Spirited Spring Break News, Observations & Thoughts ...

[the.dreamfinder]

My hope for the Muppets is that they move back to the medium where they've had their biggest success; television. As some of you may know, Sean Bobbin and Brett MacKenzie worked on the excellent HBO show Flight of the Conchords. There is an opportunity to have those folks do a sort of all ages SNL, on at say seven on Sunday, where the Muppets can be topical and anarchic; like they were on Jim Henson's Muppet Show. The Muppet movies and the Muppets overall would be energized by their weekly presence in millions of households. Why folks at ABC/Disney haven't tried this... I just don't know.

 

[wedenterprises]

Talked to a DVC pal and Disney really wants a BLT South, but there are many reasons why that can't happen without loads of infrastructure work ... and they won't pay for the RC site, so it really appears that an EPCOT DVC resort is the next up (and will likely be announced before 10/1).

Any hints then?

 

[Animaniac93-98]

I'm going to start a M&G with the crane from Meet The World.

"Ms. Crane, why did you erase WW2 from your Japanese history lesson?"

 

[Sneezy62]

They could build a high rise tower (think Bay Lake Tower). The bottom few floors would be standard view but above 3 or 4 could be sold as EPCOT view with views into the park and views of Illuminations at night. Probably a lounge or restaurant on the top floor too. They would probably need to design it so the balconies all face EPCOT. It would be hard to sell a bunch of rooms with views of a giant parking lot.

Another option is to build where the current bus stop is and relocate the buses. There are some backstage buildings there too between Sea and Land that could be relocated and they could get the building right up to the edge of the park. With that location they could even build a connector bridge directly to the current monorail station.

I agree with the opinion that there are way too many rooms already, but it's still interesting to speculate where they might build next. At least with DVC it won't be a big construction sight for 5 years

Yeah, the room count is already ridiculous. All the deluxes except yacht club will soon be propped up by DVC maintenance fees though so you just gotta wonder where they go next. The mono rail sells as evidenced by BLT. The question is would Epcot sell. It's a long way from MK.

 

[rioriz]

Spirit I must say I am glad to see you are back not only because you provide insight (although biased because you have more insight than we do which I am not sure is a good or bad thing as it might be to be the suddenly President of the United States) but it allows us to start at least a fresh 20 pages before things get off hand again!

 

[lazyboy97o]

I have a fanboi fixation? You're the one with that, blaming Disney for the Muppets' eff-ups. Only a truly devoted Muppet fanbio could still believe that, after Disney gave them a piece of WDW property and 2 new movies. And not gotten scratch in return, I might add. Yet you defend them. How rational is that?

And you started this by insulting me. And by the way, I do my share of criticizing Disney stuff. I didn't much like "Frozen". I ripped it pretty bad in a review I wrote here. Look it up. So much for my blind devotion to Disney. And that "Frozen" critique is just for starters. I also wrote that I think the Little Mermaid ride is, and I quote, "crap". And so on. So don't lump me into your condescending view of Disney devotees. I love Disney when it lives up to its legacy, and I don't hesitate to criticize if it, in my view, doesn't. And Disney buying up old, spent, already-developed entities like the Muppets is hardly part of Walt Disney's legacy.

Nice talking to ya.

You repeatedly say "The Muppets" as though they are real and making the content. And don't act like you don't enjoy the attention. You make sure to inject your views any time something remotely relevant becomes a topic. Your position is now well known but you still love to repeat it over and over and over and over.

 

[rioriz]

Have to chime in about the level of people visiting WDW

Listen, say what you want about how people were dressing or talking, these kids that are visiting with their parents are a product of their parents. Do not blame them. If anyone in this day in age can afford to bring their child to a Disney Park (which is STILL the leader in what children view as their dream vacation) I applaud them for the memories they provide their kids. I work with kids EVERYDAY (yes caps to get my point across) and none talk about going to Universal in the same way they do getting to stand in a god forbidden line to see Elsa.

I work with mostly low income people who wouldnt eat at Boma. So while I may have a personal disdain for the Honey Boo Boo direction of America, I see it as negative to sit on our computers and compare what we feel the "well traveled" visitors are against the "less traveled".

Off soapbox

 

[choco choco]

Too bad this will likely be the last of the Muppets... The movie is fading away quickly

The Muppets don't really belong on the big screen. They've actually never really made a good film, although the first one, The Muppet Movie, gets by on brazen meta-ness and sincerity.

The way to utilize them is the short form; quick comedy sketches released on Youtube. It distills their essence even better than a television show (since their television show was always just a sketch show to begin with). It's no surprise that the best thing they've done recently is the Bohemian Rhapsody cover that went viral -- they're always best in short and sweet bits.

