jackskellington101

I'm sorry I missed you guys. I must have been deep in the Mansion somewhere and completely missed ya. Oh well. Looks like you guys had fun anyway.

Hey all, I know this is a bit of a throwaway thread, but I'm heading down to the Magic Kingdom this weekend to work at Haunted Mansion. I'm pretty much scheduled the Not So Scary Parties on Friday and Sunday till about 11. If you're heading down or over or whatever direction you may be heading from, come say hi. Stuart

^Never. Which means, like most polls, it means jack squat.

^ + ^^Ashley gave me a wonderful point earlier today that probably this announcement is the lead up of DCA actually turning into Disney's Hollywood Studios west down the line. She can explain it far better than I, but her theory and evidence made sense. From what I can remember, this plan was to homogenize the whole park into something like a Hollywood Studios clone. In doing so, the whole California theme would be dropped for the larger blanketing Studios theme, and it could be done with minimum fuss to the park. The amount of stuff that was brought from MGM is amazing, the main street and the gates are the same. So, the conversion from California Adventure to Hollywood Studios is very possible after these 5 years are done. It can also fly back to FL, having the Chinese Theater changed to the Carthay Circle theater to house GMR, or whatever may be in there by that time, and the removal of the hat for that grand reveal.

I didn't know Homestar Runner was a coaster site! I guess I need to find that page...

^ Sadly, isn't that what diners are now?

I have to agree somewhat to that statement. The entrance is not as important as everything within the park, but I do feel the entrance is important at some level. The entrance sets up the day for me. Is it absolutely pivotal? No, but it does have some importance to my experience.

I'm from Maryland and my family went to WDW first, when I was seven. I had wanted to go since I was 2, but the line I got was "Not till your seven". Six months before my seventh birthday, I went to my mom and said "Time to start planning". She had forgotten, I remembered. It really was a combination of proximity, seeing we were on the East Coast, and it was the park that marketed to our area. Disneyland didn't come till much later, around 2000. I remember that because DCA was under construction and the Grizzly Mountain was done and rock like, except for the grizzly head which was rebar of various lengths.

I think this should be the $1.1 billion and that's it. My opinion, with current financial climate, that $1.1 billion is going to be stretched as is. I don't think it's enough money to do the job of being comparable to Disneyland. Frankly, this park will never be comparable to the park across the way from it. They could clone all of Disneyland in DCA and it still would not be considered to be as good. Disneyland is probably the strongest brand image of in the park industry. Heck, it's one of the strongest brand images period. I talked about all this with my father and he said that when he thinks of Disney, and he blanketed his statement with his generation, he thinks of two things: Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color and Disneyland. Everything else the company does are just extensions of that. That's huge and a insurmountable feat to even attempt to compare. So I think the idea of "We need to make DCA on the same level as Disneyland" silly. Why try to compete with your biggest asset? Instead, they need to make their own brand image with this park. They need to try desperately to not be Disneyland. As of right now, and still with this update, it's a park without a message. There's no hook. There's nothing. It's just there to do. That's what they need to change. They need a whole collection of attractions that DCA needs that it doesn't seem like it's going to get. They need something on the level of an Indy, they need something on the level of Mr Toad, they need something on the level of the subs. Nothing mentioned here is at that level. It's a good intention, but we all know what road is paved with good intentions.

Ok, looking at the other concept art posted, my good feelings have been shot too. They're making DCA into Disney-MGM 2. I do not like that the whole entrance is going to be exactly the same as MGM's entrance. The "New Partners" statue is a bit hokey. Cars land looks boring sans the Race, though it is a nice to see the flying saucers back. It all looks same old same old and, frankly, STILL looks cheap. Robb, I'm starting to agree with you, though I go a different route. I don't see the goal in this. It's starting to feel like they're doing it just to do it. If they are doing all this to have it complete or stand alone with DL, than you're right Robb, this isn't nearly enough. If they're doing this to make it more appealing, than it's barely enough. If they're doing this to "fix" DCA than, I'll be super devil's advocate here, why is there in the first place? Unfortunately, all accounts say that it is just another "Buzz", just with video screens. It's supposed to be a D-ticket at best. The question becomes what can they do? Have we gotten to the point where it's all been done? This whole plan seems to be a step in the right direction because they're actually attempting something. If you think about that, it is a sad state of affairs.

This is the allegory Ashley and I just figured: For park and coaster community, Screamscape is the New York Times, RCDB is the Wall Street Journal and TPR is the New York Post, minus the Murdoch.

I agree. IMO, between Screamscape for news, RCDB for information, and our site for Photo TR's and discussions, that's pretty much all the coaster sites I need. --Robb "Shameless plug, I know, but it's true!" Alvey Agree wholeheartedly Robb.

How well does the bumper car move about? Each time I see them, I always think they look really cool. Also, is there more than one? That's the only one I've ever seen.

That's what I thought the Rockin' versions of Space and Screamin' was testing, the viability of a Rock N Roller Coaster concept in California, using the Red Hot Chili Peppers instead of Aerosmith. I definitely see that happening, possibly on an extension of the Millionaire building.

But does the Harry Potter Land go that far? From everything I've seen and heard, it doesn't seem like it does. I could be greatly mistaken, but I thought the current idea was that Harry Potter isn't taking over all of Lost Continent, only most of Lost Continent. The Harry Potter transformation was going to stop around the Sinbad area, leaving the Greek Mythology Section pretty much intact. That would save Mythos. At least, that's my hope. As much as the Harry Potter land seems like a cool idea, I do love Mythos. It still ranks among the top eating experiences I've had in a park.

