Effect of Hong Kong Deal on Walt Disney World?

[WDW1974]

The more I look at it, the more I find the location of the expansion to be kinda odd. Just plopping all three areas off the the side of Adventureland. Odd spot, and not very easy to get to.:shrug:
Why not put Toy Story land behind Fantasyland?

It's hard to 'splain unless you've been there, but TSL is kind of an offshoot of Fantasyland in the same vein that TTF is at MK ... the walkway will be right before you hit A-Land ... and the fishball cart (yeah, really).

I believe that with Small World, Storybook Theater and cast facilities, there really wasn't a better place to put it ... although I haven't studied google maps and the like.

 

[WDW1974]

Exactly. I am not saying it does not work...just different. I like the ideas of sub-lands as well, but I feel it needs to be attached to its mainland to be a sub-land.

Honestly, looking at the main HKDL map (http://park.hongkongdisneyland.com/hkdl/en_US/general/popup?name=ExplorerParkMapPage). The park would actually be in real good shape relative to Orlando if they had not gone so darn attraction-light in Adventureland...I mean, that part of the park does not have much (POTC would have helped a lot here). And if they had not skipped out on Frontierland completely from the beginning. Now, I think they have to add three lands, instead of just having one large Frontierland, just to make it sound like it is much more...this is to overcome the 'too small' stereotype that is out there. But, TL and FL is not too bad...TL is a little small, but it is the small AL and no FL that did them in.

No, what did them in was cutting 60% of the park after the announcement. There's plenty of land open ... and A-Land feels huge because of the way it is laid out and landscaped (it feels very much like a mini-DAK).

The announcement today won't 'fix' the park, but it is an excellent first step.

 

[WDW1974]

Honestly I am unimpressed with today's announcements especially after seeing the concept art for the Pirates themed adventureland for HK and hearing the plans Jim Hill discussed (Scary Voodoo Mansion, Pirates movie e-ticket, version of raging spirits). The Haunted Mansion/Adventure Club combo is the only thing that sounds appealing.

I think all things considered that this is a good first step. Pirates would have been phenomenally expensive because it was part of a mini-land, and don't be surprised if that's the next thing added. Raging Spirits is probably the worst attraction at TDS from what I gather and have been told ... don't bemoan it not being replicated.

Grizzly Coaster looks like a generic hybrid of the DCA raft ride with big thunder

Nah. Look at it as a combo of DCA's mountain with BTMRR, EE and Geyser Mountain all themed to the hilt like a gold rush era theme. It should be terrific.

and Toy Story land is an absoluete joke just like Chester & Hester, Paradise Pier, Dinorama. Are imagineers really getting paid to come up with this? A freakin Fantasyland C or D ticket would probably cost the same as this Toy Story land and be far better/more popular.

The HK SAR wanted unique experiences. And I'm sure Disney sold them on this being that because it isn't in any other MK (even if it is going in DSP). It will also add capacity and numerous attractions, even if they are going after the kids.

This is no different than TTF at MK, except it has more than one attraction.

and JT has the nerve to say that "WDI still got it" frankly im getting concerned that most of the talent is gone even the concept art looks lame now!

Honor Hunter discussed that on his blog, but most Disney art that is tossed out these days is very cheap looking ... the last attraction rendering that impressed me was for EE. But you can't judge the final product based on the first few concept drawings.

Oh and I guess this means the Pirates land won't be happening since it seems Grizzly has taken over that spot!

Not true.

 

[FigmentJedi]

Oh and I guess this means the Pirates land won't be happening since it seems Grizzly has taken over that spot!

Actually, looks like there's still a good sized plot for Pirates right next door and at that bottom corner of the park. May not be as grand scaled as that original plan, but still...

 

[WDW1974]

I do not understand throwing more massive amounts of money to entice the chinese people to come. I know, to some extent, you need to reinvest in order to continue to attract guests, year after year. However, I do not understand,m after all this time, still trying to convince the people of this region that Disney is good enough.

That's simple. Disney effed up things to begin with. They tried to pass of a McDisneyland as something more. They had no choice, but to make it right. HKDL could be an amazing world-class resort but it was built by avarice and arrogance and the belief that the people in HK (a very cosmopolitan city) wouldn't know that Disney theme parks actually have these things called attractions in them.

Again, they had no choice. And the HK SAR (with the central government nodding approval) stuck it to Disney just like the Mouse had from the start. Karma, I guess.

