D23 Expo 2019 (First page with major info)

[dina444444]

Somehow missed we are getting the runaway train being announced for DL before?

It was formally announced a few months ago.

 

[vacationer1954]

Very mediocre so far. Someone made a comment in a video chat "Dollar Tree version of Bruno Mars" hahah.

Haters're gonna hate. Someone else in another video chat said he was Prince reincarnated.

Haha my god... Can we just get Joe Rhode in charge of the parks?

I suspect he was offered a bump (within Imagineering) that he turned down so he could remain hands on designing things. I get the impression he would be utterly horrified having to go to work each day worrying about how to justify paying for all the things that he gets to play with by staying firmly in a designer role.

Holy cow. Mary Poppins ride???

In the clear light of day, are we sure that he said specifically that there will be a "ride"?

Where is Brazil?

Dissappointed that they still aren't doing anything about Imagination though.

No Coco overlay which I was hoping for after that Epcot display.

I think Disney is learning that many fans when they hear details about things that are coming in a few years delay trips they would otherwise take now. So maybe Brazil is still coming - and "World of Nature"-related changes to Imagination and Coco-related changes to Mexico too - but not for two or three or four years.

Feels like this is just a way to get you to look at ADR times you may not normally consider.

I think a lot of guests are frustrated by how competitive the whole DME thing is, with so many super fans like us knowing all the tricks and tips to get the best slots. I'm not sure if Genie is intended to replace that or not but at the very least I think it is intended to give those who are frustrated assistance getting the best that is available when they make their arrangements without having to battle with the system, and compete with us, to find what they're looking for.

Weird that they are doing a show for only one year.

I think they realize that they can't not have a nighttime show, and there's likely a lot of construction work involved in taking Illuminations out and installing Harmonious.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

In the clear light of day, are we sure that he said specifically that there will be a "ride"?

They definitely said "attraction" which could be a show or something .... But the rumors have been some sort of flat ride (a spinner, a carousel, etc)

 

[TheMaxRebo]

The “new” EPCOT is the first change I don’t think Walt would agree with. It deviates way too much from the Future World concept.

I remember hearing about how Card Walker got upset with a reporter when asked “Where’s EPCOT?” before it was built. He said it’s all over, every single thing we do is “EPCOT”. The public wasn’t buying it. They have been walking back Walt’s vision for years. Bob Chapek isn’t the first one to do this.

It is probably a blessing and a curse for the company to always have to tie things back to Walt (obviously it creates a fandom with an emotional connection, but one that is quick to point out when things go away from what Walt would do (even though no one know what Walt would do) so the company has to try to connect everything somehow/have some storyline)

Obviously the EPCOT that opened in 1982 was nothing like the plans for EPCOT that Walt shared with the public - which is all we have. To me, it was more along the lines of what was developed for the 1964 Worlds Fair (which is probably what many of the people involved in EPCOT had experience with) - and fortunately for me, it encapsulates what I love about Disney and about Walt Disney: The optimistic view that technology will make the future better for everyone, and that we are more the same than different. I think that is summarized in Carousel of Progress and It's a Small World ... AND in Future World and World Showcase

I think their new plans still fit this - you are still set up to discover more of the world, more of technology and then more of a celebration of the world. As long as it is focused on inspiring people to push for a better tomorrow, one that makes the world bigger and smaller at the same time, I am good with it.

Just comes down to execution now

 

[FSU Girl]

Made me laugh when Bob pointed out that new 3 level plaza saying you could see the fireworks from there, my husband and I turned to each other and said for an upcharge in unison.

I said that exact thing lol. There's no way it'll be a free viewing area. I could see a lot of dessert parties hosting there.

 

[Iowamomof4]

Not sure where to post this, but I'm losing my mind! Rise of Skywalker footage from D23!

 

[mcjaco]

I think their new plans still fit this - you are still set up to discover more of the world, more of technology and then more of a celebration of the world. As long as it is focused on inspiring people to push for a better tomorrow, one that makes the world bigger and smaller at the same time, I am good with it.

Just comes down to execution now

THIS. THIS. THIS.

The amount of whining over the weekend, literally made me shut down my Twitter account. I couldn't take the complaining anymore. Everytime they announce something the "Fans" go straight into "this is awful" mode, and it doesn't fit. Many of whom weren't even alive to see the park in it's infancy. Drives me absolutely batty. Pretty sure if Walt were still alive, he'd know that these parks have to evolve with the times.

 

[firefly_ris]

THIS. THIS. THIS.

The amount of whining over the weekend, literally made me shut down my Twitter account. I couldn't take the complaining anymore. Everytime they announce something the "Fans" go straight into "this is awful" mode, and it doesn't fit. Many of whom weren't even alive to see the park in it's infancy. Drives me absolutely batty. Pretty sure if Walt were still alive, he'd know that these parks have to evolve with the times.

