Spirited News, Observations & Thoughts Tres

[marni1971]

Wasn't there a Lord of the Rings hint/slip from @marni1971

Nope!

 

[marni1971]

I was assuming it would be the rumored Jurassic Park expansion.

JP will stay within its existing onstage boundary.

 

[|Q|]

Yes, because we all pay for soda thievery like in the fact Disney keeps its buildings too damn warm. I feel bad for Bob Iger, really I do. He didn't decide to put WDW in the swamps of Central FL where AC is needed all the time and generally at temps in the 60s due to the amount of open doors. But this game Disney has played where its attractions are often warm and clammy is cheap, guest unfriendly and unacceptable. ...

Call me a tree hugger, but i think lower levels of AC can be only a good thing. I feel that AC is really overabused over there in the US.

 

[|Q|]

Wrath of Khan
Voyage Home
First Contact

honorable mention would be the 2009 reboot and the Final Frontier

Star Trek V the Final Frontier? The one directed by Shatner we're the sjip gets hijacked by Spock's long lost brother Sybok to go beyond the great barrier to find God? I think it's watchable only for it's trash value.

The Undiscovered Country with Spock going all Sherlock Holmes I'd put in the top three with STIVTVH and STFC. That wonderful zero-g scene where we discover Klingons have purple blood alone is unforgettable.

And I admit having a soft spot for that boring mess that is Star Trek the Motion Picture.

The TNG movies (beside STFC) are how Berman and Braga really killed the franchise

 

[ParentsOf4]

And I admit having a soft spot for that boring mess that is Star Trek the Motion Picture.

I remember walking out of the theater after Star Trek the Motion Picture thinking, "After waiting all these years for a reboot, they just killed the franchise."

 

[WDWFigment]

Speaking of TL food, @WDWFigment had a burger at TDL's TL and somehow managed to survive!
http://instagram.com/p/ZFloOwiwOj/

Someone...don't know who......offered the sage advice that I "never eat in Tomorrowland" on my travels.

My burger at Tomorrowland Terrace was actually halfway decent, but when I tasted Sarah's (the one pictured there), I about threw up. I'm not sure what type of "egg" it had on it, but it was one of the worst items of Disney food I've ever had.

Aside from that, food (just like everything else) at TDR was very good.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Yep. To me, the Beast's castle looks like it belongs in Storybook Land in Anaheim or Paris. The scale is all wrong and it looks small and fake ... Like a WDI-topper on a building. If you have to stand in one special spot and crane your neck in just one position to see, then something is really wrong with the design.

Except the BatB castle in DLP looks better.

 

[culturenthrills]

Saw it twice. Once in O-Town at one of those early sorta-IMAX screenings. In my top four Trek films of all-time. JJ, Damon and Co know how to make these new and exciting, but with a respect for history.

can't wait for Man of Steel and Monsters U ..

I can't wait for Man of Steel. The marketing campaign has been brilliant. That 3rd trailer gave me goosebumps and some man tears. The original Superman movie is one of the events from my childhood that has stuck with me to this day. Even though my love for Batman is bigger than Supes I am really looking forward to a modern day Superman movie. One that takes the more contemporary Superman, he is basically a god who walks among us and could rule the entire planet if he wanted to but choses to fight for the greater good, and what it would be like if he appeared in this day and age.

Everything I have heard says this movie is gonna deliver.

 

[culturenthrills]

We visited Busch Gardens Williamsburg last year and were very impressed. It was a beautiful park, had great rides, and wonderful employees. My girls loved it as much as Disney and keep asking to go back. It really has something for everyone whether a small child or a thrill ride junkie.

I grew up going to that park and there really is no other park like it in the world. The fact it is built around a valley and some of the rides use it to great effect makes it one of the most beautiful parks in the world. That and Apollo's Chariot is a floater airtime masterpiece.

 

[WDWFigment]

In skimming the last few pages, I chuckled about the Be Our Guest feedback. I thought I was about the only one who wasn't wild about that place after reading so many glowing reviews. I actually touched on most of the complaints in my own review of it, including the poor forced perspective and mess hall feel. Biggest for me was that the food was bland, despite a menu that really deviates from the norm. (I also think the Imagineer-tribute babies on the ceiling are creepy, something I haven't seen mentioned here.)

In fairness, I do give the place kudos for trying a more inventive menu (especially given that it's in Fantasyland), and I do generally think the restaurant is ornate and nicely done. To me, besides a couple issues with the design, which I otherwise think is good, the big issue is the food. It just isn't good.

Now, I don't make ADRs far enough in advance to have dined there for dinner (I guess @WDW1974 is a closet obsessive planner?! ), so those are my thoughts on lunch. Perhaps I'll share my thoughts on dinner in 2016 when its popularity starts to wane!

Then again, I also thought Walt's in Disneyland Paris served disgusting food, but at least the design there was amazing, top to bottom...

 

[culturenthrills]

Glad you enjoyed your trip to BGT Spirit, by chance did you get to visit Tiger Trail? If you did do you prefer the tiger exhibit at BGT or Animal Kingdom? I personally prefer BGT's tiger exhibit but was just curious of your opinion.

Jungala blows away DAK's tiger exhibit. The cats there are way more active and you get so much closer to them. Every time I have been at least on of the cats has been moving around some times even playing/showing off with the guests at the window. BGT really did an amazing job with that.

 

[Figment82]

I grew up going to that park and there really is no other park like it in the world. The fact it is built around a valley and some of the rides use it to great effect makes it one of the most beautiful parks in the world. That and Apollo's Chariot is a floater airtime masterpiece.

