Disney World News & Rumors: Pirates League Closing, More Star Wars Changes, Preview & More
We’re back with another round of news & rumors from Walt Disney World, with a look at what’s coming, going, and being improved at Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom, and beyond. Naturally, that includes another update to Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance ride protocol. We also have a couple of other tidbits that relate to Disneyland and Disney Cruise Line.
Let’s start in Disney’s Hollywood Studios with the announcement that a sneak peek of the new Disney-Pixar film Onward will begin playing in the Walt Disney Presents theater on February 7, 2020. On that same date, the preview will also debut in the Tomorrowland Theater at Disneyland. Guests aboard Disney Cruise Line can also catch this preview during select sailings in February and early March.
During our Disney Cruise Line sailing last month, there was already an extended trailer playing constantly on in-room televisions. Perhaps the incessant playing of that colored our perspective, but we’re skeptical. It just feels like a DreamWorks animated film. Hopefully that doesn’t turn out to be an accurate assessment, as we’re really excited about the slate of original material this year from Disney. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time a Pixar trailer didn’t accurately reflect the actual movie…
Next up, Walt Disney World has announced that the Pirates League will close on July 27, 2020. This seaside hideaway is in Magic Kingdom adjacent to Pirates of the Caribbean, and offers guests of all ages a “swashbuckling pirate transformation” that can include a hairstyle, facial makeup, and other special treasures & accessories. Guests may also choose a head-to-toe mermaid makeover.
For those who are unfamiliar with it, the Pirates League originally offered as, essentially, a counterpart to Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. It opened at a time when Walt Disney World was big on the pirate/princess dichotomy. It opened 11 years ago, after the Pirate & Princess Party summertime hard ticket event was abandoned.
We have no firsthand experience with the Pirates League, but reader feedback about it was generally positive, and the location appeared at least reasonably popular. Prices were generally more reasonable than Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, with a wider range of options and a fun show component, as well. It’s unclear what is motivating the Pirates League closure, or if Walt Disney World has different plans for this location.
Continuing in Magic Kingdom where the Splash Mountain refurbishment is ongoing.
This annual project started earlier this month and is scheduled to conclude on February 27, reopening the following day. This is pretty typical of Splash Mountain refurbishments, which often seem like they’re more about not operating the attraction during the coldest time of the year than refreshing it.
This year seems to be a different story. During our day in Magic Kingdom, we noticed scaffolding around the first lift hill, where roof-work is being done. Elsewhere, there’s rock-work being replaced, repainting, and a flurry of activity from construction workers–and that was just what we could see!
Hopefully, a lot is happening inside the show scenes of Splash Mountain, too. Our last time on the attraction, things were looking a bit rough, with visible grime and several non-moving effects. Even so, Splash Mountain is an exceptional attraction, but when it’s looking good and everything is firing on all cylinders, this is one of Walt Disney World’s absolute best rides.
Work also continues on the aesthetic refresh of Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom. This has been ongoing for the last year-plus, with the main changes thus far being the removal of the Tomorrowland ’94 ornamentation, some new (more colorful) paint, and the new entrance archway.
We described some of these changes and the problems with the land’s identity crisis in our The Trouble with Tomorrowland post last year, so we won’t rehash that here.
In addition to more new paint and signage, the ongoing work right now is the removal of fins along the PeopleMover track (each of the scrims in the photo above is covering a fin).
We’re cautiously optimistic about this work. The ’94 look definitely needed a refresh, but we hope this isn’t simply a bland look with clean lines. Some new visual details and focal points would be ideal–hopefully those are yet to come.
The new M&M’s Store is coming to Disney Springs at Walt Disney World, and we have new concept art and details to share. The M&M’s Store will replace the current location at Florida Mall, and will be located on the West Side of Disney Springs in the former location of Curl, across from the House of Blues.
The M&M’s Store will be an immersive experience for lovers of the M&M’s brand, filled with color and fun. It will contain walls of colorful chocolate M&M’s candies, and thousands of pieces of merchandise–like exclusive shirts, oven mitts, cooking utensils, and more. This is one of several additions coming to the West Side of Disney Springs this year and in 2021.
An M&M’s probably isn’t the most exciting news to you (or maybe it is?!), but I think it’s at least somewhat fascinating. One goal of Disney Springs is to target big-spending international visitors, many of whom also make trips to local malls and fill suitcases on thousands of dollars of merchandise in the process.
