A Spirited Dirty Dozen ...

Phil12

Phil12

Well-Known Member
NearTheEars said:
Yes, everyone and their mother reported immediately after @WDW1974 brought it to light.
I've been plenty critical of his posting style in the past, but his information is rock solid. Have fun trying to prove otherwise.
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When was Willow Bay removed from being Director of The USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism?
 
MerlinTheGoat

MerlinTheGoat

Well-Known Member
WDW1974 broke the ToT GOTG overlay over 4 months before it was announced, and he absolutely was the original source to do so. He reported it in March, it was finally announced in July. It was indeed reported by everyone else as well afterwards, but 74's topic on this forum was THE original source (generally not citing him in spite of obviously using him as one).

He was also accurate about the specific plans for Frozen at Epcot (including the conversion of the expansion pad next door into a meet and greet and bathroom). Along with accurately reporting several upcoming projects for Tokyo (including the B&TB ride and their variant of Frozen, among other things in Tokyo). Not to mention his accuracy on the workings in Disneyland Paris. And on the Universal side, he was quite accurate about the Diagon Alley stuff (particularly the connecting Train between the two parks). His hints at a Nintendo Land before it was announced are also clear in retrospect.

He has also been accurate with the extremely troubled development of Shanghai, the vanishing $800 (or more?) million that went to god knows whose pockets, and the park's insane delays and cost overruns. Not to mention the Nextgen project, its absurd costs and complete financial failure. And he has reported the change in hands of executive leadership numerous times, along with internal political reasons involved.

The New Fantasyland mess was in a perpetual state of on-again off-again since the early 2000's (if not before). It became a coin flip as to whether they'd ever end up going through with it, it had been on and off the table an absurd amount of times before finally happening. As it stands, the project also still underwent drastic changes AFTER being announced to incorporate the Mine Train instead of the Cinderella and Pixie Hollow areas. It should be obvious to anyone how in-flux this project had been for a very long time, can't blame anyone for being skeptical.

He has also been spot-on about Disneyland's Star Wars Experience being quite ahead of Florida's. I've also no doubt the Avatar project is behind as well. Spirit has reported on its past delays accurately as well, and it indeed missed the date Bob Iger originally stated (2015).
http://guide2wdw.com/disney-ceo-bob-iger-disney-worlds-avatar-land-might-open-2015/
 
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truecoat

truecoat

Well-Known Member
WDW1974 said:
No problem, Princess.

And I promise I will drop into the DL board to see the insanity the old Laughing Place gang has brought with them. ... And it rip the SWE's placement in DL too!
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Dark Beer has dropped into the DL boards here recently with a lot of city council, behind the scenes info and a few stories from the past. It's been pretty good lately.
 
EPCOTCenterLover

EPCOTCenterLover

Well-Known Member
TheDad said:
Ditto!
Quite frankly I can't even remember the last time wdw1974 even shared information with us which was actually useful or even accurate. It's gotta be at least 5 years and that is being generous.
Just go away!
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There's clearly a story here between you and wdw1974. Bet with some digging we would find you to be a man with a personal vendetta. He brings us real behind the scenes info like few do. Want credibility? Share something that compares. I don't want to sound mean, but your attack is unwarranted.
 
L

Longhairbear

Well-Known Member
WDW1974 said:
Spirited Haunting Week Musings:

I see folks getting excited for Disney's new holiday offerings. I think it's great that they are importing Once Upon a Time from TDL -- where I haven't seen it, but haven't heard anything but good things on it -- and adding Jingle Bells, Jingle Bam at The Sometime in 2018 or maybe 2019 or even 2020 Will Have a Third Name Theme Park. I look forward to seeing them both at some point. But this isn't the type of thing you get all weepy about and start thinking that Georgie K really cares about you or your experience at WDW AKA The Timeshare Kingdom of the World.

It was a given that something was coming to the dead park because Disney is desperate to have people visit that large construction site and with the tech added for the new Star Wars show, this makes the most sense. Even if the show is great, though, it isn't likely to make anyone forget the Ozzie and Sharon Lightacular.

