Rumors of Light (ROL discussion thread)

[HappyGrape]

currently the schedule for November is 6 or AK. Do you think they will extend it? Sunset is between 6 and 7 so if this is set there won't be much of the night time entertainment at all

 

[AnnaKat]

currently the schedule for November is 6 or AK. Do you think they will extend it? Sunset is between 6 and 7 so if this is set there won't be much of the night time entertainment at all

I am wondering the same thing! If ROL is not ready for Nov., that's one thing.
But no nighttime AK entertainment /attractions @ all would be a real bummer!

 

[HappyGrape]

My favorite water park will be closed, my favorite ride will be closed I little bummed by it all

I hope they leave the park open so at least we could see the tree

 

[jlundeen]

Totally OT... and I know this could get me some hate on DIS, but even as Maelstrom fans we thought the Frozen ride was an improvement -- really liked it!

Hey, now see...on this great thread, we can all talk about our likes and dislikes, and no one is going to jump on you! I never was a fan of Maelstrom, but have no plans to do the Frozen ride...for us, that whole side of EPCOT is now just a walk through...but...that's just us. Viva la difference!

 

[HopperFan]

Totally OT... and I know this could get me some hate on DIS, but even as Maelstrom fans we thought the Frozen ride was an improvement -- really liked it!

We can stand together and I haven't seen FEA yet (two weeks).

Maelstrom was dated and boring and walk on, 90% of the riders skipped the movie at the end.
Then they announce it closing and FEA coming and all the Maelstrom fans suddenly were appearing and mourning.
I can say that because my DS has his Maelstrom shirt he wore his last ride to say goodbye.

Anna & Elsa in Epcot showed Disney that if you bring the Disney IPs in to Epcot, the park will be a must do for families.
Epcot is severe need of image changes that bring in guests that bring in dollars and take pressure off other parks.
There are two empty buildings in World Showcase that were to be rides, build them out with IPs.
There are empty lands, pick some countries that could also incorporate Disney.
Most of Future World is really Past World and time to realize by time you build a future it's dated.
Re-imagine Future World, it already is a shell of it's former self and making little connective sense.

I understand folks don't want change, don't want to let go what was ... but Epcot isn't even what Walt planned it to be on paper.
This is a business and Epcot is severely underutilized and monetized.
How sad it's become the "festival" park for eating and drinking .........
The travel industry in Norway plus has grown in leaps and bounds since Frozen, they are not complaining.
If the Disney IPs can pull in families to explore a small tidbit of a country, shop, eat and enjoy music/entertainment - why isn't that also a good thing?
Families being exposed to some other cultures on a tiny scale is good.
If Belle and Aurora cause your children to have an interest in France and where they are from, that is a good thing.

Been going since 1970, feel like I'm partially a Disney purist ..... Epcot can be so much more.
I believe Walt said the Disney parks would never be done.
Universal is probably going to start a 3rd park and they build with speed.
Disney better find a way to keep the dollars on property.
Epcot is a great place to get the most bang for their buck with change.

Okay ........ done blabbering ......... I support FEA even though I'm not a huge Frozen fan. Good movie. Great money maker.

SIDE NOTE: Went to Epcot with DS who loves Epcot so we didn't have to worry about others. He is 27, huge Epcot fan, never seen Canada movie, France movie and no memory of China movie. We did it all with about 20 of our closest friends (insert sarcasm the theaters were empty enough to feel like a private party). Those attractions are dead empty along with some others. Epcot needs major changes to avoid becoming a beautiful expensive mall and food court.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

We have basically always strolled World Showcase, and enjoy it that way. And we LOVE F&W! We would occasionally do Maelstrom and liked it, and have seen each of the country movies maybe a few times total in a ton of trips. With FEA we'll now occasionally use a FP for it on future trips. Not as much as we'll use one for Soarin, but we will.

I totally get why Disney put FEA there -- draws families. And as @HopperFan said the movie has drawn tourists to Norway and THEY aren't complaining!!

We're not "purists" -- if something is improved as an experience -- which we think FEA is over Maelstrom -- we're all for it! And I do think this is consistent with Walt's sentiment that the parks would never be completed.

