Walt Disney World Resort Update for July 16-22, 2019

Walt Disney World Resort Update for July 16-22, 2019

Writer's note: In my report on the media-invited night at the Disney Villains After Hours hard ticket Magic Kingdom event in our Walt Disney World Resort Update for June 11-17, 2019, I noted that I would be returning to the event during the summer with a ticket I had purchased and would provide “a more personal take on the night after that visit.” Well, I returned on July 11, and while it was a fun night, I cannot say that I felt the night merited the price (even as discounted for Disney Vacation Club Members and Annual Passholders with advance purchase). The commentary about Disney After Hours I have repeated after each of the media-invited nights I atteneded is that:

they are specifically NOT at a price-point designed or intended for everyone. As someone who has a very limited amount of time in Central Florida, like a business traveler attending a conference, you might think of a night of Disney After Hours like an evening at a concert, theater, or sports event from a price standpoint. For a parks fanatic, someone who wants to ride and re-ride attractions or spend a lot of time with characters, this can also be a special treat kind of experience. In sum, for those that have planned their visits to Walt Disney World Resort with FastPass+ reservations, with multi-day tickets (or Annual Passes), Disney After Hours retains only its unique aspect: do you want that Disney PhotoPass photo of you alone (or as a couple or family) on a Pirates of the Caribbean boat? Would you like to have Main Street U.S.A. mostly to yourself? Those are all pretty “cool” opportunities that this event can provide. If you hate crowds and hate lines, these events may be just what you have been hoping to find. For Disney Resort Guests, there are times of the year that Extra Magic Hours may provide a similar experience without additional cost (except for the food and beverages).

As an Annual Passholder, I go to the parks a lot. I bought the Disney Villains After Hours ticket looking for some of those unique aspects that I experienced during the prior After Hours events, but with the Disney Villains overlay added here. Instead, I got a much busier park than I expected. I got to experience some attractions as walk-ons—like the Tea Cups and Voyage of the Little Mermaid—but during my July 11 visit, Space Mountain was nearly a 30 minute wait, and Pirates of the Caribbean was nearly a 20 minute wait. Yes, both attractions have special “Villains” overlays (Space Mountain is in the near total dark with new music; Pirates has live actors), but these overlays are pretty much the same as those available at a lower price point during Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. Spending nearly a third of the event on just two short attractions is not ideal, and, indeed, if I had decided to try to ride these plussed attractions more than once, more than half of the event would have been gone. If I then add in the nearly 20 minutes for the stage show and the additional time viewing Maleficent, the fire-breathing dragon float (which is very cool), the night would be about over.

Unlike my media-invited visit to the unthemed Disney After Hours last year, neither my media-invited visit nor my paid visit to Disney Villains After Hours event provided an opportunity to experience a nearly empty Main Street U.S.A. for photos. Likewise, several other areas of the park. Rather, especially on July 11 paid visit, some areas of the park actually felt crowded. When I left the park at just past 1 a.m., Main Street was as busy as I have experienced during the end of some Extra Magic Hours and other after-hours parties like DVC Moonlight Magic and the holiday parties. The ferryboat back to the Transportation and Ticket Center that I boarded at 1:30 a.m. was very crowded with guests (and the monorails were not running). In other words, rather than a “limited attendance” experience with little or no wait for most attractions, I felt like I visited a slightly lower attendance version of the Halloween party without its parades, characters, fireworks, and candy, but at a premium price.

Disney Villains After Hours does not include Disney Villain encounters but does include some special photo backgrounds around the park.

One of the Disney Villains After Hours-exclusive features the “Villains Unite the Night” show which is performed three times throughout the night. The shows gather a crowd at the stage at Cinderella Castle.

The projections on the castle during the show are impressive.

The show includes a significant amount of castle and surrounding-area-launched fireworks.

“Villains Unite the Night” takes the stage for the final time at the conclusion of the evening, but Main Street U.S.A. was as crowded then as I have seen it at the end of many other evenings in the park.

