Spirited News, Observations & Thoughts IV

[The Visionary Soul]

Not really...it's all about advertising and protecting your current status quo.

Gambling is legal in AC so they advertise where the people are.

Gambling is illegal in Florida and they don't want their share of tourism dollars being lost to the gambling monopolies.

I'd say that would be true, except that Disney has no gaming on its cruise ships, and that's a big deal. Disney has tried to portray a very anti-gaming image, and the fact that they let some Disney (really Marvel and LucasFilm, but you get the idea) branded slots exist anywhere doesn't bode well for any legal battles they would enter to try and keep gaming out of Orlando.

 

[unkadug]

I'd say that would be true, except that Disney has no gaming on its cruise ships, and that's a big deal. Disney has tried to portray a very anti-gaming image, and the fact that they let some Disney (really Marvel and LucasFilm, but you get the idea) branded slots exist anywhere doesn't bode well for any legal battles they would enter to try and keep gaming out of Orlando.

Disney would not use legal battles anyway to keep gambling out...they would use politics.

 

[wogwog]

Not really...it's all about advertising and protecting your current status quo.

Gambling is legal in AC so they advertise where the people are.

Gambling is illegal in Florida and they don't want their share of tourism dollars being lost to the gambling monopolies.

Gambling is not illegal in Florida. Hard Rock has a very large Casino Resort near Ft. Lauderdale and another I think even bigger one in or near Tampa. Disney does a lot of $$$ lobby $$$ work with Florida politicians to keep gambling out of central Florida. They contribute to both major parties who do the bidding of Disney.

 

[StageFrenzy]

Gambling is not illegal in Florida. Hard Rock has a very large Casino Resort near Ft. Lauderdale and another I think even bigger one in or near Tampa. Disney does a lot of $$$ lobby $$$ work with Florida politicians to keep gambling out of central Florida. They contribute to both major parties who do the bidding of Disney.

Technically those aren't in Florida, however we have a state lotto and many dog tracks have poker rooms.

 

[unkadug]

In Alabama (where I live), gambling is illegal. However, the Indians have several highly successful casinos operating legally....much to the chagrin of the politicians who can do nothing about it since they are on federally protected lands.

Now there have been legal battles regarding non-Indian casinos that were shut down. These casinos were operating slot machines and calling it Bingo!

 

[DisneyWall-E]

They were bingo machines dressed up like slot machines. They both got the same result from different ways

 

[DisneyWall-E]

I know because I worked at one. and no I didn't gamble. I don't make enough too waist it like that

 

[71jason]

Went to IoA for first time in two months today. Looking at the fountains, steam, metal work, launch tunnel ... much like Food & Wine or politicians, people see what they want to see. I don't know how a big green mountain would somehow better capture the Hulk.

ETA: The decor, architecture, even the background music of Confiscos--an underrated restaurant most guests walk right past--suggest a backstory on a par with Master Gracie or Merriweather Adam Pleasure. But IoA is just a glorified Six Flags.

 

[Darth Sidious]

Went to IoA for first time in two months today. Looking at the fountains, steam, metal work, launch tunnel ... much like Food & Wine or politicians, people see what they want to see. I don't know how a big green mountain would somehow better capture the Hulk.

ETA: The decor, architecture, even the background music of Confiscos--an underrated restaurant most guests walk right past--suggest a backstory on a par with Master Gracie or Merriweather Adam Pleasure. But IoA is just a glorified Six Flags.

I think The Hulk is better captured via a non-coaster ride system.

 

[TalkingHead]

I think The Hulk is better captured via a non-coaster ride system.

Like a Star Tours-style flight simulator.

 

[Bairstow]

But IoA is just a glorified Six Flags.

When you get right down to it, so is every Disney park.

 

[71jason]

I think The Hulk is better captured via a non-coaster ride system.

I disagree. The kinetic energy, the feeling of raw power, the loud noise--you can't get that with an omnimover. There's more than one way to represent something than an animatronic. Does all art have to be photorealistic?

The Hulk needs to be larger than life.

 

[The Visionary Soul]

Disney would not use legal battles anyway to keep gambling out...they would use politics.

I don't think it bodes well for any political battles either.

 

[Darth Sidious]

I disagree. The kinetic energy, the feeling of raw power, the loud noise--you can't get that with an omnimover. There's more than one way to represent something than an animatronic. Does all art have to be photorealistic?

