The Spirited Seventh Heaven ...

[WDW1974]

An announcement about closing, new attraction, reopening date, and all of that sort of stuff that typically would be overhyped twelve times over are a catalyst for a reaction to which Disney has no good answer. Waiting means they can wait until it is too late and in the mean time play dumb.

Yes, and they also love spending millions of dollars flying in Mommy bloggers and Lifestylers for an event where they can hype numerous things (like say the 'new' rooms at the BWI and even new menus at certain locales). Ultimately, that's when it will be announced, even if construction work has already begun.

All you have to do is find out when the next major 'media event' at WDW is being held ... then you'll have your answer.

 

[WDW1974]

She's a real life friend of mine… there is no need to bring either of them up on this board or into this conversation.

We should all go out ... ya know ... like to TPFKaTD-MGMS sometime ... I'll buy the first popcorn or drinks.

 

[Mike S]

No. Just no all around.

You want to ride Maelstrom? Get to WDW before 9/28.

@WDWResort found fast passes available for 9/30 but nothing after that I think. Is it possible they decided to keep it open for two more days?

 

[WDW1974]

To answer your question, yes, but where Disney loses money is if someone has a 3 day pass for example. If they are being let in for free, they aren't scanning the ticket, so they aren't using a day off of the ticket.

And that IS what happened 4-5 weeks ago when the system went dead at all four parks. Anyone with anything resembling Disney ticket media was allowed entry 'for free' ... because a $2 billion plus program was built with NO BACKUP. Please, someone try and defend this ... I'm in the mood. Go ahead.

 

[WDW1974]

@WDWResort found fast passes available for 9/30 but nothing after that I think. Is it possible they decided to keep it open for two more days?
View attachment 64708 View attachment 64709

Yes. ... But that could also simply be a mistake.

 

[PeterAlt]

Alaska is one of the most amazing places on the planet. And, as my jealous 'pals' here will tell you, I tend to get around. There are very few places that have profoundly impacted me and Alaska in totality was one. Now, whether I'd live there 12 months a year is a different subject as extreme cold is something I basically haven't ever lived in.

But Florida has nothing on Alaska ... as I looked at the Ferrari and Lamborghini waiting at the valet as I came out of the local Capitol Grille tonight as the humidity and general ick hit me with some cover band playing at the nearby Blue Martini, I thought it all summed up my feelings on Florida quite well. Just a tad of style covering for a lack of any substance whatsoever. ... And those were my feelings after 3 1/2 glasses of a nice cabernet (as a side note, I think I am getting old as alcohol now immediately makes me want to sleep for three hours).

I'm just meant to be a Californian and I've known that since 1990. BTW, the state's FIRST Dunkin Donuts opened yesterday in Santa Monica.

On all my visits to CA, I've felt "at home". I regret not scheduling in more time on my recent visit. Some time in the near future, I will plan an extended "exploratory mission" there for a month's stay with the goal of making arrangements so I could work and live there (and survive sustainably). If I succeed, my next trip following that one will be permanent.

Oh, yeah, Florida is far worse than Alaska! (And I didn't mean to make Alaska look bad by making that comparison!) Florida was never always bad. It was good during the Jeb Bush years. It's been getting bad gradually since.

I just wrote a joke! What does a vacuum, a hooker, and Florida all have in common? They all ____ ! Lol

 

[Mike S]

Yes. ... But that could also simply be a mistake.

Either way I'm glad I got my last rides in this past weekend since I more than likely won't be able to make it for the closing even though I would want to.

 

[WDW1974]

My comment was meant to be very tongue in cheek as WDW1974 has mentioned his fondness of her many times.

But, this does bring up a bigger question. Who is and isn't off limits here? Brigante, Mongello, Mr 365 days at WDW, the couple that shall now remain nameless...they are kinda all in the same boat when we talk about WDW lifestylers. All have websites, podcasts and are visible Disney Parks™ "personalities" at the majority of the WDW events i.e. blog meet ups, hard ticket events, etc. I personally have no problem with any of them, other than the Rickster, but the reality is that if they are putting themselves out there, they will lumped into this group and open themselves up for discussion...good or bad. Again, no issues with them but if we are going to try and shut down any mention of them, then everyone should be off limits.

