Category — p. News and Changes

JUNGLE BOOK: ALIVE WITH MAGIC

The evening show Jungle Book: Alive With Magic opened as a temporary (one hopes) replacement for the delayed Rivers of Light show in May 2016.

There’s no word on when Rivers of Light will open, nor on how the transition from Jungle Book to Rivers of Light will happen.

As I write this, it is scheduled for 9 and 10.30p every night between now and Labor Day, and then is not on the schedules afterward.

However, since Disney’s evening show calendars lately have played the role of sophisticated display front-ends  to databases with no data, I am not ready to say that the show will in fact end in early September–although there are rumors to that effect.

The show takes place in the waters in front of Expedition Everest in the Asia section of the park.  New construction has turned the banks of the waterfront into an amphitheater.

There is not much rise between the seat levels of the amphitheater, but since there are only about 5 inches on average between eye level and top of forehead (yes I looked it up) it actually takes less rise than many think to give a clear view to successive rows.

The setting designed for Rivers of Light includes three off-shore stages and three on-shore stages.

For Jungle Book, singers are delivered by raft to the middle one of the three off-shore stages…

…and dancers populate each of the three closer on-shore stages.

Basically, the singers and dancers take the audience through the story and songs of the Jungle Book, accompanied by simple projections on water screens–note above Ballou on the left-most screen, and Akela in the center.

The Jungle Book: Alive With Magic has been the most savaged major attraction opened at Disney World that I can recall. While I think the reaction has been a bit unfair–and Josh tells me that the projections are much improved since it first opened, when many of these negative reactions were first published–it remains true that even positive reactions are a bit muted.

Frankly, the show suffers terribly in comparison to the don’t-miss evening shows (Wishes, Fantasmic, and IllumiNations) at the other parks, and people who bring expectations based on those three will be quite disappointed–at least until Florida’s approach to legalized marijuana profoundly changes.

In particular, it is not worth profoundly bending your day or your visit to assure that you can see it.

That said, the setting is gorgeous, the show is OK, and the Animal Kingdom is lovely at night.  So if you can fit an evening visit to the Animal Kingdom into your plans, you should, and then you might as well check out this show. With expectations sufficiently low, you might well be pleasantly surprised.

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STAR WARS: A GALACTIC SPECTACULAR

A new evening show, Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular, debuted at Disney’s Hollywood Studios this summer.

The show replaces a Star Wars fireworks show that had been going on since December, and adds to fireworks stirring music, lasers, and projections.

Lasers:

Projections:

Fireworks:

The projections are shown on Grauman’s Chinese Theater, and can’t be seen well from anyplace not close to it.

Because the fireworks themselves more punctuate and add drama to the projections than carry their weight as a show in themselves, it’s best to think of this as a “projection show with fireworks” rather than as a “fireworks show with projections.”

This is important, as it means you have to be close to the theater to fully experience the show. Specifically, you should be between the projection towers (circled in red) and the theater (also with a red circle).

Those seeing the show from further away won’t have nearly as good an experience.

Recent schedules make it hard to see both the first Fantasmic and and to see this show as well.  That’s just fine, as that aren’t remotely enough good viewing spots for the 10,000 people that Fantasmic can hold to see this show at its best.

Those who can spend two evenings in Disney’s Hollywood Studios are can see both. But if you have to choose between the two, be guided by this: the fireworks show is all about Star Wars, and Fantasmic is all about Disney animation. Which will be more fun for your group?

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FROZEN EVER AFTER

The ride Frozen Ever After replaced Maelstrom at Epcot in June 2016.

Using essentially the same ride system as Maelstrom, it takes you into and out of a special Summer Snow Day Celebration in Arandelle, along the way revisiting all of the key characters from Frozen and from the short Frozen Fever.

(See this for Jim Korkis on the background to this ride and the Norway Pavilion, where it is located.)

You begin in a village that contains Wandering Oaken’s Trading Post…

…from which, curiously enough, you can see Hogsmeade in the distance.

Just kidding.  You then pass a sign that gives you the only hint of the story of the ride–that is a winter day in summer, and that you will be touring Arandelle during the celebration of it.

You board boats…

and visit with the key Frozen and Frozen Fever folk. The animatronics and setting are very well done–my pictures don’t really do them justice.

You will also, as you might imagine, hear some familiar tunes!

