Originally Posted By BlueOhanaTerror Seems Lutz is not quite the liar/fool that some paint him to be. Or at least we'll have a better idea by the end of this coming week. A little bulletin update blurb on his MICEAGE page: "10/13 1am BREAKING NEWS: The check cleared and this Wednesday is now scheduled for the first DCA plans to be revealed. The press announcement and the release of some WDI artwork was firmed up late this week, and as long as no one gets cold feet in the next few days, Disney will finally confirm what we've been writing about here all year and let everyone know that the work is about to begin. - Al Lutz" <a href="http://miceage.com/" target="_blank">http://miceage.com/</a> I've not been a huge fan of Lutz' dogmatism in the past, but over the last two years, his batting average has been quite strong, and he's toned down his vitriol. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out and what's actually announced (if indeed there IS an announcement).
Originally Posted By jonvn "Seems Lutz is not quite the liar/fool that some paint him to be. " Of course he is. In any case, people have been predicting an announcement for weeks now, because it's the beginning of the fiscal year. So it's not really a big deal. What does "the check cleared" mean? What kind of doltish statement is that? The board already agreed to spend the money. What did people expect to happen?
Originally Posted By jmuboy So I wonder what they will announce spefiically? World of Color, Pixar parade, Philharmagic, Carsland, Pier re-do, Entrance re-d, DL Hotel re-do?
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy << his batting average has been quite strong >> Yup, he's been right on target predicting that the subs would be delayed from opening until August because of construction difficulties, or that long lines for subs would cause a guest revolt.
Originally Posted By Sweeper I can predict with 100% accuracy the statement will contain the line, "As part of Disney's a Year of a Million Dreams..." I bet they will announce Toy Story Midway Mania and the World of Color and that IS IT. All of that is safe and Disney is all about being safe in what they announce. Giant smiles, characters, confetti and old news. That's my guess based on what we have seen in the past. IF they actually announce long range plans, all 5 years of changes, I will be shocked. I'm still betting on safe nothingness as the announcement. Perhaps Ed will make an appearance?
Originally Posted By berol I'd expect specificity about short-term plans, general comments about long-term since they might change.
Originally Posted By BlueOhanaTerror >>>What does "the check cleared" mean? What kind of doltish statement is that? The board already agreed to spend the money. What did people expect to happen?<<< It's a figure of speech, Jon. Carping on that kind of thing is actually kind of doltish. And telling.
Originally Posted By BlueOhanaTerror >>><< his batting average has been quite strong >> >>>Yup, he's been right on target predicting that the subs would be delayed from opening until August because of construction difficulties, or that long lines for subs would cause a guest revolt.<<< That's why you call it a batting AVERAGE. A GOOD average is .300. In the last two years, Al's average has been easily 50%, for those who've been paying attention. And head and shoulders above other prognosticators, like that Marcie chick or (choke) Jim Hill. I know. Not a great community, any of them.
Originally Posted By jonvn No, it's not a figure of speech, it is a stupid thing to say. Defending someone no matter what idiotic thing they say is what is telling. "Al's average has been easily 50%" He's not playing baseball comparing his accuracy to something like that makes no sense. Marcie actually is pretty accurate, but that's because she rarely says anything unless it's pretty concrete. Secondly, he spins his stories as if they were the truth, and when they don't pan out, he claims that budgets were cut, or some other thing. He's never actually ever wrong. That people swallow that nonsense is really amazing to me.
Originally Posted By DlandDug Even a stopped watch is correct twice a day. I'm only sayin'... Oh! And Midway Mania has already been announced-- last Spring at the event when Finding Nemo:Submarine Voyage opened right on schedule. Unless they decide to take this opportunity to announce that the official name will be Disney-Pixar's-Midway-Toy-Story-Mania-in-the-Year-of-a-Million-Dreams.
Originally Posted By jonvn Yes, sometimes he's right on stuff. I think they will not do another Disney Decade thing and announce long term plans. That didn't work too well the last time they did it, so I don't imagine they'd do it again.
Originally Posted By Darkbeer Actually, it will be long term plans (or at least some of them), and is part of the Resort Zoning ballot issues. Similar to the DVC expansion announcement. Expect the Mayor and other politicos to be in attendance, and a lot of talk of the bright future of the entire resort area... (Aka vote for the 2 SOAR measures, and try and stop the 3 council members from adding the SunCal AVE measure).
Originally Posted By gadzuux Coupla things ... First, "the check has cleared" is an attempt at a punchy writing style. It may not be the funniest thing ever, but I wouldn't dog the guy for it - it's folksy. Next, the "news" that al has been revealing recently has been BIG STUFF. Entire makeovers of existing sections, several brand new attractions, wholesale removal of existing attractions, a new temporary entrance into the park - inside a building yet(!), an expansion of the park borders and features of the new hotel addition. His columns have been muy heavy on actual specifics - throughputs of attractions not yet built, possible reasons why proposed attractions aren't going forward, timeframes for construction and in what sequence, what will and won't change and when. He's going way out on a limb on a lot of factual material. So what if absolutely everything he says doesn't come to pass, or evolves into something else - you can say the same thing about disney themselves. Rather than play "shoot the messenger" wouldn't it be better to be excited about all of these enormous "rumored" changes. Why kick al? Is there somebody else out there who's providing us with all of this juicy gossip?
Originally Posted By Moderation I concur. I find Lutz to be an excellent resource. Not everything he talks about pans out, but he's actually prety good about pointing out the level of speculation/uncertainty with which he presents specific issues. I find him to be Worlds more informative and readable than say, Jim Hill.
Originally Posted By jmuboy Well, I am glad that Al's newest comment has given all you DoMs something to complain about.
Originally Posted By ArchtMig I do not believe that it will be another "Disney Decade" thing to pump up stuff they're sorta leaning towards doing, or believe that they will do, somewhere down the road. I expect that the announcement will be on things that they actually have greenlighted and *will* implement, and have basically plugged into some sort of definitive schedule. I expect it will be much more than just DVC, Toy Story Mania, and World of Color. I don't think it will be an outside staged event with singers, dancers and confetti. I believe it will be a press event, inside a room somewhere, with models, artwork, and maybe even projected powerpoint (or better) presentations. And confetti.
Originally Posted By gadzuux And I predict - again - the first thing implemented will be the preview center - fast, cheap and easy.
Originally Posted By Darkbeer >>And I predict - again - the first thing implemented will be the preview center - fast, cheap and easy. << And flyers for the Anaheim Residents that explain all the wonderful stuff happening in the Anaheim Resort Area.... And of course, it wouldn't be a political flyer, just news of all the exciting new things happening in the area, new hotels, hotel expansions, expansions of the theme park area and other positive upcoming changes and why the city will be better off because of it, and heck, maybe even a plug for a job fair, in case anyone in town wants a job And then let S.O.A.R. do future mailings, that might even talk about the SunCal proposed project.
Originally Posted By BlueOhanaTerror >>>First, "the check has cleared" is an attempt at a punchy writing style. It may not be the funniest thing ever, but I wouldn't dog the guy for it - it's folksy.<<< Exactly. It IS a figure of speech. It's used by reporters, by legislators, by folks trying to be pithy. Again, carping on it and trying to make it some kind of literal phrasing is just silly and insults the intelligence of ... pretty much everyone who uses the English language with any kind of casual literacy.