I cannot imagine why this company would invest massive amounts of money in this park and neglect the flagship park, the bread and butter park, taht turns in the numbers each year for the Theme Park Division, Walt Disney World in Florida.
Also, I know companies make loans and such, but with the prifita Disney rakes in each year, I see no reason why the company would have to go into debt to add new attraction at any park.
I do not believe this agreement is the death knell for projects at WDW. I think this is far more complicated than we think.
If some of you are right and investment at WDW will stop due to this agreement, then the management of this company is in no better hands than the ones we so adamantly wanted ousted before them. To neglect WDW in Florida after , year after year, turning huge profits, would be absolutely ignorant and insane. In business, you never, ever ignore your loyal customers. There is no other park, or business for that matter, that has the loyal following and dedication than WDW in Florida. To ignore this is bad business and taking for granted the loyal fans and patrons of WDW.

Disney does what it does in Florida because it can get away with it. Sad but true. Look at how eager people are to get excited because Disney is painting or adding a character meet-greet-and-grope. WDW doesn't have a fervent fan base that pushes it to be the best and instead has one that revels in mediocrity. That's why money is spent in Anaheim. They also don't have a government partner (that actually owns the park) to deal with in Florida.

So long as you have fanbois having celebrations to honor EPCOT's 25th because TWDC doesn't care enough to acknowledge it ... so long as you have people who tout timeshares as investment ... so long as you have people praising people for doing the basics (like fixing things or painting them) ... what incentive does Disney have to make major investment in the huge MousecaSprawl it has created in Central Florida?

The answer is none.

 

[The Conundrum]

Disney does what it does in Florida because it can get away with it. Sad but true. Look at how eager people are to get excited because Disney is painting or adding a character meet-greet-and-grope. WDW doesn't have a fervent fan base that pushes it to be the best and instead has one that revels in mediocrity. That's why money is spent in Anaheim. They also don't have a government partner (that actually owns the park) to deal with in Florida.

So long as you have fanbois having celebrations to honor EPCOT's 25th because TWDC doesn't care enough to acknowledge it ... so long as you have people who tout timeshares as investment ... so long as you have people praising people for doing the basics (like fixing things or painting them) ... what incentive does Disney have to make major investment in the huge MousecaSprawl it has created in Central Florida?

The answer is none.

Quoted for TRUTH

 

[jt04]

That's simple. Disney effed up things to begin with. They tried to pass of a McDisneyland as something more. They had no choice, but to make it right. HKDL could be an amazing world-class resort but it was built by avarice and arrogance and the belief that the people in HK (a very cosmopolitan city) wouldn't know that Disney theme parks actually have these things called attractions in them.

Again, they had no choice. And the HK SAR (with the central government nodding approval) stuck it to Disney just like the Mouse had from the start. Karma, I guess.




Disney does what it does in Florida because it can get away with it. Sad but true. Look at how eager people are to get excited because Disney is painting or adding a character meet-greet-and-grope. WDW doesn't have a fervent fan base that pushes it to be the best and instead has one that revels in mediocrity. That's why money is spent in Anaheim. They also don't have a government partner (that actually owns the park) to deal with in Florida.

So long as you have fanbois having celebrations to honor EPCOT's 25th because TWDC doesn't care enough to acknowledge it ... so long as you have people who tout timeshares as investment ... so long as you have people praising people for doing the basics (like fixing things or painting them) ... what incentive does Disney have to make major investment in the huge MousecaSprawl it has created in Central Florida?

The answer is none.

So what is your point in writing about it endlessly?

 

[Lee]

[
It doesn't really look like they had a lot of choice in where to place the expansion This is NOT a very big area at all.

True. Expansion area is very limited.
But, it looks like they always designated some of the area behind FL for expansion. Just makes sense to me to put TSL back there, easily accessable from FL, and allow MP to be reached directly from AL.

 

[Figment632]

I'm just shocked they are getting ORIGINAL stuff.


...Heck...if WDI can make originl stuff for them, they aught to for us, too.:shrug:

Maybe it's not good now, as everything is going over there, but maybe later we will get some of this "run off".

Yea it would be great for some more original stuff in WDW but we continue to get the shaft.

