Walt Disney World and Disneyland(s) Discussion

[Agent0028]

If I ever win the lottery I'm doing the Disney World Tour for sure.

 

[forestlite]

Being in Hawaii, I can only get to a Disney park once every couple of years. Love them all, but I am starting to lean heavily towards Tokyo Disneyland and Disneysea. I visited Disneyland in September of last year, and while fun, the level of service and quality of souvenirs makes the Japan parks a lot more enjoyable.

 

[Coheteboy]

Being in Hawaii, I can only get to a Disney park once every couple of years. Love them all, but I am starting to lean heavily towards Tokyo Disneyland and Disneysea. I visited Disneyland in September of last year, and while fun, the level of service and quality of souvenirs makes the Japan parks a lot more enjoyable.

Blame that on the "Disney Parks" mentality where both Disneyland and Walt Disney World share theme park exclusives rather than making them unique to each resort.

When I go to Walt Disney World resort, I don't want to buy something that's "Disneyland" and vice versa. Nor do I want something that says "Disney Parks". I want it to be "Walt Disney World", "Epcot", "Disneyland" etc.

Of course there's still the unique merch but not the same level it used to be. Tokyo is, has been, will always be the king of collectibles. It's part of their culture. It COULD be a part of our culture too but if they keep thinking about making money while spending less, they'll never get there.

 

[forestlite]

Totally agree with your points Coheteboy! I know a lot of it has to do with culture and the Japanese importance of "omiyage" (giving gifts to friends and relatives). Even the packaging of their products is unbelievable. When you buy some candy or cookies from DL, it comes in a cello bag with minimal graphics on the paper label. Pick one up from Tokyo DL, and you're getting an embossed metal gift tin with uniquely created artwork and individually wrapped treats.

I would probably go broke trying to keep up with their seasonal items which change and disappear very quickly. In the USA, you'll probably find the same design/products for years and years...

 

[cokebabies]

Blame that on the "Disney Parks" mentality where both Disneyland and Walt Disney World share theme park exclusives rather than making them unique to each resort.

When I go to Walt Disney World resort, I don't want to buy something that's "Disneyland" and vice versa. Nor do I want something that says "Disney Parks". I want it to be "Walt Disney World", "Epcot", "Disneyland" etc.

I was ready to answer your first paragraph before even seeing the second. While in a perfect world WDW and DLR would have a lot of different merch, I would at LEAST like to see the same exact bobblehead that they sell on both coasts marked only with the park it was found in.

As I sit at my desk, I am always staring at my solar Mickey bobblehead (hard hitting review here), and the Disneyland - Walt Disney World lettering on the back always bugs me.

 

[Coheteboy]

I was ready to answer your first paragraph before even seeing the second. While in a perfect world WDW and DLR would have a lot of different merch, I would at LEAST like to see the same exact bobblehead that they sell on both coasts marked only with the park it was found in.

As I sit at my desk, I am always staring at my solar Mickey bobblehead (hard hitting review here), and the Disneyland - Walt Disney World lettering on the back always bugs me.

Right. And what's worse is that they sell the Cinderella Castle playset at Disneyland as well as the "Walt Disney World" Monorail. Serious, guys? Disneyland may have fewer tourists, but there's more folks who really care about the history and importance of Disneyland to NOT buy a walt disney world monorail.

And besides... our monorails look like this:

 

[cokebabies]

Yeah, on certain things, the bobblehead for instance, it's annoying but not ridiculous. But for park-specific items being sold cross-country... that's sacrilege.

 

[Coheteboy]

Most recently sold at Disneyland, a die-cast Parking Lot Tram vehicle. But... it's Walt Disney World's. Ours have never looked like the toy. It's just insulting at this point.

 

[Coheteboy]

It's... it's coming!

 

[Coheteboy]

It's... it's fun.

 

[Agent0028]

I can't wait to go on it. I'm trying to decide if I want to face the crowds or wait until after summer.

btw I did the Great Scavenger Hunt over this past weekend. That was a hell of a lotta fun!

