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

[Brer Oswald]

Thanks for all you guys do, like Spirit, Martin, Lee (where you at man?), and the rest.

The "schtick" is appreciated by most longtime Disney Parks fans, those of us who experienced the golden age of Disney; and while many of us look into the past through rose colored glasses (Disney was never perfect), the truth is that Disney is losing its magic overall. Their executives couldn't care less about the integrity and values that Disney used to stand for; these Execs only want to line their pockets and make their time at Disney look inflatedly positive.

So yea, people like me love to hear what these insiders have to say and think. It gives us a little hope that at least the whole ship isn't lost at Disney, there are a few ship-hands trying to right it. If you don't appreciate the truth that they share, or the opinions that we almost all agree with (example: paying millions to coke to keep the coke logo out of Star Wars Land is STUPID, and its the wrong direction for theming, that money could be better allocated), then you are free to avoid these insiders threads.

Meanwhile, keep the dream alive guys. I believe there will be a renaissance at the Disney company in the near future.

I agree, Disney still has the potential. I still have hope for Epcot, and if you don't, look no further than TestTrack 2.0. Love it or hate it, you have to admit that it fits the idea of Epcot perfectly, with it being a demonstration of new and upcoming technology. If we can see similar treatment updating past rides and and in creating new rides, Epcot may evolve to be a unique and inspiring park like the good old days. Considering that the update was only 3 years ago, it gives me faith!

 

[The Empress Lilly]

This thread turned from over and slightly boring into full blown sensation faster than last Tuesday's election!

 

[the.dreamfinder]

Well folks, Bob's sending out a test balloon for his ABC/CapCities sized acquisition.
https://techcrunch.com/2016/11/13/is-netflix-disneys-next-big-buy-and-is-reed-hastings-its-next-ceo/

 

[HMF]

I agree, Disney still has the potential. I still have hope for Epcot, and if you don't, look no further than TestTrack 2.0. Love it or hate it, you have to admit that it fits the idea of Epcot perfectly, with it being a demonstration of new and upcoming technology. If we can see similar treatment updating past rides and and in creating new rides, Epcot may evolve to be a unique and inspiring park like the good old days. Considering that the update was only 3 years ago, it gives me faith!

I strongly suspect that the reason Test Track 2.0 was so succesfull in capturing the EPCOT Spirit was because Trevor Bryant, The Show Producer was a veteran of the original Epcot Center particularly Horizons. IF ( and it's a big if) the same type of creative team is in charge of this re-development that might be cause for some optimism for a change.

 

[mickeyfan5534]

I think at this point, management just needs to find a Joe Rhode for each park who treats their park like their baby. But that won't happen because then we won't get such genius decisions like Guardians in the Tower and Frozen in Epcot

 

[njDizFan]

Well folks, Bob's sending out a test balloon for his ABC/CapCtities sized acquisition.
https://techcrunch.com/2016/11/13/is-netflix-disneys-next-big-buy-and-is-reed-hastings-its-next-ceo/

This actually makes sense a lot of different ways. It solves a lot of problems for both companies and I could see this happening. I just don't think I would like it as a consumer of both brands.

 

[muse1983]

Not the first time this has been said, but bears repeating every so often. Well done.

The news is always appreciated. But the schtick has become grotesque, and the cult of personality even more so.

Couldn't agree more, his "gimmick" (I pray it's a gimmick, if he's actually like that in person I don't know how he's made it this far in life) is garbage and has been for quite some time now.

 

[HMF]

I think at this point, management just needs to find a Joe Rhode for each park who treats their park like their baby. But that won't happen because then we won't get such genius decisions like Guardians in the Tower and Frozen in Epcot

Exactly but their mode of operating recently has been Creative Leads for individual BRANDS rather than individual parks. DAK might be the only park in the US at least where the park has kept true to it's premise throughout it's entire history with the other parks Too many different creative teams worked in isolation over time hurting the overall vision of the respective parks. (Epcot being the most painful example.)

 

[Mike S]

I think at this point, management just needs to find a Joe Rhode for each park who treats their park like their baby. But that won't happen because then we won't get such genius decisions like Guardians in the Tower and Frozen in Epcot

Bob Weis, the current head of WDI, was a big part of MGM/DHS and yet...

 

[WDW1974]

Appreciate the clear-up, Spirit. I definitely trust your word more than I do Corless's..es...es?

I, for one, have noticed a significant downturn in news/rumors lately.. Maybe it's just news/rumor off-season but it seems a lot slower recently and even Spirit has been posting a bit less. Guess it's a slow news week.

That makes you a smart Spirit. Or one of my Evil Fanboi Minions of Disney Destruction. Whatever you like better.

I have been much more interested in the direction of our country, than of WDW or Disney as a whole. Who said years ago that you couldn't Walmart WDW if you didn't Walmart the USA first? President Elect Donald J. Trump. Just let that soak in and wash over you. I complain about people with no theme park experience whatsoever running Disney's P&R division and we just elected a man with no experience in government, world affairs or politics whatsoever to the highest office in the land. ... I think that is like not trusting doctors, so you pick an outsider ... your postman to do your open heart surgery. Really doesn't make any sense, but anger and hatred often don't.

Anyway, the rumor mill has been slow of late. We all sort of know about what is coming soon from both Disney and UNI. There aren't any big surprises that I can see. Smaller scale things like the new holiday projection show at The Bob Iger MAGICal IP Theme Park can slip by ... but nothing of real significance. Like I said, I expect some Pandora details this weekend at the D23 event at WDW. But no new attraction stuff.

