The Spirited Sixth Sense ...

[pheneix]

Hey @WDW1974, while you are poking around doing research into Disney's misadventures in China, you might want to give a "spirited" look at what's going down in Beijing.

Good luck to the Weatherman and Mr. Rasulo with their beloved little Shanghai Disney Resort. They're gonna have a hard time competing with the king.

 

[ford91exploder]

Hey @WDW1974, while you are poking around doing research into Disney's misadventures in China, you might want to give a "spirited" look at what's going down in Beijing.

Good luck to the Weatherman and Mr. Rasulo with their beloved little Shanghai Disney Resort. They're gonna have a hard time competing with the king.

Enlighten me who is king in Shanghai these days? Mao? Deng Xiaoping? (yes I know they have joined the ancestors now...) but their image is very much still alive.

 

[janoimagine]

Your picture made me think of this:

Strangely apropos, isn't it?

I didn't get a harumph out of that guy.

 

[WDW1974]

Hey @WDW1974, while you are poking around doing research into Disney's misadventures in China, you might want to give a "spirited" look at what's going down in Beijing.

Good luck to the Weatherman and Mr. Rasulo with their beloved little Shanghai Disney Resort. They're gonna have a hard time competing with the king.

I decided to start with this subject and sorta work back. ... I'm kinda surprised that you are the only one to talk about this: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/universal-studios-build-2-billion-686156 ... but I have never been able to figure out just what gets the fan community all hot and bothered (beyond myself wearing an Ariel two-piece at the Port Orleans pool, of course!)

I am cautious on how much attention I give the subject until the resort venture is officially announced by UNI, although I don't see it going the way of UNI-Dubailand. But everything I have heard suggests this is going to be big.

I don't believe it will have the impact on SDL that you are suggesting, however. China is a vast country with a growing middle class (that even as a relatively small number still equals HUGE numbers of people because of the population). The point being is that HKDL, SDL and UNI-Beijing can all co-exist and do huge numbers IF they provide a quality product that people want to see. For the most part, they will all attract different audiences.

I have pontificated plenty online about my love for HKDL, and I have visited multiple times and have been a local. It bothers me to hear American fanbois (most who would be afraid to cross over into Canada and will never visit China!) rip the place while clinging to their of WDW ... quick aside here, nothing makes me sicker than supposed EPCOT fans buying 'retro' merchandise. It's like 'let's give Disney our money for taking away what we loved and giving us this D23 Horizons Logo tee for $29.99' ... how repulsive, all around. Anyway, about the only person I know here to have visited HKDL is my pal @WDWFigment so I'll respect his opinions ...

As for SDL and whatever UNI winds up doing, time will tell. But the folks in the Mainland don't view the SDL project as Disney's, so much as one of the government thru Shendi and other parties. It's one reason why Iger has tip-toed around SDL and why not a single photo exists online of him at the construction site.

My biggest concerns for both projects are: 1.) climate; and 2.) smog/pollution. I've lived in Beijing and experienced smog that truly has to be experienced to be believed. ... The CCP has to do something about the environmental damage their industry is doing or it really could be a catastrophe down the line.

But I am feeling that UNI-Moscow is DOA.

 

[GoofGoof]

Enlighten me who is king in Shanghai these days? Mao? Deng Xiaoping? (yes I know they have joined the ancestors now...) but their image is very much still alive.

It's this guy of course:

 

[GoofGoof]

I decided to start with this subject and sorta work back. ... I'm kinda surprised that you are the only one to talk about this: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/universal-studios-build-2-billion-686156 ... but I have never been able to figure out just what gets the fan community all hot and bothered (beyond myself wearing an Ariel two-piece at the Port Orleans pool, of course!)

I am cautious on how much attention I give the subject until the resort venture is officially announced by UNI, although I don't see it going the way of UNI-Dubailand. But everything I have heard suggests this is going to be big.

I don't believe it will have the impact on SDL that you are suggesting, however. China is a vast country with a growing middle class (that even as a relatively small number still equals HUGE numbers of people because of the population). The point being is that HKDL, SDL and UNI-Beijing can all co-exist and do huge numbers IF they provide a quality product that people want to see. For the most part, they will all attract different audiences.

I have pontificated plenty online about my love for HKDL, and I have visited multiple times and have been a local. It bothers me to hear American fanbois (most who would be afraid to cross over into Canada and will never visit China!) rip the place while clinging to their of WDW ... quick aside here, nothing makes me sicker than supposed EPCOT fans buying 'retro' merchandise. It's like 'let's give Disney our money for taking away what we loved and giving us this D23 Horizons Logo tee for $29.99' ... how repulsive, all around. Anyway, about the only person I know here to have visited HKDL is my pal @WDWFigment so I'll respect his opinions ...

As for SDL and whatever UNI winds up doing, time will tell. But the folks in the Mainland don't view the SDL project as Disney's, so much as one of the government thru Shendi and other parties. It's one reason why Iger has tip-toed around SDL and why not a single photo exists online of him at the construction site.

