Originally Posted By MPierce >> Please don't!!! TDLfan had some great pictures, and his reviews of anything new at the park was fair and very informative. But when his feathers got ruffled, he lost me. << TDLFAN did have a way about him. I miss it. >> And I like and respect the current Spirit much better than the one of a couple years ago. But maybe I'm the one who's changed and not Spirit. << You're just crustier, and tough skin now after listening to Spirits diatribes for years.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Bobee, I do not think Spirit has changed much at all. However, I think you have perhaps seen the value that he adds, and the fact that he calls them like he sees them. The good, the bad and the ugly. Also, have you perhaps also agreed more with the gripes? I have noticed on the European boards where I used to get major flamage (and still do from time to time), a lot of fans have only just discovered Disney parks in the last few years, even they are seeing the quality declinations. And now some even defend me when I choose not to defend myself.
Originally Posted By mousermerf I've been checking out the Space mountain refurb photos in the last hour.. and the comments.. The happy people are distinctly the minority this time. Finally. It seems like lots of folks are starting to wake up.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer ^^^ Well, you judging on the planter or the actual refurb? Planter? Who cares. Refurb.... You havn't seen nothing yet. It's in MK, they'll actually care, as opposed to SSE.
Originally Posted By Labuda Hey, kids - I don't want to get in on the name-calling and whatnot that has been going on in this thread, but just want to say thank you. Thank you? Why's that, you ask? Thank you becuase you've reminded me that I need to contact my dear friend TDLFAN and see if he'll be in the vicinity of his home when I'm there next month.
Originally Posted By Spyderman >>I've been checking out the Space mountain refurb photos in the last hour.. and the comments.. The happy people are distinctly the minority this time. Finally. It seems like lots of folks are starting to wake up. << Thank God perhaps I shouldnt have wasted my time on that site until enough people woke up to the truth. This momentum will continue into next year when the kids there realize nothing is going to happen to Jungle Cruise.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer ^^^^ I'm thinking so, too. Maybe the people over there only care about the MK. Heh. Wouldn't surprise me.
Originally Posted By Spyderman I mean don't get me wrong. Im happy that they will be redoing the back part of the MK which sucks now into something better and finally doing Star Tours II but honestly it is too little too late. You can tell both projects were greenlit out of concern over Harry Potter.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 >> I wonder what/who else is buried on the ranch ... and I thought his ranch was in Midland? << <<Nope, it's in Crawford outside of Waco.>> I guess I need a Texas geography class. I hear the state is the hottest destination for retirees these days (not a joke). <<We'll start the bidding at 25 Mickey Dollars.>> >> How about some old DCA postcards and a 1996 EPCOT guidemap? << <<I've already got the '96. Make it a '95, and you've got a deal.>> Hmmm ... those are extra hot now as the park was 'renamed' EPCOT '95 and they're also going for more since that was George K's debut as EPCOT VP. But I think, for you, it can be done ;-) >> I do too. And he knows it. He just had enough and opted to leave. I feel that way about another site I post on often, but I hear some dude has my back there. He's da bomb! << <<Man it's tough over there. I've got some little 13 year old boy calling me names, and trying to strut his stuff. I've got some little GI Joe that thinks I'm going to be impressed because he saids he's a Marine, calling me a pansy. I noticed today some moron was speculating on your masculinity. All of this is your fault too!>> Everything is my fault now (too bad, I got used to blaming W for everything and now ... it's come back home!) And been meaning to send you a note ... I appreciate the backup. But after a while, it grows tiresome fighting with children. What can you say? They're just a bunch of Hannah Montanta loving poopy-heads! <<What a controversial topic you started. How dare you ask what's coming to WDW in 2010.>> Funny how it really hasn't been THAT controversial here. Of course, we also don't have threads dedicated to restrooms and planters and new Space Mountain signage ... maybe you should start some? <<It's also really kind of funny how Erika moderates your post, but allows all those little children over there to name call at will.>> Well, I don't want to take shots at the mods over there when I am over here, but I love that I get special Spirited treatment ... she was all up in arms over me writing a three-letter word for butt because God forbid that someone reads that awful word. But someone 'outed' my lapdog's real world identity and I believe it's still sitting there. If I were Steve, it would be gone immediately because someone can sue his ...well ... ASS! <<I didn't start it back up again today with the children because it's turned into an interesting thread. I want to see where it leads.