The Spirited Seventh Heaven ...

michmousefan

Well-Known Member
Radiator Springs Racers is not quite as impressive as JTTCOTE when it comes to huge facility and overall scope. RSR lacks any real pre-show or opening act like JTTCOTE has with the elevators. At RSR you just wait through a nicely themed queue and are loaded into a car and you're off on a grand adventure.

That RSR sits in one of the most physically impressive structures that WDI has ever built pushes it into Mega E Ticket territory. It's not to be missed; both a daytime ride and a nighttime ride, which are different experiences.

Definitely not to be missed; I'd also argue that the main street of Cars Land, and the shops/eats/atmosphere within acts as a de-facto "opening act" or pre-show for RSR. You can visit Luigi's tire shop on the street, so it's familiar when you encounter it in the attraction. Other than the theming which is surrounding you in every direction, I'm not sure RSR needs a formal pre show. As you mentioned, get in and you're off.

That reveal with the waterfall and the music at the beginning of the ride makes for a great scene 1...
 

lazyboy97o

Well-Known Member
Actually both rides inside Mysterious Island have performance issues. Journey to the Center of the Earth ends so suddenly and abruptly - without any sort of tension, build-up or climactic release - that I got off and immediately wanted to prescribe it Cialis. 20K Under the Sea shuts off the lights and falls asleep. Literally. That ride is so dark and void of activity you might wonder if Disney designed it as a sort of sick joke to have you stare into the void and ponder your existence. I know I did.

From what the videos can tell, Escape from Gringotts commits one of the cardinal sins in ride-making. It talks too **** much. You can't get any momentum. Here you are trying to escape, but every character you meet along the way, what does he do...HE STARTS MONOLOGUING! He/she starts this like prepared speech about how you're not supposed to be here, or there's no way out, or there's danger ahead (what danger? Everybody talks about danger but nobody feels it) or how feeble you are compared to them and now they are going to destroy you. The climax of the ride is....no what am I talking about, the ride has no climax. The last scene is someone - for some reason - pontificating loudly at you for a solid minute while some CGI dragon wanders around in the background. And scene.
I thought there was a lot to look at on 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Journey to the Center of the Earth is based on a book that, like 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, consists of a lot of landscape and animal descriptions and not a lot of plot or action. It seems there was an assumption of familiarity with the source to fill in the drama and why you go flying out.

But in its defense it's something you have to experience. Youtube doesn't do it justice...
I haven't bothered to watch any videos, but it's such a physically flat experience I think a lot would translate well.

Micechat had a big update today about Disneyland

Disneyland
1. Disneyland is getting the paint the night parade that Hong Kong received. The Disneyland version will have some differences tho including a frozen float.

2. A new Steve Davison show is coming for the 60th. Big pyrotechnic upgrades are needed so the old fantasy in the sky show will return starting January 9th.

3. The backstage alley/arcades behind main street will wrap up in late fall.

4. Peter Pan is getting a big refurb starting in February and finishing in May

5. CMs will get special diamond celebration name tags

DCA
1. New world of color

2. Luigis flying tires is going goodbye come January 11th to make way for a new ride called luigis festival of dance. The tires have been too hard for Disney to maintain so they had to shut it down. The new ride will incorporate a ride system similar to ratatouille.

3. GM is looking to sponsor an attraction in Disneyland could end up being RSR or autopia with some upgrades

4. Frozen is going into the animation academy

5. Soarin will close January 11th for HD upgrades. The new film will not come until 2016 when it debuts at Shanghai.
It took fifteen years, but an American park is getting an LPS attraction!!
Invoking Mystic Manor and Ratatouille was just playing on people's ignorance. The Luigi ride sounds far more like Aquatopia, but without the water features and shallow pool that helps to mask the preprogrammed ride path.
 

the.dreamfinder

Well-Known Member
Invoking Mystic Manor and Ratatouille was just playing on people's ignorance. The Luigi ride sounds far more like Aquatopia, but without the water features and shallow pool that helps to mask the preprogrammed ride path.
What they're doing with Luigi's is what they should have done from the beginning; LPS bumper cars. The invoking of Mystic Manor and Rat reminded me of the hype and subsequent trashing of Antartica.
 
