News Round Up

[rteetz]

Disney characters still meeting in hub area

http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2015/08/disney-characters-still-meeting-in-west.html

 

[rteetz]

Attractions+ photo service discontinued

http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2015/08/disney-attractions-discontinued-at-walt.html

 

[rteetz]

Operating hours for monorail changes

http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2015/08/walt-disney-world-monorail-hours.html

 

[rteetz]

Magic of Disney Animation sign is now gone

https://twitter.com/schmoofy/status/634350398594134016

 

[rteetz]

STK construction update

http://www.wdwmagic.com/dining/stk-...tos---construction-update-for-stk-orlando.htm

 

[rteetz]

Pedestrian bridge construction

http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions...gs-pedestrian-bridges-construction-update.htm

 

[rteetz]

Ladies and gentlemen at long last The Great Movie Ride/Chinese Theater Spires have returned! Two were installed last night and the other two should be installed tonight!

 

[eXo]

In regards to Universal & video games, here are a few things worth noting:

Universal has worked with Konami in the past. They brought Silent Hill in for Halloween Horror Nights 2012
Universal Japan has worked with Capcom on multiple occasions for Resident Evil & Monster Hunter attractions
Universal Studios is releasing Duncan Jones's World of Warcraft movie in collaboration with Blizzard.

The Konami rumor came from a solid source, and another source I trust implicitly backed the rumor up. Source #2 has been dead on in regards to the entire Kongfrontation project and has provided several behind the scenes pictures as well as ride schematics. So he/she obviously has direct access to this stuff.

It is odd though, considering Konami has been self sabotaging their video game division over the past year or two, and some extremely unflattering reports about their working conditions have recently come to light. They have publicly stated they felt there was too much risk in video games and instead wanted to move towards gambling machines. They have made no indication that they intend to sell off their IP's however, so it is feasible that they may opt to license these properties to a company like Universal, where they can bring income in on merchandise and licensing without actually having to put money into games development.

The fact that Universal has a working relationship with Capcom and Blizzard (along with the recent Nintendo anouncement) simply helps to fuel the rumors.

I also haven't seen anything posted here yet (which means I may have just missed it) about Universal acquiring the Lockheed Martin lands that they originally passed on a few years back. Billy Donnelly seems to believe they have recently picked this land up. It is just south of their little Wet N Wild plot of land. Maybe this offsite area will become their new backlot? Or, if one looks at what exists on the land between the Lockheed Martin space and Wet n Wild, it is a run down convenience store and a few cheaper hotels. One would assume that Harry Potter money could buy this area out fairly easily if they really wanted to. Much easier than say, trying to expand north or west, which goes into dense residential and a high school.

Anyways, just some clarification and extra thoughts on the "gameland" rumors.

 

[luisov]

Ladies and gentlemen at long last The Great Movie Ride/Chinese Theater Spires have returned! Two were installed last night and the other two should be installed tonight!

View attachment 118226

Now they just have to get rid of that awful stage in front of the theater.

 

[circus4u]

OK.......
http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/20/arts/banksy-dismaland-art-exhibition/index.html

 

[Josh Hendy]

OK.......
http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/20/arts/banksy-dismaland-art-exhibition/index.html

Interesting ... and disturbing. Some of it is very imaginative and kind of funny ... like the overturned Cinderella pumpkin. In a Halloween Horror Night kind of way.

As for the political implications ... I think that often political protestors will focus on satirizing or implicitly criticizing corporations such as Disney, Wal-Mart or McDonalds which although highly visible and eminently successful, have virtually no responsibility for any of the major problems in the world. It's too bad that Disney theme parks get dragged into the same arena with the problems of poverty and war. But evidently they want to achieve the greatest shock by juxtaposing the greatest possible contrasts of happiness and misery.

 

[DDLand]

Interesting ... and disturbing. Some of it is very imaginative and kind of funny ... like the overturned Cinderella pumpkin. In a Halloween Horror Night kind of way.

As for the political implications ... I think that often political protestors will focus on satirizing or implicitly criticizing corporations such as Disney, Wal-Mart or McDonalds which although highly visible and eminently successful, have virtually no responsibility for any of the major problems in the world. It's too bad that Disney theme parks get dragged into the same arena with the problems of poverty and war. But evidently they want to achieve the greatest shock by juxtaposing the greatest possible contrasts of happiness and misery.

Shock is 100% correct. We had another thread on this, and a link to a longer article:
http://www.disboards.com/threads/banskys-dismaland.3440569/
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...d-seaside-bemusement-park-art-exhibition.html

They're offering an "escape from mindless escapism." What I'll say is they showcased exactly why places like Disneyland are so beloved.

The world can really suck sometimes.

Walt Disney created a place where families could come together, be safe, and have fun. Where the worries of your life could be put aside for a few brief moments, and you could ride a Pirate Ship, take a RocketShip to the Moon, or go on a Jungle Cruise. Escapism is something important, and with the power of imagination I'd hardly describe it as mindless.

Additionally they also said: 'I guess you'd say it's a theme park whose big theme is - theme parks should have bigger themes.'

Funny he's attacking Disney for that... I'd point him in the direction of: http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=disney+animal+kingdom&FORM=HDRSC2

Of course, with his inhumane treatment of animals perhaps that doesn't count?

