Disney Playing catch up with Universal... Potter Disney's biggest mistake in 20 years...

[Tom Morrow]

Regarding video game themed lands/attractions, Nintendo could absolutely pull it off. Its popular and accessible enough to work. Announce a Nintendo land and people would guaranteed be more excited than they ever will be for Avatar land.

I'd also love to see something like a attraction based around Halo. It's also popular enough to work. Think something like Transformers or MIB.

Well see now, that can be one of the finer points of Disney dining. Sometimes it's akin to eating on a tilt-a-whirl at your local carnival. It's truly one of the few places on earth where you can walk into a (supposedly) French restaraunts and watch the sweaty, smelly, wife-beater wearing idiot next to you swear up and down because "they ain't got no got dam spaghetti and meatballs on the food card".

Dining pretty much anywhere there now has become like an experiment gone wrong at the Ol' Country Buffet. The fact that they now have all the tables so crammed together that you can hear the sound of the greaseball next to you rubbing his hand on his sweaty stomach and the sounds of his innards trying to process all sorts of things not really fit for human consumption is just great. They need to have at least a handful more places in the parks where you can have a somewhat quiet, relaxing meal that consists of some actual good food. No more of this everything tasting like reheated Chili's garbage.

This was pretty much my exact experience eating at Le Chefs de France. Its so weird to walk in to what looks like and is clearly trying to present itself as a fancy, quiet restaurant, only kids are running around everywhere screaming, its packed, you can hear the conversations of the tables around you because you are practically right next to them. And then the food itself, while not terrible, was bland and forgettable, certainly not what the prices warrant.

Of all the WDW table service restaurants I have tried, I'd say about 1/3rd are genuinely good, and the other 2/3rds are bland and forgettable. Its hard to recommend them when the dining options around Orlando are growing and getting better year after year.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Ask yourself a simple question:

Is WDW the best it's ever been?

Your answer to this question determines whether you are a "WDW is" or a "WDW was" person.

All the discussion about Universal is just a sideshow to The Main Event.

This is, after all, a WDW fansite.

I think a better question is when was Walt Disney World at it's best? The time frame that you can look at is a 6 month window in 1998. Animal Kingdom Opened in April of '98, Imagination closed in October of 98 and Horizons closed in January of '99.

Having said that, it's hard to argue that despite those being fan favorites that enough other stuff hasn't opened since, it's just that their direct replacements have been so unfavorable. Since that time frame:
Mickey's PhilharMagic
Soarin'
Test Track
Expedition Everest
Kali River Rapids
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster
Star Tours 2.0
Reflections of Earth
Toy Story Mania
New Fantasyland

We're quick to dismiss many things here. But let's look at things in hindsight. Rewind back to May 1998. If we're told that Horizons and Imagination will close and get subpar replacements we'd be upset. But if we were also told that the attraction lineup listed above would be coming, I think many people would be on board.

 

[RSoxNo1]

if Potter was the biggest "mistake" in 20 years, what happened 20 years ago that was an even bigger mistake? Lion King?

I dunno, the Legend of the Lion King Show as pretty bad.

 

[StageFrenzy]

What's silly here is that you took the best part of New Fantasyland (the visuals) and compared them to Harry Potter. The reason why people don't like New Fantasyland is because it didn't include a "wow" attraction. Visually it's on par with Potter, it's just that the people on here are probably more in line with Potter's demographic.

Everyone above 7, that's a pretty big demo.

 

[draybook]

I haven't seen the completed NFL, but I would say that HP v.1 had it beat as of last September, per our opinion. That's not to take away from NFL though, it's quite amazing. It's just that they did a great job with HP.

 

[John]

You know what I have learned from this thread? There are some people way in to video games....probably more then they should. You know I hate to be rude, but as I said a million times social graces is not my thing.

 

[Tony Perkis]

You know what I have learned from this thread? There are some people way in to video games....probably more then they should. You know I hate to be rude, but as I said a million times social graces is not my thing.