As to OUAT replacing CTD, I find it amusing to read posts bemoaning its loss. I have loved the show and touted it here for years, but bloggers and Lifestylers and podcasters and, to some extent, Disney itself have sorta ignored the show or played it down. I've often heard it referred to as 'a pre-show for Wishes' in the fan community. While CtM wasn't stale and beyond tired like Wishes is, this is most definitely an upgrade and Disney should be applauded for doing so. I don't know whether this had anything at all to do with the fact MK will lack a night parade for likely years to come. But that isn't the end of the world. For decades, neither DL NOR the MK had night parades except during summer and holiday periods. People lived and enjoyed.

Caught my first 'The MAGIC is Endless' commercial last night and ... are male nipples suddenly out at Disney? Manboobs too offensive to the folks in the Heartland with 78 guns and lower IQs? I have to ask because in addition to continuing to misrepresent DHS as being a vital full-day park loaded with SW product and showing the first Hispanic Disney Princess (is she Jane the Virgin? which is a great show, BTW) and people shopping at Disney Springs Outlet Mall (sans the outlet prices) there is a scene of Stormalong Bay at BC/YC and it looks like every male in the pool has a water shirt or tee on. This is all new footage for a new and pricey campaign, so nothing is accidental. This is like Stacey Aswad's all well-rehearsed ad-libs. I have seen what swims (and floats) in Disney Resort pools and there is plenty of male nips on display.

A good friend is visiting SDL as I type this (and was at TDR and UNI-Osaka last week ... he is true fanboi royalty having visited every Disney and UNI park in the world, unlike anyone else I know either in the fan community or in the business -- really!) and lots of interesting anecdotes. Going to see if he is willing to pop in here when back stateside next month, but he seems quite high on the Disney product in both places (he, like me, has been to TDR before ... but UNI and SDL are new to him). The one thing he loved, which I believe @WDWFigment loved as well has been those Adventure Trails. And he agrees with the consensus feeling in the business that Pirates is now the world's top attractions (above MM in HKDL and FJ at three UNI resorts). RR has been one of his big disappointments. Gee, a raft ride with minimal theming with a blink-and-you-miss-it view of a large AA. What could possibly go wrong?

Speaking of raft rides, did y'all see the tragedy at the park in Australia? Four people dead in a raft ride that is in dozens of parks over the world. I HATE the whole concept of raft rides, even nice ones like at DCA and IOA. They exist to get you soaked, ruin your clothes and belongings and make sure you reek for the rest of your day. But safety has to be considered and every so often there is an incident like this which gives me pause about how safe these things really are. I recently went on Knott's Bigfoot Rapids (now sans Bigfoot prints in the concrete queue because ...well ... lawyers and people who like to sue) for the first time in 25 years of visits because it was 98 degrees and sunny, I was wearing clothes that could be soaked and dry quickly and had someone who offered to hold my phone and wallet etc. I got fairly wet, but I just don't get the enjoyment in these. And I think it is sad that Disney has taken them and moved them into its parks, now even a castle park (after failing in HKDL).

Speaking of HKDL, looks like after cutting out haunted houses last year they have slammed it out of the park with their temp holiday offerings this go around. I don't feel that any park has impressed me more than HKDL for having a Halloween event that is neither a gorefest nor a kiddie and arrested development adult foamhead lover event. It nails that sweet spot in the middle between killers sawing off limbs or zombies chewing on entrails and waiting in a queue to meet Frollo or get cheap candy.

Speaking of Halloween, interesting that at UNI-Japan, HHNs is included with admission and starts at noon (and ends at park closing, which has been 9 p.m.). Also interesting that both American UNI parks will have HHNs the first weekend in November. Such a greedy move, very Disney-caliber. Halloween isn't a November event any more than it is a Labor Day weekend one. Holidays have their time and Halloween ends next Monday night.

Like a lot of fans, one thing I loved as a kid were Disney maps. I love all maps to be honest, but WDW maps were important in this process. I won't talk about how they used to be guidebooks and full of many pages or how crappy and cheap the maps are now at WDW and DLR parks now (every international park uses higher quality paper and writers).

