Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Spirit! I thought of you when I read that this morning. Again, folks, GO TO DLR!!! <--- FLASHING LIGHTS If you haven't been in a few years, GO TO DLR. If you haven't every been !!!!!GO TO DLR!!!!!>> LISTEN TO THE MAN! ... SKIP WDW. GO TO DLR. You won't be sorry! <<1) These kind of tidbits are why I can't agree with Lee's POV on John & Co. It just doesn't line up. Actually, it has made me suspect the dynamics around WDP&R.>> I have suspected so much from P&R for a very long time. But everything I hear about John (from insiders, not fanboys or foamers) is positive. Everyone says the man 'gets it' ... he understands the Disney Legacy. At least when it comes to the A's ... Animation and Anaheim. <<2) It doesn't take a rocket scientist to make these calls. John HAS earned the opportunity to point out these obvious choices. Nothing puts a bigger smile on my face then when he does so.>> No, sadly it doesn't. Imagine actually selling merchandise that 'fits' where it is being sold. Wow. Telling the story in retail ... gee, isn't that how Walt Disney created the world's first theme park? The thing isn't that the 'leadership teams' in Anaheim and Orlando don't know this or understand this. It's that since the mid-90s consultant-spewed Eisner edict that each location was to be judged as a seperate business unit (and not part of the larger whole) and had to meet specific financial objectives that retail in the parks and resorts totally went to hell. <<3) I am somewhat sad that he doesn't have the inclination to be as involved with WDW which desperately needs this no-nonsense approach.>> I am very saddened about it. I think part of it is John does have a very Anaheim-centric bias/viewpoint as a California boy. That means great things for DL and DCA, but not much for WDW (or any of the foreign parks). I don't think Ed Grier would be able to make half of Wall Street into a giant World of Disney outlet like Phil Holmes did. Not only would the fan community go ape-pooh, but more importantly John would never allow it to happen. At WDW, anything goes. <<Even with it's struggles DLR is booming and a great place to be. Mixing traditions that stood the test of time with good food, great hotel service, maintained facilities, and first class additions.>> Yes. Like I've said a few times. I've now gone over five months without visiting WDW, but I've had two DLR visits and one HKDL visit in the meantime. I see DLR as a great product that is getting better all the time. I see WDW as largely a stale product that improves in some ways, but is being WalMarted in others at the same time.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I don't think Ed Grier would be able to make half of Wall Street into a giant World of Disney outlet like Phil Holmes did.>> Oops, I think we know what Street the Spirit is thinking about. I meant Main Street ... although the substance underlying Wall Street is about equal to the quality of merchandise seen in MK's Emporium!
Originally Posted By MPierce >> $10.23 here in the UK << How much of that is tax Dave? Gas dropped to $3.17 at my local Kroger (that is with a 10 cent discount though). Still way over priced.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Something like 62% of it is tax But I am with ChiMike and Spirit here. DL offers the best Disney experience for the parks where they speak English. Sadly as much as I love DLP, the WDW trained management team got their dirty hands on the merhandise so that much of it is the same rubbish. High School Musical merchandise in Star Traders WTH? I feel sorry for all the people that only know WDW. Then again I also envy them. I get really grumpy at the MK because it feels to me so much less of an experience than DL or DLP (even though DLP has less attractions). Oh, and my nightmares are coming to DLP - they are introducing Halloween, Xmas, and Pirate and Princess Parties! Thank goodness Dl is still sensible!
Originally Posted By irishfan >>Sadly as much as I love DLP, the WDW trained management team got their dirty hands on the merhandise so that much of it is the same rubbish. High School Musical merchandise in Star Traders WTH?<< DL isn't immune to this though, my biggest gripe of my recent trip was the merchandise. Hannah Montana wigs in Tomorrowland??
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Oh I agree, they have ruined all the parks. DLP and DL are in better condition than WDW retail wise. But considering the retail story telling used to be sooooo strong on DLP, what it is now is heart breaking! DL was not as great as it used to be (retail wise) last trip for us, but I was at least able to find unique merchandise in theme appropriate locations. I think gone are the days of being able to buy: Real classic cars in Main Street (DLP) shrunken heads (Adventureland DL and WDW) antiques in NOS Silver wear in Liberty Square etc. :-(
Originally Posted By danyoung >...my biggest gripe of my recent trip was the merchandise. Hannah Montana wigs in Tomorrowland??< It was very encouraging to read the other day that the Mercantile in Frontierland is now stocking land-appropriate merchandise, apparantly after John Lasseter complained that the same stuff was available at most of the stores in most of the lands. A very good trend, IMO.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 ^^It's just a small thing, but something I noticed a few weeks ago. Hopefully, John will look at other retail locations and the awful mix of merchandise, although DL isn't nearly as bad as WDW in this matter. Someone should tell John that Florida's trading post got changed into a massive pin outlet years ago (way to go Phil and Dan!)
Originally Posted By irishfan The new shop on Main Street, it's name escapes me (replacing Time Century), also sounds very promising. Has anyone visited it?
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<The new shop on Main Street, it's name escapes me (replacing Time Century), also sounds very promising. Has anyone visited it?>> Fortuosity (sp?) I believe. It wasn't open when I was there two weeks ago. There's pics and a review on Mouseplanet.com's DL update. The overall feeling I got was nicely designed place with the same merchandise you can get all over the DLR.
