Spirited News, Observations & Thoughts Tres

[the.dreamfinder]

Hopefully while he is still around so we're not stuck with Disney running around in circles trying to emulate Iger's "successful" model.

Well if we get KK, it will end. Kathleen is close to Steven and likely harbors similar if not identical sentiments.

 

[WDW1974]

Does Narcoosee's still serve alligator pate? I haven't eaten there since the early 90's (and became a vegetarian around 2005 so am unlikely to eat that again anytime soon), but I remember having that. Was just curious. Remember Narcoosee's being a nice place to eat, i'm glad to hear from you that it's still good nowadays.

I have no idea. And, to be fair, I haven't dined there in about five years now.

As to the gator question I remember my last meal at the Grand Flo Cafe and educating the staff that gator was on the original menu when the place opened when none other than WDW Prez George Kalogridis was the resort's first head of food and beverage!

 

[WDW1974]

Now what will Lee have for dinner?

I dunno (likely possum kabobs), but he was GREATLY missed at lunch today!

 

[WDW1974]

Using it to make turtle soup doesn't count.

You are confusing me with @Lee!

 

[WDW1974]

On your recent trip, name your best and worst experience you had while there!

Best: the company I kept (although I know that doesn't count for your query, but is true nonetheless) ... so after that and sticking with WDW (you didn't want me to include DCL, UNI/IOA, SW/BGT did you?) I would say the best experience beyond staying again at the amazing DAK Lodge would have to be the Wild Africa Trek at DAK.

Worst: this is easy because the trip was wonderful, so there's only one -- dinner at BoG (DO NOT EAT HERE!!!)

 

[TalkingHead]

All this talk of summer movies...

The only movie I've wanted to see is Before Midnight. I love Richard Linklater's films, so I'm looking forward to it.

I'm sure it's just me, but I've really tired of superhero films that build to the perfunctory 40-minute action set piece at the end. I'm very curious to see how the Thor and Captain America sequels do, because they don't have the star power of Iron Man.

 

[WDW1974]

I like emails with the word 'clambered' in them.

(sorry, inside joke but someone else might appreciate it!)

 

[englanddg]

All this talk of summer movies...

The only movie I've wanted to see is Before Midnight. I love Richard Linklater's films, so I'm looking forward to it.

I'm sure it's just me, but I've really tired of superhero films that build to the perfunctory 40-minute action set piece at the end. I'm very curious to see how the Thor and Captain America sequels do, because they don't have the star power of Iron Man.

And yet, Iron Man has stunk (as a movie) since the first one...in my opine...

And yet people still go.

 

[Taylor]

I like emails with the word 'clambered' in them.

(sorry, inside joke but someone else might appreciate it!)

Sounds like an innuendo.

That's what she said?

 

[WDW1974]

I imagine Brave made up for it with decent merch results. Same for Marvel they will continue to be a gold mine for merchandise sales

I don't know. Brave merchandise moved, but it certainly wasn't huge.

Marvel supposedly does great on the merchandise end ... but I am curious as to why in say 2010 or 2011 you could find Marvel products in the parks (at least MK and Studios and even HKDL!) and I haven't seen them anywhere in the parks in Florida (except IOA) on my last 3-4 visits not counting DD.

Anyone know why this is? Must have a merchandise CM here somewhere ...

 

[WDW1974]

So true! You can only make so many sequels until they get stale and go all Halloween 5 on you!

I'm not excited for even Thor 2, I didn like the first film(only kat dennings) now for captain America 2, I'm excited as all hell for it to come out! I loved the first movie!

I think Captain America was my favorite Marvel film by far ... to be fair, I saw it on a cruise from hell when catching up on films I missed was one of the best things. But I thought it felt right and real and true to the character in a way that no other Marvel release has felt.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

Yep, even though I've had friends tell me the film isn't that good. I love the premise, but from what I gather it becomes a typical 'bad guys in the house with us' film ...

If you want a good Ethan Hawke film, see Before Midnight. Heck, watch Before Sunrise and Before Sunset too. Now those are some great films, all produced on small budgets.

 

[Kuhio]

I like emails with the word 'clambered' in them.

(sorry, inside joke but someone else might appreciate it!)

It sounds like this email was from a fan of the Spirit...

 

[WDW1974]

Since I'm curious to hear what the Spirit (who seems to know a thing or two about the theme park industry beyond Disney) thinks about this, and since the topic of park admission prices has been timely recently...

I'm a SeaWorld/Busch platinum annual passholder -- this is the pass that allows you to visit any SW/Busch park in the U.S., and its cost varies depending on which park is your "home park" (i.e., where you buy it and use it for the first time). I bought my 2-year platinum AP last year at SW San Diego, where it cost $330 (a fantastic deal, as I've since visited five of the company's parks, some multiple times, more than justifying the purchase price).

