Spirited News, Observations & Thoughts IV

[Californian Elitist]

Al Lutz is a sort of "Just the Facts" sort of guy, with his own special flare for reporting Disney news. Thanks to him terms like "sharp pencil boys" became part of the lingo.

WDW74 has a different style, such as suggesting that I stand in front of a monorail, or that what folks factually know isn't important. I get it that his style is different, there's a whole lot of personal info in the "conversation", and currently little info and he is heavily biased against Disney, and sometimes the only goal seems to be to get everybody to conclude that WDW is horrible. He really never liked MagicBands/NextGen (he really hates them), so I'm kinda skeptical of these outlandish reports of expenditures on MagicBands . . . especially since Disney is pleased with how they are being implemented and the increased spending.

If NextGen pays for itself, and it looks like it will, then it doesn't really effect the budget for new lands/attractions, which is what we all want . . .

Be honest, you're skeptical of every dang thing anyone has to say around here. And I mean EVERYTHING.

If you're not a fan '74's posts, then why do you even bother clicking on his threads to waste your time? This question is for all the Spirit haters.

 

[Pixiedustmaker]

Here is what I know about the Club 33 expansion (someone in my family is a member):

We were told a while ago that the trophy room was history, would become part of the kitchen.
We would get advance notice when the construction would happen and that the club would remain open for reservations.
Miceage seems to have gotten some stuff wrong. The "french elevator" was copied by WDI when Walt tried to buy the original one in France, but the owner wouldn't part with it. Same thing with the chandeliers in the dinning room, WDI fabricated two of them (the one in the middle is the original, one waitress checked by bringing in a ladder).
There is a step to the elevator . . . why not just make it a slope? 100% makes no sense that they would trash this area of Club 33, and make it a "backstage" area.
There is cool stuff near the trophy room, like a two-way mirror Walt installed (manager said she lost the key!), plus the vulture and what is left of the microphones. Walt entertained Anaheim City council at Club 33 before he died.
I've got pictures of prep work done on bridge from Court of Angels (dedicated to a CM who died from a type of cancer), months before this hit the net.
The old buffet was much better, and they took out the turkey slices recently (past year or so) . . .for some reason I really liked those.

 

[WDW1974]

Al Lutz is a sort of "Just the Facts" sort of guy, with his own special flare for reporting Disney news. Thanks to him terms like "sharp pencil boys" became part of the lingo.

WDW74 has a different style, such as suggesting that I stand in front of a monorail, or that what folks factually know isn't important. I get it that his style is different, there's a whole lot of personal info in the "conversation", and currently little info and he is heavily biased against Disney, and sometimes the only goal seems to be to get everybody to conclude that WDW is horrible. He really never liked MagicBands/NextGen (he really hates them), so I'm kinda skeptical of these outlandish reports of expenditures on MagicBands . . . especially since Disney is pleased with how they are being implemented and the increased spending.

If NextGen pays for itself, and it looks like it will, then it doesn't really effect the budget for new lands/attractions, which is what we all want . . .

But you opt to lie about me and that, my friend, will not be tolerated. I have never stated that WDW is horrible. And I don't hate NGE, just find it a horrible waste of a company's funds.

There has been no increase in spending due to the bands, another LIE of yours, except when CM testing when folks were specifically told to spend company funds with the bands.

NGE has already taken money away from attractions and physical infrastructure upgrades, so again what you are saying is again total BS. But that is your purpose here isn,t it?

 

[Pixiedustmaker]

Every bit of information to come out about NGE suggests you are wrong by multiple orders of magnitude.

Go ahead and give me a source. I've read financial stuff that says $900 million for NextGen in all the parks, and comments from Disney brass that NextGen is a success.

 

[RyenDeckard]

Go ahead and give me a source. I've read financial stuff that says $900 million for NextGen in all the parks, and comments from Disney brass that NextGen is a success.

Don't post a request for sources when we're still waiting for your sources from four pages ago.

 

[Pixiedustmaker]

But you opt to lie about me and that, my friend, will not be tolerated. I have never stated that WDW is horrible. And I don't hate NGE, just find it a horrible waste of a company's funds.

There has been no increase in spending due to the bands, another LIE of yours, except when CM testing when folks were specifically told to spend company funds with the bands.

NGE has already taken money away from attractions and physical infrastructure upgrades, so again what you are saying is again total BS. But that is your purpose here isn,t it?

Insults, histrionics, and cliches aside, Staggs already talked about how MagicBands are bringing in more money.

I'm not upset because I'm not emotionally invested in this issue, I just know what I read.

 

[manutdfan1]

Be honest, you're skeptical of every dang thing anyone has to say around here. And I mean EVERYTHING.

If you're not a fan '74's posts, then why do you even bother clicking on his threads to waste your time? This question is for all the Spirit haters.

Let me be clear about my last post... I'm not a @WDW1974 hater AT ALL. In fact, he's one of the few reasons I come to WDWMagic. I just don't know why he decided to jump down my throat for being excited about the "new and transformative information" he hyped and said was coming to this thread.

 

[RyenDeckard]

Insults, histrionics, and cliches aside, Staggs already talked about how MagicBands are bringing in more money.

I'm not upset because I'm not emotionally invested in this issue, I just know what I read.

Isn't Staggs a Disney executive with a lot to lose if NGE fails?

That's like quoting Fox News saying that Republican Candidate #11 is better for the country than Other Candidate #11

Let me be clear about my last post... I'm not a @WDW1974 hater AT ALL. In fact, he's one of the few reasons I come to WDWMagic. I just don't know why he decided to jump down my throat for being excited about the "new and transformative information" he hyped and said was coming to this thread.

Spirit's post are the only reason I visit these forums anymore, and even I know he really like riding his high horse/might have a bit of a temper issue.

