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

[BrianLo]

True. That is the prediction anyway, right? DHS mid to late 2019?

Yes, depends on what a "few" means to Spirit. If he means late 2018 (DL) and early 2020 (DHS)? Fine, I'll bite as a possibility, a technicality of the calendar year and using the word few as "anything more than one".

A few to most of the general public usually means 3, or at the very least more than 2 actual years (>730 days). No way do I buy either of those scenarios, unless I'm missing something.

A few was the old timeline, with the old plans to utilize Echo Lake after building a Monstropolis/Pixar area and parking garages first. That timeline changed a long time ago as far as I'm aware.

 

[WDW1974]

Speaking of Iger, did you notice his appearance in the latest Avatar video? I guess he got a boat ride?

No. Didn't look at the video. I thought I posted back in mid-November when work was stopped for three or four days to flood the building and have people push the boat through for him and Cameron. ... BTW, I will continue to say that Pandora will be visually spectacular. The attractions ... I think they'll be good.

 

[WDW1974]

Positive or negative changes in your opinion?

A bit of both, actually. But since this is so early in the process, you truly don't know what will or won't change. But assuming everything stays the same ... there will be some kewl changes and some ... not so much.

 

[WDW1974]

So we're back to "a few years" for SWE after Anaheim? Let's not. It's regularly been stated mid 2019. So unless it opens this year in Anaheim ...

I don't know who is stating what. Originally, it was 2021. That moved up a year. ... I have not heard one person at WDI say 2019 for WDW. They take forever to build anything of consequence. Do I have to point out that since the year is new we are now almost a decade from when RoL was proposed? You think 10 years to open a water show at night is SOP in the biz? All the while Disney's costs are multiples of what anyone else spends.

So, just because someone started saying mid-2019 on the 'net and that got picked up by two bloggers who Tweeted at their 253 real followers and they told a bus driver at FW one night and ...

I am sticking with 2020 unless and until I hear otherwise. Sorry.

 

[Kman101]

I don't know who is stating what. Originally, it was 2021. That moved up a year. ... I have not heard one person at WDI say 2019 for WDW. They take forever to build anything of consequence. Do I have to point out that since the year is new we are now almost a decade from when RoL was proposed? You think 10 years to open a water show at night is SOP in the biz? All the while Disney's costs are multiples of what anyone else spends.

So, just because someone started saying mid-2019 on the 'net and that got picked up by two bloggers who Tweeted at their 253 real followers and they told a bus driver at FW one night and ...

I am sticking with 2020 unless and until I hear otherwise. Sorry.

Well it's @marni1971 saying mid 2019. Don't be sorry. I'm not really questioning your source, I appreciate your info, and I know the Orlando parks like to delay their projects so it wouldn't surprise me if it was later, but it sounds like different information is being given out. I get my news from here, nowhere else. So a few months from mid/fall 2019 to early 2020 isn't that big of a difference. I was just startled to hear "years", that's all

And believe me I've expressed my disgust with how they run the Orlando parks. I mean, DHS can't even update their 20+ year old shows and those still seem to keep getting pushed aside. I have a long list of issues I could list I have with them as well, LOL. It's just awful how they run things.

 

[WDW1974]

Interestingly both the Polynesian and the Yacht Club had more decorations this year than they have had in over a decade. The garland on all the lampposts on the entry road to the yacht club were removed in the mid 2000's and we're finally returned two years ago. This year the captains grill. Yachtsman steakhouse, Kona cafe and Ohana all received decorations for the first time in over a decade as well.

They felt quite spartan, especially the Poly, to me. Can't comment on entry road as I walked over so never came in that way. The cafe looked like it had some level of decoration, but didn't dine or walk in Yachtsman or the Poly restaurants. If they have, indeed, gone a decade without a holiday decor package that is quite sad when every hotel in O-Town seemingly has a tree or something in their dining locations.

The main lobby decor at YC looks the same as what it has had for years. Not much.

WL was also missing decor on half the lobby due to construction. Looked very odd. As beautiful as that lobby is, no one seems to recall that they used to have a train that circled the tree for many years.

