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Update for November 9–16, 2015
Go directly to: News & Views | Join our Networks | Resort Events | Merchandise Events | Refurbishments and Attraction Closures | Discounts and Promotions
News and Views
Disney ends Star Wars Weekends | New Star Wars "experiences" open December 1 | Na'vi River Journey coming to Pandora – The World of AVATAR | 2015 Wine & Dine race "chopped" into a quarter marathon | Holiday Happenings at the Swan and Dolphin hotels | | Views Around the World | This and That | Crowd Forecast
Disney ends Star Wars Weekends
Thomas Smith, director of editorial content for Disney Parks, is developing a reputation for being the bearer of (buried) bad news. Tucked at the bottom of yesterday's announcement confirming the opening dates of the new Star Wars experiences at Disney's Hollywood Studios was the news that Disney will not "be able to offer Star Wars Weekends," due to the upcoming construction of the 14-acre Star Wars Land at the park.
This news was met with shock and disbelief from many members of the Disney and Star Wars fan communities, especially since Walt Disney World had already announced the event would return in 2016. In the comment section of the Disney Parks Blog announcement, several people expressed their frustration with this change of plans, noting that they had already booked vacations to attend the 2016 event.
The event debuted in 1997, and has been held annually since 2003. The weekends were best known for celebrity appearances, panel discussions, a themed parade, exclusive merchandise, and (until the 2015 event) the irreverent Hyperspace Hoopla. Dozens of lesser-known Star Wars characters filled the park during the event, and the Disney characters donned their own Star Wars costumes for meet-and-greet opportunties.
The 2015 event took place over five weekends in May and June, and featured appearances by Star Wars celebrities like Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca), Warwick Davis (Wicket), Ray Park (Darth Maul) and Frank Oz (Yoda). Past events included appearances by Anthony Daniels (C3-P0), Mark Hamill (Luke), Carrie Fisher (Leia), Billy Dee Williams (Lando), and even Star Wars creator George Lucas.
Disney expanded the event in recent years, adding weekends and new entertainment options, including the Symphony in the Stars fireworks show, a handful of Star Wars dining experiences, and several added-cost VIP tour packages.
While Smith said "you’ll be able to step into the Star Wars saga every time you visit Disney’s Hollywood Studios," fans are wondering if any of these elements of Star Wars Weekends will be offered in any form during the construction, or once Star Wars Land officially opens. Smith did say that, "there will be Star Wars inspired fireworks beginning in January," so that may be a good sign that some of the entertainment options will return.
And to be completely realistic, Star Wars Weekends was an extremely popular event with a loyal fan base. It would be completely out of character for Disney to dismiss that fan base—and their wallets. If there is a way for Disney to continue to offer the pricey character meals, merchandise offerings, and premium experience packages, it's a sure bet they'll do so.
New Star Wars "experiences" open December 1
The outward purpose of yesterday's blog post was to announce the start date for several of the new Star Wars "experiences" at Disney's Hollywood Studios, including the Star Wars Launch Bay.
Star Tours – The Adventures Continue will debut a new ride scene based on Star Wars: The Force Awakens, on December 1, and the announcement said that everyone who rides Star Tours during the "opening months" will see the new scene, after which it will be part of the ride's randomized sequence. A 10-second preview of the new scene is below:
The new Jedi Training Academy show, Trials of the Temple, will begin in "early December."
Setting aside reaction to the news about Star Wars Weekends, this announcement also stirred up some controversy, as it turns out the new experiences will open weeks before the Star Wars: The Force Awakens Opening Night Event, a hard-ticket event that takes place inside Hollywood Studios on December 18. Tickets to the event cost as much as $100, and include a screening of the movie and the after-party inside the park. Disney said the event would include "access to the new Star Wars Launch Bay exhibit, the Star Tours – The Adventures Continue attraction, and a DJ dance party," as well as a "preview of a new fireworks spectacular set to the iconic Star Wars score."
So while Disney never said that the Star Wars Launch Bay would not already be open by the time the event took place—and, in fact, that very question went unanswered in the comments section of the post announcing the event—some people apparently feel they are no longer getting the exclusive experience they paid for.
Na'vi River Journey coming to Pandora – The World of AVATAR
The D23 Expo just wrapped up in Japan, where Walt Disney Imagineering offered a preview of one of the new attractions planned for Pandora – The World of AVATAR, now under construction at Disney's Animal Kingdom.
