The Spirited Sixth Sense ...

[WDW1974]

Spot on.

"It's Fun to be Free" from WoM has such a classic Walt Disney whimsy that it feels like it strolled right in off Main Street USA.

When "New Horizons" left, so did the sense of optimism for the future. Spaceship Earth's future cartoons are a joke. All the questions have a underlying theme of helplessness. At you concerned about your health? Is work more important than recreation?

I won't even touch the bastardized version of "One Little Spark."

I sure miss the overall harmonic themes of EPCOT Center.

1. The world has been building for quite a while amd took some time to get where it is.

2. Fantastically innovative individuals throughout the ages have revolutionized the entire planet's outlook.

3. Every individual has the unlimited potential to become one of the next generation that changes the world.

4. The Future can only be limited by how fantastic you make it.


It was almost a spiritual experience to visit Future World. I honestly could never decide if Imagination, Horizons, or Listen to the Land were the most important pavilions.

World of Motion, Spaceship Earth, World of Energy, and The Living Seas were the scientific background supporting the other three.

It was as harmonic as a theme park experience could be.

Now, it is a cold, sterile checklist of distraction and apathy.

Honestly, there is no attraction that I sincerely enjoy. The Mexico boat ride might be the tops on my list.

The two top billed attractions Sorin' and Test Track, even with a Fastpass, mean at least half an hour standing and waiting with mild diversions that Disney claims are immersive experiences.

The AA still carries that torch of greatness ... but more because of its craftsmanship than anything else ... and frankly, I don't view this country as I did in the 80s and 90s, so it's sorta painful to watch it and feel proud and patriotic when that isn't how I feel about today's USA.

 

[Nubs70]

On a side diversion,

Watching commercial air traffic flying around the Crimean peninsula. Only flights over the Crimean are going to and from Moscow.

Back to your regularly scheduled program.

 

[WDW1974]

They recently released a podcast which included Dusty and it is obvious that he is evolving the site from its watchdog status to a pure fanbois site. Dusty went on about how great Michael C. is doing as DLR president with the little nugget that he just happened to stop by their event. There have been a few unsettling things going on at DLR since Michael’s arrival and it is sad to see MiceChat not challenge them.
There are too many pure fan sites out there and MiceChat was unique in that it critiqued the parks and doled out criticism when they thought necessary. The only columnist who criticizes anymore on that site is Andy Castro. There needs to be more people holding Disney accountable for their decisions not less.

Oh yes.

They are truly harming Al's legacy and the site's by becoming just another Disney fan site ... do you think Al would have cared that DL's Prez was making a publicity appearance at their events?

 

[WDW1974]

China's movie isn't quite the 1982 original, they updated it around 2003 with new sequences

Dumbed it down some ... shortened it ... it still is nice, but needs updating again.

 

[WDW1974]

I hope WDW1974 could answer the question I have with mymagic plus. Does anyone know how much many is Disney spending on marketing Fastpass plus?

I am asking this since I saw commercials on marketing Fastpass plus.

I don't know. I'm trying to find that out ... along with other things!

But I am reasonably sure the number equals A LOT!

 

[Gabe1]

Transport isn't affected.

Bottom line is.

No more boat rentals at all these resorts, so one can now look back and say 'I remember when ...'

Actually this one makes a bit of sense. I Grand Opened Port Orleans and Dixie Landings about a year apart, back then our packages came with choices of recreation, we took a paddle boat once, never was going to do that again, too much exercise. That perk too was phased out by the end of the 90s. We also had discounts to take those boats of all sizes out. Disney kinda out priced the market of the moderate resorts though CS lost their marina years ago. The Sea Raycers aren't too expensive and were by far the most popular boat on the waters that I've seen. Having rentals at DTD, POR, SS, OKW is a bit much, they can easily just rent out of the DTD area, keep the costs down and still be able to utilize all the rivers and pond. It works. Plus it forces guests to visit DTD out of these DTD area resorts.

Glad the Ferry Shuttle to DTD is still an option. For now.

Thanks.

 

[WDW1974]

It could also be Dan Cockerell taking George's place. I know DAN has been the Vice President of Epcot, the General Manager of Resorts at WDW, and currently the Vice President of DHS based on WDW Positions. I am going by his linkedin profile based on a google search I did on him. Dan's resume at WDW does make him a candidate to be the next President of WDW.

Dan is being groomed to eventually run the resort. I've been told that he must run MK first, but every rumour of Phil Holmes stepping down never amounts to anything ... Now, could he run the place without running the MK? Sure.

 

[WDW1974]

He'd theoretically be okay, but George should have been good too. Neither one can do much without a new CEO who "gets" Disney and a company restructure.

