A Spirited 15 Rounds ...

[AEfx]

BTW, quick update on "Movies Anywhere" - it worked rather flawlessly.

My DMA account transferred over, and they clearly did a really thorough job in making the linking to external accounts from external providers as easy as possible. It took me about five minutes to link my Amazon, iTunes, and Vudu accounts to it (and I got the 5 free movies).

The only flaw for me right now is that the game consoles aren't involved yet. I don't know how it works on PS4, but on XBOX I know Disney already has a relationship with MS, because my DMA account was already linked and I could watch all my DMA content through the native XBOX Store already. Hopefully it is just a matter of time before they integrate them, as well.

 

[AEfx]

In the 80s, I always visited Horizons after the fireworks!

No line at that hour, and made for a great end to an EPCOT day. EPCOT evenings were spend getting drunk on the greatest rides on the planet back then, not on a WS open air bar.

And that's why they don't want you to. They don't want you to just be able to walk-on rides at the end of the day. They want you to come back the next day, so you spend more money.

 

[MisterPenguin]

The only flaw for me right now is that the game consoles aren't involved yet. I don't know how it works on PS4, but on XBOX I know Disney already has a relationship with MS, because my DMA account was already linked and I could watch all my DMA content through the native XBOX Store already. Hopefully it is just a matter of time before they integrate them, as well.

Yeah, they're working on console cross platforming and including purchased games and TV shows in their cloudbox.

 

[ford91exploder]

They close the parks early in general because when it's open late, even the MK can be a "one day park" for most visitors. With Epcot in particular, it's because they want people to go to DTD/Disney Springs to continue drink and dine.

Basically, it's all about manipulation, one way or another. In the case of the former, they want you to think you need a full 7-days to experience the parks. On the latter, I'm sure that they have done the calculations and found that if they were open till, say, 10PM on the weeknights, then less of those people would go to DTD instead of back to their rooms, as opposed to a 9PM closing, when they are more likely to want to go find something else to do.

Yeah like skipping Disney entirely

 

[The Empress Lilly]

They close the parks early in general because when it's open late, even the MK can be a "one day park" for most visitors. With Epcot in particular, it's because they want people to go to DTD/Disney Springs to continue drink and dine.

Basically, it's all about manipulation, one way or another. In the case of the former, they want you to think you need a full 7-days to experience the parks. On the latter, I'm sure that they have done the calculations and found that if they were open till, say, 10PM on the weeknights, then less of those people would go to DTD instead of back to their rooms, as opposed to a 9PM closing, when they are more likely to want to go find something else to do.

I do think the 9PM EPCOT closing became the norm in the early 90s. Perhaps to do with Pleasure Island then? I should look that up, check the historical operating hours, but I am too lazy too millenial: why bother checking facts when you are busy spouting opinion?

 

[shortstop]

Epcot looks so good at night and should at least stay open till around 10 or 11. Then again knowing the current state of Epcot that's won't change anytime soon. Especially since most guests only get a glimpse of this as they are leaving after Illuminations.

I wish more guests spent more time around this area.

Back in summer 2016 my family and I finished up a late dinner in Morocco well after Illuminations had ended. As such, we got to walk back to the front of the park with it being pretty empty. And man, I don't know if I've ever been more mesmerized in a Disney park. Epcot is stunningly gorgeous at night! It's a real shame so many guests don't get to experience that.

 

[comics101]

I like hyperbole too. Almost as much as sarcasm.

Who's being hyperbolic? The ONLY reason I visit the site anymore is for @WDW1974's insights. I cannot remember the last time I opened a thread that wasn't somehow associated with his posts.

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

WDW1974 has been a member of multiple other Disney communities in the past. These sites owed a LOT of their former (keyword being former) popularity and traffic to 74's presence there. The same is true of wdwmagic currently, his participation is certainly a major contributor to this site's traffic and popularity.

