Dead Monsters?

[Orange Bird]

Apparently, TDO has decided that park doesn't need added capacity (under what hallucinogens they were under when they came to that conclusion is anyone's guess).

This is the most intersting part of this to me. If TDO thinks the Studio does not need capacity, they are thinking attendance is not going up. A refurbished Star Tours (or a refurbished anything else) does not add capacity on paper.

Also, since the only big attraction in the Fantasyland expansion is a lift of what is going into DCA, perhaps the Fantasyland expansion is less expensive than the door coaster.

 

[WDW1974]

Question.. I read that attendance this year is about the same as last year so no hits were taken there. So are they still only running Fantasmic twice a week?

No. It's been three nights a week all summer (two shows at 9 and 10:30 --post 10 p.m. park close).

I saw schedules that had it going from six shows a week to three as of last week, but Disney has been toying with MK's schedule (taking away a few midnight closes while pushing a few 10 p.m. up to 11), so I really have no clue. I'm not sure they know what the schedule is until 3-4 days out at this point.

I do know that cutting Fantasmic completely for the fall was talked about, but I don't believe it will happen. But two shows a week is very, very likely.

 

[hemloc]

I spent almost three months living/working in China last summer and the one thing everyone kept asking about (and people were universally wonderful whether locals or from all points on the planet) was how could a country as amazing and and successful and great as ours had allowed someone like our previous president to be voted into office not once, but twice, while shredding our Constitution when it fit his needs. Before anyone says this is political, relax take a breath and let it go. This isn't commentary by me. This is simply what I experienced and it was almost universal.

That's ironic, in that this is the exact opposite of what I've heard in many other countries while on official business.. Maybe you should realize that you heard that in a communist country which spouts constant anti-western(Especially US) propaganda. :shrug:

 

[WDW1974]

I didn't question 74's OP about MI and neither does "Insider". I question that he only "wants to see a better WDW". There is other stuff at work here and I have my thoughts about what it is.

Well, if you think I want anything for WDW other than for it to be the best it can be and live up to its amazing heritage, then you're just plain flat out ignorant. No sugar-coating.

I want WDW to be so perfect I wouldn't think of complaining about anything ... kinda like it was for me from 1974-1994.

But whether 74 is right or wrong, it does not change my thinking. Disney is right not to overreact to Potter by pulling funds from other projects within the company. Watch and see.

Monsters coaster was never on the table as a reaction to Potter. Frankly, as near as I can tell, nothing is really.

Star Tours will be open around the same time (and it will be the same in every park). But that's not gonna take people away from Potter. And if they don't cut the massive Fantasyland project, that's gonna take years to complete so most of it won't be even close to ready when Potter debuts.

I don't know where you ever got the idea Disney felt it needed to compete with Potter.

Rasulo and Co. are way too arrogant to think like that ... at least publicly.

 

[Hrudey3032]

Well, if you think I want anything for WDW other than for it to be the best it can be and live up to its amazing heritage, then you're just plain flat out ignorant. No sugar-coating.

I want WDW to be so perfect I wouldn't think of complaining about anything ... kinda like it was for me from 1974-1994.



Monsters coaster was never on the table as a reaction to Potter. Frankly, as near as I can tell, nothing is really.

Star Tours will be open around the same time (and it will be the same in every park). But that's not gonna take people away from Potter. And if they don't cut the massive Fantasyland project, that's gonna take years to complete so most of it won't be even close to ready when Potter debuts.

I don't know where you ever got the idea Disney felt it needed to compete with Potter.

Rasulo and Co. are way too arrogant to think like that ... at least publicly.

Yea I agree with you on the whole Rasulo thing. I just do not have any faith in him.Don't ask me why but it is just a feeling I have aboout him no other reasons.

BTW thank god I am no longer sitting on post #666 :fork:

 

[WDW1974]

This is the most intersting part of this to me. If TDO thinks the Studio does not need capacity, they are thinking attendance is not going up. A refurbished Star Tours (or a refurbished anything else) does not add capacity on paper.

Also, since the only big attraction in the Fantasyland expansion is a lift of what is going into DCA, perhaps the Fantasyland expansion is less expensive than the door coaster.

Not even close.

The original cost for F-land was $750,000,000. I've heard that's been pushed down to $500-600 million (and knowing Disney you can likely lop another hundred million or so off that by the time the plans are in place).

I don't know exactly what Monsters would have cost, but my best educated guess was under $100 million by a good degree. The building is empty and prepped and coasters aren't costly.

 

[CaptainMichael]

I don't know exactly what Monsters would have cost, but my best educated guess was under $100 million by a good degree. The building is empty and prepped and coasters aren't costly.

