Originally Posted By AutoPost This topic is for Discussion of <a href="http://www.LaughingPlace.com/Lotion-View-691.asp" target="_blank"><b>LP Lotion: Tokyo Disneyland - Unlock Your Dreams</b></a> A look at Tokyo Disneyland's 25th anniversary celebrations.
Originally Posted By Malin With Jtcent.com currently being on hiatus LaughingPlace.com has been the best English site to bring you coverage of the 25th Anniversary, although thats not a knock on Resortathome.com who also do a rather good job. Thanks to both Lee and Lindsay for the beautiful pics which in my opinion hides and covers up just how lame these decorations are. Thats a compliment to you guys for capturing some great shots with not much to work with. Interesting bit of info on the Summer entertainment too, I liked the Wet and Wild Pirate Night concept last year and I think this could be a winner too. The added Stitch show to Cool the Heat sounds good to and is no doubt being used to promote the new Stitch Tiki Room attraction. Also thanks for not insulting people's Intelligence with the text by pointing out how negative the Anniversary has been recieved so far, if you believe what some on another board would like you to think, the 25th Anniversary would be the best thing ever.
Originally Posted By leemac <<Also thanks for not insulting people's Intelligence with the text by pointing out how negative the Anniversary has been recieved so far, if you believe what some on another board would like you to think, the 25th Anniversary would be the best thing ever. >> Thanks for the compliment, Malin. I must admit I don't know how anyone could describe the anniversary offerings as the best thing ever (and I don't know the site you are alluding to either). One of the problems is the weight of expectation - there is little doubt in my mind that TDR operates special events under the quantity method rather than quality. I usually find the decor to be pretty spectacular (particularly the three-dimensional photo ops which always capture the characters perfectly and in great poses) but the local entertainment to be weak (although I appreciate I am not the target audience). Past anniversaries have always had more to offer - overall I found the 20th anniversary to be poorly executed except for the parade. Shows like Gift of Dreams and Remember the Magic were pretty dire - but typical for TDL (a la Minnie O Minnie and One Man's Dream 2). But at least they did something. I can understand why guests would feel let down by the lack of offerings in the first phase of the anniversary. For me - it isn't just about staging a castle show. The show coupled with the photo ops in Central Plaza create a great buzz and energy that is lacking when both are missing. The special event huts look isolated and there just isn't a heart to this anniversary. And if there is one it is the Floral Mickey at the entrance which is the wrong location. Anniversaries aren't just about attractions, shows and parades - it is about collective experiences. This is especially true at TDR where so much of the enjoyment is created by the sheer energy and exuberance of the locals for the product.
Originally Posted By leemac <<With Jtcent.com currently being on hiatus>> I didn't know that - hope MN is okay.
Originally Posted By X-san Haven't heard from him in a while... Just sent a text message to check in, maybe he'll chime in here in a bit (hopefully).
Originally Posted By X-san **particularly the three-dimensional photo ops which always capture the characters perfectly and in great poses** This certainly falls into the category of "to each his own" lol. I always found those things to be kind of cheesy and unimpressive, and never really took too many pictures of them (or with them, or whatever). Not trying to slam the fact that you like them (obviously people do, or they wouldn't do it), just thought it was funny how tastes can differ even among people who basically like "the same thing" (the "thing" being Disney parks).
Originally Posted By X-san ***The special event huts look isolated and there just isn't a heart to this anniversary.*** Agreed on that point...and so I can appreciate the fact that the 3D scenes do add an important element (even though I never really cared much about them).
Originally Posted By X-san ***Anniversaries aren't just about attractions, shows and parades - it is about collective experiences. This is especially true at TDR where so much of the enjoyment is created by the sheer energy and exuberance of the locals for the product.*** Well put. And I'm in agreement that this particular anniversary doesn't really have much heart to it. I don't feel any sort of special excitement in the air, and I've been to the park twice now since the anniversary began. Quite a letdown (my first TDL experience being the 15th, almost to the day...I arrived in the country for the first time just as they were closing down the old parade in fact)...there was definitely "something in the air" that year, regardless of how you might critique the particular shows or offerings.
Originally Posted By Malin <<< I didn't know that - hope MN is okay. >>> Yeah sites not been updated since April 12th, and I hope he's alright to, and just taking a break from the online world.
