Originally Posted By MPierce >> >>>I can hardly believe Spirit managed to drag him into Epcot.<<< >> NOTHING will shock me now. Nothing. << I still think Harry Potter spiked his Butterbeer.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 >> Just as Lee was about to take on the Pumba role in Hakuna Matata we both noticed the railings on the ramp down from monorail station were rusty and needed paint/replacement. Now, who notices this stuff, right? << <<Evidently not Disney.>> Do you think Phil Holmes would have taken a quality control walk with us? >> Anyway, we also happily talked about our childhoods at Disney and how many times we had walked in front of monorails, walked into the water on PoC and Small World and fallen onto the tracks of BTMRR and lived to tell about it. Makes you wonder how we ever survived Disney ... no gates everywhere ... we also had to survive no pintrading, no character meals and meet-greet-and-gropes, and had to actually decide what we wanted to eat at mealtimes and not six months ahead of time ... I'll tell you folks something, it's just a miracle we lived through that stuff. << <<How did you survive your youth without meet 'n greets? Spur of the moment dining? You mean you had to decide what you wanted to eat when you got hungry? How antiquated! Next you'll be telling me you weren't subjected to a full body search before entering the Park back then.>> No. We weren't subjected to those, but some of us fanbois volunteered just because we liked them! >> So, while someone went off to Guest Relations, I found the most MAGICal site ... I mean sight ... a restroom where I ... where I ... proceeded to immediately drop my sunglasses in the toilet. I thought somewhere, maybe even in the next stall, Leo was having quite the laugh. << <<I have a comment I would love to make, but I know for sure it would get an ADMIN. Lets just say you should have had something else out other than your sunglasses.>> Let's just say it happened so quickly there was no time ... sadly like the turtle I wanted to save yesterday, but some moron (likely on purpose) ran over before I could do a U-turn. Those glasses flew into the bowl like a fanboi to an Imagineer! >> Seeing the MK so soon after DL reminded me again of why it's not a good idea (and I hope my pal 'Marty' chimes in here on this when he returns from his holiday) to visit this park so soon after another MK-style park. The flaws just hit you that much harder. << <<Why do the Brits call it Holiday, and we call it Vacation?>> Well, I could say it's because they're a nation of pretentious rse's, but I am not sure that even that would fly in our new PC LP pond. ... Holiday sounds more special, I think. After all, did Madonna sing about needing a vacation? Hell, no! >> Unfortunately, it wasn't Mission 2 in Paris. It was WDW's rickety old 1975 special (trivia note: the Miami Dolphins didn't make the playoffs that year for the first time under Don Shula, Saturday Night Live debutted and top music included Rhinestone Cowboy by Glen Campbell, Love Will Keep Us Together by The Captain and Tennille and Philadelphia Freedom by Elton John -- all currently on Pierce's iPod for eight-tracks). << <<I almost met Gelnn once. Tanya really drug him down. I cherish my Captain, and Tennile Greatest hits tape. I always wear my yachting cap when listening to it. Unfortunately my Garrand turntable is broken so I can't listen to Elton's " Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player " LP.>> I just knew you had a yachting cap. Oh, and Glen was on Craig Ferguson not that long ago doing Rhinestone Cowboy. Hasn't aged that well. >> It wasn't that it was inaccurate. If you stood under the sign and waited 15 minutes and then walked the queue to load, it indeed would have been 20 minutes. We opted to just ride. << <<If you keep playing the games or texting EE it can be up to a 70 min. wait.>> I forgot to mention in the post that the games are very annoying because people stop and are playing them ('cause The Weatherman believes folks can't simply stand in line in the 21st century) ... you don't want to wait for them ... and you just know if you pass the wrong bumpkin there'll be some confrontation over 'cutting' ... we simply walked past anyone playing them. Oh, and I never text. >> After our exciting journey thru the cosmos and back to 1975 ('My Eyes Adored You' by Frankie Valli hit No. 5 that year, another Pierce fave) we exited into what has to be the only place at WDW that sells these cool little pieces of plastic shaped like Mickey. Vinylmation is the name. Hooking you like an addict on heroin is Disney's game. While my cohort searched for the perfect Hannah Montana shirt for himself, I noticed that they indeed sell a few Space Mountain items (so what if they're DL tees!) << <<The Four Seasons, both the group, and hotel chain, are great. It would be a travesty to go into any shop at WDW, and not be able to buy a Hanna Montana tee. Did Lee find the perfect one, and did he wear it around the rest of the day?