Spirited Thursday Musings:
So, am I correct in believing that Nik Wallenda had a disappointing turnout for his walk on the O-Town Eye? I was told there was some chatter on this morning's Today Show. More bloggers likely getting ready for their free food at The Boathouse today and couldn't be bothered.
I absolutely love James Spader and the Blacklist.
OK, lunch today was Rocco's Tacos. The Lifestylers in O-Town may love the stuff, especially when it's free. But I found the portions (at the Fort Lauderdale location) to be small and pricey. And the first question out of the server's mouth shouldn't be ''are you guys having the ($12) guac?'' It's definitely a decent, but not special, place that you go to be seen and tell people you've dined there (some great yelp reviews basically saying the same thing in many more words.) The only way I'd tell O-Town visitors to go there ... well, I wouldn't. Because the amazing Antojitos at City Walk is much better and they don't charge you for chips and salsa (very tacky at a Tex-Mex place). It isn't a don't miss by any stretch in O-Town. In Fort Lauderdale or Boca, it might be worth a visit as we don't have great Mexican food by any stretch. It makes me long for childhood and Chi-Chi's.
Stopped by the Hard Rock Casino in the beautiful 'other Hollywood' while waiting to pick up the parents at the ER (everyone is OK, just a scary situation that required a three-hour visit!) and interesting to see the Seminoles trying to upscale it more akin to Vegas resorts. Love the vibe of the new bar in the lobby and the new Japanese place (Kuro) looks wonderful and overlooks the pool.
Most interesting thing I found at the HR? Oh, that Disney is still lying about its gambling business. Recently installed (I asked) Iron Man slots. Look, the company bought Marvel in 2009. It's 2015. Slot contracts only run for so long. And when new machines are being put out ... well, like I said, Disney lies.
Got confirmation from a second sources that there absolutely will NOT be a Be Our Guest restaurant added to TDL. The big new full serve locale is replacing the Tomorrowland Terrace, which features the worst food at TDL and still didn't stop
@WDWFigment from dining there. And I'm trying to get more details on the Small World new facility.
I also was told that Disney purchasing the Carousel Inn in Anaheim 'may' not be the first facility they have bought on Harbor Blvd. and will likely not be the last (no, this land isn't for a third theme park).
On that subject, I'd expect to see a second gate in HK and a third in Tokyo before anything happens, if it happens, in Anaheim.
So, between my overpriced ($10.50 for two small tacos, a scoop of rice and some greens) lunch, my quickee casino visit and a stop at the hospital, what did I miss at the whorefest in O-Town? Who's off the list? Who's on it? How many people who live in Clermont, Davenport, Four Corners are being given free hotel rooms? Is the note I got about them going with a Frozen theme for summer AGAIN true? What did I miss? How many pounds of beef did Mongello eat at the Boathouse while swearing he's never gotten a free thing from Disney in his life?
BTW, anyone who wants to be a Lifestyler and included as BRAND advocate contact
Jennifer.J.Fickley@Disney.com. I can also provide you with work contact numbers for her if you too want to sell yourself for a little free Disney crap (not passing judgment ... I steal Coke all the time, remember?)
Has anything NEW been announced for the summer? Even a Disney Vacation Club kiosk? How about special cupcakes (the dessert choice of 8-year-olds everywhere!)? Any new upcharge events added? Or just apps that allow you to pre-order food?
I know so many of you don't give a d@mn about China. I'm sure China feels the same way about you. But I found this week's 1A story in the New York Times on Dalian Wanda head Wang Jianlin to be fascinating. To be fair, other than one old quote, it doesn't have much (on the surface) to do with The Walt Disney Company.
But it read to me like a coordinated hit piece. Not on Disney's behalf, but much more likely the US Chamber of Commerce's behalf or simply 'global business interests.' It tried to bring Wang into the whole giant corruption situation as he is the wealthiest man in the country ($35 billion). The NYT take, which they never backed up with actual evidence, was that with the anti-graft campaign being a huge deal that China's wealthiest man and the politicians he was/is involved with just have to be dirty. With no evidence beyond connections.
That was never stated, but that was the implied conclusion. The Times could never get away with writing something like that about a Bill Gates or a Steve Jobs or even a Bob Iger. All implication.
Now, I'm sure, at the very least, that some of it's true. But that doesn't change the fact the story is very weak and should never have been placed. BTW, the author had to leave Bloomberg because they wouldn't run the story.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/29/w...tion-of-business-and-power-in-china.html?_r=0
