MickeyBlog News for December 12th, 2022
There’s plenty going on in this week’s MickeyBlog News.
Disney just changed its video recording rules on one attraction, and more seem likely to follow. Also, we’ve got changes to discuss with Disney Genie+ and admission ticket pricing.
Photo: Disney
Space Mountain Changes the Rules
Disney quietly announced a rules change on Space Mountain, and it’ll impact influencers in particular.
Here’s Adam the Woo discussing the modification:
The gist is that Disney no longer allows video recording on Space Mountain. The attraction has posted a sign saying as much as a warning to guests.
You shouldn’t worry that Disney will take away your phone and ban you from the park on your first offense or anything.
Photo: Disney
Instead, this policy update should help rather than hurt park guests. Obviously, the explanation here involves the sheer volume of dropped smartphones.
Think about that mishap from Disney’s perspective. If one guest tries to record, hits a turn too hard, and drops their phone, the ramifications are severe.
Photo: Disney
For starters, the person will want their phone back. I know that Space Mountain’s a dark ride, but let’s not lose sight of the name. It’s A MOUNTAIN!
When you drop something from great heights, you shouldn’t expect to find it in one piece.
Now, let’s be honest. How many people do you know who would accept accountability for that mistake?
Yup, many of them would blame Disney and want some sort of compensation for repairs. So, Disney has economic reasons to stop this practice.
Photo: Disney
In addition, a phone could feasibly drop in the wrong spot and force the temporary shutdown of the attraction.
Now, all the other guests are disgruntled…and rightfully so! Plus, some poor cast member has to walk the coaster tracks in search of the phone. It’s annoying and bad for business.
Credit: Disney
For these reasons, you should expect similar changes at other Disney roller coasters in the coming months. I’m not saying it’ll definitely happen, but it’s probable.
Disney Park Changes – Disney Genie+
Okay, we’ve got several different changes to cover. For starters, Disney Genie+ improved a bit this week, which is welcome/long overdue news.
Photo: Disney
Disney altered the system in a way that allows guests to change existing Disney Genie+ reservations to other times.
You’ll find this change active on the Disneyland and My Disney Experience apps. If you don’t have it, please update your app to the latest version.
Photo: Disney
The new software has added a new feature. You can choose Modify Plan from the menu.
This option enables guests to change their return time for an attraction or even switch to an entirely different attraction.
Photo: Disney
Of course, to change times, you will need to find a better option. That’s sometimes easier said than done.
Still, this change is vastly better. Until this week, guests had to cancel an existing plan before booking a new one.
Photo: Disney
That rule has bit me more than once. So, I speak for all of us when I say good riddance to it.
Hopefully, Disney continues these “quality of life” updates. At the moment, Disney tech annoys as often as it satisfies.
Photo: Disney
Disney Park Changes – Admission Price Update
On a different note, Bob Chapek’s final price increase has gone into effect. Just before he left, Chapek announced a new admission ticket policy.
Each Walt Disney World park comes with its own admission price. This strategy combines tiered pricing with customer behavior.
EPCOT
Image Credit: Disney
Let’s use EPCOT as an example. It obviously claims smaller crowds when it doesn’t host a festival. So, tickets cost less than for, say, the Candlelight Processional.
Similarly, Disney may struggle to sell Magic Kingdom tickets on days when the park closes early for after-hours events. You’d pay less on that day.
Conversely, several of Magic Kingdom’s Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party’s paid events become free amenities during Christmas Week.
Also, people really want to be at Magic Kingdom during Christmas Week. As such, the tickets for those dates will cost substantially more.
Then, we have other factors to come into play. For instance, Disney’s Animal Kingdom celebrates its anniversary on Earth Day each year.
Expect that date to cost more, just like October 1st should at Magic Kingdom and EPCOT.
Photo: skillastics.com
Disney now adjusts the pricing to reflect a park’s daily demand. It’s an admittedly chaotic process that will require more homework from vacationers.
For this reason, I’d strongly recommend using one of the experts at MickeyTravels. They deal with these new changes countless times each day.
So, they’ll understand the intricacies much better than you or I ever could.
Disney Miscellany
For starters, Shanghai Disneyland reopened again on December 8th. I hope it’s still open by the time you read this, but who really knows at this point?
Photo: Shanghai Disneyland
The door to my attic hasn’t been opened and closed as much as Shanghai Disneyland in 2022. That’s a fact, not hyperbole.
In Disney Cruise Line news, a COVID-19 policy change has occurred. You’ll still get a refund if you test positive just before your sailing.
Photo: Disney Cruise Lines
However, Disney has shortened the refund window from 14 days to 10 days.
Let’s say that you’re sailing on January 20th. Until recently, you had a longer cancellation window.
Now, you must test positive from January 11th through the morning of the 20th to qualify for a refund.
Credit: atlantaurgentcare.com
This change is not a big deal, but please be aware, as the policy takes effect for all bookings made from now on.
Speaking of cruises, Disney has announced the details for its 2023 Pixar Day at Sea! You can read all about it here.
Photo: Disney
In park news that makes me very happy, MickeyBlog scooped the internet with shots of a new EPCOT feature.
You can now see the massive statue of Te Fiti that will anchor Journey of Water | Inspired by Moana! And she’s a beauty!
Photo: Instagram @Walt Disney Imagineering
Meanwhile, at Disneyland Park, we just learned about an upcoming refurbishment of Indiana Jones Adventure. And it should last for several months!
For this reason, the internet is understandably ablaze with speculation that Disney is adding some Dial of Destiny-related content!
Photo: Disney
I cannot rule this out because James Cameron recently acknowledged he has spoken with Bob Iger about adding Avatar: Way of the Water sequences to Avatar Flight of Passage!
Two remarkable Disney attractions could get even better!
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Feature Image: Disney
