Originally Posted By davewasbaloo But the decor and attractions are so much more superior. Plus we always have a great time with the cast, and we have learnt the good and bad restaurants. I have never experienced a good restaurant in the Mk except maybe Liberty Tree Tavern.
Originally Posted By mousermerf Eh, I like the Plaza Inn if i'm sitting down, otherwise I grab something from Pinnochio's and go upstairs to the balcony seating overlooking Fantasyland or to the sandwich side of Cosmic Rays. Also occasionally do Pecos Bill's.
Originally Posted By Lewis Goofy I heard the Mouse is starting to panic and cheap out....cuts Gastons will be just the restaurant...pixie hollow will be just a playground and dumbo will not be done. The whole land will be messed up for years!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<If TDLFan was still posting he would say we need to board a plane to Japan to see a real Disney park.>> Even though I miss him, I think he's probably saner for not posting. But yeah, he'd say that ... only with a bit more panache!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<People say that about DLP too and it's not all it's cracked up to be - not to mention Japanese culture does leave something to be desired in some areas - but they aren't as blatantly rude as the French. >> Sounds like some hot French chick (or dude) treated you poorly, Merfie. All this hating on DLP. I'll take it, and you're welcome to the MK! As to your statement, I have traveled to Paris extensively and am still waiting for the 'tude you say is prevalent. I haven't seen it, let alone at DLP. Even if you've had some bad experiences, I do think it's wrong to paint the entire people with a broad brush. I hate for people from abroad to think all Americans are ill bred, uneducated, rednecks ... you know those folks who lined up in O-Town for Sarah's book signing!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I found the food mediocre, the service abysmal in many respects, the facial piercings and neck tattoos of the CMs appalling and the general lack of upkeep in many areas just disappointing. >> You've said that. I found the food to be mediocre in some cases (quick serve) to fantastic (full serve). Have yet to notice any major piercings and never a 'neck tattoo'. Upkeep in some areas (Pan queue, HISTA siding, some pavement, Treehouse on past visits) to be godawful, but the rest of the resort to be very well maintained. I think you just miss all the Waffle Houses and Shoney's in O-town.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I heard the Mouse is starting to panic and cheap out....cuts Gastons will be just the restaurant...pixie hollow will be just a playground and dumbo will not be done. The whole land will be messed up for years!>> Sorry, ain't buying it. Try again.
Originally Posted By Hista98 I hope its not true. I really fdon't get why WDW doesn't like spending money, even when they should. Given how hyped up the new FL is if it turns out to be a huge cut it will be I think the biggest disapointment to hit WDW. It just bugs me that they are so against spending even if its for a good improvement to the park. Soemday the whole thing will colapse on them due to bad upkeep.
Originally Posted By Hista98 btw spirit, he may be right if you look on the entertainment claender the meet mickey at judges tent thing is open thru september at least, they said construction would start in spring, which means that it looks like toontown isn't going away.
Originally Posted By brotherdave If I recall correctly, the area encompassing Toontown Fair that would become Pixie Hollow and Dumbo's circus area were going to be the final phase of the project. My guess is that Toontown Fair will remain open until construction is set to begin for that area. I think the main construction right now will be on the Little Mermaid ride and possibly the areas of the former 20K area. My guess once that opens, pedestrian traffic will then be diverted past the Little Mermaind area while work can begin near Pooh. Toontown Fair will probably close sometime in 2011 or early 2012 (assuming that any construction isn't cut from the schedule). From what I remember reading, the entire project isn't scheduled to be completed until 2013 and will be done in at least 3 phases, which from an operational standpoint makes very good sense. Closing off access completely from FL to TL would be nightmarish with the crowds.