The Hulk needs to be larger than life.

I would say there is potential for a ride like Potter with some movement flexibility within show scenes. The movement can be quick and feel powerful. When I think of The Hulk coaster currently, I can't help but think it would be better suited for Iron Man, where flight is underscored. In short I just think The Hulk is a great character that could really deliver if done differently.

 

[BrianLo]

Crystal Wings has got to be the most elaborate theme-ing ever done for a mega coaster, I only wish the pylons themselves were themed to integrate with the "ancient citadel" look. It's like you've told 90% of the story, but left off the ending.

By the way, Crystal Wings has been repainted yellow/grey and the quality of the mountain leaves something to be desired up close. It's now like 70% of the way there. The park ops are atrocious and love running only one train... super fun coaster though!



Edit: Never-mind, beaten to the punch!

Plus, since the picture I posted was taken Happy Valley has re-painted Crystal Wing's track from the original pink and orange to a blue and yellow that no longer blends into the surrounding rock work.

 

[PhotoDave219]

I had heart problems as a kid. But I was born in 1961 and before 5 years of age I had problems. My family tell me I would have problems breathing. I used to take a medicine as a kid till I was about 10 or 11 yrs old they problem went away for some reason.
I was always a worrier as a kid and adult " Thanks Mom" Any way I had a long career in Television News and Radio for 25 years. I directed TV Newscast from 18 till I was 39. It was a very stressful job. But it was a good kinda stress. I loved what I did and I was damn good at it. Then about 2 years before I left that. I was starting to have the rhythm problems again it would come and go and the doctors would never find a problem when I would go to them. At the last 4 years of my Career. I was offered everything I had worked for basically hand to me. But it was in DC to work. I was in DC 4 days before 9/11. Ever have that feeling in your gut. You know something is wrong. I knew the Thursday before 9/11 .
The next day on Friday was my interview I got the job. But the thing was I was leaving the only place I knew and the people I worked with. I was born and raised in Amarillo Texas till I moved to DC. I moved to DC 3 weeks after 9/11 . It was a very stressful situation. In the 1st year I became a small fish in a large pond and I was having to reprove what I did. Instead of being a person I became a # in a company of 400 people. I went to work for XM Satellite Radio. But also during that time we had the Anthrax scare. The post office where that happened was 3 blocks from where I worked. In the same year we had the sniper shooting. The little boy that was shot at the school. That school was 1 mile away from our home and we drove by that school every day.
It was just a scary and stressful situation. Going to get gas for the car or anything outside you walked in a zig zag line to just hopefully avoid being shot.
We were at WDW the week they caught the people that did it. We were having a great time I was doing ok. But this was in June of 2002 when this happened I had just ridden MS and it was hot and humid.
When I got off I felt my chest getting real tight and I could not breath. I tried to sit down and I thought ok this just doesn't feel right. My chest felt like someone had stuck knife in it and my partner was asking for help and I over heard someone screaming get him so help I think he's having a heart attack. With a less than a minute or so a person from Disney not a cast ember but I guess their boss had gotten me to the back area of the park and a ambulance was called and I was on my way. I was hurting so bad. I was taken there to Celebration Hospital and when the lifted me up on the bed in the emergency room It happened . I don't know from there it just hurt and I passed out. I though I was gonna die.
I woke up a later i don't know how long I was out but i was in ICU for 4 days and they were trying to figure what happened the said I had a heart attack. But could not figure out why. I stayed 4 days and like my previous post. They took care of us. I was in pain for 2 days the breathing problems and the chest pain was terrible. I was given morphine shots when ever I needed them and other things to lesson my stress. I went back to DC and I stayed till 2005 and moved to Florida. I was still under the stress. I had everything to gain but I also had everything to lose at the job. As with most people we identify with our work and XM was a great opportunity.

