The Spirited Seventh Heaven ...

[ABQ]

And just go back a couple weeks, which is like 100 pages + in this thread and you'll see how screwed up USB-A or whatever connectors can get due to people jamming connectors in backwards. USB C in the future, lightning today, don't have this problem.
http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/the-spirited-seventh-heaven.884731/page-705#post-6281582
image courtesy of @Gabe1

 

[lazyboy97o]

No, in this case it was simply to force obsolescence of every cable/connector/device that interacts with an iPhone. And to get you to replace all your spare chargers with their $50 ones. It simply reenforces the point that Apple makes decisions like this based on getting you to buy more/treat things as disposable. There was no technical reason for Lightning Cable, other than Apple wanted to clear the slate and kill off manufacturers that provided accessories for their products. This is why the EU is enacting laws that cell phones must have standard USB port - Apple could have very easily moved to that, but they didn't because they wanted to make their own special snowflake connector that ends up costing the consumer more.

I get it - a bunch of you folks are Apple fans. Everything they do is just brilliant and amazing. I have their products, and am on my way out of using them - because I have gotten over the cache of them, and they simply don't have the superiority they once did. When I do upgrade my phone, this last "event" sealed that deal - the stats on the iPhone 6 were terrible - bested on almost every level by the current batch of Android devices on things that actually matter, like camera quality and screen resolution. But like WDW, it doesn't matter how bad it gets - they will still have the pixie dusters all over them oohing and ahhing.

This has nothing to do with being an Apple fan. You're just throwing out anything you can to try to complain about things that for the most part are not unique to Apple. I don't get the persistent whining over cables. The days of a cable that plugged directly into the power socket have long since passed. Heck, the whole reason Android devices don't get so many updates is because the update cycle is faster and the manufacturers just forget about old devices as they focus on their new ones. It's like saying the weather at Walt Disney World perfect but the weather at Universal Orlando Resort sucks or vice versa. Yeah, sometimes it can be pouring at one and not the other, but it is not a unique resort induced characteristic.

 

[marni1971]

And what are you basing this prediction on?

Possibly the experience TDO had when DAK first opened?

 

[71jason]

I am of the firm belief that Avatarland will not bring additional people to the resort, but rather cannibalize the other parks. It MIGHT slow down the exodus for day trips to UNI, assuming people are sacraficing a day at DAK to go to UNI instead.

Sort of like Frozen show/fireworks.

 

[Cesar R M]

Amazing. Anyone know how long we have to wait for a new night parade at Magic Kingdom? It's really getting sad how other Disney parks are kicking our butts in nearly every way nowadays. Why no love for Florida?

because for TDO, WDW is a cashcow regardless of how bad the parks are maintained?

 

[Cesar R M]

This has nothing to do with being an Apple fan. You're just throwing out anything you can to try to complain about things that for the most part are not unique to Apple. I don't get the persistent whining over cables. The days of a cable that plugged directly into the power socket have long since passed. Heck, the whole reason Android devices don't get so many updates is because the update cycle is faster and the manufacturers just forget about old devices as they focus on their new ones. It's like saying the weather at Walt Disney World perfect but the weather at Universal Orlando Resort sucks or vice versa. Yeah, sometimes it can be pouring at one and not the other, but it is not a unique resort induced characteristic.

Actually, both Apple and Sony started this thrend.
everything Sony did was exclusive for them and was their reason of their huge demise in controlling the camera/sound device/tv/gadget market.

Their ridiculous and overpriced exclusive cables, memory and batteries never helped anyone. (anyone remembers these sony exclusive and ultra expensive memory cards?)

Apple continued this trend of "closed ecosystem" in their system.. but then expanded it to ridiculous levels.

I'm just glad that companies like Samsung and others are sticking into to standards like USB.

 

[bhg469]

Actually, both Apple and Sony started this thrend.
everything Sony did was exclusive for them and was their reason of their huge demise in controlling the camera/sound device/tv/gadget market.

Their ridiculous and overpriced exclusive cables, memory and batteries never helped anyone. (anyone remembers these sony exclusive and ultra expensive memory cards?)

Apple continued this trend of "closed ecosystem" in their system.. but then expanded it to ridiculous levels.

I'm just glad that companies like Samsung and others are sticking into to standards like USB.

I bought 2 sony cameras in a row back in the day and both of them used different size memory sticks and different batteries and charging cables.. Come to think of it I think the usb was also an odd design as well.. You're completely right, things like this only make consumers upset but in apple's case it is adopted pretty quickly even though at the root of it, it is all about selling more accessories.

 

[DisUniversal]

No, in this case it was simply to force obsolescence of every cable/connector/device that interacts with an iPhone. And to get you to replace all your spare chargers with their $50 ones. It simply reenforces the point that Apple makes decisions like this based on getting you to buy more/treat things as disposable. There was no technical reason for Lightning Cable, other than Apple wanted to clear the slate and kill off manufacturers that provided accessories for their products. This is why the EU is enacting laws that cell phones must have standard USB port - Apple could have very easily moved to that, but they didn't because they wanted to make their own special snowflake connector that ends up costing the consumer more.

