The Spirited Seventh Heaven ...

[Mike S]

Gotcha. I'm also here via my phone and had not seen his signature. Everything suddenly makes sense.

I'm always using my phone. Maybe the site should be updated so we can see signatures on Mobile.

 

[Nemo14]

I'm always using my phone. Maybe the site should be updated so we can see signatures on Mobile.

maybe not - this site has a lot of great features going for it, considering a lot of us are not paying members.

 

[wm49rs]

I'm always using my phone. Maybe the site should be updated so we can see signatures on Mobile.

I actually think you can see signatures if you turn your phone sideways. I just haven't recently....

 

[Mike S]

maybe not - this site has a lot of great features going for it, considering a lot of us are not paying members.

It is a pretty great forum, first one I ever joined. I'll appreciate what I've got

I actually think you can see signatures if you turn your phone sideways. I just haven't recently....

Didn't work.

 

[danlb_2000]

That's not a surprise. Screamscape's been doing that for years....

At least on the Dis boards they normally give credit.

 

[cw1982]

I actually think you can see signatures if you turn your phone sideways. I just haven't recently....

Didn't work.

Worked for me!

 

[GymLeaderPhil]

@Mike S I've posted this in the past showing the pad being used, circa 1980.

Not to derail things, but do you know what was the thought behind adjusting the WEDWay track between the Mars and Space tunnels?

 

[marni1971]

Not to derail things, but do you know what was the thought behind adjusting the WEDWay track between the Mars and Space tunnels?

I don't. More scenery?

The original WEDway plan funnelled the track further north and through the Grand Prix Raceway grandstand so perhaps it was a nod to that. There was no logical reason aside from the show.

 

[GymLeaderPhil]

I don't. More scenery?

The original WEDway plan funnelled the track further north and through the Grand Prix Raceway grandstand so perhaps it was a nod to that. There was no logical reason aside from the show.

Thanks, that's what I thought.

There are days when I wish these executives would have a Christmas Carol-esque nightmare with everyone who has a window on Main Street.

 

[Magenta Panther]

Splash Mountain is based on Song of the South, I think they can handle a few naughty words.

So you really think Song of the South is racist and bad and stuff, huh?

 

[AEfx]

Wonder why they felt the need to include her household income? Alternatively, I wonder why she would tell them.

One of the "points" of the article (I use that term very loosely) was to show what income levels WDW was going for/that the double-up-charge events were appealing to.

Side note: The Orlando Sentinel has the most spammy, ad-whoring, suspicious looking site I have ever seen for a "professional" new organization.

Had an interesting conversation with a friend tonight, one who still frequents the DISBoards I abandoned years ago because it had become pixie dust central. Apparently even the owner over there has soured on WDW, taking them to task for the Villains Party debacle and the upcharge event at MNSSHP. That's huge. It feels like a sea change this year; they've found the breaking point where all but the fans they have on the payroll have said, "whoa, you've gone too far."

The biggest problem with DIS has always been the very high Signal:Noise ratio, really.

That said, a lot of these folks can turn on a dime, I don't really see this as a long-term trend, unfortunately. We don't have our own Lutz yet. Deb Willis (who is one of the few, if not the only, Lifestyler I respect - she has always been about providing quality content vs. self-promotion) briefly had words for the Villain fiasco at the Studios, but she took a lot of heat for it and is back to putting up glowing reviews of upcharge events.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

Star Wars in the UAE rears its head

deadline.com/2014/09/beverly-hills-hotel-boycott-hollywood-829350/
A few days after the Children’s Defense Fund joined the Beverly Hills Hotel boycott, JJ Abrams, who co-chaired the charity’s last five annual awards galas at the Beverly Hills Hotel, was in Abu Dhabi directing a certain next movie for Walt Disney Pictures “Hi, it’s J.J. Abrams here on the set of Star Wars: Episode VII, in lovely Abu Dhabi,” he said in a video shot on location. “All these people around that you hear and see are helping us make this movie, and it’s an incredible thing. It’s a thrill to be in this amazing place with these incredible people, working on this film.”

Abrams, who co-chaired the last five Children’s Defense Fund annual Beat the Odds awards galas, has done great work on behalf of disadvantaged children all over the world, and his wife, public relations executive Katie McGrath, chairs the CDF’s event in Los Angeles, which will be held December 4 at the Book Bindery in Culver City.

Abrams’ tape from the Star Wars location was a pitch to the film’s fans to get involved in Star Wars: Force for Change, an innovative program, he said, that’s “dedicated to finding creative solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems. It’s about helping kids all around the world by supporting UNICEF labs and programs.” Too bad he had to make the pitch from the UAE, where children born out of wedlock may have to visit their mothers in jail, since “fornication outside of marriage is a crime,” according to the State Department’s Human Rights report. Fortunately, none of Abram’s Star Wars cast and crew was arrested for being gay during filming there, where consensual same-sex sexual activity is punishable by death.

