everest on the 7th april

[CaptainMichael]

Does anybody think there’s going to be some form of announcement made at the media event? There are an awful lot of rumours flying around. I guess Nemo Musical will be mentioned, but what about the other parks? Something for Epcot’s anniversary? It would be nice to get excited about something BIG again!

Most Likely Announcements:
Nemo Musical
Living Seas

Possible:
Timekeeper replacement

 

[Enderikari]

Reprinted from the back of every single Disney Ticket -

Parks, attractions, or entertainment may change operating hours, close due to refurbishing, capacity, weather or special events; and may otherwise change or be discontinued without notice and without liability to the owners of the Walt Disney World resort.

The attraction is open for 2 months before the grand opening date... isn't that good enough? Give Disney the 2 days it takes to properly unveil this grand attraction to the press; after all, it is there's to do.

 

[Enderikari]

I agree. They need to do an opening event for the press the night before, then have an opening event for guests in the morning. That would be fair. Instead guests get "We're sorry that you can't enjoy Expedition Everest, or witness a once in a lifetime event around the ride, but we do invite you to give us $39.95 for a large pin!" :veryconfu
(Oh yea, that's what happened on the 15th. I was just going by the date on the M:S Eyes & Ears. Thanks.)

No... No.... No... Disney's appropriate response should be..

"We're sorry that you are ungrateful that we built a hundred million dollar attraction for you to enjoy. We have had the attraction open for months before the attraction's grand opening, which is, within our rights, a press-only event. There are celebratory pins available, but nobody is holding a gun to your head to purchase them. We hope that you continue to enjoy the multiple millions of dollars we spend to make you happier. Oh, almost forgot, have a magical day."

 

[Ned Brainard]

I agree that Disney is well within their right to close their gates and do what they will. It makes all the sense in the world for Disney to focus two days on the press to get their message out to the world, “even though Disney is a media giant who is totally able to get their own message out”. The only negative comes when you are talking about the Disney enthusiasts who wait and watch with great eagerness for new ideas and attractions to be produced. These people want to feel closer to magic and be able to say, “I saw the ribbon cut, I was there”. I went for the kick off of the HCoE last year on May 5<SUP>th</SUP> and did feel a little let down. I bought the overpriced pins and watched as many others purchased them as well. It was the only road open for the general public to take a piece of that home with them, to feel more like you were there. Other than the pins there was nothing out of the ordinary going on. If you are going to celebrate something, add a little charm and “magic” along with the new ride and shows. I would have given up the watered down Cinderellabration for a guy and Mickey at a podium in the hub of the Magic Kingdom making an announcement and releasing a few balloons. Just my humble opinion.

 

[uglybug2005]

...The only negative comes when you are talking about the Disney enthusiasts who wait and watch with great eagerness for new ideas and attractions to be produced. These people want to feel closer to magic and be able to say, “I saw the ribbon cut, I was there”...

"I love it more than you, so I should be given special treatment." is not a good reason to allow some members of the general public into the press event. You also can't go backstage, direct the next animated feature, or get your own window on Main Street. Sorry.

July 17, 1955 was not intended to be open to the public. It was supposed to be a special event for invited guests and members of the media. Part of the cause of "Black Sunday" was the fact that so many uninvited members of the general public stormed their way in. If the facilities had been complete and the staff had been trained better on what to look for and how to limit entries (soft opening), Opening Day at Disneyland would have included only the 10,000 folks who were sent official invitations.

By the way, I was in the Central Plaza on May 5, and it was very easy to hear the audio from the CA ceremony (essentially a bunch of guys with Mickey (and loads of other characters) with tons of balloons making an announcement).

 

[EpcotServo]

No... No.... No... Disney's appropriate response should be..

"We're sorry that you are ungrateful that we built a hundred million dollar attraction for you to enjoy. We have had the attraction open for months before the attraction's grand opening, which is, within our rights, a press-only event. There are celebratory pins available, but nobody is holding a gun to your head to purchase them. We hope that you continue to enjoy the multiple millions of dollars we spend to make you happier. Oh, almost forgot, have a magical day."

All I was saying, is that it's unfair to call it a grand opening, if it dosen't open. You can't honestly think that giving the press a big event and open bar is more magical then a little opening show for guests by Everest. Like the SGE grand opening. Everyone got to see it, and get a little extra fun for being there on a grand day. Instead, you walk up and see, "We're sorry but the grand opening is for press only." Why even it call it a grand opening? You know that guests would love to be part of a once in a lifetime event. I don't mind having press events. I'm just saying that if you're going to have a "grand opening" it should include the guests.

