Orlando Attractions Area News & Developments

[spenser1058]

First look at Star Wars Land from Disney via Orlando Rising:

http://orlando-rising.com/disney-offers-first-look-at-star-wars-land/

[shardoon]

Anybody have access?

Vineland Pointe delayed

https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2017/07/14/100m-vineland-pointe-shopping-center-project.html

[jrs2]

4 hours ago, shardoon said:

Anybody have access?

Vineland Pointe delayed

https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2017/07/14/100m-vineland-pointe-shopping-center-project.html

Somehow I'm not surprised.  They already scaled it back (probably due to cost). 

[WAJAS]

The current rumor is that La Nouba is ending its run to be replaced by a new Cirque show, and BMG is definitely not going anywhere anytime soon.  The fact that multiple Cirque shows have run in Las Vegas tells me we should be fine with two shows in Orlando.

 

I cannot wait for D23's Parks and Resorts Panel for tomorrow. Maybe we'll see the new name for Hollywood Studios or a 50th Anniversary festival announcement?

[aent]

49 minutes ago, WAJAS98 said:

The current rumor is that La Nouba is ending its run to be replaced by a new Cirque show, and BMG is definitely not going anywhere anytime soon.  The fact that multiple Cirque shows have run in Las Vegas tells me we should be fine with two shows in Orlando.

 

I cannot wait for D23's Parks and Resorts Panel for tomorrow. Maybe we'll see the new name for Hollywood Studios or a 50th Anniversary festival announcement?

I personally find it crazy there aren't more production shows in Orlando. Seems like a huge missed opportunity for I-Drive. Look how many Vegas has: http://www.tix4tonight.com/shows-in-las-vegas/

in addition to all its recurring shows... I understand vegas in the king of shows but it'd seem like all of our tourists want more relaxing sit down relaxing activities at night.

 

Edited July 15, 2017 by aent

[Boomer136]

People aren't filling the seats as much any more. Even Vegas is closing many of the Broadway style shows. Profits don't happen, entertainment goes away. Like Disney World where you couldn't go 5 minutes without running into a live performance have replaced all those groups with either nothing or character interactions.

[spenser1058]

Guardians of the Galaxy to World Showcase and Ratatouille to France at Epcot; more on Tron at MK (sounds here like praha called it right), and a Mickey/Minnie Railway to DHS.

Latest from D23 from Gizmodo:

http://io9.gizmodo.com/guardians-of-the-galaxy-ratatouille-and-tron-are-all-1796952726

Kind of stunning when you think how much has and will be invested in infrastructure in the SW quadrant since the last recession. Those are $$$ that can't pick up and move easily which bodes well for the cash cow that is our local tourism industry.

It's also important to remember that all the lawyers, accountants, bankers and governmental employees filling up office towers downtown (not to mention more than a few apartments) are ancillary to the economic activity of our #1 industry.

Edited July 16, 2017 by spenser1058

[spenser1058]

And, also a StarvWars Resort now. This really takes the idea of the immersive experience to the next level. It's great to see Orlando on the leading edge of the industry on these things.

From the Disney Parks Blog:

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2017/07/plans-unveiled-for-star-wars-inspired-themed-resort-at-walt-disney-world/

[spenser1058]

One more: Toy Story Land At DHS

From Chip & Co.:

http://www.chipandco.com/toy-story-land-will-open-summer-2018-hollywood-studios-275627/

[spenser1058]

Apparently the M/M Railway necessitates the closing of original park icon The Great Movie Ride. That makes sense given the park's change of focus, but I'll still miss it. It was quite unique as one of the only Disney attractions (or elsewhere for that matter) to combine Audio-Animatronics with cast members playing an actual part in the storyline. As Boomer noted in another thread, live performances at the parks, which peaked with arrival of Disney-MGM studios in 1989 may definitely be considered a bygone era at this point.

From Bleeding Cool:

https://www.bleedingcool.com/2017/07/15/d23-great-movie-ride-hollywood-studios-closing-doors-august/

[prahaboheme]

The geek in me is most excited about the Space restaurant at Mission Space, and the new broadway style theatre for Main Street.

[spenser1058]

And for all our transportation geeks, the gondola system dubbed "The Disney Skyliner" is official.

From wdwmagic.com:

http://www.wdwmagic.com/amp/transportation/walt-disney-world-gondola-system/news/16jul2017-gondola-transportation-official -comes-to-walt-disney-world---disney-skyliner.htm

[shardoon]

I am worried Disney is going to ban lyft and uber considering the have the new minnie van service. 

[jrs2]

On 7/16/2017 at 7:37 AM, spenser1058 said:

And, also a StarvWars Resort now. This really takes the idea of the immersive experience to the next level. It's great to see Orlando on the leading edge of the industry on these things.

From the Disney Parks Blog:

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2017/07/plans-unveiled-for-star-wars-inspired-themed-resort-at-walt-disney-world/

I've been preaching for a couple of years now how Universal needs to build a Harry Potter themed resort.  Disney beating them to the punch.

 

18 hours ago, spenser1058 said:

And for all our transportation geeks, the gondola system dubbed "The Disney Skyliner" is official.

