Disney World Starts Restoring What It Had Cut
J. Dana reviews some of the things that are coming back at the Walt Disney World resort--including early entry for resort hotel guests.
From J. Dana
Posted September 19, 2002 at 9:58 PM
Good news, bad news
Okay, there's good news and bad news in Walt's domain. We'll give you the good news first: looks like Disney is finally climbing out of its post-9/11 cost-cutting glut.
Remember just under a year ago when the Mouse went on a slashing rampage? Disney Institute and Port Orleans were shuttered. Early entry into the theme parks for guests staying at a WDW hotel were scrapped in favor of Character Caravans at some of the hotels. Live stage performances were reduced in number (both Beauty and Beast and Hunchback were given two days off). Etc. Etc. Etc. (and woefully, etc.).
Well, increased attendance (not to mention "increaded" guest feedback) have prompted some changes. Beauty and the Beast at MGM is going back to its seven-day schedule. Also, the early entry for on-site guests is starting again. Of course, this means the Character Caravans are gone. Even trade. But to engender even more goodwill, extra character meet-and-greets are being added all over the theme parks, especially Epcot and Magic Kingdom. The Breakfast with a Princess at the Norway pavilion is a new permanent addition because of its overwhelming success.
Port Orleans has since opened. And the former Disney Institute site is currently undergoing renovations to become the Saratoga Springs Vacation Club. It will be themed around the luxurious springs that Imagineers are presently busy designing.
And Disney is quick to tout its new musical lineup for the upcoming Epcot Food and Wine Festival. Similar to the Flower Fest's musical series in the spring, Epcot's will cater to nostalgia (not to mention that those acts are cheaper). Once the festival is over, the American Gardens theater will gear up for its annual Christmas Processional, a perennial favorite. And guess who the opening Celebrity Guest is? Roy Disney himself (Walt's nephew, Roy Sr.'s son, and the Chairman of the Animation Studios). Word is spreading quickly through the Cast, so your best bet to catch Roy is to buy one of the dinner packages.
Extra nights are being added to the Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party and the Mickey'e Christmas Party.
Now, the bad news: MGM's hallmark live stage production, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, is calling it quits on September 28. Speculation is focusing on a new musical production to fill its slot (we're hoping it's Lilo and Stitch, with a healthy dose of Elvis tunes and hula girls). Hunchback has continually rated as one of MGM's most satisfying productions. So sad to see it go.
And just for kicks--those of you who haven't checked out the new Once Upon a Toy Store at Downtown Disney Marketplace, you should make a point to do so. If nothing else, Mr. Potato Head lovers will relish in the store's center of attention--a massive built-your-own Mr. Potato Head play station. For a small price, you can cram as many pieces as you can fit into a box to take home. And there's the Haunted Mansion version of Clue. The Star Wars version of Battleship. A Walt Disney World Monopoly. A Wilderness Lodge Linkin Logs set. And my own childhood throwback--tinker toys. Go on in and plan on playing for a while.
Early Entry and the Character Caravans are so NOT an even trade. The only reason we bothered to stay onsite were for Early Entry. We would NEVER spend that money for characters which are all over the parks anyhow. Especially at AK, since it has so little else to do.
When do they plan on restoring the early entry? Me and the family have 2 trips planned for there one in October for the Not so scary Holloween and another for mid December to see the christmas scenes. Also like to enform anyone that is going between now and the end of the year to book now cause there are very few availability.
From Ben Mills
Posted September 20, 2002 at 10:01 AM
Walt Disney World Monopoly? I didn't see that!
From Joe Lane
Posted September 20, 2002 at 10:23 AM
Yeah. But did you see the Walt Disney World Candy Land?
No lie.
NO HUNCHBACK?????!!!!!!! That is a terrible decision - Beauty and the Beast is more tired than it - or put the new show inside the old Doug theater. My 5 year old cried when I read the new changes and go to the demise of the Hunchback show - it is one of the best shows there!!!
On the other hand, the early entry coming back is GREAT!!! The Character Caravans were a real waste - they were the same characters that you see all over the park and even the same ones each of the couple days of the week that they came to the hotel.
I like the Princess Breakfast at Norway - then there is not the mad rush 60 days out at 7am to get Priority Seating for the MK Castle one! We always wondered why they did not add another meal with Princesses.
At least they are trying.
I forgot to mention that I am glad the Princess thing is doing well. Is there some law that every single character meal in WDW has to have Mickey, Donald, Pluto, Goofy, Chip & Dale and Minnie in some sort of combination? Spread the freakin' things out. And why when they actually bother to break away from those ever-present characters they just go with the princesses??? How about a breakfast in Disney/MGM with some of the characters featured there. A Toy Story breakfast would surely sell out! Or how about the Muppets? They have the costumes since they use them in that wretched parade! It's like Disney has no clue who its most popular characters are. Though kudos to them for having Mary Poppins at the Epcot one!!!
Okay, Paul Pressler, take notes.
I got fifty bucks a head--right here--from a family of four. (And that's on top of the Disneyland admission!) All for a Woody and Jessie character dinner at the old Big Thunder Barbeque at Disneyland.
Bring back the Porterhouse steak in a skillet, the rainbow trout, plus the BBQ chicken and ribs. All with Woody, Jessie and Bullseye entertaining the crowd around the campfire. With music from Billy Hill and the gang.
I'm not even talking all-you-can-eat. Just pick your entree. But I'll pay $50 a head, with pleasure, for that character meal.
(Once you've got that going, then we can talk about taking over the back terrace of Redd Rocket's for Buzz, Mira Nova and the LGMs.)
From J. Dana
Posted September 23, 2002 at 5:27 AM
Seems there won't be a quick replacement for the Hunchback show. The show was cut because MGM was told to reduce it's operating budget by $5 to $6 million. Therefore, they decided cancelling Hunchback would have little guest impact. And they saved bunches on all the equity actors. So, tell me, what's back in that section of the park to draw you back there now? A character autograph? C'mon, Pressler, let's do better than this.
Disney Starts Cutting Back What They Had CreatedAh, Lilo and Stich. Tho Disney has opted not to replace Hunchback with these characters, they are thinking about making ExtraTERRORestrial: Alien Encounter more 'family friendly' by adding them to this show : /
ET:AE is probably the most frightening dark ride since Tower of Terror. There are warnings all over the place. Why ruin a great thing by making it just good?
In a recent trip to WDW two weeks ago, I noticed that there were a large number of character meet and greets. It seemed like you couldn't turn around in the Magic Kingdom without seeing at least one. There were also numerous characters at Animal Kingdom, more likely there to promote the lagging park, and a few at MGM. The magic hours are back in place, but as we were not on site, we specifically avoided magic hour parks for that day.
I heard there will be 23 or so buildings making up Saratoga Springs. Every week it looks more and more complete -- good news since the other DVC properties are about sold out!!!
From Mr. D. T.
Posted July 10, 2003 at 7:04 PM
Uhhh, Alien Encounter is *not* a 'ride'. I believe it's a show. ;)
Well show or not, this attraction is supposed to be scary. Keep it scary!!! I don't know why they would change it since it seemes to be bringing in the people, the money, and the satisfaction.
From J. Dana
Posted September 3, 2003 at 12:51 PM
The Saratoga Springs sales center will be done soon so expect lots and lots of promotion around this new Vacation Club Resort. It's location is primo...and it has a top-rated spa and golfcourse. Let's see if they add a restaurant to the mix.
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