Walt Disney World Fall 2016 Update
Bonjour from France! We are at Marne-la-Vallée, having just finished the Disneyland Paris Half Marathon in the midst of our real-life “Impressions de Brickers” tour of locales featured in Impressions de France. There’s a lot to cover in terms of changes to Disneyland Paris since our last visit, and we’ll get to that in due time…
However, we wanted to provide you with a few updates in the meantime from our recent “stopover” in Walt Disney World on the way here. Aside from the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Recap and Booth Menus for Epcot Food & Wine Festival that we are in the process of posting/reviewing (more are still coming–internet connectivity has been a challenge!) we have a few other quick things to report.
In general, crowd levels were quite low during our visit, as has been the case all summer. If you’re getting giddy for low crowds during your own fall vacation to Walt Disney World this year…don’t. October should be a busy month–it definitely is at least in terms of the hotel bookings, but we also expect off-site guests to contribute to larger than normal crowds. A slight dip from the norm is possible for the Christmas season, particularly among semi-frequent visitors, many of whom took impulse trips to see the last year of Osborne Lights, and have no incentive to return this year.
In Magic Kingdom, the big ‘news’ is the ongoing work being done to Tomorrowland. The Carousel of Progress’ repainting complete, they’ve moved on to the rocks that line the entrance to the land, and are moving from the earthy, southwest tones here to something more akin to a moon planet of Venus, with metallic blue and purple hues.
It’s difficult to judge the unfinished product fully, but I like what I see thus far. I’d prefer the clean lines of the original Tomorrowland aesthetic (which, ironically, is timeless as compared to the tired current incarnation of the land), but I think going for a sci-fi alien planet look is a decent bandaid until Disney invests in a full scale overhaul of the land.
We also decided to pay our respects to Skippy in Stitch’s Great Escape, and did that for the first time in several years. With yesterday’s news that the attraction is going seasonal, it seems the new Wreck-It-Ralph Sugar Rush Racers replacement has been greenlit. It doesn’t exactly strike us as a good fit, but Stitch’s Great Escape is so reviled that this is one situation where any change (even a closure) is a good one.
Aside from that and Halloween decorations, not much to report in Magic Kingdom. I also finally was able to dine at Be Our Guest Restaurant for dinner (in case you wondered why this post leads with a random photo of lamb), as we were able to score a same-day ADR!
Disney’s Hollywood Studios was a quick visit for us due to the current state of the park, but we had time to check out the construction status of Star Wars Land and Toy Story Land. Progress is finally being made removing the Streets of America, and it was a bit bittersweet. While I totally see why that area–a veritable ghost town during the day–is being repurposed, we have a lot of fond memories from there at Osborne Lights over the years.
In the more immediate future, work was continuing on PizzeRizzo, the restaurant replacing Pizza Planet. I’m really excited for this, and hope it’s the first of many placemaking efforts at Disney’s Hollywood Studios that will be packaged into the park’s relaunch. I know PizzeRizzo is supposed to open in “Fall 2016,” but I wouldn’t be surprised to see that date slip into Winter 2016. Looks like a lot of interior progress remains to be done.
We didn’t spend a lot of time in Animal Kingdom this trip either, but we did attend a Disney Vacation Club 25th Anniversary party there one evening (will do a full report later), and it was quite fun. Progress on Pandora remains ongoing, and it’s really something to see the exterior in person from a distance outside the park. The scale of that land looks insane. We can’t wait.
The recent news with Animal Kingdom has been the end of Jungle Book: Alive with Magic, and I can’t say we are disappointed that it’s reign of terror is over (is anyone?). It’s a shame the show was so poor, because the performers really did give it their all. On the plus side, Rivers of Light was testing after-hours during the DVC 25th Anniversary party, and we watched the floats move out and some test patterns display. With the floats now working, it would seem the show should be ready sooner rather than later.
Over in Epcot, Food & Wine Festival kicked off, with new decor and a couple of booths being upgraded to the designs to that fit organically within World Showcase. With as much ‘clutter’ as has been added around World Showcase in the last decade, these booths are a welcome addition and one that makes the festival seem less visually intrusive. It also appears new flowers have been planted and the park looks nice.
Epcot is also quite clearly in a state of flux. I made sure to watch Universe of Energy twice, as I think there’s a decent chance that won’t be possible come the second week of January 2017. We were there for the last ever showing of Stormstruck (because this is what bloggers do, I guess?), and the closure of it and Sum of All Thrills means the majority of Innoventions now sits empty. This is quite clearly intentional, but the question of what Disney intends to do with these spaces going forward remains.
Will both sides be razed and new spaces built? Will the Guardians of the Galaxy attraction encroach into Innoventions territory near Universe of Energy? A lot of unknowns, and while we think Epcot needs help–and fast–we’re hopeful the Guardians of the Galaxy attraction slated for Future World is delayed and rethought. (At present, it’s on track to be announced in the next couple of months.)
