Jose Eber

Yah, those hotels opened in 1990. Not at the same time though.

Gawd -- arguing through definition adjustment? Please. This is why some parts of our culture are in decline -- because it thinks its 'ahead'. Your presentist attitude really needs to be in check. Going back probably is exactly the wisest choice right now -- look at the town I live in -- Disney builds neo-classical homes - - in the last 11 years, some of these homes have tripled in value -- there is a HUGE market for going back to basics - but people like you are too sensitive to want to adjust. There is no such thing as 'modern' or 'traditional' dark ride. There are kid safe venues, typically your dark ride, and your more adult attractions like full blown mega coasters. You are missing the forrest for the trees. What people are arguing here is where are those kiddie rides with great stories that disney did where adults can take their kids and still feel its a quality environment not some trashy midway experience. Where are the attractions where everyone is entertained, not some exclusive sect of thrill ride junkies (typically, as you can see on this board in the teen/adult demographic). Don't get me wrong -- really looking forward to riding Kraken -- never would do it if it weren't for this board. The reality is, there are fewer and fewer kids these days, so there is less of a market, unlike the 50's and 60s'. When children outnumber adults 3-1, 5-1 or 9-1, guess who 'wins'? To argue semantics JT is to completely miss the point and be oversensitive about your position. A lot of us who are planning families or are wanting to take vacations somewhere are looking for attractions that are entertaining and family friendly (i.e. NO height restrictions). You can stay in your own little coaster bubble world, which is totally cool, i like being in that bubble myself at times, but I'm not going to visit IOA or SFMM with my kids until they are a) tall enough and b) mature enough (not crying or freaking out) to handle such rides. Get the big picture -- lots of people are unhappy with what you perceive as a trend of improvement. For some -- we see it as a serious decline in thought and heart, thus quality. For some this 'progress' is really only regress. Someone will come up with an entertaining environment. As it stands, I don't like visiting Disneyland at all because its very rough at times and not kid friendly. WDW -- its getting there, but might take a big push (Disneyland seems to have throngs of locals). Accept our position JT3000 -- to argue and say we don't have a point is to sort of tick us off. Jose 'Disney has more adults than kids at their parks" Eber p.s. I'd kill to see this: Horizons being built again. Even though I think Epcot is in the wrong direction -- at least its not some intense jarring experience fulfilling a niche crowd's appetite (I can't even ride the attraction with my fully adult wife -- not everyone handles claustrophobic environments). What a waste of money M:S is. This top down business management style is just the worst way to run an entertainment company. Blech

That's pretty smart to ask on a board like this. I've had dinner there once, my wife's firm's Christmas party. Its not bad food. I mean -- the 'paperbook' is a neat momento. That's cool that you set little goals for yourself -- I'm starting to bear some fruit for a few of my first goals (living in Celebration, a specific area, specific car, job, financial cushion etc.). Jose 'your goals might be silly to others, but screw them' Eber

That would be an interesting form of income...but not sure Robb would like it/need it. "Alms for Coaster Solace 2006" "Alms for Coaster Solace 2006"

My wife loves the Mint Milanos the best . . . apparently they do offer tours (see here)? I guess you have a stop decided upon when you guys plan to come down next -- you are going to do Sheikra right? Right on the way.

Bonnet Creek as in next door to Caribbean? Its looking o.k. The height is low, so its not obtrusive at all. It looks fine -- they have one building complete already -- they should have a web site

It makes a lot of sense: those resorts were on Tischman's (sp) property -- property given to him for constructing Epcot. Do your research! Personally -- in their own bubble -- those hotels are killer, especially dolphin (both by Michael Graves). However, I wish they'd implode them -- they are so out of place -- especially with Bob Sterns' work at Yacht, Beach Club and Boardwalk. I mean, the dolphin doesn't even use the top 10 floors -- guests are only booked to the 20th floor Coaster Eric HP: Wow, thanks for the info: never heard of that...to be honest -- that clearing looked like an area for Disney to take trees to and mulch them. looks like around property they are cutting back the treeline from the highway, so we don't get a repeat of what happened with the hurricanes last year at FW.

Well, I'm no coaster expert -- but I'll throw in my two cents: "Meh" -- the park and environment make a big deal too. I've been on a Vekoma many a time at MGM and its been down once. I've been on an Intamin at DCA and its been down significantly more times. We're talking 5 or 6. So...can Vekoma be really that bad? Discuss

Where are the pics? I like one of the dragons -- the other is very 'rattling'. Forget now which one.

This ride looks fun! Although it does look painful. The 'kannon' part reminds my wife and I of speed.

Can't you just give us the track w/o the 3ds for now? (it doesn't have to be perfect! Jose 'quit taunting us' Eber

I'm a non competing sex-thlete (married).