>> I'll have to check back ... been busy ... but it sure seemed headed for nothingness.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<The Disney Co. is becoming "shrewder" with each passing year. If they can get away without putting attention into the parks, they will. I'm seeing it with my own eyes.>> Exactly. What's funny is how some pixie dusted fanbois think that The Weatherman is some savior of Disney quality and that he cares unlike his predeceesor (who did care before he let things spin out of control). WDW is so incredibly stale these days. And getting worse. For every small new thing ... say like the Princess and Frog showboat review (which appears to be good, even if, unlike DL, it is very out of place) you have them killing Lights of Winter at EPCOT or paving over a theater where Mickey's Twas The Night Before Christmas played so Phil Holmes can reach his Escalade faster or having hard-ticket Christmas parties start the day after Veteran's Day, while making sure that no seasonal APers will be able to see even one day of Christmas at MK without buying an extra $59 ticket. <<And I just laugh at every single post .. on any subject .. when any poster tries to second guess Disney's finances. Playing Accounteneers .. like poor little Disney (the "mom and pop" operation can't afford to offer new attractions). Yet .. in a tough economic climate this country is facing ....... they buy Marvel for how much???>> Um ... about $4 billion ... but hey, I was in a book store this afternoon and they sure have lots of comic books! <<I don't even need to post the amount, you all know!>> Yeah. But it's more powerful if you do, that's why I added it. <<OH ... what about ABC? Fox Family Network? go.com?>> ABC was a great move. I can't argue it at all. But FOX Family and Go.com were billions thrown away ... almost governmental in terms of so much with almost no returns. <<You know .. this company AINT poor.>> Where's the poster who will pop in to talk about how poorly Disney's cash flow has been (true to an extent) and that parks don't make any money (absolute BS). <<If it's not priority .. forget it. That's all it comes down to!>> Yep.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<There may be good people on that site, but they're mislead about the sources of information, who's getting paid to provide what (and with what slant), and there is absolutely not "full disclosure" of who is working for whom.>> Hmm ... you piqued my curiosity, Murfie ... so who is working for whom? (and the fanbois are getting better ... they're all foamed up about LoW being killed at EPCOT with only my pal JT making excuses and no one is buying them ... they've even been posting on the Disney Blog itself about it ...)
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy << Yet .. in a tough economic climate this country is facing ....... they buy Marvel for how much??? >> The Marvel deal pretty much pays for itself in the licensing agreements that are already in place with other movie studios. Disney gets to collect fees for movies they don't have to finance -- pretty good deal. Also, they paid for half the Marvel purchase with stock. You can't build new attractions with shares of stock. That would require actual cash. << But FOX Family and Go.com were billions thrown away ... almost governmental in terms of so much with almost no returns. >> Both were poison pill type moves to prevent a hostile takeover. Unless you prefer that Disney was bought out by AOL or Yahoo at the time. You should also crunch the numbers for return on investment in theme parks. Billions are spent on capital expenditures each year without any gain in park profitability beyond the normal pace of inflation.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Please don't!!! TDLfan had some great pictures, and his reviews of anything new at the park was fair and very informative. But when his feathers got ruffled, he lost me.>> TDLFAN is one of the nicest, most genuine people you'll meet. I'm proud to call him a friend. I have met some very strange characters in the Disney online world (the quiet little meek ones are the people you need to wonder/worry about). If TDLFAN's 'feathers' got ruffled here, it was usually because he was being attacked for his brutal honesty. Plus, the bottom line was some people were/are jealous of the fact the guy is lucky enough to spend more time at the international resorts than ANYONE in the Disney online world. He may not know why something is happening behind the scenes, but no one knows more of what is being presented to guests on a world-wide stage than he does. I wish he'd return. <<And I like and respect the current Spirit much better than the one of a couple years ago. But maybe I'm the one who's changed and not Spirit.>> Thanks for saying that. But I haven't changed, not significantly anyway. Same Spirit, different year. Maybe you have changed ... or maybe my messages have just been pounded into your head! ;-)
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<My wife saids I act like I'm 12 everyday>> Mrs. Pierce says that when she said '12' she was referring to your IQ! (OK, that may have been a low blow considering that you are the loyal minion there ... but it was so easy ... and me and the Mrs. do talk about you daily ... oh, wait, she's texting me now!)