The Na'vi River Journey will open in 2017 at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Concept art © Disney.
The Na’vi River Journey is described as a family-friendly ride, where passengers ride in "canoes" through a bioluminescent rainforest, where they encounter a Na’vi shaman. The concept art does not show the ride vehicles. Disney says the ride will open in 2017 with Pandora – The World of AVATAR.
2015 Wine & Dine race "chopped" into a quarter marathon
by Lani Teshima
What happens when the humidity is high, and the temperatures are hovering in the the 80s to 90s... and the weather right before your half marathon includes lightning?
The race organizers at runDisney faced exactly this challenge for Saturday’s Wine & Dine Half Marathon. And while they had posted event alert signs leading up to the race, the potential for a lightning storm meant an unprecedented move for the race: with an hour before race start, all participants—roughly 15,000 in all—were asked to evacuate into the HP Field House at the Walt Disney World ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
Lorree Tachell, our contributing writer who covers runDisney races, posted the following on our Team MousePlanet forum:
You may have heard that around 9:00 p.m. about an hour before the scheduled 10:00 p.m. start of last night's the 2015 Wine & Dine Half Marathon, we had a bit of excitement. Lightning was in the area which per runDisney's storm policy caused a mass evacuation to the HP Field House of all 14k runners as well as volunteers and spectators who were waiting at the start. Heavy rains hit Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom which we were spared, however, we got high humidity and temp as well as very close-by lightning.
We were finally allowed back out and into the corrals just after the original 10:00 p.m. start with the race estimated to start at 10:45 p.m. The race finally kicked off at 11:00 p.m. but due to other weather cells that were in the area as well as the high humidity/temp, six miles were cut off the course. While we didn't get to run through Animal Kingdom, we did get to run for one final time through Osborne Family Lights which was a gift considering the entire race could have been canceled as Rock n Roll Savannah Marathon was earlier in the day. Last year we had a Splash and Dash—this year we had the Wine & Dine Half Half Marathon.
Although some participants complained about the course being cut short, Team MousePlanet member and veteran marathoner Vegaspixie said that most people understood that this was weather-related, and that credit should be given to the race organizers for being able to respond quickly, evacuate a mass of people in a calm fashion, and still manage to put on a race, albeit with a shortened course.
The one issue Vegaspixie had was that while runDisney was announcing important information about the race on Twitter, announcements in person at the Field House were both sparse and uninformative. She said that runDisney posted information on social media about things like the shortened course, and that all eligible participants would still receive their Coast to Coast medals, but that this information was not announced verbally. The news spread in the form of gossip and rumors because many people could not get cell reception for their smartphones in the Field House.
Parts of the race seemed surreal, with the course shortened to essentially a 6-mile, almost 10K race; Epcot was still open for the after-race party and packed with runners who had trained for a half marathon, with energy to burn and hungry after sitting around an extra hour before the delayed race start.
Although she felt bad for those who were using the half marathon distance for proof of time or were trying to set personal records, Vegaspixie thought that putting the race into perspective (and treating this more as a social event) worked for her. Despite the surreal experience, Vegaspixie said this is still her favorite runDisney race, and that she plans to register for this event in the future.
Holiday Happenings at the Swan and Dolphin hotels
The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin hotels sent over information about their Holiday Happenings promotion; they have an impressive lineup of events this season, especially for families with children in the Santa set. If you're still making your holiday hotel plans, it's worth taking a look at their offerings. Along with a "vacation Santa" meet-and-greet in a Tiki hut on select nights, and a chocolate lobby sculpture of a life-size Santa, there is holiday entertainment throughout the month of December, including a light show in the causeway between the hotels.
For families, the highlight has to be the Christmas Eve offerings. You can arrange to have one of Santa's elves visit your hotel room, bringing milk and cookies for your children. The elf will read them a bedtime story and tuck them in to await Santa's arrival. The front desk has "Magic Keys" to leave for Santa, so he can get into the hotel room to deliver presents.
Visit the hotel's special holiday website for more information, and to make reservations.
We're Hiring!Do you love Disney and have a flair for writing? We're currently looking for columnists to cover new areas of the Disney universe for MousePlanet.com.If you are interesting in adding your voice to MousePlanet, please contact us—we'd love to hear from you! |
Views Around the World
Contributing photographer Alan Dalinka shares more images from around Walt Disney World, and takes you on a tour of the new D-Tech MagicBand on Demand offering at the Magic Kingdom.
