Fantasyland Expansion - Part 2

[Cusi]

That's a fair point. And the fact is, Disney continues to have great business, so I'm sure they're not dying with worry over the competition in the rest of Orlando.

But, we can't just be oblivious to the competition, and here is where my (and others') qualm comes in. We are theme park fans, and we are closely following them. All of them. And not only when comparing WDW with Universal, but also when comparing it to SeaWorld, and hell, even Fun Spot! They're making impressive moves and competing for our business, satisfaction, and return visits; they're putting out new incredibly themed lands, they're amazing us with new innovative attractions, or even just increasing their new offerings by a staggering amount. So, it looks like everyone else in Orlando is currently going hard, and WDW's moves just pale in comparison.

Now, don't get me wrong, I think what's open in New Fantasyland looks beautifully done, and the rest looks to be in the same level of beauty. No one is questioning that. The problem is that Disney, being the industry giant that it is, doesn't seem to be competing at the level of magnitude as the other parks in Orlando right now. And this is even more noticeable and disappointing because they are the industry giant, the top dog in Orlando.

I'm sure the case could be made that being the oldest resort, they've done a lot of growing already... but time goes on, the market keeps moving forward and evolving, and WDW just seems kind of stuck in time, where they've been for years. I'm not going to start listing things, because it's been done before in this thread and in others. But, basically, it's been years and years since anything major has opened in any of the four WDW parks, and now that they are finally doing something new in MK, it's taking foreeeever to open completely. What's there is beautiful, yes, but there's walls and construction right beside it, so you're not fully immersed in the Disney magic here. And then, when it's all said and done, New Fantasyland is nothing mind blowing. Again, it's beautiful, but it's a restaurant, a tavern, meet and greets, and rides with same-ol' tech (spinner, omnimover, and coaster). Nothing is Earth shattering here. I was, and am, excited about the 7DMC coaster, because it did look like it will have a swinging element that I've never experienced before; that did excite me. And you know what? as stupid as it sounds, that attraction might have been the tipping point to make me buy a ticket to go to MK this year. But, Disney has a missed opportunity, because they're dragging this out and out and out... Then, besides that one element, nothing is much innovative or with amazing new technology, so their efforts underwhelm me/us, theme-park fan(s), when seeing everything else that is going on in the Orlando theme park world and market.

Disney has the resources, and they also have a name to live up to. They should be doing better than this. So, that's my opinion, as a theme park fan, and I think I'm not the only one.

Very good points made there, and I, not trying to be oblivous on purpose because I favor Disney over the rest of the competition, but you are right on many cases. Its Disney's name in the industry that makes them sit back in a Lazy-Boy more so than the others because of the established name.

Really have to wonder what the mindset Disney has right now with new attractions regarding the pace the rest of the competition is at right now. Maybe they are waiting for the storm to die down before really making it's moves. Then again when you look at the rest of the field, they're on a non-stop building spree.

 

[IzzyB]

Very good points made there, and I, not trying to be oblivous on purpose because I favor Disney over the rest of the competition, but you are right on many cases. Its Disney's name in the industry that makes them sit back in a Lazy-Boy more so than the others because of the established name.

Really have to wonder what the mindset Disney has right now with new attractions regarding the pace the rest of the competition is at right now. Maybe they are waiting for the storm to die down before really making it's moves. Then again when you look at the rest of the field, they're on a non-stop building spree.

I think Disney's infrastructure makes it harder for them to do what Uni is doing. Comcast is a Northeast company and I am sure when they bought Uni they put in Northeast infrastructure. Where Disney has been here for 30+ years in the Orlando area and they have adapted to the Florida way of doing business. They have a structure set up that guarantees they are going to move slower. I bet you there was a lot of resistance at Uni when Comcast bought them and started wanting them moving faster. I get that Potter was before Comcast time, but if you think about it, that is ALL Uni was planning on doing at that point. They were not building things in Studios to even out the crowds, they did not have major projects planned, etc. It was WWOHP, which was a win for them, but they did have a budget and cut backs were made. We don't see as many cutbacks in the comcast days and we see things moving much faster. They know WWOHP II is going to be huge and they want to make sure people don't hold off plans, so they are building smaller stuff to make up for it. Something that was not done before. They get a project, sign off on it, and begin construction at a much faster pace than before. But Comcast knows how to set up a company to run faster. Disney has NO clue how to do this. So they are stuck. They really need to bring in some Northern executives if they want to change the culture at Disney and one won't do it. They need multiples and those people need the backing of the higher ups to change the culture.

