A Spirited Valentine ...

[SosoDude]

Ok, I misunderstood. I was thinking Simba, I guess. Still not a fan of the idea.

 

[JoeCamel]

If they moved demolished it's a small world they could also do it...

FTFY

 

[Disneyhead'71]

He's Pumbaa. So all the bug eating scenes are going to be turned into jokes about smoking weed.

Next thing you know, they'll cast Cheech Marin as a hyena.

 

[Princess Leia]

I'm still ticked about Lion King being remade, but you know, money and all that...

Ugh.

 

[Princess Leia]

Bunch of other movie release date announcements dropped today besides Star Wars and Indy

Wreck It Ralph 2: Pushed back to November 21, 2018
Frozen 2: November 27, 2019
Lion King Remake (with Seth Rogen playing Pumbaa because they needed to give me more reasons to avoid it like the plague): July 19, 2019
Gigantic: November 20, 2020
Untitled Animated Disney Movie: 2021

When was the original date for Ralph Wrecks the Internet?

 

[HauntedMansionFLA]

Bunch of other movie release date announcements dropped today besides Star Wars and Indy

Wreck It Ralph 2: Pushed back to November 21, 2018
Frozen 2: November 27, 2019
Lion King Remake (with Seth Rogen playing Pumbaa because they needed to give me more reasons to avoid it like the plague): July 19, 2019
Gigantic: November 20, 2020
Untitled Animated Disney Movie: 2021

No Dumbo?

 

[FigmentJedi]

When was the original date for Ralph Wrecks the Internet?

March.

 

[Kman101]

Am I alone in hoping that Will Smith DOESN'T become the Genie?

 

[Princess Leia]

Am I alone in hoping that Will Smith DOESN'T become the Genie?

I think he's better for that than to be cast in the live action Dumbo. However, Will Smith hasn't really had a critical hit in years.

Personally, I'm still mourning Robin Williams and his impersonations. If they want someone to do all of the zany impersonations, I don't think Will Smith is the right choice. Someone who does stand up (with impersonations) would be the better choice. Dana Carvey, Jim Carrey, or Bill Hader would be much better options, IMO.

 

[Bairstow]

I think he's better for that than to be cast in the live action Dumbo. However, Will Smith hasn't really had a critical hit in years.

Personally, I'm still mourning Robin Williams and his impersonations. If they want someone to do all of the zany impersonations, I don't think Will Smith is the right choice. Someone who does stand up (with impersonations) would be the better choice. Dana Carvey, Jim Carrey, or Bill Hader would be much better options, IMO.

Would it really be prudent for the new genie rendition to also be reliant on impression-based humor? If you really want the new interpretation to stand on its own and honor the Williams' performance, I would think getting way from the impressions would be a good idea.

What about John C. Reilly?

 

[asianway]

I think he's better for that than to be cast in the live action Dumbo. However, Will Smith hasn't really had a critical hit in years.

Personally, I'm still mourning Robin Williams and his impersonations. If they want someone to do all of the zany impersonations, I don't think Will Smith is the right choice. Someone who does stand up (with impersonations) would be the better choice. Dana Carvey, Jim Carrey, or Bill Hader would be much better options, IMO.

Sinbad or nothing

 

[Princess Leia]

Would it really be prudent for the new genie rendition to also be reliant on impression-based humor? If you really want the new interpretation to stand on its own and honor the Williams' performance, I would think getting way from the impressions would be a good idea.

What about John C. Reilly?

I kind of wonder if they're looking for someone to play the Genie like the Broadway interpretation. That one steered away from Robin Williams, and I could see Will Smith in that part.

John C. Reilly is another solid option, but I guess it depends if he'd be doing voice work for Wreck It Ralph 2 or doing the press tour for it during Aladdin.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Sinbad or nothing

Shaq?

 

[Quinnmac000]

In January, Disney agreed to pay $100 million dollars to settle claims that it conspired with its competitors to suppress animators’ wages. The agreement appeared to put an end to the long-running class action case, which arose from a Justice Department investigation into non-poaching practices in Silicon Valley.

But on Monday, two animators launched a fresh lawsuit against Disney in U.S. District Court, alleging that as animation producers they were improperly excluded from the settlement


http://variety.com/2017/biz/news/di...-alice-goldstone-charles-williams-1202395024/

 

[Bairstow]

In January, Disney agreed to pay $100 million dollars to settle claims that it conspired with its competitors to suppress animators’ wages. The agreement appeared to put an end to the long-running class action case, which arose from a Justice Department investigation into non-poaching practices in Silicon Valley.