I know this stretches the term "Theme Parks, Roller Coasters, & [Enter third topic here, currently Guy T. Koepp]", but it has to do with businesses currently in Parks and possible further ideas. From the Orlando Business Journal: I can definitely see some of those concepts going into a Downtown Disney or a CityWalk on either coast. However, it's The Sorcerer's Kitchen idea that strikes me. Is it just me or does this seem like an idea that is bound to go into the Harry Potter land in IOA. The concept mentioned sounds like the concept for a Great Hall restaurant. The RoadHouse one sounds fun too, but only if Patrick Swayze is the bouncer.

I agree it's definitely a step in the right direction. The concept art is beautiful, that's for sure. I love the Carthay Circle Theater becoming the new entry icon. It works so much better. The use of an updated version of the Walt Disney Story is nice too, but I wonder if it's just the same video they show at the end of One Man's Dream at Disney's Hollywood Studios. I like the electric trolleys going up and down the street too. I'd like them to be real "Pacific Electric" branded cars though. I also have wonder if Toy Story Midway Mania is really apart of this $1.1 billion. I would have thought that budget would have been approved and majority used by this point in time. I think it is a tie in for the "future of California Adventure", but not exactly apart of this budget. I'm excited that the current thought for Little Mermaid is a traditional Omnimover attraction! If any ride system is needed in DCA, it's that one. As much as a Peter Pan 2.0 would be nice, the Omnimover is far more reliable and, in my opinion, comfortable. I think thats the 'Test track' style Cars ride confirmed. (I think) Who says it can't be a generational leap, combining both systems at once. Imagine that. An EMV on a Test Track style ride system. It seems plausible. Expensive as all getup, but plausible. I'm more curious of what the two family rides in Car Land are going to be. I'm also excited to see, essentially, Sci-Fi Dine In California in the form of the Car Land Drive-In! All in all, it looks like a very good 5 year plan.

It comes up all the time and will continue to until it actually happens. But, even more importantly, I believe we have a new dictionary entry with fatchariots.

I can see both sides of the argument here. On one side, the Segway is more respectful than a wheelchair or ECV because they are not forced to sit to operate it. Sitting in a world where everyone else is standing is sometimes considered very demeaning. The fact that you are forced to sit makes you a second class citizen, so to speak, and forces almost everyone to literally look down at you. The Segway allows people, who can still stand and function, just are unable to walk long distances, to be able to be standing like everyone else and move in a similar footprint as everyone else. This allows them to keep some extra dignity and explore things "on foot" that a wheelchair or ECV would not be able to explore. The Segways are also practically "run over proof". The machine itself, when it hits something, does not keep going unless it thinks it's a hill. If a person on a Segway came towards you, you could easily push it away and the machine would stop and go backwards a little bit. Not saying it's imposable to get run over, but it is very preventable. Depends on the model. If you have the earlier models, like the HT p133 or the i180, then yeah it's a little clumsy around corners. However, the current model, the i2, is very smooth around corners and evasive maneuvers. Before turning was in a little knob on the handlebar, vary similar to a motorcycle throttle. In the i2, the turning is by physically moving the entire handlebar left and right. This gives a sort of skiing motion, allowing for the ability to take corners easily and effortlessly. On the other hand, ECVs alone are a major hassle in safety and numbers. They take up an enormous footprint and, with their power and limited breaking ability, cause many a run over foot or a run over guest. It's also the case that, in my experiences, a good number of people who rent the ECV and don't use them normally, can't drive them safely. I've had my shins bashed many a time by an incoming ECV simply because the driver did not know how, or refused, to break before coming in contact with me. Adding another motorized machine could lead to a chaotic state. The Segways, though the driver is required to know how use the machine safely, also can go up to 12 miles per hour. That zipping through a crowded park on a hot summer day is hard enough to do for some of the managers I saw at Disney, let alone a guest. Weighing in on both sides, I feel in my gut that I side with the people with the Segways, but on one condition. I think they should be allowed, but they have to be key governed. There is a way to electronically govern the speed of the Segway through its key and I believe that govern should be to the same speed as the rented ECVs. That way everyone is still on a same page for safety in terms of speed. They should also be the guest’s property. The parks should not start a policy to rent them at the gate. I know that's not mentioned, but I can already see the pathway going that direction. In my thinking, the Segway might actually be safer than an ECV because of the smaller footprint, less torque on the wheels, a required knowledgeable user, and the ability for an outside body to stop the machine from colliding into them if the situation arises. Overall, they could be considered a safety hazard, but not more of a safety hazard than an ECV. I apologize or the long post. I really took this matter into consideration. Stuart

Where is this new makeshift Treaks and Foons scare zone?

There's some more fun on the site added today. The snow cone machine, the spinning knife throwing wheel and the Sleep Well truck are all open for the clicking. Have fun with the Sleep Well puzzle, it took me a few tries.

Could be worse. It could have been the Pirates socks!

The Texas Chainsaw puzzle is flip (the switch on the bottom), pump (the gas pump twice), choke (the red switch), rip (pull the rip cord three times), rev (the switch), kill (the kill button).

^ Take a look at our ringmaster and use that to you're advantage. The biggest thing is when making your paints, don't forget the blood. Hope that helps.

^That's my theory as well. I did a whole write up in Robb's HHN Hollywood Review. I did just look at the FAQ's and "survival guides" on both coasts and found this little gem, or something like it, in both of the "survival guides": If only they banned glow merchandise items as well, life would be golden. Even more interesting is that I do not remember that rule on recording/ flash photography being in place beforehand, only after the event started. That could also be apart of my faulty memory. I guess recording, being a vague term, could be interpreted as still recording as well as video recording.