The planning process for May 2016 trip

[horse11]

Going back to WDW in May 2016 and trying to catch up on changes, construction, and important things I need to know while planning.
1st) will the hub construction at MK be completed then?
2nd) how bad is construction in DD? We would like to grab lunch at T Rex before heading to DHS but if construction is an eye sore or congested then we may change our plans.
3rd) will there be a SWW at DHS in May/June 2016?
4th) is the Lion King show now back to playing at AK?
5th) how bad is the over all construction at DHS and AK? Is it an eye sore or had Disney done a good job to keep the atmosphere untouched?

Our last trip was in May 2014 is there anything else that we may need to know that could possibly affect our trip in May 2016?

 

[soniam]

We are planning a trip for early June 2016, so pretty similar situation.

1st) will the hub construction at MK be completed then?
Everything points to it being done by this Fall.

2nd) how bad is construction in DD? We would like to grab lunch at T Rex before heading to DHS but if construction is an eye sore or congested then we may change our plans.
I would think a lot, but not all, will be done by then. I don't remember when the second parking garage is supposed to be done. The first one is done and open. I think the town center/springs part is the one that requires the most work still. I would check back later in the year or go look in the rumors forum. I think @rteetz had some thoughts on when stuff would be done.

3rd) will there be a SWW at DHS in May/June 2016?
We still haven't heard. @yulilin3, who runs the SWW thread, thinks there will be one, but nothing is concrete yet.

4th) is the Lion King show now back to playing at AK?
Yes, it's in the new theater.

5th) how bad is the over all construction at DHS and AK? Is it an eye sore or had Disney done a good job to keep the atmosphere untouched?
I felt in March, that the walls at AK were pretty bad. I would think things would be a little further along, especially the River of Lights area and maybe the new restaurant next to Pizzafari. I can't remember if the gift shops are done or not. Pandora will still not be done. It was still worth it for us to go, especially if the new river show starts up in the Spring like people think it will.

DHS had very few if any visible construction in March. However, most things hadn't started yet. Disney says construction will start in 2017, so there may or may not be any walls up. The Season of the Force stuff may be going on, Star Tours will have it's new scenes, and the Launch Bay will be there. I can't remember when the new track at TSMM opens, maybe by then. If you want to keep an eye on the park, @yulilin3 has started a blog, in which she will document the changes at the park. She lives in Orlando and gets there almost every weekend. Honestly though, DHS is really anyone's guess.

http://parksintransition.weebly.com/

 

[rteetz]

Going back to WDW in May 2016 and trying to catch up on changes, construction, and important things I need to know while planning.
1st) will the hub construction at MK be completed then?
2nd) how bad is construction in DD? We would like to grab lunch at T Rex before heading to DHS but if construction is an eye sore or congested then we may change our plans.
3rd) will there be a SWW at DHS in May/June 2016?
4th) is the Lion King show now back to playing at AK?
5th) how bad is the over all construction at DHS and AK? Is it an eye sore or had Disney done a good job to keep the atmosphere untouched?

Our last trip was in May 2014 is there anything else that we may need to know that could possibly affect our trip in May 2016?

1. Permits expire in November so it would have to be done by then. It will likely be done in September of this year. You'll have no affects of hub construction in 2016 because it will be done this year.

2. DTD is fine for the most part. It was worse there are still a lot of walls but it should be even better by 2016. The name change to Disney springs is supposed to happen in October. The vast majority of the landing section of Disney springs will be done by the end of this year. Town center construction is out of the guests way.

3. Unknown at this time. They will have the season of the force starting in early 2016 but we don't know if they will also do SWW on top of that.

4. Yes Festival of the Lion King is up and running in Africa at AK and has been for for some time.

5. DHS construction hasn't even started yet. AK most of the in park work will be done by May 2016. Avatar is out of the way and shouldn't effect your planning.

 

[kappyfamily]

I too am thinking about a May 2016 visit. I went in January of this year and was shocked at the amount of construction and vowed to wait at least a year until I go back. AK at that time was one giant wall everywhere. Progress has to happen, which is exciting, but I was just super stoked. Glad to hear a chunk of it will be done by May!

 

[Lucius Best]

5th) how bad is the over all construction at DHS and AK? Is it an eye sore or had Disney done a good job to keep the atmosphere untouched?

On our trip in April, we were surprised by the amount of daytime construction at AK. Avatar construction wasn't a problem, could hear it while eating outside at Pizzafari, but no biggie. However they also had walls up around the entire lake in front of Everest for Rivers of Light show, and construction there was in full swing, loud and annoying, all day long. It was very un-Disney-like. I think they say Rivers of Light is supposed to open "spring 2016", so it might be open when you are there.

 

[horse11]

1. Permits expire in November so it would have to be done by then. It will likely be done in September of this year. You'll have no affects of hub construction in 2016 because it will be done this year.

2. DTD is fine for the most part. It was worse there are still a lot of walls but it should be even better by 2016. The name change to Disney springs is supposed to happen in October. The vast majority of the landing section of Disney springs will be done by the end of this year. Town center construction is out of the guests way.

3. Unknown at this time. They will have the season of the force starting in early 2016 but we don't know if they will also do SWW on top of that.

4. Yes Festival of the Lion King is up and running in Africa at AK and has been for for some time.

5. DHS construction hasn't even started yet. AK most of the in park work will be done by May 2016. Avatar is out of the way and shouldn't effect your planning.

Thanks for all the info!!! Sounds like May should be fine

 

[horse11]

On our trip in April, we were surprised by the amount of daytime construction at AK. Avatar construction wasn't a problem, could hear it while eating outside at Pizzafari, but no biggie. However they also had walls up around the entire lake in front of Everest for Rivers of Light show, and construction there was in full swing, loud and annoying, all day long. It was very un-Disney-like. I think they say Rivers of Light is supposed to open "spring 2016", so it might be open when you are there.

Cool!!! That would be great if Rivers of light show would be open!!!