Upgrades to Agent P's World Showcase Adventure coming later this week

[omurice]

The new phones should be those nearly indestructible devices they have at the attraction entrances that scan MBs. And then maybe we could hack it to get the new Epcot FP trifecta -- Soarin', Test Track and Living with the Land all in the same day.
(No more 10 minute waits for LWTL, WOOOO!)

 

[jakeman]

Wow. This show just sort of fell off the face of the earth! It was the hottest thing going, and I even rather enjoyed it when I walked passed and the kids had it on. Dr. Doof literally makes me laugh out loud, which hardly any show (kids or not) does.

Do we know if it's because Disney only lets these shows live for a certain length of time, or is it because people don't like it anymore?

This pretty well tells me that the Imagination pavilion will never be re-themed to a Disney channel cartoon (for better or worse).

Disney used to have a strict rule that no animated show would go over 100 episodes. I don't know if P&F hit that or if it was something else.

 

[Bairstow]

It wouldn't work as an app because then people could keep activating the effects over and over forever.

What would be the difference?

 

[RSoxNo1]

Attractions magazine has the changes debuting Sunday, not Friday. Which is correct?

 

[Rob562]

It wouldn't work as an app because then people could keep activating the effects over and over forever.

The phone itself doesn't trigger the effects. The software on the phone interacts with the servers and the servers trigger the effects. Thus the effects are only triggered when you're in the proper location and sequence within the storyline.

All a downloadable phone app would do would be to interact with the game servers and tell them you want to play. It would then give you options on which country you can start playing in (blocking out options for countries who are at their limit for active game players at that moment) and then it would start the game and advance you through the storyline just like it would if you were on a device that Disney gave you.

-Rob

 

[Castle Cake Apologist]

Interesting that they're upgrading the system, considering that the TV show seems to be nearing the end of its lifespan. Other than a couple of special crossover episodes, they haven't released anything new in nearly a year. I wonder if they have another series in mind to take over in another year or two. Then again, the Kim Possible version opened a couple years after the show ended, so I guess it's never been all that current

And I agree that the phone noise and effects are somewhat annoying, but they're not nearly as bad as the do-do-do-do 'alarm' from the KP days!

I believe the show is still in production. If nothing else, I don't think it's been cancelled or anything. There's still quite a bit of the current season left, and a theatrical release in the works.

The new episodes are airing on Disney XD, but should air on Disney Channel as well at some point.

 

[Next Big Thing]

Disney used to have a strict rule that no animated show would go over 100 episodes. I don't know if P&F hit that or if it was something else.

According to Wikipedia, it lists 212 episodes aired, with 123.5 "whole" episodes. Whatever that means. It's currently the longest Disney Channel Original series, beating out Kim Possible.

 

[Gomer]

Disney used to have a strict rule that no animated show would go over 100 episodes. I don't know if P&F hit that or if it was something else.

This is a pretty standard policy for children's programming. Since kids tend to "age out" of the shows after a couple years, fresh audiences are built into the viewer demographic every year who will have never seen the episodes before. This way the production company gets to avoid the escalating costs associated with extended runs (people usually get raises as the seasons progress) and will run the repeats until the show becomes dated or has run its course.

Obviously exceptions to this model exist such as Children's Television Workshop/PBS.

 

[HRHPrincessAriel]

I've rarely noticed it in Epcot, but I see the Sorcerors one around nearly every corner of the MK. From Pirates to Liberty Square, seemed like everytime I walked by. Never played them but I don't see the harm in them.

I didn't either till I saw someone with a flip phone and I thought "they still make those?" I then noticed they were in front of the "sign up" and thought that's what it must be for.

 

[Bairstow]

Isn't there an upcoming Start Wars crossover?

 

[arko]

According to Wikipedia, it lists 212 episodes aired, with 123.5 "whole" episodes. Whatever that means. It's currently the longest Disney Channel Original series, beating out Kim Possible.

each segment is 10-11 minutes and 2 segments make up one whole episode. There were a few whole 22 minute episodes as well.

 

[wilkeliza]

The phone itself doesn't trigger the effects. The software on the phone interacts with the servers and the servers trigger the effects. Thus the effects are only triggered when you're in the proper location and sequence within the storyline.

All a downloadable phone app would do would be to interact with the game servers and tell them you want to play. It would then give you options on which country you can start playing in (blocking out options for countries who are at their limit for active game players at that moment) and then it would start the game and advance you through the storyline just like it would if you were on a device that Disney gave you.

-Rob

Pretty much hit the nail on the head. The game actually is run by an app on the phones (ex-Agent here) but it isn't available on the open market. The issue actually has something to do with the code that is put out when the app starts on the phone. Each phone is given a 4 digit (we almost had to reprogram and make it 5) code that is unique to the phone. Us CM Agents use that code to put it in the system which then lets the network know which country was selected and where to send the correct Agent info to. On KP it also use to allow you to link 2 phones to the same mission but they took that away when too many phones would go to a single family thus making it hard in the peak season to keep phones to assign.

