Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>Needing a shower by the time you reach the bus stop when your hair is still wet from the last shower is just ridiculous.<<< This is one of the many reasons why I stuggle in the Southern US or Caribbean, I don't do well with humidity. Just like how WDW can feel colder than Ca at the same temps (if that makes any sense). Humid cold sticks to you.
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb It's true, wet cold sinks into your bones in a way dry cold just can't. My dad lives half time in Cali and half in AZ. He lives in a part of AZ that gets quite cold in the winter, but has an easier time with the cold there than here in California. He where's a sweatshirt in the house here at 60 degrees (F) and the same in his unheated shop there at 40 degrees or less. Just because our air is more humid.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Yep, absolutely. Just like I could happily play in the snow in Sequoia with just a tea shirt and jeans. Not so with the humidity of the UK. Growing up in the San Juquin Valley I could stand far more extremes of temps (both sides) than I can in WDW or Europe, I suppose this is one of my critical factors for prefering DL, not as humid.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>How the hell did they pull that one? Walk you up to the front of the line?<<< Yep. I thought it was odd, too, but I wasn't complaining.
Originally Posted By tashajilek ">>>How the hell did they pull that one? Walk you up to the front of the line?<<< Yep. I thought it was odd, too, but I wasn't complaining. " They have read your comments on lp, and were trying to suck up to you! LOL, kidding, sounds like you had a good time.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer ^ EXACTLY! ;D They know what the Explorer expects. (There, that should make Spirit happy...)
Originally Posted By SuperDry EE wrote: <<< One big positive, though... PIRATES. AA scenes looked stunning. Especially the "splashdown" scene. Looked like a publicity photo. tons of fog, working AAs, blasting audio and music... Really, really stunning. Never seen it like that. >>> Sounds great. But, I do have to make mention of something implicit in your comments: at WDW, it's stunning and noteworthy when an attraction has all of the effects, sound, and AA's in proper working order - so much so that you make a special point in mentioning it. Shouldn't all of the attractions be that way almost all of the time?
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Sounds great. But, I do have to make mention of something implicit in your comments: at WDW, it's stunning and noteworthy when an attraction has all of the effects, sound, and AA's in proper working order - so much so that you make a special point in mentioning it. Shouldn't all of the attractions be that way almost all of the time?>> Ah, but WDW/TDO has conditioned guests to expect that things (often, many, many things) will not be working or working right when they visit. So guests are supposed to be excited when things actually work. Kind of like how many folks feel when they bring their car to a dealership for repairs and rave because they actually fixed what was wrong and didn't screw them over. In other words, they did the bare minimum of what a rational person/consumer would/should expect. Anyway, I'm glad to hear PoC looked good to Young Explorer on his recent visit. But I'm reasonably certain there were plenty of things that still weren't working (and may not have worked in years and years) as opposed to say TDR where it seems like every effect in every attraction works ... all the time. "America can’t move forward until we once again believe...that everyone can enter Frontierland if they try hard enough, and that no one will be denied a dream because a private party has rented out Tomorrowland." Frank Rich, NY Times
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost <<<But I'm reasonably certain there were plenty of things that still weren't working (and may not have worked in years and years) as opposed to say TDR where it seems like every effect in every attraction works ... all the time.>>> Or at least you think that was what was happening. Since you hadn't been there before there is a good chance that many things weren't working there either, how would you know? You wouldn't anymore than a first time visitor in WDW would know. They appreciate what they see instead of whining about what they didn't see. Then they come on this site to express their joy about their experience and on come the waves of Debbie Downers telling them that they are idiots for enjoying an obviously declining venue. That, I believe is the heart of this thread. Frankly, I'm not planning any trip to Tokyo in the near or distant future so the state of that park isn't even the slightest concern of mine.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***Or at least you think that was what was happening. Since you hadn't been there before there is a good chance that many things weren't working there either, how would you know?*** Oops. I'm afraid you've really stepped in it this time, Goofyer. Because you are dead wrong. How do I know? Because I've spent the better part of the last 12 years there, often on a daily basis. And Spirit is dead-on right. And SuperDry knows a lot about the place too (with a better eye for detail than me, honestly...I wouldn't really notice if ONE AA was out of place, but he does!). ***They appreciate what they see instead of whining about what they didn't see*** They appreciate broken stuff? Weird. And sad. ***Frankly, I'm not planning any trip to Tokyo in the near or distant future so the state of that park isn't even the slightest concern of mine*** What an odd non-sequitur. So because you don't want to see the place, that means the fact that the standards are high like the American parks SHOULD be doesn't matter to you? I would imagine there might be families from Sandusky, Ohio who say the same about Disneyland. "well 6-flags is just fine with us and we ain't plannin any trips to Anaheim anyway so we don't care about THAT! Heh!". Sorry dude, you're rant is way full of fail this time. But Happy New Year anyway (I'll be enjoying the Tokyo Disney Resort fireworks display in a few days, did you know that the Tokyo parks totally destroy the other parks on New Years Festivities as well? Ask Spirit. Hey knows. ;p
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>Sounds great. But, I do have to make mention of something implicit in your comments: at WDW, it's stunning and noteworthy when an attraction has all of the effects, sound, and AA's in proper working order - so much so that you make a special point in mentioning it. Shouldn't all of the attractions be that way almost all of the time?<<< You are exactly right, sir. Good point. It SHOULD be like this. But yeah, after years of looking terrible, it returning to it's former glory is newsworthy. Especially if it hasn't had a real refurb since 2006. Maybe 3rd shift has been in there. >>>Anyway, I'm glad to hear PoC looked good to Young Explorer on his recent visit. But I'm reasonably certain there were plenty of things that still weren't working (and may not have worked in years and years) as opposed to say TDR where it seems like every effect in every attraction works ... all the time.<<< Of course. Wind machines weren't working in the catacombs, Davy Jones projection looked odd, and sparkle effect in the Treasure Room was not aligned correctly. But the "main" AA scenes looked better than they had in years. For the first time in a LONG time, the "opener" and "closer" scenes needed help.