 

[Coheteboy]

Ooh! Details!

And face the crowds. Do the fast pass. Otherwise we'll just keep spoiling it here.

...or at least I will.

 

[Agent0028]

It was very similar to the one you did in DL. In fact, some of your tips were very helpful. This one was ony the four parks and we had 3 hours for each, except Epcot which got 4.

One of my favorite questions was at Epcot we had to go to the invention circles between The Land and Innoventions. We had a list of years and we had to pick certain letters out fot he invention, then unscramble the letters to form another invention and write that year.

Another at Animal Kingdom was going to different establishments and getting the fictional year it was established, then adding those years together and taking the third digit and writing what attraction it was on the park map.

Honestly most of it is a blur.

 

[Coheteboy]

Haha yes, when I really stop and think... the scavenger hunt was a painful and frustrating experience... but rank 16 I guess comes with that territory.

If someone just flat out asks me about it and I answer quickly, I'll say "oh it was fun!".

Weird how your mind chooses to forget certain things sometimes.

 

[Agent0028]

Rank 16 is a very extremely impressive score. I thought we'd come in the top 20 or so until we started doing the questions. Then I knew that wasn't gonna happen.

Overall it was an incredibly fun experience and I'll do it again if they ever offer it again.

On a side note, I went to the soft opening of Star Tours here and it really is an amazing ride. The 3D is movie theater quality.

 

[Shatterer of Dreams]

I posted in the Star Wars weekend thread but I'll put it in here to..... I have passes to go and ride it before it's open to the public. Have to wait till the 25th though but pretty excited. Being a passholder has it benefits.

 

[Agent0028]

Congrats, I think you'll enjoy it. I have one minor complaint about it, I'll put it in spoilers even though I wouldn't really consider it one.

Spoiler

I'm a bit annoyed that its set between 3 and 4. I would prefer it to be in the OT or maybe part of the randomization itself, where you might be in the PT or OT.

A cool note my friend pointed out to me. The old speeder was the Star Tours 3000, but this one is the 1000 since it is set in the past.

 

[Coheteboy]

It's not much of a spoiler that it's Between Ep3 and Ep4. They've been saying that in the articles and news for months. It's really to bridge the two generations of fans but I think they're leaning towards the Original Trilogy more. I mean, these characters are the ones featured:

Spoiler

Darth Vader, Yoda, Admiral Ackbar, Stormtroopers, Princess Leia, Boba Fett

I rode it on Sunday and thought it was a very fun update. I'll hold my spoilerish thoughts until at least a few more in here can engage about it but I will answer this question: Is it better than the original?

In my opinion... I'll put in spoiler box just in case:

Spoiler

I prefer the original for its creativity, pacing, and storytelling. The original storyline flows from one thing to the next naturally, despite the tough film transitions, it was a perfectly told story: droid pilot not prepared, overshoots destination, runs into comets, empire and death star, home. It's perfect.

The new one has many different destinations, interruptions by characters, and while it's really fun, it's too forced. The situations we get into are too character driven, not story driven. Yes, it's fun that we go to Hoth and witness a battle there but it makes no sense because we blast away just as soon as we get there. Where are we really supposed to go? Before, we were going to Endor and it was fun having that destination. Now, there is no destination. Throw a rock in the air and see if you hit someone. You gotta throw all logic out the window with the new one.

But. It's Star Wars and it's fun.

 

[Coheteboy]

For those who just can't wait and want a taste of the locations you visit, here's a highlight reel:

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uH3YzXKf2VI&feature=player_embedded"]YouTube - ‪Star Tours 2 ride - New Destinations, Darth Vader, and more at Walt Disney World and Disneyland‬‏[/ame]

 

[Protozaius]

Thanks for posting the video... I'm one of the ones that cannot wait to ride this. But I'm gonna have to. I won't be able to ride it until Spring 2013.