So, naturally I pre-ordered the new Disney Maps book on Amazon months ago. It came last week and ... and ... and ... well, it has some nice art in it. No doubt. But I have seen a good 90% of what is in it and I even own a lot of the items in it (the giant fun maps of DL, MK and EPCOT Center ... the first Euro Disney one, which I bought at EPCOT's France pavilion in 1993 etc.) I was hoping for more art and unique art on the international parks and sadly disappointed. Other than one 2008 SDL rendering when they were clearly in blue sky as it doesn't really show anything, there was nothing really in there of value. And they need some editors at D23 because the TDL map they state is from 1981 (two years before the park debuted) is likely closer to 1991 based on attractions shown and open.

Also bothered me that a good 6-8 pages are devoted to the maps from the two interactive games at the MK. Sure, they are nice. But every fan and his eBay buying momma own these from visiting or buying. I think people might have enjoyed more unique stuff and even maps of parks that were fully designed, like Disney's America, and never built.

How is Agents of SHIELD still on TV? Really ...

Don't be shocked if my pal Chappie makes some changes in the near future. He feels a strong need to show he knows his business (he still doesn't ... but you'd be given years to learn your job too, right?) and means it.

The amount of restaurants at WDW with dinner menus and pricing starting at the end of breakfast really is absurd. BTW, heard that Trail's End, once a favorite of mine, is doing away with lunch and closing at noon before reopening for dinner at 4:30.

Don't tell me how great the buses are at WDW and how you never have a car. I recently used MDE and flew in from the west coast and was largely a prisoner and ... and ... the buses are neither quick nor efficient.
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Darn it all, what is Chappie up to?
 
AEfx

AEfx

Well-Known Member
Mike S said:
Charging per tweet? Subscription service? Ads?
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That's just it. And not to mention that in a lot of circles Twitter is increasingly seen as being too much of a nanny state - purchase by Disney of all companies would help drive the nail into the coffin even sooner.

The issue with Twitter is that the actual function is so easily replicated in other platforms, which is why the rise of Instagram and such took it by surprise. Then you have the celebrity/public figure/media contingent that simply uses it as a place to put links to somewhere else, and you find very few individuals actually using it as intended.

There is just no money in it because in practice it's truly an intermediary or passive service as opposed to a robust platform, at least how it's used by the majority.
 
AEfx

AEfx

Well-Known Member
Rteetz said:
I still think this purchase would be because of streaming.
Click to expand...

That's just it - Twitter doesn't make content. They've tried to make it easier to post videos but in truth it's still easier and more universal just to link to YouTube.

While Netflix has really just begun being a content creator, it's future is really wholly dependent in the US on ISP's current "all you can eat" data policies. When they throw data caps up (which are coming, we know) it's going to be a possible crap show depending on who's palms get greased and on which side that happens.

To be honest, I think a really smart purchase would be Twitch - it would be far cheaper but has a huge growing base of users (some fleeing YouTube for various reasons) plus a really sold infrastructure that could be used beyond gaming.
 
Cesar R M

Cesar R M

Well-Known Member
WDW1974 said:
Some people enjoy the real world. If you only wish to visit the same overrated tired theme parks year after year, then more power to you. ... But as much as I enjoy theme parks (even some of WDW's), the real world is so much better. When I hear about people taking their 31st trip to a WDW resort in the last 15 years, I just think they are addicted to something that is far less than is marketed and they believe.
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In the same side, I've heard of people who have had 50+ cruise trips. Other that actually LIVE in a cruise ship.
 
Cesar R M

Cesar R M

Well-Known Member
Tahu said:
I think the people who actually managed to crowdfund a billboard to angrily demand Disney keep making stuff in the old EU would say otherwise.
f703a0e96ccc08d1f7493630d6d09f9d

Not to mention it took well over a year for Wookiepedia to make the Canon pages the default tab for existing material. Like they finally got the switchover done the week TFA came out.

Whatever your feelings are about the Expanded Universe, rebooting it for something more managed was absolutely necessary for the franchise's future. And it's been pretty successful so far. It actually all feels connected versus the MCU's disconnect between TV and films.
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Considering the amount of "universes" going on at Marvel. No surprise they are confused.
You got active the universes of Ultimate, Amazing, Standard, New Age (with kids avengers, new avengers and standard avengers at same time).. then the marvel comic cinematic universe version.
Its insane!