 

[crazydaveh]

. I'm just saying that if you're going to have a "grand opening" it should include the guests.

Often times it does... The press needs normal guests of the park in their stories, so being in the right place at the right time helps you get on the attraction.

 

[askmike1]

Like the SGE grand opening. Everyone got to see it, and get a little extra fun for being there on a grand day.

And we all see how much public support that attraction has now.

 

[coastermaster83]

what the support of alien encounter cartoon edition... I love that ride minus the chilldog burp up my nose. :-D

 

[Ned Brainard]

Ok, I'll take this in pieces.
1

"I love it more than you, so I should be given special treatment." is not a good reason to allow some members of the general public into the press event. You also can't go backstage, direct the next animated feature, or get your own window on Main Street. Sorry.

Who said anything about "special treatment?" I wasn't asking to be let into a members only party or be given an award when one wasn't warrented. I was stating an opinion that if an event is to be publicized then it might be a good idea to hold a "public event".

2

July 17, 1955 was not intended to be open to the public. It was supposed to be a special event for invited guests and members of the media. Part of the cause of "Black Sunday" was the fact that so many uninvited members of the general public stormed their way in. If the facilities had been complete and the staff had been trained better on what to look for and how to limit entries (soft opening), Opening Day at Disneyland would have included only the 10,000 folks who were sent official invitations.

This was due to a person who counterfeited a great deal of tickets. I wasn't talking about crashing a party, but holding a separate ceremony for the general public.

3

By the way, I was in the Central Plaza on May 5, and it was very easy to hear the audio from the CA ceremony (essentially a bunch of guys with Mickey (and loads of other characters) with tons of balloons making an announcement).

Sorry, I was referring to Disney World on May 5th, not DL.

 

[Enderikari]

"I love it more than you, so I should be given special treatment." is not a good reason to allow some members of the general public into the press event. You also can't go backstage, direct the next animated feature, or get your own window on Main Street. Sorry.

I like that, very well stated.

Who said anything about "special treatment?" I wasn't asking to be let into a members only party or be given an award when one wasn't warrented. I was stating an opinion that if an event is to be publicized then it might be a good idea to hold a "public event".

It is a press event, therefore, by definition, not a public event. In fact, the only ones who know the "Grand Opening" date are the ones who frequent forums such as these, and want to be rewarded for doing so. 99.8% of the people visiting during that time will have no idea what's going on. You do want special treatment if you want anything other than a great ride to enjoy, anything beyond that, even if you don't realize it, is special treatment.

 

[uglybug2005]

Let me clarify my location on May 5, 2005:
I was standing in the Central Plaza at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World resort in Florida on May 5, 2005. There were screens and speakers set up, and I listened to the entire speech by Michael Eisner, Julie Andrews, Bob Iger, and Diane Disney Miller.
Where were you? Eating a Churro?

 

[EpcotServo]

You do want special treatment if you want anything other than a great ride to enjoy, anything beyond that, even if you don't realize it, is special treatment.

We're not talking about us. (except you.) We're talking about giving something special to the guests. There was alot of happy guests the day SGE opened. Because they were part of the magic. Something that won't ever happen again. (And it's not like they haven't had a press event. They've been given days to ride now guest-free weeks ago. I've already seen it in the news.) Come on, you can't admit that "building a ride" is good enough to your average day guest. "Well honey, they did build a ride. We can't ride it, but at least they built it!" None of us here are not happy that they didn't build it. I'm happy just in the fact that they built it in the first place. But, that's not the issue. (at least the one we're talking about.) The issue is, guests and press can have a shared grand opening, and no one has to be left out. They proved that with SGE, and I hoped that Disney learned from that. But I guess not. I'll still be there. trying to see a once in a lifetime event that Disney says isn't for people like me, or everyday guests for that matter. I'll go on telling strangers I meet, about a brand new ride at Disney opening April 7th. I'll just go on to tell them that there's no point showing up.