 

[ToTBellHop]

That's simple. Disney effed up things to begin with. They tried to pass of a McDisneyland as something more. They had no choice, but to make it right. HKDL could be an amazing world-class resort but it was built by avarice and arrogance and the belief that the people in HK (a very cosmopolitan city) wouldn't know that Disney theme parks actually have these things called attractions in them.

Again, they had no choice. And the HK SAR (with the central government nodding approval) stuck it to Disney just like the Mouse had from the start. Karma, I guess.

I seem to remember back to before HKDL Disney putting out some statement that the Chinese are "different" from westerners and prefer to take pictures with characters and explore gardens, so instead of building rides at HKDL, they put in flowers and trees. I wondered then and still wonder if they actually believed that or if that was just a sort of apology to any westerners who might visit expecting to find what the other Disney resorts have. Either way, they were apparently incorrect, and unfortunately for us, none of these new attractions can really be cloned to WDW (except the Toy Story rides, but that's nothing to write home about). I certainly hope they don't make the same mistakes in Shanghai--now they are going to spend the money they should have spent in the beginning and with these new projects finishing up in 2015, they will have spent the first 10 years in HK making significantly less money than they could have.

 

[DisneyDellsDude]

That's simple. Disney effed up things to begin with. They tried to pass of a McDisneyland as something more. They had no choice, but to make it right. HKDL could be an amazing world-class resort but it was built by avarice and arrogance and the belief that the people in HK (a very cosmopolitan city) wouldn't know that Disney theme parks actually have these things called attractions in them.

Again, they had no choice. And the HK SAR (with the central government nodding approval) stuck it to Disney just like the Mouse had from the start. Karma, I guess.




Disney does what it does in Florida because it can get away with it. Sad but true. Look at how eager people are to get excited because Disney is painting or adding a character meet-greet-and-grope. WDW doesn't have a fervent fan base that pushes it to be the best and instead has one that revels in mediocrity. That's why money is spent in Anaheim. They also don't have a government partner (that actually owns the park) to deal with in Florida.

So long as you have fanbois having celebrations to honor EPCOT's 25th because TWDC doesn't care enough to acknowledge it ... so long as you have people who tout timeshares as investment ... so long as you have people praising people for doing the basics (like fixing things or painting them) ... what incentive does Disney have to make major investment in the huge MousecaSprawl it has created in Central Florida?

The answer is none.

I agree with you except for this point. We need to praise them when it is deserved, as in Haunted Mansion and Hall of Presidents. I would rather have old attractions fixed than add tons of new attractions. With WDW almost 40, they need to funnel in a lot of money for refurbs, and this should be expected. WDW is so huge - there is a lot to be kept up. So I praise them for doing it - if it is of high quality, because they could just be letting the attractions sit. Haunted Mansion could still not be touched - as well as Space Mountain. They still could just be sitting there. Sad, but true.

 

[DisneyDellsDude]

I still don't see why people are worried that whatever happens at HK expansion-wise would affect WDW at all.
HK needs it (plus it is unique!). I'm sure we'll get our own stuff soon enough.
And I would say, if you want to see that stuff when it is done (especailly Mystic Manor), just travel to HKDL to see it. Don't ask for clones to WDW.
The world is global now, so travel and have an new experience!
We don't only have to visit WDW.

And if you can't afford it, stop going to WDW for awhile. Save up, and go to Hong Kong. WDW is sitting pretty dormant now anyways, so not much will be missed!

 

[Main Street USA]

If the oil rig brings gas prices down put in my front yard for all I care. I just think WDW contiually gets the shaft its an opinion am I not allowed to have that?

You really need to concentrate on your grammar and spelling. Some of your posts are incredibly hard to read. The spelling part is really easy to fix being that the forum automatically shows you when you've spelled something wrong by putting a red dotted line underneath it. The grammar part, well, you'll have to put some effort into actually learning that.

You're certainly not the only one with this problem on here (in this topic alone there are several), and I know there are a lot of people tired of hearing about spelling and grammar. However, I'm also certain I'm not the only one bothered by easily corrected mistakes.

Overall, it's probably the combination of your "what I want is all that matters" attitude, combined with the laziness of lack of punctuation, and lack of willingness to fix spelling errors when a computer is telling you when you've done it wrong right in front of your face.

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

At least one half of the original Thunder Mesa / Western River Expedition show building is finally being built....

:lol: Nice way to look at it...

So...When you heading to MKDL, Martin?