This is coming from someone who has worked for Pittsburgh based companies, New York based companies, and Florida based companies. There is a HUGE culture difference between northeast companies and Florida companies. I couldn't actually take working for a Florida based company and went back to working for my old New York based company (which I was sad when I had to leave them to begin with). To give you a good example of how far apart they are. When I worked for my New York based company before I left in 2005 we had two employees that did my job, me and someone else. We both were always being pulled onto other department projects too, so it wasn't a dedicated 2 employees all the time. When I came back to them in 2007 it became 1 1/2 (I worked in two different departments). When I went to a Florida based company they had 8 people doing that job and NONE of them were ever pulled into other departments. They couldn't since no one else in the company worked on our software (New York based system all databases used the same software - mandated by higher ups to make a more efficient department). That tells you how slow the Florida companies work, they work so slow they needed 6 more employees because their pace was so bad that nothing would get done with two. Wow, I did not make friends when I came in, I cleaned up everyone's pipeline in a month. It is a culture thing and I didn't realize it, I just came in and worked at my "normal" speed. After a month I was bored to death because they had nothing for me. I stayed bored until I left, even with a major upgrade, because their upgrades take over a year between planning and doing and my northern based company does it in 5 - 6 months. We had a two week timeline for tax updates at the northern company and they had a three month timeline with the Florida company. I think you all get my point by now. Disney's culture has to change and it won't unless they bring in new people with the agenda to change the culture. And even at that, people are going to complain and many people will not be able to handle the new culture. I saw it first hand.

 

[Jakemeister]

Disney also tries to slow down a project as much as possible so it doesn't hurt their profitability for any given quarter as much as the next. Universal right now is launching projects and getting them built for tax break purposes. It's also not completely true that Universal didn't have things on the books prior to Comcast. It's just they did not have them there the way they do now. We knew their was going to be a Phase 2.0 the moment we saw the crowd pictures from Potter opening, and we had the parade, Despicable Me, and Cinesphere all in planning under Blackrock. So sure they were just playing investor, but they were playing it wisely.

 

[Hedwig201]

This is pretty random..but anyways...I plan to go to the Magic Kingdom soon and I was wondering if there is a lot of Little Mermaid merch. I know that the ride doesn't have it's own gift shop but I was wondering if they do sell something and not just girly shirts and a key chain but like a variety such as plush toys (Sebastien, Flounder, etc.) or cups and such.

 

[ThemeParks4Life]

This is pretty random..but anyways...I plan to go to the Magic Kingdom soon and I was wondering if there is a lot of Little Mermaid merch. I know that the ride doesn't have it's own gift shop but I was wondering if they do sell something and not just girly shirts and a key chain but like a variety such as plush toys (Sebastien, Flounder, etc.) or cups and such.

Yes they do! The giftshop by Pillharmagic has a bunch of TLM stuff.

 

[STL]

I see that trees are being installed at the SDMT.

http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/fantasyland/gallery/04mar2013-seven-dwarfs-mine-train-coaster-construction/18209.htm

 

[Miketheboss]

I see that trees are being installed at the SDMT.

http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/fantasyland/gallery/04mar2013-seven-dwarfs-mine-train-coaster-construction/18209.htm

sh*t just got real. This area is going to be beautiful

 

[shiekra38]

I see that trees are being installed at the SDMT.

http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/fantasyland/gallery/04mar2013-seven-dwarfs-mine-train-coaster-construction/18209.htm

Always thought that was something that went on last...interesting

 

[Hatetofly]

We're still a year away....

 

[brianlo]

Always thought that was something that went on last...interesting

We're still a year away....

Yes, but it would not surprise me if they opened the side facing Mermaid first. I know I have read DVC kiosk, but will one of those houses hold a store as well? It seems like Mermaid should have one.