>> Agreed on both Four Seasons ... and you'll have to read on for the answer to the Miley Montana question! >> By the time we exited, I was thinking a few things including 'I'm not in Anaheim' ... 'I'd really like to head over to one of the Lodges and go to sleep' ... 'I wish Pierce were here' ... and ... 'I really could use a magical WDW restroom'. << <<Did you guys sneak beer into the park, because you sure need to go to the restroom a lot.>> No, but I do have a couple of Dharma beers coming my way! >> So ... naturally, we decided on riding some new attraction called the Peoplemover. I was very disappointed to see this as it takes the place of my beloved favorite the Tommorowland Transit Authority. I was going to start blubbering like a baby, but Lee promised we could go look at construction walls soon so I said I'd try and enjoy the ride. << <<You would have gotten better pictures if y'all had ridden Dumbo.>> We'll leave that to the experts ... Jeff and Little Miss Sunshine! I'm sure if a mound of dirt gets 10 inches higher, we'll be the first to know!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 >> >> The attraction looked quite fresh ... clean ... and much-like Space Mountain, also came with Starryophonic Sound. I was impressed. The narration also included some reference to a Mr. Johnson and all I could think was 'No one who isn't a fanboi or an Imagineer is going to get this'. << <<Isn't that what you should have been holding instead of your sunglasses when you dropped them? >> OK ... that's a LOL moment ... and I don't LOL as a rule!
Originally Posted By MPierce >> So true ... but I do think part of that is because many folks don't want to hear the message because they know in their hearts (where a dream is a wish ...) that I am speaking the painful truth. << I'm afraid some folks are prone to over look what you say about the magical experience, and only focus on the critique of the things that need to be corrected. Any person paying attention to this post can tell that Lee, and you had a Magical Time shopping for Hana Montana merchandise. >> Ah ... but Leemac wasn't privvy to what was said. And he isn't a regular member of Tony's posse, which headed to IOA yesterday because they wanted to see the very best in themed entertainment in Orlando, so I doubt he'll be of any help! << I know LeeMac, and Tony aren't best Buds, but it's still fun trying to pry information out of him. I love all the kind ways he comes up with ignoring my questions. He's good. Make sure, and catch his review of Toy Story Playland in the Disneyland Paris section of LP. <a href="http://www.laughingplace.com/news-id513260.asp" target="_blank">http://www.laughingplace.com/n...3260.asp</a>
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 >> We gleefully exited the PeopleMover, so happy about our trip around what was once known as Tomorrowland. I tried to talk Lee into doing a Glee-inspired exit (like the Emmys opening), but he was busy trying to figure out if there was actually anything left in the park he wanted to see or do. << <<Did you try to get him to hold hands with you, and skip down MainStreet USA?>> He said we could only do so if I bought him one of those balloons ... do you know how much they cost?!??! >> Then, I reminded him about all those walls. And off we went ... down the candy path. OK, the thing is, if you want candy you have to wait for nightfall on various nights and pay an extra (what? is it $75 yet?) fee to pretend you are there for anything other than candy. But we still admired the flat Alice in Wonderland themed plywood cutouts and banners hung in the area (no doubt in homage to all the workers and guests killed in Anaheim by not having an ugly safety wall on its Alice attraction). << <<Construction walls are almost as good as new planters.