What $50 chargers? All they changed was the cable...old chargers should work fine and don't cost anywhere near $50. Apple has changed their connector once in the past 10 years and it was because it became obsolete, not because they wanted to kill off accessory manufacturers. In the period of time, I've had non-Apple cellphones that have used two different proprietary cables, mini USB and micro USB. After using the lightning connector it is a much better connector than micro USB as it can plug in in either orientation and snaps firmly into place.

I get it - a bunch of you folks are Apple fans. Everything they do is just brilliant and amazing. I have their products, and am on my way out of using them - because I have gotten over the cache of them, and they simply don't have the superiority they once did. When I do upgrade my phone, this last "event" sealed that deal - the stats on the iPhone 6 were terrible - bested on almost every level by the current batch of Android devices on things that actually matter, like camera quality and screen resolution. But like WDW, it doesn't matter how bad it gets - they will still have the pixie dusters all over them oohing and ahhing.

I have an iPhone, and Android tablet and a Windows PC. I use what's best and for the past few years, for a cellphone, that has been the iPhone. Exactly what stats on the iPhone fall short of what you can get on an Android device and how do those shortcomings actually effect the user?

 

[fosse76]

Possibly the experience TDO had when DAK first opened?

That, not to mention the negligible increases from the Fantasyland expansion (which wasn't built for such increases anyway), and the fact that Avatar is pretty irrelevant to pop culture.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Actually, both Apple and Sony started this thrend.
everything Sony did was exclusive for them and was their reason of their huge demise in controlling the camera/sound device/tv/gadget market.

Their ridiculous and overpriced exclusive cables, memory and batteries never helped anyone. (anyone remembers these sony exclusive and ultra expensive memory cards?)

Apple continued this trend of "closed ecosystem" in their system.. but then expanded it to ridiculous levels.

I'm just glad that companies like Samsung and others are sticking into to standards like USB.

What trend? Proprietary cables? That was the norm well before Apple entered the phone business. Even then, not it is one cable that comes in the box with the device. I just do not see the big deal. It plugs into the very common USB-A port and there are plenty of compatible, third-party adapters that allow it to work in a wall or car.

I bought 2 sony cameras in a row back in the day and both of them used different size memory sticks and different batteries and charging cables.. Come to think of it I think the usb was also an odd design as well.. You're completely right, things like this only make consumers upset but in apple's case it is adopted pretty quickly even though at the root of it, it is all about selling more accessories.

Selling more accessories might be a reason if Apple was the one selling most of the accessories that plug into the device. They mostly sell overpriced cables and docks, and like with the 30-pin there are cheaper, third party ones available. Adaption was quick because, as I stated earlier, cables no longer have a single use end. It was annoying in the past because the charging cable that came with the phone only plugged into the wall so if you wanted to charge it in the car you had to be another cable that only plugged into a cigarette lighter. That is no longer the case with any smartphone cable. I guess it sucked if you had a house full of iHome products with the built in 30-pin docks.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Apple the product of choice for tossers. no need for discussion beyond that.

 

[BrianLo]

I dont know you guys, but I think it looks fantastic.

I am very curious to know what 2 new floats will be added to DLs version?!? I did find it odd there wasn't a Princess float, just Belle only...I can see them maybe adding that. Anyone else have any ideas or know what they are yet!

I had a very cursory glance through the video to not completely ruin it. Looks great, but I think the 2 extra floats are needed, it's a tad short would be my only criticism.

If I had to place a bet Frozen would be one of the two additions for DL, with Star Wars perhaps being the second. Most other products are represented already in their other parades/nighttime offerings... but I suppose that doesn't stop Little Mermaid being represented in 1 ride, soon to be two parades, 1 day and 2... 3? night shows...

 

[DisUniversal]

Apple the product of choice for tossers. no need for discussion beyond that.

Android...the product of choice for those with nothing to toss.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Android...the product of choice for those with nothing to toss.

Confirmation

 

[Cesar R M]

Android...the product of choice for those with nothing to toss.

You DONT TOSS things THAT WORK.

 

[ParentsOf4]

I am of the firm belief that Avatarland will not bring additional people to the resort, but rather cannibalize the other parks. It MIGHT slow down the exodus for day trips to UNI, assuming people are sacraficing a day at DAK to go to UNI instead.

And what are you basing this prediction on?

Possibly the experience TDO had when DAK first opened?

WDW's total attendance increased by about 3 million between the last full year before DAK to the first full year after DAK. Obviously, DAK had more than 3 million visitors, which meant it cannibalized WDW's other theme parks. Behind closed doors, executives in Burbank were very disappointed with DAK.

Compare that to Epcot, where attendance went from 12.5M to 22.7M, or even the spartan (especially when first opened) Disney-MGM Studios, which increased WDW attendance from around 26M to 33.7M (last full year before to first full year after).

