This week, staff writer and weekly Walt Disney World Update author Mark Goldhaber answers letters on various topics. First, Mark answers questions from readers who need some trip planning advice. Glenn Vines writes:
We are preparing for a late November trip to Walt Disney World. We have always stayed at the Value Resorts in the past and are pretty serious about going the Moderate route this year. My biggest concern is the efficiency of the bus service.
The Values were always very good, especially at Sports when we were always, “first on, first off.” Pop was good, but it was always the longest walk from the park exit to the bus stop (since it’s the newest) as well as a lot more riders. I have heard that Coronado Springs is the most efficient, but have also seen it get low marks from readers in the “Unofficial Guide”(of the moderates). In addition to Coronado Springs we are also considering Port Orleans, with French Quarter a slight nod over Riverside, but only because of the pool area. We like the appeal of taking the boats to the Downtown Disney area from Port Orleans along with its close proximity.
The only other major consideration for us at this time is the quality of the pool/play area. We have always liked the Values pools, but the Moderates seem are a bit nicer w/the water slides, especially Coronado Springs with The Dig and Port Orleans/French Quarter, however I’m just going on pictures and reviews.
Sorry to be so windy, but would appreciate your input on the subject.
In the moderates, I’ve only stayed at Coronado Springs and Port Orleans Riverside (back when it was still Dixie Landings). Both were fine and enjoyable. Coronado Springs Resort is more of a convention hotel, but that means that the facilities are less crowded since so many people are busy at the conventions. The Dig Site looked nice, there were boats you could rent to go out on Lago Dorado, and the food court was interesting (though if I’m in a food court, I don’t want to go get my own food and then get charged a mandatory service fee because they seated me and brought me my beverage). I loved the decor at Riverside and enjoyed the Ol’ Man Island pool.
That said, if I stay at a moderate again, I really want to try Port Orleans French Quarter. It looks really nice, and I’ve heard nothing but good things about it. If you scan our discussion forums, there are a lot of people pushing it as the best of the moderates. Of course, as always, your mileage may vary. I also have someone at my office that stays at Caribbean Beach every time they go there. Everybody likes something different.
Whichever resort you choose, I’m sure that you’ll have a great time. Enjoy!
Anne Duncan writes:
What feedback do you have about Downtown Disney and the Disney Port Orleans Resort – Riverside? Is it convenient to go back and forth or is it really hard to get back and forth?
I stayed at Riverside back when it was still called Dixie Landings, and we enjoyed the boat down the Sassagoula River to Downtown Disney. If I recall correctly, it’s a pleasant half-hour boat ride each way. There are also buses that can get you there a little more quickly, depending on how often they’re running. I’d have to say that both the Riverside and French Quarter portions of Port Orleans are the most convenient non-Disney’s Vacation Club resorts to Downtown Disney.
Jennifer writes:
I was looking for some information on good shows for us to see with our sons, ages 8 and 12. What do I need to know about getting to these shows and any other valuable information on Disney events that they may enjoy and price discounts. What would I be smart to book in advance? We are staying off property in a condo.
A great deal depends on what your sons enjoy watching or doing. Some favorite shows include Festival of the Lion King at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and much of the live entertainment at Epcot (The Jammitors, Orisi Risi and Matzurisa are great if they love drums and percussion). The only things that can be booked in advance are dining, special boat cruises or tours and Cirque du Soleil La Nouba. With the ages of your sons, I think that the only tour that you’d be able to do would be the Family Magic Tour, and they might be starting to age out of that, depending on their personalities and what they enjoy doing. The kids’ Pirate Cruises are for ages 4-10, so only your youngest would be able to do that.
With the number of questions that you have, I’d recommend posting to our MousePad discussion forums (link), where you’ll get many suggestions from many Disney veterans in a short amount of time. Remember that the more information that you can provide about what you’re looking for, the better the answers are that you’ll get.
Annie Downs-Gabel writes:
Thanks for the fun article on Fantasia Gardens (link). One of my sons is a putt-putt golf nut and so we’ve tried all the Walt Disney World courses except Fantasia Fairways (next trip!) and agree that they’re about the best courses we’ve ever been to. Your article was great and I loved seeing the photos. It’s fun to see some information on things other than the parks. I enjoy your articles quite a lot!
Glad you enjoyed it. It reminded me that we haven’t played it in a while. Thanks for your kind words about my stories.
Dean Pelias writes:
If you have a trip planned from May 25- May 30 for a family of 5 -ages 2-4-6, what parks would you visit and when? Also if you had a couple of extra hours at night and wanted to see some thrill rides what order would you place on visiting Expedition at Animal Kingdom, Mission Space and Test Track at Epcot, and Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror at MGM?
A lot depends on the kids, their temperaments and their likes and dislikes. With six days (full days?), you have time to spend a day at each park, with extra time to go back and see what you weren’t able to finish or re-ride favorites. As to which park is best on which day, take a look at the best days page over at touringplans.com (link).
