Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "Why not put in a Hair Bear Bunch Land? Or a Petticoat Junction Land? Or a Lincoln Logs Land?" Because all of those ideas suck.
Originally Posted By planodisney And if you think a company doesnt need to base any of its future investment on where it believes society is heading in terms of entertainment desires, and on what the general public would be entertained by, you have no clue what running and expanding a business is all about. Many of these movies and stories being used for attractions WERE original ideas in themselves. Also, if you dont think the general public and society has changed in terms of what it is entertained by since the 50's and 60's, then you havent been paying attention. I dont like it either, but it doesnt change the fact. See, the collapse of the popularity of baseball and the rise of football. Im a baseball guy, but as much as I try and convince people of the beauty and intelligence in the game of baseball, they arent going to like baseball better than football. You know, when you make 600 million dollar investments you need others besides just AP;s to show up. I know you think your definition of originality and thematic continuity is the most important aspect of DL parks, but it AINT. Survival and growth is!!! Weather you like it or not, and the sad fact is that MILLIONS more destination tourists would show up to visit Monstropolis in Hollywood backlot than a Dick Tracy ride or new version of the Great Movie Ride. Like it or not, THAT matters, especially when not a penny of it is your money to invest.
Originally Posted By oc_dean Your argument though is simplifying a picture without a lot of other factors to bare in mind. Such as letting go creative talents. As WDI has lost many extremely talented people for what? A one-Disney initiative that says "no" to more creative ideas, and just exploit I.P.s If I had a company with shareholders as a responsibility, I don't think letting go creative talents is exactly what I'd be doing "if it's not my money to invest".
Originally Posted By crazycroc "Why not put in a Hair Bear Bunch Land? Or a Petticoat Junction Land? Or a Lincoln Logs Land?" I would be an AP again if they made a Hair Bear Bunch Land. Best post ever. Hair Bear Bunch is about as creatively void as Cars (The Movie).
Originally Posted By Yookeroo "I can't understand the push back for a 'Star Wars Land'" People are pining for 1966.
Originally Posted By mawnck >>And if you think a company doesnt need to base any of its future investment on where it believes society is heading in terms of entertainment desires<< "Society's entertainment desires" head for the best of that which is set before them, not the other way around. A lot of managers don't get this concept. Say, are you a manager? >>People are pining for 1966.<< Uh, no.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 >>Some people need to get over the importance they put on their own opinions.<< <Discussion board.> {picturing mawnck with the same facial expression as Johnny Depp in the first Pirates when he did something underhanded and Orlando Bloom said it wasn't fair, and Depp pointed to himself and said "Um... PIRATE."
Originally Posted By leemac <<the major e-ticket would be the speeder bike attraction but themed to Star Wars instead of Tron.>> The obsession with this type of coaster within WDI is crazy. Vekoma's bike coaster just isn't a comfortable ride. Being hunched over the "handlebars" for a coaster experience is very disconcerting - you constantly want to sit bolt upright against a back support. There is a reason that they have only sold 5 of them to date.
Originally Posted By dagobert >>>The obsession with this type of coaster within WDI is crazy. Vekoma's bike coaster just isn't a comfortable ride. Being hunched over the "handlebars" for a coaster experience is very disconcerting - you constantly want to sit bolt upright against a back support.<<< Did Vekoma build all coasters for Disney around the globe? I know SM, BTMRR and RnRC in Paris are built by them. I think I read somewhere that Intamin built California Screamin? Is no one at WDI riding the coaster before developing a new project?
