The Sponsor-less Land and Test Track's lack of Fuel

[KCMouse]

Disney may be scrutinizing sponsorships like never before. Most companies that can afford to sponsor Disney Attractions are global conglomerates. Having these companies names tied with Disney can only mean that some controversies will happen down the line. Disney has to figure out if another companies problems are worth bad press, protests, boycotts, etc. Just a thought!

 

[wickedfan07]

While I won't say the extent of the refurbishment currently on the table, I will say that some effects and systems will be installed in Test Track (or whatever it is by that time) in preparation for DCA's Radiator Springs Racer attraction. Again, I'm not saying anything about how Test Track will be affected by these changes just yet, but look for some show scene updates in the coming year or so. Remember that Test Track is the base for the Radiator Springs attraction, and what better attraction to test new effects on if not an attraction that after ten years has Imagineers calling for an update anyways...

Those few words REALLY worry me. I really don't think there's anything wrong with Test Track right now. Sure, update the effects and the ride system technology, but please don't go and change the story just yet. Its stll a very successful and popular attraction. I guess we'll wait and see what happens; keep us posted if you can.

 

[utrythinkinof1]

2-4 years, but yep. Extensive? Maybe. The more noticable changes would be inside of the building, as the facade wouldn't need too much changing. But again, the plans are not yet finite.

I'm glad to know the fast part of the ride will still be intact!

 

[unkadug]

I guess they should just change the signs coming off of I-4 to "Welcome to Pixar World" now...It's pretty much the direction things are heading.

Pixar is Disney.

 

[kc1296426]

Ugh, I seriously will be p!ssed if they change Test Track into something tied into Pixar or another franchise. This is Epcot, not the Studios. It's like they can't make an original storyline that's not based off of anything anymore.

 

[unkadug]

Ugh, I seriously will be p!ssed if they change Test Track into something tied into Pixar or another franchise. This is Epcot, not the Studios. It's like they can't make an original storyline that's not based off of anything anymore.

That's generally the exception, not the rule. Disneyland was created around existing franchises. It's just smart business.

 

[Texas84]

TT line is too long? Just cheat and send your group through the single rider line. No one cares (I'm on a mission).

The Land: Just don't touch the awesome food court!

BBQ? Only in Texas, but Sticky Fingers is the best southern style I've had yet.

 

[wedway71]

TT line is too long? Just cheat and send your group through the single rider line. No one cares (I'm on a mission).

The Land: Just don't touch the awesome food court!

BBQ? Only in Texas, but Sticky Fingers is the best southern style I've had yet.

Yes you are right about BBQ. Texas style is the best...thats why I like Sonnys. I dont care for Southern style with the cornbread.

Outside of Sonnys I loved being stationed in Texas when I was in the AF---good BBQ. I like it real messy with lots of sauce.

 

[darthjohnny]

While I won't say the extent of the refurbishment currently on the table, I will say that some effects and systems will be installed in Test Track (or whatever it is by that time) in preparation for DCA's Radiator Springs Racer attraction. Again, I'm not saying anything about how Test Track will be affected by these changes just yet, but look for some show scene updates in the coming year or so. Remember that Test Track is the base for the Radiator Springs attraction, and what better attraction to test new effects on if not an attraction that after ten years has Imagineers calling for an update anyways...

That seems to be a popular and strong rumor going around that Test Track will literally become the testing grounds for the new technology and effects planned for Radiator Springs Racers and if all goes according to plan, we'll see major upgrades with the new systems (which sounds good in my book ).

 

[EPCOT.nut]

Great that TT might become this "new testing ground" and it's been so hard for them to keep their "current technology" up and running consistently! :lol:

 

[CaptainMichael]

I find TT to be super lame, so I have no problems with it changing, especially if it is up to par with TSM which I find to be top notch. PIXAR attractions done right can be amazing (ie: TSM, FNM, TT, and MILF).

 

[PhotoDave219]

see below

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well, you beat me to it. i was going to say that it takes gas, and a lot of it, to produce Ethanol. from the fertalizing, the harvesting, the conversion and the distribution.

when we can run our cars on our own trash (see doc brown and the Mr. Fusion) ill be impressed and have hope for the future in our 11th hour.

Actually, they are working on using recycled paper as a fuel source. Weird, i know but there's a lot of that around.

 

[TP2000]

While walking Epcot before work yesterday, I noticed 2 things in the park that I thought were newsworthy:

• Nestle's name is no longer appearing on The Land. This would signify why they removed the Jr. Chef program.

Al Lutz mentioned in one of his updates back in February that the Nestle' sponsorship was likely going away at Disneyland. Lutz seemed to know all about this months before anyone else mentioned it online, or before logos and Nestle' offerings in the parks started to disappear.

Al Lutz didn't mention WDW specifically, as he's really all about Disneyland, but this is what he said three months ago in one of his updates on his Miceage website, in the middle of talking about several different park sponsors that were suddenly going to leave...

"But now the Nestle' contract as a whole is on the rocks, after meeting up with legal headaches regarding some of the beverages it sells that compete directly with Coca-Cola's expanding reach into coffee and beverages besides soft drinks. As it stands now, Coca-Cola wants to have a sponsorship presence at Disneyland and other Disney parks more desperately than Nestle' does, and as push comes to shove with the lawyers it looks like it is Nestle' and its family of different brands who will likely leave the park." http://miceage.micechat.com/allutz/al022608b.htm

That would also explain why Nestle' just disappeared from The Land. Any other Nestle' logos out at WDW that have been removed lately?

They stopped the Jr. Chef program at Disneyland recently as well. I'm sure if Nestle' logos, or any of their family of brands that sponsor many different locations in Anaheim, start going away it will be noticed by the usual eagle eye folks who cover Disneyland on the Internet.

