D23 Convention News and Rumors thread (Post #24 - Johnny Depp and Guillermo Del Toro)

[skier_pete]

i know that costs more because dancers have to actually be able to dance and this way as long as you fit a costume you really don't have to have talent to be a princess.

Oh come on...to say you don't need talent to be a princess is silly. Yes you don't have to sing, but I was watching the video of our last trip the other day, and our Snow White at CRT was so spot on....she had the look, manners, speech and personality of Snow White down pat. It definitely requires talent to do it right.

I wonder if people that complain about this have kids. My DD6 told me the other day "I wish Mickey and the gang would walk around the parks with me." For lots of kids, the most amazing thing about seeing these parks.

And for those that complain about this being "too much for girls". Let's see what else there is in MK that are more boy-oriented. Oh lets see, only Tomorrowland, Frontierland, and Adventureland. And I guess the Star Tours upgrade is about the girls too.

For the haters...please, please, please spend your vacation money at Universal...that's one less family in front of me in line.

SkierPete

 

[Disco]

I totally agree. While it's nice to have character meets, I would rather have shows and rides. In the old days at DL and WDW the characters roamed the parks. snow white, cinderella, and sleeping beautly could be found near the castle areas and in the rose gardens and it added to the fun of just coming across. these permanent meet and greets just take up space Personally If they didn't want to do aride, they could have built a theater and done princess themed shows. i know that costs more because dancers have to actually be able to dance and this way as long as you fit a costume you really don't have to have talent to be a princess.

Exactly, you have to go find the characters now and stand in line or make dining reservations to hang out with them when they used to find you. How lazy is that? It is so un-Disney in my mind.
The main complaint that I keep seeing is that the new FL is girl orientated. That doesn't concern me much as most of the movies had many aspects that boys would be interested in (dragons, sword fighting etc...). So I'm sure they can incorporate things in for boys.
What concerns me is that it is alienating to adults. Let me share an experience to help explain. My second trip to WDW was with my girlfriend (now wife) and was the trip I consider the best. No kids.
We were in FL jumping from ride to ride and we see a line into Ariel’s grotto. We didn't know what it was for, just thought it was another ride or attraction. Stand in line for half an hour to find out it's a meet and greet! What the heck am I supposed to do go sit in Ariel's lap while my wife takes pictures? No way, people would have given me the creepy old guy look (and considering Ariel is under age) and considered me a pedophile.
It hit me like a ton of bricks and totally took me out of the Disney moment as I came to the realization that here was something that I couldn't do and would have to get out of line. At first I was completely puzzled by what just happened. Why was there a line into what looked like an attraction to meet a character? Then it hit me, she had a tail so people would have to go to her as she couldn't walk around. Made enough sense until I made into Toon Town and found out a good portion of the area was to meet other non terra impaired characters. While I'm thinking it would be OK for an adult to meet with a costumed character without being labeled creepy, it just wasn't something I was interested in doing. So again, here was another part of the park I couldn't enjoy and participate in.
So now we have 3 new areas in FL where you do crafts with princesses and other such things (Make birthday cards for Sleeping Beauty?! For the $100 it cost me to get in the park, she better make me a card... Scratch that, for $100 she better show up on my doorstep wearing something sexy!). Whether they are boy or girl orientated, they are completely alienating to adults. Do I want to make crafts with a princess? No. Do I want to get a cardboard shield and sword and be knighted? Well, maybe just a little. Will I get the creepy stare from adults of the children who are there? Yes.
I understand FL is children orientated. However I can squeeze into all the rides and have almost as much fun as the kids. It is also standard practice as just about every adult in this forum has a favorite ride in FL. Also while some of the kids shows, in any of the parks, might not be terribly interesting for adults I find them entertaing to watch now and then and again it is totally acceptable for adults to go to them.
So now they doubled the size of FL, after halving it over a decade ago, and now I can't enjoy most of it.
My first trip to the MK I was able to enjoy every inch of it and was certainly welcome everywhere. Seems backwards to me.
Think I'm almost done ranting. Again better than nothing and I'm mostly angry because of CA and this subject is just earning my wrath as involving myself in a CA thread would get me booted off the Disboards for coarse language.

