The Spirit Takes the Fifth ...

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Wikkler

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he recent Marvel movies, like nearly all of the highest-grossing movies in the past decade, are typically in the PG-13 range, with mostly bloodless violence and virtually no sexual content whatsoever. When I saw the PG-13 Thor: The Dark World this weekend, a sizable portion of the audience consisted of families with children who were significantly younger than thirteen -- many in the grade school range. Indeed, PG-13 has become today's PG -- with all of the major franchises (Pirates of the Caribbean, Lord of the Rings/Hobbit, Twilight, Hunger Games, most of the Harry Potters) occupying the now family-friendly PG-13 territory.
Pretty soon parents will take their children to R-rated movies...
 

WDW1974

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Spirited Weekend Musings:

My what a quiet week it has been in the Disney UNIverse. Sorta bizarre if you ask me (and even if you don't). Practically every top level Disney Co executive from Bob Iger to Alan Horn, Tom Staggs to John Lasseter, Jay Rasulo to Bruce Vaughn are hanging at WDW this week and not one sighting reported by a blogger or one interview by a lifestyler.

Dr. Blondie, Crazy Gary and CPSMC have them all trained so well. It's like they know to stay far away from the Grand Flo and if they see one anywhere to head in the other direction quickly.

BTW, if these lifestylers aren't simply paid BRAND advocates, then please explain why theme park bloggers are also now movie critics and video gaming experts.

Speaking of lifestylers, is it true that one of my personal favorites (really!!!) @WDWFigment is now in Hong Kong? I have to give credit to Tom. Was it only three years ago he hadn't been to DLR? I like that he is honest and upfront, but I think he really should visit other Central Florida and Southern California theme parks beyond Disney too. I want to see IOA at sunrise, myself.

Anyone want to crow about Marvel's Agents of Bor...I mean S.H.I.E.L.D.? @Lee has been very busy of late, so anyone else? Losing half your audience is not a promising sign at all. Iger won't let ABC cancel that fetid mess, but it can't keep bleeding audience and survive.

Talking TV, best thing about the Gay Lost isn't Bi-curious Mulan. Nope, it's evil Peter Pan.

Modern Family impresses me with its consistent quality as much as anything.

So, DLR has a new nighttime show for Christmas and a new character/dance/music party too and freshened decorations and what again does WDW have this year? How much is Christmas dinner at the Crystal Palace?

I'm guessing Santa has my MAGIC Band?

There really are two kinds of WDW fans when you factor the little things out: those who experienced WDW with EPCOT Center and those who haven't and think Epcot is the same thing.

I am looking forward to Frozen ... Kinda ...sorta.

Congrats to a dear friend on her announcement today.

Fall has a different meaning depending on where you happen to live. Days of gloom, light showers and temps from 70-80 mean fall has finally arrived in SoFla.

Did everyone also miss that the First Lady was at WDW yesterday?

I know gaming has become huge and all, but I can't help feeling that it is something you give up when you leave for college.

If I could go to one Florida theme park tomorrow, it would be BGT. Yes, that shocks me a bit too.

so glad all of those retailers are opening on Turkey Day for me to ignore ...
 

WDW1974

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Let's look at scratch-off tickets. My state lotto has a monopoly on printing/selling them; I assume it's the same everywhere. Even though they have a complete monopoly, they still market, still have all kinds of themed games, etc. Other states have or had (these have come under fire, too) scratch-off deals with NFL teams. Do you think that the state lotteries would sell as many scratch-offs if every scratch-off was a black and white card with one box to scratch off that tells you if you won or not? No. Marketing moves product. And I don't buy that you're always just shifting around demand; is someone who wants to go to the casino on Saturday night going to put it off because they did an impulse buy of an extra $10 in Marvel scratch-offs? Probably not.

I think you might be extrapolating your own experience to the general public a little too much. Personally, I will just about never buy a scratch-off. Possibly as a birthday present for an 18YO. No matter what kind of ad or what kind of game they come out with, I am not going to buy a scratch-off. Period. Yet, they sell. To think that marketing cannot create demand among people who are primed to purchase a product... seems a little silly. Let's say someone buys a scratch-off once a month, but they see a Thor scratch-off when they're paying for their gas and they decide to get one only three weeks after their last scratch-off purchase. Voila, you just created demand.

Scratch off tickets are widely viewed by gaming experts as akin to a gateway drug for children. They're often given as Christmas, Birthday, etc gifts to underage kids. And, obviously, kids are going to like Marvel scratch-off tickets more than one with flamingos or themed to something from before their time.

A 12-year-old who loves Iron Man and wins $250 on a scratch off that Uncle Saul gave him is absolutely more disposed go have gambling issues later in life.
 

Animaniac93-98

Well-Known Member
Anyone want to crow about Marvel's Agents of Bor...I mean S.H.I.E.L.D.? @Lee has been very busy of late, so anyone else? Losing half your audience is not a promising sign at all. Iger won't let ABC cancel that fetid mess, but it can't keep bleeding audience and survive.

SHIELD needs to deliver recognizable Marvel content on a regular basis and not just have the name stars/characters show up for 60 second cameos every 8 episodes.

Arrow has been the more engaging prime time comic book TV series.

I know gaming has become huge and all, but I can't help feeling that it is something you give up when you leave for college.

