RSoxNo1
Well-Known Member
Is that on Forbidden Journey? If so, they did that very quietly.
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Spirited News, Observations & Thoughts IV
- Thread starter WDW1974
- Start date
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nytimez
Well-Known Member
Not everyone makes a big show out of benches.
Disneyfan_76
Well-Known Member
I always loved the story about the lawn towels "While working as the manager of Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, a hostess stated that she wished that the grass was dry, since the hotel was going to host a convention on the lawn soon. Kalogridis took some employees and towels with him and dried the lawn off with towels."
Wish that attention to detail stayed around the current WDW environment.
Disneyfan_76
Well-Known Member
My wife and I make a trip to the parks about once every four years. We have always used the park hopper option. Mostly because there is either not enough to do for a full day at AK or the studios, or if we have dinner reservations somewhere in EPCOT. We also used to take advantage of the extra magic hours for whatever park had them that night, but those seem to be scaled back as well like everything else.
unkadug
Follower of "Saget"The Cult
WeLComeHomE OKW
Active Member
I think @WDW1974 views as well as a lot of the comments I've read on this board are short sighted, misguided, and emotional responses to a changing landscape. And, I think it really needs to be reflected on more before final judgments are thrown out.
Quite frankly, I've done nothing but disagree with Disney's moves over the past 4-5 years about WDW. Their focus on DLR is nothing more than allowing Lassetter to fund his first love, and ignoring the needs of the "secondary" resort in the US.
However, the idea that, all of a sudden, all the things you loved about the parks are now taken away because of its new "direction" is hard to swallow. The updates have been slow and plodding, but, Disney's plans are fairly clear. They look beyond 3 years from now and consider what 20 years will look like. And, quite frankly, it makes sense. As large as the budget is growing for NextGen, Disney fully expects this system (and it's ability to evolve), to last for decades. They are building, what they think, will replace interactions and will build personalization into attractions. This is now an attention economy. A million things can now hold our attentions at any one time. There is now no limit to how we can be entertained and spend our leisure time. So, along with themed experiences, Disney wants to grab your attention by making things easier for logistical stuff, but, far more personal for their experiential items. And, everything built from this day forward will have that in mind.
They're betting (And I don't disagree), that the next big stage in keeping theme parks relevant is competing with the immense personalization that exists on phones and gaming systems today (and in the future). Whether it's characters that know children's names, or the ability for kiosks to be able to recommend certain new restaurants or tailer another experience.
Frankly, we are in this time right now where we are all frightened over the next stage of technology/personalization. The Xbox One, Next Gen, other political items that I won't mention due to this not being the right forum. But, it's happening and it all starts with our acceptance of it in our smartphones that we carry with us constantly. Companies know this next level stuff is okay because we do it on Facebook, twitter, and with our phones. We share our locations and deepest thoughts without any sense of what we're putting online. And, the bet that people are willing to share a name or preference with the company to make a trip more magical is probably a good one. Allowing rides like It's a small world to take the next level and include you as the star is bold and allows its timelessness to continue.
Suggesting that Universal's bubble makes it a better experience is strange to me. Disney World has always been sprawling, and something that was promised (one of its most exciting possibilities) when it was announced was the idea that it could continue to expand into a city. A place that you could drive through without much worry. No doubt, part of that meant that you couldn't just walk everywhere. Disneyland accomplishes that. No, Disney World has always meant to be an adventure.
In terms of Universal's growth, they are in their booming years. They have a lot of room to grow, and they're embracing it. Disney was once in that place. This will eventually stop (history always suggests this type of growth eventually stops). What do you think will happen when all these projects are completed? You think their growth plan will just continue forever? In 6-8 years, there will be people on Universal boards typing the same things as you guys.
I think Disney is at a different place of development than Universal and we should enjoy Universal during this exciting time. But, it doesn't change the fact that Disney is still lovely and the idea that my trip could include Mickey calling me by name or tailoring a new interactive ride to my preferences is something I would love to see happen.
Speaking of Universal, it reminds me of E.T.s personalization at the end (saying goodbye to you by name). That kind of interaction makes experiences more magical and engrossing. Exactly what this type of entertainment is supposed to do.
Be Our Guest is inspired and New Fantasyland's immersion is a trend that should continue into every land. I'm not sure it was every meant to be a land full of 4-5 attractions. It was meant to be a land that children could look through and get lost in world's they know and love. And, I don't think we can see past the lack of new things to hold our own more mature attention. I can't wait for Avatar, and the eventual DHS makeover and the Imagination replacement. And I'm hoping they come sooner rather than later.
I just am not as positive that Disney World has become a place without magic. For me anyway. And I'm hoping 10 years down the road, I'll be able to look back and say "I told you so."
