The Spirited Seventh Heaven ...

[WDW1974]

Just wondering if you have tried watching any of the show "Turn" on AMC. I love it, but the wife cant get into it.

No, I haven't.

 

[Mike S]

The fact Monstropolis is moving ahead has lots to do with her perseverance.

DCA just got Cars Land and now they're getting ANOTHER Pixar themed land? What's it going to take before they finally add more to Pixar Place here in Florida?!?!?!?!

 

[PhotoDave219]

I sure don't believe WDW is their crown jewel anymore. Epcot and DHS are shells of what they could be.

I'm not sure would put Epcot in the same bucket as Hollywood studios.

 

[bhg469]

Podcasts allow folks who are anything but experts to spread their ignorance to others.

They are like listening in to a conversation that you want to end, but it never does.

Now, before someone yells that I am painting with a broad brush, sure I'll say there are exceptions ...but the rule is the rule.

I assume youre talking about Disney centric podcasts and I completely agree. Kingdom cast is the only one I listen to because the level of snark towards disney destroying their own park makes me feel like I'm not alone.

Kevin Smith has built a podcast empire for a lot of genres, from the film industry, to pop culture to straight up science.

Several comedians do great shows as well as some very good friends of mine that just talk about living in southern california. It's raunchy but great.

 

[Kman101]

I'm not sure would put Epcot in the same bucket as Hollywood studios.

I guess not, but Epcot has a lot of dated rides and a lackluster Innoventions. I personally enjoy DHS more than Epcot.

Hollywood Studios needs less updates but badly needs an expansion and some added rides.

 

[hpyhnt 1000]

I don't know that Mary Niven is so amazing, but she is very good at disguising just how tough she is. I think people find her unassuming and she has used that to survive from Cynthia Harriss's reign of destruction until today. She has also fought for projects to better DCA and gotten money that wasn't allocated. The fact Monstropolis is moving ahead has lots to do with her perseverance.

Not to sound nit-picky, but apart from the Buena Vista Street entrance, Soarin' and a fraction of Paradise Pier, there seems to be very little "California" in DCA. It is becoming worse than Epcot when it comes to maintaining an underlying theme.

DCA just got Cars Land and now they're getting ANOTHER Pixar themed land? What's it going to take before they finally add more to Pixar Place here in Florida?!?!?!?!

It is rather baffling. Speaks volumes to how little Orlando management cares about its parks.

I guess not, but Epcot has a lot of dated rides and a lackluster Innoventions. I personally enjoy DHS more than Epcot.

Hollywood Studios needs less updates but badly needs an expansion and some added rides.

If you want to see a lackluster Innoventions, take a look at Disneyland's version. THAT is a truly lackluster use of space. Basically just a promo area for Disney films attached to some video games.

 

[Suspirian]

From the top:

To see Knott's embrace its past in a real way (no, ripping out the Calico Mine Train and then having fan merchandise events selling pins and tees and cells of it) is heartening to see. When I lived out there, I'd visit every so often, feel like there was nothing there for me and leave it for a few years when I'd repeat. Now, I look forward to visiting and the place is improving all the time. Oh, and a seasonal pass good for the rest of the year was only $84 (think that ended last week).

I know plenty of people from O-Town who liked Colglazier personally. He seemed very good at selling the whole idea of the Disney MAGIC. But he was awful at keeping his park in show condition as we know. DL has some issues now that they, frankly, didn't have before MC took charge.

I don't know that Mary Niven is so amazing, but she is very good at disguising just how tough she is. I think people find her unassuming and she has used that to survive from Cynthia Harriss's reign of destruction until today. She has also fought for projects to better DCA and gotten money that wasn't allocated. The fact Monstropolis is moving ahead has lots to do with her perseverance.

So it's still on the way. Any idea on how they're integrating it with the Golden Age Hollywood theme? Is there anything else coming to DCA besides Monstropolis and Soarin 2.0?

 

[tamotu99]

I'm not sure would put Epcot in the same bucket as Hollywood studios.

Well if Avatar gets Soarin 2.0 then Soarin will lose a lot of appeal leaving that park with basically 1 headline ride Test Track, a few boat rides (one with some new models in, supposedly) a couple of 2nd string rides Soarin, Mission Space and SSE and a few countries to see and explore, oh and a seas pavilion that is literally 'look at these animated fish and turtle not the real ones', an energy pavilion that is coming up on 20 years without any update and an imagination pavilion that is lacking in one important thing imagination

What DHS has for the main part is pretty decent, and it just needs an expansion and a few bits of tidying here and there (echo lake) where as Epcot needs pretty much updating across the whole of future world and an expansion of a couple more countries wouldn't hurt (India is a huge missing country, culturally and historically very significant and a rising economic power of the future)

 

[flynnibus]

Not to sound nit-picky, but apart from the Buena Vista Street entrance, Soarin' and a fraction of Paradise Pier, there seems to be very little "California" in DCA. It is becoming worse than Epcot when it comes to maintaining an underlying theme.

BVS, redwood creek, paradise pier, SanFran Wharf, hollywood... all Cali theme. The only areas that are not is bugsland (which is agnostic), and Carsland, which is car culture (heavy cali) set in a desert that honestly doesn't matter where it is specifically as long as it's west of Kansas.

It's true they gutted the Aviation theme of Condor Flats to the bone (why.. I have no idea.. it's another half aborted project in P&R it seems), and the time periods are a mash up. It's not the formula DCA v1 went for, but its still very California - just not any linear connectivity about it.

