LIVE UPDATES: D23 Expo - WALT DISNEY PARKS AND RESORTS Presentation 6:30pm EDT

[Zummi Gummi]

Yes but since this is a WDW site, it is only natural that people will be put off by the lack of WDW announcements.

Exactly. There's a reason that hardly anyone here is jumping for joy about the Shanghai Storybook Castle. I'm sure Mice Age is positively giddy about the addition of Fantasyland Faire, but it has no bearing on us and the flagship resort.

 

[disneyrcks]

Exactly. There's a reason that hardly anyone here is jumping for joy about the Shanghai Storybook Castle. I'm sure Mice Age is positively giddy about the addition of Fantasyland Faire, but it has no bearing on us and the flagship resort.

Totally agree

 

[Ignohippo]

The problem is that this money doesn't put butts in Epcot, DHS, or AK. Anyone who visits Orlando is mostly likely going to visit MK. There might be small boost, but nothing big. I don't think the plan was really to boost MK's attendance (maybe a little) it was to increase food and beverage options as well as toss a few more highly themed stores in there.

If they don't put money into the other parks, people will start to cut their vacations short and only visit the park with the new rides. DHS does have ST going for it right now, but in five years, it'll be more than old news. You have to invest in your products in order for them to be successful.

Raising ticket prices for all four parks each year through 2015 with no additions aside from MK's FLE might hurt Disney more than help it if people cut their WDW vacations short and hop over to Universal for a day or two.

If the shareholders are smart, they will want WDW (as a whole) to be as strong as possible, not just the MK.

I'm in agreement with you but I don't believe TDO necessarily sees the forest for the trees.The ledger sheet for the parks is going to be in the red for awhile because of them spending the $400+ million. Regardless of what we think, the only thing that matters is the plus and minus column on the ledger sheet.

We know from UNI that a major expansion could gain major dividends. Unfortunately, I don't think TDO has the guts to pull the trigger on a major deal like that and I honestly don't think they feel additions at the other parks would really give them any more benefit than what they'll get from the Fantasyland Expansion.

Who nows for sure, but it really doesn't seem like they see the parks as 4 separate entities. I think they see an addition to any park as something that drives business for all 4 parks and, more importantly, brings people to WDW.

As for Star Tours, I don't see that as much of a draw honestly (and I'm an enormous SW fan). It's an update of a ride that was severely overdue for an update. In the end, it's pretty much the same ride with some new bells and whistles. I hate to say it but I think your 5 years of excitement over it is more like 5 months - if that. I just hope the luke-warm reception for it doesn't dampen any possible SW expansion plans.

 

[MarkTwain]

Exactly. There's a reason that hardly anyone here is jumping for joy about the Shanghai Storybook Castle. I'm sure Mice Age is positively giddy about the addition of Fantasyland Faire, but it has no bearing on us and the flagship resort.

Actually, some might be surprised at how much negativity there's been about the idea on MiceChat... or maybe not, since it is MiceChat. :lol:

As for Shanghai, I doubt I ever go there in my lifetime, but it is still interesting to me to see what becomes of the theme park. Seldom do we gain such a deep insight into the collective minds and capabilities of Imagineering as when they build a theme park from scratch. Seeing what amazing concepts are cooked up for Shanghai, in a way, offers a glimpse of we might be getting in our own future, if in a much longer-term sense.

 

[TP2000]

I don't see how they sell tickets to the Expo after this, given that attendance was already down significantly this year.

Where did you hear that? All information coming out this weekend is that attendance is way up. Lines to get into the convention center this morning were epic, and people are reporting standing in line for up to 90 minutes just to enter the events on Friday.

D23 has officially announced that Expo tickets for Saturday are now SOLD OUT. They never sold out a day for the first Expo in '09. Tickets for Saturday are no longer available, and people with tickets are urged to get there early to allow for long entry queues and parking in satellite lots. Here's their official Twitter feed, as they tweet madly about the SOLD OUT status for Saturday and info on navigating EXPO crowds and lines. https://twitter.com/#!/D23Expo

Luckily, I already picked up my ticket this afternoon for Sunday to see the Expo.

And the crowds and traffic around the Anaheim Convention Center this afternoon when I went to get my ticket were noticeably large. Lots of Anaheim policemen directing traffic on surface streets, and lots of Disneyland CM's doing crowd control around the convention center itself.

If anything, it appears that the D23 Expo finally found its groove for the 2011 event. Anaheim's Resort District in and around Disneyland is certainly packed with people.

 

[_Scar]

Reading the comments on Disney Parks Blog, they probably aren't even bothering fultering anymore since every comment is "disappointed" and many want more WDW.

I even see some PI comments haha


Edit- let's storm the blog http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/08/special-thanks-to-d23-expo-attendees/


Write a harsh comment, maybe they'll get a message?

 

[RSoxNo1]

To all those bashing the lack of announcements at the presentation - I understand. But for me, I went into this hoping to see some of the great updates that they included. The problem is there was no ending to the presentation, no "WOW" like Star Tours 2.0, it was George Kalogridis, Fantasy Faire and then - "It's over". Not only were people disappointed by the lack of a major announcement, but they were also disappointed that the 2-3 hour wait to get into the presentation didn't lead to anything beyond those updates.

If there was nothing that Disney felt comfortable announcing, perhaps they should have used the set up to build towards the Seven Dwarf's ride through or a Radiator Springs Racers ride through.

Having said all that, I had a blast today and have posted several updates over on my site - the most recent one with photos and videos can be found here:

http://www.wdwfanboys.com/blog/tims-trip-report-8192011-part-3-d23-expo/

 

[Cosmic Commando]

I don't know about attendance one way or another, but I remember hearing that they're using less of the convention center this year. So, it's possible that they are sold out and attendance is down.

