Originally Posted By Bob Paris 1 "It is amazing how great a job all the former Imagineers are doing, freed of the backstabbing culture at WDI. So contrast that with what the Imagineers have done lately. Star Tours 2.0? Great job, but nothing original. Little Mermaid? Not really sure it will be worth the 20 plus year wait. Fantasyland Expansion? Okay, maybe the Seven Dwarfs roller coaster. Maybe Disney should fire all the current Imagineers and hire all the former ones - at half what they are paying everyone right now." Something tells me the current staff at WDI could create something JUST as good as FJ if they were give the money and free reign. As dumb as "Cars" is as franchise, I am sure the RSS will be incredible!
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>Perfect place to hang around, drink a Butterbeer, and break down the film. Dare I say, a magical place?<<< Exactly. Either Disney Fanboiz are bitter that they don't get that special treatment from Disney (mental illness thread fodder for Spirit, he'll have fun with that...) OR they are set in their ways of "If it's not Disney, it's stupid." Equally stupid...
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>Something tells me the current staff at WDI could create something JUST as good as FJ if they were give the money and free reign.<<< I agree, just look at TDS.
Originally Posted By Manfried I think its less about the money, and more about the free reign and not being trapped by themselves and the past.
Originally Posted By dshyates But boat loads of money can get the creative wheels rolling in ways that self conscious constraint never will. As in, if you know that you will be judged by costs first, that will be your primary goal.
Originally Posted By dshyates WDI's mantra: how cheaply can you build a "Disney Quality" attraction. As opposed to "that's AWESOME! Now let's try and trim it into a workable budget".
Originally Posted By ReelJustice ^^i don't agree. They have no concept of budgeting money responsibly. See: $100 million each for Mermaid and Mater at DCA.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 >>>Perfect place to hang around, drink a Butterbeer, and break down the film. Dare I say, a magical place?<<< <<Exactly. Either Disney Fanboiz are bitter that they don't get that special treatment from Disney (mental illness thread fodder for Spirit, he'll have fun with that...) OR they are set in their ways of "If it's not Disney, it's stupid." Equally stupid... >> Good point, EE ... and I do think my mental illness thread will wind up being a book before it winds up on here, but Disney fanbois do have their issues and they want to feel special (not at all shameless plus to follow: but read my latest post on the Social Media thread to see how Disney treats some online 'personalities' ... If Lou Mongello makes the Jeff Langes and Tom Corless' and Ricky Brigantes look smalltime ... well, the dude I mention makes Lou look smalltime) ... BUT as to your second point, it absolutely is true. If Potter was Disney, then the fanboi masses would be in puddles of drool. But Disney didn't want to pay up and UNI did and created the most amazing addition to the O-Town themed entertainment scene so you hear all the hate and blather about it being over and a flash in the pan etc ... If it is, which it isn't, then Star Wars (which isn't Disney either except for theme park rights) is as well. The last truly great SW film came out when most fanbois weren't even born! And how much did UNI get bashed at IOA for having the harsh/violent/dark Marvel characters? You may not recall how they weren't exactly played up as a great property when IOA was under development and opened. So ... not Disney you'd hear. Perfect fit for UNI, though. Suddenly, Bob Iger overpays for Marvel and Mickey is somehow a good fit with the Hulk, Spidey and Wolverine? You know, I guess this kinda does go back to the whole mental illness and Pixie Dust addiction deal after all! ;-)
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>Good point, EE ... and I do think my mental illness thread will wind up being a book before it winds up on here, but Disney fanbois do have their issues and they want to feel special (not at all shameless plus to follow: but read my latest post on the Social Media thread to see how Disney treats some online 'personalities' ... If Lou Mongello makes the Jeff Langes and Tom Corless' and Ricky Brigantes look smalltime ... well, the dude I mention makes Lou look smalltime) ... BUT as to your second point, it absolutely is true.<<< Open up the subject to ALL fandoms, you might have a NYT Best Seller, here! ;-) >>> If Potter was Disney, then the fanboi masses would be in puddles of drool. But Disney didn't want to pay up and UNI did and created the most amazing addition to the O-Town themed entertainment scene so you hear all the hate and blather about it being over and a flash in the pan etc ... If it is, which it isn't, then Star Wars (which isn't Disney either except for theme park rights) is as well. The last truly great SW film came out when most fanbois weren't even born! And how much did UNI get bashed at IOA for having the harsh/violent/dark Marvel characters? You may not recall how they weren't exactly played up as a great property when IOA was under development and opened. So ... not Disney you'd hear. Perfect fit for UNI, though.<<<< Oh, quite right. But it HAS to have that DISNEY (so funny how a simple typo turns that into DISMAY) branding on it the corp. shills both in and out of the company with so hard to stamp on everything. The Big D makes everything acceptable... everything.
Originally Posted By 3disneylocations It was a good way for Warner Bros to promote the opening of the movie using Uni's set piece. Notice how Uni didn't have their Potter attractions open, just the stores and kiddie coaster? Things that make you go huuum...
