News Round Up 2018

[rteetz]

News

Disneyland Guests Can Enjoy a Free Night’s Stay at Select Good Neighbor Hotels

 

[koala1966]

Some of the flat bread pizzas were tasty when we were there in Feb 2017. Although, it wasn't all of them. I'm not quite sure how Disney did that, but you can order a flat bread pizza at one place that tastes either tons better or tons worse then at another.

This is true, the flatbread at Contempo Cafe is much better than the what they sell at Gasparilla Grill. Most of the resort quick services have flatbread and they are not equal. I don't remember having flatbread in the parks, but I avoid Pinocchio's.

 

[PolyRob]

Exactly. Have had home some brutal check-in attempts at the Beach Club in the past with a magic band that just wouldn't "connect" to our new room reservation for whatever reason.

Many of those who have stayed in the "maze" resort's in the recent past can relate I am sure.

My first MagicBand issue started at the YC in 2016 so I am with you! It was a very unpleasant experience that carried throughout about 7 more trips and has finally seemed to have been resolved with the creation of a brand new account and migration of all my active information. It was a complete nightmare since IT decided to do it as I checked-in to CSR, but in the long run, I guess the process and wasted hours on the phone with IT and in line at GR during my trip was worth it.

Maybe this feature will bypass the MagicBand limitations since it is directly linked to the MDE account rather than a band with an ID accessing the account information. I would have gladly used my phone to enter my room and deal with the IT headache later on than immediately walking all the way back to the front desk multiple times.

 

[rteetz]

News

Disney wants the Star Wars rights it gave to TNT/TBS back...

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...id-to-seek-star-wars-rights-back-from-tbs-tnt

 

[AMusicLifeForMe]

News

2018 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Pins Releasing August 17th!

Hmm...Is that the first pin in the new style of Mickey shorts? I don't recall seeing any pins in that style of Mickey and Minnie when I was there in July.

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

Hmm...Is that the first pin in the new style of Mickey shorts? I don't recall seeing any pins in that style of Mickey and Minnie when I was there in July.

Yeah it does look like that style.

 

[Tiki Birdland]

Some of the flat bread pizzas were tasty when we were there in Feb 2017

We always get the flatbread pizza at Capt Cooks over at the Polynesian. Paired with a Dole Whip, of course!

 

[mara512]

https://www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/amusement-parks/columbus-ohio-amusement-park

Has this been posted? If so sorry for duplication

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

https://www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/amusement-parks/columbus-ohio-amusement-park

Has this been posted? If so sorry for duplication

Looks like it's time to move back to Columbus.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

https://www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/amusement-parks/columbus-ohio-amusement-park

Has this been posted? If so sorry for duplication

Interesting. Few thoughts:

- Planet Oasis reminds me of Ready Player One
- “Planet Oasis is located in Ohio because it's the center of the universe,” --- um, wrong, I am the center of the Universe ... but seriously, first time I ever heard Ohio referred to at that
- "Construction is set to begin in December, and parts of the park could open as soon as 2019." ... so they will build the entire thing within 1 year?

 

[skier_pete]

Interesting. Few thoughts:

- Planet Oasis reminds me of Ready Player One
- “Planet Oasis is located in Ohio because it's the center of the universe,” --- um, wrong, I am the center of the Universe ... but seriously, first time I ever heard Ohio referred to at that
- "Construction is set to begin in December, and parts of the park could open as soon as 2019." ... so they will build the entire thing within 1 year?

You haven't met someone from Ohio! Bazinga!

It does seem awful quick to get it up and running. The interesting thing is that Columbus (like much of the North) has winter - and therefore it's unlikely they are open year-round. It seems like a huge investment for something that can't have year-round business.

There's also an EXTREMELY MISLEADING STATEMENT in this article:

It will be built on 350 acres of land in Sunbury, or about four times the current size of Disneyland.

So - this statement is indeed correct - DisneyLAND park (just the park) is about 85 acres - which this would be about 4 times bigger than that. However, the total of the Disneyland Resort is 500 acres, so in fact it is SMALLER than DLR. Also, they are clearly hoping people will be confused with Florida's resort when they say "Disneyland", which of course it doesn't come close to. A better comparable might be Universal for those that have only been to Florida, which is also close to 500 acres.

 

[tlmadden73]

Interesting. Few thoughts:

- Planet Oasis reminds me of Ready Player One
- “Planet Oasis is located in Ohio because it's the center of the universe,” --- um, wrong, I am the center of the Universe ... but seriously, first time I ever heard Ohio referred to at that
- "Construction is set to begin in December, and parts of the park could open as soon as 2019." ... so they will build the entire thing within 1 year?

It seems they are heavily referencing Ready Player One, but not officially tied to it.

1) The Oasis - is the name of the virtual world in Ready Player One
2) Columbus, Ohio is where Ready Player One is set (where the main character lives, where the company that owns the Oasis is headquartered).

The article is a bit misleading calling it "bigger than Disneyland" makes it seem bigger than it is. Just PR spin to get it some free press to make it sound like it is "similar" to Disneyland.

It sounds more like a "entertainment" destination (with a few rides, shopping and restaurants, something you'd find in a tourist location like Myrtle Beach or Pigeon Forge .. but COLUMBUS? Huh.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

It does seem awful quick to get it up and running. The interesting thing is that Columbus (like much of the North) has winter - and therefore it's unlikely they are open year-round. It seems like a huge investment for something that can't have year-round business.

