Official 2017 D23 Expo Thread

[lockedoutlogic]

Nope! Sorry, keep being argumentative. Please don't make up things I didn't say.

I'm argumentative...no doubt. When you see the finished product...I think you'll be wrong. I'll wait and see.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

So when they say 'in time for the 50th', what does that mean? Does the 50th celebration start at the beginning of 2021, or does it start October 2021?

Technically it's 10/1/2021

 

[lockedoutlogic]

That is true - Disney wants to maximize revenues - be that $1 from billion people or $1,000,000 from one person

But the money for all these improvements have to come from somewhere and they need to show the parks on their own make money to get funds for these investments

That is why I never have issues with the extra cost events (paid extra hours, VIP tours, dessert parties, etc) - the more extra money they can get from people that have it the less they have to increase the baseline ticket ... though I know that will still increase some and impacts how often we can go as a family (though all the new stuff impacts how often we was to go as well)

I do see your point there..
My stance it's not the upsells...it's WHAT the upsells are. They have to be of reasonable quality and the customers must be able to say no when they are not.

...the problem is they can't do it. A lot of the upsells are repackaging of stuff that can't reasonably be justified as necessary or worse yet ruins something's that were included in the base price prior.

It's really a dangerous, fine line.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Speculation is that the theatre will be on the east side of Main Street in what currently is a backstage area. Here's an image that DanBoris posted on the dedicated new theatre thread:

Link to that thread: https://www.disboards.com/threads/new-theater-comes-to-walt-disney-world.3618409/

Here's a link to Bing Maps with the location highlighted (in "Bird's Eye" view): https://binged.it/2vqs3Ni

That is exaclty where it has to go

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Basically everyone called this a D23 EVENT!
Since this returned tonight (TWO DAYS EARLY) and everyone who was at the Disney Parks D23 Panel got front row tickets to see it tonight, I thought it would go well with this thread. <3
What do you all think of the new Fantasmic? I for one LOVE IT! Alot of the old mixed in with some new! =D

FYI - found this version which I thought was of higher quality:

I liked it a lot - definitely the projection mapping added quite a bit I think

I miss Peter Pan but the Pirates scene was really well done. The Aladdin part was a bit underwhelming (as soon as it starts my 8 year old says "I see how you are flying!!!)

 

[monica9]

I agree. When my dad and I went to WDW when I was 10 it was just WDW and Epcot, DHS opened shortly after we were there. We spent part of a day in Epcot and only in Future World. My dad would have liked to do the world showcase but thought I wouldn't enjoy it so we didn't do it. He probably also didn't want to do all the walking Finally visiting it as an adult I can see why he skipped it because there really isn't much there specifically for kids, but that was always the point. There are ways you can enjoy it with your kids and I'm not saying kids don't enjoy it, but adding IPs in Epcot just for the kids is a bummer, especially when it doesn't seem the least bit educational (GOTG). I'm all for Inside Out being added but they can do it well and the movie wasn't just for entertainment, it had a great learning message.

I guess it's different for every child. My daughter has always loved going into the shops and mostly bringing her bear from one country to the other to color and get signed. She gets excited to walk around the countries. I wish they would keep the countries as is and just add the fun rides to future world. I remember as a child loving future world and all the innovative games to play and things to touch

 

[cavepig]

I don't get that Epcot design photo, it just looks like just a bunch of trees and water. Why not leave the Innoventions buildings and turn them into something instead of knocking them down, seems like it would be less work. I tried to read through comments but probably missed it, but was that just put up to look at or did he mention it during the panel? I see it's just an idea but didn't see if he actually talks about it.

 

[samsteele]

Also, fix the US one because it's garbage and have a more eclectic gastronomy section there as opposed to hot dogs and burgers, that's embarrassing. LA, HI, TX, S. CA, S. FL, NY, IL, PR cuisine to show variety in geology, food, and culture.