What's the difference between being very much into video games and being very much into Disney?

 

[John]

What's the difference between being very much into video games and being very much into Disney?

Don't know because I am not in to either at what "I" deem as somewhat unhealthy. Don't confuse me being here this evening as being " way in to Disney" But your right I have met some people that took it to an unhealthy level. People who go to the parks everyday. People who would go to the park and just hang out with hopes of getting on a ride during a supposed soft opening. Everything in moderation....right? I know a guy who goes fishing every available minute. Talks about fishing all the time. Same thing......moderation.

 

[Tony Perkis]

Don't know because I am not in to either at what "I" deem as somewhat unhealthy. Don't confuse me being here this evening as being " way in to Disney" But your right I have met some people that took it to an unhealthy level. People who go to the parks everyday. People who would go to the park and just hang out with hopes of getting on a ride during a supposed soft opening. Everything in moderation....right? I know a guy who goes fishing every available minute. Talks about fishing all the time. Same thing......moderation.

I'm not claiming you're an over zealous Disney fan, but having a hobby and interest you love, some exceptions aside, can usually provide great social and interactive opportunities. I don't identify loving video games as if it's a bad thing.

Liking Twilight too much is bad and unhealthy and must be prevented, though.

 

[DC0703]

You know what I have learned from this thread? There are some people way in to video games....probably more then they should. You know I hate to be rude, but as I said a million times social graces is not my thing.

Just because people enjoy discussing something, and are well-versed in that subject, that doesn't mean that they have an unhealthy obsession with it. For example, there are many guys who watch baseball games and could rattle off game scores and RBIs with ease. Or follow football, engage in a fantasy football league at work and follow their favorite team's stats in the papers. Here on WDWMagic, people often keep up with the news and rumors at Disney and enjoy fantasy speculation about what will be coming. And yes, many of us follow video games and know a lot about what is current. When you are interested in something, you absorb the information and can discuss it easily.

I have a respect for anyone who has a passion about something. As long as they are not taking it to unhealthy extremes, interests are a good thing.

 

[Mike S]

I'm not claiming you're an over zealous Disney fan, but having a hobby and interest you love, some exceptions aside, can usually provide great social and interactive opportunities. I don't identify loving video games as if it's a bad thing.

Liking Twilight too much is bad and unhealthy and must be prevented, though.

Exactly. I actually made quite a few friends in college because we shared an interest in video games.

 

[John]

Just because people enjoy discussing something, and are well-versed in that subject, that doesn't mean that they have an unhealthy obsession with it. For example, there are many guys who watch baseball games and could rattle off game scores and RBIs with ease. Or follow football, engage in a fantasy football league at work and follow their favorite team's stats in the papers. Here on WDWMagic, people often keep up with the news and rumors at Disney and enjoy fantasy speculation about what will be coming. And yes, many of us follow video games and know a lot about what is current. When you are interested in something, you absorb the information and can discuss it easily.

I have a respect for anyone who has a passion about something. As long as they are not taking it to unhealthy extremes, interests are a good thing.

Absolutely couldn't agree more. I shouldn't even be discussing video games or people who play them....your right. I have zero background in video games....therefore that makes me ignorant of the phenomenon. BTW.....Fantasy baseball is unhealthy....just saying....lol

 

[Tony Perkis]

Absolutely couldn't agree more. I shouldn't even be discussing video games or people who play them....your right. I have zero background in video games....therefore that makes me ignorant of the phenomenon. BTW.....Fantasy baseball is unhealthy....just saying....lol

Fantasy baseball is awesome, even if my team is not.

 

[Prince-1]

Since we are randomly choosing ip's to make into lands.... I vote to use Soylent Green!! At least it would provide a good restaurant.


(Look it up kiddos. )

 

[Mike S]

Since we are randomly choosing ip's to make into lands.... I say use Soylent Green!! At least it would provide a good restaurant.


