The Spirited Seventh Heaven ...

[Cody5242]

I don't think the love of HtTYD is a Millenial thing so much as an internet thing. With the exception of Pinterest, everything on the internet skews toward nerdy males; they are disproportionately represented on any website, even Disney fan boards.

Hence, the online love of Wall-E (nerdy loner, ends up with out-of-his league dream girl), but hatred of Cars (arrogant jock wins everyone's love and respect, ends up with in-his-league dream girl)--in complete contrast to box office performance and merchandise sales in the real world.

Or the irrational hatred fanbois (and I do mean boys, especially on Twitter) of a nerdy bespectacled wizard have for a temporary DHS event featuring a blond teenage queen who is exactly the kind of girl who never would have talked to them in high school.

HtTYD was a decently received cartoon that really spoke to nerds; they can't seem to come to grips with the fact everyone else liked it fine then forgot it existed 10 minutes after leaving the theater.

I wouldn't say people forgot about it. It had very strong DVD sales

 

[wdisney9000]

But is he building mountains out of mashed potatoes? Disney needs a new E-ticket. They like to build mountains....this could be genius!!!!!!

I would love to see Richard Dreyfus in a pre-ride video.

 

[cw1982]

I wouldn't say people forgot about it. It had very strong DVD sales

No offense to nerds out there, but that's one demographic that tends to come out in droves any time something they like has new developments. Add to that mix the occasional mom who tends to always buy their kids the latest new releases, and those sales could definitely exist without the rest of the general public even noticing the DVD has been released.

 

[RSoxNo1]

The thing that the theme park insider article mentioned is that Disney's infrastructure build out is prepping them for the future. I think many of us realize that much of the Next Gen infrastructure changes are important to the future of the park. If this was the plan all along, bravo. But the thing is they rolled out components that the parks aren't currently ready for. Namely Fastpass+. Conversely, things like the Magic Bands are more likely for things that haven't been built yet either. But what likely happened is that Magic Bands were intended to be online around the same time as Hyperion Wharf. Much of the benefit to the company behind Magic Bands surrounds the psychology of spending. Magic Bands make it easier to separate guests from their money and Disney can claim that this benefit will be realized when Disney Springs opens. What's difficult to determine though is how much of that increased spending is attributable to Magic Bands vs. better merchandise?

For all intents and purposes, the Next Gen project is "complete" much in the same way the Magic Kingdom is "complete". There will be changes in the future, but it's unlikely anything will be drastic. But back to the crux of the article. Let's look at some of the changes designed to accommodate more guests:

• Next Gen
• Cinderella's Castle Hub expansion
• Animal Kingdom Parking Lot expansion
• Parking Garages as part of Disney Springs
• Harambe pathway by train station

If this is the precursor to new attractions that will meet or exceed what Universal is putting out there, fantastic. Those of us that went to the D23 expo last year saw a version of the DISH/CAVE system on display. It was probably the most basic of these systems, but if the rumors of this being used for Star Wars is true it will be a step in the right direction. I'm even on board with an X-Wing spinner if Star Wars isn't the only property going into DHS. But with that is going to come a need for infrastructure improvements there as well. We know Star Wars is coming, but until we hear about parking lot expansion or a garage going to Hollywood Studios, I'd be cautious about Disney's own internal expectations for that park.

 

[marni1971]

They could tear a page out of the DisneySea catalogue:

Maybe they will. That'd be something. But at night. See TDS Fantasmic I guess!

 

[crispy]

I would love to see Richard Dreyfus in a pre-ride video.

That movie was shot in my hometown of Mobile, AL, and tons of school kids were cast as aliens for the end scene. One of my college professors was also in the end scene. It was a kick to see him in the movie.

 

[marni1971]

• Next Gen
• Cinderella's Castle Hub expansion
• Animal Kingdom Parking Lot expansion
• Parking Garages as part of Disney Springs
• Harambe pathway by train station

Not to argue (really) but two of those were needed years ago for existing problems, the third for what's being built now (Avland)

If there were really a dozen or more D and E tickets on the way along with quality updates and refurbs for where they are needed I'd be shouting from the rooftops.

 

[Mike S]

In all fairness, I think @seascape (aka pete, aka whoever) probly sees signs in his bowl of cheerios and considers a nod to the parks.

