WDW and Universal. Who wins?

[BrianL]

interesting take, personally i haven't come across a Disney fan who is upset with the additions, people have been begging for more for years and are finally getting it. Especially villains land, that is a huge win for hardos. EU IMO is so overhyped without being opened it is already far superior to Dis in many a mind on these boards, HP was the same way when it first opened and look where we are now.

I don't think UNI is coming for the crown anytime soon, the parks are just too different, they can both coexist and be great on their own merit, but UNI isn't toppling Dis anytime in the foreseeable future

I do think most fans like the new additions, but many are upset about losing certain things to get them. It's more about where they are putting them that is controversial. Nobody is really saying, "I don't want an E-Ticket Cars attraction," but they don't want it in Frontierland. That said, I mostly don't mind that. I will be upset if Monsters Inc. goes in over Muppets, but only because they have this mostly dead area of the park at the Animation Courtyard. Use THAT and keep the moderately busy Muppets area. I actually hate those completely unusued areas in the parks the most! They irritate me.

 

[New Mouse]

interesting take, personally i haven't come across a Disney fan who is upset with the additions, people have been begging for more for years and are finally getting it. Especially villains land, that is a huge win for hardos. EU IMO is so overhyped without being opened it is already far superior to Dis in many a mind on these boards, HP was the same way when it first opened and look where we are now.

So when are they going to actually complete the Epcot transformation?

I'm still waiting on some of those highly anticipated updates that are now literally never going to happen.

The reality is, no fan is getting anything until it's up, complete and actually running.....and even then (lookin at you Tiana), it doesn't mean it's going to work.

With the current state of Disney Imagineering and "Leadership" there's a 50/50 chance it will never happen and another 50/50 chance it will even work once it does happen.

 

[Aluminum Falcon]

So when are they going to actually complete the Epcot transformation?

I'm still waiting on some of those highly anticipated updates that are now literally never going to happen.

The reality is, no fan is getting anything until it's up, complete and actually running.....and even then (lookin at you Tiana), it doesn't mean it's going to work.

With the current state of Disney Imagineering and "Leadership" there's a 50/50 chance it will never happen and another 50/50 chance it will even work once it does happen.

I think on these boards especially no one is ever satisfied, and it is way beyond what have you done for me lately. it just seems like a sounding board for nonsense lately. Never satisfied no matter what has happened or what's in the pipeline.

Again i have yet to find a single person who isn't excited or impressed with the new additions announced, people who haven't gone to Disney in a decade plus are talking about it. I think from a pure business perspective this is a big win for Dis, it's also why i think Dis keeps walking away from the hardcore fans of the parks. When they make the parks into the holiest place on the planet and demand no changes, but at the same time look for why things haven't been added and why there hasn't been more changes is mind boggling. Then you watch people turn themselves into a pretzel talking about how Dis should be handling things. Beyond confusing and confounding

 

[Jrb1979]

I think on these boards especially no one is ever satisfied, and it is way beyond what have you done for me lately. it just seems like a sounding board for nonsense lately. Never satisfied no matter what has happened or what's in the pipeline.

Again i have yet to find a single person who isn't excited or impressed with the new additions announced, people who haven't gone to Disney in a decade plus are talking about it. I think from a pure business perspective this is a big win for Dis, it's also why i think Dis keeps walking away from the hardcore fans of the parks. When they make the parks into the holiest place on the planet and demand no changes, but at the same time look for why things haven't been added and why there hasn't been more changes is mind boggling. Then you watch people turn themselves into a pretzel talking about how Dis should be handling things. Beyond confusing and confounding

Not really. I like the new additions but I hate how they are moving away from what made the Disney Parks different. I grew up with the parks in the 80s and 90s. What made me like the parks is how each one had it's own theme and were unique. The parks were never just about the rides but the experience and immersiveness.

I don't even mind the IP thing but can they at least attempt to fit the attractions in the areas they fit.

 

[BrianL]

I think on these boards especially no one is ever satisfied, and it is way beyond what have you done for me lately. it just seems like a sounding board for nonsense lately. Never satisfied no matter what has happened or what's in the pipeline.

Again i have yet to find a single person who isn't excited or impressed with the new additions announced, people who haven't gone to Disney in a decade plus are talking about it. I think from a pure business perspective this is a big win for Dis, it's also why i think Dis keeps walking away from the hardcore fans of the parks. When they make the parks into the holiest place on the planet and demand no changes, but at the same time look for why things haven't been added and why there hasn't been more changes is mind boggling. Then you watch people turn themselves into a pretzel talking about how Dis should be handling things. Beyond confusing and confounding

I genereally agree, the new areas are a win in general. Walt never wanted the parks to remain static, or be a muesum to the past. That said, there are certain considerations that I think they should pay attention to, like using unused areas of the park first before removing something. Like the next thing to go in at Epcot needs to go in the Wonders of Life - even if they demo the building and rebuild. Monsters Inc. should go where the practicalyl unused Animation building is, not over Muppets. Honestly, even if you love Tom Sawyer's Island, it's pretty underutilized and this makes sense. I might have done something a little different there personally, but it's a legitimate choice. Dinoland too, though I might not have brought in Indiana Jones - it'd be better to have soemthing different in my opinion. Still, it's going to be popular for sure.

