Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom Discussion Thread

As bad as this is for most park guests and how it has a direct negative impact on people who are not exceptionally wealthy, I shudder to think of how future iterations of paid Fastpass will look in 2, 5, or 10 years now that the seal is broken. Sigh.

 

 

http://www.wftv.com/news/local/walt-disney-world-to-allow-some-resort-guests-to-buy-additional-fastpasses/680857608

Maybe DIsney should never have "broken the seal" and offered a free fast pass system to begin with. Then people wouldn't complain about a free benefit being very slightly altered.

Whether it's Extra Magic Hours, upcharge holiday parties, or the dessert parties for nighttime shows there will always be ways that people who are willing to pay more will get a better experience at the expense of people who don't pay as much. It's capitalism. If you don't like it then don't go to the parks. If enough people don't like it and don't go then they'll change it.

^

Honestly, my first thought when I saw there would be paid Fastpasses is "how can i get these, and how much?" I don't think we'll be doing the luxury hotels they're rolling these out to, as they're out of our price range even with IATA discounts, but if they would allow all resort guests to buy these, I would totally do it. I'm in the preliminary stages of planning a 2020 trip to WDW, and between 7-day park tickets, campground reservations, and dining plan, we're already looking at around $5K. I would totally drop another couple hundred to ensure we get to ride everything we want. It's kind of like an insurance policy on the trip.

^ We're pre-planning for a possible 2023 visit there, and I'm starting to think that we, as seniors, may be totally out-priced

on even the lowest priced stuff they got available. Accommodation included. And paid-for FastPasses? Since Tokyo Disney Resort

is (so far) doing fine with their huge (mostly) local crowds, and still using paper FastPasses, I'm sure we'll take a pass on those,

no matter how enticing they may be. For now.

This move doesn't surprise me at all and actually makes a lot of sense. You pay A LOT of money for those club level rooms/suites/cabins/whatever and getting an extra perk at a price makes sense. This is not that different from Disneyland Paris Hotel which also offers extra fast passes to those staying in club level in suites. I highly doubt this will impact a normal guests experience.

I support anything that Disney does that moves them closer to a paid Fastpass option in addition to the current system.

I support anything that Disney does that moves them closer to a paid Fastpass option in addition to the current system.

Honestly, we had planned on skipping Shanghai with trying to manage those crowds and other unpleasant reports with a baby until the paid option came up and perked our interest. Paris wasn't even mentioned for when we go back to see my parents in the U.K. until we heard they may have a paid option now. Florida is a once in a lifetime trip for us and even then it would probably be off resort, cheap places just to sleep and rent a car vacation. If there was an option for us as day guests to get some paid fast passes ahead of time, we'd definitely put that in the budget and it would make us more interested in going.

Currently, our main park to vacation is Hong Kong due to the low crowds and every show, character and parade being able to just walk up and see, we find it nice to have a Disney where we don't need to arrive ahead of opening or make any sort of plan and can just stroll around for our 2 year old but we definitely want to get back to Tokyo when he is a bit older. The fast pass plus being potentially gone already for a few of the newest rides if we are just day trippers makes us worry since we can only fly on 2 of the busiest weeks since Korean schools run all year but to remove that worry would be worth the cost.

Yeah, those club level rooms are pretty expensive, so it makes sense. There aren't that many of those types of rooms, and it's only 3 extra passes per person, so I don't see it making a difference.

So how about that theater? It's apparently circling around that it's been cancelled.

Walt Disney World has sent us a press release announcing new offerings coming in the Summer of 2018 to all four parks including the opening of Toy Story Land at Disney's Hollywood Studios!

Starting Memorial Day Weekend, May 25-27, Walt Disney World Resort will launch an incredible summer for 2018 with guests being immersed in their favorite Disney films, entering the worlds of their beloved characters and experiencing exciting new attractions and entertainment.

 

Here are some of the highlights:

 

All four Walt Disney World theme parks – plus Disney Springs – will delight guests with new attractions and experiences for Summer 2018, with most of the festivities starting Memorial Day Weekend.

 

At Magic Kingdom, favorite Disney•Pixar super heroes will take over Tomorrowland – celebrating all things super. Guests will party with Mr. Incredible, Elastigirl, and Frozone from Disney•Pixar’s “The Incredibles” and upcoming “Incredibles 2.” And, for the first time ever, guests will get to see Edna Mode, the greatest superhero costume designer. The super heroes will interact with guests throughout the land. And the festivities culminate with a “SUPER” dance party on the Rocket Tower Stage. “Incredibles 2” opens in theaters nationwide June 15, 2018.

 

Super Heroes take over the America Gardens Theatre at Epcot. Star-Lord and Gamora from the Guardians of the Galaxy will join an alien band, taking guests on a journey through the cosmos. The party will feature hits from Awesome Mixtapes 1 and 2 – fun and favorite tunes from the two movies’ soundtracks – building the anticipation for a new Epcot Guardians of the Galaxy attraction.

