Originally Posted By ryanbalas What I like about the character based rides (the later ones) are the opportunity to participate - Buzz and Toy Story Mania. They give us a chance to be a kid. Once the competition kicks in - you finally let go. I sense a bit of control too. Do they not search out sponsors so they can have the toys manufactured anywhere in the world at the lowest price? I would love to see an expansion of ToonTown. Will it ever happen now that almost all resources are spread across the globe? I would love the budgets for the parks have a stipulation that a portion of money raised there - stays there instead of going to the big bank account and doled out by a bunch of suits (with pretty first name name tags).
Originally Posted By dirkcoil I am a huge Disney fan but I'm not blinded by their mistakes or greed or errors. I live near Walt Disney World and love going but I must admit, I hate the way they've used the land and some of the things they built. Seems they keep selling land or giving it away. So many things to bring up but I will limit it to just a few. The Disney Speedway. What was the thought and need of that? Had a few seasons of races and now it's just a driving school. Nice thought process there. I agree with what some of you guys are saying too about the rides. Horizons was one of the best, as was World of Motion and the original Journey into Imagination. Those were "classic" rides and loved by so many. I mean, I am a very nostalgic person and really miss the original Tomorrowland, with those towering white plylons and also the nice, clean cut Future World but I am open to change, to a degree. Why just throw cheap, in your face crap in place of something that told a story? That bewilders me big time. And one of my biggest gripes now is the adding of the 4 seasons resort over Eagle Pines and Osprey Ridge golf courses. Is it really needed? From what I've heard, it's just another sellout by Disney to keep money coming into their pockets. I loved the Walt Disney World Village and Fort Wilderness and The Contemporary and all the others but I do not need to know that it's Disney's. I look at images on Google Maps at the property and just wonder what they were thinking? Does anyone know if Celebration's acreage counts towards the original land mass of over 27,000 acres? I've also heard it grew to over 30,000 but is now down to 25,000. Does anyone know the real size of it now? Thanks to all who have the passion.
Originally Posted By gmaletic To everyone that has posted...thanks! Keep 'em coming. I'm working on a collective response that I'll publish next week. Thanks again, Greg
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan From way back at post 65: >>Gotta vehemently disagree with you there 2oony. DAK is all about the subtext of conservation - everything in that park is telling the story of why we need to actively conserve our planet. The Safaris' subtext of the impact of poachers is wholly appropriate. It engages with the guest and remind them how fragile the balance is.<< I do understand what the intent is -- it's edu-tainment. I just think that it gets in the way of truly appreciating the animals and learning more about them. It's yet another "and then something goes horribly wrong" story element that just doesn't work, in my opinion. I am certain they could find a way to show how fragile the balance is without it being so corny.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt "plus ETA terrorist attacks were rife too." There have been few, if any ETA terrorist attacks in Cataluna since it is a region that has its own separatist movement. The vast majority of those attacks happen in Madrid and the Basque Country. It's interesting that you cite terrorist attacks as being problematic for the region when both Paris and London have had several major terrorist attacks during the past several decades. Barcelona hosted the very successful Olympic Games in 1992, and the region has PortAventura - the largest theme park in Europe.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 <I am certain they could find a way to show how fragile the balance is without it being so corny.> Exactly. The poacher "story" didn't work for me either. The first time it was just slightly annoying. Subsequent trips it just got increasingly annoying. The message is great, of course. But if it causes one to roll one's eyes, then it's actually counterproductive.
Originally Posted By rocko804 Just to defend DAK a little: True, the icon of the park is entirely fake, but the animals and most of the plants and such were researched and brought to Florida specifically to have it as natural and authentic as possible. There was also an extreme amount of research that went into the look and construction of the buildings and such. Just my cent-and-a-half. I'd also like to add that the Great Movie Ride is still amazing to me. The most lacking part is if you unfortunately get a lackluster guide. The cast member makes or breaks that ride.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Indeed, but seeing first hand how much is being invested for security for the Olympic Games (huge $billions) in London is different than having a major international theme park. And PA is not as big as DLRP, though the old Universal plans would have made it so. Also, although PA has built hotels and a water park, there have only been 3 new attractions in the last 10 years - why is that?
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt ^^'Cause it doesn't have the draw that Disney does. Had Disney been there I believe it would have been a different story.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Busch and Universal aren't exactly mom and pops. we will never know how it would have fared there, but my gut tells me, not as well. I have had colleagues that have gone only because it is a good stopover on there way to the South of France - kind of like WDW was perceived in the 60's(then they either loved or hated the place). I think there is a reasonable amount of guests that were in this boat for the 1st 10 years.
