Originally Posted By dagobert >>>Bottom line: no such site should be taken without a grain or three of salt.<<< I know that of course. However this time the article was written with such a sincerity so that there might be some truth behind it. And when I was still an active member at Micechat, many rumours turned out to be true, like you have already mentioned.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>However this time the article was written with such a sincerity so that there might be some truth behind it.<< Perhaps, but I always prefer the quiet confidence, like how Al wrote. Yes, he inserted opinions, and yes he often got things wrong, but the whole "the sky is falling!" tone of this update was really off-putting to me. Al always prefaced things with "this is how it stands now, and is subject to change at any time", where the new author(s) states simply that these things are going to happen and there's no two ways about it And when you see how fervently the (presumed) authors defend it in the comments, it really makes you wonder. Perhaps it really is just their writing style. Perhaps there's no reliable source now that Tony's retired. But it seems like someone somewhere along the way should step back and think about what they're saying. For as many readers as those updates get, it's a wonder that they're written so sloppily (and edited after the fact so sneakily)
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt I wouldn't have much of an issue with their updates if they didn't try so hard to throw meat to the manic fan base who believe that Disney management is purposely trying to destroy Walt's legacy. They really do take themselves very seriously over there and I frequently get the impression from their articles that they believe that they are some kind of Disneyland corporate watchdog.
Originally Posted By TP2000 If you don't believe Miceage articles and feel that they made up the whole Star Wars Tomorrowland thing out of thin air, then this "On Hold" status (which is actually the phrase Miceage just used for this project) doesn't mean anything because it was all made up and was never going to happen anyway. Over and done. Miceage also did say that the Soarin' HD rehab this winter, which is another thing only they have mentioned thus far, was still on track as one of the few rumored Anaheim projects to survive. I think that's good news, if you believe the rehab is happening anyway. And then there's that mess with the Submarines...
Originally Posted By oc_dean I finally just got through reading the 183 comments from that update. SCATHING comments directly questioning Miceage's credibility. We all have to ask the big question - Just where is the Miceage staff getting their information from??? Hey .. I've been reading this "online Disney theme park gossip" between here on LP, Micechat, Mouseinfo, Mouseplanet, Jim Hill, etc .. for 13 years now! You learn something after reading "Disney theme park gossip" for that long - You take what you read with a GRAIN OF SALT!
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORDDU: I'm not sure where the idea came from that Tony Baxter was EVER the main source of information for Al Lutz or the current Mice Chat staff. But since my sisters and I happen to be friends with some of the crew over there we can assure you that Tony was NOT their main source. They were amused when they found out some people were actually thinking that.
Originally Posted By Yookeroo "I wouldn't have much of an issue with their updates if they didn't try so hard to throw meat to the manic fan base who believe that Disney management is purposely trying to destroy Walt's legacy. They really do take themselves very seriously over there and I frequently get the impression from their articles that they believe that they are some kind of Disneyland corporate watchdog." Well said. This has always been annoying in Lutz and that crowd. They really think this stuff is very important. "If you don't believe Miceage articles and feel that they made up the whole Star Wars Tomorrowland thing out of thin air," I really doubt anything they write comes out of "thin air". But their sources may not always be all that great.
Originally Posted By mawnck >>They really think this stuff is very important.<< Huh. On a Disney theme park fan site too. How weird. ;-)
Originally Posted By 2001DLFan "Nothing was canceled. None of those things were likely being considered anyway. Oh, but I guess the rumors must be legit because everything you read online is true, right?" Oh, they WERE being considered. Anything in blue sky is on the considered list. And while they may not have actually been cancelled, they WERE put on hold. All work on Star Wars Land and Monsters Land (yes, there WAS work being done on those concepts) has been stopped.
Originally Posted By 2001DLFan "I think that's more the case of people wanting to beleive the article because it gives them reason to go on the attack of Disney once again. Disney never promised anything more then its currently giving us. So why be angry at them when it was MiceChat that lied to the fan community. Everything announced by Disney is going ahead including Disney Springs, Avatar, Shanghai and Iron Man for Hong Kong. The only projects that are on hold are the ones that were announced by MiceChat." Whether they were "announced" by MiceChat or not, they WERE alluded to by Iger. And Star Wars Land and Monsters Land WERE under concept at Imagineering. AND they WERE put on hold by Iger (for whatever reason). While some may choose to attack MiceChat due to what they are reporting, it has little impact on what Disney is actually doing.
