The Spirited Seventh Heaven ...

[aladdin2007]

Dining is one of those things where Disneyland's operation and WDW's operation has grown further and further apart in the last ten years. It's bizarre and I can't think of a good reason why WDW's theme park dining locations have gone the direction they have. Meanwhile, Disneyland's locations go in the opposite direction from Flo's V8 Cafe to the Carthay Circle to the Frontierland Barbeque.

It's very odd, and there's really no good excuse for what TDO has done in the WDW parks since about 2005.

Its because of DDP. Such as Le Cellier just as one example, use to be one of the best dining spots on property. Now its crap and 40 bucks for lunch for one measly menu item and a poor menu. way to go tdo.

 

[SJN1279]

You forgot to say please.

Looks like I've been beaten to it. Post 7624 incase you missed it. And that's being generous by including resorts.

I can show you're wrong again though if you like? But I don't like doing that to people.

Ride to ride expansion I was not. As a 8 year old kid, Disney I remember seriously lacking new rides in the late-80's. In fact Magic Kingdom had no new rides the entire time I visited with my parents from 1984 to 1991. Thank God for Spalsh Mountain in 1992(which was a clone from Disneyland).

If WDWMagic existed in the 1980's, WDW would have been ripped as stagnant. Anyone who went to DHS the first year of opening, remember how lacking for attractions that park was.

 

[BrianLo]

As requested by @alissafalco @thehowiet @Soarin' Over Pgh et. al

I'm liberally using spoiler tags so that this post is not absolutely massive (although some may be considered spoilers such as Mystic Manor at the end).

General photos around the resort and pre-rope drop.

Spoiler

Yes, there exists a gate opening before the gate-opening, before the rope drop. Let's thank the jet leg... This was two hours before park open but I wanted to take a stroll around the resort beforehand anyways.

I'mg second guessing if there was actually problems with the castle, or I was just used to seeing Cali's... Hmm

This is what is open when it rains.

EDIT: And... despite my best effort there is a 20 image limit, so I apologize for the multiple posts...

 

[BrianLo]

Various photos of some of the lands.

Spoiler

Just like the barrel of monkey's at WDS, this is a clear hint by WDI that something more is coming behind that grass #rumourmongering

Tarzan's treehouse is under refurb... the most inadvertently themed (from a North American's eyes) scaffolding ever... (Nearly all scaffolding is bamboo in Hong Kong, even the high rises)

Here are some various dark ride photos. I went on Small World three times... mostly because of the sweet, sweet 20 minutes spent in air conditioned bliss (never had a wait), and I was playing around a lot with my camera.

Spoiler

 

[BrianLo]

Spoiler

Should I be offended by this one? Why don't I get a doll?

Lots of photos of the parade, which is on its way out. Here's a tip, sit exactly where I am. You only just catch the cusp of the show stop, but you are in the shade and it's literally the only place on the parade route that's not 4 people deep with umbrellas (let alone free shade). I sat the whole time with a couple who had their tripods set up ages beforehand, there was no one else for a stretch of pavement.

Spoiler: The Parade

 

[BrianLo]

PETA eat your hearts out!

Spoiler

My favourite now, Mystic Manor...

BUT, please keep in mind this gets particularly spoilery beyond the first few photos, you've been warned!

Spoiler

I really want to see them extend this S.E.A. characters to other parks. My current bets are this guy would mesh perfectly with Shanghai's Soarin' (which after all is being built in their adventureland). /armchairimagineering

Nothing to see here... move along!

Really like this one, the room is basically pitch black as the "magic" is sucked back into the box. The camera gets a way better look at this moment than your adjusting eyes will.

YES, in case you were super concerned, Frozen merchandise had just arrived...

 

[PeterAlt]

Ride to ride expansion I was not. As a 8 year old kid, Disney I remember seriously lacking new rides in the late-80's. In fact Magic Kingdom had no new rides the entire time I visited with my parents from 1984 to 1991. Thank God for Spalsh Mountain in 1992(which was a clone from Disneyland).

If WDWMagic existed in the 1980's, WDW would have been ripped as stagnant. Anyone who went to DHS the first year of opening, remember how lacking for attractions that park was.

To be fair, Disney management of the early 80's considered MK as "complete", while they focused on EC. So, naturally, MK development would be stagnant during this time period. It took a change of management with new policies for this situation to change. The policy changed in the mid-80's and the late 80's has to show for it (Splash Mountain and Grand Floridian). So, it was really just the early 80's leading to the mid 80's that this stagnation occurred. The mid 80's had the new policy in place and the Grand Floridian was the first to bear fruit from it. Splash Mountain was the first ride to bear fruit from this policy that took effect a few years prior to its opening. New Tomorrowland, even though was opened in the 90's, was developed during the late 80's.

 

[marni1971]

Ride to ride expansion I was not. As a 8 year old kid, Disney I remember seriously lacking new rides in the late-80's. In fact Magic Kingdom had no new rides the entire time I visited with my parents from 1984 to 1991. Thank God for Spalsh Mountain in 1992(which was a clone from Disneyland).

If WDWMagic existed in the 1980's, WDW would have been ripped as stagnant. Anyone who went to DHS the first year of opening, remember how lacking for attractions that park was.

American Journeys. Dreamflight.

Btw, Splash is not a clone. You got that wrong too. You really should stop it now. You're embarrassing yourself.

 

[Goofyernmost]

I doubt anyone now is spending a whole week at UNI and doing nothing else, but there are other things for families to do in Florida besides WDW and UNI. I agree with the point that it's too expensive to do multi-days for both, so visitors will have to make the choice between where they spend the majority of their theme park time.

