Originally Posted By vbdad55 I have been to 5 Star Wars weekends over the years and the last ones have concerned me just a tad because I didn't sense the rush of the first few. MErchandise did not sell as well ( seemingly since they set up the 'hangar' for another waiting to buy experience. I don't know the numbers it has done but I felt a little less awed..maybe just me, or maybe familiarity. Now does it change the park atmosphere- you bet. I wish I was as enthusiastic as you over the frachise.. the second trilogy I felt took a little away, not added, and now talk, abeit downplayed ( but not dismissed by GL ) - of doing the final trilogy concerns me. Maybe that would be a catalyst- maybe it would be the headstone--just don't know. It would be the only other franchise I'd be willing to support though as having a chance
Originally Posted By vbdad55 ^^ but I'm glad you feel that positive about it -- maybe there is a large enough core out there to pull it off -- it certainly would grab headlines if they announced something like that
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<I have been to 5 Star Wars weekends over the years and the last ones have concerned me just a tad because I didn't sense the rush of the first few. MErchandise did not sell as well ( seemingly since they set up the 'hangar' for another waiting to buy experience. I don't know the numbers it has done but I felt a little less awed..maybe just me, or maybe familiarity. Now does it change the park atmosphere- you bet. >> I've been to the past 3, and I felt that this year was just as good as the others. Now, I think they need to take it a step further. I think there needs to be a special Star Wars Weekends Fantasmic!(of course, they need to have Fantasmic! every night as well), ad they need more special Star Wars shows going on. Of course, if that happened they'd probably charge extra for SWW, so I'm not sure how I feel. <<I wish I was as enthusiastic as you over the frachise.. the second trilogy I felt took a little away, not added, and now talk, abeit downplayed ( but not dismissed by GL ) - of doing the final trilogy concerns me. Maybe that would be a catalyst- maybe it would be the headstone--just don't know. It would be the only other franchise I'd be willing to support though as having a chance>> Oh, believe me, I agree that the prequels subtracted rather than added. But the Clone Wars show is actually pretty good, and the new trilogy, if it's real, could be good if it follows some stuff: 1. Don't focus on the Skywalker timeline. Go to the Old Republic or far into the future. Really expand on the ideas of the Force and stuff like that. 2. Go back to the basics. The prequels got bogged down in the ridiculous political talk and things that just were not exciting to say the least. Get back to a simple story.
Originally Posted By leemac <<Said that there was "one more major check point" to be had with the Asian Govt before things can start being done. That includes construction and art.>> Correct - and it is a major sticking point. Ultimately the release of information will depend on the majority owners of the park.
Originally Posted By leemac <<while profit may be shrinking - it is still profitable is it not ? With WDW losing money on parks alone what financial solution do you have to offer up ->> Of course it is - DVC is a developer's dream. Your entire capital outlay is paid up in advance unlike traditional hotels that can take years to pay back the capital. You only need to see out part of the development to see a profit immediately. Chuck in the financing aspect and the profit element in the dues and DVC is a goldmine - there just aren't that many businesses that can reap returns so quickly. DVC caused two knock-on problems: 1) When will saturation be reached? At will they have overdeveloped existing prime real estate to nab folks? Like Bay Lake Towers and the proposed DVC Grand Floridian that is on the table at the moment. 2) When will the rest of the resort catch up? Continuing to add inventory whether it is DVC or not means more guests on-property at four theme parks that haven't seen significant capacity upgrades since DAK opened (neither EE or Asia added much capacity). At some point the operating model will just break. Anyone visiting MK on a high capacity day knows that. I'm no DVC-hater but at some point the reins need to be pulled in on Jim Lewis - he can't keep diverting WDW capex to his projects - WDP&R needs to start realizing that just because DVC is the best option in the short-term doesn't mean it should automatically get funds. I hope DVC does plateau soon so capex can be put back into the rest of the infrastructure - and that doesn't just mean the parks but also transport and other entertainment.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>>And already have had the discussion that while Potter has worked ( at least short term)- what other franchise out there would have that effect ? The answer is none - with an outside chance if the huge expansion was all Star Wars - and if it was- is that how we want to head with Disney parks ? Again serious question<<< At this point... Heck, SW would be awesome. Sure, it's not original, it's something. I'd be fine with that.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>I can't argue with that - however do we know who scuttled that opportunity - Rowling or Disney ?<<< Disney. They were arrogant, wanted the creativity license that Rowling was determined to keep, and offered her a TSMM Style HP Ride. She smartly declined.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>Correct - and it is a major sticking point. Ultimately the release of information will depend on the majority owners of the park.<<< Your thoughts on this? Or hints to what it is? It sounds "off" to me...as the talking heads yesterday sounded uneasy about it.
Originally Posted By leobloom >> Disney. They were arrogant, wanted the creativity license that Rowling was determined to keep, and offered her a TSMM Style HP Ride. She smartly declined. << You mean they didn't offer a Potter 3D movie or a Wizard Talk with Harry living-character show? Wow, they were really going all out!
Originally Posted By Lee hisownself >>By the time I make it back to WDW in January for the Dream launch it will have been nearly two years since my last visit (when we opened up AIE).<< A-ha! A special guest for a Doom & Gloom Society meeting in Orlando in January! I'll drive. Spirit can wear a disguise. It'll be awesome! lol
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>You mean they didn't offer a Potter 3D movie or a Wizard Talk with Harry living-character show? Wow, they were really going all out!<<<< And no themed potties, either!
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>A special guest for a Doom & Gloom Society meeting in Orlando in January! I'll drive. Spirit can wear a disguise. It'll be awesome! lol<<<< I'm there.
Originally Posted By Christi22222 Well I was going to skip my annual trek to WDW in January, but I would definitely go if I thought I could glom (sp? lol!) on to a D & G meeting of core members! There's no hazing of new inductees is there? I won't have to pants Mickey or replace lightbulbs on Mainstreet, will I?
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<A-ha! A special guest for a Doom & Gloom Society meeting in Orlando in January! I'll drive. Spirit can wear a disguise. It'll be awesome! lol>> Hmmm...when is this now? I could certainly go for another D&G meet up.
Originally Posted By Christi22222 Clutching plush sorta does sound like hazing! Eeek! (Please don't make it be a Stitch plush.)
Originally Posted By leemac <<Your thoughts on this? Or hints to what it is? >> No comment - best that I don't in this instance! It is going to be a tough nut to crack too.
Originally Posted By leemac << Disney. They were arrogant, wanted the creativity license that Rowling was determined to keep, and offered her a TSMM Style HP Ride. She smartly declined. >> I'll defend WDP&R here - I don't think there was any arrogance at all. WB and Rowling were offered a better deal than Lucas currently has for his properties. Many ideas were worked up and several of them were exceptional - it could have been very similar to IoA's execution - except it would have had three times the capacity. The main attraction was not a TSMM-style attraction. JK Rowling was desperate for Disney to be their partner. Ultimately there were a number of sticking points like worldwide rights - and Disney felt that the risks outweighed the rewards. Who knows - maybe one of the three Asian resorts may pick up the rights in the future....you never know.
Originally Posted By leemac <<A special guest for a Doom & Gloom Society meeting in Orlando in January! I'll drive. Spirit can wear a disguise. It'll be awesome!>> I'm told that I'm not allowed to know when Spirit is in the same building as me. A disguise might not cut it..