Epcot
Animal Kingdom
Magic Kingdom
Disney's Hollywood Studios
This and That
...The deadline to submit your proof of time for the 2016 Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend is November 17, 2015.
...The Merchandise Events section below has been updated with a dozen new events, including appearances by Disney Traditions artist Jim Shore, and Her Universe creator Ashley Eckstein.
...Trees and other vegetation are being clear cut in several locations around Walt Disney World as part of roadway changes that were approved this summer by the Disney-controlled Reedy Creek Improvement District. The Orlando Sentinel has more information about the many roadway projects expected over the next five years.
…The MousePlanet Newsletter is here! The newsletter contains a recap of the week's articles (in case you miss a day), news that may have developed since the weekly Updates were published, and tips about what's happening at the Disney theme parks for the coming weekend. We'll also include a fun MouseAdventure bonus, such as an Eye Spy or a trivia question. To subscribe to our free newsletter, just enter your e-mail in the box below.
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Crowd Forecast
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Resort Events
2015
- 2015 Epcot Food & Wine Festival – September 26 to November 16.
- 2015 Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party – November 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, and 29; December 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, and 18. As of publication, all nights are still available.
- 2015 Epcot Candlelight Processional – November 27 to December 30
- Holidays Around the World at Epcot – November 27 to December 30
- DVC Merry Member Mixers – November 24; December 1, 8, 14, 22. DVC members and their guests can attend special holiday mixers in Epcot throughout the season. The free events include character meet-and-greets, live entertainment, crafts, and refreshments. They are hosted from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the World Showcase at Epcot (entrance is between the Canada and United Kingdom Pavilions). Members do not need tickets or advance reservations, and can bring up to 6 guests per membership card.
- 2015 Candlelight Processional at Epcot – Performances are at 5:00 p.m., 6:45 p.m., and 8:15 p.m. nightly, with the exception of December 6.
2016
- Season of the Force – January 8 – March 20, 2016
runDisney events
If you participate in (or are considering signing up for) runDisney events, visit our Team MousePlanet forum on the MousePad discussion board, where you can join our community of health-minded readers and staff.
2016
- Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend – January 6–10, 2016. Most events are sold out. Registration is still open for the runDisney Kids Races. The deadline to submit proof of time for these events has passed.
- Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend – February 18–21, 2016. All races are sold out. The deadline to submit Proof of Time for these events is November 17, 2015.
- Star Wars Half Marathon – The Dark Side Weekend – April 14–17, 2016. The 10K and Dark Side Challenge are sold out. Registration is still open for the half marathon, 5K and runDisney Kids Races. Proof of Time must be provided between October 27, 2015, and January 19, 2016.
- Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend – November 3–4, 2016. Pre-sale begins March 8, 2016. General registration opens March 15, 2016.
For current information on registration dates and capacity, see Lorree Tachell's runDisney Race Capacity Updates in the Team MousePlanet forum on our MousePad discussion board.
Merchandise Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Nov. 12 |
Epcot
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| Nov. 13 |
Disney's Hollywood Studios
Disney Springs Marketplace
Epcot
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| Nov. 14 |
Disney's Hollywood Studios
Disney Springs Marketplace
Epcot
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| Nov. 15 |
Disney's Hollywood Studios
Disney Springs Marketplace
Epcot
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| Nov. 16 |
Epcot
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| Nov. 17 |
Disney's Hollywood Studios
Epcot
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| Nov. 18 |
Disney Springs Marketplace
Epcot
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| Nov. 19 |
Disney Springs Marketplace
Epcot
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| Nov. 20 |
Disney Springs Marketplace
Epcot
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| Nov. 21 |
Disney Springs Marketplace
Epcot
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| Nov. 22 |
Disney Springs Marketplace
Epcot
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| Nov. 26 |
Epcot
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| Nov. 27 |
Disney's Hollywood Studios
Epcot
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| Nov. 28 |
Disney's Hollywood Studios
Epcot
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| Nov. 29 |
Disney Springs Marketplace
Epcot
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| Nov 30 - Jan 4 |
Disney Springs Marketplace
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| Dec. 4 |
Epcot
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| Dec. 5 |
Epcot
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| Dec 11 |
Epcot
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| Dec 12 |
Epcot
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| Dec 13 |
Epcot
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| Dec 21 |
Epcot
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| Dec 22 |
Epcot
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| Dec 23 |
Epcot
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Refurbishments and Attraction Closures
- Diamond Horseshoe – closed through November 19 for refurbishment
- Liberty Tree Tavern – closed through November 19 for refurbishment
- Walt Disney World Frontierland station – closed October 12 to November 21 for refurbishment.
