EPCOT - renovations??....in the news......

[danjoan14]

I just hope they don't get rid of the Disney visa meet and greet that is a nice perk for those that have it.

I agree. We love it and always make it a point to go!

 

[Cormoran]

DHS will certainly come sooner, but I believe (and this is only my internal voice), that EPCOT will soon get some love. It's about that time. We had the SSE redo, Nemo, and TT all in about five years.

Maybe not huge changes, but some plussing. I think the Normay/Arrendale is stage one of a greater plan.

And it's hearsay. And there was not mention of "evidence." Just someone that's watched Epcot since it's inception and build, and notices some trends.

I appreciate your optimism, but I don't think Disney is in any hurry for DHS or Epcot improvements. They're in no hurry to invest more money into the parks. Eiger's little announcements about SW being a presence in DHS is enough to throw some Disney fans into paroxysms of delight. But there has been nothing else. They have closed attractions, but I would be surprised if any new attraction was built at DHS within the next 5 years. Mr Eiger will continue implying that great things are coming.

 

[clsteve]

Rockwork is one place Disney so clearly dominates the industry that no one's in the same league. You can't say that conclusively about very many aspects in theme parks. Like I said, show me the company that does better rock work then Disney.

Have we really reached that point? Where Disney's main differentiator in the Industry is rock work?

They do a wonderful job, yes. But it's rock work. Framed, foamed, shaped, polymered, sealed, then painted rock work.

Hogwart's Castle, and the shockingly awesome interior of Gringott's prove that it's no longer a Disney exclusive - heck, even Poseidon's Fury and Mythos show that.

For something off the beaten path and downright beautiful, check out Suoi Tien Amusement Park in Ho Chi Minh City. Buddhist themed, I had a friend who went and said it's stunning. Google some picks. Not bad at all.....

 

[atricks]

Rockwork is one place Disney so clearly dominates the industry that no one's in the same league. You can't say that conclusively about very many aspects in theme parks. Like I said, show me the company that does better rock work then Disney.

Have you seen what they are doing with the rock work for the new King Kong ride?

 

[clsteve]

Have you seen what they are doing with the rock work for the new King Kong ride?

That is going to be one impressive facade. I was shocked at the size of it in Jan....

 

[Jing]

Wishful thinking, but I hope the plan is to move all the special events into Innovations and re-imagine the Wonders of Life pavilion.

 

[mcjaco]

I appreciate your optimism, but I don't think Disney is in any hurry for DHS or Epcot improvements. They're in no hurry to invest more money into the parks. Eiger's little announcements about SW being a presence in DHS is enough to throw some Disney fans into paroxysms of delight. But there has been nothing else. They have closed attractions, but I would be surprised if any new attraction was built at DHS within the next 5 years. Mr Eiger will continue implying that great things are coming.

Iger.

What was it, six months ago they were all wandering around with notebooks and architectural drawings? Did you expect some mammoth announcement at the Stock Holders meeting?

The redo of DHS is coming.

 

[George4]

Totally inaccurate. Universal stood pat for years. YEARS. They added Simpsons (which stinks, and was just a reimaging of a previous ride), then the Rock...whatever coaster. It wasn't until Potter World that the boom started.

Not totally inaccurate. Here is US/IOA additions for the past few years:

2000 – 2 rides added
2001 – nothing added
2002 – Halloween Nights added
2006 – 1 ride added
2008 – 1 ride added
2009 – 1 ride added
2010 – Harry Potter area opens
2011 – nothing added
2012 – Spiderman overhauled
2013 – Harry Potter round 2 opens
2014 – 1 ride added

That's for two parks. Can you imagine if there had been this level of expansion at Disney times 2 (for the four parks)? There are roughly 10 new rides here over four years and 3 refurb/rethemed rides. Not spectacular by any stretch, but still better than Disney. There were no deletions during that timeframe that I am aware of other than the triceratops playground.

Over the same time, Disney has had the following additions:
2000 - nothing added
2001 – 1 new attraction (MK)
2002 – 2 new attractions (AK)
2003 – 2 new attraction (MK), (EPCOT)
2004 – 1 refurbed attracing-Stitch, (MK), 1 new attraction (EPCOT)
2005 – 1 new attraction
2006 – 1 new attraction (AK)
2007 – 1 new attraction (MK)
2008 – 1 new attraction (DHS)
2014 – 1 new ride (MK)

That's only 11 new attractions spread through 4 parks. That's less then half the level of expansion that Universal has been undertaking over the same 15 years. I stand by my fairly accurate statement.