Quite frankly, I've done nothing but disagree with Disney's moves over the past 4-5 years about WDW. Their focus on DLR is nothing more than allowing Lassetter to fund his first love, and ignoring the needs of the "secondary" resort in the US.
However, the idea that, all of a sudden, all the things you loved about the parks are now taken away because of its new "direction" is hard to swallow. The updates have been slow and plodding, but, Disney's plans are fairly clear. They look beyond 3 years from now and consider what 20 years will look like. And, quite frankly, it makes sense. As large as the budget is growing for NextGen, Disney fully expects this system (and it's ability to evolve), to last for decades. They are building, what they think, will replace interactions and will build personalization into attractions. This is now an attention economy. A million things can now hold our attentions at any one time. There is now no limit to how we can be entertained and spend our leisure time. So, along with themed experiences, Disney wants to grab your attention by making things easier for logistical stuff, but, far more personal for their experiential items. And, everything built from this day forward will have that in mind.
They're betting (And I don't disagree), that the next big stage in keeping theme parks relevant is competing with the immense personalization that exists on phones and gaming systems today (and in the future). Whether it's characters that know children's names, or the ability for kiosks to be able to recommend certain new restaurants or tailer another experience.
Frankly, we are in this time right now where we are all frightened over the next stage of technology/personalization. The Xbox One, Next Gen, other political items that I won't mention due to this not being the right forum. But, it's happening and it all starts with our acceptance of it in our smartphones that we carry with us constantly. Companies know this next level stuff is okay because we do it on Facebook, twitter, and with our phones. We share our locations and deepest thoughts without any sense of what we're putting online. And, the bet that people are willing to share a name or preference with the company to make a trip more magical is probably a good one. Allowing rides like It's a small world to take the next level and include you as the star is bold and allows its timelessness to continue.
Suggesting that Universal's bubble makes it a better experience is strange to me. Disney World has always been sprawling, and something that was promised (one of its most exciting possibilities) when it was announced was the idea that it could continue to expand into a city. A place that you could drive through without much worry. No doubt, part of that meant that you couldn't just walk everywhere. Disneyland accomplishes that. No, Disney World has always meant to be an adventure.
In terms of Universal's growth, they are in their booming years. They have a lot of room to grow, and they're embracing it. Disney was once in that place. This will eventually stop (history always suggests this type of growth eventually stops). What do you think will happen when all these projects are completed? You think their growth plan will just continue forever? In 6-8 years, there will be people on Universal boards typing the same things as you guys.
I think Disney is at a different place of development than Universal and we should enjoy Universal during this exciting time. But, it doesn't change the fact that Disney is still lovely and the idea that my trip could include Mickey calling me by name or tailoring a new interactive ride to my preferences is something I would love to see happen.
Speaking of Universal, it reminds me of E.T.s personalization at the end (saying goodbye to you by name). That kind of interaction makes experiences more magical and engrossing. Exactly what this type of entertainment is supposed to do.
Be Our Guest is inspired and New Fantasyland's immersion is a trend that should continue into every land. I'm not sure it was every meant to be a land full of 4-5 attractions. It was meant to be a land that children could look through and get lost in world's they know and love. And, I don't think we can see past the lack of new things to hold our own more mature attention. I can't wait for Avatar, and the eventual DHS makeover and the Imagination replacement. And I'm hoping they come sooner rather than later.
I just am not as positive that Disney World has become a place without magic. For me anyway. And I'm hoping 10 years down the road, I'll be able to look back and say "I told you so."
Last edited:
WeLComeHomE OKW
Active Member
Forgot to add one more thing: On the subject of Universal's latest attractions, I'm surprised no one has noticed a disturbing trend in storytelling.
Essentially, every story is the same. Spiderman, Simpsons, Harry Potter, Transformers (pretty sure there are others). "Hey guys, whatsup?! Oh no, somethings wrong! hold on guys! Follow me, I'll help you! Alright cool, it's fixed. Thanks for the help!" All the characters say this to the audience, the narrative system is the exact same. I'm hoping the formula will start to change. Immersive rides can be told from different perspectives. And, I wish Universal would spend as much time on their scenery as on their attraction script writers. Disney started to figure this out after a while, and most of their e-ticket attractions have very unique systems of delivering stories to their guests.
So, while I'm very (very) pleased with Universal's expansions and the immense quality behind it, I'm still not as sold on their ability to diversify their experiences and expand how themed attractions can interact with their guests.
Essentially, every story is the same. Spiderman, Simpsons, Harry Potter, Transformers (pretty sure there are others). "Hey guys, whatsup?! Oh no, somethings wrong! hold on guys! Follow me, I'll help you! Alright cool, it's fixed. Thanks for the help!" All the characters say this to the audience, the narrative system is the exact same. I'm hoping the formula will start to change. Immersive rides can be told from different perspectives. And, I wish Universal would spend as much time on their scenery as on their attraction script writers. Disney started to figure this out after a while, and most of their e-ticket attractions have very unique systems of delivering stories to their guests.
