No Mickey, No Dragon='s LessThanFantasmic

[WDW1974]

You're implying that they'd take out an opening day attraction, management offices, a huge parking lot, and production studios? I guess I'll believe it when I see it.

http://wikimapia.org/#lat=28.4769058&lon=-81.4719272&z=17&l=0&m=b

I haven't seen the plans (and am not going to go over them like a fanboi with the Fantasyland redo art when I do) ... but, yes, they will be removing and moving quite a bit ... but this satisfies Rowling and allows UNI to reap Potter benefits in two gates instead of one.

And I am very much looking forward to it.

Jaws has had its time ...

 

[Captain Chaos]

I wouldn't call noticing two of the show's biggest set pieces missing "looking for issues".

The show is in disgraceful condition. Especially considering the show wasn't played nightly for a good chunk of last year, during which time small things could have been fixed.

Not looking for issues... For anyone who knows anything about Fantasmic, a missing Sorcerer Mickey is a HUGE missing piece of the show... I may be one of the few remaining people who truly enjoy Fantasmic... and seeing the show last week was rough... I wasn't looking for issues... The issues are obvious...

 

[Captain Chaos]

I don't want to focus on one person with an agenda to spin/lie for Disney when it is being done en masse by people looking for freebies from Disney ... besides, it will be my post that 'MOM' goes after first and I don't like my writing to diappear into the ether.

But as a WHOLE the fan community is largely responsible for Disney's continuing lowering of standards. I talked to a Celeb Imagineer out at DLR last month at length and this was HIS opinion/words (not mine, but I agree). Disney has used Social Media/Fan Sites (not saying this one, talking in general) to perpetuate a myth that they are the best at what they do and that the product of 2011 is not only better than UNI/IOA/anyone else but that it is better than what Disney put out in 1971 or 1991. It's a total pile of fetid cow turd, but that is what Disney's Social Media Department is paid to peddle ... and it helps if you have 'independent' sites agreeing with that viewpoint and trying to silence voices that point out that ... no, it isn't OK that people pay $85-plus a day to get into the Studios and when they see a signature show, so many effects (including key ones) aren't working.

This isn't a matter of bashing Disney or hating it as the feeble-minded critics will trot out.

This is a matter of giving guests what they paid for. What they have come to expect.

Not interested in excuses. I have seen this show probably 10 times in the last 2-3 years and there have always been significant issues with it. That's not acceptable ... unless you have a Disney Lifestyle site and want a free cruise on the Fantasy in March!

I always said the Disney fanboi is their own worst enemy...

 

[Captain Chaos]

I am not done with Disney. That would be giving in and giving them what they want, which is to lose all the older guests who have been loyal customers and lovers of the place for decades, so they can replace me/us with someone whose first visit was in 2004 and now owns DVC and thinks the place has never been better ... because, of course, they don't any better.

But I keep visiting WDW less and that saddens me. First, it's my local resort. I can go drive there before the sun goes down tonight. Second, it's where my love for the parks and themed entertainment was born.

BUT ... I'm not an idiot ... and I work hard for my $$$ ... so I'm likely to visit either DL, HKDL or DLP before I'll take the drive up Florida's Turnpike again.



I don't know that I'd go that far. But WWoHP is absolutely the most impressive O-town theme park development of this century BY FAR ... and just wait for Phase II ... so big it's going to be in TWO PARKS! (no, I am not kidding! kiss the plastic sharkie bye-bye!)

UNI is upping their game and I've seen nothing to show Disney even gets they have a problem beyond the Hail Mary for Avatar, which is so far out in terms of being built, I can't even offer a real opinion because so much can/will change.

I'm a DVC owner... Next visit I plan to only stay at a resort and NOT do any of the parks... May as well use my DVC, I'm paying for it... I just didn't get excited this time with the parks...

As for my Potter comment, maybe I should have prefaced it by saying anything in WDW... I admit to not having visited Disneyland or the other parks, so maybe there are things in those parks that can top Potter, or come close... But comparing things in Central Florida, I find nothing in WDW that is on the same level as Potter... or Spiderman (which is looking great BTW) for that matter...

 

[Captain Chaos]

I haven't seen the plans (and am not going to go over them like a fanboi with the Fantasyland redo art when I do) ... but, yes, they will be removing and moving quite a bit ... but this satisfies Rowling and allows UNI to reap Potter benefits in two gates instead of one.

And I am very much looking forward to it.

Jaws has had its time ...

You are implying Potter is making it's way into Universal Studios and not expanding in IOA??? First I heard of this... I was under the impression Potter 2,0 was to take over the rest of Lost Continent... I'm even more interested to see what they do with Potter in Uni now...

