The Spirited Seventh Heaven ...

[StageFrenzy]

I'm not really all that familiar with this whole race Disney scene, but am I hearing this right that one of the complaints is that people who finish the race are upset that those who don't finish still get a medal? We are talking about adults here right?

Well they are worth a good bit of money

 

[Mike S]

You mean Disneyland opening in 1956? (not sure if purposely wrong)

I was thinking more like the Pirates not eating the tourists when PotC breaks down

 

[GoofGoof]

Well they are worth a good bit of money

Really? Like I said I'm clueless about these things. How much is a good bit? More than the cost to enter?

 

[WDW1974]

Not sure where to put this......

So Frozen haters, have fun with this.

I am no Frozen hater. More a Frozen liker, even if it is way overrated. But that was some funny stuff ...

 

[StageFrenzy]

Well if they stop giving finisher metals to those who don't finish the race. The medals would be worth quite a bit more. Some people don't care about the medal and so they may sell them on eBay. It's Disney so naturally it'll sell. It depends on the medal evidently but they seem to start at 20 bucks. And no it does not cover the cost of entry.

Really? Like I said I'm clueless about these things. How much is a good bit? More than the cost to enter?

 

[WDW1974]

That's what I see a lot of - the resort properties. A do have a strong adversion to not having daily housekeeping tho. I dispose coming 'home' to a dirty place when on travel. It's one of the few perks of being away from home and I'm through with not having it

And I'm ok with Disney being on the high side given some if their perks. But I do believe they have blown right through high side to absurd without delivering in the the core needs.

Oh, I agree with that first point. While on the Wonder for 15 nights we became quite accustomed to having a cabin cleaning multiple times a day. Then, we're at the Grand Californian Villas and suddenly there is no housekeping whatsoever for a week and we are making beds and straightening things out (and I am stealing soap from the housekeepers!) and you start to realize that you miss coming back to refreshed quarters every day.

And I agree with the second point too. I've never had an issue paying Disney a premium for their product in O-Town. But guess what? That premium has gone thru the freaking roof (and, apparently, taken the curtains along for the ride!) When I can't justify staying at WDW resorts at 40-60% off ... well, something's wrong and it isn't on my part.

 

[WDW1974]

I can't even justify staying at Disney anymore even with discounted AP or a friends CM rate. Esp when I can stay at the Hard Rock for my friends UNI TM rate of $50-75 a night and get Express Pass.

THIS!!!

I have been offered cast rates at WDW for years, but even they don't compare to $50 rooms at UNI. I have stayed at the Portofino Bay twice and the Royal Pacific once in the last year. I haven't stayed at a WDW resort sans-DVC points since 2010.

Sorry, but CBR for $105 a night or Portofino Bay for $50 is a no-brainer.

 

[WDW1974]

That series changed the way television will be produced in the future. And streaming will provide the economic underpinnings to make it work.

Not saying all television will be like that which HBO creates. To the contrary actually. But it is a great template for the future of media on television. Oh yeah. Which will impact theater box office due to increased competition and people waiting until movies become available on demand. That movies are still generally at least breaking even at this point is suprising. The trend lines are not positive. And it shows up in the quality of the product more and more often. Marketing only has a finite amount of magic tricks.

I don't see how it changed much. And I think its ending was very lame (and I was not a regular viewer of the series).

If you are saying that movies and theaters are going to die because folks want to stream content on their smartphones, then I'm just going to say that like most things we disagree. The movie-going experience can't be replicated on tiny screens or even bigger ones in the home. ... Just like TV didn't kill the industry or videos didn't kill radio, people want to see Star Wars and the Avengers and the next Bond flick in a large, dark auditorium with strangers and a $13 Coke and popcorn combo (something I proudly will say I have NEVER bought) with them.

Films can be huge money makers or huge money losers or in between. That hasn't changed. It won't either.

 

[WDW1974]

I was referencing the article/blog post by Nikki Finke. She states he was plucked from obscurity.

Ah, well, Nikki is a character ... yes, I have had ... um ... ah ... 'experience' with her.