 

[wannab@dis]

We're not talking about us. (except you.) We're talking about giving something special to the guests. There was alot of happy guests the day SGE opened. Because they were part of the magic. Something that won't ever happen again. (And it's not like they haven't had a press event. They've been given days to ride now guest-free weeks ago. I've already seen it in the news.) Come on, you can't admit that "building a ride" is good enough to your average day guest. "Well honey, they did build a ride. We can't ride it, but at least they built it!" None of us here are not happy that they didn't build it. I'm happy just in the fact that they built it in the first place. But, that's not the issue. (at least the one we're talking about.) The issue is, guests and press can have a shared grand opening, and no one has to be left out. They proved that with SGE, and I hoped that Disney learned from that. But I guess not. I'll still be there. trying to see a once in a lifetime event that Disney says isn't for people like me, or everyday guests for that matter. I'll go on telling strangers I meet, about a brand new ride at Disney opening April 7th. I'll just go on to tell them that there's no point showing up.

:lookaroun

What was the last major press event that you attended?

This isn't about denying the guests something, it's about having an event for the press that will hopefully bring in more guests. Don't make it out to be some big nasty conspiracy that it's not. It's a simple business tool that will hopefully create some buzz in the media. It may also be an event for making some public announcements about future attractions.

In the long run, you, the guest, are better off with a sucessful media event.

 

[Shaman]

This isn't about denying the guests something, it's about having an event for the press that will hopefully bring in more guests. Don't make it out to be some big nasty conspiracy that it's not. It's a simple business tool that will hopefully create some buzz in the media. It may also be an event for making some public announcements about future attractions.

In the long run, you, the guest, are better off with a sucessful media event.

Exactly, Disney is an expert at these kinds of things...their marketing team is one of the best. I only hope (though it may be a long shot) that they DO in fact announce future attractions. That would rock.

 

[EpcotServo]

:lookaroun

What was the last major press event that you attended?

This isn't about denying the guests something, it's about having an event for the press that will hopefully bring in more guests. Don't make it out to be some big nasty conspiracy that it's not. It's a simple business tool that will hopefully create some buzz in the media. It may also be an event for making some public announcements about future attractions.

In the long run, you, the guest, are better off with a sucessful media event.

That would be May 5th at WDW. Hours of being shoved around, find a good view, then getting told by a Cast Member we don't want people watching this, leave. I'm not saying it's a conspiracy, I'm just saying guests should get to be part of a grand opening. I'm not talking about letting guests into press events, I'm saying that don't have a press event and call it a "grand opening". If you're going to call it a grand opening, and have pins that say grand opening, then you should make it a real grand opening. Where it's grand and open. Not an open bar for some guy who runs a blog out of toledo who acts like he's better then the averege day guest.

 

[Shaman]

Special for the guests? EE has been open to the general public for several weeks now, long before the "grand opening"...if that ain't special...well...I don't know what more people want...

Disney knows that it's doing, there is a reason behind every single aspect of these press events. They don't just wake up one morning and say, lets restrict the guests from attending the event....just because....

And who knows...maybe they have something special planned (not yet announced) which includes guests after (or before) the press event.

 

[EpcotServo]

And who knows...maybe they have something special planned (not yet announced) which includes guests after (or before) the press event.

That's all I'm saying. That it would be really nice if they went a little out of their way to have a grand opening for guests. I think they should hold the press event the day before, then let the press film a little opening for guests, showing the first offical happy people riding. You know that that would be cool... I'll reserve my judgement until I see what they do.

 

[wannab@dis]

That's all I'm saying. That it would be really nice if they went a little out of their way to have a grand opening for guests. I think they should hold the press event the day before, then let the press film a little opening for guests, showing the first offical happy people riding. You know that that would be cool... I'll reserve my judgement until I see what they do.

Well, if the information in the thread is correct, then they will be opening EE to guests after the press event. But, as with most press events of ANY business, the actual event is by invitation only. They really don't need Daddy, Mommy and their 2 kids taking a spot from a press agent. It's just the way things work in the business world.

 

[imagineersrock]

On top of the previously stated information, as far as the days of the press event go, we are now being told to inform guests that Everest, the attraction's merchandise shop, and the Asia/Dinoland walkway will not be available to them on April 6th or the 7th.

In addition to this, on April 6th the entire land of Asia will close to guests at 3pm and Camp Minnie-Mickey will close at 4pm.


.....This new information seems to contradict the previous information about April 7th (the official opening day.) Not sure now whether or not they will open Everest in the Afternoon to regular guests.