 

[GenerationX]

If a bunch of effects aren't working right and people aren't having a good time at WDW, no amount of social media blather will convince them they actually enjoyed their Disney trip.

If a bunch of effects aren't working right but people are still able to enjoy the attraction, they've missed out on some entertainment. However, if the perceived entertainment is still greater than the price paid, guests are still seeing value in a Disney trip.

 

[George]

~GFC~

Hey, SfB, what does GFC mean?

 

[WDW1974]

I always said the Disney fanboi is their own worst enemy...

Today, they are.

Absolutely.

It's been building for a decade or more now ... since the Internet started and Disney sites were like the third thing (behind and Star Trek sites) online.

But fans can agree on very little ... they focus on the small scale (sorry, but the Tiki Room at MK isn't that important in the scheme of things ... even at WDW, let alone for P&R or TWDC as a whole where it is totally insigificant) ... if they will never visit DLP or heck DL, then they don't matter ... if they don't like animals then DAK doesn't matter etc etc.

I ALWAYS aspire to focus on the big picture and the whys things are done and what that means on the micro level.

I just wish fans (and people in general) would think more (I think I just said this in a PM to MAGICal Steve) The world and the World would be better places if they did.

 

[JPWDW2]

No Sorcerer Mickey video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyC_LyyX0Sg Minute 24:45

 

[WDW1974]

I'm a DVC owner... Next visit I plan to only stay at a resort and NOT do any of the parks... May as well use my DVC, I'm paying for it... I just didn't get excited this time with the parks...

I enjoy the WDW parks, but it's been quite a while since they excited me. I think the last thing that did was Everest and that soon fell into a semi-permanent state of disrepair. ... As to DVC ... well, I have family that own ... yes, they bring great shame on the rest of us!

As for my Potter comment, maybe I should have prefaced it by saying anything in WDW... I admit to not having visited Disneyland or the other parks, so maybe there are things in those parks that can top Potter, or come close... But comparing things in Central Florida, I find nothing in WDW that is on the same level as Potter... or Spiderman (which is looking great BTW) for that matter...

FJ is state of the art amazing, no doubt. But Disney's overall product is just better (talking theme parks, not a 43 square mile resort) at its other resorts in almost every significant way. Dining, which was always a BIG part of my trips, has been ruined largely by the Walmarted DDP.

So, yeah, I think you might enjoy DL and DLP and HKDL and TDR's product a great deal. And the DCL is amazing. Trying to work on booking a trip in 2012.

As to Spidey ... act like a Disney fanboi ... walk in wearing a Grumpy tee and Mickey cap and pin lanyard and yell 'we own you ... hear that Spidey Freak ... we OWN you!' throughout the queue and, indeed, all of Super Hero Island. You'll feel so much better until security comes ...:ROFLOL:

 

[WDW1974]

You are implying Potter is making it's way into Universal Studios and not expanding in IOA??? First I heard of this... I was under the impression Potter 2,0 was to take over the rest of Lost Continent... I'm even more interested to see what they do with Potter in Uni now...

Nope. Both expanding in IOA and BEYOND ... and I just heard it this week, but have had it confirmed by two others.

That be the plan ... apparently connected by the Hogwarts Express.

But Amity, Jaws and Fear Factor stage (which isn't used most of the time) would cease to exist under the plan.

~GFC~

 

[WDW Vacationer]

Let me sum up the Fantasmic situation for all of you:

It is currently one of the saddest things to ever grace WDW property and is a pretty sad excuse for a nighttime spectacular in nearly every way, especially when compared to Tokyo's and Disneyland's shows.

 

[WDWFigment]

Today, they are.

Absolutely.

It's been building for a decade or more now ... since the Internet started and Disney sites were like the third thing (behind and Star Trek sites) online.

But fans can agree on very little ... they focus on the small scale (sorry, but the Tiki Room at MK isn't that important in the scheme of things ... even at WDW, let alone for P&R or TWDC as a whole where it is totally insigificant) ... if they will never visit DLP or heck DL, then they don't matter ... if they don't like animals then DAK doesn't matter etc etc.

I ALWAYS aspire to focus on the big picture and the whys things are done and what that means on the micro level.

I just wish fans (and people in general) would think more (I think I just said this in a PM to MAGICal Steve) The world and the World would be better places if they did.

I love animals but I don't like DAK. I'm pretty sure it's your favorite park. That's a debate I'd love to have someday (this thread probably isn't the appropriate place, but it seems some of everything is being discussed, anyway).

It's nice to have you back. While I hardly agree with everything you say, you bring some excitement to the boards, and certainly have a foundation for your opinions, which is appreciated, albeit exceedingly rare.

