Originally Posted By FerretAfros What kind of "interactive"? Is it going to be like Turtle Talk and the Stitch things? I guess any meet and greet is techincally interactive, so it seems strange that it would be thrown in to the wording.
Originally Posted By leemac ^ Similar. Plus the new Monsters attraction at MK uses the same technology from the Living Characters Program.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Maybe it's just me, but doesn't that seem like a lot of that sort of thing. Sure there are plenty of darkrides, which are basically the same thing but with different characters too, but this just seems like oversaturation of the market to me.
Originally Posted By leemac F-A the thing is that the technology is evolving very quickly. So the new Stitch Encounter at HKDL and Monsters, Inc. at MK are vastly improved over the earlier incarnations. The real benefit to this technology is the flexibility it offers. New shows can be switched in and out as often as required. It allows the parks to have the latest characters inside the berm very quickly. This Kim Possible test is something a little different.
Originally Posted By Labuda ">Hey D, what about Typhoon Lagoooon after hours?< That's really a story to be told over a few martini's. Let's just say it involved improper access, too much alcohol, and not enough clothing. It wasn't a pretty picture . . ." I am SO making it a priority to hunt you downa t the Rose & Crown in about 2 months' time, Dan.
Originally Posted By idleBrain <<I had been told that the Kim Possible test would go into the Innoventions building but it seems that has morphed into the second floor of the Imagination Institute.>> Well, well, well. Seems the penny-pinching-powers-that-be might have discovered a backdoor justification not to green light Imagination's rehab after all. If the KP MnG is on the second floor, how will guests get to it? Access to the second floor is from the elevator and stairs in the current ImageWorks area, which isn't easily accessed from outside the pavilion without walking through the gift shop's exit door. And that door is not readily apparent to the occasional Epcot visitor. So... somewhat confused guests who wish to meet up with Kim and Ron will walk through the front door to the pavilion, and quickly find themselves queued up for the ride. Oh, what to do next? Turn around and walk out? Naah... too much effort. Might as well just... GO ON THE RIDE!! Bravo, Team! What a deliciously sneaky and underhanded method to artificially inflate Imagination's numbers and deny funding for the rehab! I mean, that's the real justification for moving this Kim Possible interactive area to Imagination's second floor, right? Putting this area in the Innoventions building would have made it easier for guest access and far less confusing. So why place it in an area that's more difficult to get to? Unless you deliberately want to increase guest attendance to that specific area?
Originally Posted By leemac Please. Less of the melodramatics. The test isn't going to be there long enough for any of that to have an impact on the attraction. WDI aren't going to be rushing into any rehab of the pavilion until there is a decent concept. Adding back a creepy character like Dreamfinder isn't the answer. Tony Baxter has plenty of other decent projects to contend himself with (including his excellent ideas for the DCA transformation) rather worrying about Imagination. I'm not 100% sure it will end up on the second floor. The Kim Possible test could end up in the old Kodak Kiosk (where the Figment Meet 'n' Greet was) and they could just be using the second floor as a workshop. I just know it is destined for that pavilion at this time.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <Adding back a creepy character like Dreamfinder isn't the answer.< then I ask why they are honoring him with an event and a $199 WDCC statue ? I for one like Dreamfinder ( and yes I have someone going to be there purchasing my figurine) . I thought the whole Figment deal worked better as an alter ego type to Dreamfinder..
Originally Posted By vbdad55 now I do agree that the Oliver Stone scenario is probably unlikely as I doubt they would have spent that much time to construct the plan.....
Originally Posted By idleBrain <<Please. Less of the melodramatics.>> But it's a cheaper way to elevate my chronically low blood pressure. More stress means less drugs. Then I pass the savings on to Disney. Think of it, leemac. You're helping to subsidize my next trip to WDW, for the Dreamfinder and Figment event. How drolly appropriate! LOL!! <<The test isn't going to be there long enough for any of that to have an impact on the attraction.>> If they're going to the bother of issuing casting calls for Kim and Ron, wouldn't they test for at least three or four months, say, until the end of the year? Seems like anything less than that wouldn't yield enough data. <<WDI aren't going to be rushing into any rehab of the pavilion until there is a decent concept. Adding back a creepy character like Dreamfinder isn't the answer.>> Whoa. Your first declaration completely negates the conclusion of your second. It's always about concept vs execution. Concepts are a dime a dozen, but "decent" ones, as you put it, are more difficult to come by. Then for added layers of complication, the execution of said "decent concepts" is where the rubber meets the road. Bad execution has derailed some truly great concepts in the past, and will most likely continue to do so in the future. But the return of Dreamfinder doesn't necessarily need to be one of them. Dreamfinder is not inherently a "creepy character." The genus of DF is spread throughout all cultures across the globe. The Jungian archetypes of Mentor, Pioneer, Teacher, and Visionary are all found within Dreamfinder, which makes his inherent nature universally accessible. The concept of DF is solid, and a strong foundation for the attraction's main story: the exploration of what constitutes "imagination." Concept is fine. Execution could be problematic. It's the execution in portrayal of the Dreamfinder character that should possibly be re-addressed for the 21st century. But not the character's concept. <<Tony Baxter has plenty of other decent projects to contend himself with (including his excellent ideas for the DCA transformation) rather worrying about Imagination.>> Hmm... I thought that project was taken off life support, when Midway Mania got the green light. Was this some unforeseen radioactive fallout from Matt's departure? <<I'm not 100% sure it will end up on the second floor. The Kim Possible test could end up in the old Kodak Kiosk (where the Figment Meet 'n' Greet was) and they could just be using the second floor as a workshop. I just know it is destined for that pavilion at this time.>> Well, I feel access to the second floor is problematic at best. If they want reliably clean data, then they should think twice about sticking the KP area upstairs. Not the best Epcot location, IMHO. In fact, it's one of the worst.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <But it's a cheaper way to elevate my chronically low blood pressure. More stress means less drugs. < I never looked at it this way...I have low blood pressure and low blood sugar-- so I guess next week I am going to have to thank my company for keepingmy role stressful all these years...a silver lining I would never have seen..LOL !
