Originally Posted By dagobert >>>So far, it's just Anaheim and Hong Kong that have them, but considering that Tokyo is moving their entire iasw facility in the near future, I wouldn't be surprised if they got them too. Although some of them are subtle and fit in great (Lilo and the White Rabbit are the best examples of this IMO), others are pretty blatant and stick out like a sore thumb. I think a lot of it has to do with the music, which doesn't blend at all and is often way too loud to ignore. As much as they want you think that it was composed to blend with the main iasw theme, they're literally just playing another random recording over top of it, with little/no regard for the logical chord progressions<<< That doesn't sound so good. Since I'm not the biggest fan of IASW, I can live with the new dolls. Is the ride still popular in the US? We didn't do it at WDW, but at DLP the lines are still very long.
Originally Posted By u k fan I think in all the years I've been to DLP I've only ever queued more than about 5 minutes for IASW once, I guess I must be lucky! I have mixed feelings about adding the characters. I think I'd rather they did it as a temporary overlay for the 25th, but as that isn't an option I guess we'll have to go with it. Having seen a video of the new version, I agree that the music is one of the biggest issues as it's so jarring. I'm less bothered about adding Jack to POTC, but wish they didn't have to remove other elements to fit him in. I don't know how they'll play it, but I hope Star Tours becomes more multi-lingual. So much of the humour is lost at the moment. It can't be that hard to run different languages in different starspeeders? It seems like a few of these upgrades run into the 25th year, perhaps they should celebrate the 26th anniversary instead?!!!
Originally Posted By FerretAfros iasw is still fairly popular in the US, especially the holiday version at DL. The waits for that are typically in the 45 minute range, which is pretty impressive when you consider the ride's capacity. The rest of the year, it seems like DL has a solid 10-15 minute wait for their version WDW's version was getting short 5-10 minute waits most of the time until FP+ came and messed everything up. Now it seems more likely that you'll find a 30-45 minute wait for it, even on days when the park isn't especially busy. It's definitely one of the stand-out casualties (along with POTC and XXXXX) of FP+ Although I agree it would be nice to have Star Tours in multiple languages (especially since they do it with many other experiences in both parks), I don't think the new version relies on as much dialogue. It has some awkwardly heavy-handed-yet-unclear plot points in it, but most of the ride itself is just C3-PO making noises as he reacts to what's on the screen. He's much less interesting than Captain Rex, IMO
Originally Posted By leemac <<Although some of them are subtle and fit in great (Lilo and the White Rabbit are the best examples of this IMO), others are pretty blatant and stick out like a sore thumb. I think a lot of it has to do with the music, which doesn't blend at all and is often way too loud to ignore. As much as they want you think that it was composed to blend with the main iasw theme, they're literally just playing another random recording over top of it, with little/no regard for the logical chord progressions>> Really? I've always thought they did a great job with the integration - especially in Hong Kong (although I'm clearly bias). I don't find the music jarring at all. I think it just makes the attraction more relevant to folks - particularly in the non-DL parks where the history of the attraction isn't relevant.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt I've never seen the updated version of Small World with the characters. Maybe I'll check it out on my upcoming DL trip.
Originally Posted By Yookeroo Anything that breaks up the monotony of the Small World song is a win as far as I'm concerned.
Originally Posted By dagobert Here's a new pictorial update about DLP. <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.pixiedust.be/photonewsletter/news21juni2015.html">http://www.pixiedust.be/photon...015.html</a>
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I've mentioned it before, but the fresh coat of paint in Discoveryland really looks great!
Originally Posted By dagobert The former Imagination Institute is now the Discoveryland Theatre that shows a preview of Marvel's Ant-Man. <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10155754073845615">http://www.facebook.com/photo....73845615</a>
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Probably a smart move to give it a generic name so it can be used for any film in the future. I still wonder what they're going to do long term with that space, and the former-Magic Eye Theater (currently renamed the Tomorrowland Theater) at DL. It seems like EO is gone for good, but HISTA isn't coming back any time soon either EO is still running in Epcot, but plays to abysmally low audiences. Still, because of the terrible FP+ setup in that park, it's part of the FP system!
Originally Posted By dagobert >>>Probably a smart move to give it a generic name so it can be used for any film in the future.<<< I'm pretty sure that it will also be used for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Star Tours is right next to it and it will not yet be closed for the ST:II make over. That gives DLP a good opportunity to promote the resort and the movie. >>> I still wonder what they're going to do long term with that space, and the former-Magic Eye Theater<<< I don't know if the US theatres are as special as the one at DLP. The theatre at DLP has a moving floor. So I guess they will keep it. I have always wondered at DLP, why they didn't do any previews of Disney movies. WDSP would have been a perfect place for that, while Discoveryland is not.