Because I was bored today, I happened to look at SW San Diego's ticket/annual pass page. Turns out they have gotten rid of the 2-year platinum AP altogether, and jacked up the price of a 1-year platinum AP to $380. So now it would cost me $50 more to get for 1 year what was previously good for twice that much time. Honestly, this is one of the hugest price increases I've ever seen for any theme park admissions media -- I don't think Disney has even come close to having a price hike comparable to the relative extent of this one.

To compare, a 1-year platinum AP currently purchased at either SW Orlando or Busch Tampa is $329, and a 2-year version is $499. This means that it costs significantly more to buy a platinum AP at SW San Diego than at any other SW/Busch park.

The SW park rep I talked to explained that the price hike was due to the fact that they recently opened Aquatica San Diego, so there is ostensibly much more entertainment offered for most of the people who will end up buying platinum APs in San Diego. But consider the fact that, while it's a nice park, SW San Diego arguably has the least to offer of any theme park in the company's stable.

And add in the fact that (1) San Diego's Aquatica is almost half an hour away from SW San Diego, which makes it considerably less convenient to park hop than between, say, SW Orlando and Aquatica Orlando, (2) Aquatica SD is basically the former Knott's Soak City with a fresh coat of paint and new signage -- significantly inferior in offerings to its Florida cousin, and (3) in central Florida, you not only have SW and Aquatica adjacent to each other, but you also have Busch Tampa within driving distance as well, offering Florida platinum APers much more bang for their buck -- and SW San Diego's price hike seems even more stunning (not to mention baffling).

Have you ever seen such a thing before? And do you think it's odd that the different SW/Busch parks would have such significant differences in price with admissions media that provide exactly the same benefits? (Yes, I realize that some of these parks aren't open year-round, so the APs of some parks' locals would tend to get a bit less use, but by definition, these platinum APs provide entry to all of the company's parks nationwide, so presumably these particular passholders are self-selected people who know they will get around to the other parks quite a bit.)

Wouldn't it be odd if Disney sold their premier (all U.S. parks) AP at a different price point in Orlando than in Anaheim? And has there ever been a price hike by Disney (or any other theme park company) that has been so extreme -- not to mention clearly unjustified?

I have to admit I am sorta shocked by that. You call the hike stunning, I'd call it obscene myself. I have never heard of an increase of that magnitude and I'd be ed as hell if I was a loyal SW-SD guest who obviously intends to visit other parks (why else buy the pass?)

Aquatica is a poor reason to excuse the gouging of what you'd figure are some of SW's most loyal visitors. As you stated, it basically is a reskinned, repainted, Soak City with some flamingos thrown in at the entrance. The LA Times did a review of the park on June 2nd and it was not at all kind. Anyone expecting the Orlando experience will be sorely disappointed as this is Aquatica in name only. The fact that it is over 20 miles from SW in the middle of nowhere (Chula Vista) also means that many folks aren't going to couple it with a SW visit.

Your Disney example would be what comes to mind. Imagine if you could buy the Disney Parks Premier Pass for $200 less at DAK than at DCA. That is flat out absurd and obscene. It makes me wonder what the organizational structure at SW Parks happens to be that one location, San Diego in your case, can charge a vastly larger sum for the same pass.

 

[WDW1974]

I keep seing suggestions that Disney is not pleased with Marvel merchandise sales because despite why Disney purchased Marvel, the primary audience is not ten year old boys. Marvel seems like a good [business] purchase in spite of itself. They thought they were buying something entirely different, namely another Cars.

Comics fans ... weren't they going for the late 20s male virgins working at the mall crowd with the purchase?

 

[WDW1974]

Don't people say the same thing about visiting theme parks?

Some people might. I don't talk to those relatives!

 

[HMF]

Well if we get KK, it will end. Kathleen is close to Steven and likely harbors similar if not identical sentiments.

At this point Kennedy might be the best choice as long as she listens to the right people (Lasseter etc.) and gets rid of the Strategic Planning remnants (Staggs and Rasulo) It might not be a return to the days of Walt or even Eisner/Wells but it would certainly be better than it has been with the Later Eisner/Iger era.

 

[WDW1974]

It sounds like this email was from a fan of the Spirit...

Actually, from a very valued friend. ... And one with good taste!

 

[stevehousse]

I think Captain America was my favorite Marvel film by far ... to be fair, I saw it on a cruise from hell when catching up on films I missed was one of the best things. But I thought it felt right and real and true to the character in a way that no other Marvel release has felt.

As great as Avengers was, Captain America has been my favorite marvel movie so far! The story, time period, and graphics and chaarcters were all so top notch, I couldn't have asked for more!

 

[PhotoDave219]

As ESPN had more layoffs today, Disney Stock dropped to a mere $62.99 to close....