Disney and Universal: Two very different paths

[Goofyernmost]

Pretty much like the guide rail for the steamboat. It just seems wrong that you can't steer a riverboat, submarine or jungle cruise. Does anyone know if 'back in the day', the Mike Fink Keel Boats and canoes were on a rail, too? ...Or did you really paddle them to the dock?

No, those two were free floating. The others are too big to allow the possibility of operator error. Can you imagine what might happen?

 

[GoofGoof]

But they'll be gone soon enough, TV and internet are just a passing fad, after-all.

Same thinking as Worldcom...long distance phone service isn't going anywhere. How about Polaroid...people will always need film.

 

[EpcoTim]

Same thinking as Worldcom...long distance phone service isn't going anywhere. How about Polaroid...people will always need film.

Yeah. That's why I said Comcast will be gone soon. We both know that this internet thing is just a load of fad garbage. Same with TV. Some new revolution will sneak up on the internet just like digital photography quietly caught giants like Kodak off-guard. Never-mind the fact that Kodak was a major player in the early days of digital photography, they just got caught off-guard. Yeah, that's it. Worldcom's troubles started before the whole world had a smartphone and a VOIP account. Polaroid was a niche market to begin with.

Forget the fact that Comcast is a dynamic, market diverse empire. Their lack of cash reserves and revenue streams along with their lack of forward thinking will doom them in a few years. Universal will fold around 2017 when Comcast and the internet succumb to the paperback book revolution. Wall Street called this one years ago.

 

[GoofGoof]

Yeah. That's why I said Comcast will be gone soon. We both know that this internet thing is just a load of fad garbage. Same with TV. Some new revolution will sneak up on the internet just like digital photography quietly caught giants like Kodak off-guard. Never-mind the fact that Kodak was a major player in the early days of digital photography, they just got caught off-guard. Yeah, that's it. Worldcom's troubles started before the whole world had a smartphone and a VOIP account. Polaroid was a niche market to begin with.

Forget the fact that Comcast is a dynamic, market diverse empire. Their lack of cash reserves and revenue streams along with their lack of forward thinking will doom them in a few years. Universal will fold around 2017 when Comcast and the internet succumb to the paperback book revolution. Wall Street called this one years ago.

I can't really understand what your point is. Sarcasm is often lost online. I don't think anyone was trying to say Comcast was doomed to fail or that it was even remotely likely to happen anytime soon, but the too big to fail mentality has been proven to be flawed time and time again.

 

[culturenthrills]

Thank you.

I was going to buy the Disney CD when I go next year as I do not yet have one, and was just wondering whether I could pick up the USO CD at the same time.

Does anyone have a list of all the different Disney CDs out at the moment? Are Wishes, Illuminations and MSEP still available, for example, or is there only "The Walt Disney World Resort Official Album" available?

I have the Islands of Adventure cd. It is really great music. I don't think it is available anymore.

 

[culturenthrills]

When it comes to theme I feel Universal does have some catching up to do. IoA is light years ahead of UO, but is still lacking in certain areas where Disney excels. Port of Entry and Hogsmeade are top notch, but they both still fall short in one primary area. Failure to cover all visible angles. When riding Hulk, one can easily see the supports for the facades of PoE. I'm not talking ground level, I am talking about upper levels that could easily have been finished to make the transition seamless. With Hogsmeade, my only issue is with the FJ show building. The forced perspective of Hogwarts is immaculate, but beyond that, all that Uni did was tile brick that matched along a flat wall. I would like to believe, with proof being what they are currently doing, that Disney would have encased the entire visible part of that building in rock work as to hide any deviation from the theme. Disney has mastered the art of hiding show buildings.

Universal is, at the moment, leading the way with leading edge E ticket thrill ride attractions, but Disney still ties the whole package together much better.

You mean like that show building that is now really visible behind the Haunted Mansion.

 

[asianway]

Hey...I resemble that remark.