74 is one of the powerhouse members that really make this site worthwhile. Dialing back his presence here or leaving would be a massive blow to the site. As my life becomes more and more busy, I often have to skip reading and posting as much as i'd like to here. But the top 3 people whose posts I always try to keep an eye on are WDW1974, wdwmagic (admin Steve) and marni1974. With occasionally a few others.

So no, I would not at all say it is hyperbolic to claim that WDW1974 is a very major reason for visiting this site. I can even see it being the only reason for some. Either way, it would not be good for this site if he were to leave.

 

[MisterPenguin]

WDW1974 has been a member of multiple other Disney communities in the past. These sites owed a LOT of their former (keyword being former) popularity and traffic to 74's presence there. The same is true of wdwmagic currently, his participation is certainly a major contributor to this site's traffic and popularity.

74 is one of the powerhouse members that really make this site worthwhile. Dialing back his presence here or leaving would be a massive blow to the site. As my life becomes more and more busy, I often have to skip reading and posting as much as i'd like to here. But the top 3 people whose posts I always try to keep an eye on are WDW1974, wdwmagic (admin Steve) and marni1974. With occasionally a few others.

So no, I would not at all say it is hyperbolic to claim that WDW1974 is a very major reason for visiting this site. I can even see it being the only reason for some. Either way, it would not be good for this site if he were to leave.

Check out the rumor tracker thread and just how many solid rumors there are. Spirit's contribution to that list is very minor.

https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/rumor-and-timeline-tracker-v-2.934137/

And the other insiders who furnish the bulk of those rumors don't couch them in breathless grab-your-tiki-torch hysteria deriding anyone who disagrees with them.

Spirit's contribution to rumors in the past two years has been waning as his presence also waned. And yet, the board seems to be as popular as ever and sources of information flow freely.

We'll see how a blog where he's the only source fares...

 

[MinnieM123]

WDW1974 has been a member of multiple other Disney communities in the past. These sites owed a LOT of their former (keyword being former) popularity and traffic to 74's presence there. The same is true of wdwmagic currently, his participation is certainly a major contributor to this site's traffic and popularity.

74 is one of the powerhouse members that really make this site worthwhile. Dialing back his presence here or leaving would be a massive blow to the site. As my life becomes more and more busy, I often have to skip reading and posting as much as i'd like to here. But the top 3 people whose posts I always try to keep an eye on are WDW1974, wdwmagic (admin Steve) and marni1974. With occasionally a few others.

So no, I would not at all say it is hyperbolic to claim that WDW1974 is a very major reason for visiting this site. I can even see it being the only reason for some. Either way, it would not be good for this site if he were to leave.

Ever since I joined the forum in 2013, I appreciated many of the posts from WDW1974. I agree with you--he will be missed.

Just wanted to share a thought here with you. From reading his various threads and the discussions with others that followed, I discovered that there are quite a few other interesting members on here. Although most forums probably have their major contributors (such as 74), there are some other members that I also look forward to seeing on here. Just my opinion, but I believe this forum will still remain the best site for information. I'd also like to give a shout-out to Steve, the head of the WDWMagic forums, who makes all this possible.

 

[brb1006]

WDW1974 has been a member of multiple other Disney communities in the past. These sites owed a LOT of their former (keyword being former) popularity and traffic to 74's presence there. The same is true of wdwmagic currently, his participation is certainly a major contributor to this site's traffic and popularity.

74 is one of the powerhouse members that really make this site worthwhile. Dialing back his presence here or leaving would be a massive blow to the site. As my life becomes more and more busy, I often have to skip reading and posting as much as i'd like to here. But the top 3 people whose posts I always try to keep an eye on are WDW1974, wdwmagic (admin Steve) and marni1974. With occasionally a few others.

So no, I would not at all say it is hyperbolic to claim that WDW1974 is a very major reason for visiting this site. I can even see it being the only reason for some. Either way, it would not be good for this site if he were to leave.

