Originally Posted By Doobie This topic is for Discussion of <a href="http://www.LaughingPlace.com/Latest.asp?I1=ID&I2=770" target="_blank">The Latest: Latest: Monsters, Inc. To Open January 23rd</a>
Originally Posted By dastinson I would have thought they would wait all of two weeks and have it open for the DCA 5th anniversary.
Originally Posted By Elderp Would seem more fitting to be on the anniversary but I am ok with earlier.
Originally Posted By leemac ^^ According to our sources it is twofold: 1) DLR Publicity have reached agreement with John Goodman to attend but have struggled to get Billy Crystal to firm up the date. Once they either get his agreement or reach a self-imposed deadline over Billy acepting the date will be annouced; and 2) DLR are keen to not give many of the anti-DLR media outlets in the region like OCR ammunition to do a retrospective of the first five years that they believe will be very negative. The anniversary will pass without much fanfare. I'm glad to see them getting it opened sooner rather than later but do feel a little sad that I will have to miss the 5th birthday. Lee
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt Sounds like a very good PR plan in my opinion. Thanks for the info Lee.
Originally Posted By DouglasDubh This is the official opening, right? So if I'm there the week before, I can probably ride it during soft opening, right?
Originally Posted By Darkbeer ^ Based on past experence, the day or two before the event, they will close the attraction to allow for prepping for the media event. Also, the weeks before the date, they might plan special events like AP previews, where you would have to have a special ticket to preview the attraction. There is no guarantee that if you show up the week before, that you will be able to ride. Also, note the comments made by leemac, they are still working with celebrities to come up with a date that works for everyone, also they are looking at other media events in the region to prevent a conflict. The date is not yet set in stone.
Originally Posted By 9oldmen >>DLR are keen to not give many of the anti-DLR media outlets in the region like OCR ammunition to do a retrospective of the first five years that they believe will be very negative. The anniversary will pass without much fanfare.<< Interesting that they themselves are admitting a perception problem that still persists with the park. The fiftieth anniversary of the original park is trumpeted to the world, while DCA's fifth is kept quiet.
Originally Posted By ChurroMonster Essentially, though few execs will admit it, DCA is a work in progress. When it's not they'll probably start acknowledging its anniversaries.
Originally Posted By idleHands "The fiftieth anniversary of the original park is trumpeted to the world, while DCA's fifth is kept quiet." I feel the only "fifth" that TDA managers are currently focused on, is the one in their hands, heading towards their open mouths. "Now everytime you read the phrase, 'DCA sucks' or 'CM Matt' or 'Dalmatians!' take a shot. And the first one to reach City Hall during the fireworks after ten shots wins."
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt "Interesting that they themselves are admitting a perception problem that still persists with the park." This is what PR people get paid to do. Disney is very wise to keep the focus on the positives and avoid having the local media blow the park's perception problems out of proportion. Apparently common sense has once again taken up residence at TDA.
Originally Posted By deadmentellnotales it's amazing that TDA's common sense always comes around when they have to cover their rear ends but never seems to be there in the first place when having some common sense might save them from these very same blunders.
Originally Posted By planodisney What would have saved them from the blunder in your opinion deadmentellnotales? Building a 2 billion dollar theme park? This is one reason i dont think anaheim will EVER see another park. It seems that locals will accept nothing less than a DL quality, and built out theme park, which disney isnt willing to take a chance on anymore. if they had built the park that so many on here think they should have built, they would be in a totally defferent kind of trouble. A much more serious kind of trouble. But, i think they realize that the SoCal audience wont accept that, therefore, they wont build another park.
Originally Posted By deadmentellnotales <What would have saved them from the blunder in your opinion deadmentellnotales?> Building a 2 billion dollar theme park? This is one reason i dont think anaheim will EVER see another park. no but the problem with TDA was finding a way to screw up what should have been a great theme park. DCA was built not on the principles of Disney tradition but in some boardwalk/studio park with a quick disney overlay. The park while having certain winning attributes is not a park that guest want to spend time in and yet even with all of it's failings it still has one of the top attendances of any amusement park in the area. That alone should show that there is indeed room for another park in the area. I think that the fans would except nothing less than quality period. Be it Disney or something else. What the locals don't appreciate is laying down cold hard cash for a land designed after where they live. Despite what Disney thinks Californians aren't that stupid. So in answer to your question it's simple they should have looked at their demographics. I knew from a start that DCA was going to blow. Granted I kept an open mind and even now I appreciate the park for what it is. But an Epcot, or any park at WDW it is not. Perhaps they should have spent 2.5 billion instead.
Originally Posted By ni_teach > This is one reason i dont think anaheim will EVER see another park. Never, say Never. I 3rd park is possible, but not for an other 10 years or so.
Originally Posted By disneywatcher >> Building a 2 billion dollar theme park?....It seems that locals will accept nothing less than a DL quality, and built out theme park, which disney isnt willing to take a chance on anymore. << Forget dollars. If DCA had been designed and supervised by people who at least had the ability to differentiate between quality and mediocrity, a major reason for the park's poor concepts and cheesy features wouldn't have existed to begin with.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<If DCA had been designed and supervised by people who at least had the ability to differentiate between quality and mediocrity, a major reason for the park's poor concepts and cheesy features wouldn't have existed to begin with.>> I can't say whether those responsible for DCA could differenciate between quality and mediocrity. It's reasonable to believe they could, but weren't able to, given the meager budget that was involved.
Originally Posted By idleHands "It's reasonable to believe they could, but weren't able to, given the meager budget that was involved." I feel that's a reasonable assumption, given the failings of Stitch's Great Escape and DL's Pooh, both produced by veteran Imagineering teams with better track records than either attraction would indicate.