- Walt Disney World Main Street U.S.A station – closed October 12 to November 21 for refurbishment.
- Walt Disney World Fantasyland station – closed October 12 to November 21 for refurbishment.
- The Magic Behind the Our Steam Trains Guided Tour – not offered during Walt Disney World Railroad refurbishment.
- Peter Pan's Flight – closed November 2–9 for refurbishment.
- Tomorrowland Transit Authority Peoplemover – closed December 7–10 for refurbishment
2016
- Splash Mountain – closed January 10–15 for refurbishment.
- Space Mountain – closed January 11–15 for refurbishment.
- Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin – closed January 15 to February 11 for refurbishment.
- Liberty Square Riverboat – closed January 18–22 for refurbishment.
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – closed April 4 to July 15 for refurbishment.
- Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse – closed July 7 to September 24 for refurbishment.
- Liberty Square Riverboat – closed August 15–21 for refurbishment.
- "it's a small world" – closed August 22 to September 15 for refurbishment.
- Soarin' – additional screen under construction. Work has no impact on the existing theaters.
- Innoventions West – Think, presented by IBM; The Great Piggy Bank Adventure; and Where's the Fire? closed. The Disney Visa character experience remains open.
- Maelstrom – ride permanently closed for construction of Frozen Ever After attraction. New ride expected to open May, 2016.
- Innoventions East – Glidden's Colortopia under construction replacing the Test the Limits exhibit. Expected to open late 2015.
2016
- Soarin' will halt service as of January 4, 2016. The ride will reopen sometime in "summer of 2016" as Soarin' Around the World, with a new ride film
- Catalina Eddie's – closed October 11 – November 19 for refurbishment.
- Rosie's All-American Cafe – closed October 11 – November 19 for refurbishment.
- Walt Disney: One Man's Dream – closed October 16 – December 5 due to The Good Dinosaur sneak peek.
- Jedi Training Academy – on hiatus until the Star Wars Launch Bay opens, expected to be in December. The new show is titled Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple.
- Toy Story Midway Mania – second ride track is under construction. Work has no impact on the existing ride.
- Magic of Disney Animation – building permanently closed for future expansion. The space will be used for the Star Wars Launch Bay.
Disney's Animal Kingdom
- Primeval Whirl – closed through November 13 for refurbishment.
- Entire park closed from October 25, 2015 through January 3, 2016 for refurbishment
- Entire park closed from January 3 to March 13 for refurbishment.
Disney Springs
- Fulton's Crab House – closed January 1 to April 1, 2016 for refurbishment.
- Planet Hollywood – closed January 1 to June 1, 2016 for refurbishment and transformation into a Planet Hollywood Observatory.
- Disney Springs Bridge 4 and restrooms on Pleasure Island – temporarily closed for ongoing construction work.
- Disney Springs Lots A-G – closed through August 1, 2016.
- Disney Springs Lots H, I, J, and K (in Westside area) – closed until further notice for construction.
- Cirque du Soleil La Nouba – performs Tuesdays through Saturdays.
- Disney Quest – scheduled to close sometime in 2016. Will be replaced with an NBA Experience venue.
Resorts
- Disney's Boardwalk Inn – Exterior painting and repair during daylight hours, through May 5, 2016
- Disney's Boardwalk Inn – Flying Fish Cafe closed February 1 to September 30, 2016 for refurbishment.
- Disney's Wilderness Lodge and Villas – Hidden Springs pool, resort beach, playground, and Recreation fire pit close October 26, 2015. No opening date provided, but the pool is expected to be closed through 2017. Expect construction-related closures and noise due to construction of the as-yet-unannounced Disney Vacation Club cabins.
Elsewhere
- Disney Osprey Ridge Golf Course – permanently closed.
