Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 Hmm ... I guess not much going on in the world of pixie dust these days right? ;-) So ... what have I missed? Marvel. D23. MK expansion. Star Tours 2.0 (what Spirit told ya this was coming YEARS ago?). DCL going to Alaska (again, I seem to recall a certain Spirit saying so as soon as the new ships were announced, but who is keeping score, right?) Pirates 4. Way kewl models of HKDL expansion. Fanboi drool enough to flood Atlanta. ... Oh, yeah, and the sacking of Dick Cook at the Disney Studios. So much and where to begin? What's the pulse of the LP community on the above? Have I missed anything else (yeah, I know the DD McD's was robbed ... I felt that way at the DLP McD's recently myself, just without guns or rope). I'll never have time to wade through it all, but know that I have missed the LP (and likely won't be around all that much in the next month due to work/family commitments) and wanted to check in. I've been busy myself. Went from DLP to DL in 48 hours. Never did that before (wait, I think I did in 2006). I have lots of thoughts (and maybe even some photos, yeah TDLFAN, for you!) of two resorts that put WDW to shame in so many ways. I also got to have lunch just a few feet from the DLP 'brain trust' at Walt's ... nice to see they dine with the little people, even if their lunches all go on the company as opposed to my $60 lunch excluding the bottles of wine my group consumed. Boy, I gotta say that Philippe Gas is one good-looking exec whether you're into dudes or not ... according to a Disney lawyer (who shall remain nameless) who I met at a post Emmys bash, he is 'our best-looking executive, bar none' ... sort of made George Kalogridis (his No. 2 , who was seated to his right at the table) look more like George Costanza, just absent the charm. Yeah, it's been an interesting month for this here Spirit. Most interesting of 2009 in countless ways. Imagine my surprise when I was wandering around the Grand Californian on Monday only to almost literally run into Al Weiss, who gave a warm greeting and brief chat. Could he have forgotten who the Spirit is? Maybe it's the fact I have lost 30 pounds and there's less of me to love (if that's possible). Had no idea why he was there, but figured out in a few short minutes that the DVC dedication was taking place and they were having a party. Of course, I was a bit slow as well as it has been a wild wacky month. I've climbed down the Eiffel Tower (you do FEEL it the next day ... and the next ...) I've stormed Omaha Beach in a rain squall with two younger, crazier dudes that made me give into peer pressure ... the tide was out ... way out ... the rain was on the way in. I was awed by the cemetery above the beautiful French cliffs and saddened about the sacrifices so many made to truly protect freedom for the world (for some reason I want to see Saving Private Ryan again). I got to hang on the Red Carpet and spend time at the Lost table at the Governor's Ball where the amazingly talented (and oh-so-deserving) Michael Emerson handed me his Emmy and Terry O'Quinn didn't throw a knife into my back ... and I begged Carlton Cuse to convince ABC to add another six hours to this final season of the best drama on TV. I got told by Sully Sullenberger that it wasn't too late for me to start flying in my mid-30s (no comment on the age, just I like the guy even more!) I also had an actress, who had an Incredible role in a Disney film, ask me to take her photo with the captain who landed a jet on a river more smoothly than some of the landings I've had on runways. Oh yeah, and I met a President too. And yet I still had time to soak in the magic in Paris and Anaheim. Saw Dumbo fly and a dragon attack Mickey on one continent, while I saw a dragon live under another castle and a wall of shame in Peter Pan's Paris queue (George, take a brush and get out there ... obscene writing may be considered a lucky thing for some in seedy restrooms, but not in a Disney theme park ... and not when it's been there since at least early August!) I rode in the front row of Space Mountain in Paris and on Screamin at DCA. I encountered Stitch at DSP and danced with Goofy at DLP (really! and yeah, it was and is scary!) I got to see two resorts that understand that Halloween season doesn't begin the Friday before Labor Day ... that it doesn't really start until this weekend after autumn has officially begun. I saw (shockingly) gum for sale at DD in Anaheim and saw Incredible Hulk tees on sale at Vault 28 as well (of course, they also had Batman and Robin and Oakland Raiders tees too!) And I saw teams of CMs at both resorts that really put WDW's to shame, no easy way to state that. I also found out where 4-5 year-old Disney merchandise goes when even Property Control doesn't want it and Disney can't sell it all. Did I mention how I 'fought' Michael for his Emmy? ;-) So ... what's been going on? Any excitement in O-town? Other than that bad coaster opening at UNI ... and BEC officials staying mum on the potential Blackstone deal? What's the Mouse up to? Raise food prices again? More cutbacks? Any more DVC pics I missed? Or are we all covered in pixie dust knowing that by 2012-13, we can all find our inner princesses at the MK? (P.S. What wasn't said about WDW, DLP -- and SHANGHAI -- at D23 is almost as fascinating, if not more so, than what was.) So, c'mon guys and gals, help a Spirit catch up and he just 'might' put out some thoughts (and even pics) from Disney's magical realms in Paris and Anaheim. ~This is the one and ONLY Spirit and I approved this post~
Originally Posted By CarolinaDisneyDad Glad you are back. Everyone is still talking about the MK expansion and harry potter. not much else is getting anybody excited so I can't wait for the details on your adventures.
Originally Posted By Eisner Fan 4ever Why are the cast members at WDW poorer than elsewhere?You sound qualified to answer that one and I think there is some truth in it too but my experience at other parks is very limited. I thnk the quality of castmember seems to hae declined since say 15 years ago? Can you discuss that Mr 74?
