The Miscellaneous Thought Thread

[Rich T]

I don't think those types of sightings would ever get alarming, even if I'd been born and raised there!

Still, what a magnificent looking beast. Truly impressive animals!

He’s kind of a local celebrity. People walking by on the trail stop to check on him, and he just sunbathes and swims. He’s never gone beyond the low wooden fence around his very large pond (as far as I know), and seems very happy where he is.

 

[TP2000]

Speaking of Florida, thank goodness they didn't build that Tron coaster at Disneyland. It's not open yet, but already is having a rough time with CM previews. And that last car for people who don't fit??? Yeah... that's going to be a problem for the CM's.

Thoughts and prayers going out to the Tron CM's before they open to the general public!

Disney Responds to Guest Backlash Over TRON Ride Vehicles | Disney Dining

Disney World has finally responded to backlash over the ride vehicles at the new TRON-inspired coaster, but it was largely pointless.

www.disneydining.com

 

[Rich T]

Speaking of Florida, thank goodness they didn't build that Tron coaster at Disneyland. It's not open yet, but already is having a rough time with CM previews. And that last car for people who don't fit??? Yeah... that's going to be a problem for the CM's.

Thoughts and prayers going out to the Tron CM's before they open to the general public!

Disney Responds to Guest Backlash Over TRON Ride Vehicles | Disney Dining

Disney World has finally responded to backlash over the ride vehicles at the new TRON-inspired coaster, but it was largely pointless.

www.disneydining.com

Spent 3 hours in a virtual web queue yesterday morning trying to get an AP Tron preview reservation. Bupkis! Zilch! The old heave-ho!

 

[Californian Elitist]

I’ve been in Florida for nearly a year. The politics are nuts, the humidity can be beyond belief, it’s still weird to never see mountains on the horizon… but I do count my next door neighbor here as a plus (pic from 2 days ago).
View attachment 699124

 

[Rich T]

That is… really scary. But I do object to the tweet calling it a monster.

 

[Rich T]

I’m planning a trip to Gatorland soon. Mainly to try this:

 

[PiratesMansion]

What's the local sentiment there on the declining population? Are people worried? What's it doing to city/state budgets?

Neighboring Wisconsin and Indiana have gained population recently, so it's not all just people tired of shoveling snow moving to Florida.

Illinois population shrinks for 9th year, Census says

(WTVO) — Illinois’ population shrunk for the 9th year in a row from 2021 to 2022, according to new estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. The report said that the Land of Lincoln lost more th…

www.mystateline.com

Which beggars belief, because Indiana in particular has absolutely no redeeming qualities whatsoever. But people are dumb, so...

At any rate, it's not exactly impressive growth. Indiana grew all .29% last year, so it's hardly monumental growth. Wisconsin is slightly better at 3.2%, but both sources I saw noted that both were the smallest population increases registered in some time.

You can always find people complaining about the state and wanting to leave if you know where to look, not all that different from California in that respect, I imagine. But back when I was graduated from college and couldn't find a job, people were trying to encourage me to get jobs in other states like Texas and Florida, and in retrospect I'm extremely glad to have stayed put. I might move to another state at some point, but it wouldn't be because Illinois is just awful or anything along those lines; it would have to be career related. But right now I have no desire to leave because my family is here and the politics in the majority of the rest of the midwest (and South) are extremely yikes right now, so...

 

[PiratesMansion]

I’m planning a trip to Gatorland soon. Mainly to try this:
View attachment 699132

Gatorland's a gem. I'd take it over half of the parks in Florida.

 

[No Name]

We all know that TP is arguing California’s population is shrinking because the government is so darn liberal, while Texas and Florida’s governments are not. Call me a dawg cause I heard that whistle loud and clear. The much more prominent driver behind this population loss is that far more people are working remotely now, and can move to a less expensive state while maintaining the same salary, thereby saving money. Notice how it started in 2020.

What's the local sentiment there on the declining population?

We must have different friend groups.

 

[CaptinEO]

We all know that TP is arguing California’s population is shrinking because the government is so darn liberal, while Texas and Florida’s governments are not. Call me a dawg cause I heard that whistle loud and clear. The much more prominent driver behind this population loss is that far more people are working remotely now, and can move to a less expensive state while maintaining the same salary, thereby saving money. Notice how it started in 2020.


We must have different friend groups.

