Happy May, everyone. Don’t forget that this coming Sunday is Mother’s Day. In this week’s mailbag, staff writer Mark Goldhaber answers questions from readers on a variety of Walt Disney World topics, including some readers with questions about Halloween holiday travel. Deedra P. writes:
Hello there! Reading the trip reports became a slight addiction for me. I love reading about and learning from all of the other readers’ experiences. Will you be posting any more trip reports for Walt Disney World?
Are you referring to trip reports written by me, or just published on MousePlanet in general? If you’re looking for trip reports from me specifically, I doubt that it’s going to happen. By the time that I get the Park Update written and all of the necessary work done for the podcast, there’s very little time left for anything, let alone a trip report. I’d love to write them again, but I don’t see myself having the time unless I give up my other MousePlanet work.
If you’re talking about trip reports published on MousePlanet in general, I don’t believe that they’ll be published on the front page any more, but the overall volume will probably increase now that trip reports will be posted directly on MousePad. Not only will there be more, but they will probably appear closer to the time of the actual trip, rather than after they age in the queue for a little while.
In either case, I hope that I’ve answered your questions. Thanks for writing!
Deedra P. responds:
Mark, thanks so much for the quick response! You most definitely answered my question. I was referring to the reports posted by all of the “random” readers/travelers. I’ve usually just perused the trip reports archive and waited for the new season’s postings… but I noticed that they stopped back in Summer of ’06. I then discovered the reports on the front page just last month. But, I didn’t know about MousePad. Exciting news! Thanks again – I appreciate it!
My pleasure. Be careful with MousePad, though. It can get addictive.
It’s also interesting how many MousePlaneteers there are here in the NY Capital District, too. One of these days we have to set up a get-together. (I keep saying that, and one of these days I might just do it!)
Harry W. writes:
Help!! I’m devastated. I was planning a huge Walt Disney World trip for the first week of September until I found out the Haunted Mansion was going to be closed. Sadly, I cannot go the week it reopens due to school starting. And I can’t go before June 6th because I’m in school then too. Sad irony. It probably seems silly to postpone a vacation because of one attraction being closed, but the Haunted Mansion has always been the crux of fantasy for my Disney vacations as long as I can remember.
I thought of going to Disneyland instead, but then I’ll miss out on my planned Polynesian stay and the other three parks not available in California. And Paris or Tokyo vacations might be a bit too wacky for my family at the moment. Do you have any advice? Do attractions ever open before they are slated to be? Is there any kind of track record for posted closure dates? Please help, I’d hate to have to bring this issue up with a therapist.
I feel your pain. It’s never a happy occasion to hear that a favorite attraction will be closed during your trip.
Personally, I’m thrilled that the Mansion will finally be getting the TLC that it needs. When I rode it in December during MouseFest, it was so much less enjoyable than in the past due to the horrible condition of the interior. Compared to the refurbished version in California, it is in woefully bad shape. (And not in a good way.) Regardless of the planned upgrades, the Mansion itself needs the work.
As to your trip, it’s possible that the attraction could open early, but I wouldn’t count on it. The Imagineers usually have the schedule mapped out pretty well. Of course, you never know. If things go more smoothly than expected, you could get soft openings the week of Labor Day. If not, I’m hoping that you’ll have other chances in the future to return to see the Mansion restored to its full glory. In the meantime, you could use the refurbishment as a motivator to try something that you never tried before.
Sorry that I don’t have better news, but if you’ve seen the Mansion recently, you’ll understand that this is sorely needed, and that you’ll be able to enjoy the results of this refurbishment for many years to come.
Kelly Z. writes:
I was reading today’s release of the Walt Disney World Park Update, and wanted to chime in on the DVC “members only” policy for contacting DVC member services.
In the spring of 2006, I rented points from a DVC member for a stay at Saratoga Springs. The DVC member provided me with the phone number to member services so I could verify the reservation was correctly set, and in my name. Even last spring, member services would not talk to me because I was not “the member of DVC.” And—to be honest—the two reps I did speak with were surprisingly quite rude about it. In my opinion, that’s not the right approach.
If I were interested in investing in DVC, after the treatment I received on those two phone calls, I would certainly reconsider investing! I think they’re overlooking the fact that renters could be potential investors, and should treat them in the same manner they would treat the DVC member—or any Disney guest. I’m not saying they should have bended the rules and spoken to me about the reservation by any means… just that they could have more politely explained the policy, while staying true to the hospitality one has come to expect from Disney.