And I just bought a bucket of Nestle' Toll House cookie dough at Costco tonight! I love Nestle' Toll House cookies fresh baked! MMMM!

 

[fyn]

Pixar is Disney.

People keep saying this, but it isn't that simple, and in the context of many discussions, simply isn't true. Frequently when people on this board refer to Disney, they're referring to Disney's brand and its associated properties. For all useful purposes, aside from a corporate or financial perspective, Disney is not Pixar. Disney properties are not Pixar properties. The brands are distinct, and different. You can see this in other companies as well. For example:

Dasani is not Coca-Cola. The Coca-Cola company may own the Dasani brand, but if you refer to Dasani as Coca-Cola then you're confusing the company with the product, or the brand. The same applies to PepsiCo and Aquafina.

Another great example off the top of my head is the Cisco acquisition of Linksys. Cisco tried to assimilate Linksys's business and re-brand their products as Cisco, and it failed miserably. Cisco realized this quickly, and shifted gears to strengthen and differentiate the Linksys brand. They're the shining example (in the tech world at least) of the importance of recognizing the success of a different and distinct brand without obfuscating it with your existing brands.

I can't even fathom how people can think Epcot and Pixar are the same brand. The creative properties are wildly different, and before The Seas with Nemo and Friends, only met in the corporate financial reports. Finding Nemo is an exceptionally strong product, and I agree that lending its strength to Epcot improved attendance to a 20 year old attraction, but quite frankly, almost any refurb as extensive as that would have improved attendance. WDI certainly has shown how they can masterfully plus an aging attraction elsewhere throughout WDW and Disneyland. There's absolutely no sense in assuming that adding Nemo to The Living Seas was the only way to do it.

Epcot is a struggling brand, we all know that. Introducing the Pixar brand only dilutes it further.

 

[Fun2BFree]

Disneyland was created around existing franchises. It's just smart business.

Indeed! While many don't think Adventureland and Frontierland to be based on Disney properties, they were largely inspired by True Life Adventures and the Davy Crockett series.

 

[Master Yoda]

Don't know if I'm your average Joe , but I'm putting in about £50 every 14 days or so. I think that's about $93.12 (if £1 = $1.86). The price of diesel, which I use in my car is currently £1.25 a ltr ($8.81 a gallon) and rising as we speak!! :brick:

That is roughly 1/2 dollar wise and about 1/4 fuel wise what myself and many of my friends go through and none of us are driving the typical gas guzzler. Right now I fill up to the tune of $60 or about 15-17 gallons every 4 to 5 days.

Wow...and Sonny's isn't even GOOD bar-b-que!

Now Bono's or Woody's...or Smokey Bones - now there's some good que!

hehe...I'd love to see any one of those at Downtown Disney, now that I think about it!

That is what I was thinking. Sonny's is a good BBQ chain but nothing beats those one of a kind family owned BBQ places. Next to my office we have Bull's and Tombo's, both of which are off the chain. The real pinnacle of BBQ in Jacksonville is on the North Side and is is called Johnson's BBQ. It is an old drive through McDonald's, you give your order to Ms. Johnson and Mr. Johnson cuts it up and it is smack your grandma down good.

 

[disney-dan]

That is roughly 1/2 dollar wise and about 1/4 fuel wise what myself and many of my friends go through and none of us are driving the typical gas guzzler. Right now I fill up to the tune of $60 or about 15-17 gallons every 4 to 5 days.

That is what I was thinking. Sonny's is a good BBQ chain but nothing beats those one of a kind family owned BBQ places. Next to my office we have Bull's and Tombo's, both of which are off the chain. The real pinnacle of BBQ in Jacksonville is on the North Side and is is called Johnson's BBQ. It is an old drive through McDonald's, you give your order to Ms. Johnson and Mr. Johnson cuts it up and it is smack your grandma down good.

before i sold my car i was having to fill up once a week at £50 a go. if people in the US didnt drive round in these massive 5ltr v8 beasts that i see whenever im in florida they wouldnt have anything to worry about.

 

[Master Yoda]

before i sold my car i was having to fill up once a week at £50 a go. if people in the US didnt drive round in these massive 5ltr v8 beasts that i see whenever im in florida they wouldnt have anything to worry about.

Big gas guzzlers are an issue but many of us do not have them and were are still facing problems. I drive a Kia minivan and my wife drives a Saturn SL2, hardly a 5L V8 monster. The big issue for me at least is the distance I have to drive each day which hovers around 40 miles per day just to get too and from work. That distance seems to be pretty typical if not on the low end of typical for a daily commute in the US.

 

[jt04]

Big gas guzzlers are an issue but many of us do not have them and were are still facing problems. I drive a Kia minivan and my wife drives a Saturn SL2, hardly a 5L V8 monster. The big issue for me at least is the distance I have to drive each day which hovers around 40 miles per day just to get too and from work. That distance seems to be pretty typical if not on the low end of typical for a daily commute in the US.

Research the Volt from GM coming soon to a dealer near you.

 

[DisneyCane]

before i sold my car i was having to fill up once a week at £50 a go. if people in the US didnt drive round in these massive 5ltr v8 beasts that i see whenever im in florida they wouldnt have anything to worry about.

This is a ridiculous statement. Even if every SUV driver in the US switched to an economy car tomorrow it would barely budge the price of oil. The price of oil is artificially high due to speculators. Increasing demand from developing countries like India and China is what is allowing the price to keep going up.

The US is not at fault for everything wrong with the world. Gasoline consumption in the US has dropped this year and the prices are still going through the roof. The price over in your neck of the woods is that high because of astronomical taxes on fuel. Taxes are the reason you are paying double the price or more (in dollars) for petrol even though you should be paying less (in dollars) because of the weak dollar right now.