A Spirited Perfect Ten

[BrianLo]

@WDW1974 - do you know if Pooh is an MK/HK clone?

 

[asianway]

So it looks like Shanghai is getting the DCA Walt statue not the partners statue.

Partners in Paris is in WDSP, so it's not unprecedented to have a castle park without it

 

[Cesar R M]

View attachment 101397

exactly what I was thinking lol!

 

[WDW1974]

Can you point me to where those three things were discussed? I don't doubt they could be true, but I was under the impression Pan and Buzz were both different and Pooh we aren't really sure what they are doing exactly.

I'm also not sure why the impression is Lost World Rapids had its budget cut. It's looking like a longer, more lavish version of Grizzly River Run with a sizeable show building...

Rapids did have its budget cut and lost some AAs (naturally). But I've been told that the Crocosaur is bigger than the Yeti (yes, one wonders if it will even be working on Opening Day!)

The Shanghai menu is more complete than any park Disney has opened since likely Paris, if not Epcot. Yes, even Tokyo Disney Sea, from a sheer menu standpoint, topped out at 4 E-tickets, 2 D-tickets, Aquatopia, 5 off the shelf kid attractions, 4 shows, 2 transit options and gondolas. History shows that park certainly got off to a good start.

I agree with you based on actual attractions. Not sure I agree when all the extras are thrown in. TDS just envelops you in a sense of place. I'm not sure this park will do that. Tomorrowland looks very weak. Treasure Cove looks great though. It will be interesting to see ... to feel it.

Unless your expectation was they were going to open a built-out park ala the 60 year old Disneyland, it's not exactly half-baked. There is plenty of space of expansion - of course, that was supposed to be what the 800 million was for...

It is what I have been saying for years. This park will be closer to a DLP at opening than a HKDL (and while I love both of those parks, I think that's a good thing!) .... But I still want to know where that $800 million went. Apparently, the press doesn't care.

As far as what isn't there like Star Wars, Marvel, etc. Keep in mind this is a park very rooted in 2008-2010 when planning occurred. Predating things like the Marvel and certainly LucasFilms aquisitions. That's why we are seeing Tron and not Iron Man...

Absolutely.

That is why we have basically traveling mall show type attractions going in for Marvel and Star Wars now. ... And I can't help but think this is exactly what is going into Innoventions at DL.

 

[Cesar R M]

Spirited Shanghai Musings:

Well, we finally get a real announcement and it isn't surprising in any real way (this is both good and bad) beyond, perhaps, the fact that the CCP let Bob Iger on site to do PR for HIS ABC News division.

Amazingly, we still don't have an opening date announced or ticket structure and pricing.

BTW, the best coverage (and most balanced) has been in the Los Angeles Times, somewhat surprisingly. Very few US media were/are in Shanghai for what's really an unveiling. Julie Makinen had three stories that were all solid. The first one touched upon the construction quality issues and the one below is interesting because ithits on the fact the Chinese haven't been hppy with design choices made by Bob Weis and his team and that Disney still needs to teach China what its IP is and what it isn't (no, the Transformers will be in Bejing in 2019, but would you like to draw Thor?!)

http://www.latimes.com/entertainmen...e-will-shanghai-disney-be-20150715-story.html

The NY Times piece was by far less PR than normal but that's because Brooks was left in LA and David Barboza penned most of it: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/16/business/shanghai-disney-resort-plans-unveiled.html

Not to pat myself on the behind, but if I don't who will (oh yeah, my fanbois minions!), but the plans for the park's menu that I put on this site back in 2013 (and no one else had them anywhere!) turned out to be 97% accurate. Toy Story Land, thrown in at last minute was pulled out at last minute because Bob Iger wanted his newest acquisitions (Marvel and Star Wars) to have a presence in the park. So, instead of crappy flat rides, we get two boxes with largely meet-greet-and-grunts, movie props and displays and the like. As near as I can tell, there are largely temporary type (think Disney temporary) attractions that probably won't make it to the park's tenth birthday.

But hey WDW fans, there is an upside to you (OK, this was sent to me as a RUMOR, so I am not stating this as fact or as news) as one little birdie told me since Disney had purchased the attractions for Toy Story already that they could be repurposed in the swamps. Again, haven't vetted this as it isn't that important to me. Just throwing it out there.

I wish I had deep thoughts on this stuff because I am looking forward to visiting, but I don't because I've placed them all out there. This stuff wasn't a surprise and I've told y'all about it for years now. It's nice to see the art for it. Things that I had high hopes for, I still do (PotC, RR, Pan, CG). Things that didn't sound impressive, still don't.

I know there's been some confusion because Disney has released a lot of information, but not all. For instance, there is a Winnie the Pooh dark ride being built. I'm not sure why it wasn't announced as you can clearly see it and it has been known for years. Also, every food location hasn't been announced, again not really sure why or if it matters at all.

Some people have asked about Mulan not being included and there being some cultural reason why. Not true. She is part of the Voyage to the Crystal Grotto, part of the Fantasyland stage show and part of the high-end castle dining locale.

The biggest question mark (beyond the opening date and ticketing) remain where the $800 million of additional attractions went. The NYT again mentions it being added but there is absolutely nothing announced for this park that wasn't already known, except for the cheap Marvel and Star Wars experiences that simply were a swap for the cheap Toy Story ones.

