News Round Up 2016

Fantasia79 said:

got me thinking, at Disneyland Paris, is there a Hall of Louis?

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I think they, wisely, skip it completely. In fact I don't think there's a Liberty Square at all in Paris.

Crazy at the parks today.

One thing we've noticed is that every ride is operating below capacity and there are trainees everywhere (food stands, rides, shops). It's clear there is not enough staff. I guess that's what happens when you staff seasonally but try to keep your park full year round.

Lots of technical glitches - Indys ball didn't work, Mickey and Minnie didn't lift in Dream along, a lot of the fastpass scanners are down and covered.

for some reason the CPers showed up late this year and many of them are just being trained so thats why you see alot of trainees.

adam.adbe said:

The 'unscheduled moments' thing wont last IMHO. People will grumble that they missed out.

I'm excited by the talk of extra streetmosphere in the evenings though.

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I would be surprised if the unscheduled moments were anything but scene changes, the tree will most likely be lit at all times, just with different scenes. Probably no different than staring at the castle waiting for it to turn purple.

rteetz said:

Well this restaurant hasn't been doing as well as some have hoped.

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They should have opened it up to beer and wine like they did at BOG. I was actually surprised that they didn't do so. (Referencing Skipper Canteen)

luisov said:

That's crazy. As someone who has visited both versions of the park, I'm really happy to see how much this park has evolved in such a short amount of time. True, DCA 1.0 had many flaws and represented Disney at its worst, but now I can confidently say it is one of the best Disney theme parks out there. It has become a worthy successor to the gem that is Disneyland park right next door. Still has some work to do here and there, but overall it's a pretty solid gate.

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I totally agree. Before the upgrades at DCA I spent little time there. Now I view it in much the same way as I do Epcot. It's not as crowded as Disneyland and has quite a few places to chill out and relax.

cmash95 said:

for some reason the CPers showed up late this year and many of them are just being trained so thats why you see alot of trainees.

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CP's usually arrive through the second to third week of February. There shouldn't be another incoming wave until April/May now.

rteetz said:

News

No more churros or jalapeño pretzels at animal kingdom

http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2016/02/menu-updates-at-disneys-animal-kingdom.html

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Bummer. One of the few snacks I eat at DAK. Besides Safari Ale

Sweettears said:

They should have opened it up to beer and wine like they did at BOG. I was actually surprised that they didn't do so. (Referencing Skipper Canteen)

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They're not gonna do That...I don't think they'll open up mk to full alcohol...and that's moving farther down a slippery slope.

This use of drones was mentioned in a previous post, but here is a link to the You Tube video,

circus4u said:

This use of drones was mentioned in a previous post, but here is a link to the You Tube video,

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This video has been mentioned in other threads regarding the drones and may have been shown here before. It's a good example but I don't think they are used here how Disney would necessarily use them.

News/Photo update

Future World update. According to this the circle of life video won't change when it comes back.

http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2016/02/epcot-photo-update-quick-look-around.html

Another round of menu trimming is coming, a few that I know about (there are more): Columbia Harbor house is losing the seafood Mac n Cheese, one or two items at Cosmic Rays are going away (not sure which), Churros and Jalapeno pretzels are gone in Animal Kingdom. Sleepy Hollow's Spicy Chicken Waffle Sandwich is gone. There are others as well at all parks. Some have happened or are about to happen.

rteetz said:

News/Photo update

Future World update. According to this the circle of life video won't change when it comes back.

http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2016/02/epcot-photo-update-quick-look-around.html

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That's a bummer.

I didn't realize how empty innovations was now. Why not still have tours of the house of the future?

dlavender said:

That's a bummer.

I didn't realize how empty innovations was now. Why not still have tours of the house of the future?

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Let's just check the ticker:

So they've more or less given up on innoventions

They closed a pavilion a decade ago...stripped it...and use it to sell merchandise or hold private events for accounting interns or weasel pharma

Let imagination basically decay...but hey, might as well put a DVC lounge in there, right?

And started a poor taste conversion of showcase space with the "hurry up and wait" method in Norway. Still waiting for the Bibbidi conversion there.

But hey...plenty of f&w kiosks...and of course an extra soarin theater !

I mean...I'll admit that I don't intentionally try to be all optimistic with happy sauce...but this is a REALLY bad tale of the tape.

soniam said:

It's only ok if they boo and cheer the same as me

I do think it's a little disrespectful, even though I don't like some of the presidents either. However, I view it more as a first amendment right, which makes me proud and thankful that we live in a country where an ex-leader can be booed in public without the booer being beheaded.

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I always boo George Washington.

atricks said:

Another round of menu trimming is coming, a few that I know about (there are more): Columbia Harbor house is losing the seafood Mac n Cheese, one or two items at Cosmic Rays are going away (not sure which), Churros and Jalapeno pretzels are gone in Animal Kingdom. Sleepy Hollow's Spicy Chicken Waffle Sandwich is gone. There are others as well at all parks. Some have happened or are about to happen.