I really got my hopes up... like it seems a lot of us did. Correct me if I'm wrong, but now that Tiki Room is open there is nothing officially announced for WDW other than FLE? It seemed like such a big void that I was sure something would happen today.

I was SUPER disappointed with the lack of announcements, but it's probably the best thing for the parks in the long term. Do we want the construction schedule at WDW to be determined by a convention that only comes once every two years or maybe even less often in the future?

 

[Captain Neo]

The reason tomorrow is sold out is only because it's the studio presentation and they already said it will feature a lot of celebrities and info about marvel projects. Lst time Johnny depp showed up and people fainted. People are going for that not because Disney is so wonderful.

 

[sponono88]

To all those bashing the lack of announcements at the presentation - I understand. But for me, I went into this hoping to see some of the great updates that they included. The problem is there was no ending to the presentation, no "WOW" like Star Tours 2.0, it was George Kalogridis, Fantasy Faire and then - "It's over". Not only were people disappointed by the lack of a major announcement, but they were also disappointed that the 2-3 hour wait to get into the presentation didn't lead to anything beyond those updates.

If there was nothing that Disney felt comfortable announcing, perhaps they should have used the set up to build towards the Seven Dwarf's ride through or a Radiator Springs Racers ride through.

Having said all that, I had a blast today and have posted several updates over on my site - the most recent one with photos and videos can be found here:

http://www.wdwfanboys.com/blog/tims-trip-report-8192011-part-3-d23-expo/

^ I agree, the lack of announcements doesn't change my opinion of the Expo or D23. I had an amazing time today. It was so cool to see Alice Davis in action, sharing stories about Walt and discussing the different IASW doll costumes she created. I toured the 'Carousel of Projects' exhibit right alongside Imagineer Tony Baxter. I got to see Richard Sherman on the piano singing along to 'it's a small world'. At the Legends ceremony, the Disney Princesses came to life with Lea Salonga (Mulan), Anika Noni Rose (Tiana), Jodi Benson (Ariel), Paige O'Hara (Belle), all singing on-stage together to classic Disney songs.

The best part came at night, with the 'Voices of the Parks' panel -- a group of about 10 men and women who provide their voice talents to theme parks around the world. Bill Rodgers, Corey Burton, and so many more shared stories and gave a hilarious insight into the world of voice acting and the attractions they help bring to life. I can't recall the names of every single one of them, but there was a lady there who provided the voice for the Peoplemover, Spaceship Earth, critters in Splash Mountain, etc -- another guy who did the growls of the Yeti for E:E and all kinds of other animal sounds.

Also there: the voice of Sallah from Indy, Rod Serling's voice from ToT, Darth Vader, Scuttle from the new Mermaid ride, the General from Cranium Command, the man who does the DL park-wide announcements; An endless amount of voices that we all know and love but we rarely get to see. It was so much fun to see and hear them in action, recreating and ad-libbing quotes from the parks.

Sure it would have been nice if they had announced something big today, but the expo is so much more than just the Parks+Resorts presentation. Can't wait for tomorrow and Sunday!

 

[wdwmagic]

They could theoretically fit D23 Expo in the Orlando Convention Center, but then you are off property a long bus ride away from WDW. At the Anaheim Convention Center you are a 10 minute walk from either the theme parks or Trader Sam's at the Disneyland Hotel, which is reportedly PACKED tonight with D23 attendees. :lookaroun

.

Orange County Convention Center is 20 minutes away from WDW, not a long ride away really.

 

[misterID]

Well, the Shanghai castle looks really cool...

 

[misterID]

Reading the comments on Disney Parks Blog, they probably aren't even bothering fultering anymore since every comment is "disappointed" and many want more WDW.

I even see some PI comments haha


Edit- let's storm the blog http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/08/special-thanks-to-d23-expo-attendees/


Write a harsh comment, maybe they'll get a message?

Man, they did some major post deleting over there, but the majority of comments are STILL negative about the lack of stuff for WDW. Especially over EPCOT.

 

[Kamikaze]

Orange County Convention Center is 20 minutes away from WDW, not a one ride away really.

It doesn't matter where it would be in Florida. The cost of transporting everything (props, cast, the higher ups, all the exhibits) from CA to FL is prohibitive of it happening. They would have to charge double, if not three times what they charge in CA to make it worth it for them to hold in FL.

 

[Lee]

The cost of transporting everything (props,...

That reminds me...
They really need to box up the whole FLE model and ship it to Orlando. It needs to be on display somewhere on property where average guests can get a look at it.

 

[Hakunamatata]

That reminds me...
They really need to box up the whole FLE model and ship it to Orlando. It needs to be on display somewhere on property where average guests can get a look at it.

One Mans Dream would be a really nice place for it......

 

[Spike-in-Berlin]

I hate to say it but I think your 5 years of excitement over it is more like 5 months - if that. I just hope the luke-warm reception for it doesn't dampen any possible SW expansion plans.

Is the reception so luke-warm? I haven't seen it yet and I will not ride it before late September so I don't know how it is.

 

[Spike-in-Berlin]

One Mans Dream would be a really nice place for it......

Is it already open again? It was refurbished during our last trip.

 

[wdwmagic]

Is it already open again? It was refurbished during our last trip.

Yep back in November
http://www.wdwmagic.com/Attractions...m-reopens-following-3-month-refurbishment.htm

 

[wdwmagic]

That reminds me...
They really need to box up the whole FLE model and ship it to Orlando. It needs to be on display somewhere on property where average guests can get a look at it.

Definitely!