The Spirited Seventh Heaven ...

[WDW1974]

That sounds like BGT the past few years now funnily enough.

So much they get two days out of us now.

I stayed away from BGT from the 1980s until last year. Went after visiting BGW the summer before.

I loved them both. They do so much right (from not hacking down trees to having parks that don't feel sticky and dirty all the time -- yes, MK, you often feel like a badly managed McD's). And they have very affordable options for tickets beyond one day.

 

[WDW1974]

That in itself goes to show how many daft people there are around here. And a few village idiots.

What if Uni DOESN'T want to be a WDW?

It wants to be amazing, world class, but not a Disney park.

Food for thought.

(Edit : not calling you daft for that @DonaldDoleWhip )

Love this post, Martin. Love it.

This gets to the heart of the matter. For some addicts, nothing UNI (or anyone else) ever does will be good enough because it isn't Disney. It's just that simple. It's like having a Republican or Democrat telling you that they'd vote for someone in the other party, but they just haven't ever found one individual they thought was better for that office.Disney is like politics or religion for the addicts. Pixie Dust is the most powerful substance on earth for their brains.

 

[flynnibus]

Pixie Dust is the most powerful substance on earth for their brains.

I vote for

 

[WDW1974]

-Team members getting their hours cut show that Universal overestimated crowds Potter 2.0 would bring in. It is the law of diminishing returns in full effect.

-A new land opened on Universal's top rented IP, attendance and profits is expected to go up a bit.

-Hogwarts is a mock train where you watch a movie, it should run flawlessly. Universal is set up so you can walk in a complete circle and finish the park. Putting transportation to the other park dead set in the middle of Universal Studios makes traveling to the other park very inconvenient for guests. That is probably a very large reason for the Hogwarts Express lack of crowds. Also park hopping at Universal is really not needed, especially if you only have a 1 or 2 day pass. Certain members were declaring the train would make all guests park hop, and Universal would no longer sell one day one park tickets, and that is clearly not the case.

-Gringotts may be more reliable, but it is still a mess. Lighter crowds than 2 weeks ago may be helping with wait time.

-I'm actually excited for Kong, but Kong is no Potter when it comes to drawing crowds.

Does it bother you that no one here with half a brain takes BRAND advocates seriously?

 

[WDW1974]

The lounges are a great paralell. Man... talk about change in atmosphere and service when you scale them up!

Very much so. Now that everyone can get in them without earning their way in (think Club 33 and the Lifestyler Brigade), the experience for everyone who gets in is lower. It doesn't take a business wiz to get why that would happen.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

But you are wrong. Fundamentally so. Often by the time a company sees the major signs of trouble that you are talking about, it is too late. Again, I realize many folks can't see WDW ever not existing in largely its current form. I find that PoV amazingly arrogant and ignorant from a crowd who loves to remind folks here that ''Disney is a business''.

I'm not saying the parks don't need to change. I'm saying it doesn't seem likely to me...until something drives TDO (or the leaders above them) to take action. Strong attendance and per capita spending aren't compelling the leaders of WDW to change their ways.

Apparently I'm not the only one who's thinking that way (except when I say it, I'm addicted to the brand, ignorant, and fundamentally wrong).

 

[WDW1974]

Listen to wogwog now @sweetpee_1993. You are not alone in being what many pixie dust folks would call radical. You would enjoy Uni, please do visit, but it will make you even more upset at the present WDW. We have some of the same preferences. DCL to the max and RC in a pinch. Disney still gets some of my money but not at WDW. Like you I take multiple trips on DCL a year as Disney knows how to make a great cruise. I usually get to Disneyland once a year for a week or so. I lived near Disneyland for decades and have visited all of the other parks in Asia and Europe multiple times. I now live near WDW. Not for the parks but for the weather and proximity to multiple cruise ports. All of the cruise lines give generous discounts to Florida residents allowing me to cruise many times a year. I visit WDW only when I have friends from out of town visiting to be social and friendly. I might enjoy one attraction on a visit.

The majority of my friends here in Florida work for the Mouse. I know front line Cast, manager level, a couple of GMs and a VP. Like @WDW1974 I am able to gain free admission any time I ask. I only ask two or three times a year to accompany friends. WDW depresses me now. DCL and the other parks make me happy and nostalgic. You are not alone. Enjoy your themed cruise coming up @sweet_pee. But beware, you might see me aboard again.

A TRUE Top One Percenter in our midst!

