The Miscellaneous Thought Thread

[TP2000]

As with all of us here, I love me some classic Disneyland. But one thing I have never quite gotten was the desire to spend huge amounts of money on old Disneyland equipment or signage or ride vehicles that occasionally go up for auction.

They're doing it again. An old Skyway bucket for $20,000? An old Autopia car for $10,000? The giant flag from the Chicken of the Sea pirate ship restaurant for $5,000? What do you even do with stuff like that? Why not put that money in a T bill or IRA or something?

I just don't get this element of Disneyland fandom.

10 most expensive Disneyland items in auction of nearly 900 theme park collectibles

Heritage Auctions of Beverly Hills will hold the Art of Disneyland Auction on Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26.

www.ocregister.com

 

[Consumer]

Hated it? Wow.

I think it's meant to be seen in a theater with an audience and special effects. Remember it is designed as a themepark attraction.

At Dollywood I saw a corny 80s 4D video starring Dolly Parton in one of the theaters there and in the context of a themepark it's a fun break and a nice way to rest your feet between attractions.

If I watched the same video outside of a themepark it would just be an overly long Dolly Parton video. That's probably what people thought seeing Captain EO as a standalone video.

Maybe hated is a strong work. They definitely did not like it. Still, I don't think they would have seen Captain EO as any less absurd if they were watching it in a movie theater with 3D glasses on. The appeal of an exclusive Michael Jackson music video just doesn't have the same pull on teenagers that it did in 1986.

As with all of us here, I love me some classic Disneyland. But one thing I have never quite gotten was the desire to spend huge amounts of money on old Disneyland equipment or signage or ride vehicles that occasionally go up for auction.

They're doing it again. An old Skyway bucket for $20,000? An old Autopia car for $10,000? The giant flag from the Chicken of the Sea pirate ship restaurant for $5,000? What do you even do with stuff like that? Why not put that money in a T bill or IRA or something?

I just don't get this element of Disneyland fandom.

10 most expensive Disneyland items in auction of nearly 900 theme park collectibles

Heritage Auctions of Beverly Hills will hold the Art of Disneyland Auction on Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26.

www.ocregister.com

I enjoy antiques so I can understand it to a degree. I recently purchased a set of postcards from the 1904 World's Fair, but that cost me $10. A much more reasonable price, I suppose.

 

[PiratesMansion]

Where there any 3D gags involving Dolly's, hmm... talents?

Unless they've changed the show, there's no 3D or any gags about her figure.

But it's in a theater stylized to seem woodsy and it "rains" for part of the film.

It's part travelogue of the Smoky Mountains, part Dolly Parton Sing Along, part time capsule (it's from 93!).

 

[Parteecia]

I enjoy antiques so I can understand it to a degree. I recently purchased a set of postcards from the 1904 World's Fair, but that cost me $10. A much more reasonable price, I suppose.

There are people - not me, alas - for whom the price of these objects is equivalent to me spending $10 on a souvenir.

 

[waltography]

I was playing around with the new GPT-4 model ChatGPT is using and asked it to draft a concept doc for an Encanto attraction at Disneyland. Still gets some basic details wrong (poor Bruno!), but I was surprised how in line it is with Disney's current M.O. of having guests be at the center of the narrative.

Also plugged in the press release from the Tiana ride and asked for a scene-by-scene summary:

 

[TP2000]

I was playing around with the new GPT-4 model ChatGPT is using and asked it to draft a concept doc for an Encanto attraction at Disneyland. Still gets some basic details wrong (poor Bruno!), but I was surprised how in line it is with Disney's current M.O. of having guests be at the center of the narrative.

View attachment 705759

Also plugged in the press release from the Tiana ride and asked for a scene-by-scene summary:

View attachment 705762
View attachment 705763

Fascinating. I haven't really been understanding what this "chatgpt" thing is that everyone is suddenly talking about, other than a supercomputer brain that can think for itself and compose text as if it's a human author.

How much does this computer technology cost? Is it expensive, or relatively affordable like buying software?

The next question to ask is... what is the current WDI salary for a Show Writer? Because compared to what Univac came up with above, I'm no longer sure they are worth all that money. And benefits. And payroll taxes. And subsidized lunches. And launch party swag.