 

[Felipe]

I see that trees are being installed at the SDMT.

http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/fantasyland/gallery/04mar2013-seven-dwarfs-mine-train-coaster-construction/18209.htm

Thanks for the link with the pics! :thumbs: Glad to see some more progress here! Too bad we're still so far away from this opening...

 

[KRAKENvsMANTA]

I haven't posted in this thread in a while, but I gotta say, even though the construction is moving a little slow, this area is looking great! While I'm not a Disney loyalist, nor am I Uni one, I can't help but notice a lot of the people bashing the Little Mermaid ride and Tangled area, are the same people drooling over the facade of Moe's and alien spinner in the Simpsons thread. For what it's worth I'd take Fantasyland(when 100% complete) over Springfield and Transformers combined. Obviously it's taking a ridiculously long time compared to Uni's projects.

Back on topic, maybe it's already been mentioned, but when is the new Fairytale Hall supposed to be finished?

 

[frenzy88]

Heads up, expect a photo update on New Fantasyland tomorrow from yours truly. And KvM, I'll see if I can get any info on Fairytale Hall.

IMO people are more excited over the Springfield expansion/Transformers is because we are seeing Universal completely step up their game to Disney-esque levels. Disney seems to be stagnant, and "expanding" into a very small market. I'm super excited for 7DMT though! Finally a new ride I can be excited for at Magic Kingdom!

 

[J03Y]

Heads up, expect a photo update on New Fantasyland tomorrow from yours truly. And KvM, I'll see if I can get any info on Fairytale Hall.

IMO people are more excited over the Springfield expansion/Transformers is because we are seeing Universal completely step up their game to Disney-esque levels. Disney seems to be stagnant, and "expanding" into a very small market. I'm super excited for 7DMT though! Finally a new ride I can be excited for at Magic Kingdom!

actually it's more because Disney is taking too long to finish something that could be wrapped up by this summer. at least that's the vibe i get from people on here. the style and quality of the additions don't really differ that much, Disney is just taking ridiculously long with putting something new in and actually finishing it.

 

[frenzy88]

actually it's more because Disney is taking too long to finish something that could be wrapped up by this summer. at least that's the vibe i get from people on here. the style and quality of the additions don't really differ that much, Disney is just taking ridiculously long with putting something new in and actually finishing it.

Thats part of what Im getting at. The level of detail Universal is putting in to it's work moving forward is on that same Disney level. It's not the norm for the Universal of old and thats a good thing for all theme park fans.

 

[Hockeyman55]

I also think that some are more excited about Springfield because part of it is geared towards the adults and not solely just for the little ones.

 

[maxairmike]

See, I recently realized that how I feel about the FLE (and the resort in general) is similar to how I feel about several Disney movies lately (Oz is sounding like it will fit the mold): all style and no substance.

Them taking so long greatly adds to the annoyance, but my biggest gripe is the lack of real substance. Oh, and taking over three months after opening to have functioning Flotsam and Jetsam AAs.

 

[frenzy88]

Job stuff getting in the way of my fun. I really wanted to get you guys an update, well there's always next week...

 

[Truecoat]

actually it's more because Disney is taking too long to finish something that could be wrapped up by this summer. at least that's the vibe i get from people on here. the style and quality of the additions don't really differ that much, Disney is just taking ridiculously long with putting something new in and actually finishing it.

To do the amount of detailing that Disney is going to do on that ride, there isn't any way to get it done by this summer. They construction on this ride didn't start in earnest until somewhere between August and October 2011. By rights construction on this ride hasn't hit the 2 year mark. I understand people's frustration that this ride seems to be taking forever but as some may remember, this ride wasn't the original choice for the area and structures such as these take time.

 

[Nick]

To do the amount of detailing that Disney is going to do on that ride, there isn't any way to get it done by this summer. They construction on this ride didn't start in earnest until somewhere between August and October 2011. By rights construction on this ride hasn't hit the 2 year mark. I understand people's frustration that this ride seems to be taking forever but as some may remember, this ride wasn't the original choice for the area and structures such as these take time.

This. People see Transformers having gone up in less than a year, but that's on a 24/7 schedule. I still don't believe it should be taking as long, however (they mostly just want to spread the project out between quarters to save money).