The Spirited Seventh Heaven ...

[RivieraJenn]

Not a necessity but will increase the probability.

Being in organised sport teaches you that:

• You are only one of many.
• Sometimes sacrifice of personal goals for group success is more important.
• Life is not fair.
• How to deal with failure.
• Long term success is better than immediate gratification.
• Some things you suck at, so stop wasting your time.

Oh, I'm not arguing that sports can't or shouldn't be one tool used to impart life lessons. But there are other tools, some more suited to certain personalities than others. I fully understand and agree that sports programs can be a positive experience in many ways for many kids. But playing tee ball isn't necessarily going to ensure that the lessons you listed are internalized, and not being on a sports team does not automatically lessen a child's chances of learning those lessons. The comment I quoted specifically said that kids not playing sports was a big part of the (perceived) problem with Gen Y, which is an over-generalization at best and downright inaccurate at worst. I don't have stats on hand, but I'd say middle- and upper-class kids in the U.S. today are WAY more likely to be part of an organized sports team than at any point in history.

 

[TalkingHead]

I can appreciate the enthusiasm for HP 2.0 and wanting to see the new attractions as soon as they soft open.

But hanging out in front of Kings Cross inside the park for 15+ straight days when it's been clear that no softs are going to happen? Seems a bit much for anyone old enough to drive themselves to the park.

 

[LithiumBill]

Wish I could see fanboi reactions to this one! Very talented!

Pixie dust aside, That video made me want to cancel my internet services...

 

[Cesar R M]

You have to buy a balloon to keep the A/C running while you sleep, it sets off the motion detector on the thermostat.

Its still kinda dumb, I mean.. the fact that you have to use these tricks to keep the temps constant.

The buses can swing temperatures rapidly based on how many people are in them. Also if given the choice between a hot or cold bus during the summer. I choose cold every time.

So, do we have "deal with it" ? because they cant be in a middle temp?
and I have YET to see a hot bus. All were cold or freezing during my 7 day visit.

 

[Cesar R M]

It's the age of over diagnosis (internet) and entitlement (who knows). Mothers have long been the nurturers so I doubt that's the issue. However, a lack of disciplining in the home and kids that aren't part of a sports team don't help either.

If we haven't all killed each other in a few hundred years, or we haven't successfully destroyed the environment to the extend that it kills us, I'm willing to bet that there's a direct correlation between the fall of society to the first participation trophy.

You forgot the babyboomer blaming shift.
instead of blaming their sons for getting arrested or having bad scores in school. they blame the government and the teachers.
They love to shift the blame from them and their "precious" to anything else.

 

[baymenxpac]

hey, @WDW1974. did you see the Court's ruling on cell phones today re: police not being able to search arrestees' cell phones without a warrant? and if so, think it could open the door to the way the law treats data collected via cell phones? obviously, if so, that would be a blow to MM+, even though i assume they could still cover themselves with the sparsely-read terms of service even if the law eventually evolved. just a thought.

 

[PhotoDave219]

I can appreciate the enthusiasm for HP 2.0 and wanting to see the new attractions as soon as they soft open.

But hanging out in front of Kings Cross inside the park for 15+ straight days when it's been clear that no softs are going to happen? Seems a bit much for anyone old enough to drive themselves to the park.

That's a tad excessive, yes.

 

[PhotoDave219]

hey, @WDW1974. did you see the Court's ruling on cell phones today re: police not being able to search arrestees' cell phones without a warrant? and if so, think it could open the door to the way the law treats data collected via cell phones? obviously, if so, that would be a blow to MM+, even though i assume they could still cover themselves with the sparsely-read terms of service even if the law eventually evolved. just a thought.

This ruling would have no baring on MM+

 

[lazyboy97o]

hey, @WDW1974. did you see the Court's ruling on cell phones today re: police not being able to search arrestees' cell phones without a warrant? and if so, think it could open the door to the way the law treats data collected via cell phones? obviously, if so, that would be a blow to MM+, even though i assume they could still cover themselves with the sparsely-read terms of service even if the law eventually evolved. just a thought.

