A Spirited 15 Rounds ...

[ford91exploder]

Epcot closing promptly at 9, World Showcase that is, has always confused me. Ridiculous. DHS would probably close at 7 if they didn't have several night shows LOL!

How long before MK regularly closes at 6-7 to clear the MK for $RANDOM_UPCHARGE_EVENT

 

[Pixieish]

Family income hasn't kept pace with WDW prices since 2001.

WDW did a huge reset with the introduction of the Magic Your Way (MYW) ticket in 2005. For example, a 7-day advanced purchase hopper plus was $316 at the beginning of 2005. A 7-day base MYW ticket cost $199 by the end of 2005.

Since then, there have been steady price increases with no relief.

Adjusted for inflation, that 2005 hopper plus ticket would be about $400 today. Today, a 7-day base MYW ticket costs $410. Even a base MYW ticket today costs more than an inflation-adjusted full benefits ticket did in 2005.

Except for recessions, Disney's strategy worked well when a growing numbers of Guests were coming from Brazil and Argentina. With the recent economic difficulties in South America, WDW is not seeing the growth it should be seeing given today's U.S. economic environment.

In 2010, Universal showed that vacationers will pay for the right product, no matter what the economic climate. It seems Disney leadership is counting on the same happening when Galaxy's Edge and other attractions open.

Okay, I really don't mean to sound horrible here, but does this mean we will see less horribly behaved groups of teenagers for at least the near future?

 

[Pixieish]

How long before MK regularly closes at 6-7 to clear the MK for $RANDOM_UPCHARGE_EVENT

 

[Pixieish]

Out of curiosity, I pulled up hotel rates for the weekends surrounding the January marathons. @WDW1974 , you might be interested in this.

All Stars is currently $186/night for the week before the marathon. That is beyond insane; it's almost criminal.

That you can't get a value resort room for less than $100 a night without a discount offer really shows the levels of greed management is willing to go to.

 

[Nj4mwc]

That you can't get a value resort room for less than $100 a night without a discount offer really shows the levels of greed management is willing to go to.

Did 3 nights at cabana bay then 6 nights at all star movies, always have stayed at Disney values when in Orlando but when we walked into movies after Cabana my wife and I first comments were wow what a dump compared to Cabana bay and Cabana Bay was 10 more a night

 

[Pixieish]

It's here!

THIS is why I fell in love with Epcot...I miss ImageWorks terribly.

 

[Pixieish]

No, thank you for being a decent human being and understanding why that behavior is repugnant.

The amount of (bad word for doo-doo) on Disney Twitter today is astounding and that is saying something.

And, no, I don't really think you can care about the people in St. Martin who lost everything or the people who left homes in Key West and may never return at the same time you're hanging at the BC or WL or POP and praying "Lordy Jesus, please let Disney open at least the MK by noon tomorrow."

Personally, I hope the parks are shuttered for multiple days (that means more than two) to dissuade this latest sick fan fad that trips to WDW during hurricanes are fun and special. They are nothing of the kind and I have been trapped there multiple times, including last year for Matthew, which was basically a non-event in that area (not that we knew it would be, of course).

I just can't comprehend this type of person (of course, I can't comprehend a large number of Americans these days. Period. End of story!)

This kind of person (and, sadly, a large part of American society) are all about what other people think of them. They HAVE to be first, or fastest, or richest, or best, or whatever-est. And anyone who doesn't fall for their bull pucky is less human than they are.

 

[Pixieish]

Disney uses the blogosphere to create the false impression that all these bloggers are just enthusiasts writing about their amazing experiences at WDW rather than the paid media shills we know them to be. How many of the 'tame' bloggers note on their sites that Disney provided admissions/dining/accomodations etc. Yes there is a microscopic sliver who do but the majority does not and Disney LIKES it that way.

And this is exactly why the 30-day Bucket Family really ****ed me off. First, they very obviously could have paid for the trip themselves. If Disney wants to impress the absolute bull pucky out of me, they'll drop them like a hot potato then schedule a once annually contest in which you can log onto a site and nominate a family to win a week-long, all-expenses-paid trip to WDW. No online voting (that would make it just a popularity contest), and each family can only be nominated once.

