DAK Cutbacks

[Anjelica]

Actually I believe they did do away with the DHS rope drop pre-show (some time ago).

That's what I thought - I actually liked the DHS rope drop pre-show.

 

[Kathy C]

You know what's better than letting a kid see a character for free? It's getting everyone in the family to pay $24.99 each for lunch just so the kid can see the character.

Hurry up and finish your meal folks, we got another group waiting outside.

We just took our almost four-year old granddaughter (got back last night) and your statement above is more than true! We had ADRs at Crystal Palace on Saturday for dinner (4:30) and it was $36.99 per adult and $17.99 for her. She didn't eat $5 worth and the quality and the selection of the food isn't anything like it used to be - we won't ever go back for dinner. Not too many years ago that buffet was $20 per person. We will be back in January for her 4th birthday celebration with mom and dad and will try Crystal Palace for breakfast.

We also did the character dinner at 1900 Park Fare and although the price was the same, the food was much better. I don't so much mind paying the adult price if the food is good but $18 for a small child is ridiculous. With the TIW card, our total bill for each meal was $95 (2 adults/1 child).

Ate at Prime Time too, had a wonderful waiter and the food was great and the bill didn't break the bank!

 

[KikiFan]

I know this is a little off original topic, and I apologize, but I just wanted to chime in about DinoRama and the carnival atmosphere. Disney did not do a great job selling the "backstory" to this area. It's a great idea, and has a great story, just so many visitors don't know the story they're trying to sell here. If you have a second, read this article about the backstory of Chester and Hester's. May make you look at DinoRama with a new perspective. I it. Just my opinion.

http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2009/08/chester_and_hesters_dinorama.html

Thanks for posting that. I think when we go back (In 26 days!!) I"ll have a new appreciation for the area.

 

[GreenCntryGirl]

Posts like this confuse me ... if you haven't seen the movie (and never plan to) how can you say you don't see any connection with DAK?

Avatar was a good movie set in a GREAT environment.

It had a fully-realized and visually-fantastic ecosystem filled with mysterious lumious plants and amazingly cool-looking alien animals. The idea of being able to walk around in a Pandoran forest sounds like it would be really cool and fun.

Even more than the visuals, though, the whole movie also had a really pro-environment, pro-conservation message.

On the whole, having seen the movie, I can definitely see connections to the "mission" of DAK.

It is possible to know enough about a movie to make a judgement like mine. Me staying away from everything Twilight would be a good example. Sparkly vampires aren't my thing. James Cameron big budget movies aren't my thing.

I have no problem with Star Wars being at DHS...it's a movie set in a park that's supposed to be about various types of entertainment media.

 

[Oglet]

Character dining expansion is an excuse being given for the removal of certain characters. A certain number of performers being removed from the park and put into character dining seems like shuffling performers around only now they get to charge for people to see them.

Regarding Jiminy Cricket, It is extremely difficult to find performers that are approved in his costume and many of those who are approved in his really dislike it. Quite often there are holes that are being created by not having enough people available for that particular role.

Pocahontas at Rafikis Planet Watch (RPW) has always been a bit of a problem. It is very difficult to have 2 face performers in the same park without causing integrity issues, yeah I know its a poor excuse considering if you have the official Verizon app it shows the same character in multiple locations at the same time, after all how many places can Goofy be in at once?

Rumor has it the parade changes have something to do with character integrity. Apparently some higher up people are concerned about the parade being around Tusker House twice with characters doing dining, this doesn't make much sense since the parade is at 3:45 and that is well past lunch, maybe something is in the works with the parade changing start times? If anyone knew the mess that the change in parade start and finish is causing back stage they would wonder why they are even doing this to begin with. Also heard that the VP of Animal Kingdom isn't too thrilled with the safari area being blocked for the parade and that is another reason.. who knows, I am sure we are being spoon fed things.

Adventure Begins and ACG are both gone, the only thing I can put this down to is cost cutting. With all the rules and procedures within Disney even the simplest of things turns into a major production and becomes complicated and expensive. It wasn't all that long ago that they dropped a bunch of money into making a new truck (float) to replace the one that had been there since around the time DAK opened.

Lilo and Stitch, well they have had a bulls eye on them for quite some time. They are a fun bunch but cause headaches and problems for the more traditional higher ups that would rather every character interaction be like going to see Mickey Mouse. Its all about love and shove, Lilo and Stitch like to play and bring a unique touch to their interactions which doesn't sit well with some.

One addition is the characters from UP. Dug and Russell will be appearing just over from Flame Tree at the big gate beside the Pooh characters.

Might add that WDW magic have missed a few bits. ACG (last performance tonight) is just as big as adventure begins when you talk about cutting back. There are also a couple other things in the works that I will talk about once I find out a little more.

 

[Robo]

It was Epcot that just went away,

Epcot never really had a formal Rope Drop Show, just a rope (which did drop.)

And, yes, they did do away with even that very recently.

 

[mom2rtk]

So now I'm confused. DID they discontinue the rope drop show at DHS?

 

[DisneyGuess]

Oglet, great post. Glad to hear at least that the Up characters are being added.
Can't wait to hear about the other things in the works!

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

Could the reason why they're leaving be that Rafiki's Planet Watch and that whole area is where they're going to start construction on the Avatar land they're working on? Looking at this, it makes since that they'd start closing it off to foot traffic... Start with the characters, then slowly ease out the animals and vets, then the train...

Good point. I think you are on to something. Here is James Cameron at Disneyland just last Friday touring the new Carsland site. Cameron is researching this with the same relentless passion he had for Titanic!

source

 

[Oglet]

Nothing has been announced regarding a location of Avatar, however the vacant land near RPW is probably a logical choice.I am not sure why they would need to close RPW though?