 

[gometros]

Orlando Sentinel article out covering lots of stuff at WDW, including Rumors of Light.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/tourism/os-animal-kingdom-nighttime-problems-20160816-story.html

>>>>>>>>

Disney's Animal Kingdom nights get shorter as Rivers of Light faces delays
Sandra Pedicini Contact Reporter Orlando Sentinel

"We will continue to adjust our hours and will remain open after sunset to deliver those experiences for our guests," spokeswoman Andrea Finger said in an emailed statement.

The zoolike Walt Disney World theme park is expected to have extended hours again next year when it opens an entire land based on "Avatar." Rivers of Light, which Disney said will open before Avatar, could also trigger later closing times.

Still, "I don't know why they would trip up their momentum" by starting to roll back the later hours that were just recently introduced, said Rick Munarriz, a Motley Fool senior analyst who covers theme parks. "To me it doesn't make a lot of sense for them to take this step back."

Disney had originally planned to debut Rivers of Light in April. That didn't happen. The show also didn't make it for Memorial Day weekend, when Animal Kingdom introduced other after-dark attractions, including a Tree of Life light show and a nighttime version of Kilimanjaro Safaris.

With those, Animal Kingdom began staying open hours beyond its previous closing times that were generally between 5 and 8 p.m. It has been closing at 11 p.m. this summer.

Rivers of Light is a complex production, taking place on the water and featuring floating lanterns, lighting effects, live performers and music.Disney's website says only that Rivers of Light is "coming soon." Insiders say the project has been plagued with technical difficulties.

"It's a challenging, technical and aesthetic thing to work on," Joe Rohde, Disney's Imagineering portfolio creative executive, told the Orlando Sentinel in April. "It has many, many pieces that we're working to get it perfect."

Without anything to fill the new stadium constructed for Rivers of Light, Disney's Animal Kingdom in April announced a limited-time engagement called "The Jungle Book: Alive with Magic." That performance, which received mediocre reviews, will close Sept. 5.

In September, Animal Kingdom will begin shutting down at 9 p.m. Closing times will be as early as 7 p.m. in October and 6 p.m. in November, even during the Thanksgiving weekend.

Epcot's World Showcase, in contrast, won't shut down until 9 or 10 many nights in October and November during and after the park's food and wine festival.

Disney's Hollywood Studios, where many attractions have closed as the park undergoes a makeover, has similar hours as Animal Kingdom. In November, however, it sometimes will close an hour later.

As it gets darker earlier, the Tree of Life lighting and the nighttime safari tour don't have to be as late.

Dennis Speigel, president of International Theme Park Services, said attendance might be affecting Animal Kingdom's hours. Visitation at Orlando's theme parks has declined this year.

"We just heard the attendance was down, particularly in the evening, so ... they've just cut it back," Speigel said.

Robert Niles, editor of Theme Park Insider, said in an email "the fall operating hours suggest that Disney doesn't see some resurgence in attendance coming in the next few months. It was a slow summer, and it looks like it's going to be a slow fall."

Munarriz said during a recent evening visit to Animal Kingdom, "I didn't even need a FastPass. I could just show up and pick any ride I wanted."

Some fans have long dismissed Animal Kingdom as a half-day park. Disney wants to remedy that, partly with the recent nighttime events and the opening of a new upscale restaurant, Tiffins. The big new addition, though, comes next year when the Avatar area opens.

Experts also note it's easier for Disney to extend its planned hours than to cut them back.

"I think overall things are much more in flux at Animal Kingdom than you would normally expect for a very established theme park like this," Pacific Asset Management leisure analyst Bob Boyd said. "They're probably in the biggest test and adjust period the park has been in since they opened. There's just a lot of different changes the park is doing. ... I would imagine there's still a lot of flux around those hours."

Sorry about that. Posted before I said anything.

Thanks for posting this. It had popped up on my FB feed, but I've been having problems with it on my phone, so I had to clear cache. When I went back in, I couldn't find it.

 

[RachelTori]

I totally enjoyed Frozen Ever After and I'm probably one of about 5 people in this world who has not seen the movie!!

Is it worth standing in lines for hours - nah! But with a FastPass or short standby line (at park opening), it's worth riding!

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Is it worth standing in lines for hours - nah!

Agreed! However, I feel this way about EVERY ride!! At one point today the line for Soarin was 160min. Please. It's a great ride, but there is NO WAY!! We had a FP for it, and even that took 30min at that time. Must say that I do quite like the new version... and the various scents in a number of scenes (grass, flowers, etc).

