The Spirited Seventh Heaven ...

[Cesar R M]

Gotcha. Thanks for clearing that up.

Based on some of the remarks I've seen around here, I thought something had happened.

something DID happen, just was overinflated.

He made a dumb joke online(with a photo) that hinted butt grabbing on some CMS portraying Anna and Elsa in a M&G.
People lashed on him hard.

I think Hogwart's Express will be fun. Gringott's sounds like Potter Puke Machine #2.

and you know... because?

Still makes me wonder what is your gripe about Universal.
You were never able to go in there and thus you now hate it with all your life?
You own Disney stock perhaps? Are you a Manager at Disney?
if any of the top options doesnt apply.. then you're clearly a troll.

 

[coolbeans14]

Nope.
It's milder than FJ, which I didn't find to be a "puke machine" at all.

I don't know about that. I don't suffer from motion sickness but even I felt a bit queasy after FJ. And you should have seen my brother-in-law

Having said that, I enjoyed it, and this looks spectacular

 

[WildcatDen]

My guess is they look at it and wish they were allowed to do things like that.

That is what she said?

 

[SJN1279]

I don't know about that. I don't suffer from motion sickness but even I felt a bit queasy after FJ. And you should have seen my brother-in-law

Having said that, I enjoyed it, and this looks spectacular

The first time I rode FJ in soft openings, I got very dizzy 30 seconds after the vehicle left the station. It was the sickest I have ever felt on an Orlando attraction, and that includes Mission Space Orange. A year later, I tried the attraction again, and got the same feeling around 3 minutes in. Improvement, but not enough to warrant a third trip into Hogwarts anytime soon.

 

[WildcatDen]

Their over confidence is their weakness.

And your faith in your friends is yours. . .

my daughter told me to never ask for the joke, but come on. Anyone? Wasn't that a sly Return of the Jedi comment? No? Well, okay then!

 

[Violiav]

We were the opposite.

My first choice this year was Universal. But ultimately, we thought that the girls were still too young to really enjoy it. (5 and 9)

I didn't really want to go to WDW. I figured we would skip a year. But then the blog pulled in some extra money we could use for travel. And I figured I probably ought to go and cover the completion of the FLE. So, we went. I don't expect to go again until Disney opens something worth covering. So 2017?

Meanwhile, I am waiting not-so-patiently for my kids to be old enough to appreciate Universal.

Yeah, see we've never been to either- having only experienced Disneyland growing up. Also growing up uni Hollywood was kind of a let down. In all fairness I have bad luck when it comes to theme parks- I always seem to go when there's major construction or something major is shut down. Such is my luck. :/. I wanted to knock wdw off my list before the kids get too old to really enjoy it. Assuming they go through a "Disney is lame" period. Also, I like to change up my vacations, that way nothing gets stale.

 

[doctornick]

Let's compare Toyota's cars to GE's cars.. oh wait.. GE doesn't make cars. UNI doesn't have any aspirations to make parades like FoF, so no shocker they haven't built one.

To be fair, I do think that Uni would benefit from better/more large scale entertainment offerings like parades and night time shows. It is one area where Disney definitely does surpass Uni.

 

[PhotoDave219]

The review I just linked to said the walkways are wider at Diagon Alley. They don't look that wide from the pictures, I'll have to see for myself, but that and the way too small stores was one of my biggest complaints when I went to Hogsmeade for the first time in August 2010. We waited in line longer to get into Dervish and Banges than we did any of the attractions. Hogsmeade was a disaster at first but even when I visited in August 2011 it wasn't nearly as bad so I have a feeling Diagon Alley will be a lot better by this time next year.

I'm planning on going July 9th and I'm having such a hard time figuring out a plan. Can you board the Hogwarts Express from both sides? Or just Diagon Alley? I obviously really want to experience that, but given how long the lines are going to be, that seems like something to do first thing in the morning. But then what? Walk through IOA all the way back to Diagon Alley to see everything else? I feel like that'll be my least favorite thing tbh.

