Spirited News, Observations & Thoughts IV

[ParentsOf4]

Well you just described why Pleasure Island died....

Let's not forget the drunkfest The Food & Wine Festival has become (especially on weekends) or what they are trying to do with the Flower & Garden Festival.

I guess what happens at CityWalk on weekends never bothered me because I see a bunch of young'uns acting like young'uns do. I'm pretty sure I'd join them if I was a few decades younger. But to see a bunch of overweight 40-somethings getting sloshed like they were 21-years-old again is just disturbing, especially when it happens at my once beloved Epcot.

 

[Clever Name]

Still playing catch up with this thread (taking forever...),...

FYI, if you continue to fall behind, your official minion card might be revoked. I'll warn you now that keeping up with real life is no excuse. You need to get your priorities in order. Perhaps you have friends or family members that can help you keep up to date with Spirit musings.

 

[Nemo14]

Let's not forget the drunkfest The Food & Wine Festival has become (especially on weekends) or what they are trying to do with the Flower & Garden Festival.

I guess what happens at CityWalk on weekends never bothered me because I see a bunch of young'uns acting like young'uns do. I'm pretty sure I'd join them if I was a few decades younger. But to see a bunch of overweight 40-somethings getting sloshed like they were 21-years-old again is just disturbing, especially when it happens at my once beloved Epcot.

^^
*triple like*

 

[The Empress Lilly]

If reading Epcot Explorer's tweeted reactions to his first trip to Disneyland doesn't warm your heart, then you ain't got no heart to warm, I say.

That's my way of saying he's sorta excited. (Rightfully so, it's Disneyland after all.)

It's heartwarming to read.

Much as WDW is my one and only true love, a trip to DL is a pilgrimage that every Disney fan ought to take at least once.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

Let's not forget the drunkfest The Food & Wine Festival has become (especially on weekends) or what they are trying to do with the Flower & Garden Festival.

I guess what happens at CityWalk on weekends never bothered me because I see a bunch of young'uns acting like young'uns do. I'm pretty sure I'd join them if I was a few decades younger. But to see a bunch of overweight 40-somethings getting sloshed like they were 21-years-old again is just disturbing, especially when it happens at my once beloved Epcot.

^^
*quadruple like*

 

[Millerworld]

You're on a roll!

Just adding some info with regard to the chip and pin system in Europe (and Canada)...it's great. Not only is it more secure, but all of the portable machines (namely in restaurants) are much more consumer friendly.

Unfortunately, chipped cards are incredibly rare in the US, and the ones you can get here are almost all "chip and sign," which is fairly confusing to merchants in other countries.

Just thought I'd throw that in there. Great series of posts.

Yes, they have been around here in Canada for a few years now. I did not know they are uncommon in the US until my trip a couple years ago. I thought it may be more commonplace by now. They do work well and the security is great!

 

[Goofyernmost]

I've had a Dole Whip once in my life (one of my more recent trips). I like Pineapple normally, but I didn't like Disney's Dole Whips at all. It lacked flavor and felt watered down. Maybe I caught it on an off day, but I much prefer to just make my own Pineapple drink treats at home.

Never had a turkey leg (nor will I likely anytime soon considering i've been a vegetarian since around 2005 or so), but I likely wouldn't want to have one anyways. It looks like food i'd see at a state fair, which had pretty much no appeal to me even when I did eat meat.

Try a Dole Whip Float...much more pineapple taste.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Let's not forget the drunkfest The Food & Wine Festival has become (especially on weekends) or what they are trying to do with the Flower & Garden Festival.

I guess what happens at CityWalk on weekends never bothered me because I see a bunch of young'uns acting like young'uns do. I'm pretty sure I'd join them if I was a few decades younger. But to see a bunch of overweight 40-somethings getting sloshed like they were 21-years-old again is just disturbing, especially when it happens at my once beloved Epcot.

Yes, but those teens require park admission, I'm referring to the kids that would hang out around PI/Citywalk and just cause trouble.

I dont mean the usual, typical drunks that have paid park admission or are actual employees of TWDC.

 

[TP2000]

If reading Epcot Explorer's tweeted reactions to his first trip to Disneyland doesn't warm your heart, then you ain't got no heart to warm, I say.

That's my way of saying he's sorta excited. (Rightfully so, it's Disneyland after all.)

All of us Californians over on the Disneyland section of this board have spent the last year reacting to and talking through the emotions that the WDW veterans have when they visit Disneyland and DCA. It's quite a lovefest over there for Disneyland, and I will admit it's fascinating to see the reactions East Coasters and Midwesterners have when they finally visit Disneyland for the first time.

