DAK Cutbacks

[GreenCntryGirl]

I find it amusing that the term "cutbacks" is being used but at the same time people are saying this is because of expansion. Not sure which way you all want Disney to go. Expand or just keep the same things all the time? People yell because things stay the same but then Disney has to *gasp* do something in order to grow and then people start yelling about that.

Magic Kingdom has had Fantasyland closed for a long time but now people are excited about the future of that place. Why is this any different?

For me, the only difference is that I have zero interest in Avatar and would rather have the "old" stuff. Now, if they went with the idea they had way back when with a "land" with mythical creatures, I'd be jumping up and down for joy.

 

[mom2rtk]

Nice try. But while Jiminy and Pocahontas were at RPW, Lilo/Stitch and Terk were not.

And when they started the Fantasyland expansion, I think they did a good job making characters available in alternate spots.

 

[book_junkie]

Nice try. But while Jiminy and Pocahontas were at RPW, Lilo/Stitch and Terk were not.

And when they started the Fantasyland expansion, I think they did a good job making characters available in alternate spots.

Not a try or excuse, just asking. I don't hunt the characters or stand in line for them, so was just thinking about possibilities. Then again, I remember reading that Rafiki's was the least populated part of AK, so maybe it makes sense in someone's head. YMMV with my logic.

 

[nytimez]

I find it amusing that the term "cutbacks" is being used but at the same time people are saying this is because of expansion. Not sure which way you all want Disney to go. Expand or just keep the same things all the time? People yell because things stay the same but then Disney has to *gasp* do something in order to grow and then people start yelling about that.

Magic Kingdom has had Fantasyland closed for a long time but now people are excited about the future of that place. Why is this any different?

Are you suggesting they need to cut Jiminy from the salary to pay for Avatar?

 

[fairestoneofall]

if they need to cut characters from AK (and that's debatable if they really need to), why not cut Pooh and friends or other characters who appear in every other park? i find it annoying that they're cutting the more unique characters to AK. i'm so tired of the same 10 or so characters in every park.

 

[asianway]

if they need to cut characters from AK (and that's debatable), why not cut Pooh and friends or other characters who appear in every other park. i find it annoying that they're cutting the more unique characters to AK. i'm so tired of the same 10 or so characters in every park.

When the TDO culture of pandering to the first time guest, you get decisions like this and a Goofy around every corner. When your attendance numbers are in decline, you should be giving guests a reason to attend your park, not skip it.

 

[luvmy2babies]

Rafiki's Planet Watch was my daughter's favorite part of the park. She likes to learn about how the animals are cared for so she spent a lot of time back there asking questions and I mean a lot. I thought they might boot us out. Glad I got her picture taken with Jiminy Cricket and his autogrpaph even though she didn't see Pinochio until after the trip and after meeting Jiminy, she was like "Who's Jiminy Cricket mom?" He's an icon character to me. I wish there'd been a photographer there to take my picture.

I'm nobody and have no idea what their plans for Avatar Land are, but if they want to get rid of something, the games in Dinoland were annoying to look at. The rides were one thing, but the carnival games seem out of place.

 

[gator girl]

I'm sooooo bummed I didn't get Jiminy's autograph in October. I just didn't want to take the time to ride the train out there. And now I am arriving for my next trip literally the DAY AFTER he stops appearing. Grrrrr!

 

[WDSearcher]

Nice try. But while Jiminy and Pocahontas were at RPW, Lilo/Stitch and Terk were not.

And when they started the Fantasyland expansion, I think they did a good job making characters available in alternate spots.

Unless ... Lilo, Stitch and Terk are being exited so that other characters can be added. Do we know for certain that no new characters are being added in their place (even at a different location)? We know that characters have been added to Tuskers at lunch, so that could be one trade-off. Maybe Russell and Dug are finally coming into DAK as widely rumored last year?

 

[WDSearcher]

I'm sooooo bummed I didn't get Jiminy's autograph in October. I just didn't want to take the time to ride the train out there. And now I am arriving for my next trip literally the DAY AFTER he stops appearing. Grrrrr!

The question is ... would you have taken the time to take the train out to see him THIS trip if he was going to be there like normal?

My guess is that it was a very very underutilized character location for the very reason you mentioned above. And so ... better to use those dollars elsewhere.

 

[windi622]

I'm nobody and have no idea what their plans for Avatar Land are, but if they want to get rid of something, the games in Dinoland were annoying to look at. The rides were one thing, but the carnival games seem out of place.

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

 

[Robo]

Magic Kingdom has had Fantasyland closed for a long time but now people are excited about the future of that place. Why is this any different?

Fantasyland has never been closed during the expansion.

 

[gator girl]

The question is ... would you have taken the time to take the train out to see him THIS trip if he was going to be there like normal?

My guess is that it was a very very underutilized character location for the very reason you mentioned above. And so ... better to use those dollars elsewhere.

I probably would have, yes. But I'm someone who has had APs for about 15 years & recently made a conscious effort to start doing new & different things at Disney, so I bought an autograph book because I'd never taken the time to get signatures before.

I think you're right though about the cost. I just wish they had MOVED the rare characters instead of cancelled them. I mean.... a few weeks ago, I met Br'er Rabbit in front of a board fence by a bathroom. It's not like they have to set up some sort of expensive Cricket Castle somewhere for him.

Meanwhile, I'll go back in a couple of weeks & start tripping over the Pooh on every flat surface. Sorry... I'm just griping a little because it didn't work out in my favor.

 

[windi622]

It's not like they have to set up some sort of expensive Cricket Castle somewhere for him.

Hilarious!

 

[ktlm]

UGH- I can barely get DD (5) to stay at AK past noon as it is. Lilo and Stitch and Pocahontas were highlights for us. The Lilo and Stitch pictures are always some of my favorites because that spot just works so well for them.

 

[Anjelica]

Sad to see the RD "pre-show" going away....Didn't they recently do away with DHS RD pre-show?

 

[WDSearcher]

Sad to see the RD "pre-show" going away....Didn't they recently do away with DHS RD pre-show?

It was Epcot that just went away, although people don't seem to have had a big issue with it. The new opening procedure seems to be an improvement.

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

I may be in the minority, but anything that has to go because of the Avatar addition annoys me. I've never seen the movie. Have no desire to see the movie. And I fail to see a connection between the movie and Disney in any way, shape, or form.

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.

 

[WDSearcher]

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.

Good point! People who have never seen -- or have no interest in -- Star Wars probably can't fathom what that would have to do with Disney either. I mean, it wasn't a Disney film, so why is Disney hyping it at the Studios? Same thing with Indiana Jones -- not a Disney film at all. Twilight Zone? Aerosmith? How do those say "Disney"?

And yet ... they somehow all "fit".

 

[TDC Nala]

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