As awful as the Big Thunder accident was, there is a silver lining. Jay Rasulo will now very likely push for a bigger maintenance budget, and with Big Thunder down for possibly a year, he should get it. Disneyland will have a bleak fall, what with Space Mountain and Big Thunder down, Splash Mountain to go down for rehab soon, followed by the Haunted Mansion and It's a Small World down after that for holiday rehabs.
Something strange occurred also. Michael Eisner actually showed up to "reassure" the CMs and family members. Well, as pompous as that sounds, it apparently ain't the half of it. Eisner was already at the Resort for the ABC Preview event so all he really had to do was wander over to the park after the accident. And he had to anyhow, since he very well couldn't have remained in his room at the Grand Californian without the press finding out. Still, should such an occasion be used to call attention to yourself? Shameful!
OPEN WALLETS, CLOSED EYES
MiceAge - Sep 4
Disneyland secretly loves Gay Days just as much as Walt Disney World does, but they still aren't ready to admit it. Management likes all the disposable incomes, but still fears what Joe and Jill Midwest will think. Like October isn't about 90% locals.
Anyhow, the first weekend in October is expected to be one of the biggest of the year. Mainly because the less-than-successful Fiesta Latina has been moved this year so its last weekend coincides with Gay Days. So, since Gay Days is unofficial, Disneyland can tout how well Fiesta Latina did this year. Is there any number Disney won't fudge in its desperate attempt to make DCA appear as if it isn't a dismal failure?
THIS IS WHAT YOU GET FOR COMPLAINING ABOUT A GOLDEN CASTLE!
Same article as above
Apparently WDI thinks Disney fans haven't suffered nearly enough. The pink birthday cake castle. The Mickey hand. The Sorceror Mickey hat. DCA. So they have come up with a real doozy for the 50th Anniversary: Turning the Matterhorn into a MountRushmorehorn featuring Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy. As if that weren't dreadful enough, the faces will apparently be featured in the new fireworks show. Jeez, maybe they should just hand out hallucinogens at the gate. People would enjoy those more.
GONE TODAY, HERE TOMORROW
Same article
Apparently Buzz Lightyear will be coming to Disneyland after all. It is penciled in for 2006. Which really makes no sense. Why not open the friggin' thing in time for the big Anniversary? Heaven forbid anyone should be happy with the 50th offerings.
The Tower of Terror is on schedule to open prior to summer, which is great news since few Disney projects ever open on time. Let's hope the early opening sticks, and isn't an indication of a subpar ride experience.
Lucky is apparently already out of DCA, after suits claimed he wasn't going anywhere. Where is he going? Apparently on tour, to show the world that Disney still has it. Okay, Lucky may be cool in person, but is anyone really going to be impressed if they see it ringing the opening bell on Wall Street?
Apparently to save money for small upcoming projects like this, DLR is going to suffer from major cutbacks this fall. One cutback mentioned has been shutting down the Golden Zephyr on weekdays. Honestly, how much does this really save? Something that moves THAT slowly can't cost that much to run. And how wise is it to shutter attractions in a park with so few in the first place?
A HARRY POTHOLE?
Jim Hill Media - Sep 5
We MIGHT have an answer to whether Disney has the rights to Harry Potter. Jim Hill, who has many sources inside WDI, couldn't find one person who knew anything of this rumor. It has been suggested that someone got confused about exactly WHAT rights Disney has. Disney DOES have the rights to AIR the Harry Potter movies on ABC. I can't help but think this is the true basis of the still unsubstantiated rumor.
JACKPOT OR JUST JACKED?
Orlando Sentinel - Sep 6
Vivendi is crowing that it got the $14B it was claiming the Universal assets were worth. Analysts are questioning that claim. Of course, since the whole thing is a merger and little money is actually changing hands, it's practically impossible to say. But that isn't keeping Vivendi from telling its stockholders that they didn't get screwed over by those Americans... AGAIN. And the stockholders will probably believe it.
"So they have come up with a real doozy for the 50th Anniversary: Turning the Matterhorn into a MountRushmorehorn featuring Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy. As if that weren't dreadful enough, the faces will apparently be featured in the new fireworks show." - They can't turn the Matterhorn Bobsleds into a Mount Rushmore type thingy! I love riding it, as lame as it is against some of today's thrills. Yet I wouldn't care about the fireworks with the Disney characters heads in it. Actually, I hate fireworks, so it don't (excuse my slang) make a difference.
"Something strange occurred also. Michael Eisner actually showed up to "reassure" the CMs and family members." - What? Eisner wouldn't do that, unless he's been drinking! ;-)
"We MIGHT have an answer to whether Disney has the rights to Harry Potter. Jim Hill, who has many sources inside WDI, couldn't find one person who knew anything of this rumor." - Disney does not have rights to Harry Potter. It'd be a shocking surprise if Disney ever announced plans for a Harry Potter attraction, whether it would be a show, kiddie ride, roller coaster, etc.
Great article, Kevin, hope to see more interesting, shocking, and unique pieces of theme park news in the next BLOG FLUME you release. Congratulations on a job well done.
As for the hat, see the above comments but switch Spaceship Earth with Chinese Theater.
