Spirited News and Observations and Opinions ...

[WDW1974]

Well the weather's been just lovely here, but I understand the tough job of being the Spirit on these wonderful boards.

There are times when it just feels like work ...

 

[ParkMan73]

A lot of ignorant people have ignorant ideas. And some people just have different tastes.

But when you look at the number of people that DAK pulls in annually, it is a VERY impressive number.

I'm probably part of some silent majority on this one. I love DAK. The mix of Disney theming & animals is a winner in my book. I'd rather spend an hour strolling trough the animals than 45 minutes in line for a two minute ride. Don't get me wrong, I love rides too, but I love that my day is a mix of animals, flora, theming, rides, and shows at DAK.

 

[cbconglom]

You have no idea how much I want to move back to SoCal ... this year we had no fall here in paradise and 2013 has largely been days of 80-plus without much sun, but with lots of humidity. ... And please don't hold your breath, I have enough pressure on me as is!

It can't be all that bad right? My buddy just went with me to Maui the first week of jan and he said the weather when he got back home to Orlando was just as nice or nicer.

 

[flynnibus]

Actually, TDR is. Mindblowingly so in the most important ways (sadly, their merchandise largely sucks).

While TDR may be the pinnicle of park ops I don't see it offering so much different to entice me. Heck, even DLR is kind of bland to me in a sense. To me, it's the TYPE of entertainment that the parks are offering that is becoming a bore.. more so than the condition of it. TDR puts on some fancy parades and stage shows.. neither which interest me at all. The Jules Vern inspired parts of Disney Sea do.. but in general the physical amusements have become less and less attractive to me over time. I think I found the Aladdin show the most enjoyable portion of DLR on my last trip. It brought me laughter, I was engaged, I wanted more. Contrast that with the show on the Disney Dream that I couldn't wait for it to just be OVER.. and didn't want to do shows anymore during the week after that.

I've been more a student of the theme parks of late then a model customer. The appeal has been waning.

 

[BigThunderMatt]

Actually, TDR is. Mindblowingly so in the most important ways (sadly, their merchandise largely sucks).

I think that's just coming from an American point of view. The kind of kitschy stuff they sell at TDR is right up the alley of pretty much every Japanese visitor's omiyage (souvenir) needs. I would have killed for a larger t-shirt selection or just something that screamed 'take me home' as a memento of my visit.

There just...wasn't a lot to choose from that really wowed me. But that's a small price to pay considering how TDR rocks in pretty much every other aspect.

 

[Lil Fort]

Big mall?

Well there is that... Ever since they downsized the Disney store, MOA just isn't the same though. ***sigh***

At this point, my idea would be to return as much of the land to nature as possible and renew and reopen the pool (they never would as it would be cheaper to install a new one and they love zero entry for handicapped accessiblity and they don't want pools that are 8-10 feet on the deep end ... apparently, they never got the memo that people drown in a foot of water) and the nature trails.

I could go for that plan too! We'll call it plan B.

But I see the land sitting as is for years to come. At least until some kids get in there and drown and Disney lawyers try and blame the folks that have been sneaking in and taking videos for it.

I've never snuck in, but I do go down there and peek through the fence. I know the guy who posted all of those pics on that 'other Disney board' about two years ago (the name of the board seems to be one that can't be spoken here). He's a nice guy. Luckily for him, he's not a serial trespasser like that guy who was just banned from Disney.

The ONLY reason I see DVC not going in is the cost of 'removing' the remnants of RC and then coming up with a resort plan that fits the fragile ecology of the area. It will cost a (blank)load of $$$ and Disney is too damn cheap.

If that is what it takes to keep them from building it, then this is one time I don't mind them being cheap.

 

[yoyoflamingo]

But I see the land sitting as is for years to come. At least until some kids get in there and drown and Disney lawyers try and blame the folks that have been sneaking in and taking videos for it.

