D23 Convention 2013 News and Rumor Catch-all - LIVE ACTION ROUND-UP POST 51

[thegib95]

Well that would be like the biggest overstatement in like....well....ever. Perhaps you haven't familiarized yourself with MM+, featuring everyone's favorite friend, FP+.

Wow. You're going to leave Disney disappointed because they are trying to streamline vacationing....

 

[skier_pete]

From the YouTube comments on the Dreamfinder video:

During the introduction of this, Tony Baxter said, quote: "These characters will grow on you from this, maybe from what happens later...uh...won't go there." then briefly can be seen rubbing his head as though he said something he should't have. Just an observation.

You can just see the conversation in Glendale:

Disney Suit: "We gotta do something with this Imagine Pavillion thingy. It's not making any money! Sure, a half million a year off the purple dragon, but there's no-one going in there!"
Lead Imagineer: "Well, the fans love Dreamfinder and Figment, we gotta bring them back."
Disney Suit: "Who?"
Lead Imagineer: "Dreamfinder was the original host back when the park opened."
Disney Suit: "We can't go backwards! No one's gonna care about a character from 30 years ago!"
Lead Imagineer: "Mickey Mouse, Snow White, Peter Pan"
Disney Suit: "Oh yeah, they're 30 years old too! So, is will this dreamfinder sell merchandise?"
Lead Imagineer: "He's very popular."
Disney Suit: "I can't see him on a T-shirt."
Lead Imagineer: "Look, let us bring him out at D23 and show you how popular he is."
Disney Suit: "What's D23?"
Lead Imagineer: "The convention in August!"
Disney Suit: "Oh that thing. Fine, fine...sure, sure."

 

[bcrook]

Searching for stuff - For those that still don't believe Avartland is happening, or that it can't be awesome:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PTpxobOd8M

For those that are really hoping that the Imagination Pavillion gets a rework and the Figment and Dreamfinder are still involved - I think Imagineering is giving us a strong hint:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V209kygO794
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooCAV1AljNM

Parks and resorts tour, including Disney springs model and lots of other cool stuff:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MftYkk29jgY

There is a lot of great nostalgia in those links. It would have been super cool walking through it all.

I think they should move the whole display to WDW for a while. There is plenty of room in DHS. .

The avatar imagineering interview was engaging. The theming and details will be incredible. I think being in Pandora at night with luminescence every where, will be a major draw.

As for the dream finder ride, I am intrigued by how that will develop. Looking forward to the Leaks.

 

[granmanh603]

There is a lot of great nostalgia in those links. It would have been super cool walking through it all.

I think they should move the whole display to WDW for a while. There is plenty of room in DHS. .

The avatar imagineering interview was engaging. The theming and details will be incredible. I think being in Pandora at night with luminescence every where, will be a major draw.

As for the dream finder ride, I am intrigued by how that will develop. Looking forward to the Leaks.

I think they ought to put it all out in LA LA land(CA) where they all live and dream anyway and leave WDW alone. Fantasyland expansion was the biggest waste of money so far.... went in once , never again.

 

[Robbi]

umm... Am I the only one that has a problem with Star Wars in tomorrowland because it is out of theme? I know it is a Sci Fi Fantasy Epic but there is nothing "tomorrow" about it. It is set "A LONG TIME AGO, in a galaxy far far away." Not tomorrow, but in the past. Just saying...

I am a little nervous about their Tomorrowland plans regarding Star Wars. now, I LOVE me some Star Wars, don't get me wrong, but "Star Warssing" it up too much would destroy the charm of Tomorrowland. I am all for a major Star Wars Land at DHS, no problems there. I know DL has limited space, and a second Star Wars ride would be okay, but if they convert the entire land ("skin" as the article puts it), I will be very upset.

They wouldn't dare re-theme Space Mountain or anything...would they?

My opinion is they should put the Star Wars section where the Backlot tour is. The Honey I Shrunk the Kids play yard could be rethemed as could the counter service restaurant.