 

This summer, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is celebrating its 20th anniversary with two super new experiences: A “dino-tastic” celebration where Donald Duck takes over Dinoland U.S.A. with prehistoric elements in a new and exciting character celebration; and Explorers Meet UP! A Great Bird Adventure, where Senior Wilderness Explorer Russell and his furry friend Dug, from the Disney•Pixar hit film “Up,” discover species of birds from around the world. In addition to all the new fun offerings, guests continue thrills on Pandora – The World of Avatar including Avatar – Flight of Passage, which has quickly become the top-rated attraction at Walt Disney World.

 

Summer 2018 also marks the first summer for new offerings at Disney Springs including “Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire,” a Hyper-Reality Experience from Lucasfilm, ILMxLAB and The VOID; and a host of new restaurants and bars have popped up to tempt any appetite. These include The Edison, a lavish “Industrial Gothic” restaurant and bar; Maria & Enzo’s, an open and airy Italian trattoria featuring family-friendly dishes inspired by Sicily; Terralina Crafted Italian, a new concept from James Beard award winner and “Top Chef Master” Chef Tony Mantuano; and Wine Bar George, the only Master Sommelier-led wine bar in Florida, brought to Disney Springs by former California Grill manager and Master Sommelier George Miliotes (opening this spring).

 

Toy Story Land Opens

 

As summer gets into full swing, the capstone of Incredible Summer at Walt Disney World opens at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The ongoing reimagining of the park takes guests to infinity and beyond, allowing them to step into the worlds of their favorite films, starting with Toy Story Land.

 

This new 11-acre land will transport guests into the adventurous outdoors of Andy’s backyard. Guests will experience two new attractions, including Slinky Dog Dash, a family-friendly coaster which will send riders dipping, dodging and dashing around turns and drops that Andy has created to stretch Slinky and his coils to the max. “Toy Story” pals also come to life in another fresh-from-the-box themed attraction — Alien Swirling Saucers. This Pizza Planet toy play set is loaded with aliens circling about in their flying saucers pulling along rocket ships full of guests. The new land also will encompass – Toy Story Mania! – which has been expanded to add a third track to the existing popular attraction. Woody’s Lunch Box will be a new quick-service kiosk serving tasty meals and old-fashioned soda floats inside Toy Story Land.

Starting Memorial Day Weekend, May 25-27, Walt Disney World Resort will launch an incredible summer for 2018 with guests being immersed in their favorite Disney films, entering the worlds of their beloved characters and experiencing exciting new attractions and entertainment. The experiences will span across the four Walt Disney World theme parks Ð plus Disney Springs. (Jacqueline Nell, photographer)

It looks to be a pretty good summer!

This idea that they add yet another, third, track to Midway Mania seems really silly to me. The reason the ride is so popular is because there's nothing else to do at the park. Once Toy Story land and Galaxy's Edge open, with a few more rides, over time you're going to see this need for a third track diminish. I suppose it will help eat up people after Star Wars opens and a TON more people come to the park. Maybe dump some more money into NEW experiences.

Nothing else to do? We just went spent the whole day there and felt like we still missed a lot and loved every minute of what we did. Every time you turned around there was something to do or see.

This idea that they add yet another, third, track to Midway Mania seems really silly to me. The reason the ride is so popular is because there's nothing else to do at the park. Once Toy Story land and Galaxy's Edge open, with a few more rides, over time you're going to see this need for a third track diminish. I suppose it will help eat up people after Star Wars opens and a TON more people come to the park. Maybe dump some more money into NEW experiences.

This post is just so insanely stupid that I cannot even begin to be able to comment on it without my brain hurting.

Haha, if only there were some chance of that coming true. That would be ideal. Midway Mania is probably the most re-rideable ride anywhere, would be amazing if it ever had no wait. Or even ever just a wait under 30 minutes.

The reason the ride is so popular is because there's nothing else to do at the park.

So I guess Tokyo DisneySea must have nothing else to do, right?

Still, third track should help alleviate those lines more, because it's consistently pretty busy no matter which resort you're at.

This idea that they add yet another, third, track to Midway Mania seems really silly to me. The reason the ride is so popular is because there's nothing else to do at the park.

Still, third track should help alleviate those lines more, because it's consistently pretty busy no matter which resort you're at.

I mean, the ride RIGHT NOW still has a 40 minute wait mid-week on a Tuesday during a less busy period for the resort 40 minutes before park closing:

And that's not because there isn't anything to do at that park, it's because the ride is EXTREMELY POPULAR and it always has been for the last ten years that it's been open.

I just don't understand the Idiocracy of complaining that the park went out of their way to increase capacity on an attraction. Why is this something to complain about??!?!

"Hey, we are going to do something to reduce the wait time on one of our most popular attractions!"

"Oh, no, don't do that! What a dumb idea! I want to wait in longer lines!"

Seriously who thinks like this?!??

How dare you make my wait shorter! Don’t you know that waiting in line is part of the experience/magic! Walt wouldn’t want this, you’re destroying his vision!

Maybe dump some more money into NEW experiences.

Um, excuse me?

