News Round Up

[rteetz]

A new raptor encounter opened at IOA

http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2015/05/raptor-encounter-officially-opens-at.html

 

[skier_pete]

I really don't understand all these complaints about crowds at the Xmas and Halloween parties. Aren't almost all of the parties sell outs or very close to it? I'm almost certain the day we went it was sold out. And most everything was a walkon.

Sure, the ride lines are short, but all the "Special" attractions are insane. The Halloween party we were there for almost the full 5 hours and all we managed to do were meet the dwarves, get a picture in front of the haunted mansion, ride THREE rides, see the parades and fireworks and meet Minnie, Mickey and Princesses. We spent nearly $200 for character meets and parades and fireworks. It was BY FAR the biggest crowds we had all week. We didn't wait for a regular ride more than about 10 minutes all week. What advantage is it to pay an extra couple hundred dollars for no waits, when we were practically walking on during the day.

I made the mistake of trying again with MVMCP in 2013. It was much less crowded than the halloween party, and we avoided the character stuff, but it didn't help that our DD (10 at the time) had a breakdown at about 7:30 PM.(Not Disney's fault) We got her calmed down, but at 9 PM we went to the hub to try and see the castle projection show after the parade, and it was so packed with people we couldn't even move, and you couldn't get close enough to even see the show. It was TERRIBLE. She had another breakdown and that was it. DW took her home. I hung around to do a few rides. That was the LAST time I will do a hard ticket event. The LAST.

 

[pork]

May

Sure, the ride lines are short, but all the "Special" attractions are insane. The Halloween party we were there for almost the full 5 hours and all we managed to do were meet the dwarves, get a picture in front of the haunted mansion, ride THREE rides, see the parades and fireworks and meet Minnie, Mickey and Princesses. We spent nearly $200 for character meets and parades and fireworks. It was BY FAR the biggest crowds we had all week. We didn't wait for a regular ride more than about 10 minutes all week. What advantage is it to pay an extra couple hundred dollars for no waits, when we were practically walking on during the day.

I made the mistake of trying again with MVMCP in 2013. It was much less crowded than the halloween party, and we avoided the character stuff, but it didn't help that our DD (10 at the time) had a breakdown at about 7:30 PM.(Not Disney's fault) We got her calmed down, but at 9 PM we went to the hub to try and see the castle projection show after the parade, and it was so packed with people we couldn't even move, and you couldn't get close enough to even see the show. It was TERRIBLE. She had another breakdown and that was it. DW took her home. I hung around to do a few rides. That was the LAST time I will do a hard ticket event. The LAST.

I tend to avoid the meet and greets but the parties have always seemed pretty reasonable to me. Last years Halloween party I walked up about 10 minutes before the parade and got a decent spot for the parade. I didn't try for the fireworks myself but my parents got a decent spot about 10 or 20 minutes out.

Might just be the time of year I go though. It was earlyish September. The party itself wasn't sold out. They were offering tickets right up to the parties start.

I'd agree on the Xmas party though. For the price that one just doesn't seem as worth it.

 

[rteetz]

Review of the new Harambe Marketplace

http://www.wdwmagic.com/dining/hara...harambe-market-at-disney's-animal-kingdom.htm

 

[rteetz]

Photos of the celebrities at weekend two of SWW

http://www.wdwmagic.com/events/star...kends-2015-weekend-2-visiting-celebrities.htm

 

[rteetz]

Dateline Disneyland update

http://micechat.com/103083-disneyland-diamond-celebration-2/

 

[dice50]

The eating areas were filthy garbage everywhere. The buildings were in dire need of a paint job. The rides look like they haven't been touched since they were put in. Then Goliath the brand new tallest fastest steepest wooden roller coaster was closed the entire day because of difficulties.

Agreed there is no park like a Disney park in terms of theming and cleanliness and getting the full experience. I do wish Disney would take a little from the Six Flags side and put in a few giant thrill rides into their parks. There's no reason to think this would take away from the Disney experience and I imagine they'd spruce them up and theme it up so much it would be amazing. I feel like they did this really well with the Aerosmith coaster at DHS. Just wish there was a ride or two like that in all their parks.

 

[rteetz]

Agreed there is no park like a Disney park in terms of theming and cleanliness and getting the full experience. I do wish Disney would take a little from the Six Flags side and put in a few giant thrill rides into their parks. There's no reason to think this would take away from the Disney experience and I imagine they'd spruce them up and theme it up so much it would be amazing. I feel like they did this really well with the Aerosmith coaster at DHS. Just wish there was a ride or two like that in all their parks.