So, while I'm very (very) pleased with Universal's expansions and the immense quality behind it, I'm still not as sold on their ability to diversify their experiences and expand how themed attractions can interact with their guests.
alphac2005
Well-Known Member
And the themes of many of the Disney attractions aren't (weren't) the same? How many attractions are a "test" theme or something has gone wrong theme? Test Track, Mission: Space, the original Star Tours, Body Wars, Alien Encounter, etc. Add in Captain: EO and others. heck, ILM did both ST and EO and at points there are scenes that complely mirror one another. (I am focusing on ST 1.0 that had been here the majority f the time.) Either it is something bad that happens on your journey and the ride ends all chummy or you're a tester in some way, shape, or form. Seems as repetitive as what you've just mentioned.
StageFrenzy
Well-Known Member
To be fair the "Oh noes something wrong" issue has been an epidemic across ALL theme parks for the past 20 years. It would be nice if the industry could move past it. Although HRRR takes it to a whole 'nother level, that ride makes the problems real.
Computer Magic
Well-Known Member
Some people don't pay attention to detail
PeterAlt
Well-Known Member
Thank you for posting that. You basically said what I've been trying to articulate for months here!
You do know that eventually Uni will adopt the same Next Gen systems WDW is installing. The difference is that Uni will pay a mere fraction for it than WDW is because Disney will have paid for all the R&D that its contractors had to pay to develop it. Also, I suspect that they are over-paying for hardware immensely. For example, they could be paying $300-$700 per wi-fi router that you and I can get at Walmart for $30.
The Empress Lilly
Well-Known Member
We do that too! Ours looks like this:
8:00-1:00 - water park
1:00-5:00 - getting from water to theme park by WDW transport
5:00-midnight - theme park
Goofyernmost
Well-Known Member
Yea, they did! But they fixed it before the end of the decade. I hope none of you think that this is the first time that lights have been out, animatronics have been out of commission, the place was dirty or things were in extreme need of repair. Even during the Disneyland 50th Anniversary parts of the entrance wall of Small World had a hole in it you could throw a basketball through. Not cut out but busted out. That was in 05 and during a time when Disney was trying to put a good face on everything. Also the time when everyone speaks so fondly of how great everything looked in DL.
If you are referring to adding new attractions, then I agree, but for WDW none of it was very old to begin with and new things were added just as a general growth plan to fill the parks.
Goofyernmost
Well-Known Member
As I am sure that your picks are there to support your particular view of what is happening. You see specific details and I see the overall picture. Two different people.
The Empress Lilly
Well-Known Member
Did you report it? WDW ought to check its rides themselves for stray garbage. But failing best option A, there is good option B. You can be outspoken and report that floating bottle to a CM, or at guest relations.
(I once reported that some poor little kid must've lost his hat and that it had been lying around the DHS hub for my entire stay now...)
aladdin2007
Well-Known Member
Whats the deal with Epcot running attractions with all the work lights on?? Have they totally lost it or what of what little they had left.
Goofyernmost
Well-Known Member
And I think that preventive maintenance is being done well. If it wasn't nothing would be operating. Let's not forget how old a lot of that stuff is. As it gets older it is only logical that things will tend to break down more often. The solution is to rip down the parks and rebuild them completely with all new stuff. There are some mechanical, physical problems that cannot be fixed before they happen. They don't exist in an obvious way until they fail. Imagine, for example, how many miles are on any given part of the omnimover in SSE. It has been making that continuous circle with very few stops during operating hours for 30 years. You can do preventive maintenance daily, as I'd be willing to bet they do, and something that was fine in the morning breaks in the afternoon. If anyone thinks that Prev. Maint. means that they just replace all parts before they break...they would be mistaken. It not only would be physically impossible, it would also be fiscal folly. IMHO!
Animaniac93-98
Well-Known Member
Great Movie Ride is another example.
Goofyernmost
Well-Known Member
I hope you don't think that by invest in the parks I mean to bulldoze it and put all new stuff in. By that, I mean what you are saying, bring current attractions up to current standards and requirements AND add new stuff on a regular basis. One a year until all 43 square miles is filled to capacity for what it can be purposed. Be that parks, wilderness areas, wetlands, etc. There is plenty of room to expand, do it.
thehowiet
Wilson King of Prussia
I saw Peoplemover cars hitting multiple times during the last week of June. I never really saw that before and couldn't get an answer from any of the CM's as to why it was happening. Sorry to hear you were almost injured. I wonder what's going on...
I also noticed the lack of LE pins in June. I usually try to bring a couple back for my old man but only saw a 4th of July LE pin. Any idea what's going on?
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