Originally Posted By Disneydanny if they cut Big Al what would replace him.Disco Yetti? (sorry I COULDN'T resist)
Originally Posted By danyoung It's important to note that the only place where Big Al has been mentioned for cutting from the show has been here, online. They're not cutting Big Al.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<They're not cutting Big Al.>> Probably not, no. But stranger things have happened.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN Poor Country Bears.. at WDW. Mercifully the enjoyable "Country Bears vacation Hoedown" is still currently playing in its uncut entirety at Tokyo Disneyland, where the magic REALLY lives.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>Have they finally updated that old 1950s era Dumbo at TDL?<< Sadly NO and neither has the pathetic fireworks over the resort. But really, OLC does not have to spend money there. Unlike the MK (as a whole a park that is a museum of Disney and needs major renovations all over) and the WDW management team who thinks in terms of "toddler" needs, at TDL, OLC is more about the entire experience for all guests. You see, guests at TDL enjoy many MORE adult attractions that make the few MK clones ones look dated, MORE shows and parades daily (currently 3 different shows and 3 different parades on a single day), MORE food outlets and shops (not to mention better theming and maintenance in most areas) that basically, IMO, overruns the need of updating a spinner that simply does the trick in it's current WDW 1971 shape. Plus unlike Americans, the Japanese do not live in a hurry and don't mind waiting in a slow line if needs be. WDW *had* to update Dumbo because the old fantasyland was and continues to be a shade-less concrete land. Honestly.. apart from the basic 1980 technology of most MK rides, they had to do something quick and cheap to add capacity and fight Potter, so presto, two Dumbo rides. BIG DEAL. The new Dumbos are pretty and nicely detailed and themed, but come with a playground worthy of McDonald's. You know what they say about the monkey wearing emperor's clothes. Bottom line is.. whether you have a spanking new dual Dumbo (we'll see how long it will remain looking that way) or a simple 1971 Dumbo offering.. the on-ride experience remains THE SAME. And Franz hunny, let me ask you this? Apart from the improved look of the MK Dumbos.. is it really in the end a better experience for you? Will you be climbing the mazes/ropes and going down the slides while you wait for your turn to ride?? Because if you are, then I concede defeat and humbly walk away in shame to your witty greatness. Me? I am way too old to ride Dumbo in any shape, size or form, and won't ever put my foot on a McDonald's style playground with noisy and unruly brats screaming around. No siree. But you go ahead and enjoy that. I will take the much smaller and much quieter queue of the TDL Dumbo any day thank you very much. I don't need to knock off TDL's pathetic Dumbo because I don't ride it and it's current version does not affect the magic of my experiences at TDL since the rest of the park more than makes up for something so trivial. The MK had nothing more than cookie cutter inferior DL attractions with no charm to be found in those lands, so the only way to go is is up... hence two dumbos for the many who will ride them. All the pretty eye candy going on at the new Fantasyland is very nice indeed...when compared with the rest of the MK park in its current form, but the dual Dumbos and horrible Belle's enchanted meet is a desperate attempt to catch up with the higher standards of show and theme found at ALL the other Disneyland parks around the World, and even some Universal properties. But going back to topic here.. while you all continue to lament the loss of some of the original show format, we at TDL, will be enjoying the Country Bears Christmas Special come november, in it's complete and uncut glory, like WDW used to performed it years ago.
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub it is hard to believe WDW can not bring the Holiday Country Bear Jamboree back. After all they don't have to bring the holiday spirit to the Haunted Mansion or to Small World and the special holidy events they do offer continue to be reduced in quality. Surely they make enough money with the Mickey's Merry to offer some new holiday theming on Main Street. Oh well I guess we will "learn" a new dance step to follow the parading reindeer...
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "WDW *had* to update Dumbo because the old fantasyland was and continues to be a shade-less concrete land." I seem to recall that TDL's Fantasyland was very similar in its look and feel to WDWs original barren concrete Fantasyland. Has that changed? "Honestly.. apart from the basic 1980 technology of most MK rides, they had to do something quick and cheap to add capacity and fight Potter, so presto, two Dumbo rides." I seriously doubt that Potter's success has anything to do with Belle or the dueling Dumbos. The core demographic isn't even the same. Now Avatar Land... that may be a different story.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN Oh Hans trust me on this.. we would not be having a new Fantasyland if it wasn't because of Universal launching the Harry Potter monsters franchise, which is why the new Fantasyland is an after thought of mismatched themes and movies unrelated to one another, with the only one cohesive selling point to be "the woods" behind the prison, err.. castle wall, dividing the old with the new areas. And as I explained before, the different demographic issue was probably addressed on purpose because Disney's management now think in terms of "toddler" business. Hence stupid ideas like the BBBs, interactive playground queues and such. And because of such mentality, this is why Disney is loosing me a bit more each passing year and Universal is attracting my interest more. I am most looking forward to Transformers ride at USF than the dwarfs mine coaster. Again, I am not in their demographics anymore, especially since there are no kids to haul around and enjoy Disney the way parents enjoy it THRU the eyes of their kids. I view Disney from an adult point of view of quality versus price, which is why after 25 yrs of visiting TDR, that resort continues to impress me. can't say the same for WDW or even DLP anymore. Even HKDL impressed me with their Grizzly Gulch land and ride. So yes, there is hope as i can see what they are still capable of doing. Carsland is another example of the phoenix rising...and I hope they keep it unique to DCA. And yes Hans.. the look of TDL's Fantasyland is based on the MK look of 1971. But while the MK's old Fantasyland remained stagnant until now, the TDL FL has evolved over the years with more rides and upgraded cosmetic looks, MANY MORE flower beds and trees, character statues, upgraded flooring (bricks etc) and many more show and theme upgrades, making this old Fantasyland look fresh and inviting, which the old section of the MK FL has never been. I could illustrate this for you with pictures but regretably I don't go into the parks anymore to collect photos and post for all to see. One thing I am looking forward the most at the MK is having at least a section of Fantasyland that will appear to be unique to that park. Similarly to TDL's excellent Queen of Hearts Restaurant in their FL, I hope the B&B Restaurant can actually raise the bar.. but that remains to be seen. If we get lucky, we will get some of Hong Kong Disneyland's detailed theming from their Fantasyland into the new areas, and for what I have seen so far, it appears to be so. My hope after 2012 is for them to actually try to upgrade the cosmetic look of the REST of the park once the new Fantasyland is off and running. Yes, me the eternal optimist, which is why I have not given up yet on WDW.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt Glad to hear that WDW's FL has been upgraded over time. Now, tell them to do something with that prehistoric Dumbo attraction. "I am most looking forward to Transformers ride at USF than the dwarfs mine coaster" Well of course, outside of parents and kids, who wouldn't be? While I've completely given up on Disney developing anything in the foreseeable future that doesn't have some kind of kiddie appeal, I understand, though, that there is a sizable market for this stuff and that Disney is wise to exploit it financially. Who would have thought that a cartoon franchise about talking cars would be one the biggest success stories in DLR history? Maybe its because finally they've built something that has a hint of testosterone instead of pixie dust. Who knows. As for Universal, well, I like some of their offerings, but not being a big theme park buff means that, unless I go to WDW again, I'll probably never set foot in IOA or USF. With Transformers already here in California and HP on the drawing boards I really see no reason to make a special trip to Orlando to see either one.
