The Spirited Seventh Heaven ...

[Cesar R M]

That's just a crime

but they do exist

 

[PhotoDave219]

I agree, some bloggers and leakers have a strong sway power and follower fanbases.

hence why Disney executives puts a lot of ads/money and push on "mommy bloggers" and well known "lifestylers".
Sort of a way to counter the real informed leakers/bloggers/fans.

I refuse to go into detail.

I know that there's resentment growing over the mommy bloggers/lifestylers.

 

[stevehousse]

Now I really don't understand you.

Every change starts with one voice, with others joining in until the sound cannot be ignored.

Some times it takes years, even decades.

So, when you write "you and your pack of whiners should get through yours that no matter what you say, or how long you complain nothing, no matter how much influence you think one person has, is going to change it until it all comes to a head", exactly how is it supposed to "come to a head" if everyone remains silent?

Successful business don't wait for customers to leave before listening. Successful businesses listen to paying customers before they become former customers.

Corporate Disney would be wise to pay attention to what's being written, especially on threads such as these which contain some of WDW's most faithful customers.

When loyal customers start to complain in large enough numbers, it's time for change.

In WDW's case, the change doesn't have to be some earthshattering event like a 5th Gate. Sometimes the change is a bit more subtle, like ticket prices going up only 4% this year (instead of the 7% from the last 3 years), like Disney Dining Plan increasing 4.6% (instead of the 20% in 2012/2013), like Iger stating that an expanded Star Wars presence is coming to the parks, like credible rumors that the Yeti is finally going to get fixed.

Sometimes change is slow but it seems to me that corporate Disney is listening.

They may be listening, but with gigantic ear muffs covering those ears...

When it takes 5+ years to construct a land to make the "books" look better there is something wrong with that. Why can Uni build a whole themed land 5 times as intricate as NFL in under 2 years? That is what Disney is doing wrong.

Being blinded by dollar signs instead of giving their guests that world class service that Walt and Eisner were so dedicated too.

 

[StageFrenzy]

I refuse to go into detail.

I know that there's resentment growing over the mommy bloggers/lifestylers.

Resentment where? Inside the company or outside?

 

[PhotoDave219]

Resentment where? Inside the company or outside?

A little from column A, a little from column B.

 

[ParentsOf4]

Being blinded by dollar signs instead of giving their guests that world class service that Walt and Eisner were so dedicated too.

Walt Disney wanted to provide world class service and make a buck by doing so.

Michael Eisner wanted to make a buck by providing world class service.

Bob Iger wants to make a buck.

 

[Mike S]

A little from column A, a little from column B.

How about a little more baklava?

 

[Magenta Panther]

Walt Disney wanted to provide world class service and make a buck by doing so.

Michael Eisner wanted to make a buck by providing world class service.

Bob Iger wants to make a buck.

BRAVO!!!!!

 

[Magenta Panther]

WHATTHE?!??

I do hope your comment translates into denial...

 

[Stevek]

Maybe. Of the options that were guessed for DL, three seem plausible to me:

1. Toontown
2. Big Thunder Ranch
3. Pixie Hollow/Buzz

Matterhorn would be a massive outcry. Frontierland was a joke and would not be replaced. The diorama (esp Grand Canyon) seem plausible especially if combined with Red Rockets and Innoventions, but that's sorta what was already guessed for DL and Spirit said it was something different.

Personally, I was going to guess Buzz myself and combined it with Pixie Hollow would be a decent amount of space. Tomorrowland Terrace could be used for food (Mos Eisley cantina). Star Trader would become exclusively SW themed merch. This puts everything right next to Star Tours, so you have continuity with theming. You can still move Astro Orbitor to it's old elevated location to free up space (and can retheme it to SW if desired, like having them be X-wing fighters).

Losing Buzz and Pixie Hollow would definitely bother some people, but I think many of the vocal DL long term folks would be ok with it, especially compared to losing the subs. I think it fits the bill of WDW1974's comments well.