My biggest concerns for both projects are: 1.) climate; and 2.) smog/pollution. I've lived in Beijing and experienced smog that truly has to be experienced to be believed. ... The CCP has to do something about the environmental damage their industry is doing or it really could be a catastrophe down the line.

But I am feeling that UNI-Moscow is DOA.

Interesting read. Half the budget of SDL. Even in China it costs Disney twice as much to build something

 

[StageFrenzy]

but I have never been able to figure out just what gets the fan community all hot and bothered (beyond myself wearing an Ariel two-piece at the Port Orleans pool, of course!)

My my, Well I do declare that does make the temperature rise. Which lovely red wig are you wearing, the up do or the summer belle?

 

[nor'easter]

I decided to start with this subject and sorta work back. ... I'm kinda surprised that you are the only one to talk about this: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/universal-studios-build-2-billion-686156 ... but I have never been able to figure out just what gets the fan community all hot and bothered (beyond myself wearing an Ariel two-piece at the Port Orleans pool, of course!)

But I am feeling that UNI-Moscow is DOA.

Apparently the Hollywood Reporter thinks Osaka is in Tokyo.

 

[ford91exploder]

Apparently the Hollywood Reporter thinks Osaka is in Tokyo.

Triple facepalm and we wonder why americans are mocked as being stupid, well the press clearly qualifies...

 

[ChrisFL]

I decided to start with this subject and sorta work back. ... I'm kinda surprised that you are the only one to talk about this: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/universal-studios-build-2-billion-686156 ... but I have never been able to figure out just what gets the fan community all hot and bothered (beyond myself wearing an Ariel two-piece at the Port Orleans pool, of course!)

I am cautious on how much attention I give the subject until the resort venture is officially announced by UNI, although I don't see it going the way of UNI-Dubailand. But everything I have heard suggests this is going to be big.

I don't believe it will have the impact on SDL that you are suggesting, however. China is a vast country with a growing middle class (that even as a relatively small number still equals HUGE numbers of people because of the population). The point being is that HKDL, SDL and UNI-Beijing can all co-exist and do huge numbers IF they provide a quality product that people want to see. For the most part, they will all attract different audiences.

I have pontificated plenty online about my love for HKDL, and I have visited multiple times and have been a local. It bothers me to hear American fanbois (most who would be afraid to cross over into Canada and will never visit China!) rip the place while clinging to their of WDW ... quick aside here, nothing makes me sicker than supposed EPCOT fans buying 'retro' merchandise. It's like 'let's give Disney our money for taking away what we loved and giving us this D23 Horizons Logo tee for $29.99' ... how repulsive, all around. Anyway, about the only person I know here to have visited HKDL is my pal @WDWFigment so I'll respect his opinions ...

As for SDL and whatever UNI winds up doing, time will tell. But the folks in the Mainland don't view the SDL project as Disney's, so much as one of the government thru Shendi and other parties. It's one reason why Iger has tip-toed around SDL and why not a single photo exists online of him at the construction site.

My biggest concerns for both projects are: 1.) climate; and 2.) smog/pollution. I've lived in Beijing and experienced smog that truly has to be experienced to be believed. ... The CCP has to do something about the environmental damage their industry is doing or it really could be a catastrophe down the line.

But I am feeling that UNI-Moscow is DOA.

I've been to HKDL twice, but have not been since they opened the three new mini-lands.

Does this also mean that Uni South Korea is dead? I heard Moscow is still ongoing, but there may be political changes to that now (!!)

 

[the.dreamfinder]

Apparently the Hollywood Reporter thinks Osaka is in Tokyo.

If you think that's bad try reading Variety.

 

[WDW1974]

OK, because enough people asked (and because I have a 10-day supply of antibiotics, insert your own fanboi joke here, and because tonight's episode of Revolution was weak) I bring you a daily view into the insanity that is the Disney Twitverse ... a little segment I like to call:

Fun With Tweets:

(P.S. Feel free to vote on a Tweet of the Day. We'll give the winner a 1997 Epcot guide map, free day at River Country and personal sponge bath by the Lifestyler of their choice!)


EPCOT Explorer ‏@EPCOTExplorer 11h
@wdw_ben @GertieTheDino89 @staceyjaswad How do you order the Citrus Swirl as a float? I've never seen that!

EPCOT Explorer ‏@EPCOTExplorer 13h
It’s 2014. How am I not taking a monorail or a WEDway into work and school every morning?

Lou Mongello ‏@loumongello Mar 3
I'm speaking @PodcastMovement and there are just 7 early bird tickets left for ALL levels. Prices go UP after that, so get your spot today!

Repentant Orc ‏@AnotherVoiceDIS 4h
ABC's "Agents of SHIELD" hit a series low last night, down 23% from its last episode and off 19% from its previous low.