As far as what to do with a night off, it probably depends on whether you’ve been there before, what type of ride you prefer, and how much you’re able to accomplish using rider swap during the days. Personally, I’d have a hard time deciding, and it would probably depend on what I was able to ride during the day. I’m not a big fan of Test Track, and Mission: Space is a one-and-done for me. I’d be more likely to re-ride Soarin’ than Mission: Space. I love Everest, and would ride it several times, but I also love the one-two punch of Tower and Rock ‘n Roller Coaster. I’d also love to head to the Magic Kingdom to ride the mountain range (Space, Splash, Big Thunder), plus see some of the stuff that the kids wouldn’t have patience to see.
I know that I haven’t answered your question so much as posed more of my own, but whenever I help somebody plan their trip, I always take the time to find out more about them so that I would know what might work best for their particular preferences.
Michelle Culver writes:
I apologize for my lack in proper terminology, however in a February Park Update you wrote about the conversion of rooms in the All Stars Music Resort (link). When will these new rooms be made available and are there already these types of rooms available to guests in any of the other value resorts?
Thanks so much for all the hard work you and the other MousePlanet staffer’s go through to make sure to bring a welcomed touch of Disney to our screens everyday! Thanks for the info! Have a wonderfully magical day!
Thanks for your kind words.
The All-Star family suites are expected to start becoming available beginning June 4, with all of the suites to be completed by October 13. They will only be available at All-Star Music for now, in the Jazz Inn and Calypso buildings. It is rumored, however, that the second phase of Pop Century will be built as all-suites. There’s no time frame announced for Pop yet, though.
Sue Rice writes:
First of all, great Web site. Thanks for your hard work. My husband and I are going to Walt Disney World for 2 weeks after Thanksgiving 2006. I read that you said the FREE Universal Express ride system is being discontinued at Universal Studios. Does that include the people staying at the Universal Resorts? We have made reservations to stay at the Royal Pacific Hotel for 3 nights based on the fact that we would get free Universal Express rides. Please let me know what information you have.
Thanks for your kind words about MousePlanet.
The free Universal Express system that is available to all park guests is what is going away. The unlimited Express passes for hotel guests, as well as the reserved Express Plus passes are remaining. Enjoy your trip!
Next, Mark answers some questions regarding attraction refurbishments and closures. Lisa Barker writes:
I love reading your Walt Disney World update every Monday. You provide a lot more info than Disney. I am curious about Disney’s plans for Time Keeper and the Wonders of Life Pavilion. My husband and I were in Disneyland in March and we travel to Walt Disney World every October, so your updates/info really come in handy.
Thanks so much for your kind words about the Update. I do my best to keep them up-to-date and accurate.
From what I’ve heard, the animatronics, screens and “lean rails” over at Timekeeper have been removed and work is proceeding quickly on the Monsters, Inc.-themed attractin to be called “The Laugh Floor.” To my knowledge, nothing is currently planned for the Wonders of Life, and I’ve heard that it will not reopen again. I’ve heard rumors that it’s been partially gutted, but have not had that confirmed by anybody.
Mark Harris writes:
I recall checking out MGM at Disney World back in 1989 when it first opened. It took all of 30 minutes to see everything yet I thought it was pretty cool. Since I was an aspiring Animator/artist I was glued to the Animation tours. How cool was that?
So I now have a few questions that you may or may not have the answers to, or perhaps this has been answered somewhere I just didn’t find it.
#1. Will the MGM ever reopen its Animation tours to what it used to be? With the recent purchase of PIXAR, might that be included in a revised tour? I heard that Disney traditional animation is going to be resurrected. Is it possible that the Orlando Studio would ever be a functioning studio again?
#2. Has there ever been talk of shutting down Indiana Jones Stunt Crap-tacular and giving Orlando the coveted Indiana Jones ride that California has? Space is probably an issue, but that Stunt show blows chunks.
#3 Star Tours? Will that ride ever be updated? I know these sim-rides are great for saving space verses a ride that drives on a track so I’m not suggesting they re-do it, but I was curious if there has ever been talk of either re-filming the video or updating the vehicle so its not so “Return of the Jedi-ish?” At the very least updating the female guide instructing us how to board the vehicle—that woman HAS to be in her 50s in real life now.
#4 Do they film any TV shows or studio audience shows there at MGM? I used to love the backlot tour where you drive around “Residential drive”—but now I’m curious if they do any filming there at all?
My wife and I also went to the Disney-MGM Studios shortly after it opened in 1989. It wasn’t 30 minutes, but it was definitely a half-day park. The backlot tour did just about everything except Animation on the right side of the park. Residential Street, Catastrophe Canyon, the tram even went through New York Street and Washington Square. You also got the water tank show, a special effects show, a look at how the effects and editing for a short featuring Bette Midler called “The Lottery” were done, a tour through the gallery above the soundstages (which were actually being used for filming back then), a look at the sound and video editing room, and so forth. Then there was the Animation Tour, a show at the Theater of the Stars (which used to be located right about where the Legends of Hollywood store now sits), the Great Movie Ride, the Indy stunt show, Superstar Television and the Monster Sound Show. I think that was it at the time. I have an old park map around here somewhere.