I stayed for the money I had a great paying job that paid me $65000.00 a year stock options and other great benefits . But after 3 and half years I knew it was time to go. I was smart enough our lucky enough to walk away with about $200.000 cash from my stock options and 401K. I moved to Florida and it was rough. Even though I had the money to take it easy. I worked for about another 3 years but it was at another stressful job. I worked as a shift supervisor for CVS and on every Tuesday morning me and 3 other people would have to unload an a semi tractor of merchandise and put it all out that was a 14 hr day. That just made it worse. I had the heart problem taken care of. But also at the same time I developed 3rd stage kidney and liver disease. But I take my meds and that as leveled off. But I'm living proof that stress can and will do damage and will kill you. The worst of it all I had to quit working at age 47 and file for disability. That took 2 years to get and I was stress out over that too. I had worked basically full time from age 13 to age 47 and I didn't know what to do. I get a decent amount of Disability and my back pay helped rebuild our savings and all that. But now. I have a purpose. To let everyone know that when the chips are down and your back is up against the wall. Don't give up and best of all I found that God is there and there is a reason for me to be here. n. Sorry for the long post and I know this is boring to most of you. I love my Disney and WDW . But for now I just see them not taking care of the Legacy of Walt Disney and yes it is a public Company and they have shareholders to take care of. But since 1997 and AK. They have let it stagnate and it has become a big money trap .

For a second there, I thought you were Eric Logan.

 

[RSoxNo1]

I think The Hulk is better captured via a non-coaster ride system.

I think the launch in The Hulk would have worked a lot better if the lift hill had dark ride components like The Mummy.

 

[Bairstow]

I think the launch in The Hulk would have worked a lot better if the lift hill had dark ride components like The Mummy.

Well there are lighting and sound effects in there. Wasn't there supposed to be LN2 originally?

I don't think Hulk's launch tube needed to be better themed; it is, after all, supposed to be a "gamma tunnel" or somesuch.
What I do think the attraction could use is some better effects on the last 1/3 of the ride, after the second vertical loop and especially after the trim brakes. The coaster starts really starts to lose steam and interest in that little backstage area it travels through and some simple sets of buildings or busted up tanks or whatever could really add some interest here. You know what building that Rip Ride Rockit "bursts" through? This is exactly what a "hulk" coaster should be doing, complete with a nice roaring, breaking sound effect and possibly some mist as the train rams through it.

 

[articos]

We were discussing Dueling Dragons/Dragon Challenge's exposed track and entrance/queue. I thought if you had time you may be interested in sharing your perspective.

Haven't had time to read back, but will try to. Short answer: when IOA was built, Dragons fit well. We have to make choices when dealing with iron - a coaster means a lot of area, which means if you want to theme the coaster itself, and do it properly, $$$. A choice was made that I think worked well back then - theme the coasters themselves, use color and the fiberglass sculpts as part and parcel to the story of the two dragons dueling each other, and do a killer queue, since guests will spend most of their time there, as opposed to being on the ride. I think that was a good choice at the time. The ruined castle entry was very well done. Now, Dragons has lost its identity somewhat, and is completely overshadowed by the absolutely incredible theming that Potter surrounds it with. But it's difficult to fix that - you really can't go back into a coaster track and just build scenic around it on the fly. It takes a lot of time, engineering and money. Then it takes a lot of time and testing. And you have to pray none of your measurements are off or something was fabricated improperly...and anything like this adds a whole new element of risk and safety factors that have to be constantly maintained and monitored.

There are great coasters that incorporate the track into the environment. That's very, very expensive - you are taking an iron ride that isn't cheap, but is generally bought to give the most bang for the buck, and then tripling your cost with scenic and environmental add-on. Even more difficult and expensive to do after the fact. Also, you have to look at the cost benefit for coasters - most people are on them for 2 minutes or less, and they're getting the thrill from the speed, drops, rolls, launch, etc. Adding elaborate scenic that you don't really get a great view of while on the ride isn't the best use of the limited budgets we have for these rides. Which is why Dragons original queue was elaborate - it was more than most any other coaster had done anywhere else, and that's what people would spend time in noticing.

So...my off the cuff comments: when built, great. Now, could be better, but I understand why DC is the way it is.

Yes, Hulk has/had LN2 fx.

 

[HakunaMatata89]

tech

Technically those aren't in Florida, however we have a state lotto and many dog tracks have poker rooms.

what do you mean? the hard rock's are clearly in florida and ive been to the one down south and you can gamble ?

dog tracks in florida tend to have poker rooms so i'll agree with you on that part but i don't get what you were talking about with the hard rocks not technically being in florida, unless you quoted the wrong post.