 

[rteetz]

Iger.

What was it, six months ago they were all wandering around with notebooks and architectural drawings? Did you expect some mammoth announcement at the Stock Holders meeting?

The redo of DHS is coming.

I'll agree that it is coming but we still don't know when it could be tomorrow it could be ten years from now, Iger has not given in to say when. Also even if it's announced that doesn't mean it will officially happen. Look at Hyperion wharf.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Iger.

What was it, six months ago they were all wandering around with notebooks and architectural drawings? Did you expect some mammoth announcement at the Stock Holders meeting?

The redo of DHS is coming.

I agree 100%

Within 100 years...the building will become structurally unsound and they'll have to either close or renovate...

Are you implying that I should trust that something else is guaranteed?

Gotta stop chasing the carrot here...

 

[longrf01]

I think Burbank is more concerned with tangible, immediate ROI. For example, new DVC resorts are fantastic for the bottom line. The sell, bring in large amounts of immediate revenue, direct recurring revenue (I for one do not buy DVC's assertion that Maintenance Fees at (for example AK) only represent the pro-rata portion - I think DVC member MF's are heavily subsiding the hotel), and intangible future recurring revenue from repeat visits.

On the flip side, attractions are more intangible. The only people I've heard say "I've got to go to WDW because there's a new Test Track" are people who would have already went anyways, they (OK, that would be me) needed a flimsy justification to their spouse

I think the MBA's in Burbank don't like investing in attractions for the aforementioned reasons, and when they do will do everything they can to keep the costs to a minimum by a) spreading out the construction schedule through multiple fiscal years (I call this making the P&L look better) and b) spreading out the construction schedule to manage demand.

Remember - if you go to a contractor with a small, but steady project you have the balance of power. When you go in desperate to get something done quickly, the balance of power shifts and the price is adjusted accordingly.

P.S. - Please forgive me if post isn't well written. I pinched a nerve in my back and we're on the third painkiller to get me at least functional (first was Vicodin, second was Percocet, and now we're on Oxycontin).

 

[crazy4wdw]

Confirmed in today's Orlando Sentinel:

Epcot: Innoventions West changes in works, Disney says
By Dewayne Bevil
March 20, 2015

The Innoventions West attraction at Epcot will be undergoing changes this spring, Walt Disney World has confirmed.

"We've reached the end of our sponsorship agreements with the exhibitors in Innoventions West and will temporarily close the space in early May to begin preparing for a new experience," a Disney spokeswoman said Friday.

All three of the current tenants will leaving and will be replaced, she said. A number of exhibits have rotated through the park's Innoventions buildings over the years.

Exhibits set to exit now include Think, presented by IBM, The Great Piggy Bank Adventure, presented by T. Rowe Price, and Where's the Fire?, presented by Liberty Mutual Insurance.

Disney has not yet identified replacements for Innoventions West, which is just southwest of Epcot's iconic attraction, Spaceship Earth.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

No...you did great...

Even Narc'ed up

 

[Teamubr]

P.S. - Please forgive me if post isn't well written. I pinched a nerve in my back and we're on the third painkiller to get me at least functional (first was Vicodin, second was Percocet, and now we're on Oxycontin).

You actually did a pretty good job and I agree with most of your points.

As for your neck, talk to your doc about gabapentin. It is more specific for nerve pain and not another narcotic. I trashed my neck in a race wreck and have to get mine injected every so often. I also work in healthcare with a bunch of anesthesia providers that specialize in chronic and acute pain. If the narcs aren't getting it, gaba by it self or gaba with a lesser pain med probably will.

j

 

[DDLand]

Not totally inaccurate. Here is US/IOA additions for the past few years:

2000 – 2 rides added
2001 – nothing added
2002 – Halloween Nights added
2006 – 1 ride added
2008 – 1 ride added
2009 – 1 ride added
2010 – Harry Potter area opens
2011 – nothing added
2012 – Spiderman overhauled Minions?
2013 – Harry Potter Second Phase? Transformers?
2014 – Several more here. Diagon?

That's for two parks. Can you imagine if there had been this level of expansion at Disney times 2 (for the four parks)? There are roughly 10 new rides here over four years and 3 refurb/rethemed rides. Not spectacular by any stretch, but still better than Disney. There were no deletions during that timeframe that I am aware of other than the triceratops playground.

