Spirited News, Observations & Thoughts IV

[Cletus]

I'll see you nasty Pirates on Thursday.

 

[wogwog]

After reading your thoughts above, some friends just came back and complained exactly spot on about the same things you did regarding the magicbands. I myself just returned, and at check in I outright said thank you but I wanted no part of them. The castmember was totally thrown off course and baffled, but I explained why I didnt want them in the nicest shortest way I could. I guess no one else is really turning them down by his reaction. I must have thrown him for a real loop. But they better get use to it or wont be going back.

I am a local in Florida just returning from a multi week off the grid vcation away and just catching up here. I received emails from two groups of friends who visited WDW while I was away and it sounds like either group could have written asimilar post. On my previous advice they all refused bands.

 

[Goofyernmost]

I'm pretty sure we are getting a 5th gate at WDW with a large Marvel area, new monorails connecting all of the resorts and a 50% reduction in ticket prices...all things I thought would only happen if hell froze over...the Pirates are in the playoffs...welcome to Hoth, Satan

Damn it's getting chilly down here!

 

[TalkingHead]

I know I'm late to the party, but I finally got around to visiting UNI this afternoon for Transformers and Springfield.

-Transformers wasn't the Spidey clone I was expecting. It's an incredible ride that builds on what Spider-man does, but uses the ride system to create a more frenetic (and different) experience. In a lot of ways, I think it's superior to Spidey. Didn't notice a lack of physical props, which I know was a complaint some people had. When the ride moves "into the city" -- WOW -- the size of the screen, a huge Optimus Prime towering over you ... this ride is a huge addition to that park.

-For all the talk about Uni not having things for young kids to do, the kid sitting next to me who was riding Transformers wouldn't have looked out of place in a M&G line at MK. The Spidey/Transformers ride system is really not as intense as we make it out to be. It's fun, it's thrilling ... but Forbidden Journey is much more intense. With word that Gringotts is less thrill ride than dark ride, I can't wait to see what next summer has in store...

-One of our old Skipper pals from these and other laughing place parts was tweeting about a recent visit to WDW/Uni and how he thinks USO is superior to any of the Disney parks except for MK. Totally agree. USO is firing on all cylinders right now. Even Springfield, which is a bit of a visual mish-mash, is a hugely entertaining upgrade. I'm only a casual fan of the show, but its humor works so well in the theme park environment.

-Something occured to me after seeing how great Transformers is. IOA already has its "Pirates and Mansion" (by which I mean its two destined-to-be "classic" rides) in Spidey and Forbidden Journey. It occured to me that the USO will potentially be adding its own "Pirates and Mansion" classics in a twelve month span -- Transformers and Gringotts. Not to mention the E-ticket Hogwarts Express the two parks will share. Is this an unprecedented upgrade for a single park in such a short period of time?

-Does anybody still think Disney's spent its money wisely with regard to NGE? My gosh, what a complete travesty.

 

[wogwog]

I can't say anything about the DDP, except that it is probably the reason along with ADRs booked 7 years prior, as the reason we could never get into any of the restaurants we would walk up to. I read on a Yahoo group years ago complaining about DDP, and how the menus were changing for the worse to accommodate it.
One of our last meals at WDW was at Olivia's at Old Key West. The servers asked us to taste test 4 different dinner rolls, asking us which we liked the best. We both picked the same roll as the best much to the enjoyment of the servers. We had picked the bread Olivia's always had served. The others were being considered to replace the original to cut costs, we later learned. The staff knew a mistake in quality was being made, and probably reported our results with glee.
I cannot imagine how bad the food has gotten at WDW, as we haven't been back in 3 years, so I cannot comment on the current quality of the foods served. Are you saying free dining has flopped this season because no one is booking rooms to get it?

Fellow locals I socialize with that used to take a local vacation for the dining plan have stopped doing so. They complain the menus are not as good and the same for the food. I never stay on the property but do get a meal in the parks once a month or so with visitors and I agree the food quality is going down. Doing Food and Wine Festival tomorrow and am hoping that has not gone down again.

But those staying at the resorts can get a rubber bracelet instead of good food.

 

[Soarin' Over Pgh]

Damn it's getting chilly down here!

