Spirited News, Observations & Thoughts IV

[GoofGoof]

SHOCKING NEWS TODAY!

Disney has soiled the Star Wars brand by allowing SLOT MACHINES based on Star Wars! That's right.. you heard it here first... Lucasfilm licensed Star Wars to IGT in 2012.. and Disney hasn't stopped it!

Can you believe LucasFilm soiled the Star Wars brand by making a child's toy brand into GAMBLING devices?

I have seen those in a casino but I refuse to play them. Not because I care about the Disney brand, but because they are the machines with so many different digital pay lines they just confuse me. Give me some good old fashion reels and a handle to pull. Usually by the time I have stumbled over to a slot machine I can't see straight after having spent too many hours at a blackjack or craps table graciously partaking in my free drinks (forget about DVC those free drinks are a real scam, there is nothing free about them - trust me, I know).

 

[ThemeParkJunkee]

I have seen those in a casino but I refuse to play them. Not because I care about the Disney brand, but because they are the machines with so many different digital pay lines they just confuse me. Give me some good old fashion reels and a handle to pull. Usually by the time I have stumbled over to a slot machine I can't see straight after having spent too many hours at a blackjack or craps table graciously partaking in my free drinks (forget about DVC those free drinks are a real scam, there is nothing free about them - trust me, I know).

I have to agree completely. I very infrequently go to a casino with friends who enjoy that sort of thing. I can play for hours on $20 if I'm selective. However, I cannot understand how a random zig-zag can pay out where a straight line does not! Give me poker or slots with cherries and 7s or something...please?

 

[lazyboy97o]

The thing that makes me wonder though is that some of the people who post on this thread have nearly no or very few posts on other threads. And as soon as @WDW1974 posts something they come in to say that he is very wrong. There is disagreement and then there is posters whose only (or main) purpose on this site appears to be to jump on the threads started by @WDW1974. I think that's why he might come to the conclusion that there is another motivation for these posters than just an interest in discussion.

The accusations get tossed out at plenty of people who are and have been active on the rest of the forums or others. It has become more excuse than substance.

 

[raymusiccity]

Seems like a silly argument to be 'offended' by a Star Wars slot machine.

You can't get much more of a squeaky clean image than 'Pat, Vanna' and the Wheel of Fortune franchise.

I've seen the Wheel of Fortune slots at the airport in Vegas, but I've never heard anyone being offended by them!

 

[WDW1974]

So, entertaining few days in the lifestyler ranks as some and moan over DPB meets-greets-and-talkaboutonlineSpirits ...apparently, they went to a random selection process ... Still, it's impossible to take them seriously when I look at the field and can pick out a few dozen names I recognize (and I do NOT know most of the 'personalities' in that subculture) and many like our pals @WDWFigment and @lentesta are not to my knowledge local to Central Florida. In other words, random my .

Again, Disney can claim whatever it likes but these events are not for fans. They are for bloggers and lifestylers that the company wants to buy off as cheaply as possible.

 

[WDW1974]

Not sure what your point is? Unless I misread some posts, the discussion was why can Disney get out of gambling contracts and not the contract with Uni. The article I quoted shows that at least one of the gambling contracts was not pre-existing so Disney (via Marvel) chose to get into to the contract.

Many contracts in Marvel's case are recent. Very.

Lucasfilm's may or may not be. I haven't looked into it.

 

[1023]

Seems like a silly argument to be 'offended' by a Star Wars slot machine.

You can't get much more of a squeaky clean image than 'Pat, Vanna' and the Wheel of Fortune franchise.

I've seen the Wheel of Fortune slots at the airport in Vegas, but I've never heard anyone being offended by them!

You WIN the funniest post of the night....

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20564926,00.html

They fit right into the Vegas Casino life...

*1023*

 

[WDW1974]

I have a hard time believing that Disney allows any acquired entity to act fully independently from the Mouse brand.

They do not.

I have seen and heard about changes made from Emeryville to Bristol when Disney became the parent.

Marvel isn't independent in any real sense.

 

[WDW1974]

What message did you get when Monopoly was the top slot machine? (BTW there are 40+ versions of Monopoly slot machines now)
Or how about many other board games aimed at children?
Clue?
Yatzee?

They all have slots games. Has the image of these brands been tarnished?

Or how about other properties like..
WIlly Wonka and the Chocolate Factory? (based on the Gene Wilde film)
Lookout.. Superman (based on the movies) and the DC Comic version are in slots..
The Wizard of Oz?
Goldilocks and the 3 bears?
Star Trek?

All have slots released in the last 2 years.