 

[flynnibus]

Sorry, but CBR for $105 a night or Portofino Bay for $50 is a no-brainer.

Yeah but again we are talking extremes. Cm rates aren't really supposed to be open market and while I can certainly respect someone's desire and follow through on using them... We can't let that price point distort our perception if 'normal'

Use it where you can... But don't expect everyone else to bend to that

 

[StageFrenzy]

Ah, well, Nikki is a character ... yes, I have had ... um ... ah ... 'experience' with her.

Salacious

 

[djlaosc]

Have heard some first-hand reviews of Knott's redo of the classic Calico Mine Train and I am very happy with what friends are saying.

I've actually been reading about Knotts today for our trip to Disneyland in (hopefully) 2017!

 

[WDW1974]

POTC was always long in the mornings but by the afternoon it was usually 10 minutes or less. I can't even imagine how FP minus has screwed with doing a touring plan.

To put it in perspective, in hundreds and hundreds of MK visits from 1974 to present day, I have never waited longer than 15-20 minutes to ride PoTC. EVER. Even during holiday and peak seasons. (except possibly if there was a breakdown)

When I was there in April, after the Spring Break crush, it was routinely listed at 30-40 minutes and had lines spewing out of Caribbean Plaza and into the walkways. Now, do you think that is a coincidence or do you think that is a direct result of adding FP+ to it?

 

[WDW1974]

You make WDW sound like a religious experience.

There are limits, even in the magical world of Disney. People with back problems should not ride Space Mountain. I cannot ride Mission Space without getting sick. People who cannot swim need to be selective at the water parks. Severe diabetics should avoid Dole whips. And severely overweight people should not be in a marathon.

This might be one of the most perfect posts I have ever read here. ...

 

[WDW1974]

Nah. I know nothing. I make it up as I go.

Hey, me too!!!

BTW, did you hear that @Lee was belting out 'Let It Go' everywhere he went in Alaska? Apparently, it did draw the attention of some moose according to Mrs. Lee.

 

[WDW1974]

They are getting quite clever in their research to determine who is posting what. for example, some of us that are more upfront about how we feel will say certain things in certain ways and those comments are looked for on the boards. You really don't know who you can trust to give feedback. Also, there are only a small number of us that speak out so that really narrows the list. If I'm in a meeting with only 4 or 5 others and I'm boisterous about a specific show element and that comment shows up on the boards people get suspicious. There are egos involved here and they don't like to be critiqued.

Universal is much tougher about leaks than Disney when it comes to front-line employees as well and their use of social media. I respect that a lot. Much better than having some unbalanced **cough**Jason Surrell**cough** rep of the company getting into crazy Twit wars.

BTW, I have been traveling around the hemisphere with a copy of the Loews Hotels magazine for winter/spring and there is a PR piece on Thierry Coup in it. Did you see it?

 

[WDW1974]

I always though you were the guy in the hard hat from the village people

Now, THAT was funny!

 

[WDW1974]

Well, I guess, as usual, when you run out of argument, this is what you come up with. I really had more respect for you then that. Thanks for clearing the air.

It's not a question of respect, Goof. You are simply like a rabid dog on this point. You don't have your facts straight and you won't listen to reason from everyone here who does. This isn't a battle worth fighting and I don't get your insistence to do so. It's become grating for everyone. No one wants to have this discussion with you anymore. I like you, even though we don't agree on much ... but enough is enough.

 

[WDW1974]

Yeah but again we are talking extremes. Cm rates aren't really supposed to be open market and while I can certainly respect someone's desire and follow through on using them... We can't let that price point distort our perception if 'normal'

Use it where you can... But don't expect everyone else to bend to that

No, I don't. ... That is why I constantly mention off-site options, Priceline and even regular price at UNI resorts.

I know and realize that I am special!

 

[WDW1974]

I've actually been reading about Knotts today for our trip to Disneyland in (hopefully) 2017!

Check OCD Andy's GREAT reports on Calico and the Camp Snoopy (I got a tour of that as well about three weeks ago) update on Micechat.