The New Fantasyland cannibalized attendance from WDW's other theme parks.

Even the recent Cars Land addition cannibalized the popular Disneyland to some degree.

Most new major additions increase total attendance. Some of it is new business while the rest is cannibalized from other local attractions.

Pandora will cause WDW's total attendance to increase and will result in attendance drops at WDW's other theme parks to some degree.

The question: Is will total revenue improve enough to justify the investment and increased operational cost?

Frankly, it's exactly the "it will just cannibalize the other parks" attitude that has caused WDW to stagnate under Iger.

We all should hope Pandora succeeds.

 

[Cesar R M]

The question: Is will total revenue improve enough to justify the investment and increased operational cost?

Frankly, it's exactly the "it will just cannibalize the other parks" attitude that has caused WDW to stagnate under Iger.

We all should hope Pandora succeeds.

How can it be a problem?
they're constantly cost cutting and removing little details there and here... even secondary shows and adding more M&G and removing attraction quality.
napkins anyone???

 

[John]

WDW's total attendance increased by about 3 million between the last full year before DAK to the first full year after DAK. Obviously, DAK had more than 3 million visitors, which meant it cannibalized WDW's other theme parks. Behind closed doors, executives in Burbank were very disappointed with DAK.

Compare that to Epcot, where attendance went from 12.5M to 22.7M, or even the spartan (especially when first opened) Disney-MGM Studios, which increased WDW attendance from around 26M to 33.7M (last full year before to first full year after).

The New Fantasyland cannibalized attendance from WDW's other theme parks.

Even the recent Cars Land addition cannibalized the popular Disneyland to some degree.

Most new major additions increase total attendance. Some of it is new business while the rest is cannibalized from other local attractions.

Pandora will cause WDW's total attendance to increase and will result in attendance drops at WDW's other theme parks to some degree.

The question: Is will total revenue improve enough to justify the investment and increased operational cost?

Frankly, it's exactly the "it will just cannibalize the other parks" attitude that has caused WDW to stagnate under Iger.

We all should hope Pandora succeeds.

I am ac tually extremely surprised that Disney is going with Pandora. Why? Just doesn't fit the MO. To me it has zero appeal to any child under eight. They build an amazing boat ride that entire family can enjoy and that is a huge deal when it comes to AK. But if there are any giant blue sex kittens hanging around it may scare the kiddies. Me? I am glad for something that wont have a princess tied to it. But what will the Mommy bloggers have to say about a place they cant take their snowflake to visit. In that scenario I am worried, worried that they will not do it justice and make the total experience saccharine. Not to mention there will be no doubt that they will open the land in stages which is probably the biggest mistake they could make. let anticipation grow... let it build to a crescendo. When they open it stages IMO it hurts attendance. People will forgo making reservations till its entirely open.

 

[GoofGoof]

i think we definitely agree on your above point, and probably the overall sentiment in general. i just happen to think this is a universal-fighting measure as well, because (and you'd need good, quantitative and probably qualitative research on this to prove it) i think a good amount of DVCers visit more than once a year and buy annuals with their discount. by offering a less costly option like this, maybe it's just worth it to essentially buy the four days (one at each park) and then say, "okay, enough theme parks" and do something else if you're down there for longer than the four days. then the DVCer who has a greatest hits attraction list can do everything the want at the parks and it makes universal tickets a bigger expenditure decision (instead of the thinking, "well, we have the annuals already, which are already paid for, so universal isn't costing that much anyway). i know that last point seems counter-intuitive, but it's how many americans spend money.

just a working theory to do disney's thinking on this.

Agreed. No doubt it's being done to keep people on property too. Just like the AP discount for DVC members. DVC members are just as likely to visit other Orlando attractions as anyone else and they don't have free DDP offers to try to keep them on property.

The thing that's unique about this offer is the 4 park requirement. I believe they offered something similar for FL residents in the past and I'm guessing it's for the same reason. For those DVC members who stay longer, they offer the AP discount, but that really only works for people visiting for 2 or more weeks a year. It's been a request from DVC members for a while that they offer some sort of discounted magic your way ticket. The discount is actually pretty decent, but it comes at a steep price if you like to park hop or spend a disproportionate amount of time in MK like I think most guests do.

 

[ParentsOf4]

I am ac tually extremely surprised that Disney is going with Pandora. Why? Just doesn't fit the MO.

Avatar was a kneejerk reaction by Iger after having passed on Harry Potter, only to have HP turn into the single best North American theme park investment since the Magic Kingdom opened in 1971.

Before HP, Uni was in a rut. The relatively inexpensive WWOHP transformed Universal.

At this point, Iger has tied WDW to Avatar. Iger's ego won't let him admit he made a mistake; that there are better IPs he should have used.

If Avatar fails, the next CEO will have an excellent excuse never to build at WDW for the rest of his tenure.

If Avatar succeeds, Wall Street will pressure Disney leadership for more WDW construction.