AEfx said:
Likely someone who has a rarely used alt account to say something they wouldn't say under their normal user ID. You would be surprised how often it happens.
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The interesting part is how that happens at least once a month.. (aka someone popups, claims to be new.. and its an alt account from some troublemaker)
 
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Cesar R M

Cesar R M

Well-Known Member
WDW1974 said:
If the GotG wind up in EPCOT, Disney will take a different tact I've been told with social media and how the plans are announced.
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as in hiding everything until everything has been demolished?

ford91exploder said:
Because Tim Cook would be the big dog, He who has the gold makes the rules.
Click to expand...
And considering the problems of Disney as of late (regarding parks or other sure things.. underperforming) he would probably be fired on the spot lol.
 
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Cesar R M

Cesar R M

Well-Known Member
AEfx said:
I see the ocean every day. I have no need to sit on a floating hotel since when I do travel I spend as little time at the hotel as possible.
Click to expand...
Why you think its just a "floating hotel"?
Do the shows, amenities, events are "nothing"?
Most modern cruises have a ton of variety. And its not just "stay in the ship" all the time. Theres a thing called "tendering" and "docking" where you magically leave the ship to visit other places ;)
 
A

Absimilliard

Well-Known Member
WDW1974 said:
Spirited Haunting Week Musings:

I see folks getting excited for Disney's new holiday offerings. I think it's great that they are importing Once Upon a Time from TDL -- where I haven't seen it, but haven't heard anything but good things on it -- and adding Jingle Bells, Jingle Bam at The Sometime in 2018 or maybe 2019 or even 2020 Will Have a Third Name Theme Park. I look forward to seeing them both at some point. But this isn't the type of thing you get all weepy about and start thinking that Georgie K really cares about you or your experience at WDW AKA The Timeshare Kingdom of the World.

It was a given that something was coming to the dead park because Disney is desperate to have people visit that large construction site and with the tech added for the new Star Wars show, this makes the most sense. Even if the show is great, though, it isn't likely to make anyone forget the Ozzie and Sharon Lightacular.

As to OUAT replacing CTD, I find it amusing to read posts bemoaning its loss. I have loved the show and touted it here for years, but bloggers and Lifestylers and podcasters and, to some extent, Disney itself have sorta ignored the show or played it down. I've often heard it referred to as 'a pre-show for Wishes' in the fan community. While CtM wasn't stale and beyond tired like Wishes is, this is most definitely an upgrade and Disney should be applauded for doing so. I don't know whether this had anything at all to do with the fact MK will lack a night parade for likely years to come. But that isn't the end of the world. For decades, neither DL NOR the MK had night parades except during summer and holiday periods. People lived and enjoyed.

Caught my first 'The MAGIC is Endless' commercial last night and ... are male nipples suddenly out at Disney? Manboobs too offensive to the folks in the Heartland with 78 guns and lower IQs? I have to ask because in addition to continuing to misrepresent DHS as being a vital full-day park loaded with SW product and showing the first Hispanic Disney Princess (is she Jane the Virgin? which is a great show, BTW) and people shopping at Disney Springs Outlet Mall (sans the outlet prices) there is a scene of Stormalong Bay at BC/YC and it looks like every male in the pool has a water shirt or tee on. This is all new footage for a new and pricey campaign, so nothing is accidental. This is like Stacey Aswad's all well-rehearsed ad-libs. I have seen what swims (and floats) in Disney Resort pools and there is plenty of male nips on display.

A good friend is visiting SDL as I type this (and was at TDR and UNI-Osaka last week ... he is true fanboi royalty having visited every Disney and UNI park in the world, unlike anyone else I know either in the fan community or in the business -- really!) and lots of interesting anecdotes. Going to see if he is willing to pop in here when back stateside next month, but he seems quite high on the Disney product in both places (he, like me, has been to TDR before ... but UNI and SDL are new to him). The one thing he loved, which I believe @WDWFigment loved as well has been those Adventure Trails. And he agrees with the consensus feeling in the business that Pirates is now the world's top attractions (above MM in HKDL and FJ at three UNI resorts). RR has been one of his big disappointments. Gee, a raft ride with minimal theming with a blink-and-you-miss-it view of a large AA. What could possibly go wrong?

