Spirited News & Observations II -- NGE/Baxter

[ParentsOf4]

This is an excellent point. The last time we've been "wowed" by Disney in Florida is probably Illuminations. Prior to that you've gotta look to the 90s at Splash, Tower and Kilimanjaro Safaris.

I really think Expedition Everest (2006) was extremely well executed, WDW's most recent "great" attraction. However, Disco Yeti now exemplifies what's wrong at WDW. Show has taken a backstage to numbers.

 

[RSoxNo1]

I really think Expedition Everest (2006) was extremely well executed, WDW's most recent "great" attraction. However, Disco Yeti now exemplifies what's wrong at WDW. Show has taken a backstage to numbers.

Everest would qualify if everything was working.

 

[SirOinksALot]

You're going to have to explain to me how running semis through the theme park during the normal work day is somehow more expensive than running them third shift.

*sigh*

Those two are separate things.

1) The extra expense is from things unrelated to driving trucks through the park. Overtime, sourcing, etc. Had they had it together and started in February '12, it would have cost less to build. Period. That isn't my opinion, that's reality.

2) Both SDMT and Transformers are construction sites that are 98-100% surrounded by the park. Everything on a construction site operates on a very set timeline with deliveries, materials, when things are done, bottlenecks, etc. When something has to get to the Be Our Guest side of SDMT, it's a production getting it over there during operating hours because they don't just drive it where all the people are, which is a bottleneck. Universal, as I'm sure you saw in photos, just drove semis right through the Guest areas, eliminating that bottleneck. If Disney did that, people would be tearing them to bits, but it's Universal so the standard is much, much lower.


I'm growing very tired of holding your hand through this discussion. Either you're trying to muddy my original point or you're just jumping all over the place.

 

[luv]

I really think Expedition Everest (2006) was extremely well executed, WDW's most recent "great" attraction. However, Disco Yeti now exemplifies what's wrong at WDW. Show has taken a backstage to numbers.

I so agree about EE. That whole area is so well done. And all of it builds to the moment the Yeti takes a swipe at you. But now the Yeti doesn't work, so it's all rather anti-climatic.

I still like the area and the ride a lot! But it isn't what it should be.

 

[Tim_4]

After hearing so much about how it has taken forever to finish the FLE because of the attention to detail, theming and high-quality, innovative ride experience...this better be the best darn kiddie coaster we could ever have imagined.

I don't think anyone has said that. What we've been saying is that New Fantasyland has been slow on purpose because there's no need to rush. "Luv wants you to rush" isn't a reason to rush. Again, there's no need for a major attendance push at this point. Universal has a lot more excess capacity than Disney does. Disney's focus is on upselling, guest spending, pricing, packages, and room nights. Universal's focus is gate clicks. Disney has the gate clicks. Disney will take 10% growth in guest spend over 10% attendance growth at this point. Universal isn't there yet.

 

[BryceM]

I still think Everest is amazing, even without the working Yeti. Call me crazy...

And with HRRR, I believe it looks awesome at night. So much fun to see the flashing LCD cars whizzing around. Even more fun to ride it at night. I still do agree that it's not Universal's most attractive ride. It's fun, but if a different manufacturer was picked, I think it could have been a whole lot better.

But I am also glad B&M wasn't picked to build HRRR, since the resort already has two (technically three) B&Ms.

 

[BryceM]

but it's Universal so the standard is much, much lower.

Oh please.

 

[SirOinksALot]

Tim_4... it's a lost cause. These folks don't buy reason.

I've been around this site since the Mickey flash intro days so I have a fairly long perspective... I'm thankful that the Internet folk don't actually run theme parks because they'd run it - be it Disney, Universal, Sea World, definitely Lego Land - into a tree within about two months and we'd be left with nothing.

 

[Tim_4]

I'm growing very tired of holding your hand through this discussion. Either you're trying to muddy my original point or you're just jumping all over the place.

I like you, Oinks. Usually people just "like" my comments in these conversations but don't actually post anything so I end up looking like the lone crazy fighting the battle alone.

I so agree about EE. That whole area is so well done. And all of it builds to the moment the Yeti takes a swipe at you. But now the Yeti doesn't work, so it's all rather anti-climatic.

I still like the area and the ride a lot! But it isn't what it should be.

Agree 100% and very well stated. See how much easier it is to get your point across when you say "It isn't what it should be" rather than "Avatar is stupid and unnecessary"? The former is reasonable disagreement. The latter comes across as petty and childish.