 

[TP2000]

I Googled. WDI's Writer jobs are all in Florida right now, where it's still legal to not disclose salary in online search functions.

But there are a couple gigs in Glendale that might be in a similar salary range to a Show Writer tasked with writing the plot for a new E Ticket. On the top end of similar careers, there's a "Show Production Manager" job in Glendale with a salary range of "$134,700 to $181,060 per year". On the bottom end of similar careers, there's a "Show Lighting Designer" job in Glendale with a salary range of "$92,742 to $124,410" per year. There's also a "Technical Program Manager" gig, clearly above a Writer position, at "$180,646 to $242,330" per year. Brunch every Sunday in Silver Lake isn't cheap, after all. And the Tesla doesn't charge itself, you gotta plug it in.

Kind of makes you wonder what the Imagineers with the words "Director" or "Vice President" in their title make, doesn't it?

My hunch is that a Show Writer with enough clout/tenure to be assigned an E Ticket project would be at, or a smidge above, the Lighting Designer pay scale. So maybe $125K or $135K per year to be a tenured WDI Show Writer?

But if someone knows otherwise, let us know.

But still, all that was missing from that chatgpt created plotline was mentions of an employee-owned cooperative that took management control away from the previously women-owned business that sells food that singing chickens like to, um, sing about.

DISNEY jobs

Be part of the story. Search for available jobs at DISNEY here.

jobs.disneycareers.com

 

[CaptinEO]

As with all of us here, I love me some classic Disneyland. But one thing I have never quite gotten was the desire to spend huge amounts of money on old Disneyland equipment or signage or ride vehicles that occasionally go up for auction.

They're doing it again. An old Skyway bucket for $20,000? An old Autopia car for $10,000? The giant flag from the Chicken of the Sea pirate ship restaurant for $5,000? What do you even do with stuff like that? Why not put that money in a T bill or IRA or something?

I just don't get this element of Disneyland fandom.

10 most expensive Disneyland items in auction of nearly 900 theme park collectibles

Heritage Auctions of Beverly Hills will hold the Art of Disneyland Auction on Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26.

www.ocregister.com

It seems like every one of these auctions in the last 20 years has a skyway bucket come up. Are these the real Skyway Buckets or is someone manufacturing these?

 

[CaptinEO]

Unless they've changed the show, there's no 3D or any gags about her figure.

But it's in a theater stylized to seem woodsy and it "rains" for part of the film.

It's part travelogue of the Smoky Mountains, part Dolly Parton Sing Along, part time capsule (it's from 93!).

Hey you found the movie!

Not 3D but they have lighting and water effects so I figured 4D was still accurate.

You definitely do see Dolly's figure though LOL.

Again as a show in between rides or after a big meal it's great but at home I probably wouldn't seek it out.

 

[CaptinEO]

Maybe hated is a strong work. They definitely did not like it. Still, I don't think they would have seen Captain EO as any less absurd if they were watching it in a movie theater with 3D glasses on. The appeal of an exclusive Michael Jackson music video just doesn't have the same pull on teenagers that it did in 1986.

I see what you mean. It definitely is a ridiculous film. That being said do not underestimate the power of anything to entertain when your feet are tired at a themepark.

People even pretend to enjoy "Billie Hill and the Hillbillies" of all things or a janitor sweeping leaves into a Mickey Mouse face.

 

[PiratesMansion]

People even pretend to enjoy "Billie Hill and the Hillbillies" of all things or a janitor sweeping leaves into a Mickey Mouse face.

I enjoy the former (though they were a bit tired the last time I saw them at Knott's) and the latter is nice.

 

[Rich T]

I see what you mean. It definitely is a ridiculous film. That being said do not underestimate the power of anything to entertain when your feet are tired at a themepark.

People even pretend to enjoy "Billie Hill and the Hillbillies" of all things or a janitor sweeping leaves into a Mickey Mouse face.

Billie Hill and the Hillbillies (and their Knott’s incarnation) are awesome, and a heck of a lot more fun than, say, college kids dressed as six foot mice skipping around onstage and miming to the latest “Dream your magic enchanted wish of wonderment” prerecorded show dialogue.

