FANTASYLAND EXPANSION PREVIEW FOR AP HOLDERS IN NOVEMBER 2012

[ToTBellHop]

it seems it will be up in the air for most of you trying to go in october and november, but like others have stated, they do have unannounced previews before the AP previews. back when Everest was not open yet, we werent expecting to see it running when we had walked into the park, and this was the last week of february mind you and the official opening wasnt until mid april of that year i believe, and they had fast pass running for it as well. so have a little disney faith, you never know what can happen down there.

Exactly. There is no predicting anything. Obviously, until an attraction is officially opened, you can't plan on anything. But most people on this website have gotten lucky w/ soft openings and previews from time to time.

 

[MissM]

Typically, Passholder previews are like a "dress rehearsal." Everything is in place and should be working and they use it as a last run through before it goes live. Whereas, the soft openings are more "dry runs" in that not everything is working, they're expecting problems and they want to work out the kinks. Soft openings are usually very small windows of being open to the public. Passholder previews are scheduled and run for a set amount of time. Soft openings always come before Passholder previews because the soft openings are earlier in the process of readiness and completion.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Typically, Passholder previews are like a "dress rehearsal." Everything is in place and should be working and they use it as a last run through before it goes live. Whereas, the soft openings are more "dry runs" in that not everything is working, they're expecting problems and they want to work out the kinks. Soft openings are usually very small windows of being open to the public. Passholder previews are scheduled and run for a set amount of time. Soft openings always come before Passholder previews because the soft openings are earlier in the process of readiness and completion.

I believe it's actually even more complex than you put it.

"Previews" come well before a ride opens and are unpredictable and often end with guests being surveyed on their opinion of the experience.

Passholder and CM Previews come later, which as you say involve a largely-finished product open during an announced time.

Soft openings come next and bridge the gap b/t previews and the actual opening, and usually feature the attraction open during its normal hours (and using Fastpass if available) with the disclaimer that the ride "could close at any time." Soft openings don't always occur depending on exact scheduling. Folks in this thread are hoping for previews.

 

[dreamscometrue]

Now Test Track, from what I gathered the inside is essentially done, they've just moved outside to do work now. If so, I could see random soft openings there.

Ummm...are you sure about that? I'd double check my source if I were you.

 

[toolsnspools]

My guess is that the open spots will go fast. By the time they announce the dates, it may be too late to buy a pass and register for a spot.

Yeah, I thought of that too. I'm leaning toward buying the AP anyway, so I should probably just pull the trigger. Do you think they'll let me register if I've purchased an AP but not activated it yet?

 

[Clamman73]

Well it is set to open "Fall, 2012" Not too far from now.

(in reference to TT)

Granted, but they tore out everything inside and just about finished everything inside which is a total redo in about three and half months is what I'm kinda questioning.

 

[Patricia Melton]

it seems it will be up in the air for most of you trying to go in october and november, but like others have stated, they do have unannounced previews before the AP previews. back when Everest was not open yet, we werent expecting to see it running when we had walked into the park, and this was the last week of february mind you and the official opening wasnt until mid april of that year i believe, and they had fast pass running for it as well. so have a little disney faith, you never know what can happen down there.

I think people are going to be surprised.

I know they are hiring for BOG restaurant already. People have posted on these forums that the hiring is taking place. How long of a training period is needed for BOG before guests start getting to go inside? I don't think Disney would hire someone now and not open the restaurant until November. There will be a period of testing and getting everyone used to it running. A "soft open" is what it's called in the restaurant industry. Disney employees will eat there first, then the public will be allowed to sample it in a soft way, and then there will be the AP preview and then after that the official opening.

So if it's supposed to officially open in November...the AP preview will be in October...which means that as early as September (that's next month) guest might be lucky enough to see BOG open in an unannounced and unexpected way.

 

[lebeau]

Yeah, I thought of that too. I'm leaning toward buying the AP anyway, so I should probably just pull the trigger. Do you think they'll let me register if I've purchased an AP but not activated it yet?

Disclaimer: I have never owned a season pass, so I am no expert.

Based on what I have read, I think you would be okay without activating the pass.

 

[Ex-Floridian]

Yeah, I thought of that too. I'm leaning toward buying the AP anyway, so I should probably just pull the trigger. Do you think they'll let me register if I've purchased an AP but not activated it yet?

The Annula Pass benefit begins when you get your certificate # I believe.

 

[mickeysbrother]

The point of passholder previews would be to give them something special. Letting the general public into the area before the previews would minimize the value of a preview. So if they were already having soft openings, what would the point of a preview be?

Well thinking that soft openings are random and you never know what day or what hours they will be running a certain ride. Just like an official opening. Its not really and official opening since the ride technically has already been open for some time just has not been confirmed instead with an official opening. So technically a preview would be a way to get certain people in the park and have food and wine and stuff during the ceremony. Just my thoughts

 

[wilkeliza]

One other big rumor comes from the fact that all the sudden some CPs who were hired as Full Service Food an Beverage were asked if they would like to switch to merchandise. The rumor is that these merch CPs will be used in the new fantasyland shops since everything but the mine train should be opened soon. Like I've said before I'm not currently in the World yet so I have no clue if this stuff has any weight to it or not but there is a lot of buzz going around the CP facebook for this fall about people being moved in order to get the Fantasyland expansion up and running.

 

[Tinkerbell 8]

I just booked a trip for October 26th to Nov 1st thinking that I would miss seeing any of the new Fantasyland (we were there in the beginning of March so we just missed Dumbo). You guys are giving me a little hope that it might be possible to see some parts of Fantasyland. *Keeping fingers crossed*