Shortly after the “new” Haunted Mansion interactive queue debuted (virtually 15 years in the past) at Magic Kingdom, I had the prospect to attend an occasion throughout which Imagineers talked up the additions, inspiration, and so on. It was the beginning of Walt Disney World’s now-infamous NextGen undertaking, which seen interactive queues as the way forward for theme parks with the plan to carry them to most points of interest as a solution to, I don’t actually know, enhance visitor satisfaction, I assume?
Interactive queues being the longer term weren’t the one factor they had been incorrect about that night. Being a Halloween-time occasion revolving round Haunted Mansion, the query that at all times comes up finally got here up: When will Haunted Mansion Vacation lastly come to Walt Disney World?
At the moment, it appeared like a reasonable-enough query. The Haunted Mansion Vacation overlay at Disneyland was not that previous and had confirmed a smash success for a number of years operating. It thus stood to cause that Walt Disney World administration would finally need in on that, proper? Unsuitable.
Based on ex-Imagineer Jason Surrell, the corporate felt it inappropriate to carry Haunted Mansion Vacation to Walt Disney World. He went on to clarify that, in comparison with Disneyland, most Walt Disney World company had been rare or once-in-a-lifetime guests, and as such, Disney wished to current the unique Haunted Mansion to them.
Usually, I’d miss the identify of the Imagineer in query, particularly in a subject like this that calls out the corporate for being incorrect. Nonetheless, it’s germane right here as a result of Surrell had a historical past of talking his thoughts, and made Imagineering’s PR folks sweat each time he took the stage. He was not one to tow the corporate line–which means his reply wasn’t merely a regurgitated speaking level. Or at the least, to the extent that it was, it’s one folks inside Walt Disney World and Imagineering truly believed.
For no matter it’s price, a model of this rationalization is what I’ve heard repeatedly through the years. Not simply that Walt Disney World needs to current the unique Haunted Mansion, however that they need to keep away from visitor complaints. These can be attributable to having an iconic attraction down a number of weeks every year for the changeover and likewise by supposedly-lower visitor satisfaction for Haunted Mansion Vacation versus OG Haunted Mansion.
One persistent rumor is that Haunted Mansion Vacation Nightmare at Tokyo Disneyland was initially supposed for Magic Kingdom. Not simply the idea, typically, however the precise overlay that’s introduced within the park to today. Supposedly, the overlay plans acquired so far as fabrication, solely to be rejected last-minute by park management on-the-ground in Orlando. (I can’t communicate to the veracity of this, but it surely strains up and the overlay would match Florida’s Haunted Mansion completely.)
I’ve heard this similar “guest-friendly” rationalization for Walt Disney World eschewing seasonal overlays on numerous events to excuse numerous issues. Identical goes for “it’s a small world” vacation, Nation Bear Christmas, and Area Mountain. Ditto attraction overlays which are at present unique to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Celebration and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Celebration.
It’s additionally been prolonged to seasonal leisure and overlays that aren’t even to points of interest. Even as we speak, some folks inside Walt Disney World declare that the Cinderella Fortress Dream Lights should not introduced as a consequence of visitor complaints concerning the crane that put in them. The grievance half is true…which is exactly why Disney began reducing the cranes through the day within the final two years the icicle lights had been introduced. Visitor complaints are completely not the explanation why the Dream Lights show is useless. Cash is.
Frankly, I believe Walt Disney World’s notorious cheapness can also be the true cause why vacation journey overlays have been rejected. No matter whether or not it comes all the way down to cash or visitor expectations, Walt Disney World is incorrect.
For years, the common wait instances for Haunted Mansion Vacation at Disneyland have far exceeded these for the common Haunted Mansion. In equity, the seasonal overlay does run through the busiest stretch of the 12 months, however the story is similar when evaluating summer season stats for Haunted Mansion with the early fall low season. It’s the very same story with Haunted Mansion Vacation Nightmare at Tokyo Disneyland.