Yes, it's much bigger.

 

[Astro Blaster]

Slightly off topic, what's the deal with the "princess stalker" bit. I've heard some references but missed the back story.

Thanks!

I see it has been discussed but that was just a little tongue-in-cheek based on his frenzy to book an anna and elsa fp+ as soon as he could, and his joke about touching their butts (I didn't think the joke was bad).

Anywho, the Hogwarts express video was impressive. I was totally engrossed and I was just watching on my phone. Imagine being there.

I can see Avatar having a similar level of immersion and detail, but the big difference here is that so many people, young and old, have a genuine LOVE of the world of Harry Potter. It is special to them. I don't get that feeling with Avatar. I DO get that feeling with Star Wars, so do it right, Disney!

 

[LondonGopher]

Having lived in the direct neighbourhood of The real King's Cross for a year while at university, I have to say I am more impressed by it than I thought I would be. In real life it is not one of those grand train stations. It is rather small and utilitarian.

I am more thrown by having Leicester Square station directly next to it as I know exactly how far it is to walk in the real London...

This made me giggle. It's like watching Robin Hood (the Costner one) - they land at the White Cliffs, and then later in the day they walk across Hadrian's Wall...on the way to Nottingham...??!! England is small, kids...but not that small.

 

[flynnibus]

To be fair, I do think that Uni would benefit from better/more large scale entertainment offerings like parades and night time shows. It is one area where Disney definitely does surpass Uni.

If UNI was trying to be Disney here.. I'd agree. And trust me, there is a lot of 'copy cat' stuff UNI does partake in (pins, etc). But UNI does have a different opinion of what they are targeting.. both demographic wise and in what people seek out.

Most of the time when you are just trying to copy someone... you don't do as well, and it stands out as a copy. UNI seems to prefer the 'roll in' character show vs big formal parades. I have no problem with that.

I'd also wait in line to see Donkey as a M&G.. because it's awesome how he acts and interacts with guests... but I have no interest in waiting to see a princess.

I don't think "we are Disney too!!" is a good business model for anyone.

 

[mgpan]

it almost looks like an Alley

I just keep pressing the like key on this one. Having just recently toured the land and ridden FJ, the anticipation of moving further into the land and discovery of little details caused by the tighter quarters, made the experience more believable and, yes, allowed me to "make believe" just like when i was a kid again. The last theme park experience that allowed that for me was Mission Space several, several years ago.

 

[rael ramone]

To get back to the Mouses business....

Why do companies offer up stock for sale?

To raise capital for needed improvements.

What purpose does it serve the company to have a high stock price?

So they get more bang for the buck when they do a secondary offering to raise more capital for needed growth/improvements.

You're a DOW listed company that has over a 21 p/e that has needs across the company - imagine what a secondary offering of this overpriced equity would pay for: A Frozen attraction built from scratch that serves both the films popularity and the crowds that it would get, a SW land that doesn't wait for Avatar to finish, bringing up the Deluxe resorts up to Deluxe standards, bringing Maintenance & Cleanliness up to Walt standards, raising the pay for CM's to first world standards, and perhaps have some coin left over for some Corporate Behavioral Training for the folks up in Bristol....

Or they could pay for it w/ cash on hand... they seem to have enough to repurchase 8 billion worth of their own expensive shares...

 

[doctornick]

If UNI was trying to be Disney here.. I'd agree. And trust me, there is a lot of 'copy cat' stuff UNI does partake in (pins, etc). But UNI does have a different opinion of what they are targeting.. both demographic wise and in what people seek out.

Most of the time when you are just trying to copy someone... you don't do as well, and it stands out as a copy. UNI seems to prefer the 'roll in' character show vs big formal parades. I have no problem with that.

I'd also wait in line to see Donkey as a M&G.. because it's awesome how he acts and interacts with guests... but I have no interest in waiting to see a princess.

