News Round Up 2017

[rteetz]

This is a really good long-form article about the new Disney lands and the park competition. It starts with Joe Rohde, goes through some history, and focuses on current initiatives. I'm sorry for the format, it came out of my Bloomberg and there isn't a good way to link it other than to download it and upload it as a file. Very worth the hassle to read though. There isn't much groundbreaking in the article, but a very good encapsulation of a lot of things we talk about.

Edit: Here is a link if you can get to it! Much better format, just took me a while to find. Not sure if non-subscribers can get to it. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/feat...alactic-theme-park-quest-to-beat-harry-potter

That was a great read!

 

[rteetz]

BTW this link that is posted above does work for non subscribers.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/feat...alactic-theme-park-quest-to-beat-harry-potter

 

[jknezek]

BTW this link that is posted above does work for non subscribers.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/feat...alactic-theme-park-quest-to-beat-harry-potter

I'm glad. Reading the text file was a hassle that probably would have detracted from the article.

 

[rteetz]

News

Closer look at new Grand Californian rooms

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...rooms-at-disneys-grand-californian-hotel-spa/

 

[rteetz]

News

A look at drinks coming to Pandora

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...ges-exclusive-to-pandora-the-world-of-avatar/

 

[rteetz]

News

Disney fairytale weddings special will give a look at Happily Ever After on May 7th

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...-the-new-special-disneys-fairy-tale-weddings/

 

[rteetz]

News

Party for the Planet at Animal Kingdom!

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...lanet-at-disneys-animal-kingdom-this-weekend/

 

[TheMaxRebo]

News

A look at drinks coming to Pandora

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...ges-exclusive-to-pandora-the-world-of-avatar/

Pretty excited about these options - will be checking a few out (and I suspect coming home with a souvenir mug or two)

 

[Delano Fiedler]

News

A look at drinks coming to Pandora

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...ges-exclusive-to-pandora-the-world-of-avatar/

How do you exactly drink something with that many spheres on it?

 

[langsky]

**************** is reporting confirmation of the gondola system based on documents filed today between Disney and The Reedy Creek Improvement District.

"The documents released today confirmed that each gondola will be able to hold 10 guests at a time. They will be built and developed by The Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group from Europe."

 

[adam.adbe]

A lot of people are not experienced with RPGs and MMORPGs but the problem isn't that you can't phase out the real world. There's going to be tons of people around and it's not as if you get to tune out people who aren't on your part of the "quest" like you can in WoW. It's going to be rather difficult, not necessarily impossible but difficult, for a while, to get the full on story-telling experience this is suggesting. They'll need a lot of staff and people available to interact. Plus I'm sure there will be some people who don't get much or any interaction at all while others get more. So that'll be a difficult balance for them to walk.

I'm really looking forward to it, it's like RPG IRL but I hope the cost and bad behavior doesn't ruin it for everyone, is all I'm saying.

Also, in a hyper scheduled environment like WDW, those interactions need to be timed to not conflict with FPs/dining reservations, or any one of a bunch of other issues that cause many guests to spend large chunks of their day on a Disney enforced treadmill.

 

[rteetz]

**************** is reporting confirmation of the gondola system based on documents filed today between Disney and The Reedy Creek Improvement District.

"The documents released today confirmed that each gondola will be able to hold 10 guests at a time. They will be built and developed by The Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group from Europe."

The Orlando Sentinel is the one that confirmed it yesterday. We have a thread with that information and more.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Also, in a hyper scheduled environment like WDW, those interactions need to be timed to not conflict with FPs/dining reservations, or any one of a bunch of other issues that cause many guests to spend large chunks of their day on a Disney enforced treadmill.

I would think that they would design it so that you can experience the land at all different levels of engagement
- so like you would any other land now
- with some level of storytelling/engagement (so take on a mission or too, ride the attractions and then interact with CM or two based on your results, etc.)
- Super hard core and spend all your time there and come back multiple times, build up a reputation, etc.

Like, some people go to MK and spend the entire day doing Sorcerer's of the Magic Kingdom and not bother with FP or ADRs or anything ... so I would think the land would have to work for all different types of vacationers

 

[langsky]

The Orlando Sentinel is the one that confirmed it yesterday. We have a thread with that information and more.

That is what I get for just being a lurker!

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

A new POTC trailer dropped internationally yesterday, which seems to be the first confirmation for

Spoiler

Elizabeth's (Kiera Knightly)

return

Ohhhh that's very interesting as I had heard

Spoiler

she was not going to be in it. I wonder if she'll be doing a quick cameo or if she will have more of a role in the movie.

 

[rteetz]

That is what I get for just being a lurker!

It's all good. I have made plenty of mistakes here.

 

[danikoski]

News

Closer look at new Grand Californian rooms

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...rooms-at-disneys-grand-californian-hotel-spa/

Those rooms seem to have more Disney touches than many of the newly refurbished or built rooms at WDW, like CCV at WL.

 

[amcc]

I would think that they would design it so that you can experience the land at all different levels of engagement
- so like you would any other land now
- with some level of storytelling/engagement (so take on a mission or too, ride the attractions and then interact with CM or two based on your results, etc.)
- Super hard core and spend all your time there and come back multiple times, build up a reputation, etc.

Like, some people go to MK and spend the entire day doing Sorcerer's of the Magic Kingdom and not bother with FP or ADRs or anything ... so I would think the land would have to work for all different types of vacationers

I think this is where they will trip over their own feet. The nature of people is that they see what others have and want it too - nowhere is this more evident than in Disney (see waking Tinkerbell, sword in the stone, "Andy's coming", etc.). The nuances and effort that some people put in to getting to a point where a droid interacts with them is not going to be evident to the family next to them that is just walking around. That family is going to want to be engaged as well and people will strive to have it happen to them. Whole websites will be up with step by step actions to take so that you are that 1% engaged. But when more than 1% does all the right things and does NOT get engaged, then the system starts to collapse because of human nature. Don't get me wrong, I love the idea but the sheer volume of people will depress the story's ability to unfold. There's nothing organic about Disney vacations.

 

[Phicinfan]

E P C O T

???

Starting to feel better about the rumors yet?
Epcot:
GotG to UoE - 2022ish
Rat in France - 2020 I think
UK ride - same timing as Rat??
Coco to mexico instead of 3 birds
upgrading Land and Seas
Work on SSE
work on spine from FW to WS
New pavillion in WS

Plus cleaning up and redoing Innovations and that whole area.

So yea, major investment in EPCOT

 

[rteetz]

News

Mentioned this in the past. Splash Refurb.

19apr2017-splash-mountain-closing-for-near-three-month-refurbishment-later-this-year.htm