Walt Disney plans to deploy Marvel superheroes at its theme parks

[LongliveKingsCobra]

You are right, Disney rides are just falling apart.

[bkroz]

Given the reluctance to spend money to maintain their existing rides, I don't see them spending what it would cost to buy Universal out or fight them in court (which would come with loads of bad press - which Disney hates!) just to get the rights to spend more money to build new attractions. If they wanted to build new attractions, they don't need to spend money to acquire the Marvel rights to do so. There's a laundry list of projects that are ready to be built should they ever loosen the purse strings.

TDO is not The Walt Disney Company.

Orlando's resort has long been seen by the industry as a somewhat "knuckle headed," slow to change, sterile breeding ground for corporate pride and cost-cutting. It's The Walt Disney Company that owns Marvel, and the Walt Disney Company that would make that sort of legal decision.

Like Terpy said, they'll do what they want and incur the related costs. If Disney greenlights a massive KUKA Robo-arm Avengers ride for Disney's Hollywood Studios, they'll do so because they believe the revenue generated by it will overcome the cost incurred.

[The Interpreter]

I never said they would. I did say they have the capability, but there could/almost certainly would be consequences/risk.

[lebeau]

I never said they would. I did say they have the capability, but there could/almost certainly would be consequences/risk.

This is obviously true. But a lot of Disney/Marvel fans latch on to any small thing and it creates false hope of something that is not realistic. Worse still, they start buzzing internet rumors and spreading all kinds of misinformation.

I remember when Disney started selling Marvel toys in their gift shops. Some people online took that as a sign that Marvel Super Hero Island would be rethemed to Transformers and Disney would be opening a 5th gate themed to Marvel. Totally ridiculous, but people will ignore reality in favor of seeing what they want to see.

[lebeau]

You are right, Disney rides are just falling apart.

I sense sarcasm. The place isn't falling apart. But it's not being maintained up to Disney standards. In fact, it's not even up to industry standards in some cases.

Splash Mountain has been in this state for days at a time. Sometimes the AA's have been down for a week or so. But Disney won't close it down for proper repairs while Big Thunder is under refurb.

I won't even bring up Disco Yeti. Ooops, I just did.

[lebeau]

Given the reluctance to spend money to maintain their existing rides, I don't see them spending what it would cost to buy Universal out or fight them in court (which would come with loads of bad press - which Disney hates!) just to get the rights to spend more money to build new attractions. If they wanted to build new attractions, they don't need to spend money to acquire the Marvel rights to do so. There's a laundry list of projects that are ready to be built should they ever loosen the purse strings.

TDO is not The Walt Disney Company.

Orlando's resort has long been seen by the industry as a somewhat "knuckle headed," slow to change, sterile breeding ground for corporate pride and cost-cutting. It's The Walt Disney Company that owns Marvel, and the Walt Disney Company that would make that sort of legal decision.

Like Terpy said, they'll do what they want and incur the related costs. If Disney greenlights a massive KUKA Robo-arm Avengers ride for Disney's Hollywood Studios, they'll do so because they believe the revenue generated by it will overcome the cost incurred.

And like I said to Terpy, you're technically right that anything is possible. But it would take a seismic shift at Disney for them to take the kind of actions you're talking about regarding either the Marvel characters at Disney or the KUKA arm. Legally, they wouldn't have a leg to stand on.

TDO doesn't want to spend. They want to cut costs to make the spreadsheets look good and collect fat bonus checks. From what I understand, there will be a changing of the guard sooner rather than later. Meg Crofton will be stepping down due to health issues. Will the new boss be any different than the old boss? I don't know. I have been told some people are optimistic that sweeping changes may be made.

TWDC has forced TDO to invest in their parks on a couple of occassions. They forced the Fantasyland expansion on them. They pushed Star Tours 2 on them as well.

You can say these things are possible. But then it's also possible they will open a 5th gate themed to the Looney Tunes. Realistically, it's not going to happen.

[The Interpreter]

It's possible (they could), but they'd be looney tunes to try it. Messrs Reid-Anderson and Weber would not be amused at the park. And Time would be a warner agin it.

[CedarPointer]

You are right, Disney rides are just falling apart.

I sense sarcasm. The place isn't falling apart. But it's not being maintained up to Disney standards. In fact, it's not even up to industry standards in some cases.

Splash Mountain has been in this state for days at a time. Sometimes the AA's have been down for a week or so. But Disney won't close it down for proper repairs while Big Thunder is under refurb.

I won't even bring up Disco Yeti. Ooops, I just did.

...or the horrible state of Journey Into Imagination, or the infamous angler fish in The Living Seas, or the current state of Wonders of Life, or Luxo Jr. at DHS, or MuppetVision in general...

[jdawg1998]

What's the problem with the yeti? I've never been on it but from POVs it looks fine to me...also, I do not see Disney as falling apart at all...it takes a lot to maintain rides like these. They won't close too many at one time, especially with the Fantasyland expansion and the Big Thunder Mountain refurbishment. I am sure they will pay more attention to the rest of the park once their done with their one goal.