Originally Posted By dshyates I am sure that WB got a percentage of merch sales, but I don't think WB had anything to do with the surprise. I believe it was strictly Universal's call.
Originally Posted By Bob Paris 1 "The last truly great SW film came out when most fanbois weren't even born!" You got THAT RIGHT, buddy! How many of the Facebook addicted, ADD drooling pixie dusting morons were born BEFORE 1980? Damn - I wouldn't have thought that at 41 I would feel OLD!!!
Originally Posted By Bob Paris 1 "Notice how Uni didn't have their Potter attractions open, just the stores and kiddie coaster? Things that make you go huuum..." And notice how all WDW can do for their guests is to have a merch event that costs $285.00(GOD DAMN!!!!!!!)or "upscale" parties that cost $50-$60 PER TICKET giving you basically something that twenty years ago you got for FREE!!!! Thing that make you go "Hmmmmmmmm" indeed!!!!
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>It was a good way for Warner Bros to promote the opening of the movie using Uni's set piece. Notice how Uni didn't have their Potter attractions open, just the stores and kiddie coaster? Things that make you go huuum...<<<< Of course. But it's still a great PR move. Same if Disney opened up MSUSA or something.
Originally Posted By DlandDug What I don't understand is the knee jerk reaction by some here to immediately draw unfavorable comparisons to Disney. Uni does something cool on the opening night of HP7II; why should this become an opportunity to bash Disney? I was at the Disneyland "Early Departure" event for Star Tours 2 earlier this summer. 2400 guests were let into DIsneyland early, for free, to ride Star Tours 2. They handed out hot beverages and snacks while people waited in line. They gave everybody a free pin back button to commemorate the morning. Folks were totally jazzed, and had a great time. <a href="http://www.laughingplace.com/Lotion-View-1193.asp" target="_blank">http://www.laughingplace.com/L...1193.asp</a> Disney does all kinds of cool stuff even these days. And there's no reason to instantly draw unfavorable comparisons to Universal when they do.
Originally Posted By Bolna <<I was at the Disneyland "Early Departure" event for Star Tours 2 earlier this summer. 2400 guests were let into DIsneyland early, for free, to ride Star Tours 2. They handed out hot beverages and snacks while people waited in line. They gave everybody a free pin back button to commemorate the morning. Folks were totally jazzed, and had a great time.>> Doug, I would agree with you that saying that someone else does something great does not have to go hand in hand with bashing Disney. Especially since in this case we are discussing a rather singular event and Universal had an opportunity which does not come around very often. But they used it perfectly and I have to admire that. However, I think you can't compare the event you mention with the Harry Potter surprise. The people at the Star Tours event were all readers of the Disney Parks Blog - so already Disney fans. HokieSkipper who was there said in post #4: <<Terrific and classy move from the resort that clealy cares about their guests. I was there and while I've been to WWoHP many times, the atmosphere and excitement from those that were going for the first time really made it a special event. Bravo to Universal.>> This event got people who were Potter fans (why else would they go to the midnight viewing?) into Universal for the first time. I would bet you that a large number of these people will return again with a ticket that they paid for. And many will bring family and friends along and will tell their neighbours how great Universal was to let them in after the film. From a marketing point of view this was genius. They managed to reach NEW guests.
Originally Posted By Bob Paris 1 And THAT is one of THE BIG differences and what Spirit has been talking about for MONTHS now - that the whole social media thing with Disney is the same seven or eight people shouting in an echo chamber. It's preaching to the same old choir of converts. UO managed to reach NEW people and THAT is harder and MUCH MORE commendable!
Originally Posted By sjhym333 I think the frustration with Disney in terms of the HP thing is the Disney used to do more of that kind of thing in the past. Especially with AP holders. Disney used to host free AP events on a regular basis and at one point really tried to reach out to the AP folks by offering AP lounges with free drinks and snacks. I think that the complaining comes from an ongoing disappointment from a place that means alot to everyone on this list. It does seem to get overdone at times. WDW is a great place and still has some amazing things to do and see. As I get older it is the simpler things I like...walking World Showcase, strolling from EPCOTS back gate to the Studios, drinks at the Poly pool. I love Soarin and there are some wonderful places in the MK. And watching the monorail go thru the Contemporary still gives me chills.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom <<Disney does all kinds of cool stuff even these days. And there's no reason to instantly draw unfavorable comparisons to Universal when they do.>> Saying that the Disney Company treats DL and WDW and thier respective fans very differently is an understatement. I'm willing to let the "west coasters" draw their own conclusions as to how DL and DCA are being managed. But please, please allow those of us who live on the east coast to also draw our own conclusions as to how WDW and its PR are being managed. Forgoodness sakes, the opening of POTC On Stranger Tides was held at DL. When was the last time Disney ever held a movie opening at WDW? Maybe, just maybe those of use on the east coast would for once like to see the Disney Company put the parks at WDW first instead of 5 more planned DVCs.