 

[The_Jobu]

How long before MK regularly closes at 6-7 to clear the MK for $RANDOM_UPCHARGE_EVENT

This is a legitimate fear of mine. Stop scaring me Pennywise.

 

[jackmosby]

Did 3 nights at cabana bay then 6 nights at all star movies, always have stayed at Disney values when in Orlando but when we walked into movies after Cabana my wife and I first comments were wow what a dump compared to Cabana bay and Cabana Bay was 10 more a night

Yes. That. Cabana Bay is what every value (even moderate) Disney hotel should be. Don't wanna start the good old Disney X Universal war, but if Disney build a new value resort one day, it should have the amenities of Cabana Bay, nothing less (and don't get me started on the bus service). Cabana Bay is the best theme park value hotel in Orlando, arguably in the world. Disney should be ashamed that it's -often- cheaper than their values.

 

[Pixieish]

Disney uses the blogosphere to create the false impression that all these bloggers are just enthusiasts writing about their amazing experiences at WDW rather than the paid media shills we know them to be. How many of the 'tame' bloggers note on their sites that Disney provided admissions/dining/accomodations etc. Yes there is a microscopic sliver who do but the majority does not and Disney LIKES it that way.

You're just a paid shill of Universal whose job it is to discredit Disney on a Disney fan site.

My proof? Same as yours.

Sorry, but @ford91exploder is 100% correct. The proof is in the puddin, aka the 30-day Bucket Family.

Also, those who neglect to acknowledge that they received compensation are in violation of federal law.

 

[Pixieish]

For the few here who have asked, no, not intending on doing HHNs this year (unless you want to buy me a ticket for my company!) ... I'm sorta over the whole experience at this point. It has become about people drinking to excess and being belligerent and Millennials spending $500 a night on an event that I used to enjoy for $19.99.

Sounds an awful lot like a particular fall festival at WDW...

 

[Pixieish]

The biggest problem with TWDC WRT the parks is the parks are seen only as a merchandising venue and advertising for the latest 'hot' IP.

Plus everything needs to be keyed to not upset a fearful 4 year old.

As the meme takes hold that WDW is for Toddlers only, fewer people without toddlers will visit creating a self reinforcing feedback loop

Those first two lines...UGH!!!

First, that's just DUMB. Look at Figment...he's how old? And yet me and my 2 sons still spend money on his merchandise, and they didn't even have the glorious opportunity of seeing him during the Dreamfinder age.

Second, the kids that hide behind their mother's skirts make up WAY too much of the population these days. My youngest came on ToT with us when he was 4 and when we asked him if he liked it afterwards (he was a little pale, to be honest, lol), he gave us a rigorous thumbs up! (He has a severe speech delay.) Among his favorite rides? Test Track. "Getting" each other by hiding and scaring the pants off one another is a "thing" at our house, and our boys find it to be the pinnacle of hilarity (especially if they can get their mom...who screams in a very-squeaky, high-pitched voice). While my oldest is 11 and has decided that upside-down or stomach-dropping rides aren't his thing, he still hasn't lost the sense of adventure and excitement that he was born with - thank goodness!

If it were up to me, we'd be back to moms screaming out of doors for their kids to come home as the sun went down and the words "participation award" spoken verbally would result in a swift kick in the toosh.

 

[Pixieish]

There is a problem with that statement though. AK in 2011 was desperate for a new attraction. Eisner did under build AK and need more attractions badly to the eyes of a good amount of people.

Bob Loves IPs for themeparks and AK always been limited in what IP can be used in AK. Pandora only fitted due to Everest already having the Yeti and Avatar did have fictional creatures. AK also does have the conservation theme that Avatar also has. Bob is not the type to allow something like Beastly Kingdom into AK. Marvel wasn't going to fit into AK. Star Wars is not an Ideal fit from my view either for AK.

Ewoks is very far fetch for AK because of how they were used in Return of the Jedi.

What IP you would've been put into Animal Kingdom instead of Pandora if you were in Bob Iger's shoes unless you wanted the park to become even more stale before Zootopia came out?

The problem from an IP standpoint in 2011 for AK was Disney already tried Jungle Book. Doing a Bug's land wasn't going to happen in 2011 for AK and that would've been something Eisner could've allowed if wanted to instead of settling for Its tough to be a big attraction. Nemo would've been a great for AK outside of show purposes, but Nemo did fit Epcot also. The problem with Nemo in Epcot was how Disney used Nemo for the living seas.