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spacemt354

Chili's
I've seen videos that captured what's on the screens pretty well but they fell flat when it came to capturing the physical sets which are amazingly well done. The best experience is definitely on the ride (as always with any ride).

I think anything in a dark setting is not suitable to judge on YouTube. Forbidden Journey is a prime example of this. I had seen the videos online but when you're actually on the ride....completely different experience. Same goes for Gringotts, but I would still take FJ over Gringotts if I had to rank them. FJ just pushed the envelope further and had these wow moments that, in retrospect, might have spoiled me for what I expected from EFG.
 

FutureWorld1982

Well-Known Member
And WDW is still stuck with MSEP? Dislike!
Well, we just got the new Festival of Fantasy Parade, even though the park really needs a new nighttime parade. Also, now Disneyland will be even more ahead of MK for nighttime entertainment. Fantasmic!, night parade, and fireworks VS. night parade, Celebrate the Magic, and fireworks.
 

WDW1974

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Spirited Musings:

Seems to be a lot of chatter in the fan community (and it isn't all about fun Twitter stuff like Andy Castro insulting/or not some Club 33er's brat) of late.

Lots of talk about what it may or may not mean. Let's cut thru the bull and all, there are numerous projects coming to WDW, but don't expect any surprises ... or surprises of substance. Everything that will likely be coming between now and 2020 is something you've heard about or read about here (or elsewhere) in one form or another. The real question is what has been approved and in what order of the pipeline. From Star Wars product to Pixar product to Marvel product (yeah, just seeing if you are paying attention) to Blue SexKitten product.

I have some idea what is happening, but we've been down this road for a few years now. There's nothing that needs to be said no matter how badly you may want to hear about it.

I also don't intend to get into an online urinating match with someone who hasn't been relevant in the fan community for over a decade now (whether they have a podcast or submit content to the HuffPo or not). I don't appreciate crap from two years ago being dragged out (on another thread here) to defend the man. He has an account here, he can post here just like anyone else from bloggers and Lifestylers to Disney BRAND advocates to social media/propaganda folks from Celebration Place. If they want to try and go up against me, then I'm all for it because, frankly, the fan community is becoming boring and predictable.

Yes, UNI has really cut budgets on future major projects because they predicted fanboi like results for DA and only got outstanding results. Life sometimes sucks that way. UNI isn't perfect ... awe ... hey, I still like their approach to the theme park business right now more than any company in the USA!

I can't help but think there are folks at Disney looking to push this agenda regarding future plans due to the negative pushback they received on shoving Frozen were it doesn't belong (no fanboi jokes, despite thinking of plenty). If you think Disney is about to spend a lot of money on TPFKaTD-MGMS and soon to be TPFKaDHS, then maybe, just maybe, you'll forget that Arrendale has about as much of a place in World Showcase as a $45 a la carte steak.

BTW, you could tell how afraid Kitsis and Horowitz were in bringing the Frozen cast to Once Upon a Time as the show, which has taken liberties with every character from Snow White to Mulan to the Wicked Witch, was as faithful to the film as possible. Wait, there's no way this character arc passes without some 'Let It Go' and/or ''Do You Want to Build a Snowman?'

Speaking of teevee, the new season hasn't overly excited me. Have to give it time ... I surprisingly enjoyed the premiere of Blackish. Gotham has potential. Blacklist is great ... Modern Family still is too. Hawaii Five-O is laughable, almost in a Marvel way, but is shot beautifully so it's worth my time.

BTW, this week marks the 30th Anniversary of Miami Vice. I was a fan of the show. I even may have dressed a bit like Crockett and Tubbs back in the 80s. But really, anyone who enjoys TV today should understand and appreciate that the show set the mark for an entire new style of big screen production values (music, fashion, lighting) on the small screen that everyone takes for granted today no matter what they watch. It really did things that were just not part of the medium before. Anyone interested, I'd advise checking out the Miami Herald as they have some great stories about the impact of the show (South Beach didn't exist until Miami Vice showed what could exist).

Yep, still amazed that people who have professional jobs don't realize that Twitter speaks for them to the entire world.

Been hearing very good things about this year's version of Halloween Horror Nights. Maybe I'll go ... if summer ever ends.

Hey, George Kalogridis: got regrets? You should. If I were you ...

Love the way the Micechat bois described the DLR Prez position in their column this morning. Nailed. It.