Random question...are the Power Rangers part of Disney? Because I remember going to HS and getting an autograph from a power ranger....

[lebeau]

You are right, Disney rides are just falling apart.

I sense sarcasm. The place isn't falling apart. But it's not being maintained up to Disney standards. In fact, it's not even up to industry standards in some cases. Splash Mountain has been in this state for days at a time. Sometimes the AA's have been down for a week or so. But Disney won't close it down for proper repairs while Big Thunder is under refurb. I won't even bring up Disco Yeti. Ooops, I just did.

...or the horrible state of Journey Into Imagination, or the infamous angler fish in The Living Seas, or the current state of Wonders of Life, or Luxo Jr. at DHS, or MuppetVision in general...

Or the closed Ellen's Completely Out of Date Universe of Energy, the dozens of effects turns off in Dinosaur, the broken Blackbeard fog screen in Pirates of the Caribbean, the decades old music video that is Captain Eo, Paradise Island which has been shuttered for years with no replacement. The list goes on and on. And I'm not talking about chipped paint and burned out lightbulbs here.

What's the problem with the yeti? I've never been on it but from POVs it looks fine to me...also, I do not see Disney as falling apart at all...it takes a lot to maintain rides like these. They won't close too many at one time, especially with the Fantasyland expansion and the Big Thunder Mountain refurbishment. I am sure they will pay more attention to the rest of the park once their done with their one goal. Random question...are the Power Rangers part of Disney? Because I remember going to HS and getting an autograph from a power ranger....

Power Rangers were once owned by Disney. Disney sold them I forget when. They are no longer in the parks.

Long story short, the yeti doesn't work. If you rode EE when the yeti was in A-mode, it was a very impressive effect. But he's been broken for years now. He has a few different modes. Sometimes he has some rudimentary motion. Most times, they just throw a strobe light on him to simulate movement. This is what is referred to as "disco yeti". Of late, they have frequently covered the yeti with a black sheet. Every now and then, there are rumors he has been removed for repairs. But nothing has come of it.

It does take a lot to maintain 4 parks and a sprawling resort. But Disney World has been this size for a long time now. They should be prepared for this. But since they have slashed their maintenance budget (and outsourced a frightening amount of routine maintenance) things keep piling up. Now they say they can't close 2 e-tickets at the same time. But it never should have gotten to that point.

Test Track is scheduled to go down for refurb in a couple of weeks. But there are rumors that it won't due to delays in Big Thunder Mountain which was in far worse shape than Disney realized. (Which says something when you consider the fact they replaced a falling rock with a black sheet for months!) I'll be interested to see what happens with the TT refurb. From what I understand, GM is very excited about it. So, I suspect it will move forward as planned. But Disney is being very quiet on the subject which makes you wonder.

[Colonel_SoB_fan]

You are right, Disney rides are just falling apart.

I sense sarcasm. The place isn't falling apart. But it's not being maintained up to Disney standards. In fact, it's not even up to industry standards in some cases. Splash Mountain has been in this state for days at a time. Sometimes the AA's have been down for a week or so. But Disney won't close it down for proper repairs while Big Thunder is under refurb. I won't even bring up Disco Yeti. Ooops, I just did.

...or the horrible state of Journey Into Imagination, or the infamous angler fish in The Living Seas, or the current state of Wonders of Life, or Luxo Jr. at DHS, or MuppetVision in general...

Or the closed Ellen's Completely Out of Date Universe of Energy, the dozens of effects turns off in Dinosaur, the broken Blackbeard fog screen in Pirates of the Caribbean, the decades old music video that is Captain Eo, Paradise Island which has been shuttered for years with no replacement. The list goes on and on. And I'm not talking about chipped paint and burned out lightbulbs here.

What's the problem with the yeti? I've never been on it but from POVs it looks fine to me...also, I do not see Disney as falling apart at all...it takes a lot to maintain rides like these. They won't close too many at one time, especially with the Fantasyland expansion and the Big Thunder Mountain refurbishment. I am sure they will pay more attention to the rest of the park once their done with their one goal. Random question...are the Power Rangers part of Disney? Because I remember going to HS and getting an autograph from a power ranger....

Power Rangers were once owned by Disney. Disney sold them I forget when. They are no longer in the parks.

Long story short, the yeti doesn't work. If you rode EE when the yeti was in A-mode, it was a very impressive effect. But he's been broken for years now. He has a few different modes. Sometimes he has some rudimentary motion. Most times, they just throw a strobe light on him to simulate movement. This is what is referred to as "disco yeti". Of late, they have frequently covered the yeti with a black sheet. Every now and then, there are rumors he has been removed for repairs. But nothing has come of it.

It does take a lot to maintain 4 parks and a sprawling resort. But Disney World has been this size for a long time now. They should be prepared for this. But since they have slashed their maintenance budget (and outsourced a frightening amount of routine maintenance) things keep piling up. Now they say they can't close 2 e-tickets at the same time. But it never should have gotten to that point.