Originally Posted By danyoung So why can't a positive comment about something at WDW remain a positive, and not become the anchor to a series of negatives? Pirates is looking great - terrific. Period. Not "well, it may be looking good now, but that's because it's been looking so bad in the past and Disney wants you to get used to poorly maintained attractions and Tokyo Disneyland is SO much better!!!"? It just gets old. On the other hand, as a guy who's been mostly anti-negative in this thread, here's an example of a negative that needs to be pointed out. It's at DisneyLAND, but it's appropriate for this thread. I'm in Anaheim now, and enjoyed a couple rides through the Haunted Mansion Holiday last week. But I noticed something strange in the ballroom scene. You know the two portraits of the duelers on the upper left wall, the ghosts that appear, turn, and fire at each other? Well, the Imagineers apparantly didn't want them to do this during the Holiday makeover, so they turned off a portion of the effect. But strangely, the orange glow of the two guns is still working, as is the sound effect. So about every 10 seconds or so you see two orange glows appear out of nowhere and hear the sound of gunshots. It simply makes no sense as it is, and appears as if they just didn't turn this part of the effect off. There's so much stuff going on in the ballroom that it's not really that big of a deal. But for a company that prides itself on attention to detail, this is some pretty lame attention to detail.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<<But I'm reasonably certain there were plenty of things that still weren't working (and may not have worked in years and years) as opposed to say TDR where it seems like every effect in every attraction works ... all the time.>>> <<Or at least you think that was what was happening. Since you hadn't been there before there is a good chance that many things weren't working there either, how would you know? You wouldn't anymore than a first time visitor in WDW would know.>> Nope, sorry Goof, but I am not a typical WDW guest busy crying over being hugged by a teen in a foamhead costume or seeing a fiberglass castle to notice where they are walking let alone anything actually around them. I am very aware of SQS and what that means from resort to resort. I'm also aware of what is supposed to be experienced whether my Tokyo visit was my first or 1000th. <<They appreciate what they see instead of whining about what they didn't see. Then they come on this site to express their joy about their experience and on come the waves of Debbie Downers telling them that they are idiots for enjoying an obviously declining venue. That, I believe is the heart of this thread. >> Really? I haven't quite figured out what the point of the thread was other than to quell negative comments about WDW (something I find dangerous in any forum about any topic in a free society). <<Frankly, I'm not planning any trip to Tokyo in the near or distant future so the state of that park isn't even the slightest concern of mine.>> Well, that is your loss ... but you won't ever know.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>So why can't a positive comment about something at WDW remain a positive, and not become the anchor to a series of negatives? Pirates is looking great - terrific. Period. Not "well, it may be looking good now, but that's because it's been looking so bad in the past and Disney wants you to get used to poorly maintained attractions and Tokyo Disneyland is SO much better!!!"? It just gets old.<<< Because, like we mentioned, it's in shades of gray... It's a positive that its working again, and looking great, but negative, because that in itself is an oddity. It should ALWAYS be that great. Positive for the actual presentation, negative that it's actually notable, and that we can notice that maint. has changed.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Oops. I'm afraid you've really stepped in it this time, Goofyer. Because you are dead wrong. How do I know? Because I've spent the better part of the last 12 years there, often on a daily basis. And Spirit is dead-on right. And SuperDry knows a lot about the place too (with a better eye for detail than me, honestly...I wouldn't really notice if ONE AA was out of place, but he does!).>> You don't lose an eye for detail just because you are visiting a new place either, X. I DID notice things that weren't right at TDR the same as I would at WDW. The difference being there were far, far, far fewer things to notice in Tokyo than in O-Town. ***They appreciate what they see instead of whining about what they didn't see*** <<They appreciate broken stuff? Weird. And sad.>> Folks get to a point where they don't any better ... and, to be fair, on some big things (like Disco Yeti for example) if they have never seen him actually work, they may believe he is supposed to be dancing to Donna Summer's 'Last Dance'. ;-) ***Frankly, I'm not planning any trip to Tokyo in the near or distant future so the state of that park isn't even the slightest concern of mine*** <<What an odd non-sequitur. So because you don't want to see the place, that means the fact that the standards are high like the American parks SHOULD be doesn't matter to you? I would imagine there might be families from Sandusky, Ohio who say the same about Disneyland. "well 6-flags is just fine with us and we ain't plannin any trips to Anaheim anyway so we don't care about THAT! Heh!". Sorry dude, you're rant is way full of fail this time.