Spirited News, Observations & Thoughts IV

[JimboJones123]

It doesn't matter which continuity. WDW can't use any of those characters period except for Thor.

There is plenty of Thor already at Universal.

Norway?

 

[lazyboy97o]

It doesn't matter which continuity. WDW can't use any of those characters period except for Thor.

And why do you think Thor is outside of Universal's exclusivity?

 

[Captain Neo]

And why do you think Thor is outside of Universal's exclusivity?

Because he is public domain along with every other religious figure

 

[lazyboy97o]

Because he is public domain along with every other religious figure

Not Marvel's specific creation.

 

[Captain Neo]

Not Marvel's specific creation.

So just don't have him reference the other Avengers characters. There is really nothing specific about Marvel's version they even dropped the unique stuff like Donald Blake for the movie version that most people are now familiar with.

 

[skippyrules104]

Oh what else ... Has the lifestyler pretending be Mrs. Brigante been around?

What? Do you need Kevin Yee to vouch for me too? Why would I pretend to be Ricky's wife. That's so dumb.

 

[lazyboy97o]

So just don't have him reference the other Avengers characters. There is really nothing specific about Marvel's version they even dropped the unique stuff like Donald Blake for the movie version that most people are now familiar with.

It doesn't work like that.

 

[PeterAlt]

I was trying to make a point that no one caught on to or maybe just simply ignored.

Why does it seem like the West Coast Disney bloggers (ie Al Lutz and co.) seem to have an "inside" track of what the "plan of the day" is for DLR future attractions, while we on the East Coast have literally no idea what they're planning to do here. Yes, we have the multitudes of unsubstantiated rumors; and, our bloggers admit they have no clue and take educated guesses as to what may be store.

It's as if the West Coast bloggers have a mole within WDI or DLR with the continuously updated 411. For example, they reported Tron coming to DL's MK. Then they said it will be Iron Man instead. Then they said it was changed back to Tron. Then they said it was changed to Star Wars-themed attractions. They have been consistent with the Doors Coaster and Monstropolis for DCA. They aren't reporting rumors, but what they (Disney) are actually planning during the moment they (Al Lutz and Co.) are reporting it.

We're getting no inside information for WDW, but a lot of educated guesses and unsubstantiated rumors. I conclude that either we don't have insiders planted like they do, or there simply isn't anything to report. I fear the second reason and pray that's not the case. If it's the first reason, why don't we have people on the inside who can shed some light for us, like they have????

 

[Californian Elitist]

I was trying to make a point that no one caught on to or maybe just simply ignored.

Why does it seem like the West Coast Disney bloggers (ie Al Lutz and co.) seem to have an "inside" track of what the "plan of the day" is for DLR future attractions, while we on the East Coast have literally no idea what they're planning to do here. Yes, we have the multitudes of unsubstantiated rumors; and, our bloggers admit they have no clue and take educated guesses as to what may be store.

It's as if the West Coast bloggers have a mole within WDI or DLR with the continuously updated 411. For example, they reported Tron coming to DL's MK. Then they said it will be Iron Man instead. Then they said it was changed back to Tron. Then they said it was changed to Star Wars-themed attractions. They have been consistent with the Doors Coaster and Monstropolis for DCA. They aren't reporting rumors, but what they (Disney) are actually planning during the moment they (Al Lutz and Co.) are reporting it.

We're getting no inside information for WDW, but a lot of educated guesses and unsubstantiated rumors. I conclude that either we don't have insiders planted like they do, or there simply isn't anything to report. I fear the second reason and pray that's not the case. If it's the first reason, why don't we have people on the inside who can shed some light for us, like they have????

None of these rumors have been confirmed yet, so they're still rumors, technically. Let's say these rumors are true, the company is primarily located in California, which would somewhat explain the rumor mill thing you're talking about.

 

[PhotoDave219]

How would he? How many hours has he spent in a theme park not as part of a PR campaign? How often do you imagine he sneaks into a movie with the general public? Hell, how often do you think he even talks to people who plunk down $10 to see a movie or $95 to visit a theme park?

Here's a side tangent....

Take Two Interactive.... parent company of Rockstar Games.... just grossed $1B in less than a week from Grand Theft Auto 5, a game that cost in the neighborhood of $200M to make.

