splitsville, am I the only one that doesn't get it?

[ddbowdoin]

There are games on location - just not the traditional arcade format anymore.. The 'family fun center' is a redemption game place now.
http://barcadebrooklyn.com/
http://www.nycpinballleague.com/nycpinballlocator.asp
etc

the problem is that when you find lists of leagues and such it's always a venue that has 2-5 machines... it really sucks. As of about 2 years ago we finally got a legit pinball hall, it is amazing

http://www.pinballwizardarcade.com/

104 pins, ranging from 70's through the newest Sterns. I just moved so it's about 45 mins from me but well worth the drive.

 

[olinecoach61]

Topic. I don't know, I just don't see the appeal. Why would I wanna do something like bowling while on vacation, when I can bowl any night of the year when I'm home?

Now something like Disney Quest makes sense, a state of the art arcade, not only is it state of the art, but it's an arcade period, which I don't really see anymore. Do they even have arcades anymore? lol

But anyways, back to my original point, I can't be the only one who feels this way about splitsville, right?

I completely agree, I can never see. Myself going bowling while I'm at WDW

 

[ShookieJones]

Yeah uhm..I'm all set with that.

When they replace the bowling alley down the street from my house with a working replica of Space Mountain, I'll definitely stop by Splitsville the next time I'm at WDW.

 

[twinnstar]

I agree. I figured it was more for the "locals" ... i dont know. do locals hang out at DTD? lol

 

[tare]

I would prob only do it if it were raining for days!!

 

[flynnibus]

the problem is that when you find lists of leagues and such it's always a venue that has 2-5 machines... it really sucks

OT:
Depends greatly on location. NYC and NJ have some locations with more than a handful of machines. Like you mentioned, the pinball wizard place (relatively new) is an extreme exception to the norm.. but they exist sporatically through the country. The largest locations are almost always private collections now.. with the exception of the pinball hall of fame in vegas. But you could head to PAPA in pittsburg this weekend for the world championship and try to with some of the tens of thousands in prizes PAPA has roughly 400 games setup and is the pilgrimage for pinball players.. well that and Pinball Expo in Chicago.

We've ran leagues with fewer games (less than 4) but our ideal is 8 or more. We've been running pinball leagues for over 15 years - http://www.fspazone.org/

 

[Redsky89]

Take this into consideration. There's a House of Blues also there. They have all kinds of bands come there. I was there one year and one of my favorite bands Unearth was there opening for Slayer. So you got metalheads showing up there for shows which isn't very Disney at all but who cares. I know a lot of young people who live down there and Downtown Disney is a place for locals just as much as visitors. So does a bowling alley bother me being there? Absolutely not.

 

[Clamman73]

I'm disturbed more by an Empress Lilly without a churning paddle wheel than a bowling alley.

 

[Britt]

OOOOOO! I didn't realize it was an ACTUAL place...lol I thought you just meant something like going off property....haha

Yeah, Im not sure I'd go bowling : )

 

[mamamouse]

i totally get you ,only my issue is something else lol .There is something(which shall remain nameless) that alot of people "do" at Disney that makes me think really? you go all the way there to rave about that????I guess it's true different strokes for different folks!!

 

[ChrisFL]

Well, a few years ago, they were planning to build an official World bowling, whatever huge bowling alley, but that plan fell through. This is their second, smaller attempt, and using a 3rd party with established locations.

 

[steviej]

i totally get you ,only my issue is something else lol .There is something(which shall remain nameless) that alot of people "do" at Disney that makes me think really? you go all the way there to rave about that????I guess it's true different strokes for different folks!!

don't keep us in suspense!!! Pm me if you have to please, cause im dying to know lol

 

[RonAnnArbor]

Hmm....
Well, first of all DTD isn't just for YOU staying at a resort -- its there for the half million people that live within a 15 minute driving distance of DTD...
It also rains at WDW...I have almost always gone to see a movie down at AMC while there, even though there is one 3 minutes from my house...
Splitsville is designed to be something different in an entertainment district and you are free to pick or choose.
DTD long ago stopped being a WDW only evening entertainment...and they have gone out of their way to open more things that will appeal to the locals...Disney already has the resort-trade locked in. Go to Raglan Road any night and you will find as many locals there as WDW guests...that is what they want in more of their establishments...Disney wants ALL your money, not just some of it...

 

[Britt]

don't keep us in suspense!!! Pm me if you have to please, cause im dying to know lol

ME TOO!!!!