Wanted to see more decorations, but neither Disney transport nor driving overly appealed to me. I think we only did all the MK resorts, including BLT and FW. And the BC/YC and BW (very late one night).

BTW, Disney has totally turned the BW into a location where everyone is in bed by 11 p.m. ... Nothing open and no late night vibe at all beyond Jellyrolls and Atlantic Dance, which will likely shutter soon.

 

[WDW1974]

A few years difference in opening seems at odds with physical surveillance of construction where DHS is only a few months behind Anaheim. In order for there to be a few years difference, construction at DSH would have to be put on hold for a year or two.

Not really. Just watch the pace of building ...oh and recall lying Iger said Pandora would open ... what? Two years ago now?

 

[WDW1974]

The DCL experience is pretty scripted with lots of fans that will freak out at even the smallest changes, but they do need to rethink a few things:

• The Dining experience on our last 7-day was a source of complaints from nearly everyone who we interacted with. I could see them tackling this in at least some way. From service methods, food quality and even the rotational dining.
• More activities for older teens / young adults
• More separation between adult and family areas
• More up-charge items/venues like Venelope's Sweet Shop (not that I want this, but seems obvious)
• More room classes for different family sizes.

I also recently did a Fantasy cruise ... and ... I can't disagree with any of the above. BTW, a version of Venelope's is coming to the Fantasy this year. That is Disney's answer to having the worst desserts and ice cream selection at sea. You can have high quality stuff, just pay more. When I can walk into Celebrity's buffet and have 8-10 homemade flavors of gelato for free, I have a bit of an issue with this (but the rubes love free low quality soft serve in four flavors!)

But the point of more a la carte options in VARIOUS parts of the cruise experience will be ushered in when the new ships debut, some may happen before on the older ones.

 

[NelsonRD]

Has there been any updated timeframe of when Disney is going to wish away the Tower of Terror to the cornfield?

 

[WDW1974]

Well, today is the final day for DCA's ToT.

It can't be because Disney said it wasn't happening and not to believe crazy people on the Internet.

And the final day was really in September when the name of the hotel was up and it wasn't covered in tarps and running with no show effects at all after dark. Can't wait for the final merchandise to wind up at the outlets in FL if the eBay buyers haven't cleared them out already.

 

[brb1006]

Also today is the final day for TOT at Disneyland.

 

[WDW1974]

I believe so, and I think Martin said if DL really pushed it they could squeeze it in for late late late 2018.

I love Martin, but there is no way in hell that SW would ever be ready in FL within two years. Just no.

 

[WDW1974]

I'm surprised no media has reported on it yet, perhaps waiting for truly final numbers. Disney pulled off 3 billion at the domestic box office in 2016.

3.0008 according to B.O. Mojo after 366 days.

For context, there have only been 4 times when major studios made over 2 billion... Disney in 2015/2016, Uni 2016 and WB 2009. The previous record was 2.444 from Universal in 2016.

Disney has a very successful formula, Brian. All based on tent poles and IP, sequels and remaking classics and milking as much as they can from all the above. Fanbois may crow over it, but numbers don't impress me much.

 

[Jones14]

I love Martin, but there is no way in hell that SW would ever be ready in FL within two years. Just no.

No no! I meant Disneyland! I believe Martin said DHS was mid 2019 at best, which is still two and a half off.

 

[peter11435]

They felt quite spartan, especially the Poly, to me. Can't comment on entry road as I walked over so never came in that way. The cafe looked like it had some level of decoration, but didn't dine or walk in Yachtsman or the Poly restaurants. If they have, indeed, gone a decade without a holiday decor package that is quite sad when every hotel in O-Town seemingly has a tree or something in their dining locations.

The main lobby decor at YC looks the same as what it has had for years. Not much.

WL was also missing decor on half the lobby due to construction. Looked very odd. As beautiful as that lobby is, no one seems to recall that they used to have a train that circled the tree for many years.

Wanted to see more decorations, but neither Disney transport nor driving overly appealed to me. I think we only did all the MK resorts, including BLT and FW. And the BC/YC and BW (very late one night).

BTW, Disney has totally turned the BW into a location where everyone is in bed by 11 p.m. ... Nothing open and no late night vibe at all beyond Jellyrolls and Atlantic Dance, which will likely shutter soon.