Speaking of which, I am pleasantly surprised that the John Lasseter Vanity Project known as Luigi's Flying Tires That Do Absolutely Nothing (much like the 1960s attraction that inspired them) is being killed so quickly. I said the attraction wouldn't last, but am surprised that they are pulling the plug so quickly.

While I generally have positive feelings about the peaceful protests in HK as young people who have grown up in an affluent capitalist culture since China took control of the city in 1997, and who don't have a full grasp of how life differs in the mainland and don't want to live it, demand democracy, I have to wonder what Bob Iger, Jay Rasulo and Tom Staggs are thinking.

Before you think they are that worried madly, understand they are likely just as worried that some wacko is going to commit some act of terror at one of the US resorts.

Speaking of China, the E-Ticket stage show at SDL that will include those little drones that people have discovered has the current title of ''When You Wish''. This show will largely be a best of musical numbers and moments from Disney classics.

Jumping all over, but back to Anaheim where with every passing day, it looks like Toontown's days are numbered. The Force is strong back there ...


The NFL is so out of touch ... doing such a poor job of PR/crisis management in the wake of all the stories of abuse by its players that you wonder if they are getting advised by the same people who advise Disney on owning social media and controlling the narrative.

Is fall ever going to get here?

No, there is no such thing as a beautiful funeral.
 

WDW1974

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Speaking of Blacklist, as you and others have pointed out Spader has been amazing. Do you have any thoughts on why he wasn't even nominated for an Emmy?

The man is an amazing talent, no doubt. I wanted to hire Alan Shore as my lawyer after watching him on the late/great Boston Legal. ... I think he should have gotten a nom. I'm not sure who I would have taken out of that group, though.

But there is a desire by the Academy members to go overboard on the folks from HBO (they don't all deserve the accolades they get) and, now, the hip-kid on the block, Netflix.
 

WDW1974

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Probably as good as Titanic or The Ten Commandments.
Just because the viewer knows what will happen doesn't mean you have to disappoint her with the how.

Um ... ahm ... those are not exactly favorite films of mine. I do like seeing the ship split apart and Leo become a popsicle though.

Again, I think prequels are a tough thing to pull off in a satisfying manner.
 

Mike S

Well-Known Member
Spirited Musings:

Seems to be a lot of chatter in the fan community (and it isn't all about fun Twitter stuff like Andy Castro insulting/or not some Club 33er's brat) of late.

Lots of talk about what it may or may not mean. Let's cut thru the bull and all, there are numerous projects coming to WDW, but don't expect any surprises ... or surprises of substance. Everything that will likely be coming between now and 2020 is something you've heard about or read about here (or elsewhere) in one form or another. The real question is what has been approved and in what order of the pipeline. From Star Wars product to Pixar product to Marvel product (yeah, just seeing if you are paying attention) to Blue SexKitten product.

I have some idea what is happening, but we've been down this road for a few years now. There's nothing that needs to be said no matter how badly you may want to hear about it.

I also don't intend to get into an online urinating match with someone who hasn't been relevant in the fan community for over a decade now (whether they have a podcast or submit content to the HuffPo or not). I don't appreciate crap from two years ago being dragged out (on another thread here) to defend the man. He has an account here, he can post here just like anyone else from bloggers and Lifestylers to Disney BRAND advocates to social media/propaganda folks from Celebration Place. If they want to try and go up against me, then I'm all for it because, frankly, the fan community is becoming boring and predictable.

Yes, UNI has really cut budgets on future major projects because they predicted fanboi like results for DA and only got outstanding results. Life sometimes sucks that way. UNI isn't perfect ... awe ... hey, I still like their approach to the theme park business right now more than any company in the USA!

I can't help but think there are folks at Disney looking to push this agenda regarding future plans due to the negative pushback they received on shoving Frozen were it doesn't belong (no fanboi jokes, despite thinking of plenty). If you think Disney is about to spend a lot of money on TPFKaTD-MGMS and soon to be TPFKaDHS, then maybe, just maybe, you'll forget that Arrendale has about as much of a place in World Showcase as a $45 a la carte steak.

BTW, you could tell how afraid Kitsis and Horowitz were in bringing the Frozen cast to Once Upon a Time as the show, which has taken liberties with every character from Snow White to Mulan to the Wicked Witch, was as faithful to the film as possible. Wait, there's no way this character arc passes without some 'Let It Go' and/or ''Do You Want to Build a Snowman?'