But on Monday, two animators launched a fresh lawsuit against Disney in U.S. District Court, alleging that as animation producers they were improperly excluded from the settlement


http://variety.com/2017/biz/news/di...-alice-goldstone-charles-williams-1202395024/

Seems legit. Especially if their positions were specifically mentioned in the evidence establishing the antitrust violation for the animators themselves.

 

[Absimilliard]

Spirited Quickees (because they are the best kind!):

For all of the excitement over the 'Star Wars Cruiser'/AbD/Comic Con type boutique hotel experience, I would caution patience. As a kind Spirit wrote me today, "this isn't something that will happen in near term."

Said source also says that while designed for WDW, this is something that will be considered for Anaheim too. (And who said Bob Iger and TWDC isn't looking to make SW seem more important than the rest of DL? ... Oh yeah. Nobody.)

Despite Bob's fixation with SW and China, don't expect any SW product of substance to find its way to those parks soon. While people over there seem to love Marvel, his other big buy, they are not rabid fans of Rey, BB-8 and Princesses with hair buns. Indeed, I've had multiple people tell me that the temporary SW Launch Bay in SDL is one of the least popular attractions (not that it is one) in the park.

Will get back to China in a bit, but just want to make sure I was very clear that the Club 33s coming to WDW will simply be small upscale private bars at first. No gourmet restaurants. ... And before Tom Amity decides to break news that was broken here a long time ago, let me again spell out that a new Haunted Mansion eating venue/experience is coming to the MK, despite the mixed reviews of the Skipper Canteen.

Word from Ops people is that most of Pandora could open tomorrow and could have been open weeks ago now. No word on when (if?) unannounced soft openings will be starting. Also heard is that WDW leadership has no real idea on what to expect when it does open on everything from park visitation to how it will effect the rest of WDW's gates. There is a fear that DHS could be a ghost town this summer if the buzz on Pandora is great.

Heard from a friend that Frozen at HKDL is a done deal, even if TWDC winds up paying for it entirely. Heard from another that the Maelstrom/EPCOT clone will be shelved for a new unique attraction with another small scale attraction that will be a sleigh-themed clone of the Mater ride from DCA (that also will be a TSL ride in FL and a BH6 ride in Tokyo). I don't have confirmation of the unique attraction (meaning not the LPS ride headed for Anaheim and Tokyo post 2020), but it certainly sounds more plausible than repeating the EPCOT mistake (it is a crappy attraction, even forgetting its location, sorry).

D23's annual CrazyFest/Expo is approaching and people want to know if there will be P&R announcements. The answer is yes. But if this is anything like the last one, expect them to go back and forth on what will be announced right up until showtime.

I generally only give shoutouts to Disney Blogger/Lifestyler to the Stars Tom Bricker (@WDWFigment if he is around here), but was unable to sleep a few nights ago and instead of looking at the home made 'materials' sent to me by adoring fans, I instead read a non-outlet store column by that dude Derek Burgan on what apparently were the six least popular restaurants at WDW based on a sample-size of 122,000 (we all know why @Len Testa is loaded, right?) from TP: http://blog.touringplans.com/2017/04/22/s6_wdwlowestrated/

They were: 6.) Garden Grove at the Swan; 5.) Portobello at DS; 4.) Bongo's at DS; 3.) Picabu at the Dolphin; 2.) Planet Hollywood at DS; and 1.) STK at DS.

What I found interesting was that all of the above were non-Disney owned and operated locations/third parties. They were all places that didn't cater (with possible exception of the last one) to the O-Town blogger crowd or the Mommy Bloggers or even Disney fans per se. And except for STK, which is likely simply just a bad concept for WDW, they are old and tired (these results were before PH's recent redo). Considering I'm a fan of 3-6, I'll simply say that it's amazing what WDW addicts will tell themselves to enjoy a meal at a place like Chef Mickey's, The Wave, Le Cellier (more for value and what you have to go through than food quality), Be Our Guest, Cosmic Ray's, Electric Umbrella, any QSR at DHS etc. Don't want to give Derek too much extra pub here, but it's amazing how people will turn their noses up at say Portobello (a favorite of mine for the last dozen years) yet eat at Tony's Town Square ... or say that Garden Grove's atmosphere lacks atmosphere, yet have a character meal at Chef Mickey's etc.