The July 11 event did not afford opportunities to get photos of a mostly empty Main Street U.S.A., unlike the previous (unthemed) Disney After Hours.

Fireworks launched around the castle from the event-exclusive “Villains Unite the Night” show light up Main Street U.S.A. and are impressive.

Though the event does not include character encounters, several Disney Villains gather at the Main Street Station and bid goodbye to guests.

The ferryboat back to Transportation and Ticket Center at 1:30 a.m. after the event's conclusion was very crowded. The monorails were not running.

Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

Some folks that I have talked to who have never experienced the earlier versions of “After Hours” said that they felt Magic Kingdom did feel less crowded to them than usual. No question, of course, it was much less crowded than a busy summer day in the park. Clearly, guest perception of attendance levels will be based on experience.

This week, I also noticed that Disney's messaging about upcoming After Hours events has shifted language more toward a phrase like “experience attractions with lower wait times than usual.” In any event, it seems that something has changed that resulted in the park feeling much busier to me. I have asked Disney to provide some comments about what has changed and when we receive them, we will share them. As I said before, Disney After Hours events are fun, but whether the premium price was worth it to me is much less clear and I am no longer certain which guests would get the most value. Guests that value exclusive food and merchandise opportunities may find extra value in the event, as would guests that enjoy an opportunity to “dress up” in the park under the event's appropriate attire rules or to dance the night away with a DJ-hosted dance party, but I fit none of those categories. I welcome hearing our reader's thoughts on the subject.

News and Views

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Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance Opens December 5!

As we await the highly anticipated August 29 “phase one” opening of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disney Parks Blog announced that the attraction not scheduled to open then, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance will open on December 5, 2019. Disneyland, which saw its Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge open its “phase one” back on May 31, will debut its Rise of the Resistance attraction on January 17, 2020.

Final construction work is underway inside Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge as its August 29 opening approaches. Cast member previews are already being scheduled in August and Platinum Passholder (and above) previews have been announced, but not yet scheduled. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is one of two attractions created for Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, the new 14-acre additions to both Disneyland in California and Disney's Hollywood Studios in Florida. The first ride, Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run, opened on May 31, 2019 when Galaxy's Edge opened at Disneyland, and will open at Disney's Hollywood Studios on August 29, 2019.

Disney describes Rise of the Resistance as “the most immersive and advanced attraction ever imagined in a Disney Park,” and says opening the ride on December 5, Walt Disney's birthday, is a way to honor his legacy. The timing is a welcome surprise here on the East Coast and, as Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix noted in yesterday's Disneyland Resort Update, a disappointment for many West Coast fans, as Disney has said that Rise of the Resistance attraction would open in California by the end of the year. Disney Parks Blog describes the attraction as follows:

When it opens, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance will blur the lines between fantasy and reality and will put guests in the middle of a climactic battle between the First Order and the Resistance. Guests will be recruited to join Rey and General Organa at a secret base. Along the way, they will be captured by a First Order Star Destroyer. With the help of some heroes of the Resistance, they break out and must escape the Star Destroyer, protect the secret base, and stay one step ahead of Kylo Ren.

Attraction poster for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance attraction. Photo © Disney.

Disney Skyliner Gondola Transportation To Open September 29

Yesterday, Disney Parks Blog announced that the Disney Skyliner gondola transportation system will officially open on September 29, 2019. Disney Skyliner connects Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot to four resort hotels- Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and the new Disney’s Riviera Resort which is scheduled to open in December 2019.

Disney Skyliner is scheduled to open on September 29, 2019. Video ©Disney.

Disney Skyliner has been testing the colorful passenger cabin gondolas on the cables for several months now. Some of the cabins' exteriors feature graphics based on Disney films, attractions, and characters. All of the cabins are fully enclosed with windows that are tinted, but they are not air conditioned. Disney has said that the cabins are ventilated, but we have not yet experienced them or seen any published reports about passenger comforts other than that the interior benches will accommodate up to 10 passengers and that the system will be able to accommodate wheelchairs and ECVs. According to Orlando TV station WFTV-9 there are 300 Disney Skyliner cabins in total, which will be dispatched over six miles of cable, on trips that will take between five and 15 minutes depending on destination.

