Spirited News, Observations & Thoughts Tres

[crispy]

Can't wait to hear. While we're waiting, anyone want to comment on the newest extension of the Disney PrincessTM(R)(C)SM brand?

I wish to God this was fake. This fall, DCP is launching Disney Princess Palace Pets. Top row L - R: Ariel's kitty Treasure, Rapunzel's pony Blondie, Snow's bunny Berry. Bottom row L - R: Cinderella's puppy Pumpkin, Belle's puppy Teacup and Aurora's kitty Beauty. Not pictured is Mulan's panda, Blossom.

I can't even.

Oh, dear. The worst part is I have two little girls who will be all over that like white on rice.

 

[Goofyernmost]

When we were there 2 weeks ago, Wifi was down at the Contemporary while we were at Chef Mickey's. Our server was extremely upset about it, since it did create MM+ issues for guests, and led to delays and issues with processing checks. She worked for the parks for over 30 years as a server and said she has never been moer upset than with MM+, mainly because it takes away personal interaction with guests.

Nothing really different from what we've been discussing here, but eye opening to hear it at the Resort from the CMs.

Not really relevant, but I can't help but think back to the days that didn't have WiFi, didn't have cell phones, didn't have Fastpass and so on and I can't help but wonder how we managed to love Disney so much when it was so blatantly unable to provide a 24/7 connection to the outside world. Maybe that is what we loved about it. Ok, go back to your topic, I've reminisced enough.

 

[WDW1974]

Okay, I trust your judgment. But a couple years ago when I thought "Why don't I try and find a fun boutique hotel in Orlando?" instead of the usual Mega-Corporate Anonymous Theme Hotel I usually stay in while at WDW, I could only find two things that even came close. One was a Marriott Autograph Collection property in a sterile cement canyon downtown; The Grand Bohemian. And one was a semi-promising boutique near Eola Lake called the Eo Inn, but whose stated claim to fame was being built on top of a Panera Bread; as if having breakfast at Panera Store #3314 each morning was some sort of exotic travel experience.

Note To Aspiring Boutique Hotel Owners: Don't attach yourself to corporate chains as a claimed "amenity".

Stupid thing is, I love a Panera sandwich at the mall when I'm out running errands. But not when I'm 2,500 miles from home on vacation looking for local culture. I had a cousin that lived in Winter Park a decade+ ago, and had mixed reviews there. Perhaps it's worth a second look in the 2010's?

What Orlando needs is an Ace Hotel type offering. Or at the very least something from Joie De Vivre. But an Ace like in LA, Portland, Seattle or Palm Springs, that would be... ace.

If you're looking for a place that is 'hip', then let me advance the idea that Orlando isn't the kind of town you should be visiting!

There just isn't a big enough market for the type of places you'd find in any of the cities above. It IS Orlando, after all. The theme park and outlet mall capital of the world.

 

[Tim_4]

Perhaps, they wanted a flop?

I'm not sure "The Producers" theory applies to $250 million summer tentpoles.

Or perhaps they just have poor marketing people?

The folks at Marvel seem to get it. I think a lot of the layoffs and consolidations could be beneficial for the Studio. They have a lot to learn from their acquired properties.

 

[Captain Chaos]

Perhaps, they wanted a flop?

Or perhaps they just have poor marketing people?

Combo of both perhaps? We already know their marketing people are horrible.

 

[willtravel]

I checked in today at AKV for my next MAGICal Universal vacation. (To be far, we probably will hit a WDW water park one day.)

So far, it's been just nasty WiFi service; excellent signal strength one moment poor the next, oops, another dropped connection. And this is from my room, a stationary node in the network.

And they plan to do what with MyMagic+?

Unless they get it fixed fast, they are going to have major scalability problems at the parks.

So how is your room? What is you view? Will be there in 2 years.

 

[WDW1974]

1. Hammer who?

2. Putting on Blackface and Whiteface to play Redface? Who's idiotic idea was that?

3. Depp's stock as tanked. Not to mention yet another team up with Carter. Her Q rating is horrible.

4. The movie it most resembles is Wild Wild West, which is not an endorsement.

5. The unrealistic and overstylized visuals were just too silly.

6. Jerry's movies are not the most well liked.

7. Audiences are tired of bloated budget empty action movies.

8. The target audience rarely goes to movies opening weekend.

1.) He is well known and he isn't why the movie is failing;
2.) Ok, so Tonto's makeup is why the film is failing;
3.) Really? Depp's stock has tanked! I'll have to tell everyone in LA that so they don't give him more money to add to his billion plus;
4.) Never saw it, barely heard of it. I doubt very much anyone is comparing the two;
5.) Funny because one of things that most appealed to me was that it looked real; not like the typical actor in front of a screen deals that CGI has brought and wrought;
6.) I am not going to pull up his box office tallies. But you might want to;
7.) Yep. That splains Iron Man 3 and Star Trek Into Darkness and Man of Steel and ...;
8.) Really. If so, then praytell why is everyone writing this film off so quickly?
3.)

