News Round Up 2016

[Eoghann]

That's not how definitions work. A Kia doesn't stop being a car because Lexus exists.

All apples are fruit but not all fruit are apples.

Theme parks are amusement parks but not vice versa.

 

[Eoghann]

They sure do.

The original Six Flags, Six Flags Over Texas, was built around the theme of, you guessed it, the six different flags that flew over Texas. Each of these flags was represented by corresponding lands: Spain, France, Mexico, etc. with rides to match the theme. Other Six Flags parks also have various themed lands. In more recent (relatively) years, they have also included the theme of Warner Bros. animation and DC super-heroes. Now it can easily be argued that Disney's focus on its thematic elements, as well as its execution, far exceed those of Six Flags or other theme parks, but that doesn't stop them from being theme parks. It simply means some theme parks are better than others.

At some point along the way people on the Disboards somehow began equating "theme" with "quality." You can dislike Six Flags (for no shortage of reasons I might add), but that doesn't change the nature of the park.

It's not a quality thing, it's a focus thing.

If you go to Six Flags you go there to ride rides, giant thrill rides (mostly coasters). You don't go there for shows (though many have a couple) or dark rides or to wander around look at parades and eat. Regional amusement parks target a fraction of the audience that a theme park does because they focus very narrowly on thrills. Theme parks go wide.

 

[Eoghann]

Yeah...I'm sure that's what they found.

But it's hot as hell and there's plenty of daylight...and it's an 18% reduction In time on the ticket.

Are they reducing the prices 18%?

It's just more of the same that nobody can be bothered to care about:
more for the same or the same for less...

It's just aggravating that the "we can't be open if it's not packed" mentality is now accepted standard.

In this case I don't care because I've never used the water parks anyway. If I want to swim I'll use the resort pool. It's a blatant cost saving measure on Disney's part, just not one I care about.

 

[beer dave]

I am not sure where the Six Flags v. Disney argument started. I am not going to really argue about the subject. This is what I am going to say. A few years ago, someone at work asked me: What's the deal, why do you go to Disney so often, do you like rollercoasters?

No, I don't visit Disney for the Rollercoasters at all. I can come to Disney and probably not even ride a ride and have a great time. Not that I am going to do that. What I like about Disney is the theming, the attention to detail, the atmosphere, but above most the storytelling. I don't come to Disney for the cheap thrill. I come to Disney to embrace the story.

And the drinking... don't forget the drinking...

 

[rteetz]

Disneyland Shanghai is progressing but still has work to do

http://www.themeparx.com/shanghai-disneyland

 

[wareagle57]

I'm glad I'm going next week. I was under the impression that Symphony in the Stars was a "permanent" fixture.

EDIT: According to Disney Parks Blog, the dessert party runs until March 19th. So they will last until then, at least.

Hmm thanks. I just looked at the schedule on Disney's website, which has nothing past february. Neither does EasyWDW's crowd calendar. I would think it would be at least semi-permanent until Toy Story and or Star Wars opens. But maybe they think once Rivers of Light opens, they won't be able to support that many night time spectaculars every night. I'd think they'd want to keep it though to keep the pressure off of RoL, which seems to have capacity concerns.

 

[ColoradoDreamin]

In this case I don't care because I've never used the water parks anyway. If I want to swim I'll use the resort pool. It's a blatant cost saving measure on Disney's part, just not one I care about.

The water parks always seem quite deserted the last hour or so when I am there.

 

[jade1]

Goodbye 80's. Was at DS so grabbed a couple pics-it is going to be a nice improvement it seems.

 

[nkosiek]

Channeling my inner LoL.. what we have here is very simple to explain.

A new MBA grad student came in and tried to prove himself. He did what he is supposed to do and pulled in "big data" analytics from Magic Bands and spending at the water parks/hotels.

Here's what he found:

• Spending at water parks was near $0 for the last hour of operations
• Guests staying at Disney hotels who were at Parks that closed at 8pm, tend to go back to their hotel (early night)
• Guests at Parks that close before 8pm, tend to NOT go back to their hotel

Thus, they made the logical conclusion that the water parks were not profitable in the last hour and stealing potential inflow of cash from other locations by staying open that last hour. Shut them down early and funnel people to Theme parks and Disney Springs where they will start spending again.

Just a guess. But I'm right of course.

I'm pretty sure that's what I stated in my last sentence.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Excellent "channeling"...by the way.