Yeah I didn't even check my Twitter account over the weekend.

I love retro EPCOT, a lot. It doesn't work in present form anymore. I think what they have come up with is a pretty solid concept that will work better for the park, and allow a bit more variety in the type of attractions built. They still have some with educational/informative aspects like the new water thing, and Awesome Planet.... I think overall, it all strikes a good balance, and I think using the word "World" for each area so they all "match" is a good move. Along with the entry way renovations I think this all is going to make a big difference. I do plenty of crapping on Disney corporate decisions but this isn't one of them.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I said that exact thing lol. There's no way it'll be a free viewing area. I could see a lot of dessert parties hosting there.

I could see both - a section for, say, FP viewing and then another area for dessert parties ... definitely a chance for private events, etc. maybe even a DVC lounge area .... but no way they aren't monetizing that view

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Yeah I didn't even check my Twitter account over the weekend.

I love retro EPCOT, a lot. It doesn't work in present form anymore. I think what they have come up with is a pretty solid concept that will work better for the park, and allow a bit more variety in the type of attractions built. They still have some with educational/informative aspects like the new water thing, and Awesome Planet.... I think overall, it all strikes a good balance, and I think using the word "World" for each area so they all "match" is a good move. Along with the entry way renovations I think this all is going to make a big difference. I do plenty of crapping on Disney corporate decisions but this isn't one of them.

obviously it all comes down to execution but I definitely agree with your thoughts on the plans ... and I think we also have to know that education is evolving and the sharing of information is evolving. An attraction that just "tells" you things as education is sort of useless when you can look up the same info and 10x as much using your phone.

Education now is more about discovery and exploration and challenging things - and I think this can do that. Those of us that have great memories of "classic" EPCOT might struggle a bit but this is a direction I think they have to go

One last thing, that I think sometimes people forget (especially those who complain on twitter), it is ok to both love the past and appreciate/be excited for what is changing. It's not like if you say "I think the changes to SSE could be cool" means that "you don't appreciate the original SSE" - you can do both

 

[Moliphino]

With Epcot, I'm mostly just worried that Mary Poppins stuff will force out the British Revolution. I'm not a big Mary Poppins fan and a spinner ride of any sort is not the least bit exciting, so that would be a downgrade in my view.

Aside from that, the panel was frustrating because there wasn't much that was actually new, just updates on things that were already announced.

 

[MissGina5]

Yeah I didn't even check my Twitter account over the weekend.

I love retro EPCOT, a lot. It doesn't work in present form anymore. I think what they have come up with is a pretty solid concept that will work better for the park, and allow a bit more variety in the type of attractions built. They still have some with educational/informative aspects like the new water thing, and Awesome Planet.... I think overall, it all strikes a good balance, and I think using the word "World" for each area so they all "match" is a good move. Along with the entry way renovations I think this all is going to make a big difference. I do plenty of crapping on Disney corporate decisions but this isn't one of them.

Again I think it really sounds just like a refreshing on the ideas of retro Epcot, I didn’t think they’d follow through when they promised that but it sounds like they are

 

[jknezek]

I'll start this by saying I'm not going to read all 71 pages of this thread though I did pretty well until 36 or so. But... I think what was announced looks good. There are 3 things I really care about, movies, shows and WDW parks. The movies look good. I like Star Wars, excited for the next chapter even though I didn't love the last one. Excited for Marvel. Hoping to get D+ as soon as its available on Amazon devices. The shows look fantastic. A mix of adult and kid programming. Lets get Amazon on board please!

EPCOT looks good. Yes I miss the old EPCOT. The theme was great and radically different from any other theme park anywhere. But Disney let it atrophy until it was... not good. While the love EPCOT is getting isn't what I would have done, it looks good. I like the Moana water feature. It fits well with Seas and Land. I'm thrilled Land is staying. I do fear for Imagination since it no longer fits that neighborhood, but honestly it's been ruined for some time. I want a good Figment attraction back somewhere, so fingers crossed that's part of the long term plan. I'll feel more comfortable if they make a Figment movie or D+ show at some point since that seems a prerequisite these days for Park presence.

The other things that have been announced look good. Tombstones gone is fantastic. The Guardians coaster looks like fun and whether it fits in EPCOT depends on execution. The Space restaurant looks amazing. Rat is a very cool clone. It seems like Spaceship Earth is getting more of a comprehensive refresh than a gut and retheme, I'm good with that though I will not schedule a trip unless it is open. EPCOT without Spaceship Earth in some form is not something I will pay to visit.