I don't think "we are Disney too!!" is a good business model for anyone.

It's less the parade concept and more the night time extravaganza IMHO. IoA's lagoon is just screaming for a night time show and I think one could be created that would appeal to the typical Uni guest.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Oh, I thought it came from the incident when he was making a big scene on twitter (and at guest services it seemed) about his princess FP+ having vanished.

I don't see how the big public aspect of MyMagic+ failing is not a legitimate issue. Had it not been Ricky people would have been all over how Disney's system is still so screwed up that FastPass+ selections can just disappear.

Nope.
It's milder than FJ, which I didn't find to be a "puke machine" at all.

I consider Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey a puke machine, but on the right day I would say the same of the Barnstormer.

 

[ParentsOf4]

hold on, i can't tell. what do you think about diagon alley?

I enjoy reading what people think. I enjoy reading lots of different opinions.

Even when they are different than mine.

 

[Skip]

I enjoy reading what people think. I enjoy reading lots of different opinions.

Even when they are different than mine.

Hey, I also enjoy reading and debating well thought out, intelligent opinions - just not trolling attempts. This guy is going out of his way to kick the hive.

 

[danlb_2000]

The first time I rode FJ in soft openings, I got very dizzy 30 seconds after the vehicle left the station. It was the sickest I have ever felt on an Orlando attraction, and that includes Mission Space Orange. A year later, I tried the attraction again, and got the same feeling around 3 minutes in. Improvement, but not enough to warrant a third trip into Hogwarts anytime soon.

Yes, it is well established that you get motion sick on FJ, you have said so in dozens of posts, but that doesn't seem to have impacted the popularity of the ride.

 

[flynnibus]

To get back to the Mouses business....

Why do companies offer up stock for sale?

To raise capital for needed improvements.

What purpose does it serve the company to have a high stock price?

Barter, compensation, buying power.. it can be used in lieu of US government issued paper

It's a double edged sword.. you issue stock to raise money, but you are held to the wills of those who hold the stock because you sold it with the pretense of ownership. The holders do not make the same money if the stock does not appreciate. So by the addage '@%$ flows downstream', the company is forced to desire higher stock prices.

So they get more bang for the buck when they do a secondary offering to raise more capital for needed growth/improvements.

Companies issue new stock all the time. For compensation, for buying, etc. It's happening all the time.. and the company can sell shares its sitting on as well.

But what you are getting at... issuing shares to fund new theme park stuff.. it's not going to happen. There is no need to. The company has cash, credit and borrowing power. Issuing shares devalues existing shares through dillution.. it would be frowned upon to do that for things it should be financing when the company has easy financing capabilities.

 

[bhg469]

I don't see how the big public aspect of MyMagic+ failing is not a legitimate issue. Had it not been Ricky people would have been all over how Disney's system is still so screwed up that FastPass+ selections can just disappear.


I consider Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey a puke machine, but on the right day I would say the same of the Barnstormer.

My wife had an awful time on FJ, shes prone to motion sickness. Im not that bad but the video sections were a little rough on me. It doesn't change the fact that it is an amazing attraction and better than just about anything disney has built in a long time. As for my wife, she wont go on it again but she will enjoy everything around it.

Having said that, Im still waiting for Universal's Haunted mansion or Pirates of the Caribbean.. Obviously I don't mean the direct rides but one that can appeal to all riders and start its own legacy.. I guess they could produce a Potter dark ride and I think they could blow our minds with todays technology at their disposal.. Honestly they are probably the only reason I have been to WDW in the past year because otherwise my disney visits are stopping until something big happens.

Disney world made a very successful business in theme parks long before thrill rides seemed to be a requirement, and Disney did again it with mystic manor but it will never be seen by a lot of people here in the US. Mine train almost does a good job of it but the dark ride elements were such a small part of a very quick ride.

Im rambling... UNI AND OR DISNEY BUILD A WORLD CLASS DARK RIDE IN ORLANDO!!