Fantasyland Expansion - Part 2

[Nitro_230]

How is it not? It's a highly advanced E-ticket that's been built in less time than it will take Disney to repurpose an already existing building.

Just another sad excuse to justify what Disney is doing....

Transformers (Idk if you noticed) had a chosen spot a month before construction began. They demo'ed a building already in its place. Dug into the ground, and then erected the building that stands there now all under a year.

Disney on the other hand is doing a meet n greet with a pre-existing building and its still not open.

Not to mention the marquee attraction of NF is still under construction and smack dab in the middle of it all.

Sorry pal, but Disney deserves no justification...only a slap to the head

Its not fair? Are you kidding me right now? I know youre not speaking to me but really? Rush job or not Universal got the job done and they are opening one of the most technologically advanced E-tickets known in the timeline of a year. And you want to pull whats "fair"? Its sad that you are even making this argument right now. No offense but I think someone's been sniffing the disney magic crackpot a little too long

I’m going to take this one in parts.

I must be a Disney lover - As you can tell from my past posts, I’m not a Disney shill. I enjoy going to theme parks in general.

But it’s just a Meet and Greet – Correct, and as such it is the LAST priority in New Fantasy Land. And fan of Disney or not you do have to admit this is more than the Shrek façade meet and greet. It’s show quality is going to be amazing I’m sure. As far as it being in an existing building, correct. Remember though that unlike SS44 the Disney Archives people came in and took down the existing ride piece by piece, and that takes time to not damage the props.

Now to deal with the built an E-Ticket argument. They built a ride they’ve already built twice before. Specifically they manufactured all of the pieces off site and simply put them together inside this building.

Sounds similar but I’m going to take this differently - “one of the most technologically advanced E-tickets known” argument. The Spider-Man ride vehicles built in 1998 are more technologically advanced then the Transformers ones. They have more processing power on board and have more sophisticated hardware on board. When Transformers was built they realized it was overkill and scaled back. The only part that is cutting edge here is the elevator.

But most importantly, the style of construction you saw at Transformers is so expensive it’s not sustainable. They NEEDED to spend some cash, they NEEDED a way to get people to leave IOA, and they NEEDED something to buffer the time between potter phase 2 announcement and opening. Because of all that need the cash was justified. But they can’t keep building at that speed, it would hurt their long term plans. I’d be willing to bet if Universal had built transformers at a normal timeline the difference between that budget and this budget would have been able to supply a new flat ride.

It's not fair to compare the Transformers timeline to anything. That was a rush job unlike anything we've seen before and honestly may never see again for an E-ticket attraction.

Exactly

Forget Transformers...even Potter Phase 2 seems to be moving as a much faster clip then any of Fantasyland is. Disney has no excuse except that they are being cheap and are budgeting the hell out of the expansion.

Now this I 100% agree with.

 

[USO92]

Whoa there buddy, calm down before you hurt yourself.

First of all, I love Universal. I have actually been to DL more than WDW more in the past 6 months because the parks are of higher quality right now out there (and I made a stop at Universal Hollywood too!). I am by no means a "disney magic crackpot" and the fact that you accused me about 3-4 times in your post is sad, to be honest. The fact that i'm even giving you the time of day after that comment is ridiculous. It's funny that the Universal fanboy accuses someone like me, who LOVES and WORKS for the park. I love all the progress they are making and I HOPE that they knock a few Disney parks in attendance soon so maybe Disney will get off of their ass.

In conclusion, I can't believe I actually just had to type out this post. :blank:

Uni "fan boy" that I may be you still didnt answer as to why you think it's not "fair".

But thank you ever so much for giving me your time of day :thumbs:

And just cuz I love Uni doesn't mean I loathe Disney. Under different management and circumstances we probably wouldnt be having this conversation right now.

 

[IzzyB]

Don't feed the mouse your extra cash when they dont deserve it. Lol

Until they start upping the ante at WDW, I'm going to continue to spend less and less time and money there.
Stop being cheap TDO and give us your patrons real reasons to come back and spend money: exciting and new attractions... And don't take a decade to build one! Sheesh!

(You guys do realize the last E-ticket in all of WDW opened over 7 years ago? That's a long drought!)

The people like us, who know a lot about the parks, don't make a dent in their sales if we stop going. So personally, I will keep going since I do enjoy my day when I am there. My kids also love it and my daughter who is now talking tries to get us to take her there all the time. I couldn't deny her of that. Now granted, she doesn't know the difference between Uni, Sea World, or Disney, it is all Mickey to her. But she does seem to have a better time at Disney (according to my husband).