This is one reason why there are so many quintessentially American brands at Disney Springs, and others that appeal to international tourists. (I’m personally surprised that Disney Springs never got an Apple Store.) I’m not entirely sure if M&M’s qualifies, but it seems like a good fit, regardless.
Finally, what would a Walt Disney World update be without something from Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance?! About half of our new posts seem to be about this blockbuster new attraction, primarily because things keep changing so regularly.
The latest update is that guests will now be given a return window of either one or two hours via the My Disney Experience app when notified that it’s their turn to board Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. No explanation has been given as to when it’ll be one hour or when it’ll be two hours.
We heard from readers over the weekend with evening return times that they only had one hour, and we personally experienced the one hour window at Disneyland last week with a low-numbered boarding group that was called almost immediately when the attraction began operating. (See screenshot below.)
A return window of one hour at the beginning and end of the day would make the most sense, and would help with crowd control and more predictable lines/wait times for the attraction. Personally, we hope this doesn’t spread to the middle of the day, as that would make Park Hopping to Epcot more difficult.
As always, Cast Members will work with you if you have a conflicting ADR or FastPass+ reservation. It’s also unclear if the shortened return window is even being enforced. (Currently, if the attraction breaks down, unofficial policy is that guests can return at any time.)
Additionally, Walt Disney World has been surveying guests to see if they prefer the virtual queue/boarding pass system, FastPass+ and a standby line, or only a standby line for the attraction. While there have been guest complaints about the virtual queue, there are complaints about literally everything Disney does–even closing Stitch’s Great Escape generated complaints.
We hope Walt Disney World sticks with the current system, and that surveyed guests realize the alternative is worse. Does anyone really want to spend 4+ hours in a standby line, enduring a breakdown (or two) in the process after failing to get a FastPass? (Those will mostly be scooped up before the 60 day mark by guests with week-plus on-site hotel reservations and those staying Club Level who pay extra for the longer FastPass+ window.)
That wraps up this Walt Disney World update. As always, consult our Ride Guide & FAQ for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance for ROTR101. A few days ago, we once again updated that with new info and more answers to questions readers that were frequently being asked by readers in the comments. It should cover pretty much everything you need to know about the popular new attraction.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you think of this Walt Disney World news & rumor round-up? Hopeful that the Splash Mountain refurbishment will result in the attraction looking great–and every effect working? Optimistic that the Tomorrowland overhaul will give the land a bold and fresh visual identity, or concerned it’ll look overly bland? Thoughts on the M&M’s Store? What about the latest changes to Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance? Any questions? We love hearing from readers, so please share any other thoughts or questions you have in the comments below!
For people with disabilities like autism the virtual queue is too uncertain. They thrive on consistency and schedules. There have been no accommodations for them. The fast pass system works better for them.
Until the ride operates more reliably, I can’t see Disney making it FP. If it was FP and broke down for several hours, which is not unusual, you’d have up to 3 hours worth of people trying to get on the ride in one hour.
I am sad to hear that Pirates League is closing. Our son and daughter did makeovers there on our last trip to Disney and they loved it! Even my husband and I, who were just watching the process, were entertained by the pirates doing the makeovers. I hope they replace it with something equally engaging for kids (and something appropriate for girls AND boys). Honestly, the two things our kids remember and talk about the most from our previous trip are the Pirates League makeovers and the night we left them at Lilo’s Playhouse at the Polynesian, and Disney has now done away with both. I’m not sure where Disney gets their feedback for making these types of decisions, but they have both seemed like bad ones to me. Our family loved them!
I’d prefer the FastPass+ system and standby line to the virtual boarding groups. It was so nerve wracking to have our whole day hanging on whether the My Disney Experience app was going to cooperate. It’s a really buggy app already, signal quality (both cellular and wifi) is poor at best when a ton of people are crowded near the entrance, and by the time you even get to try for a boarding pass, you’ve invested 2-3 hours of your day in that plan. Add to that the insanely increased crowds at all the other attractions and it’s not a very pleasant day in the park.
I think the Disney employees who have been getting up around 5:30 every morning to be at work to have the park ready to let anxious crowds in at 6:30 every morning since the ride opened should be recognized. Now that’s a tough gig.
Re: Tom, the casual comment dropped into the article…Everything Disney does can generate complaints…”even closing Stitch’s Great Escape generated complaints.” I’m listening! Would love to read more about that.
