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Walt Disney World Resort Non-Park Discussion Thread


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That's ridiculously nice for a 'moderate'. I love the new elevators but I don't know if they can work with the general public...especially the general public on vacation! I know Royal Caribbean tested them and it didn't go over so well. I really worry they will only work in office buildings.

 

I didn’t realize they are keeping this in the moderate category! Looks amazing for that price range!

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Last night TPR was hosted for an evening preview of Late Nights at Enzo's Hideaway Tunnel Bar and The Edison. These new evening late evening menus offer an incredible value for guests enjoying Disney Springs, with generous portions, great prices and plenty of delicious food to enjoy!

 

Late Nights at Enzo's Hideaway and The Edison run Mondays through Thursdays from 10:00 PM to midnight with limited menus offered during these times.

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We started our time at Enzo's Hideaway with a demonstration of how the bartenders craft two of the signature "Giggle Waters" offered in the Tunnel Bar.

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Quality limoncello!

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And these folks have nailed it!

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There's a science to crafting fine cocktails...

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You can't go wrong with an abundance of cheese!

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Two of the delicious signature Enzos Hideaway “Giggle Waters” are the Limoncello Gimlet and the Luciano Spritz!

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How about some meat?

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Some fresh olives, grapes, honeycomb and almonds to pair with the meat and cheese boards.

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The Chicken Parmesan Sliders were absolutely delicious!

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The Fontina in Carozza (fried cheese!) is a great twist on the classic fried mozzarella!

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Time to head over to The Edison for The Edison Late Night preview!

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What better greeting than a serving of Clothesline Maple Bacon!

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The two drinks we sampled were the Electric Lizard (left) and The Fluoroscopy (right). Rum or vodka respectively. Pick your poison, both are great!

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Late Nights at The Edison run Mondays through Thursdays from 10:00 PM to midnight. For $5 you can get this Philly Cheesesteak, a bacon cheeseburger or the clothesline bacon!

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The bacon cheeseburger is a great value for $5!

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Thanks to Enzos Hideaway and The Edison for hosting us for a fantastic evening of late night bites and drinks!

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It is really exciting to see some late night offerings pop up at Disney Springs... And for the value, I'll definitely be revisiting both of these menus... I mean, how can you not where there's clothesline bacon and fried cheese?

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This atrium may be familiar to some Pleasure Island fans...

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Our preview finished with an amazing Cherry Cheesecake Trifle.

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We spent our evening at Enzos Hideaway and The Edison previewing their new Late Night menu items!

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  • 3 weeks later...

That addition to Coronado Springs is GORGEOUS! I love the architecture!

 

Not sure how well those elevators will go with it being a hotel that will likely be super busy all the time. I was just introduced to this system last weekend in New Orleans at the Hyatt Regency.... the days before and after the convention weren't bad - the elevator worked well with few people around... but omg trying to get to our room at night during the convention was a NIGHTMARE. They eventually had to put an employee in each elevator to manually control it from inside because the system was overloaded from so many people asking for an elevator.

 

These are called "smart" elevators, but I think they need a bit more smartening up, like maybe a sensor that tells it how many people are already in the elevator? If you have a capacity of, say, 10, and 10 people get on on floor 12 and all want to go to floor 1.... said elevator shouldn't bother stopping and opening at floor 7 for other people wanting to go down because they won't be able to get on that elevator - they should've been assigned a different one.

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^To be fair, normal elevator operating systems don't work too well after something like a conference lets out either.

 

Agreed though, this new addition looks amazing. I hope it stays as a moderate priced resort. The prices for the new Riviera are scary high so good to see something new but more reasonable.

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We were invited out by Disney to check out the new NBA Experience at Walt Disney World's Disney Springs. While I'll let the photos and the video showcase most of the new attraction, let me touch on a couple of things here...

 

First of all, this is the building that replaced DisneyQuest, however oddly enough, the new attraction feels a lot like DisneyQuest, but basketball themed. It was almost as though while the deal was being made, they took a look around DisneyQuest with the intention of just re-theming it, but probably realized that with the experiences they wanted to create, they probably would have had to do some major re-construction of the existing building that it was probably easier to just demolish the old one and re-build.

 

But even from the start, where you walk into the center of the building to a staircase that leads up to the other level, and the different "attractions" are around the perimeter of the different levels, it still feels a lot like DisneyQuest!

 

(This is not a bad thing!)

 

Here is the official press release from Disney and I'll let you chew through this before getting to the photos and the video we put together...

 

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – NBA Experience, the brand-new destination on the West Side of Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort, opens to guests Aug. 12, 2019. Disney developed this one-of-a-kind environment in collaboration with the NBA, where guests enter the world of professional basketball. The high-energy, family-friendly venue is packed with 13 different basketball-related activities across 44,000 square feet and two floors.

 

“When we were young, we played basketball in our driveways or in the park, creating those imaginary moments of making the game-winning shot for a championship,” said Stan Dodd, executive producer, Walt Disney Imagineering. “We want to take that energy and help you feel what it’s like to be an actual NBA or WNBA player.”

