I think some fine representatives from OPD would achieve more of an impact at this stage. These people are preconditioned to expect UO to lie about soft openings not happening. Thanks Transformers. You also can't motivate them to do ANYTHING else in the park because waiting for that mess to open is literally the ONLY reason they are there. No-win situation. Just put a stop to it so more people don't get disappointed for no good reason.
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The Spirited Seventh Heaven ...
- Thread starter WDW1974
- Start date
I think some fine representatives from OPD would achieve more of an impact at this stage. These people are preconditioned to expect UO to lie about soft openings not happening. Thanks Transformers. You also can't motivate them to do ANYTHING else in the park because waiting for that mess to open is literally the ONLY reason they are there. No-win situation. Just put a stop to it so more people don't get disappointed for no good reason.
PhotoDave219
Well-Known Member
The way the times are set up for the package previews July 4-7 I like my chances of a soft opening
I think the clusterduck that was tonight should give you plenty of reasons why its not realistic to expect a soft opening.
If there was 100 people out front? Thats one thing. 1000-2000? Oh hell no.
Cesar R M
Well-Known Member
Star tours got me dizzy too, not only for the heavy smell of the machinery after the ride, but the feeling that while the thing moves.. you do not feel any wind or real sense of weight.
Cesar R M
Well-Known Member
What a shame.. Dreamworks seems to be getting fumbled after fumble.. despite releasing solid movies.
I have no idea why they are failing so hard.. Maybe their movies are getting way too "dark" for little kids (like the case of Rise of the Guardians and now Dragons 2) or too confusing with too much thrown at same time (dragons 2) or too childish for most teens and young adults? ( Turbo, Mr. Peabody and Sherman)
I honestly had given my honest review elsewhere.. despite the solid scores on rottentomatoes.. I found some severe flaws in the movies that broke the entire flow.
One of the things I hated most.. how cluttered the last 1/4 part of the movie is. they crammed too much in too little time.
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mahnamahna101
Well-Known Member
Star Tours seemed like the tamest motion simulator to me.. compared to Simpsons Ride, Despicable Me and even Soarin' (looking below you would freak out someone scared of heights). The 40 person simulator made it seem like an airplane flight more than anything
Cesar R M
Well-Known Member
I still wonder.. who the hell told the rumor about soft opening in the diagon alley?
seems it spread like a wildfire.
Cesar R M
Well-Known Member
the first was really well received..
The special on tv was really cool. I enjoyed Universal previewing Despicable Me as well
I'm not shocked by the hoard of folks camped out for a soft open. I can't wait to see opening day pics, I think it'll be just as nuts as the first one.
I hope bob Iger was watching that special.
he probably is like this at the moment:
Cesar R M
Well-Known Member
Dragons 2 might recover gracefully in the direct to video(dvd, bluray) market.
Rise of the Guardians recovered with its bigger than anticipated sales.
PhotoDave219
Well-Known Member
Its a constant, reoccuring rumor.
Cesar R M
Well-Known Member
What was the biggest line for 7DMT?
Also the scope of boths cannot be compared.. I dont think many were that hyped for that train than they are for the Gringotts ride.
Mike S
Well-Known Member
I finally saw the first How to train your Dragon recently and didn't get all the praise, it seemed pretty average to me
I'll wait to see #2 at a later time.
PhotoDave219
Well-Known Member
Any bets on whether or not Disney monitizes its soft opening for Pandora in 2017?
Thats genius and ballsy.
Thats genius and ballsy.
cw1982
Well-Known Member
I was going to make a joke about it being some kind of $300/person tour, since that's one of the hot topics right now and all, but the thing is something along those lines would actually make sense... maybe not at that price point. Have a paid tour of the entire land before it officially opens, and whatever attractions are ready for soft openings can be included in each day's tours. It would definitely be a way to keep things less chaotic while still providing a decent stream of guinea pigs if the price and execution were right.
PhotoDave219
Well-Known Member
It certainly will eliminate any "Soft Openings" or thousands of people lined up outside a "not yet open" expansion.
I'd like to think that operations people for both companies are watching things very carefully.
cw1982
Well-Known Member
The whole 7dmt thing was the first time I've really paid attention to any kind of attraction opening at a park like this, but based on what I've read, it seems like social media is easily compounding these situations, escalating them to a point where they are borderline dangerous. Doing something like a soft opening tour of the whole area would, to an extent, take care of that IMO, because then Disney could better control how many people are crowding the area (after all, no need to crowd if you know for sure you can't get in, right?). You wouldn't have thousands of people all rushing to the park at the exact same moment because they all saw a retweet of another retweet that said John Doe said that his second cousin half-removed said that his girlfriend hinted that there might be a soft opening today. The tours would probably sell out very quickly, but the crowd would be easily managed because Disney would control how many people were going in at once by limiting ticket sales. Of course, Disney would have to be very careful to make it clear that purchasing a tour in no way guarantees getting to ride anything, but rather gets you the first front-of-the-line access to seeing the land as a whole, and if the rides are ready to soft run while you are there, then congrats; added bonus.