Agree with a twist. A straight forward approach to this would be to 1) offer a rich, diverse Americana emporium with a menu that changes seasonally to reflect the best of America's incredible regional food heritage (as you noted above) paired with regional craft beer and locally-sourced wines and 2) also appease the tired parents with kranky kids who still demand hot dogs, nuggets & shakes with a quality-sourced Blue Ribbon Midway or State Fair themed CS with a set menu of 100% beef hot dogs & a fresh toppings bar, WDW standard nuggets, etc. The old theme park standard of dogs & burgers have kicked around forever because there is still a demand for it. But if Epcot is going to trade in it, at least kick up the quality, flavour & manage the price point.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I don't get that Epcot design photo, it just looks like just a bunch of trees and water. Why not leave the Innoventions buildings and turn them into something instead of knocking them down, seems like it would be less work. I tried to read through comments but probably missed it, but was that just put up to look at or did he mention it during the panel?

It was mentioned as a "blue sky" concept for a reimagined Future World/entrance area to EPCOT

The middle does look quite open/a bit empty - there are some smaller structures closer to the lagoon that could be used for something though

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Agree with a twist. A straight forward approach to this would be to 1) offer a rich, diverse Americana emporium with a menu that changes seasonally to reflect the best of America's incredible regional food heritage (as you noted above) paired with regional craft beer and locally-sourced wines and 2) also appease the tired parents with kranky kids who still demand hot dogs, nuggets & shakes with a quality-sourced Blue Ribbon Midway or State Fair themed CS with a set menu of 100% beef hot dogs & a fresh toppings bar, WDW standard nuggets, etc. The old theme park standard of dogs & burgers have kicked around forever because there is still a demand for it. But if Epcot is going to trade in it, at least kick up the quality, flavour & manage the price point.

That would be pretty cool. My dream is for the American Pavilion to have a great craft beer bar with an area for holding beer pairing dinners - so this could go along with your idea (and in my full dream it is my job to manage said craft beer bar and host the beer pairing dinners, but I digress)

I do like the idea of building on a state fair theme and maybe even have contest winners from around the country help put together the menu, etc.

 

[Capang]

I guess it's different for every child. My daughter has always loved going into the shops and mostly bringing her bear from one country to the other to color and get signed. She gets excited to walk around the countries. I wish they would keep the countries as is and just add the fun rides to future world. I remember as a child loving future world and all the innovative games to play and things to touch

Agreed. Never underestimate the power a cardstock bear stapled to a stick and colored with 25 cent crayons has to entertain kids for an entire day. My 6 year old loves WS because she can color. She also loves to talk to the CMs from each country. I've never understood the mentality of Epcot "bores" kids.

 

[joelkfla]

Caribbean is losing 576 rooms...

Barbados buildings 11-16, Martinique buildings 21-23.

What about Custom House? Will that stay, or will check-in & DME move to the expanded OPR?

 

[Minnesota!]

What about Custom House? Will that stay, or will check-in & DME move to the expanded OPR?

I assume that the new OPR will hold check in, too. The Custom House was such a PITA to access as a CBR guest...it would be fantastic if it was central to the resort, finally!

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

I'm here for the day

I have a lot of things I want to do. Still haven't seen the SW land model.

 

[Planogirl]

My son always loved Epcot too. He isn't thrilled with the current version but I can't say that I blame him.

As for burgers and hot dogs, if the spine is removed then the Electric Umbrella might go too. That only leaves the Liberty Inn for such food. Burgers are definitely harder to find nowadays.

 

[LoveToLaugh]

We are trying it for the first time this year if we can't get our BOG adr. Is it really that bad?

We tried it in June with the parade package. I was a bit concerned with all the bad reviews, but being on the dining plan, I gave it a shot. We were pleasantly surprised! The service and atmosphere were great - the food, while not the very best Italian I've ever had, was good as well. There were seven of us and we all ordered different things for the most part - nothing was inedible. It was awesome to enjoy a late lunch while sitting in some ac and then simply walk out and have a spot on the curb for the parade! If you are on the dining plan, this is a no-brainer!! I would still try to get BOG ressies even if it's just to get a quick snack to share or the grey stuff - which you could do at breakfast or lunch - the atmosphere in there is amazing ...hope that helps

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Agreed. Never underestimate the power a cardstock bear stapled to a stick and colored with 25 cent crayons has to entertain kids for an entire day. My 6 year old loves WS because she can color. She also loves to talk to the CMs from each country. I've never understood the mentality of Epcot "bores" kids.