As far as I am concerned, anyone with a major presence in social media that focuses on Disney and/or UNI and/or themed entertainment in general can be discussed ... or what they have said. You can't just be FOX News and say 'We're reporting the earth is flat and we don't care what anyone else says!''

And the bigger the whores (like Mongello, who even has a regular spot on what passes for O-Town teevee, and Brigante) ... well, I'm not changing what I post. You put something out to the world, then you have to get that people who don't all like you or what you say are going to go after you.

I truly think many of these folks seem to think they are like the idiots who take nude pics of themselves (and not the good old-fashioned Polaroids I have of all my minions ) and then are shocked and angry when others spread them. That's just not the world we live in. You want privacy? Talk to Obama and Congress and the military industrial complex about the NSA ... but the Lifestylers are all mine!

 

[flynnibus]

lifestylers and leaked photos in the same train of thought??? **shudder**

 

[WDW1974]

According to David Koenig on Mouseplanet, he says that Innoventions is not getting taken out anymore at Disneyland, instead they are planning to remodel the first floor. Also, Gamora and Star-Lord along with two other superheroes will be getting meet and greets this fall. Lastly he says that Tom and Huck's Treehouse is closed down permanently because Disneyland would have to redesign and rebuild the tree house. Can anyone validate these claims? What are your thoughts on this?

I haven't had that confirmed. But with Toontown the site for Star Wars Land (just remember who broke that story!), one might expect that the Carousel building isn't going to be demo'd after all.

In other words, if they put major work and money into Innoventions, then y'all can start telling me I am right ... again!

 

[WDW1974]

lifestylers and leaked photos in the same train of thought??? **shudder**

True. Been a long day. Had a lot to drink this evening (for me). And I do think there is a similar naivete at play with both groups.

The idea that either nude pics taken on a smart phone or comments left on Twitter or Disney blogs aren't going to spread is just not rational.

I wonder if Dr. Blo... nevermind.

 

[PhotoDave219]

We should all go out ... ya know ... like to TPFKaTD-MGMS sometime ... I'll buy the first popcorn or drinks.

This sounds like an excellent idea.

 

[WDW1974]

Yikes. If he was getting seven figures to design the (admittedly fabulous) new Princess Fantasy Faire meet n' greet and helping Kim Irvine pick out wallpaper for shop remodels, then that's not good.

I adore Baxter's 20th century work as much as the next Disney fan, but there comes a time when a wealthy sixtysomething guy who no longer has the CEO's ear takes the gold watch and makes room for the younger set with new ideas.

Tony earned that salary over decades of amazing work. The problem wasn't his salary. The problem was his bosses had no use for him and yet he continued to get paid that salary. Joe Rohde would be gone if Pandora hadn't happened. Both Tom Fitzgerald and Eric Jacobson aren't going to be around much longer either.

 

[WDW1974]

I think thoughts like Jay Rasulo got us NGE.

Hopefully Tony Baxter spent the last 25 years of his career grooming and training and mentoring his replacements at WDI. If he didn't do that, and he just sat in his office waiting for an executive sea change to land him another Mega E Ticket for Disneyland that would never happen, then I think it was appropriate for him to retire at 65 like he did.

It pains me to say that as I'd love another Tony Baxter designed Epcot pavilion with a Sherman Brothers jingle and a Corporate America logo slapped on it as much as the next guy, but the realist in me thinks his staged yet gracious retirement was appropriate.

I think Tony wasn't stuck in the early 80s. I am very sure he could have come up with amazing attractions/lands/parks IF Disney allowed him to. They are not looking to do anything beyond get the most bang they possibly can from doing the least work. Obviously, like with DCA and HKDL and anything the OLC pays for, they can still do great work. But WDW just has seen almost nothing but crap for the last 15 years.

 

[WDW1974]

If they're smart, it will be quick and not at a conference where people can question the move. I'd like to think D23 would be their announcement and they get boo'd off the stage but you never know with that crowd. They may lose their minds with delight.