Originally Posted By sjhym33 I think there are several factors that play into this. The first one is the project was announced before any real plans were drawn. I expect you will see The Little Mermaid Attraction and maybe the Beauty and the Beast restaurant and some of the meet and greets but I wont be surprised if the finished product has many many changes before it opens. When projects are announced early in the design phase they tend to be very fluid. A friend in Imagineer FL told me in November that they hadnt seen any plans here since the design work was still be worked on in CA. He wasnt sure what the area would end up looking like. As for the money thing. I think WDW is living in a terrible model that was instituted during the Eisner era. Eisner decided that Imagineering had too much power and felt they wasted too much money. He decided to streamline that process. A lot of it was in reaction to the whole EuroDisney mess, but after Eisners initial love affair he started to feel that the littlist things that Imagineer did cost a lot of money. One of the things he did was have parts of the projects bid on by outside companies under the supervision of Imagineering. Norway for instance was built by the same company that built Jaws at Universal. By moving decisions about new things from Imagineering to the parks themselves sounded like a great idea but several things happened. One was Jay Rasulo. Jay felt his job was to get as much profit as possible out of as little expenditure as possible. Also he moved his division into this ideas of homoginzation. It is cheaper to do the same thing over and over rather than new things scattered around the parks. That included attractions, merchandise and celebrations. The idea of giving each park control over what went inside might have looked good on paper but in reality most of the park VP's were under a lot of pressure to make big profits from their area. So if the MK is maintaining attendance and profits stay up what is the incentive to spend millions of dollars on new things? Especially when you have to show that the expenditure will increase attendance and profits by a measurable increase. That is especially hard at WDW where most of the business is tourists who plan their trips in advance. The feeling is mom and pop in Iowa are planning a trip to WDW in June whether or not someting new opens. But they also realise that you still have to attract people to take a vacation so they build something new in a single park every couple of years so that they can promote the heck out of it and it looks like there is something new and exciting to see. That is why when a WDW offical is asked about new attractions they point property wide. Disney has also come to rely heavily on the industrial engineering department who surveys guests all the time. You have seen them around the parks with their Kindle sized computers. They have several different surveys that they do and depending on certain demographics or answers you give you may be asked many more questions about your trip. A friend who works for that department tells me that most guests feel that they had a great vacation and that their money was well spent. If that is true then WDW mgmt has a tangible peice of info to show that the current model works. I believe that the old model is dead and gone. The people at the top of the company have no reason to change it and they effectivly got rid of any remaining "Walt" guys a long time ago...not to mention that each year there are less and less of those men and woman around due to their age. I think fans have to accept the fact that this is the way Disney will be run from now on.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer I think it's all bunk. Things get cut. I don't think anything big has been let go....yet.
Originally Posted By Hista98 i hope not wile they think the model may work it is stupid and really shows them that they don't car about the park. plus its removing the magic. That model worked fine for so many years why change it?
Originally Posted By dennis-in-ct << I think fans have to accept the fact that this is the way Disney will be run from now on. >>> Then it's simple - stop going. I have for the past three years. They lost me but I guess it doesn't matter to WDW's profits. I am sure *new* tourist have appeared to make up for my absence. I am excited for the new Little Mermaid ride and the new area. I might book a vacation 2013 when it's done - depending on how it comes out. I am expecting Disneyland Paris / DL fantasyland quality. If not, I will go to Universal for Harry Potter for a 99.00 dollar 7 day park hopper.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Leemac may know something and he's back posting again, although he seems to be steering clear of current WDI issues. << >> Leemac has probably been made aware of his contractual responsibilities with his employer, Disney. I'm not all pro-Disney, but I am pro following your contract. << I think it's because there's nothing going on right now that he feels very strongly about. I don't believe he's one to pull punches when called for. Besides I have a feeling he's very busy with Shanghai.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> If TDLFan was still posting he would say we need to board a plane to Japan to see a real Disney park. << How I yearn for the good old days.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Even if you've had some bad experiences, I do think it's wrong to paint the entire people with a broad brush. I hate for people from abroad to think all Americans are ill bred, uneducated, rednecks ... you know those folks who lined up in O-Town for Sarah's book signing! << It would seem you subscribe to the philosophy of "do as I say, not as I do". It would have been more effective, had it not be so close together.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> I believe that the old model is dead and gone. The people at the top of the company have no reason to change it and they effectivly got rid of any remaining "Walt" guys a long time ago...not to mention that each year there are less and less of those men and woman around due to their age. I think fans have to accept the fact that this is the way Disney will be run from now on. << That is so sad, and you are so spot on with what you said.
