The Spirited Seventh Heaven ...

[Mike S]

I agree but when immersion takes a back seat to thrills, you start to lose me.

Yeah I get that. I was just thinking what if Disney did something that was completely new and never done before like what Universal did with Forbidden Journey. That ride is still really immersive.

 

[themonkeyisthesultan]

Why are those larger parking lots needed in 2014 when Pandora doesn't open until 2017?

Let's see, Iger talked about record crowds at the theme parks and yet, over the last few years, WDW onsite hotel occupancy has declined from 90% to 79%.

There are more people at the parks yet over 2 million empty hotel rooms last year. What gives?

This summer, the Grand Floridian's cheapest 'Standard View' room starts at $567/night on a weekday night.

I wonder if that has anything to do with the need for larger parking lots?

I would guess it has more to do with the fact that they used to have guests park in the cast parking lot at particularly busy times and have cast members park in an overflow area which is now a construction zone.

 

[bhg469]

Yeah I get that. I was just thinking what if Disney did something that was completely new and never done before like what Universal did with Forbidden Journey. That ride is still really immersive.

Well we have a long time to find out. We are already aware that the Pandora ride will be soarin on steroids and a boat is just a boat (if its still happening) . Star wars?! I hope so!! But I may be dead by then.

 

[justavoice]

Was at Uni for first time in ten years today and had family of six with me. Ages 13 to 6. I had forgotten how great a job Uni does with a small space (hmm one of the thinkgs that DL has done well over the years). I think one problem WDW has is that they have gotten lazy with too much space. It is like we have all this space and we must use it even if we do not want to spend the money so lets make winding walkways, vegetation and maybe use something basic but apply our "magic" (i.e painted license plates in dino land?). AA or screens is not as important as the story and immersion for me. This why I am so disappointed in EPCOT but that is lengthy diatribe from its original purpose to what it is today that we have read from others ad nauseam. Hopefully WDW will understand that the public wants full story telling and not FLE on the cheap. You do not have to create a new land but when a ride be it E, C or even an A treat your guest with sights and sounds that they would not experience at your local theme park, county fair, or supermarket parking lot. Uni has been doing a better job of selling the sizzle the past couple of years and WDW has not been forced to provide any sizzle while still making bank because of stays, DVC, and pixie dust drinking mouthpieces. I love Disney and all four parks but without some changes, I will not be exclusive to WDW.

 

[wogwog]

Didn't anyone want to know about Pandora?

Probably some of the at least 300 folks attending. But Q and A was at the end of his hour presentation. I lasted 5 minutes.

 

[Violiav]

I mean, no offense, but you can't really form an informed opinion of two places you have never visited.

I'll be interested to hear what you think when you've visited them both. Maybe a few times.

Why would I visit each more than once or twice? That'd be nice, but realistically I'm not that type of person. I'm not going to lock myself into vacation habits when part of the point is to go and try new things. That's not happening if I go to the same resort 20 times in a row. It will then become stale and I'll start to see all it's flaws. Why would I want to do that to myself?
Not having experienced either Orlando locations (and not being jaded by 20 years of the same) I think I'm probably more able to make an educated opinion (I don't have a horse in this race).
If universal had two more parks the cost for my family would be the same, dollar for dollar, I'm sure of it.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

Not sure who that was, but it would have to be a young Imagineer who's just talking.

 

[lebeau]

Why would I visit each more than once or twice? That'd be nice, but realistically I'm not that type of person. I'm not going to lock myself into vacation habits when part of the point is to go and try new things. That's not happening if I go to the same resort 20 times in a row. It will then become stale and I'll start to see all it's flaws. Why would I want to do that to myself?
Not having experienced either Orlando locations (and not being jaded by 20 years of the same) I think I'm probably more able to make an educated opinion (I don't have a horse in this race).
If universal had two more parks the cost for my family would be the same, dollar for dollar, I'm sure of it.

So wait a minute. You're claiming that your lack of first-hand experience makes your opinion more valid than someone who has actually experienced the two things you are comparing?