There's fireworks going off everywhere, you'd think it was the Fourth of July here. I can hear the ones from pnc park but there's plenty more all around.

It's pretty cool.

 

[HMF]

I think the Government shutdown has crystalized my thinking on MM+. Burbank wants this done no matter what. I think we got our way with the interactive queues being cancelled and I am happy about that. I feel that we should count our losses and let the good aspects of NGE through and the things will improve once the three stooges are gone. I really feel we need to temper down the rhetoric slightly because I feel WDW might be in good hands, I do sense a culture change coming and I think we do have to be somewhat patient for the change to take effect.

 

[1023]

I think the Government shutdown has crystalized my thinking on MM+. Burbank wants this done no matter what. I think we got our way with the interactive queues being cancelled and I am happy about that. I feel that we should count our losses and let the good aspects of NGE through and the things will improve once the three stooges are gone.

I think your account got hacked....

*1023*

 

[HMF]

I think your account got hacked....

*1023*

No, this is still me, I have been thinking long and hard about things and have been trying to contextualize my thoughts.

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

I think it's going to take a massive change in virtually every part of the company for anything to really change for the better and get Disney back on the right track at this point. More than I'd dare bet would be possible at this point. The steps it would take IMO-

1- Their money making schemes like next gen have to bomb spectacularly, losing a staggering and crippling amount of cash and no hope of regaining it.
2- The real culprits need to be made obvious and held accountable, without any misdirection of blame to scapegoats.
3- The board itself needs to realize they have to invest constantly (and on a big scale) in the customer experience, as well as encourage creativity at WDI. They can't just ignore their mistakes and go looking for more snake oil to sell.
4- They need to appoint leaders that will embrace and allow such creative investments to flourish.

While it's plausible (heck even likely) that next gen could bomb spectacularly (the money making parts I mean), I can't see #2 being passed. Iger and his cronies (the next gen architects) probably have scapegoats prepared well ahead of time in case of failure in order to evade punishment. They can just misdirect the blame. Nothing will be learned by anyone and the real culprits will get a free pass and probably another bonus check.

If by some miracle you got past step 2, there's no telling whether the board itself will learn its lesson. And given how highly they value bean counters who present them with next gen like projects, I doubt they will. They'll probably just look for another get rich quick snake oil scheme and appoint whoever has one they like the sound of, continuing to avoid actually investing in anything quality and worthwhile for customer. Perhaps even find a way to rebrand and market next gen in a different way in a second attempt to get it to succeed (ala the rebranding of SOPA under multiple different names to try to sneak it into effect). I doubt many of the board members or stock holders at Disney care much about the future of the company, they're more into the here and now and how hard they can milk everyone for the most immediate profit without investing in anything. Many may even realize that they won't be able to sustain this practice forever, they may intend to pull out of the company at the last minute before it backfires on them and float down with their golden parachutes and bags of cash while it crashes and burns. That has happened to plenty of huge corporations.

I really don't see a light at the end of the tunnel here in terms of leadership. Lots of people thought there was a light at the end of the tunnel when Eisner left, but Iger and his cronies turned out just as bad if not worse in ways. The current board are probably just going to go looking for the same types of people as before and the cycle will likely continue. They're not only going to have to suffer from a major failure in their current business practices (which isn't impossible though it may take multiple ones to nail it in that these schemes don't work), but they're also going to need to realize why it failed, know how to fix their company AND sum up the will and money in order to get things fixed.

 

[Darth Sidious]

I think the Government shutdown has crystalized my thinking on MM+. Burbank wants this done no matter what. I think we got our way with the interactive queues being cancelled and I am happy about that. I feel that we should count our losses and let the good aspects of NGE through and the things will improve once the three stooges are gone. I really feel we need to temper down the rhetoric slightly because I feel WDW might be in good hands, I do sense a culture change coming and I think we do have to be somewhat patient for the change to take effect.

I think you're right. At this point they can't scrap that huge of an investment. I think that they recognize it didn't go so well and I think they will work to fix that going forward. In the end the company does realize they are in customer service and you need to provide customers with the best services. I think change will come eventually at TDO, thanks in large to the sloppiness and costly NGE. There are likely people who can no longer rest on their laurels and that are now in the proverbial hot seat.