World Showcase needs a kids ride. If Mary Poppins is a flat spinner or carousel I think that's a waste of a really good theme, but it's something badly needed. The execution on the old Body Pavilion into a play area will be important. Done well, it's needed. EPCOT was not the most kid friendly park, so adding to that will make it a better draw.

Anyway, for people who are disappointed by D23 I think expectations were much too high. The last 2 D23s have had major announcements and huge steps forward for WDW that were badly needed. I'm pretty satisfied and excited. Now how much I'm excited will be a balancing act against the things I'm unhappy with that have nothing to do with D23, the continued upsells, ticket lurches, attempts to make MK a 2 ticket park per day, and the resort that will soon crowd my beloved Fort Wilderness.

But D23? Yeah, that was a lot of big news about things I'm interested in and excited about. Well done WDC.

 

[Tink1987]

THIS. THIS. THIS.

The amount of whining over the weekend, literally made me shut down my Twitter account. I couldn't take the complaining anymore. Everytime they announce something the "Fans" go straight into "this is awful" mode, and it doesn't fit. Many of whom weren't even alive to see the park in it's infancy. Drives me absolutely batty. Pretty sure if Walt were still alive, he'd know that these parks have to evolve with the times.

Couldn’t agree more. I’ll be honest I can’t stand IP in Epcot but still think the parks do need to move forward. I don’t think they need characters to do this but I have to accept this is the way things are going. I’m not going to sit here and pretend I visited the parks when I was a kid and I’m the first to admit I’m a new Star Wars and Figment fan. I won’t even buy a Figment plush as much as I want one because I don’t want people to think I’m wagon hopping. But all these fans saying this isn’t what Walt would have wanted need to stop. It’s been over 50 years since he died. And I’m a massive Disney historian but I’m almost afraid to admit that now because of how some people act!

 

[bookbabe626]

newly minted Disney Legend Robert Downy Jr/
who are we kidding, it's going to be Oprah

Ryan Reynolds would be a fun narrator... ;-)

 

[skier_pete]

Being at the announcement, they did not call it a ride, but what Chapek did say is that you will come down Cherry Tree lane and enter in through the Banks house. If it is a carousel or a spinner, this would make no sense. Those would be in a park outdoors at Cherry Tree lane, right? It is of course too early to tell, the whole thing could be cancelled, but I think it much more likely based on that description, that the queue is in the house - similar to what they did for Peter Pan - and the ride is a dark ride. I don't think the would bother constructing an entire street just to put in a carousel.

However, this makes me think a couple of things.
1) the millennium festival center behind UK is going to go.
2) with all the stuff they do there for the festival's, it's unlikely they take that out until they build the new festival center.
3) therefore - I think we have at least 3 years before we see cherry tree lane.

 

[Tigger's ally]

The amount of whining over the weekend, literally made me shut down my Twitter account.

Not going to lie. One poster on this very thread constantly whining just made me shut the thread off yesterday. Didn't engage. Jut shut off my computer and enjoyed the great weather we are having.

 

[rteetz]

Being at the announcement, they did not call it a ride, but what Chapek did say is that you will come down Cherry Tree lane and enter in through the Banks house. If it is a carousel or a spinner, this would make no sense. Those would be in a park outdoors at Cherry Tree lane, right? It is of course too early to tell, the whole thing could be cancelled, but I think it much more likely based on that description, that the queue is in the house - similar to what they did for Peter Pan - and the ride is a dark ride. I don't think the would bother constructing an entire street just to put in a carousel.

However, this makes me think a couple of things.
1) the millennium festival center behind UK is going to go.
2) with all the stuff they do there for the festival's, it's unlikely they take that out until they build the new festival center.
3) therefore - I think we have at least 3 years before we see cherry tree lane.

If it is a dark ride it won’t be a very big one. They don’t have a lot of space. From what I understand the world showplace back there isn’t going anywhere.

 

[Mikey15]

Ryan Reynolds would be a fun narrator... ;-)

My apologies to SSE purists, but Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool (which is now Disney IP through Fox acquisition?) narrating the history of the world would be amazing. Maybe they could do an after-hours event and switch up the narration?

 

[Farro]

I love when people are unhappy, disappointed, or whatever and they express it, they are whining. It's a discussion board and people are going to have differing opinions. And believe me, this is one of the nicer ones...

It really is a big, big deal to me that both rides that were strongly rumored to be open when I go (Rat and Railway) now seem to both be pushed back (again for Railway) until summer or later. I was looking forward to them, I don't care about Marvel and Star Wars, while I'm sure I'll enjoy, was not why I was looking forward to this trip.

So yes, for me, yesterday was a disappointment.

There's nothing wrong with being critical of Disney sometimes, honestly.

Bright side to all of this, maybe people will put off 2020 trips and wait until 2021 or later when a lot of this will be done!