A must-see for those who love the movie and its songs, there’s not much to this ride for anyone else. A family trying to negotiate a minimum Frozen dose for their trip would be better served at the Frozen Sing Along at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, where humor makes that show of broader appeal.

The use of the old ride system means that this ride has a relatively low hourly capacity of about a thousand people.

As a result, you should aim for FastPass+ or ride it at park close.  The low capacity, proportion of rides allocated to FastPass+, people coming from early breakfasts, etc., breakdown history, etc., means that counting on low waits by arriving early may be a bad bet.

For more on strategies for trying to see Frozen Ever After while avoiding long waits, see this from my co-author Josh.

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SOARIN’ AROUND THE WORLD

Soarin’ Around the World opened in June 2016 at Epcot, replacing the much-loved Soarin’ that used to occupy its infrastructure, and adding a third ride system, increasing capacity–when all three concourses are operating–by 50%.

The ride system is themed to replicate the swooping and soaring of a hang glider, and an enormous screen in front makes you feel as though you are in the sky.

The old Soarin’ film, much worn by the time of its replacement, depicted various California scenes (the film was made for the Soarin’ Over California ride at Disney California Adventure) that all brought back, for me, happy memories of spending my Cub Scout years in California as a Navy brat.

The new film takes the same hang glider tour concept and spreads it around the world, adding sharper scene transitions, and a more defined sense of being high in the sky and at times swooping quickly–creating more drama and, for those with even the slightest fear of heights, a definite frisson.

It also adds more artifice, with more animated (though highly realistic) bits added to the film, e.g. this polar bear…

…and is marred by distortion to many verticals.  The best seats are definitely in the center of apparatus, in “Hangar B,” which see the least distortion.

The Eiffel tower seen from Hangar B:

The Pyramids as seen from the far right of the right-most Hangar, Hangar C.

Regardless, I really did find this a terrific ride, and recommend it to everyone except those with acute fear of heights. The new world tour is fun, the added animations add drama and action, and the new sense of height and swoopiness adds thrills. (Kids must be at least 40 inches tall to ride).

Soarin’ Around the World is located in Epcot’s Land Pavilion…

…at its bottom, across from Sunshine Seasons, which with the ride’s opening now offers breakfast again.

You’ll be directed into Concourse A, B, or C (C is the new one, but is no different from A or B). Once you get to the next step, ask to be put into Hangar B.

The pre-show includes from the former ride both crowd-pleasing Patrick and the gratuitous dig at balding men.

Then it’s into the ride system, strapping in, and you are off!

Some scenes from the new Soarin’ Around the World:

Note the not-so-hidden Hidden Mickeys!

At Epcot, Soarin’ Around the World is available as a Tier One FastPass+. Unless you are among the first at rope drop, it’s best seen via FastPass+, as lines build quickly in the morning. Alternatively, see it near park close.  My co-author Josh has more on other times to see the ride here.

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I got back last Wednesday from a whirlwind visit to Walt Disney World that covered almost all the new stuff that’s opened this summer, plus some older new stuff that I had not gotten around to in my January or April visits, plus some revisits to various resorts.

It’ll take me a while to write everything up in detail, so I thought I’d give you capsule overviews of the most salient things I did. As I expand these into full posts, or update old posts, I’ll add links on this page to the more detailed discussions.

(My co-author Josh of easyWDW.com and I did some of these together, so where it makes more sense I will link to his posts instead.)

SARATOGA SPRINGS (STUDIO)

I hadn’t stayed in Saratoga Springs since 2013–a while by the standards of this site–so the first thing I did was check in and take new photos of my room, a studio.

I requested and got my favorite section, The Paddock (my favorite because it combines a quiet and laid back feel with a great pool and pool grill–though each is small). The Springs area, however, is a better choice for most–an even better pool and bar, closer to the main shops and dining.

I’ll post updated room photos and floor plans soon.  The changes since 2013 are minor, though, mostly bed linen.

PORT ORLEANS FRENCH QUARTER

Then it was off to visit Port Orleans French Quarter, where my photos aren’t so hot. I’ve been updating them on various drop-bys, and noted before this trip lousy pool shots, so I took a bunch.

POFQ frankly needs a fresh stay, which I can’t fit into my late August/early September visit, so will do in my November visit.