Like this one going on this week. http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/differences-between-disneyland-and-wdw.870145/

It's funny how the "One Disney" Disney Parks era of the last five years seems to have brought the two American properties together on stupid little things like standardized napkins and cups or generic and bland marketing campaigns, while simultaneously pushing them very far apart on BIG things like DVC strategy, NextGen strategy (or lack thereof), or just building new rides (or not building new rides).

 

[flynnibus]

If reading Epcot Explorer's tweeted reactions to his first trip to Disneyland doesn't warm your heart, then you ain't got no heart to warm, I say.

That's my way of saying he's sorta excited. (Rightfully so, it's Disneyland after all.)

Sorry - the whole series of conversations is really disturbing to me. Some people really are obsessed... to the point of disturbing.

 

[unkadug]

Sorry - the whole series of conversations is really disturbing to me. Some people really are obsessed... to the point of disturbing.

??

 

[flynnibus]

??

the twitter discussions referenced...

 

[TalkingHead]

All of us Californians over on the Disneyland section of this board have spent the last year reacting to and talking through the emotions that the WDW veterans have when they visit Disneyland and DCA. It's quite a lovefest over there for Disneyland, and I will admit it's fascinating to see the reactions East Coasters and Midwesterners have when they finally visit Disneyland for the first time.

I visited DL in the 1990s and fell in love with the place. Some of EE's tweets reminded me of my first visit -- seeing the Matterhorn from a distance and that sort of thing.

You were mentioning the differences that have emerged even during the "One Disney" era -- how about this one: the concept of "full-day park" that DL absolutely mastered has never really been repeated in Disney's other properties. Even MK and Epcot pale in comparison to the embarrassment of riches that DL has.

I guess it's saying something that I would consider taking a cross-country trip to see DL the park, but I live in Florida and haven't wanted to visit WDW for a couple years.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Just a heads up, TWDC's 3Q earnings call is this Tuesday after the markets close.

 

[71jason]

Yes, but those teens require park admission, I'm referring to the kids that would hang out around PI/Citywalk and just cause trouble.

In fairness, even those issues were/are overblown. Security was/is as tight at those venues as I've seen anywhere.

But we've gone from a comparison of hotels to a comparison of parks to a comparison of open v. defunct nightlife areas. Which seems like a concerted effort to steer the conversation away from the Spirit's original, as yet unrefuted point--you see more trashy behavior in "high end" WDW hotels than you see in similar-market hotels.

That says a lot about a company that is a de facto hotel company in Orlando right now.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

So TDO is attempting to "control" guest flow between parks by only making FP+ a one park per day perk.
So they are actively trying to manipulate me into doing what they want. NOT what I want to do.
All of this seems so underhanded and manipulative. And seems to me to be counter intuitive in addressing the underlying issues of uneven guest flow and underperforming in-park sales.

Concerning guest flow between parks. The issue is that the MK is getting slammed mid afternoon.

Disney's counterintuitive reaction is to attempt to hold the guest "hostage" at a park where they have already done everything.
The intuitive reaction would be to increase attraction options at the underperforming parks.

Problem: sagging merchandise sales.

Disney's counterintuitive answer is to reinvent the wheel with a $2B proprietary swipe and pay system (because swiping a wrist band is infinitely easier that swiping a card).
The intuitive answer would be to offer compelling merchandise.

I predict 2014/2015 are going to defining years in the history of the Orlando Theme Park Industry.

 

[Hakunamatata]

So TDO is attempting to "control" guest flow between parks by only making FP+ a one park per day perk.
So they are actively trying to manipulate me into doing what they want. NOT what I want to do.
All of this seems so underhanded and manipulative. And seems to me to be counter intuitive in addressing the underlying issues of uneven guest flow and underperforming in-park sales.

Almost all companies you interact with tries to manipulate you in some form or fashion....

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Almost all companies you interact with tries to manipulate you in some form or fashion....

Universal is definitely manipulating me into spending more money. How? Exciting new attractions and compelling merchandise.
Disney ought to give it a try.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Up the road at Universal, you will not see anyone at dinner at The Palm in jeans shorts and flip-flops.

http://www.thepalm.com/index.php?forceMobile=0

 

[lazyboy97o]

It's funny how the "One Disney" Disney Parks era of the last five years seems to have brought the two American properties together on stupid little things like standardized napkins and cups or generic and bland marketing campaigns, while simultaneously pushing them very far apart on BIG things like DVC strategy, NextGen strategy (or lack thereof), or just building new rides (or not building new rides).

OneDisney is supposed to be about little things that were viewed as wasteful redundancies. It followed the collapse of the DisneyParks initiative which was more about the big picture items.