News Round Up

[skier_pete]

Ok...I
Might have missed this..."average" or base?

Not quite as bad if I missed it...still hefty though

HE said average 22-26 points, that seems pretty similar to the VGF and the higher end BLT rooms.

I think where Disney will start having a problem is likely NOT with the Poly, as that resort as always had its converts, but the NEXT DVC. I can't imagine people are going to be lining up to pay these outrageous prices at Wilderness Lodge.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

HE said average 22-26 points, that seems pretty similar to the VGF and the higher end BLT rooms.

I think where Disney will start having a problem is likely NOT with the Poly, as that resort as always had its converts, but the NEXT DVC. I can't imagine people are going to be lining up to pay these outrageous prices at Wilderness Lodge.

Ok...though I'm not sure how the "average"
Comes out without the chart.

I agree that the poly is not the problem...as it caters to the nostalgic Disney fanatics AND the new money "upper crust". (Aka the grandies)

But you're right...they are running out of monorail spots...and they have no intention of not building DVC.

That will have to start within 2 years... And they are left with retreads.

Do they go into beach club? Prime spot (actually the most prime in the whole joint... Even
More so if they finally finish MGM)...yacht club parking lot? Full scale wilderness conversion?

That's not gonna fair well at $200 a pop...even if the faux stock market holds...

No purists want to hear it...but the ONLY way any new "resorts" get built...especially prime ones like a new seven seas Spot or an entryway development near studios...is gonna be DVC only.

Maybe that's the tact?

Or of course the "villas at Disney's Caribbean beach moto lodge"

Bon Bini

 

[Josh Hendy]

Touché...

I stand corrected

I wouldn't pick such a nit, but it seems to me (as a sometime casual visitor to the Poly for lunch and not a hotel guest or potential DVC owner) that one of the most distinctive and memorable features of the resort has just been "done away with" for no particularly good reason.

I don't really understand the supposed need to have more space/fewer seats or whatever in the lobby but maybe there's something in that.

Or maybe the management (or engineering dept.) is fed up with whatever problems accompany the trick of making water flow from inside a building to outside, as if it's been built on top of a spring. But couldn't you say that about practically any large, distinctive water feature practically anywhere in the parks/resorts? I'm thinking of Wilderness Lodge, AK Lodge, the waterfalls near the entrance of AK park, and so on. At what point does "really exotic and cool looking" become a worthless bother?

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I wouldn't pick such a nit, but it seems to me (as a sometime casual visitor to the Poly for lunch and not a hotel guest or potential DVC owner) that one of the most distinctive and memorable features of the resort has just been "done away with" for no particularly good reason.

I don't really understand the supposed need to have more space/fewer seats or whatever in the lobby but maybe there's something in that.

Or maybe the management (or engineering dept.) is fed up with whatever problems accompany the trick of making water flow from inside a building to outside, as if it's been built on top of a spring. But couldn't you say that about practically any large, distinctive water feature practically anywhere in the parks/resorts? I'm thinking of Wilderness Lodge, AK Lodge, the waterfalls near the entrance of AK park, and so on. At what point does "really exotic and cool looking" become a worthless bother?

Nah...

It's just to save the cost of one part time handyman...60 gallons of bay lake swamp water a year...

And of course to allow for more "automated resort assistance kiosks"...

To solve magic band problems and sell exclusive add on rides on tower of terror... Which is scheduled to go "voucher only" in 2018

 

[Snow Queen]

Say goodbye to Condor Flats.

https://mobile.twitter.com/SasakiTime?p=s

 

[skier_pete]

Hey, I admit I never stayed at the Poly and can't say I remember the fountain/rock formation from the few visits I had there (I must've seen it though). However, I never understand the level of freakout that people get to over cosmetic changes. If the Poly has been "ruined" by taking a fountain out of the lobby, then the place was pretty s----y to be begin with.

'Cause my personal policy is the less time I spend in a hotel lobby, the better my vacation.

 

[rteetz]

Currently in Disney right now on my way to AK. Not that busy I'm here for marathon weekend.

 

[faneuil]

Currently in Disney right now on my way to AK. Not that busy I'm here for marathon weekend.

MK wasn't bad yesterday.

The Expo - now that was something. So. Many. People. But I got the magicband, so it's all good.

What are you running? Maybe I'll see you at the 1/2?

 

[mcd2745]

Hey, I admit I never stayed at the Poly and can't say I remember the fountain/rock formation from the few visits I had there (I must've seen it though). However, I never understand the level of freakout that people get to over cosmetic changes. If the Poly has been "ruined" by taking a fountain out of the lobby, then the place was pretty s----y to be begin with.

