News Round Up 2016

[lockedoutlogic]

I make it a policy never to eat directly off the table…even when the place is made with "pure magic"…

I see no need to modify that policy now.

 

[beer dave]

That's actually about the only way they could use the current Star Tours and have it fit the theme of the new land.

Really, how hard would it be to move start tours during such a big project? It's a concrete foundation with a several sets of hydraulics and some buses attached.

 

[Eoghann]

Really, how hard would it be to move start tours during such a big project? It's a concrete foundation with a several sets of hydraulics and some buses attached.

Not hard, but probably moderately expensive. But let's ask a different question. When have Disney relocated a ride?

And that doesn't resolve the fact that the "story" and jumbled timelines in Star Tours won't remotely fit with what is supposed to be a highly themed and cohesive environment.

 

[beer dave]

Not hard, but probably moderately expensive. But let's ask a different question. When have Disney relocated a ride?

not that it is as large, but dumbo....

And that doesn't resolve the fact that the "story" and jumbled timelines in Star Tours won't remotely fit with what is supposed to be a highly themed and cohesive environment.

true.

 

[ColoradoDreamin]

I agree. I'm far from a germaphobe but that's as bad a using a toilet brush. Disgusting. Definitely keeping the food plates on the trays when at Disney from now on.

Let's realize that this was not Disney but the employee (not even directly hired by Disney). No matter how great a company you are you can still have horrible employees like this one. I think it's kind of crazy that people are faulting Disney here more than that employee. Disney shouldn't get such a bad name for this crazy employee. I hope this employee never gets a job in food service again, but likely somebody will hire them again

 

[Eoghann]

not that it is as large, but dumbo.....

That's true they did move Dumbo, but it wasn't just a move they doubled the ride and added a new interactive play/queue area.

 

[Eoghann]

Let's realize that this was not Disney but the employee (not even directly hired by Disney). No matter how great a company you are you can still have horrible employees like this one. I think it's kind of crazy that people are faulting Disney here more than that employee. Disney shouldn't get such a bad name for this crazy employee. I hope this employee never gets a job in food service again, but likely somebody will hire them again

Um... it's Disney's job to supervise their employees and ensure they are trained/motivated properly.

If I eat at a Disney restaurant and get food poisoning... I don't blame the employees, I blame Disney.

 

[beer dave]

That's true they did move Dumbo, but it wasn't just a move they doubled the ride and added a new interactive play/queue area.

haha..yeah-- maybe that is what they will do with star tours....... lol

 

[rteetz]

News

Universal Japan confirms Nintendo costing 350 million. Just for perspective Diagon alley cost them around 245 million.

http://mynintendonews.com/2016/03/0...ersal-japans-park-costing-around-350-million/

 

[luisov]

News

Universal Japan confirms Nintendo costing 350 million. Just for perspective Diagon alley cost them around 245 million.

http://mynintendonews.com/2016/03/0...ersal-japans-park-costing-around-350-million/

Good for Japan. In my opinion Universal Studios Japan feels like it got stuck in the 90's and was never updated. It's such an outdated park. Feels like pre-Comcast Universal Florida. Most of that will probably make its way into the US parks, so that should be interesting.

 

[Budshark]

Not hard, but probably moderately expensive. But let's ask a different question. When have Disney relocated a ride?

And that doesn't resolve the fact that the "story" and jumbled timelines in Star Tours won't remotely fit with what is supposed to be a highly themed and cohesive environment.

Wow a 2 for 1! They used to move rides somewhat regularly. Carousel of Progress most famously, technically small world (or at least parts of it), astro orbiter, dumbo. Star Tours could be rethemed, new video, etc to make it fit. The bigger issue is desire to make DLP and studios fundamentally the same which limits. I still have other ideas, but mine are worthless.

The 2nd point. That is a bigger issue than anyone wants to talk about. Harry Potter works because there are limited liberties taken. The ride content doesn't necessarily add to the theme, but they fit. But Diagon Alley and hogsmeade are places. People get excited to go into the shops that were discussed in the stories.
On the other hand - Disney is taking a different approach. They are creating new places that fit the narrative concept of Star Wars. When you go to the cantina - it's A cantina not THE cantina. That makes this different. That means they can both take more liberties (add a beloved item like the Falcon) but it also means they can't leverage the familiarity. A good portion of Harry Potter is that it is the place. Star Wars won't be a place. Granted the easy part of Harry Potter is there are limited locations and timelines. Very different in Star Wars.

