Monday, February 13, 2023

Disney World 2022 Planning- Part 15



March 2, 2022
P Minus 153
Castle Update: It was: Cinderella pops in at the princess entrance place to say howdy during the meal. It is: socially distanced pictures with Cinderella before the meal, and no popping up during it.
 
My wife is excited about the photo op returning in any form- “yeahhhhhhhhhh”
 
 
March 4, 2022
P Minus 151
WE FINISHED!  Anabelle maintains it is the impending next trip that is the only thing that inspires us to do this.
 
A final family pass (deleting from 40 to 100 pictures per day) finally got the days down to printable levels. Days range from 40-100 photos a day (averaging at 67.) This was culled down from 4222 pictures from all sources.  That means we kept 17.5 Percent of all the pictures we (and PhotoPass) took. On the one hand…we took way too many pictures. On the other hand, a huge percentage of “characters at meals” photos came from the “back up camera” as well as several at PhotoPass meet and greets. 
Still…we probably need to cut down a bit…or a lot.
 
Granmda’s answer: Good For You. Just in time to take a break before you get this year’s Disney Pics. OXz
 
Kim’s Answer: Very cool can't wait to see them.
 
They’ll have to wait for Easter as Anabelle greatly enjoys putting them in the books.
 
 
March 7, 2022
P minus 149
Terror o Tower News: Could go either way.
 
There’s a report that Disney took out a work permit on the Terror o Tower.
 
No refurbishment shut down listed yet. It could mean it would be closed when we go.
 
But if they finish beforehand, the capacity could be increased. This morning it had 100 minute wait, when Slinky Dog and Rise of the Resistance had only 90.
 
Doubling capacity may not halve the wait time, but it should impact it significantly if they fix it.
[Later edit- It did! YAAAAAAAY!]
 
 
March 8 2022
P minus 148
Festival of Fantasy parade returns! Good, something to pull people off of attraction lines now that FastPass isn’t an option.
[Later edit- Or something for us to watch repeatedly. Go figure!]
 
 
March 9 2022
P minus 147
Disney Park high ups announced “normal” character meet and greets will return this year. This led to a conference call with Grandma on the way home concerning where we could fit in a trip to 1900 Park Faire for dinner if it reopened. With two Magic Kingdom days shortened for arrival and departure, and an Animal Kingdom day reduced for the Snow White dinner that left two choices. We decided that since A) the food at EPCOT is much better and B) MGM is “one square foot” as Anabelle describes it, and full of things with the longest lines, we’ll probably be more tired and cranky there, making us in need of a nice dinner even if we leave early.
 
Although if Animal Kingdom continues to close at 7PM every night, this logic may go out the window.
[Later edit- None of this happened. It is possible we over plan.]
 
 
March 14 2022
P minus 141
The EPCOT Experience, that cool thing in the old Odyssey Restaurant showing plans for new things in the park that opened right after we left last time…is closing.
Missed it by THAT much.
 
 
March 15, 2022
P minus 140
The Lion King Show announces the Tumble Monkey’s number comes back this summer. It’s been an abbreviated show. It also sounds like there’s a floor dance instead of aerialists for “Can You Feel the Love Tonight?” No word on whether that is changing…but they don’t have to change the show length to put that back.
[Later edit- The aerialists came back too! YAAAAAY!]
 
 
March 17, 2022
P minus 138
They tested The Walt Disney World Railroad engines on the track today! Toot Toot! Hey, it’s something. With Tron Coaster vehicle tests too, there’s a small shot of the trains being up and running for us.
[Later edit- They were not, alas.]
 
Grandma’s answer:  WOO - WOO - YEAH!  I LOVE the TRAIN. I was really hoping Tron would be up and running for us. Although, it sounds like the speeder bikes we rode in Avatar land which made me a bit dizzy. But for TRON I’ll try them at least once. OXZ
 
 
March 18, 2022
P minus 137
AllEars asked the Cast Members about the Tower's wait time. Looks like it may not close for refurbishment at all.
It does have long lines because it is running at half capacity. However, they are currently refurbishing 2 of the 4 elevators and instead of shutting the whole thing down, and will follow that by refurbishing the other two. No indications of how long this will take.
 
Hopefully it will all be done at back at full capacity when we go.
 
And the Limo is set:
From Grandma
  All Done. My Limo sending a Van on August 2. It is scheduled to come to my house at 4:30 AM. Everyone had better be up and alert and get here at least 15 minutes early for unpacking your cars and doing Bathroom runs.
 
    Last time he was supposed to be here at 4:45 AM and he was here 4:30. So I guess we can be prepared for his slightly earlier arrival.
 
   All set for our return trip also. It is curbside .So we get our Luggage and meet him where he says. They have my cell but I have Jeffrey’s IPhone set for the text the driver will send to tell us he is there and where he is.
 
Copies of Reservations going to Jeffrey & Kim. Now my work is done. Mostly everything else is up to poor Jeffrey the Organizer King.
 
OOOOOOOO XXXXXXXX ZZZZZZZZ
 
 
March 25, 2022
P minus 130
Two Vague Disney News Reports:
AllEars referenced a guest survey coming out of EPCOT. A lot was general questions about the park itself, how you'd rate attractions, how much you like change. 
(Good thing they didn't get us for that one.
"Is there a "CHANGE BAAAAAAAAAAAAD- GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!" box?)
 
However, there was a character interaction set of questions asking if seeing Mickey in a Cavalcade was enough or would you want to see him in person, and how important is hugging him.
 
That may signal the return of normal character greetings.
 
I read a long article, (not on AllEars) which I will not bore you with, about all the factors that go into having the Disney Dining plan. There are a lot, including how places like World Showcase and Disney Springs aren't official Disney, and getting reimbursement rates, staff shortages, and how the plan leads to people staying on Disney property. (And often losing extra meals and snacks (not us.))
 
Anyhoo, given crowd levels, inflation, per guest spending, and the normal monthly changes, they pointed out that Disney has been saying the Dining plans would come back "soon" since last summer, but realistically they're predicting they will be available in May.
 
As usual, you heard nothing from me.
 
Anabelle’s answer:
them: how important is hugging mickey
me: yes.
 
Kim’s answer:
I agree, Anabelle!
 
Dave’s answer:
My answer:
No.
*grin*
Love you all!
 
And now we see why Anabelle initial filling out for Dave’s shirt grid last time was:
he   
doesn't
(Surrounded by Idiots)
have
many         
disney        
shirts          
poo 
on   
him 
(Period Table Star Wars)
 
Dave- Can’t argue with that!
 
Grandma’s answer:
We can only hope. Have to admit I’ve wondered if it wouldn’t be so bad as long as we make our sit down dining reservations and not worry about the counter service and snacks it would all be okay. Then I think nooooo Change is Bad. OXZ


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