Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 >>> or scare people away by telling them TDR not only doesn't have pintrading, but actually discourages people from buying them these days<<<< <<So, that pin you got me... It was a long and harrowing quest to get it, huh? (It's sitting proudly next to those maps. )>> Well, there are only three shops in the entire resort that are pinshops. And most of the others don't have any at all. You have a few exceptions like the shop at the exit to Pooh's Hunny Hunt was selling ONE pin for the holidays, but it only had the character on it for Christmas (no logos, no park/ride names, nothing). The shop at Monsters Inc had some general character pins from the attraction and film. But generally, no. Pins are not something the OLC wants any part of after what happened with pintrading (which gives me hope they'll get smart and kill the Duffy mania because it detracts from the experience just as pins can). And it's very obvious from the signs sternly informing guests that 'pintrading IS NOT available at TDR' to the very bland designs that they're looking to discourage pinbuying (tins of sweets are another matter). On one hand I think it's a shame as friends have given me TDR pins from years ago and they were really wonderful. Detailed. Themed to attractions/parks/areas. Now ... not much at all.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Did they do anything special in TDS? Or with BraviSEAmo down, that was that? >> The pyro show is seen from both parks, so I saw it from two very different locations ... one near Cindy's Castle ... one near Roman ruins and a volcano. They had plenty of entertainment. I didn't see some of it because there was so much. Mythica is amazing (still can't believe X hasn't seen it) ... Big Band Beat Christmas Show was phenomenal ... to see that kind of theater in a Disney park and a REAL big band with incredibly talented musicians, singers and dancers (and barely any foamheads) is something you won't find anywhere else in the Disney Parks empire. ... Disney Wishes was a 'new' (i.e. likely just for this Christmas season) stage show/spectacle in American Waterfront that required you to enter a lottery ticket to see (first time, we got standing room tix ... second time, seats close to stage). This show was heavy on Santa, foamheads, dancers and elaborate costumes -- all set to match the theme (from merchandise to music to bags) of Christmas Wishes. TDS has such a great deal of live entertainment, you can't really compare it to any WDW park. <<Apologies if I'm making you jump around. >> Nope, it's cool. If you gots questions, then I might have answers.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>On one hand I think it's a shame as friends have given me TDR pins from years ago and they were really wonderful. Detailed. Themed to attractions/parks/areas. Now ... not much at all.<<< Sounds almost like Paris, where pin trading is still allowed. Shame only the character maniacs can find something to buy. Last trip, they had may 6 non character pins...compared to hundreds (which we bought) in the first few years. Sorry, I don't tend to do characters. Mine is big enough thanks. And I am interested, and need to catch up with you. Sadly I am grabbing this report between meetings and family issues. But I am interested, keep writing. I would even love to speak, but sadly I have't even celebrated christmas yet with my extended family due to schedules etc.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>Mythica is amazing (still can't believe X hasn't seen it) ... Big Band Beat Christmas Show was phenomenal ... to see that kind of theater in a Disney park and a REAL big band with incredibly talented musicians, singers and dancers (and barely any foamheads) is something you won't find anywhere else in the Disney Parks empire. ... <<< Now we are talking. For a little while Paris at least had Tarzan and Mulan, then Tarzan and the Lion King, both better than the shows in the US, but now very little (though Tarzan is coming back this year). But to me, quality live entertainment is more important to the Disney experience than Duffy or pins or vynalmation, or even Mickey Mouse meet and greets. Paris may be the most beautiful MK park ever created, but the lack of entertainment is depressing. TDS often looked awesome in this regard, glad to hear it is.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>But generally, no. Pins are not something the OLC wants any part of after what happened with pintrading (which gives me hope they'll get smart and kill the Duffy mania because it detracts from the experience just as pins can).<<< Smart company. >>>On one hand I think it's a shame as friends have given me TDR pins from years ago and they were really wonderful. Detailed. Themed to attractions/parks/areas. Now ... not much at all.<<< Even with that, I was pretty pleased with the 20K Pin. But yeah, a shame they don't have more...
