Just because I tend to seethe beneath my calm exterior and need some release, let me add that I've contacted three separate people twice (so far) about AP beyond Oct 28, and the response has been underwhelming--not surprisingly. (For several weeks, the drop dead date was 21 Oct but then the following week magically appeared.) I have gotten two calls from a guest services rep, and both of them cited all of my emails including a blind cc to one of the people I contacted. Their responses were tepid at best: "We appreciate your passion for AP; we don't know what's going on; only listen to official Disney outlets for news since all else is rumor." Yes, yes, yes, I know all this. However, in the vacuum of no news, of course people will turn to other sources, and some of these are quite reliable. If no rumors ever came true, then no one would listen to them. The truth is that many rumors turn out to be factual down the road. We tease about bus drivers, CMs in remote places, and friends of friends of CMs, yet these stories often turn out to have at least a kernel of truth. In the absence of any news by Disney, and given how often their decisions leave us scratching our heads, we definitely turn to other sources. Thus, the latest, hottest rumor is that AP will turn to characters for all three meals, a move which would lead to a deluxe resort that is also home to two DVC resorts having no Signature restaurant. So, echoing Dean Marino here, prove me wrong Disney. Say something. Anything. Make a move. Make a gesture. Give us some information. I have found over the years that Disney is more than willing to part with news if it makes them sound good, progressive, and the leading edge in entertainment parks. When the news is unsettling or will likely be unpopular with a host of people, they say nothing until the last minute.
Somewhere along the line, a few people made some serious planning and marketing mistakes in regards to WL. They chose to build Geyser Point, and they appear to want to shut down their only Signature at the Lodge. Instead of spending a little extra money to make GP a Signature on the water and then expanding AP to all day character meals--I know, I know, Disney can hardly afford to spend money, poor thing--they have a bar and grill that makes you wait to be seated, no longer serves breakfast, and lacks an identity. . .and AP is shutting down for an undetermined amount of time. Meanwhile, and somewhat related, Roaring Fork now has a reduced menu with subpar quality overall. Again, Disney, what am I missing here? Who is running this show? In the immortal words of Dr. Frasier Crane, "I'm listening."