The more I look at it, the more I find the location of the expansion to be kinda odd. Just plopping all three areas off the the side of Adventureland. Odd spot, and not very easy to get to.:shrug:
Why not put Toy Story land behind Fantasyland?

Yeah, I'm getting that too. Besides a launch site for fireworks, that just appears to be a parking lot.:shrug: Why not make a lot behind AL where the expansion partly goes and make the rest behind, or even tie into FL. Mysitic Manor and it's land could easily fit into FL, something I've always wanted to see. Not a Villain Land, but a subland or tie in.

I like the idea of "sub-lands" or "mini-lands". Maybe it's an idea whose time has come. MK's Fantasyland maybe?

We already had it...Our AL had Caribbean Plaza. MSUSA has/had Center Street. FL- Rivers of America.:shrug:

Well not entirely original.

Grizzly is just Grizzly River Rapids and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad sandwhiched together

and Mystic Manor is Haunted Mansion and Tokyo's Tower of Terror smashed together.

Certainly better than cartoon tie-ins though!

EH...I agree on the cartoons, but it seems from the descriptions these might be new takes on the rides they are based off.

Just opinion though.

I agree with you except for this point. We need to praise them when it is deserved, as in Haunted Mansion and Hall of Presidents. I would rather have old attractions fixed than add tons of new attractions. With WDW almost 40, they need to funnel in a lot of money for refurbs, and this should be expected. WDW is so huge - there is a lot to be kept up. So I praise them for doing it - if it is of high quality, because they could just be letting the attractions sit. Haunted Mansion could still not be touched - as well as Space Mountain. They still could just be sitting there. Sad, but true.

Very true! I'm thrilled they are fixing up attractions.

But then again...Isn't maintenance and perpetual cleaning to keep up the illusion of show something Disney ALWAYS did, and since they stopped is not scrambling to pick up the pieces?

 

[DisneyDellsDude]

But then again...Isn't maintenance and perpetual cleaning to keep up the illusion of show something Disney ALWAYS did, and since they stopped is not scrambling to pick up the pieces?

I believe they did, but can not say 100% from personal experience since my first trip was not until 1999.
And as this goes on... I am getting a deja vu of how Disneyland was handled. Disneyland was in the dumps in it's 40's is seems - and is now fixed up in (and for) it's 50's.
I REALLY don't hope the same happens to WDW. They need to start fixing it up, now. Because WDW is so much bigger - it could be more disastrous!

 

[imagineer boy]

The more I look at it, the more I find the location of the expansion to be kinda odd. Just plopping all three areas off the the side of Adventureland. Odd spot, and not very easy to get to.:shrug:
Why not put Toy Story land behind Fantasyland?

I know, it truly is strange. Why couldn't they put Grizzly Trail in the empty south west portion of the park?

 

[Fun2BFree]

I know, it truly is strange. Why couldn't they put Grizzly Trail in the empty south west portion of the park?

Maybe that's earmarked as 'even more expansion' room. But then again, wasn't a rumoured Pirates attraction/mini-land supposed to be slotted to the west of Adventureland too?

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

I believe they did, but can not say 100% from personal experience since my first trip was not until 1999.
And as this goes on... I am getting a deja vu of how Disneyland was handled. Disneyland was in the dumps in it's 40's is seems - and is now fixed up in (and for) it's 50's.
I REALLY don't hope the same happens to WDW. They need to start fixing it up, now. Because WDW is so much bigger - it could be more disastrous!

Hopefully we've already reached the nadir and we are now heading up...


I hope.


Well...It can only get darker before it gets lighter.-The Lion, Wizard of Oz.
[/EpcotServo]:lol:

 

[EpcotServo]

Well...It can only get darker before it gets lighter.-The Lion, Wizard of Oz.
[/EpcotServo]:lol:

Close. No Cigar. Mine'd be...

"It's always darkest before the Dawn. And I promise you...The Dawn is coming."
-Harvey Dent, The Dark Knight

OR

"I do believe in spooks! I do I do I do! I do believe in spooks!"
-The Lion, Wizard of Oz

:lol:

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

Close. No Cigar. Mine'd be...

"It's always darkest before the Dawn. And I promise you...The Dawn is coming."
-Harvey Dent, The Dark Knight

OR

"I do believe in spooks! I do I do I do! I do believe in spooks!"
-The Lion, Wizard of Oz

:lol:

Eh...I never said I was you...just stealing your thing.:lol::lookaroun