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Sounds almost like Paris, where pin trading is still allowed. Shame only the character maniacs can find something to buy. Last trip, they had may 6 non character pins...compared to hundreds (which we bought) in the first few years.>> Tell me about it. When I was last there in 2009 (when you couldn't meet me!) a friend in O-Town asked for one thing: a Phantom Manor pin. Simple request you'd think, right? Only one of the most popular attractions at the resort. Well, I had CMs tell me they 'used to' carry them and I searched almost every park, resort and Disney village locale and couldn't find ONE ... not even with say Goofy in a Doombuggy. I did luck out when my last day they suddenly offered LE PM lanyards at the Emporium (although they weren't cheap). I'm sorry, but I am really not all that into the characters beyond being in films and some shows. <<Sorry, I don't tend to do characters. Mine is big enough thanks.>> Let's not start talking size here, Dave ... I am well aware of it ;-) <<And I am interested, and need to catch up with you. Sadly I am grabbing this report between meetings and family issues. But I am interested, keep writing.>> Me too ... but I feel like more of a heel since I have a pile of stuff here waiting to be mailed to the UK and I can't seem to find time TO GET A FREAKING BOX AND MAIL IT!!!! And I will keep writing, but it's going to be slow. Going to hit first impressions of BOTH parks next. Then the resorts. <<I would even love to speak, but sadly I have't even celebrated christmas yet with my extended family due to schedules etc.>> Oh, sorry to hear that ... but if you were at WDW it would be OK since they are lazy and generally have parts of the resort (usually hotels are worst) decorated until MLK weekend or later. Maybe we can connect next week at some point? (although we should keep our private lives off the boards, the whole world is reading, right? ;-))
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Now we are talking. For a little while Paris at least had Tarzan and Mulan, then Tarzan and the Lion King, both better than the shows in the US, but now very little (though Tarzan is coming back this year).>> Yeah, I just heard that. A bit surprised, although I loved the Tarzan show. I guess old quality coming back is better than new crap ... but I'd love to see new shows in Paris too! <<But to me, quality live entertainment is more important to the Disney experience than Duffy or pins or vynalmation, or even Mickey Mouse meet and greets. Paris may be the most beautiful MK park ever created, but the lack of entertainment is depressing. TDS often looked awesome in this regard, glad to hear it is.>> It is awesome in this regard and then some. TDL as well. The OLC simply blows TWDC out of the water in entertainment offerings ... I didn't get to see everything by any means. But I can't compare any other Disney resort to it in quantity and overall quality. You have great individual entertainment at some (say WoC and Aladdin at DCA ... or Fantasmic at DL ... or Illuminations at EPCOT etc) but the volume is just amazing. And that was with a local friend complaining that TDL didn't have a Christmas stage show. I know I've never seen that amount of entertainment in a park before ... DL in 1990 was very good ... EPCOT's early years and Disney-MGM's for that matter were very good ... but nothing like this. There was one entertainment thing that did bug me at TDL, though ...
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>I'm sorry, but I am really not all that into the characters beyond being in films and some shows.<<< This just needs to be said. Again. And again. And again.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Even with that, I was pretty pleased with the 20K Pin. >> Glad to hear that, but you have no idea how much I had to search for it ... and when I found it, it wasn't at TDS (naturally) but at a shop in Adventureland near PoC.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 >>>I'm sorry, but I am really not all that into the characters beyond being in films and some shows.<<< <<This just needs to be said. Again. And again. And again. >> OK, we just did It is scary how much Disney has become about toons now. You should check out the 1956 Robbins Barstow film on DL (it got a lot of attention recently when he passed away) ... it's a home movie of a trip a CT family won and it is an incredible look at an era to begin with ... and DL in particular. Disney 'branding' was there in things like Davy Crockett and the characters IN Fantasyland ... but it is like a time capsule and you'll see how simple DL was, yet how it took you to other places so well. Today, Disney wants to take you to DISNEY BRAND MAGIC WISHES PRINCESSES DREAMS PIRATES AND PIXIE DUST LAND ... totally different.
Originally Posted By buried20kleague Wow, Spirit... You're really stretching this out... Even by YOUR standards! Wouldja get to Sea already??? I know I'm coming late to the game here, so I won't comment on things discussed days ago. But I can sum up Tokyo Disneyland in one phrase: "Stuck in the early '80's". And I loved it. I could sum up Disney Sea, as well... But I shant steal your thunder. Unless to keep taking forever to get to it!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Wow, Spirit... You're really stretching this out... Even by YOUR standards! >> Hey, at least I still have standards (unlike say some MAGICal fanbois!) Seriously, it is very nice to see you here and I'm not purposely stretching things out. Just have a life ... OK, a very interesting existence that often requires me to be away from the LP. Either that, or I'm stalling to see when Martin will make his promised in person appearance over here. Lee pops in, but he needs the puddles of fanboi adulation/drool, so you never know when he might actually be here. <<Wouldja get to Sea already??? >> Soon ... although I've mentioned plenty of it in pieces ... and also down on the almost no one reads it TDR board. I'll repeat this tidbit: TDS was so amazing and realistic (a criticism of the resident Lee -- Leemac -- here) that I missed my first BIg earthquake, a 6.9 shaker because I was convinced it was an effect in the JTTCoTE queue (SERIOUSLY!) <<I know I'm coming late to the game here, so I won't comment on things discussed days ago. But I can sum up Tokyo Disneyland in one phrase: "Stuck in the early '80's". And I loved it.>> I'd agree to a point. Much of it was like stepping into an MK time capsule in a bizarro world ... BUT then you have all the new additions that are unique (Hunny Hunt, Monsters) or just plussed (Critter Country/Splash Mountain). <<I could sum up Disney Sea, as well... But I shant steal your thunder. Unless to keep taking forever to get to it! >> I welcome your thoughts on anything and everything as I am sure the LP Community does. It's nice to have folks who have also experienced the same things offering their take and opinions ... Speaking of which, can't recall but did you shell out for a TDR hotel or stay elsewhere?