I think Disboards is the only Disney forum site that he hasn't been on yet.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Although most forums probably have their major contributors (such as 74)

How do you define "major"? As in the majority of contributions?

It is quite demonstrable that Spirit has provided a minority of the rumors catalogued here. And a tiny, tiny, tiny minuscule of total posts.

 

[brb1006]

I thinks it's really insulting to the other (and arguably better) contributors that call this forum home to insist that one particular person is the reason for the 'succes' At least others make an attempt to provide insight consistently instead in of constant nugget dropping with little backup.

I don't think it was intended to be insulting. It's just that compared to the other Disney Theme Park forum sites. WDWMagic is taken more seriously by hardcore and critical Disney fans and more informative compared to Disboards where it's mostly positive.

 

[jakeman]

I thinks it's really insulting to the other (and arguably better) contributors that call this forum home to insist that one particular person is the reason for the 'succes' At least others make an attempt to provide insight consistently instead in of constant nugget dropping with little backup.

Especially since this place was the go to for WDW news and rumors before '74 showed up (it was when I joined in 2004).

 

[jpeden]

I thinks it's really insulting to the other (and arguably better) contributors that call this forum home to insist that one particular person is the reason for the 'succes' At least others make an attempt to provide insight consistently instead in of constant nugget dropping with little backup.

Exactly. I apprecaite 74's insight. I don't appreciate his arrogance that he knows all and that he alone should be allowed to violate the rules on political postings. He rants and goes off topic just as much as others in this thread and gets mad when the mod's call him out. His info will be missed, but people are just as connected as him and will continue to provide information on these boards. I for one, will not miss the high and mighty attitude that he carried.

I also think it's laughable that he thinks he should be able to decide to close a post, because he doesn't like the direction it went it. He started all 15 of these "Spirited" posts, knowing good and well how they spin/spun off. Every time he complained, yet he came back and started a new one. Clearly, he didn't mind it too much. But how much you want to bet his blog or website will get advertising dollars from these "rubes" and "lifestylers" and probably from TWDC itself that he so loves to hate on.

 

[RSoxNo1]

How do you define "major"? As in the majority of contributions?

It is quite demonstrable that Spirit has provided a minority of the rumors catalogued here. And a tiny, tiny, tiny minuscule of total posts.

I quantified it a while ago when the Tower of Terror/Guardians rumor came out. He was under a lot of scrutiny for putting that out there because we all viewed it as something ridiculous.

Auditing rumor sources is something that I've done in the past and will continue to do. @WDW1974 is a very good source of information relative to others, but historically has been quick to dismiss things from other people.

With any rumor, things are highly volatile, but by no means do I think @WDW1974 pulls stuff out of thin air (not that you insinuated that). He still seemingly has good contacts, so when he does present information I generally trust it.

 

[jpeden]

I quantified it a while ago when the Tower of Terror/Guardians rumor came out. He was under a lot of scrutiny for putting that out there because we all viewed it as something ridiculous.

Auditing rumor sources is something that I've done in the past and will continue to do. @WDW1974 is a very good source of information relative to others, but historically has been quick to dismiss things from other people.

With any rumor, things are highly volatile, but by no means do I think @WDW1974 pulls stuff out of thin air (not that you insinuated that). He still seemingly has good contacts, so when he does present information I generally trust it.

As I said before, I agree with this - but he also often acts entitled and because he provides such good information, should be allowed to do whatever he wants and exert control over the board as he sees fit. That was and still is my biggest single issue. Things aren't going his way, fine, he's taking his toys to another sandbox. My point being, there are plenty of other people with toys in the sandbox to play with, and for the most part they're just as adequate as his are.

 

[flynnibus]

Spy footage of posters...

 

[The_Jobu]

Spy footage of posters...

I think you're being a bit hard on yourself.

 

[ford91exploder]

Spy footage of posters...

Are most posters gooberment employees???