I picture you as Epic Beard Man. Find the YouTube video you'll thank me

 

[RSoxNo1]

He's an insane man with a beard.

He's said a lot of far fetched things in the last few years that were immediately dismissed by the fan community and have ultimately turned out correct:

• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train being put back into Fantasyland Expansion
• C3PO Piloting our ship on Star Tours 2.0
• 3rd Theater for Soarin'
• Star Wars purchase

All of these were said months (if not years) before anyone else.

 

[asianway]

He's said a lot of far fetched things in the last few years that were immediately dismissed by the fan community and have ultimately turned out correct:

• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train being put back into Fantasyland Expansion
• C3PO Piloting our ship on Star Tours 2.0
• 3rd Theater for Soarin'
• Star Wars purchase

All of these were said months (if not years) before anyone else.

I'm pretty sure spirit posted the potential sale of Lucas here first. After reading his rants recently I think he's off the deep end

 

[WED99]

In my opinion, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is the most well themed park area in the world.

I personally feel that a movie based area cannot take this title. To me it's more of a re-creation than a theme. I'm not saying that WWoHP isn't great. I'm sure many people would agree with you. But I honestly think 70% of the praise it gets for its theming is because everyone loves stepping into what we see in movies. It's the same situation for Cars Land. Both are beautiful re-creations, but didn't take nearly as much thought as a completely original land.

To me, the greatest theme park lands are in Disneyland CA. New Orleans Square, Adventureland, Frontierland, Tomorrowland (before it was taken over by franchises) are the best examples of theming. They take you on a real adventure, and every corner is filled with detail from the minds of Imagineers. Instead of putting you in an area they evoke a feeling, which compliments the attractions. That's something I don't think you can get from a movie based land.

Anyway, that's my opinion. Hope it isn't too hard to understand.

 

[Bairstow]

I personally feel that a movie based area cannot take this title. To me it's more of a re-creation than a theme. I'm not saying that WWoHP isn't great. I'm sure many people would agree with you. But I honestly think 70% of the praise it gets for its theming is because everyone loves stepping into what we see in movies. It's the same situation for Cars Land. Both are beautiful re-creations, but didn't take nearly as much thought as a completely original land.

To me, the greatest theme park lands are in Disneyland CA. New Orleans Square, Adventureland, Frontierland, Tomorrowland (before it was taken over by franchises) are the best examples of theming. They take you on a real adventure, and every corner is filled with detail from the minds of Imagineers. Instead of putting you in an area they evoke a feeling, which compliments the attractions. That's something I don't think you can get from a movie based land.

Anyway, that's my opinion. Hope it isn't too hard to understand.

Not to take anything away from the work on Pirates of the Caribbean, but you might be surprised to see just how much imagery (and sometimes snatches of dialogue) was taken from Captain Blood.

 

[TalkingHead]

To me, the greatest theme park lands are in Disneyland CA. New Orleans Square, Adventureland, Frontierland, Tomorrowland (before it was taken over by franchises) are the best examples of theming. They take you on a real adventure, and every corner is filled with detail from the minds of Imagineers. Instead of putting you in an area they evoke a feeling, which compliments the attractions. That's something I don't think you can get from a movie based land.

I see your point, but even those lands are heavily indebted to the movies.

Frontierland plays off the imagery of the western; Adventureland plays off the sights and sounds of jungle films; Tomorrowland, at least in its more modern incarnations, has imported science-fiction imagery.

So they aren't usually dealing with specific films (although sometimes they do -- Star Tours, Swiss Family Robinson), but films genres instead.

 

[Jimmy Thick]

Comcast has millions of people that pay them 100's of dollars a month for services rendered and in some cases they have zero competition. People don't have to travel to make comcast money, just sit on their couches. But they'll be gone soon enough, TV and internet are just a passing fad, after-all.

Remember Blockbuster?

If you don't, they were a video rental chain that dominated the video rental market. Sure, you had a couple other video rental chains up and about, but Blockbuster in their hey-day dominated.