 

Upon entry, guests will feel as if they’re walking through the players’ tunnel at an NBA or WNBA arena. Once inside, guests can:

• Feel what it’s like to be part of the NBA Draft

• Improve their ball-handling skills

• Step onto the court to make clutch shots and highlight-worthy slam dunks

• Play basketball-themed arcade and video games

• Enjoy two different 180-degree cinematic experiences

• Take photos with NBA championship and MVP trophies

• Make the right call just like a real-life replay official

 

NBA Experience also provides ample opportunities to learn more about the NBA and WNBA via interactive displays, films and trivia. The destination offers something for everyone.

 

A ticket to NBA Experience grants access to every activity, in any order guests choose, and they can return to stations to improve performance or learn even more about the game, players and teams they love. They can also customize many of their experiences to showcase their favorite NBA or WNBA teams. The adjacent NBA Store features NBA apparel, collectibles and more, along with Disney products designed specifically for NBA Experience.

 

NBA Experience Highlights

• Dribble! – Test ball-handling skills with an interactive coach who leads a variety of dribbling

routines

 

• Dunk! – Execute the perfect slam just like a superstar, captured by cameras surrounding

height-adjustable baskets

 

• Slingshot – Use an oversized slingshot to launch balls at hoops of varying heights, making as

many baskets as possible before the clock runs out in this thrilling timed challenge

 

• Shoot! – Step onto the court and hear the roar of the crowd while maneuvering through a

series of last-second shots before the clock expires

 

• Combine – Compare wingspan and vertical leap to NBA or WNBA players with this series

of tests that replicates NBA Combine drills

 

• Draft – Experience one of the biggest milestones for a basketball player at the NBA Draft

with a photo moment that re-creates the electric atmosphere of the Draft stage

 

• Replay – Take a seat at an interactive, multi-screen module to watch replay clips from NBA

games and use tools at the station to make the right calls

 

• Players – Enter the off-court sanctuary of the lockerroom and explore current team rosters,

records and highlights

 

• Champions – Be immersed in the rich legacy and history of NBA and WNBA championship

teams and take a photo with replicas of the NBA championship and MVP trophies

 

• “Game Time” – Watch a heartwarming film about the in-arena game experience and the

impact it has on a young woman and her father

 

• “Together” – Discover the amazing on- and off-court story of an NBA superstar in this

inspirational, 180-degree cinematic presentation

 

• Arcade – Play interactive games, from the fan-favorite Pop-A-Shot to the latest NBA video

games

 

• Trivia – Demonstrate knowledge of the NBA and WNBA – past and present – during a

multi-player, real-time contest

 

And now onto our photos & video! Be sure to watch the video as it will give you a pretty good overview of what the entire building is like!

 

Video:

[fbvideonew]

[/fbvideonew]

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Good morning from Disney Springs! An "opening moment" is about to happen at the new NBA Experience!

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Countdown.... 3... 2... 1... and the new attraction is now OPEN!

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Disney & NBA execs and of course Mickey & Minnie!

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Watching these two dance was amazing!

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When you first walk inside, you can't help but to think that the layout of the building has some serious DisneyQuest vibes.

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The different experiences range from "Dribble..."

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And they are all labeled easily so you won't get lost.

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Classic Pop-A-Shot video games are also here.

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"Slingshot" may have been my favorite activity. It was this interesting "game of skill" themed to Basketball.

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I do wonder if the reason why I liked this one so much is because it kind of reminded me more of the stuff you'd find at DisneyQuest?

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"Shoot" allowed you to do just that... shoot baskets with a virtual audience that reacted to how well you played.

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You can take your picture with a wax figure of the NBA Commissioner in "Draft!"

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Here's a look at the layout of the building.

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There are areas where you can see trophy's, uniforms and more from different teams.

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Wingspan, reach, and jump!

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Draft Combine puts your different skills to the test.

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Yay! We got to meet NBA Minnie!

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Love the look of her Jersey! Huge THANK YOU to Disney for inviting us out to check out this new Disney Springs attraction! If you're a huge NBA Fan, this is most certainly something you'll want to visit!

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To "Dunk!"

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And the opening of the NBA Experience is sealed with a kiss!

Edited by robbalvey
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Seems like this is getting a lot of hate online but honestly I think it looks pretty fun, especially as an alternative activity outside the parks if you're staying on property for an extended period of time. I'd love to check it out, might only do it once, but that's about the same number of times I went to Disney Quest honestly.

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I don't really get the hate either. When somethings not for me I always view it as a 'Well if they are all in there now, at least that could mean the places nearby I do want to go to or eat at could be quieter.'

 

I feel like a good chunk of the people hating probably didn't even like DisneyQuest or pretended they did but never actually went.

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I don't really get the hate either. When somethings not for me I always view it as a 'Well if they are all in there now, at least that could mean the places nearby I do want to go to or eat at could be quieter.'

 

I feel like a good chunk of the people hating probably didn't even like DisneyQuest or pretended they did but never actually went.

