Welcome to the first Walt Disney World Update of 2023! There’s a whirlwind of news to catch up on around the WDW Resort. And while we get up to speed about all the changes ahead, what we were most excited about this week was a round-table discussion we had yesterday with Josh D’Amaro (Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products). You won’t want to miss today’s Walt Disney World Update!
Sitting Down with Josh D’Amaro
In response to last week’s slew of parks news (TRON’s opening date, Happily Ever After returning, and major operational changes for Walt Disney World and Disneyland, among others) we had a special opportunity to take part in a round-table discussion with Josh D’Amaro, Chairman of Disney Parks, Products & Experiences. D’Amaro wants to be more actively engaged with not only Cast Members, but with individuals who visit the parks often. He seems genuinely willing to listen to their feedback. This round-table conversation was a chance for us to hear from the man himself on a variety of subjects.
Josh is very engaging and personable and kept the discussion rolling along. While we weren’t able to record the conversation, here are some highlights…
The hard-hitting question, that was somewhat answered during the discussion – While there were some changes made last week, what else is going on with park reservations and Disney Genie/Genie+ (both of which are unpopular with a lot of guests)?
Josh says he has used Disney Genie and was involved in the early development, and he sees the value in it. He said:
“Is it perfect? No. Will it generate an itinerary that will ultimately help guests get what they want out of their visit? Yes.” He continued with “for guests that know every nook and cranny [of the parks] – you know where you want to go. You may not need Genie at all. But if I’m a guest coming from Chicago who’s never been before, we want to make sure they know how to navigate this place.”
Disney’s goal is to provide a platform for Disney Genie that could create an easily-digestible experience for a guest, and what he says they know is that Genie is working. Guests are getting what they want, and the technology is continuously optimizing itself with each iteration that occurs. Ultimately, it’s the guest’s choice, “if you don’t want to use your phone throughout your visit, you don’t have to”. (But doing the latter has proven difficult when you are required to join the latest attraction’s virtual queue, place a mobile order, or secure a dining reservation, among other planning elements.) The part that didn’t get answered was the Lightning Lane portion, which we feel is the reason Disney Genie gets a bad rap. When half the guests in a park (or more) are using the skip-the-line service, it is oversubscribed.
As for park reservations for the long term, they’re likely not going anywhere. The parks are too in demand. Josh says the main objective is to make sure the parks are operating exceptionally well every day, and for the future. While the parks absolutely required caps on attendance immediately after reopening, eventually it moved to where there were too many guests at the parks. Josh noted at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, for instance, there were just too many people for it to be enjoyable for anyone. He said there is no more “come one, come all” mentality. The park reservation step is there so that guests in the park are having a better experience. Further, they’re trying to find the right balance between park hopping and convenience.
He was asked about the return of streetmosphere – such as Magic Kingdom’s Citizens of Main Street, or the Red Car News Boys at Disney California Adventure. Josh said while he can’t speak directly on those specific performers, he is focused on getting more entertainment back into the parks. He knows entertainment is a huge “Disney difference”, and there is no pullback on it. (See more on some WDW entertainment returning below!)
Josh was asked about the parks panel at D23 Expo 2022, to which he responded that while there wasn’t anything big to announce, he did what he thought was the next best thing in “peeling back the curtain” and showing off what Imagineering is working on, but aren’t necessarily concrete plans. He gets to see what they’re working on each day and wanted to share the “blue sky” excitement with fans. (This may not have been the best choice, as guests were expecting big news at the parks panel, as each previous D23 Expo has set a precedent.)
Josh continued that capital spending is the highest it’s ever been before, and as long as he’s in charge, that’s not going to change. They’re not pulling back. Disney is always working on new attractions and new ideas. He stated there are big projects on the horizon – “some of the biggest things we’ve ever done”.
What would you like to ask or share with Josh D’Amaro?
While the discussion was relatively brief, it was enlightening to hear from Josh firsthand, and for us to share feedback as we, our friends, and our followers experience the parks. We have a feeling we’ll be hearing more from Mr. D’Amaro very soon.
In Magic Kingdom News…
With the parks’ massive closure – creeping up on three years ago now – select experiences and locations have remained closed due to staffing shortages and financial setbacks. We’re starting to see the other side of things, with more and more exciting returns to the resort. Let’s see what is on the horizon for Magic Kingdom, and what has reopened recently.
- Choo, choo! The Walt Disney World Railroad reopened in late December 2022 – after being closed for four long years (mostly due to TRON construction)!
- Pete’s Silly Sideshow, the Mickey & friends meet and greet within Storybook Circus, reopened on January 15th.
- Meet the mermaid herself – Ariel’s Grotto will reopen on January 22nd in Fantasyland.
- Splash Mountain will close for good on January 23rd, with its last operational day on January 22nd; making way for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, which is slated to open in 2024.
- Be her guest! Enchanted Tales with Belle reopens on February 19th in Fantasyland.
- Happily Ever After returns to the Magic Kingdom on April 3rd!
- After delays and years of construction, TRON Lightcyle / Run will open at Magic Kingdom on April 4th! DVC and Annual Passholder previews will be happening before that date; more details to come.
Get caught up on the TRON news, from the secretive hints to the full reveal in the article below:
Fresh Fireworks
Who knew the two nighttime spectaculars which debuted for WDW’s 50th anniversary would be “glowing away” this soon? Both Magic Kingdom and EPCOT’s current shows, Disney Enchantment and Harmonious, will be ending on Sunday, April 2nd.
It seems like Disney listened to fans on this one, and Happily Ever After is returning above Cinderella Castle in its full glory on April 3rd! And for the first time, projections along Main Street U.S.A. will be part of the beloved show. Also on April 3rd, EPCOT Forever will temporarily return to the World Showcase lagoon before the next big show debuts later this year. Even better, the massive barges for Harmonious will soon be removed.
Get more details about what’s changing for nighttime entertainment at Walt Disney World in the article below:
Daily Housekeeping Has Returned at Deluxe Resorts
Effective January 15th, all deluxe Disney resort hotels will receive daily housekeeping.
During the 2020 closure, many services and amenities were modified throughout the resort, including the housekeeping schedule at the hotels. Now, the rooms will be cleaned more frequently, but only at deluxe resorts. For the time being, value and moderate resorts will continue housekeeping every other day. Housekeeping services include making the bed, bathroom cleaning, wiping down all surfaces, amenity refills or replacements, vacuuming, and dusting.
EPCOT International Festival of the Arts
EPCOT’s latest and greatest festival (in my humble opinion), the International Festival of the Arts is happening now! Have you experienced “FARTS”? Have you secured your precious Figment popcorn bucket while visiting the Odyssey, which is filled with nods to the original Journey Into Imagination attraction?
Could there be more to this heavy presence of Figment at the festival, along with the recent news of his character meet & greet coming soon? Only time will tell. In the meantime, read up on the most colorful and creative EPCOT fest here:
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Let’s Hear From You
We weren’t kidding when we said there was a lot of Walt Disney World news today! What do you think about Josh D’Amaro’s statements about Genie working for guests? And what else would you like to hear D’Amaro address? Should daily housekeeping extend beyond Deluxe Resorts? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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