A Spirited Valentine ...

[WDW1974]

Not sure how I feel about that. The rotational dining is a bit of a blessing and a curse. I think I've had one great service team in 5 cruises. But I like the opportunity to go to eat at all of the restaurants.

I don't want to jump the gun on that ... it simply is being considered and using Disney logic I can see it going away. Not a done deal and apologies if I said otherwise. But dining is not going to be the same as it is now.

But food service in general, at least on the Fantasy, needs a lot of help. The menus are only unique 3 of 7 days...food quality has declined every year at every service venue.

Really? I have only done two voyages on the Fantasy, but they were my last two voyages. I thought the food was excellent the first time and just slightly less this past fall. But I was also suffering a sinus infection and didn't have my usual zest for eating. That said, the menus are getting stale. I know many Disney nuts who believe if there is an appetizer they love on Pirate's Night that they've had 11 times that Disney can never change it, but I am often finding very few items that excite me. And one can't dine at Palo and Remy every night.

 

[WDW1974]

Does anyone know if the 25th Anniversary will last into 2018 as per tradition?

It doesn't look that it will be ongoing throughout 2018 ... it may well stretch into the year, though. I would be surprised if it didn't.

 

[Tick Tock]

I missed some big deal involving a site that wanted you to pay to watch them hang out in the theme parks?

Pay to watch other people in the theme parks? If just one person even considers opening up their wallet or pocketbook for this, I am officially giving up on humanity as we know it. Seriously. Game over.

 

[WDW1974]

Then again Duffy was more beloved in Japan compared to the US. I remember years before Duffy debuted at WDW and DL. Not that many people had a problem with him (Then again this was back when he was more well-known to the Japanese and was still unheard of in the West) since he's been at Tokyo since 2007.

Duffy actually debuted at WDW in 2002 as part of one of the reinvention's of DD. It was tied to the opening of Once Upon a Toy, which has been totally ruined and turned into one part Star Wars, one part Marvel, a little Disney and a Jon Benet Boutique. Duffy was known as "The Disney Bear" and no one bought any.

Disney brought him back a few years later (think it was 2005 or 2006) at TDS and gave him a convoluted backstory about how Minnie gave him to Mickey for when he went off to sea and through their love, he came to life and became 'Mickey's companion' and, yeah, it is vomit-inducing. And all the Tokyo office girls went nuts and DuffyMania was born (sadly). Disney has since tried to make Duffy a big deal in the USA, Paris and HK and basically the only place that has embraced him at all is HK. They are using him a lot at SDL now as well.

 

[brb1006]

well then


Idk, still looks pretty gaudy.

At least it ain't pink

 

[WDW1974]

But how? Could we be seeing "Freestyle Dining", similar to what NCL and RCCL offers on their ships? Could we be seeing new menus? Could we be seeing more seatings? What changes COULD we see?

Multiple options are on the table. You should expect more upcharge dining locales (I will be shocked if you don't have at least 4-5 on each new ship). And absolutely new menus ... freestyle with a caveat is also on the table ...

 

[brb1006]

That was King Leonidas from Bedknobs & Broomsticks. King Richard has never been turned into a character (and never likely will be). It was odd they didn't include Esmeralda, but the reason was probably that they didn't have enough face performers left to fill the role. The park had full regular entertainment ops today as well as the dozens of characters in this special show and there are only so many face performers they can pull from.

A number of factors go into whether a character is made fur or face. The look of the character, and whether it's too stylized to be convincingly portrayed by a face, overall costume design, staffing concerns, etc.

We hadn't seen King Leonidas since the last performance of Disney's Electrical Parade (Pre Tinkerbell) back in 2009

 

[brb1006]

Also, major kudos to DLP's events/entertainment team for creating an awesome, classic Disney celebration today. And those one-day-only character costumes for Mickey and friends are LIGHTYEARS nicer than their everyday 25th wear, which is really ugly.

One nitpick - it would have been nice if they had been able to remove the Christmas lights from the castle before the big day.

But I actually like the 25th outfits more than the 60th Anniversary outfits at Disneyland. I never seen that many Disney characters at a Disney Park since Tokyo.