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Bobee, I do not think Spirit has changed much at all. However, I think you have perhaps seen the value that he adds, and the fact that he calls them like he sees them. The good, the bad and the ugly.>> Yep. But you should see how quickly my good threads die on that other site die. You can't gush like a fanboi about how wonderful DLP and DL were when folks want to hear you savage TDO ... and, let's face it, they're easier than a $20 whore on the Orange Blossom Trail!(not that I'd know)
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Hey, kids - I don't want to get in on the name-calling and whatnot that has been going on in this thread, but just want to say thank you. Thank you? Why's that, you ask? Thank you becuase you've reminded me that I need to contact my dear friend TDLFAN and see if he'll be in the vicinity of his home when I'm there next month. >> I dunno ... but he BETTER be there when I'm spreading my Spirited holiday magic at WDW.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I mean don't get me wrong. Im happy that they will be redoing the back part of the MK which sucks now into something better and finally doing Star Tours II but honestly it is too little too late. You can tell both projects were greenlit out of concern over Harry Potter. >> Not really. If Disney were concerned with Harry Potter, then you'd see something really big happening. And something would actually be opening in say ... 2010 (wow, back on topic ...). Nothing is. Nothing at all. Not one freaking new parade ... or pyro show ... or stage show ... or minor attraction ... we won't even discuss major attractions. So ... no, Star Tours 2.0 and the new MK land of Ariel and the Meet and Greets aren't Disney's answer to WWoHP. Disney has no answer.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<The Marvel deal pretty much pays for itself in the licensing agreements that are already in place with other movie studios. Disney gets to collect fees for movies they don't have to finance -- pretty good deal. Also, they paid for half the Marvel purchase with stock. You can't build new attractions with shares of stock. That would require actual cash.>> Boy, I knew you'd be the first one to post. Bottom line is Disney spent FOUR BILLION DOLLARS. You can spin it anyway you want, but that's the bottom line. In the worst economy since the Great Depression (and it could get worse before/if it gets better). On something that isn't an slam dunk by any stretch. On something that may make well make far more money for competitors than for them for years. << But FOX Family and Go.com were billions thrown away ... almost governmental in terms of so much with almost no returns. >> <<Both were poison pill type moves to prevent a hostile takeover. Unless you prefer that Disney was bought out by AOL or Yahoo at the time.>> Bull. Disney wasn't about to be bought out by anyone. Go.com was because Disney management got the absurd idea that instead of providing content for the web, it needed to own a search engine/platform. It was crazy. And it was like a pork project from DC politicos. FOX Family? That was another total head-scratcher. Eisner and Co were convinced they needed it as another outlet for programming ... and they paid about four times what most people felt it was worth. <<You should also crunch the numbers for return on investment in theme parks. Billions are spent on capital expenditures each year without any gain in park profitability beyond the normal pace of inflation.>> Yep. Parks should go out of business. They're an awful business. What a drag they've been over the years. WDW would have to pay its CMs all $1.74 an hour to make a decent profit. And tickets really should be $543 a day. I dunno how they manage to stay in busines only charging $30 for a character breakfast. Do you realize that profit on that is only about 93%???!!! HOW CAN THEY NOT CLOSE THE DOORS!?!??!
