News Round Up

[rteetz]

 

[rteetz]

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[rteetz]

Besides those lovely photo updates the trams from the backlot tour were reportedly spotted in a junk yard.

 

[rteetz]

DTD update

http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2015/02/downtown-disney-update-landings-grows.html

 

[Reddog1134]

Those are the first photos I've seen of hub construction from an above ground level view. I didn't realize they hadn't even started work on the upper half. I keep hearing late spring for completion but now I'm not so sure.

Of course, there was probably a lot more construction involved with the lower half due to the moat area that was filled in.

 

[rteetz]

Those are the first photos I've seen of hub construction from an above ground level view. I didn't realize they hadn't even started work on the upper half. I keep hearing late spring for completion but now I'm not so sure.

Of course, there was probably a lot more construction involved with the lower half due to the moat area that was filled in.

Permits expire in fall so I would expect completion by then. The lower part is the most extensive and they are closer to finishing that within the next month or two.

 

[rteetz]

Hat watch update

https://twitter.com/carousloprogrss/status/563345473109753856

 

[rteetz]

Little mermaid is currently down for refurb and sources are saying that it is getting the DCA upgrades.

When I rode in January the black light fish near the beginning were added already.

 

[rteetz]

Art of Shaving is now open at DTD

http://www.wdwmagic.com/shopping/ar...he-art-of-shaving-opens-at-disney-springs.htm

 

[Josh Hendy]

Gosh ... the people look like tiny ants from up here!

But seriously ... I'm disappointed that Avatar Land is a dead-end or cul-de-sac off the hub of Animal Kingdom. Even though it can lead to some jarring sightlines, I prefer a "rim and spokes" layout because of the freedom of touring options and the feeling of progressing through a park rather than the feeling of wasting time backing out of an area. And besides, being able to see a "weenie" in the adjacent land leads to the exciting anticipation of things to come. And discovering shortcuts and backroads to get from place to place is also part of the fun of exploring.

The parks which are the most fun to navigate and explore are Disney Land and Magic Kingdom. These are the world's first theme parks with the most input by Walt. The farther we get from Walt, the more obtuse, random and bizarre the park layouts become (DHS and AK being the poster children). There's no big secret to this ... Walt just had a feeling that if he hung around in parks, sat on a bench and listened to people, lined up for hot dogs, etc. he would be able to design and operate a better park. Someone whose view of the parks is mostly through a spreadsheet or a slide presentation in a committee meeting would not see the point of building extra walkways, adding (as opposed to removing) benches, and so on.

 

[rteetz]

Gosh ... the people look like tiny ants from up here!

But seriously ... I'm disappointed that Avatar Land is a dead-end or cul-de-sac off the hub of Animal Kingdom. Even though it can lead to some jarring sightlines, I prefer a "rim and spokes" layout because of the freedom of touring options and the feeling of progressing through a park rather than the feeling of wasting time backing out of an area. And besides, being able to see a "weenie" in the adjacent land leads to the exciting anticipation of things to come. And discovering shortcuts and backroads to get from place to place is also part of the fun of exploring.

The parks which are the most fun to navigate and explore are Disney Land and Magic Kingdom. These are the world's first theme parks with the most input by Walt. The farther we get from Walt, the more obtuse, random and bizarre the park layouts become (DHS and AK being the poster children). There's no big secret to this ... Walt just had a feeling that if he hung around in parks, sat on a bench and listened to people, lined up for hot dogs, etc. he would be able to design and operate a better park. Someone whose view of the parks is mostly through a spreadsheet or a slide presentation in a committee meeting would not see the point of building extra walkways, adding (as opposed to removing) benches, and so on.

MK had little input from Walt because he died well before the project was even started. When he died they had serious consideration of killing the project the together. Every park is different. I don't think the same MK layout would work for AK. I actually like all the paths it makes it feel more immersive.

 

[Josh Hendy]

MK had little input from Walt because he died well before the project was even started. When he died they had serious consideration of killing the project the together. Every park is different. I don't think the same MK layout would work for AK. I actually like all the paths it makes it feel more immersive.

Aren't you thinking of EPCOT, not MK? I believe that the plans for MK were far advanced when Walt died. He famously insisted on the Utilidors being built under the park for example. The groundbreaking for MK happened within a few months of Walt's death and the plans could not have been drawn up and completed in such a short time.

 

[rteetz]

Aren't you thinking of EPCOT, not MK? I believe that the plans for MK were far advanced when Walt died. He famously insisted on the Utilidors being built under the park for example. The groundbreaking for MK happened within a few months of Walt's death and the plans could not have been drawn up and completed in such a short time.

Nope I'm talking about both. Walt had very different plans for the entire resort. Walt died in 1966. MK opened in 1971. He didn't have that much involvement in MK.

 

[Reddog1134]

Gosh ... the people look like tiny ants from up here!

But seriously ... I'm disappointed that Avatar Land is a dead-end or cul-de-sac off the hub of Animal Kingdom.

I'm sure they'll put new pathways in. It looks like they could have one leading to the Oasis.

 

[rteetz]

Staggs has been named COO

 

[skier_pete]

I gotta say I agree DHS is a mess, but DAK IS a "hub and spoke" design, with the central Discovery Island/Tree of Life and the paths to the lands off of that. In addition, you can go around the outer perimeter from Africa/Asia/Dinoland. I think they did realize the mistake of not making DHS this way.

I also think you are making an assumption that may turn out incorrect - that Avatarland will only have one entrance/exit. Just because Camp minniemickey was that way doesn't mean they will keep it the same. The picture doesn't show it, but they could easily run a path just to the North that would right around the river and slide into Africa. Just because the path isn't there yet doesn't mean it won't be built.

 

[skier_pete]

Art of Shaving is now open at DTD

The excitement of the opening of more stores I will never enter makes me quiver.

 

[Reddog1134]

Staggs has been named COO

Does that mean Rasulo will be getting Iger's job?

 

[rteetz]

Does that mean Rasulo will be getting Iger's job?

Not necessarily Iger was the COO before he became CEO. Many think he will now groom Staggs to take over.

 

[Josh Hendy]

I gotta say I agree DHS is a mess, but DAK IS a "hub and spoke" design, with the central Discovery Island/Tree of Life and the paths to the lands off of that. In addition, you can go around the outer perimeter from Africa/Asia/Dinoland. I think they did realize the mistake of not making DHS this way.

I also think you are making an assumption that may turn out incorrect - that Avatarland will only have one entrance/exit. Just because Camp minniemickey was that way doesn't mean they will keep it the same. The picture doesn't show it, but they could easily run a path just to the North that would right around the river and slide into Africa. Just because the path isn't there yet doesn't mean it won't be built.

Yeah a path to Africa makes sense. It looks like they have possibly designed the pathway/terrace in front of the new FOTLK theater with the intention of extending it.

Of course there will be a gigantic mob running to Avatarland at rope drop for quite some time after it opens, but in the long term the park will be more balanced with (presumably) crowds splitting 3 ways to go Everest, Kilimanjaro and Avatarland.

Then all that AK will need is about 3 more great coasters to put it more in the league with Busch Gardens Tampa, make Kali River about 3 times longer, add a skyway to make it easier to get across the park, and a complete do-over of Dinoland and it will be perfect. A good theme for "New Dinoland" would be Australia ... the animals are really cool and it fits in with the Nemo show.