Van Dammer

Thats strange, id have guessed that it would be a new system quietly trialling the main parks version of the Tapu Tapu band, but you said the guy said it had been around for years. Judging by that article too, it looks like its fairly well advertised and signposted in and around the park. Ive just looked and theres no mention of it on their site though.

1 hour ago, johnnyboy said:

I just realised that I missed off the most fun restaurant.  The 50s Prime Time Cafe in Hollywood Studios where you get pelters from the staff.  Very much you'll either love it or feel very intimidated, but the classic american food like pot roast and mom's chicken plus bants is great fun.  However, I couldn't finish the chocolate and peanut butter cake as my wife had "made" me have a funnel cake earlier in the day.

I was very interested in booking this when i read about the theme, food and just the vibe I imagine its got in there. Then I read about the staff and immediately knew it wouldnt be for me! In fairness, I didnt read in great depth about how they are, any spoilers?

How old is your son? I think if you call them and explain, they'll probably work something out for you. Worth tweeting @wdwtoday as well and asking what they can do.

Thats good to hear about Volcano Bay. It sounds like the opening weekend was carnage with the park full to capacity and a few teething problems with the TT and general ride maintenance and park completion. Really hoping the virtual queuing works and it can get rolled out across other parks. I agree that a central post for tapping into queues might work, or even just being able to do it remotely on your wristband would work.

Yeah the Tier 1 will be used on Frozen or either Soarin or Test Track (I think theyre Tier 1).

Ive read a story today that The Great Movie Ride is potentially closing after the Summer season. Will be really disappointing if I cant ride this in November. Probably in my top 3 along with Tower of Terror and The Mummy Ride.

13 minutes ago, johnnyboy said:

Yeah, the new Happily Ever After show is more like Dreams/Illusions from Paris with projections and fireworks rather than the pure fireworks of Wishes.  Is even the Plaza Gardens view dessert party option sold out too?  That has you outside in a fenced off area in a central location - acutally a better view but you can't sit throughout.  Eat earlier and grab a spot would be the best option otherwise.

Yeah both gone, I think ill stick to standing amongst the crowd. Possibly look into something dinner wise the night were at Epcot, but again from reading it sounds like you arent guaranteed a good view at any of the restaurants, 

9 minutes ago, johnnyboy said:

My kids love Chef Mickey.

For the fireworks in MK have you considered booking the Tomorrowland Terrace dessert party?

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/magic-kingdom/tomorrowland-terrace-fireworks-dessert-party/

There aren't really restaurants overlooking the fireworks like at Epcot around world showcase, even The Crystal Palace has a lot in front and not many seats by the window.  The other place would be the California Grill in the Contemporary as Nick suggested.

A table service that we missed out on was The Jungle Skipper Canteen.  That has some more adventurous adult stuff on the menu.

Yeah looked at the Dessert Party but all sold out. I would look at California Grill but as its the other halfs first time I kind of want to stay in the park and soak up the atmosphere a little bit. I think an earlier grab and go dinner and then infront of the castle will be best. Especially as I assume they still use projectors onto the front of the castle etc? Which if you're on a balcony to the side will miss some or all of?

TBH I understand the early bookers, if I had the DDP id be doing the same. I just didnt expect so much to go so fast.

19 hours ago, johnnyboy said:

If you're adventurous Epcot's World Showcase and Animal Kingdom are a bit more "out there."  If you don't mind going to other resorts then Animal Kingdom Lodge's restaurants are very highly rated, although I haven't been there personally.

