The Spirited Sixth Sense ...

[WDW1974]

The MK is one big construction site. DAK is too. As is WS, whereas at FW nearly every pavilion got a major overhaul the past decade and a bit. Only DHS is underinvested in, but there is a lit of movement behind the scenes, Disney apparantly unable to setle on any one of th many proposed plans. Meanwhile Disney Springs is a humongous cosntruction project, and DVC is built everywhere. Ride the monorail around Seven Seas Lagoon, the TTC's ferry dock is under construction, the Contemporary recently got an entire new tower, the entrance to the MK is a big construction site, as is the GF, and the Poly.

I would hardly call the MK a big construction site. They are building a kiddie coaster in the middle of what was a lagoon. What else? Walkway expansion because they have too many people (and way too many in ECVs and pushing double-wides)? A few buildings with scrims being rehabbed (stuff that used to simply happen and wasn't cause for celebration by fans)?

DAK? They are relocating a show that is closed now and not performing. They recently broke ground on Pandora. That's a big project, but still one that is largely out of view of guests.

FW? Energy is stuck in the 90s. WoL is DoA. Mission Space hasn't changed in 11 years. ... Seas got a cheap Nemo overlay. Land got redone for Soarin, almost a decade ago.Still showing a film from 20 years ago. Imagination? Do we want to go there.

TPFKaTD-MGMS? Nothing at all. Yep, lots of plans. Many thatcamethisclose to fruition, but nothing that has been given funding.

Disney Springs may be a construction project, but it's also just the latest incarnation of a shopping/lifestyle center. No one plans trips to visit. And traffic has turned locals off visiting as well.

DVC is quick easy money for Disney. SHould we be excited that they have so outpriced the market that adding DVC is the only way the deluxe resorts can survive without being a drain on the bottom line?

DL for it's part just emerged from a $1.5 billion overhaul.

And TDL makes the MK appear ghetto by comparison, but what's the point?

It is no wonder Wall Street was imploring TWDC to clamp down on investment and focus on exploiting current assets. The parks and resorts are seeing massive investments. It's just not the investents us foamers would like to see. Disney is less fun to visit than it is to own stock in and look at their price jump up every time you press the refresh button on your online investment program.

Nah. What Wall Street wants is to know when, where and how Disney expects the two billion dollar NGE boondoggle to pay off both now and down the line ... the questions that Bob Iger either can't or won't (my guess is a little of both) answer.

I own stock in the company. And I am making a pretty penny on it. Would have literally been able to live on what I could have made had I not had to sell off about 85% of what I owned in 2007 and held on and sold now. But I am not so much interested in the price of a share tomorrow as I am in the health of the company's fundamentals come five years from now and a decade from now. Rest assured, Iger, Rasulo, Staggs and Co. do not because they will all be long gone and have had the ability to sell their massive shares at massive profits well before.

 

[WDW1974]

Kissing men are shown, too LOL. What American television are you watching?

Yes. Two dudes were going at it (in bed no less) on Disney's General Hospital this week. I wish I had Spirited abs like they did!

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Problem for Disney is many folks are starting to think it is the only WDW park worth visiting.

I am among those folks, and the reason why is MK is the only park that has improved (overall) since 2005 when everything was in poor shape and most tree removal took place. Haven't seen AK in years, there's a MUCH better Studios park up 1-4 (and at this point in Paris too), and while World Showcase is the nicest area of any Disney park, at $90 for a one-day ticket, it's not a priority. That and again, nothing new has been added for years.

Maybe after Soarin' 2.0.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Our American television is still prude and light years behind what other countries show on prime time...the fact that people actually call the FCC and complain about content... So absurd and laughable!

I'd say network TV is, but HBO and AMC are hardly "prude".

Also, I'm sure the DC fanboys loved seeing those two girls smooch on the last episode of Arrow.

I wish I had Spirited abs like they did!

Anyone can, but they would have to give up a diet of Dole Whip and Turkey Legs first.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Yes. Two dudes were going at it (in bed no less) on Disney's General Hospital this week. I wish I had Spirited abs like they did!

"Spirited abs".... That is too funny!!!!

Dude, when are you coming back to LA?

 

[Animaniac93-98]

"Spirited Abs"? Is that when you have a beer gut and the Ghost of Abs Past comes to haunt and remind you of what once was?

 

[WDW1974]

I am among those folks, and the reason why is MK is the only park that has improved (overall) since 2005 when everything was in poor shape and most tree removal took place. Haven't seen AK in years, there's a MUCH better Studios park up 1-4 (and at this point in Paris too), and while World Showcase is the nicest area of any Disney park, at $90 for a one-day ticket, it's not a priority. That and again, nothing new has been added for years.

Maybe after Soarin' 2.0.

I can see why you (or others) would say MK is better than in 2005. I basically agree ... but it's a lot worse than it was in 1985 or 1995. That's what I see ... and I'd much rather simply be at EPCOT or DAK walking around. They have ambiance while MK remains a mass market caricature of DL. And EVERY MK out there from Anaheim to HK to Paris to Tokyo feels more park-like than O-Town's does.

Still, I get where you are coming from. But I have an AP. I'd never pay for a day ticket to any WDW park today. None.

 

[CDavid]

The MK is one big construction site. DAK is too. As is WS, whereas at FW nearly every pavilion got a major overhaul the past decade and a bit. Only DHS is underinvested in, but there is a lit of movement behind the scenes, Disney apparantly unable to setle on any one of th many proposed plans. Meanwhile Disney Springs is a humongous cosntruction project, and DVC is built everywhere. Ride the monorail around Seven Seas Lagoon, the TTC's ferry dock is under construction, the Contemporary recently got an entire new tower, the entrance to the MK is a big construction site, as is the GF, and the Poly.

