Disney's Hollywood Studios Announces Operational Changes for Late 2008 and 2009

[Figment!]

Walt Disney World Resort Announcment
July 19, 2008

We are continually focused on providing the best possible experiences for our Guests who visit the Walt Disney World® Resort. Within the last six months, we have added significant new attractions and shows at Disney’s Hollywood Studios™, including Block Party Bash, Toy Story Midway Mania!, Pixar Place and Journey Into Narnia: Prince Caspian.

Coming in October 2008 will be the recently announced “High School Musical 3: Senior Year” and later this year, Disney’s Hollywood Studios™ will host the annual Night of Joy event for the first time and welcome back ABC Super Soap Weekend. At the same time, we have continued to update existing offerings such as Playhouse Disney—Live On Stage!

Next year, the park will unveil The American Idol Experience, host the first Grad Nite events at Disney’s Hollywood Studios™ and welcome back ESPN: The Weekend and Star Wars Weekends.

We regularly evaluate and refine our operations. At the same time we unveil The American Idol Experience in January 2009, we will make an adjustment to our operation by offering Fantasmic! on select evenings each week. Fantasmic! will be performed two times weekly –generally Mondays and Thursdays - and more often during our busiest times of the year.

On nights when Fantasmic! is not performed, Guests (with appropriate ticket media) will continue to have the opportunity to enjoy nightly fireworks spectaculars such as Wishes at the Magic Kingdom® Park and IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth at Epcot®.

[chrisb26]

Thanks for the update!

I'm not too happy with the announcement about Fantasmic being only 2 nights a week. I don't understand why almost every time I have ever gone to watch the show the theater has been basically full and that is all times of the year.

I can only imagine what will happen when its only offered 2 nights a week. Guess you'll have to get there very early to get a seat

[scoot241]

I'm not pleased with the Fantasmic changes either, especially when they seem to be associated with American Idol.

Looks like the Fantasmic Dining package is going to become even more important if you don't want to sit in line for hours.

Any word on whether Fantasmic will be done twice on the select evenings?

[BrerSchultzy]

You have just got to love "Corporate Speak".

It genuinely sounds like they are saying that since they are offering The American Idol Experience, the demand for Fantasmic will go down, so it won't have to be offered as often.

Why not just come out and say it guys...you need to save money because you spent so much on all this new stuff, so you're reducing performances. That's really all that needs to be said.

In truth, I imagine that by summer time, the show will be performed every night (maybe taking the odd monday or tuesday off), but they don't want to get our hopes up.

[MinnieMommie]

I'm also disappointed about the reduced number of Fantasmic Performances. IMHO American Idol is not a viable substitution for Fantasmic!

[Mickeydream]

I am not a fan of American idol at all and least of all when I'm on vacation. It's a good thing that our trip in November '09 will be 11 days, so we will get more than one opportunity to see
Fantasmic! With it being shown only twice a week there will need to be more planning for a trip to WDW to see the always crowded show. Maybe by the time we go it will be back to a nightly show...here's hoping.

[Clay Ransone]

2009 is not going to fun at MGM after dark. I'm glad I'm going in November and will be able to see Fantasmic! when I want and will not be subjected to the American Idol junk.

[ScaryTom]

As bad as this all sounds to all of us, let's think of all the cast members who are losing there work location. With all these cut backs, with PI and now this, you know that many cast members will lose hours and some may even lose their jobs.

- Tom

[jszczur5]

Thanks for the update!

I'm not too happy with the announcement about Fantasmic being only 2 nights a week. I don't understand why almost every time I have ever gone to watch the show the theater has been basically full and that is all times of the year.

I can only imagine what will happen when its only offered 2 nights a week. Guess you'll have to get there very early to get a seat

Well this should send the Fantasmic Dinner package reservations through the roof.

[locutus]

Thanks for the update!

I'm not too happy with the announcement about Fantasmic being only 2 nights a week. I don't understand why almost every time I have ever gone to watch the show the theater has been basically full and that is all times of the year.

I can only imagine what will happen when its only offered 2 nights a week. Guess you'll have to get there very early to get a seat

First they close PI and now cut 5 shows a week of Fantasmic. I know they want to cut costs but cmon. I cant tell you how many times I have wanted to see Fantasmic, gotten there over an hour before the show and couldnt get it. your right...how hard is it going to see when its only available twice a week. Its not as if the show were unpopular. I think its time we all start boycotting Disney and go elsewhere until corporate realizes that cutting so many things will just turn people away and not encourage attendance. People complain and still go, Disney will not care what we say. We stop going they may reconsider.

[BMan62]

People complain and still go, Disney will not care what we say. We stop going they may reconsider.

I think that is the whole point of them cutting back - people have stopped going. Actually, more to the point is that people are not booking rooms and packages for Q1 '09, so they feel they have to save some money.

From an e-mail newsletter that I received today:

Disney sees slowing ad sales, park hotel bookings

Walt Disney Co said park bookings were flat and it had detected weakness in advertising sales in the current quarter, sparking fears that U.S. economic woes will hit its results and sending its shares down 2 percent.

[KAT1811]

I think its time we all start boycotting Disney and go elsewhere until corporate realizes that cutting so many things will just turn people away and not encourage attendance.