How would the ruling affect apps? Apps that gain unauthorized access to information were already illegal.

 

[twebber55]

Lego Harry Potter isn't particularly popular. According to brickpicker.com's top selling Lego sets last month the first Harry Potter set comes in at #28. The 27 in front of it are almost all Star Wars with some Batman and Marvel sets mixed in. Star Wars rules the Lego world.

which kind of goes to my theory Star wars is little more for the 10 and under crowd and HP is a little older

 

[Cesar R M]

In a deluxe resort with rack rates starting around $350/night, guests from around the world—guests who have heard of Disney's outstanding service—have to buy balloons to get A/C.

Does Disney teach that in their guest service classes?

If they really were worried about being green, they would have filled the hotel tops with solar panels or other types of generators (like using compost and animals's waste to get metane or burn for power/heat).

They could have just used the technique other hotels do. Use the card of key to the world to activate the AC by inserting it in a slot.. so when you leave.. you remove the card and the AC goes into low power mode.
You insert it and it goes into full power mode.

He said he was wearing a trilby, not a fez.

The joke is, for many maladjusted bronies/young neckbearsds.. the trilby they wear is a "fedora"

 

[Cesar R M]

A lot of people are trying to figure that out. Could be rabies I guess.

I was expecting someone to mention the Stitch's scape thing, as the main cause of hate.

Those childless adults...many will eventually have kids...

I mentioned this elsewhere, but it's a point I think bears repeating - my kid and I go to Star Wars Weekend at LEGOLAND Windsor every year - this year was the first that we walked past JTA (or whatever it's called here) while it was being staged. There were LOTS of adult "trainees". Lots. And while it seemed a little creepy at first, I got talking to a dad who participated with his two sons. He was SO JAZZED. He said something like, "I love Star Wars - and to get to LIVE IT WITH MY KIDS, it's brilliant." The family had come all the way down from Scotland to go to SWW.

So while I might have been judging (internally) at first...the more I think about it, the more I wonder if this is what Walt might have wanted when he sat on that bench watching his daughters ride the carrousel.

Scottish Dad is why HP at UNI is such a success and why Star Wars Land seems like such a NO-BRAINER!

HP and (especially) SW are IPs adults are DYING to introduce their children to. Parents are WILLING to stand in a queue so that their kids can meet the latest princess but they are EAGER to take them to Star Wars stuff.

The genius of J.K. Rowling was that the HP books got darker, longer, more "difficult" - so kids wouldn't age out of them during the time they were being written and released. A smart Star Wars Land would do the same. Ewoks (sorry, purists) for the wee ones, JTA, walk-throughs, the speeder coaster AND a proper blow-the-bl**dy-doors-off E-Ticket that kids could grow into - and look forward to (something to COME BACK for - that is smart LONG-TERM design...provided there's enough to do NOW, as well...I'm looking at you, DHS ).

EDIT: fixed for tech issues, I am hopeless at tech

Very good analysis on the books.
But you really forgot something.. regardless of ageing.. JAR JAR BINKS CAN BURN IN HELL FOR ALL ETERNITY.

 

[GoofGoof]

Not a necessity but will increase the probability.

Being in organised sport teaches you that:

• You are only one of many.
• Sometimes sacrifice of personal goals for group success is more important.
• Life is not fair.
• How to deal with failure.
• Long term success is better than immediate gratification.
• Some things you suck at, so stop wasting your time.

