Spirited News, Observations & Thoughts IV

[WDW1974]

So, this thread will hit 500,000 (that's a half million for those challenged by numbers) views this weekend ... Roughly five weeks time.

How does that stand against these bigtime social media whores? I am seriously very curious since it seems that many of them would be happy getting that type of traffic in a year.

 

[Captain Chaos]

Isn't that how Gringott's is going to work? A mix of 3D, AAs, and physical sets?

Pure speculation on my part, but it sounds like Uni Creative might be taking what they're learning with Gringott's and modifying it for Lorax.

That is EXACTLY how Gringott's is going to work... Seems like another butt hurt Disney fan trying to write off Universal for doing something Disney has failed to do themselves, you know... be creative with new technology...

 

[WDW1974]

On a totally different subject, it took me until this week to finally see Atlantis: The Lost Kingdom. All I can say is if that is bad Disney animation and storytelling then I'd love to know what is good. And that comes after a 12-minute piece, at least according to Don Hahn, that would have showcased a longer journey to find the place was cut by money guys.

I truly wish that Tony Baxter had been able to do his version of a sub voyage to Atlantis that he worked a lot on in the late 90s.

 

[Captain Chaos]

So, this thread will hit 500,000 (that's a half million for those challenged by numbers) views this weekend ... Roughly five weeks time.

How does that stand against these bigtime social media whores? I am seriously very curious since it seems that many of them would be happy getting that type of traffic in a year.

And for the 500,000 guest, 74 will personally service you... A few of the 74 fanboi club members who live and die by this thread will be refreshing this thread every other second in hopes of being 500,000.. They know who I am talking about...

 

[WDW1974]

On another totally different subject: on Breaking Bad's final four episodes Walt Jr. Has to die a very ugly death. He has to ... Whether his meth kingpin daddy dies (or how) or gets away with all, the kid has to die. He is the only pure character that is an adult, or in his case, close. Just my Spirited opinion.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Disney getting into the gambling business (want to use the word gaming, but that means too much these days) is not about creative decisions or art, it's about exploiting existing IP in a business that runs counter to everything Disney has espoused for decades. The fact they are doing it with no media attention tells you they don't want people talking about it, beyond those playing those slots or buying those lotto tickets.
You certainly make a fair and valid point, though.

I think it's not getting attention because it's not a big story to a lot of people, probably because they still see it as Marvel and not Disney. MDI Entertainment has issued press releases, has their licensed properties on their website and the machines and games sit out in plain view. Disney, even if they had no past on the matter, wouldn't make a big splash because there are no defined places for people to acquire the lottery tickets or play the games (We don't see Hasbro or other licensees advertising their participation). It looks like Colorado and Iowa advertised their offering of the Iron Man 3 scratch off game. I can't speak for those states, but I see and hear plenty of lottery commercials whenever I tune in to local broadcasts.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

I knew Paul Pressler. I liked him as a person. I was very close to a lot of folks who worked under him during that dark period.

Did Mr. Pressler have any amusement or theme park experience prior to getting his Presidential gig at Disneyland, or did he mostly only have a reatil background?

Because putting a retail guy as the head of theme park complex should have been a major head-scratcher/red flag at the time.

 

[WDW1974]

I think it's not getting attention because it's not a big story to a lot of people, probably because they still see it as Marvel and not Disney. MDI Entertainment has issued press releases, has their licensed properties on their website and the machines and games sit out in plain view. Disney, even if they had no past on the matter, wouldn't make a big splash because there are no defined places for people to acquire the lottery tickets or play the games (We don't see Hasbro or other licensees advertising their participation). It looks like Colorado and Iowa advertised their offering of the Iron Man 3 scratch off game. I can't speak for those states, but I see and hear plenty of lottery commercials whenever I tune in to local broadcasts.

I think that is surely a large part of it.

if people stopped and thought about it, those who might care that is, I think there would be an outcry. I sorta feel like Disney is on the down low when it comes to gambling, even if anyone paying attention would see what's going down.

 

[WDW1974]

Did Mr. Pressler have any amusement or theme park experience prior to getting his Presidential gig at Disneyland, or did he mostly only have a reatil background?

Because putting a retail guy as the head of theme park complex should have been a major head-scratcher/red flag at the time.

Nope. He had none. He did a great job growing the Disney Store chain worldwide and Michael thought a lot of him. He was a quality exec, but in no way capable of running one Disney park let alone all of them. But I still don,t blame Paul for taking the gig. Who would turn that opportunity down?

 

[magicallactose]

I really don't think so. You can't have a ride that is half 3D screens and half full sets and AA's unless they've found a way to do big screen 3D without glasses and I highly doubt that (only the people at WED Enterprises could have figured that out given the time but they aren't around anymore).

I'm not trying to be condescending or anything, but I think perhaps you might be so resistant to this idea, because you are confused about two things: how 3D screen technology works and how 3D might be implemented in both these rides.

