News Round Up 2017

[no one]

Your Cocaine comment isn't that far off - though I would compare it more to being a fan of a sports team. For example, I am a Mets fan because i became a fan as a kid and now I am stuck with them - it makes no rational sense to give them any money based on how poor they have been managed and how bad the results have been - but I am a fan and will stick with my team and it is what it is. Remember, "fan" is short for "fanatic"

And it is the same with Disney - we are fans and they already got us. Now, if we go back to my analogy - a very high percentage of people my age or a bit younger that live in my area are Yankee fans vs Met fans because the Yankess had a ton of success in the 90s when those people were in their formative years - The Mets became the popular team for 1 year when they made a run and that added some fans, but now we suck again and are losing those fans

Which is why my point is Disney needs to worry more about the next generation of fans rather than the fans they already have. They could charge as much as an iPhoneX for a dessert party and some people would pay it - but is that going to bring in new fans? Our would providing a superior experience and great customer service and getting people to go back and provide word of mouth for how great the experience was bring more new fans?

As to your point about it being Iger's fault - I don't disagree that he could have done more and put more of a focus on the parks and them being the best they can be and expanding them - he should have done it earlier but he didn't and it is what it is - but they are doing it now so hopefully they have learned and they keep going rather than this just being a one time thing to get to the 50th and then they stop

As to pricing out the core market - to some extent, but the crowds are still there (again, biggest complaints I see are still about crowd levels). You were referencing Nancy Regan, so I will reference Yogi Berra: "Nobody goes there anymore. It’s too crowded!"

This article is a couple of years old, and many of you have probable already discussed the issues in it at length. But new readers of this thread may find it interesting to see how complicated it is for Disney to change. Sorry it is a very long article.

https://www.fastcompany.com/3044283/the-messy-business-of-reinventing-happiness

 

[Disneymom1126]

A hit? Yes, it probably will be. Toy Story has always been very popular.

But uninspired is what I would call it.

What are we getting, the slinky coaster (I don't even want to hear about the cars doing some slinky maneuver, whatever that would be. I got myself all excited for SDMT swinging cars and they don't even really swing). An alien based spinner ride and a counter service restaurant? I might have missed something.

I would have loved a dark ride here.

I am very disappointed with Disney's lack of imagination for the Toy Story land.

Maybe it's uninspired or could be better, but I definitely think this area is 100% for younger kids. There really hasn't been anything for them at HS. They have tried to make it more family friendly with shows and the Disney Junior characters, but I know my DD at the age where she was too little for "big rides" would not have sat through more than one or two of those shows in a day. Older kids and adults will enjoy visiting it because its' Toy Story. I like what they have done with the decor - even having some things that look like cardboard boxes that have been set up to create Andy's imaginary play area. Are you upset at the lack of imagination because you think there should be more attractions or because you expected the attractions they did have to be more unique compared to what is already in the parks? I don't know what the spinner ride will be like, but a kid-friendly coaster at HS seems like a good idea to me. Maybe I am just easily entertained lol.

 

[MissGina5]

Maybe it's uninspired or could be better, but I definitely think this area is 100% for younger kids. There really hasn't been anything for them at HS. They have tried to make it more family friendly with shows and the Disney Junior characters, but I know my DD at the age where she was too little for "big rides" would not have sat through more than one or two of those shows in a day. Older kids and adults will enjoy visiting it because its' Toy Story. I like what they have done with the decor - even having some things that look like cardboard boxes that have been set up to create Andy's imaginary play area. Are you upset at the lack of imagination because you think there should be more attractions or because you expected the attractions they did have to be more unique compared to what is already in the parks? I don't know what the spinner ride will be like, but a kid-friendly coaster at HS seems like a good idea to me. Maybe I am just easily entertained lol.

I hope the coaster is a LITTLE thrilling but I am just so excited. I hope its better than say Barnstormer or 7DMT. Maybe in the realm of BTMR

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I hope the coaster is a LITTLE thrilling but I am just so excited. I hope its better than say Barnstormer or 7DMT. Maybe in the realm of BTMR

I'd expect 7DMT thrill levels - maybe a little different with the launches and just being open.

 

[MissGina5]

I'd expect 7DMT thrill levels - maybe a little different with the launches and just being open.

well then I hope it's at least longer

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I agree it's going to be very popular, especially with the younger set. I am excited to see it next August.

I actually think that if the do decent theming, it could have the "classic Disney" charm that Is somewhat ageless/timeless...

 

[Keels]

News

Baseline Taphouse signage installed

http://blogmickey.com/2017/09/photo-baseline-tap-house-signage-now-visible-grand-avenue/

Please be open in October ... please be open in October ... please be open in October ...

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

Maybe it's uninspired or could be better, but I definitely think this area is 100% for younger kids. There really hasn't been anything for them at HS. They have tried to make it more family friendly with shows and the Disney Junior characters, but I know my DD at the age where she was too little for "big rides" would not have sat through more than one or two of those shows in a day. Older kids and adults will enjoy visiting it because its' Toy Story. I like what they have done with the decor - even having some things that look like cardboard boxes that have been set up to create Andy's imaginary play area. Are you upset at the lack of imagination because you think there should be more attractions or because you expected the attractions they did have to be more unique compared to what is already in the parks? I don't know what the spinner ride will be like, but a kid-friendly coaster at HS seems like a good idea to me. Maybe I am just easily entertained lol.

I think I wanted a little more uniqueness. Maybe uniqueness isn't the right word...I said I wanted a dark ride before so maybe I'm looking for something with more of a story?

