News D23 Expo 2019

[Sirwalterraleigh]

love to be remembered!!

If I remember correctly, you clearly stated they would not do any of the adds, including GotG, Theater(which in your defense did get killed), Rat, Tron and a few others. And you took your punishment like a champ so Kudo's to you!!

I agree that before was make up, but not sure what may be announced for this one isn't even more of that. Even you have to admit that they were woefully lacking in developing the US parks. Finally "trying" to address Epcot, and an add at AK(still don't buy this by the by) and maybe an add to DHS or MK is just making up again for lost time.

My only question is how big any add will be. Are they really going to react to Universal officially announcing their 3rd gate in FL or not.

Actually...I never commented on any individual rumors...I just said what I always did - which still applies - to not believe rumors until they are confirmed at all.

You had me tangled with others with an axe to grind. I don’t grind...I just tend to judge with skepticism based on a long history of watching.

I had never heard of the guardians thing...or the Mickey ride...or the others beside ratatouille (which made sense) until right around the actual convention.


But fast forward...I still think that slate was an “exception” rather than rule. I expect this one would be more normal due to bob’s desire to concentrate on his tan full time in a year or two

And the Oracle has walked stuff back...that’s going on now and not getting much pub.

And for the record: I fully, 100% agree on the “makeup”...and preached it for like 8 years on strategic discussions about the wdw parks prior to the evil dentist going “krissy” out of the blue on me. Stagnation and erosion of the Eisner era lead in capacity is the major issue going forward. That wasn’t a hard prediction to make.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

If anything, the competition's stronger now, given that Universal have announced a whole new park.

I don't think Disney need an answer to that right now, but what's being described is more than a little weak in comparison.

But That park is along way off and Iger doesn’t have to deal with it...
...no assumptions otherwise should be considered

What does he care about new site development? In an ideal world....a ceo should be contractually required to stay invested in a company for at least 10 years after his departure...it would be good for responsible corporate governance

 

[Dr.GrantSeeker]

From the general reading I've done here related to THIS years Event, and the fact this is the first time in its history the Expo is sold out for all three days, 40 minutes probably won't cut it this time around!


I felt extremely lucky getting into the Parks & Resorts panel just standing in the standby line since people had begun lining up at 11am that day for the close seats.
40 minutes worked for me...and they still were letting a lot of people in behind me who had arrived later.

But that was 2015.
This is the 2019 Expo.

The earlier you get in the standby line, the better shot you have of getting decent seats.
Depending on what the line looks like at any given time, you may well want to jump into it just to get into the room.
You don't have to 'overnight' it however.
I don't recommend 'overnighting' for anything related to any aspect of the Expo, but that's my own personal take.

This year I'm sure there will be high demand to get into the Parks panel on Sunday, perhaps even more so then in years prior due to the planned reveal of several Epcot redevelopment projects.
When I went in 2015, the Parks panel was a high priority for many and I seriously didn't expect to get in.
But it did, luckily.
So if it's a 'must see' panel for you, make it your priority on Sunday!

Good luck, and have a great time!
Stay calm, and try not to get overwhelmed by the massive crowds.

-

Thank you for your great response. I did attend D23 back in 2017 but don't remember the line my group waited in to get into Hall23. Since the event is early this year, 10:30am, we were thinking of getting in line around 8am. I'm hopping that is early enough. We aren't the type of people to camp out overnight either.

But either way this will be our last D23 event so we want to be sure that we get into P&R. We were really planning on snagging a reservation but that clearly didn't happen! We are D23 gold members so hopefully 8am will be early enough to get in the Gold members priority line. I think the doors open at 10am for the expo itself? We shall see!

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Is he? I honestly can't keep track. Seriously. You should see my inbox here, it's been nuts for 36 hours.

Hey @HmmmmmMMMmm have you been attacking me? I can't keep track. Just shoot me something in my mailbox if you want to attack me, because that's the only thing I can barely keep up with lately. But realize we'll probably be friends by the end of the attack.

But back OT, at this point they can't just "update" the 4th scene of COP beyond the 2001 finale' or whatever it was supposed to be when they last redid it in 1994. They need to redo the entire thing so that it ends in 2035, at least.

It's going to take a full rewrite to get COP back to a relevant attraction instead of just a museum piece playing to lost tourists looking for AC and some Disney nerds looking for Walt in the swamp, two demographics that combined barely fills 25% of its hourly capacity. And all run by badly trained new-hire CM's who don't know what they're doing.



