09/09/2024
Changes to European Travel
United Airlines recently announced that it is discontinuing service to several European destinations citing low customer demand. Those cities include: Belfast Intl., Bergen, Berlin Tegel, Birmingham, Copenhagen, Glasgow, Hamburg, Istanbul, Manchester, Newcastle, Oslo, Prague, and Stuttgart.
Meanwhile, leaders in Rome are contemplating how to limit access to the famed Trevi Fountain which has become a focal point for hordes of travelers and influencers looking for that perfect pic. The plans would include visitors having to make a paid reservation in advance to visit the fountain. Residents will still be able to visit the fountain with no restrictions. The goal is to try to control the massive crowds that surround the fountain from sunup until sundown.
Experts predict that Spain’s anti-overtourism protests could soon begin spreading to other destinations in Europe as the imbalance is increasingly felt by residents of these popular destinations. Many cities are trying to rebalance the situation, but the main point of the issue is a housing crisis caused by too many short-term rentals, rude and self-obsessed tourists, and the overall unsustainability of so many tourists. Venice recently enacted a tourism fee in an effort to reduce the number of visitors to their city. European cities that are seeing the results of a post-pandemic travel boom are looking at ways to balance tourist levels in a way that still makes these destinations a better place to live for the residents.
Ahh, It’s Good to be a Villain! At Disney!!
Gaston. Cruella de Ville. Captain Hook. Maleficent. Scar. The Evil Queen will soon have their own spot to call home at Walt Disney World Resort. Villains Land at Magic Kingdom Park is coming as part of massive expansion plans announced recently. Now you can rub elbows with characters you loathe.
Villains Land will include two major attractions and dining. “Be prepared, you poor unfortunate souls,” Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro said. “It’s going to be a fearless new vision for what a Disney experience can be." Preparation for the new themed land is underway.
More Disney News
More news from Disney and the announcement of the expansion of its fleet with four new ships that will launch between 2027 and 2031. The new ships will join the fleet’s five others currently sailing, along with four others already under construction.
But wait, that’s not all!
Massive expansion plans have been announced for Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World. Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro revealed the plans, which include a confirmed Villains Land, a new “Cars”-themed area (taking the place of Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island), and an opening year for a previously announced Pirates of the Caribbean-themed lounge.
