News Round Up 2016

[mikepizzo]

Glad to see the sign shop was Shanghai'd as well when it came to the new buss loop at DS. Credit and thanks to bus driver Keon, and of course #thanksshanghai View attachment 172594

That is beyond embarrassing...

 

[Indybill]

News

ESPN continuing to lose subscribers.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mor...t-an-alarming-rate/ar-BBtHCjV?ocid=spartanntp

 

[rteetz]

Photo update

A look at The Trophy Room at Disney Springs

http://www.wdwmagic.com/shopping/tr...16-photos---trophy-room-at-disney-springs.htm

 

[rteetz]

Photo update

Dateline Disney World Epcot update

http://micechat.com/127409-old-soarin-returns-flower-garden-wraps/

 

[rteetz]

Photo update

Disneyland Shanghai update

http://disneyandmore.blogspot.com/2016/06/d-exclusive-shanghai-disneyland.html?m=1

 

[rteetz]

News

The Frozen games at Blizzard Beach are underway.

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...-with-frozen-games-at-disneys-blizzard-beach/

 

[graychef]

News

ESPN continuing to lose subscribers.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mor...t-an-alarming-rate/ar-BBtHCjV?ocid=spartanntp

People are gradually moving away from cable/satellite subscriptions, but ESPN has made some really bad decisions along the way. ESPN and Turner's new NBA deal (effective 2016-2017 season) is around $2.6 billion annually through 2025. I like watching the NBA occasionally, but that is a jump from $930 million annually...or 180%. And now people are cutting the chord? Spells disaster. $470 million annually (12 year deal) for the College Football Playoffs. $1.9 billion per year for NFL Monday Night Football.

Now ABC broadcasts are included, but you have to believe ESPN was banking on cable/satellite subscribers to help pay for this.

 

[Fantasia79]

Same mistake made by so many in the entertainment industry to ignore technology until it's too late.

ESPN caught sleeping while streaming and sport specific subscriptions took over their customer base.

 

[DizFanFamily]

Hi All -
I don't post often but as a WDW fan, I just got back from 3 days at DLR and wanted to share.
1 - Hyperspace Mountain is fabulous. Better than I (or my kids) ever expected. If you have the opportunity to get to CA before it ends, do so.
2 - Chewbacca meet & greet was the highlight. I know they have this in FL too, but we haven't made it down since it opened. He was 100% convincing and fabulous to interact with. The m&g session was one party at a time - we got about 5 minutes with him alone. It was great. (but it was a separate line than Kylo Ren and I couldn't get my teenagers to stand in another m&g line)
3 - Lots of dirt being moved at Star Wars land - nothing exciting to report unless you like watching earth-movers.
4 - The paint the light parade is a definite improvement on the older light parades. It lasted a full 30 minutes. My kids were impressed, and the younger kids around were amazed.
5 - BTM's cave explosions are impressive. I seriously hope they replace the "stuck" falling rocks in MK with these effects.
6 - May in Anaheim is quite chilly
7 - The hatbox ghost is way cooler in real life than in the videos - but you pass him really fast and the doom buggy turns so you really have to pay attention to appreciate him
8 - We caught the first performance of the grand opening of Frozen at the Hyperion. There were some technical glitches, but overall it was an impressive performance. The Actress performing Anna was very impressive. Elsa was amazing at Frozen but didn't seem quite as deep in her other numbers. Olaf was spot on - perhaps even better than Josh.
9 - oh, if you get the chance, go to the Plaza Inn for dinner and get the fried chicken. It is a quick service restaurant with table service prices, but the best food we ate the whole time.
10 - $25 for the Tie Fighter popcorn bucket is ridiculous!

 

[graychef]

Same mistake made by so many in the entertainment industry to ignore technology until it's too late.

ESPN caught sleeping while streaming and sport specific subscriptions took over their customer base.

Yep. I know people in the business and the consensus is that ESPN has been the most difficult to work with on rates and structure of channels. They played hardball and whiffed. Sucks because their live sports content is very good. But it now has them in a bad spot.

 

[Fantasia79]

Yep. I know people in the business and the consensus is that ESPN has been the most difficult to work with on rates and structure of channels. They played hardball and whiffed. Sucks because their live sports content is very good. But it now has them in a bad spot.

