The Spirited Seventh Heaven ...

[Cesar R M]

Not commenting specifically on your post, but I just wanted to bring something up based on the discussions regarding Jorge's film and the upcoming Pixar Day of the Dead film. I don't think Pixar will pull the plug on Lee Unkrich's Day of the Dead film because of this film. As I understand it, Lee's film is a intergenerational family film whereas Book of Life is a love story. I don't think there is any reason why we can't have multiple films that center on the Day of the Dead. There seems to be an assumption that these films have to compete against each other, ignoring the fact that we likely won't see the Pixar film until 2016-2017. I have heard so many complaints about how animated films are so cookie cutter and there is this conversation about these two films where they are the same. They aren't.

I still find interesting how 3 companies seems suddenly on a rush to do something about DIA DE MUERTOS and are all making similar movies.
Makes me wonder if Dreamworks will as well try something at it.
After all, there were days where movies from both studios (pixar and dreamworks) looked very similar theme wise..
like ANTZ vs A BUG's LIFE.
or action movies..
DANTE's PEAK vs VOLCANO.
ARMAGEDDON vs DEEP IMPACT.


Also, I'm graciously awaiting to know what project will be finally get the greenlight (which @WDW1974 hinted)

 

[wogwog]

@WDW1974


PARTS of MM+ are Paris bound. So is a huge bailout that will leave TWDC as the controlling party as Euro Disney SCA goes forward.
[/QUOTE]
The French can't catch a break. Two invasions last century that ended in world wars and now MM minus.

 

[truecoat]

The Spirit was suggesting it was irresponsible to show a child (1) sitting at the bar (2) drinking a clearly alcoholic drink. (WDW has strict rules in what cups drinks come in when you get them at a bar.) While kids will likely be allowed in the bar area--and non-alcoholic beverages will no doubt be served--I don't think WDW meant to suggest kids could sit at the bar and chug down a rum-based tiki drink. That was all I was discussing.

I guess my point was that the drink my kids were drinking and the alcoholic drinks look exactly the same.

 

[wogwog]

Loved the cruise (will discuss it more later this week). I've now done about 18 cruises (five on DCL) and this was my first Canal crossing. Overall, it was an incredible experience and I largely have only good things to say about DCL.

Oh, so I missed business as usual in these MAGICal parts?

I am in agreement with @sweetpee_1993 in that we need more of your DCL experience and news. How about putting your DCL comments on a DCL thread when you have time rather than bury it here with all the theme park stuff? I promise to add some of my opinions. I was on a cruise ship over 70 days last year including the DCL Panama crossing and DCL Hawaii R/T. I am getting on Fantasy for my third cruise this year in the morning, 5/31. By contrast I visited the MK twice last year when family came for a visit and live minutes away from WDW in Central Florida. So you see my focus. Sweetpee may not agree to waiting, but take your time, I'll be back in a week. She can learn patience. I will admit to faux 5% maybe but bow to your faux 1%. For me about 22 cruises and over 70 countries visited in my work and travels. Staycations are very over rated. I have had a few of the DCL Captains tease some very interesting future possible cruises at the little Castaway Club reception they host. I don't know if they are serious or just having wishes themselves.

 

[ParentsOf4]

PARTS of MM+ are Paris bound. So is a huge bailout that will leave TWDC as the controlling party as Euro Disney SCA goes forward.

The French can't catch a break. Two invasions last century that ended in world wars and now MM minus.

I suspect my French associates in the business world would consider McDonald's to be a far worse assault on French culture than MyMagic+.

 

[wogwog]

I suspect my French associates in the business world would consider McDonald's to be a far worse assault on French culture than MyMagic+.

