Disney Announces Closure of EPCOT Experience

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Epcot

The EPCOT Experience opened in 2019 and was a really cool way for guests to see the upcoming changes that would take place during the historic transformation of EPCOT. Many projects have now been completed, Disney has announced that the experience will close to make way for new things.

Here is the Instagram Post from Zach Riddley, Creative Portfolio Executive Walt Disney Imagineering:

Here is the text from his post:

Since its 2019 debut, Walt Disney Imagineering presents the EPCOT Experience has welcomed more than two million guests, as travelers from around the world enjoyed an immersive look at the past, present and future of this beloved park. This attraction gave our team a chance to share a first-person view of the vision coming to life during this ongoing “state of becoming.” It’s a rare moment to see these milestones unfold, and we’ve been inspired and deeply grateful to have this opportunity to pull back the curtain on our thinking.

With the transformation now well under way and many of those projects now open – including Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Harmonious and the upcoming debut of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind this summer – we have decided it is time to close the EPCOT Experience on March 14 and make way for exciting new activations of the Odyssey pavilion to create a great experience for our guests.

I’m proud of the work and storytelling that our Imagineers put into this incredible 360-degree presentation, as it beautifully set the stage for the largest transformation in the history of EPCOT, and provided an in-depth look at the exciting attractions and experiences being developed for this beloved park. I always like to say to our team that EPCOT is a park about people – our dreams, our curiosity and our ability to make magic possible when we work together. The EPCOT Experience was a showcase of all those things, inviting each of you to dream with us as we create the future of EPCOT together.

We have a lot more to share in the weeks and months ahead, and I am grateful for the opportunity to provide an in-depth look at the process through our Imagineering lens. Follow along with me here as we share more exciting details about this historic EPCOT transformation, including Journey of Water inspired by Moana, the ongoing evolution of World Celebration, and more!

Disney Plans Return Of Missing Annual Pass Option

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom

At both Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort, one of the most beloved aspects for many Guests who visit often is the ability to purchase an Annual Pass, or, a Magic Key Pass, depending on what coast you are on. Before COVID-19 hit the Parks, Guests were able to also purchase a Premier Pass, this allowed Guests to have the option to own an Annual Pass that would allow them to go between both Disneyland and Disney World. After COVID-19, that pass disappeared, but now, it may return.

Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom

During the question and answer portion of today’s shareholder meeting with The Walt Disney Company, one Disney fan and long-time Guest asked when the Premier Pass would return. The speaker in question was the same one who was able to tell previous CEO Bob Iger that this pass should be created over 10 years ago, and now returned after noticing it was no longer available with no return in sight.

When hearing the passion that this Disney Guest had from the Premier Pass, noting how Guests and Cast Members loved it, Disney CEO Bob Chapek responded with the intention to do something about it. Chapek noted, “I can check the possibility on bringing back the possibility of bringing back the Pass.” He also assumed that the Guests who wanted this Pass were “in a small unique club” however he wants to eliminate friction for Guests and will try and reinstate the Annual Pass for both coasts.

Disney Adds More Experiences to Disney Genie+

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom

Disney is once again expanding the number of experiences guests included in Genie+ on March 11 giving guests more options for their selections.

Here is the statement from Disney:

Starting March 11, the following experiences will be added as selections to Disney Genie+ service:

  • Magic Kingdom: Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade
  • Disney’s Hollywood Studios: See Disney Stars at Red Carpet Dreams

This update gives Guests even more options to choose from when using Disney Genie+ service.

As a reminder, the purchase of Disney Genie+ service is available in addition to a standby entrance or traditional parade viewing.

*Attractions with Lightning Lane entrances that are Disney Genie+ and individual purchases are limited in availability, subject to change or closure, may vary by date, are not guaranteed and may not be available at all on the date of visit or at the time you make a selection. 

Disney makes an ANNOUNCEMENT about park capacities at Disney World

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Dining, Disney Parks, Disney Resorts, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom, Uncategorized

Disney’s Chief Financial Officer made a huge announcement about park capacity at Walt Disney World on Monday as she participated in a Q&A session at Morgan Stanley’s 2022 Technology, Media & Telecom Conference.

Christine McCarthy, CFO of The Walt Disney Company, was asked about Disney’s Parks, Experience, and Products division. Specifically, she was asked about experiences and about park capacity.