 

[SirOinksALot]

Oh please.

Hulk is the most poorly maintained B&M coaster I've ever ridden.
I get to stand in line there and watch people with more money skip the lines.
Citywalk turns into a thug haven at night.

Care to justify any of these, or just taking the 'oh please' out?

Edit to add: I can't take a drink in with me? Really?
Edit2: World's only non-dueling dueling coaster.

 

[ParentsOf4]

Universal, as I'm sure you saw in photos, just drove semis right through the Guest areas, eliminating that bottleneck.

As Uni AP holders (and DVC members) my family rather enjoyed watching them halt foot traffic for the semis. It added to the excitement, the sense of urgency. My teenage son's reaction was "Wow, they are building that fast." We'll be there in a few weeks. I'll be sure to post my family's reaction to Transformers.

 

[Tim_4]

Citywalk turns into a thug haven at night.

Quoted for absolute truth. It's all wannabe gangsters and... what's a polite way to say "skanky teenagers"?

If I ever get sad that Pleasure Island closed, all I need to do is spend five seconds at CityWalk and I'm cured.

 

[BryceM]

Hulk is the most poorly maintained B&M coaster I've ever ridden.
I get to stand in line there and watch people with more money skip the lines.
Citywalk turns into a thug haven at night.

Care to justify any of these, or just taking the 'oh please' out?

Edit to add: I can't take a drink in with me? Really?

Would you care for me to start pointing out petty flaws about Disney and then state that they have low standards in general? No? Okay.

Edit to Add: World Showcase drunks.
Edit2: Did I just Space Mountain or did I just turn off the lights and jump into the world's largest blender? Ow.

 

[BryceM]

Edit2: World's only non-dueling dueling coaster.

While it is sad that Dragon Challenge doesn't duel anymore, it was probably the right thing to do to avoid serious lawsuit. Once one person starts throwing things, everyone does. All it takes is one person to ruin the fun for everyone.

I'm sure Disney would've done the same thing.

 

[Tim_4]

While it is sad that Dragon Challenge doesn't duel anymore, it was probably the right thing to do to avoid serious lawsuit. Once one person starts throwing things, everyone does. All it takes is one person to ruin the fun for everyone.

I'm sure Disney would've done the same thing.

But if Disney had done it, y'all would be in an uproar. Uni gets excuses.

 

[luv]

Agree 100% and very well stated. See how much easier it is to get your point across when you say "It isn't what it should be" rather than "Avatar is stupid and unnecessary"? The former is reasonable disagreement. The latter comes across as petty and childish.

Avatar is unnecessary and spending all that money for it was completely stupid. Whoever made that decision was either a fool or getting a huge kickback, which is not foolish, but does the park no good.

 

[BryceM]

But if Disney had done it, y'all would be in an uproar. Uni gets excuses.

I'm still in an "uproar". It defeats the point of the ride. It's sad. I miss Dueling Dragons.

But I can still see why they had to do it.

 

[Tim_4]

Avatar is unnecessary and spending all that money for it was completely stupid.

I'm curious what you think they spent.

 

[luv]

But if Disney had done it, y'all would be in an uproar. Uni gets excuses.

Do you get paid by Disney to do this?

You tell outright lies about Uni, never have good things to say about them (though you must go there often enough to have so much experience with those parks) and never have anything bad to say about Disney...so I wonder.

Is there some financial relationship?

 

[SirOinksALot]

I like you, Oinks. Usually people just "like" my comments in these conversations but don't actually post anything so I end up looking like the lone crazy fighting the battle alone.

No you're not crazy. People just don't get how theme parks operate beyond attractions. Harry Potter was actually hot back in 2011. Harry Potter is Internet hot now. Today, mid-afternoon, Forbidden Journey had a shorter wait than Hulk, Spiderman, Doom, Dudley Do Right, and Non-Dueling Dragons, and Poseidon (according to the board, I thought it was a timed show thing). Merch sales have fallen off much faster than projected. You know you've got problems when your gold standard is actually just a polished bronze standard and you're blowing your money on more of the same.

When there's a bus that goes straight from MCO to MK and your vacation starts 20 minutes after you get off a plane... and there's a 30 minute wait for tickets at IoA at 1pm on a Sunday because there are only four windows open, after you waited for your luggage and rental car and hotel room.... those wristbands are going to make much, much more sense to people.