Disappointing 2014 Planning DVD

[mikedoyleblogger]

I know I'm late to the party here, but we just got our 2014 planning DVD. As soon as I popped it in the player, I noticed the image used for the Disneyland Park section of the DVD to look suspiciously like Magic Kingdom's Mad Tea Party. And so it is (you can clearly see the central teapot from MK that DL's version of the ride does not have.) Then watched the Disneyland Park video and was horrified to see lots of video footage of Magic Kingdom attractions. The MK Pirates sail-sign. The entrance, spider, and staircase scenes from MK's Haunted Mansion. Interior footage of MK's Splash Mountain and MK's Voyage of the Little Mermaid. And more of MK's Mad Tea Party.

It was really off-putting for a Disneyland fan familiar with the park, and kind of disappointing. And the pathetic part is that in the video, they go on and on about DL's history and legendary attractions, and the uniqueness of the DL guest experience. Last year's DVDs I watched straight through. This year, I feel like sending it back. Just venting--this is the "One Disney" policy in action I guess. But the last park that should be a stand-in for the amazing DL is the crummy MK IMHO. Just not a classy decision to do what they did in this DVD.

 

[lucysmom]

That is very disappointing. I used to think that WDW was The Place to be, but then I visited DLR. My trips to DLR have been so magical, much more magical than our last WDW trips. I don't want there to be one Disney. I dont want to see DLR go down the same path as WDW. When I see what they are doing to the Poly and lagoon, I get so sad and nostalgic for what Walt's vision was. You can still find Walt's touch at DL.

 

[GatorChris]

Crummy Magic Kingdom? That sounds a little jaded. I like them both a lot as they have different things to offer.

As for the videos, they've been poor for the last few years. My bluray player always puts black bars all the way around the videos - they don't seem good for HD tvs. And they all seem to be the same year after year. The ones I liked were back in 2002-2004 when they had that goofy dude and the great music. Then in 2005 for the Happiest Celebration, they had the group of 4 people that gave 4 different views of how to enjoy WDW. Since then, it's become very blah and a repeat year after year.

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

Crummy Magic Kingdom? That sounds a little jaded. I like them both a lot as they have different things to offer.

As for the videos, they've been poor for the last few years. My bluray player always puts black bars all the way around the videos - they don't seem good for HD tvs. And they all seem to be the same year after year. The ones I liked were back in 2002-2004 when they had that goofy dude and the great music. Then in 2005 for the Happiest Celebration, they had the group of 4 people that gave 4 different views of how to enjoy WDW. Since then, it's become very blah and a repeat year after year.

Not jaded. The two parks are not interchangeable and I don't subscribe to the notion that Disney fans have some sort of duty to be loyal to all Disney Parks. WDW as a whole doesn't do it for me at all, though I can enjoy myself at MK. But I wouldn't go to MK if I had the choice to go to DL instead. I did think last year's DVD visually showed off the parks on both coasts very well and explained things better.

 

[Boston Tea Party]

Crummy Magic Kingdom? That sounds a little jaded. I like them both a lot as they have different things to offer.

Disagree - the WDW MK is crummy. When we go east we spend time at EPCOT, DHS, and AK because it is such a disappointment. Perhaps the Fantasyland additions will jazz it up a bit.

 

[rootbeer]

Good observation Mike. Why in the world would a company with the movie production resources that Disney has do that? They could do so much better. I often think back to the words of Walt when I see shortcuts in the parks when he said "I don't care how much it cost, let's do it right", then somehow Roy would find the money.

As far as the MK goes, well we do like WDW for all it has to offer and just take in the MK as part of the whole experience. It is different though, and you have to look at it as such.

 

[GatorChris]

Disagree - the WDW MK is crummy. When we go east we spend time at EPCOT, DHS, and AK because it is such a disappointment. Perhaps the Fantasyland additions will jazz it up a bit.

I get that MK doesn't have the attractions of Disneyland. DL is the superior park, but MK is more "grand" or "majestic" in its size and breathtaking sights. It also has some great things:

-A monorail that actually works as a transport, not an attraction
-A castle that makes me chuckle at the one at Disneyland
-Swiss Family Treehouse
-Country Bears
-New Fantasyland
-Liberty Square
-Monster's Inc Laugh Floor
-Mickey's Philharmagic (this one needs to come west for sure)
-Sonny Eclipse (yeah, you know you love him!)
-Crystal Palace, Tony's, Liberty Tree Tavern, The Royal Table, Be Our Guest (dining is way better at MK)
-Room to walk!!!

I know this is off-topic, but you act like MK stinks like DCA did just 3 years ago. Now that WAS a crummy park. Thank God they fixed it.

 

[bumbershoot]

I get that MK doesn't have the attractions of Disneyland. DL is the superior park, but MK is more "grand" or "majestic" in its size and breathtaking sights. ....

I know this is off-topic, but you act like MK stinks like DCA did just 3 years ago. Now that WAS a crummy park. Thank God they fixed it.

If you're going to make statements like what you said about DCA, then you truly have to allow that others have different opinions about MK.

I LOVED DCA before they changed it. LOVED IT. It wasn't crummy, it was an all-day park even then for me, I loved every moment being there. I don't love it as much anymore.

MK is difficult for me. Not sure if it's crummy or if I just don't know it well enough (after going since 2010 once and even twice a year, so you'd think I would know it but...) but it's NOT like Disneyland, and I don't mean that in a positive-towards-MK way.

You feel one way, I feel the other. About both parks. I recognize it; I hope you can start to see it that way, too.

 

[BSOGfam]

I agree with you. I could be crazy, but I felt like they were calling Castaway Cay, Castaway Key in the video. That's too bad.

 

[KalamityJane]

I agree with you. I could be crazy, but I felt like they were calling Castaway Cay, Castaway Key in the video. That's too bad.

Cay is pronounced key or kay.

 

[BSOGfam]

Cay is pronounced key or kay.

Do you know how it's typically pronounced on DCL so I don't feel completely silly?

 

[Gisele]

Do you know how it's typically pronounced on DCL so I don't feel completely silly?

Que!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Moving this to the community board as it's turned into a WDW/DL thread.

 

[momto3gr8boys]

Do you know how it's typically pronounced on DCL so I don't feel completely silly?

Key

And while I'm a WDW person first, I have to admit being blown away by how much magic and nostalgia I found at DLR

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[KCmike]

It's ridiculous that Disney would have footage from other parks on their DVD vacation videos. They already combine both resorts into one dvd are they really that cheap that they have to dumb down the video as well? I guess they think that people that have already been don't order the videos? Shame on Disney for this one.

 

[darph nader]

Don't feel 'too' bad. I've ordered the videos twice and am still waiting.

 

[disneyland626]

WDW as a whole doesn't do it for me at all, though I can enjoy myself at MK. But I wouldn't go to MK if I had the choice to go to DL instead. r.

Totally agree. I know several WDW fans that are very closed off to the idea that DL or DCA is as good or better than WDW and they've never even been to DL.

 

[finchy3]

Totally agree. I know several WDW fans that are very closed off to the idea that DL or DCA is as good or better than WDW and they've never even been to DL.

We have been to both resorts and it's DL all the way for our family, we won't be returning to WDW.

 

[disneyland626]

We have been to both resorts and it's DL all the way for our family, we won't be returning to WDW.

We are definitely a DL family too