Some say the same thing about all things Disney and Comic Book movies, but demographics and spending don't lie. People like this stuff, and just complaining about it for no other reason than "back in MY day!..." makes you sound your age. :p
 

WDW1974

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Its a bit complicated...its sort of like a tiered system. Only certain games allowed at certain types of "resorts"...for example:

In Broward and Miami-Dade (ie: SOUTH Florida), horse tracks, dog tracks, and jai-alai (yes..thats still a thing down here) can offer slots and poker in addition to what they already offered (sports gambling). Outside of South Florida, Parimutuels can only do poker. Then there are the Seminoles (remember how I said they had a tight grip on the dominating force in florida gambling?), they are still in a 5 year contract (that runs out soon actually) that gives them EXCLUSIVE rights to other table games such as blackjack and baccarat. Any other Indian resorts (Miccosukee for example) can have slots, poker and bingo. Its all taxed...which is why its been so accepted. The Seminoles want "full casino" experience type games such as craps and roulette, but that will require a review of the laws...and even then they will want to re-negotiate the exclusivity contract. "Destination" casinos are being built and are pushing for ALL types of gambling to be legal, which would void the seminole exclusive $1 billion 5 year deal they have with the state (why pay if all gambling is legal now?), so its a really complicated situation...of which I prob did a poor job of clarifying.

This brings us to Orlando. Notice how I made sure to mention that its only Miami-Dade and Broward (or Native American land) where this flys? Thats because Orlando and its...uh...influence corporations..do not want gambling on their front lawn, and they are already weary of losing business to the casino draw of south florida which will only get worse when the destination casinos are built and IF they laws change. Tampa is about the closest you'll get to a MAJOR casino anywhere near there (granted..its HUGE), so I wouldn't bank on Uni (or any other company) getting a gambling facility any time soon. Its a constant battle in Tallahassee, and its pretty clear that although times are changing, they are being largely untouched anyplace north of Broward county.

Great post and explanation of the current situation. Only one correction in that Destination Resorts (think Venetian, Wynn, Aria etc) are not being built. They want to build, but will only come if the state allows them to operate. That's what the whole fight is about. Disney and the religious right and the Seminoles want to keep them out of the state, all for their own selfish reasons.

One would think the recent media coverage might help open the door for these resorts (if the people running the Vegas resorts aren't as arrogant and ignorant as Disney's leaders).
 

GoofGoof

Premium Member
Scratch off tickets are widely viewed by gaming experts as akin to a gateway drug for children. They're often given as Christmas, Birthday, etc gifts to underage kids. And, obviously, kids are going to like Marvel scratch-off tickets more than one with flamingos or themed to something from before their time.

A 12-year-old who loves Iron Man and wins $250 on a scratch off that Uncle Saul gave him is absolutely more disposed go have gambling issues later in life.

I wouldn't call them issues....just a hobby:cool:. A local church near me had a carnival every spring to raise money. It had rides, games, food, all the usual fun carnival stuff. They also had a gambling tent. Blackjack, craps, roulette, money wheel, the works. It was supposed to be 18 and over to gamble but we always got in as teenagers. First time I ever rolled the dice at a craps table I won. I'm still hooked to this day.

Then again we are talking about a hypocritical organization profiting from gambling while condemning it as evil at the same. Definitely some good parallels there.
 

WDW1974

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
We flew business class to Russia. Lufthansa from US, United home. The service, amenities, etc were so much better on the flight over. Lufthansa even gives coach free beer and wine.

Business class to Russia!??! Clearly our mild-mannered Mom is either related to Edward Snowden or pArt of UNI's team for their park venture!!!

You are quite right about the service on foreign carriers, though. Why I will be taking Lufthansa across the Pond for the holidays.
 

WDW1974

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Interesting. But FP+ isn't really in full roll out until there is no traditional FP option.

Lou is always flown anywhere, provided its stateside..

I'd guess Disney would want lifestylers away from the execs more than anything.
 
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asianway

Well-Known Member
Interesting. But FP+ isn't really in full roll out until there is no traditional FP option.

Lou is always flown anywhere, provided its stateside..

I'd guess Disney would want lifestylers away from the execs more than anything.
OAM too. Cuz that makes perfect sense
 

Soarin' Over Pgh

Well-Known Member
@WDW1974 , I'm in the "excited almost kinda...sorta..." Boat regarding Frozen.

Didn't you say you wanted to see south western PA? I'd like someone in the same boat to go see this movie with. I know three friends (one with twin girls) who are not excited about frozen at all and only two people who are.

The snowman, none of the above are fond of from previews alone. (Edit for clarification, several found him "cheap" looking and only existing for slapstick comedy reasons...did we learn nothing from brave?)

So if I go with either group there's an existing bias.... See my problem? :/
 

WDW1974

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Spirited WDW NEWS:

Apparently, I was wrong about EPCOT and new things. Two big ones are on the way.

Yep, look for a third theater coming to Soarin (to make the eyesore even larger) and that expansion pad between Mexico and Norway?

Something is coming there as well.

P.S. May have some more news soon .Checking some info out.
 

Funmeister

Well-Known Member
Not sure if you're comfortable with sharing but care to elaborate? What do the service celebrations for long standing CM's entail? What made this one better than what they've been doing in the past?

Just wondering. CMs make (or break) the WDW guest experience and I know generally the company doesn't treat them well as they used to.


It has varied over the years. Everything from a breakfast buffet at Coronado Springs to last night. They used to break them up a bit and then combine them just a total mess. This one was great to have everyone on the floor of Epic, exclusive Osbourne Lights, fireworks, pictures with characters and New York St. I know it does not sound much but it was also seeing people i have not seen in years. It was just great. Maybe a huge part of it was catching up with old friends. he company just does not do this kind of spread for Cast Members as much as they used to.
 

Funmeister

Well-Known Member
This was something neat that you will hardly ever see!

tsm.jpg
 
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