Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>I hunted around for 45 seconds here on LP and couldn't find a report on the "Let's Have A Ball" thing, so I went to good 'ol YouTube and found a video there in about 2 seconds. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v</a> =_kC_p-hJryg&mode=related&search= OH..... MY...... GAWD.<< OH...MY....GAWD is right!!! That show is awefull!!! I feel bad for Aurora and Phillip having to "walk" to the stage as they are being announced!! If this was TDL, they would have been on a horse-drain carriage, with royal guards around them and much fanfare. How simplistic of a show is this?? Then again.. it's the MK, "where small budgets can only make so much come true."
Originally Posted By ChiMike ^^ The thing is that the funds are still large enough were they could have gone to better, more longterm, use. That's the problem when you cut the pie into too many pieces.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <..and Disney stores .. and hotel rooms ... park celebrations ... and epic broadway inspired animated features ... and ..... and soon Tinkerbell & friends.< and Disney classics ( WDCC ), and Disneyana Conventions ( we had to go to 2 a year huh ? ), and character meals
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>and Disney classics ( WDCC ), and Disneyana Conventions ( we had to go to 2 a year huh ? ), and character meals<< ouuuhh, I forgot the rubberheads, good one! How many meals can Chip & Dale handle?? Poor overworked chipmunks. Between them and Pluto having to cover a lot of meals I'm surprised PETA hasn't lodged a complaint yet.
Originally Posted By TP2000 >>"Chuckle. This is hardly "new" news! This stuff has been around for a long time."<< Perhaps. But I've just never noticed that it was this bad before. At least for me, these last few LP Lotion updates from WDW suddenly brought it all into stark contrast since many of these shows have similar concepts that debuted at Disneyland at the same time. WDW executives can thank the global "Disney Parks" brand and the "Year Of A Million Dreams" initiative for that unflattering situation. With the wonders of YouTube now offering instant video comparisons of these similar shows from similar Disney theme parks, the WDW offerings have had the bright light of comparison shined on them, and it's not at all flattering for WDW and the WDW salaried leadership. Just a few years ago we couldn't sit at our computers and watch instant video footage of theme park shows to compare and contrast, and that's probably what has brought this issue to the ugly forefront. It's technology that can praise and flatter, and also technology that can damn and expose. WDW's attempts at entertainment have just been exposed. Welcome to the 21st century WDW executives, you're YouTube is showing!
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>With the wonders of YouTube now offering instant video comparisons of these similar shows from similar Disney theme parks, the WDW offerings have had the bright light of comparison shined on them, and it's not at all flattering for WDW and the WDW salaried leadership.<< THANK YOU! How long have I been telling everyone how grossly shortchanged we are at WDW versus the other parks and especially compared to TDR??
Originally Posted By ChiMike As usual TP2000, you are spot on. Not complaining, in fact, happy that more are noticing.
Originally Posted By TP2000 For what it's worth, I've noticed in the past that WDW often gets an inferior or lesser version of some entertainment concepts compared to Disneyland. I think I first noticed this back in the late 90's when I saw the MGM Studios version of Fantasmic!. When that wimpy riverboat that looked like it had been built in someones garage after a couple trips to Home Depot floated out for the finale', I knew something had gone wrong with the Florida version of Fantasmic!. Then there was the Aladdin I saw in WDW's Adventureland on another trip who looked like a stocky 32 year old Italian guy from Jersey instead of an athletic 19 year old Arabian boy. So the thought has always sorta been back in my mind somewhere, I just hadn't put it all together. But with these new Year Of A Million Dreams offerings that just rolled out at WDW and Disneyland at the same time, the comparisons couldn't be more unflattering for WDW. And it was the 1-2-3 punch of the consecutive LP Lotion updates that brought my attention to it all, plus some supplementary material from YouTube. It'll be interesting to see if this unfortunate trait also applies to attractions. I've seen the videos of the new Nemo ride at Epcot, and I wonder how it will compare to the new Nemo ride opening at Disneyland next summer.
Originally Posted By ChiMike ^ It sure looks like all the insiders and experts are expecting the subs to be a more impressive attraction. But, yeah, F! epitomizes that difference. I waited and saw the MGM F! once and didn't need to visit it again. The pocahontas segment is the ultimate pixie-dust killer. imo.