I remember McDonalds. I was in one once. In the 60's probably. Have not gone back. Not even the one on the Champs- Elysees. We really should apologize for those in France and everywhere. One of the few things WDW has gotten rid of recently I agree with.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I am in agreement with @sweetpee_1993 in that we need more of your DCL experience and news. How about putting your DCL comments on a DCL thread when you have time rather than bury it here with all the theme park stuff? I promise to add some of my opinions. I was on a cruise ship over 70 days last year including the DCL Panama crossing and DCL Hawaii R/T. I am getting on Fantasy for my third cruise this year in the morning, 5/31. By contrast I visited the MK twice last year when family came for a visit and live minutes away from WDW in Central Florida. So you see my focus. Sweetpee may not agree to waiting, but take your time, I'll be back in a week. She can learn patience. I will admit to faux 5% maybe but bow to your faux 1%. For me about 22 cruises and over 70 countries visited in my work and travels. Staycations are very over rated. I have had a few of the DCL Captains tease some very interesting future possible cruises at the little Castaway Club reception they host. I don't know if they are serious or just having wishes themselves.

Oh great. Now I have Papa WogWog making me be a patient girl, too. Ha! Seriously, I would absolutely love to hear more detailed info from @WDW1974. We could use some insight over on the cruise section. A little golden spoon treatment to spice things up wouldn't hurt either.

 

[coolbeans14]

I suspect my French associates in the business world would consider McDonald's to be a far worse assault on French culture than MyMagic+.

Ya know, One of the things I enjoy when abroad is trying the McDonald's, because you get some weird stuff

I like the French ones because they stuck "le" in front of everything to be "culturally accurate"

 

[wogwog]

Oh great. Now I have Papa WogWog making me be a patient girl, too. Ha! Seriously, I would absolutely love to hear more detailed info from @WDW1974. We could use some insight over on the cruise section. A little golden spoon treatment to spice things up wouldn't hurt either.

I will hoist one in your honor at sail away tomorrow as the ship passes Fishlips.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I will hoist one in your honor at sail away tomorrow as the ship passes Fishlips.

Bless you, good sir.

 

[5thGenTexan]

Ya know, One of the things I enjoy when abroad is trying the McDonald's, because you get some weird stuff

I like the French ones because they stuck "le" in front of everything to be "culturally accurate"

What do they call a Quarter Pounder with Cheese?

 

[Hakunamatata]

"Nominal fee" left WDW years ago.

We live in an Orwellian society....

 

[WDW1974]

First, a big THANKS to MAGICal Steve (aka @wdwmagic) for cutting down the clutter here. Much appreciated.

Second, I see I was right and that the Westside Starbucks opened today (sorry, I wasn't specific last night, but was specifically asked to NOT say that here as they didn't want crazy hordes on Day 1).

Third, I just finished a private DLR survey (don't worry, there is no way in the world they won't know the survey was answered by their favorite Disney Spirit) about the 24 hour day. What I got out of the survey is what follows:

These events will indeed be annual (as I have told you before);
They are worried about people mistaking costumed guests for real Disney characters/CMs;
They REALLY care how much you were on social media when at the event with questions focusing on literally how often you Tweeted, Instagrammed, Facebooked etc.;
They really want to know if these events make you spend more on merchandise and food and beverage than you would have otherwise;
They are interested in how crowds/parking (more an Anaheim issue) affected the night and your desire to return;
They are interested in whether you visited the other two times they did this in 2012 and 2013;
They are interested in whether all of the special things (from adults being allowed to play dress up to special foods to special entertainment) made your visit more or less MAGICal than a regular visit;
They are interested in whether the event was your reason for being at DLR on May 23rd;

That's just off the top of my head, but the survey was a good 20-minute deal.

Fourth, I can't believe there is another mindless thread (with lots of folks I respect) going back and forth on Marvel rights and Disney and UNI. I have nothing to add to that inanity because it serves no purpose. I will say that in talking to industry folks in the past (and last week!) that Disney would currently have to spend multiples of what NGE is costing just to get UNI's attention. That will NEVER happen, so watching yet another round of 'it could ... yes, it could' is well ... mindless.

Now, let's see what direction(s) to go ...

 

[twebber55]

@WDW1974 you must get an amazing amount of inbox messages and alerts

 

[Hakunamatata]

I guess my point was that the drink my kids were drinking and the alcoholic drinks look exactly the same.