(Look it up kiddos. )

I looked it up and yes, it would make an amusing restaurant

 

[yensidtlaw1969]

What's silly here is that you took the best part of New Fantasyland (the visuals) and compared them to Harry Potter. The reason why people don't like New Fantasyland is because it didn't include a "wow" attraction. Visually it's on par with Potter, it's just that the people on here are probably more in line with Potter's demographic.

The point I was making had nothing to do with whether or not people should like New Fantasyland. I do like it. The poster I was responding accused Diagon Alley of being not much more than some square-ish buildings and a narrow passage way. What I was trying to say (or let the photos say) was "if you think Diagon Alley isn't much to write home about, then what do you call THIS?

I think there's a lot to like about New Fantasyland, with the visuals being the first thing that comes to mind. I do not, however, think they are at all on par with Potter. They were not intended to be, for sure, and that's fine. But I'm confused as to how the poster I responded to can fail to see why Universal's latest entry could be more exciting to many potential guests than Disney's latest entry. I think it is perfectly obvious why anyone might feel that way.

 

[mahnamahna101]

Since we are randomly choosing ip's to make into lands.... I vote to use Soylent Green!! At least it would provide a good restaurant.


(Look it up kiddos. )

SOYLENT. GREEN. IS... should I spoil it? Charlton Heston and Edward G Robinson - solid cast for a sci-fi movie

 

[mahnamahna101]

The point I was making had nothing to do with whether or not people should like New Fantasyland. I do like it. The poster I was responding accused Diagon Alley of being not much more than some square-ish buildings and a narrow passage way. What I was trying to say (or let the photos say) was "if you think Diagon Alley isn't much to write home about, then what do you call THIS?

I think there's a lot to like about New Fantasyland, with the visuals being the first thing that comes to mind. I do not, however, think they are at all on par with Potter. They were not intended to be, for sure, and that's fine. But I'm confused as to how the poster I responded to can fail to see why Universal's latest entry could be more exciting to many potential guests than Disney's latest entry. I think it is perfectly obvious why anyone might feel that way.

New Fantasyland's problem is that most of the budget clearly went to facades/rock work. The actual rides left much to be desired.

And there wasn't an attraction for those 7 and up - since when does Fantasyland=kid centric only? Being a "child at heart" doesnt mean a lack of thrills. Or MK in general? Alien Encounter was the last non kid centric addition to the park, with Splash Mountain being the last E ticket.

While Universal and the other 3 WDW parks need some family attractions, the exact opposite is needed at MK.

 

[Mike S]

New Fantasyland's problem is that most of the budget clearly went to facades/rock work. The actual rides left much to be desired.

And there wasn't an attraction for those 7 and up - since when does Fantasyland=kid centric only? Being a "child at heart" doesnt mean a lack of thrills. Or MK in general? Alien Encounter was the last non kid centric addition to the park, with Splash Mountain being the last E ticket.

While Universal and the other 3 WDW parks need some family attractions, the exact opposite is needed at MK.

New Fantasyland is especially annoying when you think about what could have been. 7DMT could have actually been the E Ticket we needed. Instead it's budget and track length were cut until we have what's there today.

Thanks to marni for this pic, the dark sections represent indoor show scenes.

 

[mahnamahna101]

New Fantasyland is especially annoying when you think about what could have been. 7DMT could have actually been the E Ticket we needed. Instead it's budget and track length were cut until we have what's there today.View attachment 57666 Thanks to marni for this pic, the dark sections represent indoor show scenes.

I like Bald Mountain more, but that's more the idea than the actual ride. SDMT could thrn be the D ticket, with Little Mermaid as the C-ticket. BM as the headliner. Could have used a revolutionary ride system. And MK would finally get a ride above a 44" height requirement! Could have been built behind IASW/Big Thunder/Mermaid.

Another Disney mistake I guess...