Originally Posted By TP2000 I've also been recently influenced by the pictures of the Halloween decorations for Magic Kingdom that pale noticeably compared to the new Halloween decorations for Disneyland. The same thing plays itself out at Christmas, with Disneyland looking like it gets the full Martha Stewart On Steroids decorative treatment, while Magic Kingdom looks like it gets the Blue Light Special On Aisle 4 decorative treatment. In just the last few weeks I've finally clued in on the rather dramatic differences in showmanship and decorative arts between the WDW property and the DLR property. And these unflattering LP Lotion updates put it all together and the light bulb went off for me. I still wouldn't be surprised that a WDW Vice President is embezzling funds or something. ;-) There just has to be a good reason for the lack of showmanship at WDW. It's really quite fascinating.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Welcome to the 21st century WDW executives, you're YouTube is showing!>> HAH! It took them until about two years ago to even realize the Internet existed and that sites like this could have considerable power. <<For what it's worth, I've noticed in the past that WDW often gets an inferior or lesser version of some entertainment concepts compared to Disneyland.>> Often? How about almost all of the time. And compared to the overseas park offerings it's even sadder. The attitude in the exec suite is like the rat in MuppetVision's preshow that pretends he's Mickey Mouse. 'What do they know? They're just idiot tourists.' <<I think I first noticed this back in the late 90's when I saw the MGM Studios version of Fantasmic!. When that wimpy riverboat that looked like it had been built in someones garage after a couple trips to Home Depot floated out for the finale', I knew something had gone wrong with the Florida version of Fantasmic!.>> A lot went wrong. A whole lot. I sat thru the Florida show last week with a friend and it again reminded me just how second rate it is. Not to mention a huge pain in the behind to get in and out of the stadium. <<Then there was the Aladdin I saw in WDW's Adventureland on another trip who looked like a stocky 32 year old Italian guy from Jersey instead of an athletic 19 year old Arabian boy. So the thought has always sorta been back in my mind somewhere, I just hadn't put it all together.>> I'm waiting to see a black Snow White or a Hispanic Cinderella ... or even a male Mulan next <<But with these new Year Of A Million Dreams offerings that just rolled out at WDW and Disneyland at the same time, the comparisons couldn't be more unflattering for WDW. And it was the 1-2-3 punch of the consecutive LP Lotion updates that brought my attention to it all, plus some supplementary material from YouTube. It'll be interesting to see if this unfortunate trait also applies to attractions. I've seen the videos of the new Nemo ride at Epcot, and I wonder how it will compare to the new Nemo ride opening at Disneyland next summer.>> Nemo Subs is an E-Ticket and will be marketed as such. They also have John Lasseter's personal oversight as well as ability to force Jay 'Clueless Dolt' Rasulo to add extra millions to the budget. Epcot got a cute, little Nemo themed aquarium dark ride.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I've also been recently influenced by the pictures of the Halloween decorations for Magic Kingdom that pale noticeably compared to the new Halloween decorations for Disneyland. >> There basically are no decorations other than some pumpkins and hay at the MK, like you might find at a local church or school. <<The same thing plays itself out at Christmas, with Disneyland looking like it gets the full Martha Stewart On Steroids decorative treatment, while Magic Kingdom looks like it gets the Blue Light Special On Aisle 4 decorative treatment.>> Yes. But don't you know it doesn't matter. There isn't a more popular park in the world, doncha know ;-) And if the numbers say so, they must be right ... at least that's what my friend Lee always tells me. <<In just the last few weeks I've finally clued in on the rather dramatic differences in showmanship and decorative arts between the WDW property and the DLR property. And these unflattering LP Lotion updates put it all together and the light bulb went off for me. >> I can imagine. If you looked at any of TDLFAN's albums showing Halloween at DLP, TDL and, yes, even HKDL, it would make the WalMarted MK look even sadder. <<I still wouldn't be surprised that a WDW Vice President is embezzling funds or something. ;-) There just has to be a good reason for the lack of showmanship at WDW. It's really quite fascinating. >> Show doesn't matter at WDW. It has been made trivial. As for VPs, I'm just wondering what Bob Iger thinks when he looks at his crop. How Phil Holmes remains in charge of the second MK ever built amazes me. I'm tempted to call his 'confidential voicemail' and ask him who he has pics of ... and thanks to the pal who gave me the number as well as the others ... they'll come in handy!
