Spirited News and Observations and Opinions ...

[WDW1974]

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?

Not much. But the ride system will be cool and the whole experience will be unique in O-Town.

But, hey Drew, did ya hear WDW has a new Prez?

 

[Captain Chaos]

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.

I'm with you. Theme alone DAK is my favorite WDW park...

 

[WDW1974]

Gonna be 16 degrees here overnight.
Good times!

Hey, you have DD to snuggle with. Or Nigel ...
And I just had to push the AC down as it was getting warm in here, although it did drop to 69.3 outside the Spirit Cave!

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?

Hey, I've done nights at the All Stars and lived to tell the tale. ... But you sound REALLY desperate, like desperate enough to plant your Orange Bird in another fanboi's Sunshine Tree ... and I'm sure we'll get you a vacation one of these days.

Wait, it just dropped to 68.9 here!

 

[Lee]

Hey, you have DD to snuggle with. Or Nigel ...

Nigel? You mean Nevile. I don't know any Nigels, and certainly wouldn't be snuggling with one.

And I just had to push the AC down as it was getting warm in here, although it did drop to 69.3 outside the Spirit Cave!

Conversely, I just had to nudge the heat up a notch.
Perfect weather for lounging under a warm blanket, keeping up with MAGICAL conversations, and reading a book about a fascinating new religion. (I learned that I can solve all my problems if I can just shake loose some invisible dead aliens that are clinging to me! Sweet!)

 

[WDW1974]

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.

Well, I'd go back to Hawaii before DLR again too if it were a choice. I'd like to live there one day. ... And I have studied TDR since before it was built. I know folks who have worked on it and have friends who are there monthly. ... I still wasn't prepared for the awe factor of TDS or the perfect operation (literally) of every attraction ... the sheer amount of entertainment ... the tiny (even by Japan standards) portions at some TDR dining locales etc. Somethings you just have to experience.

Although I have a snobby friend who says that even TDS isn't TDS (meaning the praise it gets doesn't quite equal the experience, he's wrong!)

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

Well, I do Disney parks multiple times a year on both coasts and I think I've hit one or two international resorts or DCL every year since 2005. But I also travel to plenty of non-Disney, non-theme park locales as well. And I almost never pay to get into DLR, which helps.

 

[Next Big Thing]

The fact is simply from the people who have shared their opinions about the park over the years. Do you deny it is a park that you see people simply not appreciate? Do you deny there are people who write it off as simply like 'a zoo'? It has nothing to do with it being 'in the best shape' etc. It's the best park of it's type in the world - that doesn't mean it's going to appeal to everyone. A simple reality that has played out for the last decade plus.

It's amazing how so many people have been quick to jump on my posts as attacking DAK instead of actually looking at what was said. It's as if.. everyone has completely forgotten the last nearly 15 years of Disney community and somehow everyone magically has lined up to adore DAK unilaterally.. with no dissent at all.

That's all well and good. I'm not a DAK fanboi in any way. But none of what you said is in anyway a "fact", it is a gathering of opinions. I realize it needs more rides. I realize it needs a nighttime show. But you didn't respond or dispute anything in my original post. DAK is a very nice park... it just needs to be fleshed out.

 

[WDW1974]

Oh, one newsey note that hasn't been mentioned here yet, but CM blockouts on MK were lifted last week. They were supposed to last into February (late, I believe) to keep Cast from walking in family and friends during New Fantasyland's first few months of operation.

But, apparently, the crowds aren't that bad (or expected to be) so they lifted them.

So anyone looking to get in for free, now's the time to hit up your CM pals.

 

[WDW1974]

Nigel? You mean Nevile. I don't know any Nigels, and certainly wouldn't be snuggling with one.

The dude is your furry pal. I didn't catch his name at the leather bar. I'm so so sorry!

Conversely, I just had to nudge the heat up a notch.
Perfect weather for lounging under a warm blanket, keeping up with MAGICAL conversations, and reading a book about a fascinating new religion. (I learned that I can solve all my problems if I can just shake loose some invisible dead aliens that are clinging to me! Sweet!)

I am sorry about your weather woes. But from where I sit, I'd like some cold weather.

