News Round Up

[rteetz]

Star Wars could break more records

http://deadline.com/2015/11/star-wars-force-awakens-advance-ticket-sales-box-office-1201631598/

 

[rteetz]

I think it's replacing Pizzafari.

EDIT: or maybe Pizzafari is becoming a different QS and the new restaurant, Tiffens, is being built right next to it.

No pizzafari is still there it just reopened from refurb. Tiffins will go behind it.

 

[rteetz]

I'm thinking it's not. The article said it had waterfront views. AFAIK, Pizzafari isn't on the river.

Tiffins is behind pizzafari.

 

[skier_pete]

I'm thinking it's not. The article said it had waterfront views. AFAIK, Pizzafari isn't on the river.

I imagine that if Tiffins is the place behind Pizzafari, then it would be possible for it to have "waterfront views" but the waterway there is very narrow and there is not much to see. I suppose it might look out towards the Harambe Theater for the Lion King or maybe the Avatar area, but even so I don't think there would be much to sell on the views. However, I don't see any other location that could have a fully functioning restaurant ready to go in 2016, and since all that was known was that it will be a TS restaurant, it makes the most sense that that's the place.

Oh - and I just caught up on the PP that was ranting about the Christmas party. I get disliking the hard ticket events - I think they suck - but I can't imagine that it would make it better to spend my hard ticket event repeatedly posting on the DIS...I post here to enjoy a piece of Disney when I am home. When I'm at Disney, I don't really bother to post unless I'm in the room.

 

[soniam]

No pizzafari is still there it just reopened from refurb. Tiffins will go behind it.

I wish they would replace Pizzafari with something better. I don't think they should get rid of a QS there, but I wish it was half way decent.

 

[wareagle57]

If TFA beats Jurassic World, it is going to the most amazing feat in modern cinematic film history by a long shot. Maybe biggest since the original Star Wars. A debut that large in December would be insane.

It will still be impressive because no matter what it will beat Hobbit.

 

[soniam]

If TFA beats Jurassic World, it is going to the most amazing feat in modern cinematic film history by a long shot. Maybe biggest since the original Star Wars. A debut that large in December would be insane.

It will still be impressive because no matter what it will beat Hobbit.

There isn't much about Force Awakens that would surprise me. I already know people, like my step-father, who have bought tickets for 3 separate showings even into 2016. He loves Star Wars but wouldn't be considered a fanatic. So, if "regular" people are that gungho, imagine what the huge "fanatical" fanbase is doing. With the advertising for it, I don't know if there will be anyone left on the planet who doesn't know that a new Star Wars movie is coming out. The last sentence is a bit exaggerated, but you know what I mean.

 

[Budshark]

I am not surrounded by geeks by any stretch (I work for a beer company in St Louis...) and there are 8-10 families I know of that have their opening weekend plans. I don't know if I know 8-10 people who have EVER bought movie tickets on preorder, much less a month out before the marketing push started.

The ONLY thing that will stop it from being the biggest ever is the casual fan being scared away by The hype of crazy crowds. But something tells me that won't happening. Based on preorders most 14 plexes in St Louis are running 8-9 theaters Star Wars opening weekend. That alone is crazy.

 

[twebber55]

For it to break all records its got to do well internationally

Star wars has typically been domestic driven

Im thinking 2 billion and a domestic record

 

[Joben]

The ONLY thing that will stop it from being the biggest ever is the casual fan being scared away by The hype of crazy crowds. But something tells me that won't happening. Based on preorders most 14 plexes in St Louis are running 8-9 theaters Star Wars opening weekend. That alone is crazy.

And this is why I only go to the Esquire now. A theater where you not only preorder tickets you can choose your seat beforehand. no more having to get to a movie early just to get a decent seat. (Go Cards)

 

[Budshark]

And this is why I only go to the Esquire now. A theater where you not only preorder tickets you can choose your seat beforehand. no more having to get to a movie early just to get a decent seat. (Go Cards)

Yeah - we went the reserved route as well! Especially since we have 7pm 12/17 show! Been taking my 6 year old son through each of the movies to get him ready! Proud dad moment when he started getting excited to watch the next one. Too bad we missed the Hollywood Studios meet and greets by a month!

 

[soniam]

And this is why I only go to the Esquire now. A theater where you not only preorder tickets you can choose your seat beforehand. no more having to get to a movie early just to get a decent seat. (Go Cards)

A lot of the theaters here do reserved seating or were doing for Star Wars, even if they don't normally do it. Thank goodness.

For it to break all records its got to do well internationally

Star wars has typically been domestic driven

Im thinking 2 billion and a domestic record

I am thinking that this movie will have much more international appeal than previous ones, from what I have seen. Disney is really playing it up everywhere. They did that toy unboxing around the world, and it looked like there were a ton of fans who got up at who knows what hour to be there to see toys revealed Just think what they will do for a movie.

 

[SureAsLiz]

That glorious light at the end of the tunnel means the castle walkway is open again! Right now only the left ramp (from the hub) is open but it's nice to be able to walk through again

 

[Josh Hendy]

But in today's data driven market how do you find those? Can Disney capture the grandparents, aunts, uncles, and others who wouldn't be there unless the AP holder convinced everyone to do a big trip?

How about the families who will now skip WDW because their grandparents, aunt, uncles, etc. who live in central FL no longer buy APs and are no longer thrilled to play tour guide to the grandkids/nieces/etc. if they have to pay the full price? That is one (pretty big) reason for offering discounts to locals.

 

[Josh Hendy]

That's Nuts! This is what is normally a very uncrowded time of year (or at least as uncrowded as it gets). It's always a pain getting run over by strollers and the electric carts, it certainly seems like most people have no idea how to drive them, especially people that just rent them for the trip.

Even if you're an electric cart expert, it must be really tough to get around in a super crowded park.

 

[rteetz]

TSMM expansion progressing. Mr. Potato head is walled off completely for the expansion of the queue. The new track will become standby only and the two existing tracks will become FP+ and wheelchair accessible.

 

[luisov]

TSMM expansion progressing. Mr. Potato head is walled off completely for the expansion of the queue. The new track will become standby only and the two existing tracks will become FP+ and wheelchair accessible.

Are they changing the entrance of the ride so it faces Toy Story land or is that coming later?

 

[rteetz]

Baymax looks to be coming to innoventions but no word on when exactly.

 

[rteetz]

Are they changing the entrance of the ride so it faces Toy Story land or is that coming later?

I believe that is coming later but not sure exactly. Maybe the work they are doing now will allow that entrance change to happen quicker when it comes to that point.

 

[rteetz]

Kidszone to close at universal in 2016 to make way for Nintendo according to sources