News Round Up 2016

[RAD]

I always love Stan Lee's cameos, but this one was especially awesome. They really wanted us to leave, so that they could clean the tables and theater for the next show, but DH insisted on staying until all extra bits were shown.

Theater staff just worked around the folks that stayed until the second end trailer.

 

[rteetz]

A look at the queue and boats for pirates in Shanghai

https://twitter.com/daykota/status/729352787364970497

 

[luisov]

That Twitter account has some really cool updates. Take a look into some of the underwater effects in the new Pirates ride:

https://twitter.com/daykota/status/729354567440195584

 

[Pano]

Tron and now glimpses of the new Pirates ride, this is all absolutely breathtaking!

 

[closetmickey]

Pirates looks like it could be quite scary for some??

 

[closetmickey]

That Twitter account has some really cool updates. Take a look into some of the underwater effects in the new Pirates ride:

https://twitter.com/daykota/status/729354567440195584

That portion looks incredible.

 

[Flyerjab]

That Twitter account has some really cool updates. Take a look into some of the underwater effects in the new Pirates ride:

https://twitter.com/daykota/status/729354567440195584

It is hard to understand how that ride gives off the effect that it does. And yes, amazing is one word to describe it. You can can just hear the impression it is making on the people riding it.

Wasn't this park supposed to be a disaster when it opened? I am getting quite the opposite impression from everything I am seeing thus far. A lot of it looks finished and complete.

 

[MommaBerd]

@rteetz - Thanks for the Mother's Day wishes and a big happy birthday to you!

 

[luisov]

It is hard to understand how that ride gives off the effect that it does. And yes, amazing is one word to describe it. You can can just hear the impression it is making on the people riding it.

Wasn't this park supposed to be a disaster when it opened? I am getting quite the opposite impression from everything I am seeing thus far. A lot of it looks finished and complete.

Well, considering that the park is way over-budget, they probably spent quite a lot of money to have it pretty much ready for opening day. The park is one month away from opening day, and it's pretty much ready to go, with a few missing pieces here and there.

The real challenge for Shanghai is going to be whether it can maintain its numbers beyond the first couple of years of operations or not, and to see how the Chinese interact with the park (we already saw they pretty much trashed the entrance area in a matter of days), but overall it looks like Disney didn't want to open a park that would be half finished.

 

[Budshark]

I wouldn't read too much into the "trashing" of the park. All of that can be remedied with labor and oversight. Both of which are relatively cheap solutions in China.

If they get the cast members and maintenance folks tuned to expectations they will be able to keep up. Over time you'll find the expectations take hold and there is less "trashing". Besides - it's not like this stuff doesn't happen in the US parks. Not as bad but it does.

 

[rteetz]

@rteetz - Thanks for the Mother's Day wishes and a big happy birthday to you!

Thank you

 

[SJMajor67]

I think the new Tron ride would be great in Future World at EPCOT.

 

[rteetz]

I think the new Tron ride would be great in Future World at EPCOT.

It's already in future world it's called Test Track

 

[Lee Matthews]

Have to say, just looking at Shanghai, i really want to go now.

 

[SJMajor67]

It's already in future world it's called Test Track

Totally spaced on the face Test Track is themed after Tron now haha. A coaster like that though would attack the crowds back, especially if the theming is good.

 

[luisov]

Here's a look at the Shanghai version of Peter Pan's Flight, which includes new ride technology and additional scenes. Unfortunately it's too dark to appreciate some of the details like projection mapping (fairy dust) and such.

I have to say though, I don't get why they are using so much UV light for this one. Aren't they using other type of lighting these days? I think the refurbished version in Anaheim has different, less-noticeable lighting. I might be wrong though.

 

[rteetz]

News

This is going to be a huge year for the Disney Studios

http://deadline.com/2016/05/disney-...le-book-captain-america-star-wars-1201751308/

 

[luisov]

News

This is going to be a huge year for the Disney Studios

http://deadline.com/2016/05/disney-...le-book-captain-america-star-wars-1201751308/

It's going to be a massive year for the studios, indeed. They are doing incredibly good, and it's not even the Summer season yet. Out of their entire slate of films for 2016, I can just see Pete's Dragon underperforming (though I can't say I have a specific reason to back it up). Maybe some modest success for BFG or Queen of Katwe. Otherwise, it looks like this year is going to be one hit after another.

 

[skier_pete]

Yeah - to me BFG is the biggest question mark for Disney Studios. I mean it IS Spielberg, but he isn't the name in family entertainment he once was...just saying that one has a chance to underperform. Queen of Katwe has a moderate budget and moderate expectations, so they won't lose out there.

The other could be Pete's Dragon, though if they put into the trailer a scene of Bryce Dallas Howard in heels luring Eliot with a flare , they might do OK.

 

[DDLand]

Photo update

120 photos of Shanghai soft open

http://disneyandmore.blogspot.com/2016/05/shanghai-disneyland-now-in-soft-opening.html

There is also a 10 second video of the new soarin film. I think Soarin fans will be very happy with the new soundtrack.

Beautiful. Absolutely stunning. Perhaps one of the most special Disney Parks globally. Not as intimate as one of ours, but still something so right.


It's distinctly modern. It's more Animal Kingdom, DCA, or Tokyo Disneysea than Disneyland or Magic Kingdom. There are deeply themed immersive areas that are designed to be transformative. Instead of tight pathways, there are wide open spaces. It's much more open in its IP usage.

Also, unlike our Magic Kingdoms, everything was built with intent and a strong vision. Our Magic Kingdoms have been slowly iterated on and have been changed from their original intent. Walt didn't really know what he was doing when he first opened Disneyland. It was through years of iteration that he created the park. Magic Kingdom only found itself after years of investment and fully building out. Shanghai knows, much like Disneyland Paris knew, what it was going to be. It's pure. Not changed from its original vision. It's not been iterated on in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s.

Of course it means it's not yet reached its potential, it's not yet knocked off the major imperfections, and it's not yet fully built out. It doesn't have has much character. I wouldn't trade either MK or Disneyland for this park. Not yet. Though, for right now, it's totally cohesive.

I also understand perfectly why Expedition Everest is in the pipeline. The majesty of the Forbidden Mountain will complement this park wonderfully.

I have a good feeling about this...

Also Tom Bricker needs to get to China as soon as possible!