9/15: Laughing EO Off

[flynnibus]

Originally Posted by cellarhound

.

Disney can be a draw... But it needs to be smarter and provide more value... It should not think it can produce a Comicon overnight simple because Iger wishes it so... It's a grassroots thing, not something where they can squeese more money out of fans...

There is a reality that you can't build something before you actually decide to do it. They couldn't build out D23Expo before they actually announced D23 to start with.

Their options are to do no show at all - which doesn't help establish what is possible, so next year you still have the same chicken and the egg problem - or do something the best you can in the period in front of you, and build upon that in the future.

It's obvious that Disney knew, and prepared, to do this all on their own for Year 1. That's simply being practical - not egotistical.

They can't just rent a hall and say 'please come' - they need draw, and Disney shouldered the burden to get that ball rolling. This doesn't happen on its own. I would expect in coming years Disney will still heavily subsidize partners to come and participate to continue to build the show up.

Originally Posted by cellarhound

There is no committment to feed ongoing demand... I think its because there is a big miscommunication between fans and Disney...

I think we've seen completely the opposite as the events continue on. I'm not sure exactly what you are looking for

Originally Posted by cellarhound

One big event just doesn't cut it when it is at the start of a school year and after a big travel weekend. Fans thirst more involvement.

I think you seriously under estimate what goes into pulling off a large scale event like this and under the virtually impossible situation of doing that in under 6 months totally from scratch.

Take a look at this page
Welcome to the Anaheim Convention Center

I'm going to tell you that you need to run a fan expo in the next 9 months. You need to have a weekend, and I need a week to setup/teardown the whole thing. Now goto that page and come back and tell us how you got your pick of weeks for 2010.

Originally Posted by cellarhound

I am not convinced there will be a next year, because they have done little to change the status quo on what is going wrong with the program...

It's 6 months old!!

Originally Posted by cellarhound

And what they have produced does not justify the price of membership...

An opinion that seems to be going extinct once the programs started happening for those who actually participated in them.

[Seawolf]

If I ever see MILF at Disneyland that will be the last day I give them a dime.

[DaveinPerris]

Hello everybody,
Something I just wanted to point out. Pixar may not be classic Disney, but I could not deprecate Mr. Lassiter in my wildest dreams. Maybe some of you guys are annoyed by the Pixar presence, but remember; until Lassiter came around we didn't have anybody in Burbank that wanted anything to do with the Parks Division. He actually brings his family to DLR right? He is a fan of the parks, an advocate if you will. We could go back to the days of maintenance cutbacks and the $72 a day mall. I say we should be grateful for this current era.
I realize of course that HISTA is showing its' age and that any new show or attraction should be based on "Tomorrow". It would be nice if WDI were allowed to really dream and come up with the concepts they were known for, like Star Tours. When Star Tours opened it was unlike anything else. It raised the bar so high that even WDI themselves have rarely exceeded it. [Soarin' being a perfect example of raising it a little higher] Thanks for reading.
Dave

[mainejeff]

What I would like to see in Tomorrowland.........


+ + =

[BassBone]

Originally Posted by mainejeff

What I would like to see in Tomorrowland.........


[lightcycle]+ +
[peoplemover track] =

*cough*ROCKETRODS*cough*

Never again!

[mainejeff]

Originally Posted by BassBone

*cough*ROCKETRODS*cough*

Never again!

This would hardly be Rocket Rods.

1. It would actually be cool.
2. It would actually work.
3. It would actually represent a futuristic theme that ties in with an old and new Disney film.

[BassBone]

Originally Posted by mainejeff

This would hardly be Rocket Rods.

1. It would actually be cool.
2. It would actually work.
3. It would actually represent a futuristic theme that ties in with an old and new Disney film.

It would have even lower capacity than the rocket rods, and it's basically the same concept. That concept will never get rehashed because the original execution was a complete failure.

[GhostHost2]

Originally Posted by Disneyphenom

Isn't cloning a bad WDW film-based attraction what got us HISTA in the first place? So, the proper way to get out of that problem is to repeat it?

I'm just hoping this is a red herring thrown Al's way as payback for botching their whole Captain EO/Star Tours announcements.

WDW is full of horrible attractions that last for many years. DL has been lucky not to get more clones of these. The more frequent guests of DL compared to WDW generally prevents horrible attractions from lasting too long there.

Originally Posted by Mr Wiggins

Here's why:

• A Wall-E attraction would have to be designed and built from scratch, which would cost more money and take more time than cloning MILF.
• A Wall-E attraction would be a less powerful draw than MILF for the key demographic at whom Disney has been aiming their recent attractions, namely, the kiddies (Buzz? Pooh? Tink? MILF? ...connect the dots).
• A Wall-E attraction would generate less opportunity for plush and other merchandise than the Monsters, Inc. cast of characters.

Wall-E is artistically one of the PIXAR films that is most deserving of getting an attraction. Sadly, it will probably never happen thanks to the logic of the suits that Mr. Wiggins pointed out.

[BassBone]

But plush WALL•Es are adorable!

