The Spirited Seventh Heaven ...

[WDW1974]

If they just wanted you on property for 4 days why not just offer a $95 discount on the regular 4 day pass? It's more than just that. With a 4 day pass how many people would spend 2 days (or more) at MK and split time at the other parks or not visit them at all? MK is overcrowded. The other parks not so much. Why do you think they charge more for a 1 day ticket to MK?

They could fill out the other parks with rides and attractions to spread crowds but that will take time. Gimmicks like this help artificially spread the crowds. They can't guarantee people will stay in the park a full day, but if they leave they can't hop to another park so the guest is paying for a full day whether they use it or not.

A lot of people might use a 4-Day pass at simply MK and EPCOT ... or maybe they'd stop into TPFKaTD-MGMS and soon TPFKaDHS to ''see the Frozen stuff'' and use FPs at TSMM or ToT.

This thing forces someone to spend a full day in each of the WDW parks in order to pay $50 a day (which is about what I think all the FL parks are worth now).

 

[Nemo14]

Want a car that lasts? Don't buy an American one. Amazing how I have never had issues with my Mercdees and Hondas over the years, but every American car I have owned (from the Big 3) were made like no one really gave a **** about making a quality product.

I just found out that an old Honda I sold to a friend for his son to use at college about 8-9 years ago is still ''running like new'' after 14 years and over 200,000 miles.

200,000? pffft - a baby!

 

[GoofGoof]

Want a car that lasts? Don't buy an American one. Amazing how I have never had issues with my Mercdees and Hondas over the years, but every American car I have owned (from the Big 3) were made like no one really gave a **** about making a quality product.

I just found out that an old Honda I sold to a friend for his son to use at college about 8-9 years ago is still ''running like new'' after 14 years and over 200,000 miles.

I just traded in my 12 year old Accord with 265,000 miles on it. I had a Ford once...never again. Some day I may be tempted to dip back into the American market if Tesla gets their prices down without ruining the product.

 

[WDW1974]

@WDW1974 Any thoughts on Eisner pimping Netflix's Bojack Horseman so publicly? (Or him saying a certain former US Vice President was Doctor Strangelove masquerading as "#PrincessAurora"? *popcorn* )

MDE is never shy when he likes something of his. Most times he is right, but when he is wrong ...

Until I see the show, I can't really comment. It hasn't been on my 'must see' list to be real.

 

[The Mom]

We are past that period, unfortunately.

I am so sad to hear this. I unfortunately know exactly what you mean by this statement.

 

[WDW1974]

Universal will reach a critical juncture once it can offer 4 solid days of vacation fun. At that point, Uni and WDW will be competing for the same dollar. If Uni ever gets there, it could be ugly for WDW.

Uni needs a third theme park on par with the Magic Kingdom to reach that tipping point. Until then, Uni will remain a distant second.

I am not sure whether I agree. But I do think the third park must have a different feel than both of the existing ones. It needs to truly be different (again, while DA may set a new standard for themed area, it still is just that, one part of a much larger whole).

The same shrinking vacation also means we may never see a 5th Gate at WDW. WDW already is a very full 4 days.

Adding a 5th Gate would result in more park hopping but it's highly doubtful it could generate enough new revenue to justify its investment cost.

I think I'd like to retroactively remove about 200 likes I have given you for that comment. ... When respected voices use the phrase that must never be uttered, it gives credence to not only something that will never happen, but also for all the crazies out there who spout this as a "when' and not an 'if'.

 

[WDW1974]

I am so sad to hear this. I unfortunately know exactly what you mean by this statement.

Thanks, much. I saw this coming, but I so wanted to be wrong.

People shouldn't take life for granted. And they shouldn't be so quick to dismiss talk about food addictions as simply shaming fat people. I've now lost two close relatives to morbid obesity, so, no, I don't think Disney should make it easier for 500-pounders to visit and continue the habits that will kill them.

 

[DisUniversal]

I'll argue the computer and TV points vigorously ... or until I decide to just watch the NFL game.

Most folks in my circles are definitely in what remains of the middle class to folks who are filthy rich (some who still act like they are poor, but that's another story). They don't replace computers or TVs every year or even every three.

I can tell you I was using a 1996 JVC big screen (yeah, box, obviously) and a 2004 Gateway plasma (that at the time was one of the priciest state of the art TVs) until very recently when the 96 TV was donated since it just plain took up too much space and the 04 TV blew. I am hoping their replacements are still working just fine in 5-10 years.

Only tech geeks with too much money buy throwaway electronics (what they do to the environment is quite disgusting!)

