The Spirited Seventh Heaven ...

[flynnibus]

(I don't know how to create those memes with the picture and all. Man, I could had a hum-dinger there!)

http://memegenerator.net/

 

[The Empress Lilly]

Yes you do, you totally do.

It's also spelled 74.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

WHAT?! Where's the lanyard with pins? The Orange Bird ears? The black Mickey crocs with white socks?

And you call yourself a "lifestyler".

(In all seriousness, you two are dressed very nicely. @TP2000 would be proud. )

Well i have these too...

But how many fans of those Transformers would really describe themselves as "fans" of the version the ride is based on?

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Yes you do, you totally do.

It's also spelled 74.

I <3 you now.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

http://memegenerator.net/

Thanks, Flynn! Ever the man with the solutions!

 

[StageFrenzy]

As long as Tweedledee and Tweedledum agree with each other, all is right with the world.

Was Hi-larious

 

[Hakunamatata]

Oh, haven't had a chance to look, but someone said that Robert Niles (whose mom gave me the best cupcakes I have ever eaten before showing me around Golden Oak last year) is reporting that absolutely no Star Wars work will begin until after Star Wars VII comes out and Disney reviews what was liked/disliked by fans. ... Based on timelines I have heard, I suspect he is accurate.

So that means Avatar will be just about starting?

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

So to everyone who agrees that the Universal parks are completely better than WDW - why do so many of you continue giving Disney money in Orlando?

There has to be a disconnect between the anti-WDW sentiments expressed in these threads and the actions people are taking (on a macro scale, anyway), since WDW attendance is still fine and per capita spending is up. That's part of the problem.

 

[RSoxNo1]

I don't have any issue with the medium. I have entered the 21st century (kicking and screaming as I am carried on a gold-plated throne by fanboi minions wearing very little!) ... podcasts are legit.

Now, would you find me a Disney or UNI one that is truly worth listening to regularly?

This is a far cry from where you were 2-3 years ago. The problems with podcast are real (no barriers to entry, knowing what to listen to, etc), but it is a means for content providers to eliminate the middle man. Adam Carolla has turned being fired from a cushy CBS radio gig (replacing Stern in many markets) to his own "Pirate Ship" as he calls it. Even in the small niche market that we all exist as fans, there are many people that are profiting from putting out entertaining content.

 

[WDW1974]

I won't argue at all that Uni offers a better value right now compared to WDW. My Uni annual pass was the same price as buying a 3 or 4-day park hopper at Disney (I haven't renewed my WDW ticket, btw), and many of Uni's rides are great. The quick service didn't blow me away - I would say WDW wins in that department (and offers more reasonable prices), but Vivo in CityWalk impressed me. I actually had a $17 squid ink pasta dish that was probably better than the $20 microwaved spaghetti at Tony's (I wouldn't know - I've never bothered with Tony's). And of course, the Wizarding World is a clear success with thematically relevant food and beverages that people feel compelled to buy (I also found myself under Harry's spell!).

Been to Vivo already? The UNI fanbois all rave about it. I almost tried it a few weeks ago, but had a $25 Levy's B-Day bonus and went to Portobello and had a great lunch (once I explained to them that propping open the front door might have kept the hostess from freezing, but also was why they had flies fluttering about!) A great lunch on Disney property with not one entree at the $20 level. Imagine that?

Unfortunately, all of that will grow stale for me eventually because Uni doesn't have the immersion and escapism of WDW. The only way for Uni to challenge WDW is to keep building: new rides, a third gate, a water park, etc. Disney, on the other hand, is still what most people think of when they envision a trip to Orlando. Until Uni comes close to matching Disney on that front, I think TDO will refuse to budge.

See, and feel free to correct me if I am wrong, but what I read there is NOTHING UNI will ever do will have it ''matching'' Disney (let alone surpassing it in your mind). It doesn't have 43 square miles (isn't that top shelf WDI-FLA's Jason Grandt's Twit handle?) of property in various states of decay and decline. It doesn't have a seemingly endless supply of shops selling the exact same things (all with Frozen DVDs on the counter!) And it doesn't have the MAGIC.

Really, isn't that what you mean? ... Because that is the line I get from all the addicts. UNI will basically only be as good as Disney when it is Disney. Isn't that what you are saying?

But I will take exception to you speaking for what everyone else who visits Orlando thinks of when they think of a trip to theme park capital of the world. Everyone does NOT think of WDW first and foremost ... some do, some don't even think of theme parks, they think of golf courses and spas, some think of beaches, some think of gators and other critters, some think of theme parks in general, some think of simply Disney and some think simply of UNI, but there's far less of both of them than the other groups.

And I hope your last sentence is correct...

All my sentences are always correct ... they're always good, even when they feel sooooooo bad![/QUOTE]

 

[WDW1974]

People are posting Disneyland is getting MyMagic and MDE....winter is coming.

What people?

 

[sweetpee_1993]

So to everyone who agrees that the Universal parks are completely better than WDW - why do so many of you continue giving Disney money in Orlando?