Originally Posted By Malin <<< Thanks for the compliment, Malin. I must admit I don't know how anyone could describe the anniversary offerings as the best thing ever (and I don't know the site you are alluding to either). >>> No one is really describing it as the best Anniversary, but at the same time also not commenting on how dissapointing this Anniversary is either. I would have no problem with people doing this if the same people were not always so critical of WDW. While we shouldn't really complain about anything the parks get up to and should just be apreciated we are all in an opotunity to visit them, I also believe in freedom of speech if its fair and balanced and not bias. <<< Anniversaries aren't just about attractions, shows and parades - it is about collective experiences. This is especially true at TDR where so much of the enjoyment is created by the sheer energy and exuberance of the locals for the product. >>> This is a very good point and it makes me think if OLC really understand there audience as much as what there claim too. Clearly something is missing from this Anniversary.
Originally Posted By X-san OLC didn't put on this anniversary, though. For the first time (for a biggie, anyway), it was a different company. And they kinda suck.
Originally Posted By Malin Wait a minute it wasn't the OLC who put the 25th Anniversary on. Maybe I've been a bit to harsh to the wrong party than, but still its OLC who chose to go with this company and decided on the budget to use right. Either way its kind of flopped and I hope mistakes will be learnt. Care to explain more on what sort of involvement this company had in regards to the 25th, X ?
Originally Posted By X-san The new company "E-Productions" is responsible for local entertainment these days. OLC still provides some support though. It's pretty confusing. But all in all, I think E-Productions is a very bad subsidiary designed to cut costs, and this anniversary seems to bear that out. Just a theory.
Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 "Haven't heard from him in a while... Just sent a text message to check in, maybe he'll chime in here in a bit (hopefully)." I haven't gotten any responses from him either for about a month. I do hope he's ok. I also didn't know that E-Productions was behind this anniversary. I wonder if OLC is getting any feedback about the offerings and causing them to question the purpose of this subsidiary? If they (E-Productions) is all about cutting costs, but losing guests in the process, hopefully the #!@$ hits the fan soon...
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I also believe in freedom of speech if its fair and balanced and not bias.>> Be glad you don't live in the USA these days! <<Clearly something is missing from this Anniversary. >> That's a shame, but I haven't heard anyone gushing about it either (anywhere). I wonder of costs for the new hotel, Cirque show and Monsters have played a factor in things appearing to be less than what TDL regulars exepct? Still, I won't care when I go since it's taken me a quarter of a century just to get there!
Originally Posted By Malin Was E-Productions also responsible for the Over the Waves show that people seem to not have a good word to say about. I really hope E-Productions is not going to start dumbing down the entertainment at the Resort, as this could be a start of things to come.
Originally Posted By The Goddess Mara I was just in Walt Disney World for nine days. I would say, compared to Anaheim and Tokyo, that the Orlando resort has the least heart, and therefore anything it does will feel less successful. Even the most pitiful event at the Tokyo Disney Resort seems more successful and enjoyable to me than anything Walt Disney World does.
Originally Posted By X-san E-Productions doesn't exactly handle all entertainment...it's a little confusing (Lee? Lee?), but from what I understand they handle the more day to day stuff. So, OLC (or, for the big shows, WDAJ?) comes up with the concept and provides the producers and all that...E-Pro handles the logistics. So, obviously, E-Pro is very concerned with the cost angle of things.
Originally Posted By X-san That's what I was trying to explain in post 13...it's not that OLC didn't "put it on", it's just that you've got this subsidiary in the mix as well, and as some have noted the entertainment seems to have gone downhill since they went online. A couple of years ago they got rid of literally dozens of atmosphere entertainment shows in one fell swoop, for example. There wasn't much of anything added to replace them, but it was justified because there were a couple of "big shows" coming in (nevermind the fact that they've *always* had "big shows" going on...). That sort of thing.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I was just in Walt Disney World for nine days. I would say, compared to Anaheim and Tokyo, that the Orlando resort has the least heart, and therefore anything it does will feel less successful. Even the most pitiful event at the Tokyo Disney Resort seems more successful and enjoyable to me than anything Walt Disney World does.>> I would be very interested in hearing more about your visit to WDW and observations ... especially on the WDW Board.