First of all, yes physical objects such as sets and AA's can exist in the same scene as a 3D screen convincingly. The 3D effect doesn't simply vanish once something blocks part of the screen. The key is designing the 3D image so that it doesn't seem to 'dissect or interfere' with the physical objects. The key is designing the 3D image so that it interacts seemlessly with its surroundings. For example, a 3D screen could be placed at the back of a scene and made to look like a landscape that recedes into the distance. Or smaller 3D screens portraying moving characters could be embedded within a set piece, like a wall, or a tree trunk.

Have you been on the Little Mermaid Ride? Let's think of a way we could improve that ride using the type of 3D tech. Remember those LCD screens embedded in the rockwork, depicting an animated Ariel swimming around? Those were pretty unconvincing, weren't they? You are clearly looking at a monitor. But imagine if the image was 3D and the perspective of Ariel changed appropriately as you moved past her (using the technique already employed in both Transforers and Spiderman). Instantly, that effect is a lot more believable.

Now, let's picture the finale scene of ride, where we see Triton and Ariel and the cast of animatronics waving goodbye to us against a very shallow and flat sky backdrop. That scene is pretty underwhelming because there is no sense of space. It looks sort of like a Macy's Christmas window display. Now imagine if that entire wall was an HD3D screen, giving the appearance of an endless ocean beyond. Instantly, it's a much more compelling scene.

Do you understand now?

 

[lazyboy97o]

I think that is surely a large part of it.

if people stopped and thought about it, those who might care that is, I think there would be an outcry. I sorta feel like Disney is on the down low when it comes to gambling, even if anyone paying attention would see what's going down.

I think gambling is just a micro version of Marvel as a whole. Its likely a big part of why Eisner, who apparently considered buying a far more desperate and cheaper Marvel, passed on the idea. You'd never see Disney do adult and kiddie versions of Mickey Mouse the way Marvel does with its stock of characters.

 

[ChrisFL]

But think about that for a second. If the ride is going to have HD3D screens that would mean you would have to wear 3D glasses through the ride which would be odd if there are real sets and AA's because then your wearing 3D glasses that are obstructing your vision for no reason. What are they gonna do have a voice keep telling you to put glasses on or off? There is a reason no attraction does this it's either/or.

Hogwarts Express is also going to have 3D effects...without glasses.

 

[ScoutN]

Is your issue specific only to the use of the characters for gambling or the bigger issue of the characters being used in non-child friendly ways?

I am looking at it without the angle of Disney lobbying against gambling but putting characters young family members of mine idolize with gambling. So really a different angle than what has largely been stated here.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

Since we were talking about Disney's stance on the SoBe casinos, how does the ever expanding UNI feel about them? It seems likely that they too would take a hit and, after all, the Lockheed plot is adjacent to the OC convention center and all the money that flows from it.

Also, any new info on UNI's new resorts that you are able to share?

 

[lazyboy97o]

I am looking at it without the angle of Disney lobbying against gambling but putting characters young family members of mine idolize with gambling. So really a different angle than what has largely been stated here.

Do you consider the placement of gambling machines to be different than these characters having comics not suitable for children?

 

[ScoutN]

Do you consider the placement of gambling machines to be different than these characters having comics not suitable for children?

I look at it as the direction the characters have been taken since Disney's purchase.

Toys



Pandering to kids here



Apparent marketing to the young ones.

And Avengers costumes being sold alongside princess ones in Costco stores.

 

[BryceM]

I think Dudley the funnest water ride in Orlando. I always have a blast. I enjoy the themeing too.

It would be a pity if we lost Toon Lagoon. Dudley and Popeye have got Disney beat for water rides, Splash and Kali are less fun experiences. Granted that going to toon lagoon IoA and standing still while staring at my shoes for twenty minutes is a funner experience than Kali.

As a water ride, Dudley has Splash beat. But as a themed experience, I MUCH prefer Splash. However, Popeye walks all over Kali, and probably every other raft ride out there. I love the theming, the rapids are fast and fun and you WILL get wet, no matter what. Popeye feels like a very complete attraction, and I love the queue and the little Sweet Haven mini-land that it is in.

One of the things I do love about Dudley is the facade. It's amazing!

 

[BryceM]

And you know this how? because someone else said so? How about we wait 1 year and see.

Well how did you get your information....

 

[lazyboy97o]

I look at it as the direction the characters have been taken since Disney's purchase.

As somebody who watched the cartoons on Fox Kids, I guess I just don't see it as a different direction.

 

[TalkingHead]

On another totally different subject: on Breaking Bad's final four episodes Walt Jr. Has to die a very ugly death. He has to ... Whether his meth kingpin daddy dies (or how) or gets away with all, the kid has to die. He is the only pure character that is an adult, or in his case, close. Just my Spirited opinion.

Gotta say I'm feeling very nervous about Jesse's chances. Offing Walt Jr. would be dark, no doubt. That's awesome that you caught up for the final episodes. I have a feeling the final four are going to be nailbiters.