I wonder why they can’t just release boarding groups throughout the day to give everyone a chance at all different times. Idk maybe that wouldn’t work but its very hard to get these things. I do agree I don’t want to wait in line for 4 hours but I would like a chance to go on it and its impossible to get small children up and around and to the park that early. Heck even when it’s just been me alone I haven’t been able to get one.
Robyn, I’ve wondered the same thing about releasing them throughout the day. In addition,Some folks really physically or mentally can not do the entire day at the park (DAS) and they are not being thought of. Maybe the group can’t split up ( ex. 1 or 2 caregivers and 1 with disability). So if you can get there at opening, you may only be able to do few hours that day. No going back to your room then coming back later, no hanging out for possibly hours on hours at the park. Part of the reason I’m choosing to wait at least year before even trying. Trying for us costs thousands. We can’t split up and we can’t hang out at the parks indefinitely. We have to plan everything to fit certain needs, not wants.
I am really sad the pirate league is closing. We really loved our experience there. Are they replacing it with something similar? They have 3 bibidi locations for princess makeovers but this was the only comparable experience for my son. The prince experience At bbb wasn’t of interest to him at all.
I agree! We love the Pirates League! Both my son (6) and my daughter (4) have done it twice already and enjoyed it much more than the BBB (we’ve done that quite a few times too). Plus, the cast interactions were just awesome! We were rushed, everyone laughed, and Captain Jack Sparrow swung by for pictures.
I’m really hoping this is temporary or that it’ll be part of BBB. Fingers crossed.
Same. We just got back and it was one of our son’s favorite things. Really well done.
My daughter did BBB and Pirates League. She’s a teen now and at least if we wanted, we could all do Pirates League. I am sad to see it go as well. If it must go, I personally wish it would be replaced by a Jack Sparrow meet and greet. If it said what is going to replace it, sorry i missed that.
I have not used the virtual queue yet and it does seem like it could be a bit nerve wracking. I am a planner so I like the fastpasses. Maybe there is a better way to do the virtual queue so you don’t have to be a the park when it opens in hopes of getting a boarding pass. I live out of state so I don’t get to Disney World very often so being able to get some fastpasses helps me enjoy all of the park without having to wait in line for long periods of time. I have heard of people making resort reservations and getting fastpasses and then cancelling their resort reservations. I think Disney now cancels those fastpasses when the resort reservation is cancelled. I don’t know if the same applied to DVC members or not.
They should do the virtual queue and a standby line, I think this is how all the rides in all the parks should be DONE! Why allow someone to do fastpass 60 days out! Especially if they are walking a reservation.
The virtual queue was quite nerve wracking for me! We are two seasoned Disney vacationers and can get through Hollywood Studios fairly quickly. The shows aren’t our favorite on property (besides Indiana Jones) so a boarding pass of 60+ would have been tough but we would have bit the bullet and waited around anyway. We decided to make HS our first stop (Sun 1/26) of our trip while we were fresh and rested. We parked by 5:45 and were waiting at Toy Story Land with the crowd a little before 6:30. At 7am we joined the boarding group and somehow lucked out with boarding group 9!!!! We rope dropped Slinky dog dash (walked right on and when we got off the wait was already 90 minutes) as we got off we were notified our boarding group was called with a 1 hr return window. I was completely caught off guard by that so we left Toy Story Land and went on to StarWars Land. The thing I really did enjoy about Ride of the Resistance was that the ride queue really helped things move along. By the time we walked through the standby queue and sat through the short clips, we were boarding the ride! Smuggler’s Run was crazy busy but we were able to hop on the single riders line and still ended up together! Overall mission accomplished- however when we go back to HS Wednesday, I don’t foresee us repeating all of this. The wait times for the whole park are high and the crowds are alot to navigate through.
Btw my family and I cannot believe how many people are at the parks in general at the end of January. Whatever “off-season” we all knew of, no longer exists!
We were at HS yesterday. We arrived around 7:35am and I casually snagged backup Boarding Passes with no expectation of getting called (or sticking around if we did – we have 3 kids 5 & under in our group). Our boarding group got called at 6:45pm with a 1 hour return window!!!!!
We waited in the queue, which took a solid hour, I would say, although it was almost constantly moving. We got the B plan for the second AA (i only know because I looked it up – otherwise wouldn’t have made a difference) but the first one seemed functioning to me. An incredible ride and worth the wait! So immersive!