Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I would counter that 5-10 years ago the survey's coming out of Disney guests were suggesting not enough interaction with the Disney characters that were growing in popularity on the Disney Channel and elsewhere.>> I would counter that 5-10 years ago Disney decided to start massive surveying of guests (the same research department that has been effectively dissolved with last week's mass firings) to justify decisions/choices already made by marketing execs, financial planners, consultants ... and WDI. People didn't suddenly change in the mid-late 90s and decide that a WDW vacation was all about as much toons and toon interaction as they could possibly get. Disney decided it was a cheaper, easier route to take ... and then crafted surveys to back its decisions up ... and then conditioned guests to expect a WDW vacation based around toons. <<So, you are now seeing more meet and greets, additional parades, the Winnie the Pooh ride, Mickey's Philharmagic, focus on the Princesses (and more recently the fairies), the focus on the Pixar characters (made more possible by the acquisition) like TSMM, Mermaid at Living Seas, etc. They have taken this "opportunity" and "Millionaired" it. *"Millionaired" is my coined term (not unlike "milked it dry" for when anyone takes a successful venture and overplays it to the point of destruction.>> Interesting term ... and I will credit you with its creation. But WalMarting still rules ... at least until I hear Millionaired uttered at TDO! ~LP.com's King of Branding`
Originally Posted By Skellington88 Harry Potter will provide the deathblow! This is what happens when you stop building rides and build up timeshares like idiots and then Iger has the balls to say "go f-yourself" to an angry shareholder? I dont think so. I cant wait
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<While I might not be thrilled with the Mermaid addition to Living Seas...>> See ... you mean NEMO ... but toons are so interchangable ... so common ... that one really doesn't stand out when they are all around. But if you want more Mermaid, forget about the DCA clone that Disney is too gunshy to build at MK, just head over to the Beach Club where the hallway carpeting is all Sebastian and Flounder etc ... and then you can go see the Nemo and Pirate rooms at CBR ... because you can't even have a expensive resort experience without being tooned to death these days. <<Mansion is a great ride, to be sure, but I'm not sure if you ask a kid today under the age of 16 how they would respond to this: You have the choice of two rides, Mansion or Buzz Lightyear for your only ride in the park today. Which do you want to do? I suspect more of them would answer Buzz over Mansion. Frankly, I probably get more kicks and giggles out of Buzz than Mansion even though I do like Mansion. But, I think I like the nostalgia of Mansion more than I like Mansion.>> I will strongly disagree. Not about you ... but about kids and guests. They still love Mansion ... it works as well today as it did in 1971 or 1991 ... quality immersive entertainment stands the test of time. I'll bet in 20 years (if the world exists) that Mansion will still be there and popular. ... Buzz ... at least in its current incarnation won't. ~Nemo or Mermaid? It's all seafood to me!~
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<But, I'm not sure Disney should be trying to please the most Disneyfied of us. I think Disney must keep happy the majority of it's visitors (and hopefully some of those things will please us ardent followers as well).>> Good point. But they are driving away many of the guests who aren't big Disney fans ... people who just want to go on a family vacation. Many aren't thrilled with what they see and never return ... or stay away for years. Then there are those who go frequently, but still aren't 'fans' like the wackos who post on a Disney fan site (you know, like all of us!) ... many of them notice the dumbing down ... the WalMarting ... the changes that have taken place over the years ... one of my simple pleasures at WDW is striking up conversations with strangers and talking about Disney ... and many of the things I hear are very similar to what some of us rant about passionately here. Disney doesn't seem to care because it hasn't figured out how to measure all the potential guests it has lost, and continues to lose, by WalMarting the magic. <<When I was riding Snow White's Scary Adventure with my kids a couple of weeks ago I was thinking, "man...this attraction is past it's prime." I think it is ripe for change but boy, it could end up being like Mad Hatter all over again. I'm not sure Disney should make the decision NOT to pull out an attraction that probably isn't regarded one way or the other by the masses because of the relatively few (but loud and proud) Disney fanatics. >> Well ... WDI has/had a plane to rip it out and replace it with a new ride based on Beauty and the Beast ... that appears dead. But see, I don't have a problem with SW remaining ... I do have an issue with them dumbing it down so no child could possibly be scared ... I do have an issue with the horrific unthemed brown plastic railings put in the queue ... and I have an issue with F-Land ride ops not caring at all about show and having ride vehicles backing up constantly in the final scene ... so you keep seeing the queen die (albeit in a dumbed down version again to ensure no one is scared or angered or feels anything at all) over and over with the doors to daylight wide open. Past its prime? Possibly. WalMarted show quality all around? You betcha! <<In the same vein I'm not sure it is their responsibilty to build new attractions for "us".>> It is their responsibility to keep their parks fresh for ALL guests. Rest assured if they please their toughest, most loyal fans (no, I don't mean those dumb enough to pay for D23), they'll wind up pleasing the vast majority of their guests. Again, this isn't rocket science. <<Frankly, if they spent $100 million on Haunted Mansion today I might think to myself, "hey..with all the capabilities out there today...this is the best they could do?">> I think the Mansion with its redo (and I heard upwards of $50 million was spent ... this is WDI after all) is fine for a 21st century audience. I would be upset if HKDL opened up this version in a few years though (which isn't going to happen) instead of a new, modern 21st century take for a different audience. In 2009 they can blow your mind with what's possible ... it's all about having the desire to just do it. At WDW ... they don't. ~Mommy -- the Queen scared me, I want a DVC membership!~