Sounds like a win-win for everyone. Fans who are that desperate to get a first glimpse have an opportunity to see more without getting trampled, and Disney gets to make a little extra cash and keep the area safer/provide a better transition for opening.
Spirited Late Night Musings (Red, White and YOU TOO!!! Edition):
I have to admit that this was probably the best June 30th network programming in history (or at least this century) with the Diagon Alley special on NBC, the 8-9 p.m.hour (only two hours left) in 24: Live Another Day on FOX, and the season two premiere of Under the Dome on CBS.
I have to admit that maybe it's the fanboi in me (that sounds so wrong, yet so right!), but I enjoyed the shows in that order.
The NBC Potter special was largely cobbled together, yet the new and old footage blended seamlessly and got me even more psyched about the new project. Watching folks from the films talk about working on DA and HE made you realize that this is the old WED way. This is the 21st century equivalent of Walt taking his amazing artists and giving them an entirely foreign medium to them and telling them 'Have at it, boys!' ... You don't see that almost at all with Disney, beyond John Lasseter on Cars Land and, yes, James Cameron on Avatar. What folks from the WDFA Studio worked on New Fantasyland? I must have missed it.
24 is simply 24, although this shortened summer season is just non-stop action and implausibilities instead of being spread over 22 episodes. So all those twists, turns and double crosses (did anyone think the world was safe last week when Jack saved the Prez and tossed Margot out the window to join her splattered son on the pavement?) Nah, now we have the Russians and Chinese and the threat of war being set in motion by cyber terrorists.
Inside the Dome will always have a special place in my heart because it fundamentally altered the way the networks view summer. So, the fact it went from fun and intriguing as hell to crap by the end of its run last summer gets a bit of a pass. Tonight's episode was penned by Stephen King and he had an awkward cameo. But everything he does well (and everything that also makes him overrated) was on display in the episode. But it at least kept my attention off of reading Tweets about folks lining up at UNI.
Somehow this gem wasn't mentioned here and almost missed my attention. It talks about Bland Tommy Smith speaking to a group of PR pros about his work with the DBP that largely involves having every word of every post go before Disney Legal (hey, Tommy, this is just yet another reason why you and your company fundamentally do not get social media and should get the f--k out of the business!)
I loved this quote especially: ''We’re using the Disney parks blog to humanize the brand.”
Again, this is the company of Uncle Walt's founding, the company that routinely makes grown and mature adults tear up ... and you need to humanize the BRAND. Nope, you all need new jobs ... You are absolutely out of your minds.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/busi...gging-legal-oversight-20140626,0,4894940.post
So, the Club 33 redo anger has heated up and there was a story on the angst (I do agree with Fidel's little bro, Andy, on this). I'd love to link to it, but I never read it because I won't pay the LA Times for content until they deserve it on a daily basis.
How many MAGIC Bands does on Spirit need?
At the risk of turning this to food again (although that apparently is a big topic here), I had another one of those 'no, this isn't normal' moments on Sunday when I attempted to act like a Millennial and dine at my local Chipotle, where the line routinely stretches out the door and no one under 28 believes they have to pay for Coke when a water cup holds it just fine. Well, went to mine and the line was huge, but I was undeterred and ready to eat socially conscious raised chicken (I think they make the chickens listen to NPR and Rachel Maddow before they butcher them!). Problem was on a 95-degree day in paradise, the AC was clearly not working and watching the workers sweat above the food didn't make me feel good. So ...
... I went to the one in the next town over. Only to see the same line and a sign on the door saying that they were out of soda/lemonade etc and were very sorry. We started to leave when a Coke truck pulled away and a worker took the sign off the door. Indeed, it had been repaired. So, in line we go ... and we start feeling ... well, warm. Very warm. Yes, I'll grab a piece of tinfoil and place it on my head and suggest the local ownership was playing games with their units seeing just how far they could push their customers before they walked. I walked. I also couldn't help but notice how many folks were sitting with bottles of water, water that wasn't comped. I don't get that sheep mentality where people just accept whatever a situation is. I know 9/11 is responsible for Americans largely giving up on any/everything. Just not me.
Oh, in case you were wondering, I wound up having a great King's Hawaiian Roast Beef and Swiss at Arby's. Yes, I am not at all too good to eat at Arby's!