Protect the Pride at Disney's Animal Kingdom

As we noted earlier this summer, Disney's Animal Kingdom will participate in the “Protect the Pride” campaign to assist in the effort to help double the number of lions across Africa by 2050. Naturally, tied to the release of the new film The lion King, from July 19-25, for every guest that rides Kilimanjaro Safaris at the park, Disney Conservation Fund will donate $2 (up to $350,000 total) to the campaign. (Theme park admission is required.)

Since the release of the original animated version of The Lion King 25 years ago, according to Disney Parks Blog, Africa has lost half of its lion population, and now has only about 20,000 remaining. The Wildlife Conservation Network's Lion Recovery Fund has been established with the hope of doubling the lion population in the wild by 2050. We have been invited to an early morning media event at the park on Friday to kick off Disney's participation in the “Protect the Pride” campaign, so keep an eye on our social media channels for more!

Over this past weekend, JD McCrary and Shahadi Wright Joseph, voices of Young Simba and Young Nala in the upcoming new film “The Lion King” appeared at Disney's Animal Kingdom in advance of a showing of “Festival of the Lion King” to promote the film's July 19 opening. Video ©Disney.

On the more commercial side of Disney synergy, Disney Parks Blog also showed off a first look at the new merchandise coming to the park's Mombassa Marketplace and Discovery Trading Company starting July 19: a new Dooney & Bourke collection featuring Simba, Nala, Timon and Pumbaa. Also starting on July 19, guests can participate in a new scavenger hunt in the park by purchasing a map at outpost, Discovery Trading Company, Island Mercantile or Mombasa Marketplace and redeeming it (whether or not guests complete the hunt) at Mombassa Marketplace or The Outpost Shop in the Oasis by September 28, 2019, (or while supplies last) for “a savanna surprise.”

Disney's new “The Lion King” opens in theaters on July 19, including at Disney Springs. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Epcot Concerts & Candlelight Processional News and Calendar

Just over a month remains to see the Guardians of the Galaxy-Awesome Mix Live! on the America Gardens stage. The show has five performances scheduled daily through August 18. Star-Lord and Gamora, along with an “alien” band, take the audience on a “musical journey” that showcases hits from Star-Lord's Awesome Mix tapes. It is the same show that was performed last summer, and each live performance includes the same set list. Check the Times Guide and the My Disney Experience app for the daily schedule.

Guardians of the Galaxy – Awesome Mix Live! is scheduled on the American Gardens stage five times daily.

As a one time resident of Earth, Star-Lord attempts to teach an alien band music appropriate for Epcot (from the 1970s and 1980s, like on his “Awesome Mix Tapes, Vols. 1 & 2,” of course).

Gamora flies through her performance with the band (at least, when she is not annoyed with Star-Lord).

File Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

As Labor Day weekend approaches, this year's edition of the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival will debut on August 29 (yes, the very same day that Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge opens at Disney's Hollywood Studios). Recently, Disney Parks Blog provided more details about some of this year's marketplaces, noted that bookings are now open for the Tailgate Tastings hosted by ESPN's Monday Football (on select Sundays Starting September 8), listed some of the Radio Disney headliners coming to this year's edition of the Disney du Jour Dance Party, and noted that the calendar is continuing to filling up for the three-times-nightly Eat to the Beat Concert Series which runs until November 19. (This week, Disney announced Tiffany will return to the Eat to the Beat Concert Series, leaving only the act(s) performing November 12-14 to be announced.) Concert showtimes on Sundays through Thursdays will be the usual 5:30, 6:45, and 8:00 p.m., while on Fridays and Saturdays, the showtimes shift an hour later to 6:30, 7:45, and 9:00 p.m. The Concert Series wraps up on November 19 to allow the America Gardens stage to be prepared for the 2019 edition of Epcot's Candlelight Processional. Get even more details and make reservations by visiting TasteEpcot.com or calling (407) 939-3378.