 

[RachelTori]

Agreed! However, I feel this way about EVERY ride!! At one point today the line for Soarin was 160min. Please. It's a great ride, but there is NO WAY!! We had a FP for it, and even that took 30min at that time. Must say that I do quite like the new version... and the various scents in a number of scenes (grass, flowers, etc).

The scents are fabulous! My daughter worked at Soarin' (she loved working there!) before the refurbishment. She works in Adventureland at MK currently. We both agree the new film is great, but Soarin' over California will always hold a special place in our hearts!

I know at times even the FastPass line will back up. One thing we've noticed is that load time (the time you enter the theater until the ride starts) has gotten longer.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

One thing we've noticed is that load time (the time you enter the theater until the ride starts) has gotten longer.

We noticed this as well!

 

[HopperFan]

Page 2? - I think not.

So I'm going soon, looking forward to the tree lighting. I want those Lotus things. Has anyone bought and are they easy to find?

Bucket and Mugs

 

[disneymath]

Don't recall seeing them on our trip a few weeks back, but wasn't actively looking for them either. Forgot how cute the lantern stein looks ... would have been tempted to buy one had I seen one!

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Page 2? - I think not.

So I'm going soon, looking forward to the tree lighting. I want those Lotus things. Has anyone bought and are they easy to find?

Bucket and Mugs

I've seen them in a couple of spots as recently as 2 days ago. Can't recall exactly where... we're going back to AK tomorrow and I'll make note.

 

[dachsie]

Hey all. Been a couple of weeks since Ive checked in. Really stressful week - sure wish I was going to Disney. My brother is in Baton Rouge and I couldn't get ahold of him for days. He is in a shelter and ok. But that period of unknown was tough. Anyway, please pray for the folks in Louisiana. Its going to take a long while to get things going

 

[HopperFan]

Hey all. Been a couple of weeks since Ive checked in. Really stressful week - sure wish I was going to Disney. My brother is in Baton Rouge and I couldn't get ahold of him for days. He is in a shelter and ok. But that period of unknown was tough. Anyway, please pray for the folks in Louisiana. Its going to take a long while to get things going

Glad you were able to touch base. So sad. After Katrina so many folks moved to our area, kids were friends with many, was so hard for them to be uprooted like that. All positive thoughts and warm fuzzies for everyone there.

 

[jlundeen]

Hey all. Been a couple of weeks since Ive checked in. Really stressful week - sure wish I was going to Disney. My brother is in Baton Rouge and I couldn't get ahold of him for days. He is in a shelter and ok. But that period of unknown was tough. Anyway, please pray for the folks in Louisiana. Its going to take a long while to get things going

Glad you were able to connect with him...such a tragic and sad situation. Hugs to you and your family!

 

[LBlovesM&WDW]

It's just so awful @dachsie--positive thoughts and prayers sent.

 

[ArielSRL]

Hey all. Been a couple of weeks since Ive checked in. Really stressful week - sure wish I was going to Disney. My brother is in Baton Rouge and I couldn't get ahold of him for days. He is in a shelter and ok. But that period of unknown was tough. Anyway, please pray for the folks in Louisiana. Its going to take a long while to get things going

Glad he is ok. My DH is from Louisiana and his extended family is still there. They had to abandon their houses for days. And there is a lot of damage. But they are all safe, thank goodness.

 

[yulilin3]

We have basically always strolled World Showcase, and enjoy it that way. And we LOVE F&W! We would occasionally do Maelstrom and liked it, and have seen each of the country movies maybe a few times total in a ton of trips. With FEA we'll now occasionally use a FP for it on future trips. Not as much as we'll use one for Soarin, but we will.

I totally get why Disney put FEA there -- draws families. And as @HopperFan said the movie has drawn tourists to Norway and THEY aren't complaining!!

We're not "purists" -- if something is improved as an experience -- which we think FEA is over Maelstrom -- we're all for it! And I do think this is consistent with Walt's sentiment that the parks would never be completed.

Just decided to pop in here and read your post...They are complaining
http://www.news.com.au/travel/world...n/news-story/5c0cf9cc3dfa5477dc3541c0c38d90b2