Who else is underwhelmed by wdw new celebration/walts birthday.

[Bob O]

This may not necessarily be news or rumors exactly but this board seems to have a good give and take on the issues. In the new disney magizene they have a article about walts birthday bash at wdw and from that article and what ive read i would say im totally underwhelmed with what they are doing. The parade sthey are re-doing needed to be replaced anyway and using them as a way to sell snowglobes/inter-active pins, the same as the hat in mgm, used to sell merchandise rather than anything truely original. Why didnt they do something special like some type of attraction. I think a proper honoring of walt could have included some type of dark ride like pirates with all the characters he brought to life or 3d film or motion type ride based on the same theme. Something to show off his leagcy in the from of attraction he would like rather than a excuse to just push merchandise. What do you think of the new celebration planned and how they are handling Walts legacy in the celebration.

 

[Captain Crook]

I agree with scoop pretty much across the board, but I have a problem with Disney pushing a new, huge celebration on us each year. Lately it has come to that and I think they could eventually tire us out and kill the goose that lays the golden egg or in actual language, fail to enthuse the intended audience (the guest). How often will we "buy" the big, can't miss, once in a lifetime event, if it happens every year? Thats why the millinium & 25th WERE special but perhaps why they're downplaying this one...

 

[Safari Steve]

There is an attraction all about Walt's Life that will be part of the celebration. Walt Disney: One Man's Dream (presented by Hallmark), will be an interactive exhibit featuring hundreds of rare audio clips, photographs, and artifacts, as well as an original film on the life of and company founded by Walt Disney.
Also, brand new (and really spiffy looking) interactive trivia kiosks will be located at each park to give guests a unique look at the man behind the mouse. (The kiosks at MGM will be located under that "unoriginal hat", btw)
The Share a Dream Come True parade at MK will have some truly dazzling effects, and will feature at least 100 characters in each performance. The work I've seen of all four parades is stunning to say the least, filled with intricate details and classic Disney charm.
I agree that the article leaves a bit to be desired, but that is no reason to be underwhelmed with something that has yet to happen. As always, I think it's best to clear your mind of all premature assumptions and adopt a 'Wait and See' attitude. I think you may be quite pleased.

 

[Bob O]

Rather than a bunch on parades to replace dated parades (and sell merchandise)wouldnt a "e" type attraction better serve his legacy. And why cant wdw have a display on Walt sponsored by disney without having hallmark sponsor/pay for it?? Does everything have to have a sponsor or is disney unwilling to do anything on their own??? I may be becoming a pessimist but i tend to believe more of what Jim Hill writes then what i hear from the wdw pr folks.

 

[Planogirl]

The only part I'm not thrilled with at this point is the Sorceror's Hat in MGM. It looks OK in concept but it's really just a fancy pin shop and will block what I consider a much more interesting structure.

As for the rest, I'll wait and give Disney the benefit of the doubt. The parades could be really nice as well as the display!

 

[Captain Crook]

I guess I'm (once again) in a minority because I like the hat. It's big, colorful & whimsical...Just what I want from Disney. As for the continued disparaging remarks about Pin trading, well, it's obvious most of you aren't traders. My kids and I love it. The interaction with CM's has taken our frequent trips to WDW to new heights, not to mention the anticipation in looking for and finding certain pins to trade for. It may be a Disney money maker, but that shouldn't be a bad thing in and of itself!

Also, the fact tha the Hat is in front of the Chinese Theatre should come as no surprise since the actual theatre is now owned by Universal, I'm sure Eisner & Disney do not want to 'showcase' this structure any longer and to go a little further, I'm sure that is why the stucture will be re-habbing big time, real soon (as in no more theatre).

Bob O, you're right Disney doesn't appear to want to undertake much on their own, but the other side of the coin is why should they if they don't have to? It is certainly in Walt's tradition to get someone else to pay for what he wanted (He did it so often).

Safari Steve, lest you think I was blasting the celebration, I wasn't, I'm more than willing to wait and see what transpires and I'm looking forward to it. As Landbaron says my glass is half full...er, I mean it runnith over with enthusiasm!

 

[DisDuck]

Captain and scoop, I am joining you on the hat so maybe we are now a majority. As to pin trading, I actually found it 'magical' on my last trip. My older daughter is a Sleeping Beauty fan and I was looking for Aurora, no where to be found. Then suddenly while at Fantasmic, I spot a CM with the pin just when I was giving up hope. On top of that, she was from my hometown of Brooklyn and her name was the same as my youngest daughter. Talk about MAGIC with all capitals.

So how you approach pin trading is how 'magical' or 'un-magical' it is.

Cannot wait to see the new parades and all next June.

 

[DVC-Landbaron]

OK, a little out of order but here goes.

The Captain wrote:

I have a problem with Disney pushing a new, huge celebration on us each year.

and

How often will we "buy" the big, can't miss, once in a lifetime event, if it happens every year?

I absolutely agree!! (How about that, Captain!?) Disney seems to be on a marketing kick that touts a new 'celebration' each year. For the most part what this amounts to is nothing but hype and a new parade that was needed anyway. I'm hoping that Walt's 100 will be the end of this practice and I'm hoping that this 'celebration' has something resembling substance. But I'm also hoping Ei$ner grows a brain. Does this make me a glass half-full kind of guy, Captain?

The Captain also writes:

I guess I'm (once again) in a minority because I like the hat. It's big, colorful & whimsical...Just what I want from Disney.

and from The Scoop we hear:

If that's the case, then something in front of the Chinese Theatre is a no brainer.