My kid's playing organized sports has taught me a few additional things:

• When looking at how the other kid's parents act...I'm not actually that bad of a parent
• A 4 year old will always choose a toy truck over a bat or glove...every time...even if said other kid's parent yells at them repeatedly (see first bullet point)
• Related to above: never bring toys for your 2 year old to play with to your 5 year old's t-ball game. The 4 year olds on the team will just want to play with them.
• Just because your kid appears to be asleep in the backseat of the car on your way home you shouldn't talk smack about the other kids on the team or their parents. It's a tricky situation trying to explain to a 5 year old why you called their friend a whinny little B or why you called that kid's dad a d-bag

 

[Cesar R M]

I don't recall seeing a lot of merchandise in the form of toys (and plushes, games, etc.) while the movies were coming out and especially, now.

I do recall Lego Harry Potter sets, but lately the big Lego displays are centered on Star Wars and the ton of (adorable and I want them all) different little SW Lego figures.

Those set are crazy expensive.

I think most of the merchandize was more magical items than actually plushies, toys..etc.

There was a huge (and still big) market of harry potter in ebay.
most of the things moving are the robes, wands, the timeturners..etc..
even Lucious's malfoy cane-sword.

A quick Amazon search yields interesting results in regards to toys.


Good luck sorting through the Avatar stuff to actually find Avatar toys NOT related to Avatar: the last airbender (which is apparently pretty popular). I found a bunch of action figures eventually (most with only a handful of reviews) and the funniest would be the Jake Sully fangs for 45 cents, which is about 43 cents too many. The Star Wars most popular toys apparently are all LEGO.

The most popular Harry Potter toys right now are a HP pen and bookmark and wall stickies. The HP Lego games are also on that first page.

avatar the last airbender is huge due of the popularity of the well done series in Nickelodeon.
The series are now continuing with "legend of korra"

 

[GoofGoof]

which kind of goes to my theory Star wars is little more for the 10 and under crowd and HP is a little older

For the toys definitely. My kids had Lego Star Wars before they even saw the movies. I don't think HP has toys that are nearly as cool or popular as Star Wars. Not sure why since there are tons of things they could make toys from in the series. Not sure if it's just the marketing of the toys or if it's the content as well.

 

[Hyperspace Hoopla]

which kind of goes to my theory Star wars is little more for the 10 and under crowd and HP is a little older

Funny, depending on who you ask, Star Wars is either only for the kids or only for 35+ year old virgins. Very few seem willing to accept that it's a 38 year old IP with cross generational appeal that is certain to remain in the public consciousness for quite some time.

You don't need to have a strong IP to create a great theme park attraction, but a great theme park attraction based on a popular IP goes a long way towards creating the kind of excitement Disney needs to generate right now.

 

[twebber55]

Funny, depending on who you ask, Star Wars is either only for the kids or only for 35+ year old virgins. Very few seem willing to accept that it's a 38 year old IP with cross generational appeal that is certain to remain in the public consciousness for quite some time.

You don't need to have a strong IP to create a great theme park attraction, but a great theme park attraction based on a popular IP goes a long way towards creating the kind of excitement Disney needs to generate right now.

I agree star wars is really popular for the over 35 crowd (im 41) and below 10 crowd....

 

[twebber55]

For the toys definitely. My kids had Lego Star Wars before they even saw the movies. I don't think HP has toys that are nearly as cool or popular as Star Wars. Not sure why since there are tons of things they could make toys from in the series. Not sure if it's just the marketing of the toys or if it's the content as well.

HP is a little darker than star wars....tennagers eat up HP books they don't buy legos and other star wars toys

 

[Mike S]

I can appreciate the enthusiasm for HP 2.0 and wanting to see the new attractions as soon as they soft open.

But hanging out in front of Kings Cross inside the park for 15+ straight days when it's been clear that no softs are going to happen? Seems a bit much for anyone old enough to drive themselves to the park.

Are people actually doing this? I'll admit to hanging around London for a while when I was there this past weekend but that's just being obsessive.

 

[baymenxpac]

I agree star wars is really popular for the over 35 crowd (im 41) and below 10 crowd....

i am not in either of those demos and star wars is quite popular with me. do i get a prize?!?!?!