Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt The new expanded Hub looks great. Nice finishes and plenty of detail throughout. Although he astroturf sitting areas are functional, people lounging on them make the spaces look kind of tacky during the day. <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://micechat.com/96093-new-magic-kingdom-hub-opens-making-lots-new-room/">http://micechat.com/96093-new-...ew-room/</a> What do you all think?
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA Looks nice. Seems like that artificial turf is gonna get HOT during the hot summer months.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Florida tourists look tacky no matter where they are. ;-) I think it looks like a very well thought-out addition.
Originally Posted By dagobert This looks well done, although I miss the old view from the times when the big trees were still there. When we had been there, everything was covered behind the fence. Does the MK get so crowded that they needed a bigger hub? What was the reason for expanding the hub.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Does the MK get so crowded that they needed a bigger hub? What was the reason for expanding the hub.>> Yes, at times it was truly dangerous when trying to leave following the evening parade or fireworks.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I like the look of the new areas. There's still a lot of work to be done until the hub construction is complete (though it seems like they're moving pretty quickly on the new pavement surrounding the Partners statue), but what's open now looks pretty nice. Seeing all those people lounging on the fake grass reminds me of DLP : ) In addition to providing more room for people to move around, it also gives them the two new reserved viewing areas for FP+. Because there's only one nightly showing of the fireworks (or the daytime parade), it has incredibly low FP+ capacity. Having these new areas should give them more FP+ slots to give away, and will also free up more 'good' spots in the rest of the hub for non-FP guests Personally, I think they could solve a lot of those problems by making a new non-hub-centric fireworks show (similar to what DL appears to be doing) to help spread the crowds throughout the park, rather than focusing them into the main circulation area.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt MA poster Thor Swensen had this reaction to the new lawn spaces: "Oh. My. God. Those photos of blubbery, fat, pasty Americans sprawled out on the Astroturf like beached whales wearing casual separates is just too much to bear. No one sprawled on the Astroturf in those photos looks attractive, and most look dreadfully ugly and sloth-like. This is the dumbing down and WalMart-ing of Disney World taken to the most unattractive extreme. It's sickening to see the once gracious Central Plaza of Walt Disney World's flagship theme park look like a homeless shelter after feeding time. And then there's that one couple where the dude is climbing onto his lady friend, looking like he's about to get to third base. Stay classy Orlando! Allowing the pudgy 21st century tourists to roll around on the Astroturf was a very, very bad decision. It simply cheapens the park, and the entire Disney "brand". And it looks horrible." O.O
Originally Posted By monorailblue Yeah--I think the new sundeck, er, "grassy" areas in the hub are a bad idea, especially when bikini weather is upon us. I'd swap out the fake grass for something less comfortable lickety split. Otherwise, it looks really good.
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance Maybe eventually they will add more benches in the grass so people will sit on those rather than the grass. Hans, why aren't you livid about the lack of benches?
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORDDU: I suppose it just comes with the territory that there will always be certain guests who relate to Disney theme parks like as if it's their personal home--where they do the same things they would do in their kitchens, living rooms, bedrooms and even bathrooms... ORWEN: We're learning to overlook a lot of bad behavior from other guests. ORGOCH: 'Course none a them's ever gonna' be able ta overlook the bad behavior from two loser sisters like mine!
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "Hans, why aren't you livid about the lack of benches?" I am, but I'm assuming they're on the way since the area isn't finished.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>Maybe eventually they will add more benches in the grass so people will sit on those rather than the grass.<< It always amazes me how few benches they have in the hub at MK. Considering how many various shows they have there each day, it would make sense to offer some comfortable seating for guests. I've heard some people cite crowd control as a reason to not add benches, yet DL seems to use them very effectively as barricades (with seats!) to divert traffic and designate viewing areas
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Come on folks. People in the other 49 states just aren't as gorgeous as those of you in the Golden State. I don't know if it is genetics, or the vast sums of money you spend to stay beautiful. But face it... WDW is the Holy Grail for the people of Walmart. Their ultimate dream is not to go to Paris, it is to go to Dizzyworld. And WDW has always been horrendous when it comes to finding a place to sit. I always suspected it was a plot to keep guests lined up for CoP, Hall of Presidents, and the Tiki Room but perhaps I am wrong. Maybe it was just an oversight. Just a note for all... a person of Walmart lounging on the AstroTurf really looks no worse than a person of Walmart sitting on a curb. Just saying. P.S. Do you really think WDW created all those Value Resort rooms for people with an American Express Gold card in their wallet? Get a grip! Besides... many of the Brits at WDW are even tackier than the rednecks. Go figure.
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance I thought Disney priced itself out of the middle class market? Are they too Walmart or too expensive? I'm confused.
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance "I am, but I'm assuming they're on the way since the area isn't finished." I'm so proud of you right now, Hans.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip With fairly low-priced multi-day passes and the Value Resorts on site, WDW is really not a an upper-middle class and above destination. Especially when you consider the large population of people in the SE United States who are within a one day drive... no airfare required. I don't think DL has priced themselves out of the market either. When you can buy an annual pass for about the same amount as you spend at Starbucks in a year, I don't think it is a big deal. But you know. Complainers.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA <Come on folks. People in the other 49 states just aren't as gorgeous as those of you in the Golden State> True
Originally Posted By hopemax I was there last week, when they still had the wall up, and I'm going back on Monday. I don't like it. There is a difference between the work done by set/production designers, and work done by random art people. You can see it in things like Diagon Alley and you can see it in what Disney does now. The DVC at GF, the new Poly lobby, the Starbucks interiors, those brackets holding the wreaths on Main Street now, the new Pandora area in Uptown Jewelers, and now this. At first glance it's "nice." But it's no better than what interior designers are doing in spaces "back home." It does not take that extra step and elevate it to the type of work the old "movie men" brought to Disney spaces a half century ago. It does not take your breath away, and mostly it's just an "eh." But "eh's" are not what made Disney special. Ditto for landscape architects vs "gardeners." I was just reading about Olmsted's design philosophies for the Chicago World's Fair (and he designed many other city park systems including Central Park.) I was struck by how much it reminded me of what into Bill Evans philosophies at Disney (I imagine he studied Olmsted, quite a bit). We are losing all that now, by people who don't think there's a difference.