Have any of you bought $35 iPhone covers at WDW or DLR? I ask because the local outlet always has them for $3.99.
Transformers opens to mega-numbers and yet again proves there is no accounting for taste and children have too much money today. I'd sooner pay to see the Planes sequel.
Has Falcon's Fury opened yet at BGT? Not that I'd ever ride, but that sounds like a disaster. Not that anyone outside of Tampa likely pays attention.
Anyone have a link to pics of the new Wilderness Lodge Villas units? I have a feeling I'll be staying there in the near future.
Nine pounds. Yes. That is how much a Faux Top One Percent Spirited Spring Holiday adds to your weight. I really didn't need all that bread that 'Angie M' force fed me ... and the steaks ... and the chicken ... and the creme brulee and etc ..'
This is going to be an interesting summer season for O-Town theme parks as most of the domestic visitors tend to visit from May-July. August can be dead, especially as it drones on (hence Disney and Georgie K coming up with free dining a decade ago). With the UNI expansion not opening until the second week of July and with Disney hastily throwing together a Frozen promo at its weakest gate that starts July 5th, I wonder if that will actually change things.
Apparently, crazy obsessed blokes who turn red as soon as the FLA sun hits them (right @marni1971 ?)from the UK have officially been passed by Brazil as the top foreign contingent to hit O-Town annually. Anyone who has seen the numbers of tour groups skyrocket over the last 15 years had to see this coming.
I have to admit that this was probably the best June 30th network programming in history (or at least this century) with the Diagon Alley special on NBC, the 8-9 p.m.hour (only two hours left) in 24: Live Another Day on FOX, and the season two premiere of Under the Dome on CBS.
I have to admit that maybe it's the fanboi in me (that sounds so wrong, yet so right!), but I enjoyed the shows in that order.
The NBC Potter special was largely cobbled together, yet the new and old footage blended seamlessly and got me even more psyched about the new project. Watching folks from the films talk about working on DA and HE made you realize that this is the old WED way. This is the 21st century equivalent of Walt taking his amazing artists and giving them an entirely foreign medium to them and telling them 'Have at it, boys!' ... You don't see that almost at all with Disney, beyond John Lasseter on Cars Land and, yes, James Cameron on Avatar. What folks from the WDFA Studio worked on New Fantasyland? I must have missed it.
24 is simply 24, although this shortened summer season is just non-stop action and implausibilities instead of being spread over 22 episodes. So all those twists, turns and double crosses (did anyone think the world was safe last week when Jack saved the Prez and tossed Margot out the window to join her splattered son on the pavement?) Nah, now we have the Russians and Chinese and the threat of war being set in motion by cyber terrorists.
Inside the Dome will always have a special place in my heart because it fundamentally altered the way the networks view summer. So, the fact it went from fun and intriguing as hell to crap by the end of its run last summer gets a bit of a pass. Tonight's episode was penned by Stephen King and he had an awkward cameo. But everything he does well (and everything that also makes him overrated) was on display in the episode. But it at least kept my attention off of reading Tweets about folks lining up at UNI.
Somehow this gem wasn't mentioned here and almost missed my attention. It talks about Bland Tommy Smith speaking to a group of PR pros about his work with the DBP that largely involves having every word of every post go before Disney Legal (hey, Tommy, this is just yet another reason why you and your company fundamentally do not get social media and should get the f--k out of the business!)
I loved this quote especially: ''We’re using the Disney parks blog to humanize the brand.”
Again, this is the company of Uncle Walt's founding, the company that routinely makes grown and mature adults tear up ... and you need to humanize the BRAND. Nope, you all need new jobs ... You are absolutely out of your minds.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/busi...gging-legal-oversight-20140626,0,4894940.post
So, the Club 33 redo anger has heated up and there was a story on the angst (I do agree with Fidel's little bro, Andy, on this). I'd love to link to it, but I never read it because I won't pay the LA Times for content until they deserve it on a daily basis.
How many MAGIC Bands does on Spirit need?
At the risk of turning this to food again (although that apparently is a big topic here), I had another one of those 'no, this isn't normal' moments on Sunday when I attempted to act like a Millennial and dine at my local Chipotle, where the line routinely stretches out the door and no one under 28 believes they have to pay for Coke when a water cup holds it just fine. Well, went to mine and the line was huge, but I was undeterred and ready to eat socially conscious raised chicken (I think they make the chickens listen to NPR and Rachel Maddow before they butcher them!). Problem was on a 95-degree day in paradise, the AC was clearly not working and watching the workers sweat above the food didn't make me feel good. So ...