George Kalogridis is the perfect exec for today's Disney. He'll care if he's allowed and he'll be a cutthroat if that's what is required.

I guess you'd say George is versatile.

 

[WDW1974]

Quoted for truth. Most of our universities, even the public ones, hold to high academic standards. It's our public school system that's been falling apart for decades. But that's a completely different subject.

Yes, and one that really should be held elsewhere ...

 

[Gabe1]

I don't know where I have received best services on property ... have had very good experiences at both Lodges and Port Orleans (the REAL one) ..., although I also had one of the worst experiences there when I was told to leave my room in the middle of Hurricane Wilma because they weren't giving late check-outs (just stayed there until 4 p.m. anyway and I tend to think I just dealt with one kid in over his head).

But I have had some very bad experiences at POP, ASMu and BC that all resulted in me raising my usually quiet, calm, professional voice and screaming at people, including managers.

For years we had very good service at POR, they seemed to hang onto their good staff for a long time. Then poof they were gone. POR was overbooked, we were upgraded to the New AKL. We found a good chunk of the ex-POR CMs that year at AKL.

 

[Lee]

Thought the Oscars were OK, nothing more, but I wish the fanboi chorus would just give it a rest, Let it Go and stop singing. Leave that for the experts like @Lee.

Speaking of Let It Go...other than the snippet they played on the Oscars, I have yet to hear that song.
I may be the last human alive who can say that. Kinda makes me proud...

And I won't be singing that, or anything else. I'll leave that to Ms. Menzel, who I think is great.
(Went to an "evening with" her in Ft. Lauderdale a few years back. Very talented.)

For now, I'll throw another blanket on the bed and get some sleep.

 

[Gabe1]

Yes, and one that really should be held elsewhere ...

@tirian that is one of the best posts I've seen in a long while. Being a Board of Ed Member for many years I can't express how difficult it is to try and spark movement out of the gutter. I hear monthly about statistics and studies that are so flawed and yet held as Gospel. Annoying doesn't cover it.

We briefly touched on this in another thread last week and you know we have failed our students when it is thought that education should be limited to local standards not nationally or our public school students fail to understand they are now competing in a global environment when graduating into the best US Universities. Makes me want to smack my head into a wall. If they don't understand the worldwide, global playing field of higher education the public school system has failed.

I am with WDW1974. It is worthy of discussion elsewhere.

 

[Gabe1]

I'm staying away from there because I just don't want to have that debate ... it is actually painful that people who ostensibly are doing well for themselves wish to pass judgment on those who haven't had their advantages.

I am quite talented. I have been quite successful. I have accomplished things that many could only dream of ... BUT I will never say I did it alone. Or that I got there simply by hard work and talent (those two things mean very little today and meant only slightly more in the 90s).

I did it because of an amazing and supportive family and great friends ... and even some colleagues. I did not do it alone. It's laughable when people say they did ... anyone.

I've raise two kids, both educated. Finally finished with college, Amen. The second just graduated early from a very good University with a double major, she got the most from her tuition. She looks back at who inspired her, what I did to change things in our local school system, how her Dads talent in Mathematics fueled her abilities. Her 1st grade teacher from working around the system to teach the hard core basics to her students while facing battles of the New Reading and New Math philosophies that change every 5 years. Her high school Math teacher for 2 years pushing her to be the best, her counselor finding her the best Universities to apply to and scholarship direction. The vast amount of funding from so many sources it took for her to become educated, she knows she is blessed.

I know as does she that all these people that got her where she is today is a blessing and a blessing that many will never be afforded. College tuition doubled twice in her short lifetime by the time she entered her University. She watched other equally as talented public high school students go to Community College and drop out. Not because they wanted to or because they couldn't excel. It was circumstances that held them back from achieving what they should have been able to accomplish. It breaks her heart as it does mine. I could never kick those who work hard and have to fight to be recognized and respected. Respect seems to be something that others tend to be selfish with. Bad Karma.

 

[Next Big Thing]

Today's nickel-and-diming achieves worse results than WDW in its Golden Age.

There's a lesson to be learned there.

Too bad no one at Disney is listening.

Not that I agree with how Disney does it's pricing or nickel and dime's the customer, but in their eyes, it's working.

The parks area still damn busy year round and there's no sign of that slowing down.

How they run their hotels is another thing, as they obviously know that occupancy is down.

You would think instead of running these 30% off promos all the time they would think to maybe just lower the prices just a tad.

30% off of a $615 rack rate at Saratoga Springs is still way overpriced.

It's no wonder it's always available, at times it seems half the resort is empty (and I wouldn't be surprised if it was).

 

[WDW1974]

Because it beats getting into bed, rolling over and bursting out in a 20-minute coughing fit, I present a special ...

