Originally Posted By dshyates Screamscape is reporting that WDI plans on starting the installation of Star Tours 2.0 should start mid 2010 and finish end 2010/ early 2011. They are also reporting that there is a plan to build a new restaurant themed to The Princess And The Frog Movie complete with an AA jazz singing/ comedian/ trumpet playing alligator named "Louis". The location is unknown but somewhere on WDW property. <a href="http://www.screamscape.com/html/walt_disney_world_resort.htm" target="_blank">http://www.screamscape.com/htm...sort.htm</a> In other Disney news, they are reporting that the Shanghai Park is pretty much a done deal.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 Considering the fact the original timeline I was told for Star Tours 2.0 had it pretty much in at least soft openings by now, one wonders how long they're going to drag it out. Haven't heard anything about the Frog and Princess restaurant, but they have plenty of space for it at DD these days. Or they could always stick it in MK since the park is all toons, all the time anyway. And Shanghai hasn't been confirmed by Disney, but has by our own intrepid Disney insider, Leemac with a 9/14 opening. I do know both sides have wanted this, so I can't see anything (even below $10 a share Disney stock, which is very likely if current market conditions continue) really sidetracking it at this point. Singapore will be home to the newest Universal Studios and an amazing resort that I hope is open for my visit there next year! Disney's interest in the area has been with a smaller scale regional entertainment type complex, and when last I heard they weren't happening anywhere. ~5000=The Dow's new 8500~
Originally Posted By magic0214 I would LOVE!!!! Star Tours 2.0 and the new resturant. Sounds really fun! Like a blue bayou for WDW
Originally Posted By MPierce What was the big hold up to begin with on the new, and improved Star Tours.
Originally Posted By irishfan According to Al Lutz latest update Star Tours 2.0 is a go for Disneyland, but not for WDW.
Originally Posted By leobloom ^^ Unbelievable, if true. And he reports that Little Mermaid has been shelved for WDW, too.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 Yeah. I just read the Lutz piece. I can say that Al's sources when it comes to WDW are not nearly on par with who keeps him abreast of what's going on in the TDA building (or in Burbank and Glendale for that matetr). I have no idea if Al's right about Star Tours 2.0 or Mermaid at this point. Disney hasn't announced anything 'officially' so they don't have to cancel or postpone anything ... and even our own intrepid Leemac has been totally silent about what's happening in O-Town (and I tend to believe it isn't because he doesn't know what is or isn't happening but because Disney doesn't want the word out). I just don't see how you can run WDW anymore conservatively than is being done now ... I guess you could bring in Rush to oversee everything ;-) But it's not a smart way to run a dynamic, creative entertainment enterprise ... at some point (and now would be it) you need to show some testicular fortitude and invest in your resort's future. They don't seem to get that.
Originally Posted By Skellington88 If there just going to play games and not build star tours then I hope the whole company goes into bankruptcy and sells the parks to a creative enterprise that cares.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom Glad to hear about Star Tours. My initial reaction to a "new" restaurant is great. But then I got thinking, if Disney is planning on putting in a new Restaurant somewhere on property why are they cutting back on hours of restaurants at the resorts? There are no side down restaurants at Port Orleans French Quarter as it is and they are cutting back to dinner only at Boatwrights at Port Orleans Riverside. Althought I would gladly welcome any additional restaurants at Hollywood Studios, in my honest opinion they don't need any more restaurants at EPCOT, the World Showcase has them everywhere. Also putting in one "new" restaurant isn't going to make WDW a better value as a vacation spot to me. I think Disney really needs to keep what they have, add more to their menu's and keep them open. Not everyone wants to spend enjoy cafeteria style meals on vacations and holidays. I have discussed this extensively with KJ and we both agree that we will continue to eat most meals off property. Granted its more of a hastle but its absoultely less expensive, better selection, and unless your going for unscale restaurants on property better quality meals off property. Why does it seem everytime I go out to eat lately I end up saying, "Now why can't you get food like this at WDW"? With the exception of German food I can find better restaurants in my home town than on Disney property at a fraction of the price that it costs to eat on property. Its gotten to the point that now I definately do NOT visit WDW for its haute Cuisine. I know that Disney hires incredible chefs that come from by far the best Culinary Institutes around. I just think that the bean counters at Disney are holding these chefs back. Sorry about rambling on here... but this is such a pet peeve of mine.
Originally Posted By CarolinaDisneyDad We would welcome the star tours update. My kids weren't impressed with the ride as is to the point that they had no interest in riding it on our last trip. We rarely skip rides but we now bypass Star tours and Stich's great escape every trip. My kids just don't like them enough to wait in a line.