 

[Phroobar]

Billie Hill and the Hillbillies (and their Knott’s incarnation) are awesome, and a heck of a lot more fun than, say, college kids dressed as six foot mice skipping around onstage and miming to the latest “Dream your magic enchanted wish of wonderment” prerecorded show dialogue.

Exactly! What is wrong with Krazy Kurt & the Hillbillies? They draw huge crowds at Knotts. They are exactly what Disneyland needs since they no longer have live band music that isn't geared to preschoolers. No wonder adults have to get drunk at Disneyland.



Tomasina used to be a mainstay in Tomorrowland.

 

[CaptinEO]

Billie Hill and the Hillbillies (and their Knott’s incarnation) are awesome, and a heck of a lot more fun than, say, college kids dressed as six foot mice skipping around onstage and miming to the latest “Dream your magic enchanted wish of wonderment” prerecorded show dialogue.

Can't argue with that! The corny parades have got to go!

 

[CaptinEO]

Exactly! What is wrong with Krazy Kurt & the Hillbillies? They draw huge crowds at Knotts. They are exactly what Disneyland needs since they no longer have live band music that isn't geared to preschoolers. No wonder adults have to get drunk at Disneyland.



Tomasina used to be a mainstay in Tomorrowland.

Never was into Billy Hill, no offense to them or those that enjoy it, but the Tommorowland band you linked brings back memories.

I remember at night they brought a really fun atmosphere to Tomorrowland. I would hear them even from the monorail queue and the back of the matterhorn and see the flashing colors.

Tomorrowland is just so dead now at night.

Why did they drop this and the Mad T Party?

Disney seems to want to market to adults now instead of families, youd think these would be a good idea to keep around.

 

[ParkPeeker]

It’s saddening to see just how accepted all forms of AI are to the general public and to some big companies starting to latch on to them (profits I guess *sigh*), regardless of the many ethical issues attached. Just cause it’s “cool,” just cause the output looks and seems human, just cause anyone can now shortcut/fake their way into that dopamine rush of creation. Hope it’s all just a fad like en eff tees

 

[Rich T]

It’s saddening to see just how accepted all forms of AI are to the general public and to some big companies starting to latch on to them (profits I guess *sigh*), regardless of the many ethical issues attached. Just cause it’s “cool,” just cause the output looks and seems human, just cause anyone can now shortcut/fake their way into that dopamine rush of creation. Hope it’s all just a fad like en eff tees

AI is certainly the show biz topic of the month. Remember several years ago when everyone was up in arms about how CGI humans were going to make actors superfluous?

Then again, who’d have predicted that a trip to Disneyland would someday practically require being tethered to a small portable screen?

 

[No Name]

How much does this computer technology cost? Is it expensive, or relatively affordable like buying software?

It’s free, like using this website, you just have to make an account. Here’s the website:
https://chat.openai.com/auth/login


It costs the company behind it something like a million dollars a week to run, so the “GPT-4” version that was released last week that @waltography used costs $20 a month right now. But that’ll probably be free soon too.

 

[Phroobar]

Never was into Billy Hill, no offense to them or those that enjoy it, but the Tommorowland band you linked brings back memories.

I remember at night they brought a really fun atmosphere to Tomorrowland. I would hear them even from the monorail queue and the back of the matterhorn and see the flashing colors.

Tomorrowland is just so dead now at night.

Why did they drop this and the Mad T Party?

Disney seems to want to market to adults now instead of families, youd think these would be a good idea to keep around.

The Suffragettes where also a Tomorrowland mainstay. They are a very cool all girl band. You would think Disney would be all over this. They can be seen at Knotts for Summer Nights.



It is more profitable to sell drinks with little tiny drops of alcohol to adults then to entertain them with rock n roll. Toddler shows are expected and don't take a lot of talent.

 

[PiratesMansion]

My guess is that it's cheaper enough to have the kids dance with Rabbit or Buzz or whoever in Tomorrowland that they don't care that the actual crowd numbers are lower.

Otherwise they wouldn't have gone the dance party route.