Disney Dish Podcast: WDW New Year's Eve Survey & Dixie Landings History

Disney World New Year's Eve Survey

• 📊 Disney is surveying guests about their interest in a New Year's Eve event at Walt Disney World, focusing on physical distancing measures.
• ❓ Survey questions gauge commitment to trips, preferred gathering size (intimate vs. public), desired tone (calm vs. lively), and audience focus (family-friendly vs. adult).
• 📍 Interest is being gauged for celebrations at various locations, including Disney Springs restaurants, resort hotels, and theme parks.
• 🗣️ Survey responses may include free-form text fields to understand guest reasoning behind their preferences.

Disney Cruise Line Simulated Cruises

• 🚢 The CDC requires Disney Cruise Line to conduct at least two simulated cruises before sailings can resume.
• ⚓ These simulations involve the ship remaining at port, testing embarkation, meal service, and spa operations with crew or volunteers.
• 🌊 A subsequent simulation will take place with the ship at sea, repeating the process until all deficiencies are corrected.

Rise of the Resistance Boarding Groups

• 🚀 Boarding groups for Rise of the Resistance are now available at 7:00 a.m. without needing to be in the park.
• 📈 Disney has increased ride capacity, likely by installing plexiglass between rows in ride vehicles, allowing them to call boarding groups faster.
• 🗺️ There's speculation that Disney may implement geo-fencing to prevent guests from obtaining boarding groups from distant locations.

History of Port Orleans Resort

• 🏨 The Port Orleans resort, originally opening as Dixie Landings in 1992, was unified with Port Orleans French Quarter in 2001.
• 🏗️ The development of Walt Disney World began with the Buena Vista Land Company in 1972, focusing on master planning and managing properties beyond the initial Vacation Kingdom.
• 🏙️ Initial plans for Lake Buena Vista included a leisure-oriented community with homes, an 18-hole golf course, and a commercial center.
• 🚢 The Empress Lily steamboat building opened in 1977 as a key feature of the struggling Lake Buena Vista shopping village.
• 💡 Dick Nunis envisioned expanding the shopping village with a New Orleans-themed area and hotel, inspired by Disneyland's New Orleans Square and the potential for a Florida Club 33 experience.
• 🗺️ These expansion plans, including the New Orleans Square project and several proposed hotels, were contingent on the success of Epcot Center.