Oh, my DVD player was moved to a spare room when the new TVs came and I bought my first Blu Ray (can you imagine this didn't happen until 2013?!?!) And my current camera was bought in 2008.

But I was using an ancient flip phone until 18 months ago too (and happy about that!)

My TV's recycle "downhill". If I get a better TV for the family room, the old one goes to the loft (actually a virtual loft since I moved)...and then the old one from the loft goes to one of the kids bedrooms and then that one may get really recycled. Don't spend much money on them...my main TV right now is a 50" plasma I got 3 years ago for $499. I had one of those big screen projector TV's too...amazing that I paid about 4 times more for that monster than I did for the plasma. I still don't own a blu-ray player unless you count the PS3. Have a 1TB drive plugged directly into the USB port on the TV and watch all my stuff off of that.

 

[DisUniversal]

Want a car that lasts? Don't buy an American one. Amazing how I have never had issues with my Mercdees and Hondas over the years, but every American car I have owned (from the Big 3) were made like no one really gave a **** about making a quality product.

I just found out that an old Honda I sold to a friend for his son to use at college about 8-9 years ago is still ''running like new'' after 14 years and over 200,000 miles.

I've always bought American cars. One time only back around 1991, I bought an Acura and it was by far the worst car I've ever owned. Likely was a lemon because they are supposed to be more reliable, but personal experience trumps all. I do prefer to buy American when I can though...which is another reason I prefer Apple over Samsung and other competitors. For some reason, that preference didn't hold when came time to decide between a PS3 and an Xbox.

 

[WDW1974]

This doesn't tell the full story about DAK though. The plan was to have other things opening the same year. This included Test Track, a Great Movie Redo and David Copperfield's Magical Underground. Only Test Track opened in the first year of DAK, and that only had soft openings in December 98.

My mind is a bit scattered right now. But a GMR redo was never more than a blue sky idea (before they later wanted to rip it out for a thrill ride, much like SSE at EPCOT, which was only stopped by the structure's dynamics). As for TT ... I think your date is off considerably ... I know I rode much earlier than 12/98. That sounds months and months off ...

Comparatively, when MGM opened, Norway, Wonders of Life, and Mickey's Birthdayland all opened within the same year. There is a great series of articles that Jim Hill wrote a while ago about the plans for the Animal Kingdom and why Beastly Kingdom isn't getting built.

http://jimhillmedia.com/editor_in_chief1/b/jim_hill/archive/2001/01/01/309.aspx
http://jimhillmedia.com/editor_in_chief1/b/jim_hill/archive/2001/01/01/310.aspx
http://jimhillmedia.com/editor_in_chief1/b/jim_hill/archive/2001/01/01/311.aspx

I hope Jim pays you for the PR work! And, yes, the late 80s were a period of absolute explosive growth at WDW.

And who cares about BK at this point? I think D23 can have future events wrapped around it (I say that since I was told what convinced Tony Baxter to attend the November, rescheduled from July, WDW event was the ability to shill DL's equivalent project that never happened -- his own Discovery Bay!)

 

[DisUniversal]

I am not sure whether I agree. But I do think the third park must have a different feel than both of the existing ones. It needs to truly be different (again, while DA may set a new standard for themed area, it still is just that, one part of a much larger whole).

I'm not sure Universal needs a 3rd gate anymore than WDW did when they decided to open the disaster currently known as DHS. I'd rather see Universal stick with two parks that they keep investing in than to see them do what Disney did.

 

[cw1982]

We are past that period, unfortunately.

Sorry to hear that, friend. We'll miss you, but family comes first! Sending warm wishes your way.

 

[WDW1974]

Sort of true....but at least you get something that is at least somewhat new new. Disney is already thinking how they can sell the exact same product next year...and the year after...for more money.

hey, c'mon ... they have 'rare' foamheads come out for the 34-year-olds who ... who ... nope, ain't got nothing nice to say so I won't!

 

[lazyboy97o]

I'm not sure Universal needs a 3rd gate anymore than WDW did when they decided to open the disaster currently known as DHS. I'd rather see Universal stick with two parks that they keep investing in than to see them do what Disney did.

I feel similarly. I also just don't see them really doing much more than Islands of Adventure Part III.

 

[WDW1974]

Very true, I guess I mean this particular thread getting slow. Incoming food discussion.

Food is something I enjoy talking about, but I enjoy eating it even more. ... I have been working on my weight of late (I can't think of anything more disgusting than an 11 p.m. run in SoFla when it is still 83 and humid and buggy!) because if 'Angie M' had wanted to date a whale, I am sure that my other love Cassandra could have set her up down in Mexico.