>> Yep. We admired the MAGICal T-land/Space Mtn planter that had fanbois in a lather last year from TAFKaTTTA and laughed about it ... and had a moment of silence for Francois when we passed the stage that cost him his magical Disney exec job! >> This is when things got a bit ugly and Lee and I came to blows in the middle of Toontown while trying to ascertain where the Dueling Dumbos would be located. He said I was 10 feet off, I told him he was a UNI fanboi ... next thing I know some soccer mom from Ohio is pulling us apart near stroller parking for Barnstormer and offering us some candy if we made up. We soon realized it really didn't matter where they stuck Dumbo. Just so long as we didn't have to ride it. << <<But how in the heck are we suppose to know where it's going if y'all don't tell us? >> I'm sure if you go to other less discerning sites you might be able to find 7,643 posts on the locale. >> We then went into the Tentland gift shop as Lee was still hankering for something with Hannah Cyrus on it. << <<Maybe a CD to go with the tee?>> Already owns every one ... >> What was odd was I didn't see any Marvel merchandise yet in there. It seemed plastered over DLR and seemed all over WDW in May ... so maybe I missed it in my excitement over walls. Anyone who isn't excited by theme park construction walls is anti-American as far as I am concerned. << <<Pagans!>> Damn straight! >> At least they signify something is going on. And that's progress. << <<It's all a ruse. Nothing is going on behind the walls.>> Nah. They're pushing dirt around and starting some actual construction (on the infrastructure really), but we really don't need to see another picture until there's something significant and worth seeing.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<That sounds like it would be worth a drive south Of WDW for a visit. I love gator burgers, and brothels, and moonshine,and Seminoles if they don't scalp me, and aren't playing UT. Cowboys too, as long as they're not from Dallas. How do you get Pixie Dust in your mouth?>> You go to WDW and just suck it all in ... all the magic, wishes and dreams!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I can hardly believe Spirit managed to drag him into Epcot.>> I told him they were moving the AC to the old WoL site. >> 1) Never visit WDW in the summer; and 2) Never visit DLRP in the winter. I'm done at DLRP until April '13 now. << <<Good rules but isn't Paris fantastic in the early fall?>> I was there a year ago this week and it sure was damn near perfect weather-wise.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<You're such an innocent Spirit after all. So innocent you couldn't believe it when you learned the first WDW CM who wore the Mickey Mouse foamhead died recently.>> Oh no ... Goodbye, pal!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Spirit got you on THE UNIVERSE OF ENERGY!?!?!? That's a ride that even I skip over!>> This whole tale is being told out of order now ... and Spirit was NOT the one behind taking a trip way back to 1995 with Ellen, Alex and Stupid Judy. The UK contingent suggested it and since its 37 minutes inside and AC (and they now remind you of this approximately 114 times before you start your ride because approximately 114 people try and jump out during the ride in an average day because people are getting dumber by the day!) Stupid People!!!
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Nope. People know the attraction sucks. No one had trouble finding it in the 1980s when waits often filled a large interior queue and spilled outside and down along where the now 'hidden' restrooms are ... and I do have photo proof of this somewhere. No one who goes once on this wants to go again. It's been gutted of its heart, soul and, yes, imagination. << I bet I had been to Epcot at least 40 times before I noticed it. Every time I drag my wife on it she always says at the end of the ride " Tell me again why we rode that thing ". >> If she runs for Prez, I'll take that as a sign of the end of days and swallow a bottle of pixie dust pills ... and one person told me they actually thought they saw said daughter at EPCOT Thursday. << Anybody can run. Winning is another thing. Poor Bristol must know she's offically going to become the whipping girl of that show. She's going to replace Kate as the one the audience despises. I don't see her at Epcot without an entourage surrounding her. >> I've asked Mickey to post many times. He told me he and Minnie and, not surprisingly, Stitch have plenty to say, but have been warned by Zenia Mucha that there will be 'grave consequences' if they post on the LP. << When Zenia says grave consequences, she puts a lot of emphasis on GRAVE! >> Thankfully, Martin isn't afraid of Zenia. (of course, he's never had the misfortune of meeting her either) << I wouldn't be afraid of her either if we were seperated by a 25 foot high electrical fence. I'm still waiting for her to answer my e-mail. >> <<So you and Mr. Baxter like to hang out in WDW bathrooms together?>> I never said that. He was heading one way and I was heading ... why am I telling you this? << You know I how I love to here fanboi encounters!
