News Round Up 2016

[LSLS]

When is Shanghai opening at this point? It doesn't look all that close.

 

[jade1]

When is Shanghai opening at this point? It doesn't look all that close.

I know me to, but they did say June last night.

 

[LSLS]

I know me to, but they did say June last night.

Thanks. I didn't get to see it last night so I was in the dark. Maybe this stuff comes together quickly, but it just doesn't look that close in these pics to me.

 

[Eoghann]

Thanks. I didn't get to see it last night so I was in the dark. Maybe this stuff comes together quickly, but it just doesn't look that close in these pics to me.

They are insisting June, but I wonder if it's going to be a Disneyland style opening where a lot of stuff isn't actually finished... there's no water fountains and there are great dirty holes in the ground?

 

[Spacedog1975]

They are insisting June, but I wonder if it's going to be a Disneyland style opening where a lot of stuff isn't actually finished... there's no water fountains and there are great dirty holes in the ground?

Between Disney and China, I bet they can figure out a way to build some walls.

 

[rteetz]

When is Shanghai opening at this point? It doesn't look all that close.

June 16th. It may or may not open with all of the attractions finished.

 

[luisov]

They are insisting June, but I wonder if it's going to be a Disneyland style opening where a lot of stuff isn't actually finished... there's no water fountains and there are great dirty holes in the ground?

They'll probably have a limited number of attractions open from day one so the crews can concentrate on the actual landscaping.

 

[Goofy2015]

I guarantee that this has been asked. However, is there word on if/when Disney may open up FastPasses for Rivers of Light and/or dining reservations for Rivers of Light. I will be in WDW again in very late April / Early May, so I am pretty confident that ROL will have started by then.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Ya, I'm saying I don't trust Jim Hill. Something you have said more times than I can count. Got a problem with that? I swear. it's a no win with you. I get sick of it.

No...I'm saying - and always do - that I don't believe in insiders.

Because they don't control the dollars and that's 99% of the power. Not to say that rumors are grounded In trends in real time. They just can't deliver.

That's why I say "trust the shovels"

And I'm not sure where the snark came from...
actually I am...you threw it.

Calm down...let it breathe a little. Jeez.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

As far as the special on tv...

I thought it was good. It really wasn't about Disneyland at all...just used it for a 2 hour trailer...but it was ok. That's of course if you expected a can of corn - which was par for the course.

As far as the Star Wars bit...

I'm "ok" with it. I don't fully love the concepts they showed...but can wait to judge.

I don't like the falcon ride clip at all...it's star tours 2 and that would be pretty disappointing. I did like the trackless ride concept. At least that's what it seemed to be...I think there's potential there.

Nobody should be surprised. It's what we all could have guessed it would be:
High capicity slow ride, simulator, bar, themed restaurant....
...Just waiting for the kid friendly show and the "unique" shopping experience.

Standard operating procedure.

What I can say is the main preliminary disappointment? As always it seems with the "new Disney" - no technological innovation and little thrills/excitement.

They'll probably still hit it big...but longterm appeal of somewhat toned down "all ages" format remains to be seen.

 

[Budshark]

For the Falcon ride... the part that has me "hopeful" is the take control. I hope its legit and not Mission Space take control. If they can take Forbidden Journey, put 4-6 people in a cockpit on the end of a Kuka style arm, and then have your interactions and stick control actually affect the outcome, and the axis control of the ride - then you have something.

If its forbidden journey where you are on a track mixed with mission space style "control" of your experience - well it'll be what it is. But if they could make it true simulator in at least a few parts where banking right actually banks right and you see a different scene than if you bank left... that would be good.

 

[luisov]

About that Star Wars boat ride...

 

[Eoghann]

About that Star Wars boat ride...

It's in Animal Kingdom. ;D

 

[Budshark]

About that Star Wars boat ride...

Phase II

 

[DDLand]

When is Shanghai opening at this point? It doesn't look all that close.

It's true that looking at the pictures there seems to be a ways to go, but keep two things in mind.
1) Unlike the pictures in WDW and Disneyland photo updates, the photos in Shanghai Disneyland "updates" are taken from social media. There's a delay as the photos are first shared, and then they have to found by western bloggers. That takes time and often leads to confusion. I remember distinctly seeing photos in a blog post about Shanghai on one site, and then two months later seeing those same photos resurface in on another article as "new."

It's hard looking on social media in language you don't know.

Here's a photo taken from the article shared above:


The website described that as an "update," as of today Feb 22. However, more then a month ago, the WDC shared this photo:


As you can see, the castle is much further along than this update suggests and that was a month ago. Scaffolding is down along the front and they should begin landscaping. Most of the photos in the story above are from 2015.

All of this is to say don't trust the pictures unless they come from Disney or bloggers actually on the ground. The theme park guy's trips come to mind...

2) While it still looks messy, much of the work is now merely cosmetic or landscaping. We know multiple rides are now in testing and they're currently conducting cast member training. Landscaping, painting, and laying sidewalks in a closed park can be implemented quickly. So don't let the looks trick you. There are show buildings packed with audio-animatronics, show scenes, and ride systems that are nearing show ready status.

So while not all attractions may be operative day 1, most park areas should be looking beautiful and ready to go.

 

[rteetz]

For the Falcon ride... the part that has me "hopeful" is the take control. I hope its legit and not Mission Space take control. If they can take Forbidden Journey, put 4-6 people in a cockpit on the end of a Kuka style arm, and then have your interactions and stick control actually affect the outcome, and the axis control of the ride - then you have something.

If its forbidden journey where you are on a track mixed with mission space style "control" of your experience - well it'll be what it is. But if they could make it true simulator in at least a few parts where banking right actually banks right and you see a different scene than if you bank left... that would be good.

Mission space was actually tested in the beginning where you did control the spaceship. That changed of course.

 

[rteetz]

Phase II

There is a phase 2 for Star Wars supposedly in blue sky stages at the moment.

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

There is a phase 2 for Star Wars supposedly in blue sky stages at the moment.

I'm pretty sure phase 1 is still in blue sky stages. When I visited Imagineering with the ABD tour in mid December, we were told they were still waiting for space for the SW team to set up shop in to really get started. Seeing as how that was two months ago and I doubt a lot got completed until after the holidays...at the most they might have really been going at it for 2 months.

 

[rteetz]

I'm pretty sure phase 1 is still in blue sky stages. When I visited Imagineering with the ABD tour in mid December, we were told they were still waiting for space for the SW team to set up shop in to really get started. Seeing as how that was two months ago and I doubt a lot got completed until after the holidays...at the most they might have really been going at it for 2 months.

They are past blue sky for Star Wars. They wouldn't have the rides nailed down if they were.

 

[DDLand]

I'm pretty sure phase 1 is still in blue sky stages. When I visited Imagineering with the ABD tour in mid December, we were told they were still waiting for space for the SW team to set up shop in to really get started. Seeing as how that was two months ago and I doubt a lot got completed until after the holidays...at the most they might have really been going at it for 2 months.

What I can tell you, is there are two different phases of Imagineering. The first phase is much more conceptual and laying out the big picture planning. Thanks to computers and VR, Imagineers are capable of designing the attractions and areas virtually, first. Then comes the second phase, the one it seems like they need space for, the physical props and set pieces. The Imagineers test show scenes and other concepts at Glendale. This video for Avatar seems to be shot there:

That's the sort of thing they need the space for. Really building out and testing physical props. So they should already be well underway.