Current Discounts & Promotions
Note: MousePlanet does not edit past Updates to reflect price increases; for up-to-date prices, check the most recent Walt Disney World Resort Update. For your convenience, we have grouped the discount offers based on the intended audience. Check out the category that best matches you, and pick the offer that works best for you. And keep those tips coming—let us know if you find a better or different offer, so we can share it with other readers.
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Discounts for Everyone |
Memory Maker pre-arrival discount Disney's PhotoPass service provides a discount on Disney Memory Maker pre-arrival packages. For $199 plus tax, Walt Disney World guests can digitally download any photos associated with their Memory Maker account, including photos taken on attractions. The advanced purchase price is $169, a $30 savings. Applicable taxes are charged to all orders. Purchase must be made more than three days prior to arrival at the Walt Disney World Resort. All sales are final, and not eligible for an exchange or refund. |
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Discounts for Annual Passholders |
None at this time. |
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Discounts for Disney Rewards VISA & Debit Card Holders |
15 percent off select guided tours Disney Visa cardholders receive 15 percent off the non-discounted price of selected guided tours for up to 10 people. The cardholder must participate in the tour, and pay with a Disney's Visa Card and/or Disney Rewards Redemption Card. Tours included:
10 percent off select restaurants Disney Visa cardholders receive 10 percent off the check when you pay with a Disney's Visa Card and/or Disney Rewards Redemption Card (be sure to request the discount). Discount excludes alcohol. Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge and Villas:
Disney's BoardWalk Inn and Villas:
Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort:
Disney's Contemporary Resort:
Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground:
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa:
Disney's Old Key West Resort:
Disney's Port Orleans Resort:
Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa:
Disney's Wilderness Lodge:
Disney's Yacht Club Resort:
Disney's Hollywood Studios:
Epcot:
10 percent off merchandise Disney Visa cardholders receive 10 percent off at participating Disney-owned retail location when you spend a minimum of $50 and pay with a Disney's Visa Card and/or Disney Rewards Redemption Card (be sure to request the discount). Read all of the restrictions on the Disney Visa website. 15 percent off all Disney spa and salon services Disney Visa cardholders receive 15 percent off the non-discounted price of any salon treatment valued at $45 or greater or any 50-minute or longer spa service at the spas and salons at Walt Disney World Resort listed below: Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge and Villas
Disney's Contemporary Resort
Disney's Coronado Springs Resort
Disney's Wilderness Lodge
Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resorts
Free 5" x 7" character photo at a private meet and greet location at Epcot Present your Disney's Premier Visa Card or Disney Rewards Visa Card for access to a private character meet and greet at Epcot for the cardholder and up to five guests. The event is hosted daily from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m. inside Innoventions West at Epcot. You'll receive one free 5" x 7" character photo per day. |
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Discounts for Military Personnel |
2014-2015 Military Salute – 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets with Park Hopper Discount Eligible Service Members can purchase 4-day Park Hopper passes for $177 until December 20, 2015 Tickets can be purchased through December 17, 2015. No more than 12 Disney Military Promotional Tickets can be purchased by an Eligible Service Member. 2016 Military Salute – 4-Day Military Promotional Ticket discount From September 25, 2015 through December 16, 2016, active and retired U.S. military personnel (including active and retired members of the United States Coast Guard, National Guard and Reservists) or their spouses can purchase:
Walt Disney World Resort tickets may be used January 3, 2016, through December 19, 2016, except that the tickets may not be used March 20, 2016 April 1, 2016. 2016 Military Salute – Hotel discount Disney does not publish the actual discounted rates offered to service members under this program, and instead asks eligible U.S. military personnel to call 407-939-7830 to check pricing, availability and to make reservations. The website Military Disney Tips.com says the offer is 30-40%, based on room category. |
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Discounts for Florida Residents |
Cirque du Soliel's La Nouba is offering a Florida resident discount through December 18. Tickets prices range from $49 to $89. |
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Discounts for Canada Residents |
None at this time. |
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Discounts for U.K. Residents |
None at this time |
Don't keep it to yourself! Send us your news tips, rumors, and comments.
Comments
The Star Wars Weekends cancellation news slipped under my radar since I was actually down there last week to see the Osborne Lights and the end of F&W.
I know there are other SWW fans here, I can't believe I didn't see any other comments or threads on the subject (sorry if I missed one, I did try to do a search).
While the new land will undoubtedly be excellent, I will certainly miss all the festivities of SWW. I guess I am lucky I got to experience them for the 4 years that I did.