That could be said about a glass of soda. Mine will generally contain some level of Wild Turkey.

 

[WDW1974]

OK, @StarBurst asked about going thru the Panama Canal on the Wonder.

My first comment would be just what an amazing technological achievement the canal is. These days we seem to have trouble building simple infrastructure like roads and bridges. To think that this wonder of the world was built a century ago is truly mindboggling.

Now, one thing I have figured out is that despite common belief that you need to be up and out on deck at 6 or 7 a.m. when the ship hits the Gatun Locks (the first), I would advise sleeping in and waiting to spend time later. Sure, you 'miss' the start of the Canal, but the whole experience is what makes it interesting, not simply entering the locks.

To see how little room there is on each side of the ship (about two feet) for the Wonder, a Panamax class ship, is also amazing. You were literally waving and talking to Canal employees on land that you could have jumped (a very short jump) off the ship onto.

The weather is extremely hot and humid. Look where you are. Gatun Lake is beautiful and resembles any TV show or film that seems set in the Rainforests.

Disney, btw, printed out nice individual certificate for every passenger (signed by the captain and some rodent) that says that we all crossed the Canal. They also brought a Panamanian official onboard to stamp passports, which was a little strange because, technically, none of us actually ever set foot in Panama (the only countries we visited were Columbia and Mexico). It was still kewl to get the stamp considering how many countries I visit that I never get a stamp in (mostly EU).

DCL had plenty of coffee and water and continental breakfast items available on deck and the characters ... Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, my new second-best gal pal Daisy, crazy chipmunks Chuck and Dave ... were around all day off and on.

It just is such a bizarre and awesome experience to start a day in the Gulf of Mexico and end it in the Pacific Ocean.

As an aside, the amount of wildlife that you can see once the ship is in the Pacific is fantastic. Whales, dolphins (swimming alongside), sea lions, seals, sea turtles (these I didn't personally see, but everyone else seemed to) ... you just don't tend to see the amount and variety of creatures when doing Caribbean or even transatlantic crossings.

I don't know that I'd be in a hurry to repeat the cruise, but that has nothing to do with the experience or DCL and more to the fact that I am not sure that 15 nights of cruise line food is good for my health!!!

 

[WDW1974]

So finally come back to this place when Spirit is back in session, Frozen in Epcot? Ew. Can Disney just sell the parks under license to someone who cares ... pretty please!

Disney cares. It cares plenty. About all the $$$ that P&R pumps into the company. I think the thought of selling even a bit of the parks has gone away. Between UNI becoming a force in the business and DCA's makeover driving numbers through the roof, Disney gets that this is a good business to be in. Now, don't confuse that with any notion that the company is going to invest in the parks, especially at WDW, in a smart way.

Just watching the hordes pile into DLR last week, after a one day ticket went to $96 and a one day hopper to $150, shows that, at least for now, they haven't outpriced the market at all.

And don't get me started on the amount of money some people spend on the DCL. There was a meeting with the Steering Committee (all the top staff of the ship) early on our voyage and you were able to ask questions. Question No. 2 came from a woman from the UK. It was more of a complaint, really. Seems she had spent FIVE STRAIGHT WEEKS on the ship last fall and was sailing again for 15 days (likely more, not sure) and she was tired of the BGM loop at Triton's. I looked at the cruise director on the stage, after audibly saying something to my SO 'Angie M' to the effect that 'is this woman for real?!?!' ... she was. No, the music wasn't changed while we were onboard. I later heard from a friend who sailed on our voyage that she heard there was a woman who has pretty much been on the ship for the last year. Apparently, her husband died, she went on a cruise, found happy people and decided when she returned to go back and she's basically stayed. Yes, I do think she is mentally ill. Not that it is a happy Disney story (I know others may feel differently). My point is, I am not sure that even with the spa treatments, shore excursions, Palo meals, booze and coffee and merchandise we bought that we even came close to the average spent on that voyage.

Um ... what were we talking about?