 

[rsoxguy]

Allow me to preface this post by stating that I don't like bowling. At all. The thought of wearing shoes that have covered thousands of sweaty, fungus infested feet, is second only to the thought of sticking my fingers into a ball that every nose-picker in town has utilized for ten frames of germ warfare. I could go on about the excitement of throwing a ball twice, and then sitting for ten minutes while others in my group take their turn at applauding themselves for hitting a group of pins as though they just found a cure for tuberculosis, but I think the point is made. I hate bowling.

With these things said, I must admit that this little bowling business at DTD is not that big of a deal to me. I don't attend movies, but I realize that some will enjoy a bit of a break from all of the "Disney" on their vacation by attending the theatrical release of a film. I don't play goonie-golf, but I realize that some will enjoy a bit of a break from all of the "Disney" to hit a ball into a hole in the ground. My point is that different things appeal to different people when they vacation. Downtown Disney seems to be in a position where Disney management is currently looking for a spark of purpose. Me? I just use the place to shop when I don't have the time or energy to spend a full day at the Parks.

 

[DisneyJoe]

Well, first of all DTD isn't just for YOU staying at a resort -- its there for the half million people that live within a 15 minute driving distance of DTD...
It also rains at WDW...I have almost always gone to see a movie down at AMC while there, even though there is one 3 minutes from my house...
Splitsville is designed to be something different in an entertainment district and you are free to pick or choose.
DTD long ago stopped being a WDW only evening entertainment...and they have gone out of their way to open more things that will appeal to the locals...Disney already has the resort-trade locked in. Go to Raglan Road any night and you will find as many locals there as WDW guests...that is what they want in more of their establishments...Disney wants ALL your money, not just some of it...

Precisely - not everyone goes to the WDW area to visit the parks, believe it or not - or, some are there for so long, that they need a variety of things to keep them busy - for example, visitors from the UK have been known to visit for 14 to 21 days at a stretch. If I were there for that long, I would see a movie or perhaps check this bowling experience out.

 

[Avenger117]

Take this into consideration. There's a House of Blues also there. They have all kinds of bands come there. I was there one year and one of my favorite bands Unearth was there opening for Slayer. So you got metalheads showing up there for shows which isn't very Disney at all but who cares. I know a lot of young people who live down there and Downtown Disney is a place for locals just as much as visitors. So does a bowling alley bother me being there? Absolutely not.

I'm actually suprised there is another Unearth fan on this board, Thats Awesome. I've seen them a few time in Atlanta, always a good show.

But yeah I agree Downtown Disney brings in alot of locals, people staying off site looking for fun activities, and people that are on long vacations (2 weeks to a month)

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

I don't want to go bowling at WDW. I want the giant ball at EPCOT.

 

[Patricia Melton]

I always like going to see a movie when I am on vacation. Friends of mine have made faces at that and said they'd never want to see a movie somewhere else, but I can remember seeing 'The House of Yes" in a little theater in New Orleans that's not there anymore. I saw "Hercules" at a little theater near Rockefeller Center back in 1997. Saw "Benjamin Button" on Christmas Day just off Times Square in NYC. Have seen a movie every year at DtD...it's a nice thing to do after DHS for my family because that's a half-day park for us and then we go to the hotel for a bit, then out for a movie at night and dinner outside of the parks.

I think Splitsville would be a fun non-movie option for people wanting to get a little indoor, upscale recreation while on vacation. I also think it's a good thing for Orlando locals and all the people who work in the parks. Should be a fun mix of people and will make DtD feel more lively.

 

[GoofGoof]

Here's my 2 cents on the topic. The place actually looks pretty cool. If people go there for for dinner they may bowl a few frames. I agree that I most likely won't bowl there every trip. But I will definitely check it out. I also will not play golf or tennis while at WDW. That doesn't mean I think there should not be golf courses or tennis at the resorts just because I have access to them at home. I have access to a pool at home, but I still enjoy the pools at the resorts. Everyone has different tastes. Bowling is a few hour diversion not an all day event. Some people go to a bar/club to listen to music or dance. Some like to play pool or video games. Some like bowling. Millions go to WDW every year a small percentage will actually bowl but that combined with the locals, cast members and convention visitors already mentioned should probably be enough to fill the place. If not we will have another empty DTD building to look at and another thing to add to the thread about things that are gone from WDW.