Originally Posted By leemac <<<<Tony Baxter has plenty of other decent projects to contend himself with (including his excellent ideas for the DCA transformation) rather worrying about Imagination.>> Hmm... I thought that project was taken off life support, when Midway Mania got the green light. Was this some unforeseen radioactive fallout from Matt's departure?>> One of the reasons that the place-making project died a death is that Creative have some more daring ideas for DCA. No guarantee that it will happen but there is a groundswell of opinion at WDP&R/WDI that something more drastic is needed. It has nothing to do with Matt's departure. He advocated more substantial changes to DCA but there wasn't the cash available from within the resort. The project needs Jay's support for the CapEx required.
Originally Posted By idleBrain <<The project needs Jay's support for the CapEx required.>> Of course it does. Everything needs "Jay's support." But what are the chances that he's going to bestow it?
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<F-A the thing is that the technology is evolving very quickly. So the new Stitch Encounter at HKDL and Monsters, Inc. at MK are vastly improved over the earlier incarnations. The real benefit to this technology is the flexibility it offers. New shows can be switched in and out as often as required. It allows the parks to have the latest characters inside the berm very quickly.>> Flexible? Yeah, just like those simulator attractions can easily be reprogrammed ... or movie attractions can be swapped out right? As to Kim Possible, it sure does seem like a VERY odd place to do any kind of testing that would involve actual guests when Innoventions is perfect for that ... something smells like a tourist in the queue for Pooh that's been out in the sun all day! Oh, and Dreamfinder may be creepy (heck, so is Tony), but I think that character would have more appeal than Kim Possible, who appeals to 8-12 year-old girls only.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<One of the reasons that the place-making project died a death is that Creative have some more daring ideas for DCA. No guarantee that it will happen but there is a groundswell of opinion at WDP&R/WDI that something more drastic is needed.>> Wow. It only took them a decade to figure that out. I'm impressed. Clearly, there should be some bonuses handed out! <<It has nothing to do with Matt's departure. He advocated more substantial changes to DCA but there wasn't the cash available from within the resort. The project needs Jay's support for the CapEx required.>> There's always money available, Lee. You as a money guy should know that. It's deciding how to allocate the funds. Reinvestment in the parks hasn't been a priority for years. Disney is a multi-billion dollar corporation. It had money to pay off Mike Ovitz ... and Jeff Katzenberg ... and god knows how many smaller execs like Nina Jacobson. It had money to buy sports franchises because Michael Eisner's brats liked sports. It had money to invest in an ill-conceived Internet venture. Could Disney throw a billion at DCA (and I'm not saying they should, just throwing a nice even number out there)? Of course. And Matt's departure seems to have had something to do with personalties and political BS as well as the great opportunity with Starwood.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Of course it does. Everything needs "Jay's support." But what are the chances that he's going to bestow it?>> Good point. This is the same guy who thought DSP was a fine park. The same guy that let DLP fall apart. The same guy who should be selling used Buicks not managing Disney's magical kingdoms worldwide.
Originally Posted By leemac <<There's always money available, Lee. You as a money guy should know that. It's deciding how to allocate the funds. Reinvestment in the parks hasn't been a priority for years.>> With CapEx fixed at about $250m annually for the Disney-owned parks that isn't the case at all. Money isn't going to be diverted from more profitable business units to WDP&R. You can argue whether WDP&R could afford to spend more but to suggest that other Disney business units should financially support the division is wide of the mark. Few organizations support a mature part of their business from others.
Originally Posted By leemac <<This is the same guy who thought DSP was a fine park.>> Jay would never have said that beyond a public interview. The park was about doing the best they possibly could with the money available. It may not be the prettiest park on the earth but it was necessary to get it off the ground. They opted to concentrate on the attractions as best as possible hence the big boxes. It may be the weakest of the eleven parks but there is fun to be had. An attraction like CineMagique belongs in any Disney park. Jay's role was to stem the losses at DLP to get the resort to survive. He achieved that with flying colors. It was a necessity to maintain fiscal responsibility. The current team can now chart a smoother course thanks to the ship that Jay left behind. It wasn't pretty but it was successful.
Originally Posted By leemac <<Oh, and Dreamfinder may be creepy (heck, so is Tony), but I think that character would have more appeal than Kim Possible, who appeals to 8-12 year-old girls only.>> Who is saying that KP is replacing Imagination? It is a test. And the show remains very popular. I personally find it one of the best shows that WDTA has produced in years.
Originally Posted By leemac <<And Matt's departure seems to have had something to do with personalties and political BS as well as the great opportunity with Starwood.>> Believe what you will. Matt left solely for the opportunities that Starwood have presented to him. His job was not in jeopardy and he was respected by Jay.
