Originally Posted By Malin Today Al Lutz posted on the MiceAge website an interesting qoute: I sure hope all the rumors popping up everywhere about a major overhaul and refresh at DisneyWorld are true. That kind of announcement would help to launch the D23 Expo in the best possible way and give the Orlando visitors the quality they deserve. - Al Lutz Now I'm not sure what Al is refering to here, since I haven't read anything myself on a refresh and major overhaul of the WDW Property. Although if the news is true I would seriously welcome the news with open arms. Has anyone else got any further detail to share or could explain to me what Al is refering to here?
Originally Posted By dagobert Hopefully that rumour is true, but it's the opposite to all the recent talks about selling the parks.
Originally Posted By MousDad Wait, wait - I thought he and that faker themeparkone were at odds, not bosom buddies. 'popping up everywhere' - lol.
Originally Posted By Malin Without discrediting Spirit and what he's heard previously. No one can say for certain if Disney are looking into selling the Parks. What we are doing is speculating based on recent decisions and past rumours. Right now no one is willing to say for definite this is what Disney is planning. In regards to past discussion from the Disney board to sell the Parks. I could quite believe it to be the case. I would imagine its also had some other very serious conversations about other assets that Disney currently own like ABC. While I don't want to knock or push aside the rumours of selling the parks. Al Lutz has good sources and I don't think he would comment on it unless it had some truth. The WDW Resort certainly could do with a major overhaul and refresh, so hope its true. Of course what alternative motive might Disney have for wanting to refresh WDW if rumour is true it has yet to be determined.
Originally Posted By GOB My money is on this being a plant. Nothing any insider has said has indicated there being a corporate culture shift or a greenlighting of a massive amount of projects.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer There are a lot of entertainment rumors out there, specifically on Fantasmic, a new parade and pyro show for MK, and ROE for EPCOT. I put my faith on the latter two...
Originally Posted By magic0214 I would love some new entertainment at the parks (can you say year long promotion?!) Especially getting rid of the MSEP! I hate that parade so freakin' much
Originally Posted By dshyates I find it hard to believe because it goes totally against the WDW mantra of "Hey, we don't need to build anything or even keep what we have maintained because the stupid rubes/marks are still throwing money at us."
Originally Posted By dshyates But we do know that their numbers have been dropping for YEARS. They have been inflating their numbers with free dining, buy4,get3 free hotel deals, and free gift cards for years. And even with Potter coming to town, while almost all of central Florida saw a 28% jump, Disney saw a 2+% drop in attendance. And 2% of >18M is a lot of money not coming into the mouse's gloves. So maybe, just maybe Disney has gotten the message. But my guess is they hear the message loud and clear, don't give a ______! and are gonna give lip service at D23. Clean up the property entry arch and see if us stupid rubes fall for the trick. I really can't believe that after all the years of neglect, that the same management team that did this to the place suddenly got religion.
Originally Posted By Malin *** There are a lot of entertainment rumors out there, specifically on Fantasmic, a new parade and pyro show for MK, and ROE for EPCOT. *** I would so love for this to be true. WDW entertainment is stale and dated. This is very much the area that needs to be addressed the most. Does anyone know what Steve Davison's workload is like at the moment. The last few years he's been tied up working on TDS Fantasmic, World of Colour and both Soundsational and Flights of Fantasy. Now all projects are finished. Would he be free to take on the challenge giving the entertainment in Orlando a complete overhaul?
Originally Posted By leobloom It'd be great if this turned out to be true. To be perfectly honest, though, what gets me into the parks is rides. Still, it'd be nice to have updated nighttime entertainment for times when they open new rides that I want to check out -- but I'll believe it when I see it.
Originally Posted By hopemax Without knowing specifics about what would be getting "refreshed" its hard to comment. But some stuff has been neglected for so long, that it might be in so bad of shape that it finally meets the criteria needed to "refresh." It may not mean any change of long term strategy. DL went through some of this in the bad days. Things with visible rot, to the point where pieces were falling off, were dealt with. Didn't mean they wouldn't let something else deteriorate until it reached that point.