Talking of Tokyo Disneyland, one other good instance there may be the Jingle Bell Jamboree/Nation Bear Christmas and Trip Jamboree/Hoedown variations of Nation Bear Jamboree that the U.S. parks way back deserted. We had the chance to look at each of those overlays enjoying to utterly packed homes this summer season and vacation season. They’re so widespread that Tokyo Disneyland even bought merchandise primarily based on the seasonal exhibits a couple of years again.
Then there’s the “it’s a small world” vacation model of the long-lasting boat journey at Disneyland. To name this extra widespread than the common “it’s a small world” can be a large understatement. Once more, this isn’t an ideal comparability, as a result of a part of the overlay is the beautiful exterior mild show, which pulls crowds (and wouldn’t even be attainable in Magic Kingdom). However wait instances are elevated night throughout daylight, indicating it’s the substance of the seasonal overlay that’s widespread–not simply the brilliant lights.
One excuse we’ve heard WDW diehards provide for the Florida parks not doing seasonal overlays is that visitor demographics are totally different at Disneyland and Tokyo Disneyland versus Walt Disney World. The pondering goes that there are numerous extra locals, repeat guests, and Annual Passholders at these parks. Against this, Walt Disney World is extra reliant on one-and-done vacationers.
There’s no denying that is true…to an extent. Los Angeles and Tokyo are two of the biggest metro areas on the earth, and these fanbases are unquestionably extra diehard than Walt Disney World. These Disneylands are ingrained within the native cultures, and each parks skew extra in the direction of locals than vacationers.
Nonetheless, Tokyo doesn’t have Annual Passes anymore and it’s nonetheless been true. Each have completed extra to court docket non-locals, and we suspect it’s labored in California. Anaheim hasn’t seen an explosion in motels since Automobiles Land opened for no cause–it ought to go with out saying, however LA and Orange County residents aren’t reserving these rooms. And we know Tokyo has been profitable in broadening its attain as a vacationer vacation spot, as OLC releases these stats in its quarterly studies.
In the meantime, demographics are additionally shifting at Walt Disney World–and within the different route. Disney Trip Membership membership numbers proceed to develop, and people developments are disproportionately in Florida. It’s on the level know the place a large chunk of Walt Disney World’s room stock is DVC, and people are all repeat guests. That’s how Disney Trip Membership works!
Maybe most importantly, there was a inhabitants explosion in Central Florida. This has been a nationwide story in the previous few years, but it surely truly began pre-COVID (that hyperlink is from 2019!). The pattern has solely accelerated since then (listed here are Census numbers printed this 12 months).
A number of cities in Central Florida are among the many quickest rising in america. Many of those new Florida residents are folks fleeing the Northeast, Midwest…or California. That is vital as a result of it means Walt Disney World, historically a vacationer vacation spot with a far decrease AP pool than Disneyland, has elevated its Annual Passholder inhabitants in the previous few years. Surprise how Walt Disney World has managed to extend AP costs a lot? Or why the week after New Yr’s is now so busy? Extra locals is the reply.
All of that is most likely self-evident to Floridians residing close to Walt Disney World. Throughout our time residing within the Sunshine State, empty fields remodeled into seas of subdivisions, single-lane roads turned multi-lane, cease lights proliferated, colleges had been constructed…and all of it nonetheless wasn’t sufficient. There’s nonetheless a housing scarcity, site visitors is horrible, colleges immediately want modular lecture rooms, and so on. And an extremely frequent sight whereas sitting in that site visitors? Walt Disney World Annual Passholder magnets on perhaps one-third to half the vehicles. (No judgment–like so many, we moved to Florida due to Walt Disney World!)
The purpose is that standard knowledge about vacationers vs. locals at Walt Disney World (versus Disneyland and Tokyo Disneyland) is antiquated. It’d’ve been true twenty years in the past, however has been much less and fewer correct with every passing 12 months. Each time there’s a brand new DVC resort or one other subdivision–and there have been lots of each–there are new diehard Walt Disney World followers who’re common or repeat guests.