Originally Posted By Disneymom443 Welcome back you had a fun filled month. I would love to see some pictures. As stated above, we are just talking about FL expansion and people who are happy with it and those that are not. We had some great pictures from Denise of the MNSSHP and a great video too. Now I'm just wating for the Food and Wine Fes. to Start, starts tomorrow.
Originally Posted By disney pete sounds like one helluva trip you had there pics would be very welcomed.
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORDDU: It's always a pleasure to hear from you, Spirit, duckling. Can't wait to hear more of your reactions to various Disney happenings. Hugs.
Originally Posted By MPierce I got my teeth cleaned while you were gone. Did you get a chance to make it over to Eddie Sotto's place.
Originally Posted By -em I was just thinking about ya and hoped your journeyings were going well I think thats about all ya missed except TTA being back opened, destruction of the skyway building (pretty much in plain view esp with TTA open) Food n Wine starting tomorrow (interesting to see how the pay for seminars will go over this year) and the bus system being in the news (again) -em
Originally Posted By demderedoseguys >So ... what have I missed?< See the Duped by Disney thread. Your name came up.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Welcome back my dear Spirit.>> It is truly a pleasure to be back ... in the LP ... not so sure about sticky, icky SoFla. Expect a Spirited ring in the next few days ...
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Glad you are back. Everyone is still talking about the MK expansion and harry potter.>> I am excited by both, although I think Potter will appeal to me more because if I wanted a princess then I'd date one! (Oh yeah, tried that and didn't work so well!) But seriously, any spending of this magnitude on the stalest MK of them all can only be praised ... especially if Phase 3 of the concept gets done down the road. After visiting both DLP and DL again, I can honestly say that it can be argued that WDW has the worst MK of all (yeah, including HKDL). I wouldn't say that myself, but it is close because MK has been so WalMarted and HKDL gets so many of the important 'little Disney details' right. <<not much else is getting anybody excited so I can't wait for the details on your adventures.>> I'll likely toss out both DLP and DL observations in one shot (spent multiple days at both resorts) and compare/contrast with my 11 days in O-Town in July. Hopefully, it'll provoke some Spirited discussion.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<ORDDU: It's always a pleasure to hear from you, Spirit, duckling. Can't wait to hear more of your reactions to various Disney happenings. Hugs.>> Truly great to see you broads swimming again in the LP pond, such as it is!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I got my teeth cleaned while you were gone.>> Both of them? <<Did you get a chance to make it over to Eddie Sotto's place.>> Regrettably, no. I came close to it when at the Nokia for the Emmys, but my schedule was packed with business and pleasure and I only had one brief window free and wanted to make sure Eddie was around when I stopped in. I should be back out there in November or early December for a few weeks and hope to hook up then. Has he been back posting on that MAGICAL site? And have the fanbois over yonder stopped wetting themselves over Marvel yet and started wetting themselves over Princess meet and greets? ;-)
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 >So ... what have I missed?< <<See the Duped by Disney thread. Your name came up.>> Actually, just read the whole thread and am debating whether to add smoke to the fire ... knowing this Spirit, I think we know where I'm headed.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Actually, there is plenty of smoke there already. Would like to see some actual fire if it really exists.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 ^^It actually does, Trippy. But I'd rather talk about ... other Spirited matters. Like why is it that DLP can have incredibly beautiful flowers in bloom all over the place IN FALL, while wood chips count as landscaping at WDW? Or why is it that DLP and DL show quality is so much better than WDW's that it almost is like they are run by different companies? Or why DL can have four (actually five if you include July 4th or six if you include NYE etc) great pyro shows at various times of the year that are FREE to all guests, while MK will just get you Wishes unless you pay an extra $59 or go sit on the beach at the Poly? Or why double-wide strollers and ECVs are non-existent in Paris and few and far between in Anaheim? Or why merchandise at all resorts ain't what it should be? Or ... well, we can talk about it later, I want to watch the funny dude from Scotland.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Like why is it that DLP can have incredibly beautiful flowers in bloom all over the place IN FALL, while wood chips count as landscaping at WDW?>> My understanding is that DLP prices are considerably higher than WDW. Could that account for the difference? <<Or why is it that DLP and DL show quality is so much better than WDW's that it almost is like they are run by different companies?>> Different markets. Some expect quality. Some want a dozen princesses to sign their kid's autograph book. <<Or why DL can have four (actually five if you include July 4th or six if you include NYE etc) great pyro shows at various times of the year that are FREE to all guests, while MK will just get you Wishes unless you pay an extra $59 or go sit on the beach at the Poly?>> Illuminations blows away any other pyro show I've ever seen, and it is presented free 365 days per year. Anyone going to WDW KNOWS where to go for a great pyro show. <<Or why double-wide strollers and ECVs are non-existent in Paris and few and far between in Anaheim?>> More fat people and kids at WDW. <<Or why merchandise at all resorts ain't what it should be?>> People are unwilling to pay for quality. Look at the success of Wal-Mart. <<Or ... well, we can talk about it later, I want to watch the funny dude from Scotland.>>
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Hey Roadtrip - $ for $ WDW and DLP work out about the same. Tickets are actually cheaper at DLP, hotels are on par (except for the Disneyland Hotel), pins and food are cheaper in WDW. And Spirit (welcome back buddy) does have a few rose tinted glasses about DLP me thinks ;-) It is still a shadow of it's former greatness, but still nowhere near as bad as the lamo MK in WDW.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo And spirit, you forgot to add, DL and DLP do not charge extra for people to enjoy their Halloween treats too. There are pay parties at both, but they also have a huge slate of halloween offerings for day ticket holders too.