I certainly can't argue that the Chinese Theatre is doomed. And I don't blame them. I wouldn't want to spotlight my competition either. And I also agree that the hat is big, colorful & whimsical and also what I want from Disney, but with some qualifications. I want 'big, colorful & whimsical' in Fantasyland. I want 'big, colorful & whimsical' in Imagination at EPCOT. I want 'big, colorful & whimsical' only if the theme calls for it!! I do NOT want 'big, colorful & whimsical' in Fort Wilderness, the Animal Kingdom Lodge or Frontierland!! And I certainly don't want 'big, colorful & whimsical' at the end of a beautifully themed Hollywood street!! It doesn't fit! It loses focus. And it's very distracting to the rest of the theme.

I would have no complaint, whatsoever, if they decided they wanted to put that hat in Fantasyland. If they wanted to erect it over the 20K site I have no problem with it (other than no new attraction)! That's my same complaint about the wand in EPCOT. Primary colors and huge icons have their place. But not over Spaceship Earth!!!

Finally the Captain says:

Bob O, you're right Disney doesn't appear to want to undertake much on their own, but the other side of the coin is why should they if they don't have to?

Because it's the right thing to do!

It is certainly in Walt's tradition to get someone else to pay for what he wanted (He did it so often).

And when he couldn't get anyone else to pony up, he paid for it himself. Why? Because it's the right thing to do!

 

[Captain Crook]

I absolutely agree!!! (how about that, Captain?)

Oh, Landbaron you know we actually agree on a lot...Especially just after you've returned from WDW! It'll last about two weeks, I figure!

DisDuck we're seldom in different cars, so the minority car is no different. I'll always save you a seat if I'm there first!

I hear rumblings that the Pirate may be returning!

 

[Another Voice]

Universal does not own the Chinese Theater in Hollywood. It is owned by the Mann’s theater chain and they’ve just recently changed the name back to the Grumman’s Chinese Theater. It is now part of a much larger complex that includes the Motion Picture Academy and brand new theater that will become the home for the Oscars. The complex is the center piece of the redevelopment of Hollywood Blvd. and it’s hoped that it will become a major tourist center.

As part of the project, there are rumors that Disney’s rights to use the Chinese Theater will either be not renewed or the price will be set beyond what Disney is willing to pay. Add to that the rumor that Eisner’s been reading the ‘Brand Management for Dummies’ book where it says “make logos big and colorful so people can easily remember them!” and you get the hat.

As for Hallmark’s sponsorship – doesn’t it seem that turning the “centerpiece” of the celebration of your founder’s birthday into a commercial for another company is somewhat tacky? It makes the whole affair seem like an office birthday party where everyone has to chip in five bucks to pay for the store bought cake.

 

[Captain Crook]

AV, I trust your judgement on this, but I was sure Universal "recently" purchased the theatre, are you sure? If so, I stand corrected. Man, I'm going to have to stop working so much and do a little more Disney research...Where are my priorities!!!

 

[TigerBear]

I have heard that Disneyland - Walt's own park - is doing nothing in celebration of his 100th birthday? Does anyone know if this is true? Now THIS to me is sad.

 

[MKingdom]

Back to Bob O.:

An "E" type of attraction takes lots of time and money to implement. (Remember how long it took to get Test Track up and running? Mission Space will take awhile, too.) Having so many discounted rates @ the resorts indicates that park sales must be soft. Keeping this in mind, it wouldn't make financial sense for WDW to create an "E" ride just for Walt's birthday. You and I and anyone else who partook of "Leave a Legacy" literally paid off the cost of those monuments. If anything, it would make more sense for WDW to have something else we could buy into for Walt's birthday.

 

[wdwguide]

I think a permanent e-ticket attraction would be better than a bunch of temporary stuff. And while I've gotten used to the BAH, i don't even want to think about what it will look like in two years. Have you looked at the Epcot sign lately? Mickey's arm is now card board brown instead of black due to faded paint!

The four parades are definitely a welcome addition. The Magical Moments parade has been around for eons, as was Mulan. They were long overdue for a replacement.

I am really, really looking forward to the Walt Disney exhibit, but doubt that it will have a lot of mainstream appeal.

What I would have liked to see is the return of Sorcery in the Sky and a replacement for Fantasy in the Sky.

 

[wdwguide]

MKingdom,

e-ticket rides have historically quite often been added when attendance was expected to be soft, or to counteract attendance dips that took management by surprise. Something like DLP's Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, or the Tower of Terror can add a million or more visitors per year single-handedly if well-received.

 

[DVC-Landbaron]

What I would have liked to see is the return of Sorcery in the Sky and a replacement for Fantasy in the Sky.

I second the motion!!!

 

[Bob O]

Mkingdom its not like Walts 100th birthday snuck up on disney. It sounds like this was put together with little forethought. Why didnt disney think this would be a very big occassion and plan for this years ago and do something very big to honor the man who started it all rather than a last minute gimmick type thing to sell snowglobes/pins. This celebration is more of a dishonor to walts legacy how it is being implemented, i could see doing this to honor eisner but not Walt. And who thinks wdw wouldnt love a additional million vistors with the market being soft and more hotels coming online that will need to be filled, you wont fill them up with glorified dumbo/carnival attractions will you??

 

[Another Voice]

The truth is that this is not a “celebration of Walt’s 100th birthday”. It is a marketing campaign for WDW and was chosen ONLY because Marketing thought a 30th Anniversary celebration for WDW wouldn’t work after the large 25th anniversary “celebration”. Neither the Studios nor Disneyland will be having a “celebration” so it's really hard to claim that the Company is going all out for the event.

Rumors are saying that 2003 will have yet another year-long WDW celebration, the 100th anniversary of Flight. The theme wasn’t picked because the Company has a fondness for Wilber and Orville – it was chosen because it’s a great advertising tie-in to the opening for ‘Mission: Space”.