FORT WILDERNESS LOOP 2100

Next, it was off to Fort Wilderness, where I found active construction in Loop 2100 (which had its Cabins removed in April), even though it was a Saturday.

Fences with dark fabric make it hard to tell exactly what is going on, but from lifting my camera above them, these sure do look like Premium loops.

WILDERNESS LODGE REFURB UPDATE

The Wilderness Lodge refurb continues.  The most interesting new thing was that interior walls have been removed from the closed southeastern wing.

It’s hard to tell from the photos (the left is from the Villas side, the right from the Courtyard side), but the red circles indicate where you can see windows on the far side from windows on the near side–that is, the hallway walls between them are gone.

This may answer the question of how Disney is fitting DVC rooms into the small footprints of the old Wilderness Lodge rooms–I am guessing that they aren’t, but rather are using old hallway space to add around 60 square feet to each bay on one side.  What will be going on on the other side I can’t tell you, but do have some guesses, which I’ll publish later.

Rumor is that all Villa types will be available in this wing.

SOARIN AROUND THE WORLD AT EPCOT

I was fully prepared to hate the new film Soarin’ Around the World, with my public reasons being the strange curvatures (the left-curving image of the Eiffel Tower above is from one of the more central seats–it’s even more comic from side seats) and the degree of artificiality in many of the scenes.

My private reason would be that I spent my Cub Scout years as a Navy brat in California, so every bit of the old film called out my inner eight year old boy, never very far from the surface…

In fact I loved the new show, and consider it a must see.

The sights are well-chosen, the scene transitions are bang-bang, the added animated (but fairly realistic except for their unlikelihood) bits are great, and the ride has an added sense of urgency, speed, and even danger (from feeling like you are so high) that makes it veer a bit towards a thrill ride, especially for those with even the slightest fear of heights.

There’s a full review of Soarin’ Around the World here.

TURTLE TALK WITH CRUSH AT EPCOT

Bits of Finding Dory have been added to Turtle Talk with Crush–Hank is in, as well as Destiny (above).

The additions work great in what was already a wonderful show.

FROZEN EVER AFTER AT EPCOT

Frozen Ever After replaced the Maelstrom ride in Norway, using the same track but showing characters from Frozen and Frozen shorts in a variety of settings.

There’s no real story here, and not much happening other than very well-done animatronics and a nice integration of the old ride system to “Let it Go.”  For Frozen fans it’s a must see, but not worth a long wait for those not fans of the movie.

A meet and greet has also opened next door. I’ll do it on my August visit, trying not to tremble from my huge crush on Anna.

There’s a full review of Frozen Ever After here.

DISNEY & PIXAR SHORT FILM FESTIVAL AT EPCOT

The Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival opened in the 4D theater in the Imagination Pavilion in December 2015, replacing, thank God, Captain EO.

It combines three great short films (Get a Horse, For the Birds, and La Luna) with theater effects that work especially well in the Mickey Mouse-featuring Get a Horse.

Both in the pre-show and during the show itself there’s commentary on the history of Disney and Pixar animation, and overall this is a nice, light entertainment, and is the best thing in the Animation Pavilion for years.

STAR WARS: A GALACTIC SPECTACULAR AT DISNEY’S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS

The new Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular replaced the prior Star Wars fireworks show in late June 2016.

The key to this show is that while it does indeed have fireworks…

… it is best thought of as a projection show. The fireworks add emphasis and punctuation to the projections, rather than being of great merit on their own.

This is important, as you can’t see the projections well unless you are near where they are displayed, the replica of Grauman’s Chinese Theater that contains The Great Movie Ride.

You need to be between the projection towers on the right side of the photo and the theater, and ideally on the left side (while facing the theater) as some of the fireworks are only on the right.

The thousands of people further down on Hollywood Boulevard won’t have nearly as good an experience.

The latest schedules make it impossible to both see the first Fantasmic and then wander over and see this show too.  That’s just fine, as there aren’t adequate good spots for the 10,000 people that Fantasmic will hold.  I need to revise my itineraries to divide these shows over two nights.

There’s a full review of Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular here.

STAR WARS: A GALACTIC SPECTACULAR DESSERT PARTY

I don’t normally recommend the various Disney World dessert parties, but if you have shorter Star Wars fan-children, a need for some drinks and snacks, and some money to burn, you might want to consider this one.