'Cause my personal policy is the less time I spend in a hotel lobby, the better my vacation.

I have to totally agree. I've never stayed at the the Poly either. I would love to, but can't justify the price tag. I've eaten at Ohana a bunch of times though and have seen the fountain. Nice, but as you say, what's in the lobby is never going to be an important part of my vacation or influence any of my thoughts/decisions. If they removed one of the mountains from MK...that is something to get up in arms about - but not a lobby feature.

 

[rteetz]

MK wasn't bad yesterday. The Expo - now that was something. So. Many. People. But I got the magicband, so it's all good. What are you running? Maybe I'll see you at the 1/2?

just the 10k never ran anything before so wanted something not too difficult

 

[rteetz]

Hub construction update

http://m.wdwmagic.com/attractions/m...t-look-at-the-magic-kingdom-hub-expansion.htm

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Hey, I admit I never stayed at the Poly and can't say I remember the fountain/rock formation from the few visits I had there (I must've seen it though). However, I never understand the level of freakout that people get to over cosmetic changes. If the Poly has been "ruined" by taking a fountain out of the lobby, then the place was pretty s----y to be begin with.

'Cause my personal policy is the less time I spend in a hotel lobby, the better my vacation.

Lol...

Here I go again...

I don't like corner cutting moves (when combined with prices increases...which is 100% of the time)...and I like preservation of nostalgic things...

But... That fountain wasnt one of them. It was 60's tastic, stale, dusty and kinda fake looking.

It didnt "take me there"...I don't get it.

But...the poly will be 10x better if they put in the trader sams and do a good job on the pools... Because other than the ten year novelty of the volcano...their pools/rec is pretty awful for the price.

I mean... The price went from $29 a night to base $509 ( yikes)...and they couldn't budget in a couple hot tubs in the 70s...80's...90's...00...?

You get the idea.

It's that kinda stuff that sticks with me when people loudly pat themselves on the back for paying the rate and saying "it's worth it"...

Pay at Wildeness lodge and donate the difference to charity (like wdw cms)...that would be "worth it"

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Currently in Disney right now on my way to AK. Not that busy I'm here for marathon weekend.

Watch fri-sat...

I happened to be there for two days during the "wine and dine" half and it was uncomfortably, sickening crowded...
Not New Year's Eve but too close.

Run Disney has gone ape... I fully support that... But they need to now move them to slow/dead weeks (not marathon... That's fine this time of year) to create a new hot spot.

I think at first they were worried they needed another draw...but he registrations go up by alot every year and that means more money.

I'm all for the "sweetheart sweat run" on 2/10 or "jimmy hoffas half" on 9/12.

I've been looking for a reason to do one and the draw of off time would work like a charm for me.

 

[faneuil]

I mean... The price went from $29 a night to base $509 ( yikes)...and they couldn't budget in a couple hot tubs in the 70s...80's...90's...00...?

You get the idea.

It's that kinda stuff that sticks with me when people loudly pat themselves on the back for paying the rate and saying "it's worth it"...

You weren't told??

The hot tubs are time machines, and the volcano, well, just say, "wannahockaloogie" while near it.

I jest, because the Poly is way over priced. As are many Disney resorts.

Ahhh, the lobby waterfall. I loved it. But it was nostalgia and nothing more. I really do wish we could time machine into different decades of Disney.

Run Disney has gone ape... I fully support that... But they need to now move them to slow/dead weeks (not marathon... That's fine this time of year) to create a new hot spot.

I think at first they were worried they needed another draw...but he registrations go up by alot every year and that means more money.

I'm all for the "sweetheart sweat run" on 2/10 or "jimmy hoffas half" on 9/12.

I've been looking for a reason to do one and the draw of off time would work like a charm for me.

Yet they cancelled Tower of Terror, which was at a great time, the first week of October.
One of RunDIsney's big issues is the staff keeps having to jet from one coast to the other.
The other issue, for Florida, is the weather.

They have the Princess in Mid-February.
With them cancelling Everest after this year, something in early May or late April would work. Then bring something back in early October.

They have gone completely gang-busters at Disneyland, even scheduling one race over Labor Day, which is nuts.

Registration isn't an issue, that's for sure. Stuff sells out in hours.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

You weren't told??

The hot tubs are time machines, and the volcano, well, just say, "wannahockaloogie" while near it.

I jest, because the Poly is way over priced. As are many Disney resorts.

Ahhh, the lobby waterfall. I loved it. But it was nostalgia and nothing more. I really do wish we could time machine into different decades of Disney.

Yet they cancelled Tower of Terror, which was at a great time, the first week of October.
One of RunDIsney's big issues is the staff keeps having to jet from one coast to the other.
The other issue, for Florida, is the weather.