LATE NIGHT Fun With Tweets: (special shoutout to this Westcot guy who apparently makes Amity, Merfie and Mrs. Ricky sane by comparison)

Westcot Center ‏@WestCotCenter 4h
I took down my tweet calling Andy Castro a giant douchebag because I should be more about evidence than namecalling.

Theme Park Review ‏@ThemeParkReview 6h
@SpaceScreamJohn @WestCotCenter "Everyone on the internet is now dumber for reading a Kevin Yee article..."

Westcot Center ‏@WestCotCenter 12h
The broken Yeti is a big middle finger to Walt himself, the man who definitely did NOT leave the Matterhorn unfinished his entire life.

Westcot Center ‏@WestCotCenter 13h
I know experience is subjective, but if going to Disney World "leaves you cold," do you honestly think Universal is going to warm you up?

Tom Corless ‏@TomAmityCorless 11h
Test Track 2.0 essentially matches plans for the Matterhorn at Epcot... I'm not joking...

Ricky Brigante, Host ‏@InsideTheMagic 7h
Watching "John Carter" on @SpikeTV and the ending still angers me that there won't be a sequel. It's just begging for more.

Ricky Brigante, Host ‏@InsideTheMagic 23h
Despite the glitz and glamor, there is very little "fun" to be found on red carpets. It's a battle to get the shot and *maybe* an interview.

***Spirited aside: Ricky, there is lots of fun to be had on red carpets ... but I am guessing you've never actually walked one, you've stood behind barricades and begged for attention like a puppy at the pound.

Scarlett Litton ‏@scarlettashley1 8h
Oh fun. My dad decided to start actually looking at Facebook the same week that I posted naughty pictures of me and a mannequin. Oops.

Scarlett Litton ‏@scarlettashley1 Mar 2
Sally Field is just so freaking classy. Adore her.

***Spirited aside: I am liking Scarlett more all the time ... and this is a good example why. Sally indeed is classy and talented and incredibly down to earth too! Someone might have called her a goddess before. Sorry, that I haven't been able to spread your amazing posts on va-jay-jays. They have made me smile ...

Mark ‏@MarkWDW85 Mar 2
Cue all the Disney fans who didn't see any other shorts claiming that "Get A Horse" was robbed. #Oscars #Oscars2014

Brandon ‏@DCAlover Mar 1
It was pretty hard to know what to do and where to go in Disneyland without an app that doesn't work.

EPCOT Explorer ‏@EPCOTExplorer 12h
@parkscopejoe @OhMeylaWeyla That's on my legs, dude. Get it together.

EPCOT Explorer ‏@EPCOTExplorer 16h
@YoPaulieNJ @TheWickedWench that implies I want others to feel the same way. In reality, I don’t care what others think.

 

[Joe]

Ricky Brigante, Host ‏@InsideTheMagic 7h
Watching "John Carter" on @SpikeTV and the ending still angers me that there won't be a sequel. It's just begging for more.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When was the last time this guy had a drug test ???

 

[ford91exploder]

The truly good ones can also get you things that may not be ...

Yes my friend but that is better left unsaid... companionship and mood altering substances and high stakes poker being the top items along those lines.

 

[ParentsOf4]

George Kalogridis is the perfect exec for today's Disney. He'll care if he's allowed and he'll be a cutthroat if that's what is required.

I guess you'd say George is versatile.

This, so this. In a sentence, you've neatly summed up what it takes to succeed as an executive at Disney.

Believe in what you do but only to the extent that it doesn't interfere with business decisions being made higher up the food chain.

 

[ParentsOf4]

For years we had very good service at POR, they seemed to hang onto their good staff for a long time. Then poof they were gone. POR was overbooked, we were upgraded to the New AKL. We found a good chunk of the ex-POR CMs that year at AKL.

Over the past few trips, DW and I really have developed a taste for AKL. Stays elsewhere have found us wanting to return to AKL.

Since we're not worried about the long bus ride to MK, we can appreciate AKL for its splendor.

Don't get me wrong, the Crescent Lake area is charming and it's always fun staying at a Monorail Resort when you're dashing off to MK but AKL really is WDW's best hotel today.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Funny how Disney sorta ignores the racist stereotypes in Dumbo, yet keeps Song of the South locked away (likely in the same vault as ABC's The Path to 9/11 series) for the same thing.

Don't let my Dumbo-obsessed friend or Mrs. Tom Amity Corless (who had another amazing tweet involving a female part that I would love to place here in Fun With Tweets, but would likely disappear because apparently female genitals are evil and wrong -- I just swear I felt a breeze from 90% of Disney fanbois shaking their heads in agreement!) hear this, but I have never been much of a Dumbo fan. Don't like circuses much ...

Cumberbatch.