Your $69 for those ten and over and $39 for those 3-9 gets you a lot of fun desserts, some savory snacks, and as many alcoholic (and non-alcoholic) drinks as you’d like.

More importantly, the reserved viewing area is behind a roped-off walkway, and has an area for those using wheelchairs or scooters at the front.

If there’s room–and there almost always will be–kids are welcomed into this scooter/chair area, and with no adults in front of them until across the walkway, they will get better views of the show than from any other place in the Studios.

Josh has much more on this party here, including my curious encounter with a bartender…(I saw it with Josh and Tom Corless of WDW News Today. Not like it was a date or anything.)

SARATOGA SPRINGS (ONE BEDROOM)

Then it was out of my Studio and into a One-Bedroom Villa at Saratoga Springs, for the same reason–I hadn’t stayed in one since 2013, and there are some minor decorating changes that I need to document.

This was in the Congress Park area, most convenient to Disney Springs, where I had planned to visit this night, but later decided to go to the dessert party instead.

SANAA AT KIDANI VILLAGE AND SPOKESKITTIES

Monday Josh and I had a long lunch at the great Sanaa with a reporter who would probably rather remain anonymous and almost certainly is wishing for a bit of amnesia too.

So instead of Sanaa shots here’s a selfie of us in my Polynesian Village room, with leis.

My lei ended up on my MagicBand lamp in my home office, which is also the nursery of the site’s new SpokesKitties. Above, calico Henry is grabbing at it, with gray tubby tabby Edward about to pounce.

Here’s the SpokesKitties in a rare moment of repose.

But I digress.

KILIMANJARO SUNSET SAFARI AT DISNEY’S ANIMAL KINGDOM

Three evening attractions have recently opened at the Animal Kingdom, which is open two to three hours later than it used to be to accommodate them–until 11p (rather than 8p) in the summer, then til 8 or 7.30p in September after Labor Day, rather than 5p. (Sunset in Orlando in September starts at 7.46p and makes its way to  7.12p.)

One is that Kilimanjaro Safaris now runs after dark. Various lighting effects–including a “sunset savanna” effect that lights my weak photo above–let you see how the animals behave after dark.

It’s interesting to those who find animals interesting (I loved it), but not a substitute for seeing the same ride in daylight.

There’s a full review of Sunset Kilimanjaro Safaris here.

TREE OF LIFE AWAKENINGS AT DISNEY’S ANIMAL KINGDOM

Another new night feature is projections on the Tree of Life. Animated interludes (whose start is signaled by music) are separated by longer periods with brief moments of motion, easy to miss but fun to catch.

I spent an hour delighted by this, but most people likely will spend less time.

There’s a full review of Tree of Life Awakenings here.

THE JUNGLE BOOK: ALIVE WITH MAGIC AT DISNEY’S ANIMAL KINGDOM

The third new offering at Animal Kingdom is the Jungle Book show, a (hopefully) temporary replacement for Rivers of Light, the major show expected in this spot in April which has not yet opened.

The show occurs in a wonderful new setting in the park’s Asia area.

I can’t think of a major new Disney World offering that has been savaged more than this Jungle Book show. I found it sort of OK (Josh tells me that it is much improved–especially the projections–since its opening week). But it certainly needs some salt, hot sauce, and bacon.

The three new elements don’t offer enough either singly or collectively for you to bend your trip around to be able to see them.  But if you can easily fit them into your Disney Word plans, do so.

And most of the rest of the park is now open late as well.  The Animal Kingdom has always been special after dark, but with no evening extra magic hours here the past few years, that has been hard to see. Not anymore.

There’s a full review of Jungle Book: Alive With Magic here.

POLYNESIAN RESORT CLUB ROOM

I stayed in one of the new Studios at the Polynesian Village last year when they opened, but had not stayed in a regular room since all the construction here was completed in April.

I had meant to book two nights in a standard view room, but none was available for two nights by the time I got to booking, so I ended up with a theme park view booked for one night and a club theme park view room the second.  Expensive, but this is the Value 2 price season, and I got a good passholder discount too.

When I got my “room ready” text, I discovered that the Poly had upgraded me into a club room for both nights, which was cool–it’s always nice to not be homeless between check out and check-in times, especially as hot as July can be (and was).