 

[Longhairbear]

.
. Being DVC we've resorted to cooking in the room and eating offsite except for a couple favorites we always do. 5 years ago we used to use the DxDDP and do brunch and a signature but with the dumbing down of food offerings and price increases it's longer worth the tariff. I don't mind paying for a good meal if you are ever in Portsmouth NH try the 'Blue Strawberry' its a chef's table only restaurant.

F&B has been faking bottom line growth with the ever increasing prices of DDP and finally they found the price point at which people are no longer willing to pay. The high rack rates with 'Free Dining' are also at the inflection point. So I think we will see F&B be the first P&R division to crater revenue wise followed by a bunch of others triggered by the knock on effects.

Being DVC also, we have cooked in since 2004, the year after we became members and added enough points for a full kitchen. The quality of restaurant fare was already in decline, but we hadn't really noticed, we just happen to love to cook in our villa. It was later that we saw the savings in vacation costs overall by ordering groceries locally, and being able to stay on diet that we realized what an even greater idea it was to be a DVC member. In room laundry meant less suitcases on the plane. A win win for us, and maybe a win/ lose for Disney in the long run.
When mommies quote my cooking in villa posts on other sites saying that they are on vacation too, and don't cook in their DVC villa, I imagine their fat 12 year olds in a stroller with their knees up to their ears being pushed around the parks. I've actually seen that!
Disney has missed out big time in their surveys, not knowing what correct questions to ask. I use my DVC kitchen, not for the space, which I do love, and not for the option of letting my kids ride the hallways on the bottom rack of the dishwasher like a go kart..Also which I have seen. I don't have kids, and use the bottom rack of the dishwasher for pots and pans.
We have found the DVC villas to be more sound proof to arguing mommies getting the brats ready for rope drop, although we do hear them screaming in the hallways outside our room.
Back to my main point of palatable food, I have no idea what the decline has been, for we haven't been in 3 years. But from what I read online, Disney is no longer a leader in fine dining in Florida. We are only and hour and a half away from Disneyland, which has some fantastic food locations in it's DTD, resort, and in park venues. When we can book a DVC villa at the GCV we bring a cooler of groceries to enhance our stay, GCV have the most amazing high end stainless gas grills to use.
As I have said before, in other posts, the only new thing at WDW is DVC resorts. I might go to FLA to stay at the Grand Floridian, or the Poly when it gets done.

 

[ford91exploder]

I think it's going to take a massive change in virtually every part of the company for anything to really change for the better and get Disney back on the right track at this point. More than I'd dare bet would be possible at this point. The steps it would take IMO-

1- Their money making schemes like next gen have to bomb spectacularly, losing a staggering and crippling amount of cash and no hope of regaining it.
2- The real culprits need to be made obvious and held accountable, without any misdirection of blame to scapegoats.
3- The board itself needs to realize they have to invest constantly (and on a big scale) in the customer experience, as well as encourage creativity at WDI. They can't just ignore their mistakes and go looking for more snake oil to sell.
4- They need to appoint leaders that will embrace and allow such creative investments to flourish.

While it's plausible (heck even likely) that next gen could bomb spectacularly (the money making parts I mean), I can't see #2 being passed. Iger and his cronies (the next gen architects) probably have scapegoats prepared well ahead of time in case of failure in order to evade punishment. They can just misdirect the blame. Nothing will be learned by anyone and the real culprits will get a free pass and probably another bonus check.

If by some miracle you got past step 2, there's no telling whether the board itself will learn its lesson. And given how highly they value bean counters who present them with next gen like projects, I doubt they will. They'll probably just look for another get rich quick snake oil scheme and appoint whoever has one they like the sound of, continuing to avoid actually investing in anything quality and worthwhile for customer. Perhaps even find a way to rebrand and market next gen in a different way in a second attempt to get it to succeed (ala the rebranding of SOPA under multiple different names to try to sneak it into effect). I doubt many of the board members or stock holders at Disney care much about the future of the company, they're more into the here and now and how hard they can milk everyone for the most immediate profit without investing in anything. Many may even realize that they won't be able to sustain this practice forever, they may intend to pull out of the company at the last minute before it backfires on them and float down with their golden parachutes and bags of cash while it crashes and burns. That has happened to plenty of huge corporations.

