Originally Posted By Autopia Deb Oh so off topic, but HP & The Chamber of Secrets is a very important part of the series, love it or hate it. There are a couple reasons, but the main one can be summed up in one word. Horcrux. As for the passes at DL when DCA opened: that was the first year my son and I had passes (his dad and I had them through much of the '90s) and I remember well my son asking to go to DCA, which was blocked for us. Near the end of the year, right around Labor Day, definitely pre 9/11, they offered a deal where kids got in free, adults at kids price. We finally got in to DCA for $35 for both of us. That was about what it was worth to me at the time, lol.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<Oh so off topic, but HP & The Chamber of Secrets is a very important part of the series, love it or hate it. There are a couple reasons, but the main one can be summed up in one word. Horcrux.>> Sure. They're all important to the story. Doesn't change the fact that for the most part Chamber is a boring rehash of Philosopher's Stone.
Originally Posted By NikkiLOVESMickey Goblet of Fire is my favorite of the series as well. Chamber was my least favorite, but I did enjoy Gilderoy Lockhart.
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb Story wise, you're right, fairly meh. But I think it sets up more "end game" elements than any of the other books, especially of book 1 through 4 or 5. Maybe trying to get a story, that was still a "kids" book that used all these elements, the Horcrux, House Elves, Voldamort's back story, was probably somewhat difficult. But she made up for it with book 3, it may stand as my favorite, which offered less "end game" setup. Not that, the Marauders and their map weren't important and setting up the rise of Voldemort wasn't vital to the series.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 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. ------------- I agree- I really liked the SW version of Millionaire - complete with little schtick and a few characters
Originally Posted By vbdad55 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. ------------ thank you leemac-- I think this is something some choose to overlook ar don't believe..thanks for your insight
Originally Posted By vbdad55 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 ---------------------- and I do not totally disagree with this-- not surer where that saturation point exactly is, but it is coming
Originally Posted By vbdad55 >>>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 ------------------- Ive heard from some here with deep connections it was not quite that simple -- maybe they will shed a light on again. But yes UNi gave her more control than she would have had I am sure -- but if they can work with Lucas it shows there is room to negotiate
Originally Posted By vbdad55 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 ---------------- thank you once again for your insight lee-- I posted before I read this far in -- it's easier to just bash Disney at every step and claim they screw up everything than to actually deal with the facts as they were.
Originally Posted By plpeters70 <<not surer where that saturation point exactly is, but it is coming>> It would be one thing if they were just adding DVC to Disney World - that would at least make sense to me. But adding all those new "normal" hotel rooms too just seems like overkill - especially when attendance is going down, and the only way they can fill the rooms they already have is through heavy discounting.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 but the dvc rooms are paid for - isn't it better to get money for the rooms up front as opposed to theoretically discounting them heavily for the same people ? And if the people in DVC units are not being taken away from other hotel rooms ( not sure what % either way) - then there is no harm period. I still agree there will come a time when there are no more buyers for DVC - just not sure when that is. Also I know as a DVC member I travel to WDW now more than I would if I haad to pay for my rooms eachyear- leemac- is DVC counted in the 83% occupancy rate ?
Originally Posted By plpeters70 <<but the dvc rooms are paid for - isn't it better to get money for the rooms up front as opposed to theoretically discounting them heavily for the same people ?>> That's my point - if they were just adding DVC, I could understand their strategy. But they're also adding more "normal" hotel rooms - something WDW just doesn't seem to need right now.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>Just in case I needed a refresher course in different perspectives resulting in different opinions, Goblet of Fire was in fact my favorite. lol! <<<< Hee hee! In book, or in movie? I don't blame you, in the slightest, they all are awesome. But 4 always felt clunky to me. It's a perfect transitional pieice, though. We see how Harry and the world he's in changes.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>Oh so off topic, but HP & The Chamber of Secrets is a very important part of the series, love it or hate it. There are a couple reasons, but the main one can be summed up in one word. Horcrux.<<< Agreed. And I LOVED it. >>>Sure. They're all important to the story. Doesn't change the fact that for the most part Chamber is a boring rehash of Philosopher's Stone.<<< Why do you say that? It followed the same story structure, but they all do.
Originally Posted By Christi22222 >>In book, or in movie? << Book. I don't even discuss the movies. I actually do enjoy them, and the cast has been wonderful, but they can't touch the magic of the books. Apples and oranges. Besides, the changes in the plots for the movies are necessary, I understand. But they confuse me for keeping track of the real story, so I try to forget them!
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>Book. I don't even discuss the movies. I actually do enjoy them, and the cast has been wonderful, but they can't touch the magic of the books. Apples and oranges. Besides, the changes in the plots for the movies are necessary, I understand. But they confuse me for keeping track of the real story, so I try to forget them!<<< Totally agreed. I'm not opposed to the movie changes, usually, but some are just plain dumb. And yes, there is NOTHING like the books. I must have re read the series 20 times by now.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 That's my point - if they were just adding DVC, I could understand their strategy. But they're also adding more "normal" hotel rooms - something WDW just doesn't seem to need right now. --- but at the polar opposite of the price range correct ?
Originally Posted By Christi22222 Is it okay for me to love this HP discussion, even on a Disney thread? I adore hearing everyone's opinion, and especially the *why* of their opinion! We aren't breaking any LP rules or karmic laws, are we? It's also a timely discussion for me, as I'm re-reading the series again. Partly because of the new movies coming out, and partly because my 12 year old is re-reading them and we like to chat about them. He had read them too early a couple years back, and while he definitely enjoyed them, you just miss so much of the best parts if you are purely on 'kid' level reading these! I can see a repeat of this scenario every few years until he is an adult. But you have no idea the anguish he lived through when he turned 11 and no owl from Hogwart's came. So sad. Worse than Santa Claus, I think.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer Of course not. Pottering is awesome! And yeah... the first book came out when I was 10... 11 was a hard year. LOL.
