Fantasyland Expansion - Part 2

[IzzyB]

It's a shopping mall. It's been 7 years since TDO opened a major attraction ANYWHERE on property. They are dragging a 40 year old parade down Main Street at night. An 11 year old parade at 3pm. 12 year old fireworks. Are they even still in the Theme Park business?

Just had to comment on the parade. I was so happy when the electric parade came back for the summer that I went out there several times that summer to see it even dealing with the crowds. I was even more happy when it stayed and will be very sad to see it leave. So having a 40 year old electric parade is not all that bad in some cases Many people who come and visit us love that the old parade is back and they wanted to see it to remember their childhood. There is something to nostalgic stuff that I don't think you are counting when you talk about Disney.

There is rumors wishes will change, but when I am at the parks I hear a ton of people who love it and when they do the summer one, people are bummed that wishes won't play. So again, it works for Disney. Never seen the daytime parade so can't comment on that one. I am not into daytime parades, I am sure I will watch more as my kids get older, but I prefer to shorter lines that occur during it.

And toy story was opened in 2008 (not even 5 years ago since it opened in May), how can you not call that a major ride? I understand you don't want to call LM a major ride, but how can you discount toy story? Just because it is not a roller coaster does not mean it is not a major ride. But I do think LM should count too, since the AIs in it are so cool. Plus the rock work and everything in the queue is pretty impressive.

 

[rhino4evr]

It's a shopping mall. It's been 7 years since TDO opened a major attraction ANYWHERE on property. They are dragging a 40 year old parade down Main Street at night. An 11 year old parade at 3pm. 12 year old fireworks. Are they even still in the Theme Park business?

Well I'd argue that the Electric Light Parade is still amazing...I really enjoyed it last time I was there. There is nothing else like it. It's Nostalgic, but still really awesome, and incredibly popular.

Complaining about the Fireworks? Really? They put on one of the best fireworks shows I have ever seen.

Part of the reason they haven't updated this stuff, is because it's not broken in the first place. Just because you have the ability to go to the park whenever you want, and are tired of these attractions, doesn't mean the general public is.

I can understand complaining about lack of refurbs, new rides, and other stuff. But I think they have the parades, shows, fireworks in the can...

 

[JungleSkip]

Well I'd argue that the Electric Light Parade is still amazing...I really enjoyed it last time I was there. There is nothing else like it. It's Nostalgic, but still really awesome, and incredibly popular.

Disney could roll out Mickey with a few glow sticks, call it a nighttime parade, and have it be popular.

MSEP is no more or less popular than any other nighttime parade they could do. But it certainly is older and worse than the other ones across the world.

 

[Mad Dog]

A lot of good points on this thread. A major difference in opinions are due to the view of WDW as a tourist vs. an annual pass holder. As a tourist, I'm more apt to overlook maintainance issues and the lack of new E attractions, even though I would prefer WDW to be more expansionist in relation to new attractions. The totality of the Disney experience is very good, especially if you stay on site. I'm sure we'll enjoy the Fantasyland expansion, once it's completed, even though it has no real E tickets. But it does appear immersive, which is important. What's a little troubling to me is the planned My Magic+ reservation system for rides. That just takes away the leisure & spontaneous aspect of the vacation, and is the primary reason I'm staying away from WDW for a couple years until the confusion & dust settles... However, my girlfriend and I prefer the Universal resort. We stay on site, and nothing beats the ease of movement throughout the resort and the hotel Express passes, which allow one to experience a vacation as it should be, relaxing and leisurely. And the Citi Walk entertainment options, close to the onsite hotels, are a significant plus. And we are really excited about the Universal expansions. So, bottom line, we will be spending the entirety of our next few vacations on Universal property as a base of operations. We drop a significant sum on Orlando every year, apx. 9-$10,000. Universal is a different animal then it was when I first visited a decade ago. I wouldn't have thought of making this decision then. We were WDW first and Universal was an afterthought 1 day trip. Now Universal is the two week stay with Sea World, Disney etc. day trips the option. Portofino Hetel Resort has spoiled us.