What I see more people doing is buying a multi-day pass to UNI and a one-day ticket to MK (still quite common) to say they "visited Disneyland too". The free dining/value resort crowd will still be there, but they won't (and can't) represent everyone visiting the Orlando area parks.

No wonder it was so expensive. If anyone can afford to go to Uni Florida and Disneyland in the same trip please introduce us, I'd like to see if they would be interested in adopting me.

 

[SJN1279]

American Journeys. Dreamflight.

Btw, Splash is not a clone. You got that wrong too. You really should stop it now. You're embarrassing yourself.

You're right there are some differences, IMHO Splash Mountain is still the best ride in Orlando.

When did you start visiting WDW Marni?

 

[alissafalco]

PETA eat your hearts out!

Spoiler

My favourite now, Mystic Manor...

BUT, please keep in mind this gets particularly spoilery beyond the first few photos, you've been warned!

Spoiler

I really want to see them extend this S.E.A. characters to other parks. My current bets are this guy would mesh perfectly with Shanghai's Soarin' (which after all is being built in their adventureland). /armchairimagineering

Nothing to see here... move along!

Really like this one, the room is basically pitch black as the "magic" is sucked back into the box. The camera gets a way better look at this moment than your adjusting eyes will.

YES, in case you were super concerned, Frozen merchandise had just arrived...

Thanks so much, your photos are beautiful! I would love to visit some day.

 

[marni1971]

My biggest complaint about Disney in the 1980's was no new attractions from 1984 to 1989. Talk about stagnant, Disney was totally stagnant when it came to new ride offerings during that period.

Since you pushed it...

1984

June 9th Laserphonic Fantasy
July 12th Show Biz Is
September 7th Morocco (complete pavilion)
September 15th American Journeys
November Country Bear Christmas Special

1986

January 15th The Living Seas (complete pavilion with immersive show and multiple exhibits)
Country Bear Vacation Hoedown opens
September 12 Captain EO

1987

June 1 If You Could Fly
December 15 Magic Journeys

1988

January 30th IllumiNations
May 6 Norway (complete pavilion with headline attraction)
June 18 Mickeys Birthdayland
June 28 Grand Floridian
October 1 Caribbean Beach (largest resort in the US when opened)

1989

May 1 Disney MGM Studios (new theme park)
June 1 Typhoon Lagoon (complete Waterpark)
June 26 Dreamflight
October 19th Wonders of Life (complete pavilion with three headliners and multiple hands on exhibits)
December Star Tours


I'll let the facts speak for theirselves.

 

[alissafalco]

You're right there are some differences, IMHO Splash Mountain is still the best ride in Orlando.

When did you start visiting WDW Marni?

For me Spiderman is the best ride in Orlando.

 

[flynnibus]

While camping is charming and all, I wonder how many folks do it because they love the outdoors vs. it's the cheapest option to stay on-property. I wish I could tell those folks for almost half the price of a campsite that there is a really nice, clean, friendly Motel 6 that is right around the corner from the Studios. For the amount you save it will rent you a car, too.

RV camping is a style choice - not just 'who has the best rate'. Hang out with some of those folks.. they want the environment, the pace, the flexibility. It's their vacation, not just a place to sleep.

 

[SJN1279]

For me Spiderman is the best ride in Orlando.

I think Spiderman is a great attraction, but my personal preference I rank it 4th in IOA behind Popeye, Jurassic Park, and Dudley Do Right.

My two favorite rides on the planet are Splash Mountain and Indiana Jones, with Radiator Springs Racers right behind.

 

[Nemo14]

@BrianLo _ awesome pictures!!! Thanks so much for posting them!

 

[SJN1279]

Since you pushed it...

1984

June 9th Laserphonic Fantasy
July 12th Show Biz Is
September 7th Morocco (complete pavilion)
September 15th American Journeys
November Country Bear Christmas Special

1986

January 15th The Living Seas (complete pavilion with immersive show and multiple exhibits)
Country Bear Vacation Hoedown opens
September 12 Captain EO

1987

June 1 If You Could Fly
December 15 Magic Journeys

1988

January 30th IllumiNations
May 6 Norway (complete pavilion with headline attraction)
June 18 Mickeys Birthdayland
June 28 Grand Floridian
October 1 Caribbean Beach (largest resort in the US when opened)

1989

May 1 Disney MGM Studios (new theme park)
June 1 Typhoon Lagoon (complete Waterpark)
June 26 Dreamflight
October 19th Wonders of Life (complete pavilion with three headliners and multiple hands on exhibits)


I'll let the facts speak for theirselves.

And which one of those attractions would you want WDW to open today? Everything you mentioned is a B or C ticket(outside of MGM which was terrible in 1989).

 

[flynnibus]

It's bizarre and I can't think of a good reason why WDW's theme park dining locations have gone the direction they have

Mass push for use and expansion of DDP.

 

[flynnibus]

Since you pushed it...

I'm sorry Martin... He was speaking about attractions built for left handed people opening on Thursdays that move counter-clockwise. Obviously your list doesn't speak to that so you're still wrong.

Anything you find that meets that criteria, he will just say it stunk anyways... so 'my' definition of stagnant will now be 'opening attractions that are E-tickets that I want, in what park I want, and under what circumstances I want'

There is no point in continuing the charade. The argument was never coming from a informed position in the first place.

 

[marni1971]

And which one of those attractions would you want WDW to open today? Everything you mentioned is a B or C ticket(outside of MGM which was terrible in 1989).

You're just brilliant. Do you really do this for the hell of it or do you actually think what you say makes sense?