Frankly, I don’t assume this “knowledge” was true throughout that Haunted Mansion occasion over 15 years in the past. Bay Lake Tower had already opened, and Walt Disney World was within the midst of constructing or planning a number of new Disney Trip Membership resorts. The tides had begun to show, however notoriously slow-to-adapt Walt Disney World management was nonetheless caught in its methods and previous line of pondering.
There have been numerous examples since that underscoring the “energy” of repeat guests and Walt Disney World diehards. The strains for that Figment popcorn bucket that garnered nationwide media protection. The crowds for opening day of any seasonal occasion or new attraction, regardless of how massive or small. (A digital queue with an 8-hour look ahead to Moana’s Journey of Water?!) The strains for just about any AP magnet, giveaway, or providing.
We simply returned from Christmas at Walt Disney World and by far the preferred shirt we noticed on company was a not-so-ugly Christmas sweater that Figment wears in Journey into Creativeness. This $75 shirt that doesn’t even say “Disney” isn’t being purchased by first-timers. It’s being purchased disproportionately by DVC Members (at one level, about one-third of company within the EPCOT lounge had been sporting one!), Annual Passholders, and Floridians. It’s alone noteworthy that individuals residing in Florida are dropping massive bucks on a sweater.
However once more, this additionally just isn’t something new! The prevalence of this fan-favorite Figment sweater gave me flashbacks to virtually a decade in the past, over the past 12 months of the Osborne Household Spectacle of Dancing Lights. Not solely was Disney’s Hollywood Studios insanely busy that Christmas with company saying their goodbyes, however about one-quarter of company (not even an exaggeration) had been sporting pink “That’s A Wrap!” passholder-exclusive shirts. For the subsequent few Christmases, this shirt and the inexperienced normal public model continued to be the most typical shirts we’d see through the vacation season.
Maybe the standard knowledge was true for the primary few a long time of Walt Disney World’s existence. I’d imagine that. However it actually looks like, for the final twenty years, it’s been a handy excuse. A method for administration to justify its personal laziness and cheapness–the kind of factor that has typified Crew Disney Orlando management pondering for a very long time, and that continues to work as a result of, frankly, Walt Disney World followers don’t anticipate or demand extra. As an alternative of holding Disney to excessive requirements, they parrot the justifications.
I haven’t believed the speaking factors about seasonal overlays at Walt Disney World for a very long time, however what actually sealed the deal for me was the strains we encountered this 12 months for Residing with the Land – Glimmering Greenhouses. That is the uncommon overlay that Walt Disney World truly does do, and to their credit score (and within the curiosity of equity and steadiness), it has gotten larger and higher each single 12 months because it began.
Christmas 2024 looks like the approaching out get together for Residing with the Land – Glimmering Greenhouses. Walt Disney World acquired higher about advertising it, gave it a correct identify and web site presence (we’d at all times referred to it as ‘Merry & Vivid Nights’ previously), and actually went all out adorning.
Residing with the Land – Glimmering Greenhouses went from being what appeared like a ardour undertaking of Forged Members and the EPCOT staff to one thing extra–a real, fully-fledged seasonal overlay. The purpose of this publish isn’t about how superior Residing with the Land – Glimmering Greenhouses is that this 12 months–and the way it retains getting higher–however I’d be remiss if I didn’t at the least acknowledge that in a publish that’s in any other case damaging in the direction of Walt Disney World. (And maybe suggest utilizing a Lightning Lane on it, somewhat than the favored apply of an early morning throw-away LLMP at Residing with the Land.)
Suffice to say, Walt Disney World actually acquired Residing with the Land – Glimmering Greenhouses proper. And crowds responded accordingly!
Each single evening we had been there, Residing with the Land – Glimmering Greenhouses had a peak wait time of 60 minutes or extra. Its vary within the evenings (the one time that issues because it’s a light-weight show) was recurrently 45-55 minutes, even on the very finish of the evening through the fireworks. To make certain, this overlay has been widespread for the final a number of years, however I’ve by no means seen strains like this–and on random weeknights outdoors of peak season dates!
I don’t doubt there have been vacationers in these strains for Glimmering Greenhouses. In spite of everything, if there are two issues with common attraction, it’s Christmas lights…and greenhouses! It’s an superior overlay, and there’s no cause to imagine it could be widespread solely with Walt Disney World followers, even when there was a better focus of Figment sweaters in line.