Anyway construction of Avatar isn't starting for over another year, seems a little early to be preparing for anything.

With the land they have available there would be no need period to close RWP, even with the construction taking place. Lots of room and access for equipment without impacting RPW one bit.

This is providing the location is actually out there anyway.

 

[GingerJay]

Are they REALLY doing the Avatar land? I thought that was just a misguided rumor....oh well

 

[kaligal]

Cameron is researching this with the same relentless passion he had for Titanic!

The passion that led him to dismiss all the possibilities for drama included in the actual events in favor of nudity and gun chases?

I am one of the handful of people in the country who found Titanic to be a tremendous disappointment (first 15-20 minutes excepted). Terminators I and II were much better, which should not be the case.

 

[nemofans]

I enjoy RPW & have met Jiminy. My boys love animals so it's a great area for them. HOWEVER, DH doesn't like going out there. He thinks it's too far & takes too much time.
If they put Avatarland near RPW, that would give more people a reason to head out that way & boost visits to RPW.
I am not happy w/all the special touches going away, like rope drop preshows & characters around the parks. It affects the magical experience.

 

[kevdo]

Nothing has been announced regarding a location of Avatar, however the vacant land near RPW is probably a logical choice.

If you were talking about an animal-centric land, such as Australia, I would agree. But for Avatar, that land presumably will be focused on attractions that can be run at night and well may be loud. Thus, the placement for this land would seem to me to be most logically placed on the old Beastly Kingdom site (known today as Camp Minnie-Mickey). The only thing worth saving there is the Lion King structure, which would be better themed and located in Africa anyway.

I think the land plot you pointed to would be very disruptive of the animals nearby, both during and after construction.

I think the connection between cutbacks at RPW and Avatar is a stretch. A really big one, actually.

 

[David The Prince]

If you were talking about an animal-centric land, such as Australia, I would agree. But for Avatar, that land presumably will be focused on attractions that can be run at night and well may be loud. Thus, the placement for this land would seem to me to be most logically placed on the old Beastly Kingdom site (known today as Camp Minnie-Mickey). The only thing worth saving there is the Lion King structure, which would be better themed and located in Africa anyway.

I think the land plot you pointed to would be very disruptive of the animals nearby, both during and after construction.

I think the connection between cutbacks at RPW and Avatar is a stretch. A really big one, actually.

You are right... that 's what somebody told me.... Lion King show will be moved to Africa as soon as the construction for Avatar begins.... info by a cast member told to me.... have a great day!

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

The passion that led him to dismiss all the possibilities for drama included in the actual events in favor of nudity and gun chases?

I am one of the handful of people in the country who found Titanic to be a tremendous disappointment (first 15-20 minutes excepted). Terminators I and II were much better, which should not be the case.

*sigh* How could I be so insensitive -- I forgot how much you despise Titanic, I'll try not to mention it again. I agree with your points about the movie, especially the nudity -- it was unnecessary, forced and awkward. That said, it was a minor aspect of the film, there was so much more than that. Now Cameron is following Disney in re-releasing Titanic in 3D on the big screen. It will be interesting to see if it will have the same success as Disney -- don't count on me being there. I don't want to see that again. I've never seen any of the Terminator films.


Here is an excerpt from the Disney Parks Blog. Disney Parks Blog

The team studied the details and storytelling elements in the 12-acre world of Radiator Springs that will open at Disney California Adventure park in summer 2012, before touring other parts of the Disneyland Resort.

It looks like Cameron's team is eager to utilize Disney's resources for the upcoming films. I remember saying, if I were Cameron, I would seek help from Disney/Pixar in creating a meaningful script and more personable characters for the Avatar sequel. It's interesting how this will play out.

I can't stop looking at Carsland, I didn't realize the magnitude of this project. The mountains and rock formations in the pictures are gorgeous -- it looks just like Radiator Springs!

 

[jordancej]

I'm so sad! I love the opening show at AK! It always just a fun way to start the day....

 

[Oglet]

I just do not think its will go near Camp Minnie Mickey. The vacant land behind the lion king show area simply does not seem big enough to support much of anything. If you were to remove Camp MM, Relocate the Lion King and reclaim the area from the old Pocahontas statge it would open it up a lot. Major problem is still size.

Something like Avatar is going to require a lot of back stage support areas, just looking at what they have now and would possibly need I believe the Camp MM/Vacant area just isn't big enough. Remember the construction of expedition Everest? Not very far at all from Animals.

Who knows its could very well go where Camp MM is, however my bet is on the land in the map.

 

[TDC Nala]

So now I'm confused. DID they discontinue the rope drop show at DHS?

They don't have a show with the Citizens of Hollywood to open the park anymore. They haven't done that in at least a year. I don't know if there's any other kind of show.

 

[nytimez]

I just do not think its will go near Camp Minnie Mickey. The vacant land behind the lion king show area simply does not seem big enough to support much of anything. If you were to remove Camp MM, Relocate the Lion King and reclaim the area from the old Pocahontas statge it would open it up a lot. Major problem is still size.

Something like Avatar is going to require a lot of back stage support areas, just looking at what they have now and would possibly need I believe the Camp MM/Vacant area just isn't big enough. Remember the construction of expedition Everest? Not very far at all from Animals.

Who knows its could very well go where Camp MM is, however my bet is on the land in the map.

Someone looked at the maps on another forum -- the Camp Minnie Mickey and usable backstage areas there are pretty much the exact size they announced for Avatar (12 acres, I believe). Also, that's where Beastly Kingdom was supposed to go... and it would also allow for a phased shutdown of the park if Avatar is kept open later than the rest or if it has nighttime show (otherwise, people would have to walk through the entirety of a mostly closed park to leave Avatar at the end of the day).

I don't know where it's going either -- but I wouldn't rule out CMM...