Test Track is scheduled to go down for refurb in a couple of weeks. But there are rumors that it won't due to delays in Big Thunder Mountain which was in far worse shape than Disney realized. (Which says something when you consider the fact they replaced a falling rock with a black sheet for months!) I'll be interested to see what happens with the TT refurb. From what I understand, GM is very excited about it. So, I suspect it will move forward as planned. But Disney is being very quiet on the subject which makes you wonder.

What effects are turned off in Dinosaur? Last time I rode it back in August I did not notice any of them. Also last August, the smoke screen on Pirates was working so when did it break?

There is still a power rangers costume in a case at DHS.

[jdawg1998]

I just don't understand the hate for Disney World. It's still an amazing place if you don't look at every little broken detail...

[CedarPointer]

What effects are turned off in Dinosaur? Last time I rode it back in August I did not notice any of them. Also last August, the smoke screen on Pirates was working so when did it break?

There is still a power rangers costume in a case at DHS.

http://www.discoyeti.com/node/33 (15:23 in the video for a list) Some are subtle (swooping pterodactyl) and some are pretty major (lasers in entry/exit tunnels). They probably aren't as obvious if you never rode with everything working. Also, the show lighting is much brighter than it was when CTX opened. Not to mention the original fountain, which was sadly removed a while ago...

I just don't understand the hate for Disney World. It's still an amazing place if you don't look at every little broken detail...

Things have gone downhill a lot in the past decade or so. Merchandise has become the same everywhere (I had to look in 3 different stores before I could find any Epcot merchandise at Epcot... everything else was the generic "Disney Parks" stuff), food has become the same everywhere (although I do appreciate their attempts at healthy food quite a bit), rides have closed with no replacement (Wonders of Life, anyone?), theme has gone out the window in favor of synergy (MILF does NOT belong in Tomorrowland), and most of all, the emphasis on show has been changed to a emphasis on capacity. This is really unacceptable for a Disney park. And yes, it was like that for at least a year. Really, I'm just disappointed in how they don't really seem to care as much about the condition of the parks anymore. Maybe we should get Oriental Land Company to take over for TDO...

[lebeau]

I just don't understand the hate for Disney World. It's still an amazing place if you don't look at every little broken detail...

Cedar Pointer did a great job of responding. But let me elaborate just a bit on the idea of "hating on Disney". In general, I find that people who look at Disney with a critical eye do so out of love. They love the place, so they are upset when they see management letting it slide. Even in its current state, yes, Disney World is amazing. But it's less amazing than it used to be. And if that downward trend is allowed to continue indefinitely, it will eventually feel like an expensive rip-off. (Some will argue we are already there.)

Getting back on topic a bit, Disney World does a lot of things right. But they don't like to spend money these days. And when they are cutting costs on things like routine maintenance, it's hard for me to believe they would spend a lot of money on Marvel properties in Orlando.

A monorail wrap is pretty inexpensive. If Universal made a stink, they could tear the wrap off. No big deal.

But building attractions or even meet and greets is another story. Disney would have to spend some money on that either to buy out the contract or in court. Plus, there would be bad press associated with the court option. As others have pointed out, this is possible. But it is highly unlikely.

[CedarPointer]

I think we also saw Disney's epic failures (please try to tell me that Journey Into YOUR Imagination was better than the original, or that Mission: SPACE is a better attraction than Horizons) and would like them to avoid wrecking anything else...

BTW, I do think the monorail wrap looks good, although I'm not sure about them going down a road of using the monorails as mobile billboards (although they've been tasteful so far).

[RD Reynolds]

Test Track is scheduled to go down for refurb in a couple of weeks. But there are rumors that it won't due to delays in Big Thunder Mountain which was in far worse shape than Disney realized. (Which says something when you consider the fact they replaced a falling rock with a black sheet for months!) I'll be interested to see what happens with the TT refurb. From what I understand, GM is very excited about it. So, I suspect it will move forward as planned. But Disney is being very quiet on the subject which makes you wonder.

Rumor I've heard is that they are going to pretty radically change TT's indoor area. Maybe they'll change those CRT TV's that have been in the pre-show since the ride opened! lol

[The Interpreter]

Why? Isn't the hotel supposed to be ancient and functionally obsolete?

[RingMaster]

Why? Isn't the hotel supposed to be ancient and functionally obsolete?

Test Track (TT), not Tower of Terror (ToT).

[The Interpreter]

Jiminy Cricket! I know my ToT's from my TT's.

At least usually.

[CedarPointer]

Rumor I've heard is that they are going to pretty radically change TT's indoor area. Maybe they'll change those CRT TV's that have been in the pre-show since the ride opened! lol

I thought they did change those? Some of them were definitely newer displays, especially the one that should show your photo that said "DVI 1: NO INPUT" when I was there. Ah, technology!