That same blog post also dropped the “Mama” from the name of “Mama Melrose,” all while bending over backwards to use the verbose full name: “Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano.” They are so focused on the details that they frequently miss the bigger picture. They’re also in no position to question the validity of the long-term news they’re being told to publish.
I don’t doubt that, officially, they still intend to put something in that space. I do, however, doubt that they have a detailed plan for the space and that they’re ready to start construction on the replacement yet. We still haven’t gotten any indication whether this new show will be a film or live productions, which doesn’t inspire confidence that Disney knows either; these are major decisions that must be known prior to starting meaningful construction, not cursory details that can be changed mid-course. As a very relevant example, DCA tried using its Muppet theater for their Frozen sing-along, and it didn’t work well because the venue wasn’t well suited for the production (their version also suffered from a weaker, more serious script than the original WDW version).
The Parks Blog is tasked with promoting the company line and nothing else. They aren’t beholden to the SEC, and they don’t have to be 100% honest about the reality they’re presenting. While they can be a great resource for information about new merchandise or seasonal food and beverage offerings, their coverage of big construction announcements and changes that will meaningfully impact park operations for day guests is lackluster-at-best. Despite originally being created to counter fan sites and online rumor mills (like the one we’re on now), it quickly devolved into the always-perky easily-digested seasonal updates that are easily shared on social media for people visiting in a couple weeks, rather than meaty announcements of distant projects that could potentially cause people to delay their visits until construction finishes.
The Parks Blog can be useful for official opening and closing dates, confirmation that the official plan is still on track (until it quietly isn’t), and updates on the latest spirit jerseys. Anything else, like reductions of operating hours, the rationale for why changes were made, or things that were quietly canceled and never spoken of again, you’ll have to uncover on your own.