Originally Posted By 2001DLFan "I finally just got through reading the 183 comments from that update. SCATHING comments directly questioning Miceage's credibility." A HANDFUL of scathing comments. And I got the impression they THOSE were from some corporate or ultra-fanboy supporters just trying to subvert the message.
Originally Posted By Yookeroo "Huh. On a Disney theme park fan site too. How weird." Yes, it is weird. Even fan sites should have a sense of perspective. I know lots don't, but don't expect me not to laugh at them if they don't. "A HANDFUL of scathing comments. And I got the impression they THOSE were from some corporate or ultra-fanboy supporters just trying to subvert the message." What you don't see to understand is that all those who completely buy all the Micechat rumors are as much "ultra-fanboys" as the people who aren't buying the rumors. Probably even bigger in most cases. Reading this thread made me curious so I went and read the comments. My god, what a bunch of nutcases. Shoot, your use of caps pretty much paints you as a huge fanboy.
Originally Posted By oc_dean Note - I never said 'how much'. I guess I could have been a bit more specific. Out of the 185/something comments ... there are a fraction. Point being though - People are questioning Miceage's credibility. You have to note - Miceage doesn't say - * "These things are being considered" * "They are a possibility." * "We are here to tell you about a _rumor_ we heard." NO. It's - * "These things ARE happening." If you got any brains, and a columnist for a Disney Fan Run Gossip site, you don't word your columns with absolutes. Because if you do, be ready to be challenged in the event you get it wrong.
Originally Posted By mawnck >>What you don't see to understand is that all those who completely buy all the Micechat rumors are as much "ultra-fanboys" as the people who aren't buying the rumors.<< I'm buying all the rumors. I don't think I've ever been accused of being an ultra-fanboy. I don't even go to DL anymore. >>If you got any brains, and a columnist for a Disney Fan Run Gossip site, you don't word your columns with absolutes.<< Well, if you've got any brains, and are READING a Disney Fan Run Gossip site ...
Originally Posted By Bellella B. O. O. H. O. O. And they'll never get rid of the subs. It is a movie tie-in, after all.
Originally Posted By Schmitty Good Vibes >>>Anything in blue sky is on the considered list.<<< Well said. There was a blog that I can't find anymore where they interviewed a former Imagineer. WED (I hate to call it Imagineering) has so many great and original ideas that are not tied into an existing franchise but as the ideas go higher and higher up the management levels, they are killed off. I'm hoping that Lassiter has enough pull in Anaheim to keep the subs running. After all, his input on Carsland turned DCA around. I don't like the Pixar overlay on the subs, but at least I can enjoy running around "under water". I don't know how bad I'd feel to see that one go. I don't have too many memories from being at DL when I was only three years old, but that's one that I can recall clearly (54 years ago!). I don't know where MiceAge get's their info, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't Tony Baxter. RIP. There are people at WED who are still trying to figure out how to squeeze in Marc Davis' Western River Expodition into DL. The Blue Sky process is incredibly stuffed with great ideas. Anything that hasn't been formally anounced by WDP is just rumors or hope. Carsland is terrific, but who came up with the idea for Buena Vista Street? I wish WDP would take the chains off of Imaganeering and let them do their best. I'd like to see a redo of the Hollywood area of DCA and not Monsteropolice. I've read a lot of postings about a Micky and Minnie dark ride based upon Mickey's heyday which would fit the Buena Vista Street setting. I'd guess WED has plenty of ideas for the same. It's a shame that they need to tie everything into an existing franchise. Well, Micky Mouse is the best franchise they've got, so why not do it?
Originally Posted By ecdc I really have no dog in the "how awesome/horrible is Miceage?" fight, and I kinda remained baffled that so many people do. That said, I think part of what happens in these discussions can be explained by a lack of understanding just how fluid a big corporation is. Ideas come and go and get scrapped all the time. Miceage seems to rarely distinguish (and perhaps they feel as if they can't, otherwise the details might expose sources) between ideas and concrete plans. Everything becomes a sure thing, then anytime it doesn't come to fruition, it's Disney's fault. They have created the ultimate "heads I win, tails you lose" scenario: When they're right it's because their sources are amazing and know what's going on, when they're wrong, it's because their sources are amazing and even track Disney's decisions to scrap plans that never materialized. And in fairness, perhaps that's what really is happening. But I'm skeptical, and simply saying "Hey, we got this one wrong" instead of "those uninspired troglodytes at TDA don't know what they're doing!" would go a long way to building some credibility. But then again, it's a freaking theme park blog, how much credibility to they really need....