 

[Miketheboss]

For me, paying 300+ for a room in universal is too much. Sure the hotels are great and u get the Express Passes but it's too much money.

That's what universal lacks, the nostalgia. Maybe because it's fairly new compared to disneyworld. Maybe in 10 years the kids of today might find universal nostalgic. When I was a kid I was never taken to universal, maybe that's why.

I think fantasyland will look beautiful and would become a place where people can just sit and enjoy the atmosphere for hours.

 

[Hockeyman55]

The only thing that bugs me with MSEP is the music. For some reason it just sticks out to me as being bad. I don't mind the parade itself.

 

[PGP]

It's a shopping mall. It's been 7 years since TDO opened a major attraction ANYWHERE on property. They are dragging a 40 year old parade down Main Street at night. An 11 year old parade at 3pm. 12 year old fireworks. Are they even still in the Theme Park business?

Could it be better? Of course, but it's still delivering more than enough to satisfy both the GP experience & corporate bank accounts.

 

[Latveria]

I think fantasyland will look beautiful and would become a place where people can just sit and enjoy the atmosphere for hours.

Do people pay close to $100 a head to just sit and enjoy a well themed area? Is this the kind of feedback Disney is receiving in the majority of guests' surveys?

:down:

 

[ThemeParks4Life]

Do people pay close to $100 a head to just sit and enjoy a well themed area? Is this the kind of feedback Disney is receiving in the majority of guests' surveys?

:down:

*cough*WWOHP*cough*

 

[Hockeyman55]

Do people pay close to $100 a head to just sit and enjoy a well themed area? Is this the kind of feedback Disney is receiving in the majority of guests' surveys?

:down:

Its a pretty area but not worthy of sitting there soaking it all in for hours on end, especially with so much to do on WDW property.

 

[Latveria]

Its a pretty area but not worthy of sitting there soaking it all in for hours on end, especially with so much to do on WDW property.

Thank you Hockeyman, that was my point. No one pays money to sit in an area for hours on end to enjoy a well themed area. The majority go for the rides.

 

[Hockeyman55]

I can see if someone local goes all the time and wants to spend time hanging out in a certain are but I just don't see NFL being that spot, unless you have kids and they are in the play area for hours. 2 weeks ago when I met up with a few other OU members we hung out at Finnegans and The Watering Hole and that really was the first time I have ever just relaxed around the parks and not be in a rush to do anything and had a blast.

 

[Miketheboss]

Thank you Hockeyman, that was my point. No one pays money to sit in an area for hours on end to enjoy a well themed area. The majority go for the rides.

But for me, the atmosphere in itself can be an attraction. If they would have just built Hogsmead, I would say it would still be a popular spot. Walking through the "enchanted forest" and seeing castles, waterfalls, belles little "village", belles house, and soon the 7 dwarves mountain is as much an attraction as the attraction itself. And that's what universal is learning now after how long..... (Simpsons)

And honestly, I might be the only one to say this but Uni might be expanding a little too fast. Investors always say that trying to grow so big too fast isn't the right way to make money. For us it's great though

 

[Brervixen]

I personally think Uni is building for the locals, Disney is building for the "once in a lifetime vacationer"

Although we do get our fair share of UNI adverts in the UK!

 

[Mad Dog]

When you're a tourist taking a long leisurely vacation, atmosphere can be an attraction. We take our time and go it slowwwww. And, to tell you the truth, vacation is so much better that way. If you take enough time, there's no need to rush through attractions, especially when staying on site at Universal. Sometimes, we'll just have a seat on the lagoon walkway behind the Popeye/Bluto Bilge Rat Barges and enjoy the view and ambiance, and quiet, of the park. Or take a relaxing nap on one of the Central Park benches at the Studios. Or just sit and enjoy people watching in Hogsmeade. It may sound old to some of you, and I'm a lot older than most on this site, but as you become more mature you realize to take time, as the trite phrase goes, to smell the roses. And the same goes for the heavily themed areas in Disney. My favorite Disney place to eat is at the Animal Kingdom Flame BBQ with a seat on the gazebo beside the lake with a view of Everest in the distance across the water.