Originally Posted By barboy "The only place you'll see new attractions like this, right now, are in Tokyo Disneyland, where Pooh's Hunny Hunt and the 2009-opening Monster's Inc. ride are." But Pooh isn't all that long--- not like Pirates, Mansion, World of Motion, Horizons, Spaceship Earth. And furthermore probably 35% of the ride is moving about "randomly" in that one room shared by other pots. It doesn't have too many show scenes compared to those others mentioned. Pooh just isn't as epic as most might think. As for Monsters I have no idea.
Originally Posted By X-san ***Pooh just isn't as epic as most might think.*** It might not be long, but I'd say it sure is epic. I rode it again just last week, it never ceases to amaze me. I agree though, it's not long enough and not on a par with Pirates or Mansion as far as that's concerned.
Originally Posted By phoebus "But Pooh isn't all that long--- not like Pirates, Mansion, World of Motion, Horizons, Spaceship Earth. And furthermore probably 35% of the ride is moving about "randomly" in that one room shared by other pots. It doesn't have too many show scenes compared to those others mentioned. Pooh just isn't as epic as most might think;" I totally agree with you. Pooh, though great, seems to me a little bit overrated. Saying that one of the biggest mistake made by Disney is to not build more rides like POTC or HM is false. 1) They built other huge AA rides: most of the Epcot rides in 1982, the Great Movie Ride in Disney-MGM Studios, Splash Mountain at MK... And now Little Mermaid at DCA. And that's not all. Rides like Indiana Jones Adventure or Dinosaur, or even BTM, are for me what you except from Disney: big immersive rides, with amazing props, AA, details... So, some of those rides are slow, some other are faster (we are not anymore in the sixties guys!). 2) A good park is built on diversity. You need long rides like POTC and thrill rides like SM, and shows, and parades, and so on... If POTC is still so popular, it is also because it is unique. There is no other POTC in the park. If they had built for instance Western River expedition, maybe that POTC would not be so popular today... Again, you need diversity 3) For me, the biggest mistake Disney made was to not built those huge AA rides at HKDL. here is the mistake !
Originally Posted By barboy "It might not be long, but I'd say it sure is epic." Perhaps, but I really do think that Tokyo's Pooh is way, way overrated. It is a very fine attraction, far better than his peers but nowhere near the hype it gets. My theory is that since Dl Anaheim, Hong Kong and Orlando have versions closer to the old 50's or original style dark rides that people talk about Tokyo's as if it is the ultimate ride overseas--- it's not.
Originally Posted By sudiznee I couldn't agree with you more. Disney does make several blunders and my husband and I love to go. I don't understand why the RV crowd is treated like low class citizens when most of them drive in in very expensive motorhomes. The biggest blunder Disney has made is not catering to this crowd. They closed River Country which was one of the signature things at Ft. Wilderness, No exercise room, no real sized arcade for the kids. These people have money to burn, that is why they take their house with them! We drive our RV almost everytime and everytime we drive up to check Disney treats us like idiots when they should be saying, "Welcome back"!
Originally Posted By Doobie Maybe an RV park / DVC would make you happier while simultaneously making Greg shake his head even more Doobie.
Originally Posted By 2001DLFan <<Doobie: The one I most disagree with is Same Price for all Parks. I think all parks give a full-day's entertainment and therefore should be the same price. All So Cal parks are pretty much the same pric and to have priced DCA much lower than Knott's and Universal would have been silly, IMHO. But that was debated like crazy way back in 2001.>> Sorry, I have to disagree with you here Doobie. Every car can get you from point A to point B, but they shouldn’t all cost the same. Every meal could be filling, but they shouldn’t cost the same. Every amusement park, carnival and theme park can provide a “full day’s entertainmentâ€. The difference of all those experiences is the quality. If DCA doesn’t start living up to the quality that Disney has established for itself, then it is very likely that could DESERVE a ticket price less than Knott’s and Universal if those parks end up being a better entertainment value.
Originally Posted By Doobie But right now aren't Universal, Knotts, even Sea World essentially the same price as Disney? So for DCA to have a lower price would mean having a lower price than all of them as well. Knott's and Universal are certainly no Disneyland, but they cost just as much. That's just the way thing park pricing works and I don't think it would've been a good idea for DCA to change that and price themselves less than non-Disney parks. Maybe they should've raised Disneyland's price when DCA opened and seen how the competition reacted to that. That would've been fun. Doobie.
Originally Posted By X-san I agree on the pricing. The image of Disney is "a magical day of enjoyment" whether it be at Disneyland, or Epcot, or Animal Kingdom, or DCA whathave you. To price one park less than any other would be to admit that they have "superior" and "inferior" parks. Wouldn't work.