Morgan Crutchfield ‏@CentralMorgan 21h
@MarkWDW85 @hintofspy I would, but it's hard to get anything to stick to all this ooze. <3

Ricky Brigante, Host ‏@InsideTheMagic 5h
Tomorrow I'll be sharing exciting news of something coming soon. But don't worry, it's nothing weird…

Steven Miller ‏@samhowzit 6h
@ericarose Gosh, I'm humbled To me, I'm so happy that I've found my people ... others who love Disney as much as I do.

erica rose ‏@ericarose 3h
People on wdwmagic badtalkin' my favorite bakery... I'm about to throw things.

Kendra ‏@hintofspy 23h
My tweets are being posted on magic now, so apparently that’s a thing?

Kendra ‏@hintofspy 3h
A record NINE tables seated at Spice Road right now. Wow!

Sean ‏@Parkscope_Sean 11h
@YoPaulieNJ @hintofspy If they came out tomorrow and said they were building Star Wars land concurrently with Avatar, I'd feel a lot better

Jason Grandt ‏@43SquareMiles 12h
Watching the fleet of Friendship boats pull into the World Showcase lagoon is pretty awesome.

Jason Grandt ‏@43SquareMiles 23h
Sleep tight RT @samhowzit: Tonight I shall dream of Orange Bird #things and more found here - http://bit.ly/1lwxBOd pic.twitter.com/kDC5cO4jgK

Foxxy Hooves ‏@MKPony 20h
The music numbers in the Grand Opening of WDW special are terrible.

Foxxy Hooves ‏@MKPony 18h
Of course using the artificiality of a Disney park as a metaphor for sterilization is the intellectual version of shooting fish in a barrel.
Progress City ‏@ProgressCityUSA 1h
@andycastro RT @DLifestylers: New Frozen Olaf ADULT tees at World of Disney! Freak out people! pic.twitter.com/AKGNyh71QR

Tom Corless ‏@TomAmityCorless 42m
Scarlett and Chip breaking Garden Grill tonight will forever be one of my favorite WDW stories...

Scarlett Litton ‏@scarlettashley1 1h
I love how Chip and Dale have perfected the art of being so passive aggressively condescending when people ask which one is which.

Andy Castro ‏@21royalstreet 18h
@mfeige Why do his body proportions look so wrong?????

Andy Castro ‏@21royalstreet 19h
@izkosti I need you to blog about great cheese on Disneyland food so I no longer have to watch @guyselga's unholy anti-cheese food reviews.

 

[WDW1974]

Enlighten me who is king in Shanghai these days? Mao? Deng Xiaoping? (yes I know they have joined the ancestors now...) but their image is very much still alive.

The king of China is the same as here, the almighty dollar. Quite simple, really.

 

[WDW1974]

Interesting read. Half the budget of SDL. Even in China it costs Disney twice as much to build something

Not so sure. From what I've gathered, this project will be financed and built largely by the government ... so not sure that any conclusion can be derived.

Also, until we know exactly what will be built (in any of these ventures on the Mainland) it's really hard to ... again, come to any real conclusion.

 

[WDW1974]

Apparently the Hollywood Reporter thinks Osaka is in Tokyo.

I thought it was in Iowa ... ain't it that town where Radar is from?

 

[Funmeister]

Those tweets are so....so.....sad.

 

[WDW1974]

I've been to HKDL twice, but have not been since they opened the three new mini-lands.

Does this also mean that Uni South Korea is dead? I heard Moscow is still ongoing, but there may be political changes to that now (!!)

I haven't been back since they opened them either ... that should change next year.

Not sure. There has been so much chatter with the stuff happening here (so different than Disney) that the overseas project talk has really died down. I have seen enough 'done deal' parks fall through to safely wonder whether we'll ever see them. I've always had doubts on Moscow and the recent geo-political events certainly have done nothing to allay my fears. South Korea was originally projected to be open years ago ... so ...

 

[BrianLo]

I don't believe it will have the impact on SDL that you are suggesting, however.

I agree with this. It's further apart than Tokyo and Osaka (both with HSR) and each resort has very little regional overlap with the other. I even question if SDL will truly cannibalize HKDL. It might slow its current trajectory, but I would be very shocked if HKDL growth stalled or reversed.

Good luck to the Weatherman and Mr. Rasulo with their beloved little Shanghai Disney Resort. They're gonna have a hard time competing with the king.

I'm also all for trumpeting the success of Universal, but that upper hand really only applies to Orlando... To suggest otherwise is hyperbole or wishful thinking. It might however freak them out a little bit, which always means a better product overall for everyone.

It will be interesting to see what the first full Comcast reign park turns out like. Singapore was a much better take on the classic Studios design, that's for sure.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Not so sure. From what I've gathered, this project will be financed and built largely by the government ... so not sure that any conclusion can be derived.

That makes sense. The last park wholly financed by Universal was Universal Studios Hollywood. All of the international parks so far have been licensing deals.

 

[WDW1974]

BTW, is that the big WDW news of the day? They are closing a fast-food chicken shack that wasn't very good and a cupcake stand that replaced a McDonald's?

UGH!!! I need a vacation ...time to start planning my Faux Top One Percent Spirited Spring Break Holiday 2014. Oh crap, it's all planned ... ... ah... uhm ... maybe time to plan the trip after that?