$1B in less than a week for interactive entertainment that is a fictional land, an interpretation of Southern California (Sorry Kids, No Disney style theme parks) where you can do all sorts of adult nonsense... that appeals to a cross section of society that I didn't think possible. People spend hours and days inside this immersive world & the online component hasn't even launched yet. Serious amounts of time like 2 or 3 entire days in the week its been out.

My point? ONE BILLION DOLLARS grossed of entertainment that takes people to a mythical land and immerses them totally in story through their environment. (Tangent: My favorite part of the game has been the in-game stock market and the stock manipulation missions. Made a LOT of money)

I'm pretty sure that Iger is out of touch with entertainment as a whole to realize the threat that is.

Entertainment is changing and New Fantasyland - while the polar opposite of GTAV - just doesnt cut it.

Quality is what this is about. Rather than cutting corners, they should be doubling down on quality and entertainment. Rather than focusing on the quarterly profits, be the best real-life theme park entertainment company out there.

If you're losing your crowd to other sources of entertainment, go back to do what you do best. Do it right. Make your fictional entertainment better than anyones. People dont go for gimmicks. They go for quality. And they'll keep coming back for quality.

 

[PhotoDave219]

BTW, I left off on page 483 and will likely not be attempting to catch up. But what was the hate on Miami? Granted it isn't one of my favorite places, but it does have some actual culture and natural beauty that O-Town doesn't.

I stopped my South Beach for an Hour on Friday. Damn thats pretty. Only accosted by ONE homeless guy.

 

[PeterAlt]

You could always have him do a big budget redo of The Living Seas and give him money to make deep sea documentaries.

I suggested that a few months back, but I was joking at the time. I am, actually, holding out hope that Avatar will be a success. Everything Cameron touches turns to gold. There hasn't been a single exception, and I don't think this will be either.

Cameron has a reputation of ing off studios with his insistence of over-bloating budgets as much as possible. Cameron always gets his way, or he will abandon the project (like he did with Spider-Man). His over-bloated budgets are always proven to be money well spent, as each box office gross on each of those projects will testify (even projects he will abandon such as a Spider-Man). He goes into every "next" project upping the ante of studio executive nerves by demanding ever increasing budgets over the last.

Think about it. This goes against Disney corporate culture of recent years. Disney has been very budget conscious with theme park projects. Even the so-called "big projects" have been value engineered to some degree (see FLE).

This sharp contrast in Disney and Lightstorm corporate culture could actually be a remedy of sorts. Imagine if Avatar becomes such a success that it makes AK attendance surpass HS at the expense of EC attendance? Lightstorm could be brought in to see what it can do to fix EC, including Living Seas and other attractions as well such as M:S.

Cameron as an Imagineer may actually help change Disney's corporate culture and put things back in check. I'm not saying Disney should spend lots of money foolhardily. I'm saying they will spend lots more on projects that are spiritually inspired and exciting not for the sake of doing some project for the sake of routine doings of projects. Do I make sense?

EDIT - This isn't the first time Cameron has been directly involved in designing theme park attractions. He directed Terminator 3D at USO. Look at how successful that has been!

 

[PeterAlt]

Derail THIS thread? Was that sarcasm?

Reviewing multiple threads on this site at the current time and I am picking up on some rumblings regarding the Star Wars and Avatar additions/expansions. Is there a growing concenses that some official announcements are imminent? Only asking cause I noticed some things hinted at on this thread along with some more specific information reported by marni on another thread.

Bob Iger himself said there was announcement to be made over the next several months concerning new investments in domestic theme park business. Additionally, WDI basically said without actually saying (by giving hints of a project they're working on called Orange Harvest - a dead giveaway for both Star Wars and Florida) that they are working on Star Wars land at the D23 convention. Everything else is rumor and conjecture.

 

[PeterAlt]

Spirited Musings:

Is there really a thread here on LotR coming to TPFKaTD-MGMS? I mean REALLY????!!!

Did we call DoA on Cars Land too soon? Yes, there seems to be life in the corpse unless someone is playing the set up game. We call this one 'developing'.

The OLC is not happy with WDI these days. Yes, that is why there will be no Cars Land in Tokyo (thankfully). The OLC isn't really happy with Disney at all, right now. They've been pushed hard on everything from One Disney to MM+/NGE and want no part of any of it since they run their parks to a standard Disney is simply unwilling, or more accurately incapable of doing.

