News Round Up 2018

[rteetz]

Do we know when he is retiring? I was hoping to be able to meet him when we go in the fall.

They had a party for him today so I’m not sure the exact date but I would think rather soon.

 

[rteetz]

Looks like the retirement is immediate due to health concerns.

https://www.portorleans.org/news.php?first=200618

 

[ICTVgrad07]

I did love that cookie sandwich.

There is a real cookie ice cream sandwich they used to sell at ice cream parlor on Main Street. You might not be out of luck!

 

[rteetz]

There is a real cookie ice cream sandwich they used to sell at ice cream parlor on Main Street. You might not be out of luck!

Good to know! I never go in there since the line is always crazy.

 

[tarheelblue8853]

Good to know! I never go in there since the line is always crazy.

Same. But i’ll be going tomorrow now that I know this!

 

[rteetz]

Photo Update

Islands of Adventure Update: Work on Rumored New Attraction Begins in Jurassic Park

 

[rteetz]

According to the investigative work of @AMusicLifeForMe the Green Alien Popcorn buckets are sold out until January...

 

[Iowamomof4]

According to the investigative work of @AMusicLifeForMe the Green Alien Popcorn buckets are sold out until January...

Sounds like they'll be back in stock just in time for my trip!

 

[rteetz]

Sounds like they'll be back in stock just in time for my trip!

If they indeed won't be back until January I am hopeful they will be in stock during my January trip.

 

[Q-man]

According to the investigative work of @AMusicLifeForMe the Green Alien Popcorn buckets are sold out until January...

That's one slow boat.

Had SDD FPs Saturday afternoon. We ditched DHS that morning due to crowd and getting to parking issues and went had lunch in EP. From there to MCO to drop a couple members of our party off for flights. After dropping them off we had 45 mins until our SDD FP slot ended. Hit the toll road and paid the upcharge for preferred parking. Ditched bags in the car and ran to the DHS entrance, hustled all the way to TSland and got in the FP line right as our FP window closed. Hit the tapstiles exactly 5 mins later. Very fun ride, theming throughout TSL was great. The most noticeable budget concession item was landscaping; bamboo, bamboo, bamboo, bamboo, bamboo, bamboo, bamboo, bamboo ... it was predominant EVERYWHERE in TSL.

As for that TSL v Pandora meme; we went over to AK that night to check out Pandora after dark. At park closing the FoP standby line was 140 minutes.

 

[Spaghetti Cat]

bamboo, bamboo, bamboo, bamboo, bamboo, bamboo, bamboo, bamboo

That's the lawn!

 

[beastlyprince]

I just don’t like the AC vents out in the open like that. I also miss the Disney elements. It looks like a regular store now.

In the 1980s some clothes factories were converted into factory outlets. This is what the new World of Disney design reminds me of. Sterile. The Disney touches are gone.

 

[Tiki Birdland]

Photo Update

Islands of Adventure Update: Work on Rumored New Attraction Begins in Jurassic Park

Seems Universal is becoming all Roller Coaster & Screens. Went to Six Flags Fiesta Texas and it was all roller coasters. Is this the end of the Theme Park with practical effects?

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Seems Universal is becoming all Roller Coaster & Screens. Went to Six Flags Fiesta Texas and it was all roller coasters. Is this the end of the Theme Park with practical effects?

well, as long as they are unique it can be ok ... based on all the rumors for the new Potter coaster, for example, that seems like it will be a very unique experience and not "just another coaster"

 

[tlmadden73]

In the 1980s some clothes factories were converted into factory outlets. This is what the new World of Disney design reminds me of. Sterile. The Disney touches are gone.

Yes! That is what it reminded me of. I remember going to some of those as a kid.

Like I said above, it fits the "theme" of Disney Springs (converting old buildings from this fictional town (like the power plant, the observatory, etc.) into modern shops, but those Disney touches (the characters hanging from the ceiling, the animated dinnerware on the walls, etc.) will be missed. At least spitting Stitch remains on the outside!

I wonder if they will keep the smaller Disney stores scattered about Disney Springs now since they moved some merchandise during the construction.

 

[tlmadden73]

Seems Universal is becoming all Roller Coaster & Screens. Went to Six Flags Fiesta Texas and it was all roller coasters. Is this the end of the Theme Park with practical effects?

When was the last time you felt a Six Flags park was a "theme" park?

When Six Flags took over my local (as a kid) theme park (Now Six Flags Great America), the "theming" there of different lands was quickly worn away as they just shoehorned one new thrill ride after another slowly replacing aging coasters or less thrill rides (like log flumes or antique cars).

It wasn't all bad though, they did add some themed areas when they expanded (A Wild West area with two themed coasters and a stunt show) and the Batman ride there was probably the most heavily themed queue I have ever experienced at a "coaster" park.