I'm gonna start holding biannual webinars broadcast live from the cast cafeteria in the Caribbean beach/pop service building to "spread the gospel"

 

[rteetz]

Saw Disney on Ice tonight for the second time ever with the last time being like 8-9 years ago. The theme was princesses so you'd think of Frozen was bound to be here right? Nope not one stitch of Olaf, Anna, or Elsa. The main acts were Cinderella, Snow White, and Tangled. Some classic with a taste of new I thought was good. You then of course had Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy tagging along.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Saw Disney on Ice tonight for the second time ever with the last time being like 8-9 years ago.

...may want to keep that to yourself next time

 

[Topper]

Saw Disney on Ice tonight for the second time ever with the last time being like 8-9 years ago. The theme was princesses so you'd think of Frozen was bound to be here right? Nope not one stitch of Olaf, Anna, or Elsa. The main acts were Cinderella, Snow White, and Tangled. Some classic with a taste of new I thought was good. You then of course had Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy tagging along.

Likely due to the fact that there is a separate Disney on Ice Frozen show. Maybe you can go to that one when it comes to your area.

 

[Maineiak]

Saw Disney on Ice tonight for the second time ever with the last time being like 8-9 years ago. The theme was princesses so you'd think of Frozen was bound to be here right? Nope not one stitch of Olaf, Anna, or Elsa. The main acts were Cinderella, Snow White, and Tangled. Some classic with a taste of new I thought was good. You then of course had Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy tagging along.

We took our daughter too it a few weeks ago. Good show, cheap tickets (through her Girl Scout troop). We did note the park-like prices on a small bag of cotton candy ($12!!!!)

 

[rteetz]

Likely due to the fact that there is a separate Disney on Ice Frozen show. Maybe you can go to that one when it comes to your area.

I'd probably prefer not too.

 

[rteetz]

We took our daughter too it a few weeks ago. Good show, cheap tickets (through her Girl Scout troop). We did note the park-like prices on a small bag of cotton candy ($12!!!!)

Yeah I didn't have to pay anything for tickets as a friend of ours got a suite to watch the show. I did notice the prices for popcorn and cotton candy though.

 

[rteetz]

DHS photo update

http://wdwnt.com/blog/2016/02/photo...-meet-greet-pizza-planet-new-merchandise-etc/

 

[rteetz]

Club Disney moves to seasonal operation

http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions...ood-studios-to-move-to-seasonal-operation.htm

 

[Spacedog1975]

Saw Disney on Ice tonight for the second time ever with the last time being like 8-9 years ago. The theme was princesses so you'd think of Frozen was bound to be here right? Nope not one stitch of Olaf, Anna, or Elsa. The main acts were Cinderella, Snow White, and Tangled. Some classic with a taste of new I thought was good. You then of course had Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy tagging along.

...may want to keep that to yourself next time

Um. No. The only reason I don't hit Disney on Ice is time and money. Otherwise I'd love to see all the shows. I think it's great that 1) he went and 2) he says he went.

 

[eXo]

For those following the Kong ride at USF, an insider has stated they will be doing actual track testing for the first time today. I expect pics to surface later this afternoon of the actual ride vehicles for the first time.

And even though this may sound implausible, the next major construction at IOA/USF appears to be focused on Marvel Island. Plans that show Storm Force Accelerator, Doom's Freefall, and the Fantastic 4 cafe being demolished to make way for a new avenger's themed ride have cropped up. That said, it's unclear if this is MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) Avenger's or Comic book avengers. Supposedly there is real interest on Universal's side to tie into the MCU. While it may seem counter productive for Disney to allow something like this, they still stand to make money off it it as Disney would be the sole beneficiary of any merch sold. That part is speculative of course, but what is not speculative is that Marvel Island is being heavily looked at for improvements, including a complete re-skin to bring the over all style more in line with either modern comics or again, MCU.

Considering the past few years has been a zero-sum game for Universal (destroy a ride to build a ride), the new land acquisition (which is just shy of the same size as IOA, USF, Citywalk, and several of it's resorts) will allow them to finally start planning from a more blue sky approach rather than constantly trying to squeeze things into preexisting spaces. Unlike others though, I do not see a third gate being a video game park. It appears that the Woody Wood pecker kidzone is still slated to get the Mario Kart ride. Honestly, this is a smart idea. An entire video game gate just doesn't make sense.