“Club rooms” are what Disney calls what others call “concierge rooms.” There’s an area with staff to help you with plans (they also email you before the trip to see if they can help) and also a lounge that offers a light Continental breakfast, snacks around lunch and dinner, and drinks and dessert in the evening.

Many swear by these. I’ve never seen the value for money, but if you are stuck booking one, it’s certainly not a bad thing!

THE OASIS POOL AT DISNEY’S POLYNESIAN RESORT

New since I’d stayed here last is the Oasis Pool, which replaces the old East Pool and opened in April 2016. It’s a better pool on almost any measure than the old pool…

…and it also adds a bar and grill, as a much-needed alternative to the offerings available in the Great Ceremonial House and by the main pool.

The grill has narrow hours–9 to 5 on my visit–but has an interesting menu (click it to enlarge it), and the bar stays open longer.

Also open part of the day is a refillable mug station. This was closed by mid-afternoon, but I did not note exactly when.

MICKEY’S ROYAL FRIENDSHIP FAIRE AT THE MAGIC KINGDOM

Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire is a new show staged in front of Cinderella’s Castle multiple times a day.

Featuring Mickey’s crew and the lead couples from The Princess and the Frog, Tangled, and Frozen, it’s a fun confection of song and dance, with some ruffians from Tangled tempting Mickey to club them.

It’s not worth an intentional visit, but if it is starting while you are in the area, it’s worth checking out.

THE BUNGALOWS AT THE POLYNESIAN

Those staying in Club rooms were offered the opportunity to tour the new Bungalows at the Polynesian.  I’ll never set foot in one otherwise, so Josh and I took the tour.

Ignoring the around $2000 a night price, these are fine spaces for eight. Factor the price in and I don’t get it.

Nice view from the deck, though…

WISHES FROM A THEME PARK VIEW ROOM AT DISNEY’S POLYNESIAN RESORT

Theme park view rooms at the Polynesian Village let you watch Wishes from your balcony.

While not a replacement for seeing this fireworks show from within the Magic Kingdom…it’s certainly fun!

OK, that’s it for my update on my short trip.  I’ll be filling out many of these observations in more detail soon!

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Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve updated my key planning tools for a 2017 visit to Walt Disney World:

• 2017 Disney World Price Seasons
• 2017 Disney World Crowd Calendar
• 2017 Disney World Week Rankings

(Kelly B can book your 2017 Disney World vacation for you–contact her at KellyB@DestinationsInFlorida.com or 980-429-4499.)

The price season update was based on Disney’s actual price calendar for 2017, published June 21.

The crowd calendar update was based on analysis of the 2016-2017 school year breaks of more than 15.4 million school kids–see this for an example. I analyzed for 2017 almost 280 districts, and too many of these don’t finalize their calendars until June–late June in the case of many Michigan districts, which go on spring break April 1 in 2017…

And the week rankings were revised because actual prices and updated crowd forecasts are major components in their design–with other important factors being as always ride closures, the peak of the hurricane season, and the Disney World holiday program.

After major price season changes in 2016, structural changes to the seasons on 2017 were minor–although the changes in 2017 price levels are interesting. So my forecasts largely held up, and the only week that saw a material change from the actual prices was the week beginning 4/22.  It sees lower prices at the beginning of the week than I’d forecast, and moved as a result in the week rankings from #12 to #9.

Crowd rankings saw several significant changes.

• Because Christmas breaks extend longer into January than I’d thought they would, the first week of January 2017 saw an increase in expected crowds.
• Disney World’s recent announcement of its involvement in the 2017 Pro Bowl caused me to increase expected crowds in later January.
• And actual 2017 spring break calendars suggest that crowds the week of April 1, 2017 will be higher than I had last forecast.

The most significant change to week rankings from changes in the crowd calendar came for the week beginning 4/1, which moved from a ranking of 14 at the bottom of my list of recommended weeks to a week ranking of 19 near the bottom of my “not so keen” weeks.

As always, I’m sorry about where I got it wrong–especially the week of 4/1. I get one week so substantively wrong every two years or so, and almost always in the spring break seasons, where the moving date of Easter cause a cascade of other effects, not all predictable even though I’ve been doing this for a while now.

But the alternative, delaying any forecasts for the next year until July, when the full set of school calendars and (usually) prices is available–also seems to me a mistake as well, since there’s so much value to being able to plan your trips ahead of time…

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