Finally, just a word that I'll be taking a leave shortly. I do have visits to DLP, SDL, TDR and DLR in the pipeline and am not sure whether to drop in one by one with some thoughts or wait and do a long deal. Leaning toward the dropping in after each visit ...

I just returned from China and I can say I did not see much of a Star Wars presence there. No toys, no kids wearing Star Wars things, etc.

I was there specifically to visit one of Shanghai Disneyland largest competitor, Wanda Theme Park in Nanchang. Nanchang is like 450 miles south of Shanghai and it was Wanda first big outdoor amusement park, combined with real estate developments, hotels and a mall with a Movie Park (with TWO attractions) and Aquairum inside.

How was it? Better than I was expecting. Park layout is 6 lands around a lake with nice theming and architecture. The 4 headlining attractions were smartly placed, with the wooden coaster to the right of the entrance, the Inverted Coaster on the left and the mountain housing the shoot the chute is behind the lake, opposite the entrance. The 4th is the 240 feet tall (China's tallest roller coaster) Intamin Mega Coaster called here "War In the Heavens" on the directional signs and "Coaster Through the Cloud" at the ride entrance. It was a mix of Chinese and foreign built rides which worked out a lot better than I was expecting.

As good as the coasters and rides were, the best attraction in the park was the nighttime show, shown on the left portion of the lake. An amazing mix of water screens, water fountains, fire and fireworks made it the best nighttime show I have seen since the 50th anniversary fireworks at Disneyland.

I could also see where Shanghai Disneyland got into problems with the pricing inside the park. A water bottle or soda bottle was 5 yuans (75 cents US) and a full meal was around 20 yuans (3$ US). I could see where people used to those prices would get major shock at Shanghai Disneyland when the same 20 yuan meal is now 80-100 yuan at Shanghai Disneyland.

 

[Mike S]

I think he's better for that than to be cast in the live action Dumbo. However, Will Smith hasn't really had a critical hit in years.

Personally, I'm still mourning Robin Williams and his impersonations. If they want someone to do all of the zany impersonations, I don't think Will Smith is the right choice. Someone who does stand up (with impersonations) would be the better choice. Dana Carvey, Jim Carrey, or Bill Hader would be much better options, IMO.

No one can ever fill Robin's shoes.

NO, ONE.

 

[Bairstow]

The 4th is the 240 feet tall (China's tallest roller coaster) Intamin Mega Coaster called here "War In the Heavens" on the directional signs and "Coaster Through the Cloud" at the ride entrance.

Ok, if it's actually called "War in the Heavens" then it's instantly made my "top ten awesome coaster names" list.
I've also heard it translated as "Havoc in Heaven Palace," which would make it Sun Wukong reference, right?

 

[Absimilliard]

Ok, if it's actually called "War in the Heavens" then it's instantly made my "top ten awesome coaster names" list.
I've also heard it translated as "Havoc in Heaven Palace," which would make it Sun Wukong reference, right?

Original name was "War in the Heavens", but shortly before the ride opened the park was told they could not use the name due to copyright or taste reasons. So, you have a ride called War in the Heavens on the directional signs and the new name on the ride entrance, Coaster Through The Clouds. The local coaster group I visited for their event pointed it out to me.

 

[BrianLo]

Bunch of other movie release date announcements dropped today besides Star Wars and Indy

Wreck It Ralph 2: Pushed back to November 21, 2018
Frozen 2: November 27, 2019
Lion King Remake (with Seth Rogen playing Pumbaa because they needed to give me more reasons to avoid it like the plague): July 19, 2019
Gigantic: November 20, 2020
Untitled Animated Disney Movie: 2021

So I finally actually think Bob Iger might stick to his 2019 end date.

Leading up to his retirement the final Avengers film (of the phase trilogy), the final Star Wars episode (of this trilogy), Toy Story 4 and Lion King mark his apparent leave. I'm not one for Iger conspiracy theories... but just saying that doesn't seem like a coincidence. It's quite the mic drop. Completely ignoring the still partially unknown slate and Frozen 2.

I think Buena Vista might finally implode the tentpole strategy. Arguably that's their five strongest franchises doled out.