Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory Closing For Major Multi-Month Remodel

WDWNT on June 22, 2016

Beginning July 11th, 2016, Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory food court at Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter will be closed to undergo a significant remodeling.

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While the work is being done, guests may go to Scat Cat’s Lounge for jambalaya, gumbo, po-boy sandwiches, other hot and cold entrees, as well as the famous beignets. A selection of grab and go options are also going to be available. In-room pizza delivery service will continue to be offered from 4PM until midnight, offering pizza, hold and cold sandwiches, and pasta. Also, bus transportation to Port Orleans Riverside will be available from 7AM until midnight to accomodate guests who may want to dine at Riverside Mill food court or Boatwright’s Dining Hall.

Work is expected to be complete on Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory in the Fall of 2016.

BREAKING: FastPass+ Booking Currently Not Functioning at Walt Disney World

WDWNT on June 22, 2016

Apparently, guests at Walt Disney World are currently unable to book FastPass+ reservations.

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The service interruption is affecting all booking online and through the app, but in-park kiosks are still able to book FastPass+ for guests. All existing FP+ reservations are unaffected in the outage.

If guests try to book online, the system informs guests that distribution has concluded for the day, which is of course, inaccurate.

Disney is unsure of when the problem might be fixed, stay tuned for any updates as they are provided.

UPDATE: Sheriff Offers Updates on Changing State of Gator Incident Investigation

WDWNT on June 22, 2016

During a noon press conference, the sheriff in charge of the ongoing investigation offered a few updates on the incident.

Since it has been 15 hours since the child was taken, the effort has now become a recovery mission to bring closure to the family who suffered the loss.

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5 alligators have been removed, euthanized, and examined since the search began, but no traces of the victim have been found.

There were several eyewitnesses to the incident according to the Sheriff, so any thoughts of foul play can be laid to rest.

Walt Disney World has since closed of all of the beaches in the Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake areas of the resort in response, as well, all watercraft service has been suspended.

UPDATE: Disney Alters Jungle Cruise In Light of Gator Incident; First Eyewitness Report

WDWNT on June 22, 2016

The Orlando Sentinel interviewed a witness of the attack, a Bill Wilson of New Harmony, Indiana who was sitting on his balcony at the Grand Floridian:

“I looked over and here comes one of the lifeguards. He said ‘Everybody get out of the water. The mother was there and she was frantic, running up and down looking.”  Everything unfolded in less than 30 seconds, he said. A minute later, the alligator was gone. Wilson said he had seen the group walking near the water’s edge and noted it was very dark at that site. They weren’t standing under a light, he said. Wilson said response was quick from Disney personnel and first responders. He saw helicopters, fire department members, lifeguards, pontoon boats at work.  “Disney did every damn thing they could do to help,” he said. Hotel guests were not notified of the situation Tuesday night or Wednesday morning, he said.

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In response to these recent events, Walt Disney World today cut all jokes related to children and crocodiles from the Jungle Cruise attraction at the Magic Kingdom. Among the jokes, the attraction famously asked parents to “watch their children, or the crocodiles will.”

UPDATE: Search for Gator Victim Ends, Investigation Continues

WDWNT on June 22, 2016

Searchers finally located the body of the missing 2-year-old boy a short time ago at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort.

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It appears the boy was drowned since the body was found intact. Experts will compare the bite marks on the victim to the 5 alligators that were captured over the course of the last day to ensure the animal was indeed removed from the area.

Divers found the boy about 15 yards from the shoreline.

Reportedly, Matt Graves wrestled with the alligator , trying to pry to child from the alligator’s jaw, but came away only with a few scratches on his hands.

UPDATE: Beaches Remain Closed, Transportation Limited Around Magic Kingdom

WDWNT on June 22, 2016

In light of the recent events in the Seven Seas Lagoon area, beaches near the Magic Kingdom remained closed today. Disney has even gone so far as to remove all of the lounge chairs from the beaches as well.

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The Magic Kingdom ferryboats are back in operation on the Seven Seas Lagoon today, but all smaller watercraft are still being kept out of operation. Additional buses continue to be offered today in reaction to the decreased watercraft service.