Big Thunder Ranch would not be a big loss, but it's not a large space. It brings up the question of what to do with Star Tours (move it? Two separate SW locations?).

Toontown works. It's isolated and larger than Big Thunder Ranch. I think there would be more vocal opposition to this, though, and you still have the Star Tours issue.

Interesting and agree that all of these are somewhat reasonable. My gut tells me it has to be somewhere in Tomorrowland due to Star Tours. Buzz doesn't see like a large enough footprint by itself but tearing out Buzz, the old PM platform and Innoventions would clearly open up a ton of space for multiple attractions. The old rumore of a combination of Autopia starting at Innoventions and all the way back to the old motor boat dock seems like the most natural fit for it if keeping it near TL...with Pizza Port becoming the Mos Isley Cantina, EO becoming Jedi Training Academy and TL terrace going away completely. I hope I'm wrong on some of this.

Whatever they do, I just hope they do it in moderation and don't turn 75% of tomorrowland into Star Wars Land (and I'm a big SW geek)

 

[phillip sugarman]

It probably isn't tomorrowland because wdw1974 said that it was in a location that hasn't been discussed yet. It is most likely the big thunder ranch because disneyland has been talking about using that area for expansion for awhile now. I remember they were talking about putting Oz Land in that location. The area is big enough for a expansion considering that the rumored oz land plans included an E ticket ride and 2 C ticket attractions. If anything they can always relocate Star Tours to the new Star Wars land after it is built. If you don't think it is possible than you can look at the buzz lightyear ride. The Astro Blasters ride should be in dca next to toy story midway mania in paradise pier.

 

[Cosmic Commando]

But here's something for y'all to chew on. The current DLR plans for Star Wars call for a substantial reworking of an existing area for the new stuff. And it isn't where you think it is ... and it hasn't been said by one person online yet. And, yes, it will have some people thrilled and others fuming beyond belief.

Oh, very interesting responses on SW at DLR. One (more?) of you may have just nailed it. Here's a few hints: 1.) it isn't going to DCA; 2.) The subs look like they are totally safe in the current plan.

OK, I'll take my stab at decoding Spirit's musings. He said nobody online has/had mentioned it yet. That means everything in Tomorrowland is out (with the possible exception of Space Mountain), because I think literally everything in Tomorrowland has been bandied about at some point. Grand Canyon/Primeval World are interesting ideas that I haven't heard before, but I don't think you'd get a ton of usable space by flattening them (they obviously hug the railroad tracks). I'm also going to guess that Spirit means some people will be "thrilled" to be rid of the area, not just thrilled weighing the pluses and minuses of what's going versus what's being built. Some people would be furious beyond belief if Grand Canyon and/or Primeval World left, but nobody would really be thrilled to get rid of them. He also said a substantial "reworking" of an area, not "flattened" or "kiss it goodbye". This points me in the direction of Toontown. The land has been pretty neutered since its opening day, with the Jolly Trolley the park's most expensive bench instead of as an attraction and the Chip 'n' Dale Treehouse lawyer-ized. It also has a bare steel coaster, something that riles up certain segments. And the Micechat crew loves to catch Disney if the paint on the fake hills behind Toontown is fading or peeling. I could definitely see the whole land getting the Tatooine Traders treatment... keep most of the buildings, change the facades. Paint those fake hills a nice brown that people won't notice has faded.

There's two drawbacks that I see with using Toontown... the area would have to close for the fireworks, due to the fallout area. The place will be so popular, I don't see that being a good idea. Also, would they really evict Mickey and Minnie AGAIN? Tell the kids that they still have their really-for-real house in Japan still? Or have Jedi Mickey's Tatooine Hermit Cave Meet 'N' Greet?

 

[marni1971]

Feel lucky DHS is getting it in Orlando.

 

[doctornick]

Feel lucky DHS is getting it in Orlando.

Do you mean such that WDW does have to deal with the same appropriate issues that DLR will have? Or potential outcry?

Or do you mean that WDW is lucky just to be getting Star Wars?