Neil Patrick Harris, Gary Sinise, Whoopi Goldberg, Pat Sajak, Steven Curtis Chapman, and Edward James Olmos are all scheduled to return as celebrity narrators for this year's Candlelight Processional. Held at the America Gardens Theatre, the Candlelight Processional combines a live orchestra, massed choir and celebrity narrator in the retelling of the traditional Christmas story three times per night (5:00, 6:45, and 8:15 p.m.) during the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays (November 29 to December 30). Guaranteed seating is available by booking a breakfast, lunch, or dinner Candlelight Processional Dining Package at select Epcot eateries. Availability is limited and advance reservations are highly recommended and can be made up to 180 days prior to your visit. Bookings for Candlelight Processional Dining Packages will begin on July 3. EpcotHolidays.com is the page where you can find Festival information and Candlelight Processional Dining Packages starting July 3 (or call 407-WDW-DINE).

Neil Patrick Harris is scheduled to return to Epcot to narrate Candlelight Procession for the 12th year. File photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

For the convenience of our readers, all of the scheduled Eat to the Beat Concert Series performers and announced Celebrity Narrators for Candlelight Processional at America Gardens Theatre are shown in our Google Calendar of Epcot Events. All of the Guardians of the Galaxy-Awesome Mix Live! dates are noted as well. You can add the whole Event calendar to any calendar that supports the iCal format (like iPhone and Mac) by copying this link and, as we get additional information and update the calendar, the calendar will update on your subscribed device as well.

While our Google Calendar of Epcot Events lists announced performers, it is still always best to check the My Disney Experience app, Times Guide, and, yes, sometimes even signs posted at the park entrances and at the theater noting any last minute changes. The calendar is provided as a courtesy “as is, where is” without any guarantees. We do respectfully request that you do not post our entire calendar on another site without first asking our permission. Walt Disney World Resort does provide schedules in the My Disney Experience app, but does not allow you to add dates to calendars outside the app itself.

Views Around the World

There are quite a few views in other sections of this week's Update. Here, after a view from Top of the World Lounge and a view inside Magic Kingdom, the rest of our views are from Epcot.

As always, Top of the World Lounge atop Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort, open for Disney Vacation Club Members staying in Walt Disney World resort hotels and their guests, provides an excellent nighttime view of Magic Kingdom. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

A new design has been painted on the wall outside the former Stitch's Great Escape (now character greeting) entrance. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Epcot

Lights that used to illuminate the Leave a Legacy monuments on the west side of the entry plaza still shine at night.

From aboard Test Track, we get a view of the exterior of the under-construction space-themed restaurant next door.

Construction continues at the former Universe of Energy pavilion which will become the entrance to a Guardians of the Galaxy-themed roller coaster expected to open by 2021. The coaster's show building (at right) continues to fade (somewhat) into the blue sky with the addition of a blue roof.

Kiosks for the upcoming Epcot International Food & Wine Festival are beginning to be installed around the park. The Festival begins August 29.

The last light of day is still in the sky as Illuminations: Reflections of Earth begins its final summer's shows. The final performance is scheduled September 30.

Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

This and That…

…As we noted in last week's Update, last Tuesday, July 9, Walt Disney World dedicated the new Gran Destino Tower at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort, marking the completion of the reimagining of the moderate resort that is home to Disney's largest convention facilities. For a full recap of the dedication, looks at the new rooftop dining and lounge locations, the guest rooms and lobby, the new interactive televisions in the guest rooms, the new Three Bridges Bar & Grill, and more, see the article we published here on MousePlanet.com on Friday. Disney Visa Cardholders may be able to book Gran Destino Tower water view rooms for $199/night plus tax from July 15 to September 28, 2019, by calling (407)939-1313 or their travel agent and asking about the Disney Visa Card offer.

Walt Disney World celebrated the opening of Gran Destino Tower and the completion of the reimagining of Disney's Coronado Springs Resort on July 9, 2019. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

…Rafiki's Planet Watch at Conservation Station in Disney's Animal Kingdom reopened on schedule on July 11. The venue added a new Animation Experience, where guests learn to draw Disney Characters.