That’s type of the purpose, although. Walt Disney World’s standard knowledge appears to presuppose that vacationers don’t care about or received’t like seasonal overlays. I don’t imagine that’s in the slightest degree true. I extremely doubt Haunted Mansion Vacation or “it’s a small world” vacation have decrease visitor satisfaction numbers than their common counterparts. Ditto the less complicated ones in Automobiles Land or for Mission Breakout.
On the contrary, I feel a majority of company from all demographics take pleasure in attending to expertise “one thing particular.” Even when they don’t just like the overlays, it’s pretty simple to keep away from them. We stay in an period of knowledge. Roughly 13% of the world’s inhabitants has a weblog or vlog about Disney. With even a modicum of on-line analysis, you may principally keep away from the overlays if it’s that essential to you. Identical goes principally for the downtime to put in them, which is pretty constant year-to-year.
Talking of which, the opposite argument considerations complaints about downtime to put in and take away the overlays. I’m additionally skeptical of this. Walt Disney World’s monitor file of including refurbishments to the calendar on the absolute final minute and poor preventative upkeep doesn’t recommend to me they really care about this. In the event that they did, they’d publish the total refurbishment schedule at the least 6 months upfront (a la Tokyo Disney Resort) or work more durable to forestall unscheduled journey breakdowns. It’s one other handy excuse to justify not placing in additional effort.
With all of that mentioned, this publish serves two functions–one damaging (however hopefully constructive!) and the opposite constructive. We had been actually blown away by simply how a lot Residing with the Land – Glimmering Greenhouses has grown into its personal, and need to present our appreciation for the way this journey overlay has blossomed:
In the end, we have now to provide kudos to Walt Disney World for a job effectively completed on Residing with the Land – Glimmering Greenhouses. Whether or not it’s a labor of affection amongst Forged Members working within the Land pavilion or park administration giving them extra sources–or each–the journey overlay seems improbable this 12 months.
This pretty easy overlay (in comparison with those Disneyland does) simply scratches the floor of what’s attainable, and demand for it additionally demonstrates why Walt Disney World’s handy excuses for not doing vacation overlays are additionally self-defeating. It’s not simply company who profit from seasonal overlays or choices.
Disney is promoting these Figment sweaters at $75 a pop, which might be like $70 of margin. Residing with the Land – Glimmering Greenhouses is getting locals to go to or conserving them within the park later, which most likely leads to meals or $75 sweater gross sales. (In the event that they made the Land emblem decoration into an precise decoration, myself and hundreds of different APs would drop $30 or no matter on it!) Followers would actually ebook journeys for a return of the Cinderella Fortress Dream Lights, which might additionally promote extra PhotoPass packages plus the entire above.
The record goes on and on. So typically, it seems like Walt Disney World’s lack of effort is actually as a consequence of laziness and little else, and that there’s loads of cause to imagine they’d come out forward by making an attempt only a tad more durable to exceed visitor expectations. Penny smart and pound silly. However the regular stream of vacationer {dollars} breeds complacency and gives a disincentive for making an attempt more durable, or placing within the stage of effort of Disneyland. That’s unlucky, and never only for us as followers. If Walt Disney World administration is studying this and stays unpersuaded, I’d suggest a easy, low stakes take a look at: carry again Nation Bear Christmas in 2025.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study motels on our Walt Disney World Accommodations Critiques web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Critiques. To save cash on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Suggestions for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets publish. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys publish takes a novel take a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Experience Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the perfect place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for all the things it’s essential know!
Your Ideas
What do you consider vacation journey overlays? Would you be disenchanted about not attending to expertise the common model of the attraction, or comfortable about seeing one thing particular and new? Would you ebook a visit to Walt Disney World at Christmas to expertise an overlay? Or would you keep away from the parks? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation of shifting demographics and WDW’s pondering on overlays being outdated? Any questions we may also help you reply? Listening to your suggestions—even once you disagree with us—is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