Originally Posted By ChiMike Very well could be the reason why the executives and BoD where in Orlando a couple weeks ago. WDW could use the investment.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 Al's quote is as follows: "I sure hope all the rumors popping up everywhere about a major overhaul and refresh at DisneyWorld are true. That kind of announcement would help to launch the D23 Expo in the best possible way and give the Orlando visitors the quality they deserve." So, he isn't even starting a rumor of his own or claiming it to be true. He is simply talking about the rumor mill. And, anyone who has spent time on less reputable sites will tell you there are always loads of rumors floating around. Many have a basis in fact because so many things get proposed (yes, there REALLY is a plan for a small scale WoC type show in the PI parking lot ... I've seen the art, but it doesn't mean it ever is happening). Al has been caught flatfooted of late and found himself either not on top of things or, worse, being fed bad info (TDA getting more autonomy and then having Meg get promoted to reign over Anaheim and Paris as well as WDW). I think this is just his way of getting fanbois in a frenzy and remaining relevant. It's funny because much of the fanboi chatter has apparently been coming from someone in the Twitterverse that largely spouts what is known, what is reasonable to assume and then stuff from left field (oh, both DL and MK are getting new Tomorrowlands, but they won't be announced until Shanghai is open .. so 5-6 years from now you'll get an announcement? Yet, fanbois have the attention span of kitties when you shine a laser pointer ... no one will remember this pronouncement when the time comes) FWIW, you can look at 'major' in many ways. MK will, for instance, be getting a new parade to coincide with Fantasyland's debut. Is that major? Sadly, some might say after a decade of the snow globe parade that it is. There's been talk about redoing Fantasmic and it is going down for a rehab next year, so the rumor mill is swirling that it will be upgraded. Is that what he's talking about? Or are we talking about more interactive queues and RFID-embedded self-serve drinking stations? How about a mug program that follows you from park-to-park-to-resort? Gee, the mind boggles with overhauls and freshness like that. They could announce all kinds of things (and, again, that doesn't impact any possible deal on P&R at all). I believe I mentioned a month ago (or more) that there was talk of announcing a huge amount of projects a la The Disney Decade because when you do so it takes a very long time to realize that most of those things aren't happening (anyone want to see Red Square or ride down a Matterhorn at EPCOT, take a Journey to the Center of the Earth or ride in a runway toon baby carriage at Disney-MGM or go under the sea with Ariel and her friends at MK ... oh wait, that one is coming just more like a quarter of a century later) and you build up tremendous short term goodwill in the fan community, which -- thanks to the wonders of Social Media --more important than ever at spreading Pixie Dust filled propaganda. Talking about possible projects is all well and good. But building them is a whole lot better.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Does anyone know what Steve Davison's workload is like at the moment. The last few years he's been tied up working on TDS Fantasmic, World of Colour and both Soundsational and Flights of Fantasy. Now all projects are finished. Would he be free to take on the challenge giving the entertainment in Orlando a complete overhaul?>> I believe he is currently involved in one project for WDW. Possibly two if anything is really going to happen with Fantasmic. I also believe he is working on projects for Asia and Paris. But WDW needs a whole lot more than simply parades and show tweaks. Remember, that was what the 100 Years of Walt marketing campaign was all about ... that and a giant hat. I think Leemac would be better able to comment on what Steve is up to now, though.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Very well could be the reason why the executives and BoD where in Orlando a couple weeks ago.>> The BoD doesn't travel to resorts to tour parks for upgrades. Come on, Mike, now you're sounding like a teen-aged fanboi. Oh, and said BoD apparently did all their touring safely from inside the BW! <<WDW could use the investment.>> Well, that goes without saying ... but I do hear they started work on a new DVC that they won't comment on for months or years!
Originally Posted By Malin *** So, he isn't even starting a rumor of his own or claiming it to be true. He is simply talking about the rumor mill. And, anyone who has spent time on less reputable sites will tell you there are always loads of rumors floating around. *** I don't think anyone implied the rumour was started by Al. But what does interest me here is the fact he would even comment on the speculation unless he's heard something reliable from a source. Plenty of false rumours are discussed daily on the net and most go unnoticed by Mr Lutz. Why would Al even care to mention something like this on the MiceAge website if there wasn't some truth. Al has a lot of good sources and he likely has a good idea what Disney is working on for the future at WDW. If the rumour was pure lies he would know. Yet he addressed the rumour and hoped it was true. I got the impression he was kind of hinting towards something going down at the Expo. But wouldn't go as far as to put his name to it just yet. Thats just what I read into his note anyway. I hope Lee can further add more detail on what his friend is up to at Disney. And thanks for your always entertaining observations Spirit.
Originally Posted By dshyates I think someone is feeding Al misinformation knowing he will print it. There really is a critical mass thing going on with WDW's reputation and Disney is attacking it head on.....with words (and videos). No actual actions though, except for prep work for more Condos. Whoot! Whoot!