 

[Bolna]

I think they are just following in the footsteps of Nostradamus and making extremely vague predictions that you can attribute for future years. "The sky will burn at 86 degrees" "Brick and mortar will cause smiles in the MK". See, I too can be a prophet

Just wanted to say that I have visited the house where Nostradamus used to live!

 

[Mike S]

They could tear a page out of the DisneySea catalogue:

What is that?!?!?!?!

 

[mgpan]

That movie was shot in my hometown of Mobile, AL, and tons of school kids were cast as aliens for the end scene. One of my college professors was also in the end scene. It was a kick to see him in the movie.

In a Hangar at Brookley Field right? I believe Big Fish and others have done some filming there as well. Being a Bammer myself, I've been there several times, now the home of Airbus in the U.S., I expect to visit there again soon.

 

[ChrisFL]

What is that?!?!?!?!

It's part of the Legend of Mythica show at DisneySea....soon to be retired actually (if it isn't already). It's been there since the park opened in 2001

 

[RSoxNo1]

It's part of the Legend of Mythica show at DisneySea....soon to be retired actually (if it isn't already). It's been there since the park opened in 2001

I actually expect Rivers of Light to be a bit closer to this show than World of Color.

 

[Cody5242]

No offense to nerds out there, but that's one demographic that tends to come out in droves any time something they like has new developments. Add to that mix the occasional mom who tends to always buy their kids the latest new releases, and those sales could definitely exist without the rest of the general public even noticing the DVD has been released.

What we can agree with is that Dreamworks is going downhill. It seems like family audiences are only choosing Disney films because of the trust that they have with the brand. That's why Maleficent broke out this summer

 

[crispy]

In a Hangar at Brookley Field right? I believe Big Fish and others have done some filming there as well. Being a Bammer myself, I've been there several times, now the home of Airbus in the U.S., I expect to visit there again soon.

Yep, they used the hangars from the old Air Force base at Brookley Field. My dad was a welder and did work there so it was always a pretty cool connection.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

What we can agree with is that Dreamworks is going downhill. It seems like family audiences are only choosing Disney films because of the trust that they have with the brand. That's why Maleficent broke out this summer

Families only made up 45% of Maleficent's opening day weekend crowd. The main reason for Maleficent's success I think is this:

"It's also important to note that Maleficent was the first major Summer movie targeted toward women. At the risk of sounding redundant, women make up half of the population and half of moviegoers and will continue to reward movies with interesting lead female characters."

- Box Office Mojo

Maleficent is the third female-lead box office tentpole hit in the last 8 months. And neither Frozen or Hunger Games had anything to do with the typical Hollywood "chick flick" conventional thinking of what women want to see in a movie (the story of finding a man with shopping along the way). It's all proof that not every blockbuster has to star a male character or be male-centric to be a success.

 

[marni1971]

I actually expect Rivers of Light to be a bit closer to this show than World of Color.

I'm afraid that's aiming a bit too high still.

 

[cw1982]

Families only made up 45% of Maleficent's opening day weekend crowd. The main reason for Maleficent's success I think is this:

"It's also important to note that Maleficent was the first major Summer movie targeted toward women. At the risk of sounding redundant, women make up half of the population and half of moviegoers and will continue to reward movies with interesting lead female characters."

- Box Office Mojo

Agreed. I haven't seen Maleficent yet, but just by judging from the trailers, posters, and anything else I've seen as advertisement, I can't imagine taking small children to see this because it appears to be such a dark movie. It has a rating of PG, but it looks like it would scare little ones.

 

[DisneyFan 2000]

They could tear a page out of the DisneySea catalogue:

Stunning show. Went out of my way to see it 3 times when I was there.

 

[stevehousse]

Agreed. I haven't seen Maleficent yet, but just by judging from the trailers, posters, and anything else I've seen as advertisement, I can't imagine taking small children to see this because it appears to be such a dark movie. It has a rating of PG, but it looks like it would scare little ones.

I haven't seen the full movie, but I have seen probably 85% of it (I manage a theater) and I will say that the movie really reminded me of the darker 80s kids movies that came out back when I was a kid (black cauldron, dark crystal, labyrinth, etc) that were just so wonderfully done...for what I have seen it is a good movie...