 

[bubbles1812]

So, Disney doesn't sell Marvel merchandise in the MK anymore. But UNI sells DC Comics and Star Wars merchandise. Interesting.

Oh, and Mythos is still great. Stories of its demise are flat out not true.

Is there a reason they don't sell Marvel merchandise in the MK now? Licensing thing? Or theme thing? Based on the way all the Marvel films continue to clean up, you know that stuff would do well...

 

[Skip]

I have a fanboi fixation? You're the one with that, blaming Disney for the Muppets' eff-ups. Only a truly devoted Muppet fanbio could still believe that, after Disney gave them a piece of WDW property and 2 new movies. And not gotten scratch in return, I might add. Yet you defend them. How rational is that?

And you started this by insulting me. And by the way, I do my share of criticizing Disney stuff. I didn't much like "Frozen". I ripped it pretty bad in a review I wrote here. Look it up. So much for my blind devotion to Disney. And that "Frozen" critique is just for starters. I also wrote that I think the Little Mermaid ride is, and I quote, "crap". And so on. So don't lump me into your condescending view of Disney devotees. I love Disney when it lives up to its legacy, and I don't hesitate to criticize if it, in my view, doesn't. And Disney buying up old, spent, already-developed entities like the Muppets is hardly part of Walt Disney's legacy.

Nice talking to ya.

What eff-ups? Muppet-Vision is extremely well-regarded and has stood the test of time fairly well (certainly better than several other Disney 3D productions). The first movie did well enough to get a sequel and was a critical success. Amount of money at the box office does not determine quality of the product, of the characters, or of the story - the latest Muppets film has been a box office disappointment, sure. A whole slew of factors could contribute to that. Waning general audience interest might be one of them. That doesn't diminish make Kermit, Piggy or the rest of the gang's status as pop culture icons, and it doesn't mean their films, shows, or other efforts are crappy (at least automatically, as there have been mediocre Muppets efforts in the same way there have been mediocre Mickey efforts).

Come on now. You really sound like an upset child. "Look it up" ? Really? While I won't suggest your thoughts are cult-like, I will say you have a very bizarre affixation on a certain sect of Disney - specifically, "the early stuff," like Oswald. Having a fascination with this stuff is great, and remembering history is important... but it doesn't automatically make the character a "classic." He's a fun, cute character that was utilized interestingly in the Epic Mickey games. That's... about it, at least for now. Audiences don't know who he is, what he does, or why he's historically significant - mostly due to his dormancy in the public consciousness and popular media. He isn't automatically a classic because Walt touched him. Walt made many things, not all of them astounding.

I'll phrase this in another way - I think Kermit and Oswald are both fun characters, but I'd much rather watch any of the better Muppets movies, Muppet-Vision 3D, or an episode of The Muppet Show than I would a silent cartoon of Oswald.

 

[PrincessNelly_NJ]

Spirit I must say I am glad to see you are back not only because you provide insight (although biased because you have more insight than we do which I am not sure is a good or bad thing as it might be to be the suddenly President of the United States) but it allows us to start at least a fresh 20 pages before things get off hand again!

Are we reading the same thread..?
This one seems to already be heading off track

 

[StageFrenzy]

Are we reading the same thread..?
This one seems to already be heading off track

This is the nature of the spirit thread, start out on park observations and transition to well, the previous page. It gets back around to somewhat “on topic” eventually. Keep all hands and feet away from social media climbers and be careful not to ingest pixie dust before riding. Just enjoy the rollercoaster ride that is a spirit thread. I'll help us out a bit.

Cabana Bay. ... Where do I start?
Hmm ... well, about the time my trip was starting, all the local Lifestylers were staying there because they just have to be at the opening of any/everything (well, not Shanghai Disneyland, but ...) and, apparently, Tom Schroeder and Company actually had the gall to make them pay for rooms like anyone else and boy, were they up a storm in the Twitverse.
Quite entertaining really. Like watching mentally challenged kitties trying to catch their tails.
But the resort is quite stunning in some ways. It's just like Pop Century at WDW. That is, if PC had class, large rooms, actual amenities and real theming.
It was quite beautiful to walk around at night. Oh, and they can afford themed merchandise including retro candy!!! Must have cost Disney a small fortune to make mugs and ASMu keychains and tees.
It's hard to call any resort with a bowling alley, lazy river, Starbucks, modern Jack Lalane workout facility etc a 'value' resort ... but Disney calls motels with tacky decorations that were charging $140 a night for a standard room last week (Hyatt Regency O-Town, former Peabody, was going for $143) 'resorts' so whatever.
One major complaint. They wouldn't show me a room. Seriously. You are a guest at their sister property and want to check out a room and the manager refuses? BTW, the front desk clerk knew the manager was not making the right call but ...
From what I could see, the rooms are still way too small for me, the TV is on top of the door and I don't have fond memories of the old motor inns that they are romanticizing. ... When comparing to AoA, they also lose out by having only one bathroom. ... But when you look at the prices, well, there is real value AND quality to be had here.

