DVC News for February 2022
Disney’s next great cruise ship suffered a delay, new DVC units joined the current inventory, Toy Story Land announced enhancements, and Magic Kingdom added more live entertainment.
We’ll discuss these stories plus the unexpected success of Lightning Lane in this month’s DVC News.
Disney Wish Delayed
February 11th marked a momentous day for Disney Cruise Line. The Disney Wish touched the water for the first time on that date.
The builders at Meyer Werft shipyard finally took the mighty vessel out for a trial run, proving that it was seaworthy.
Frankly, the shipyard needed this win after a brutal two-year stretch. The ship construction industry has suffered as much as any during the pandemic.
In fact, the week before this small triumph, Meyer Werft had experienced another wave of negative press.
The Walt Disney Company announced that the Disney Wish couldn’t make its scheduled opening date despite everyone’s best intentions.
Disney had scheduled the maiden voyage of the Disney Wish for June 9th.
This announcement occurred in April of 2021 when the pandemic appeared to be waning in impact.
Everything seemed fine until the final quarter of 2021. At that point, Omicron suddenly triggered an outbreak that caused work shortages.
At Meyer Werft, the shipyard turned into a graveyard complete with a skeleton crew of workers. So, the staffing issues set back the project.
For this reason, the first trip for the Disney Wish won’t occur until July 14th. So, we’re only talking about five weeks longer.
Still, Disney had scheduled 12 cruises across those five weeks. These individuals just had their vacations disrupted.
If you’re among the unlucky few, Disney has likely contacted you by now. The good news is that you’ll either receive a full refund or 50 percent off your cruise.
As usual, Disney has handled an unfortunate setback with class.
The Lightning Lane Update
Disney just published its earnings for the fiscal first quarter of 2022. During the accompanying earnings call, CEO Bob Chapek added some intel.
For starters, Disney has experienced staffing setbacks over the past 18 months.
According to Chapek, many furloughed workers happily returned to the company. Some chose new careers, though.
Since then, Disney has struggled with one field in particular. The parks lack enough short-order cooks.
In fact, Disney has offered incentives of up to $6,000 to entice people to take positions as cooks.
That’s not the huge takeaway, though. Chapek also noted that Disney Genie+/Lightning Lane sales have exceeded expectations.
Since their inception, these FastPass-like add-ons have sold well. Chapek indicated that more than one out of every three guests had purchased them.
The shocker occurred during the holidays, though. Chapek bragged that more than half of guests paid for these services during the holiday season!
That statement alone strongly suggests that paid front-of-line access is here to stay at Disney theme parks.
DVC/D23 News
Disney has provided updates on two significant events occurring later this year.
First, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa has nearly completed renovations at Building 9, Big Pine Key.
This summer, that building will convert to a fully DVC facility. And we know that Disney will meet this deadline for two reasons.
One involves Disney’s control of the project. It’s not relying on a shipyard in Germany to finish the project.
Instead, Disney has hardhats working at the resort right now to ensure the goal.
Secondly, DVC has introduced half of the new rooms into the condominium association. So, Disney will start selling this inventory soon.
The other huge event coming later this year will happen in Anaheim, California.
Disney will host the D23 Expo 2022 from September 9th through September 11th.
We haven’t had one of these expos since 2019 because the pandemic prevented the previously scheduled event.
In fact, Walt Disney World hosted a previously unplanned 2021 D23 exhibition because of that delay.
Disney executives believed they needed an event to demonstrate that the parks were operating at full strength again.
However, during the theme park presentation, Disney proved light on details about upcoming projects, one of the hallmarks of past D23 shows.
For this reason, D23 Expo 2022 feels more critical than in recent years. If you would like to attend, tickets are already on sale.
You can purchase single-day tickets or full-weekend access, although the latter has sold out (for now). D23 members also receive a substantial discount.
If you’re interested, you can buy tickets here. Please understand that there are no refunds, though.
I had an emergency prevent me from going in 2019. Disney wasn’t sympathetic *at all*. So, if you’re buying, you’re out the money if you cannot attend.
Theme Park Updates
We’ve plenty of good, some bad, and one bizarre tidbit in this month’s theme park updates.
The first welcome news involves Toy Story Land. Disney’s Hollywood Studios will improve its themed land by a bit when it adds two “Play Sets.”
That’s how Disney is thematically describing a new restaurant and shop coming to this area.
The restaurant is Rodeo Roundup BBQ, the Table Service establishment Disney had initially planned at Toy Story Land.
Park officials delayed the project due to more pressing needs. At the time, Imagineers were working on Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Toy Story Land, and Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway.
These projects stretched construction crews too thin, forcing Toy Story Land to split into a smaller-scale project.
Disney still possesses plenty of land here for additional expansion, and Rodeo Roundup BBQ will be part of the next wave.
Also, a store called Jessie’s Trading Post will join it as the other Play Set. Disney hasn’t stated whether it’ll be an indoor or outdoor shop yet, though. We’re all hoping for the former.
At Magic Kingdom, the Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade has debuted. It features a mix of Disney and Pixar characters and is a permanent park addition.
Meanwhile, Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire will debut on February 25th. You’ll find both these presentations at the Cinderella Castle stage area.
A bit later, on March 9th, the Festival of Fantasy Parade will finally return after a prolonged pandemic-related absence.
Disney has confirmed that the Maleficent fire-breathing float is coming back, too. So, it’s the full-fledged parade!
More Park Updates
You may have heard that the Disney Skyliner was undergoing renovations. Well, they obviously went well because the Skyliner returned sooner than planned!
Better yet, the Skyliner has operated without incident since its return. In fact, we haven’t had a significant Skyliner breakdown in a long time. Those early issues were just bad luck.
At EPCOT, the Imagination! pavilion lounge will remain in operation for the rest of 2022 at a minimum.
DVC officials just confirmed that it’ll stay for at least another year. And while we’re on the subject of that pavilion, its most famous resident caused quite a stir.
Disney sold a Figment Popcorn Bucket as part of the 2022 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts.
People LOST THEIR MINDS over this bucket. Guests proudly bragged of standing in line for seven hours (!) to buy a popcorn bucket. It’s as insane as it sounds.
Also at the parks, Disney’s Hollywood Studios added Extended Evening Hours for April 13th. It’ll host this Deluxe resort amenity rather than Magic Kingdom.
DVC members will be beside themselves with joy if Hollywood Studios becomes a regular part of the rotation.
In other park news, Disney has performed its now-annual snack and beverage increases.
Most of your favorites, like popcorn and fountain drinks, have gone up by 50 cents to a dollar. It’s a core part of Disney’s business model now.
For DVC fans at Disney’s Beach Club Villas, I’ve got one other exciting update. The Cape May Café buffet has returned!
Management has decided it can safely operate a buffet again now that the pandemic is waning in strength.