Can you name any of the above properties as being tarnished or stained in the public's eye because of their use of the IP in gaming?

Simple question for you : do you think TWDC wants to publicly be associated with gambling? Yes or no, leave the BS on the dance floor.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Simple question for you : do you think TWDC wants to publicly be associated with gambling? Yes or no, leave the BS on the dance floor.

Does The Walt Disney Company want to be publicly associated with MAX Comics?

 

[WDW1974]

I think all I'm trying to figure out here is how exactly putting Marvel characters on slot machines is in any way equivalent to pushing gambling on children?

How exactly are these children in a place where they can even see the slot machines?

Honest question.

Sidenote: Any casino I've ever been to also has Wizard of Oz, Batman, and Star Wars slots... should we not be mad about these properties "pushing" gambling on children? Why only hold Disney to this strange standard?

Sometimes I really think that there is a lot of grasping at straws to find things to pick at the Mouse over. All it really seems to do is drown out the bigger (more important) picture of things that are actually flawed in the company.

Honest answers ... you either get it or you don't. I frankly am surprised by how many people just don't or don't care. I shouldn't be. We live in a nation of largely apathetic people who aren't known on the world stage for our deep thinking.

This is a company that has built a legacy and, more important to the business folks here, a BRAND based on quality family entertainment. Where do you believe gambling fits in? No dancing. How is gambling part of any of Disney's core competencies?

Having slot machines or lottery tickets (all that children can see, some they can buy as others have pointed out here) with Disney IP is a problem. Even if you or the collective YOU do not see that.

The only standard I hold Disney to is its own. Period.

They are aggressively anti-gambling and I support that. If they have changed stances, then they should put out press releases and tout it thru social media. They aren't. Why do you think that is?

Sometimes, I think I could hit some folks over the head with a hammer and they'd still deny that the hammer actually existed.

 

[WDW1974]

Why is it that any time somebody holds a different belief or a different opinion than you do, they're suddenly just trying to discredit you and your information or disrail your threads? I honestly mean no disrespect by this question, but I feel that it hurts your case when you can't seem to have a civil discussion involving various beliefs and views.

I know you already know this, but (obviously) not everybody is always going to agree with you. If everybody held the same opinion or belief as you did on every subject that is discussed, this would be a pretty sad shell of a "discussion" board.

All you're doing by saying that anybody who disagrees with you is just trying to "discredit" you is doing the exact same thing that you claim they are doing. You're trying to discount THEIR opinion and essentially discredit any points that they have tried to make in contrast to yours in what basically boils down to an attempt to discredit them so that your post stands out as the only possible truth.

What exactly does anybody stand to gain from discrediting you, on that note? This is a message board that caters to a very specific niche. If I were to somehow prove you wrong about something, it really wouldn't affect anything whatsoever in my life or in the world as a whole.

At the end of the day, we're on a Walt Disney World discussion board talking about a theme park. It's far beyond time for everybody to just lighten up a bit.

I honestly hope you don't take this as a "personal attack", because it really isn't.

There are folks here who have made putting out personal information about me an important part of their lives, some of those folks are among the most vocal critics of anything I say ... literally anything. They follow me around and always have time to respond as soon as I hit send on a post. In some cases it is borderline stalking and it does make me question motives of some other folks that are, to be fair, probably just fans who may disagree. But when you experience the crap I have over the years on numerous Disney sites, then you might have the perspective to understand where I am coming from.

Just because @wdwmagic and his great team of mods wind up cleaning this excrement up, often before more than a couple of folks see it, doesn't mean it isn't here.

Oh, and just an FYI but folks including WDW's Prez, other Disney execs and Imagineers and media members read this forum (and my posts) on any given day. So, believe it or not, stuff posted here absolutely can make a difference.

 

[PalisadesPkteer]

There are folks here who have made putting out personal information about me an important part of their lives, some of those folks are among the most vocal critics of anything I say ... literally anything.

Just because @wdwmagic and his great team of mods wind up cleaning this excrement up, doesn't mean it isn't here.

Oh, and just an FYI but folks including WDW's Prez, other Disney execs and Imagineers and media members read this forum (and my posts) on any given day. So, believe it or not, stuff posted here absolutely can make a difference.

OK, if that is the case, BRING BACK THE LIGHTS OF WINTER!!! Or at least put up a new and improved version.

 

[WDW1974]

It's actually really weird. People have followed him over other boards. People in this forum have admitted they were going to follow him around and argue just to bring "balance" to the board. That's where all the "Disney bashing" comments come from. Some want attention. There was a guy a couple weeks ago who posted all of 74's personal info: email, phone number. So yeah he does have stalkers here. And they fill up every great thread with garbage when they see his name posted. I have no clue what they get out of it.

