After just a few months of rumors, Walt Disney World has revealed that the most recent personal lounge for Disney Trip Membership members is coming to Frontierland in Magic Kingdom. This publish shares particulars of the controversial affirmation, together with primary background data and our commentary in regards to the good and unhealthy of this resolution.
For starters, unique DVC Member areas have lengthy been a part of what Disney Trip Membership calls “Membership Magic.” From the Prime of the World Lounge, which reopened with villainous new choices atop Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Up to date Resort, to the colourful Member Lounge within the iconic glass pyramid of the Creativeness! pavilion at EPCOT, these unique enclaves are amongst Disney Trip Membership Members’ favourite locations at Walt Disney World.
Final yr, Disney Trip Membership opened its first Member Lounge at Disneyland Resort in California. Referred to as Star View Station, the brand new lounge is situated within the coronary heart of Tomorrowland at Disneyland within the house on the second ground of the Star Wars: Launch Bay (previously Innoventions) constructing. The sleekly designed “house” is dwelling to a devoted Disney Trip Membership Member Providers group, loads of indoor and outside seating (sure, outside–everybody appears to overlook the massive views from the balcony!), free Wi-Fi, device-charging stations, and self-service beverage station.
At first of this yr, Walt Disney World teased that building on a brand-new Disney Trip Membership Member Lounge would start later in 2024 at Walt Disney World. No location was shared or anything, resulting in quite a lot of hypothesis about the place it might be. Our hope and high prediction was Magic Kingdom–largely by advantage of demand, lack of areas elsewhere, and an abundance of them at Magic Kingdom.
Properly, as we speak DVC has made that official, confirming to journalist Scott Gustin through Twitter {that a} members-only lounge will substitute the Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade in Magic Kingdom. Development is ready to start later in 2024 with no opening time frame revealed. Disney Trip Membership or Walt Disney World will launch further particulars at a later date.
Disney signifies that the brand new Frontierland DVC lounge can be a “pioneer-inspired house” designed within the spirit of the “the bygone period of exploration and journey.” In line with aerials, the house they’re working with is round 2,500 sq. ft., however there’s no assure that they’ll use all of that. The upstairs Creativeness lounge at EPCOT solely makes use of a portion of the previous ImageWorks space.
Given the scope and scale of the work wanted to be performed to reimagine the Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade right into a lounge and the tempo of tasks, we don’t anticipate this new DVC lounge in Magic Kingdom opening till 2025. Even when building began as we speak–and there’s no indication it would regardless of a allow already being filed–I don’t suppose they may have it performed this yr. So I suppose someday in 2025 on the earliest, relying upon when work will get began.
Walt Disney World has adopted up by confirming that the ultimate day of operation for the Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade can be June 23, 2024. As of June 24, the attraction can be closed and we anticipate building partitions to go up for the conversion.
Turning to commentary, I knew this was coming however didn’t need to imagine it. After expressing (let’s say) delicate skepticism about this in a latest publish, I obtained some (let’s say) concrete reassurement that, really, that is the plan. However, I used to be nonetheless skeptical.
It appears like so much is in flux at Magic Kingdom on this facet of the park and the eating/lounge scene (extra on that tomorrow), and there are such a lot of different areas that would’ve been used for this as a substitute. A number of of those different areas, I’d add, are vacant, closed, or used for storage and are not at the moment accessible to all visitors.
Significantly, if I shared a full listing of in every single place that’s at the moment closed in Magic Kingdom, it might blow some minds. (Together with mine, most likely, since I at all times neglect simply what number of spots are unutilized…and this isn’t only a COVID factor! Lots of them have been closed for years earlier than that.)
Personally, I’ll be unhappy to see Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade go. I’ve childhood nostalgia for it and have performed it greater than ever in the previous couple of years because it went to free play. It’s a straightforward little diversion that enables youngsters (or adults in my case) to have a little bit of enjoyable with out ready in line. Spots like this are wanted counterprogramming and reprieves from the crowds. Plus, I get pleasure from displaying off my sharp capturing expertise to Sarah. She pretends to not be impressed, however I do know she is (secretly).
Truthfully, I’m much less unhappy to see this go on a private stage than I’m a “discourse” one. The responses to this information amongst Walt Disney World followers are going to be fairly predictable, and proceed a story that I actually hoped the corporate was making a concerted effort to interrupt.
Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade has been on borrowed time for some time. I don’t suppose that’s actually a provocative or contestable assertion. Walt Disney World eliminated virtually all ‘authentically-presenting’ weapons from the parks again in December 2015. This included the whole lot from the gun utilized by the Jungle Cruise skippers to toy weapons being bought within the reward retailers.
I bear in mind again on the time, there was widespread hypothesis that the capturing galleries in Florida, California, Paris, and Tokyo would additionally shut. That didn’t occur, maybe as a result of they’re all opening day sights at their respective parks, and there would’ve been backlash because of this that wouldn’t happen to the identical depth as eliminating toy weapons and different smaller-scale tweaks.
However, that time virtually a decade in the past is once we began viewing these sights as on life assist. In the event that they weren’t changed outright, they’d most likely get the boardwalk video games remedy, rethemed to Woody’s Roundup or one thing, and made inauthentic. The blaster and boardwalk model video games have all been deemed acceptable, in order that made sense. In all probability would’ve been the sensible factor to do, in hindsight!