I love him and his posts but that's just what I've noticed.

 

[WDW1974]

and the poo-poo'ing continues lol

ya know... a lot of people thought Disneyland was a disaster initially too

Comparing creating one of the greatest aspects of family themed entertainment to a giant data-mining boondoggle' seriously ...sometimes I sit back and think Disney fans and Americans in general are getting exactly what they deserve.

Then, I realize I am one of those folks who is going along for the mass screwings too.

 

[marni1971]

Source?

The original $900 million, or whatever, was for all Disney parks. The tech involved has been out there a while, in addition, WDW already has a massive IT workforce. Some features haven't even been added yet for WDW, the system is easily scaleable to add customized features. They were going to put RFID in grocery stores, it ain't even close to $1 billion for WDW.

Remember decades ago how a laptop costed $3,500 and with inflation that is more today, and now how they're much less and so, so, so, much more powerful?

Source? People who know. As if I'm going to name names. Who know more than you'll read in the popular press.

WDWs budget alone has skyrocketed. Triple your original figure.

 

[Pixiedustmaker]

Don't post a request for sources when we're still waiting for your sources from four pages ago.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-...stband-boosts-sales-in-disney-world-test.html

Common sense also says that MagicBands which make spending money easier, and shorter lines at shops, means more stuff sold. There is also increased efficiency and a new way for guests to experience the parks.

 

[Pixiedustmaker]

RFID chips are cheap, readers less so, and the infrastructure to support RFID information and properly categorize it is expensive.
.

A simple RFID reader costs $29.95. Even if the more expensive ones cost $400 who cares? They could put 100 of them in a single park for $40,000 dollars . . . they were going to put these in supermarkets, no way $1 billion for WDW.

https://www.sparkfun.com/products/8628

 

[WDW1974]

Let me be clear about my last post... I'm not a @WDW1974 hater AT ALL. In fact, he's one of the few reasons I come to WDWMagic. I just don't know why he decided to jump down my throat for being excited about the "new and transformative information" he hyped and said was coming to this thread.

I am sorry about that, but I think people have misguided views of what info I should be sharing and how ...and what I see right now is a lot of bull that doesn,t allow for the good stuff to get debated.

Maybe I should just leave this thread and let y'all have after it for another 89 pages and then when you're all tuckered out return with some real substance?

 

[Pixiedustmaker]

Isn't Staggs a Disney executive with a lot to lose if NGE fails?

That's like quoting Fox News saying that Republican Candidate #11 is better for the country than Other Candidate #11



Spirit's post are the only reason I visit these forums anymore, and even I know he really like riding his high horse/might have a bit of a temper issue.

I love him and his posts but that's just what I've noticed.

Staggs does have a vested interest, true, but I don't see why'd he'd blatantly lie about the project. Seems plain ole' common sense that if you give guests a device which makes visting the park fun, and easier to spend money, improves efficiency (no more long lines and customers giving up buying stuff), then you make more money.

 

[Captain Neo]

Was this whole NGE thing created by WDI or a different division?

 

[Captain Neo]

Eddie Sotto is polite, very generous with his time, and answers most question concisely, so he doesn't have to "dictate" what goes on in his thread, people respect him for sharing his insights.

WDW74', we love inside info, obviously, but people will naturally take offense if you insult them, and taunt them with what info you may have. There were some . . . rumors regarding a massive DHS project announcement at D23, despite 2015 being the year when WDW will likely re-evaluate in terms of the property's goals and needs. Now we have odd ball reports about NextGen which don't make sense, at least to me, and are in stark contrast to what has been reported in the news, and given common sense estimates of NextGen based on the opinions of those who have some computer programing/electrical engineering experience.

Because if it's reported in the news it MUST be true. Right guys?

*facepalm*

 

[Longhairbear]

I am sorry about that, but I think people have misguided views of what info I should be sharing and how ...and what I see right now is a lot of bull that doesn,t allow for the good stuff to get debated.

Maybe I should just leave this thread and let y'all have after it for another 89 pages and then when you're all tuckered out return with some real substance?


All I know is I should have been in bed 90 minutes ago and I am arguing with a special needs poster simply here to attack me (not you). Does Sotto put up with this **** or does the fact he was an Imagineer a century ago allow him to simply dictate all that goes on in his thread?

The one you are arguing with I have on ignore, and the main reason I stopped reading Sotto's thread.

 

[WDW1974]

Was this whole NGE thing created by WDI or a different division?

Jay Rasulo and Nick Franklin's baby, conceived in 2007 and sold to the Board 18 months later.

 

[Bolna]

@WDW1974 thanks for your info about Portofino Bay (can't find the post anymore to quote it as it seems to be hidden in the many pages). There was some discussion following it about whether there is a bubble at Universal. Some saying there isn't but to me it feels like with all the close proximity of hotels, Citywalk and the parks there would be even more of a bubble feel. So what was your experience?

That is actually one thing that always appealed to me at the Universal setup. It reminds me of DLP, where I think the setup is brilliant. Or were brilliant if Disney Village were maintained properly. I just love being able to walk everywhere. To me it seems that Universal is succeeding at this model much more than DLP.

 

[WDW1974]

This thread is seriously making me sad.


@WDW1974 please give us a glimmer of hope. Some tidbit of info. Please. Before we all drink ourselves to death.

My hope is that Disney starts paying attention to everything UNI is doing, because they are doing it the right way, the smart way, the old Disney way. And it is still working and will always work because ultimately having billions in new cutting edge product will beat being able to book a ride on PotC two months out or order your Pecos Bill Cafe lunch on your idiot phone.

, you have no idea how angry I am for being polite and not interrupting Georgie K's BBQ dinner last weekend. It's not like we're strangers ... anything but!