A Terror-rific Spirited 13th (ToT fans have lots to fear)...

[The_Jobu]

I liked it better than Zootopia, BH6, and *gasp* even the anointed Frozen itself.

Moana just had all the pieces in place for a great classic: Story, music, beautiful animation. It all just worked. The soundtrack is quite possibly now my favorite in the Disney library, and the movie itself ranks for sure in my top-3 of all the Disney animated films.

I think that's why Zootopia fell flat for me, no music. If what you say about Moana is true, I'm really looking forward to seeing it.

 

[brb1006]

I think I'm going to skip this year's ABC WDW Christmas Special.. does that even have a thread yet like last years?

 

[BasiltheBatLord]

Please forgive me but no way can I dig through 200 pages of this thread to find the latest update on ToT. Has anything seemed to change from the time the OP was posted regarding its status?

 

[rushtest4echo]

"Things are changing"

"My sources have been quiet"

"It's waiting for funding"

"It's still waiting for the green light"

"It's waiting to be fast tracked"

 

[BasiltheBatLord]

"Things are changing"

"My sources have been quiet"

"It's waiting for funding"

"It's still waiting for the green light"

"It's waiting to be fast tracked"

Is that in chronological order or just an assortment of different things people have been hearing?

 

[MisterPenguin]

Is that in chronological order or just an assortment of different things people have been hearing?

We'll know for sure once Godot arrives.

 

[TeriofTerror]

Maybe I'm just filled with Christmas spirit, but I'm going to try to be as fair as possible in the whole Eisner v. Iger debate:
1. Eisner had a creative flair Iger lacks, and definitely made the domestic parks a higher priority than has his successor (although Iger is finally seeming to notice them).
2. Iger is much better at developing and maintaining relationships. There have been (to my recollection) no high-profile and damaging falling-outs like Eisner had with Steve Jobs, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Michael Ovitz, and others.

 

[VJ]

Merry Christmas, guys! Hope Santa gives you all what you asked for.

 

[ParentsOf4]

Merry Christmas from Disney's Animal Kingdom!

Attendance was incredibly light, with everything a walk-on from 8 to 9 AM. Crowds started arriving after 10 AM. We're back at Beach Club Villas for a few, and then walking over to Epcot for lunch!

 

[brb1006]

 

[Absimilliard]

Is that in chronological order or just an assortment of different things people have been hearing?

Just a Disney drone trying to discredit Disney insiders. Move along, nothing to see!

 

[MisterPenguin]

Just a Disney drone trying to discredit Disney insiders. Move along, nothing to see!

How much does a Disney Drone pay and where can I apply?

 

[MotherOfBirds]

Was that actual ride footage from the river ride? I didn't think they would have that much done already.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Was that actual ride footage from the river ride? I didn't think they would have that much done already.

Yes. We heard reports over a month ago that execs were taking dry runs through that ride.

 

[artvandelay]

2. Iger is much better at developing and maintaining relationships. There have been (to my recollection) no high-profile and damaging falling-outs like Eisner had with Steve Jobs, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Michael Ovitz, and others.

I'm reading Lawrence Levy's book about Pixar and he talks about how well Iger and Jobs got along.

 

[Cesar R M]

This always seemed to me to be a specious arguement. Whether Disney/Iger spend money and bought the entire company of Pixar and Lasseter came with it (substitute Marvel/Feige and Lucasfilm/Kennedy if you wish) how is that any different from splashing (less) cash and hiring Lasseter away from Pixar? Surely, the talent of the leaders involved was part of the value for those acquisitions for Disney.

Part of a good CEO would be hiring the right people and putting them in a position to succeed. What does it matter whether a person comes as a result of buying out their current employer versus hiring them alone? If it was just about the IP, Iger could have gotten rid of Lasserter or Feige, etc. when getting those companies but instead he seems to have actually by and large given them more responsibility.

Looking at it a different way, Iger also hired Alan Horn which looks like a stroke of brilliance. I'd imagine that Warner Bros would probably like to see him back.

The point is still the same.. Buying Success vs creating Success

Maybe I'm just filled with Christmas spirit, but I'm going to try to be as fair as possible in the whole Eisner v. Iger debate:
1. Eisner had a creative flair Iger lacks, and definitely made the domestic parks a higher priority than has his successor (although Iger is finally seeming to notice them).
2. Iger is much better at developing and maintaining relationships. There have been (to my recollection) no high-profile and damaging falling-outs like Eisner had with Steve Jobs, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Michael Ovitz, and others.

Agree.

Anyway, Wishing that Iger could put someone who actually LOVES the parks to manage the park division. I mean, if he did that with the animation groups.. why not the parks?

 

[Cesar R M]

Luckily for us, crowds on Thursday and Friday were reasonable; DW thought they were lighter than summer. A number of Magic Kingdom attractions were walk-ons or near walk-ons for the first couple of hours. Same happened at Disney Hollywood Studios late in the evening.

Today, Typhoon Lagoon was the emptiest I've ever seen it. (Daytime high was a bit over 80.) Plenty of seating was available throughout the day.

I suspect we are just ahead of the curve, with the masses arriving last night (Dec. 23) and today (Dec 24). We'll see what tomorrow at Disney Animal Kingdom and Epcot brings.

There's no way you are getting me into the Magic Kingdom on Christmas Day.

Isnt it a bit strange that you're not the only one reporting that WDW had below than expected crowds on these days?

 

[Cesar R M]

How much does a Disney Drone pay and where can I apply?

You get to travel around with mommy bloggers.. no payment apart from that.

 

[Absimilliard]

You get to travel around with mommy bloggers.. no payment apart from that.

You also have to obey your masters in Celebration commands. "We closed down 5 rides yesterday, make sure its a POSITIVE THING!"

If you make sure you don't show an ounce of objectivity and act as a PR piece for Disney for years, maybe they will reward you with paid rooms on site when they do "media events" to unveil new benches. You may live 5 miles away, but you sure could use a nice MAGICAL room!

Jokes asides, you can tell those social media Disney fanatics from a mile away. Something you know... important like the water park that created the blue print for all water parks closing in 5 days? Who cares! Its not MAGICAL because its not at Disney World! It may be 10 miles away from Disney Springs, but for all matter of purpose, to Disney social media drones, Wet' n Wild closing could be happening on the moon.

 

[ParentsOf4]

Isnt it a bit strange that you're not the only one reporting that WDW had below than expected crowds on these days?

Heavy crowds were present at Epcot during Christmas afternoon and evening, although I was surprised at how many were heading out at 7-9 PM even though Epcot was open till 10:30 PM. (I'm guessing they were taking the Monorail to MK, which was open till midnight.)

We're leaving today after a 5-night stay at Beach Club Villas. With Christmas on a Sunday, I'm pretty sure we managed to stay just ahead of the crowds for most of our trip by arriving a few days early. Early mornings at the Magic Kingdom (Dec 23) and Disney's Animal Kingdom (Dec. 25) were incredibly light, with almost everything a walk-on or near walk-on for the first couple of hours (7DMT excepted). I guess people were sleeping in.

Afternoons and evenings were crowded but we've seen worse. I suspect Christmas crowds will be in full force for the rest of the week.