Wondering if some of the "other" things will be totally indoors and thus can be open all year round - so the butterfly museum and retail and sky diving, etc.

 

[LoganBrown1990]

We were guessing that it might have to do with the fact that our nearest theater allows e-ticketing, so I didn't know if that changed anything.

I hope it doesn't fail, we've seen so many movies with that. And movies are expensive

I think you're right about e-ticketing. We also saw it last night (LOVED it!) with Moviepass at an e-ticket theater. Today it's showing as unavailable (not "you've already seen this," but just grayed out) at non e-ticket theaters near us, while just saying "you've already seen this" at our home theater.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

It sounds more like a "entertainment" destination (with a few rides, shopping and restaurants, something you'd find in a tourist location like Myrtle Beach or Pigeon Forge .. but COLUMBUS? Huh

I don't think it's all that strange really. Actually I think it's probably a brillant idea should it all pan out money-wise and timeframe-wise.

They are obviously drawing on Cedar Point and King's Island appeal and hoping to divert guests away from those and/or offer a different experience.

Map wise with driving where it's located at (Sunbury) is almost exactly halfway between Cedar Point and King's Island. Cedar Fair Entertainment Company owns both Cedar Point and King's Island (among other parks).

FWIW concerning weather, attraction type, etc another article I read had this information: "...will offer more than two dozen wide-ranging attractions, including a saltwater lake as big as 20 acres with a sand beach. ...include indoor skydiving, go-kart racing, rock climbing, an indoor water park, skate park, BMX racing, e-sports and other attractions. It also would have a wellness center, hotels, a conference center and at least 70 restaurants, ranging from fast food to fine dining."

 

[Brocktoon]

It sounds more like a "entertainment" destination (with a few rides, shopping and restaurants, something you'd find in a tourist location like Myrtle Beach or Pigeon Forge .. but COLUMBUS? Huh.

I agree, this sounds more like an entertainment district and I wonder if the amusement park section will really compare to something like Cedar Point.

Columbus does seem to be having a bit of a renaissance in the past few years. I've had to travel there a few times a year for business and didn't know what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised by the city ... sort of a college town vibe mixed with big city areas like Short North and the German Village. I could see Planet Oasis being popular with the locals, but I don't know if this would be something people would go out of their way for. Then again, people travel to Branson and Pigeon Forge.

 

[jade1]

Posted yet?

Permits Filed for New Epcot Nighttime Spectacular Infrastructure

https://wdwnt.com/2018/07/permits-filed-for-new-epcot-nighttime-spectacular-infrastructure/

I wonder if reworking the middle of the lagoon (if that is what happens) would be the reason for a temporary show.

Maybe something less elaborate during construction, around the edges or maybe just one central pyro launch along with the lasers etc.

Just until the work for the new show is done.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I agree, this sounds more like an entertainment district and I wonder if the amusement park section will really compare to something like Cedar Point.

This is just my take-I don't think they are trying to comparing themselves ride-wise to big behemoths like Cedar Point. Roller coaster junkies would probably not view this as a must see unless there is a revolutionary ride put there.

What I think they hope to do is draw people away from those places and spend their monies there in different ways. If I were to go to Cedar Point I'd probably spend maybe 2 days there (normally I only spend one day at Six Flags when I've gone to them) but this place seems like you could def. spend more than 2 days enjoying all they have to offer which appears to be a variety. And it would appeal to a wide variety of people. I believe from what I'm reading it's being built with driving distance in mind; an article I read said "nearly 105 million Americans within a five to six hour drive time".

The article I read labeled this place as a entertainment-recreation complex as well as another article called it a mixed-use complex and that seems more apt of a description than the originally linked article which made reference to size in comparison to DLR and called it a straight up amusement park.

My concern would be because this is developer-based in the sense that it's not Cedar Fair Entertainment opening this up, it's not Six Flags opening this up, it's not Disney opening this up. So I feel it's an ambitious venture and hopefully they don't run out of money, delay until eternity, etc. If it all pans out I'd be down for the drive if enough of it appeals to use even though for us it's 10 1/2 hours (or we'd just fly).

 

[TheMaxRebo]

back in May it was announced that in celebration of the 10th anniversary of Marvel Studios, Marvel Studios: Hero Acts is donating $1.25 million to provide transformative experiences to strengthen the lives of children impacted by serious illness - which included $450,000 to Starlight Children’s Foundation which would use the funds to produce more than 26,000 Starlight Gowns – the charity’s revolutionary new colorful and comfortable children’s hospital gowns.,

Just saw a tweet showing a number of the different Marvel and Star Wars themed hospital gowns that Disney will be providing to hospitals and thought they were pretty cool:

 

[TheMaxRebo]

My concern would be because this is developer-based in the sense that it's not Cedar Fair Entertainment opening this up, it's not Six Flags opening this up, it's not Disney opening this up. So I feel it's an ambitious venture and hopefully they don't run out of money, delay until eternity, etc.

See: Xanadu project at the Meadowlands in NJ, which still isn't done despite ground being broken in 2004 (and had an expected construction time of 2 years)