Disney could do somethign to refresh Tomorrowland but other than that. leave ot alone. It's kitschy and good the way it is.
Space Mountain skin?:

You can just see the conversation in Glendale:

Disney Suit: "We gotta do something with this Imagine Pavillion thingy. It's not making any money! Sure, a half million a year off the purple dragon, but there's no-one going in there!"
Lead Imagineer: "Well, the fans love Dreamfinder and Figment, we gotta bring them back."
Disney Suit: "Who?"
Lead Imagineer: "Dreamfinder was the original host back when the park opened."
Disney Suit: "We can't go backwards! No one's gonna care about a character from 30 years ago!"
Lead Imagineer: "Mickey Mouse, Snow White, Peter Pan"
Disney Suit: "Oh yeah, they're 30 years old too! So, is will this dreamfinder sell merchandise?"
Lead Imagineer: "He's very popular."
Disney Suit: "I can't see him on a T-shirt."
Lead Imagineer: "Look, let us bring him out at D23 and show you how popular he is."
Disney Suit: "What's D23?"
Lead Imagineer: "The convention in August!"
Disney Suit: "Oh that thing. Fine, fine...sure, sure."

Sad but you're probably very close to to an actual conversation.

Avatarland is something I've had a problem with from the beginning. Disney could come up with something better to replace Camp Minnie Mickey. By the time Avatarland is built, the movie will have been out for 6 or more years.

 

[bcrook]

I think they ought to put it all out in LA LA land(CA) where they all live and dream anyway and leave WDW alone. Fantasyland expansion was the biggest waste of money so far.... went in once , never again.

The displays were cool though. It would be a wonderful complement to A Man and His Dream.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I'm sorry that you feel this way. However, I hope that you are happy with your decision to join the DisBoards to assist in your planning that way that we all have been doing for years.
Another thing to know is that all of these projects will be done in phases, so don't worry. There will be plenty. Also, usually Disney compensates during times like these. There may be more character encounters than usual, more streetmosphere experiences than usual, special discounts, etc, etc. Disney will never let people walk away from WDW being disappointed.

Foul and an automatic ejection...

Disney often sells product at full price for half the substance...and they will continue to be emboldened and do this with higher frequency because we... The lemmings... Are becoming increasingly accepting, spineless...and have become bad consumers. So the seller has all the power.

The "Disney will never let anyone walk away disappointed" is a Red herring. That's not the question to be asked. The question is "does Disney do what it can/ should to provide the proper value for its prices at wdw?"

The answer to that is up for debate.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Wow. You're going to leave Disney disappointed because they are trying to streamline vacationing....

In a word: probably

 

[101disneyfan]

My opinion is they should put the Star Wars section where the Backlot tour is. The Honey I Shrunk the Kids play yard could be rethemed as could the counter service restaurant.

Disney could do somethign to refresh Tomorrowland but other than that. leave ot alone. It's kitschy and good the way it is.
Space Mountain skin?:

Avatarland is something I've had a problem with from the beginning. Disney could come up with something better to replace Camp Minnie Mickey. By the time Avatarland is built, the movie will have been out for 6 or more years.

The rumors are that Pixar Place phase II will be going into the Backlot, followed by phase III into the Streets of America, and IV into the Animation Courtyard. Star Wars Land is predicted to replace Echo Lake.

Avatar is something that I had an issue with at the beginning, but thematically it fits very well, and I always go back to one of my favorite attractions- Splash Mountain. How many young children have seen Song of the South?

As for replacing Camp Minnie-Mickey, it really is a good fit. Disney (as they should) creates "quality over quantity" projects, but the Animal Kingdom IS lacking in number of top quality, technologically innovative attractions, in favor of the live animal encounters. My hope is that after Avatar, then Dinoland can have some sort of work done, maybe a third E-ticket in Asia, and of course Africa will have Kilomanjaro, and Festival of the Lion King.

Remember, they have eight years until the 50th, which is really almost the last big anniversary celebration until... maybe the 80th, that they will this level of opportunity for publicity and marketing based off of an anniversary.

 

[yitbos96bb]

Horribly bad argument: Avatar will be 6 years old (Which I believe was the age of Jedi when Star Tours opened) but the 3 sequels will just be coming out.

My opinion is they should put the Star Wars section where the Backlot tour is. The Honey I Shrunk the Kids play yard could be rethemed as could the counter service restaurant.

Disney could do somethign to refresh Tomorrowland but other than that. leave ot alone. It's kitschy and good the way it is.
Space Mountain skin?:

Sad but you're probably very close to to an actual conversation.

Avatarland is something I've had a problem with from the beginning. Disney could come up with something better to replace Camp Minnie Mickey. By the time Avatarland is built, the movie will have been out for 6 or more years.

 

[yitbos96bb]

On a personal note from a long time reader of your rants, Have you stopped going to WDW and buying Disney products?

Foul and an automatic ejection...

