News Round Up

[Eoghann]

Video-screen based rides are not what I call high quality. And I think most people would agree. At least the ones who already own TVs and video game consoles. Anything that is mostly singing or talking audioanimatronics is boring to the average person. Don't deny it ... I've been there and I've seen the looks on the faces of the average guest and heard the comments they make when they're exiting.

I'd generally agree with most of what you wrote (though not being someone who enjoys "intense" rides I don't do any of the mountains or ToT) but I think your statement about screen based rides is overly broad.

Star Tours remains popular and is one of my favorites and Universal has shown with rides like Transformers, The Simpsons and perhaps more ambitiously the Harry Potter rides that screen based stuff can be very good. The problem comes when you just stuff a screen into a dark ride and don't do anything more... or expect quantity of animatronics to substitute for dynamism in the design I'm looking at you Mermaid!

 

[DDLand]

In case anyone forgot, Disney has another resort in China besides the new one opening up in Shanghai.

All kidding aside, analysts are really nervous that mainlanders are going to forget about HKDL and stop going. They also have reason to worry as attendance and retail revenue have reportedly been sliding It's on this backdrop that the Hong Kong Chief Executive celebrated Hong Kong Disneyland's 10 birthday.

He seems fully committed to HKDL, and is not going to let up. I just wanted to share a few excerpts from his speech...
"The future looks even brighter. Like the rest of you, I can't wait for Marvel's Iron Man theme area to open in 2016, followed by the Explorers Lodge hotel in 2017. And I can tell you that good progress is being made in the discussions between the Government and The Walt Disney Company on Hong Kong Disneyland's Phase 2 development."
He's such a tease, and he's also threatening Shanghai. Bob Weiss has begun working on HKDL recently and I'm sure those plans are advancing. Park 2 and their own version of Disney Town are on the way. I also think that Hong Kong has got be more than a little thrilled they got the same person who developed Shanghai Disney Resort on their side now.

He continues:

"With a variety of major cross-boundary infrastructure developments coming on stream over the next few years - including the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and the third runway of our international airport - our links with the Mainland, and the rest of the world, will multiply."
People are really concerned that mainlanders are dropping off coming to Hong Kong. We'll see if these sorts of links turn that around. Devalued currency is a more likely culprit than inability to access.

"That will bring a wealth of fresh opportunity for Hong Kong Disneyland, and Hong Kong as a whole.

And I have no doubt that Hong Kong Disneyland will capitalize on those opportunities."
They want to compete with Shanghai.

"The original Disneyland, in Anaheim, California, celebrated its 60th birthday two months ago. The good news is that Disneyland Resort continues to expand, continues to create enchanting holidays and memorable moments for its visitors.

In short, Hong Kong Disneyland, now 10 years old, has just begun to dazzle the world."

They're just getting started. I also have to add that they seem to be focused on all the right things. When they could be cutting costs, they're planning to build more. When they could admit defeat, they're doubling down. They also realize Shanghai could have an impact, so they're spending more.

They're getting into an arms race before Shanghai even opens. This is going to be great!

 

[Celtics33]

Regardless of whether the stuff is unique or not, charging people for the right to look at stuff and consider buying it is pretty greedy. However, people with a collector mentality will likely pay.

Actually it is called capitalism. If you don't want to look or buy then don't. If enough people do, then it drives a market. If they don't, it drives the market away.

 

[Dean Marino]

Just saw some new news. Muppets vision 3D is likely to go. However that doesn't necessarily mean the end of the muppets entirely for the parks.

Despite the fact that Disney OWNS that franchise? I could see it - the question being one of incremental value...
Disney as a corporation WILL make money from the Muppets. Are they making money from the ATTRACTION, vs some other use of the property?

Oh - yes, I DO hate "Corporate Think" - it's more of a curse that I "get" it.

 

[rteetz]

Despite the fact that Disney OWNS that franchise? I could see it - the question being one of incremental value...
Disney as a corporation WILL make money from the Muppets. Are they making money from the ATTRACTION, vs some other use of the property?

Oh - yes, I DO hate "Corporate Think" - it's more of a curse that I "get" it.