 

[WDW1974]

This quarter I did the Play by Play as the usual suspects have not been seen much recently, I also am also eagerly awaiting @ParentsOf4 analysis once Disney files it's 10-K for the year.

Yeah, I skimmed it earlier. ... I just really have little to add. Just numbers and tortured ones at that ...it isn't nearly as rosy at SDL as Bob makes it out to be, but it is a Legacy Project, so you have to expect that. (No, the park isn't flailing or anything ... but serious operational issues remain. The seasonal pass was introduced to get more locals in the very cold winter that is starting. Oh, and except for World of Disney and Starbucks, Disneytown is doing very, very, very poorly.)

 

[WDW1974]

Spirit, spirit, spirit. The first time I heard it suggested that JR might be in danger of being shown the door was from you when you suggested he would be the scapegoat for Pandora being locked in perpetual developmental hell. Now you can't even keep your stories consistent. I understand your grief this week but please keep your politics and incitement off the magical boards. Thanks.

Frank.

Oh, Frank. I thought you had died in a tragic RV fire. I had even made my peace that it was for the best since you are such a tortured soul.

Before you go back under your rock, let me assure you that IF (and I don't recall saying it, but giving you the benefit of the doubt) I said Joe could be scapegoated, I was simply offering a reasonable possibility. The land, BTW -- as I am sure you are intimately aware -- is way overbudget and behind schedule. The Weatherman's budget and schedule.

But Joe is in no danger of losing his job and what was placed out here and then stolen by Tom Amity Clueless was not cool. As to politics, go read Joe's Twitter or Instagram if you'd like to see just another reason why I have great respect for the man. He isn't happy with the election either. And he doesn't give a damn what the powers at Disney think of his opinions and right to free speech.

Now, leave please.

 

[WDW1974]

*popcorn* @WDW1974

Now, now, Martin. No need to pile on and be a smart ar$e. I have very limited time these days and really don't want to play with Frank.

 

[WDW1974]

Pot... meet kettle.

It's astounding how much you litter your breaking news/rumors with utter garbage, innuendo and bitter little pop shots. The actual "news" in you posts can be distilled down to two or three sentences without the silly narrative that you're constantly trying to spin. I understand why Alvey or Lutz or Corless or so many other deified basement dwellers trump up their news into pages of BS when they actually have 10 seconds worth of things to say- it's for copy/pageviews and ad revenue.

My question is why do you feel the need to do so? Especially when other "reliable sources" around this site seem to understand that this is a message board- something you clearly have no grasp of. Over this entire thread, the pages and pages of worthless narrative you've created can probably be tightened down into a paragraph or two, and then 1/3 of that will be legitimate new information, 1/3 will be typical going with the way the wind blows speculation, and 1/3 will be utter unsubstantiated nonsense. And with that, you'll crow from the mountaintop about the 1/3 of the correct news you've broken, you'll take credit for confirming 1/3 of the news that everyone knew, and the remaining 1/3 you'll simply ignore and never clarify why your reporting turned out to be a "bad rumor".

And all of it will come with a healthy dose of "things are changing".

Oh, another pal is back.

Not really in the mood to play. Just going to say that if I only was right 33% of the time, I'd hang up my keyboard.

But I'm glad that you and so many others just can't quit me. Does an old Spirit's ego good! Keep reading!

 

[Quinnmac000]

Spirit, can you comment on the issues Uni is facing regarding Beijing finally?

 

[WDW1974]

If you really feel this way, maybe you can go to all the other blogs in the fan community that just steal his news and sell it as their own. Sure you may get some other inaccurate info and be a little behind the loop, but hey you can rest assured it wont have his commentary.

As for me, I'll keep reading his stuff because he brings an interesting perspective.

I think we need to remind everyone that he and all of the other "insiders" don't get payed to write on here. They do it because they want to. They do it because they want to share their knowledge and opinion with everyone else. Just like I'm sure you do too. The difference is we don't have any sources that have deep background on situations. We're indebted to them. Let's not get choosy with the messenger, because it's much better to have the news than not at all.

If I'm being honest, I don't know why most of them put up with some of the stuff they do. I would've just given up a long time ago. So thanks for continuing to be part of the community insiders!

And thank you for appreciating my contributions!

 

[WDW1974]

The news is always appreciated. But the schtick has become grotesque, and the cult of personality even more so.

My schtick is anything but grotesque. Just ask any of the fanbois who have enjoyed it.

 

[WDW1974]

This thread turned from over and slightly boring into full blown sensation faster than last Tuesday's election!

Well, I really couldn't let my thread become a bastion of tall tales about bulldozing a castle. I have learned (again look at the blatant lies both candidates told in our election and no one in the media simply said: that is not true and we won't let that stand) that crazy things take on a life of their own if good Spirits sit idly by. I have seen my threads become discussions on sandwiches (and I do love them!) and Marvel films (I have loved a few of them) and that is one thing, but spreading a falsehood by a blogger who appears to have psychiatric issues and impulse control issues is where I do draw the line.

 

[WDW1974]

Well folks, Bob's sending out a test balloon for his ABC/CapCities sized acquisition.
https://techcrunch.com/2016/11/13/is-netflix-disneys-next-big-buy-and-is-reed-hastings-its-next-ceo/

Bob has had his eyes on Netflix for a while. I hope it doesn't happen. Disney doesn't need another toy while the existing ones sit and collect dust.

 

[WDW1974]

Couldn't agree more, his "gimmick" (I pray it's a gimmick, if he's actually like that in person I don't know how he's made it this far in life) is garbage and has been for quite some time now.

I have made it quite far, thanks a lot. ... No gimmick, I am much blunter in real life. But the funny thing is most people I meet wind up quite fond of me -- especially people from MAGIC!