I totally agree there should be things for younger kids, but I enjoy Peter Pan's Flight even though it is most likely made for a younger audience.

@skier_pete had a good point before, that WDW doesn't have any of the whip spinner type rides so it's not like the Alien whip ride is a copy of anything else in Florida.

 

[skier_pete]

I hope the coaster is a LITTLE thrilling but I am just so excited. I hope its better than say Barnstormer or 7DMT. Maybe in the realm of BTMR

I'm thinking you better settle of 7DMT - cause I think that's what you'll get - except looks like it does have a launch, which is really rare for a family coaster. But overall, no big thrills, not even BTMRR

 

[skier_pete]

I think I wanted a little more uniqueness. Maybe uniqueness isn't the right word...I said I wanted a dark ride before so maybe I'm looking for something with more of a story?

I totally agree there should be things for younger kids, but I enjoy Peter Pan's Flight even though it is most likely made for a younger audience.

@skier_pete had a good point before, that WDW doesn't have any of the whip spinner type rides so it's not like the Alien whip ride is a copy of anything else in Florida.

Peter Pan's flight is very unique experience, even for a dark ride. I totally agree that I wish they had gone with one more ride, but it also might be a limit of the footprint. (Thinking about the amount of landspace they took for Star Wars, the footprint for Toy Story Land is relatively small. But also remember there are not two rides there, but there are in fact three. Just because TSMM was already there doesn't mean it isn't considered a ride for the land. 3 rides in a land is pretty solid. Again, we can always complain they should do more, but they are adding two big lands and 5 new rides. (Mickey ride is replacing existing but still a new ride.)

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Anyone seen Rivers of Light recently? Did they have the fire part? We saw it tonight and it got delayed for technical issues, I noticed the fire part didn't happen (I haven't seen it before tonight).

 

[rteetz]

Anyone seen Rivers of Light recently? Did they have the fire part? We saw it tonight and it got delayed for technical issues, I noticed the fire part didn't happen (I haven't seen it before tonight).

When I saw it in May/June, it worked but the tiger float was missing. It's likely that the fire was that technical issue they delayed for.

 

[Mal6586]

Anyone seen Rivers of Light recently? Did they have the fire part? We saw it tonight and it got delayed for technical issues, I noticed the fire part didn't happen (I haven't seen it before tonight).

The fire part was there last Tuesday, 9/12. We did have one lotus blossom float whose petal stayed open the whole time though.

 

[Sleepy Sheep]

We're gonna get our answer...

In a couple years MGM will be mobbed out the front gate and it would not shock me at all if AK annual attendance is the same as it was prior to avatar.

Actually, I'll be shocked if annual attendance ISN'T the same.

 

[AMusicLifeForMe]

Anyone seen Rivers of Light recently? Did they have the fire part? We saw it tonight and it got delayed for technical issues, I noticed the fire part didn't happen (I haven't seen it before tonight).

The fire part worked last week when I was there.

The only part of a show that I've seen have continuous problems is the Earth still doesn't go down at the end of Illuminations.

 

[rteetz]

 

[rteetz]

 

[Keels]

The ride vehicles for the Aliens ride in Toy Story land look super similar to Mater's ride in CarsLand ... and man, that ride is FUUUUUUUUN. I only went on it for the first time this last trip a couple of weeks ago (same with the Luigi ride), and they are awesome rides for both little kids and adults.

 

[rteetz]

The ride vehicles for the Aliens ride in Toy Story land look super similar to Mater's ride in CarsLand ... and man, that ride is FUUUUUUUUN. I only went on it for the first time this last trip a couple of weeks ago (same with the Luigi ride), and they are awesome rides for both little kids and adults.

Yep, it is exactly like Mater's. Shanghai is getting one called Woody's Roundup which is also the same ride system.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

When I saw it in May/June, it worked but the tiger float was missing. It's likely that the fire was that technical issue they delayed for.

The fire part was there last Tuesday, 9/12. We did have one lotus blossom float whose petal stayed open the whole time though.

The fire part worked last week when I was there.

The only part of a show that I've seen have continuous problems is the Earth still doesn't go down at the end of Illuminations.

___________________
Thank you all!!!

Sounds like that was likely the issue for the delay. I will say if we had a choice of spending our nighttime in Pandora or seeing Rivers of Light it would be Pandora. We only got a tiny sliver of time in Pandora for night (it was like from 7:30-nearly 8pm so not dark dark but dark enough to get some of the effects). Pandora is just amazing at night. Those who complained about EMH being a waste or not enough of a benefit for AK should count themselves lucky that they actually could be in Pandora for a lot longer time at night (like the real dark time) even if it was crowded for them (no offense it's just a 9pm close with a 7:30pm sunset {so really less time if you want a lot more darknes} allows for almost no time there crowded or not crowded).

We loved FOP but we just didn't have the opportunity to do standby. The lowest wait time we saw while we were in AK (which we had 1 full day-1 morning and 1 evening) was last Saturday and it was 55min wait but we just didn't have the time. Anyways my husband said that was the best simulator-type ride he'd ever been on. I really enjoyed how real it felt.

On a sad note after waiting 6 years to attempt to see Fantasmic! after we were stormed out last time in 2011........we got rained/stormed out again.... We did get to see the Star Wars show instead though. The tiki gods shined upon us on wait times but appearantly we were not destined to see Fantasmic! for another undetermined amount of years.

*Sorry for the mini update;we just had our last WDW park day last night bittersweet, 2 days left at Universal still*