Anyway, to your questions.
#1. I doubt that it will ever reopen the old animation tour, or that they’ll reopen the Florida animation studio. That said, you should never say never with Disney.
#2. There have been many rumors over the years, but the last I’ve heard is that the stunt show is staying.
#3. George Lucas went on the record last year that the films at Star Tours would be updated. However, there was no timetable given, so who knows hot long that’ll take.
#4. Residential Street is gone, and so is any filming that took place there. The only current filming is whenever Meredith Vieira comes down to shoot a few Millionaire shows. Otherwise, the days of the “Thunder in Paradise” TV show and other specials filming at the Studios are long gone.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but there you have it.
Tim Johansen writes:
I have enjoyed your weekly park updates for many years and have found them most helpful. We are planning to stay at the contemporary from August 19th to 26th. Should the work be completed in the garden wings? Which portions of the resort have been completed? Thank you again for the weekly updates.
Thanks for your kind words. I’m not sure of the exact schedule, but I would expect that some of the North Garden Wing rooms would be among the last to be done. The work started in the South Garden Wing, then started in the Tower. After the south wing rooms were done, work moved to the North Garden Wing as the Tower work continued from the upper floors on down. So the last work to be done will likely be some north wing rooms, lower tower floors and some of the public areas. You may want to ask when you check in if renovations are complete on your room or if it’s one of the rooms remaining to be done.
I’ll be down from August 20-26 at Old Key West. If you see me, say hi. I may have some MousePlanet buttons left.
Karen DeSantis writes:
I just returned from Walt Disney World and heard a rumor from a cast member that another park is on the drawing board. He heard that talks are beginning about a Villains themed park that would have extreme rides as the attractions. Have you heard anything about that?
Thank you for all your tips and comments. We spent a wonderful 10 days touring and your tips helped us to enjoy more details in each park.
That rumor has been around for probably five to ten years. While it’s possible that the concept has been batted around, I doubt that there’s any work on any park under way at Walt Disney World, nor will there be any for some time. They want to build up attendance some more at the existing parks (especially the non-MK parks) before they start on another park, to make sure that any new park wouldn’t just cannibalize the existing parks.
Thanks for your kind words about MousePlanet. We do our best here to get you the information that you’re looking for. Thanks for writing!
Cid writes:
Thank you Mouse Planet for the latest stuff. I just wanted to ask about rumors going around at Started By A Mouse.com saying that the attraction the Carousel of Progress at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom will mainly shut down this year (2006). Is that rumor true or false?
I’ve heard the rumor many times from many people (it probably goes back to an old Jim Hill story), but I haven’t gotten confirmation from anybody that would be in a position to know for sure. In other words, it’s anybody’s guess, and I don’t want to go out on a limb to make a prediction at this point. If I get anything valid enough to make public, I’ll get it into a Park Update and post it on our discussion forums.
Finally, Mark answers letters in relation to his article on the 2006 Disney stockholder meeting (link). Darla Weeks writes:
I enjoyed your column about the stockholders meeting. I want to go next year, because I live in Sonoma County and if they have it in Anaheim again I will attend. Could you please let me know the date for next year? I work in a hospital so I have to turn in the days I want off a year ahead.
Thanks for your note. There’s really nothing to tell about next year, because Disney doesn’t announce the date until early-to-mid January. Everyone was waiting for the announcement this year so that they could make their plans (and plane reservations, if necessary). The popular guess is that there’s a good chance that next year’s meeting will be at Walt Disney World, and then it would return to Anaheim in 2008. But nobody knows for sure except for the planners at Disney. Sorry that I couldn’t give you more information.
Vicki writes:
You mentioned in your stockholder article that Song of the South will not be released on DVD. So what is the explanation that was given for this?
Here’s the entire response given by Bob Iger:
“We’ve discussed this a lot. We believe this is actually an opportunity, from a financial perspective, to put Song of the South out. I screened it fairly recently, because I hadn’t seen it since I was a child, and I have to tell you after I watched it—even considering the context that it was made—I had some concerns about it because of what it depicted, and thought that it’s quite possible that people wouldn’t consider it in the context that it was made, and there were some depictions that I mentioned earlier in the film that I think would be bothersome to a lot of people; so owing to the sensitivity that exists in our culture, balancing it with the desire to maybe increase our earnings a bit, but never putting that in front of what we thought were our ethics and our integrity, we made the decision not to re-release it. It’s not a decision that’s made forever. I imagine this is going to continue to come up; but for now, we simply don’t have plans to bring it back because of the sensitivities that I mentioned. Sorry.”