Originally Posted By dagobert And here's another pictorial update on DLP. <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.dlpwelcome.com/fantasyland-ratatouille-disney-hotel/">http://www.dlpwelcome.com/fant...y-hotel/</a>
Originally Posted By FerretAfros DLP just released more information and a real website for their Half Marathon, coming in September 2016. It's still very preliminary, but it looks like registration opens (starts to open?) on January 12 <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://run.disneylandparis.com/">http://run.disneylandparis.com/</a>
Originally Posted By FerretAfros The photos look really nice! It seems like all the work they've been doing is really paying off It seems a little strange that the Main Street train station still has its 20th paint job. Hopefully it won't last as long as DL's 50th castle colors did... >>I don't know if the US theatres are as special as the one at DLP. The theatre at DLP has a moving floor. So I guess they will keep it.<< The theaters in the US have that too, but for some reason it was publicized a lot more at DLP. It's a really neat but subtle effect during HISTA, so it's nice when it can be used well. During Captain EO, however, they had it thump along with the music, which was not only annoying after several minutes, but it got off the beat. With a platform that big, I just don't think it was designed for quick small motions like that It definitely makes sense to use the theater for Star Wars (I assume DL will do the same). It's perfectly located for it!
Originally Posted By dagobert >>>DLP just released more information and a real website for their Half Marathon, coming in September 2016.<<< Do you have any plans for participating in the marathon? >>>It seems a little strange that the Main Street train station still has its 20th paint job. Hopefully it won't last as long as DL's 50th castle colors did...<<< I hope so too, but I wouldn't be surprised if it stays that way until the 25th Anniversary. >>>The theaters in the US have that too, but for some reason it was publicized a lot more at DLP.<<< I didn't know that, but it makes sense, since HISTA was everywhere the same attarction. >>>It definitely makes sense to use the theater for Star Wars (I assume DL will do the same). It's perfectly located for it!<<< I'm really hoping for The Force Awakens previews at DLP, because we might go there in October or November. However, since it's a JJ Abrams movie, and he likes his Mystery Box, I'm not so sure about that.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>Do you have any plans for participating in the marathon?<< I'm trying to decide. It's a very long trip to make for "just" a half marathon, but I've been itching to get back to Europe for a while now. It's the same weekend as the Berlin Marathon (one of the World Marathon Majors, and where the world records are most often set), which I would much prefer to run. Registration for Berlin is a lottery and I didn't win for this year, so I'm considering trying again for next year. If I get in, I'll do Berlin; if I don't get in, I may do DLP1/2 and another marathon the week before or after (Oslo, Budapest, and 3-Laender are all around that same time). Luckily registration for Berlin's lottery isn't until October/November, and DLP isn't until January, so I still have time to think about it Of course the timing of all this works out very nicely with Oktoberfest! : )
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>I'm really hoping for The Force Awakens previews at DLP, because we might go there in October or November. However, since it's a JJ Abrams movie, and he likes his Mystery Box, I'm not so sure about that.<< I hope they do something; it sounds like DL and Epcot are both getting some sort of promotion for the film, so I would think that DLP might also. This seems like it's going to be big enough that Disney could overrule the director and do whatever they want
Originally Posted By dagobert Hopefully you win in the Berlin marathon lottery. Just out of interest, aren't there any good marathons in the US? Boston and NY are famous. I mean it's not cheap coming to Europe just for running. I guess you are just combining your vacation wit the pleasure of running.
Originally Posted By dagobert I'm going to post the selfie-stick and tripod ban here too. <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.facebook.com/302042929839518/photos/a.902551566455315.1073742057.302042929839518/911144608929344/?type=1&theater">http://www.facebook.com/302042...&theater</a> >>>As we know guests who use tripods generally do it at night when they film the evening shows or to shoot a perfect night picture. Most shoot videos to have good memories, but others post them on Youtube or eventually sell videos of the park. As Disney can't claim a copyright on your footage ( even if they have one on the "image" of Disneyland or others Disney parks ) and as they don't want to use their $500 per hour lawyers to sue everyone making money out of footage showing the parks, the ban on tripods will surely stop guests - not to film but to have perfect footage, professional quality that Disney can't control. It's completely reactionary, and plenty of guests will be angry, but that's how it goes at the Mouse in those days. And of course the good ol' days of selfies with Mickey are now over.<<< I'm not sure about the reason the author gives for the tripod ban, because he often doesn't get the facts right.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>Just out of interest, aren't there any good marathons in the US? Boston and NY are famous.<< Sure, there are tons of great races here. New York, Boston, and Chicago are all part of the World Marathon Majors, and there are dozens of others that are huge and get great reviews (I've done the Marine Corps Marathon in DC several times since it's so convenient; the WDW Marathon is actually one of the best organized races I've ever done; nearly every major and not-so-major city has a race or two that they call their own) But really, I just use races as an excuse to travel and see places that I might not go otherwise. You can get a great impression of a city by seeing the whole thing on foot; it's also fun to see how each city does things differently. Since I don't have a school calendar or anything that makes it easier for me to travel in one month over another, or to any specific location(s), having a race helps me narrow down the possibilities, even if it's just a small component of the trip. Honestly, the running itself isn't all that fun (though it's not as miserable as some people make it sound), but using it as reason to travel builds some rewards into the countless hours of training
