A Spirited Perfect Ten

[Cesar R M]

Meanwhile... Back to China...

I seriously given up hope that any media will report on what WDW1974 is putting forth. I believe it to be VERY plausible having known several people that started companies in China (albiet they are "ants" compared to TWDC), but there's SO much corruption and the they had The State looking over their shoulders, tapping their phones. Finally they were double crossed by their Chinese partner and were held hostage by their own workers - and forced to flee in the middle of the night -- and these guys provided exceedingly cushy benefits to their workers - it's the stuff of spy movies.

Investigative journalism is dead. It's like we are living in The Matrix. "Move along... Everything is FINE."

Meanwhile:

the irony is.. the chinese empire did had their own intrigues and issues.. that let to their downfall.. invasion by Japan and then the "revolution" by communism.

 

[Cesar R M]

I just turned 40.

Its the lie I tell myself.

theres always a last resort.
like hiring Cher's plastic surgeon.
just stay away from Mickey Rourke's one.

 

[Cesar R M]

Since when does Iger love the spotlight? And what happened with Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.


?

as for mine train and Iger.. its even a personal joke now.. where He did an announcement of an announcement of the soon to be opened mine train.
why? because he still had nothing to show.

But the Disney stuff is also always supposed to be big. Nearly $1 billion in graft payouts would be "too big not to notice."

Pretty sure many ministers got almost on the billion figures before they were finally caught and then executed. At least the top tier ones I mean...

 

[stevehousse]

Reese Witherspoon as Tink sounds interesting to say the least. I will say though that the woman does have an incredible track record for good films (legally blonde 2 excluded), and i cant really think of any of them that were horrible! One of my favorite movies with Reese is "Freeway". I highly recommend it. it also stars Keifer Sutherland, Brooke Shields, and Brittany Murphy!

 

[Cesar R M]

I met him once (in college). I asked him pointedly why all three networks essentially ran the same news. He evaded the question and cursed me out for it. Badge of honor I suppose.....

dont almost all the current news sites.. spit the same news with minimum changes?
I mean, they all seem to come from REUTERS.

 

[Cesar R M]

Phil, if you believe that, then why are you here? Why can't you just quit me? ... Oh, and that's also an excuse thrown out by simple minds that can't comprehend complex issues. Or from people who just enjoy being drive-by provocateurs.

I sometimes wonder this:
If he cant stand you, why he still posts all the time?

 

[Bolna]

When you hear hoofbeats, think horses not zebras. There are plenty of very plausible explanations that don't involve conspiracies and the stuff of spy movies. I think logic dictates that we look toward the most plausible explanations first and save the conspiracy theories until some credible evidence surfaces that points in that direction.

I think the point is that some people keep telling you that your explanations are not the most plausible ones. Like @PhotoDave who knows a thing of two about which pictures usually come out of events like this. If you hear hoofbeats and the weather is very hot, you might think of Zebras as you might be in Africa.

 

[TP2000]

Paint The Night debuted on Thursday night for the media party. Plus the new fireworks, new World of Color, new Matterhorn, and various other baubles and niceties for Disneyland's Diamond Celebration that officially begins in about five hours.

I'll just leave this little Anaheim addition right here...

 

[The Empress Lilly]

I think the point is that some people keep telling you that your explanations are not the most plausible ones. Like @PhotoDave who knows a thing of two about which pictures usually come out of events like this. If you hear hoofbeats and the weather is very hot, you might think of Zebras as you might be in Africa.

Even in Africa horses outnumber zebra. From the department of pointless facts that might come in handy after all: Ethiopia alone has got twice as many horses as there are zebras in the entire world.

Even in Africa hoofbeats mean horses, not zebra. Westerners associate Africa with these barcoded lionsteaks because they are spectacular and fill the natural history programs. But to Africans themselves, nearly all hooftracks they ever see are from horses.

 

[ford91exploder]

the irony is.. the chinese empire did had their own intrigues and issues.. that let to their downfall.. invasion by Japan and then the "revolution" by communism.