I don't even know about remote work. At least the major companies, Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Facebook, and Apple have all backtracked on remote work. I think it's really dumb, especially when a job can be done entirely on the computer.

I work in IT and have been remote since the pandemic thankfully and hope this never changes. I literally get more work done by not having people chat with me in person each day.

I think the companies backtracked on remote work when their stock prices went down under some belief this will fix them.

Politics aside no one can deny the state is expensive and inaccessible for many by cost alone, including those born and raised in the state.

 

[tcool123]

Speaking of Florida, thank goodness they didn't build that Tron coaster at Disneyland. It's not open yet, but already is having a rough time with CM previews. And that last car for people who don't fit??? Yeah... that's going to be a problem for the CM's.

Thoughts and prayers going out to the Tron CM's before they open to the general public!

Disney Responds to Guest Backlash Over TRON Ride Vehicles | Disney Dining

Disney World has finally responded to backlash over the ride vehicles at the new TRON-inspired coaster, but it was largely pointless.

www.disneydining.com

I got to ride it thanks to a Cast Member friend.

Spoiler: Tron Spoilers if you care

- Unthemed outdoor queue with unsightly elements showing

- There is no cast member directing the flow of guests out of the preshow, and given the wow moment I can see guests staying in that room for a photo op holding up the flow of traffic

- The lockers while a nice feature were troublesome. You hav to push your ticket down onto one of the two RFID chips hidden in your ticket to open and close it - this wasn’t explained to us. It took a while get a locker, and on the exit we had to hunt down a cast member to get our locker open. They happily said that they had been having promblems all previews - if Universal could seamlessly figure it out for Velocicoaster then what is the issue here?

- As mentioned there is was a LONG line for the accessibility vehicle due to the Pooh or Goofy sized guests as well as those that need it due to lack of mobility/bendy skills. They just have them along a wall in an unofficial queue that just screams to me issue once its open to the public and we start getting families where they areall just larger but there is only one car that fits them. TBH every train should have an ADA car if they are so proud of offering that service because it was an additional 40’minute wait that night.

- Boarding while simple will take time to get used to, and I have been told it has been an issue by Tron cast. The first issue is the fact guests have to be horizontally next to each other to ensure they get the same row, whereas every other coaster at WDW guests have been taught to be vertically next to each other. This has caused issues whwre parties get separated already during a preview. There is a sign present but it’s very small.

- Getting into the bike was easy once you’re aware that you have to grab the handlebars and pull to get locked into place. However, the ride feels painfully short with an abrupt out of place ending. With that said very fun coaster that just needed a scene at the end to wrap it up. Insteand it just ends leaving my self and others around me going “Is that it?”

Do not envy the cast at all

 

[Californian Elitist]

Tron just doesn’t look impressive at all. I’m certainly not jealous. I didn’t know only one car fits a good portion of Americans. Yikes.

 

[PiratesMansion]

Tron just doesn’t look impressive at all. I’m certainly not jealous. I didn’t know only one car fits a good portion of Americans. Yikes.

Tron is very much shine over substance. It'll be a huge hit on social media and casuals will love it, but it's over so quickly that it's ultimately less satisfying to me. You don't get the longer ride time that you would on any of the mountains or Incredicoaster.

RE accessibility: I think it's more of an issue that it's just a weird car to get into if you've never done it before. It's not something like Big Thunder or Space where you sit down quickly, pull down the lap bar, and go-you need to KNOW how to manuever to get into the vehicle to an extent (it's a little similar to Pony Express at Knott's).

I fit on Tron in Shanghai when I was around 300 pounds, and my much-bigger friend did Flight of Passage at DAK with no issue, which has very VERY similar restraints. So while there will be issues, I think some of them will disappear with time as the CMs get more comfortable with how to get guests into vehicles and guests become more comfortable themselves with the boarding process. This leads me to believe that while it's never going to be a ride that fits every guest, it can fit more people than is being indicated by current operating conditions and on-the-ground reporting.

That said, not having the more accessible seat available on every train was an unforced blunder that they should have seen coming. Though I wouldn't be surprised if they just copied what they did in Shanghai, which similarly does not have the accessible seat on every train-I'm not sure I ever saw it there, even though I knew it existed. But Disney-people in America are bigger than people in Shanghai. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that. C'mon.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Tron is very much shine over substance. It'll be a huge hit on social media and casuals will love it, but it's over so quickly that it's ultimately less satisfying to me. You don't get the longer ride time that you would on any of the mountains or Incredicoaster.