 

[lowlight]

I do think most fans liek the new additions, but many are upset about losing certain things to get them. It's more about where they are putting them that is controversial. Nobody is really saying, "I don't want an E-Ticket Cars attraction," but they don't want it in Frontierland. That said, I mostly don't mind that. I will be upset if Monsters Inc. goes in over Muppets, but only because they have this mostly dead area of the park at the Animation Courtyard. Use THAT and keep the moderately busy Muppets area. I actually hate those completely unusued areas in the parks the most! They irritate me.

Pretty much this. Anytime you take something away to add something “new”, the net result is zero. Disney can’t afford any more zeroes. Dinosaur is a fun ride with more serviceable life left in it, and they are removing it and the rest of poor man’s Jurassic park instead of just adding another land. If the Muppets rumor pans out, it will be so idiotic that everyone making that decision needs to be axed.

 

[BrianL]

Not really. I like the new additions but I hate how they are moving away from what made the Disney Parks different. I grew up with the parks in the 80s and 90s. What made me like the parks is how each one had it's own theme and were unique. The parks were never just about the rides but the experience and immersiveness.

I don't even mind the IP thing but can they at least attempt to fit the attractions in the areas they fit.

I do think that's a legitimate concern, but for all the talk of sightlines, etc. we don't really know how it's all going to turn out. They might just knock it out of the park! While it does seem weird to have Cars in Frontierland, I think we have to adjust our thinking about the area from "The Old West" to "The American West." It's an evolution, though I do get that it's a bit jarring. Still, hopefully it will all work well - we'll jsut have to see.

 

[BrianL]

Pretty much this. Anytime you take something away to add something “new”, the net result is zero. Disney can’t afford any more zeroes. Dinosaur is a fun ride with more serviceable life left in it, and they are removing it and the rest of poor man’s Jurassic park instead of just adding another land. If the Muppets rumor pans out, it will be so idiotic that everyone making that decision needs to be axed.

Right, or even just adding another attraction to Dino-Land, or keeping Dinosaur as part of South America - tons of dinosaur fossils have been found there! They might have to change it a little - shed the DINOSAUR movie tie-in and spruce things up a bit, but it still pretty much works.

 

[New Mouse]

I think on these boards especially no one is ever satisfied, and it is way beyond what have you done for me lately. it just seems like a sounding board for nonsense lately. Never satisfied no matter what has happened or what's in the pipeline.

Again i have yet to find a single person who isn't excited or impressed with the new additions announced, people who haven't gone to Disney in a decade plus are talking about it. I think from a pure business perspective this is a big win for Dis, it's also why i think Dis keeps walking away from the hardcore fans of the parks. When they make the parks into the holiest place on the planet and demand no changes, but at the same time look for why things haven't been added and why there hasn't been more changes is mind boggling. Then you watch people turn themselves into a pretzel talking about how Dis should be handling things. Beyond confusing and confounding

Hey, I like the ideas I just don't know that the ideas will actually happen. Disney has a much worse habit than universal of announcing things and then either chopping or gutting them. At this point, it's all just blue sky still.

 

[BrianL]

Hey, I like the ideas I just don't know that the ideas will actually happen. Disney has a much worse habit than universal of announcing things and then either chopping or gutting them. At this point, it's all just blue sky still.

That's a good point. While they say that this is "Not Blue-Sky" they have cancelled non-Blue-Sky stuff before. It wouldn't shock me to see that Cars expansion go in, then Villains land languish for so long that it eventually becomes something different or doesn't happen at all. We are talking a long timeline on this stuff! I do think the AK changes are coming first, and that is probably the most needed anyway.

 

[Aluminum Falcon]

Pretty much this. Anytime you take something away to add something “new”, the net result is zero. Disney can’t afford any more zeroes. Dinosaur is a fun ride with more serviceable life left in it, and they are removing it and the rest of poor man’s Jurassic park instead of just adding another land. If the Muppets rumor pans out, it will be so idiotic that everyone making that decision needs to be axed.

that i fundamentally disagree with, if you have something no one is really interested in ie tom sawyer island and replace with something new you'd be hard pressed to say the net is zero. Dinoland does not, did not work, ever. If you want to talk about something that never fit in with the theming it was that for sure. Also muppets are not what they used to be, the show is not as popular as it used to be and the muppets generally are not as popular as they were in the 70's,80's,90's. that coupled with the congestion in that area of the park, and the reimagining in totality of HS makes some sense to me. BTW anytime a park replaces a "screen ride" with an actual ride is a win in my book.

