Originally Posted By Autopia Deb >>>but it was a park very much different from DL. New lands, new rides<<< Liberty Square instead of New Orleans Square, different but not impressive. CBJ (which DL got) and Hall of Presidents, a great attraction I'll admit, and the Swan Boats. Compared to the line up of attractions at DL I don't see these "new lands and rides" as all that impressive. I can see a resort wide celebration, because of the sheer size of The World, even in '71, but for the park itself, meh. EPCOT was something completely new, as was Disneyland in '55. But Magic Kingdom? Not so much. And like I said, I love Disney World and I do still enjoy the Magic Kingdom, but I don't think its anniversary is a big deal. Nothing against you either EE .
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>Liberty Square instead of New Orleans Square, different but not impressive. CBJ (which DL got) and Hall of Presidents, a great attraction I'll admit, and the Swan Boats. Compared to the line up of attractions at DL I don't see these "new lands and rides" as all that impressive. I can see a resort wide celebration, because of the sheer size of The World, even in '71, but for the park itself, meh. EPCOT was something completely new, as was Disneyland in '55. But Magic Kingdom? Not so much. And like I said, I love Disney World and I do still enjoy the Magic Kingdom, but I don't think its anniversary is a big deal. Nothing against you either EE .<<< LS not impressive?! .... That's my favorite land. It's detailed, immersive, and unique. We also had the newly remade 20K, a differently designed Adventure land (Harper Goff Vs. Herb Ryman) a more fleshed out Frontierland, a new castle, a grander Main Street, and a longer Haunted Mansion. And on top of that, as you said, the land and the property. It all ties together. And it's all very much deserving of a celebration.
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb Have you not seen New Orleans Square!? Liberty Square by comparison isn't particularly impressive, nice but no particular wow factor. Did the Magic Kingdom take what was in Anaheim and do it on a grander scale? Absolutely. But was it innovative? Not particularly. Most everything new was outside the turnstiles. The Poly and 'Temp, 7 Seas lagoon, all the recreation available. That should be celebrated. I am just not all that fetched up about there being nothing but merchandise for MK's 40th. But it would be nice for the entire resort to get some love on the anniversary.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer ^ OK, so celebrate ALL of it, as you said. Dissecting only what you think is the "bad" part of WDW doesn't warrant it's worth for a celebration being diminished.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 Meanwhile, Disney's been building hotels. -- ONLY because they have been able to subsidize them thru cash influx from DVC-- how long did the last hotel sit before they decided to complete. Maybe they should have a DVC for rides - collect money up front from people and only thy get access to it - of course that's ludicrous- but the only way you can compare ride building and DVC building
Originally Posted By vbdad55 agree with EE deb-- DL is a great place but it is a theme park-- WDW is a resort- there is quite a difference..and a different concept
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>ONLY because they have been able to subsidize them thru cash influx from DVC-- how long did the last hotel sit before they decided to complete. Maybe they should have a DVC for rides - collect money up front from people and only thy get access to it - <<< They were still able to build things. They had money, as seen in DCA.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>agree with EE deb-- DL is a great place but it is a theme park-- WDW is a resort- there is quite a difference..and a different concept<<< So celebrate that. It's still a HUGE event and step for WDC.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>I say they turn Cinderella's Castle into a giant birthday cake.<<< God, no. LOL
Originally Posted By vbdad55 They weathered the economic storm just fine... Really ? Are you a stockholder ? If so you track all the indicators ? They have managed it well since their P/E for buyers has risen the last 3 years - but they have also issued more stock shares . they have done this based on the following income 2006 $3.374M 2007 4.687 2008 4.427 2009 3.307 2010 3.963 if you can look at income trend the last 3 years and tell me increased spending is what's needed - then you likely have a future place in Congress. the drop from 08 to 09 should be enough to scare the heck out of anyone- that;s a 25% drop. 2010 shows a recovery but nowhere near 08 or 07 income to 'play with' earning per share just climbed barely above $2 bucks a share in 2010..and I needn't remind you this is a business. Borrowing $ comes from Moddy's ratings etc.. if/when that income number rebounds then cries for more spending ( and again as a company DCA didn't rebuild itself ) could/should be expected IMHO
Originally Posted By vbdad55 They were still able to build things. They had money, as seen in DCA. -- yes, and yet that still isn;t enough for people- look at the income over the last 5 years-- I can;t stress enough, this is a business first..if that goes in the crapper we don't have to worry about the next E ticket. they have leveraged well-- and to say the decreased value of their holdings doesn't matter unless they are selling is completely false. The equity status of the company also determines bond ratings and the cost at which they can borrow cash for building..so I titally disagree with that statement
Originally Posted By vbdad55 Disney does not/ cannot operate in an economic vaccuum.... the forces that control all the rates for spending/ borrowing in the country apply to them as well.... wishin' and hopin' doesn't make a good business case. I'd like them to build lots of new stuff also-- but I also want them to be around for my grandkids as well...
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb I *never* said MK was bad! Just not innovative. Maybe I should restate, that if EPCOT, a truly new idea in family entertainment gets almost nothing for its 25th why is a big deal that MK (NOT WDW as I have said in every post) gets merch only for its 40th?
Originally Posted By vbdad55 but isn't MK THE anchor for WDW > It's what it opened with, and a few places to stay, period. Everything else is an expansion of WDW Hard to say WDW not innovative -- how you enter the park - completely different than DL and an experience unto itself - whether by monorail or boat. Any other theme park that does this ? the way MK was built 'upstairs' from a swamp a technological marvel -- no other park has attempted to copy..likely because of the massive effort and cost to do so Country Bear Jamboree and Space Mountain were MK firsts when opened- not at DL The three Disney owned and operated hotels around MK ( contempoary/ poly and sahdes of green) was a totally new concept as well..that has expanded now across all parks Fort Wilderness- a campground was build for the MK at the time- another new concept the concept of allowing hotels to build on Disney property ( hotel drive) - again while only MK existed - another concept that followed Walt's desire to control the environment around his parks- something he didn;t have at DL so to say there was nothing innovative is ignoring a whole lot of different ideas and concepts -- the largest to me is the structure of how MK was built itself- and the immediate world around it.
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb Didn't I say that "The World" outside the turnstiles was innovative? I'm not disputing the building of MK didn't take some engineering skill. And yes, MK is the anchor for WDW, that's not my point. My point is that if EPCOT didn't deserve more than a one day celebration, that only happened because fans put up a fuss, why bother for MK? Remember every post I have stated that WDW as a whole should have something. Photos of the early days and the building process and Imagineering models on display at the resorts at the very least.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 the real issue is EPCOT - DID deserve more than it got..hoping they don't make that mistake again...not that MK doesn't
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb If we have a choice between nothing but "40 Years of Magic" merchandise and turning the castle into a cake again, I'll take the T-shirts.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>-- yes, and yet that still isn;t enough for people- look at the income over the last 5 years-- I can;t stress enough, this is a business first..if that goes in the crapper we don't have to worry about the next E ticket.<<< And buisnesses compete! Like Universal did with IoA. And they were worse off than WDC, too. Risks, all about risks.