Like a certain, "The Woo." Ban for life to scare people out of doing it. But, if it sits openly rotting, like RC, and is fairly easy to access, people will get in. I really wish they would make up their mind either way - let it go and tear it down, or build something to replace it, even if it's a Fort Wilderness exclusive. Pleasure Island is nothing compared to how long River Country has been sitting there.

Want some limited time magic? Restore the place and open it for the summer, a one last hurrah. I know it would NEVER happen because that would cost way too much to repair, but those are the ideas that would get people excited for limited time magic. That, Adventurer's Club, etc. It's could almost be like a test market. If something works - keep it open. If not, it's limited time magic and no one expected it to stay open.

 

[flynnibus]

A lot of ignorant people have ignorant ideas. And some people just have different tastes.

Maybe - but I doubt Disney set out to win just a fixed demographic and was willing to ignore the rest Dispite being Disney's newest park, 'largest park' (don't you love how that pump that useless stat?), and having the newest E-ticket thrill ride... how many people do you hear sealed the deal and forked out their money because they just had to get more DAK... I certainly don't hear anyone.. and pay attention to those TR's people post.. see how much attention DAK gets there. The park is a perennial brides maid...

 

[the.dreamfinder]

I think we need a Japanese invasion...

 

[WDW1974]

I certainly agree about the change in style in resort vs amusement parks.. but I don't get as far as you do with that for DAK just because DAK is dominated in volume by 'things you look at' vs 'things you ride'.

I yearn for the days when WDW was a true resort and the entertainment outside the theme park was just as much the draw as the park was. But the 'speed' of life today seems to have grabbed vacation life now too. I mean - how many simple lake resorts do you hear about anymore?

There are plenty. Hell, one of my yet to happen vacation dreams would be to spend a month renting a home on the lake in Oakhurst, CA (very near an entrance to Yosemite N.P.) and just relax, enjoy nature and a slower pace of life.

If vacation is work, then that isn't a vacation at all. ... I am not one of those people that you'll ever read a trip report saying ''My alarm woke me up at 5:45 a.m., I took a smidge of the cookie I picked up at the Boardwalk Bakery yesterday and threw on my sweats as the family all slept soundly. I took our mugs and walked briskly threw the morning dew for the Everything Pop food court knowing that it was going to be an effort to get DW and DDs and DS up for our 8:20 PS at Chef Mickey's. I was already debating getting a cab, but realized the MK bus would be running and we could make the walk in 10 minutes. ...''

The above sounds like pure hell to me on more levels than I can count.

It's not about the speed of life, Flynn. It's about the speed in which people choose to live. There's no way I would ever go to WDW if I couldn't relax and decompress from 'the real world'

Heck even look on these forums - people are begging for new theme park attractions... not things outside the parks to come and enjoy in WDW. The resort concept seems dead. Now it's about simply moving people between their base to serve their biological needs of sleep/eat/poop and the theme park gates.

They are begging for new theme park attractions because they have been to WDW many times and it offers a stale product. There really is a limited number of times most sane people can ride PoC or RnRC or CTX on a given trip before the 'we've done it all' kicks in.

And the people you are talking about who spend ridiculous amounts of money to stay at WDW resorts and not enjoy them are flat out nuts in my book. Why pay $400 a night when you can pay $40 for a clean, comfortable room if you are simply using it for six hours of sleep and maybe a place to change clothes during the day.

I've stayed at WDW resorts and spent days at the resorts without going to a park or going to a park for 2-3 hours a day.

But back to the DAK comment - I still stand by the comment that it's a park that alienates a lot of people. Disney has done a poor job of differentiating it and selling to it's strengths I think. Being tied to the hip to the other parks probably drags it down too in the type of people it can attract. It's a fabulous park - that hasn't really rang true with everyone (even in Disney's demographic) unfortunately. It's like the bad taste some people had of Futureworld... but worse for them.

I could say the same about any park. MK is too much of a kiddie park. IOA is a thrill junkie's paradise. TPFKaTD-MGMS or SW has too many shows etc.

DAK is absolutely hurt by being tied to WDW as a whole. People have limited time and everyone wants to visit 'Disney World', which is the MK. But again, I sorta view MK as the Honey Boo Boo type experience.