I can't see them waiting that long on Frozen. And I believe they will go big on Star Wars stuff at D23 next year ... so much so that I am even toying with going to the event for the first time.

 

[PhotoDave219]

True. Been a long day. Had a lot to drink this evening (for me). And I do think there is a similar naivete at play with both groups.

The idea that either nude pics taken on a smart phone or comments left on Twitter or Disney blogs aren't going to spread is just not rational.

I wonder if Dr. Blo... nevermind.

I had that same thought.

One would think a doctorate in twinker would probably know better

 

[WDW1974]

This is why I really think it may be time to leave.

Plus there's no jobs, no money, etc.

I have watched O-Town eat up and spit out people I care about who got way too close to the MAGIC flame.
It can be a decent place to live if you are high up the ladder at Disney or UNI or Darden or any of the major corps that have a large presence there.

But the bottom line is that most people in O-Town work in service sector jobs for the bare minimum and I see nothing to suggest things will improve.

If your're George and Andy or a member of the MAGIC, then you can live a great life with the City Beautiful as your base.

But beyond that, well ... if a $34,000 a year 50-plus hour a week job managing the Port Orleans food court gets you excited, then go for it. Because that's a 'good' regular job at Disney if you can get it.

 

[Magenta Panther]

Is that true?
If so, good.
Perhaps the entire Maelstrom-->Frozen rumor was an intentional leak meant to goad Statoil into reaching a more agreeable sponsorship arrangement with the mouse.

Maybe Disney has sold so many Maelstrom limited Special Edition T-shirts that it's having second thoughts about the whole thing. Money talks, y'know...

 

[Magenta Panther]

One of the items discussed by CFO Jay Rasulo at last May's MoffettNathanson Media & Communications Summit was Iger's capital deployment strategy:

“Well, I think if you look at how we've deployed capital over the last decade, certainly since Bob Iger became CEO of the company, there is an incredible consistency in the decisions that we've made consistent with his strategy. And I don’t want to spend time on his strategy, but clear pillars of his strategy are creative content, international expansion, embracing technology to improve our distribution.”​

What does each of these mean?

• “creative content” - Acquisitions such as Pixar, Marvel, and Lucas Arts. For Parks & Resorts (P&R), this means expanding their presence at the theme parks.
• “international expansion” – Higher international sales and market penetration. For P&R, this means Shanghai Disneyland.
• “embracing technology to improve our distribution” – For example, the growth of video on demand and the acquisition of Maker Studios. For P&R, MyMagic+ can be lumped into this.

Of course, conveniently missing from this list is the $17 billion spent on stock buyback over the last 4 years.

To your point, this strategy suggests that Iger does not see much opportunity to grow the traditional Disney brand domestically.

Yeah, Iger probably looks at all that 2D animation in the Disney vault and thinks it's old-fashioned and unappealing to today's audiences. Never mind that The Lion King's 3D re-release made 100 million, and that all of the Pixar 3D re-releases didn't do anything CLOSE to that...

 

[WDW1974]

No, no no. You have it all wrong. We are just insanely jealous of them and we hate everything Disney. I think you also are supposed to have a phoney psychiatrist badge too.

I'm jealous of certain folks, I admit. But none of them are Disney Lifestylers and I'm still not sure I'd want to change places with them ... as to my Honorary Doctorate in Mental Health and the Disney and UNIversal Fan Community, I think those folks are either crazy (or is the proper term 'nuts'?) or jealous of my credential.

I mean, who doesn't do something every day for a year or something 2000+ times. Perfectly normal... those outside the dome are just jealous that they can't be the same way!

I was thinking how MAGICal it might be to attempt to 'utilize' every restroom facility (no hotel rooms, just public spaces) at WDW and blog about that. Imagine talking about the particular smells of the TTC facilities (these have reeked like truck stops since the 70s) or the new wallpaper and design of Port Orleans or ones that are more hidden and secluded ...I think I know the perfect guy for this ... hey @TalkingHead !!!