If TDO wants to just keep it limping along embarassingly like this for another 20 years, then sure, update the 4th scene to look like a bizarre time jump from 1947 to 2027, Presented by Best Buy.

But really, if they're serious about keeping COP around for awhile, the entire 20 minute show needs a full redo and rewrite, keeping honest to the 1964 original of course. And get some better trained CM's in there to operate it, please.

We’re gonna need a bigger circle.

 

[Dr.GrantSeeker]

D23 confirmed with me the lines are still very real for this year. The reservations aren’t with massive numbers. I will say, especially for Parks, you will not have a chance at 40 minutes before.

I know for the Movies panel, my friends are going to start watching for lines at 4pm prior and will be leading to the Legends line at 8pm. Parks is still unknown- a lot are waiting to see how the first 2 days work.

Oh, I have no doubt that 40 minutes will not be enough time for Parks. Sine its in the morning we are planning on getting to the expo at 8am maybe even earlier to get into line. Really hoping that is enough time to snag a spot in line that guarantees entry.

 

[smile]

And the Oracle has walked stuff back...that’s going on now and not getting much pub.

contractually required to stay invested in a company for at least 10 years after his departure

how much is he invested now?

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Stay tuned...the reported wdw slate is “light” in comparison and the “insiders” have seemed to concede that.

Now go back 6 months...then go back a year...and look at the innuendo. Paints a more lush picture as always. The shovels usually win....usually.

how much is he invested now?

Modern ceo contracts are tied to lucrative “options” as a general rule and I wouldn’t expect spray tan bob to be different at all...

It’s a way for Wall Street to keep their eye on daily stock price - which is all the institutional investors care about.

 

[JEANYLASER]

Here is my list

1. New Epcot Pavilion
2. Big Hero 6 Attraction in Tomorrowland
3. New Addition to DAK
4. The Incredibles to replace of Rock and Roller Coaster
5. New Parade for the Magic Kingdom for the 50th birthday.
6. New Addition to Magic Kingdom
7. New Figment attraction and 3D movie adventure at Epcot

 

[Phicinfan]

But That park is along way off and Iger doesn’t have to deal with it...
...no assumptions otherwise should be considered

What does he care about new site development? In an ideal world....a ceo should be contractually required to stay invested in a company for at least 10 years after his departure...it would be good for responsible corporate governance

So in your opinion, no chance they want to get ahead prior to the 3rd gate? you know, try something novel?

 

[smile]

Stay tuned...the reported wdw slate is “light” in comparison and the “insiders” have seemed to concede that.

Now go back 6 months...then go back a year...and look at the innuendo. Paints a more lush picture as always. The shovels usually win....usually.


Modern ceo contracts are tied to lucrative “options” as a general rule and I wouldn’t expect spray tan bob to be different at all...

It’s a way for Wall Street to keep their eye on daily stock price - which is all the institutional investors care about.

granted, but the ocean's not quite as blue anymore... yep, we'll see; interesting show, nonetheless
- and i was joking... he's been known to drop a lil dis on occasion

 

[Phicinfan]

Okay, here is my list just to be on record and well I am just guessing:

The parks will be Epcot driven in my mind, THIS is Disney's new response to Universal:
Clarity on GotG, Space restaurant, new core and changes to Land and Sea in FW - I simply don't buy the Imagination stuff, just gut feel there.
When I say core I am hoping beyond hope real art and showing the new water maze near Seas and the Festival area in center and the new buildings to replace innovations.
I do think they announce some changes to WS as well - UK ride, Film updates for Canada and China and new pavilion.

I also think there will be at least some DL marvel content to build off Endgame and Spidey and I think we will get ONE announcement for MK whether it be a new add - or some upgrades to existing rides.

I don't think we get any more news on DHS or AK.

 

[RobbinsDad]

It's not like we haven't had previous, though- D23 2017 was far more exciting than how this one appears to be shaping up.

2017 was good because many of the rumored attractions were announced, but leading up to it the consensus was they would not drop that much new information. Maybe 2019 will exceed expectations too.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

So in your opinion, no chance they want to get ahead prior to the 3rd gate? you know, try something novel?

I don’t trust Iger as much as Eisner when it comes to “legacy”...I never got the sense that mattered to CMB and it did - believe it or not - matter to evil mikey.

This board is as merc ( as in Disney’s corporate board) as it comes...the fallout from the ““jobsification” of it after Pixar. Bad business people and Facebook types.