 

[WDW1974]

Try living in the frozen wasteland also known as Minn-e-snow-tah freezing your tukus off when the temps don't get above zero all day. Our high today was -5°. Why do I live here???

I have no idea what -5 even feels like as I can't tell you when I last felt it. Probably when I was still in diapers (no, not the adult kind, no jokes, folks ...leave comedy to the experts). But right now at almost 11 p.m. it is still 70 degrees. Do you know how happy I'd be if it were just 55?

And I have no idea why I live here, although I was away from here for three months in 2012 ... and it was NOT nearly enough.

I almost sense that it will be frigid suddenly in late March here.

 

[drew81]

I am a bit surprised by that, but shouldn't be. ... I know your info is generally great, but I want to ask around on that as I thought they had a ways to go.

But I do know they want this baby open ASAP ... and it will likely be huge while Disney markets it's modest Fantasyland project (are Memaid's SQ issues solved yet?) and these absurd small-time events like the one at the Canada pavilion or the older foamheads coming back. (As an aside, take a look at what DL is doing in January and February for its part of LTM and ask if TDO has outright contempt for fans and guests in general)

Oh, and SW has its COLD new attraction coming too.

It's OK, the Disney fanbois will talk about the two-minute kiddie coaster that's arriving in 14 months. (imagine my Dr. Evil smiley here!)

Yes, and I think it's going to turn out awesome! Kudos to Brian Morrow and his team. Have you heard anything about the next attraction coming to SW?

 

[WDW1974]

But are these issues that budget could actually fix or would they just be bedazzling a soulless park which is the very sort of crass, blatant marketing that those who never understood Disneyland accused it of being? I just don't have much excitement for Shanghai Disneyland because I have a hard time getting excited about Iger's vision of theme parks.

I don't know what his vision is. No one I know at Disney has ever been able to articulate what Iger's vision is. My guess is he doesn't have one.

I would just hope that this isn't HKDL all over again. Although this time they made sure to not even put out a simple list of plans for the park because they cut 60% of HKDL after signing the deal to build it.
(note: do NOT ever assume Disney will live up to its word, even if said word is in writing)

 

[WDW1974]

It can't be all that bad right? My buddy just went with me to Maui the first week of jan and he said the weather when he got back home to Orlando was just as nice or nicer.

First, I love Maui and haven't been back in years and would never compare O-Town to the islands. I can't imagine January upstate being like a tropical paradise with tradewinds and amazing beaches.

 

[WDW1974]

While TDR may be the pinnicle of park ops I don't see it offering so much different to entice me. Heck, even DLR is kind of bland to me in a sense. To me, it's the TYPE of entertainment that the parks are offering that is becoming a bore.. more so than the condition of it. TDR puts on some fancy parades and stage shows.. neither which interest me at all. The Jules Vern inspired parts of Disney Sea do.. but in general the physical amusements have become less and less attractive to me over time. I think I found the Aladdin show the most enjoyable portion of DLR on my last trip. It brought me laughter, I was engaged, I wanted more. Contrast that with the show on the Disney Dream that I couldn't wait for it to just be OVER.. and didn't want to do shows anymore during the week after that.

I've been more a student of the theme parks of late then a model customer. The appeal has been waning.

Well, I am definitely a student of the park as well as a consumer. But if DLR doesn't do it for you and TDR (have you been or are you just talking in general?) doesn't, then I'd say you most certainly are over any affection for the parks. ... I know what that's like. I am bored to tears at the MK without family or friends to chat with. It is just a sad shell of what it once was with a nice-looking small addition with very little to actually do.

I do love Aladdin. I have never seen a stage show in a theme park as good. And I was there for the premiere and saw the original cast frequently (many had TV and film credits as CA gets you different 'talent' than O-Town).

