News Round Up 2016

[Eoghann]

I think back to the rides I've been on - have you ever watched a POV of WDW Peter Pan? Yeah. Not exactly exciting. Mine train - same thing. The immersion can't be captured in a video, so my excitement is based more on a new Disney park, new types of rides mixed with classics. The actual pictures and videos won't do much for me because a big part of Disney is all the little things and immersion not captured in pics and videos.

I wonder what it would be like if someone could shoot a 360 degree video for the VR headsets...

 

[Eoghann]

At the end of the day my question really is: Is the system REALLY worth 3-4 billion dollars? I mean, either some people are exaggerating the numbers or someone at Disney took A LOT of bad decisions.

One of the things that always gets lost when those numbers are thrown around it that it's not just the FP+ system. That budget includes the wifi and other infrastructure improvements as well as a new (somewhat) unified back end system. Disney's operation at WDW was running on an obsolete operating system. It had to be replaced.

 

[Flyerjab]

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I never get tired of seeing the progress of this particular project. I cannot wait until I can actually walk all around and underneath them. This, along with the new stuff coming to DHS, is going to be up-to-date theming and immersion by the Imagineers. I expect to be impressed with these new lands like we are being impressed with some of what we are seeing in Shanghai. I always have to remind myself that most of what I am being wowed by in WDW was built decades ago.

 

[DrivenByDisney]

Thanks for posting the pics from Avatar. We're heading to Animal on Tuesday or Wednesday and looking forward to seeing it in person again after a few weeks progress.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

News

Say goodbye to Disney Dollars...

http://wdwnt.com/blog/2016/05/breaking-disney-dollars-to-be-discontinued-may-14th-2016/

gotta admit I never got the point of them ... like trading money for money? Well, beyond keeping some as a souvenir. I feel the same way about Gringott Bucks or whatever they are called as well

(fully realize this is just me and others love it, just never did anything for me)

 

[Disneymom1126]

One day at Epcot? Madness!

Well then - forget your pre-park opening breakfast. Rope drop one or the other, and then do the 2nd right away. (I would M&G first, then the ride.) Save your ADR for lunch.

If they open up the M&G at park opening vs. World Showcase opening a pre-park open ADR at Akershus could be an advantage to get in line for the M&G then FP+ the ride...but I bet they end up doing an early morning thing...at least for the first few months...

 

[cmash95]

here's the thing about budget cuts. If they really wanted to cut the budgets they would go back to opperating each park six days a week especially in the off season. at wdw they could close each park a differnet day so at least three parks are open and the same in california. they could close DL one day a week and DCA another that would save tons of money.

 

[RAD]

gotta admit I never got the point of them ... like trading money for money? Well, beyond keeping some as a souvenir. I feel the same way about Gringott Bucks or whatever they are called as well

(fully realize this is just me and others love it, just never did anything for me)

We used to get them to give to any kids in our group for their spending money, they were nice to have but looking at cost cutting things this one makes sense.

 

[Founders Fan]

here's the thing about budget cuts. If they really wanted to cut the budgets they would go back to opperating each park six days a week especially in the off season. at wdw they could close each park a differnet day so at least three parks are open and the same in california. they could close DL one day a week and DCA another that would save tons of money.

I don't think they would want to touch that can of worms. Can you imagine the outrage? With the way some people flip out, even over the small stuff, I can't see how this would go over well.

 

[ghoulardi]

Avatar looks great. Hopefully there's no problem down the road with the mountains not "floating", and they never get around to fixing it like the Yeti...

 

[Redcon1]

Today's Disney is very different than yesterday's. With Walt and even Eisner to an extent there was no major IP push in the parks. Today it's build an attraction with a major IP or nothing. I think that's why it took long for things like the little mermaid to happen, that push just wasn't a priority until now.

Walt built Sleeping Beauty's Castle in DL four years before the film came out in 1959. Also, Peter Pan was only two years old when the attraction opened in '55. Of course, this may be that there were less properties to choose from back then than there are now, but the Little Mermaid is more of the exception in that it took soooooooooo long to be turned into a ride. Then again they did have the Voyage show at MGM which opened about three years after the movie.