Now...I’d LOVE to be proven wrong on this and see them invest more...but that’s not a “confident” request right now.

granted, but the ocean's not quite as blue anymore... yep, we'll see; interesting show, nonetheless
- and i was joking... he's been known to drop a lil dis on occasion

Granted

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Okay, here is my list just to be on record and well I am just guessing:

The parks will be Epcot driven in my mind, THIS is Disney's new response to Universal:
Clarity on GotG, Space restaurant, new core and changes to Land and Sea in FW - I simply don't buy the Imagination stuff, just gut feel there.
When I say core I am hoping beyond hope real art and showing the new water maze near Seas and the Festival area in center and the new buildings to replace innovations.
I do think they announce some changes to WS as well - UK ride, Film updates for Canada and China and new pavilion.

I also think there will be at least some DL marvel content to build off Endgame and Spidey and I think we will get ONE announcement for MK whether it be a new add - or some upgrades to existing rides.

I don't think we get any more news on DHS or AK.

I guess if it’s “very low investment”...like a merry go round...then a poppins ad makes sense...

But that movie did make less than solo...so that’s a near flop by today’s Hollywood standards...so motivation for rides should be near zero.

But that’s 100% on Disney...they failed Mary big time. They had the right actors and motives...but made a straight reboot and that’s getting old and tired.

And that is embarrassing for Disney - frankly. Bad management...do something other than a remake, will ya?

And don’t look now...but they have TWO awful looking big name sequels on deck as well.

Ok...back on target.

 

[FamilyCallsMeWalt]

What are the plans for Blizzard Beach? Perhaps a new slide?

 

[UNCgolf]

If TDO wants to just keep it limping along embarassingly like this for another 20 years, then sure, update the 4th scene to look like a bizarre time jump from 1947 to 2027, Presented by Best Buy.

But really, if they're serious about keeping COP around for awhile, the entire 20 minute show needs a full redo and rewrite, keeping honest to the 1964 original of course. And get some better trained CM's in there to operate it, please.

I know this is true, but I would HATE to lose the 1900, 1920s, and 1940s scenes. They are the reason I love the attraction. I suppose they could keep most of the 1900 and 1940s scenes, remove the 1920s scene and replace it with a 1980s scene, then update the finale to 2030 or so. I'm sure I'd still love that attraction, but I don't think I'd love it as much as the original.

 

[Haymarket2008]

I'm very excited about the changes and announcements for Epcot. Based on the people involved, the budget, etc, I'm convinced this will be extremely well-received. There's a different feel for this project than for SWGE, with several people having told me that there's a strong emphasis to get this right coming all the way from Iger down. While some people may disagree with some of the new names or having a Marvel-based ride in Epcot, the people doing this are passionate about EPCOT.

Goodness, I hope you’re right.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Goodness, I hope you’re right.

The stakes are much bigger for Epcot than really any recent project - SW, fantasyland, mgm, etc.

Epcot is such high overhead/maintenance that you cannot fail from a business perspective when you build. I think that was Eisner’s biggest mistake...not committing to the park to do things right.

I’d only submit that avatar had perhaps bigger stakes...because of the high operational cost of DAK and the fact they hadn’t really touched Florida in a meaningful way in years

 

[Magenta Panther]

I'm very excited about the changes and announcements for Epcot. Based on the people involved, the budget, etc, I'm convinced this will be extremely well-received. There's a different feel for this project than for SWGE, with several people having told me that there's a strong emphasis to get this right coming all the way from Iger down. While some people may disagree with some of the new names or having a Marvel-based ride in Epcot, the people doing this are passionate about EPCOT.

ME: Excited, until the inevitable cost-cutting begins...

 

[WDW Pro]

The stakes are much bigger for Epcot than really any recent project - SW, fantasyland, mgm, etc.

Epcot is such high overhead/maintenance that you cannot fail from a business perspective when you build. I think that was Eisner’s biggest mistake...not committing to the park to do things right.

I’d only submit that avatar had perhaps bigger stakes...because of the high operational cost of DAK and the fact they hadn’t really touched Florida in a meaningful way in years

Pandora and SWGE had higher stakes. Epcot will be successful regardless due to nighttime entertainment and WS. But the cost certainly does raise the stakes. Disney was banking on Pandora to turn AK into a full-day park ($$$), and SWGE was needed to start getting DHS closer to that as well as being the driving force behind an expected 10-30% increase in DLR attendance for the next 5+ years.