(and I'd get those dead aliens taken off by a professional, even Dick Cheney is worried about your health!)

 

[Absimilliard]

When I was last in Tokyo 3 years ago, I dropped a lot of money at the Tower of Terror shop. Got collectibles, a ball cap, and even a T shirt that fit me and all my 6'3, 250 lbs frame. Also got an awesome zipped up hoodie. I wore it in Orlando the following winter and kept asking by guests where I had purchased it? The quality and design was so much better than the WDW TOT merchandise. Got a Lost River Delta cap and camera bag. The awesome polo shirt didn't fit me sadly.

The only piece Mysterious Island merchandise I found was the collectible Tommy die cast ride car. Not anywhere near the ride strangely, but at the TDL toy shop on World Bazaar.

I was reading online a few days ago that the merchandise turnover at Tokyo Disney was impressive. Seems like they make only small patches of items, sell them and then move to something else.

Hong Kong Disneyland was also sad ride merchandise wise too, but they improved a lot on that thankfully with the opening of Toy Story Land and Grizzly Gulch.

 

[tomman710]

That is the crux of that comparison and where it goes bad. The more you spend (whether casinos or airlines or hotels) generally the more perks you get. Yes, actual FREE stuff or services not given to others etc.

That doesn't look at all like what Disney is going to be doing with MyMagic+. It's simply taking the concept, gutting the loyalty aspect (the glue that holds it all together and still finds me flying United when they destroyed MY airline, Continental) and thinking the remainder is all that matters.

When I pay more to fly 'my airline', I do so expecting to often be seated in First Class for FREE. I do so expecting to not have to be nickel and dimed over luggage. I do so expecting that I can visit my airline's club for free Internet, comfy seating and the ability to chug back 2-3 free Bloody Marys before my flight.

Going to the casino loyalty model, when you go into a casino while it's likely you'll leave with less money than when you entered, it's not a guarantee. You can win. ... At a theme park, you always spend what you intended (and usually ... and then some more). The model won't work despite what the highly paid consultants and folks from Cisco/Accenture have promised.

But I really want to get back to tracking bracelets ... and whoever thought this was a good idea (Nick Franklin ... cough ... cough ... Jay Rasulo ... choke). Are we all going to be prisoners of the Mouse?

And at what age is it acceptable to track? The government has said 'under 13, don't even think about it' ... yet, that is exactly where Disney's target is.

Yes my beloved Continental got ripped from me (and my home city, stupid Smisek) but like you I'm locked into platinum status and more mileage than I know what to do with ... fortunately I still get rewarded for my loyalty, myself and travel party about 95% get free upgrades to first class. So my point is ... I don't see Disney rewarding guests like that at all, they never have seemed to care about loyal park goers before and NextGen seems squarely aimed at new guests/first timers etc ... Could they integrate a loyalty program into it? Yes but my faith in Disney is somewhere between the Texans Super Bowl chances and a Carrot Top movie winning an Oscar ... I imagine their loyalty program would consist of, "hey you've stayed at deluxe resorts two years in a row, here's a free fast pass to the seas!"

 

[flynnibus]

But none of what you said is in anyway a "fact", it is a gathering of opinions

The opinions are the facts in discussion FFS. The 'facts' are out there for you to go and read for the last 10+ years. I'm not your gopher - if you don't deny the dissenting opinions of the park exist.. end of story. That's all I was saying.

But you didn't respond or dispute anything in my original post

Because you challenged my post with stuff that had nothing to do with the point. I'm not going to bother with stuff that is irrelevant to the conversation.

 

[flynnibus]

I was reading online a few days ago that the merchandise turnover at Tokyo Disney was impressive. Seems like they make only small patches of items, sell them and then move to something else.

I think it has to do with their big push for seasonal merch. Fans love to gush over how they have 'new stuff' for every seasonal promotion and new moon it seems. To do that, they must do smaller batches they turn over quickly.