Thanks.

Sincerely. Thanks!

 

[WDW1974]

It seems that once again we've lost the point that '74 was making. It has nothing to do with how any of us or anyone else for that matter feels about gambling, Marvel, Dole Whips or Pixie dust. It's the fact that of all that Disney has done to keep gambling out of the state of Florida while at the same time enjoying profits from those same gambling entities.

Seems like people just want to argue and defend hypocrisy.

. That is the role they are playing here. I just think it would be terrible if they got called on it.

 

[WDW1974]

You mean... another earth shattering relevation... That Disney pulls no punches when it is about lobbying politics in Florida for it's own self-interests?

This isn't the anti-gay legislator getting caught with a gay prostitute.. This is Disney defending it's turf.

BULL. It is exactly that.

They preach family values and gambling not being compatible when it suits their profit motive and then engage in it elsewhere at the same time. It is Disney defending its turf on one hand while dealing a hand with the other.

I have no idea why you want to dance this one ... Save your strength and put your tin foil hat on as I will have a new thread with new (and troubling -- to me and others) stuff Disney doesn't want you to read this weekend, if possible. Can't wait to read all the folks saying 'yeah, sooooooo what?'while meetings get held at TDO!

 

[WDW1974]

Sorry to get back on the topic of Florida Gambling, but I was under the impression that one of Disney's real reasons for opposing gambling was convention space and the potential loss of bookings.
http://bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-08/genting-fights-disney-south-beach-over-miami-casino-on-the-bay.html

that is a HUGE motivator.

More adults like casinos and adult entertainment than they do theme parks. Orlando is 1 or 2 annually for conventions in the USA and Disney gets a huge chunk of business both directly and ancillary.

If you suddenly had Resorts World Miami, Sands Miami Beach and Wynn SoBe, do you really think those cenventioneers would be opting for the MK?

I can tell you what Disney believes.

 

[stevehousse]

BULL. It is exactly that.

They preach family values and gambling not being compatible when it suits their profit motive and then engage in it elsewhere at the same time. It is Disney defending its turf on one hand while dealing a hand with the other.

I have no idea why you want to dance this one ... Save your strength and put your tin foil hat on as I will have a new thread with new (and troubling -- to me and others) stuff Disney doesn't want you to read this weekend, if possible. Can't wait to read all the folks saying 'yeah, sooooooo what?'while meetings get held at TDO!

Cannot wait to hear about certain things coming out of the dark whatever they may be. Lots of giant companies and corporations have very evil and negative sides to their businesses these days and I think it's silly for people to believe that Disney doesn't have its own skeletons...

Now we are all entitled to our own opinions on whatever comes to light, but all this bashing and bickering and super negative posts at the end of the day don't make things any better! I'm really hoping the next thread can really stay away and we can all have a "healthy" debate!

I think sometimes people on here forget that at the end of the day, this is a Disney Park fan forum...

 

[WDW1974]

When considering what's impacting Deluxe Resort occupancy rates, don't forget the astronomical room rates at WDW's Deluxe Resorts. WDW is set to cross a dubious milestone this year when the price of a Grand Floridian Theme Park View room breaks the $1000/night barrier for Christmas 2013. (Price: $1026/night with tax. ) No suite, no concierge. Just a room with a pretty view of Cinderella Castle.

DVC certainly has cannibalized Deluxe Resort occupancy as well. It's a matter of numbers. WDW has about 5600 Deluxe Resort rooms and over 4300 DVC rooms. 10 years ago, WDW had less than 1800 DVC rooms. Those 2500+ additional DVC rooms are targeted directly at the Deluxe Resort market.

And people wonder why Deluxe Resort occupancy rates are down.

Disney better hurry up and get those empty rooms at the Poly converted to DVC.

Anyone who spends $500 a night for a WDW standard room is insane. I do not even have words for someone who would drop a grand a night beyond the fact they clearly have no regard for the value of money and if they are religious and or caring spirits would do better to donates funds go a charity that helps people, like say the homeless. (I would say veterans as well, but sadly I know of a few that exist to support the people who run them in lavish lifestyles instead of going to the needy).

 

[WDW1974]

The accusations get tossed out at plenty of people who are and have been active on the rest of the forums or others. It has become more excuse than substance.

No, that simply isn't true. As a matter of fact, I'd say not one other poster here takes the that regularly gets slung in my direction.

And, no, I am not talking about people disagreeing with things or even our pal Flynn pulling wings off of flies just because he never met a discussion he didn't want to have the last word in.