I keep thinking this post has to be sarcasm, and I'm just too tired to get it or something. The part about Magic kingdom being "one big construction site" and then "as is World Showcase" leads to no other conclusion.

 

[WDW1974]

Anyone can, but they would have to give up a diet of Dole Whip and Turkey Legs first.

I have never and will never consume a grotesque turkey leg. And I am not a huge fan of Dole Whip unless I am having it on the Dole Plantation on Oahu (they have different toppings and flavors etc as well as a nicer setting!)

 

[WDW1974]

"Spirited abs".... That is too funny!!!!

Dude, when are you coming back to LA?

I guess my abs are always Spirited, even when they are less than they should be!!!

As to the answer to your question, drop me a note and I'll let you know. I don't advertise online for obvious reasons!

 

[WDW1974]

"Spirited Abs"? Is that when you have a beer gut and the Ghost of Abs Past comes to haunt and remind you of what once was?

Beer gut?

Not moi.

I only drink beer when I am in Germany.

 

[WDW1974]

I keep thinking this post has to be sarcasm, and I'm just too tired to get it or something. The part about Magic kingdom being "one big construction site" and then "as is World Showcase" leads to no other conclusion.

I'd hope so, but you never know with the poster and, even if it was ... too many people will buy into it.
Disney is spending BILLIONS on WDW. How it is spending those billions should have most of the Exec Leadership Team looking for other companies to screw up.

 

[WDW1974]

One final question before I call it a Spirited night, but anyone have first-hand knowledge of what the crowds are like at WDW (and/or UNI and/or SWO) on this holiday weekend?

 

[jlsHouston]

I've never visited MK at WDW and not seen cranes....A new DVC and another one in progress with the gutting of the POLY occurring simaltaneously. TT went into remodel in what 2012? And just reopened. There has been a lot of construction going on at WDW since I started visiting.

 

[Californian Elitist]

I guess my abs are always Spirited, even when they are less than they should be!!!

As to the answer to your question, drop me a note and I'll let you know. I don't advertise online for obvious reasons!

I will, tomorrow, since it's so late where you are.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

I can see why you (or others) would say MK is better than in 2005. I basically agree ... but it's a lot worse than it was in 1985 or 1995...And EVERY MK out there from Anaheim to HK to Paris to Tokyo feels more park-like than O-Town's does.

Won't disagree with either of these, its just MK has things I can quantify as positive improvements in that last 10 years.

I was just thinking about how sad it was from my own experience that Epcot, even in the spring of 1998 still had the original Imagination, WoL, Sea Base Alpha, SSE with an ending, Horizons (I think), a less dated UoE etc. The more I think, the more I get depressed about half of that park, and I am in no way emotionally invested in the "EPCOT Center" cocept.

Still, I get where you are coming from. But I have an AP. I'd never pay for a day ticket to any WDW park today. None.

I don't have an AP, CM connections or Florida resident status. If I want to visit WDW for any length of time it's either a)a special WDW centric trip to Orlando or b)a one-day side trip from something like Universal (my preferred way). I splurge on a one-day ticket, because I know in the end I (personally) get more value out of a 10 hour + day at MK, than an even more overpriced multi-day, on-site stay. Event parties are even better for this purpose.

 

[maxairmike]

One final question before I call it a Spirited night, but anyone have first-hand knowledge of what the crowds are like at WDW (and/or UNI and/or SWO) on this holiday weekend?

The crowds have been pretty strong at both resorts. I don't know how the Disney parks were today (didn't feel like going, so never asked my friends), but both Uni parks had projections in the 20-25k range, and were likely higher than that from what I understand. Friday was very busy at both resorts, and even Thursday was a little crazier than I would expect.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

Yes. Two dudes were going at it (in bed no less) on Disney's General Hospital this week. I wish I had Spirited abs like they did!

What I've learned from House of Cards...

Spoiler: Spoiler

It's not gay if it's in a three-way.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

Kissing men are shown, too LOL. What American television are you watching?

Well currently my tv diet consists of David Attenborough, French costume drama, and New Girl.

Oh, and WWE!!

More to the point, in general, American mainstream culture is a tad less liberal than Europe. I even get the idea when I do see more daring American tv - HBO, Game of Thrones - that they are overcompensating. GoT has got sex and violence that borders on and snuff movies. Which means in the end it is still as far removed from daily sex and real violence as the prudish culture it tries to be aloof of.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

I keep thinking this post has to be sarcasm, and I'm just too tired to get it or something. The part about Magic kingdom being "one big construction site" and then "as is World Showcase" leads to no other conclusion.

You and I may not like what they build, and think they didn't get their money's worth, but from behind a spreadsheet TWDC just poured the better part of a billion dollars into MK construction.

The Fantasyland Forest, Circusland, Rapunzel area, bus station, pathways in he hub, Town Square and the River area. A new parade. All on top of large refurbs at most of their headline attractions, from Splash and Thunder to lesser gods like Tiki and the Bears.


WS in the past year or so has seen great investment in Mexico, Morroco and France. Italy the year before. They may not be the rides we hope for, and be ruinous theme and view destroying foodfest tents, but they are big investments nevertheless.


Jimmy Thick is right. TWDC is investing heavily in its parks. Just not for rides, or even brick and mortar, but for operational and exploitation reasons. Their long term effects remain to be seen. Sadly I would not bet at WDW following a losing strategy. They may lose us a customer, but for every one of us there are two Cariocas and Porteños standing ready, with multiple the disposable income of us first world tax paying middle class.