Over the same time, Disney has had the following additions
2000 - nothing added
2001 – 1 new attraction (MK)
2002 – 2 new attractions (AK)
2003 – 2 new attraction (MK), (EPCOT)
2004 – 1 refurbed attracing-Stitch, (MK), 1 new attraction (EPCOT)
2005 – 3 new attractions (LMA, Soarin, and Castle Show)
2006 – 1 new attraction (AK)
2007 – 2 new attractions (MK) (Nemo) 1 Refurb (Mexico)
2008 – 1 new attraction (DHS)
2011- 2 refurbs (Star Tours and Tiki Room)
2012- 2 refurb (Dumbo and TT) 1 new attraction Undersea
2014 – 1 new ride (MK)

That's only 21 new attractions spread through 4 parks. That's less then half the level of expansion that Universal has been undertaking over the same 15 years. I stand by my fairly accurate statement.

Your Uni numbers aren't all correct either, but I'm not going to get into those. Flip side is I accidentally said HP opened 2009. My bad.

Still looking at the numbers Disney is comparable. That's happening while many have said Disney is asleep at the wheel. Funny...

 

[DDLand]

Have we really reached that point? Where Disney's main differentiator in the Industry is rock work?

They do a wonderful job, yes. But it's rock work. Framed, foamed, shaped, polymered, sealed, then painted rock work.

Hogwart's Castle, and the shockingly awesome interior of Gringott's prove that it's no longer a Disney exclusive - heck, even Poseidon's Fury and Mythos show that.

For something off the beaten path and downright beautiful, check out Suoi Tien Amusement Park in Ho Chi Minh City. Buddhist themed, I had a friend who went and said it's stunning. Google some picks. Not bad at all.....

It's one of several differentiators. Not the only one. However their work is unparalleled in building massive ride strutures with rock. I haven't seen Gringotts but Hogwarts isn't on the same level.

As for your friend's park. This picture sums up how I feel about it:http://www.panoramio.com/m/photo/63419275

Compare that to: http://micechat.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/DSC9579.jpg

I can only struggle to see a comparison.

Full beautiful update from a little while ago: http://micechat.com/94910-disney-world-new-hub/

 

[longrf01]

As for your neck, talk to your doc about gabapentin. It is more specific for nerve pain and not another narcotic. I trashed my neck in a race wreck and have to get mine injected every so often. I also work in healthcare with a bunch of anesthesia providers that specialize in chronic and acute pain. If the narcs aren't getting it, gaba by it self or gaba with a lesser pain med probably will.

j

If not better by Tuesday, will do. I used to be the CIO in a group ortho practice and while I wasn't clinical, a lot of stuff seeped in by osmosis and gaba was one of 'em. Started some 'roids today and that has made the biggest improvement. And now, back to our regularly scheduled program...

 

[clsteve]

It's one of several differentiators. Not the only one. However their work is unparalleled in building massive ride strutures with rock. I haven't seen Gringotts but Hogwarts isn't on the same level.

As for your friend's park. This picture sums up how I feel about it:http://www.panoramio.com/m/photo/63419275

Compare that to: http://micechat.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/DSC9579.jpg

I can only struggle to see a comparison.

Full beautiful update from a little while ago: http://micechat.com/94910-disney-world-new-hub/

DDL, I've got to hand it to you. Planting the rock work flag. That took some.

Even when you can get the same effects from the guy down the street for your pool. Don't even need to research that one, or post a link to the worst pic you can find.

We've all swam in some pretty good pools where you can actually get up close and touch it. Not just look at it from a distance. Worked for me.

But, I was there for the pool.

Faux rock work is nice as an accent. But, they're not beating down the doors at MIT for rock work PHD's.

Wire, foam, molds, and some very bad-for-the-environment sealers and compounds. That's pretty much it.

However, it is an interesting angle as to what takes them so long....

 

[Teamubr]

I used to be the CIO in a group ortho practice

I'm sorry, but I see you survived.

Although that was probably easier than trying to manage an EPCOT overhaul. (to get back on topic)

j

 

[DDLand]

DDL, I've got to hand it to you. Planting the rock work flag. That took some.

Even when you can get the same effects from the guy down the street for your pool. Don't even need to research that one, or post a link to the worst pic you can find.

We've all swam in some pretty good pools where you can actually get up close and touch it. Not just look at it from a distance. Worked for me.

But, I was there for the pool.

Faux rock work is nice as an accent. But, they're not beating down the doors at MIT for rock work PHD's.

Wire, foam, molds, and some very bad-for-the-environment sealers and compounds. That's pretty much it.

However, it is an interesting angle as to what takes them so long....

You're right. I can totally find this at the pool:


I'm feeling really dumb right now... I probably could see this in someone's backyard:

What was I thinking? That this was impressive?


Have fun with the pool!