The Spirited Seventh Heaven ...

[FigmentJedi]

Yes and they will all make a lot of money

Not nearly as much though. The novelty value of 3D which carried the first film is pretty much over.

 

[Nemo14]

I woke up in a silly mood.

Pattymelt for breakfast?

 

[lebeau]

Because it already has been rather largely forgotten.

In fairness though, I think this happens for most franchises. If there's not a new movie coming up, the series usually isn't in the pop culture consciousness. As the release cycle is getting faster and faster, our pop culture memory gets shorter and shorter.

Why, back when I was a boy, a hit movie would be relevant all year. But these days, a hit movie is replaced in the cultural consciousness as soon as the next big blockbuster movie comes out.

 

[twebber55]

Not nearly as much though. The novelty value of 3D which carried the first film is pretty much over.

I agree it may make only 1.4 billion this time

 

[lebeau]

Pattymelt for breakfast?

 

[pheneix]

Tonight Show is just taking the park back to what was it was planned for, but hasn't been used for in a long time.

Hear hear. I'm so happy to see this resort grow into the wonderful place it has the potential to be. I will be heaping barrels of Universal foam for months after this week.

 

[twebber55]

Hear hear. I'm so happy to see this resort grow into the wonderful place it has the potential to be. I will be heaping barrels of Universal foam for months after this week.

this whole week has been a home run for Universal...they did an incredible job of slowly building this expansion up, using the today show and fallon
perfect synergy really

 

[stevehousse]

Just watched the Hogwarts express ride videos and the que videos for Gringotts! Very impressive...just wish a full ride video would come out! I love that the height restriction on this is so low so the whole family can enjoy it!

Probably will have to spend a day or 2 at Universal next year since my boys will be big enough to experience just about everything then...

 

[PrincessNelly_NJ]

The Mine Train is actually a ton of fun. It has state of the art animatronics, two awesome airtime hills, catchy music, hairpin turns, and even projections from the original movie. It also is beautiful to look at and very well themed all around. The Mine Train is a total winner.

I think Pandora will surprise people, and Star Wars is already the most anticipated movie of 2015.

I'm excited to ride the Hogwart's Express. It looks like a solid D+ ticket family ride, while Gringott's I am not expecting much from to be honest. I just hope that I enjoy it more than Forbidden Journey and Transformers. (The Simpsons and Despicable Me are two recent additions to Universal that I actually enjoyed quite a bit).

 

[bhg469]

Just watched the Hogwarts express ride videos and the que videos for Gringotts! Very impressive...just wish a full ride video would come out! I love that the height restriction on this is so low so the whole family can enjoy it!

Probably will have to spend a day or 2 at Universal next year since my boys will be big enough to experience just about everything then...

Get a room there and take the two days.

 

[Rodan75]

As an AP holder I have no issues with my magicband, and neither does the rest of my family. But I see no reason why there couldn't be more than one format. As to the discount card, its should just be an RFID card to use as an alternate entrance media as well as parking and discounts.

Interestingly enough, during our trip in June, every cast member at a restaurant or shop asked if we had a discount (AP or DVC). I responded 'Yes/Both' they would look in the system and apply the discount. No Card. No ID. Every single interaction. That was a first, normally no one asks.

Back when they announced the MBs I would have sworn they also said they would have alternative ways of carrying the RFID pack. I seem to remember them saying lanyard and belt clip and that the RFID pack could be removed from the MB. (Maybe that was all a dream)

 

[marni1971]

Nah. Just predictable.

 

[lebeau]

Interestingly enough, during our trip in June, every cast member at a restaurant or shop asked if we had a discount (AP or DVC). I responded 'Yes/Both' they would look in the system and apply the discount. No Card. No ID. Every single interaction. That was a first, normally no one asks.

Back when they announced the MBs I would have sworn they also said they would have alternative ways of carrying the RFID pack. I seem to remember them saying lanyard and belt clip and that the RFID pack could be removed from the MB. (Maybe that was all a dream)

I was asked that as well but I always answered honestly. Ooops.

 

[stevehousse]

Get a room there and take the two days.

I actually was considering doing that since we r going to DL in May '15. Thinking we stay near Uni for the fall of '15, do universal for 2 or 3 days, lego land 1 day, and MK for a day and a Halloween party day as well!

 

[LithiumBill]

Diagon Alley is stunning. The queue for Gringotts is stunning, the entire expansion just looks amazing... I watched Mrs. Ricky's videos, and the Hogwarts Express is beautiful, the projections on the doors was very cool, adn something I did not expect.

