Originally Posted By leemac EO to close June 30, 2014. Stitch Encounter will open in the summer of 2015.
Originally Posted By Mr X So does this mean no more Tiki Room Stitch? Or double duty (is that *ever* done!?)?
Originally Posted By leemac There are plans for the Tiki Room but for now he will run "double duty". There were a number of better concepts to replace EO but OLC just don't like big capex projects any more so this was a no brainer for them.
Originally Posted By schnebs <<There were a number of better concepts to replace EO but OLC just don't like big capex projects any more so this was a no brainer for them.>> What happened? OLC used to be pretty good about not really sweating the cost as long as the results were impressive enough. Downturn in attendance? A big-budget project (or several) that didn't deliver the expected numbers? Inquiring minds want to know.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< OLC just don't like big capex projects any more >>> From the sounds of what's going on at TDS, opex is also now a problem, at least with entertainment. How long before they start selling "Disney Parks" merchandise?
Originally Posted By Brad Fortunately for the TDR they could cut back entertainment offerings considerably and it'd STILL be more impressive than the dinky offerings in the States. And besides, what do I care? I don't go to the parks for parades - it's attractions and themed experiences for me! Now back to opening presents!!!
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< I don't go to the parks for parades >>> I do. When it comes to TDR, the parades and special event entertainment are a major draw for me, as it is for much of the general guest population there as well. I never felt that way about the stateside parks.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***<<< I don't go to the parks for parades >>> I do.*** Indeed. The fact that TDR goes over the top with entertainment is one of the main draws for me, too. It's like having an additional layer on top of "regular" Disneyland. When you come right down to it, nitpicking aside, the attractions at the various resorts aren't all that different. Sure, there are some highlights like Pooh or Journey, but all the resorts have their various cool highlights that can't be found elsewhere. It's the entertainment that sets TDR above the rest, or did at least.
Originally Posted By leemac It is the problem with being a public company in an ageing market. OLC have an aggressive five year plan that they need to deliver under - driving attendance in that market is getting harder as it driving up spend. Therefore cost saving (opex) and cash management (capex) is critical - hence the decision to cull Mythica and build clones from other parks. Makes fiscal sense.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN In other words, the bastardization of TDR continues. Doing things right regardless of budgets and being innovative is what made TDR the best Disney experience overall. Enter Nihongo Eisner-sama and now the resort becomes as flat as WDW has been for the past 15 yrs... Let's only hope these budget minded samurais don't slash maintenance and staffing levels, or else TDR would be done (from an artistic and efficiency point of view; two attributes that became extinct at WDW over a decade ago.)
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "...build clones from other parks. Makes fiscal sense." Excluding TDS, hasn't this been the model for TDL since the beginning?
Originally Posted By leemac Most of the signature attractions were direct clones from either DL or MK. The park did open with Meet the World and The Eternal Sea though. However once it opened most of the additions were either entirely unique (like Mystery Tour) or reworked (Big Thunder and Splash). Later the park went after entirely unique attractions like Hunny Hunt, Monsters, Inc. Ride & Go Seek!
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Is this going to be like the Turtle Talk-esque show with Stitch in the side of HKDL's Space Mountain (or the long-lost videophone from DL's Innoventions), or more like Stitch's Great Escape at MK? Either way, it seems like the EO theater will be much bigger than what's needed for a single theater of the Stitch production, since both of those take place in fairly intimate quarters. Will they split the existing theater into multiple venues?
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "Most of the signature attractions were direct clones from either DL or MK....However once it opened most of the additions were either entirely unique (like Mystery Tour) or reworked (Big Thunder and Splash). Later the park went after entirely unique attractions like Hunny Hunt, Monsters, Inc. Ride & Go Seek!" Then it's more like a return to the park's roots, so to speak. The point I'm making, obviously, is that though TDL hasn't had a direct clone from another park in some time it isn't anything new.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Will the TDL version have a non-Japanese (English?) show available. The other two versions are in parks where multiple languages are spoken, so it makes sense to rotate the language throughout the day. It seems like most things at TDR are semi-bilingual (or at least have translation available), but this is one case where it just may not make any sense to have that option