So should we boycott Star Wars: Episode VII because part of it was filmed in a country where there is so little respect for human rights? If so, where will the boycotting end? Which is not to say that the boycotters were wrong to target the Beverly Hills Hotel; on the contrary, they have done more to bring attention to the issue than anyone else. The question then is: What next?

 

[tirian]

!!!!!!!!! But that's history, the only attraction in WDW actually touched by Walt!!!!!

And it's the second most boring attraction in the MK, topped only by Stitch's Great Escape.

If Disney would fix the audio, AAs, and final scene in COP, it would be a jewel. As it stands now, it's a place to take a nap, helped by the buzz of inaudible dialogue that lulls you to sleep.

 

[AEfx]

I agree, but, I would like to take the emphasis off of increased ticket prices as a large part of the problem. A factor, for sure, but a small one. The cost of everything else is what has driven attendance growth downward. Hell, I can afford tickets without a blink, it's getting there, staying there and eating there that are presently killing the dog.

I understand, as I personally am in a similar situation. Admission, though, particularly the huge hike in AP costs, is what broke my back. When I used to have an AP, I could spend a week in Orlando for well-under $1000 bucks. Well under. But now that I don't hold an AP anymore, and everything that goes along with that, it's significantly more expensive and that's why I have just been going to CA.

However, that said - admission is a major concern for families. Go price a WDW vacation for 4 - you'll find that admission is pretty much the single most expensive factor. Especially for an active family that much needs Park Hopping to make the most of the experience (even if you just go to one park during the day, a different one at night). It's the one factor that goes up exponentially per person, that you really cannot get discounts on, and is mandatory (you can choose to eat breakfast in the room, choose to stay off-site, but there are no other admission options, aside from gimping down your ticket from Park Hopping).

 

[marni1971]

it stands now, it's a place to take a nap, helped by the buzz of inaudible dialogue that lulls you to sleep.

And the racket from the misplaced stage outside.

God I sound old.

 

[AEfx]

A ride where one of the first things you see is a guy who hung himself. Man Disney was awesome back in the day, would LOVE to see the Disney of today push something like that

That's one of the reasons I am glad Disney didn't end up with Potter. There are some real scares in FJ, that Disney wouldn't have dared do.

I think the children will be perfectly fine..... with a nice lemon and butter sauce and a lil bit of garlic.

LOL, my aunt says something similar..."What do you mean I don't like kids? I love 'em! Baked, broiled, stuffed, or fried."

What is people's obsession with the Tomorrowland Speedway? Its the ultimate 3-8 year old's attraction. They get to drive!

I know he was talking about the for-real parking lot, but with the Speedway - yeah, I get that for some kids it's the cat's meow, but when I was kid both that and Dumbo were walk-past attractions for me, because I could get the same thing in my local amusement park. Particularly with Speedway - there really isn't anything that impressive about it, no effects to speak of, etc.

If it was plussed up it would be one thing, but as it stands - it could be in any theme park anywhere. I wouldn't mind at all if that huge plot of land was used for something spectacular - though since this is 2014 Disney, if they took it away they'd just put some M&G and food carts in there to replace it, so until something changes in the direction of the parks, it's probably better left as is.

 

[Mike S]

And it's the second most boring attraction in the MK, topped only by Stitch's Great Escape.

If Disney would fix the audio, AAs, and final scene in COP, it would be a jewel. As it stands now, it's a place to take a nap, helped by the buzz of inaudible dialogue that lulls you to sleep.

I can still enjoy the show but I fully agree that it needs work. A LOT of work.

 

[Bairstow]

, but with the Speedway - yeah, I get that for some kids it's the cat's meow, but when I was kid both that and Dumbo were walk-past attractions for me, because I could get the same thing in my local amusement park. Particularly with Speedway - there really isn't anything that impressive about it, no effects to speak of, etc.

I would be really interested to know what kind of data Disney has on kid satisfaction when it comes to the Speedway, because I hated the thing as a kid too.
Maybe it only appeals to kids who have never been to an actual go-kart track before, because once you've done that, rail-bound car attractions seem hopelessly lame.

 

[bhg469]

I would be really interested to know what kind of data Disney has on kid satisfaction when it comes to the Speedway, because I hated the thing as a kid too.
Maybe it only appeals to kids who have never been to an actual go-kart track before, because once you've done that, rail-bound car attractions seem hopelessly lame.

The replacement, if there ever is one, has to be better than the original, so there is no hope.

 

[Bairstow]

The replacement, if there ever is one, has to be better than the original, so there is no hope.

Honestly, I think the Speedway has real potential, even if they still keep the same infrastructure in place.
Replace the noisy lawnmower engines with a fleet of electrics like Hong Kong has, then spend a couple million to build some neat scenery for the track.
Sugar Rush, Radiator Springs, or even a generic "Tomorrowland" race course would be welcome and shift the emphasis from being on the attraction hardware itself (which is and always will be lame) to the experience of driving in whatever themed world they build.