Any idea how much Crush's Coaster cost at DLP? Personally, I think $50 million would be a little too extravagant, but this is WDI we're talking about.

 

[WDW1974]

That's ironic, in that this is the exact opposite of what I've heard in many other countries while on official business.. Maybe you should realize that you heard that in a communist country which spouts constant anti-western(Especially US) propaganda. :shrug:

I don't know where you travel, but I know my experiences abroad.

And in China, while I worked with locals (or they worked for/with me), again I was on an international team with people from every corner of the globe. Many Western democracies. I wasn't in a den of Commies trying to win me over (although I sure didn't feel as 'watched' as I typically do here in the good, old USA where I am sure some NSA analyst is probably being paid big bucks from my taxes to read this post and determine whether I fall into the 'evildoer' category cause that's what democracy is all about!)

The Chinese people I worked for/with/managed all looked up to Americans and had a great love (seriously!) for our country and its people. Now, their vision of what we are may be frozen from a few decades ago ... but we are loved there as a people. Not the Canadians, not the UKers, not the North Koreans ... US. The good old red, white and blue! I have never been treated better in my life anywhere. And CCTV's English-language network as well as the China Daily didn't seem to be going after the USA on anything ... now, I'm sure that was toned down a bit because of the Olympics, but it was true nonetheless.

FWIW, I think I got more global news on CCTV then what I get watching CNN or FOX here. Constant propoganda and non-news there! That's WalMarted media for ya. Let's talk about Michael Jackson all the time or discuss Obama's 'beer summit' so we don't have to talk about fixing healthcare ... or why Disney is raising ticket media prices yet again during this depression without adding anything new (that's been announced yet anyway) to the parks! (hey, had to get something Disney related in there!)

BTW, that's exactly what I've experienced in Europe and Canada and the Caribbean in my travels. The people love the USA, love the people, love the culture ... but absolutely detested what happened in this country from 2000-2008. And how it influenced the global community. I don't disagree.

 

[Orange Bird]

As for EPCOT, I'd say they'll try to finish SSE and work on the asthetics of Future World for now (removal of remaining millenium crap, painting, etc)

I do not understand why people around here think that there is more work to be done on SSE. That refurbishment was finished a year and a half ago. Why do people keep talking about it?

I know it looks unfinished to us. But WDI considers it done and has for 18 months. They did exactly what they meant to do. There is nothing left to do as far as they are concernend.

 

[uklad79]

We are skipping the studios next year in favour of 2 days at IOA/Universal. We haven't been to Uni in 3 years and we have seen Indy, BaB, LMA so many times we don't bother with them anymore so the park has become a half day park so it was the natural choice to drop it. We don't do a huge amount of things at AK but we can sit and soak up the vibe where as at the Studios the only place to do that is at the front of the park, the rest is pritty bland imo.

 

[WDWFigment]

For what it's worth, I can tell you that Disney's Hollywood Studios is receiving many new changes in the shortterm. I won't comment on the status of the new coaster, but I can tell you that a second expansion of Pixar Place is soon in coming, a major change to one of our attractions at DHS is on the way, Star Tours 2.0 is on the way, etc.

I don't know why so many are treating this like a "battle of the experts." WDW1974 says Monsters Inc Coaster isn't coming. WDW Insider says things are coming soon, but he/she won't comment on the Coaster. Where is the contradiction?

To me, Insider (if he actually is an insider) confirms what 74 says by omission. Were 74 actually wrong, why would the purported insider not correct him (unless he simply didn't know, but it seems a WDW Media Plant would be omniscient)? :shrug:

Honestly, too many of you treat this like your own little ing match whenever 74 posts something. "Well, Monsters Inc may not be coming...OH YEAH, but ____ is coming!" It would also be nice to see some folks use logic and basic deductive reasoning in their posts rather than just assert that management's plan is X. I'm speaking to those of you who have admitted no inside connections, so elaboration certainly can't sour a source.

 

[aladdin2007]

I do not understand why people around here think that there is more work to be done on SSE. That refurbishment was finished a year and a half ago. Why do people keep talking about it?

I know it looks unfinished to us. But WDI considers it done and has for 18 months. They did exactly what they meant to do. There is nothing left to do as far as they are concernend.

If thats exactly what Disney meant to do and nothing more I no longer have faith in Imagineering the way I use to. It was poorly conceived and left in ugly condition. Disney should be :hammer: if they think its done, leaving something that way looking that horrible. Siemens on the other hand apparently still has plans, thankfully, hopefully. So thats why we keep talking about it, they are waiting for the next physical year, so some continue to say is right. I hope it is.

