Originally Posted By FerretAfros Dalmatians!!! >>I'm always amazed how it takes Disney to build something in the US. For example the Fanatsyland expansion. I got impression that it took them forever.<< Some of that is actual slowness, but some of it is also the delay between the announcement and when they actually start construction. They announced the Fantasyland project at the 2009 D23, and the first parts of it were ready in mid-2012, which is about 3 years. Considering that many parts of it didn't even start construction for 6-12 months after the announcement, that's not a terrible timeline Additionally, once they started to open things up, it became even more difficult to work on the remaining parts, because of the constrained worksite. The last year-or-so of the Mine Train (which wasn't part of the original announcement, and had to be rushed into construction) had its site completely blocked off from backstage access, making for limited daylight work that can be done, and extremely limited hours that vehicles can access the site The current hub project at MK has similar issues. Because of the park's operating hours, most of the work can only be done in 4-6 hour overnight shifts before they need to start cleaning up for that day's guests. Although most of Disney's projects are buildings, they must be built with similar planning to a freeway interchange, where the surrounding traffic can't be interrupted making for a very slow building process
Originally Posted By dagobert Okay, that sounds logical. I just had the impression, compared to Universal, that Disney in Florida wasn't on the fast track when it comes to building new attraction.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Universal has definitely built things faster than Disney, but they also have different constraints. Their two biggest recent project (Harry Potter 1 & 2) have both had extensive backstage access with relatively small boundaries with the park itself. That makes it a lot easier to just tear everything out and build from scratch (like how the Fantasyland project began) Additionally, Universal's buildings tend to be less complex than what Disney builds. Transformers was built on a site in the middle of the park in just under a year (which is ridiculously fast for any park), but is basically just a plain steel box structure with very limited physical sets inside. The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train was built on a site in the middle of the park in about 2.5 years, but was shaped and decorated to look like a mountain, both outside and in. Doing that sort of work is a lot more difficult than the plain structures (occasionally with "stick on"-type facades fabricated off site and added on after the structure is complete, rather than being integral to the structure) that Universal prefers Additionally, Universal doesn't hold itself to as high of a show quality standard. When Transformers was being built, it wasn't uncommon to see photos of construction vehicles parked in areas of the park that were open to guests, but had been temporarily roped off; I don't think something like that would ever fly at Disney And at the end of the day, Universal just needs the stuff more badly than Disney does. When you really need to pull people into your park in a hurry, it's worth the extra cost to rush the construction schedule as much as possible (like they did with Transformers). But when your parks have relatively healthy attendance (like at Disney, Studios excluded) there's little incentive to really rush the project any more than is necessary
Originally Posted By u k fan dagobert, sorry I didn't respond sooner. I'm not sure about discounts for HP, but I know a few places I can look that might help. PM me on Facebook and we'll go from there!!!
Originally Posted By dagobert Thanks a lot, ukfan. I will get in touch with you over the next days. Thanks again.
Originally Posted By dagobert Here's a new article about the NPBC renovation. <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://disneylandparis-news.com/en/disneys-newport-bay-club-refurbishment-focus-on-the-furniture/">http://disneylandparis-news.co...rniture/</a>
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Wow, that sounds a lot more complicated than I had imagined. I guess when you're working on such a huge scale, something as "simple" as repainting the walls and using new furniture becomes a much more difficult project
Originally Posted By dagobert Here's a new update on DLP. <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.disneygazette.fr/gazette-portail-sol-silver-spur-frozen-dumbo-sm-affiches-lego-newport-bbhotel-news-1685.html">http://www.disneygazette.fr/ga...685.html</a>
Originally Posted By FerretAfros It looks like the first hotel at Villages Nature is really starting to come along, as is the extended deck over the rail lines. I'll be curious to see what they add on that new space, since there's so much available land to the south. An extension of Disney Village would be nice, since that area got pretty desolate pretty quickly when I attempted to walk to Val d'Europe (and quickly changed my mind and took thetrain)
Originally Posted By dagobert If I'm not mistaken, the deck over the train track is an expansion for the Val d'Europe Shopping Centre.
Originally Posted By dagobert @ ukfan I am sorry for not getting in contact with you, but we are already in The UK. We skipped HP and went to Cardiff instead and did the Doctor Who Experience.
Originally Posted By u k fan I hope you had/are having a great time. I really want to go to the Doctor Who Experience so I'd be interested to hear your comments!!!
Originally Posted By dagobert @ ukfan London was great, but since it is my favourite city to visit, that wasn't surprising. Cardiff was also a nice little city. As for the Doctor Who Experience, it was okay. We liked it, but I'm not sure if we would do it again. The "Experience" itself wasn't bad, but the exhibition afterwards was a bit disappointing. They had some props, sets and costumes on display, but honestly, I expected a bit more. If you are a Doctor Who fan, than you should see it at least once. I will post some pictures later.
Originally Posted By dagobert Here's a new pictorial update about DLP. <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.disneygazette.fr/gazette-sol-frozen-adventureland-nautilus-jedi-bbhotel-commemoration-news-1693.html">http://www.disneygazette.fr/ga...693.html</a>
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt Gosh, I'd completely forgotten that DLP has a Planet Hollywood. I think the San Francisco location closed in 2001. The chain is completely off my radar. Not sure how I feel about the lighting contraptions on the Castle roof tops. I'll just say I hope they're temporary.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros WDW still has a Planet Hollywood in their DTD too. From the looks of things, it will survive the Disney Springs makeover, but will get a new exterior >>Not sure how I feel about the lighting contraptions on the Castle roof tops. I'll just say I hope they're temporary.<< I agree, they don't look especially nice. The description says something about it being for the Dreams show, but I don't remember them. It seems like if they're for the show, they should find a more permanent-looking solution, since it seems like the show is here to stay
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "WDW still has a Planet Hollywood in their DTD too." Has to be one of the only ones left in the US.
Originally Posted By irishfan >>I agree, they don't look especially nice. The description says something about it being for the Dreams show, but I don't remember them. It seems like if they're for the show, they should find a more permanent-looking solution, since it seems like the show is here to stay<< These are used for the Christmas Installation each year. They have been put back in for the Summer Season due to "Frozen" Summer Campaign. I'm guessing it will involve the Frozen segment in Dreams.
Originally Posted By dagobert The lightning on the castle roof tops doesn't look that bad in real life. Of course it can be seen, but you have to look carefully. We always go to DLP during the winter months when the lightning is on top, but it never bothered us.