Corruption has taken down EVERY Chinese government from the beginning of recorded history, This one will be no different, Cheating is accepted in Chinese society especially in the commercial sphere and has been for millenia, In China 'Caveat Emptor' rules the day.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Not the point. They were there to make a statement. And I KNOW you damn well know that. They're always ...oops, sorry, I'm going to puke as Bob Iger is giving a statement on Nightline and I just can't ...



First of all, I'm not employed as a journalist. It isn't my job.
I'm working on it. I'm sorry that my uncle died due to hospital neglect and I have a parent fighting for their life. I know that you're just pushing my buttons here to be contrary. But my life isn't devoted to Disney ... I can lead, I can point people in the right direction ... but I can't do their jobs for them. And I wouldn't want to. I'm often told about how many minions here. Well, if that's true, why don't pick up the shovel?

Considering that you spend so much time here, perhaps, you should work on it?



No, not really. I've already talked about the Snowden story, something the NYT and Washington Post only covered when they had absolutely no choice. Something that even the 'liberal' MSNBC began coverage by focusing on Snowden's mental health and not his information. ... And I tried Gawker, I think I got two writers a free week at EPCOT eating and drinking for my trouble. If it were easy, then I'd already have done it.

I worked my **** off to get the sexual abusers working in theme parks story somewhere and it wound up being less than I would liked on CNN. It was supposed to get followed up on, but then Russia invaded the Ukraine and it just faded away ... just as Disney would have scripted. Oh, and I was then accused of being an accessory to crimes by a few PML pals. But I'm sure you missed all that ...

I wouldn't know where to start because I don't know what kind of questions you think need asking. You keep refusing to actually make a pointed statement. You've obviously got the time to right a long rant about me, why not just give clear statements. Who soured on Disney? Why? When? Not just the what of barely any photos.

I'm not a premium member, so I have no idea what goes on in the Premium Members Lounge nor do I care. There is nobody sending me notes about what happens as I rarely use the personal message system nor have I ever emailed/texted/called/etc. any other member of this site. The only accusation of being associated with crimes I know about was your own damn fault of tasteless comments you considered to be a joke and (as with his stuff on China) your whole style of trying to make people guess at what you may or may not know.

Who said Disney paid $1 billion in graft?

Oh, btw, I wouldn't at all be surprised if Bob Iger gives Brooks Barnes an exclusive tonight or this weekend saying he was so wowed and amazed by the MAGIC he saw being created in Shanghai that Disney has decided to add another $500 million to the SDL project!

The graft notion is the closest thing that has come up as a potential really big story, but as seems to be so often the case when your coincidental correlary statements are put together you deny them. It is a game you constantly play.

 

[Shaman]

As I said in my preface, it's only speculation on my part. However, some other companies that have been successful in China have taken a very low key approach. That's particularly difficult for Disney because IP is their primary product. I think they have to go slow. But again, it's only speculation on my part.

Disney epitomizes everything China, one would imagine of a Communist country, hates with a Red passion. Mickey Mouse is the face of capitalism. The fact that Disney is IN the mainland at all is remarkable. These games China is playing are odd, but understandable when the regime feels it must control how its people think or will think. Disney flexing American soft power in China is as dangerous to the Chinese regime as Disney Co having little say in the publicity or construction site access or maybe losing their investment is to the company.

China is not a western democracy. I don't think we should expect it has been or will be easy for Disney, Iger, etc.

There is a story there, but not one most people care about. I suspect investors will only care if other sectors are failing within the company.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Disney epitomizes everything China, one would imagine of a Communist country, hates with a Red passion. Mickey Mouse is the face of capitalism. The fact that Disney is IN the mainland at all is remarkable. These games China is playing are odd, but understandable when the regime feels it must control how its people think or will think. Disney flexing American soft power in China is as dangerous to the Chinese regime as Disney Co having little say in the publicity or construction site access or maybe losing their investment is to the company.