Oops..piggyback on what others have said...didn't see the previous comments before posting.

 

[Redcon1]

I don't think they would want to touch that can of worms. Can you imagine the outrage? With the way some people flip out, even over the small stuff, I can't see how this would go over well.

And there likely would be a whole town full of angry Griswolds....

 

[SureAsLiz]

There is a new audition posted for Cinderella/Charming for a short term (2-3 month) special event. This is a typecast only audition, no musical or dancing skills required, which is similar to how the Frozen Sing-Along is cast. There is no timeline for when they would need to start.

This is also the same length of stay that they are casting for Elena (actor/vocalist position, not look-alike) which may just be a coincidence.

But this sounds like it will be some sort of seasonal show. I don't believe any of the recent announcements involve Cinderella, so it may be something to keep an eye on

 

[skier_pete]

here's the thing about budget cuts. If they really wanted to cut the budgets they would go back to opperating each park six days a week especially in the off season. at wdw they could close each park a differnet day so at least three parks are open and the same in california. they could close DL one day a week and DCA another that would save tons of money.

This isn't really practical. Closing one park a day would then spread the 30,000 or so people among the other two parks - OR signifcantly drop attendance. The former would result in bigger crowds and the closure of the one park would result in VERY negative press. The latter would be even worse result. They are wiser to just cut hours. The income remains the same, but the expenses drop.

 

[Budshark]

I wonder what it would be like if someone could shoot a 360 degree video for the VR headsets...

We'd need smell-a-vision too! There is something to be said for a ride through of the rides in VR. Of course, not sure if that is good or bad. It'd be the death of dark rides though...

Imagine if you could actually get a full 360 HD/4K VR view of Peter Pan. Why would you ever stand in the line again? For a roller coaster, it makes sense. But a ride like Small World, Little Mermaid, or Peter Pan? The ride itself is basically motionless. Eliminate the cameras and flashing and distractions and give a pure view with clean sound and video in a VR environment? It'd be very hard to imagine that this wouldn't give you a 90-100% experience of the ride - and if it does... why bother?

 

[Taylor Nicole]

There is a new audition posted for Cinderella/Charming for a short term (2-3 month) special event. This is a typecast only audition, no musical or dancing skills required, which is similar to how the Frozen Sing-Along is cast. There is no timeline for when they would need to start.

This is also the same length of stay that they are casting for Elena (actor/vocalist position, not look-alike) which may just be a coincidence.

But this sounds like it will be some sort of seasonal show. I don't believe any of the recent announcements involve Cinderella, so it may be something to keep an eye on

So it's definitely not for the new Castle stage show?

 

[TheMaxRebo]

And there likely would be a whole town full of angry Griswolds....

Sorry folks, Parks closed ... Mouse up front shoulda told ya

 

[skier_pete]

Imagine if you could actually get a full 360 HD/4K VR view of Peter Pan. Why would you ever stand in the line again? For a roller coaster, it makes sense. But a ride like Small World, Little Mermaid, or Peter Pan? The ride itself is basically motionless. Eliminate the cameras and flashing and distractions and give a pure view with clean sound and video in a VR environment? It'd be very hard to imagine that this wouldn't give you a 90-100% experience of the ride - and if it does... why bother?

I hate to say "never" but VR will never completely replace reality. Your mind will always know what you are experiencing isn't real. For some it will be enough, but for many - reality is reality. I love skiing, and I can't imagine how VR would ever fool me into thinking it was a real experience.

Take Peter Pan as an example, the thing that makes that ride great is that you are actually flying over that miniature city/island. If I put on a headset and WATCHED it, I'd do that once. I wouldn't go back again and again.

Now you want to tell me VR will replace the cinematic movie experience, then there's an argument to be made.

 

[DisneyGeekyParadise]

Avatar looks great. Hopefully there's no problem down the road with the mountains not "floating", and they never get around to fixing it like the Yeti...

I think joe rhode, maybe it was somebody else, said that once avatar opened they would fix the yeti.

 

[LSUlakes]

I think joe rhode, maybe it was somebody else, said that once avatar opened they would fix the yeti.

I'm afraid to ask, buts whats wrong with the yeti?