From wdwmagic.com:

http://www.wdwmagic.com/amp/transportation/walt-disney-world-gondola-system/news/16jul2017-gondola-transportation-official -comes-to-walt-disney-world---disney-skyliner.htm

I heard.  very exciting.  I can't wait to figure out a way to sneak aboard it.

Are there any details elsewhere about the size of each vehicle?  Will they be the same size as the gondolas on The Orlando Eye, or smaller?  Those can fit 15 people inside them.

Edited July 17, 2017 by jrs2

[AndyPok1]

1 hour ago, jrs2 said:

I heard.  very exciting.  I can't wait to figure out a way to sneak aboard it.

Why would you need to sneak?

[spenser1058]

More on Epcot from Orlando Weekly. It appears to be a complete reimagining of Future World including the almost complete removal of the original Communicore (Innoventions, etc.) 

The Weekly suggests it will be the most expensive redo of a Disney park yet (take that, DCA!) and is expected to be completed by WDW's 50th anniversary (October 1, 2021, though the Mouse may start the celebration earlier.)

https://m.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2017/07/17/disney-confirms-guardians-of-the-galaxy-ratatouille-and-tons-more-coming-to-epcot

Needless to say, a huge infrastructure investment for the local economy.

Edited July 17, 2017 by spenser1058

[spenser1058]

1 hour ago, jrs2 said:

I've been preaching for a couple of years now how Universal needs to build a Harry Potter themed resort.  Disney beating them to the punch.

 

I heard.  very exciting.  I can't wait to figure out a way to sneak aboard it.

Are there any details elsewhere about the size of each vehicle?  Will they be the same size as the gondolas on The Orlando Eye, or smaller?  Those can fit 15 people inside them.

Still awaiting more details on the gondola. I'm curious to see what differences with this eliminate the problems the Fantasyland/Tomorrowland Skyway had with weather (central Florida is in the top 5 worldwide for lightning storms - the MK attraction closed almost daily during the rainy season.)

[codypet]

That gondola wasn't enclosed I don't believe and there wasn't much heft to the old ones.   I envisioned this one being similar to Ober Gatlinburg or Koblenz during BUGA.

 

[spenser1058]

The concept art in the wdwmagic.com piece looked more like the old Skyway than the very substantial incline pictured above. You make a great point, though, if the cabins are enclosed that will help.

Edited July 17, 2017 by spenser1058

[prahaboheme]

Didn't Disney also close down the skyway due to the safety hazards it posed? I imagine they would be required to utilize an enclosed gondola given the distance this will travel.

Edited July 17, 2017 by prahaboheme

[metal93]

I imagine it would be enclosed/air conditioned, given the occasional heavy rain and heat, an open air setup wouldn't work, also I don't think Disney would want to deal with situations of guests dropping things from the gondolas.

[spenser1058]

Dropping things from the Skyway was an ongoing issue (not to mention the little porn shows going on high above Fantasyland at night, particularly on Grad Nites -what amazing views the cast members working the transfer station as the cabins changed directions over the Grand Prix Raceway midway often got!)

All those issues plus weather, as well as the relatively low capacity and the tragic death of a cast member as praha noted, made it an easy decision to close the attraction once Splash Mountain had opened and the other parks had taken pressure off throughput in the MK (we also lost things like the swan boats, 20K, the keelboats and the Main St vehicles went to mornings only.)

By whatever means, the Imagineers (and more importantly, the Transportation staff) must believe they've solved those issues.

Edited July 17, 2017 by spenser1058

[spenser1058]

Even more from Orlando Weekly with updates to changes at MK. It also notes that the Skyliner will be "inspired" by the old Skyway but also notes "window tinting" (which suggests enclosed) and, whereas Skyway cabin capacity was 4 passengers, the new ones apparently can seat 6.

https://m.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2017/07/17/magic-kingdom-walt-disney-world-getting-major-new-updates-just-in-time-for-50th-anniversary

[jrs2]

My original thought was that this skyway wouldn't be cheap by any stretch because they would have to do it right, which means that these gondolas would have to be done hardcore, enclosed, with A/C, with fairly good sized capacity.   i.e., like the Orlando Eye in size and quality or larger.  If they aren't, then, shame on Disney.  This has to be a bona fide "real" and legit transportation system.

5 hours ago, AndyPok1 said:

Why would you need to sneak?

I'm assuming it would be closed off to non guests, especially in this age of the Disney Bands; they may have the system closed off to only wrist band wearers.  But... they may not.

5 hours ago, spenser1058 said:

Still awaiting more details on the gondola. I'm curious to see what differences with this eliminate the problems the Fantasyland/Tomorrowland Skyway had with weather (central Florida is in the top 5 worldwide for lightning storms - the MK attraction closed almost daily during the rainy season.)

this is a valid concern because if memory serves, they shut down The Eye during thunderstorms.

[AndyPok1]

17 hours ago, jrs2 said:

I'm assuming it would be closed off to non guests, especially in this age of the Disney Bands; they may have the system closed off to only wrist band wearers.  But... they may not.

It's a way to move you from place to place.  You're able to go ride the monorail, ferryboat, buses, and other boats to your hearts content currently.  I'd be shocked if there was anything preventing you.