China is not a western democracy. I don't think we should expect it has been or will be easy for Disney, Iger, etc.

There is a story there, but not one most people care about. I suspect investors will only care if other sectors are failing within the company.

But what story? What is the specific point of conflict? I doubt Disney being Americana was only recently discovered in China. Because if you're going to go on about the government my mind immediately jumps to differences between Hu and Xi. Disney would just get tossed as an example of others erroneously believing that the Party is of one single, solitary mindset.

 

[Shaman]

But what story? What is the specific point of conflict? I doubt Disney being Americana was only recently discovered in China. Because if you're going to go on about the government my mind immediately jumps to differences between Hu and Xi. Disney would just get tossed as an example of others erroneously believing that the Party is of one single, solitary mindset.

Probably more of a case study, than some exposé. Disney wants to play in China, and they will probably do very little to cause any trouble.

 

[Mike S]

Even in Africa horses outnumber zebra. From the department of pointless facts that might come in handy after all: Ethiopia alone has got twice as many horses as there are zebras in the entire world.

Even in Africa hoofbeats mean horses, not zebra. Westerners associate Africa with these barcoded lionsteaks because they are spectacular and fill the natural history programs. But to Africans themselves, nearly all hooftracks they ever see are from horses.

Best description of a Zebra ever

 

[lazyboy97o]

Probably more of a case study, than some exposé. Disney wants to play in China, and they will probably do very little to cause any trouble.

Disney going in walking on eggshells would make plenty of sense, but the insinuations point to a markedly changed relationship. People are harping on an outcome (press coverage) but give no reason as to why. Is it just that Papa Xi is more a Bugs Bunny guy and doesn't want a Disneyland, but is going to save face and let it continue? Did Iger make an off color comment about Han Zheng's mother? Or is it just a clash of personalities that would mostly resolve itself when new people are in place?

 

[Mike S]

Paint The Night debuted on Thursday night for the media party. Plus the new fireworks, new World of Color, new Matterhorn, and various other baubles and niceties for Disneyland's Diamond Celebration that officially begins in about five hours.

I'll just leave this little Anaheim addition right here...

After watching that video I just have one question: I gotta know, when can WDW give us a new Night Parade again?

Looks great.

 

[PhotoDave219]

dave.. you're gonna get a nifty ban again.. XD

Nah, that was because I blew through a 4 warning points in under 2 minutes.

 

[Iwerks64]

So if there are just tons of people in Shanghai just waiting to queue up for anything, why are we supposed to believe that the Disney park there will fail?

I'm new to this whole thread, but I don't think I've seen anyone say that the park will fail. My personal opinion is that the park will be a success. Theme parks are big in China right now and a well themed entertaining experience will succeed (unless they price themselves out of the market).

My only point as someone who has experience doing business in China and analyzing the consumer market in China, is the connection between a big crowd and assuming that means the consumer is dying for your brand. The Disney brand is not that big in China. It is less known and less popular than Spongbob, Dora and Thomas from a licensed character standpoint. You can find Disney character products all over (more than 50% probably illegal knockoffs) as you can find all kinds of "characterized" consumer products. The emerging middle class has a hunger for import brands from a perceived cache and new experiences will draw a crowd. It's less about the specific IP.

 

[Iwerks64]

The other problem is Hong Kong has a grand total of two (yes two) attractions with FP. That would be a pretty significant financial outlay just to get the rest of their attractions on board a FP+ scheme.

Despite basically having one FP option (since Space has a single riders line anyways), Pooh always has a ton of availability and long, long standby lines. I can waltz up, get a Pooh return fast pass, grab a snack and probably make it on the ride before the stand-by crowd.

I really think the guests at that park just don't get FP as it is so woefully under-utilized. FP+ just wouldn't be worth the effort, other than to get on Autotopia easier.

Yes, only two FP attractions now. I remember there being more attractions with FP in the past. It appears they've actually removed FP from some.