I have found the WS CMs from the various countries can be some of the best CMs on property - they always seem genuinely happy to talk to you - about their homeland but just in general as well

 

[monica9]

I have found the WS CMs from the various countries can be some of the best CMs on property - they always seem genuinely happy to talk to you - about their homeland but just in general as well

Yes. It's a different experience than you get from the other parks. Would hate to see it turn into more of an amusement park. Again, half of the park I don't mind but keep the countries and the education. And please don't take my American Adventure away ever!

 

[DisFanDad]

That is true - Disney wants to maximize revenues - be that $1 from billion people or $1,000,000 from one person

But the money for all these improvements have to come from somewhere and they need to show the parks on their own make money to get funds for these investments

That is why I never have issues with the extra cost events (paid extra hours, VIP tours, dessert parties, etc) - the more extra money they can get from people that have it the less they have to increase the baseline ticket ... though I know that will still increase some and impacts how often we can go as a family (though all the new stuff impacts how often we was to go as well)

I do see your point there..
My stance it's not the upsells...it's WHAT the upsells are. They have to be of reasonable quality and the customers must be able to say no when they are not.

...the problem is they can't do it. A lot of the upsells are repackaging of stuff that can't reasonably be justified as necessary or worse yet ruins something's that were included in the base price prior.

It's really a dangerous, fine line.

MaxRebo - I think you are restating one of the fallacies people often repeat regarding businesses like Disney (well, business in general). Businesses don't have to keep increasing profits. Businesses really just have to break even, in theory, to stay in business. Of course people will argue that publicly traded companies have to serve the interests of the share holders (at the direction of the board/CEO), but there is no one way in which they need to serve these interests. This logic is often used for "well, the money for improvements needs to come from somewhere, and so prices need to go up". The implication of this is that the money can't come from existing revenues / profits. It absolutely can. There is no reason a company like Disney, who is making billions off its parks (esp North American Parks), needs to increase prices to pay for improvements. And the fact that we fall into that trap of thinking, that this is the dominant discourse surrounding such improvements and prices in general (that prices always go up) only allows companies like disney to continually increase prices.

As for the "Extras" and Hard ticket events - its great to say we are ok with them as long as they are extras, and don't detract from our experience, is all well and good in principle, but we need to be a little more detailed in examining exactly what they do. Many of those "extras" DO actually effect our vacations. Something as simple as the Christmas/Halloween parties - while they don't seem to affect us on the surface (don't want to pay for them, just don't go) Lets remember that they close the park to other people, people who are paying the same amount for their days tickets as others do all year. Essentially those parties detract from the value of everyone else's tickets. Same with the extra morning / evening hours. On the surface, no impact, but I know that this past year if you compare the number of extra Magic hours and total park hours open, to the park hours open without paying for the hard ticket opening, the total park hours were down significantly. Not nearly as many extra magic hours as previous years. Desert parties, again seem not to impact others, but in reality those paying customers get prime viewing locations for events that everyone used to have access to, now you need to pay for them. Other offerings, like the express transport for instance, again on the surface - no impact, but we don't really know what the overall impact. In the long run does disney run fewer buses to the other routes ? Do they direct the newer / nicer buses to the express service? (Obviously the overall impacts of the express buses are impossible to know from an outside perspective, but they seem like the one that would LEAST effect others, just pointing out that even they might do so). The overall point, a lot of the "extras" that people pay for actually DO take away from the value of the tickets others have paid for, weather its potential time in the parks, access to prime areas, or the assignment of personnel / resources from general guests to paying guests.

 

[likesdisney]

Which page/post on the thread is the photo/artists rendering of Epcot that's been mentioned. I'd look through all the pages but my computer has been really slow and crashing a lot past couple days so looking through 81 pages isn't easy at the moment.