I really don't see a light at the end of the tunnel here in terms of leadership. Lots of people thought there was a light at the end of the tunnel when Eisner left, but Iger and his cronies turned out just as bad if not worse in ways. The current board are probably just going to go looking for the same types of people as before and the cycle will likely continue. They're not only going to have to suffer from a major failure in their current business practices (which isn't impossible though it may take multiple ones to nail it in that these schemes don't work), but they're also going to need to realize why it failed, know how to fix their company AND sum up the will and money in order to get things fixed.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel, Trouble is its the onrushing Reality Express Train.

 

[misterID]

I think it's going to take a massive change in virtually every part of the company for anything to really change for the better and get Disney back on the right track at this point. More than I'd dare bet would be possible at this point. The steps it would take IMO-

1- Their money making schemes like next gen have to bomb spectacularly, losing a staggering and crippling amount of cash and no hope of regaining it.
2- The real culprits need to be made obvious and held accountable, without any misdirection of blame to scapegoats.
3- The board itself needs to realize they have to invest constantly (and on a big scale) in the customer experience, as well as encourage creativity at WDI. They can't just ignore their mistakes and go looking for more snake oil to sell.
4- They need to appoint leaders that will embrace and allow such creative investments to flourish.

While it's plausible (heck even likely) that next gen could bomb spectacularly (the money making parts I mean), I can't see #2 being passed. Iger and his cronies (the next gen architects) probably have scapegoats prepared well ahead of time in case of failure in order to evade punishment. They can just misdirect the blame. Nothing will be learned by anyone and the real culprits will get a free pass and probably another bonus check.

If by some miracle you got past step 2, there's no telling whether the board itself will learn its lesson. And given how highly they value bean counters who present them with next gen like projects, I doubt they will. They'll probably just look for another get rich quick snake oil scheme and appoint whoever has one they like the sound of, continuing to avoid actually investing in anything quality and worthwhile for customer. Perhaps even find a way to rebrand and market next gen in a different way in a second attempt to get it to succeed (ala the rebranding of SOPA under multiple different names to try to sneak it into effect). I doubt many of the board members or stock holders at Disney care much about the future of the company, they're more into the here and now and how hard they can milk everyone for the most immediate profit without investing in anything. Many may even realize that they won't be able to sustain this practice forever, they may intend to pull out of the company at the last minute before it backfires on them and float down with their golden parachutes and bags of cash while it crashes and burns. That has happened to plenty of huge corporations.

I really don't see a light at the end of the tunnel here in terms of leadership. Lots of people thought there was a light at the end of the tunnel when Eisner left, but Iger and his cronies turned out just as bad if not worse in ways. The current board are probably just going to go looking for the same types of people as before and the cycle will likely continue. They're not only going to have to suffer from a major failure in their current business practices (which isn't impossible though it may take multiple ones to nail it in that these schemes don't work), but they're also going to need to realize why it failed, know how to fix their company AND sum up the will and money in order to get things fixed.

I'm glad Eisner is gone, but what he understood was that rides brought in guests and new rides peaked interest and stoked excitement. Iger believes in keeping the guests he knows are coming and finding ways to make them spend more money without spending lots more yourself on expensive attractions, attractions that they're needlessly over-paying for btw, (I'm sure he thought NextGen would pay for itself in the long run) but his mindset is showing to be a failure, at least from where I'm sitting. The reports of problems with the system and the constant need to upgrade it (like chasing your own tail around in a circle constantly) and reports of guests on this site spending less money than usual because of the hassle... Maybe it will show them something.

I think Iger's philosophy in regards to WDW will backfire, if it hasn't already, if we're to believe that the attendance figures are indeed being manipulated and are in no way accurate to how every non-MK park is actually being visited. Seeing the attendance basically stays high for MK, why spend money to attract more guests? I don't think he counted on the WDW fanbase's anger towards the treatment of WDW (the FLE that was to be a big M&G and the outrage at the D23 where Staggs had to basically apologize for ignoring WDW and the unusual and knee-jerk Avatarland announcement) but most of all, they had no idea how successful UNI was going to be. If HP phase 2 gets anywhere near the attention phase 1 got, you may see some changes then. They had no idea HP would be a magnet, not just on attendance, but in merch sales. And they all know that money spent at UNI is money that would have been spent at WDW and can't be recouped. Eisner was a theme park guy, Iger is not.