 

[Aluminum Falcon]

Hey, I like the ideas I just don't know that the ideas will actually happen. Disney has a much worse habit than universal of announcing things and then either chopping or gutting them. At this point, it's all just blue sky still.

I would say they have toned things down in the past, outside of economic disasters have they outright cancelled things. Keep in mind that they have a duty to their shareholders and outright cancelling large projects that have an impact on their public offering could get them into legal troubles. That said, anything is possible but based on their most recent track record (star wars, toy story, pandora, hotels, ect) i think that you may be overstating for sake of winning your argument

 

[Aluminum Falcon]

Not really. I like the new additions but I hate how they are moving away from what made the Disney Parks different. I grew up with the parks in the 80s and 90s. What made me like the parks is how each one had it's own theme and were unique. The parks were never just about the rides but the experience and immersiveness.

I don't even mind the IP thing but can they at least attempt to fit the attractions in the areas they fit.

I think Disney has been pretty good about where they are putting their expansions. HS is clearly going to be all IP outside of Disney Studios landing area, since that park never really had a direction when it was created and was essentially just thrown in to compete with universal, i would say it is better now with a clearer vision. Pandora makes sense in Animal Kingdom far more than the carnival themed Dinoland, and on that merit i would say that the Americas land they are replacing dino land with makes better sense.

I am genuinely curious what they have actually done to this point that doesn't "fit in", and not just speculation about upcoming projects

 

[Smugpugmug]

I am genuinely curious what they have actually done to this point that doesn't "fit in", and not just speculation about upcoming projects

Guardians doesn't fit Epcot in any way. I enjoy the ride (the theming is mediocre at best but enjoy the ride experience) but I'm not going to pretend like it actually fits the theme of the park.

 

[BrianL]

that i fundamentally disagree with, if you have something no one is really interested in ie tom sawyer island and replace with something new you'd be hard pressed to say the net is zero. Dinoland does not, did not work, ever. If you want to talk about something that never fit in with the theming it was that for sure. Also muppets are not what they used to be, the show is not as popular as it used to be and the muppets generally are not as popular as they were in the 70's,80's,90's. that coupled with the congestion in that area of the park, and the reimagining in totality of HS makes some sense to me. BTW anytime a park replaces a "screen ride" with an actual ride is a win in my book.

Muppets can be moderately busy though - the last several times I've been to it had a decent crowd. It will always be better to build over the least used stuff, so, to me, Animation Courtyard is a no-brainer. At MK, TSI does make sense, even if it will be sad to see it go.

 

[BrianL]

Guardians doesn't fit Epcot in any way. I enjoy the ride (the theming is mediocre at best but enjoy the ride experience) but I'm not going to pretend like it actually fits the theme of the park.

I do wish they had leaned more into the science aspects of it - like a nice pre-or post show. They could have even tied it into Energy - as in what kind of energy sources would power future generations or spacecraft, etc. The Wonders of Zander as a World Showcase pavillion is a cute idea, but then why isn't it actually IN World Showcase. I'm not knocking it though - it's pretty great all around.

 

[Aluminum Falcon]

I do wish they had leaned more into the science aspects of it - like a nice pre-or post show. They could have even tied it into Energy - as in what kind of energy sources would power future generations or spacecraft, etc. The Wonders of Zander as a World Showcase pavillion is a cute idea, but then why isn't it actually IN World Showcase. I'm not knocking it though - it's pretty great all around.

so when i was in my hour long wait for the ride i did notice they talk about Zanders energy and how they produce it. It actually wasn't half bad either for pre-ride entertainment

 

[Aluminum Falcon]

Guardians doesn't fit Epcot in any way. I enjoy the ride (the theming is mediocre at best but enjoy the ride experience) but I'm not going to pretend like it actually fits the theme of the park.

If that's the case then Figment doesn't fit either.
I do think guardians works, when you boil it down it is showing what humanity should be thriving to become in the future showcased by the Zandarians, and that makes sense in Futureworld to me

 

[Smugpugmug]

I do wish they had leaned more into the science aspects of it - like a nice pre-or post show. They could have even tied it into Energy - as in what kind of energy sources would power future generations or spacecraft, etc. The Wonders of Zander as a World Showcase pavillion is a cute idea, but then why isn't it actually IN World Showcase. I'm not knocking it though - it's pretty great all around.

That was more in line with what was planned when the Big Bang coaster was to replace Universe of Energy before the Guardians theme was put onto it. I really do like Guardians but I do wish the theming was better than what we actually got. It definitely doesn't reflect the budget. The pre show acting is also high school play level lol

 

[Smugpugmug]

If that's the case then Figment doesn't fit either.
I do think guardians works, when you boil it down it is showing what humanity should be thriving to become in the future showcased by the Zandarians, and that makes sense in Futureworld to me

Eh, disagree. It doesn't fit but I still like the ride regardless.