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

[flynnibus]

I have noticed that... at first when the Pinball Wizard Hall opened I thought there was no way this place would survive. It is in a relatively obscure location, Pelham NH. It's just over the MA border but it's next to Lowell, MA which is a complete grimeball city.

In the arcade spirit.. this story just came up.

http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2012/08/the-surprising-stealth-rebirth-of-the-american-arcade/

 

[steviej]

In the arcade spirit.. this story just came up.

http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2012/08/the-surprising-stealth-rebirth-of-the-american-arcade/

That's awesome, would love to see arcades make a comeback

 

[ddbowdoin]

In the arcade spirit.. this story just came up.

http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2012/08/the-surprising-stealth-rebirth-of-the-american-arcade/

I read that the other day as well... I'd love to see a rebirth, but I'd also like to see it kept cheap. A lot of these hipster places charge 75 cents to play pacman, I hate when it becomes that kind of place.

 

[flynnibus]

well.. costs aren't the same as they were in 1977 either The persistence of the game cost at 25c is actually one of the downfalls of the arcade. Getting reasonable foot traffic, but still not making enough revenue.

 

[Phonedave]

for everyone that says 'I won't do that when on vacation in Disney...'

You can see exactly how the resort concept has broken down and now everything is about parks parks parks parks.

You can have a relaxing vacation doing things that aren't purely unique to the locale..

Exactly, there is a reason (or at least there used to be a reason) why it is called WDW RESORT, not WDW theme parks.

For somone that goes specificaly for the parks, or that only goes ever few years, I can see them skipping Splitsville. But for local or "regulars" it is just another thing to do.

Golf
Mini-Golf
Water Parks
Race Car Driving
Fishing Excursions
Watersports
Shopping
Dining
Concerts
Shows (La Nuba)
Boat Rentals
Trail Rides
Off road Segway tours

and now

Bowling

All things other than theme parks that people can do. Do a search on these forums and you will find a number of threads where people ask "have you ever gone to WDW and not gone to the parks at all?"

-dave

 

[Phonedave]

I don't know that much about Splitsville, but after a bit of research I found they're more like a restaurant where you bowl. Vacations are about being with your family, and what better way than with a game of bowling! Downtown Disney could use the new place to eat. On my most recent trip, we couldn't get into any nice sit down restaurants without waiting an hour, so we got stuck in Wolfgang Puck paying $25 for a spoonful of food!

Then they need to transplant Brooklyn Bowl down there.

http://www.brooklynbowl.com/


-dave

 

[ddbowdoin]

Exactly, there is a reason (or at least there used to be a reason) why it is called WDW RESORT, not WDW theme parks.

For somone that goes specificaly for the parks, or that only goes ever few years, I can see them skipping Splitsville. But for local or "regulars" it is just another thing to do.

Golf - depends where you;re from and what you normally play (quality of course wise)
Mini-Golf
Water Parks - people may not have these local
Race Car Driving - highly unlikely people can find a local track that allows a lesson and rental of a nascar/exotic car
Fishing Excursions
Watersports - again, not everyone can just go wakeboarding / parasailing
Shopping
Dining
Concerts - again, if you aren't from a major city good luck seeing quality known talent
Shows (La Nuba) - see above
Boat Rentals - something people also don't normally go out and rent a boat
Trail Rides
Off road Segway tours - see pretty much all above

and now

Bowling - but the concept of upscale bowling isn't unique, whereas the options highlighted above are definitely somethings you ONLY do on vacation.

All things other than theme parks that people can do. Do a search on these forums and you will find a number of threads where people ask "have you ever gone to WDW and not gone to the parks at all?"

-dave

here's where I'll disagree with your logic

 

[Master Yoda]

here's where I'll disagree with your logic

I can do everything on that list on any given day in this po-dunk big city know as Jacksonville, save for upscale bowling.

 

[GoofGoof]

I don't know that much about Splitsville, but after a bit of research I found they're more like a restaurant where you bowl. Vacations are about being with your family, and what better way than with a game of bowling! Downtown Disney could use the new place to eat. On my most recent trip, we couldn't get into any nice sit down restaurants without waiting an hour, so we got stuck in Wolfgang Puck paying $25 for a spoonful of food!

You are exactly right. People will go, eat and then bowl. You are in and out in 3 or 4 hours tops. One night after Animal Kingdom closes you head there for dinner and bowling and are back in your room by 10pm. People keep thinking of this like it is replacing a day at the parks or more. Unless you really like bowling I doubt you are going to spend 8 hours there.

There have been a lot of threads where people complain that Disney needs to add more options to DTD and people want unique experiences. I know there is bowling everywhere so its not unique by itself, but who has a bowling alley in their home town like this. Maybe it's not everyone's cup of tea, but it provides another option at DTD.

 

[StupidJudy]

Well Downtown Disney isn't just for resort guests, and you don't need tickets or a pass to get in. Therefore I'd think that a lot of locals who might go out to Downtown Disney for a night on the town would take advantage of it.

 

[The Duck]

If anyone wants to see me in Splitsville, I'll be easy to spot in the crowd. I'll be the one with the gun aimed at my head.

