News New Park Entrance coming to Epcot

[T.Will]

Actually...It was pretty epic...and it was temporary. For a temporary decor package for the 25th, it was a big wow...like it or not. It was fun and festive... Now that we are at WDW's Golden Anniversary it will be interesting to see what they doi... I am sure it will not be anything like the celebration decor they have done in the past... TDO doesn't seem to have money for this kind of stuff anymore. Disneyland got tons of plussing for their 50th... Have they even mentioned anything happening for the Magic Kingdom yet aside from Tron?

One would hope for some news in August at D23. Whether or not we get it, we'll have to wait and see.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Yeah, innocently, it seemed cool enough when it was only going to be there for 18(ish) months.

I know I'm going to catch hell for this but I wasn't personally offended by the pink birthday cake castle back in the day, either - because it was temporary. I understand that for people on once-in-a-lifetime trips, it was either super cool or super awful, though.

Sort of viewed the wand the same way at first... and then it didn't go. :/

I remember when they were building the hat - they were doing work behind walls on it and you could see a giant metal ring that it seems like they were putting rivets in, forever. This was there so long like that, that they actually had an illustration of the ring on the park maps as an identifiable structure.

With how it was built, I was expecting it to be or do or have something epic... and then it ended up just being the roof of an outdoor pin shop... that never went away.

I wasn’t that down on the castle cake either

It was temporary...and love it of hate it, it was wacky.

WDI/twdc needs more “wacky” these days

 

[Bocabear]

I wasn’t that down on the castle cake either

It was temporary...and love it of hate it, it was wacky.

WDI/twdc needs more “wacky” these days

AMEN! I am so tired of everything being so generic... It is like the current style trends slightly altered instead of the unique and creative...

 

[halltd]

Have they even mentioned anything happening for the Magic Kingdom yet aside from Tron?

A new theatre!

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Actually...It was pretty epic...and it was temporary. For a temporary decor package for the 25th, it was a big wow...like it or not. It was fun and festive... Now that we are at WDW's Golden Anniversary it will be interesting to see what they doi... I am sure it will not be anything like the celebration decor they have done in the past... TDO doesn't seem to have money for this kind of stuff anymore. Disneyland got tons of plussing for their 50th... Have they even mentioned anything happening for the Magic Kingdom yet aside from Tron?

I think you stumbled upon the reality here.

It’s not that they “don’t have” the money for these things in Orlando...they’ve just determined they don’t need them to fill the place.

They have not authorized one of these big deals in Orlando since Eisner...last was I think 2006 which would have been Eisner approved.
To iger’s credit....he probably had them crunch the numbers and realized the gains are negligible...so you save the cost.

Very different clientele in Disneyland...need to convince them to keep coming.

So I laugh at years worth of “for the 50th” talk...who else was ever coming? Nobody in real terms. I think their building coincides and they’re happy to let you think it’s “for the 50th”. But really is just catch up from the lost decade(s)

 

[Master Yoda]

I think you stumbled upon the reality here.

It’s not that they “don’t have” the money for these things in Orlando...they’ve just determined they don’t need them to fill the place.

They have not authorized one of these big deals in Orlando since Eisner...last was I think 2006 which would have been Eisner approved.
To iger’s credit....he probably had them crunch the numbers and realized the gains are negligible...so you save the cost.

Very different clientele in Disneyland...need to convince them to keep coming.

So I laugh at years worth of “for the 50th” talk...who else was ever coming? Nobody in real terms. I think their building coincides and they’re happy to let you think it’s “for the 50th”. But really is just catch up from the lost decade(s)

This^^^ and it shocks me how many people just don't understand it.

Any business in the world that puts money into multiple forms of promotion/advertising will look to see what the return was. If X was 200%, Y was 500% and Z was -60% you can be pretty sure that whatever Z was will never see another dime.

The most WDW is ever going to do will be, buttons, park maps, and SE merch that they can pull 500% profit margin on.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

I dunno... this was pretty hideous.

View attachment 383893

I want them to bring it back for the 50th.

Ironic that they did this in 1996, long before Instagram and Disney cupcakes became big deals for the company.

 

[HauntedPirate]

The celebration for Disneyland's 50th seems like eon's ago now. It's amazing how differently P&R is managed a mere 13 years later.

This^^^ and it shocks me how many people just don't understand it.

Any business in the world that puts money into multiple forms of promotion/advertising will look to see what the return was. If X was 200%, Y was 500% and Z was -60% you can be pretty sure that whatever Z was will never see another dime.

The most WDW is ever going to do will be, buttons, park maps, and SE merch that they can pull 500% profit margin on.

And don't forget cupcakes and a dance party, the true hallmarks of a Disney celebration!

 

[ImperfectPixie]

The celebration for Disneyland's 50th seems like eon's ago now. It's amazing how differently P&R is managed a mere 13 years later.



And don't forget cupcakes and a dance party, the true hallmarks of a Disney celebration!

You know, I really don't get why the whole cupcake thing is still going on. They were a huge thing up here for a while in New England, but they've since fallen by the wayside. Lots of cupcake businesses went under (at least in the state I live in).

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

This^^^ and it shocks me how many people just don't understand it.

Any business in the world that puts money into multiple forms of promotion/advertising will look to see what the return was. If X was 200%, Y was 500% and Z was -60% you can be pretty sure that whatever Z was will never see another dime.

The most WDW is ever going to do will be, buttons, park maps, and SE merch that they can pull 500% profit margin on.