 

[hopemax]

As for TT ... I think your date is off considerably ... I know I rode much earlier than 12/98. That sounds months and months off ...

My condolences to your family.

Nope. It soft opened I think December 19th, 1998. We were there. We heard about the soft openings when we were having dinner with some people from rec.arts.disney.parks. My birthday is Dec 21st and we were there for our honeymoon. We decided to skip dinner at California Grill to wait to ride it on the 21st. If I had a time machine, that would be one thing I would change.

Hey, I was right about the exact date

http://www.ultimaterollercoaster.com/news/archives/1998/news_dec98.shtml

Disney Quietly Unveils Test Track To The Public

Orlando, FL - One day after a week long cast member preview, Disney officials decided to let the public take their first ride on the long delayed Test Track attraction at Disney's EPCOT theme park. The opening of the new attraction has been held off for over a year and half due to technical problems with the rides software.

The first soft opening occurred on Saturday, December 19 at 6:30 pm. According to a source the soft opening got off to a bumpy start when the ride broke down after only two cars had been boarded. After a two hour delay officials managed to get the atttraction started again.

Our source estimated that aproximately a thousand guests got the opportunity to ride during the first soft opening. An official opening date yet to be announced, but sources say that the park will continue to offer unannounced soft openings for the next couple of months.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Want a car that lasts? Don't buy an American one. Amazing how I have never had issues with my Mercdees and Hondas over the years, but every American car I have owned (from the Big 3) were made like no one really gave a **** about making a quality product.

I just found out that an old Honda I sold to a friend for his son to use at college about 8-9 years ago is still ''running like new'' after 14 years and over 200,000 miles.

My 02 Honda made it to 247k before it needed to be replaced.

 

[ParentsOf4]

I think I'd like to retroactively remove about 200 likes I have given you for that comment. ... When respected voices use the phrase that must never be uttered, it gives credence to not only something that will never happen, but also for all the crazies out there who spout this as a "when' and not an 'if'.

Until mega-conglomerates (like Disney) with their record revenue & profits (like Disney) start increasing employee pay in a manner commensurate with those employees' increased productivity, those employees will never have enough to afford longer vacations in order to enjoy a WDW 5th Gate and generate even higher record profits for corporate Disney.

It's seems today's corporate leadership has forgotten their history. Putting money in the hands of consumers improves consumer confidence and results in greater consumer spending, resulting in a more robust and healthier economy. History repeatedly has shown that concentrating wealth is not good for the economy.

Henry Ford was attacked by his peers who thought he would ruin business. Instead, his $5-a-day plan helped grow the American middle class and led to a booming economy.

I miss the 1980s (I'd even take the 1990s) and it's not just because WDW was better back then.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Thanks, much. I saw this coming, but I so wanted to be wrong.

People shouldn't take life for granted. And they shouldn't be so quick to dismiss talk about food addictions as simply shaming fat people. I've now lost two close relatives to morbid obesity, so, no, I don't think Disney should make it easier for 500-pounders to visit and continue the habits that will kill them.

Im very sorry for your loss.

 

[WDW1974]

I just traded in my 12 year old Accord with 265,000 miles on it. I had a Ford once...never again. Some day I may be tempted to dip back into the American market if Tesla gets their prices down without ruining the product.

I admit that American autos are getting better (although defining what is American is sorta crazy when you can buy a Toyota that is 87% built in the USA for instance). ... I hadn't even driven a Ford in years when I rented in SoCal in May and wound up with a brand new (996 miles) Ford Mustang. Understand, when I was young, I loved those cars. I owned three. Top of the line, except the first. They were powerful ... powerful pieces of (blank) and I vowed back in the 90s to never get another Ford product.

And service? Recall, this was a company who for decades used ''Quality is Job 1'' as their ad slogan ... I should have known what I was in for when I brought my first Mustang to the dealer at 15 months because the AC had died. I was told by the service manager that the AC ''is only designed to cool the car to 80 degrees'' and then wanted to charge me $1,200 (yes this was back when American automakers were so confident in the quality of their products that typical warranty was one year or 12,000 miles, whichever came first!) I wanted to pick up a wrench and watch piece of his jaw go flying ... but I simply delivered a few expletives, demanded the keys and left (and paid about $400 to a non-Ford dealer to fix it -- and $400 was a HUGE sum to me at that time!)

There's no doubt they have improved by a HUGE amount now. The car I rented was sweet. And fit and finish, which to US automakers always meant cheap, plastic and crap, was best I have ever seen on a Ford. Loved driving it. But it still didn't feel as solid as it should have ... and I could never see myself buying one again.