I just noted that we can now pre-order our BOG lunch. Is there any advantage to doing that? I'm afraid that when I order something now for the kids, they will decide on something entirely different when our actual visit comes around.....

I am also very undecided if I should look for a TH breakfast for us again. This whole ROL thing has left sort of a sour taste. We have the F! dining package set up for dinner at H&V so they have a character dinner there, even with the same characters. And I rather keep the F! dining package now that ROL isn't hapenning. Hmm..... How does the Harambe Market food compare to TH in "exoticness". That was one of the reasons why we went to TH as well.

def pre-order! the times i've forgotten to do so, was able to pull out iphone while standing in the main line and hop over:)

Same for me. After going multiple times a year for almost 20 years this is the one trip where I am not excited about planning. With decreased park hours(I know those might change), delayed openings (ROL & AK nighttime, FEA, Soarin'), no SWW, and all the new paid for events they are throwing out there to mess up our plans, it is just discouraging.

Since we go so often we are a little more flexible, but we still like to have a plan. I know we will have a great time and I am excited about going but trying to plan with all the changes going on is very hard.

If I hadn't tagged the trip onto a cruise, would've cancelled once SWW was cancelled. Got excited re RoL rolling out, will still have a great time there but do feel for those who won't be able to juggle their schedules to return soon to see it when it finally does roll out.
View attachment 160601 :offtopic:
Pulled this from a FB site....anyone heard any rumors about the lights coming back? The location is "Muppets Courtyard" so must be a new link?

Figured we needed a new rumor to chase now :)

works for me!!! So glad I was able to see it 'for the last time' in November, would love to see it come back.

I haven't read through the comments today but has anyone seen this: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/e...s/osborne-family-spectacle-of-dancing-lights/

I'll be back in a bit to catch up. Just saw this and wanted to post.

hmmm that is very interesting. Not sure how the muppets courtyard would handle the throngs unless it is a FP or an add-on extra fee event.

He was one of the lead designers of AK. Worked (works?) in Imagineering.

joe rhode is quite the legend in his own right. EVP worked on parks & resorts. there's an interesting documentary re the making of AK wherein he is featured.
 
:offtopic: I can't find where to ask a quick ticket Q, so if anyone can help I'd really appreciate it. I have 10 day hoppers (from Undercover Tourist) I purchased a couple of years ago in my MDE. I want to upgrade them to Platinum Passes when we arrive. Do I take the cost of a current Platinum Pass and subtract the current cost of 10 day hoppers to get what I owe? Do I have to use the hoppers once before upgrading, or is this not actually true?
Somebody probably already answered but you must use them one time to get the current value of the tickets you have.
 
/
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.
The EMM events are Tuesdays and Saturdays if that helps. They will have a sticker to distinguish them and pre-park ADR people will not be allowed to ride before 9. But I'd still think you'd get a leg up on rope droppers since you'd be ahead of them in line...
 
Pre-ordering is the way to go. Otherwise you're in a long line. Or so I've heard. But you can wait to pre-order til the day before. Maybe even that morning, if you have a lunch ressie. We'll probably do it the day before.

But I'm also the weirdo who pretty much knows what I'm ordering at every Disney meal for our June trip already.
I even changed an order once while waiting to check in & it was correct when we got inside!
 
- The father of the Animal Kingdom
- One of Disney's TOP Imagineers
- Creative beyond your imagination
- Interesting, eccentric, artistic, visionary
- Never on budget but that comes from "art on the brain"
- Never on time but he's an artist, perfectionist
- Probably not the best of managers but then artists don't manage nor can be managed

Google him, he really is an interesting person but aggravates many for his "overruns" such as Avatarland.
He is in LOTS of Disney videos ... guy with all the earrings. And that is an interesting story too.

If you do twitter or Instagram you want to follow him.
His photos from his non-stop traveling are beautiful and he gives stories with them.
Honestly he alone is worth signing up for Instagram.
SO he posted pictures from AK and AKL and Jikos so we knew where he was.

rho695343LARGE.jpg
Sounds like a fascinating man! Going to look for his instagram.
 
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!!
Hours might still change for May with or without ROL. Looking back at the hours for the last couple of years, May hours have ranged from closing at 6 pm, 7 pm or 8 pm depending on the day of the week (and no rhyme or reason to it either). I think we just need to wait for them to HOPEFULLY update them.
 

Attachments

  • image.png
    image.png
    295.2 KB · Views: 12
Well another kick in the pants from Disney for our April trip besides ROL not opening: https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...e-and-more-during-disney-early-morning-magic/
We have a pre-rope drop ADR breakfast at BOG. I'm glad I have one on the 24th before it starts. I'm wondering how this will affect the existing prerope drop ADRs already booked? We have another on the 28th.
It won't affect your reservation at all. But you will likely not get early access to any of the rides. By the time the park opens to regular guests, the EMM people should be moving on from those attractions, so shouldn't affect RD wait times (at least at SDMT, PPF or Pooh).
 
Pre-ordering is the way to go. Otherwise you're in a long line. Or so I've heard. But you can wait to pre-order til the day before. Maybe even that morning, if you have a lunch ressie. We'll probably do it the day before.

But I'm also the weirdo who pretty much knows what I'm ordering at every Disney meal for our June trip already.

Another vote for pre-ordering. When we were there in June we pre-ordered for our 8:00 AM ADR during the bus ride over (since DD and nieces couldn't decide in advance). No line to check in, grabbed a table in the West Wing, and had our food (which was all correct with what we ordered) within 10 min of sitting down:yay:

Now, if only everything at Disney worked that efficiently:D
 














Save Up to 30% on Rooms at Walt Disney World!

Save up to 30% on rooms at select Disney Resorts Collection hotels when you stay 5 consecutive nights or longer in late summer and early fall. Plus, enjoy other savings for shorter stays.This offer is valid for stays most nights from August 1 to October 11, 2025.
CLICK HERE







New Posts







DIS Facebook DIS youtube DIS Instagram DIS Pinterest

Back
Top