I was not overly happy with the Emmys on Sunday (although CBS was). It was a dull boring affair and I almost thought they were doing so because I had to miss them for the first time since 2001. They got best drama and best comedy right (the biggies as I call them) and I was happy for Anna Gunn and Jim Parsons, but beyond that there were a whole lot of HUHS!!?!?? And the morbid focus on death and the tacky way it was done is all on my good friends at the Academy.

TV season started and I still am enjoying Sleepy Hollow and love Black List, but Spader would be great in an adult diaper commercial. Do not get what the hype beyond it being MARVEL!!!!!!!!! For Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. It wasn't bad, but wasn't particularly good either. Same could be said for the Goldbergs. I'll give them both a few more chances.

Back to WDW ... Just read @KevinYee 's column on more for less at MNSSHP. Thought it was honest and straight forward. This is how Disney operates today and this is why guests attempt to lie, cheat and steal to even the playing field whether by stealing soda or privileges for the disabled or simply walking out of the Emporium without paying or even complaining about a perfectly fine meal to get it comped. Do I think it is right? Not at all. ... Do I think it is understandable? Absolutely. You screw folks enough and you have to expect that a portion of them are going to turn around and give it to you hard.

So, Iger's big sales job yesterday was Avatar and MAGIC bands. What another glorious decade of utter mediocrity WDW guests have to look forward to.

Is George Kalogridis still in hiding?

Sorry, gushing UNI fanbois but I do not believe that this is the best HHNs ever or that every house is fantastic. Honestly, the event got so repetitive that I skipped it in 2009, swore I wasn't sane for returning in 2010 and then had a great time in 2011. I can't really rate last year's event because I went during a four-hour monsoon. But I am looking forward to this year's event. It would be great if they could burn a Disney Lifestyler every night, though.

While not a fan of any NFL team, I must admit to enjoy seeing the Fins at 3-0, while teams such as the Steelers, Giants and Redskins are at the opposite end of the spectrum.

Disney absolutely is delusional in thinking that I'd ever pay $89 to stay at the when fanb....OK, no jokes. That rate is a joke all its own.

I heard my thread was temporarily turned into the of the moment stroller and ECV bashfest and I must say I approve. When at the Disney international parks you see almost no ECVs (and people in them have obvious issues and don't weigh 458 pounds) and far less strollers. When kids reach walking age, they walk. Very simply. They aren't coddled like American brats are. Unless a child has a REAL disability, there is no excuse for a child over the age of say 5 being pushed around all day except bad, lazy parents. Hey, you know who you are. They gave your children functioning legs so they could walk with them. Think about that when you see a child being pushed around because they can't walk and they never will.

Just wondering -

Is there a Universal in Japan? I read that the OLC wants to put additional - non Disney - theme park adjoining TDL and TDS. If there's no Universal there yet, this could be the OLC's third park. If so, they will now have access to Universal Creative. I wonder if they (UC) would be allowed to design attractions for OLC's current Disney parks as well... Just think of it... UC designing attractions for a non-Disney owned Disney theme park because WDI can't get their act together in a way acceptable to the OLC, and because the OLC would now has access to Universal franchises and UC because of a Universal theme park franchise agreement...

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Just wondering -

Is there a Universal in Japan? I read that the OLC wants to put additional - non Disney - theme park adjoining TDL and TDS. If there's no Universal there yet, this could be the OLC's third park. If so, they will now have access to Universal Creative. I wonder if they (UC) would be allowed to design attractions for OLC's current Disney parks as well... Just think of it... UC designing attractions for a non-Disney owned Disney theme park because WDI can't get their act together in a way acceptable to the OLC, and because the OLC would now has access to Universal franchises and UC because of a Universal theme park franchise agreement...

Universal has a resort in Osaka.

 

[SirLink]

Presumably the contract has some sort of penalty clause for failing to execute... because a name like Cameron would probably have forced a cut of merch sales, etc. So failing to execute would mean lost revenues for him.. so probably some huge lump sum penalty for either party to backout. But still... lump sums are generally better for the balance sheet than lethargic projects sucking up resources. Slow boat in WDI is no biggie.. but once they put something in the parks... that's a different game.

The only benefit would be use this to suck funds in to R+D, then when the board cancels said project they at least have R+D which that work can then be used on other projects. Such as ride systems etc.

 

[SirLink]

It doesn't matter which continuity. WDW can't use any of those characters period except for Thor.