I love Apollo's Chariot - so glad to see it get a mention. It's one of my top favorite roller coasters. I prefer huge drops over loops, and that coaster is just pure perfection in that regard. The first time I rode it was right after Fabio's "goose incident".

I totally agree with you about BGW - the park itself is wonderful but the lush valley setting really transports you into another world. Although I will never forgive them for tearing down Big Bad Wolf, I still love the park and miss visiting. We have an annual pass to BGT/SW and try to make it over to Tampa every so often, but that park just isn't the same to me. Call it nostalgia, but I miss the Williamsburg setting (along with Loch Ness and Apollo).

 

[Soarin' Over Pgh]

In skimming the last few pages, I chuckled about the Be Our Guest feedback. I thought I was about the only one who wasn't wild about that place after reading so many glowing reviews. I actually touched on most of the complaints in my own review of it, including the poor forced perspective and mess hall feel. Biggest for me was that the food was bland, despite a menu that really deviates from the norm. (I also think the Imagineer-tribute babies on the ceiling are creepy, something I haven't seen mentioned here.)

In fairness, I do give the place kudos for trying a more inventive menu (especially given that it's in Fantasyland), and I do generally think the restaurant is ornate and nicely done. To me, besides a couple issues with the design, which I otherwise think is good, the big issue is the food. It just isn't good.

Now, I don't make ADRs far enough in advance to have dined there for dinner (I guess @WDW1974 is a closet obsessive planner?! ), so those are my thoughts on lunch. Perhaps I'll share my thoughts on dinner in 2016 when its popularity starts to wane!

Then again, I also thought Walt's in Disneyland Paris served disgusting food, but at least the design there was amazing, top to bottom...

Again I hate to complain. Really. But I rather enjoyed my food, but not the "mess hall" (Great term for it, Btw!!) feel nor the "honor system" beverage dispensing... or the CMs standing there, idly watching.. watching what? and doing nothing.

But as much as I enjoyed my quinoa salad (I want that recipe) I did not enjoy my food being brought to me 10 minutes before my Mom's made it to our table. That really, REALLY ed me off. I didn't take a bite until hers arrived. And between the two of us, she was much more hungry than I was. The cupcakes were fantastic, as long as you don't look at the price on the reciept for them. I loved the chocolate one.

I think I can add BoG to the "did it once, no need to repeat" pile.

 

[devoy1701]

Quite the opposite now. The past two years we've actually congratulated them on the cleanliness of the park, the landscaping, and the staff.

Apart from Cheetah Hunt load. I hope that's improved by the fall.

Interesting...I have said the exact same thing about BGT. My wife and I had passes last year, always commented on how clean the part was and how much friendlier the employees are then when we used to visit as kids every weekend growing up. The park is definitely morphing out of it's "local theme park" feel that it had through the past 2 decades.

Cheetah Hunt Load is definitely terrible though...takes way too long, and the employees manning the train are in no rush to get the train turned over. I'm always commenting that Disney wins in loading their attractions. Atleast we can give them that!

 

[Soarin' Over Pgh]

Disney are masters of shoving people into the attraction trains/boats/carts/doombuggies and getting them out of the loading station. I've never seen anything quite like it.

 

[wdwmagic]

Now, I don't make ADRs far enough in advance to have dined there for dinner (I guess @WDW1974 is a closet obsessive planner?! ), so those are my thoughts on lunch. Perhaps I'll share my thoughts on dinner in 2016 when its popularity starts to wane!

Ahhh come on, we all know that really 74 is at home on his iPhone, constantly refreshing that My Disney Experience app, just looking for Le Cellier and BoG openings. I also heard he went to WDW just so that he could go pick out his MagicBand color from the display in the Odyssey.

 

[tissandtully]

Again I hate to complain. Really. But I rather enjoyed my food, but not the "mess hall" (Great term for it, Btw!!) feel nor the "honor system" beverage dispensing... or the CMs standing there, idly watching.. watching what? and doing nothing.

But as much as I enjoyed my quinoa salad (I want that recipe) I did not enjoy my food being brought to me 10 minutes before my Mom's made it to our table. That really, REALLY ed me off. I didn't take a bite until hers arrived. And between the two of us, she was much more hungry than I was. The cupcakes were fantastic, as long as you don't look at the price on the reciept for them. I loved the chocolate one.

I think I can add BoG to the "did it once, no need to repeat" pile.

I feel that the open soda fountain at BoG is one of its strong points! I think the CMs standing there are on standby to clean the drink area continuously.

 

[tissandtully]

I don't take the bus, generally, and can't compare based on my extensive experience bussing from all the hotels. The UG times don't show that AKL is so much worse, though.

And I have driven all over, from all the hotels. AKL is not worse than most. It's not the perfect placement of the Beach Club, but it's fine.

I'd never discount AKL because it is "so far from everything." It isn't. And it's pretty damn close to the AK!! Blizzard Beach, too!

Not saying everyone must like AKL best, just because I do...but this business of it being "so far from everything" has to end. I guess it's my personal mission...to rid the Disney community of this ignorance, lol!! Like Doctors Without Borders, only minus the life-risking and do-gooding.

The distance is good because it's so quiet out there!

 

[Soarin' Over Pgh]

Enjoy it while it lasts. As soon as Disney realizes their 'honor system' self service is costing them money because people aren't paying and just taking, they'll rip that right out.

 

[tissandtully]

Enjoy it while it lasts. As soon as Disney realizes their 'honor system' self service is costing them money because people aren't paying and just taking, they'll rip that right out.

I don't know, Backlot Express at DHS has always had open drink station and it is still there. I guess I didn't realize people didn't pay for drinks. Also, it's not like you can walk back in after leaving BoG because the line is so long.