 

[brb1006]

Universal won the internet today.
View attachment 199458

Or was it yesterday?

 

[brb1006]

Universal Orlando's Twitter is often full of win. They do a good job and have a great sense of humor.

The Theme Park equivalent to the official Sonic The Hedgehog Twitter.

 

[brb1006]

And a very Happy 25th B-Day to Euro Disney (aka DLP). Beautiful park and resort in a lovely area just minutes from one of the greatest cities in the world that, no, should not have been built in Spain. Looks like Disney's neglect over the years has actually been a positive as the park is sparkling and, beyond the atrocity that is one of John Lasseter's favorite rides, and not a huge amount has been lost in a quarter of a century.

I believe @WDWFigment is leading the American blogger brigade over there according to his Tweeter.

I look forward to visiting later this year, but the resort has been trending upward now since at least 2014. I still kick myself for having a chance to be at the opening in the ancient days of 1992 (I have clothes older than that!) and didn't take it.

Disneyland Paris (Euro) has come such a long way since how often it got mocked in the early years.

 

[brb1006]

Notice who is acting like he has any clue about any of this

I agree, at least be positive for once.

 

[WDW1974]

Been on 4 cruises and all of them had great service with 2 cruises for us having out of this world. Getting to know the waiters is also something cool -- just being more personalized. Food quality is still superior to most cruise lines though (have you had the truffle cheese ravioli appetizer? Or the SeaBass?), and Castaway Cay is a phenomenal stop. DCL for me anyway is more about the ship than the ports, unlike Carnival which is basically just transportation.

I would place DCL squarely in the middle of all cruise lines for food overall. I've been on 20 cruises (seven on DCL). Remy is the absolute finest food I've had at sea. But that is a very unique and pricey upcharge experience. Palo, especially brunch, is superb. But main dining rooms? Average. Food is much better on Princess, slightly better on NCL for a few examples.

Castaway Cay is wonderful, but gets very overrated by DCL addicts. It is a nice, relaxing diversion. But some people feel it is reason enough to book a cruise with Disney and I don't get that.

Something cool that the waiters did for us one night was they saw how much we loved the truffle cheese ravioli appetizer, so they brought it to us in addition without asking the next night. And like I've said, just getting to talk to the same people brings them more to life than just people serving you randomly. It's that personal, intimate feel that Disney has nailed on their ships.

They do have it nailed, but so do most others. It is more of an industry norm.

Besides the price, the main downsides are the pools, and probably lack of casinos for the adults, but really the pools you can do on land, and casinos can attract the wrong crowd. For a teen (and his friends), the Vibe is so so good from the activities to the counselers, to the private pool. It's just a really good setup.
But the included beverages (and actually really good!) salad wraps at the pool really help propel the ship. The fact that there is almost always someone cleaning the restrooms on the ship, or that you can see in movie movies if you so chose paired with a great dinner and a wonderful show (like Aladdin). Heck... the activities are wonderful too! I wouldn't recommend though if you have kids under 6 or 7 (and really the most fun they have starts around 11).

Of course you do pay more, but the service across the board is top notch and the ship is simply beautiful inside and out (especially the Fantasy). You really cannot get a better family ship than the Fantasy.

Funny story, as everything on the ships are free (obviously besides liquor, fine coffee, and merchandise) we went to Disney World for 1-night after our last cruise. I was going to not pay for ice cream that I got at the hotel as in my mind, it was included. Told the Cast Member that and they let me have it for free; that was very nice of him too!

Yes. That is the Disney Difference.

 

[WDW1974]

Ya totally fair. I'm an oddball special case and have been to both an equal amount in the last decade. My opinion would surely be different if I visited WDW with any regularity, or was local. Not saying that makes me more objective, just that neither option is the default, thereby putting the other on a pedastle.

I have a policy that I need about 8 new things of major or minor significance (that appeal to me) to drag me to a park. Really the seasonal overlays, entertainment changes and kawaii isn't enough. I was at the 35th and it's been pretty minor tweaks outside of the Mystic Rhythms, Jungle Cruise and now Nemo. The same applies to WDW, the back half of NFL didn't drag me to visit, but Pandora will be enough!