There has to be a disconnect between the anti-WDW sentiments expressed in these threads and the actions people are taking (on a macro scale, anyway), since WDW attendance is still fine and per capita spending is up. That's part of the problem.

I've stayed in Disney hotels a few times in the past few years. Nothing like we used to. Usually it's a convenience thing with getting multiple people together coming from multiple starting points. We use DME as a tool, really. I haven't spent a dime on entrance into the 4-parks in almost 3 years. In that time I've been on 6 Disney cruises, a non-Disney cruise, and been to Disneyland. Thru the end of 2015 I have 3 cruises to do. I'm hoping to squeeze a rafting trip in the Grand Canyon in, too. If something has to be sacrificed to do the rafting trip, I'm good with dumping the last Disney cruise. I'm not sure beyond 2015. Think I'm ready to go do some other things for a bit.

Never been to Uni. I know I should. WDW isn't interesting to me now.

 

[RSoxNo1]

I never rode Popeye. We always head to Ripsaw Falls first and get soaked. Then decide we are over water rides for the day.

I'm definitely not a fan of Ripsaw Falls. The logs are very uncomfortable, the show scenes are downright lousy. The only parts I enjoy are the drop and the outdoor portion that follows. Also, if you want to talk about long queues, that one is ridiculous.

On the other hand, Popeye and Bluto's is far and away the best rapid ride I've ever experienced.

 

[Mike S]

I'm definitely not a fan of Ripsaw Falls. The logs are very uncomfortable, the show scenes are downright lousy. The only parts I enjoy are the drop and the outdoor portion that follows. Also, if you want to talk about long queues, that one is ridiculous.

On the other hand, Popeye and Bluto's is far and away the best rapid ride I've ever experienced.

Splash Mountain it most definitely is not. You could argue Jurassic Park might be on the same level but I still think Splash tops that as well. Popeye is hands down the best raft ride though. Puts Kali to shame.

 

[Travel Junkie]

@sweetpee_1993 To answer your question, yes that bridge is new. That along with a number of new additions stick out like a sore thumb. Others have mentioned the Walt history disappearing and I completely agree. DL must try and hold onto as much Walt history as it can. Things change and the park must stay current, but great care should be taken when dealing with anything Walt had a direct hand in. I feel DL should designate certain areas off limits for historical preservation. Club 33 and NOS would be at or near the top of the list. For a company that talks endlessly about Walt, they sure show little regard for preserving his actual history. It’s unfortunate he is being reduced to a marketing tool.


I can talk about the off center window, or how the new larger windows totally throw off the forced perspective, or even how art nouveau doesn’t fit NOS (a French style doesn’t mean it should be the French Quarter.) The thing that irks me the most however is in how the new additions make bold statements, in direct contrast to the subdued beauty of the original. Locals and frequent visitors like myself talk about the loss of the COA as a huge blow. The reason was you had to work to find it. You had to discover it. Unless you read online about it beforehand, you probably didn’t see it on your first visit or 2nd. NOS rewarded you with more on each subsequent visit. This is in stark contrast to the bolder look at me I’m so pretty new Club 33. Unfortunately this is indicative of current WDI. Big on flash and low on substance.


I look at 2014 as the year Universal created its greatest achievement to date while Disney cheapened their greatest land in a U.S. park.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Finally got around to seeing Grand Budapest Hotel, which was a very enjoyable (but not great) film.

I've been burned too many times by Wes Anderson. I always regret watching his movies, so I've just given up on him. I'm convinced they're for people that want to appear smart, but aren't.

 

[RSoxNo1]

They are all a go ...

Is there a single AA in Mr. Toad's Wild Ride?

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

See, and feel free to correct me if I am wrong, but what I read there is NOTHING UNI will ever do will have it ''matching'' Disney (let alone surpassing it in your mind). It doesn't have 43 square miles (isn't that top shelf WDI-FLA's Jason Grandt's Twit handle?) of property in various states of decay and decline. It doesn't have a seemingly endless supply of shops selling the exact same things (all with Frozen DVDs on the counter!) And it doesn't have the MAGIC.

Really, isn't that what you mean? ... Because that is the line I get from all the addicts. UNI will basically only be as good as Disney when it is Disney. Isn't that what you are saying?

But I will take exception to you speaking for what everyone else who visits Orlando thinks of when they think of a trip to theme park capital of the world. Everyone does NOT think of WDW first and foremost ... some do, some don't even think of theme parks, they think of golf courses and spas, some think of beaches, some think of gators and other critters, some think of theme parks in general, some think of simply Disney and some think simply of UNI, but there's far less of both of them than the other groups.

The 43 square miles certainly help, since they provide WDW with significant 'intangibles' that enhance the overall experience: large bodies of water and white sand beaches (a beautiful sight to behold, even if swimming is off limits), greenery separating all the parks and resorts, etc. It's those features that successfully block out much of the outside world, even as new construction projects constantly threaten that balance (such as the new Four Seasons, which is visible from the MK monorail line).

The Frozen DVDs and homogenized Disney merchandise do nothing for me, so that's not what I mean.