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<What was it that made Kruschev have an international incident when he was not allowed to go to DL? I doubt it was a bunch of toons. I get really grumpy, not just because of my personal tastes. It is deeper than that. In my career, I run teams of social scientists either doing research or modelling and transforming the future of care, government and public services. And what I see as working and not working is being replicated and not working in DIsney right now. I look at my brothers, who are in their teens. They feel they have outgrown DLP in the main and have no interest. While this may not be rare, in my family, the people my age and older never went through that feeling until the recent past. I feel that instead of offering a quality brand and experience, we are now seeing flash in the fan populism that does not last. I mean who here wants flares and lava lamps? But classic designs never die, that is why they are called classics.>> It's so simple that even a caveman could figure it out. Why can't all the 'brains' who work for Disney? ~Those Geico eyes are dumb!~
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I sure would like to throw my opinion out there, and I will. Just as soon as I can figure out what this thread is about.>> It's another magical thread ... it means different things to different spirits. <<I wonder if my lovely wife triple dosed my medications again or did I just start drinking early today.>> Probably both ... (hey Phelps ... pass the damn pipe!) ~I like kitties!~
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <I sure would like to throw my opinion out there, and I will. Just as soon as I can figure out what this thread is about. I wonder if my lovely wife triple dosed my medications again or did I just start drinking early today.< might be the exhaust fumes from your Buick - LOL!
Originally Posted By itsme Well its seems everyone took the professional guessers words to heart, The stock is up over a dollar since he made his guess. Anyone who is a big "fan" of Disney and also buys the stock for investment is a poor investor and foolish with their investing money plain and simple.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> might be the exhaust fumes from your Buick - LOL! << Damn I hate it when I forget to turn that thing off!
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Well its seems everyone took the professional guessers words to heart, The stock is up over a dollar since he made his guess. << Let's see how long that trend last.
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 I have Disney stock, but it's only so I can say I own it. It's still worth 3 times what I paid for it ('88) but not what it was worth several years ago. Happy Haunt likes to think she owns the "be sure to bring your death certificate" lady.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 Anyone who is a big "fan" of Disney and also buys the stock for investment is a poor investor and foolish with their investing money plain and simple would have said that 15 years ago -- last 10 - bad - yes
Originally Posted By barboy ///TSMM & EE are both E-ticket/// Toy Story is no E--- not in scope, not in scale nor in its execution. The attraction, like BuzLit, is a solid 'D' experience. There is nothing grand nor monumental about it except for a splendid AA in the queue.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper Who defines "E" attraction? Me and my kid would rather ride Buzz twice before riding Pirates once...even though we love Pirates. Is Pirates an E attraction? We have a lot more fun...together...on Buzz.
Originally Posted By CarolinaDisneyDad I like Buzz too but I wouldn't consider it an E ticket. It's fun for it's interactiveness as it is a shooter but it isn't an immersive ride. You don't get off thinking you have just visited an alternate world. This ride could be done with any theme really and it would still be enjoyable. Is Pirates an E ticket? I'm not sure. The one at DL I'm sure is. But the abbreviated version at WDW? I liked it better with the treasure room at the end. As for Snow White, I hope that they never tear it down. While the ride itself may not excite some people, the feeling of childhood nostalgia that it evokes is priceless. I think it still has a solid place in fantasyland. I would welcome a Beauty and Beast ride. But why tear down and existing attraction to build it? There is plenty of room behind vbdad's poohground to build another ride .
Originally Posted By itsme >>Let's see how long that trend last.>> Over 2 days now and there still hasn't been a sell off, Its still up a couple bucks. So basically no one took this guys advice. At this point it doesn't matter what he said, At this point if he had merit and power to get investors to listen it would have happened by now.
Originally Posted By itsme >>would have said that 15 years ago -- last 10 - bad - yes>> would, wouldnt, wouldn't yea know how that goes :}. Its that heart/head thing, Really no different then betting on your favorite sports team.