But I still get great joy out of all international parks and absolutely DL. Now, I can get the joy out of sitting on a bench with an ice cream (notice I didn't say Dole Whip or Citrus Swirl!), but I absolutely like going on kewl rides and seeing top-notch shows and love fireworks etc ... If you don't, then I'd say you're wasting an awful lot of money that could take you elsewhere.

 

[Lil Fort]

I have no idea what -5 even feels like as I can't tell you when I last felt it...

One word... 'snotsicles'...

 

[WDW1974]

I think that's just coming from an American point of view. The kind of kitschy stuff they sell at TDR is right up the alley of pretty much every Japanese visitor's omiyage (souvenir) needs. I would have killed for a larger t-shirt selection or just something that screamed 'take me home' as a memento of my visit.

There just...wasn't a lot to choose from that really wowed me. But that's a small price to pay considering how TDR rocks in pretty much every other aspect.

No. You're right. The locals go nuts for the cute stuff and the tins of cookies and sweets. But I was so disappointed that there literally was almost nothing to buy. I set aside a sizeable budget for myself and friends (and even @Lee) and there just wasn't product. I didn't see one tee or baseball cap for an adult. Collectables were non-existent. Attraction-specific stuff was almost non-existent (oops, did see Splash Mountain tees of all things, but didn't want one). Pintrading doesn't exist, thankfully, at TDR, so they only have maybe 100 different pins. Most are very bland designs.

I so wanted something from TDS and Mysterious Island in particular, but it just wasn't to be.

I do know the park opened with area specific stuff in 2001 (much like DCA), but that it all sorta swung to a Tokyo version of cutsey crap.

The only disappointment from the place. Not enough to keep me from going back, though!

 

[flynnibus]

DAK is absolutely hurt by being tied to WDW as a whole. People have limited time and everyone wants to visit 'Disney World', which is the MK. But again, I sorta view MK as the Honey Boo Boo type experience.

I go there for the evenings. Fireworks are still one of the things I truly like at Disney compared to other places and I love the higher big bursts MK still does. Which is part of why I was so disappointed in the god awful holiday fireworks at DL. Like.. I wanted to spit at the castle they were so pathetic. Biggest letdown of the trip. Give me Remember or Magical over that turd.

 

[Lee]

I have no idea what -5 even feels like as I can't tell you when I last felt it.

Gonna be 16 degrees here overnight.
Good times!

On a semi-related note...I need a vacation. I'd even take a few days at an All-Star at this point. I'd suffer through Disney bus transportaion, ride SM 15 times, eat a Citrus Swirl, bow to the Orange Bird and even tear up during Wishes.
Hell, I'd even let them strap a wristband on me for a couple days.

Kinda sad, huh?

I've been more a student of the theme parks of late then a model customer. The appeal has been waning.

Welcome to the club...

 

[flynnibus]

Well, I am definitely a student of the park as well as a consumer. But if DLR doesn't do it for you and TDR (have you been or are you just talking in general?) doesn't, then I'd say you most certainly are over any affection for the parks. ... I know what that's like

I enjoyed myself - but it wasn't a premium experience to me. It was good, but not shockingly good.. not 'OMG when can I get back?!?!' type of stuff. It doesn't have that kind of pull over me. If asked which would I want to do.. visit DLR again or return to Hawaii.. I'd probably pick Hawaii. I didn't cost me $60/day to sit on the north shore and just soak it in And no, I haven't been to TDR but have studied it a good bit - enough to know what to expect.

But I still get great joy out of all international parks and absolutely DL. Now, I can get the joy out of sitting on a bench with an ice cream (notice I didn't say Dole Whip or Citrus Swirl!), but I absolutely like going on kewl rides and seeing top-notch shows and love fireworks etc ... If you don't, then I'd say you're wasting an awful lot of money that could take you elsewhere.

Which is why I don't do Disney 3-4 times a year like some do here. I take it in every other year or so - while other trips I do more frequently. I get to Disney more often frequently - but more usually by opportunity rather than scheduling around it. Unfortunately my kids' hobbies cost way more than Disney can extract from me.. so Disney plays second fiddle when it gets to my wallet