SoftOpenings...How do these work? Let's walk this through...

[Scott2tune]

Okay- my DD12 and myself are fortunate enough to go to WDW 9/27 - 10/4 followed by the DC-Wonder.

Now I'm all excited at the prospect of possibly seeing Mickey's Philharmonic and possibly the new fireworks show "Wishes" in MK.

When a softopening begins (like Mission Space) - does it continue right into the "actual opening"? Or is it on-off-on as needed.

RE: the Wishes show- how exactly do they "practice" and test a fireworks show anyway?

Interested to hear your answers.

FYI my DD12 has requested I stop telling her how many days are left- not because she is so excited but because she is more stressed missing school.
Shouldn't she get her priorities straight?! (kidding of course- she'll be fine)-
Any other parents out there a bit more (okay a lot more) excited then their kids to experience DW?

 

[Michelemouse]

A Soft Opening occurs for a non-specific time period before the official opening date. The attraction is not guaranteed to be opened during regular park operating hours and it can often be hit or miss. I believe that Mission Space has been staying open for long periods of time, if not all day, lately.

As for the fireworks shows...they are tested in the middle of the night, at least an hour or so after park closing. When I did the College Program at the Studios in 1990 they were testing Sorcery in the Sky. Our supervisors would let us go out in the street to watch the show and then come in and continue closing up.

 

[Pammy_from_WI]

Well I can tell you about what they did for the change over for Illuminations. We were down there for close to 3 weeks and we were staying at the CBR. About a week into the trip, maybe a week before the actual change I started hearing loud noises about 3 or 4am. At first I thought it was thunder, but when I went to look it was actually the Illuminations show.

So every night about the same time I'd wander out to the parking lot at the CBR and caught the music and some of the higher fireworks. Then on Oct. 1st, I think it was, they did the change over.

I was neat seeing the last showing of the old fireworks show and then going the next night for the first showing of the new one. They may have been testing prior to that, but I can't say for sure.

We're going the first week and a half of Oct. and I'm really hoping to catch the new Wishes one. I'm not counting on it so I'm not disappointed, but I've got all my fingers and toes crossed that we'll get lucky!!!

Pam

 

[jimmiej]

Any other parents out there a bit more (okay a lot more) excited then their kids to experience DW?

Absolutely!!! My family gets sick of me talking about our trip as it approaches, LOL.