The Spirited Seventh Heaven ...

PrincessNelly_NJ

PrincessNelly_NJ

Well-Known Member
I wonder, will Disney do something like this for Avatar.
Can they? I mean, it is easy to book a quick trip to Universal. Disney not so much...
unless they announced the grand opening date months in advance giving guest time to book, right?
 
Mike S

Mike S

Well-Known Member
71jason said:
Word on Twitter is no, but, it's Twitter ...
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If that is true it seems a bit extreme but after yesterday it's perfectly understandable.
image.jpg
:facepalm:
 
Skip

Skip

Well-Known Member
I think part of what caused this soft opening madness isn't only the internet - which existed for many other major expansions the past several years, including WWOHP Part 1 - I think the real problem was the flashy media preview event a week ago. Hogsmeade's media extravaganza wasn't followed by a multi-week lull before the actual opening... so people assumed (incorrectly) that soft openings were a given following that preview, not realizing that Gringotts is nowhere near ready for primetime.

Keep in mind that Hogsmeade still had soft openings when vacation package previews were happening (yes, before the official opening). But there was never this crazy, concentrated demand... I guess Uni's marketing did a little too well trumpeting how wonderful Diagon Alley is.
 
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Mike S

Mike S

Well-Known Member
Skip said:
I think part of what caused this soft opening madness isn't only the internet - which existed for many other major expansions the past several years, including WWOHP Part 1 - was the flashy media preview event a week ago. Hogsmeade's media extravaganza wasn't followed by a multi-week lull before the actual opening... so people assumed (incorrectly) that soft openings were a given following that preview, not realizing that Gringotts is nowhere near ready for primetime.

Keep in mind that Hogsmeade still had soft openings when vacation package previews were happening (yes, before the official opening). But there was never this crazy, concentrated demand... I guess Uni's marketing did a little too well trumpeting how wonderful Diagon Alley is.
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I'll admit to being one of those people that thought a soft opening would happen after the media preview. Part of the reason I planned a trip to go there that weekend but definitely not the only reason.
 
PrincessNelly_NJ

PrincessNelly_NJ

Well-Known Member
Skip said:
I think part of what caused this soft opening madness isn't only the internet - which existed for many other major expansions the past several years, including WWOHP Part 1 - was the flashy media preview event a week ago. Hogsmeade's media extravaganza wasn't followed by a multi-week lull before the actual opening... so people assumed (incorrectly) that soft openings were a given following that preview, not realizing that Gringotts is nowhere near ready for primetime.

Keep in mind that Hogsmeade still had soft openings when vacation package previews were happening (yes, before the official opening). But there was never this crazy, concentrated demand... I guess Uni's marketing did a little too well trumpeting how wonderful Diagon Alley is.
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I can't remember, did thousands camp out for Hogsmeade soft openings?
I remember opening day just not the days leading up to it.
 
Bairstow

Bairstow

Well-Known Member
Cesar R M said:
What a shame.. Dreamworks seems to be getting fumbled after fumble.. despite releasing solid movies.

I have no idea why they are failing so hard.. Maybe their movies are getting way too "dark" for little kids (like the case of Rise of the Guardians and now Dragons 2) or too confusing with too much thrown at same time (dragons 2) or too childish for most teens and young adults? ( Turbo, Mr. Peabody and Sherman)


I honestly had given my honest review elsewhere.. despite the solid scores on rottentomatoes.. I found some severe flaws in the movies that broke the entire flow.
One of the things I hated most.. how cluttered the last 1/4 part of the movie is. they crammed too much in too little time.
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Dragon 2 was a letdown for me too.
I was completely surprised by how good the the first one was. There was a logic and a danger to the dragon flying scenes that fly circles, so to speak, around the similar scenes in Avatar. I can't think of another animated movie that has as perfect an ending as Dragon 1.
It was very pretty to look at, and the music is still great, but the lack of focus in the plot impedes the emotional drive that made the first one so engaging.

Edit: That Cartoon Brew article is a little misleading, though. I don't think the layoffs at Dreamworks are tied to the performance of Dragon 2.
The big slide in Dreamworks' stock price started earlier this year, even before Peabody and Sherman came out.
 
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PrincessNelly_NJ

PrincessNelly_NJ

Well-Known Member
Mike S said:
I'll admit to being one of those people that thought a soft opening would happen after the media preview. Part of the reason I planned a trip to go there that weekend but definitely not the only reason.
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Seems to be the trend that Media, Cast/Team Members, folowed by soft openings, and then Grand openings.
I feel like Universal are using package guest as soft opening guest, strictly to maintain crowd control and to turn a quick profit.
 
asianway

asianway

Well-Known Member
PrincessNelly_NJ said:
Seems to be the trend that Media, Cast/Team Members, folowed by soft openings, and then Grand openings.
I feel like Universal are using package guest as soft opening guest, strictly to maintain crowd control and to turn a quick profit.
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Absolutely. Nice to see them catering to people who are willing to pay. Why should some scuzzy AP who has nothing better to Do than camp out and utilize an AP in a manner it was never intended to get to have the experience before the whales?
 
lazyboy97o

lazyboy97o

Well-Known Member
PrincessNelly_NJ said:
Seems to be the trend that Media, Cast/Team Members, folowed by soft openings, and then Grand openings.
I feel like Universal are using package guest as soft opening guest, strictly to maintain crowd control and to turn a quick profit.
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I don't think it is a desired trend. It may be kind of odd to have a big opening well after many people have been on the ride, but it sure would help with these sorts of situations.
 
PhotoDave219

PhotoDave219

Well-Known Member
Mike S said:
I'll admit to being one of those people that thought a soft opening would happen after the media preview. Part of the reason I planned a trip to go there that weekend but definitely not the only reason.
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I completely agree. And I'm hearing that was the original plan.

But issues w gringotts and a crowd of 1000 people showing up probably change that.
 
Skip

Skip

Well-Known Member
In case anyone isn't paying attention on Twitter... the fences are being removed around London. Hogwartz Express wait time sign is reportedly now on.

Soft Opening could be imminent, and could end at any time. If you're near the parks... have fun. Don't be disappointed when (not if, WHEN) Gringotts goes 101 and doesn't come back up. If you do get to ride, it may not be 100%.
 
PrincessNelly_NJ

PrincessNelly_NJ

Well-Known Member
lazyboy97o said:
I don't think it is a desired trend. It may be kind of odd to have a big opening well after many people have been on the ride, but it sure would help with these sorts of situations.
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It isn't odd. You get the media in, have them do the marketing for you for free.
But allowing time between a media preview and grand opening allows time for you to work out operational issues & allow time for the free marketing to pay off.
 
PhotoDave219

PhotoDave219

Well-Known Member
Skip said:
In case anyone isn't paying attention on Twitter... the fences are being removed around London. Hogwartz Express wait time sign is reportedly now on.

Soft Opening could be imminent, and could end at any time. If you're near the parks... have fun. Don't be disappointed when (not if, WHEN) Gringotts goes 101 and doesn't come back up. If you do get to ride, it may not be 100%.
Click to expand...

I have not seen that.
 
PrincessNelly_NJ

PrincessNelly_NJ

Well-Known Member
asianway said:
Absolutely. Nice to see them catering to people who are willing to pay. Why should some scuzzy AP who has nothing better to Do than camp out and utilize an AP in a manner it was never intended to get to have the experience before the whales?
Click to expand...
idk for sure that that is the trend but I think they could have easily offered AP holders access at the same time TM/CM got preview access.
 

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