This exactly! It is not a "requirement" for a park to build something that will appeal to 100% everybody. Sometimes it is "okay" to have attractions, shows, etc, that might appeal more to once audience than another. I mean, case in point, not everyone is going to want to see the "Disney Junior" show and that is perfectly fine. Theme park resorts need a "balance" of things to do. And if the NBA Experience has its audience and they love it, then job well done! People who don't like it can simply move on to the next thing...

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Kind of a odd partnership from my view, but I am sports fan so it looks fun to me. I see they got the commissioner and Dwayne Wade for the kick off but is that also Kareem Abdul Jabbar in the first picture?

Disney owns ESPN and ESPN does a lot of work with the NBA. So that part makes sense. And yes, that is Kareem!

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Pretty cool that he Kareem was there, as well!

 

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As an NBA fan (go Sixers!), I appreciate this attraction a lot. It wouldn't necessarily be high on my to do list upon my next trip down to Orlando simply because of HOW MUCH there is to do, but I can definitely the appeal and am sure it will be enticing to sports fans not as enamored with some of the other theme park stuff.

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Kind of a odd partnership from my view, but I am sports fan so it looks fun to me. I see they got the commissioner and Dwayne Wade for the kick off but is that also Kareem Abdul Jabbar in the first picture?

Disney owns ESPN and ESPN does a lot of work with the NBA. So that part makes sense. And yes, that is Kareem!

 

D-Wade, Mike Conley, one of the Lopez twins, Victor Olidipo, Aaron Gordon, and Adam SIlver were there as well from what I could tell in the pictures posted to various socials. Looked like a nice event.

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Kind of a odd partnership from my view, but I am sports fan so it looks fun to me. I see they got the commissioner and Dwayne Wade for the kick off but is that also Kareem Abdul Jabbar in the first picture?

Disney owns ESPN and ESPN does a lot of work with the NBA. So that part makes sense. And yes, that is Kareem!

 

D-Wade, Mike Conley, one of the Lopez twins, Victor Olidipo, Aaron Gordon, and Adam SIlver were there as well from what I could tell in the pictures posted to various socials. Looked like a nice event.

 

And a TON of other players attended... I follow the NBA (mostly my hometown team) and the "stars" of official media releases were all hanging out with other less famous NBA players as well.

 

One example: Mike Conley was hanging out with Jeff Green and Brandan Wright at the Magic Kingdom.

 

It's the NBA off-season still, so I'm sure there are lots of players getting their family vacation time in right now.

 

And are there seriously people upset about this? Let's review advice I always tell my 5 year old: "It's OK if people like different things."

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The eye blinking/movement on Mickey and Minnie is just SO cool! Great update, I like the layout and look of the place. I'm sure it will be crowded on hot days. The Orlando Magic did pretty well last year and have playoff hopes again this year so I could see them tying in player appearances/events/promotions there throughout the year.

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It definitely looks like a neat experience! Unfortunately, the minute basketball skills I had left me, ohhhh some 25+ years ago. But hey, looks like I can possibly flourish virtually!! Or live vicariously through those, hmmm,mmmm, much younger folks enjoying the experience.

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  • 1 month later...

Morimoto Asia has sent us a press release announcing their new event inspired by Oktoberfest called MorimotoFest which will take place on October 6th, 2019! Check out the details below!

 

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In the spirit of Oktoberfest, Morimoto Asia in Disney Springs is hosting an afternoon of autumn-inspired sips and chef-driven savories from ten of our favorite local breweries during MorimotoFest. On Sunday, October 6 from 12:30 to 3 p.m., guests can enjoy pairings of Pan-Asian bites at ten accompanying food stations showcasing everything from their famed sushi, a raw bar, and ramen to dumplings, stir fry, and Morimoto’s signature spare ribs. The event will feature multiple stations of fall-themed craft beers from the following breweries: Crooked Can Brewing Company, Red Light Red Light, Cask and Larder, Sideward Brewing, Hourglass, Orange County Brewers, Tactical, Bowigens, Motorworks, and The Tank.

 

Live entertainment will be provided by DJ Jimmy Joslin, who will be spinning tunes all afternoon. Exclusive merchandise including t-shirts and beer glasses will be available for purchase at the event. Tickets are $55 per adult / $25 per child ages 4-12. Premium seating for a party of four at a private booth with dedicated butler-style service is available for $500.

 

MorimotoFest is at Morimoto Asia in Disney Springs (1600 E Buena Vista Dr in Lake Buena Vista) from 12:30-3 p.m. on Oct. 6.

 

For more information or to purchase tickets: Morimotoasia.com

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Edited by jedimaster1227
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  • 2 weeks later...

I swear it feels like it was just yesterday when I heard the news that Disney planned on adding the Skyliner. LOVE what I'm seeing, especially how each station seems to have its own unique "feel". Such a fantastic transport option!

 

Man, I really need to get back to Disney. It's been over 15 years since my last trip (over 25 years for Epcot and Hollywood Studios), and Rikki's never been (well, she technically was there while in utero lol). I was originally planning on a couple mini-trips next year to visit some Cedar Fair parks I haven't been to in a while as our last "park" trips before trying for a kid; maybe I scrap that and just do an all out Disney trip instead.

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