Then Netflix came about, did the same thing, but they were cheaper, better, had as good a selection, the only thing different in their business model was you had to wait for your movies in the mail, but guess what, people didn't care.

Blockbuster did nothing about Netflix and when they did it was too late. People got tired of late fees.

Netflix was king for a couple years and got arrogant and tried to change the way they do business and expected the public to follow suit.

The public said, "Hey, whats that red box in my supermarket? Wow, they have movies and games, the newest releases..."

My point is, and Iam sure someone will try to use my analogy towards the theme parks but will not be as clever unfortunately, but the point is, something better is always right around the corner and the world of cable television is hampered by just what they show on their channels, like say programming from, oh, let me guess, Disney?

ESPN?

What would happen if Disney told Comcast they could no longer have ESPN as a channel? How many people would dump Comcast? Comcast is only a cable provider, and based on the fact they win worst customer service awards year in year out, it kind of makes you wonder how long they can actually be effective in that capacity. So much so, I know of absolutely no brokers who would recommend Comcast as a long term investment. If you know of one, let me know mmmk? Still think those same people paying 100's a month will keep paying that without the channels Disney provides?

Sadly, and I know this hurts some people for some odd reason, Comcast can only survive by what Disney gives them, and if Disney decides to take those scraps away, it just don't matter how many phases of Potter there will be in Universal Orlando. Disney holds all the cards here, like it or not.

But then again, this scenario has not happened yet...Wonder if it has been thought about...


Jimmy Thick- Charter for me thank you.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Comcast could survive on their Movies On Demand and Internet services alone.

 

[BryceM]

I like Toon Lagoon for the vibrancy and the comic strips. Popeye was my favorite cartoon as a child, and the rapid ride, combined with Me Ship, The Olive, and Wimpy's make it the most fun section for me. Although, I do miss all the walk around characters that used to frequent the area, and they really need a ride replacement for that stunt show.

Yes, the area that encompasses the Toon Lagoon theater is the worst part of the park, IMO. I absolutely love the Sweet Haven area around Popeye.

 

[RSoxNo1]

I'm pretty sure spirit posted the potential sale of Lucas here first. After reading his rants recently I think he's off the deep end

I remember it differently. I'm fairly certain Jim Hill mentioned on my old podcast that they're talking behind the scenes with Lucas. I think WDW1974 agreed, and neither had any idea it would happen so quickly.

 

[bhg469]

I remember it differently. I'm fairly certain Jim Hill mentioned on my old podcast that they're talking behind the scenes with Lucas. I think WDW1974 agreed, and neither had any idea it would happen so quickly.

74 tends to just dismiss he knows to be false and say very little about what he knows to be true so I agree with you. I also agree that he's gone off the deep end a bit. I like that he's here and he is a great resource but he seems insistent on embarrassing people and speaking of his many freebies and massive wealth. Anyone know what he really does?

 

[ADP2]

It wasn't long ago when Comcast put in a bid to Disney to buy their North American theme parks (Can't remember the exact year). Disney sort of snickered at their offer....Comcast tried one more time and rebid....Again, Disney sort of snickered at their offer......Now Comcast has looked to Universal, bought those parks and now, it appears, Comcast may be trying to stick it to the Mouse. I know Universal will never catch Disney, but they are certainly trying to be a monkey on their back.

 

[EpcoTim]

I can't really understand what your point is. Sarcasm is often lost online. I don't think anyone was trying to say Comcast was doomed to fail or that it was even remotely likely to happen anytime soon, but the too big to fail mentality has been proven to be flawed time and time again.

I'm not knocking the too big to fail aspect, just that those two companies might not have been the best examples. Well, Polaroid anyway.

 

[flynnibus]

To be fair to Disney, I don't believe that view can be seen from inside the park.

Correct... that's the view from the service road that loops around. You can marginally see the back when you hang on the far right of the parking lot. But those facts don't hold people back from always pulling out that view as an example of bad views at disney