- - - Updated - - -

The management team in California, actually know what spending money on maintenance and building new attractions, is. Whereas the WDW management is all about saving money and only spending it when they really need to. Its the main reason our family never makes the trip over to WDW, as it was in much worse shape, compared to Disneyland, which we visit a fair bit (for someone around the world), and we were used to the standards they offered.

Do you know what is funny about this statement? A birdie told me a certain maintenance department in WDW is a million dollars over budget. So while you would think they are trying not to spend money, I was given the opposite impression from this person. What I was told is the employees waste the money on stupid things and don't seem to care about the equipment and do careless things that cause more money to be spent when it should not be.

 

[Nitro_230]

Uni "fan boy" that I may be you still didnt answer as to why you think it's not "fair".

I did thought.

The people like us, who know a lot about the parks, don't make a dent in their sales if we stop going. So personally, I will keep going since I do enjoy my day when I am there. My kids also love it and my daughter who is now talking tries to get us to take her there all the time. I couldn't deny her of that. Now granted, she doesn't know the difference between Uni, Sea World, or Disney, it is all Mickey to her. But she does seem to have a better time at Disney (according to my husband).

- - - Updated - - -
Do you know what is funny about this statement? A birdie told me a certain maintenance department in WDW is a million dollars over budget. So while you would think they are trying not to spend money, I was given the opposite impression from this person. What I was told is the employees waste the money on stupid things and don't seem to care about the equipment and do careless things that cause more money to be spent when it should not be.

Dead on about us not making a dent.

And if it's waste that is an issue, the management needs to crack down. Start a paper trail and fire some people, things get fixed real fast when people threaten your cash.

 

[USO92]

I did thought.

I was speaking to Next Big Thing :thumbs:

 

[IzzyB]

Dead on about us not making a dent.

And if it's waste that is an issue, the management needs to crack down. Start a paper trail and fire some people, things get fixed real fast when people threaten your cash.

Agreed. Based on the information I got, everyone was to blame, not excluding management. But maybe people don't love their job as much as they used to? Maybe the culture is changing? Who knows, but there are issues there. But I don't know it is always management wanting to save money. That is the point I was getting to.

 

[Nitro_230]

Yea. I know quite a few maintenance guys in Orlando that make a nice amount of money. I think they would kick it into gear if that was at risk, even if they don't love their job as much as they used to. Can't get that money with a blank check of overtime elsewhere.

 

[IzzyB]

Yea. I know quite a few maintenance guys in Orlando that make a nice amount of money. I think they would kick it into gear if that was at risk, even if they don't love their job as much as they used to. Can't get that money with a blank check of overtime elsewhere.

Yep, I get the impression they love the money they make, not the job itself. Which is ALWAYS going to mean poor work. You have to have some love for your job or enough of a work ethic to do your job well. Its sounds like most people there have never a love or a good work ethic. They just want the paycheck.

 

[mahnamahna]

I just wish the New Fantasyland wasn't marketed as a MAJOR Potter swatter... with the main additions being a top-notch restaurant, an Omnimover, and a family coaster.

If they had added some sort of E-ticket to the Fantasy Forest part (Tangled or BAtB would be perfect!) and done a Wonderland mini-land instead of the circus like they originally planned,
I think people would not mind that Mermaid's an Omnimover or that the Snow White coaster is tiny next to DL's Matterhorn.

Disney just doesn't put much effort or try to be cost-effective (they spent $1 billion on MyMagic+, and $100 million on Mermaid, plus $100-$125 million for Seven Dwarfs too lol

While Universal spent $50-$60 million on an E-ticket that's been under construction for less than a year and will open this summer!

Not to mention Potter 2.0 is apparently gonna open shortly after Seven Dwarfs and its area is 3 to 4 times the size of that one attraction!

I feel that it will probably take DHS and DAK dropping to 7.5-8 million guests as USF and IOA rise to 8-10 million guests over the next 5-7 years in order for TDO to wake up and realize that they need to start investing in real attractions

 

[JungleSkip]

I just wish the New Fantasyland wasn't marketed as a MAJOR Potter swatter

It never was, nor was it ever intended to be.

 

[IzzyB]

It never was, nor was it ever intended to be.

Agreed, many people thought that was what Disney was trying to do, but it was never marketed that way.

 

[Nick]

And just cuz I love Uni doesn't mean I loathe Disney.

And i'll agree with you 100% on that. I love theme parks/amusement parks in general, but both Universal and Disney parks have a special place with me. If it wasn't for Disney, I may not have the love for theme parks I currently do. On the opposite end, I am REALLY happy the Universal ended up getting Harry Potter. Not only did it finally get me back to the resort, but I grew to really appreciate it as much as I had Disney. I just wish Disney wasn't all about Hotels, restaurants and price increases during the Iger era.