I'd eagerly love to return to TDR, but I guess I somehow justify the addiction by waiting. That's probably why I'm so grumpy at them, my fake will power preventing me from returning. 2020 will do though!

Being local or close to local, my case, does make a difference. But, right now, I'm just sorta numb to the fact that WDW is a massive construction project and they are removing what little trees are left (I'm sorry to the newbs, but if you didn't visit in the 70s and 80s and to some degree 90s, then you truly have no idea what WDW looked like ... felt like etc), destroying wetlands, making the entrance to the MK a giant bus parking lot, while they sold off all land behind the park, so there is massive development for all the $9 an hour workers living six to an apartment. Just numb ...

Sure Pandora is going to be great and the park looks amazing, but even DAK has seen massive trees removal and walkway expansion. It isn't just too many people. It's too many lazy and morbidly obese people riding on scooters and mommy and daddy's pushing double wide strollers. But you've heard this before ... it is basic truth.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Aren't those lights part of the 25th decor package?

Those lights are Christmas decor first and foremost, however, right now they help to make the castle "sparkle" a bit during the day and night, so I guess that's why they decided to leave them up? I'd prefer they were removed since they somewhat spoil the look of the castle up close. They're not even used for Illuminations.

 

[WDW1974]

You haven't met me, or my husband yet either!

Get in touch with me when you're in FL or even planning to be at DLR or DLP etc. and we can change that!
You won't hate me ... I can almost guarantee it!

 

[WDW1974]

Pardon my ignorance for I have never been to TDR but from what I have heard my only real complaints are
*Stitch in Tiki Room? (Iago and Zazu actually fit better than that)
*Fantasyland is still stuck with the tent look for the dark rides as with MK largely.
*Haunted Mansion still has not been updated but that's a mixed blessing as I have mixed opinions on the 2007 updates and the 2011 updates were just horrible all around (plus no Hatbox Ghost but MK does not have him yet either.)
*Tomorrowland aesthetic is stuck in the 1980s
*Monsters Inc. in Tommorowland? (same issue with MILF)
*TDS, while I hear it is the most beautiful Disney Park in the world seems to be in process of getting the IP Virus as well. (Stormrider becoming Nemo like the Subs and Seas before it.) and a Frozen Land.
Other than that I hear TDR is virtually perfect.

Visit it and then judge for yourself!

Stitch in the Tiki Room isn't great, but it isn't awful either. And better than taking it away;
Fantasyland may look dated in parts, but every attraction looks and functions like it opened today;
Mansion is perfect just the way it is;
Tomorrowland may well be stuck in the 80s. But it still looks timeless at the entrance. Much better than whatever was done at the MK;
No, Monsters doesn't belong there. But at least it is a kewl E-Ticket;
TDS is quite breathtaking in parts, although I can argue that DLP and DAK are more beautiful ... even DL until recently. Yes, it is getting a lot of character IP. But Stormrider really wasn't that good ... and the port will be Scandinavia ... Frozen will be part of it, yes.

Like I said, visit and then see how you feel.

 

[WDW1974]

It does appear they've had a bit of a dormant period similar to WDW's, aside from special event stuff.

That special event stuff is a lot more than what WDW has seen. Unless, a new food booth at one of the eight Food and Booze Fests is counted as something new at Dizzy World.

 

[ford91exploder]

I think it'll be interesting how DLP handles their characters when Disney eventually buys out DLP entirety. Especially in events like these.

WDW to be the model unfortunately based on Disney's current trajectory

 

[WDW1974]

Still trying to understand Julie Taymour being a Disney legend. If anything, outside of Lion King using puppetry, she has been been bad for theatre in general and lets not forget she produced the most expensive and one of the biggest money losing experiences for Marvel with Spiderman:Turn Off the Dark.

No. Just the Lion King?! ... Even if that was all she had done, that alone would be worthy. What has Stan Lee or Mark Hamill done for Disney? (BTW, love that the release touts Hamill's start on ABC's General Hospital in the early 70s ... thought I was the only one who actually recalled that factoid.)