Rafiki's Planet Watch reopened on July 11, 2019. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka

One of the animal hospital suites is again on public view at Conservation Station. Photo by Stephanie Wien.

At the newly opened Animation Experience, guests learn to draw Disney Characters. Photo by Stephanie Wien.

…Disney Parks Blog showed off the medals for this year's upcoming 2019 Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend (October 31-November 3). Medals for this 10th year of this runDisney event salute characters from The Jungle Book for the 5K, Frozen for the 10K, Mickey Mouse saluting the spirit of America for the Half Marathon, and The Three Caballeros for finishers of the Disney Two Course Challenge (the 10K and the Half Marathon). Kids Races medals salute characters from The Lion King. Participating charities and travel providers still have race opportunities available. More information is available on this runDisney.com webpage.

…REMINDER: Give Kids the World Village has announced its next two speaker series events featuring legendary Disney Cast Members and Voice Actors. On Disneyland's 64th anniversary, July 17, Disney veterans Tom Nabbe, Bill Sullivan and Bill Hoelscher will share stories of their fabled careers, stretching from the Disneyland's launch to the opening of Walt Disney World. On August 3, Paige O'Hara, voice of Belle from Beauty and the Beast, and Linda Larkin, voice of Jasmine from Aladdin, will share stories of the magic behind the scenes of these loved Disney characters. Details:

• Doors open at 6:30 p.m. at Give Kids The World Village, 210 S Bass Road, Kissimmee, FL 34746
• July 17: Legendary Disney Cast Members: General Seating $35; Preferred Seating $50
• August 3: Disney Voice Actors O'Hara & Larkin: General $50; Preferred $75; VIP Package $150

Tickets for the July 17 event are on this eventbrite.com webpage. Tickets for the August 3 event on this eventbrite.com webpage. For more information about these and other GKTW events, visit GKTW.org. Since 1986, Give Kids The World Village has welcomed more than 165,000 families to its 84-acre storybook resort in Central Florida. Children with critical illnesses and their families are treated to weeklong, cost-free vacations, complete with accommodations, donated attraction tickets, meals and more.

…The MousePlanet Newsletter is here! The newsletter contains a recap of the week's articles (in case you miss a day), news that may have developed since the weekly Updates were published, and tips about what's happening at the Disney theme parks for the coming weekend. We'll also include a fun bonus, such as an Eye Spy or a trivia question. To subscribe to our free newsletter, just enter your email in the box below.

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New & Coming Soon at Disney Springs

This section collects all of the Disney Springs retail and dining events we are aware of in one place along with our most recent views of the area (including those immediately under this paragraph). Event items NEW to the Update are marked accordingly. For even more of the latest news around Disney Springs, follow its official Twitter Feed: @DisneySprings.

Goofy's Candy Co.

NEW Goofy's Candy Co. in the Marketplace area has made the gourmet cotton candy offerings from the Christmas Tree Trail a permanent offering in the shop. In addition to holiday flavors, this summer it also offers Sweet Mesquite, Root Beer, Sour Apple, Strawberry Banana, and Key Lime. On the colder side, Goofy's Glaciers are available in flavors that match Goofy's usual colorful outfit, and those guests 21 and older can order more expensive Frozen Glaciers that include Vodka, Rum, Whiskey, or Tequila.

Morimoto Asia

“Sea. Salt. Sake. Sharpen.” A new immersive culinary experience will be held at Morimoto Asia on Sunday, July 21, 2019, from 1-3 p.m. This seafood-driven educational seminar and tasting will feature demonstrations and food stations highlighting fish preparation. Attendees will be taught “to master the elements of maximizing the bounty of the whole fish, gain insight into the proper technique for sharpening kitchen knives, and sample a variety of flavors from Mackerel and Hamachi to Madai Snapper.” The event will also include beverage pairings like beers, sakes, and shochus to complement the style and texture of each dish. Guests must be 21 or older to attend. Tickets are $50 (excluding ticket fees, tax and gratuity). For more information and tickets, visit this page of the Patina Restaurant Group's website.

