Rumors of Light (ROL discussion thread)

[Mambo Junkie]

Why do you suppose Disney's Morning Magic hours are every Tuesday in May except May 10th? Just curious.

 

[AnnaKat]

AK is our favorite park, too! Oh, and the AK parade was my favorite. It puzzles me that there have been so many CM cuts--WHY we assume they eliminated FP+ for Wishes, etc. SO having 3 ROL shows will obviously extends AK hours--to 11pm, I've read here.
SO a lot of $$$$ will need to be spent on adding CM & CM hours to AK.
NOW folks have lamented about no more FP+ for Wishes, & I totally understand. YET the same folks might say WHY have AK open til 11pm each night, but NEVER ANY FP+ for Wishes? These SAME folks could say offering ROL 3-4 nights PER WEEK, & bringing back CM to man the Wishes FP+ area would be more desirable.
ALSO, Disney is waiting until ROL is ready before offering the nighttime safari & the Tree of Life special lighting. These things make me believe that Disney MAY debut the AK nighttime offerings as an AK Nighttime On-the-Wild Side Party Event, offered 3-4 times per week. Like for $149, including ice cream & soda. A non-refundable event, requiring a wristband, though available same day of, if not sold out. For the $149, guests would take their chances on seating for any if the 3 ROL shows.
For the price of a dining pkg --breakfast, lunch, or dinner--@ Tusker House, guests have reserved seating section @ one of the shows(guest choses @ time of booking).
AK normally closes @ 5. SO adding 6 hours each night to be open until 11 is HUGE, WHEN CMs are being cutback everywhere.
Disney KNOWS guests will pay for the new nighttime entertainment/rides. AS a NEW Party Non-Refundable Event, Disney makes guests PAY for specifically them. NO using ANY APs, multiple-days Tix, never expiring park hoppers that you may have. EVERY guest must pay ANEW for the ROL, etc.
It wouldn't surprise me @ all, IF the bean counters already have this in the works.
I had posted about Disney offering one FP+ (paper) for BOG breakfast(to 7DMR or A & E M & G), AND THEN they could easily triple the BOG breakfast price. THEN I read that they are offering exclusive access to 3 FL rides, for a $69 continental breakfast.
The EHM Magic in FL might NOT sell, IF folks employ other ways to ride 7DMR & PP, such as by booking FP+, booking PPO ADR, or showing up for RD.
But IF Disney limits availability of new nighttime experiences @ AK to a Party Event, THEN Disney gets additional revenues beyond
the daytime AK park attendance through Tix(incl park hoppers ) & gift shop purchases.

 

[rteetz]

Why do you suppose Disney's Morning Magic hours are every Tuesday in May except May 10th? Just curious.

Probably an operational reason. Could be they don't have the CMs for that day or something who knows.

 

[TheFloatingBear]

We're just missing the Early Morning Hootenanny...does make MK mornings complicated between those and Extra Magic...

For those of you scoring at home...I was going to get it together today, perhaps pare away some things, tighten up the itinerary... and yet somehow I just seemed to keep adding. It's really a mess!

I think I need an intervention, lol!

 

[Marlyn]

Wow...this thread is flying along faster now that we really have nothing to talk about lol. I went into work for a few hours and I'm lost. I see the new morning hours fiasco is a concern. I agree! I hope this doesn't extend into July. Between EMH and these new paid EMH events, it seriously limits attractive MK days. It's like the park will be crowded almost every day. Why do we think they are implementing this anyhow? Is all about money? Crowd control?
I notice MK hours for July only have the park open until 10:00. That was not the case in August 2014. I remember they had MSEP at 9:00 and 11:00 with wishes at 10:00...I am sure park was opened until 12:00. Makes me wonder why the 10:00 closure in one of the busiest months of the year. (I know, hours can change etc....)

Found out I'm attending a conference in the Grand Floridian on July 14th. RoL will be going by then, right?