But in general, ya .. it is cheaper/easier to not do theming as the bean counters don't see that as a good return on investment is my guess.

 

[Tiki Birdland]

When was the last time you felt a Six Flags park was a "theme" park?

When Six Flags took over my local (as a kid) theme park (Now Six Flags Great America), the "theming" there of different lands was quickly worn away as they just shoehorned one new thrill ride after another slowly replacing aging coasters or less thrill rides (like log flumes or antique cars).

It wasn't all bad though, they did add some themed areas when they expanded (A Wild West area with two themed coasters and a stunt show) and the Batman ride there was probably the most heavily themed queue I have ever experienced at a "coaster" park.

But in general, ya .. it is cheaper/easier to not do theming as the bean counters don't see that as a good return on investment is my guess.

True, it's mostly RRs. Maybe Fiesta Texas was different. But, it had a several shows. Indeed, they listed at least 6 shows last week when we were there. However, only 2 were running during the week (others were weekend only). Universal had many rides that weren't RRs. But, they have been steadily shutting them down and not maintaining the others. Do they really need a dinosaur themed roller coaster? Can't they get the effects for the Jurrasic Park river ride working?

 

[skier_pete]

Seems Universal is becoming all Roller Coaster & Screens. Went to Six Flags Fiesta Texas and it was all roller coasters. Is this the end of the Theme Park with practical effects?

I am OK with coasters as long as each one brings something unique - and I think in this aspect Universal does it well. What's less impressive is the screen rides. These tend to blur together to me when you've ridden the 12th screen ride of the trip. Disney hasn't gone down the "complete conversion to screen rides" route yet - and I have to point out that though TSL isn't a high thrill area it does not utilize a single screen.

However - going forward we have:
Millenium Falcon ride - screen ride
First order Battle - physical ride which will likely incorporate screens.
Ratatouille - Mostly screen ride
M&M Runaway Railway - Screen ride
GoftG - Coaster (with screens?)
Tron - Coaster / limited screens.

So Disney is clearly getting in the screen business - but the question is can they incorporate enough reality or uniqueness into these rides to keep them interesting. My favorite use of screen is when you incorporate screens with real physical sets - Forbidden Journey does this well as does N'avi River Journey. The occasional "Screen Only" ride can work very well also - as Soarin' and FOP are both excellent rides that use unique ride vehicles combined with a very large screen to make the experience top notch.

 

[DisneyPrincess1984]

Arneil the greeter at Port Orleans French Quarter is retiring.

We loved him the one time we stayed there! He's one of our fond memories of the trip!

 

[tlmadden73]

I am OK with coasters as long as each one brings something unique - and I think in this aspect Universal does it well. What's less impressive is the screen rides. These tend to blur together to me when you've ridden the 12th screen ride of the trip. Disney hasn't gone down the "complete conversion to screen rides" route yet - and I have to point out that though TSL isn't a high thrill area it does not utilize a single screen.

However - going forward we have:
Millenium Falcon ride - screen ride
First order Battle - physical ride which will likely incorporate screens.
Ratatouille - Mostly screen ride
M&M Runaway Railway - Screen ride
GoftG - Coaster (with screens?)
Tron - Coaster / limited screens.

So Disney is clearly getting in the screen business - but the question is can they incorporate enough reality or uniqueness into these rides to keep them interesting. My favorite use of screen is when you incorporate screens with real physical sets - Forbidden Journey does this well as does N'avi River Journey. The occasional "Screen Only" ride can work very well also - as Soarin' and FOP are both excellent rides that use unique ride vehicles combined with a very large screen to make the experience top notch.

I guess I don't mind screen rides if they use the screens to change things up .. like how they've added scenes to Star Tours and have enough to make it random every time you go on. Why did it take so long for a new Soaring show? Why not have several (including the original) that you randomly get? So hopefully these new rides will be able to change up every once and a while to make things new (at little cost).

BUT, what makes Disney Magical is the physicality of it all and hopefully they don't forget that.
My son likes Buzz Lightyear (his favorite ride at the parks), despite its age (well, its new to him) over Toy Story Mania because it is physical props you are shooting at .. not just a screen. At its core .. TSMM could be replicated at home with a video game console or mobile device, which makes it a lot less exciting for kids that experience "screens" all the time.

Despite what most considering a boring show - Carousel of Progress is ingrained in my young sons memory as a highlight of our last trip. The fact that animatronic robots came to life right in front of him engaged him more than a movie screen ever would.

Unfortunately .. screens do seem to be the trend .. look at the removal of all the physical props from the World of Disney for a "clean" look. And my guess is that they will have screens on the walls to help decorate it and give it some Disney theming.