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>Glad to hear that, but you have no idea how much I had to search for it ... and when I found it, it wasn't at TDS (naturally) but at a shop in Adventureland near PoC.<<< Something else I don't get... Why not just keep the merch in the right area. >>> You should check out the 1956 Robbins Barstow film on DL (it got a lot of attention recently when he passed away) ... it's a home movie of a trip a CT family won and it is an incredible look at an era to begin with ... and DL in particular. Disney 'branding' was there in things like Davy Crockett and the characters IN Fantasyland ... but it is like a time capsule and you'll see how simple DL was, yet how it took you to other places so well. Today, Disney wants to take you to DISNEY BRAND MAGIC WISHES PRINCESSES DREAMS PIRATES AND PIXIE DUST LAND ... totally different.<<< Point me in the right direction, and I'm there. And I have no problem with synergy... when it's used the right way. But not everything has to be branded by Mr. Iger, which he loves to do.
Originally Posted By buried20kleague <<Seriously, it is very nice to see you here>> Thanks. I guess it took conversation about the overseas parks to get me off my $#%&... Thus far I've gotten my fill of WDW chat in another MAGICal location. <<Speaking of which, can't recall but did you shell out for a TDR hotel or stay elsewhere?>> We stayed a week at the Mira Costa, with a lagoon view, and then a week at the Sheraton with a park view. The Mira Costa was amazing... Loved watching BraviSEAmo in my pj's. The Sheraton was fine... Nothing special. The DLH was opening the week after we left, so I didn't have the opportunity to even walk through it and check it out, let alone stay there, unfortunately.
Originally Posted By Christi22222 >>>But not everything has to be branded by Mr. Iger, which he loves to do.<<< Kind of like a dog marking his territory.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< We stayed a week at the Mira Costa, with a lagoon view, and then a week at the Sheraton with a park view. >>> Wow - a 2-week stay at TDR? That's a long time for that resort!
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>Kind of like a dog marking his territory.<<< Implying that the Weatherman has sprinkles? Hm. (collective "EWWWW" from the audience)
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>Soon ... although I've mentioned plenty of it in pieces ... and also down on the almost no one reads it TDR board.<<<< Thanks for calling me, X, and Superdry no one! lol. Perhaps it's the belgian beers and french wine of the business meeting calling (no food and wine festival nonsense required), but I could almost feel insulted (though you are not far wrong
Originally Posted By Mr X ***My theory (and from talking with some locals and others who visit frequently) is it goes back to Japan's role as an aggressor in WWII and this whole 'cute' deal (from maid cafes to Hello Kitty to Duffy to boys and girls you can't tell apart without a medical exam -- or TSA scanner) is a response. Like a 'look how non-threatening and sweet we are' ... I admit I am no expert and could be off, but it does make some sense*** An interesting, albeit horribly creepy, theory. Somehow I think it's something else though. For one thing, the cute craze is relatively new (less than 50 years old in any case), and it's generally propagated by the young who pay little attention to history and really don't care much or even KNOW much about Japan's atrocious past. That plus, the older generation (the ones who came after the war) didn't seem to give a flying crap about that when they wheeled and dealed and pushed their way to fastest recovery from ruin to prosperity in world history. So it's interesting, but somehow I think it goes deeper and there's more to it. Sort of like the half-Klingon chick in star trek who tells hottie Deanna Troi that she feels like she's got a monster inside her or something. Perhaps it's not their DEEDS, but the fact that they know deep down they'd do it all over again if they had the chance. Or on the other hand it could be national PTSD. My pet theory is that Disney just came along and created the beast, they were perfectly normal before Mickey came to town (the "Tommy" theory).
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>generally propagated by the young who pay little attention to history and really don't care much or even KNOW much about Japan's atrocious past. <<< I makes me feel a bit better that the US isn't the only nation with this wonderful problem... ...sigh