Of the character meals that I've done personally I'd rank them:

1. Garden Grill breakfast at Epcot
2. Tusker House dinner buffet at AK
3. Cinderella's Royal Table dinner in the castle at MK
4. Akershus in Norway (Epcot)
5. Crystal Palace dinner with Pooh and friends in the MK
6. 1900 Park Fare breakfast in the Grand Floridian
7. Ohana breakfast in the Polynesian (done it twice.  Once was shit, once was fantastic)
8. Chef Mickey dinner in the Contemporary (done it twice as my kids love it - breakfast is better value.  Can be really noisy.  Wasn't a great choice for Valentine's Day but it was the closest to our room)

Dinner at Be Our Guest isn't really a character meal.  You get a photo done with Beast on your way out.  It's visually stunning inside, but it's a fucker to get a reservation for.  Breakfast and lunch it's quick service, dinner is table service.  Had lunch there on Valentine's Day and it wasn't as good as dinner.  At lunchtime it becomes the world's swankest looking cafeteria.  The grey stuff is delicious.

Regular food:

1. The Wave in the Contemporary for dinner.  Hidden gem in the basement.  The peanut butter chocolate pudding after dinner is one of the most indulgent things I've ever eaten.  Everyone goes to the Contemporary for the California Grill of Chef Mickey's.  The Wave is much easier for a reservation.
2. Coral Reef in Epcot.  You must like seafood.  Gets slated by some, but we loved it.  One entire wall is an aquarium (you're the backside of The Seas exhibit in Epcot!).
3. Tokyo Dining in Epcot is good if you're into Japanese food.  Turns out I'm not.  Atmosphere and that is spot on.

Yeah, we mainly do character meals

Quick service options in Epcot are excellent both around World Showcase and in Sunshine Seasons in the Land Pavilion.

Thanks Johnny. We went with Chef Mickey as its our sons 2nd birthday and Mickey Mouse is his favourite Disney Character and the other character places at or near MK seemed to have other characters he probably wasn't familiar with. I felt the first time he met a 7ft fluffy character it should probably be one he has atleast seen before. 

I tried for Be Our Guest too but it seems to be sold out already, I wish id known about the 6 month rule for booking restaurants, having looked into it now I can see forums of people hugely into booking it up the minute it becomes available. Any other suggestions for dinner in MK per or during fireworks? Preferably non character as its likely to be just us grown ups, although I wouldnt be against it either.

2 hours ago, johnnyboy said:

Do you want characters or themes?

A bit of both. We're doing a character breakfast at chef mickey for our sons birthday and i feel like everything we've booked so far is very themed. Would also like some places that is just simply good food as well.

So im about 5 months out from our trip to Orlando and ive just realised that virtually every Disney resort restaurant is fully booked during our trip. There are the odd scraps still available at awkward times. I had no idea things got booked up so early and its forced me into making a day by day plan of where were going and what were doing each day. I assume this is down to the amount of people with the Disney Dining Plans making sure they get everything booked early so will it be a case of being able to pick up cancellations along the way? Also, what restaurants do people reccomend in the parks? So far ive managed to book the Sci-fi dine in theater and Mama Melroses Italian in Hollywood Studios, Chef Mickeys Breakfast at the Contemporary/MK and the Rainforest Cafe at Animal Kingdom. 

2 hours ago, Tommy! said:

Lesnar has enough pull to get away with them both saying 'at the ppv' and 'this Sunday' and telling them to fuck off when it comes to dropping the PPV name. 

He also has enough pull that he doesnt have to cut a promo, pretty much ever.

It is yeah, so it makes sense to put your main event on at the end of the 2nd hour. But dont expect that dynamic to change any time soon whilst youre doing that.

7 minutes ago, Otto Dem Wanz said:

They've started using the XFL cam during Premier League football games on Sky, I noticed it during Liverpool's fixtures at Man United and Man City this season, so its mad to think the thing originated in the XFL over 15 years ago!

It's awful.

The idea of it is good, particularly for penalties to have the shot right behind the taker, but they use it as completely the wrong times at the moment. Its obviously their new toy and they're excited to use it. Hopefully once the novelty wears off and they work out when it should be used it will be much better.

Is Wyatt just a mid 90's Taker? Bounces from feud to feud that lead to nothing yet somehow stays over with the live crowd? Obviously the difference here is that Taker always went over in his feud and Wyatt rarely does but Wyatt is working with main event talent whereas Taker had IRS, Bundy, Kama and the Executioner. 