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Nah, I actually prefer this pace to the hellish rambling over there. LOL. << I was talking about the Park Maps.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 >>>It's already been neutered to the point that it's a sad little dirty old ride.<<< <<So? Refurb. Don't rip it out and pull a Horizons or WoM. >> It is so bad now that I really just don't care. And if they put a real attraction in its place down the line then I won't complain at all. I recently saw Snow White for the first time in many, many years from start to finish and it is a very dark story with comedy and a happy ever after ending. It isn't a happy princess tale. And that's what the PC Disney Corp has done to the attraction in the MK. <<Every MK has one, we should have one too. >> No. Every one does not have it. HKDL doesn't. And you are much more likely to see the SW coaster in Shanghai than a dark ride as well. >>>It really was lost back in the 1990s when it was redone to make it possible for even sensitive 4-year-olds to ride without being scared.<<< <<I remember the old one. This one really isn't that different, there's just a change in perspective. >> It has been neutered since I rode back in the 70s. It was dark, loud and scary and, most importantly, true to the source material. Not now.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 >> Glen Campbell is quality 70's countrypolitan. 'Rhinestone Cowboy' is okay, but I prefer "Wichita Lineman" and "By the Time I Get to Phoenix". << <<My favorites a long with Galveston.>> I am not a country fan, but I always liked his music, which really was considered pop music in the 70s.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<They would never turn on Lee or Martin. Both have been critical on numerous ocassions, but the fanboys don't get nasty to them. Only YOU!>> I don't quite get that, but I think some of it has to do with the powers over there having an issue with my writing style, which ain't changing, and have made it known that it's OK to make me the center of attention instead of what I post about. We joked about this the other day. If they both said the sky was blue, everyone would agree. If I said the same thing, suddenly there would be an issue. People may not agree with me here (although most do because we have a very intelligent base here ) ... but no one here that's a regular would ever suggest I am a Disney hater/basher.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 >> I think I may start doing that ... may wear a DVC tee as well. << <<Tees with the American flag or pictures of Hana Montana work best. You might see Lee about that?>> I don't know if he has the former, but I bet he has a closet full of the latter! >> Part of me would like to see DLP in winter, though I know I would freeze my (have no idea what word is acceptable here these days so I'll use ...) backside off. << <<I can't believe the British version of backside won't work anymore. It just sounds so dignified.>> I don't want to get spanked on my buttocks (I think that is OK), so I am not going to try and use it again ... but it was ADMINED last time I did. >> Anonymous fun in restrooms is still considered adult entertainment, right? << <<But doesn't that require a video camera also?>> If you don't drop it in the toilet. >> Besides, look at the bright side, if we had a PI to go to we would have wound up spending the night on someone's sofa/floor. << <<I can see poor Em answering the door at 3 in the morning now.>> She would have broken my glow toy over my head!
Originally Posted By Manfried "He did have some quite amusing opinions about the current version of Imagination, though..." His bluntness is one of his admirable traits. His voicing it to the outside and playing corporate politics in and out is his bad traits. A new ride is not going to solve WDW's problems. "I don't have any inclination to visit for work or play - a sad indictment on the state of the resort." That's true. It's gotten pretty plain wrap around WDW. Another semi-themed hotel with endless hallways of rooms. Attractions that still reek of the 70s and 80s mentality, and a World Showcase that has had no new countries in forever. It seems to me they could make part of the attraction there if they intermixed some "hotel rooms" in the countries.
Originally Posted By Manfried If Tony designs a "new" ride at Imagination, it will be retro. Disney, especially EPCOT Center, definitely does not need mega-millions spent on an attraction that will not attract a crowd. Sorry, but the reality is no one will go on it if Tony leads it. Witness the lack of crowds at Lincoln. Disney is working on new stuff, just not necessarily at WDI. The next generation of entertainment has quite a crew working on it, and they have a large budget. Building passive omnimover rides is probably not on the front burner. As much as many would hate to see it, and I would lament it believe it or not, it is time for Tony to step aside and gracefully retire.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I'm afraid some folks are prone to over look what you say about the magical experience, and only focus on the critique of the things that need to be corrected. Any person paying attention to this post can tell that Lee, and you had a Magical Time shopping for Hana Montana merchandise.