I call that cutting your nose off to spite your face. Two or ten shows of Fantasmic! there isn't a vacation destination in the world that I would rather take my children to. As devistating as this may be to some there are still a zillion other things to do at WDW at night.

[locutus]

I call that cutting your nose off to spite your face. Two or ten shows of Fantasmic! there isn't a vacation destination in the world that I would rather take my children to. As devistating as this may be to some there are still a zillion other things to do at WDW at night.

Why cutting your nose to spite your face? Prices rise and entertainment drops. And please tell me a few things to do at night. Without PI soon it looks to me I would have to sit and watch tv in my room while the kids are in bed. Not many more options for us grown ups when the parks are done. Except for maybe Citywalk at Universal.

[Vito]

Why cutting your nose to spite your face? Prices rise and entertainment drops. And please tell me a few things to do at night. Without PI soon it looks to me I would have to sit and watch tv in my room while the kids are in bed. Not many more options for us grown ups when the parks are done. Except for maybe Citywalk at Universal.

Guess that depends on when you're going. If you're going during the busy season, the parks are open until 11 or midnight, plus Extra Magic Hours if you want to do that. I can't think of anything much better than walking around a very quiet Magic Kingdom at 2 am after watching the fireworks together. I certianly wouldn't choose a nightclub in lieu of that. I can go to nightclubs anywhere - there's only one Magic Kingdom. Isn't that why we go to WDW and not Universal or the nearest city?

And additionally, if it's the crowded season, Fantasmic will definitely be more than 2 times per week.

As for other nighttime activity, I don't know. Again, the best I've got is the parks at night (especially EMH nights), a quiet walk around your resort and a late night dip in the pool when most everyone is in bed. The Boardwalk has several places that are open until 1am-2am... Not sure if these are all still open, but according to Intercot:

Atlantic Dance Hall
Feel the live Latin rhythms sizzle at this newly themed club. It's hot, hot, hot! Lounge and dance club for 21 and over only.
(Valid, proper photo ID required.)
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday -- 9:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.
Schedule: Tuesday, Wednesday & Saturday are VIDEO DJ Nights, playing some of the best music videos on a large screen.
Thursday &Friday nights are DJ only nights, playing a mix of today's top hits.
Please Note: The Atlantic Dance Hall may be booked for wedding receptions and other special events and does accommodate live bands for those events when requested.

Jellyrolls
A Dueling piano bar where you choose the play list.
Take part in non-stop live entertainment in a casual atmosphere.
Admission Ticket required
21 and over only. (Valid, proper photo ID required.)
Hours: 9:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.

Those are in addition to a few different places to eat (ESPN Club, Big River Grille & Brewing Works) that are open until midnight or later.

Downtown Disney still has quite a bit open late, you could catch a movie, grab a bite or just take a walk lake-side, etc.

I think if you do some digging you'll find there's plenty of nighttime activites, many of which cost nothing and in my opinion can be a much more enjoyable experience than dancing with a bunch of drunk and/or sweaty people in a club.

Adventurers Club and Comedy Warehouse will be missed, yes, but honestly, how often did you visit there, and at what hour?

I don't know - personally the things that I enjoy about WDW are the things that are exclusive experiences, and really I never found Pleasure Island as much of a unique experience. I found most of it to be fairly generic and un-Disney.

By the time the parks close, I'm about out of energy anyway, especially if it's 11 or midnight or so. By the time I get back to the hotel it's usually close to 1am. Even during the "slow" season, there's often a park open late with EMH (usually at least until 11pm), and even if there isn't by the time you get back to the hotel it could be 11 or 12, and there's really no time to head over to DD/PI after that. Perfect time for a quiet coctail poolside or a quiet walk around the resort.

[pdrlkr]

Thanks for the update Jason! I'm not to happy about Fantasmic though.

[TINKERBELL_82]

Thats sad news about Fantasmic, but on the bright side I think doing Grad Night at DHS is a great idea!

[Mrs Bus Driver]

Does anyone besides me think this may have something to do with the economy. Disney Parks have had a great run for the last few years, with crowds getting bigger each year. I'm thinking this next year will be different, that perhaps the corporate big wigs are expecting a bad year. Right now with gas prices so high and everyone cutting back on travel they must be in a panic. IMHO Disney is still one of the best deals out there but that doesn't mean they won't feel the pinch. People will cut back on trips so fewer shows will be offered. The economy will get better, but it will take awhile.

[ibrowse17]

I do not watch American Idol, nor do I plan to. It holds no interest for me, and I fail to see any connection, other than $$$, between it and Disney. Needless to say I do not like these changes, and will not have anything to do with American Idol at Disney.

[AllDisney]

We LOVE Fantasmic. It's a family tradition to go there our first and last night of our WDW vacation.

Looks like the show won't be going on Saturdays or Fridays which are the first and last days of our vacation

[CanadianWDWFan]

Thanks for the update Jason!

I can't believe that Disney would hop on board with these "trendy" performances. Sure folks like these shows, but I really don't and I don't want to have to listen or deal with these attractions.

I will have to seriously rethink any future visits to the park. The Studios really didn't appeal me all that much. Now with Fantasmic all but shut down I really don't want to go back.