 

[Omnispace]

Not to sound nit-picky, but apart from the Buena Vista Street entrance, Soarin' and a fraction of Paradise Pier, there seems to be very little "California" in DCA. It is becoming worse than Epcot when it comes to maintaining an underlying theme..

Agreed. It is becoming a catch-all park. California is so varied that even the desert setting of Cars Land could fit but it becomes a stretch. I thought that creating Walt Disney's California had some nostalgic promise but that hasn't been realized.

 

[GoofGoof]

Well if Avatar gets Soarin 2.0 then Soarin will lose a lot of appeal leaving that park with basically 1 headline ride Test Track, a few boat rides (one with some new models in, supposedly) a couple of 2nd string rides Soarin, Mission Space and SSE and a few countries to see and explore, oh and a seas pavilion that is literally 'look at these animated fish and turtle not the real ones', an energy pavilion that is coming up on 20 years without any update and an imagination pavilion that is lacking in one important thing imagination

What DHS has for the main part is pretty decent, and it just needs an expansion and a few bits of tidying here and there (echo lake) where as Epcot needs pretty much updating across the whole of future world and an expansion of a couple more countries wouldn't hurt (India is a huge missing country, culturally and historically very significant and a rising economic power of the future)

SSE is a 2nd string ride? You lost me there.

 

[TalkingHead]

SSE is a 2nd string ride? You lost me there.

Compared to what it used to be, it is. Like so many of WDW's "improvements" over the past decade+, the improved version is an uneven mixture of "a little bit better" and "considerably worse."

Remember when all the talk was about the descent being plussed? And people were taking pictures of the hidden triangles and whatever else was allegedly being added?

What's the descent like these days? Is it still the dark corridor?

 

[yoyoflamingo]

I am just thrilled Disney is finally moving ahead on Hunchback. I was thinking it belonged on Broadway back in 1996. As a film, it is worlds better than Frozen. But the latter is a phenomenon and Disney is going to milk it until the udders fall off.

I need to get to NYC to see Aladdin and Newsies ...

Both worthwhile shows - Newsies had some changes from Papermill to NYC that helped a lot, and the dancing is superb, while it's nice to see Aladdin going back to the source with some of the early Ashman/Menken songs being added, like they did with Human Again from Beauty and the Beast. The Genie is brilliant and the effects are wonderful.

As Hunchback is my favorite 90s (and quite possibly all time) Disney animated film, I am beyond excited it's finally making its debut. I'll definitely be making a trip to Papermill to see it, then again on Broadway.

 

[SoupBone]

SSE is a 2nd string ride? You lost me there.

While SSE is no thrill ride and appeals to less people, it's one of my favorites and will always remain that way. I hardly consider it second string, even with the remedial way the new monologue speaks to guests in some dumbed down way. If you can't enjoy a ride through our history with visions of our future, you probably have no place going to EPCOT.

Although, the way Disney's new superfans are starting to look, SSE might as well be the Time Masheen in Idiocracy.

 

[TalkingHead]

Podcasts allow folks who are anything but experts to spread their ignorance to others.

They are like listening in to a conversation that you want to end, but it never does.

Now, before someone yells that I am painting with a broad brush, sure I'll say there are exceptions ...but the rule is the rule.

There are some people who simply aren't articulate enough to play talk show host. There's one show in particular that has a guy hosting who probably shouldn't have a microphone at all.

Some of the podcasts make for good background noise, but other than that -- the substance of their discussions is as interesting as a political debate on Fox News or CNN.

 

[michael.fumc]

Oh, Monstropolis IS moving forward at DCA? I guess I missed that. I thought it had been sidelined "for later" (which means never). It's really something that DCA is, in a lot of ways, the park DHS *should* be at this point. Instead we get a Hat and no prospects of really anything. Very sad. I've always enjoyed DHS but it's beyond stale at this point.

I regret not visiting Knotts when I went to CA years back. I'm planning to for sure next time I head that way. Itching to go back to Disneyland and DCA.

Never have been on a DCL ship (have been on Carnival) but it's also nice to see they seem to understand actually appealing to various age ranges and not just one 'little' demographic.

For real!!!!!! I don't understand!!! I get that DCA was in trouble and needed carsland and I am glad they got it and it is amazing!!!! But I believe DHS is in trouble enough to get something big!!!! Why not do something Montropolis, cars, frozen, Star Wars, or something new and big there!!!!!

 

[flynnibus]

What's the descent like these days? Is it still the dark corridor?

Even in the current state.. probably better than any other non-horror dark ride in any non-Disney park. And that's ignoring the amazing aspect of the structure itself

 

[RSoxNo1]

Podcasts allow folks who are anything but experts to spread their ignorance to others.

They are like listening in to a conversation that you want to end, but it never does.

Now, before someone yells that I am painting with a broad brush, sure I'll say there are exceptions ...but the rule is the rule.

Can I be an exception?

 

[aladdin2007]

Even in the current state.. probably better than any other non-horror dark ride in any non-Disney park. And that's ignoring the amazing aspect of the structure itself

local town carnival could do better,,its really apalling to me that both Disney and Siemens are a-ok with it like it is. The dust and grime along the sides, the crap hanging....really?

 

[Bairstow]

I sure don't believe WDW is their crown jewel anymore.

Was it ever?