Originally Posted By tcsnwhite I wonder why it is that DL continously outshines WDW in holiday decorations, entertainment, and a few other things when there are some executives in TDA that have come from Orlando (TDO?)? you would think that DL would become more like WDW (god forbid), yet, DL continously puts out top quality entertainment and decorations. And DL just put out a bunch of new atmosphere entertainment that is extremely well done and high quality. I would guess it comes down to money. I guess DLR entertainment dept. and the resort enhancement just gets higher budgets, or they just know how to use their money better? quite frankly, it baffles my mind.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 ^^No. It really all comes down to a more discerning, media savvy guest at DL. WDW because it attracts such a wide range of guests, but mostly tourist variety, simply feels it doesn't need to go the extra inch let alone mile. It's why Haunted Mansion Holiday will never come to Florida. It's why they can get away with taking away all the Christmas entertainment that used to begin on Thanksgiving weekend and charge an extra $35-40 a night for it with Christmas parties, and not offer it to the general public until 2-3 days before the holiday. It's why they keep creating extra-cost hard ticket events. Tourists will pay and smile ... savvy locals won't ...
Originally Posted By Doobie I think it's more than just tourists will "pay and smile". I'm guessing a MUCH larger percentage of WDWers are there for the first (and possibly only) time, so no, it's not as critical for to make major changes like seasonal decorations. Whereas we all know Disneyland relies heavily on locals and to get locals to come back you have to constantly make changes. There's nothing wrong with WDW's Main Street, it's just that we've all seen it a million times before. But the majority of WDW guests haven't. That said, as a local, I wish WDW did more seasonal decorating and especially wish MK went as all-out for the holidays as Disneyland and even Epcot and MGM do. Doobie.
Originally Posted By ChiMike There is a poster on Intercot claiming that there will be no Country Bears Christmas overlay this year. If that is indeed the truth, then it is a perfect example of how badly funds are allocated for these seasonal entertainment offerings.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I think it's more than just tourists will "pay and smile". I'm guessing a MUCH larger percentage of WDWers are there for the first (and possibly only) time, so no, it's not as critical for to make major changes like seasonal decorations.>> I don't know the answer to that, Doobie. I'm surprised, or the Disney geek in me is, by how many first-timers I still encounter at both WDW and DL. My opinion is that while the amount of repeat guests has steadily gone up at both USA destinations, the amount of first-timers has held steady ... But no matter, the makeup I can't help but think it's only smart business to change up the offerings during the year. <<Whereas we all know Disneyland relies heavily on locals and to get locals to come back you have to constantly make changes. There's nothing wrong with WDW's Main Street, it's just that we've all seen it a million times before. But the majority of WDW guests haven't.>> OK, I know you've only been in Central Fla for the past few years, but there's plenty wrong with Main Street at the MK. And I am not even going to compare it to the vastly superior Anaheim and Paris versions. Main Street is empty. It's devoid of detail and has been blanded down for the past decade. All the shops have become one giant, cheap Disney toys, pins, plush junksale. Nothing unique anymore. Attractions (Penny Arcade, Walt Disney Story, Main Street Cinema, some vehicles) have disappeared. Shops have closed and have blackened windows. Even the landscaping has been scaled back. So, there's plenty wrong with Main Street ... and it sets the tone for the dumbed down MK experience of the 21st century WDW. <<That said, as a local, I wish WDW did more seasonal decorating and especially wish MK went as all-out for the holidays as Disneyland and even Epcot and MGM do.>> Me too. Me too!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<There is a poster on Intercot claiming that there will be no Country Bears Christmas overlay this year. If that is indeed the truth, then it is a perfect example of how badly funds are allocated for these seasonal entertainment offerings.>> I've heard that too, Mike. I don't know if it's true or not. I do know that the current CBJ show is in bad shape and needs a major rehab. The sound is especially bad.
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>I do know that the current CBJ show is in bad shape and needs a major rehab. The sound is especially bad.<< From what I have read it sounds like they are rehabing components at a time. I too do not understand why since 2000 the sound has been so poor. One of the most overlooked problems in MK. There is no excuse that a new, independent sound system hasn't found it's way to CBJ. But, again, if they don't do the overlay there IS NO EXCUSE... They can sell hard-ticket Christmas event tickets, they can put on these pinprick shows, but they can't do 1 Christmas overlay in MK????? An overlay that those seasonal guests expect. We are not talking HMH here.