 

[rteetz]

A very interesting listen of an interview of Tony Baxter. Everything from hatbox ghost to Disneyland Parks to Frozen in Norway. Tony even has been to universal for potter multiple times.

http://micechat.com/108810-tony-baxter-harry-potter/


My favorite interesting point was him riding Maelstrom prior to it being closed and saying that it was indeed time for it to go.

 

[DDLand]

A very interesting listen of an interview of Tony Baxter. Everything from hatbox ghost to Disneyland Parks to Frozen in Norway. Tony even has been to universal for potter multiple times.

http://micechat.com/108810-tony-baxter-harry-potter/


My favorite interesting point was him riding Maelstrom prior to it being closed and saying that it was indeed time for it to go.

I know! He was harsh. Very harsh. I think perhaps a little too harsh, but his premise was correct. I do find it slightly backwards that just a little earlier in the interview he said he wanted to take real experiences in the world and make them Magical, and then the next thing you know he's selling Frozen. Is that really in the world? The DLP info was interesting, especially the WDS stuff.

Also, my other big takeaway was the whole immersive land wasn't all that new. It was just rediscovered. That's interesting.

 

[Josh Hendy]

My favorite interesting point was him riding Maelstrom prior to it being closed and saying that it was indeed time for it to go.

If lameness was actually a criteria for making updates, there are quite a few other rides at WDW whose best-before date expired long before Maelstrom's.

Maelstrom was never my favorite however it was quite pleasant and I rode it on every trip to the World and never thought, "this sucks". Compared to other Epcot dark rides I would rank it above the rides at Mexico (except for the volcano which is kick-a$$), The Seas, and Energy, but below The Land and Spaceship Earth.

The Frozen ride should be fine, probably better than Maelstrom ... as long as it's not mostly looking at video clips of the movie.

 

[loveshak22]

I am excited for Frozen, but hope it's a little more innovative than the Little Mermaid ride at MK...I was a little let down by that ride. I loved the way they designed the area outside the ride and throughout the inside queue but the ride itself was a let down I thought.

 

[rteetz]

I know! He was harsh. Very harsh. I think perhaps a little too harsh, but his premise was correct. I do find it slightly backwards that just a little earlier in the interview he said he wanted to take real experiences in the world and make them Magical, and then the next thing you know he's selling Frozen. Is that really in the world? The DLP info was interesting, especially the WDS stuff.

Also, my other big takeaway was the whole immersive land wasn't all that new. It was just rediscovered. That's interesting.

I agree with Tony in the fact the maelstrom was dated and a change was needed. I also felt that he was correct in saying that a movie after an attraction is not a good idea.

I loved his talk about how he took Eisner around Paris and how Eisner didn't even see the finished HM product he just took his sons word for it. The effects they were trying to do for Hm in the load station sounds very interesting as well. The DLP hotel at the front of the park is something they all wanted and it happened. The only thing that they did that he didn't want really was not putting the restaurants on the top floor over looking the park.

Tony described Potter as something as immersive as when he first stepped in New Orleans square in DL. Which wants makes me want to visit both DL and universal for that experience.

Tony is one of my favorite imagineers of all time and I love a lot of his work. I wish someone like him was still in Disney and that imagineers like him were allowed to do great things like he was able to.

 

[rteetz]

The Frozen ride should be fine, probably better than Maelstrom ... as long as it's not mostly looking at video clips of the movie.

It's shouldn't be as they are developing a lot of animatronics for this attraction. They showed the Sven animatronic at D23.

 

[soniam]

I agree with Tony in the fact the maelstrom was dated and a change was needed. I also felt that he was correct in saying that a movie after an attraction is not a good idea.

I loved his talk about how he took Eisner around Paris and how Eisner didn't even see the finished HM product he just took his sons word for it. The effects they were trying to do for Hm in the load station sounds very interesting as well. The DLP hotel at the front of the park is something they all wanted and it happened. The only thing that they did that he didn't want really was not putting the restaurants on the top floor over looking the park.

Tony described Potter as something as immersive as when he first stepped in New Orleans square in DL. Which wants makes me want to visit both DL and universal for that experience.

Tony is one of my favorite imagineers of all time and I love a lot of his work. I wish someone like him was still in Disney and that imagineers like him were allowed to do great things like he was able to.

Universal is awesome. Get an interactive wand, so that you have more excuse to just roam around and absorb everything. There are just so many details.

I really like the New Orleans Square area of DL, but I love the actual city. I wish we had more time to just wonder around when we went to DL. It's a much smaller space than MK, but it almost seems to have more detail. I really liked DCA too, especially the Carthay Circle and lake areas. It really makes me think that DHS could be a fabulous park one day. DLP is sounding really cool, but I have to get over the idea of visiting an American theme park in a foreign country. I guess since I have been to Paris once now, I could justify it more and not feel like a rude, loud American.

 

[rteetz]

Universal is awesome. Get an interactive wand, so that you have more excuse to just roam around and absorb everything. There are just so many details.

I really like the New Orleans Square area of DL, but I love the actual city. I wish we had more time to just wonder around when we went to DL. It's a much smaller space than MK, but it almost seems to have more detail. I really liked DCA too, especially the Carthay Circle and lake areas. It really makes me think that DHS could be a fabulous park one day. DLP is sounding really cool, but I have to get over the idea of visiting an American theme park in a foreign country. I guess since I have been to Paris once now, I could justify it more and not feel like a rude, loud American.

I've only ever been to WDW no DL or Universal. I one day will get to DL for sure and probably universal to see what it's like. DLP and Tokyo Disney are my dream destinations Shanghai could also make that list depending on how things go there.