The Spirited Seventh Heaven ...

[lazyboy97o]

Sorry. The issue isn't Disney doing this or you reporting it. ... The issue is when fans inevitably start making a big deal about it. A parking lot is just a parking lot. And I don't find them MAGICal at any theme park I have ever visited (no, they aren't special at TDR either!)

They may not be magical, but it is sort of impressive to see the size of the Tokyo Disney Resort parking lots and structures and then see all of the people also pouring out of JR Maihama Station.

 

[DinoInstitute]

Please. They aren't making anyone do anything. If people want to experience both parts of Potter, then they buy two-park tickets. If they don't, they don't have to.

Your analogy is off because Hogwart's Express is going to be maintained unlike the monorail ... oh, and it is an attraction, not simply transportation. In other words, your point is weak and not valid.
UNI is absolutely a better value when it comes to what they are offering for the price of admission (whether the ticket is one day one park, multi-day, or AP) than Disney.

I don't agree, as for me it really frustrating to have to pay to ride the bus because it is an attraction as you said. Why should you have to pay to ride an attraction. Isn't that what the general admission price is for?

 

[Bairstow]

I don't agree, as for me it really frustrating to have to pay to ride the bus because it is an attraction as you said. Why should you have to pay to ride an attraction. Isn't that what the general admission price is for?

The entire point of the experience is to transport guests (literally and thematically) from one park to the other.
There's absolutely no way to make the logistics of this work without requiring riders to have admission for both parks.
What's the alternative? Force guests with one-day tickets to immediately get in a stand-by queue for the return trip?

 

[DinoInstitute]

What's the alternative? Force guests with one-day tickets to immediately get in a stand-by queue for the return trip?

sure.

 

[lebeau]

The entire point of the experience is to transport guests (literally and thematically) from one park to the other.
There's absolutely no way to make the logistics of this work without requiring riders to have admission for both parks.
What's the alternative? Force guests with one-day tickets to immediately get in a stand-by queue for the return trip?

I can't believe anyone is making this argument with a straight face.

Maybe he's cracking up as he types it.

 

[twebber55]

The entire point of the experience is to transport guests (literally and thematically) from one park to the other.
There's absolutely no way to make the logistics of this work without requiring riders to have admission for both parks.
What's the alternative? Force guests with one-day tickets to immediately get in a stand-by queue for the return trip?

I believe 85% already have parkhoppers when they enter universal

 

[lebeau]

I believe 85% already have parkhoppers when they enter universal

Anyone who cares enough to want to ride the train is going to want the full Potter experience.

This may be the dumbest argument anyone has made this week.

 

[twebber55]

Anyone who cares enough to want to ride the train is going to want the full Potter experience.

This may be the dumbest argument anyone has made this week.

please stop beating around the bush and let us know how you feel

 

[lebeau]

please stop beating around the bush and let us know how you feel

Just to clarify, I'm talking about the idea that the train is some kind of cash grab. I'm in full agreement with you.

 

[DinoInstitute]

Just to clarify, I'm talking about the idea that the train is some kind of cash grab. I'm in full agreement with you.

I agree it is a cash grab, and I am going to hold strong and not get a parkhopper type pass!

But I forget who said it that the tiers is an even bigger cash grab, thats not true. Those are there because of the lack of e-tickets at EC and DHS, but thats a whole 'nother problem

EDIT: yah I looked back and that last person was you.

 

[Astro Blaster]

Oh, and let's keep any/all ride spoilers out of this thread. That's not a request, either.
None of us have ridden and many of us don't want to know every detail ... if I refused info from friends working on the area attractions, then I don't want it blown by someone in New Jersey looking at Brigante's videos. KEEP IT OUT!

I watched a Brigante video and posted from NJ...does the site show the location of posts?

Agreed that Star Wars will have to be done at least to this level of detail by Disney. They can't half- it. Do it right or not at all.

 

[RSoxNo1]

My guess is they look at it and wish they were allowed to do things like that.

I remember Jim Hill telling a story about an Imagineer that moved over to Universal Creative. He basically said that at Imagineering their day is occupied by meetings. At Universal Creative their day is occupied by building things.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Kevin Smith is really an amazing talker. His live shows are really good and while comic book men is not great, his podcast Hollywood babble on is very good.