So, we got some pretty artwork and models, details on attractions we knew were coming and Bob Iger finally (six years in) can prove (unless it was CGI) that he has been on the site of China's Disney Resort.

Now trying to find out how much of this stuff will be displayed in Anaheim next month!

I think the repurpose of the Pixar (toy story) things is a stroke of genious.
Because if you look into Transformers and other action franchises.. they sold better in china than stories like Toy Story.
So no surprise that they dumped Toy Story in favour of Marvel or Star Wars.

And this could explain Pixar's Place (at DHS) expansion. as the US is more "friendly" with Toy Story and DHS requiring new stuff as of yesterday.

 

[WDW1974]

Partners in Paris is in WDSP, so it's not unprecedented to have a castle park without it

HKDL doesn't have one either. It's weird (or typical) how fanbois have come to expect something that didn't even exist until someone placed a Ferris Wheel in the Hub at DL in the late 80s. Oh, and Walt wouldn't have liked statues of him either ...but they do move merchandise, right?

 

[misterID]

It looks lame. And I'm a pixie dust snorter. Well, no reason to ever go to Shanghai now.

Heh. There's not enough pixie dust to get her blasted enough to like this stuff. And she says this with sparkles on her face and furiously rubbing her nose. Take that Disney!

 

[WDW1974]

Besides Soarin', will the U.S. parks be getting any of the new stuff from Shanghai?

Not likely.

 

[WDW1974]

All joking aside, SDL does look like an enjoyable experience with some cool rides.

My only concern in visiting would be the air quality, though maybe I'm exaggerating things .

It will be.

And you're not.

 

[WDW1974]

A few more I've come across. Don't know where @the.dreamfinder is finding getting photos and no idea where @ItlngrlBella watched the presentation...

I'm sure a HD video of the model will pop up by tomorrow.

Voyage of the Crystal Grotto

In this photo you can see "Tarzan" in the background... don't know the significance (?M&G) or what it says underneath, but Tarzan isn't involved in @WDW1974's menu.

You probably know by now, but there will be a Tarzan musical show with a lot of Chinese acrobats. No other attraction, but it should be an E-Ticket caliber show (much like the Pirates stunt show). And those do count as major attractions... everything doesn't have to be a ride (again, some disagree ...they're the folks who prefer the MK to DAK ... whatever!)

 

[WDW1974]

Nah, this is unmoderated. I think we're fine. And we really do need a comic relief thread....

It's only unmoderated some of the time. Trust me on that!

 

[WDW1974]

Shawn "meet n greet" Slater has been getting downright hostile lately. Shots at lifestyler blogs and a get over it PI/AC tweet- not paying him enough?

OK, so his nickname shall henceforth be Shawn Schmucky Slater! It's not like he's hot in that plastic way like Cupcake (AKA Dr. Blondie) anyway!

 

[WDW1974]

More Mickey Avenue
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View attachment 101336

I like the look of Mickey Ave more than I expected. ... Of course, it will have more trees and shade than a 45-year-old park in Central Fla ...

 

[WDW1974]

$800M for some cheap character meet and greets, sounds legit.

@WDW1974 Didja see the Attractions magazine crew sniffing around for their free trips?

Nope.

I am 99% positive that no one in the O-Town whoring masses (even the Mongello) are getting trips to Shanghai unless they pay for them (like I'm doing!)

 

[CinematicFusion]

OK, no Minions for me. I've been convinced it's a children's film and one I can view on a flight. So, it's getting a skip from me. I'm sure most UNI fanbois will use it 'prove' my 'hate' for their beloved company.

smart move...only take children. I had to go...my 3 year olds loved it. It would be an entertaining film if you watched 15 minutes every other day. Way to much sugar!

 

[WDW1974]

This ride is the #1 reason I want to go to SDL.

It wouldn't be mine. It has had huge cuts in scope and budget. I really don't expect very much from it beyond it looking kewl.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

If SDL does end up getting a clone of Everest, where would that be in the park?

 

[WDW1974]

I came across something strange a couple of minutes ago on Twitter. One of the members of the western press at the presentation, CNBC's Eunice Yoon, tweeted an image of the press release with the copy the Parks Blog ran.
View attachment 101340
Why would SHENDI/Disney send out a press release that clearly says 'Draft'?

Speaking of which, why are we discussing all this if the event was supposed to take place at 6PM Shanghai time (6AM EST)?

I think it's more proof positive of how 'new' organizations like this are simply de facto PR arms of the corps they cover. She shouldn't have had a DRAFT and if she got it, she never should have placed it out on social media.

The timing was certainly interesting. Although it likely was the schedule originally planned months ago (yes, I'm asking people who would know).

 

[WDW1974]

Trying to think of a movie I've seen this year in a theater I wouldn't classify as a "children's film" at heart. Seen all the big ones, still can't come up with one.

Almost a cliche at this point but by and large true, the adults live on TV these days (even flawed shows like Tyrant and True Detective at least try).

I certainly don't view Inside Out as a kid's film. It's a film for most ages that they all should get something out.

But most films that I have seen this summer are kid's fare. Even Ted 2 -- no, not for children under say 16 -- but for grownup kids!

 

[SJN1279]

I actually am impressed by some of the concept art. I really would like to experience the new Pirates attraction, and the Giant Crocodile looks beyond awesome!

I also like that most attractions are new experiences, and not clones from other Disney parks. Too bad I will never get to Shanghai to experience it for myself.