 

[johnGorski]

Seems like there is always people arguing in these posts. I like that idea even thought we do not have any kids. This makes since being Fantasy land is always packed. I am sure we will see more capital expansions over the next two years. We very well can see a boom 2012-2014 like the 'happiest celebration on earth' I read this announcement on aol new "largest expansion project at WDW" this did make me excited but was disapointed after reading it from them.

 

[landsm99]

I am very excited about all this news. I have actually not been excited about any disney annoucements in years. Today is different. Good for us all.
My worry is: with all these princess features--dance with a princess, celebrate your birthday with a princess etc. To me it sounds like things that will be additional $$. Want to dance with Belle, that is $50. Want to eat with Jasmine $75. Want Cinderella to sing Happy Birthday $YouDon'tHaveEnough. If this is the way it ends up working I think there will be a big push back at Disney.

Still love all the announcements!

 

[lugnut33]

I don't understand you Disco, I don't see how you can compare this to just going back to where it was. It sure appears to be expanding somewhat, but where they are really making strides is in ride capacity. The Little Mermaid ride will be a people eater like the Haunted Mansion.

You say that it just glosses over 20KLUS, and yet that ride was a very slow loading ride. Just look at Disneylands subs to know how slow loading that ride is. Plus, you're not just getting one ride that would be the replacement.

Second, the ToonTown at WDW stinks, especially when compared to DL. So glad they are getting rid of it. Nice to see they are doubling the capacity of Dumbo and getting the kids out of the sun. (also glad to see it moved, it was a bottleneck in its current location).

I think the new areas look great, espeically the fairies area.

 

[skier_pete]

Sort of lost in all this is the new "dueling dumbos" queue.

Track down the presentation at D23, available on youtube, about the fantasyland expansion. (I can't access it here to provide the link.)

It's described as "There is no line queue.". Instead of a line, it's more like a carnival area. I am assuming you will get some kind of ticket. (Maybe similar to the colored cards they use now to fill up the Dumbos.) I picture when your turn to ride is, they would call your number or color, and then you would proceed to load. That's all speculation, but it sounds ultra-cool.

I don't think the princess things will be extra, and they sound extra cool. Disco does have a point that some of these princess things will not be good for adults...but here's a positive to that. The Fantasyland will be a massive kid-draw...sucking kids away from lines for all the rides that us adults WANT to ride. Yes, if you have little girls (or boys) you may be frustrated that you have to spend your day doing the kiddie things...but the kids will love it. Those without kids will see shorter waits elsewhere. Win-Win. Plus another major attraction (regardless of what you think of it.) Plus more Dumbo, hopefully the length of that wait will drop massively.

I think it's a great adder...and the Star Tours presentation has me totally stoked. I only which there was more coming between now a 2013. (Though certainly this doesn't necessarily mean this is ALL we will see before 2013.)
It's also hard to believe that we will have to wait almost 3 years between new rides at WDW (TSMM to Star Tours 2).

SkierPete

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

I'm concerned about Dumbo moving.

Dumbo's location in the shadow of the castle is what makes it so special. You ride around and look at the castle and the carousel, and it seems like pixie dust is just flying around everywhere with you. Priceless.

Why would Disney change that?

As an adult, I spend a little time in Fantasyland. I'm not sure this expansion interests me. I avoid princess meet and greets now.

My question is: will Peter Pan, Philharmagic, and other old favorites be kept?

 

[lugnut33]

I'm concerned about Dumbo moving.

Dumbo's location in the shadow of the castle is what makes it so special. You ride around and look at the castle and the carousel, and it seems like pixie dust is just flying around everywhere with you. Priceless.

Why would Disney change that?

As an adult, I spend a little time in Fantasyland. I'm not sure this expansion interests me. I avoid princess meet and greets now.

My question is: will Peter Pan, Philharmagic, and other old favorites be kept?

Small World, PP, Philharmagic, Snow White, Pooh, Carousel, TeaCups are all staying exactly as they are. Also staying is Goofy's Barnstormer, but it will be rethemed.

Honestly, I'm glad they are moving Dumbo, it never fit in there (just my opinion).

 

[skier_pete]

I'm concerned about Dumbo moving.

Dumbo's location in the shadow of the castle is what makes it so special. You ride around and look at the castle and the carousel, and it seems like pixie dust is just flying around everywhere with you. Priceless.