He'll never get credit it for it, but Kevin Smith is one of the best story tellers of our generation.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Smith is a great personality. But he has reached a level of smug self-congratulation that I just want to punch him in the face every time he opens his mouth.

When he first started telling behind-the-scenes stories, I thought they were clever and entertaining. His tale of writing the Tim Burton Superman was very funny and shows just how bad movies get made (or in that case thankfully do not).

But now, the dude barely makes movies. I think he keeps his toe in the water primarily so he can keep generating material. And most of what I have seen is him trashing people he has worked with or almost worked with. I mean, I'm all for calling out Chevy Chase and Bruce Willis. But it seems like that's all Smith does anymore besides brag about being a major pothead.

You're right, nobody in Hollywood has anything negative to say about Chevy Chase and Bruce Willis... horrible examples.

Anyone that hasn't seen, "An Evening with Kevin Smith" should immediately move it to the top of your Netflix list.

 

[PhotoDave219]

You're right, nobody in Hollywood has anything negative to say about Chevy Chase and Bruce Willis... horrible examples.

Anyone that hasn't seen, "An Evening with Kevin Smith" should immediately move it to the top of your Netflix list.

I've only interviewed him once. Very nice guy. Very humble. Fantastic storyteller.

 

[RSoxNo1]

We (meaning the whole industry, WDI included) have been talking amongst ourselves for the past 7 or 8 months getting excited over how good this project really is. The past week has been all of us industry-ites basically fan-boi'ing like you wouldn't believe. Those who have been inside and have toured are in love with the detail, and those who haven't are drooling to get in just as much as everyone else, if not more. If you like detail, this will blow your mind. And that's before you get into Gringott's or get on the train. It's really that good. It's DisneySea/the first time you rode Indy good.

So, yes, the people at WDI look at Diagon and go "that's totally awesome!!!".

I know people have said that budgets were cut (they always are). I'm sure they're minor quibbles in the grand scheme of things, but some things that I was expecting were as follows:

Spoiler

• Motion on the dragon... a head swivel, a wave of the wings, something
  
• Tapping on the bricks to mean something. Think D23 Expo reveal into Carousel of Projects. I get that they don't have a direct view into Diagon Alley so there's a reveal, but having bricks hinge out for groups of 50 at a time would be pretty epic.
• The 9 3/4 platform effect. At the right angle you can get video of it, that's pretty much it. I have no idea how they could have made it work better, but it doesn't seem all that good.

Sorry, spoilered the bullet points

 

[RSoxNo1]

Yes, just like cramped overcrowded nightmare that is Carsland. Funny, when you build something great lots of people visit.

Once again, a horrible comparison. Diagon Alley has tall buildings and is a tight space. Hogsmeade felt cramped even when it wasn't because of the scale. Cars Land doesn't have that same feel and I was there 2 weeks after opening.

 

[The Crafty Veteran]

You're right, nobody in Hollywood has anything negative to say about Chevy Chase and Bruce Willis... horrible examples.

Anyone that hasn't seen, "An Evening with Kevin Smith" should immediately move it to the top of your Netflix list.

I once listened to Jenna Jameson's bio audio book on a plane flight and it contains s pretty amusing story about Bruce Willis. But not as funny as Wilam DeFoe doing the audio for Jenna.

 

[RSoxNo1]

That happened too.. but another one blown out of proportion by the 'sphere. He had a FP+ problem (who hasn't), posted about it, and Disney called him and gave him a remedy. Other people found their anger in that when Ricky posted about something.. Disney reacted... largely because they don't get the same attention.

The recurring theme in those circles...

There are also some suspicions about that incident that led to much of the anger. That and a grown male (admittedly one that covers theme parks) taking to Twitter about missing out on a Princess meet and greet rubs some people the wrong way.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I remember Jim Hill telling a story about an Imagineer that moved over to Universal Creative. He basically said that at Imagineering their day is occupied by meetings. At Universal Creative their day is occupied by building things.

I am blanking on who and when, but am pretty sure that was a public comment during an interview.