How would you know the value of each resort? You can't just compare prices. You have to compare experiences of which you currently have none.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Why would I visit each more than once or twice? That'd be nice, but realistically I'm not that type of person. I'm not going to lock myself into vacation habits when part of the point is to go and try new things. That's not happening if I go to the same resort 20 times in a row. It will then become stale and I'll start to see all it's flaws. Why would I want to do that to myself?
Not having experienced either Orlando locations (and not being jaded by 20 years of the same) I think I'm probably more able to make an educated opinion (I don't have a horse in this race).
If universal had two more parks the cost for my family would be the same, dollar for dollar, I'm sure of it.

So why are you here?

 

[justavoice]

Why would I visit each more than once or twice? That'd be nice, but realistically I'm not that type of person. I'm not going to lock myself into vacation habits when part of the point is to go and try new things. That's not happening if I go to the same resort 20 times in a row. It will then become stale and I'll start to see all it's flaws. Why would I want to do that to myself?
Not having experienced either Orlando locations (and not being jaded by 20 years of the same) I think I'm probably more able to make an educated opinion (I don't have a horse in this race).
If universal had two more parks the cost for my family would be the same, dollar for dollar, I'm sure of it.

actually only one full park would be needed to make comparison as AK and HS are not full day parks.

 

[Goofyernmost]

You better hope 74 skips this page. If he finds out you are turning his thread into the 754th "lifetime mug" debate he ain't gonna be pleased

OMG... Whatever am I to do? Besides that I didn't start it and I have no intention of continuing it. Not to mention that I haven't ever received a single check from 74 to follow his rules. Hell, he doesn't even follow his rules.

 

[bhg469]

Why would I visit each more than once or twice? That'd be nice, but realistically I'm not that type of person. I'm not going to lock myself into vacation habits when part of the point is to go and try new things. That's not happening if I go to the same resort 20 times in a row. It will then become stale and I'll start to see all it's flaws. Why would I want to do that to myself?
Not having experienced either Orlando locations (and not being jaded by 20 years of the same) I think I'm probably more able to make an educated opinion (I don't have a horse in this race).
If universal had two more parks the cost for my family would be the same, dollar for dollar, I'm sure of it.

The amount of parks are really not an arguement. They are no longer easy to hop to. Say you have 1 day for disney or 1 day for universal you are getting more done at univeral, hands down no question.

 

[Funmeister]

STOP....THE...PRESSES!

Disney made a huge announcement that it...is...hosting......a.........food-truck rally.

Walt Disney World Resort should be renamed Walt Disney World Food Court. Everything is slowly turning into a food and beverage event.

 

[AEfx]

This summer, the Grand Floridian's cheapest 'Standard View' room starts at $567/night on a weekday night.

I wonder if that has anything to do with the need for larger parking lots?

And what's hilarious and sad at the same time is the fact that in the real world, even the GF is really just a 3.5*, average hotel at best.

While I cannot deny the romance and cache of a room that has a MK view (though, you pay a lot more than that "standard" rate room, and there aren't that awful many to go around), "Deluxe" at WDW is pretty "middle of the road" everywhere else. And even waking up or going to bed with that view, as neat as it is, really isn't much considering you aren't sitting in the room all day and only probably experiencing it for a few fleeting minutes.

Even the mods/values are ridiculously overpriced. Moreso the mods. I mean, $200 for a night at a sprawling, aging motel like CBR? For $50 less per night you can rent an entire condo to yourself with a private pool and hot tub, 3-4 bedrooms, less than five miles away. Sure, you have to get a car - but once the "ooh I don't have to drive!" bug wears off, quite a lot of folks have realized that you can usually get yourself between parks more quickly yourself rather than spending an hour or two a day sitting on a Disney bus stop bench.

They simply are pricing themselves out of the market, and the amount of folks who fall for their "luxury" accommodations nonsense continues to fall.

 

[StageFrenzy]

True, and it was used for years to support the "market is saturated in Orlando, there are no new guests to attract" argument, which was soundly turned on its head by Potter.
The problem with AK was that it didn't see like some big new theme park experience to the public - it was difficult to advertise, it looked like Disney opened a zoo, kind of like how they have a waterpark and mini-golf - that level of "supplementary" attraction, as opposed to a full-fledged theme park. Disney themselves fought this notion with the whole "Nahtazoo" thing, but until Everest there really wasn't a lot of easily discernible evidence that it was true. And since many regional zoos have far more expansive, if not so "pretty" displayed, collections of animals and experiences, it just didn't make anyone think "Man, I have to go to Disney now to see this!"
It was the concept/execution/advertising - not that the market was "saturated". That's why it has largely only been seen as cannibalizing existing parks and not bringing in a new audience.