Why would Disney change that?

As an adult, I spend a little time in Fantasyland. I'm not sure this expansion interests me. I avoid princess meet and greets now.

My question is: will Peter Pan, Philharmagic, and other old favorites be kept?

The same thought occurred to me, riding Dumbo around and seeing the Castle and the Carousel is wonderful...that part of the experience will be lost in the move. (Though you still should be able to see the castle, albeit from further away.) However, there is no way they could leave Dumbo where it is and add the second dumbo, or the interactive queue. It will be interesting to see if the move makes the ride less attractive. (I doubt it, though.)

As far as the rest of FL rides, none are being affected, which I am glad of. I thought about the fact that by 2013 by DD will be 10, and will probably be just about done with princesses by that point. We definitely would spend less time in FL when our daughter is grown...this expansion is primarily focused on tke little ones. But I love the Little Mermaid...it came out when I was in college and several friends and I saw it in the theaters, even brought the soundtrack. (We were engineering students, male, and most definitely straight BTW.) That was the first animated movie I saw as an adult that really impressed me. I am still a huge animation fan, as it allows the makers to tell any story they want, regardless of how fantastic. Live action, even with all the CGI, never truly completely allows for that escape from reality to me. (I HATE HATE HATE live action talking animal movies, but am perfectly fine with animate animals talking.) I still look forward to the new PIXAR releases more than any live action films.

Anyways, back on topic...after seeing the Little Mermaid ride concept that was put out on the little Mermaid DVD a few years ago, I though "Oh My God, I can't believe they didn't build that!" The new concept drawings for the LM ride look different - the ride cars appear to be omnimover style as opposed to the "Peter Pan" style in the DVD, but I am still totally pumped for this ride.

And the Beauty and the Beast restaurant sounds awesome too, as well as Gaston's Tavern. (He uses antlers in all of his decorating you know.)

SkierPete

 

[Disco]

I'm concerned about Dumbo moving.

Dumbo's location in the shadow of the castle is what makes it so special. You ride around and look at the castle and the carousel, and it seems like pixie dust is just flying around everywhere with you. Priceless.

Why would Disney change that?QUOTE]

Blah, I've always thought Dumbo was out of place being a circus theme. Cindy's carousel is perfectly themed for the location. Now it will be less crowded. Yay!

 

[gymnastgirlflips]

I'm so excited about everything! I wish I could have gone to the expo, I'll have to next year.
Anyways, I really don't have any complaints about anything. I just hope Fantasyland works out that the lines for the meet and greets move quickly, for parents' sake, but also you get a fair amount of time with the characters. And I hope the boys will have a little something to do as well- I do think that the other parks of the park are more boy friendly and girls don't have just a part for themselves. I wish they had the characters walking around like they used to- I agree that that was the best way. I'd rather have more attractions as well, but im very glad they're finally adding another table service back there! Plus it has a great theme

 

[bgsnmky]

Was there any talk at the convention of one behing held next year?

 

[iluvdisney]

I'm sure that D23 will be a regular thing for a while but will they go back and forth from Disneyland to WDW and so on?

 

[skier_pete]

I'm sure that D23 will be a regular thing for a while but will they go back and forth from Disneyland to WDW and so on?

I'm sure it will occur every year...Disney sees the success of ComicCon at building buzz for things...their dream would likely be to see D23 be as popular as ComicCon...yes not everything would get buzz, but they would guarantee it would be their stuff that would get the buzz, as opposed to something like Ironman. (Oh wait, Ironman IS their stuff!)

I think it is unlikely to come to Florida...California is where the executives are and also where the celebraties are. More to the point, there is no big convention center at WDW.

(And before anyone says it, yes Coranado Springs has a convention center...but not sure it would be big enough.)

As far as when next year - expect a similar timeframe. Probably the weekend after labor day again, but that is just a guess. (I tried to find it on the net...no announcement yet.)

SkierPete

 

[crazy4wdw]

I think it is unlikely to come to Florida...California is where the executives are and also where the celebraties are. More to the point, there is no big convention center at WDW.

(And before anyone says it, yes Coranado Springs has a convention center...but not sure it would be big enough.)

SkierPete

The convention center at the Swan/Dolphin is one of the largest in the southeast. Wasn't the convention center at Coranado Springs recently expanded?