>> We did. We really did. But I had a good time at WDW in May. I had a great time at DLR a few weeks ago. And I had one of very best vacations of my life (Disney, cruise, period) on my 15-day Transatlantic crossing. So, the idea that I hate Disney should be laughable to anyone with a brain. But I do hate some individuals who work for the company and I do hate the way some folks are marginalized and I do hate the way they are trying to Walmart/homogenize the product and I absolutely HATE the way TDO runs WDW. It truly often seems like they have no clue whatsoever. >> Ah ... but Leemac wasn't privvy to what was said. And he isn't a regular member of Tony's posse, which headed to IOA yesterday because they wanted to see the very best in themed entertainment in Orlando, so I doubt he'll be of any help! << <<I know LeeMac, and Tony aren't best Buds, but it's still fun trying to pry information out of him. I love all the kind ways he comes up with ignoring my questions. He's good. Make sure, and catch his review of Toy Story Playland in the Disneyland Paris section of LP. <a href="http://www.laughingplace.com/n...3260.asp>>" target="_blank">http://www.laughingplace.com/n...>></a> I always read what Lee has to say. I have a great deal of respect for his opinions and experience (and as scary as it is I even agree with him far more than I disagree)... but he often is in a difficult position when it comes to what can be said and when and how. Thankfully, I don't have to worry about any of those things.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Anybody can run. Winning is another thing. Poor Bristol must know she's offically going to become the whipping girl of that show. She's going to replace Kate as the one the audience despises. I don't see her at Epcot without an entourage surrounding her.>> I agree on both counts ... >> I've asked Mickey to post many times. He told me he and Minnie and, not surprisingly, Stitch have plenty to say, but have been warned by Zenia Mucha that there will be 'grave consequences' if they post on the LP. << <<When Zenia says grave consequences, she puts a lot of emphasis on GRAVE!>> Yes. >> Thankfully, Martin isn't afraid of Zenia. (of course, he's never had the misfortune of meeting her either) << <<I wouldn't be afraid of her either if we were seperated by a 25 foot high electrical fence. I'm still waiting for her to answer my e-mail.>> So odd she wouldn't respond to a fan's email when she is the Publisher of D23 and all. I bet if you emailed the Publisher of Tales from The Laughing Place you'd get a response! ;-) >> <<So you and Mr. Baxter like to hang out in WDW bathrooms together?>> I never said that. He was heading one way and I was heading ... why am I telling you this? << <<You know I how I love to here fanboi encounters!>> Because of all the fun banter that has developed in this thread, I haven't even gotten to the part about meeting a fanboi who I apparently traumatized so much he decided to not post on another MAGICal site (the situation was so classic, I doubt very much I'll be able to translate it to words ... it truly was one of those 'you had to be there' moments!) I'm just a wuvable old teddy bear, after all! And I really did like the kid (both online and it real life, so it shows ya how easy people miss things in the online world and the real world too!)
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Not to mention dumb, stupid and ignorant. Much like our great airport security. << I have to tell you about the nice security man that cut me a lot of slack at MCO. >> I'd much prefer they do it like they do at the new UNI-Singapore: no bag checks, no one pretending to look in your diaper bag. You come to the turnstyles. You enter your ticket. You enter the park. If an evildoer is going to do something awful, there's not a thing that anyone can do to stop it (other than work to prevent the 'tudes that lead to it). << I can't believe anybody thinks they are any safer at WDW with those security checks. They are only set up to keep me from smuggling in my Gin, and Tonics to avoid paying the Mouse's outrageous drink prices. >> <<They may have drugged him by putting something in his Butterbeer when he was at Uni!>> >> I can't wait to try the stuff! << That why I'm surprised you ended up at the World instead of IOA. >> I just noticed a general trend where we didn't have any bad CMs or any exceptional ones. They were all pretty average and you got the idea that most considered it a job. The only ones who showed a lot of interest were at the Cantina in Mexico, which you'd expect on opening day! << Perhaps they are lead by example? >> I love it. I eat it up. THANKS!!! << I knew you were not only experiencing withdrawl pains from Lost, but also the lack of personal attacks directed at you. >> The most amusing thing is my pals Lee and Martin say almost the exact same things as I do and our views are all pretty much inline and yet ... they don't engender the raw emotion that I do. I'd like to think it's because I'm special! << That's true. I just think they phrase it a little more diplomaticly. Let's face it Spirit you are not exactly a shrinking violet. Tact, and diplomacy are not exactly your forte when discussing Disney. << I'm not going to hang out with you in WDW restrooms like Tony Baxter did! >> >> Trust me, if you gotta go, you will! << I'm afraid people would be starring at us while we were having a discussion over the top of the urinal seperators about the newest planter in the MK. >> It's OK, he also noticed a large chunk of molding had been ripped off one of the doors on the Tron-o-rail as we headed to the TTC too. << It warms the cockles of my heart to know that Lee is ever vigilant. >> So many things I'd like to say here, but these days you can't be too prudish! << It cuts down on ADMIN. time too. I have to go for now. I'll be looking forward to more of Yours, and Lee's, and Martin's Magical day at WDW tomorrow.