I wouldn't want giant metal coasters in a Disney park it just doesn't feel Disney to me. RnRc works well because of the theme and it being indoor.

 

[dice50]

I wouldn't want giant metal coasters in a Disney park it just doesn't feel Disney to me. RnRc works well because of the theme and it being indoor.

I understand where you're coming from, I trust Disney enough that they could pull it off without it taking away anything from the park. Maybe they could make a half indoor/half outdoor coaster. Or even some of their ideas from the past that were almost built like Fire and Bald Mountain would do the job. Just new a few more at each park.

 

[Alice Royal]

I wouldn't want giant metal coasters in a Disney park it just doesn't feel Disney to me. RnRc works well because of the theme and it being indoor.

Quite honestly, I wish either Disney or Uni would have the balls to just put a darned good coaster in their parks without the extensive theming. Hulk is about the closest we get. Manta at Seaworld is one of the best coasters I've ever ridden and I would actually consider buying an AP there just for those two (soon to be three) rides. I'm aware that Six Flags/Cedar Point are more coaster-oriented parks, but I don't want to travel.

 

[DrivenByDisney]

A few shots I snapped yesterday (5/25/2015) at Magic of the hub construction.

 

[rteetz]

I understand where you're coming from, I trust Disney enough that they could pull it off without it taking away anything from the park. Maybe they could make a half indoor/half outdoor coaster. Or even some of their ideas from the past that were almost built like Fire and Bald Mountain would do the job. Just new a few more at each park.

EE is indoor and outdoor. I'm interested to see how tron coaster in Shanghai works out that is indoor and outdoor as well.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

http://www.digitaltrends.com/wearab...ans-to-expand-its-smart-wristband-technology/

Here's an interesting read

 

[rteetz]

http://www.digitaltrends.com/wearab...ans-to-expand-its-smart-wristband-technology/

Here's an interesting read

The article made it seem as if the my magic+ system is brand new in the beginning. There didn't seem to be anything new in the article either. Disneyland VP was quoted by the LAtimes that they would not be using magic bands because of their local base. She didn't rule out fastpass+ tho.

 

[mcd2745]

I think the cruise ships is the most logical place to be next in line to switch to Magic Bands.

 

[rteetz]

I think the cruise ships is the most logical place to be next in line to switch to Magic Bands.

The kids clubs on the cruise ships already use yellow bands that look basically the same as magic bands as tracking for their clubs. They don't perform any other functions on the ships yet.

 

[mcd2745]

The kids clubs on the cruise ships already use yellow bands that look basically the same as magic bands as tracking for their clubs. They don't perform any other functions on the ships yet.

Exactly...which means it just makes sense to expand the use of the bands to everyone on the ship and do away with the cards.

 

[skier_pete]

The kids clubs on the cruise ships already use yellow bands that look basically the same as magic bands as tracking for their clubs. They don't perform any other functions on the ships yet.

Yeah, we were on the cruise last year, and the ARE MagicBands being used in the kids clubs. Using MB on the ships are actually more sensible than in the parks.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I wouldn't want giant metal coasters in a Disney park it just doesn't feel Disney to me. RnRc works well because of the theme and it being indoor.

Disney could take ride systems 1/3 rd the height and speed of today's frontline rollercoasters, theme them and/or enclose them to an appropriate property, and knock people's socks off and build real quality into the gated entry.

But there's no money in rides anymore...so all their efforts are to "handle capacity"...to ease everyone's minds when they get to the giftshop.

It is what it is and doesn't seem to be changing soon.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

The article made it seem as if the my magic+ system is brand new in the beginning. There didn't seem to be anything new in the article either. Disneyland VP was quoted by the LAtimes that they would not be using magic bands because of their local base. She didn't rule out fastpass+ tho.

Actually... I was gonna post the la times article about bands and Disneyland as well...

There is one telling line where they basically admit why they aren't gonna put bands at Anaheim: people don't stay long enough for them to gain anything from using them....because people are there 4 or less days.

That tells me that it's all about crowd control and strategic sales for disney...and that it's not "magic bands have increased spending" as we see falsely promoted around here alot.

If that were the case - then it wouldn't matter if somebody was gonna stay 3 days or 10...

Interesting.


And can that tanned twit Staggs stop making vague quotes using "folks"?

I know you want all my money - dont have to get all "homey" to relate to me