 

[themerebear6453]

On our last night in MGM May 2010 half way through the dragons performance it shut off and got stuck outside its door for the rest of the show. I was disappointed (mostly for my youngest sister who loves the show) but was also impressed with what a good job they did making up for it. They turned the projectors back on and whoever was playing Mickey did a great job doing a little extra to keep the audience's attention on him and not the broken dragon in the background. But beyond how impressed I was with their performance that night I'm surprised that in over a year they still haven't fixed this problem. The dragon is one of the highlights of the show! Also, I can't imagine why Mickey wouldn't show up for the finale! It must look so weird with the fireworks going off without him. I'm glad for all the additions Disney is making to their parks but I hope that they don't neglect what they already have. Maybe they're planning on getting rid of the show soon and figure it wouldn't be financially wise to fix it. But then I wouldn't think that they'd do that when they're already in the process of the FL expansion and now Avatarland... (is that what it's called? Avatarland?)

Edit: I just reread that and hope the ending didn't look like a jab at the Avatar expansion. I wasn't the hugest fan of the film (liked it but not insane about it like some were) but the universe is so beautiful and opens so many ideas to explore and create!

 

[TalkingHead]

No Sorcerer Mickey video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyC_LyyX0Sg Minute 24:45

Perfect example of why I don't pay to go to the parks anymore.

 

[WDW1974]

I love animals but I don't like DAK. I'm pretty sure it's your favorite park. That's a debate I'd love to have someday (this thread probably isn't the appropriate place, but it seems some of everything is being discussed, anyway).

Feel free to discuss it here (or shoot me an email/PM). But DAK is my second favorite WDW park. EPCOT will always be No. 1, despite Disney's attempts to destroy/water down it over the past dozen years. THAT park made me the Disney fanboi for life I am. But both of those parks can make me happy just sitting on a bench soaking up the sun (and Pixie Dust!)

It's nice to have you back. While I hardly agree with everything you say, you bring some excitement to the boards, and certainly have a foundation for your opinions, which is appreciated, albeit exceedingly rare.

I'm just visiting. I've got some business coming up that will take too much time to be here regularly and then I'm headed to Europe for a month. ... But I'm also reasonably sure I'll wind up back again at some point after that ... and then leave again ... and then come back.

I've found as much as I like Disney and talking about it, that there's a point where you just need to step back for a while. Like a self-imposed timeout to help keep relatively sane.

I'm always glad to be talking/discussing/debating with you, Tom. You have a functioning brain, which is a great place to start. Oh, and I hardly agree with everything I say too :ROFLOL: ... OK, I do agree with most of it!

And scary as it may be, I DO really know what I am talking about most of the time.

Now ... what's for dinner (good thing I'm not at WDW or I'd have to had made my decision 180 days ago!)?

~GFC~

 

[Thurp]

But Amity, Jaws and Fear Factor stage (which isn't used most of the time) would cease to exist under the plan.

~GFC~

Jaws, and I'm not kidding, is one of my all-time favorite attractions. I don't know why, it has charm, good pacing, most of the boat captains are into it, and it's just fun. When my friends and I visit it's our must-do attraction.

This is sad to hear but if the HP expansion is going to be of the same quality as what is there now, then I will respectfully say my goodbyes and, I guess, thank you for all the fish.

 

[marni1971]

Phase 3, not 2 ;-)

But as for F!.... TDO have hit a low again. I can't go into specifics but it could have rivalled the original in the not too distant future. But now we have missing effects and untrustworthy set pieces. Yes, both versions are complex and have multiple B plans, but having seen the originals third refurbed version last year I was so spoilt I can't watch the east coast version again.

Yes, Murphy had big problems, from a cross of 3rd vendor and WDI thinking they know better, but in all fairness it was Glendale who gave Murphy his new name. After all he only snapped. And was fixed. Orlandos version of the show just has fail after fail using equipment well past it's sell by date.

And I actually liked the Pochohontas part

 

[MMFanCipher]

I enjoy F! very much and hope it stays around for a while longer. But I'm
also the type of person who thinks "If it's broken, fix the damn thing!" I'm
hoping that the 5 week refurb is enough time to get things fixed, even though
'74 doesn't think so. He may be right, I don't know. It SEEMS that
a lot of things are going down for refurb since Staggs has taken over, so
maybe that is a good sign. Or maybe things are getting refurbed because
they can't go any longer without one. I guess only time will tell. :shrug:

 

[Hakunamatata]

Hey, SfB, what does GFC mean?

Possibility?

http://www.girlsforachange.org/