News Round Up 2019

[YesterDark]

We disagree and that's fine. At the end of the day I am never going to be happy about IPs at EPCOT because I think it spits in the face of what Walt wanted and what EPCOT is supposed to be. It's Disney going for cheap money grabs.

Not sure I agree with this language.

First, Walt's original vision would never have survived even if they decided to build a fully functional city with manufacturing and research areas. Epcot is for a world that didn't know what the internet, social media and smart phones were part of. More and more companies are moving to having employees working remotely with automation inside factories. Why would companies move research facilities to a crowded Orlando area where you have theme parks? They would totally be missing out on various tax benefits of being in different states around the country.

The original vision would never have survived, much like any indoor mall in the age of Amazon.

I always skeptical of anyone who says "what Walt wanted..." He was a creative force and it's impossible how he would have reacted to the innovation of the last 50 years.

Now to your second point of cheap money grabs, nothing about the rides and attractions and restaurants being added to Epcot is cheap. The Walt Disney Company has always been about making money, let's not forget that. If Walt's brother Roy was not around to constantly remind Walt about that, we may never of had any of the parks.

I'd suggest listening to Connecting with Walt. They do an excellent job of describing not just the creative innovations developed by Disney, but also the business planning that had to be performed by both brothers to become successful after many failures.

Also, just take a look at the attendance numbers of the parks. Epcot will most likely be in last place this time next year.

 

[rteetz]

News

ABC Commissary reopens with a new look

 

[rteetz]

News

Island H2O Live! water park opening for preview days starting June 5

 

[OSUZorba]

News

Disney guest reportedly suffer brain injury after bird attack

https://nypost.com/2019/05/29/disney-guest-suffered-traumatic-brain-injury-after-bird-attack-suit/

Maybe this is just hypocritical of me, but I view this as being completely different than the alligator attack and don't think Disney should have any liability here. The only exception I could see is if they knew a nesting bird had a history of being aggressive and they didn't block off that part of the path. At a company I used to work for we'd get nesting geese in the parking lot and they'd have to block off chunks of the parking lot because the geese would attack you.

Funny story, one day a guy who had just bought a new black Porsche parked in the very back of the lot to avoid getting door dings. Apparently a goose saw its own reflection in the car and decided to defend his territory. It attacked that car for a long time and really messed up the paint.

 

[Moliphino]

News

Disney guest reportedly suffer brain injury after bird attack

https://nypost.com/2019/05/29/disney-guest-suffered-traumatic-brain-injury-after-bird-attack-suit/

What a great picture they used of the Magic Kingdom...

 

[rteetz]

What a great picture they used of the Magic Kingdom...

That was my first thought as well.

 

[rteetz]

News

First Look at Pixar's Onward

https://people.com/movies/chris-pra...w_twitter_peoplemag&__twitter_impression=true

https://twitter.com/x/status/1133777820784574465

 

[firefly_ris]

News

ABC Commissary reopens with a new look

I don't think I've ever been in there, but I think the refurb looks pretty good. I'm digging the deco rug.

 

[saskdw]

News

Reportedly the old corn dog nuggets have returned to Casey's! So we can all rejoice lol.

They had no clue the uproar they were going to cause with that move. LOL

I think when they saw the video Craig and Ryno did that was the turning point.

 

[jade1]

They had no clue the uproar they were going to cause with that move. LOL

I think when they saw the video Craig and Ryno did that was the turning point.

Honestly I meant to try the chicken, hot dogs ain't happening-no matter what its wrapped in.

 

[rteetz]

News

Three Bridges Bar & Grill and Dahlia Lounge to Open This Summer at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

 

[scrappinginontario]

News

Mobile Order Service Coming Soon to Select Walt Disney World Resort Hotels

It's been reported that this is now available at Pop!! Is there anyone who can post pictures of the menu offerings as I've heard it's not the entire menu...which makes sense.

TIA!

 

[DarthGallifrey]

Not sure I agree with this language.

First, Walt's original vision would never have survived even if they decided to build a fully functional city with manufacturing and research areas. Epcot is for a world that didn't know what the internet, social media and smart phones were part of. More and more companies are moving to having employees working remotely with automation inside factories. Why would companies move research facilities to a crowded Orlando area where you have theme parks? They would totally be missing out on various tax benefits of being in different states around the country.

The original vision would never have survived, much like any indoor mall in the age of Amazon.

I always skeptical of anyone who says "what Walt wanted..." He was a creative force and it's impossible how he would have reacted to the innovation of the last 50 years.

Now to your second point of cheap money grabs, nothing about the rides and attractions and restaurants being added to Epcot is cheap. The Walt Disney Company has always been about making money, let's not forget that. If Walt's brother Roy was not around to constantly remind Walt about that, we may never of had any of the parks.

I'd suggest listening to Connecting with Walt. They do an excellent job of describing not just the creative innovations developed by Disney, but also the business planning that had to be performed by both brothers to become successful after many failures.

Also, just take a look at the attendance numbers of the parks. Epcot will most likely be in last place this time next year.