[mainejeff]

Originally Posted by BassBone

It would have even lower capacity than the rocket rods, and it's basically the same concept. That concept will never get rehashed because the original execution was a complete failure.

Lower capacity??? NOTHING could have a lower capacity than Rocket Rods!

Rocket Rods is the same concept as a Tron motorbike coaster???......OK.

I guess we'll just have to leave it up to Universal to build cool movie rides that are actually somewhat current..........

[BassBone]

Originally Posted by mainejeff

Lower capacity??? NOTHING could have a lower capacity than Rocket Rods!

Rocket Rods is the same concept as a Tron motorbike coaster???......OK.

I guess we'll just have to leave it up to Universal to build cool movie rides that are actually somewhat current..........

You never said roller coaster, you just put the PeopleMover track up, implying that you'd use the track without alterations.

[jedited]

Originally Posted by TheEscapist

I understand the impulse to have it go to Orlando, but this weekend was a prime example of how the Disneyland Resort benefits from being so close to the center of the entertainment industry.

Getting all of the onstage and backstage talent to commit to a multiday schlep to Florida represents a huge disruption in life and work to which a brief jaunt to Anaheim cannot ever compare.

If they build it up to a big enough event, maybe eventually take it on the road, or do a smaller version there. But for a lavish production, it's right where it should be.

I agree with the above COMPLETELY! EVERYONE that was there (from the ABC stars, to the Disney executives, to the movie stars and directors, to the Imagineers and the Disney Legends) ALL live in SoCal. MOST of them would NOT travel to Florida. That is the EXACT reason that they have not premiered any of the Pirates movies (or any other movie for that matter) in Florida.

[mainejeff]

Originally Posted by BassBone

You never said roller coaster, you just put the PeopleMover track up, implying that you'd use the track without alterations.

Oh no.......of course use a coaster track. Some of the same PM track space could/would be used......and of course some of the ride would be indoors and some outdoors.

[jedited]

Originally Posted by goldenstate5

As for D23 Expo, I disagree with Al that the number of days should be reduced. Four is a perfect number, plenty enough time to let it breathe. I don't see why Disney wants to see the numbers skyrocket into Comic Con numbers (other than $$$), because that would be a nightmare for attendees. The amount on Sunday was perfect. Healthily crowded, yes, but no five-hour lines. I hope they don't get cold feet and decide not to run in next year, because it was a lot of fun, even for the one day I attended. Just anything to see the Parks and Resorts pavillion and talk with Imagineers again. Not to mention be firsthand to see announcements and exclusive footage and stuff like that. (seeing five minutes of Toy Story 3 was the highlight of the entire thing) Please, Disney, do the D23 expo next year! I'm sure attendance will skyrocket after it has been all over the media this past weekend...

I agree that the days should not be reduced. I was there all four days and it made it much more relaxing to be able to check everything out. I also appreciated that there weren't that many people there on Thurs and Fri. I would have loved it to be like that all 4 days.
As to the money comment above, I sat next to a rep for an outside firm that helped Disney put together the Expo and he told me that it was Disney's intention to break even and NOT necessarily to make money. True he could have been just telling me that, but I don't think so.
The whole concept of D23 and the Expo is "how do we get a theme park fan to become a Disney movie fan and ABC watcher and Disney Store buyer, etc."

[jedited]

Originally Posted by cellarhound

.

Disney can be a draw... But it needs to be smarter and provide more value... It should not think it can produce a Comicon overnight simple because Iger wishes it so... It's a grassroots thing, not something where they can squeese more money out of fans...



What I see is lack of preparation and lack of willingness to develope anything beyond what they planned... Long term what they planned is simply unsustainable to meet demand for what they see is high demand. The Studio tours and events seem to me to be so makeshift to me... There is no committment to feed ongoing demand... I think its because there is a big miscommunication between fans and Disney...

D23 is so one sided... It is Disney's megaphone with a premium price tag... I have seen that before... Doesn't optimise sales... Doesn't optimise much of anything really... Except the dublicity by which people feel when they buy in and get nothing back...

One big event just doesn't cut it when it is at the start of a school year and after a big travel weekend. Fans thirst more involvement.



I am not convinced there will be a next year, because they have done little to change the status quo on what is going wrong with the program...

And what they have produced does not justify the price of membership...

Just my 2 cents.

The BIGGER problem in all this is that there are internal politics going on here. Anyone could tell from the Expo itself ONLY Parks and Resorts (and probably the Archives) TRUELY understood what fans wanted and gave a damn. I heard from multiple insiders that certain divisions (ABC being the prime one) was pulled kick and screaming to the Expo. You could CLEARLY tell that from the ABSOLUTELY pathetic offerings they had. Everyone at the Expo involved with ABC was CLUELESS (and all college interns at best).
Over time more divisions will understand the benefit of D23 and the Expo and commit more resources.
I COMPLETELY reject the notion that the Expo and club are failures. There hundreds (if not thousands) of people that are VERY excited about upcoming Disney movies and projects and will communicate that to their friends, coworkers and family.