 

[HenryMystic]

A blanket statement that says nothing. Booking for when? At what price points?

I'm talking about current resort load levels. They aren't exactly what one would expect for time of year.

FYI, the Celebration Place Social Media Cabal has been pushing "free dining" for the Fall pretty hard the past few days.

 

[Tim_4]

FYI, the Celebration Place Social Media Cabal has been pushing "free dining" for the Fall pretty hard the past few days.

Free Dine was introduced late this year because they were hoping to not need it at all. They're playing catch-up in that regard.

 

[culturenthrills]

The wife and I got to see DM2 today. Thought it was slightly better than MU. But really the thing that stuck with me the most is that Illumination has surpassed DreamWorks when it comes to quality. All of their films have been funny but with heart and not crass with great animation and good stories with great characters.
The trailer for Turbo played before the movie and I can't believe DW is still doing this crass and lame attempt to be hip type of movies.

 

[Cody5242]

sat for the entire credits trying to see who I might know.

I found the scene that they showed during the credits was genius and somewhat emotional

 

[WDW1974]

I wonder if a single person at TWDC sees a problem with the Palace Pets? Or do all the execs think, "This is great!."

What's wrong with them?

little girls and bronys will love them, .right @Lee?

 

[dhall]

BurgerFi has a location opening soon near me and I have heard good things. The exterior signage is disappointing as all that is legible is "Burger" since "Fi" just blends into everything else around it.

We have a BurgerFi, and it's a lot better than 5Guys (around here, at least), but it's expensive enough that we won't go just on a whim. When you eat 5guys, you taste it for the rest of the evening -- BurgerFi has a better tasting burger on a better bun. The fries are much better at 5Guys, though, and I've tried the deserts at BurgerFi and never will again.

 

[Cody5242]

The wife and I got to see DM2 today. Thought it was slightly better than MU. But really the thing that stuck with me the most is that Illumination has surpassed DreamWorks when it comes to quality. All of their films have been funny but with heart and not crass with great animation and good stories with great characters.
The trailer for Turbo played before the movie and I can't believe DW is still doing this crass and lame attempt to be hip type of movies.

Not sure why Dreamworks thought Turbo would be a good idea. I knew it would be awful when they got Ken Jeong to play as an old lady

 

[WDW1974]

I didn't care for the last 2 POTC films. Why would I pay money for an obvious repackaging of a franchise I am already sick of? I don't HATE the movie. I haven't seen it. Probably WON'T see it unless I catch it on cable. But I feel like I have seen it 4 times already with varying degrees of enjoyment.

Is it my imagination or did Universal, with DM2 top both of Disney's summer efforts?

Ah, but the thing is you haven't seen it. I don't understand this perception that is out there at all. I guess this means that PoC 5 will be a flop.

 

[dhall]

I had been hearing Starring Rolls not Villains in Vogue/Sweet Spells.

That makes so much more sense -- be somewhere near the entrance/hub.

Although, in DHS, being halfway down Sunset is still right on most visitor's early morning path.

 

[Tim_4]

Not sure why Dreamworks thought Turbo would be a good idea. I knew it would be awful when they got Ken Jeong to play as an old lady

Yeah I don't get the angle they're going for. Cars meets Bug's Life? Trailer: "A snail can't compete in a race for cars!" Me: "Yeah, that's about right..."

 

[Cody5242]

Ah, but the thing is you haven't seen it. I don't understand this perception that is out there at all. I guess this means that PoC 5 will be a flop.

If they get Orlando Bloom to come back I think it would bring new life into the series

 

[Tim_4]

Is it my imagination or did Universal, with DM2 top both of Disney's summer efforts?

I thought Monsters was much smarter than Despicable Me. I enjoy the minion jokes, but the "fart gun" cheapened the whole movie for me.

 

[Mouse Detective]

It IS Orlando, after all. The theme park and outlet mall capital of the world.

And that's two of the reasons I love living here!