Do Star Wars Galaxy's Edge, Toy Story Land, Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway, the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy attraction, the upcoming Ratatouille attraction, the upcoming space restaurant, the upcoming Tron Lightcycles coaster, the upcoming Epcot / Hollywood Studios Vacation Club resort, and the upcoming Star Wars hotel not count as new experiences? I literally just typed "D23 2017 announcements" into Google and found that list, which is for Walt Disney World alone.

While I'll concede that several of the above list already exist or will exist in other Disney parks before these open, I'd be willing to bet that the average Walt Disney World fan will be very happy that those experiences are coming to them. There are many people for which an international trip just isn't viable.

Maybe dump some more money into NEW experiences.

Um, excuse me?

 

Do Star Wars Galaxy's Edge, Toy Story Land, Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway, the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy attraction, the upcoming Ratatouille attraction, the upcoming space restaurant, the upcoming Tron Lightcycles coaster, the upcoming Epcot / Hollywood Studios Vacation Club resort, and the upcoming Star Wars hotel not count as new experiences? I literally just typed "D23 2017 announcements" into Google and found that list, which is for Walt Disney World alone.

I think you may have broke them with too much information

Is it just me or does Dan totally look like he is beating it hard on that ride.

The third track actually opened in 2016

Just thought I would ask in here since this is the main park, but we had such a great time at Disney the beginning of February that we are going to go again first week of May during the week. The 5th, 6th, and 7th to be exact.

How are crowds around this time, for those of you who are familiar?

Thanks!

^It will certainly be a bit busier and weather will be worse, but not terrible by any means.

Sounds doable. I think we will just book asap and start working on fast passes as soon as tickets are purchased.

Me and my wife are Orlando locals and love theme parks alot. We have been on TPR foe years, and have been bringing are professional cameras into the parks lately. I shoot with the Sony A7rii and my wife uses the A7Sii. We stayed at the Gaylord Palm to be close to all the parks and check out the double Flow-rider they have! I will be uploading this trip review in a few parts .. First day Magic Kingdom, Second Day Gaylord Palms and Animal Kingdom, Third Day MK and Epcot, Fourth Day Volcano Bay ! Im focusing mainly on Disney because of this thread but there will be some other Disney parks strewn through out! Full quality Pictures are on my flicker @ Escape Visuals. Also on my Ig @ Christian.mov .... On to the pics

I feel like this little side cut off gets not as much love, every little inch of main street is just so magical

Saturday Feb 10th 2018 was decently busy for MK, after this cold spell in Fl people were happy in the sunshine

My favorite Disney Castle in the USA:)

Decent sunset !! Now its time to get on our first fast pass... Splash Mountain, we only have 5 mins to get there !!! We were hurrying lol

After walking over we saw a little line even for fast pass, so while my wife hit the rest rooms I snagged the train station

We were a little late for our time.. parking and the monorails were very slow, thankfully the cast members are understanding and we got right in line !

Long exposure of the drop, okay okay time to ride !! First, some pic tips for how i got the shots in this posting!

Currently shooting at an ISO of 50,000 on my wife's Sony A7Sii. With this high of an ISO I can still shoot at a high shutter rate to get clear images while still moving through out the ride! All of these are manually focused as well, autofocus uses a red light that would take away from other riders experience

This camera doesn't do the ride justice at all. The laughing place is so just so cool and colorful, doesn't look too good for mr rabbit

Another great tip I would say before I go on with more pictures is get practice with the manual focus before taking on the rides, I had to keep from getting wet but I think the pictures were so worth it!

Space Mountain from the Monorail !!

very long line... at least we have a fast pass:)

Woo hoo , they let us in with our fast passes even though we were a tad late, huge line even for FP. I heard some cheer thing was going on

Heres that line I was talking about, It sure was hot enough for it

FP is moving fast though

Looking towards the R.R station

almost there!!

I love the station, It has always been my favorite flume ride

Up the first lift we go!

Ahhhh not in perfect focus, but still love the character

Little grainy, but caught another boat coming down the final drop !

here we go!!!

castle in the distance

I think this is....

the first waterfall!!!

timeless amazing ride!!

another drop!

The little water sprayers get me everytime, they even came out a little in this picture

this can only mean one thing

The best view in all of MK in my viewpoint. Right before the big drop

The real reason why anyone gets wet on Splash Mountain

I hope you had a Zip a Dee Doo Da photo ride on Splash Mountain

Don't forget about the last ending scene

About to get off to head over to our Space Mountain FP

My camera died on the way to Space Mountain , so we rode ( Line was very very long even for FP ) then headed over grabbed a snack from sleepy hollow ( the waffle <3 ). The show was starting at this point and a half battery I found on the camera bag

Fireworks !!

Reflections on the way to ride Big Thunder Mountain R.R

After we rode Big Thunder the battery of her camera and mine were almost out, snagged some of the firework show

Last Picture of the night.. Got to ride Peter pan for our last FP and got on the tea cups, mine train, and the people mover. Stay tuned Ill be uploading the rest of the days soon!! I did the same style as Splash mountain with all the rides we got on!