Spoiler

I just found the STORY of both rides to and from Diagon Alley to be fairly boring... No big thrills per se. Now I still plan on visiting, and I am sure just being on the train and feeling the motion is great and adds to it -- but the fact is the big thrill going to DA is the Weasley brothers fireworks and a spider on the door. And going to Hogsmead there is a dementor (which is cool), but it's gone in a flash and immediately after there is a gag with chocolate frogs... like the dementor thing was EH NO BIG DEAL, LET'S LAUGH AT FROGS? I guess i was expecting more from the story telling...

JUST MY OPINION gang, not pixie dusting or UNI bashing... the expansion is a full forced grand slam. I cannot wait to visit in November.

 

[CinematicFusion]

Gringotts is getting killer reviews so far. So is all of Potter 2.0.
Link:
Reaction: Harry Potter and the Escape From Gringotts Is Amazing
From Slashfilm
"But when the ride works as intended, Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts is the most amazing themed experience offered in the world

Hypable.com
Diagon Alley initial impressions: A strong sequel to Hogsmeade

"Gringotts: The iconic wizarding bank is the one and only ride in Diagon Alley (besides the Hogwarts Express). It’s really impressive."

From Theme Park Insider:
Link
"Together with the richly detailed shops, restaurants and entertainment that we'll describe in full tomorrow, Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts and the Hogwarts Express raise the standard for theme park entertainment in the United States. Nowhere in America will theme park fans find a more faithfully detailed, narrative-driven, and magically engaging experience".

Can't wait to see what Disney Brings to Avatar and the new Star Wars land...whenever that gets built. I love competition!

 

[twebber55]

to be honest I thought there would be a little more action on the HE, but then again I would rather fully judge after riding it

 

[eastvillage]

I watched it as UM was a dynasty and they still would have 40,000 fans unless they were playing FSU (the Gators were, and are, afraid to play them) or a Top 10 foe. .

Honestly, it is laughable when I hear UM fans say that UF is afraid to play them. Hate to break it to you, but no one is shaking in their boots (or sandals) in Gainesville. Gators consistently have one of the toughest football schedules in the nation.

 

[WDW1974]

Spirited Diagon Media/VIP Week Musings:

Please, I'm begging y'all ... no talk about Oswald or video games here ...

So, it would appear that Potter 2.0 is the home run that many of us have predicted since it was announced (or before in some Spirited quarters). I haven't watched videos of anything because I just think that is dumb when you plan on experiencing something later. I don't need ride POVs. The only POV I care about -- mine!

I can say that much like the kiddie coaster at MK, that Diagon's official opening was not supposed to be as late as it turned out to be.

Gringotts still is having teething pains. It isn't ready to be open, which is why it won't be for awhile.

Watching this week from afar, it has largely been Comcast giving a lesson in class, confidence and style. They have a great product, they are confident in it (so they don't need to hand talking points to BRAND advocates), and they have presented it in a fair and genuine fashion. Sure, they're a little giddy about it. They have every reason to be.

What's the WDW news of the day? Well, MAGICal Steve has a thread on expanding DAK's parking lot. I do think that speaks volumes again.

Look, I have Pixie Dust in my blood. I was a WDW addict long before UNI arrived on the scene. DL sealed the deal before UNI was on the scene. ... Even when UNI debuted, it simply was a nice distraction for me for many years. But over the last decade reality has struck and struck like being kicked out of bed of a cheap Glendale motel at 3 a.m. and sent home by an old Imagineer.

UNI is a BETTER product. UNI cares about IMPROVING. UNI is a better VALUE for your money. UNI keeps getting better (or trying). WDW is stale and, in many cases, neglected. WDW does NOT care about improving. WDW is NOT a better value for your money. WDW isn't getting better and the folks who run the resort are not trying to do anything beyond take as much of your money for as little an effort as is possible. That is the case.

I still love riding with 999 Happy Haunts. Or visiting a deserted hotel on the dark side of Hollywood. Or going on safari from Harambe. ... But I am not stupid. Parking garages don't get me hot and bothered. Building timeshares doesn't either. Rehabbing an old mall/lifestyle center doesn't cause me to get in the car and drive to WDW. Four hour waits to visit with girls playing princess dress up doesn't make me feel the same as walking into EPCOT in 1982 (or any day that decade) did.

Not sure why people just refuse to accept that WDW is an also-ran when it comes to building cutting edge attractions in immersive environments. The facts speak for themselves.

I wanted to write something profound and deep on the subject and I just don't have it today. Things are what they are. You either see it or you don't wish to, but they don't change.

Oh, but don't y'all forget that the All Star Music Resort's Intermission Food Court is closing for a MASSIVE redo in August!

 

[WDW1974]

Oh, and let's keep any/all ride spoilers out of this thread. That's not a request, either.
None of us have ridden and many of us don't want to know every detail ... if I refused info from friends working on the area attractions, then I don't want it blown by someone in New Jersey looking at Brigante's videos. KEEP IT OUT!