Busch Gardens was also up the road with a large collection of rollercoasters and great animal exhibits. It was also not-a-zoo and when AK opened free beer.

 

[AEfx]

So wait a minute. You're claiming that your lack of first-hand experience makes your opinion more valid than someone who has actually experienced the two things you are comparing?

Yeah, I kind of stopped reading when I got to the part where I realized that she has never even been to WDW or Universal before...

 

[seascape]

actually only one full park would be needed to make comparison as AK and HS are not full day parks.

My wife and I can spend much more than a day in AK. If you only go on the rides you are right AK may not be an all day park. But if you enjoy the shows and all the animals then it will take much longer. Have you really taken the walk through Asia and all the animals? Have you been out to Rafiki's? There is no doubt doing everything takes time and is not only fun and enjoyable but also educational. Do rush your way through this wonderful park. Take your time and soak it all in. Then think in just a few years you can spend more time and add Pandora and Rivers of Light. Then it will be a 2 day park and maybe even longer.

 

[StageFrenzy]

As far as value is concerned in relation to what's paid, I think it's roughly equal.
WDW for my family of 6 is setting me back roughly 5,000 (not including airfare).
That hurts, but I'm totally comfortably with that.
Even staying off property I couldn't get that number to drop much (I'd have to rent a mini van, get a suite somewhere, pay for gas, probably have to deal with resort fees, parking, drive in an alien city), or at least to where it'd make a dent. Yeah, I know, peak time, yada yada. I wasn't expecting different.
My 5 grand get's my brood picked up from the airport, transport around the property, board in a fun hotel (I almost went with All Star Music, but I let the kids have final say. Nemo won out), no worries about parking, getting lost, admission to pretty much everything on property (got water park &more + park hopper and the much derided QSDDP). And the assurance of something not getting messed through Expedia. :/
Did I spend more than I probably should have? Yep. I'm aware of that, and accept that.
I didn't really take Universal into consideration when I was making my summer plans. I actually assumed it would be more (growing up in SoCal my dad always said Universe was more expensive, my bad for not doing research).
Ultimately what it came to was me wanting to give my kids a little bit of what I had growing up, and then some. As I've said, never been to WDW. It's an experience, and we're going to have ultra-fun. That's really what matters.
From what I can tell for the same number of days at Uni I'd spend roughly half (staying at Cabana Bay). As far as I can tell, no dining plan, so what- add a couple hundred for food? It looks like there's shuttle transport to the hotel from airport, so that's cool. The two parks are walking distance right? So no worries there
But... is there enough content to fill 4 days? I guess? I just don't know. It's on my list, but not for the first major theme park excursion.
Maybe second. Maybe if I can get the money together for a October trip. That'd be pretty fun.

If you wanted to give them a taste of your youth why didn’t you go to DL?

 

[AEfx]

STOP....THE...PRESSES!

Disney made a huge announcement that it...is...hosting......a.........food-truck rally.

Walt Disney World Resort should be renamed Walt Disney World Food Court. Everything is slowly turning into a food and beverage event.

Where you been? WS has been like that for a couple of decades...

Oh, you mean at DTD. Ah, that's nice Disney is spreading that food court love. Epcot has been the lucky one long enough!

 

[Lee]

Well, as you said, if Disney does proceed with building Star Wars, the new gold standard of ride systems seems custom made for Endor or even Pandora!


BEIJING, CHINA (Marketwired - June 18, 2014) - An innovative ride that can drop vertically, see-saw up and down and slide sideways is being unveiled today by Dynamic Attractions at the Asian Attractions Expo in Beijing, China. The SFX Coaster™ features 4 engineering advances that have never been together on a ride. But the attraction's biggest innovation is that these elements are perfectly synchronized with highly advanced media.

"Thrill-seekers want more than just a train on a track," states Peter Schnabel, Dynamic Attractions President, referring to traditional roller coasters. "We've combined spectacular storytelling and eye-popping special effects with the most technically advanced ride. This has the amusement industry's top draws, dark rides and roller coasters, in one unbelievable experience. It is the first of its kind in an entirely new category of rides."

That won't be used for Star Wars or Pandora.

That's Gringotts right there.