WDW CAN'T USE ANY Marvel characters which have been part of Avengers - which means they have no access to any Marvel characters, as every character as appeared in The Avengers at one point or another.

 

[SirLink]

Here's a side tangent....

Take Two Interactive.... parent company of Rockstar Games.... just grossed $1B in less than a week from Grand Theft Auto 5, a game that cost in the neighborhood of $200M to make.

$1B in less than a week for interactive entertainment that is a fictional land, an interpretation of Southern California (Sorry Kids, No Disney style theme parks) where you can do all sorts of adult nonsense... that appeals to a cross section of society that I didn't think possible. People spend hours and days inside this immersive world & the online component hasn't even launched yet. Serious amounts of time like 2 or 3 entire days in the week its been out.

My point? ONE BILLION DOLLARS grossed of entertainment that takes people to a mythical land and immerses them totally in story through their environment. (Tangent: My favorite part of the game has been the in-game stock market and the stock manipulation missions. Made a LOT of money)

I'm pretty sure that Iger is out of touch with entertainment as a whole to realize the threat that is.

Entertainment is changing and New Fantasyland - while the polar opposite of GTAV - just doesnt cut it.

Quality is what this is about. Rather than cutting corners, they should be doubling down on quality and entertainment. Rather than focusing on the quarterly profits, be the best real-life theme park entertainment company out there.

If you're losing your crowd to other sources of entertainment, go back to do what you do best. Do it right. Make your fictional entertainment better than anyones. People dont go for gimmicks. They go for quality. And they'll keep coming back for quality.

Cost a wee bit more to make than $200m closer to $300m. But your overall point still stands, but that goes back to how Houser brothers write and produce. They are effectively Take 2's : John Lasseter, and even give them the same ability to manage that subsidiary the way they feel.

I will add look at The Lone Ranger,then look at the way the Houser brothers helped to dramatically change Rockstar San Diego from putting out alright racers, to helping to produce the best Western of our generation: Red Dead Redemption with better writing again thanks again to Dan Houser. Also made more money than The Lone Ranger ever will within its first month and costing only a little over $100m to make as well.

 

[Funmeister]

Just wondering -

Is there a Universal in Japan? I read that the OLC wants to put additional - non Disney - theme park adjoining TDL and TDS. If there's no Universal there yet, this could be the OLC's third park. If so, they will now have access to Universal Creative. I wonder if they (UC) would be allowed to design attractions for OLC's current Disney parks as well... Just think of it... UC designing attractions for a non-Disney owned Disney theme park because WDI can't get their act together in a way acceptable to the OLC, and because the OLC would now has access to Universal franchises and UC because of a Universal theme park franchise agreement...

You know you could have saved time and visited Google.com and typed "Universal Studios Japan."

 

[Soarin' Over Pgh]

Here's a side tangent....

Take Two Interactive.... parent company of Rockstar Games.... just grossed $1B in less than a week from Grand Theft Auto 5, a game that cost in the neighborhood of $200M to make.

$1B in less than a week for interactive entertainment that is a fictional land, an interpretation of Southern California (Sorry Kids, No Disney style theme parks) where you can do all sorts of adult nonsense... that appeals to a cross section of society that I didn't think possible. People spend hours and days inside this immersive world & the online component hasn't even launched yet. Serious amounts of time like 2 or 3 entire days in the week its been out.

My point? ONE BILLION DOLLARS grossed of entertainment that takes people to a mythical land and immerses them totally in story through their environment. (Tangent: My favorite part of the game has been the in-game stock market and the stock manipulation missions. Made a LOT of money)

I'm pretty sure that Iger is out of touch with entertainment as a whole to realize the threat that is.

Entertainment is changing and New Fantasyland - while the polar opposite of GTAV - just doesnt cut it.

Quality is what this is about. Rather than cutting corners, they should be doubling down on quality and entertainment. Rather than focusing on the quarterly profits, be the best real-life theme park entertainment company out there.

If you're losing your crowd to other sources of entertainment, go back to do what you do best. Do it right. Make your fictional entertainment better than anyones. People dont go for gimmicks. They go for quality. And they'll keep coming back for quality.

Trevor makes the game for me. The best character I've seen in a while.

I like that the cars don't blow up after you've wrecked them to bits, but now just stall and die.

Still not exactly sure how you've managed to compare gta to fle but congrats, it worked!