They have the Princess in Mid-February.
With them cancelling Everest after this year, something in early May or late April would work. Then bring something back in early October.

They have gone completely gang-busters at Disneyland, even scheduling one race over Labor Day, which is nuts.

Registration isn't an issue, that's for sure. Stuff sells out in hours.

Disney was a much better "value" of a vacation in almost every period of its history as compared to now...and there have been ups and downs with prices.

As far as the run events go...
We know the crowd at Disneyland...they could do one every four days and get the crowds needed.

So if its too hard to plan... You simply add a small administrative department. Weddings have a department, conventions, special events...

Kinda an easy solve. The weather in Florida is volatile...but other than may 15-sept 15 youre fairly safe.

The wine and done really bugged me... No the idea...the weekend.

Do it mid October, for gods sake. Not last weekend where they already have to turn people away from rooms and restaurants for a variety of reasons...

 

[skier_pete]

But they also do the Princess marathon during President's week, which is probably the busiest week from january 1st to march 15th. (Because us Northerners all have off and like the idea of somewhere warm in February.) So clearly they are not concerned that the races are during "busy season".

 

[Figmentforever24]

Just thought I drop some stuff off real quick since I don't know when I will have the time to stop by again:

1. Disneyland Paris has their Rivers of America as well as Big Thunder Mountain closing for a 12 month rehab. The rehab is taking place is phases.

2. Disneyland Paris has Space Mountain closed until July. The new trains couldn't fit so that is being scrapped for now, but as it stands now the ride name will change to Space Mountain.

3. Disneyland Paris has IASW closing for a monthly rehab. No word on what.

4. Disneyland Paris has Phantom Manor closing soon for a rehab. No details on what.

5. The Studio Tram tour at Walt Disney Studios Paris will reopen in February following a reworking of a service road. This will prepare the way for Toy Story Midway Mania slated for a 2017 opening.

6. Recording and filming has been completed for the changes coming to Great Movie Ride.

7. Disneyland has begun the process of changing Condor Flats at Disney California Adventure to an extension of Grizzly Peak. The new land will be called Grizzly Peak Airfield and is slated to open this summer. This all coincides with a digital upgrade for Sorian. The new film has to wait until at least 2016.

8. Disneyland is getting ready to announce their 60th plans sometimes this month. Dates are closing in from the 20th to the 28th.

9. Universal Orlando is getting ready to remove Twister very very soon so get over there and ride if you haven't already!

That's all I got. Most of this you guys probably knew already! Sorry I am not around as much and thanks Rteetz for keeping things going!

 

[lockedoutlogic]

But they also do the Princess marathon during President's week, which is probably the busiest week from january 1st to march 15th. (Because us Northerners all have off and like the idea of somewhere warm in February.) So clearly they are not concerned that the races are during "busy season".

Well that makes it uncomfortable for both the runners and the tourists...and goes against the twenty year trend of "spreading the crowds" over 365...

But what do I know?

If they had a "dude" event in February...I'd be into it...allow me my Neanderthal tendencies

 

[faneuil]

Well that makes it uncomfortable for both the runners and the tourists...and goes against the twenty year trend of "spreading the crowds" over 365...

But what do I know?

If they had a "dude" event in February...I'd be into it...allow me my Neanderthal tendencies

I'm a chick, and I avoid Princess like the plague.

I think part of their reasoning is, "Hey! It's President's Day! People have off, let's have a race." But I would really rather see a race say, the first week of February.

I have to say this, after participating in a few runDisney events... during the events, they're a well oiled machine, and they do their jobs really well.

I just sometimes think their wrists are tied by the resort and parks division.
(I'm not even sure which "umbrella" of the company runDisney falls)

 

[clsteve]

I have to totally agree. I've never stayed at the the Poly either. I would love to, but can't justify the price tag. I've eaten at Ohana a bunch of times though and have seen the fountain. Nice, but as you say, what's in the lobby is never going to be an important part of my vacation or influence any of my thoughts/decisions. If they removed one of the mountains from MK...that is something to get up in arms about - but not a lobby feature.

I don't know, WDW plays the tradition and nostalgia card pretty heavily. And the fountain seems to be pretty iconic to the hotel.

I agree, it's not necessary, as the ducks aren't necessary for the Peabody to be a great hotel.

Neither are the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in the lobby of Le Pavilion each evening. (close to life saving on a couple of late nights, though....)

They're just things that set them apart, things you remember, things that give them style - even if it's kitschy.

I just hate to see things like that go. For no apparent reason other than "cost", "logistics", or "ergonomics".

Haven't stayed there since I was a kid - but it sure brought back great memories each and every time I saw it when stopping in.....