If you look at the storyline, Avatar is Pocahontas but set in space instead of 17th century America.

 

[disneylandcm]

Thanks for posting the link to this. I knew this was coming, but will refrain from commenting until I see what actually goes into Part Two.

Suffice to say, this was the main story on the front page (yes, newspapers still have pages) today and this was after Disney tried to get the story killed (yeah, they never do that, do they?)

I am hoping to see certain ... items ... in the second part of the piece.

http://www.latimes.com/projects/la-fi-disney-anaheim-city-council/#nt=oft12aH-1gp2

Part 2 is up. No mention is made of the status of the Eastern Gateway or parking easement. Do you know what is being considered? Thank you for your input.

 

[Kman101]

Did 3 nights at cabana bay then 6 nights at all star movies, always have stayed at Disney values when in Orlando but when we walked into movies after Cabana my wife and I first comments were wow what a dump compared to Cabana bay and Cabana Bay was 10 more a night

Cabana Bay is a great hotel. Stayed there last month for the first time. Rooms are nicely done, modern yet colorful and fits the tone of the resort. Hear that, Disney? Pop Century I'm looking at you ...

The buildings could use a little paint and touch up work but the hotel is very nice.

 

[lentesta]

Did 3 nights at cabana bay then 6 nights at all star movies, always have stayed at Disney values when in Orlando but when we walked into movies after Cabana my wife and I first comments were wow what a dump compared to Cabana bay and Cabana Bay was 10 more a night

I've stayed at Cabana Bay when attending a conference at Rosen Shingle Creek, bc Cabana Bay is more fun.

 

[Pixieish]

I was in Disney world last week and I was getting absolutely ****ed at the cast members doing nothing about line cutting. Not just in the parks but at restaurants, hotels gift shops. When I pointed out people cutting in line I got an actual shoulder shrug and non other response. People pulling the my family is up there crap as they skip a 60 minute line for FOP or toy story makes me so angry

I'm sorry, but that's as unacceptable as the teenagers from Brazil ransacking stores and rooms.

I will admit to line-skipping in order to trade places with my husband (who had to pee), but that's a different scenario - one went into line, one came out of line.

 

[ford91exploder]

This is a legitimate fear of mine. Stop scaring me Pennywise.

Finally someone compares me to someone at least as Evil as I am...

On to the reality section, closing the parks early is a backdoor price increase as it increases the Cost per hour of a day at Disney and the upcharge events don't require full staffing and on nights without a 'event' the cost of HEA and Pyro is saved,

For those who say HEA does not have a 'cost' per se the light sources used to drive the projectors generally have a lifespan of 500-1000 hours and replacement cost is 4-8000 per source

So i think we will see much shorter park hours going forward.

 

[ford91exploder]

Those first two lines...UGH!!!

First, that's just DUMB. Look at Figment...he's how old? And yet me and my 2 sons still spend money on his merchandise, and they didn't even have the glorious opportunity of seeing him during the Dreamfinder age.

Second, the kids that hide behind their mother's skirts make up WAY too much of the population these days. My youngest came on ToT with us when he was 4 and when we asked him if he liked it afterwards (he was a little pale, to be honest, lol), he gave us a rigorous thumbs up! (He has a severe speech delay.) Among his favorite rides? Test Track. "Getting" each other by hiding and scaring the pants off one another is a "thing" at our house, and our boys find it to be the pinnacle of hilarity (especially if they can get their mom...who screams in a very-squeaky, high-pitched voice). While my oldest is 11 and has decided that upside-down or stomach-dropping rides aren't his thing, he still hasn't lost the sense of adventure and excitement that he was born with - thank goodness!

If it were up to me, we'd be back to moms screaming out of doors for their kids to come home as the sun went down and the words "participation award" spoken verbally would result in a swift kick in the toosh.

I was a 'free range kid' and I lived in the country where a young human could be a tasty easy to catch meal for a mountain lion, coyote or brown bear. Taught one to be aware of surroundings and the world IS NOT your oyster

Note WRT Bears, Brown bears eat meat and are highly agressive, Black bears are plant eaters and are shy. That said NEVER be between momma and cubs of either color as both are immensely strong animals with claws