Originally Posted By Fe Maiden <<I know that Disney hires incredible chefs that come from by far the best Culinary Institutes around. I just think that the bean counters at Disney are holding these chefs back.>> Like it or not, the cruisification of dining at WDW has been nothing short of a succes with the DDP. Unfortunately it's the culinary equivalent of cruising on Carnival in the 80's. To improve the dining experience at WDW, short of eliminating the DDP plan which they'll never do, they need to replicate what's going on in the cruise industry now which is to create specialty restaurants that are not part of the DDP no matter how many credits you have. Maybe they can start by taking the "Signature" locations like the Cali Grill off the plan.
Originally Posted By CarolinaDisneyDad <<<To improve the dining experience at WDW, short of eliminating the DDP plan which they'll never do>>> if they would just stop giving it away it would be a start. If everyone had to pay for the plan it would generate a better profit. If less people buy as a result then people like myself will be able to eat as cash customers instead of being shut out by the ddp diners.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>Maybe they can start by taking the "Signature" locations like the Cali Grill off the plan.<<< Bravo!!!! This is how it is done at DLP, but the meal plans have pretty much ruined what used to be a special dining experience there too. For me, dining at WDW used to be as big an attraction as Splash Mountain or ToT. Now that Eisner has gone, the upscale I loved is disappearing. Instead we get Walmart and food courts at TGI Friday prices.
Originally Posted By u k fan Not to burst your bubble too much, but the family and I have bought the premium dining plan for our trip to DLP and it includes the Cali Grill. We have never used the meal plans before, but with the exchange rate the way it is we thought it was best. Not even so much about saving money, but to help with budgeting whilst there!!!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo OMG!!!! Well I am glad you finally are going to try it out. On the flip side, I bet the quality of CG falls too. Right, I think we might go to Germany this summer instead of DLP. May is already booked, but I feel France beckoning even though my APs are still good.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Like it or not, the cruisification of dining at WDW has been nothing short of a succes with the DDP. Unfortunately it's the culinary equivalent of cruising on Carnival in the 80's.>> Put so well! Bravo! That is really their model. Not so much Carnival of the 80s, but DCL of 2001-02, which is when the first seeds of DDP were sowed at TDO. And, sadly, it is a huge success. I don't usually pull for Disney to fail in anything, but I wanted this to crash and burn badly. But when I was there recently every table service location I looked at was packed ... even at MK on an day that didn't even appear moderately crowded ... and you heard two groups ... one (the majority) talking about what a 'deal' it was ... and the other (the minority) just dumbfounded and disgusted by the prices, lack of variety and inability to get into locations. <<To improve the dining experience at WDW, short of eliminating the DDP plan which they'll never do, they need to replicate what's going on in the cruise industry now which is to create specialty restaurants that are not part of the DDP no matter how many credits you have. Maybe they can start by taking the "Signature" locations like the Cali Grill off the plan.>> I agree. But I don't see it happening. They have already dumbed down menus at places like Jiko and Artist Point. And the price points have been raised to absurd levels. I used to do Jiko and California Grill at least 2-3 times annually. I haven't been to Jiko since 2007 and I haven't done the Grill my last two visits. But again you raise an excellent point. I took a tranatlantic cruise last year on NCL ... and they had a half dozen specialty locales that I was happy to pay the extra cover charge (most times it was very little $10-15 a head) and get real high quality, not mass produced crap. So now you have cruise lines trying to get away from the very dining model that Disney is trying to emulate for its parks and resorts. ~Disney's New Best Kept Secret: $9.99 Stock Coming Soon!~
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<For me, dining at WDW used to be as big an attraction as Splash Mountain or ToT. Now that Eisner has gone, the upscale I loved is disappearing. Instead we get Walmart and food courts at TGI Friday prices.>> Got news for you Dave, here you can get 10 entrees at Friday's for $9.99 (most definitely NOT Disney prices). I do wonder what Michael would think of DDP now ... he was behind the bigtime improvement in dining at WDW to begin with ... although he also allowed Destination Disney to go through too (and this is just one facet with that ... everything from those absurd surveys you go thru when you call DRC to old Pal Mickey to DME etc fall under that umbrella program) <<Right, I think we might go to Germany this summer instead of DLP. May is already booked, but I feel France beckoning even though my APs are still good.>> I'm feeling its time to get back to DLP. My AP expired and hasn't been renewed and going to Europe last year and not going bothered me ... I am waiting to hear from a buddy who just got back from his very first DLP trip to hear how things are there of late ... I did see on the great Disney and More site that the place is all walls these days, so it appears lots of work is being done. But I've never been to Germany either ... you are likely the king of world travelers here, my friend! ~Disney's New Best Kept Secret: $9.99 Stock Coming Soon!~
Originally Posted By u k fan Sadly most of the walls at DLP are for the Mickey's Magical Party Craptacular! There are now 3 tiers to the Dining Plan at DLP and most expensive includes every restaurant in the resort and can be used at BBWWS as well. Technically, I don't think it's available until April, but I was able to book it for March!!!