Anyhow, the DVC member I rented from was nice enough to offer to arrange a 3-way phone call so I could hear first-hand about my reservation.
Love the park update! I look forward to reading it each Monday! Have a “fantasmic” day!
The policy had always been members only, at least unofficially, but DVC has gone to strictly enforcing it, probably because of all of the people who were calling to confirm reservations on rented points, but possibly also because of them calling to make dining and other reservations using the toll-free line instead of the main Walt Disney World reservations line, since the toll-free number is maintained for members only by member dues. Either way, there’s no excuse for being rude on the phone. Even if the previous call was a real pan in the neck non-member asking for the moon, they need to reset themselves before taking their next call.
I don’t know if it’s because I’m a member, I’m well organized with my information and my requests when I call, or just because I lead off with my name and member number as soon as they answer the phone, but I’ve never had any bad experiences with surly cast members on the DVC member phone line. I’m sorry that you had to deal with that.
Thanks for your kind words regarding the Update, and thanks for writing!
Kim S. writes:
I read somewhere this week that Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique will open another location in the fall at the Kingdom. Do you know anything about this? Also, any word on ticket sales for the Not So Scary Halloween tickets?
It’s interesting timing that you sent this note today, as I’ve literally just received the details on what’s going on with the Boutique.
The second location for the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique will open inside Cinderella Castle on September 10. The location’s current tenant, The King’s Gallery, will close on July 15 and all merchandise will be moved to the several other Arribas Brothers stores around property. Construction is to take place from July 5 through September 1, and the Boutique will officially open on September 10. (Of course, it’s entirely possible that there will be a soft opening from September 2-9.)
As with the current location, reservations are highly recommended (407-WDW-STYLE/407-939-7895), and can be made up to 180 in advance. Reservations for the new Boutique can be made starting this Sunday.
Mickey’s-Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Tickets went on sale this past Tuesday (on May 1). You can phone 407 W-DISNEY to order them.
Peter writes:
MousePlanet recently reported that a Halloween-themed race is rumored to be coming to Disney Studios beginning in the fall of 2007.
I read in an “Unofficial guide book” that a Nightmare Before Christmas-themed event is going to be scheduled to coincide with Universal Studios Halloween event. Have you heard anything about this? I had a chance to ride the Disneyland Haunted Mansion Nightmare Before Christmas overlay in 2005. It’s fantastic. I suspect it would be very popular in Orlando too.
Registration is now open for the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 13K and 6.5K races (link).
I’ve heard rumors about a Nightmare Before Christmas event at the Studios for at least a couple of years now, but nothing has ever happened to it. However, it’s more likely that it would appear as a Studios event than a retheming of the Haunted Mansion.
While Disneyland, with its 70-plus percent local crowd, can get away with having the Mansion down for several weeks each year for retheming and an additional several weeks with the Mansion in its “NBC” overlay, it would never fly with the 70-plus percent of out-of-towners, who would be upset if they couldn’t see the Haunted Mansion that they expect. In fact, I’ve already received emails from people and seen posts on our MousePad discussion forums from others who are upset about the Florida attraction’s closure this summer for its much-needed refurbishment. I think that the folks at Walt Disney World learned from the cake-stle fiasco for the park’s 25th birthday that changing an icon at the park is not a wise move (though how—knowing that—they went ahead with the wand at Epcot and the hat at the Studios is beyond me).
Susan H. writes:
I am hoping you can resolve an argument in our household. Who was the original operator of the Swan and Dolphin hotels when they first opened? I have been unable to find the info anywhere on the Internet. I remember it being Marriott…but my Disney-phobic son says “no way!”
I’m sorry to tell you, but your son is correct. While Disney was in talks with Marriott about running the Grand Floridian around the same time as they were talking with Tishman about the Swan and Dolphin, no deal was ever made with Marriott, and Tishman chose Westin and Sheraton to run their properties.
Barb writes:
We do not know which “village” we will be staying in at the Caribbean Beach Resort. We booked a standard room. Are there places to refill the mugs available for purchase at each one or must we travel the long way to Old Port Royale to refill them?
While the Caribbean Beach Resort is the one moderate resort that I have not yet stayed at, I’m almost certain that there are no auxiliary food and beverage locations aside from Old Port Royale. If your room is far from Old Port Royale and you don’t wish to walk the whole way, you could always take one of the internal buses around the resort.