I believe if they made the app open and usable on anyone's smartphone with a magicband as the RFID sender they would have to rework how the network determines whose phone is what. With only having 4 digits in the unique codes you can only have so many phones out at a time and that would fill up pretty quick with every kid being able to play. The system would still work the same as now because a computer system is what shuts countries down when they reach capacity so it just wouldn't offer at capacity countries as an option on the app just like it would at the end of the game if you want to move on.

 

[Fractal514]

I don't quite think you don't notice it. You hear it all over the place, see things moving all around in every pavilion that it exists in. Everywhere you step the sounds of the countries themselves are lost to a sea of voices from Doofenshmirtz to Carl to Major Monogram. It's also one of the only things that has really "intruded" on the World Showcase from what it originally was.
Selfishly I'd rather it go back to being about the countries themselves. I now spend what little time I get in WS running around after my kid looking for the next trigger event, instead of actually taking time to enjoy the pavilion itself for what it is.
Easy to control that one I guess is just say "no" to the kids, but that's where the statement about my kids stoning me came in. They love it.
All things considered, there are 1000 things at Epcot I'd rather see them address first, as you mention, all things considered, this is pretty innocuous.

I suspect that the fact that you and your kids are doing it has made you more actively aware of it than the average guest. The fact that your kids get you into it also probably shades your opinion somewhat. I haven't noticed it terribly and when I do, it's not really a huge distraction. I'll tell you how I feel about it in a year or two when my kids are older enough to want to do it.

 

[Fractal514]

All this game does is make somethings move and make sounds. It sounds just like what universal is doing with their magic wands. The difference is universal is charging $40 to $60 for the wands. Maybe Disney should sell wands too. After all Universal couldn't complain since they are copying from Disney on this.

In fairness, the way Universal will be integrating this into the parks seems wayyy more complimentary to the theming than it does at Epcot, or even Magic Kingdom. I like them at WDW, don't get me wrong, but if Universal did steal the idea, they at least stole it well.

 

[seascape]

In fairness, the way Universal will be integrating this into the parks seems wayyy more complimentary to the theming than it does at Epcot, or even Magic Kingdom. I like them at WDW, don't get me wrong, but if Universal did steal the idea, they at least stole it well.

I agree with you. I just think that Disney should take their precious games and update them and charge for the wands like Universal does. It's a great money grab. I give universal credit for finding a way to charge so much. Why shouldn't Disney do it too?

 

[Hula Popper]

Isn't there an upcoming Start Wars crossover?

Yes. July 26th.

 

[wilkeliza]

I agree with you. I just think that Disney should take their precious games and update them and charge for the wands like Universal does. It's a great money grab. I give universal credit for finding a way to charge so much. Why shouldn't Disney do it too?

For once it is because Disney doesn't want to charge more. Their idea behind the games is that they are attractions. All attractions are included in the price of admission. Disney prides itself in the fact everyone is on an even playing field (of course now it could be argued on site guests have a one up to day guests if they read their emails) so all attractions are included. Now they do make money by die hard Sorcerers fans because they sell the one up shirts that make you more powerful if you wear them while playing.

Also Disney's system works to bring people back more. I have heard from several families that their sons (and sometimes daughters) fell in love with the game and they added park hopper onto their tickets so they could hop to MK in the afternoon to play and collect the cards. The want for a complete set for the age range sorcerers was developed for is intense. I've experience similar things from Agent P of families hoping over to Epcot mid-day for their kids to play another round even had a dad ask if he was allowed to grab a beer and sit in Rose and Crown while his kid played. So Disney is making money in other ways from their free games.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

Interesting that they're upgrading the system, considering that the TV show seems to be nearing the end of its lifespan. Other than a couple of special crossover episodes, they haven't released anything new in nearly a year. I wonder if they have another series in mind to take over in another year or two. Then again, the Kim Possible version opened a couple years after the show ended, so I guess it's never been all that current

And I agree that the phone noise and effects are somewhat annoying, but they're not nearly as bad as the do-do-do-do 'alarm' from the KP days!

Plus a new Phineas and Ferb Star Wars Crossover about to hit the airwaves. Corporate synergy!

Wow. This show just sort of fell off the face of the earth! It was the hottest thing going, and I even rather enjoyed it when I walked passed and the kids had it on. Dr. Doof literally makes me laugh out loud, which hardly any show (kids or not) does.

Do we know if it's because Disney only lets these shows live for a certain length of time, or is it because people don't like it anymore?

This pretty well tells me that the Imagination pavilion will never be re-themed to a Disney channel cartoon (for better or worse).

Yep it looks like it's the End of Summer for good...http://www.cartoonbrew.com/tv/its-official-phineas-and-ferb-cancelled-96101.html

 

[sshindel]

Yep it looks like it's the End of Summer for good...http://www.cartoonbrew.com/tv/its-official-phineas-and-ferb-cancelled-96101.html

Which means we can start the countdown.
Agent P Adventure Closes in  

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

Which means we can start the countdown.
Agent P Adventure Closes in  

You know the easiest way to change this with something that has been out for many many years and makes sense....