DCA Gets A Worthy Overhaul Budget

[MadEye]

Nice to see the walls start coming down around TLM.

[elizabethswann]

The outside area is looking real nice.

[Wizzard419]

Looks like the star tours AP and general public preview giveaway tickets are being distributed, I just got an email for mine.

[Amy]

Looks like the star tours AP and general public preview giveaway tickets are being distributed, I just got an email for mine.

Oooo! Get 'em, go and then report back

[Len90]

Looks like an exciting time now for both parks. Big attractions opening in the coming weeks and a lot of stuff is starting to tie together.

[Wizzard419]

I thought the previews were supposed to be either this week or next but it looks like they were at the end of the month.

[Len90]

I thought the previews were supposed to be either this week or next but it looks like they were at the end of the month.

I had a feeling unannounced soft openings would be the thing before a full announced preview. Disney wants to make sure that things are running smooth and have some of the kinks worked out before they do an announced preview for AP holders.

[Wizzard419]

I'm not so sure they are doing general public soft openings anymore, other than for employee training/review of process they don't glean as much meaningful data as a controlled preview. Like with Nemo and Buzz, the soft openings were days before the opening rather than weeks/months.

My guess for mermaid is that since it's not as sophisticated a system the only public soft opening (if any) will be right before the grand opening.

[mindflipper]

I'm not so sure they are doing general public soft openings anymore, other than for employee training/review of process they don't glean as much meaningful data as a controlled preview. Like with Nemo and Buzz, the soft openings were days before the opening rather than weeks/months.

My guess for mermaid is that since it's not as sophisticated a system the only public soft opening (if any) will be right before the grand opening.

I would agree with that. That's been pretty much the same with WDW and USO in Orlando.

[Len90]

I'm not so sure they are doing general public soft openings anymore, other than for employee training/review of process they don't glean as much meaningful data as a controlled preview. Like with Nemo and Buzz, the soft openings were days before the opening rather than weeks/months.

My guess for mermaid is that since it's not as sophisticated a system the only public soft opening (if any) will be right before the grand opening.

ST2 is doing public soft openings... I think the more complex the ride system is the more in advance soft openings will be. I know I did a soft opening for Mission Space inJuly 2003 and that opened in October 2003. Disney will always have to do soft openings to ensure things go off without a hitch.

[Wizzard419]

Not here, they have been using pre-selected pools. Ever since about 2004 or 5, the super early soft-openings have been a thing of the past. I think now the focus is more on making sure the employees know what they are doing under real-world conditions.

[MmeLeota]

I'm not so sure they are doing general public soft openings anymore, other than for employee training/review of process they don't glean as much meaningful data as a controlled preview. Like with Nemo and Buzz, the soft openings were days before the opening rather than weeks/months.

My guess for mermaid is that since it's not as sophisticated a system the only public soft opening (if any) will be right before the grand opening.

ST2 is doing public soft openings... I think the more complex the ride system is the more in advance soft openings will be. I know I did a soft opening for Mission Space inJuly 2003 and that opened in October 2003. Disney will always have to do soft openings to ensure things go off without a hitch.

They had started random soft openings in June. We were there and kept hanging around to try and go on it...alas, no luck...

As far as soft openings in DL goes, I think they switched to the "preview pools" because if there were public soft openings, the parks would be a madhouse with all the AP's. (even if the lower ranks of AP's are blacked out)

[Wizzard419]

That and we have stronger local numbers so a quick tweet or facebook post spreads fast (there is still an hour wait for the Kogi taco trucks and they only post their exact location when they arrive)

[Wizzard419]

Was the pirates update supposed to go live after the movie comes out? I took a quick ride today and they did add blue lights, some turbulance, and really upped the fog in the battle scene.

Oh they were also testing out the star tours marquee today, it goes between light speed and a star field, I went over to check out the area and it's quite bland. They took away stuff (like the nice awnings) and didn't put anything new in.

Did anyone report that the Jewel D'Orleans is now gone from Disneyland (sign is painted out and the store is empty) I'm guessing the jeweler just wasn't making enough to stay open. It was owned by someone other than the disney company.

Also, that little rock island/platform in the lagoon, by the CS launch, is that new or had it always been there?

[Amy]

I'm catching up on some past updates and found this time-lapse video of the construction of the Little Mermaid attraction...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFvF64pY ... r_embedded