 

[rufio]

I feel the same way as you. Same thing with the movie theater in Downtown Disney. One of the main reasons I go to WDW is to do things I normally couldn't do at home. I could go bowling or see a movie anytime. Heck, I could go see a movie and then go Bowling right now if I wanted too!

I'm late to the conversation, I know. I don't get the bowling thing either, but I did go see a movie once when it was pouring rain during a July trip. So MAYBE, if it was pouring rain and I wanted something dry to do, I'd see a movie or go bowling.

 

[ddbowdoin]

I can do everything on that list on any given day in this po-dunk big city know as Jacksonville, save for upscale bowling.

As someone who grew up and lived in a major city all of my life... now living in the burbs I can't do much of anything on that list. I'm sure I could track down places to do them, but it certainly takes effort. I'd really have to go out of my way to find a place to go parasailing. But yes, we have upscale bowling.

 

[ddbowdoin]

I mean don't get me wrong, it will likely be fun... but in terms of being super excited, no... it's nothing special.

 

[Phonedave]

here's where I'll disagree with your logic

I have to disagree. There is the ability to do most of the above list within a days drive of many areas.

Sure you are going to find areas where there is nothing for miles around, but you are also going to find very few people per square mile in those areas.

-dave

 

[Phonedave]

As someone who grew up and lived in a major city all of my life... now living in the burbs I can't do much of anything on that list. I'm sure I could track down places to do them, but it certainly takes effort. I'd really have to go out of my way to find a place to go parasailing. But yes, we have upscale bowling.

As somone who used to live right outside a major city, and now lives slightly further away, I can do everything on that list within a three hour drive - many a lot closer. Maybe not the Segway tours, I would have to look. I know where some are, but not around here (they are in New Hampshire of all places).

In addition to that list there are arcades, paintball, indoor rock climbing, and outdoor laser tag off the top of my head.

-dave

Edit: Found about half a dozen Segway tours within a 2 hour drive. Also found a handfull of zip lines and treetop adventure courses. Awesome.

 

[alissafalco]

You are exactly right. People will go, eat and then bowl. You are in and out in 3 or 4 hours tops. One night after Animal Kingdom closes you head there for dinner and bowling and are back in your room by 10pm. People keep thinking of this like it is replacing a day at the parks or more. Unless you really like bowling I doubt you are going to spend 8 hours there.

There have been a lot of threads where people complain that Disney needs to add more options to DTD and people want unique experiences. I know there is bowling everywhere so its not unique by itself, but who has a bowling alley in their home town like this. Maybe it's not everyone's cup of tea, but it provides another option at DTD.

We do have this in NY it's called "Lucky Strike". Although I have absolutely no interest in this at all and will never go, I do see the appeal. It's something to do at night after the parks close. You can drink, eat, hang out and bowl while you are there. It's almost like a lounge that has bowling (kind of). There really isn't anything else to do in DTD as far as hanging out goes.

 

[ddbowdoin]

As somone who used to live right outside a major city, and now lives slightly further away, I can do everything on that list within a three hour drive - many a lot closer. Maybe not the Segway tours, I would have to look. I know where some are, but not around here (they are in New Hampshire of all places).

In addition to that list there are arcades, paintball, indoor rock climbing, and outdoor laser tag off the top of my head.

-dave

Edit: Found about half a dozen Segway tours within a 2 hour drive. Also found a handfull of zip lines and treetop adventure courses. Awesome.

but who wakes up on a saturday and goes ... "oh man, I'm going to hit up google and find an offroad segway tour"

I live 20 miles from Boston, sure there are things to do... but I don't have a vacation mentality when I'm home. But Bowling is bowling... no matter how you dress it up. We have Lucky Strike and Kings here and paying 80 bucks to go bowl and have a few beers sucks, period.

 

[luv]

I think they stopped the Segway tours outside the parks.

Eta: I was wrong.

 

[Phonedave]

but who wakes up on a saturday and goes ... "oh man, I'm going to hit up google and find an offroad segway tour"

I live 20 miles from Boston, sure there are things to do... but I don't have a vacation mentality when I'm home. But Bowling is bowling... no matter how you dress it up. We have Lucky Strike and Kings here and paying 80 bucks to go bowl and have a few beers sucks, period.

Not for somone that likes to bowl, or is looking for something to do besides theme parks. That is the point. Just as with all the other items I listed, they are things you can do at home. I don't have a vacation mentality, but we do things on the weekends - somtimes we see things in the newspaper, or hear about them from friends or family and say "hey, that sounds like fun, lets try it". Other times the kids go on trips via the town rec department to places like The Gravity Vault or Combat Sports and we find out about them that way. Somtimes (rarely) I will bowl while at home. I do enjoy it from time to time.

Will I go to WDW for the express purpose of bowling? No. But if I am there and the reasons are right (maybe raining, maybe cold, maybe we are at DTD already, maybe looking for something to do at night during the slow seasons when everything closes at 9) I might wander in. The same goes for the large amount of locals in the area.

It is something that is also easy for families to do. A place where everyone can eat, parents can grab a drink, and kids can amuse themselves for a hour or so by rolling balls with the bumpers up fits right in a family resort. When my kids were smaller, I went to a LOT of bowling birthday parties.


-dave