About what people think when they imagine an Orlando trip - all you need to do is take one step into MCO and you'll be inundated with Disney shopping bags. In addition, a lot of my friends post pictures from their Orlando trips, and Disney is always included (Uni sometimes is). These are people in their early 20s from a top university in the Northeast with no Disney/DCP affiliation, and Disney is still on their radar over Uni. Do I understand it? No, but it seems pretty clear to me that Disney is still a huge dog in Orlando. Pretending otherwise doesn't make sense to me, since WDW's positive reputation and 'top dog' position in the market have contributed to its current complacency.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Splash Mountain it most definitely is not. You could argue Jurassic Park might be on the same level but I still think Splash tops that as well. Popeye is hands down the best raft ride though. Puts Kali to shame.

I enjoy Jurassic Park. Not up to Splash's standards, but it's still an enjoyable ride.

 

[WDW1974]

I think the club and it's members have been put on display to the average guest now. Look at THIS. But most guests will never get to go there or experience that. That's counterproductive to the purpose of referring to your paying customers as "guests", don't you think? Flaunting unobtainable exclusivity is tacky. Classy people don't do that. I certainly wouldn't treat any guest in my home that way. And THAT is where I find what has been done with the club as RUDE. I was taught to welcome guests in my home with far more eloquence than that. Really. It's very fundamental stuff.

First, you are always welcome on my Spirited threads, as is anyone who isn't trolling.

Second, what you said above is some of the absolute best commentary on the whole Club 33 situation out there. I BOLDED the part that I truly hope people take to the Twitverse. You nailed the heart of the matter. Great quote and I am not kidding. If I were a reporter (which, of course, I am not) that would be what is known as a 'money quote'.

But, you know, this is the Disney of today. They've tapped into the tiered magic money stream. Come to us for magical memories.....but you could have more magic if you spend $$$ for this....and the better magical memories are here if you spend $$$$$... It's what Disney does now. It irks those of us who know that things like magic and memories aren't tiered, bought, or sold as Mickey would have us think. They didn't used to be and things were great then. But it's the nature of things now. Club 33? It's the top tier of magical things to have. If it's worth it to some, more power to 'em. I'd rather go more places, do more things, keep my money, and still have more magic then Disney produces nowadays. That's just me.

That's what Disney is all about. ... Look at all the upcharge events at WDW. It's all about the more you pay, the more we'll let you play.

Some crazy defender of what they view as capitalism will likely come in now and say that's the corporate way. My response would be that it hasn't been the Disney Way.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I did get access to 1901 when we were there in May. If Club 33 had been open we would've dined there as we were guests of members. I have zero ties to any company or wealthy people in California. LOL! I'm no lifestyler. I don't have a blog (yet, I'm considering it as a place to store our travel stories for my husband to enjoy at his leisure when he's not at home. Apparently re-re-re-reading my trip reports is his happy thing when he gets breaks at work or when he's out of town on business). No person, company, entity, etc. stands to gain a single thing from my reflections. I posted on a random thread on another forum that I found it easier to not get my feelings hurt about all the things I can't do at DL like go into the clubs or ride in the Lilly Belle by pretending they don't even exist. 2 club members separately, privately reached out to me. These were complete strangers. I had nothing to offer them in return. (I'm not that kinda girl! LOL!) I did find a bit of humanity redemption in the random generosity of both these members who both expressed that part of the value in their membership experience came in sharing it. Maybe it's fun to show it off. I'm choosing to think better and recall the fun in taking first timers to WDW and on DCL. Don't burst that bubble for me! LOL! The member that took us to 1901 and offered us all the other perks he could get for the day was a very nice gentleman and his wife. These were not the show-offy types at all. Plain old folks like us. Family their raising. Disney fans. Their income to cost of living (they live up near San Francisco) probably isn't grossly different from ours, really. We have a boat and all the expenses associated with that because it's what we (read: the hard-working bread-winner husband) enjoys. Really, annual membership dues aren't a whole lot more than that. Disney is a hobby, one they make happen because it's what they value not much different from us (husband) and the boat. Whether or not this was ever intended to be the type of person who held the club membership, I don't know. But I can tell you that the member I had the pleasure of meeting was a regular guy, friendly and not so different from us. Pretty down to earth couple. Definitely enjoyed their company far more than any venue. THAT is what I took from our experience. It was the human experience, not the geography.

There's my novel! Bet you regret ever tagging me, Spirit! Hahaha!

But seriously, thank you for sharing your thoughts. I appreciate it.

No, thanks for your thoughts.

I went to 1901 on my last visit as well. Angie and I were guests of a friend that has a membership through his company. I enjoyed it. But I don't feel special just because I went.

I have family that is quite elite, but they don't act as stuck up as people I know who have a pittance (of dollars) and tudes that make you think they have accomplished something in life.

This elitism is sorta what I see now with airline lounges. They used to be places you earned or paid your way into. Now, any brat with a credit card can seemingly get in for 'free' ... naturally, they aren't what they used to be (how I miss hanging in the Presidents Club in Houston while Dr. Phil was having a breakdown on his phone!) because with all these extra people looking for free food, free booze, free magazines, free wifi ... much less is actually free.