 

[dadddio]

I remember McDonalds. I was in one once. In the 60's probably. Have not gone back. Not even the one on the Champs- Elysees. We really should apologize for those in France and everywhere. One of the few things WDW has gotten rid of recently I agree with.

I was in McDonalds yesterday for lunch. Angus bacon & cheese burger, fries, and a coke. It was good.

 

[WDW1974]

Bingo! I've noticed that too, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it for the longest time. And like you said, you notice it in both the paying visitors AND the Cast Members. Not that they are all perfect animatronics in Anaheim, and not that I haven't noticed great CM's in Orlando, but the CM's as a whole in Anaheim just look and act more well rested, more relaxed, and happy with things.

I notice it especially with the female CM's in Anaheim, in the obvious care and time they put into doing their hair and makeup for the day, like women who care about their professional appearance. Especially the young ladies working in Cars Land with their rockabilly hairdos, or on Buena Vista Street with their elaborately styled 1930's curls and waves. And in Orlando with the often makeup-less face and the slightly greasy hair pulled back into a scrunchy as their "hairdo".

There's an apparent difference in the type of life the average Orlando CM lives, versus the average Anaheim CM. It shows in their faces and their demeanor and often in things as silly as their hairdo, or lack of hairdo.

People don't like to hear this. Well, WDW-only addicts don't. But I have noticed this since becoming a regular, and later a part time local, to DLR in the 1990s. People are so much more laidback and happier, whether they work there or are visiting.

So many WDW visitors are simply miserable. You see it in their looks, in their interactions with family, friends and cast. And so many WDW CMs act like they are simply working jobs ... bad service sector jobs.

I am sure weather plays a factor. In my week in Anaheim, I think after a hotter than normal weekend (80s during the day), the temps went from lows around 58-60 to highs between 70-76. All with no humidity. That weather is so damn liveable.

Then let's be blunt: DLR is so much simpler and easier to visit. You don't have to sell your soul to Disney and stay 'on property' ... you want a $1 McChicken? It's a closer walk than from MK to the bus depot. Want a Denny's Grand Slam breakfast? Same thing. Something better? Mimi's Cafe, Millie's, Tony Roma's right acoss the street for starters. No need to make meal reservations at all, much less ride ressies. It's just people going to a fun place to have fun.

Workers tend to take more pride in the resort and many have never been to WDW, so they don't get the whole mass market MAGIC that folks have become used to in O-Town. People stay out late and party, they don't leave after the 9 p.m. fireworks because they have a 7:30 character breakfast the next day.

The smarmy corporate O-Town 'Have a MAGICal Day!' BS is no where to be heard. Nope. Not once in a week did I ever have to listen to someone telling me that. Only one 'welcome home' and I'll forgive that since we were staying on a DVC ressie.

What it comes down to for me is that DLR is great place to escape and have fun ... relaxing and a great place to unwind and enjoy Disney. It's just not the same at WDW (not saying you can't have relaxing WDW trips, but that to do so is work and requires planning!)

 

[WDW1974]

And that just points to how clueless they are, a market they don't see. Over build in FLA, and underbuild in a tight real estate situation in CA. Morons.
I love the small footprint of the villas too. But they could build a fourth tower at the DLH, or build a themed resort on the strawberry property.
They are giving away thousands of room stays to the local hotels, and ignoring a fan base of DVC owners, idiots.

I don't quite get it. But there have been so many on again, off again plans ... and it isn't as if Disney has trouble filling any of its Anaheim resorts. The days of me spending a weekend at the PPH because at $59-79 a night for APers, it made more sense than driving home to 90210 are LONG gone.

Disney just seems content to watch as other major hospitality companies (Hilton and Starwood have added thousands of rooms in Anaheim and Garden Grove and Marriott is building now as is Hyatt) add inventory. Of course, I don't get why folks pay $150-200 a night for little mom-and-pop places like Candy Cane Inn, which our buddy @WDWFigment recently reviewed on his blog when so many majors throw excess rooms to Priceline.com's 'Name your Price' service. If we hadn't been using DVC points, we would have likely been staying at one of those local branded properties for well under $100 a night.