 

[WDW1974]

When I was last in Tokyo 3 years ago, I dropped a lot of money at the Tower of Terror shop. Got collectibles, a ball cap a T shirt that fit me and all my 6'3, 250 lbs frame. Even got an awesome zipped up hoodie. I wore it in Orlando the following winter and kept asking by guests where I had purchased it? The quality and design was so much better than the WDW TOT merchandise. Got a Lost River Delta cap and camera bag. The awesome polo shirt didn't fit me sadly.

The Tower shop was about the only shop I didn't get to really check out. So, it may have still had some of those items ... The Lost River Delta shop (near where the Latin music show, that I also missed, plays) did have some nice merchandise from South and Central America, but nothing I saw that was themed. It also had some Indy merchandise, but stuff like DVDs and general items. Nothing specific to TDS.

The only piece Mysterious Island merchandise I found was the collectible Tommy die cast ride car. Not anywhere near the ride strangely, but at the TDL toy shop on World Bazaar.

I found nothing. I did get die cast models of the TDR monorail and cruiser in Christmas wrapping. They were available most places.

I was reading online a few days ago that the merchandise turnover at Tokyo Disney was impressive. Seems like they make only small patches of items, sell them and then move to something else.

Yes. That is indeed the case. They constantly update product lines and buy a certain amount and when it is gone, it is gone. I actually like that rather than seeing WDW 2007 tees on sale at outlet stores in CA. Seriously, give them to a charity or the homeless. Who would buy that? ... Sorta like seeing the local Disney outlet store in my area sell DVC exclusive Vinylmation and Disney Dream inaugural season cruise merchandise. ... Throw the stuff out, give it to CMs etc

Hong Kong Disneyland was also sad ride merchandise wise too, but they improved a lot on that thankfully with the opening of Toy Story Land and Grizzly Gulch.

Yep. But at least HKDL (well from 2008 when I started going) always has had basics like tees, polos, caps etc.

 

[WDW1974]

Yes my beloved Continental got ripped from me (and my home city, stupid Smisek) but like you I'm locked into platinum status and more mileage than I know what to do with ... fortunately I still get rewarded for my loyalty, myself and travel party about 95% get free upgrades to first class.

He has absolutely destroyed that airline. And since they still aren't integrated fully, you have no idea if you're flying on Continental 'metal' or a UAL 757 that was delivered 26 years ago and looks like it hasn't been cleaned in the last 21. ... And I'm not Platinum and likely never will be as I don't fly THAT much and Silver and Gold don't mean much at all.

I recall starting at Silver with them around Y2K and I was in First Class roughly 8 or 9 out of every 10 flights. And in those days, they were flying 777s from Houston to LAX (replaced by 767s and then 757s), which I loved.

The airline is very soon going to lose me as it is a mess and Delta really seems better in the trips I've taken on them (in coach and with no status).

So my point is ... I don't see Disney rewarding guests like that at all, they never have seemed to care about loyal park goers before and NextGen seems squarely aimed at new guests/first timers etc ... Could they integrate a loyalty program into it? Yes but my faith in Disney is somewhere between the Texans Super Bowl chances and a Carrot Top movie winning an Oscar ... I imagine their loyalty program would consist of, "hey you've stayed at deluxe resorts two years in a row, here's a free fast pass to the seas!"

I have raised that concern with Disney execs myself. I have had an AP since 1982-83 when they first sold them. If they start a loyalty program tomorrow I'd expect to be top tier based on my loyalty and what I have spent over the decades and not based on my spending going forward.

 

[flynnibus]

He has absolutely destroyed that airline. And since they still aren't integrated fully, you have no idea if you're flying on Continental 'metal' or a UAL 757 that was delivered 26 years ago and looks like it hasn't been cleaned in the last 21. ... And I'm not Platinum and likely never will be as I don't fly THAT much and Silver and Gold don't mean much at all.

Good news - they are overhauling the 757s now too.. even have direcTV in them.. but it's a paid upgrade to use. Idiots.. It's just such a sad state for Domestic airlines. On my last trip.. I asked for a pillow to help support my back.. 'oh we don't have those anymore..' 'how about a blanket?' 'nope.. sorry'

 

[Next Big Thing]

The opinions are the facts in discussion FFS. The 'facts' are out there for you to go and read for the last 10+ years. I'm not your gopher - if you don't deny the dissenting opinions of the park exist.. end of story. That's all I was saying.