“We are coming back towards full capacity, we’re not yet there,” McCarthy said. “But one of the things we were able to do when the parks were closed was really look at some of the underlying technologies for how we could run the business better and give a better consumer experience.”

magic kingdom crowds

McCarthy touted the Park Pass Reservation System, which was unveiled when Disney World reopened in July 2020 after an almost four-month closure in response to the coronavirus pandemic. McCarthy said that the system was necessary as Disney dealt with capacity limitations as the parks reopened. But she says the company realized quickly that the system could continue to be used after those limitations were gone as a tool to “manage attendance.”

In fact, she made a huge announcement in the midst of all the questioning and answering that took place during the conference. She said that the parks will not be returning to pre-pandemic capacity levels. She even said that Disney doesn’t want the parks “bursting at the seams.”

During the conference, McCarthy was asked, “What does full capacity mean looking forward?” She answered, saying that the parks aren’t currently operating at full capacity. (Tell that to Guests who’ve visited lately and have returned with photos of massive crowds at Disney World!)

But if you’re thinking that Disney wants Guests comfortable with lots of wiggle and elbow room while they’re visiting the parks, think again. It’s much more probable that Disney wants you to have just enough room to reach for your wallet. When attendance (aka “crowds”) is managed (by the aforementioned Park Pass Reservation System), Guests have more room–spending room. They enjoy the parks more and feel freer with their money.

Think about a time you visited Disney World and it was so crowded, you couldn’t think. Crowds make us more easily frustrated, on edge, etc., and when we feel that way, we’re frustrated about spending money. But if we’re more at ease during our visit, our wallets seem to open more easily as well.

And thanks to the Park Pass Reservation System, Disney can continue to create more and more demand for its products and experiences: in this case, admission to Disney World.

McCarthy talked about several things that seem to play a role in Disney World’s “new normal,” including Genie+, Lightning Lane, character meet-and-greets, and other things, such as the upcoming debut of Guardians of the Galaxy: COSMIC REWIND attraction at EPCOT this summer.

Character Experiences at Disney World

McCarthy talked about the recovery of the company’s parks division, saying it was driven by ticket prices and by Guests’ spending while in the parks as well.

“Part of it is because people could not go to our parks for a long period of time, especially in California, and when they came back, they wanted to spend money,” she said.

The company’s latest earnings reports show a massive increase in revenue in its parks division–nearly $7.2 billion earned in just one quarter.

Disney CFO Gives Update on Face-to-Face Character Interactions

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom

Via DisDining.com

When Disney Parks first reopened after being closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there were a lot of things that were different. Many of the dining options were unavailable, Park capacities were significantly decreased, and characters were nowhere to be seen. All of these new changes were meant to keep both Guests and Cast Members safe. As COVID numbers have declined, more and more things have been brought back to Parks, to the delight of many Guests.

Characters have slowly made their way back to Disney Parks, but Guests have been unable to get up close and personal with them. At both Disneyland and Walt Disney World, all character meet and greets are still being done from a socially safe distance. While masks were required for months at those meet and greets, recently both Disneyland and Disney World dropped those facial covering mandates.

Now, Walt Disney Company CFO Christine McCarthy is giving fans another update on character interactions. During the Q&A portion of the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media, and Telecom Conference, she was asked about the return of face-to-face character interactions. McCarthy said that Disney has been monitoring the COVID situation at all of its Parks and said that the close interactions will return “soon.”

“With the trending of COVID, we’re definitely going to see some of those face-to-face interactions come back.”

Christine McCarthy

Both Disney World and Disneyland have seen a steep drop in COVID-19 cases in their areas. These decreases have allowed Disney to drop its mask mandates for vaccinated Guests, open more restaurants, bring back buffets, and bring back nighttime experiences like World of Color and Fantasmic!.

Right now, there is only one Disney Park that is allowing up close and personal interactions between Guests and characters. Disneyland Paris requires all Guests to provide proof of vaccination before entering the Parks — as is the law in France. Because Guests must prove that they are either vaccinated or have tested negative for COVID, Disneyland Paris is now allowing Guests to see the characters and even hug them.

Ariel meet and greet

McCarthy also stated that Disney is looking forward to bringing back these types of interactions because they help balance the crowds in the Parks. Neither Disneyland Resort in California nor Walt Disney World requires Guests to provide proof of vaccination. Disney is watching to see if the numbers keep going down before they allow close character interactions.