 

[EpcoTim]

Does it bother you that no one here with half a brain takes BRAND advocates seriously?

You'd have to have a clue, even a slight one, to understand that.

 

[SJN1279]

Does it bother you that no one here with half a brain takes BRAND advocates seriously?

I see tons of Spirited threads, but no actual breaking news about the resort that actually comes to fruition in any of them.

 

[PhotoDave219]

I vote for

Then sir, you should've been where I was at Thursday night.

 

[George]

Just wanted to pop in with a quick announcement. As of 3:48 PM eastern standard time today, Walt Disney World has been fixed, so please come visit and open up your hearts and wallets.

Now, that I've been able to put everyone's concerns to bed, we can shut this site down. Thank you and good night.

 

[wogwog]

A TRUE Top One Percenter in our midst!

No, @WDW1974, I bow in your presence. Your contacts and inside info makes my paltry contribution insignificant. Maybe I'm top faux 5%ish. I have the opportunity by location and many years of banking FF miles to travel extensively. My work has always taken me to a lot of wonderful places in the US and around the world. Seventy countries and counting. I had the pleasure of meeting @sweetpee_1993 a year ago on the first "Unofficial WDWMagic Girls Cruise" at the Sail Away and other times on the cruise. A fun group.

 

[Lee]

I would guess the Lifestylers will be getting in the same way they have for the last decade: ''we have a friend.''

Hey, that worked for me...

(More like a friend of a friend, I guess...)

 

[flynnibus]

Then sir, you should've been where I was at Thursday night.

as long as you're not talking m00bs... I'm in

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I vote for

Good thing. Those can be bought and sold same as 'Magic' (<--according to Disney & its tiered magical offerings).

 

[Quinnmac000]

Putting this in the right thread for this kind of stuff

per @Tahu,

Legendary Pictures announced that not only is Godzilla 2 coming (with Mothra, Rodan and Ghidorah in tow), but so will a new Kong film focusing on Skull Island.
Screw that Kong on the Jurassic Park expansion plot rumor for Universal Studios, just turn Toon Lagoon into Monster Island!

 

[Cosmic Commando]

Under the family clause, they can't use any character that is included in the Avengers family. The question of what is or is not in the family would have to be decided by an arbitrator. So no one knows. The issue has not been tested and probably never will be. But I can see the argument that any movies Marvel makes that tie into the Avengers series are off limits. I would certainly argue that case if I were Universal.

I certainly don't think they would let a GotG attraction open at Disney World without contesting it.

For anyone who thinks they have the Marvel/Uni contract 100% figured out and thinks they know what's allowed where, look at the movie side. You have Marvel and Fox using the same character, played by different people in different movies. Some stuff is obviously off-limits, but there's a whole lot of grey area.

I actually don't think Uni would challenge something unless it was very blatant or a big E-ticket. IMO, the uncertainty probably helps them keep Disney at bay regarding some characters who might be "on the line", so to speak. If a judge starts defining some of the ambiguities in the contract (like what a "substantial part" means), Uni could actually lose ground.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

No, @WDW1974, I bow in your presence. Your contacts and inside info makes my paltry contribution insignificant. Maybe I'm top faux 5%ish. I have the opportunity by location and many years of banking FF miles to travel extensively. My work has always taken me to a lot of wonderful places in the US and around the world. Seventy countries and counting. I had the pleasure of meeting @sweetpee_1993 a year ago on the first "Unofficial WDWMagic Girls Cruise" at the Sail Away and other times on the cruise. A fun group.

And wasn't it a swell voyage we all had?! I'm so looking forward to kicking around with my gal pals on the Dream again soon. I do hope you'll land on the same sailing. You know you'll find me at the upper echelon party for the crispy treats & bonus beverages. Tracey & I have all but decided not to chance those horrific Santa Ana's again and hold out for some sailings after the Ladies of Leisure meeting concludes. Either the Dream x3 or Wonder x2. Mr. Sweetpee is determined to log another 10 days at sea. I'm determined to do so for the right price so we'll see what rolls out between now & then.

Thanks for the kindness, dear. I must've pulled off my lady act like an ace!

 

[cw1982]

chip or dale agrees...

This made me laugh because I have a picture with those two where it looks like one of them is checking out my rear end. If I don't forget, I'll come back and share it tonight when I get home.

 

[Mike S]

chip or dale agrees...

they do seem to be quite randy..

Omg, made my day