... I went to the one in the next town over. Only to see the same line and a sign on the door saying that they were out of soda/lemonade etc and were very sorry. We started to leave when a Coke truck pulled away and a worker took the sign off the door. Indeed, it had been repaired. So, in line we go ... and we start feeling ... well, warm. Very warm. Yes, I'll grab a piece of tinfoil and place it on my head and suggest the local ownership was playing games with their units seeing just how far they could push their customers before they walked. I walked. I also couldn't help but notice how many folks were sitting with bottles of water, water that wasn't comped. I don't get that sheep mentality where people just accept whatever a situation is. I know 9/11 is responsible for Americans largely giving up on any/everything. Just not me.
Oh, in case you were wondering, I wound up having a great King's Hawaiian Roast Beef and Swiss at Arby's. Yes, I am not at all too good to eat at Arby's!
Have any of you bought $35 iPhone covers at WDW or DLR? I ask because the local outlet always has them for $3.99.
Transformers opens to mega-numbers and yet again proves there is no accounting for taste and children have too much money today. I'd sooner pay to see the Planes sequel.
Has Falcon's Fury opened yet at BGT? Not that I'd ever ride, but that sounds like a disaster. Not that anyone outside of Tampa likely pays attention.
Anyone have a link to pics of the new Wilderness Lodge Villas units? I have a feeling I'll be staying there in the near future.
Nine pounds. Yes. That is how much a Faux Top One Percent Spirited Spring Holiday adds to your weight. I really didn't need all that bread that 'Angie M' force fed me ... and the steaks ... and the chicken ... and the creme brulee and etc ..'
This is going to be an interesting summer season for O-Town theme parks as most of the domestic visitors tend to visit from May-July. August can be dead, especially as it drones on (hence Disney and Georgie K coming up with free dining a decade ago). With the UNI expansion not opening until the second week of July and with Disney hastily throwing together a Frozen promo at its weakest gate that starts July 5th, I wonder if that will actually change things.
Apparently, crazy obsessed blokes who turn red as soon as the FLA sun hits them (right @marni1971 ?)from the UK have officially been passed by Brazil as the top foreign contingent to hit O-Town annually. Anyone who has seen the numbers of tour groups skyrocket over the last 15 years had to see this coming.
Longhairbear
Well-Known Member
My DVC home base is Wilderness, and I saw pictures of the remodel in the latest issue of Disney Files magazine. Not impressed. They sucked all the theming out of the villas, and made them look more like all the others. One Disney hits DVC I guess.
BrianLo
Well-Known Member
An interesting new report that I felt might be worth some discussion (caught it randomly on tv as I was passing by and I perked up).
http://www.futurebrand.com/fbi/2014
Essentially it's a research report dedicated to brand perception, with the rationale that brand perception is a better future predictor and can often not be directly linked to market cap.
Disney is their major example of this (brand perception places it number three, which is a lot higher than market cap).
As @WDW1974 has constantly said, it's all about the BRAND... And well, in this respect, Disney it doing pretty well for itself.
http://www.futurebrand.com/fbi/2014
Essentially it's a research report dedicated to brand perception, with the rationale that brand perception is a better future predictor and can often not be directly linked to market cap.
Disney is their major example of this (brand perception places it number three, which is a lot higher than market cap).
As @WDW1974 has constantly said, it's all about the BRAND... And well, in this respect, Disney it doing pretty well for itself.
TeriofTerror
Well-Known Member
And if Iger thinks his little Pandora/Avatar area will have any buzz that even remotely approaches this, he's out of his ever-loving mind.The special on tv was really cool. I enjoyed Universal previewing Despicable Me as well
I'm not shocked by the hoard of folks camped out for a soft open. I can't wait to see opening day pics, I think it'll be just as nuts as the first one.
I hope bob Iger was watching that special.
Look, it's not that I hated "Avatar". I went into it really buzzed about it, but came out feeling that it was just basically "Pocahontas" with blue people. And it's not that I doubt that Joe Rohde and the rest of WDI can make something really amazing here. I'll bet they will. It's just that I think they could have done something equally stellar without having to pay for an IP that I feel won't bring a lot to the table. If they could assure me that not one brass farthing was spent acquiring the "Avatar" rights, I'd be all for it. But the thought of wasting scads of money that could have gone into the actual attractions in the misguided hope that "Avatar" would be some sort of Potter-swatter just sticks in my craw.
PrincessNelly_NJ
Well-Known Member
Really because 7DMT was hyped up a lot.
In general we were just comparing how they both handled or will handle opening day.
Edit: I was replying to a message when I made that comment. Not sure why it didn't show up.
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