Spirited News and Observations and Opinions ...

[WDW1974]

No time to post this afternoon, but wanted to drop a few links worth reading. here's one:
http://www.craveonline.com/film/reviews/203497-sundance-2013-review-escape-from-tomorrow

 

[WDW1974]

Here's the New Yorker blog (sloppy mistakes included by the writer) that I quoted yesterday as to why Disney may not have a legal leg to stand on:

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blo...row-disney-world-and-the-law-of-fair-use.html

 

[WDW1974]

http://www.latimes.com/entertainmen...ow-legal-expert-case-20130122,0,2208095.story

 

[WDW1974]

Finally, some GREAT news (and expected) from the Mouse:

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/disneys-aladdin-sweep-broadway-18288926

 

[WDW1974]

And for fanbois who aren't afraid of alcohol, good news about one of their tasty treats:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-...-garden-food-preview-20130123,0,4928776.story

I'll see you all a little later ...

 

[flynnibus]

No time to post this afternoon, but wanted to drop a few links worth reading. here's one:
http://www.craveonline.com/film/reviews/203497-sundance-2013-review-escape-from-tomorrow

already being discussed (the second time..) here - http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/escape-from-tomorrow-guerilla-film-shot-inside-wdw.858808/

 

[alphac2005]

I was there a few weeks ago and had an unusually high mix of CM who weren't the usual friendly and very pleasant crowd. Don't get me wrong they weren't rude or anything but they didn't seem like they did in past trips, where virtually all CM went above and beyond.

We were at Downtown Disney during our trip to Orlando last week and I found the cast members to have the same rather lousy attitude around there as well. Two ladies acted like they were doing me a favor to ring up the sale and another guy didn't say a word.

 

[Lee]

Here's the New Yorker blog (sloppy mistakes included by the writer) that I quoted yesterday as to why Disney may not have a legal leg to stand on:

Apart from the legal points about that film, I think the more pertinent discussion would be about how the whole thing will/won't effect Disney's attitude about people using their IP for profit.
YouTube users who profit, Lange and others could find themselves in an uncomfortable position if the mouse (rightly, in my opinion) cracks down.

Maybe that would be a question to put to George...

 

[Bolna]

It is a result of Disney constantly looking to lower labor costs. Bottom line is that CP's and International CP's work cheaper than full time cast members. And many of them aren't as concerned about the pay, as they go to WDW to build their resumes, or get work experience or spend a few semesters in the Florida sunshine before heading out of town (among other lecherous pursuits).

Recruits from Central America, South America, the Caribbean, and Asia are much cheaper as well, and there is an enormous supply of folks in those locales who will gladly accept the lower wages for the opportunity to come to the US on a work visa.

There is actually a very in depth article about how the whole thing works to be found here.

 

[Sneezy62]

There is actually a very in depth article about how the whole thing works to be found here.

Disney has it's own visa. Who knew?

 

[Bolna]

Disney has it's own visa. Who knew?

It is actually quite an interesting tale about how good Disney is at lobbying for the legislation it wants. And I guess that brings us back to COPPA...

To anyone interested in these aspects of WDW I would also recommend "Married to the Mouse - Walt Disney World and Orlando" by Richard E. Foglesong.

 

[nytimez]

Apart from the legal points about that film, I think the more pertinent discussion would be about how the whole thing will/won't effect Disney's attitude about people using their IP for profit.
YouTube users who profit, Lange and others could find themselves in an uncomfortable position if the mouse (rightly, in my opinion) cracks down.

Maybe that would be a question to put to George...

I'll preface this by saying I'm not an attorney nor pretending to be one on the Internet. But my understanding is that one of the keys to these things legally is that you can't selectively enforce it.

In other words, the more Disney continues to let its "friends" exploit the IPs for fun and profit - insert some names here - the more difficulty they have going after everyone else, legally speaking.

All that by way of saying, it would certainly force the company to announce publicly who is working for them or under contract with them in some way and who is not - and maybe they are deliberately avoiding that.

 

[WDW1974]

CM's I talked to pretty much knew that was a joke, and everyone expected the blackouts to be lifted after the New Year, which they were.

You have to like the misplaced arrogance.

The CM blockouts in Anaheim for last summer didn't last the whole summer as planned, to think they'd need them at MK ... yeah, sure. People just had to ride the plastic Mermaid ride or couldn't contain their excitement over Belle's Storybook Adventures.

 

[WDW1974]

Oh, just a quick shoutout to my old pal Merf in the Twitverse.

Apparently, he has been dealing with folks on the DISBOARDS who believe that Disney the corporation LOVES THEM ... and that all the CMs who fake sincerity with them daily really care.

Yes, Merf, mental illness and the Disney fan community runs deep ... but what gets missed constantly is the fact Disney is quite aware of the nuts who love their product and uses their illness/addiction to further raise prices and lower quality. Welcome home!!! Have a MAGICal night!!!

 

[WDW1974]

You must not be in a Disney show building. It was in the 60s today at Epcot and I swear they were trying to sweat us out of Soarin', Maelstrom and Spaceship Earth

Ah, something Disney has been doing off and on for the last decade in O-Town. Turning off AC at night and turning it up during the day ... they're tourists and it's Florida, they think it's supposed to be hot in show buildings (BTW, this is the exact type of smarmy nickel and diming move that Disney has become known for and that UNI would never think of doing!)

 

[WDW1974]

I have nothing to hide.

That's not what your wife sez.

 

[WDW1974]

Hope they're not expecting to see much beyond pretty posts with Mickey heads sitting there unused or covered up with tons of construction walls blocking half the turnstiles, because that's what it has been like as a guest lately! The POS terminals are there, but it still sounds like they're a mini nightmare and haven't decided how to handle purchases for sure. The new entrances are functional, but hasn't saved labor, and probably actually increased labor costs (Guest Relations folks get paid a little bit more than the average turnstiles person), not to mention the stellar physical barriers of...rope! Yes, MAGICal rope is their new secure lock for the new entry system!

All I can say is I don't think next week will be a particularly happy one for Nick Franklin, Jim MacPhee, George Kalogridis or Meg Crofton. ... From just a technology PoV, this system is failing with alarming regularity.

 

[WDW1974]

Personal post to myself: Leslie in the Hall of Fame ... seriously!!!!?! !??!

OK, back to whatever was being discussed ...

 

[WDW1974]

I swear to god, I hope they have the same guests in Yachtsman that I had to eat around tonight.

has become with Signature Dining?

They will not be seated anywhere near regular guests if they were to dine there.

As to your experience, what happened? And, more importantly, you seem like a pretty smart dude, Dave, so why are you even bothering with Disney locales?

 

[WDW1974]

55 is near freezing for me. Anytime it gets blow 50, I've got my sweatshirt, long socks and three blankets ready.

Yep.

That's an LA gal ... (or boy for that matter!)

It just dropped below 70 again outside the Spirit Cave. My toes are cold.