It better be...my trip starts the 12th!!

What on earth..? Aren't we supposedly within 2 weeks of previews? I am confused and yet really excited for whatever must be this complicated to pull off..!

Edited to add: sorry if I missed something - I was out with a nasty illness Friday-now and trying to catch up!

Hope you feel better!! I see others updated you, you did miss lots....people are currently in the Various stages of grief

I loved the Jammin' Jungle parade too! I admit to still watching it occasionally on youtube.

Me too!

Me Three!!! I miss that parade. Wish they would get another one!!

 

[Three cats]

I have to say, I've been looking in on this thread every morning to see if anything "good" had happened
overnight...Fastpasses, dining packages, ANYTHING...lol.
I was pretty bummed out this morning when I went to look and remembered that there wouldn't be any new developments!

 

[WDWRook]

Probably an operational reason. Could be they don't have the CMs for that day or something who knows.

That day already has AM EMH.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

I find myself looking at my itinerary every day to see if it has changed. I have (in my mind) the ADRs, fps, plans that work perfectly for my family (minus ROL) and I am on pins and needles that something will happen to ruin them. Hoping A&E are still at MK, EMH doesn't change, no more paid morning or evening hours are offered, etc.
I have never been to F&G and was so excited to go to WDW in May with FEA opening, Nurses Day, (although they don't celebrate Nurses Day it will still be cool to be there) - my first May trip - but I can say I will NEVER, EVER plan another May trip. Depending on what happens in September I may NEVER EVER go in September again. Trying to get a later BOG or CRT or even a F! package has been a nightmare so we'll see what happens. It would not break my heart if they don't offer FD either. I enjoyed many years of fairly sparse crowds and FD has changed all that. A walk in at a sit down restaurant is almost non existent, except at Epcot. But I digress...

 

[Mambo Junkie]

That day already has AM EMH.

That shouldn't stop them. They can just change it up. They don't care when it comes to $$$$$

 

[Princesses and Pirates]

We have never gone to the parks on our first day. Looks like flights may get us in around noon. Debating if it's worth the extra money (7 adult tickets as no one is under 10 any longer) to go to the parks the first day. Flights leave early - around 6 in the morning and we currently have Ohana booked for dinner at 8. But, MK is open late this day. Unless they change that....who knows..... I would like to hear from the first day park people. Is it too exhausting? We already have 7 days planned for the parks. Is 7 1/2 too many.....I haven't been able to make up my mind and I'm running out of time to do so. Thanks!

 

[capegirl]

Wow...this thread is flying along faster now that we really have nothing to talk about lol. I went into work for a few hours and I'm lost. I see the new morning hours fiasco is a concern. I agree! I hope this doesn't extend into July. Between EMH and these new paid EMH events, it seriously limits attractive MK days. It's like the park will be crowded almost every day. Why do we think they are implementing this anyhow? Is all about money? Crowd control?
I notice MK hours for July only have the park open until 10:00. That was not the case in August 2014. I remember they had MSEP at 9:00 and 11:00 with wishes at 10:00...I am sure park was opened until 12:00. Makes me wonder why the 10:00 closure in one of the busiest months of the year. (I know, hours can change etc....)

I am getting a bit concerned for July too. The EMM event calendar only goes as far as June. I'm thinking EMM will be extended into the summer if it is successful, so now we have to keep an eye out for July updates. There was even another thread about summer water park hours; no more 9:00 am openings on any day for July and August, the busiest of months. Yes, it is a fiasco. It has been so frustrating for the April/ May people, and this could happen to us summer folks as well.

 

[Paigevon]

We have never gone to the parks on our first day. Looks like flights may get us in around noon. Debating if it's worth the extra money (7 adult tickets as no one is under 10 any longer) to go to the parks the first day. Flights leave early - around 6 in the morning and we currently have Ohana booked for dinner at 8. But, MK is open late this day. Unless they change that....who knows..... I would like to hear from the first day park people. Is it too exhausting? We already have 7 days planned for the parks. Is 7 1/2 too many.....I haven't been able to make up my mind and I'm running out of time to do so. Thanks!