Speaking of raft rides, did y'all see the tragedy at the park in Australia? Four people dead in a raft ride that is in dozens of parks over the world. I HATE the whole concept of raft rides, even nice ones like at DCA and IOA. They exist to get you soaked, ruin your clothes and belongings and make sure you reek for the rest of your day. But safety has to be considered and every so often there is an incident like this which gives me pause about how safe these things really are. I recently went on Knott's Bigfoot Rapids (now sans Bigfoot prints in the concrete queue because ...well ... lawyers and people who like to sue) for the first time in 25 years of visits because it was 98 degrees and sunny, I was wearing clothes that could be soaked and dry quickly and had someone who offered to hold my phone and wallet etc. I got fairly wet, but I just don't get the enjoyment in these. And I think it is sad that Disney has taken them and moved them into its parks, now even a castle park (after failing in HKDL).

Speaking of HKDL, looks like after cutting out haunted houses last year they have slammed it out of the park with their temp holiday offerings this go around. I don't feel that any park has impressed me more than HKDL for having a Halloween event that is neither a gorefest nor a kiddie and arrested development adult foamhead lover event. It nails that sweet spot in the middle between killers sawing off limbs or zombies chewing on entrails and waiting in a queue to meet Frollo or get cheap candy.

Speaking of Halloween, interesting that at UNI-Japan, HHNs is included with admission and starts at noon (and ends at park closing, which has been 9 p.m.). Also interesting that both American UNI parks will have HHNs the first weekend in November. Such a greedy move, very Disney-caliber. Halloween isn't a November event any more than it is a Labor Day weekend one. Holidays have their time and Halloween ends next Monday night.

Like a lot of fans, one thing I loved as a kid were Disney maps. I love all maps to be honest, but WDW maps were important in this process. I won't talk about how they used to be guidebooks and full of many pages or how crappy and cheap the maps are now at WDW and DLR parks now (every international park uses higher quality paper and writers).

So, naturally I pre-ordered the new Disney Maps book on Amazon months ago. It came last week and ... and ... and ... well, it has some nice art in it. No doubt. But I have seen a good 90% of what is in it and I even own a lot of the items in it (the giant fun maps of DL, MK and EPCOT Center ... the first Euro Disney one, which I bought at EPCOT's France pavilion in 1993 etc.) I was hoping for more art and unique art on the international parks and sadly disappointed. Other than one 2008 SDL rendering when they were clearly in blue sky as it doesn't really show anything, there was nothing really in there of value. And they need some editors at D23 because the TDL map they state is from 1981 (two years before the park debuted) is likely closer to 1991 based on attractions shown and open.

Also bothered me that a good 6-8 pages are devoted to the maps from the two interactive games at the MK. Sure, they are nice. But every fan and his eBay buying momma own these from visiting or buying. I think people might have enjoyed more unique stuff and even maps of parks that were fully designed, like Disney's America, and never built.

How is Agents of SHIELD still on TV? Really ...

Don't be shocked if my pal Chappie makes some changes in the near future. He feels a strong need to show he knows his business (he still doesn't ... but you'd be given years to learn your job too, right?) and means it.

The amount of restaurants at WDW with dinner menus and pricing starting at the end of breakfast really is absurd. BTW, heard that Trail's End, once a favorite of mine, is doing away with lunch and closing at noon before reopening for dinner at 4:30.

Don't tell me how great the buses are at WDW and how you never have a car. I recently used MDE and flew in from the west coast and was largely a prisoner and ... and ... the buses are neither quick nor efficient.
Click to expand...

Raft rides are usually safe and its only when maintenance is skimped upon that things get nasty very, very fast. There was a serie of raft flipping incidents in the late 1990's and it usually came down to a case of an under inflated floatation collar. I have my own theory on what happened at Dreamworld, but will keep it to myself and let them do the investigation.

I am only missing Shanghai Disneyland among operating Disney and Universal parks and will visit it in October 2017. I am a super theme park enthusiast and that's why I created my own blog to exploit my knowledge about parks and their history.
 

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