Rule #1: People visit Theme Parks for attractions. Nostalgia (that TDO seems to strangely resent, even though it's their bread and butter) can only take you so far into the future.

 

[aladdin2007]

I think you're right. At this point they can't scrap that huge of an investment. I think that they recognize it didn't go so well and I think they will work to fix that going forward. In the end the company does realize they are in customer service and you need to provide customers with the best services. I think change will come eventually at TDO, thanks in large to the sloppiness and costly NGE. There are likely people who can no longer rest on their laurels and that are now in the proverbial hot seat.

While I hope change will come, we have been saying this for how long now? And it seems to have only gotten worse. Awhile back it had sounded like George was really going to improve on things, I havent seen any evidence of that personally, only more cutbacks, loss of parades and entertainment etc. So I cant say Im overly impressed so far and I thought he was going to be the main change in TDO halls.

I think the Government shutdown has crystalized my thinking on MM+. Burbank wants this done no matter what. I think we got our way with the interactive queues being cancelled and I am happy about that. I feel that we should count our losses and let the good aspects of NGE through and the things will improve once the three stooges are gone. I really feel we need to temper down the rhetoric slightly because I feel WDW might be in good hands, I do sense a culture change coming and I think we do have to be somewhat patient for the change to take effect.

True patience is key, but again how long have we been saying this change is coming lol? I dont think the 3 stooges are going anywhere, I fear Rasulo will take Igers place.

 

[Lord_Vader]

Totally off topic.... But for the first time in my life I witnessed the Pirates hit two home runs back to back in a sold out, standing room only, completely packed park.... My city is alive tonight, win or lose, and it feels amazing.

Congrats to the Pirates, I was rooting for them last night but I have to root for my Cards.

 

[Absimilliard]

@WDW1974 Question for you. I read on disneyandmore that DLP's Indy Jones and the temple of peril is being rebuilt. Do you know if this is true?

Any other news you can share with the class regarding DLP and it's sad step sister Studios? Is there going to be a cash-dump to fix up the park and/or add new rides/eating establishments/anything but hotels?

Indiana Jones is indeed getting a full refurb. To put it in perspective, the current ride was temporary (for roughly 5 years) and was rushed through design and manufacturing to get a new coaster open as soon as possible after the resort opened. So, Intamin (maker of California Screamin', Kali River Rapids, Maelstrom, Grizzly River Run) got an existing carnival coaster design, modernised it and built it on a cement slab. There are no actual foundations to the ride. It is simply bolted to the cement slab. They filled the pit with gravel to hide the cement and WDI quickly built a temple around it with fixed props. The temple may look solid, but it consist of thin cement projected on a foam shape if what I read is to be believed. It was very temporary and made to be removed quickly... but after 20 years of hard and loyal service, both the ride system and the temple are suffering.

In 2000, they already had to change the trains. They went from a fleet of 6 trains with 2 cars of 4 riders to 7 trains with 2 cars of 6 riders. So capacity went up, but in order to keep the same weight, had to remove nearly all the padding and "rider comfort" from the seats. They also changed a few track pieces.

Track wise, the ride is still suffering, especially the loop. It is a mess of spot welds and repairs right now, so in the upcoming refurb, they will change the loop and other track pieces. As for the temple, it is a full rebuild. They will make a new temple using projected cement on a steel frame, like they did at Carsland.

Big Thunder Mountain will also get a full refurb after Indy is done. Space Mountain will finally get its new ride cars too. This test car has appeared backstage....

 

[Darth Sidious]

While I hope change will come, we have been saying this for how long now? And it seems to have only gotten worse. Awhile back it had sounded like George was really going to improve on things, I havent seen any evidence of that personally, only more cutbacks, loss of parades and entertainment etc. So I cant say Im overly impressed so far and I thought he was going to be the main change in TDO halls.

George is an ops guy and he's there to fix NGE implementation and to restore some show quality issues. If you've noticed he's done both. They are currently returning rides that needed it and were neglected. Nobody should expect him to champion change and new attraction building though. His change is fixing.