 

[Hatetofly]

When you're a tourist taking a long leisurely vacation, atmosphere can be an attraction. We take our time and go it slowwwww. And, to tell you the truth, vacation is so much better that way. If you take enough time, there's no need to rush through attractions, especially when staying on site at Universal. Sometimes, we'll just have a seat on the lagoon walkway behind the Popeye/Bluto Bilge Rat Barges and enjoy the view and ambiance, and quiet, of the park. Or take a relaxing nap on one of the Central Park benches at the Studios. Or just sit and enjoy people watching in Hogsmeade. It may sound old to some of you, and I'm a lot older than most on this site, but as you become more mature you realize to take time, as the trite phrase goes, to smell the roses. And the same goes for the heavily themed areas in Disney. My favorite Disney place to eat is at the Animal Kingdom Flame BBQ with a seat on the gazebo beside the lake with a view of Everest in the distance across the water.

I enjoy taking it all in and seeing others expressions. It's not old it's just personal taste :thumbs:

 

[J03Y]

When you're a tourist taking a long leisurely vacation, atmosphere can be an attraction. We take our time and go it slowwwww. And, to tell you the truth, vacation is so much better that way. If you take enough time, there's no need to rush through attractions, especially when staying on site at Universal. Sometimes, we'll just have a seat on the lagoon walkway behind the Popeye/Bluto Bilge Rat Barges and enjoy the view and ambiance, and quiet, of the park. Or take a relaxing nap on one of the Central Park benches at the Studios. Or just sit and enjoy people watching in Hogsmeade. It may sound old to some of you, and I'm a lot older than most on this site, but as you become more mature you realize to take time, as the trite phrase goes, to smell the roses. And the same goes for the heavily themed areas in Disney. My favorite Disney place to eat is at the Animal Kingdom Flame BBQ with a seat on the gazebo beside the lake with a view of Everest in the distance across the water.

the best detailed area i've ever been in Disney has got to be the Everest queue line i mean just wow... so many small things that make up a storyline it's really fascinating!

 

[YETI PINTRADER]

Even if people are rushing through to do everything they should still feel somewhere else. They should not feel like they are in the middle of Florida but in some kind of quaint village. Both New Fantasyland and Test Track nailed the feeling of being taken somewhere else. When people are in the parks they may not realize it, but when they exit and are put back into the real world, they realize that they were somewhere else for just that day. And that's the kind of memories that Disney is making.
Is it a shame we haven't gotten anything huge like Wizarding World or Transformers, yes of course. But Many people are still happy taking their kids on Pirates of the Caribbean for the first time, or re-experiencing the excitement of Tower of Terror over and over again. Disney will give in due time I believe, but for right now I'll enjoy what they have.

 

[IzzyB]

The only thing that bugs me with MSEP is the music. For some reason it just sticks out to me as being bad. I don't mind the parade itself.

And to me that is the best part I love the old school computer voice and music I guess that is the computer geek in me.

 

[J03Y]

Even if people are rushing through to do everything they should still feel somewhere else. They should not feel like they are in the middle of Florida but in some kind of quaint village. Both New Fantasyland and Test Track nailed the feeling of being taken somewhere else. When people are in the parks they may not realize it, but when they exit and are put back into the real world, they realize that they were somewhere else for just that day. And that's the kind of memories that Disney is making.
Is it a shame we haven't gotten anything huge like Wizarding World or Transformers, yes of course. But Many people are still happy taking their kids on Pirates of the Caribbean for the first time, or re-experiencing the excitement of Tower of Terror over and over again. Disney will give in due time I believe, but for right now I'll enjoy what they have.

this all the way