RE accessibility: I think it's more of an issue that it's just a weird car to get into if you've never done it before. It's not something like Big Thunder or Space where you sit down quickly, pull down the lap bar, and go-you need to KNOW how to manuever to get into the vehicle to an extent (it's a little similar to Pony Express at Knott's).

I fit on Tron in Shanghai when I was around 300 pounds, and my much-bigger friend did Flight of Passage at DAK with no issue, which has very VERY similar restraints. So while there will be issues, I think some of them will disappear with time as the CMs get more comfortable with how to get guests into vehicles and guests become more comfortable themselves with the boarding process. This leads me to believe that while it's never going to be a ride that fits every guests, it can fit more people than is being indicated by current operating conditions and on-the-ground reporting.

That said, not having the more accessible seat available on every train was an unforced blunder that they should have seen coming. Though I wouldn't be surprised if they just copied what they did in Shanghai, which similarly does not have the accessible seat on every train-I'm not sure I ever saw it there, even though I knew it existed. But Disney-people in America are bigger than people in Shanghai. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that. C'mon.

For sure. CMs and guests will get the hang of it over time. But, yes, the American version should have been built with larger people in mind, since Americans are…larger.

 

[waltography]

For sure. CMs and guests will get the hang of it over time. But, yes, the American version should have been built with larger people in mind, since Americans are…larger.

The restraint design that seems to be causing most problems (the back calf bar) also seems to have a fix that'd be more accommodating too: rather than having the bar fan out from an axle, have the bar slide down from a greater distance and then stop on contact.

 

[Californian Elitist]

The restraint design that seems to be causing most problems (the back calf bar) also seems to have a fix that'd be more accommodating too: rather than having the bar fan out from an axle, have the bar slide down from a greater distance and then stop on contact.

I thought the exact same thing.

 

[mickEblu]

Speaking of Tron, a vlog of a very pleasant looking walk through the MK popped up on YouTube and I found myself thinking that I’ll probably enjoy MK more than I think. Looked like a version of Disneyland with DCA space. Lots of areas looked very pleasant with lots of space and a lot of big planters/ greenery…. And then I saw it. From Goofys Barnstormer facing Tomorrowland. The view of the that massive Tron show building from there is unacceptable. Why don’t they care about these things anymore? Something about it being at a castle park makes it even worse. We’ve come to accept these views at a Studios park.

 

[Rich T]

Tron. Five years to build. The railroad shuttered during construction.

And Tomorrowland Speedway, arguably the biggest waste of space and the worst, most theme-wrecking, boring, outdated, unenjoyable and environmentally toxic ride in any Disney park, sits right next door, merrily continuing to disappoint all.

I wouldn’t be surprised if its still there in 2060.

 

[PiratesMansion]

Tron. Five years to build. The railroad shuttered during construction.

And Tomorrowland Speedway, arguably the biggest waste of space and the worst, most theme-wrecking, boring, outdated, unenjoyable and environmentally toxic ride in any Disney park, sits right next door, merrily continuing to disappoint all.

I wouldn’t be surprised if its still there in 2060.

If there was any justice in the world, Hong Kong would still have their beautiful, electrically-powered Autopia, WDW's ugly, embarassing Speedway would be long gone, and Tron wouldn't look so ridiculous and lazy.

@mickEblu Disneyland has attractions, and Magic Kingdom has room to move! But MK is also much nicer aesthetically than it's generally given credit for.

 

[No Name]

Speaking of Tron, a vlog of a very pleasant looking walk through the MK popped up on YouTube and I found myself thinking that I’ll probably enjoy MK more than I think. Looked like a version of Disneyland with DCA space. Lots of areas looked very pleasant with lots of space and a lot of big planters/ greenery…. And then I saw it. From Goofys Barnstormer facing Tomorrowland. The view of the that massive Tron show building from there is unacceptable. Why don’t they care about these things anymore? Something about it being at a castle park makes it even worse. We’ve come to accept these views at a Studios park.


View attachment 699210

Yeah it’s terrible, and they built two of them at the same time that manage to do so much sightline damage from so many places.

Oh and also, I don’t know if I have a picture, but this thing was blocking the view of the epcot ball from my hotel room. Tough to ignore!