Those “people”...while stubbornly defending every upsell, price increase, and service/quality tightening as the triumph of the “free market”...

...Also want to fool themselves to thinking it’s the “same old Disney” and they are all about kissing up to them. They want the same company while being cutthroat billionaires that are falsely lauded in our culture now.

But it’s not the same. The management and goals are very different now. Better in someways and worse in others. There are no board members who have been there for the long haul...no Roy Disney to try to build a wall around what he held as the sacred principles. The ceo is NOT a creative man which is really the first time in history except for Walt’s loyal lieutenants between Roy O and Miller. It’s all regular Wall Street management now.

So the “for the 50th” crowd has been lead (for about 2-3 years now) by those that either remember the pink castle or the Epcot 2000 - because they did put money and thought into making it standout for the visitors - and want to feel “wuved” again. And as for the post 1990 crowd - they googled it and decreed themselves experts as usual...with no wisdom.

Such is life on the high seas of Disney fandom.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

You know, I really don't get why the whole cupcake thing is still going on. They were a huge thing up here for a while in New England, but they've since fallen by the wayside. Lots of cupcake businesses went under (at least in the state I live in).

Agreed...1600 calories of saturated fat and sugar so sweet you can’t actually swallow it should be back fo the fringes like it was prior to 2005

 

[HoldenC]

So I laugh at years worth of “for the 50th” talk...who else was ever coming? Nobody in real terms. I think their building coincides and they’re happy to let you think it’s “for the 50th”. But really is just catch up from the lost decade(s)

I could not agree more. There is truly zero evidence in recent years to indicate TDO is planning a huge celebration for the 50th, despite the rhetoric on here. Yes we're getting some awesome new rides, which I am looking forward to, but for me Disney has never been just about the rides. I'll believe a 50th anniversary celebration is happening when I see it officially announced. But even then that's not a guarantee

 

[Animaniac93-98]

You know, I really don't get why the whole cupcake thing is still going on. They were a huge thing up here for a while in New England, but they've since fallen by the wayside. Lots of cupcake businesses went under (at least in the state I live in).

I associate cupcakes with birthday parties, specifically ones for children.

I can't imagine eating one weekly, let alone daily.

Trying to make specialized food, especially one perceived as juvenile, a staple that can run a business doesn't sound easy to me.

They work for WDW because the place is full of children and adults wanting to recreate childhood fun. Also, few people are counting calories on vacation (although I personally dislike the cupcakes in WDW...too sugary IMO).

 

[ImperfectPixie]

I associate cupcakes with birthday parties, specifically ones for children.

I can't imagine eating one weekly, let alone daily.

Trying to make specialized food, especially one perceived as juvenile, a staple that can run a business doesn't sound easy to me.

They work for WDW because the place is full of children and adults wanting to recreate childhood fun. Also, few people are counting calories on vacation.

Yes, but they overdo the sugar to the point where even someone with a massive sweet tooth (like me) can't finish one. If I finish half of one, I consider it a win. You'd think they'd either tweak the recipes so they were more edible or not do so many varieties - I can't even imagine how many of those end up in the garbage without ever being sold.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Yes, but they overdo the sugar to the point where even someone with a massive sweet tooth (like me) can't finish one. If I finish half of one, I consider it a win. You'd think they'd either tweak the recipes so they were more edible or not do so many varieties - I can't even imagine how many of those end up in the garbage without ever being sold.

Not one cupcake has ever not been sold...

$80 a head pays for a poop ton of cupcakes

 

[HoldenC]

Yes, but they overdo the sugar to the point where even someone with a massive sweet tooth (like me) can't finish one. If I finish half of one, I consider it a win. You'd think they'd either tweak the recipes so they were more edible or not do so many varieties - I can't even imagine how many of those end up in the garbage without ever being sold.

I am also a sweet tooth but just looking at how over the top they are makes me sick

 

[ImperfectPixie]

I associate cupcakes with birthday parties, specifically ones for children.

I can't imagine eating one weekly, let alone daily.

Trying to make specialized food, especially one perceived as juvenile, a staple that can run a business doesn't sound easy to me.

They work for WDW because the place is full of children and adults wanting to recreate childhood fun. Also, few people are counting calories on vacation (although I personally dislike the cupcakes in WDW...too sugary IMO).

Oh, and the smart cupcake company owners transitioned to cake in general and using fondant as well as buttercream frosting, etc.

 

[MaximumEd]

Fondant is some nasty stuff. Jmo.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Yes, but they overdo the sugar to the point where even someone with a massive sweet tooth (like me) can't finish one. If I finish half of one, I consider it a win. You'd think they'd either tweak the recipes so they were more edible or not do so many varieties - I can't even imagine how many of those end up in the garbage without ever being sold.

They aren’t all over-sugared, although many are. I had a surprisingly spicy (and not overly sweet) cupcake at Wilderness two Christmases ago. The key is avoiding the ones in the parks with a half pound of “vanilla” buttercream.

My favorite dessert is this peanut butter tart at Contempo...if that ever goes, I’m selling my DVC contract.

 

[ImperfectPixie]

They aren’t all over-sugared, although many are. I had a surprisingly spicy (and not overly sweet) cupcake at Wilderness two Christmases ago. The key is avoiding the ones in the parks with a half pound of “vanilla” buttercream.

My favorite dessert is this peanut butter tart at Contempo...if that ever goes, I’m selling my DVC contract.

So basically, all the super-pretty ones.