Pizza Ponte

The counter service Pizza Ponte restaurant wants you to know that its $5.95/slice Big Roman is the largest slice of pizza available at Disney Springs, measuring 12-inches long. The Big Roman is a classic Margherita-style pizza made made with tomato, mozzarella, and arugula on roman pizza bread. The same team behind Epcot’s Via Napoli restaurant at Italy pavilion is responsible for the food at this venue. “At Pizza Ponte, we're dedicated to using fresh ingredients and signature cooking methods that deliver results that are on par with the traditional characteristics found in the style of pies served on the streets of Naples,” says Patina Restaurant Group Marketing Director Kyle Collins.

The restaurant has also partnered with a local Orlando-based company to offer Pop Fusion's gourmet ice and wine pops. Hand-crafted, colorful, and made with fresh, locally-sourced fruit, there are $5 non-alcoholic and $9 alcoholic flavors available (well, for those of appropriate age, of course). The handheld treats are also available at Epcot's Italy pavilion.

Maria & Enzo's

On Sundays from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., the restaurant now offers A La Carte Brunch featuring southern Italian cuisine from Nutella Stuffed French Toast to Italian breakfast skillets. For those 21-and-over, brunch can be paired with midmorning cocktails from the “Garden to Glass” menu of Bloody Mary drinks. “Our Garden to Glass options use fresh ingredients and garnishes that Maria & Enzo would have grown in their own backyards, bringing together the restaurant's origins and our guests' appetite for a beverage lineup at Disney Springs that stems from the similar and coveted farm-to-table concept,” said Patina Restaurant Group Marketing Director, Kyle Collins.

Enzo's Hideaway Tunnel Bar

The Smuggler's Series is on hiatus.

NEW Enzo's Hideaway introduced a new Late Night menu last night that we were invited to sample during an invited media event. We will have more details next week, but its highlights include meat and cheese boards, chicken parmesan sliders, and fontina in carozza.

Enzo's Hideaway Tunnel Bar is located in the Landing neighborhood, in a “tunnel” under Maria & Enzo's Ristorante and Pizza Ponte.

Enzo's is themed as a speakeasy.

Chicken Parmesan Sliders are available on the new Late Night menu at Enzo's.

Fontina in Carozza on the Late Night menu is fried fontina cheese fritters.

Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

The Edison

NEW The Edison also debuted a new Late Nights menu last night that we were invited to sample during an invited media event. We will have more details next week, but its highlights are the $5 “bites” offered Monday through Thursday from 10 p.m. until Midnight: Clothesline Maple Bacon, Philly Cheesesteak, and Bacon Cheeseburger.

Clothesline Maple Bacon is available on the new Late Nights menu at The Edison.

The new Late Nights menu at The Edison also includes Philly Cheesesteak.

The Edison's blend of shortrib, brisket and sirloin is at the heart of the Late Nights menu Bacon Cheeseburger.

Cherry Cheesecake Trifle is a new menu item at The Edison.

Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

The Edison at Disney Springs hosts Havana Nights beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays: July 24, August 7, August 21, September 4, September 18, October 2, and October 16. The no additional charge nights feature a five piece band from 8 p.m. to midnight (trading the spotlight with a DJ from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.) playing Latin renditions of musical styles from instrumentals to pop. Complimentary salsa lessons will be available at any skill level, 7:30-11:30 p.m. and Havana-inspired specialty craft cocktails will be available to order during the entire night.

Wine Bar George

Wine Bar George recently introduced its new Wine Country Brunch, which is now offered every Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. until 3 p.m. See the menu online here or download a PDF of the menu here. Reservations are available on OpenTable.

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Note: MousePlanet does not edit past Updates to reflect price increases; for up-to-date prices, check the most recent Walt Disney World Resort Update. For your convenience, we have grouped the discount offers based on the intended audience. Check out the category that best matches you, and pick the offer that works best for you. And keep those tips coming—let us know if you find a better or different offer, so we can share it with other readers.

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