And I would love to debunk spending money over fiscal years as bad business as they would get the attractions open much faster going at a faster pace therefore faster ROI. However, with the attractions that have been going in, they aren't gate busters. People aren't going to be spending a ton of money in the gift shop or buying a specialty drink for 7DMT. The specialty drink already exists within the land. So I would LOVE to say it's bad business to hold 7DMT back, but seeing as people on vacation are probably seeing this, they'll be excited and think "We've gotta come back to see that!". There's so many advantages from the suits eyes. This is a ride that could've been open for this summer, easy.

 

[Spideyfreak]

I just wanted to stop in and say this:

I've given up checking on progress updates for SDMT. Nothing ever seems to change. It's gotten to the point where I just don't care about it anymore. I was initially excited for it, but now it's just taking way too long.

Sorry Disney. :shrug:

 

[Brervixen]

I just wanted to stop in and say this:

I've given up checking on progress updates for SDMT. Nothing ever seems to change. It's gotten to the point where I just don't care about it anymore. I was initially excited for it, but now it's just taking way too long.

Sorry Disney. :shrug:

I feel the same, it's unbearably slow!

 

[Disneyhead]

Well, while we all anxiously await the arrival of the Barbi Princess Meet and Oogle coming sometime around Thanksgiving (Dear God, Thank you for this turkey and this Meet and Greet.), we can can just suffer along with Antarctica ("Those live penguins aren't as realistic as the ones Disney would build!!!). White Lightning! (How many Mojitos does it take for a "Duster" to be talked into going to iDrive?). And pulling up the rear, Transformers/Springfield.

 

[KRAKENvsMANTA]

People continue to come to this thread just to complain about the time frame of 7DMT. While I'm not defending Disney for how long it's taking, I will say that the progress of this project isn't shocking. The 2014 opening date was confirmed in early 2012. Those expecting it to be done sooner is just wishful thinking. Also remember, 7DMT was a late addition to the FLE. Disney knows what they're doing. Why rush it, when you can give guests a new reason to come back next year? Hate it if you must, but the slowness of this project is old news.

 

[Cheezbat]

People continue to come to this thread just to complain about the time frame of 7DMT. While I'm not defending Disney for how long it's taking, I will say that the progress of this project isn't shocking. The 2014 opening date was confirmed in early 2012. Those expecting it to be done sooner is just wishful thinking. Also remember, 7DMT was a late addition to the FLE. Disney knows what they're doing. Why rush it, when you can give guests a new reason to come back next year? Hate it if you must, but the slowness of this project is old news.

The big problem is that its nothing but excuses for Disney. I love Disney too, but late addition to the project or not, this ride is taking really long. Two years just to build? Heck, full theme parks and resorts are built in roughly that time frame.

 

[Spideyfreak]

When you see UO throw up an E-ticket, and a new land in 10 months, it puts this project to shame. UO has proven that it doesn't have to take this long.

 

[shiekra38]

When you see UO throw up an E-ticket, and a new land in 10 months, it puts this project to shame. UO has proven that it doesn't have to take this long.

Apparently that is irrelevant...


Although I agree with you

 

[IzzyB]

People continue to come to this thread just to complain about the time frame of 7DMT. While I'm not defending Disney for how long it's taking, I will say that the progress of this project isn't shocking. The 2014 opening date was confirmed in early 2012. Those expecting it to be done sooner is just wishful thinking. Also remember, 7DMT was a late addition to the FLE. Disney knows what they're doing. Why rush it, when you can give guests a new reason to come back next year? Hate it if you must, but the slowness of this project is old news.

I don't mind how long the other parts of FLE took, and I don't mind that they opened the circus section first, LM and stuff, and later the meet and greet. But 7DMT should have been opened with LM. Only because it is a huge construction zone in the middle of all the pretty new theming just brings you out of the "fantasy" of it all. And since New Fantasy Land has been soooo heavily advertised, that is why it is so annoying. It is not complete yet, so don't advertise it as NEW fantasy land. Advertise it as LM or Beast resteraunt, or Belle meet and greet. But don't make it NEW Fantasy land and have this huge construction zone right in the middle. If it was off to the side, I wouldn't care.

It would be like Uni opening duff gardens first and saying, come to our NEW Simpson land only to see construction walls up in the middle of the land because Moe's and other places were not done.

So yes, it was advertised as 2014, but this was a mistake on Disneys part. And as others have said, it is not just us theme park people that notice this, others do to. It breaks up the immersion of the land and breaks the fantasy of it all. And people do not expect it since they made such a big deal about new fantasy land. They should have had this done and if they want to attract people next year, they should have been building something else somewhere else. Like oh, I don't know, tomorrowland.