I think anyone arguing about cost of attraction here is missing the point. The next attraction to be completed by Imagineering is Expedition everest -- now, is this only a 100 million attraction or two? I think only 1....MILLION. Wasn't Mission Space 200 million? Also -- since when did the definition of dark ride extend to a 120 million dollar indoor thrill ride? Sorry-- dark ride, disney style is Snow White, Mr. Toads, HM etc. So, how can Disney be cheap here? Its hardly been the case. Do you want half a billion dollar rides people? What is lacking is first and foremost ENTERTAINMENT FACTOR then innovative qualities. When the omnimover came out-- that was wicked -- it was NOT intense -- it was innovative and extremely entertaining -- you basically were in a 3d movie set. Even pirates was innovative, you had a completely surrounded experience -- a first -- and the story is fun (OMG A FUNNY STORY!) All you Mission Space lovers -- that attraction is boring and intense to a majority of people (much like Dinosaur). A bunch of nerds designed these rides...guys with pocket protectors who think all people should get are excessive details the bore you to death and bleeding ears and shock treatment (newer Disney attractions are waaay too loud and physically violent). These huge attractions (even Soarin) have a) NOTHING innovative about the ride system -- centrifuges have been around for ages and the Dinosaur ride system is just a total knockoff of Indiana. Omnimax screens (like Soarin's) are so 1970's. And sticking a seat in the middle of the theatre is about as imaginative as a car race arcade system with moving seats -- whop de woo. b) NOTHING entertaining about this stuff. Where's the anger 'Hooks got Wendy!' and opportunity for empathy 'oh the lost boys'. Seriously, imagineers have their heads up their butts -- its rare that a great attraction comes out. Since MK at WDW opened -- I can count few attractions that (like a great entertaining film) I can go on (and watch) over and over. Tower of Terror (WDW), Splash (DL) are two off the top of my head -- both had innovative ride system (moving elevator/ coaster/log ride) and great stories. I swear to God, how can these imaginneers be so stupid as not to 'get it'. Imagineers say cost is the issue, but that's total crap. Cost is NOT the issue here folks $200 million on Space still yielded a dull-a$$ ride- if Peter Pan didn't have a such a friggen line, I'd be on that just as much as Space Mountain, TOT or Splash (DL). Jose 'don't even get me started' Eber

Photo TR's are the best. Thanks a lot for taking pics -- so Bjorg is o.k.... Cool. J.

Its not a ride, its a simulator

Pulled this out the Jose Eber archives -- not my picture, but its SCARY!

The Pepperidge Farm plant is just down the street (10 minutes down the four). YUMMM.

There's some broad land clearing going across from the golf courses by Fort Wilderness, and a long stretch being cleared (almost for a road) across from the MGM entrance off of world drive. I am very out of the loop. Jose

O.k I found something better on ticket prices. Take Typhoon Lagoon ticket price in 1991 around 18 bucks Now its double that. For more ticket price info: http://waltdatedworld.bravepages.com/id99.htm Cool site. History of tickets. Something more innovative will come out and undermine disney. $60 bucks for a day is a lot. Now, if you buy the 7 day ticket -- that boils down to half that. Regardless -- enough people criticize the parks or park prices, something innovative will come out and outsell disney. Just a matter of time. Jose "will it be Dubailand?" Eber

terra server is incredible. Its the one thing I like by Microsoft. Killer resolution NO watermarking, ALL free.

If Disney is overpricing they will reap the consequences -- people going elsewhere -- if its all one 'conspiracy' florida wise -- the state will loose tourism. There are always consequences. One thing people don't realize is that 7 day tickets are now DIRT cheap. $200 for 7 days? That's crazy cheap! $28 fitty per day. The reality is -- for a lot of visitors they spend that sort of time there at the resort. Also, hotels are also super cheap -- 20 years ago they didn't offer cheap hotels on property etc. Well, they did have campsites. In regards to your argument about inflation: the reality is, new attractions cost money -- and since the new attractions are paid with inflated money -- well you can see the problem. Epcot alone in 23 years its been open has added hundreds of millions of dollars of attractions -- had the parks not changed at all your argument would hold more water. Criticizing the company won't change it. Jose

In all fairness those trams (at MK) are like a 700K a piece. Don't forget the 'driveway' to the park: i.e. World Drive. Who pays for that crap? Not the state. That's private property. At least they don't charge for the ferry, or monorail! (except in Japan). do you want that to happen?! Let's be thankful. Heck if I was in charge of WDW, that's where I'd get people -- parking charges, tolls, -- force them to use OUR transportation from OUR hotels ... Muah ah ah! In all seriousness -- I would probably build a huge arse parking structure at the entrance to the whole resort, close down all other lots and have a huge arse maglev connect all major areas and up the frequency of the buses etc. a bit. to those terminals from the hotels. or create little people movers or something Jose 'transportation whore' Eber

Exactly. The rain could constantly be going on in the attraction, it be dark, and for dramatic effect (so you can see the rain, and not the roof) have cool street like lighting shining down on you, illuminating the edge of the cages/folliage and streams of rain...lights burst out and stuff like that when the dinosaurs come -- anyone skeered yet? I am. Darkness=scaryness. I mean Space Mountain goes like what, 27 mph? But it feels like hell (in space) breaks loose. should have been a show designer... Jose

People are having less children these days than they did say 50 years ago. The ratio of adults to children has dramatically shifted since the 60's with the advent of birth control and abortion as well. Larger families (of 3 or 4 kids) rarely exist. We miss out on the psychology of the 3rd and 4th child (Roy and Walt were third and fourth children). The psychology of the 3rd and fourth children is dramatically different from the first and 2nd child. A different way of relating. A different way of being. The 'pleasers' (3rd) and entertainers (4th) are a dying breed sad to say. Thus we are left with then a more limited culture, one not as broad in scope as before, hence why (I believe) we are cutting back on these less intense or less intimidating rides. Jose

Its pretty simple...hit reply or create a thread. Then if you look below where you type (you might have to scroll a bit...) There is a blue bar that goes across your screen that says 'Add and Attachment' There is a similar blue bar above the subject line of when you type called 'post a reply'. Just choose where the file is, and if you want to add multiple files, hit 'add attachment' and then choose file, 'add attachment' etc. until you are finished then hit submit. should work . . . fairly straightforward if you know forums.