Originally Posted By leemac <<The Monsters coaster is said to be every bit as immersive as RSR with a few very large show scenes and full animatronics followed by a thrill section.>> That would be very different to the original door coaster that was planned for D-MGM about a decade ago. That would have been a standard Vekoma suspended coaster with rigid support frames (i.e. no swing-out cars like the Big Bad Wolf that used to be at Busch Gardens Williamsburg). The main problem then was the high height restriction and the reduced visibility to see the show elements (due to the overhead restraint and the restricted field of vision caused by the cars in front). I've always hated this idea - the restricted field of vision made it almost impossible to construct show scenes that would tell a story. It was also nearly impossible to come up with a balance between thrills and family experience. Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars at HKDL just about gets the right balance - but it is outdoors and your field of vision isn't obscured by a lot of machinery.
Originally Posted By leemac <<The board actually toured DCA through BVS and Carsland, road RSR and then posed for a picture in front of Cadillac Range. >> I wasn't there but the entire board has already had a full board meeting at DLR and toured the DCA expansion. I'm not sure why they would have done that again.
Originally Posted By leemac <<Did Vekoma build all coasters for Disney around the globe? I know SM, BTMRR and RnRC in Paris are built by them.>> California Screamin' is an Intamin coaster. Goofy's Sky School is a Mack coaster. In Paris RC Racer is an Intamin half pipe coaster. Both Raging Spirits at TDS and Indy at DLP are an Intamin. Crush's Coaster is a Maurer-Sohne. In short - WDI can select the most appropriate manufacturer - there isn't a favorite although the relationship with Vekoma is pretty strong.
Originally Posted By leemac <<Is no one at WDI riding the coaster before developing a new project?>> The funny thing about the bike coaster is that is has a very narrow size range - i.e. the smallest and largest guest that it can accommodate. The individual that selected that bike coaster for Shanghai can't ride the mock-up due to being.....ahem......a little too rotund with bank problems. I kid you not.
Originally Posted By growndhawgg I read something about a dramatic re-imagining of the old Fantasyland dark rides. I wonder if this will be effects touch-up or an overhaul of the queue system (like the Little Mermaid) for efficiency. With a Star Wars makeover, maybe, what's the fate of the dying Innoventions, Autopia (I read the Subs are staying put)?
Originally Posted By leemac <<a little too rotund with bank problems.>> BACK. Naturally all SVPs have no financial problems.
Originally Posted By dagobert >>>Goofy's Sky School is a Mack coaster. <<<< Doesn't DLP's main competitor Europa Park belong to Mack? Now I get why they copied so many Disney rides.
Originally Posted By dagobert >>>The funny thing about the bike coaster is that is has a very narrow size range - i.e. the smallest and largest guest that it can accommodate. The individual that selected that bike coaster for Shanghai can't ride the mock-up due to being.....ahem......a little too rotund with bank problems. I kid you not.<<< That doesn't sound very professional. I really hope they will come up with something else than the bike coaster. So can we really count on a major expansion at any Disney resort, since the Board met at DCA?
Originally Posted By leemac <<Doesn't DLP's main competitor Europa Park belong to Mack? Now I get why they copied so many Disney rides.>> The Mack family do own that park too - hence why it is one big showplace for their product. Their Wild Mouse coaster is very popular and reliable hence why it ended up at DCA. They don't tend to sell a lot of product to the US due to the $/euro rate and the high shipping costs - but back in '98 they were the cheapest around.
Originally Posted By mawnck >>Now I get why they copied so many Disney rides.<< Well, Goofy's Sky School is just an off-the-shelf "Wild Mouse" carnival ride, in keeping with the DCA 1.0 mandate. The **exact same ride** (minus Goofy) can be found at the Orange County Fair each year. And a "few" other places: <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_Mouse_roller_coaster#Examples_of_Wild_Mouse_roller_coasters">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W...coasters</a>
Originally Posted By dagobert >>>Well, Goofy's Sky School is just an off-the-shelf "Wild Mouse" carnival ride, in keeping with the DCA 1.0 mandate. The **exact same ride** (minus Goofy) can be found at the Orange County Fair each year.<<< I'm not talking about that specific ride, but Europa Park features a POTC copy, they have a monorail and a structure like Spaceship Earth.