I'm not suggesting that EPCOT should be THE EPCOT that Walt wanted but it was always intended to be a place of learning over a place of entertainment. It is possible to stay true to what Walt envisioned and what was built in 1982 while still growing and changing with the times. Advances in technology doesn't translate to slapping an IP skin on a ride that was already there. That is, imo, a cheap money grab. The minute they start putting IPs on everything in the World Showcase it is now Fantasyland. Guardians in Futureworld makes it more like Tomorrowland. So basically, imo, EPCOT is just becoming MK v2.

I get that attendance at EPCOT is not as high as the other parks but there are other ways to get crowds there and not every park needs to have the attendance that MK does. It's also important to note that the other 3 parks have been updated more than EPCOT so of course more people are going to gravitate towards the newer stuff they haven't experienced yet. EPCOT needs to be updated. I don't disagree with that. It's the 'how' that I do necessarily agree with.

Expand World Showcase. Grow the existing pavilions and add new countries. Work in more vegetation/trees etc to EPCOT to make it less of a concrete jungle. Make Living With a Land its own building that includes a huge interactive walk through green house. Update Spaceship Earth to include stuff past the PC. Put mobile phones and the internet in there etc. Hell, if Iger is so bent on IPs even a Wreck it Ralph ride where you go into the internet and learn about data, and the ride could even get faster as you get into more modern internet speeds. There are ways to do both. But EPCOT should not be about thrills and cartoons.

And thank you for the recommendation. I have listened to Connecting With Walt and greatly enjoyed it.

 

[BorderTenny]

What a great picture they used of the Magic Kingdom...

Also, I'm 99% certain that the unidentified bird wasn't a brown pelican.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Honestly I meant to try the chicken, hot dogs ain't happening-no matter what its wrapped in.

I actually thought it would be nice if they had both options on the menu - traditional and chicken

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I'm not suggesting that EPCOT should be THE EPCOT that Walt wanted but it was always intended to be a place of learning over a place of entertainment. It is possible to stay true to what Walt envisioned and what was built in 1982 while still growing and changing with the times. Advances in technology doesn't translate to slapping an IP skin on a ride that was already there. That is, imo, a cheap money grab. The minute they start putting IPs on everything in the World Showcase it is now Fantasyland. Guardians in Futureworld makes it more like Tomorrowland. So basically, imo, EPCOT is just becoming MK v2.

I get that attendance at EPCOT is not as high as the other parks but there are other ways to get crowds there and not every park needs to have the attendance that MK does. It's also important to note that the other 3 parks have been updated more than EPCOT so of course more people are going to gravitate towards the newer stuff they haven't experienced yet. EPCOT needs to be updated. I don't disagree with that. It's the 'how' that I do necessarily agree with.

Expand World Showcase. Grow the existing pavilions and add new countries. Work in more vegetation/trees etc to EPCOT to make it less of a concrete jungle. Make Living With a Land its own building that includes a huge interactive walk through green house. Update Spaceship Earth to include stuff past the PC. Put mobile phones and the internet in there etc. Hell, if Iger is so bent on IPs even a Wreck it Ralph ride where you go into the internet and learn about data, and the ride could even get faster as you get into more modern internet speeds. There are ways to do both. But EPCOT should not be about thrills and cartoons.

And thank you for the recommendation. I have listened to Connecting With Walt and greatly enjoyed it.

My biggest thing is I don't want 4 parks that feel the same - I want each to have it's own identity. But I think IP can still be incorporated in EPCOT and it retain it's own identity. I think we are on the same page when you say "There are ways to do both" and that is what I want as well. Though, I think more than "learning" I see EPCOT about "Discovery and awakening that curiosity in people" and IP can be used to draw people in.

Even with adding Frozen I appreciate that they due replicate traditional Nowegian architecture in the Summerhaus they built for the meet and greet ... and since Frozen came out they have offered Aventures By Disney to Norway and that part of the world, so i think it can stir curiosity (would be ideal if Frozen took place in Norway vs fictional Arrendale, but whatever)

In the end, I think most of us want the same thing - something that still feels like EPCOT and what it was originally created for, but also understand the model it was built with (namely sponsors) doesn't really work anymore and they need to use it to market "Disney" more if, in effect, Disney is the main sponsor now

Ok, probably discussed this enough in this thread - but I think the future of EPCOT is something very important to WDW and something I am very interested in

 

[OKW Lover]

I get that attendance at EPCOT is not as high as the other parks

IIRC, Epcot attendance is second only to the MK.

 

[mikeamizzle]

News

First Look at Pixar's Onward

https://people.com/movies/chris-pra...w_twitter_peoplemag&__twitter_impression=true

https://twitter.com/x/status/1133777820784574465

Ok, its just two screenshots, but I'm a bit disappointed with this art style. Very generic.

 

[crazy4wdw]

New Flamingo Crossings Hotel Goes Vertical Near Walt Disney World

 

[The Pho]

IIRC, Epcot attendance is second only to the MK.

Animal Kingdom drew 1.3 million more than Epcot last year. MGM is still 4th but Star Wars will fix that since it’s only 1.2 million behind, depending on its effect over only 1/3 of the year. Next year Epcot will likely be 4th for Disney World, if not this year.