 

[1023]

Being DVC also, we have cooked in since 2004, the year after we became members and added enough points for a full kitchen. The quality of restaurant fare was already in decline, but we hadn't really noticed, we just happen to love to cook in our villa. It was later that we saw the savings in vacation costs overall by ordering groceries locally, and being able to stay on diet that we realized what an even greater idea it was to be a DVC member. In room laundry meant less suitcases on the plane. A win win for us, and maybe a win/ lose for Disney in the long run.
When mommies quote my cooking in villa posts on other sites saying that they are on vacation too, and don't cook in their DVC villa, I imagine their fat 12 year olds in a stroller with their knees up to their ears being pushed around the parks. I've actually seen that!
Disney has missed out big time in their surveys, not knowing what correct questions to ask. I use my DVC kitchen, not for the space, which I do love, and not for the option of letting my kids ride the hallways on the bottom rack of the dishwasher like a go kart..Also which I have seen. I don't have kids, and use the bottom rack of the dishwasher for pots and pans.
We have found the DVC villas to be more sound proof to arguing mommies getting the brats ready for rope drop, although we do hear them screaming in the hallways outside our room.
Back to my main point of palatable food, I have no idea what the decline has been, for we haven't been in 3 years. But from what I read online, Disney is no longer a leader in fine dining in Florida. We are only and hour and a half away from Disneyland, which has some fantastic food locations in it's DTD, resort, and in park venues. When we can book a DVC villa at the GCV we bring a cooler of groceries to enhance our stay, GCV have the most amazing high end stainless gas grills to use.
As I have said before, in other posts, the only new thing at WDW is DVC resorts. I might go to FLA to stay at the Grand Floridian, or the Poly when it gets done.

You have struck upon one of the greatest discoveries encountered by DVC members. I am certain everyone discovers the convenience of their kitchen at different times during the course of their ownership. Even in the studios, the kitchenette is more than adequate for quick breakfasts, real gourmet coffee, and sandwiches catering to anyone's dietary desires.

If you combine DVC and the Purple "owner's locker's", you can get the "comforts of home" usage of any 1 bedroom. I have 2 of these boxes in Florida. I use one for everything I can't or choose not to carry on board an airplane such as spices, flashlights, ponchos, regular size toiletries, nightlights, etc. The other box keeps a full compliment of clothing for the varying seasons, laundry detergent, dryer sheets, and the like. Pairing DVC and these purple boxes has eliminated at least 2 suitcases on long trips. It has also eliminated luggage entirely when taking a short trip of a week or less. Next up is a couple sets of gold clubs and some tennis gear.

As Disneyland is a 6 hour drive from home, a couple suitcases and an ice chest sets us up in the Grand Californian as nicely as you've stated. I do believe that the founder of the purple box company in the east, is looking to set it up on the west coast as well. Disney should have been doing this, (Owner's Locker) themselves for years. Talk about leaving money on the table.

Walt's mustache... e gads....

*1023*

 

[GoofGoof]

You have struck upon one of the greatest discoveries encountered by DVC members. I am certain everyone discovers the convenience of their kitchen at different times during the course of their ownership. Even in the studios, the kitchenette is more than adequate for quick breakfasts, real gourmet coffee, and sandwiches catering to anyone's dietary desires.

If you combine DVC and the Purple "owner's locker's", you can get the "comforts of home" usage of any 1 bedroom. I have 2 of these boxes in Florida. I use one for everything I can't or choose not to carry on board an airplane such as spices, flashlights, ponchos, regular size toiletries, nightlights, etc. The other box keeps a full compliment of clothing for the varying seasons, laundry detergent, dryer sheets, and the like. Pairing DVC and these purple boxes has eliminated at least 2 suitcases on long trips. It has also eliminated luggage entirely when taking a short trip of a week or less. Next up is a couple sets of gold clubs and some tennis gear.

As Disneyland is a 6 hour drive from home, a couple suitcases and an ice chest sets us up in the Grand Californian as nicely as you've stated. I do believe that the founder of the purple box company in the east, is looking to set it up on the west coast as well. Disney should have been doing this, (Owner's Locker) themselves for years. Talk about leaving money on the table.

Walt's mustache... e gads....

*1023*

Don't give them any ideas...Figment is purple and lives in a half empty pavilion. You could have stumbled upon the real "plans" for Imagination.