Yeah most resort restaurants have not had decorations in over a decade. They were finally returned (and in many cases plussed) to nearly every restaurant this year.

Agreed about WL. It's sad what they have done there decorations wise this year due to the construction.

 

[WDW1974]

Well it's @marni1971 saying mid 2019. Don't be sorry. I'm not really questioning your source, I appreciate your info, and I know the Orlando parks like to delay their projects so it wouldn't surprise me if it was later, but it sounds like different information is being given out. I get my news from here, nowhere else. So a few months from mid/fall 2019 to early 2020 isn't that big of a difference. I was just startled to hear "years", that's all

And believe me I've expressed my disgust with how they run the Orlando parks. I mean, DHS can't even update their 20+ year old shows and those still seem to keep getting pushed aside. I have a long list of issues I could list I have with them as well, LOL. It's just awful how they run things.

Not my sources on this. This is all me (yes, like when I said Tom Amity was crazy, which he is in general, about the castle envy in China and I was wrong. Me. Not sources. My sources are damn near perfect when they provide me information I can share ... and 100% when it is stuff that I can't). This is me using info that sources have given me throughout 2016, but not recently, and using other info to infer a conclusion.

Martin, I trust. But I don't know his sources (as far as I know) and lots of times one group of people hear one thing, while others -- even working on the same project -- hear differently). BTW, that happened a lot with SDL. There was a very vocal Imagineering contingent feeding bloggers that all was fine on the project and that it would open on time. Others, knew better and shared that with me and ... it's history.

Disney can't open a damn thing on time any more. And with the money they throw at projects it really isn't a forgivable offense. This was a company that used to be able to build a QS snack stand over a weekend at night and open the damn thing.

Look at Disney Springs for another project. Disney is acting like it is all open and was for most of 2016. The reality is the project still isn't finished and won't likely be until the end of this year, with some smaller things possibly pushed into early 2018. Just because you repeat a lie enough times doesn't make it true.

What's the saying? There are lies, damn lies and Disney lies?

 

[asianway]

They felt quite spartan, especially the Poly, to me. Can't comment on entry road as I walked over so never came in that way. The cafe looked like it had some level of decoration, but didn't dine or walk in Yachtsman or the Poly restaurants. If they have, indeed, gone a decade without a holiday decor package that is quite sad when every hotel in O-Town seemingly has a tree or something in their dining locations.

The main lobby decor at YC looks the same as what it has had for years. Not much.

WL was also missing decor on half the lobby due to construction. Looked very odd. As beautiful as that lobby is, no one seems to recall that they used to have a train that circled the tree for many years.

Wanted to see more decorations, but neither Disney transport nor driving overly appealed to me. I think we only did all the MK resorts, including BLT and FW. And the BC/YC and BW (very late one night).

BTW, Disney has totally turned the BW into a location where everyone is in bed by 11 p.m. ... Nothing open and no late night vibe at all beyond Jellyrolls and Atlantic Dance, which will likely shutter soon.

Yacht Club put the train layout up very late, like early December - many were fearing the worst

 

[Haymarket2008]

@WDW1974 Can you elaborate more on the Epcot plans? That seems to be the most nebulous of all the things coming down the pipeline.

 

[BrianLo]

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year by the way @WDW1974 !

I do seriously appreciate some of your tidbits. My mind is reeling about the things you can't talk about.

 

[doctornick]

I'm surprised no media has reported on it yet, perhaps waiting for truly final numbers. Disney pulled off 3 billion at the domestic box office in 2016.

3.0008 according to B.O. Mojo after 366 days.

For context, there have only been 4 times when major studios made over 2 billion... Disney in 2015/2016, Uni 2016 and WB 2009. The previous record was 2.444 from Universal in 2016.

It's been pretty amazing how Disney has taken such a huge share of the box office, especially by doing it with relatively few releases compared to other major studios.

More impressive to me is how they have had a very good track record in terms of the reception of their films. They aren't just releasing "popular" stuff that makes money but isn't any good. They have had some pretty consistent quality control in all their film branches. It's easy to write off their stuff as just being IP and remakes, but you have to give credit for doing what they are doing so well.