>> Yeah, but it just means my comparison thread will be quite entertaining if I ever start writing it! <<But Happy New Year anyway (I'll be enjoying the Tokyo Disney Resort fireworks display in a few days, did you know that the Tokyo parks totally destroy the other parks on New Years Festivities as well? Ask Spirit. Hey knows. ;p>> Spirit would like to witness the insanity for himself sometime ... just kinda to say he did!
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost The only real problem with you guys is that you base all your anxt on your individual way of looking at things. Do you have an eye for detail and how things should be? I have no doubt but if having that eye means that I can no longer enjoy WDW to it's fullest, then I don't want that eye. I'm far happier without it. X has been there many times and I wouldn't have questioned his observations and absolute statement that everything was working. Spirit, although an expert on the US sites is more of a neophite when it comes to Tokyo. I guess it just goes down to the fact that I am not influenced by either of your opinions on this topic, because I use my own judgment on what I enjoy and what I don't. If my tolorance for things not working is higher than yours well that's just too bad and none of your business anyway. This lady came on line and stated her joy with what she experienced at WDW. A lot of people basically told her what a moron she was for feeling that way especially since Disney had declined so much since it's inception. She created this basically asking why. Why do you folks find it necessary to burst her bubble? What possible joy do you get from it? Is it the display of Disney superiority that makes it so appealing or is it just an uncontrolable need to spread "joy" everyplace. She was looking for a place that had the same feelings she had, but that isn't what she got. She basically said, like Thumper, "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. She had that right also. I admit that she was a tad too sensitive about it, but just like yourselves she was looking for common ground, common emotions and common experiences. This board is no longer able to supply that. We must be told over and over again how bad it has gotten as if there is anything, short of not going anymore, that we can do about it. You guys don't even do that. Send letters to the Disney people, they are the only ones that can make things all better again. The rest of us would just like to enjoy what we do have. Share the fun and awe. There are plenty of threads that are set up strickly to beat up the Mouse, that would be a good place for all that negativity.
Originally Posted By skinnerbox << Well, the Imagineers apparantly didn't want them to do this during the Holiday makeover, so they turned off a portion of the effect.>> Do you know this for a fact? I doubt the effect would have been turned off deliberately. Sounds as if the lighting on the two dueling mannequins was not functioning for the Pepper's Ghost effect. The pistol flash at the end of their guns had not been turned off and was seen in the appropriate locations at the proper time, which means power was being supplied to their turntables and they were moving. They were simply not being illuminated by their lighting rigs during that movement. I've seen similar effect malfunctions in Pirates and Indy, that didn't get repaired for days. The worst was a projector lamp warning in the Indy bug room, that lasted the length of my three-day trip. Instead of the digital animated bugs, the projector displayed a "WARNING! REPLACE LAMP SOON!" maintenance message on the wall. Way to kill the atmosphere.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>I've seen similar effect malfunctions in Pirates and Indy, that didn't get repaired for days. The worst was a projector lamp warning in the Indy bug room, that lasted the length of my three-day trip. Instead of the digital animated bugs, the projector displayed a "WARNING! REPLACE LAMP SOON!" maintenance message on the wall. Way to kill the atmosphere.<<< JII had that in the stink room this past trip on the canisters that become a slot machine. It stunk.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***Yeah, but it just means my comparison thread will be quite entertaining if I ever start writing it!*** Consider it your end-of-year project. That way you'll have a deadline! ;p ***Spirit would like to witness the insanity for himself sometime ... just kinda to say he did!*** It's equal parts hilarious and awe-inspiring. Probably the most singularly unique Disney experience I can imagine.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer ^ And I thought the 8:45-9:15 AM Quest for Soarin' FPs were insane...