Ive not seen it yet, but seen it wasnt for the title. So dumb. Especially when on the same card you have Jericho and Owens for their title when theyve moved brands. This was Wyatts contracted rematch, it had already been announced for the title too if i remember rightly? If anything it just shows how made up on the spot some of their decisions are with drafting etc.

Anyone got a record of Wyatts PPV record? Or record against upper mid card - main eventers? In my head its dire, but im too lazy to look.

Is it? I think it would be in a lot of fans top 10 all time themes?

That article does sound extremely presumptuous. It sounds like more of a bespoke thing Disney would do rather than an idea for a hotel within a theme park. Id say what would be more likely is that they turn one of their existing hotels into a Start Wars hotel. Pop century or similar could do with something like that for theming, with each wing becoming themed based on a different movie ala art of animation.

Yeah to be fair I hadn't seen that, that part of it looks even worse from the replay angle shown on the previous page or two. That angle really shows his head swinging back and forth as well which is usually the part that causes concussions, effectively the brain jarring into the sides of the skull. 

The Mahal forearm was planned though right? The way the camera was setup and Balor's reaction turning directly to said camera seem very direct to me and if thats the case then i dont see how else he can hit it? Mahal looks like a beast though, his paper thin skin and constantly prominent veins mean hes definitely been on something since 3MB disbanded but its probably something that gets around the wellness scheme rather than your standard steroids.

Yeah arent Universal rumoured to be patenting a new ride technology, basically a tunelled screen effect? Kind of like how the Simpsons works except the screen completely wraps around the vehicle and can give the effect of motion. 

I haven't been for a few years, but hasn't Jurassic Park been scaled down a little bit with the Kong ride being set up on its grounds a little bit? I dont think they'll be getting rid of it any time soon if they can help it.

The TV deal will be interesting. Obviously ratings have dropped but generally they have and are across the board. People are watching differently now. What USA and, when/if exclusivity runs out, other networks will be looking at is what they will be able to bring in via advertisers and WWE are generally stronger here at the moment than they have been previously. Will be interesting to see how WWE's ratings have fared from a viewership % standpoint rather than just the basic number of viewers.  

I've always wondered where WWE's basic figure is for RAW and SD before they consider going it alone and putting it on the network, or at least having them on the network and on a traditional station. That'll be a bargaining chip for them when negotiating, there's not many shows/brands/sports out there that have their own mean network to show their product if networks aren't offering enough. 

1 minute ago, Gus Mears said:

Aren't they still basically up the shitter without the TV deals? Or am I making this up?

They would be yeah, but so would any TV content creator. They wont be without a good TV deal for a long while and if TV does change substantially then I imagine they have plans for how to adjust to that. 

1 hour ago, ColinBollocks said:

Cheers for that, Benno. WWE are still miles away from their initial projections, right?

Without digging, I cant really remember initial projections for this far down the line. I remember they were aiming for golden 1m subscribers to really start pushing profit but since then they've probably upped costs by making new content although initial start up costs should be dropping considerably. My guess is that they are satisfied with the figures but might be slightly concerned with the slow down of paying customers over the last two years and have a long term aim of hitting 2m paid subsribers. I wonder if thats the ceiling for it though at the moment.

That is definitely a list of a more traditional coaster fan. Personally, I prefer the simulator rides like Spiderman, Transformers and Simpsons, I just enjoy the technology and impressiveness of them. I would, however, still agree that The Mummy is the best ride across both parks and the last 2 or 3 times ive been there you could just walk straight onto it.

The Spielberg agreement is crazy, I dont know the in's and out's of it like some but its a seriously impressive deal that Spielberg got himself when the parks were in creation and makes him an even richer man each and every year. Im guessing the agreement isnt what it once was though since BTTF and Jaws are no more.