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Menu trimming... Yet more penny pinching?

soniam said:

It's only ok if they boo and cheer the same as me

I do think it's a little disrespectful, even though I don't like some of the presidents either. However, I view it more as a first amendment right, which makes me proud and thankful that we live in a country where an ex-leader can be booed in public without the booer being beheaded.

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What's the politest way I can express this...

I view it as bad manners. I don't care what other people's opinions of a particular president are. I don't care if they have a first amendment right to voice their opinion. Their behavior says "my personal politics and opinions are so important that I have no problem impinging on the enjoyment of all the other people in the room."

They're just being petty, selfish and rude.

Eoghann said:

What's the politest way I can express this...

I view it as bad manners. I don't care what other people's opinions of a particular president are. I don't care if they have a first amendment right to voice their opinion. Their behavior says "my personal politics and opinions are so important that I have no problem impinging on the enjoyment of all the other people in the room."

They're just being petty, selfish and rude.

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I always have thought that if you "don't like" a president (assuming you know what you're talking about)...a silent protest in the voting booth is the way to go moving forward.

But I don't think I've heard catcalls in the HOP. And if my mind in the ugly place is correct and thinks it involves only two presidents NOT Elected before 11/2000...then it's just plain ugly, to be honest. On both sides.

We should really boo Madison...that little pipsqueak designed a flexible, reasonable format while being a Deist and a student of European history - and was desperate to keep the fantacism of organized, power hungry ideological groups out of the government.

We should boo him for being wiser with a quill and a candle than most clowns 250 years later

lockedoutlogic said:

Let's just check the ticker:

So they've more or less given up on innoventions

They closed a pavilion a decade ago...stripped it...and use it to sell merchandise or hold private events for accounting interns or weasel pharma

Let imagination basically decay...but hey, might as well put a DVC lounge in there, right?

And started a poor taste conversion of showcase space with the "hurry up and wait" method in Norway. Still waiting for the Bibbidi conversion there.

But hey...plenty of f&w kiosks...and of course an extra soarin theater !

I mean...I'll admit that I don't intentionally try to be all optimistic with happy sauce...but this is a REALLY bad tale of the tape.

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It is so sad walking through this section of WDW. When we walk past the tombstones in front of SSE, and then pass into the huge courtyard space in between the Innoventions buildings, it is depressing…period. And now knowing that both of the Innoventions spaces are just gaping holes of essentially nothingness beyond character meet and greets is sad as well. I have recently commented on the magic boards about how ridiculous it is that the first decision I need to make when I enter Future World is if I want an espresso or a caramel macchiato.

And the pavilions…man, it just spreads doesn't it? WoL used for convention space. M:S, probably a cool ride that a lot of people are afraid to enter…so it seems a far cry from Horizons. The Living Seas could be so much more, but it isn't. The two pavilions that I enjoy are The Land and TT 2.0. Of course there is SSE, an amazing ride that gets less technically amazing the higher you go…which seems weird when you think about that. And the Odyssey, sitting there hauntingly empty, unless they need to sell beer.

My only hope is as follows. They did NFL and refurbed the Hub - 2 things that I actually enjoy and give them thumbs up for (especially 7DMT, BoG and the Hub redesign). Also, for what it is worth, I am a huge proponent of Disney Springs. The Boathouse has become a destination for us on each trip now, as well as the Co-op Marketplace, to name a few. Beyond those places, a new favorite spot of mine is the back porch of the flagship Starbucks…just a great place to relax as it is not that crowded there and the view of the water and SS is very nice. And don't even get me started on how DAK - hands down my favorite park in Orlando - is improving by leaps and bounds. New eateries, bars, RoL, night safaris, Pandora. Cannot wait until Spring 2017. And now, big money being dropped on DHS…Star Wars Land…wow.

My only hope is that this trend ultimately continues with Epcot, and in particular FW. I actually very much enjoy World Showcase. And I am not an Epcot die hard as some others are. I am not ready to storm the castle because of the whole "Norway situation." I get why it bothers others so much, don't get me wrong. I understand what the park was supposed to be - a new type of park, meant to entertain, educate and inspire. A high bar to set for a park, but something at the time that was achievable. For me, I think that it is something that they could aspire to again, if the right people with the right vision are involved. My fear is directed more toward the average park goer of this day and age. That is where the true struggle lies, battling the instant gratification of the everyday child and young adult. Epcot the way it was would not work today. That original concept needs to almost be redefined, as I don't see a FW populated by long, grinding people mover rides as something that will work. The 50th is coming up, though, and it seems as though Disney has been slowly creeping towards improving each part of WDW (aside from the water parks), and who knows, maybe they do have something in mind for Epcot prior to 2021 - beyond Frozen and a new Soarin' film and theater. The big question will be if people will like it or not.