Yes. I was just pointing out that the current muppets attraction is likely to go but a new one isn't out of the question depending on how things in the future go especially the new muppets TV show

 

[Lee Matthews]

Disney would be fools to not take the muppets and put them into Epcot Future World. I'll always tout that horn

 

[skier_pete]

Disney would be fools to not take the muppets and put them into Epcot Future World. I'll always tout that horn

I would be all for the Muppets taking over imagination pavilion, as long as figment came along too. They could even move Muppets 3D over there.

I love the Muppets, but would also not be crushed if Muppets 3d were to go, but would hope they would still represent in the parks.

 

[wareagle57]

No way Rowling would agree to hosting the lights in Diagon.

1. Does she have any say over that?

2. Why not? Normally the park isn't open after dark anyway. It's not like it's taking away from "normal" HP World time.

 

[101disneyfan]

1. Does she have any say over that?

2. Why not? Normally the park isn't open after dark anyway. It's not like it's taking away from "normal" HP World time.

She has say over EVERYTHING.

 

[rteetz]

She has say over EVERYTHING.

Rowling has a good amount of control hence why Disney didn't get potter. Disney wasn't willing to give her the control she wanted, universal was.

 

[Eoghann]

1. Does she have any say over that?

2. Why not? Normally the park isn't open after dark anyway. It's not like it's taking away from "normal" HP World time.

As others have mentioned she has kept a lot of creative control. The reason you can't get Coke or Pepsi inside the Harry Potter areas is because she didn't want them there for example.

And she is reported to be very intent on keeping the themeing of the areas correct so while you could do a Christmas something, it certainly wouldn't be a light show like Osborne.

 

[DrivenByDisney]

I noticed on Friday night that DTD has started using two of the new traffic ramps as well as the pedestrian bridge closest to the parking garage. Traffic flow was MUCH better through that are.

 

[skier_pete]

Actually, the finality of what's being said publicly about the Osbourne Lights seems rather final. I was hoping that Disney would describe it as "going on hiatus", but they sure make it sound like "that's it, the end". Too bad really, though I personally can't think of a really good place they could put them without the streets of America around.

 

[leholcomb]

Actually, the finality of what's being said publicly about the Osbourne Lights seems rather final. I was hoping that Disney would describe it as "going on hiatus", but they sure make it sound like "that's it, the end". Too bad really, though I personally can't think of a really good place they could put them without the streets of America around.

The son-in-law of the Osborne family has taken to social media and said that Disney execs met with them last week and gave them an inventory sheet of all they would be receiving at the end of this season.

That's not saying someone else couldn't pick it up and capitalize on its success...

 

[rteetz]

The first Disney Springs pedestrian walkway is now open

http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions...a-vista-drive-pedestrian-bridge-soft-open.htm

 

[rteetz]

Here is some interesting news. OPTN is reporting Soarin will close for six months beginning in January 2016, likely for work regarding the new film and new theater. Living with the land is currently closed for refurb. Work in innoventions continues.

http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2015/09/epcot-update-living-with-land.html

 

[rteetz]

Hair wrap and ring carver location closing at MK

http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2015/09/magic-kingdom-hair-wraps-ring-carver.html

 

[Eoghann]

Here is some interesting news. OPTN is reporting Soarin will close for six months beginning in January 2016, likely for work regarding the new film and new theater. Living with the land is currently closed for refurb. Work in innoventions continues.

http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2015/09/epcot-update-living-with-land.html

Huh... I thought the plan was to bring the new screen online before closing on old one to upgrade it. That's some major downtime on one of Epcot's big rides.

 

[soniam]

Huh... I thought the plan was to bring the new screen online before closing on old one to upgrade it. That's some major downtime on one of Epcot's big rides.

No joke. That's pretty bad. That is our son's favorite ride. I guess we'll do Test Track at RD and then again with an FP+, if it's really closed either in March or June. Bummer. Test Track kind of blows and is boring compared to Radiator Springs Racers, or my daily commute for that matter

 

[rteetz]

Huh... I thought the plan was to bring the new screen online before closing on old one to upgrade it. That's some major downtime on one of Epcot's big rides.

Yeah OPTN is the only one reporting this at the moment. It's interesting because the digital upgrades to Soarin in California didn't take nearly that long so this would have to be third theater and queue related.