I wanted this post to get a bit more play. Sorry you didn’t get to see in one of the rooms, why didn’t you ask one of the lifestylers to show you the inside? I’m sure a couple of them would love to show you some of the room’s finer points.

 

[PhotoDave219]

The more I'm away from the parks, the more I don't miss it.

 

[Joe]

Alice, who the F is Alice?

Alice is the girl Jefferson Airplane sang about in the song "White Rabbit".

 

[StageFrenzy]

Alice is the girl Jefferson Airplane sang about in the song "White Rabbit".

Are you sure its not this girl?

 

[Kungaloosh1937]

For god's sake, any Jay Ward cartoon is far more popular than Oswald ever was. I like Oswald. I think he's a cool character. But you're delusional to think that he is little more than a footnote in history. The only reason they got him back was because they wanted to use him in Epic Mickey... and that didn't turn out so well.

And are you really trying to downplay the Muppets?! Jim Henson's best known creation? Regardless of how well the current movie is doing, one of the most beloved properties of the last few decades? You seriously need to check reality.

 

[TP2000]

It is such a sleazy thing ... it is slightly more real than bitcoin or credit default swaps ... it's all largely made up to keep people employed.

That's EXACTLY how I feel about the "Social Media" thing too. It's just all fake, made up stuff. And these Bloggers that get wooed and wined and dined and feted are all just preaching to the choir; the same group of 5,000 to 10,000 North American superfans who would all still be vacationing in WDW or renewing their Disneyland Premium AP anyway, regardless of whether or not these amateur bloggers were on the invite list.

As a point of reference, 10,000 people is about the same number of people who ride Pirates of the Caribbean in 3 and a half hours.

There's an entire battalion of cubicle dwellers in TDO and TDA and Burbank who keep the Social Media department going just to keep themselves employed and impressing their middle-aged bosses who are desperate to appear hip and young. But it's all just a sham and a huge waste of Disney's capital and resources.

And then there's this little gem and video proof, which perfectly sums up the lunacy.


From an Orlando lifestyle blogger. And after 8 months on YouTube it's racked up 1,445 views. I rest my case.

 

[Sped2424]

They all got to go to that for simply taking videos/blogging....I too would like free things. Also half of those guests seem to fit a certain profile.

 

[stevehousse]

That's EXACTLY how I feel about the "Social Media" thing too. It's just all fake, made up stuff. And these Bloggers that get wooed and wined and dined and feted are all just preaching to the choir; the same group of 5,000 to 10,000 North American superfans who would all still be vacationing in WDW or renewing their Disneyland Premium AP anyway, regardless of whether or not these amateur bloggers were on the invite list.

As a point of reference, 10,000 people is about the same number of people who ride Pirates of the Caribbean in 3 and a half hours.

There's an entire battalion of cubicle dwellers in TDO and TDA and Burbank who keep the Social Media department going just to keep themselves employed and impressing their middle-aged bosses who are desperate to appear hip and young. But it's all just a sham and a huge waste of Disney's capital and resources.

And then there's this little gem and video proof, which sums up the lunacy perfectly. Iron your best polo shirt boys, we're goin' to a party!


From an Orlando lifestyle blogger. And after 9 months on YouTube it's racked up 1,445 views. I rest my case.

Omg that video!

What the hell is Disney doing paying for these people to party?!?

I almost feel bad watching that, those people were such losers! Seeing that made me really uncomfortable...Since when did Disney get in the business of catering a singles mixer for 30 year old virgins!!!

And that actress making fun of them the whole time!

 

[TP2000]

Produced by Disney in the 1950s:

What a great find! That was part of the sponsorship agreement Walt made with American Motors to sponsor CirCARama in Disneyland's Tomorrowland in 1955, as well as being the "official car of Disneyland". CirCARama became more popularly known as CircleVision by the 1960's, and American Motors got replaced by the Bell System as it's sponsor by then too.

But when Disneyland first opened, American Motors and its Nash, Hudson and Rambler divisions were the big sponsor. Heck, they even parked brand new 1955 American Motors vehicles inside the actual Disneyland movie theater!

Subtle, it wasn't. But it paid the bills and got Walt another show for Disneyland, so it was good.

I can only imagine the howls of horror from 21st century Disney fans who don't know their Walt-era history if TDA or TDO got a car sponsor for something and just parked cars inside the actual attraction. But Walt did it, because he loved the sponsors and was happy to please them to get their money.