There is no word as of yet on when or if these changes will be reversed.

UPDATE: Walt Disney World Beaches Will Return With Enhanced Signage

WDWNT on June 22, 2016

Disney spokeswoman Jacquee Wahler issued a statement just a short while ago saying “we are conducting a swift and thorough review of all of our processes and protocols. This includes the number, placement and wording of our signage and warnings.”

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This leads us to believe the beaches should return in the next few days with signage that will include some sort of alligator warning for guests. No other information as provided at this time.

2017 Brings Major Snack and Dessert Changes to Walt Disney World Dining Plan

WDWNT on June 22, 2016

In 2017, dessert will be removed from all eligible counter service meals on both the Quick Service Dining Plan and the Basic Disney Dining Plan Packages. Replacing the dessert on both the Quick Service and Basic Plan will be the addition of a second snack credit daily. Overall this proposed change has the most effect on the Quick Service Plan who lost its second snack a number of years back and now loses two desserts and gains back a single snack. Other major changes include elimination of the rarely used Platinum and Premium plans.

  • 2017 Proposed Quick Service Dining Plan
    • 2 Quick Service Meals (Entree & Drink) per person per day
    • 2 Snack Credits per person per day
  • 2017 Basic Dining Plan
    • 1 Quick Service Meal (Entree & Drink) per person per day
    • 1 Table Service Meal (Entree, Drink and Dessert) per person per day
    • 2 Snack Credits per person per day

These changes come no doubt to bring better balance to the plan after last May when Walt Disney World began allowing dining plan patrons to swap drinks and/or desserts for any snack eligible item at quick service locations and allowed desserts to be swapped at table service locations for a fruit place, small salad or cup of soup.

The Deluxe Disney Dining Plan is not expected to experience any changes.

RUMOR: Disneyland Forever Fireworks To Be Discontinued for Budgetary Reasons

WDWNT on June 22, 2016

When the Disneyland Forever fireworks show was introduced as part of the Diamond Celebration in May 2015, we assumed it would stay beyond the anniversary event, just as “Remember, Dreams Come True” did ten years earlier during the 50th anniversary of Disneyland. Well, it seems the show will conclude along with the Diamond Celebration come September 5th, 2016.

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Why discontinue Disneyland’s biggest fireworks show ever? It is drawing record crowds and has proven ever-so-popular. Well, the show is big and expensive and Disneyland doesn’t seem to think they need it anymore.

Now, Disneyland does have two seasonal shows that they can slot in following the departure of Forever in September, the preexisting Halloween and Christmas fireworks shows. Certainly these two shows could carry the burden on select nights until the beginning of 2017, but instead of bringing Forever back at that point, Disneyland may reinstate the Magical fireworks show or introduce a new, smaller scale show in comparison to the current offering.

Unfortunately, this cancellation is part of a trend at the Disneyland Resort. In addition to budget cuts that have closed various restaurants around the resort, the spending constraints have left the long-standing Mad T Party staging and such over the Hollywood Land area in place, simply because it would cost $200,000 to restore the area to its former state.

Hopefully the completion of Shanghai Disney Resort will lift these budget constraints for Disneyland Resort, otherwise it’s going to be a long road to Star Wars land…

Patrick Warburton Confirms He Will Not Return in Soarin’ Around the World?

WDWNT on June 22, 2016

Soarin’ Around the World will open at both Epcot and Disney California Adventure tomorrow morning, and while guests will still be able to soar in a familiar surrounding, Chief Flight Attendant Patrick may not be welcoming guests to Soarin’…

Patrick Warburton portrayed the character in the preshow of the attraction which operated for 15 years in California and 11 in Florida, becoming a beloved theme park icon by fans. The loss of the character is already being met with sadness from fans around the world, despite the tweet being quite cryptic.

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On a bright note Warburton’s voice now graces the queue and pre-show of Star Tours: The Adventures Continue, so he will continue to be a part of the Disney Parks for a long time to come regardless of what happens tomorrow.

So, what awaits us tomorrow in Soarin’ Around the World? You will have to tune in to find out…