Rounding things out, there was more progress at Disney Springs, most notably Planet Hollywood’s transition from circa 1991 to circa 1930s (it may be a step back in time, but it’s most definitely a thematic step forward), while also adding a Guy Fieri menu (two steps forward, one step back…), and continuing progress on The Edison. We visited Disney Springs a couple of times to try new-to-us dining options.
At the resorts, construction remains ongoing at the Copper Creek Cabins at Wilderness Lodge. Other than that, no real “major” changes to report on since our last visit in July.
Finally, we’ll leave you with some cheesiness. Above is a shot I took last Thursday at Walt Disney World, one of my favorite scenes in Impressions de France because it captures a quiet moment between a couple, and what I consider to be a “squad goal” (my attempt to keep up with the gibe of the kids these days) for Sarah and I. Well, two days later we recreated the shot ourselves while visiting Étretat…
Thanks to our friend Mark Willard for capturing the shot. Also thanks to the kind French stranger who allowed us to use her dog for the photo. (After, we went to her house and met her cats…it’s a long story.) By the way, is anyone interested in reading an extend trip/race report from Disneyland Paris that also includes our Impressions de France filming location excursions? Considering doing it since there’s an Epcot connection, but not sure if any of you care. (No offense whatsoever if not–better to be honest than waste my time and yours!)
Alright, that does it for now! We dined at several new (to us) restaurants, stayed at a few different resorts, and have other specific topics to address, but thought we’d start with this high-level overview of some changes since our last visit. Throughout the week we’ll have some additional posts and updates, so stay tuned…
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Your Thoughts
Any thoughts on the latest updates at Walt Disney World? Any other news or rumors of your own to share? Share any questions, tips, or additional thoughts you have in the comments!
Looking forward to our fall trip to Disney Paris and your upcoming post. If you had the time to visit only 1 park in Disney Paris as adult which one would you visit this fall & why? Thanks…
Love the Impressions de France recreation! That’s exactly the kind of nerdy thing (no offense 😉 thing that I would do too! So yes please, would very much like to see your Impressions de France tour.
Another vote yes for an Impressions de France filming location report!
I would love a report about Disneyland Paris! We are debating whether or not to go there in the fall of 2017
I think everyone including me wants to hear about France!
Specifically, I’d be interested in your thoughts as to whether the “Tomorrowland problem” (Discoveryland problem?) applies there – I personally love clean lines (making Paris’ Tomorrowland equivalent probably my least favourite), but it does neatly sidestep the problem in my opinion.
My $0.02 – I liked Paris’ Discoverland more than either WDW or DL from the point of view of theming (even with the current construction walls).
Yes – would love to see & hear all about your Impressions de France & Disneyland Paris 1/2 Marathon adventures!
Would love to see more on the “impressions de Brickers”. Would love to see more side by side photos of recreated scenes too.
I am so down to read a trip report like that!
Another big yes to the extended location report! And a huge thanks for your insightful reports. I’m planning my first solo trip for January and your resources have been a huge help.
A big YES vote for an extended 1/2 marathon/ Disney Paris/Impressions de France report. How did you find the locations?
Sounds like a killer trip!
I second this!! 🙂
“Impressions de Brickers…”? Yes, please!!!
This has to be the title…
The France photo is awesome.
Sweet picture recreation!
Congratulations on the Paris Half! My wife was there and you kindly let her take a picture with you to send to me stuck at home.
My main concern about Streets of America closing is that it’s the only place I’ve found Mickey Pretzels in DHS. I hope that pretzel cart reappears in the newly designed space or somewhere else in the park. In my opinion the one thing that every Disney theme park needs more of is Mickey Pretzel vendor locations. 😉
I was there in June they had the pretzels! They were in 2 Location around the stage locate in front of the great movie ride.
Cool! Thanks for the tip!
Like you, I am a big fan of Mickey Pretzels and am constantly on the look-out for vendor locations! I have found them in HS before in front of the entrance to Fantastmic. Good luck!
Thanks!
Yes to a trip report! Really interested in hearing about the race especially and your thoughts on runDisney in general.
Do u think River of Lights will open this year for the holidays? Or be shelved for next year?
Please write a DLP/Impressions/France trip report ! We’d really love to hear about it- #VacationGoals
Another vote for a France/DLP report! We’re planning a trip there in 2018, so your experiences (and photos) would be invaluable.
Ditto on a France trip report! Seeing a few pictures on Instagram here and there have made me really want to start planning our family’s “Midnight in Paris” trip that we’ve been putting off – as with Impressions de France, we want to visit our favorite places from the Woody Allen film (our family’s favorite movie). Also want to make a side trip to DLP while we’re at it!
Please, Please, Please do a trip report for this trip! Would LOVE it!
Yes, I would love to hear more about your travels to France! I love stopping in France in Epcot to see the show! I don’t care that it’s been the same for years….such beautiful views!