 

[krankenstein]

[/COLOR]


OK, 74 posts his gloom at 10 before the hour. Within 15 minutes almost all the D&G's respond with a certain "see all you Disney fans, it's bad news, and we are delighted to shove it in your face". It's obvious, so don't give us the "we just want a better Disney" line.

Of course our insider chimes in and says it is not as the D&G's would have you think. I believe exactly what "Insider" says.

If Potter was the answer, why all the hand wringing of the embittered? Something doesn't add up.

YAY!!! I have D&G's status!!!! WOOHOO!!!!

Anyway, I'm actually not criticizing Disney on this one. Do I think the Monster attraction should go to DHS? Sure I do. Do I think they should put it in now? Sure I do. Do I think it is a bad thing that instead of getting it, the money is going to FL? No, not at all.

As long as the money for the project is going to be used to accomplish an addition of something new to WDW that doesn't involve DVC, I'm happy with it. :lol:

BTW, I'm sorry that I choose not to believe someone that is relatively new that does not have a reputation of being accurate. IF WDWInsider's information proves to be accurate in the near future, I will begin to believe him. Until then, I read his information, and take it for what it is....rumors. :shrug:

 

[MousDad]

So 74, where does your breaking the story of the BAH going down fit in with all this? Dead? Still happening? Bad info?

 

[WDW Vacationer]

They keep pumping money into DSP for GREAT attractions,and that is becoming a great park,they need to realize DHS has a lot of potential,and can be a great park.

 

[Figment632]

Great instead of MI coaster we get an expansion at MK filled with pointless crap execpt TLM and a restaurant.

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

[/COLOR]


OK, 74 posts his gloom at 10 before the hour. Within 15 minutes almost all the D&G's respond with a certain "see all you Disney fans, it's bad news, and we are delighted to shove it in your face". It's obvious, so don't give us the "we just want a better Disney" line.

Of course our insider chimes in and says it is not as the D&G's would have you think. I believe exactly what "Insider" says.

If Potter was the answer, why all the hand wringing of the embittered? Something doesn't add up.

I'm sorry I was late to the thread.:wave:

As for we just want for a better Disney? Where was that said or implied? I'm kinda bummed it's not going there. But then again, like I said before, it's more of a bother than a disappointment. If they want to allocate money, but differently, I;m still happy.

Sometimes, jt, I think you are determined to see us as D/G-ers. I'm going to WDW in a week. I'll be sure to hate every second of it.:lookaroun

Oh, and your thoughts on the matter? I noticed you decidedly left those out...:lookaroun

I do not understand why people around here think that there is more work to be done on SSE. That refurbishment was finished a year and a half ago. Why do people keep talking about it?

I know it looks unfinished to us. But WDI considers it done and has for 18 months. They did exactly what they meant to do. There is nothing left to do as far as they are concernend.

Because of the addition of Triangles. They will become screens. All they need is more sponsorship money before work resumes on the 3rd shift.

 

[DisneyDellsDude]

I didn't read the entire thread, but why does the Magic Kingdom's expansion have to take away from DHS's expansion plans.

You think with all the money WDW gets, they'd be able to fund two expansion plans at once.:shrug:

If this is true, poor, poor management decision IMO.
The Studios is still not up to par...

 

[spaceghost]

Can't we all just get along? Anywho, while the idea of a Monster's Inc. coaster has seemed cool ever since I saw the movie, I'm still not sure how they would have pulled it off to make it live up to that scene anyway. Doesn't mean I wouldn't want them to give it a try though. As for DHS being the hardest hit, the logic behind this speculation does make sense. However, I still am somewhat dubious that WWoHP is going to hurt WDW attendance in any measurable fashion. While I am sure that there will be some people who shorten their WDW stays to spend time at Uni, I imagine there will be others who were not planning on going to WDW in the first place that end up there because they are taking a week-long vacation in Orlando to see WWoHP, but then realize that it is just one area in a group of two parks, so...what are we going to do with the rest of our time? WWoHP may be totally awesome, and I hope it is (as a HP fan), but it still doesn't change the fact that Uni is what it is, which is not a week-long destination, even if you include Seaworld in the mix. I would think that increased traffic to Orlando would only help WDW. But, I could be completely wrong...

 

[jt04]

Did anyone really think DHS was getting MI and ST2 at the same time?! I never did. I think DHS will get the coaster someday but I view the new MI news as a confirmation that ST2 is as green as it gets. MI was going forward as a plan "b" in case Lucas could not make ST2 happen in a timely manner (read 40th). That is how it looks to me.