Speaking of teevee, the new season hasn't overly excited me. Have to give it time ... I surprisingly enjoyed the premiere of Blackish. Gotham has potential. Blacklist is great ... Modern Family still is too. Hawaii Five-O is laughable, almost in a Marvel way, but is shot beautifully so it's worth my time.

BTW, this week marks the 30th Anniversary of Miami Vice. I was a fan of the show. I even may have dressed a bit like Crockett and Tubbs back in the 80s. But really, anyone who enjoys TV today should understand and appreciate that the show set the mark for an entire new style of big screen production values (music, fashion, lighting) on the small screen that everyone takes for granted today no matter what they watch. It really did things that were just not part of the medium before. Anyone interested, I'd advise checking out the Miami Herald as they have some great stories about the impact of the show (South Beach didn't exist until Miami Vice showed what could exist).

Yep, still amazed that people who have professional jobs don't realize that Twitter speaks for them to the entire world.

Been hearing very good things about this year's version of Halloween Horror Nights. Maybe I'll go ... if summer ever ends.

Hey, George Kalogridis: got regrets? You should. If I were you ...

Love the way the Micechat bois described the DLR Prez position in their column this morning. Nailed. It.

Speaking of which, I am pleasantly surprised that the John Lasseter Vanity Project known as Luigi's Flying Tires That Do Absolutely Nothing (much like the 1960s attraction that inspired them) is being killed so quickly. I said the attraction wouldn't last, but am surprised that they are pulling the plug so quickly.

While I generally have positive feelings about the peaceful protests in HK as young people who have grown up in an affluent capitalist culture since China took control of the city in 1997, and who don't have a full grasp of how life differs in the mainland and don't want to live it, demand democracy, I have to wonder what Bob Iger, Jay Rasulo and Tom Staggs are thinking.

Before you think they are that worried madly, understand they are likely just as worried that some wacko is going to commit some act of terror at one of the US resorts.

Speaking of China, the E-Ticket stage show at SDL that will include those little drones that people have discovered has the current title of ''When You Wish''. This show will largely be a best of musical numbers and moments from Disney classics.

Jumping all over, but back to Anaheim where with every passing day, it looks like Toontown's days are numbered. The Force is strong back there ...

What would make Diagon Alley even better? A meet-greet-and-please-no-grope with Governor Voldemort.

The NFL is so out of touch ... doing such a poor job of PR/crisis management in the wake of all the stories of abuse by its players that you wonder if they are getting advised by the same people who advise Disney on owning social media and controlling the narrative.

Is fall ever going to get here?

No, there is no such thing as a beautiful funeral.
If anyone in Disney actually believes we will forget about Norway just because of the big DHS redo they're dead wrong. I may get very excited for DHS but I will never forget what they will be doing to my favorite World Showcase pavilion.
 

WDW1974

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
@WDW1974 you weighed in on most of the dramas how about the comedies-ish. Ever tune into You’re The Worst? Anyone else watch Intruders on BBC America?

Haven't seen it yet.

The only new comedy I have caught is Blackish, which I really enjoyed (and it did well).

I did see that Mysteries of Laura hybrid mess on NBC and all I could think was how the (blank) does something so bad, so dumb, so poorly conceived make it to production.
 

WDW1974

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
If anyone in Disney actually believes we will forget about Norway just because of the big DHS redo they're dead wrong. I may get very excited for DHS but I will never forget what they will be doing to my favorite World Showcase pavilion.

I just don't think it was any accident that the big guns were seen out in the Studios last week (oh, and Danny Cockerell too!) ... now, it was 'convenient' that @marni1971 happened to be around and a few fanbois ...

But the talk immediately changed from all Maelstrom/Frozen to ''What is Disney doing?''

Yeah, no accident at all.
 

WDW1974

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Yep, I have a few friends at the Times that have lost their jobs that day.

You can't blame a newspaper ... they're a business doncha know (sound familiar) ... besides, I'd trust a 24-year-old kid making $28,000 a year over a 25-year veteran journalist making considerably more (even in FL).

BTW, how has Soup & Salad Sandra been doing? Still doing the Jason Garcia Sourcing Stories Via Twitter approach to reporting?
 

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