Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<If the coaster has enough show scenes, maybe it'll be a E Tic..?>> EE...you know better than that.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>EE...you know better than that.<<< Sarcasm, people, sarcasm. It'd be nice, I'm hoping for SOME show scenes, but yeah... It'll hopefully be a nice D, at least.
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>I'm hoping for SOME show scenes, but yeah... It'll hopefully be a nice D, at least<< There's a lot of hope flying around on here! Yeti working in October, show scenes on the mine train. I'm sure there will be a token scene, but it appears that a great majority of the course is simply outside track like Casey Jr. Will be a nice scenic diversion as Dumbo is now. Can't imagine it will surround you completely with a Snow White environment like a dark ride would. If you consider the park had the following in Fantasyland prior to this expansion: 1) 20K 2) Character show stage then TLM M&G 3) What some would argue an additional dark ride with second side of MTWR, but nevertheless more capacity 4) Snow White dark ride 5) Dumbo Then the park had the following in ToonTown (not moved elsewhere) prior to this expansion: 1) Goofy Coaster 2) Character Show Stage then Shop 3) Play area Now, looking at what we know of the expansion: 1) TLM = 20K 2) Snow White = Snow White 3) M&Gs = M&Gs 4) DUMBO = DUMBO with more capacity 5) Goofy Coaster = Goofy Coaster 6) Character show = Character show 7) Play area = Play area So this leaves us with more dining. Well, we use to have a full service dining location at the Diamond Horseshoe before it went counter. We have counters in Fantasyland let alone the rest of the park that are underutilized. So, to me, more of a shift rather than addition or additional capacity. All I can say to this effort is that it is similar to what our friends out West are going through, which is one big, giant, placemaking initiative. Would one argue that the new offerings will bring with them more substantially more quality and appeal? Certainly. I agree. But I have a hard time getting excited with a reshuffling of facilities and themes. I have a hard time understanding why this is an "addition/expansion" rather than just something Disney should have done 10 years ago, some of the effort as refurbishments (placemaking) should be SOP. There is no new capacity in contrast to what the MK park had offered when there was not 3 other WDW parks, each of the new quality offerings can't really stand on their own, they are not anchors like ToT or Splash Mountain. So, I'm not too terribly impressed in terms of capacity or additional activities. They're playing catch up both in facilities, offerings and placemaking.
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>Would one argue that the new offerings will bring with them more substantially more quality and appeal for MK? Certainly. I agree.<<
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>>They're playing catch up both in facilities, offerings and placemaking.<<<< EXACTLY. This is something that has been planned since 1998 and now that it's finally here, it's not that new and special.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer ^ obviously. A whole new look for the land and several new dark rides. I'd love that here.
Originally Posted By HMButler79 It's not just that. NEVER EVER in the history of Disney park has an expansion completly 100% revolved around and centered on people lining up to visit characters and play w/ video screens in queues. This is NOT a product to enhance the guest experience. This is to make BOO KOO bucks on PhotoPass and F&B. I don't even think the merch will be anything special if DCAs Mermaid merch is any indication.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>It's not just that. NEVER EVER in the history of Disney park has an expansion completly 100% revolved around and centered on people lining up to visit characters and play w/ video screens in queues. This is NOT a product to enhance the guest experience. This is to make BOO KOO bucks on PhotoPass and F&B. I don't even think the merch will be anything special if DCAs Mermaid merch is any indication.<<<< Well, it's shifted off of that, since January. And it's not exactly a expansion when we loose a classic dark ride, too, you know... Sigh.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>If the parks continue at this pace, there will be tons of better places to drop a few thousand if you're looking for a magical vacation. (Maybe there already are...)<<<< We have found a fair few so far, and counting....
Originally Posted By leobloom Same here, Dave. Had such a great time in Hawaii that I'm trying to figure out how long before I can return. Haven't felt that way about WDW in a looong time. But I'm sure I'll be counting the days and saving my dollars so that I can color birthday cards with Aurora.
Originally Posted By ChiMike >> Had such a great time in Hawaii that I'm trying to figure out how long before I can return. Haven't felt that way about WDW in a looong time.<< Man, they must have some killer toilets on the big island. Come'on leo share with us!
Originally Posted By leobloom My reputation precedes me! Nothing too fancy with the restrooms (although I liked the Wahine/Kane signs for Women/Men). One area where Hawaii felt like Disney was food prices. I wasn't expecting the restaurants to be as expensive as they are -- I knew gas would be a lot more than what we pay on the mainland -- but we had a great time and felt like the vacation and experience were well worth the price. It was easy for me to see why people would want to move there even given the cost of living. And sunrise at Haleakala NP on Maui was ethereal. Almost as good as my 800th visit to the Country Bear Jamboree
Originally Posted By ChiMike ^^ Awesome. One of the places I have never been to. I hope to someday. Probably won't involve me checking out Disney Vacation Club 10: Mickey's Hawaiian Adventure, a twist in sand I do look forward to the chance.
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORWEN: Well, I was really looking forward to coloring with Aurora, myself. She's such a nice girl. You'd all like her, too, if you'd just give her a chance!!!!
Originally Posted By leobloom >> Probably won't involve me checking out Disney Vacation Club 10: Mickey's Hawaiian Adventure, a twist in sand << Uh, me neither. I'm not sure I'd want to stay on Oahu for long anyway. Downtown Honolulu felt like Miami Beach to me. I've never been to a DVC resort, but can anyone answer this question for me? For the DVC resorts that aren't at WDW (like Vero Beach or Myrtle Beach or Oahu or wherever), are the characters prominently featured (like when you walk around the property are there signs with Mickey's and Goofy's faces?) or are the DVC resorts more like other upscale hotels that go for understated elegance? Or is it a little of both?
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>ORWEN: Well, I was really looking forward to coloring with Aurora, myself. She's such a nice girl. You'd all like her, too, if you'd just give her a chance!!!!<<<< I'm sure she's a great chick... if she could stay awake! ...But I'd rather be shown her story, especially her tangles with that Malificent character..
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORWEN: Oh, haven't you heard, EPCOT Explorer, duckling? Aurora doesn't suffer from narcolepsy anymore. There was this nice young prince named Phillip who came along and cured her of that. Now days she's more like a 'waking beauty' who loves to meet and greet and color! (The world is a carousel of color, you know.) You don't know what you're missing until you've colored something with Aurora!
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer This is something that confuses me about these monarchs... Don't they ever, you know, rule over the kingdom? At least they aren't tyrants. Unless they, er, force you into coloring with them...
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORWEN: Oh, Aurora isn't the type to force anybody to do anything. She's so sweet and kind you just WANT to end up pleasing her. And as far as ruling the kingdom goes, her subjects adore her to the point where it doesn't require much effort on her part to actually rule. Remember that song they played in her honor on the day she was born? ORGOCH: Sure do. Went somethin' like this: "Hell ta the King! Hell ta the Queen! Hell ta the Princess Asnora!!"