As a substitute, what’s occurring is a double-shot of (arguably) detrimental information. First, Walt Disney World is changing a gap day attraction that anybody can play (and at no cost now!) to 1 that’s unique and reserved for visitors who spend big-money on timeshares.
This isn’t fairly on par with Membership 33 or different personal areas by way of the “issues just for the rich” narrative. (Most DVC members we all know will not be wealthy, however higher center class does appear applicable.) It’ll nonetheless be comparable sentiment, although.
Second, they’re doing so at a time when Disney is already being accused of being hyper-sensitive about the whole lot, not understanding what makes the parks particular, an energetic participant within the tradition wars, and many others.
None of that is any secret or would’ve been tough for Disney to anticipate. The fan response to this information won’t be in the slightest degree shocking. Even Bob Iger is aware of this has been a difficulty, and has mentioned that he’d “quiet the noise” and step again from scorching subjects and tradition wars and refocus on respecting the viewers. He’s made feedback like these on a number of events now, relationship again a few yr.
To some extent, that has began to occur within the parks. Portraits of Braveness by President George W. Bush within the American Journey and Tiana’s Bayou Journey honoring navy service had been savvy strikes from this angle. Little issues, however that ship the appropriate sign. (Not less than, for my part.)
A part of the issue might be that choices like this DVC lounge conversion are properly beneath Bob Iger’s pay grade. There are nonetheless loads of folks on the firm making lower-level choices which can be at odds with Iger’s mandate (or no matter you need to name it). This isn’t to absolve him from blame–modifications in path like this are top-down and will/ought to be clearly communicated. Plus, the buck stops with Bob (and Josh).
In fact, this is just one facet of the story. The opposite facet is that Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade has low visitor satisfaction scores. It’s not common, even after going free. (A part of that’s most likely as a consequence of many longtime followers not figuring out it’s free and actively avoiding it as a result of they don’t need their youngsters to spend a bunch of cash taking part in there.)
As talked about above, I’ve made a degree of the other–doing the Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade rather more because it’s gone free. In my anecdotal expertise, the ‘core’ demographic of Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade at this level is South American tour teams. I’m not even kidding. These teams appear to flock to it, and in my expertise, the one time it’s even remotely busy is after they’re round. (I can’t clarify this…however I can also’t clarify why they’re additionally huge followers of walkaround Massive Al. Once more, not kidding!) Regardless, one thing tells me these teams will not be going to be on the vanguard of complaints about Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade closing.
I’d be rather more receptive to the attitude that Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade is being transformed as a consequence of lack of recognition and never a lot else however for the truth that so many alternate options that aren’t used in any respect can be found. Certain, Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade isn’t placing up gangbuster numbers…however closed venues aren’t placing up numbers in any respect.
With that mentioned, if Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade is the one model of the attraction to shut–and those at Disneyland and Disneyland Paris keep open (Tokyo is irrelevant as a result of OLC marches to the beat of their very own drum)–then that might seemingly verify that is solely occurring as a consequence of an absence of recognition and never in opposition to the backdrop of anything. So I suppose we will see about that.
Selfishly, although I’ll miss Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade, I may also use a DVC lounge in Magic Kingdom rather more. Having a spot to cease for a fast break and free Coke Freestyle or espresso is big. I might hazard a guess that our #1 “attraction” at each EPCOT and Disneyland final yr was the respective DVC lounges. However I additionally perceive that I’m one of many fortunate few who could have entry, and what’s good for me–personally–isn’t at all times the identical as what’s good for the park-going public as a complete.
For anybody questioning in regards to the motivation for this, the corporate additionally has good cause for creating extra Disney Trip Membership lounges. The EPCOT lounge is extremely common, and sometimes makes use of a waitlist throughout busier occasions of yr. Greater than that, the rationale for an additional lounge is to extend gross sales.
Now, you may suppose that certainly a lounge in Magic Kingdom isn’t going to maneuver the needle on a $20,000+ buy. That may be very irrational, to place it mildly. And also you’re most likely appropriate about that, fortunately, and for probably the most half. The place it does transfer the needle is on the resale vs. direct dilemma. We’ve heard from many potential purchasers who’re prepared to pay a bit extra due to FOMO related to lacking out on present and potential future Membership Extras.
I might additionally hazard a guess that the totality of the Disney Trip Membership perks–the Moonlight Magic events, lounges, reductions, and many others–really does transfer the needle on promoting memberships. The existence of those perks and additions to them retains member satisfaction excessive, which additionally helps promote extra factors. Disney Trip Membership is the closest factor that Walt Disney World and Disneyland need to loyalty packages that makes followers really really feel valued, and lots of people actually recognize that. I do know we do.
Should you’re interested by becoming a member of DVC, remember to learn our Final Information to Disney Trip Membership. This covers the professionals & cons, resale v. direct, how a lot cash you’ll save, and different essential issues to know earlier than taking the plunge. Should you nonetheless can’t determine whether or not membership is best for you, “strive before you purchase” with the suggestions in Tips on how to Save BIG on Deluxe Disney Lodging Renting DVC Factors.
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you consider the brand new DVC member lounge changing Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade at Magic Kingdom? Dissatisfied in regards to the location given the entire unused areas within the park, or do you probably not care? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Should you’re an present Member, what do you suppose? Share any questions, ideas, or further ideas you have got within the feedback!