Agreed! They have historically but a fantastic production from top to bottom. Besides not evolving with platform, they fell behind on what they could deliver. Now, if it's a Sunday during football season, I'm all in on Red Zone (makes watching the Bears tolerable). The whole industry had the opportunity to change before they were pummeled by online services. HBO, MLB, NHL, etc got out in front of the trend.

 

[Disneymom1126]

A zoo utopia (heck, any utopia) seems to be the perfect embodiment of what Animal Kingdom wants to be. The only problem being that the movie used "zoo" in the name and we know how Disney feels about associating "zoo" with Animal Kingdom...

And as for the old Disney products (Mickey, Dumbo, Song of the South)...1st, I'd mention Mickey and Minnie did have their own land in AK, so Disney felt they fit once...and 2nd, many of the rides/experiences they associate with predate AK, and moving them gains Disney nothing (especially when they have so many animal characters and animal movies to hit the well with)...

Zoo "utopia" is a utopia where everyone gets along and lives well together regardless of their differences - the underlying theme is about equity and opportunities for all regardless of background and beliefs...it doesn't align with the idea of AK at all IMO - which is more about the idea of the "circle of life" all things exist in balance with nature and we have a responsibility as humans to respect the earth and animals...well...except for dinoland which should basically be leveled and redone

 

[rteetz]

News

You can now buy Star Wars exclusive replica props from Force Awakens

http://www.**************.net/2016/...um-line-of-authentic-star-wars-prop-replicas/

 

[Redcon1]

Agreed! They have historically but a fantastic production from top to bottom. Besides not evolving with platform, they fell behind on what they could deliver. Now, if it's a Sunday during football season, I'm all in on Red Zone (makes watching the Bears tolerable). The whole industry had the opportunity to change before they were pummeled by online services. HBO, MLB, NHL, etc got out in front of the trend.

nm

 

[luisov]

I like the whole theme coherence thing, but let's be honest here, that's not exactly Disney's strenght. There's not one single park in the US that has remained true to its original theme... You could argue about AK and Avatar being a perfect match, but that discussion is for a different day.

My point being, at this point I don't really think it's a big deal if they put a character in World Showcase or an anthropomorphic movie in AK. As long as they're building something new in there, I'm fine with it. I do understand those who'd like a little bit of coherence though.

 

[skier_pete]

TV News

Turner Classic Movies (TCM) has announced the next installment in its "Treasures from the Disney Vault" series, hosted by Leonard Maltin.

Tuesday, June 28, 2016 (All teams Eastern)

8:00pm - The Parent Trap (1961)
10:15pm - Mickey Shorts: The Band Concert (1935), Thru the Mirror (1936), and Clock Cleaners (1937)
11:00pm - Waking Sleeping Beauty (2009) (Excellent documentary on the Renaissance)
12:45am - Silly Symphonies: Flowers and Trees (1932), The Pied Piper (1933), and Old King Cole (1933)
1:15am - An Adventure in Color (1961)
2:15am - Hot Lead and Cold Feet (1978)
4:00am - Trenchcoat (1983)

I'm excited by this lineup! As always, expect the last two features to be a little sub-par compared to the rest of the evening.

Wow - GREAT selection. Waking Sleeping Beauty is awesome! Those three Mickey shorts are crazy classic. And of course Haley Mills (and Hayley Mills!).

 

[HuskieJohn]

Incredibles 2 is already in production. I don't think the effect of any other movie will affect that - though I suppose if Finding Dory tanked (pardon the pun and unlikely) then MAY-BE, but I think I2 is safe.

From October 2015...

"Disney has officially announced The Incredibles 2 will open on June 21, 2019. Brad Bird is returning to direct the sequel"

"I have the story arc. I’m probably three-quarters through the script, first pass through the script, but we’re already boarding parts of it. I’ve got a lot of people that worked on the first one working on it, so we’re all having a good time with it." - Brad Bird

http://www.slashfilm.com/the-incredibles-2-release-date/

 

[Tam&Sam]

News

The all new Pop Century refurbishment look!

View attachment 172363

View attachment 172364

I must say I love this new look!

Love the Mickey colour palette!

 

[rteetz]

News

Preferred parking coming Disney water parks

http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions...red-parking-coming-to-disneys-water-parks.htm

 

[dlavender]

News

Preferred parking coming Disney water parks

http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions...red-parking-coming-to-disneys-water-parks.htm

Aren't those parking lots already pretty small?

I guess you are getting a $10 bottle of water, but still....