Disney often sells product at full price for half the substance...and they will continue to be emboldened and do this with higher frequency because we... The lemmings... Are becoming increasingly accepting, spineless...and have become bad consumers. So the seller has all the power.

The "Disney will never let anyone walk away disappointed" is a Red herring. That's not the question to be asked. The question is "does Disney do what it can/ should to provide the proper value for its prices at wdw?"

The answer to that is up for debate.

 

[yitbos96bb]

Ok ill bite... Why the 80th?

I mean 75th yes. 100th? Yes. What is the significance of 80th?

The rumors are that Pixar Place phase II will be going into the Backlot, followed by phase III into the Streets of America, and IV into the Animation Courtyard. Star Wars Land is predicted to replace Echo Lake.

Avatar is something that I had an issue with at the beginning, but thematically it fits very well, and I always go back to one of my favorite attractions- Splash Mountain. How many young children have seen Song of the South?

As for replacing Camp Minnie-Mickey, it really is a good fit. Disney (as they should) creates "quality over quantity" projects, but the Animal Kingdom IS lacking in number of top quality, technologically innovative attractions, in favor of the live animal encounters. My hope is that after Avatar, then Dinoland can have some sort of work done, maybe a third E-ticket in Asia, and of course Africa will have Kilomanjaro, and Festival of the Lion King.

Remember, they have eight years until the 50th, which is really almost the last big anniversary celebration until... maybe the 80th, that they will this level of opportunity for publicity and marketing based off of an anniversary.

 

[Robbi]

Horribly bad argument: Avatar will be 6 years old (Which I believe was the age of Jedi when Star Tours opened) but the 3 sequels will just be coming out.

Didn't realize sequels were planned. Sorry but there's no comparison between Star Wars and Avatar. Star Wars is a classic. Avatar was a mess.

 

[skier_pete]

I didn't intend for this to become the 300th thread debating the merits of Avatar.

However, I couldn't find any interesting news from Day 3, except that apparently Bob Iger stated that Figment is not going anywhere anytime soon. I couldn't find a direct quote of that, but all indications continue to show that if the Imagination Pavillion goes to refurb, it'll be still with Figment (and probably Dreamfinder).

 

[WDWChloe]

Didn't realize sequels were planned. Sorry but there's no comparison between Star Wars and Avatar. Star Wars is a classic. Avatar was a mess.

Agreed.

Back on topic - anyone know of any announcements? I missed WDWRadio's live feed all weekend, and I'm trying to find a 2013 expo wrap-up. Embarrassed to say I thought I found one, only to find out when they were talking about NF and Carsland did I realize it was from 2009.

Guess I need some more coffee.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

On a personal note from a long time reader of your rants, Have you stopped going to WDW and buying Disney products?

God no...I'm part of the problem.

And if you've read any of my "rants" you'll know that I don't absolve myself from the blame either.

But I recognize the truth and my flaws

 

[Joben]

God no...I'm part of the problem.

And if you've read any of my "rants" you'll know that I don't absolve myself from the blame either.

But I recognize the truth and my flaws

approve

 

[airplanegod]

I must say, Universal is starting to look better and better. They added the Transformers, updated a few rides, added on to The Simpsons land, adding on to Harry Potter land. What is Disney doing at this moment? Adding a kiddie-roller coaster that is taking many years to complete (Universal would've done it in 8 months), added MM+ and FP+ which could be good in the future but is having problems right now, and Avatarland, which I won't rant too much about but it ISN'T EVEN A DISNEY FRANCHISE!!!

Before I get flamed, I spend thousands of dollars at Disney each year and am in love with it for life. That being said, it's time for the tough love to come out.

 

[ToddS]

Skier Pete, Lockedoutlogic -- This is a great thread; reminds me of the good old days here at DR&N! Thanks, guys.

 

[skier_pete]

God no...I'm part of the problem.

And if you've read any of my "rants" you'll know that I don't absolve myself from the blame either.

But I recognize the truth and my flaws

And this why we love ya...man!

Skier Pete, Lockedoutlogic -- This is a great thread; reminds me of the good old days here at DR&N! Thanks, guys.

Thanks! I wish there had been more interesting to report. My gut tells me there's something big brewing that they are just not ready to tell us. The rumors are swirling like never before. There was some good stuff Re the movies, but again not sure it would be worth the trip out for the convention.

Of course two years ago they had the convention with no announcements and about 3 weeks later dropped the Avatar news...so who knows!