In the case of the former, it does beg the question as to whether it makes sense to even do a large scale SW expansion in DL. You'll certainly get fans who will be happy, but also get a lot of critics with virtually any location.

 

[asianway]

OK, I'll take my stab at decoding Spirit's musings. He said nobody online has/had mentioned it yet. That means everything in Tomorrowland is out (with the possible exception of Space Mountain), because I think literally everything in Tomorrowland has been bandied about at some point. Grand Canyon/Primeval World are interesting ideas that I haven't heard before, but I don't think you'd get a ton of usable space by flattening them (they obviously hug the railroad tracks). I'm also going to guess that Spirit means some people will be "thrilled" to be rid of the area, not just thrilled weighing the pluses and minuses of what's going versus what's being built. Some people would be furious beyond belief if Grand Canyon and/or Primeval World left, but nobody would really be thrilled to get rid of them. He also said a substantial "reworking" of an area, not "flattened" or "kiss it goodbye". This points me in the direction of Toontown. The land has been pretty neutered since its opening day, with the Jolly Trolley the park's most expensive bench instead of as an attraction and the Chip 'n' Dale Treehouse lawyer-ized. It also has a bare steel coaster, something that riles up certain segments. And the Micechat crew loves to catch Disney if the paint on the fake hills behind Toontown is fading or peeling. I could definitely see the whole land getting the Tatooine Traders treatment... keep most of the buildings, change the facades. Paint those fake hills a nice brown that people won't notice has faded.

There's two drawbacks that I see with using Toontown... the area would have to close for the fireworks, due to the fallout area. The place will be so popular, I don't see that being a good idea. Also, would they really evict Mickey and Minnie AGAIN? Tell the kids that they still have their really-for-real house in Japan still? Or have Jedi Mickey's Tatooine Hermit Cave Meet 'N' Greet?

Put it in the ranch area behind a paywall. Transportation to it runs from Innoventions ala Hogwarts. TDA can send the check to the usual place

 

[Cosmic Commando]

Do you mean such that WDW does have to deal with the same appropriate issues that DLR will have? Or potential outcry?

Or do you mean that WDW is lucky just to be getting Star Wars?

In the case of the former, it does beg the question as to whether it makes sense to even do a large scale SW expansion in DL. You'll certainly get fans who will be happy, but also get a lot of critics with virtually any location.

There's a LOT of space they could get in Tomorrowland in DL without upsetting a lot of people. From the Starcade to the EO theater to Red Rockets to the Autopia (I think most wouldn't mind Autopia going, IF they built a Carsland Autopia). It just seems like they want to do something different. Possibly they have cold feet about a third gate for Marvel and want to save space for them in Tomorrowland.

 

[ford91exploder]

Feel lucky DHS is getting it in Orlando.

From the tone of Spirit's message I read it as DL is getting the Star Wars attraction, DHS might get something like the Cantina. The backstage pizza joint would be a logical candidate for conversion.

That being said I'm going on snooze until something ACTUALLY happens because of TWDC's glacial pace AND Spirit saying we will see nothing even an announcement until at least a year from now.

 

[Cosmic Commando]

Put it in the ranch area behind a paywall. Transportation to it runs from Innoventions ala Hogwarts. TDA can send the check to the usual place

The Big Thunder Ranch would make a lot of sense if they're building it back in that area, and they may very well use it since it's close to Toontown, but Spirit said people would be fuming beyond belief... nobody cares that much about the Ranch.

 

[ford91exploder]

Universal announced today that the one millionth guest has ridden the Hogwarts Express. 200 complimentary Butterbeer ice creams were given out to celebrate the occasion.

The details here are AMAZING - they even have WORKING steam effects and the free Ice Cream is a nice touch even the UNI staff (I don't know the proper name for them) look like they are having a good time and you can tell they are proud of their attraction.

It's pretty obvious which park operator is actually TRYING to raise the bar for immersion and service in Orlando.

Full Disclosure - I have not been to Universal Orlando since a 2003 corporate event so NOT a UNI fanboi.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Maybe the reason the subs might be staying at DL is that Finding Dory is being released soon?