I don't think you are listening to me at all. The park is in very, very nice shape. It is just under developed. It has stuck very close to it's original theme, unlike Epcot and MGM. With a little expansion and an addition of a nighttime show, it could eventually become the best park in WDW.

Because you challenged my post with stuff that had nothing to do with the point. I'm not going to bother with stuff that is irrelevant to the conversation.

No, it had everything to do with it. You said: "DAK alienates a lot of people. It's subject matter, it's focus, it's attraction roster, it's identity" ... My response gave examples to argue against your points. You seem to have something against Animal Kingdom. Again, i'm not a super fan of the park, but i'm also not blind and I can see the park for what it is, and that is not only a place to take a more relaxing day of a WDW vacation and see some of the best entertainment across WDW property, but a park with vast potential.

 

[JenniferS]

All caught up - again. Wasted too much time on Saturday watching the Patty Melt-down. Only once did I audibly gasp. You know when.
I keep hopping from one side of the fence to the other, based on who has recently posted the most persuasive argument.
Today (check in with me again tomorrow), I think that the Next Gen stuff will enhance MY holiday. I am an uber-planner, and pretty much have each day planned into 3 separate chunks: opening to 2:00; afternoon to dinner; and then evening to close, EMH, etc. I think Fastpass+ will work for us. I have never pulled more than 4 FP's in a single day before, and at least 3 (maybe 4) sets went to waste on our last trip, as we were no longer in the right part of the park when they ripened. Planned FP will eliminate the FP runner (usually me, yeah sure, make the old lady run) at Epcot and DHS; will guarantee that we get to ride our must-do attractions, and will generally dovetail nicely with how I like to plan our trip.
As I mentioned very early in this thread, I take my phone off roaming while in the US, so a text sent at 9:30 p.m. regarding 2 for 1 churros won't be received until I am back on Canadian soil. If I am on the left side of MK, I'm getting a Dole Whip. I don't need a reminder that I love them.
However, the opportunity to schedule fireworks viewing, or parade viewing, without having to stake out my real estate hours in advance would be a bonus.
We stay on site - usually at POP, and only upgrade to POR if the budget for that particular trip permits. Again, I only have so much money to spend, and numerous texts, offers and enticements to spend more will fall on deaf ears, in my case.
So, long story short, the NG plusses work for me (I think) and the minuses won't impact me (I hope). Time will tell.

 

[WDW1974]

Good news - they are overhauling the 757s now too.. even have direcTV in them.. but it's a paid upgrade to use. Idiots.. It's just such a sad state for Domestic airlines. On my last trip.. I asked for a pillow to help support my back.. 'oh we don't have those anymore..' 'how about a blanket?' 'nope.. sorry'

People in the USA who just fly domestically and in coach have no idea how pleasant flying can be ... now, we just need to get those Dreamliners back in the air (the only UAL plane I have any interest in flying right now!)

 

[PhotoDave219]

I don't think you are listening to me at all. The park is in very, very nice shape. It is just under developed. It has stuck very close to it's original theme, unlike Epcot and MGM. With a little expansion and an addition of a nighttime show, it could eventually become the best park in WDW.


No, it had everything to do with it. You said: "DAK alienates a lot of people. It's subject matter, it's focus, it's attraction roster, it's identity" ... My response gave examples to argue against your points. You seem to have something against Animal Kingdom. Again, i'm not a super fan of the park, but i'm also not blind and I can see the park for what it is, and that is not only a place to take a more relaxing day of a WDW vacation and see some of the best entertainment across WDW property, but a park with vast potential.

Agreed. I was touring with a friend and their 5 year old on Sunday and there's not much for a 5-year old to do there beyond animals. There's a distinct lack of kid-friendly rides in that park as well as studios.

 

[PhotoDave219]

All caught up - again. Wasted too much time on Saturday watching the Patty Melt-down. Only once did I audibly gasp. You know when.
I keep hopping from one side of the fence to the other, based on who has recently posted the most persuasive argument.

Dear sweet jesus, I will never defend anyone I dont personally know again online after that fiasco.