 

[j2thomason]

I make it a policy never to eat directly off the table…even when the place is made with "pure magic"…

I see no need to modify that policy now.

I always keep my food on my tray and eat roof of the tray. I'm just hoping and praying the trays have been washed and sanitized in a dishwasher!

 

[adam.adbe]

The 2nd point. That is a bigger issue than anyone wants to talk about. Harry Potter works because there are limited liberties taken. The ride content doesn't necessarily add to the theme, but they fit. But Diagon Alley and hogsmeade are places. People get excited to go into the shops that were discussed in the stories.
On the other hand - Disney is taking a different approach. They are creating new places that fit the narrative concept of Star Wars. When you go to the cantina - it's A cantina not THE cantina. That makes this different. That means they can both take more liberties (add a beloved item like the Falcon) but it also means they can't leverage the familiarity. A good portion of Harry Potter is that it is the place. Star Wars won't be a place. Granted the easy part of Harry Potter is there are limited locations and timelines. Very different in Star Wars.

That's a good point, but I don't see anything stopping Disney referencing any of the new places in their movies. I think it probably comes down to whether Star Wars is a brand or a story. The HP stories are fully focused on the three main protagonists. Going too far outside of their experiences would quickly take the audience out of the work itself. Too often in the novels, and even more so in the movies, the reader is left with the sense that the world stops in its tracks if Harry, Ron, or Hermione stop paying it heed. Star Wars by dint of spin-off canon, and a different narrative style suffers much less for that. As such Star Wars IMV can work either as brand or as story, and most visitors will probably not really notice the difference.

 

[j2thomason]

Let's realize that this was not Disney but the employee (not even directly hired by Disney). No matter how great a company you are you can still have horrible employees like this one. I think it's kind of crazy that people are faulting Disney here more than that employee. Disney shouldn't get such a bad name for this crazy employee. I hope this employee never gets a job in food service again, but likely somebody will hire them again

That makes me wonder.....why does Disney keep hiring these contract people, who aren't Disney trained cast members? Is it really worth hiring these contract people and saving a few extra dollars when you are not getting quality work and bad press?

 

[adam.adbe]

That makes me wonder.....why does Disney keep hiring these contract people, who aren't Disney trained cast members? Is it really worth hiring these contract people and saving a few extra dollars when you are not getting quality work and bad press?

They're saving a lot more than a few dollars, so unless the once or twice a year something like this happens, they end up out of pocket more than a few comped hotel rooms, they're going to keep on doing it.

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

That makes me wonder.....why does Disney keep hiring these contract people, who aren't Disney trained cast members? Is it really worth hiring these contract people and saving a few extra dollars when you are not getting quality work and bad press?

I think they are saving a lot. I am a contract employee right now. So basically, most companies do not give contract employees health insurance, sick days, holidays, vacation time, 401ks and as soon as the work runs out you can let the contract employee go without a fuss instead of keeping them around with not a lot of work to do. I think having contract employees saves companies a ton of money.

 

[soniam]

News

Zootopia is projecting to do very well this weekend.

http://variety.com/2016/film/news/box-office-zootopia-deadpool-london-has-fallen-1201722992/

Just saw it and really enjoyed it. I think I liked it better than Inside Out. There's a lot of material to work with if they want to add it to AK, maybe get rid of Dinoland or Conservation Station

 

[jbeyes]

We also just saw Zootopia this morning at 10:00 am- completely full theater. Our family really enjoyed too, more than any Disney movie in quite a while.

 

[Goofy DVC]

More news on the potential of Zootopia from Deadline
"This weekend belongs to Walt Disney’s Zootopia,which is headed for a record opening of $70M-$74M, the best ever for an original Disney/non-Pixar animated film. That figure kicks aside Frozen’s $67.4M wide release debut. Inclusive of $1.7M in Thursday previews, Zootopia‘s openingstands at $19.5M, which beats Frozen’s first wide day of

$15.2M (the Wednesday before Thanksgiving). Audiences are embracing this animated film directed by Byron Howard, Rich Moore and Jared Bush with an A Cinemascore and a 98% fresh Rotten Tomatoes score."

 

[rteetz]

News

Some pricing changes for the universal dining plan

http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2016/03/universal-orlando-resort-dining-plan.html