How much would another day for 7 adult tickets be? When are you arriving? Do you have a full day planned the next day?

 

[TheFloatingBear]

I have to say, I've been looking in on this thread every morning to see if anything "good" had happened
overnight...Fastpasses, dining packages, ANYTHING...lol.
I was pretty bummed out this morning when I went to look and remembered that there wouldn't be any new developments!

Me too!

 

[Princesses and Pirates]

How much would another day for 7 adult tickets be? When are you arriving? Do you have a full day planned the next day?

The extra cost is 70.00 because we do plan on getting park hoppers. Arriving on a Wednesday in August around noon for flight so probably at resort by one.....I feel I need to decide so I can get the tickets and plan the FP's. Hoped to go to HS early the next morning because I have two that would like to do Jedi training, if that's still offered.

 

[Marlyn]

I am getting a bit concerned for July too. The EMM event calendar only goes as far as June. I'm thinking EMM will be extended into the summer if it is successful, so now we have to keep an eye out for July updates. There was even another thread about summer water park hours; no more 9:00 am openings on any day for July and August, the busiest of months. Yes, it is a fiasco. It has been so frustrating for the April/ May people, and this could happen to us summer folks as well.

I think it will happen...I'm sure there will be some changes made to times, shows, etc. In August 2014 they changed the MK EMH hours last minute and screwed up my plans

 

[dachsie]

We have never gone to the parks on our first day. Looks like flights may get us in around noon. Debating if it's worth the extra money (7 adult tickets as no one is under 10 any longer) to go to the parks the first day. Flights leave early - around 6 in the morning and we currently have Ohana booked for dinner at 8. But, MK is open late this day. Unless they change that....who knows..... I would like to hear from the first day park people. Is it too exhausting? We already have 7 days planned for the parks. Is 7 1/2 too many.....I haven't been able to make up my mind and I'm running out of time to do so. Thanks!

I would see when you get there and then how you feel. You can add the day when you get there

 

[DisMomJr]

I keep adding to our plans and we aren't going until the end of May. My itinerary may be ridiculous by then. I blame too much good advice from this thread.

 

[marchingstar]

The extra cost is 70.00 because we do plan on getting park hoppers. Arriving on a Wednesday in August around noon for flight so probably at resort by one.....I feel I need to decide so I can get the tickets and plan the FP's. Hoped to go to HS early the next morning because I have two that would like to do Jedi training, if that's still offered.

So 10 bucks per person? I would definitely add an extra day to your tickets if that's what you mean. Even if you get to the resort at 1, take a nap and then head to the park around 4 or so, you'll still get a solid 6-8 hours in.

 

[dachsie]

I keep adding to our plans and we aren't going until the end of May. My itinerary may be ridiculous by then. I blame too much good advice from this thread.

I hear you! I keep adding things too. I am trying to stop myself from making another ADR.

 

[TheFloatingBear]

We have never gone to the parks on our first day. Looks like flights may get us in around noon. Debating if it's worth the extra money (7 adult tickets as no one is under 10 any longer) to go to the parks the first day. Flights leave early - around 6 in the morning and we currently have Ohana booked for dinner at 8. But, MK is open late this day. Unless they change that....who knows..... I would like to hear from the first day park people. Is it too exhausting? We already have 7 days planned for the parks. Is 7 1/2 too many.....I haven't been able to make up my mind and I'm running out of time to do so. Thanks!

We are first day park people - the Castle calls and we must go. However, we usually eat dinner in MK, so once we get there, we're there for the rest of the evening. With 7 of you, I think it would be around $70 altogether (looking on MDE it looks like about $10/ticket at that point to add on). But as @dachsie said, you can also wait and see how you feel...Hanging out by the pool is fun too!