News Round Up 2017

[Emperor Maus]

The illusion of change then. Bummer.

I suppose that's to be expected.

 

[OnSpaceshipEarth]

Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate it! I hope you have a wonderful day with family and friends.

Thankful for all you do around here, rteez!

 

[Lee Matthews]

Here's to hoping Chapek is booted.

I’m not the biggest fan of Chapek as he’s a merchandise guy but I feel he’s better than say Meg Crofton

 

[crazy4wdw]

Box Office Mojo is estimating CoCo will make $70 million over the five day holiday weekend.

 

[beer dave]

I will admit that as long as it's not that you are sitting in a non-moving shaking car and watching a screen I would really look forward to this. However, if Universal holds pattern, you'll be sitting in a shaking car watching a screen.

Isn't it basically the same group of people who will be heading to star wars land?

 

[skier_pete]

Box Office Mojo is estimating CoCo will make $70 million over the five day holiday weekend.

That's not great.

 

[Ambehnke]

That's not great.

It was SOOO good. I don’t feel like it was advertised well around us though. I had several people ask me “who’s Coco?” When I told them “the kids and I are going to see Coco.”

 

[OnSpaceshipEarth]

It was SOOO good. I don’t feel like it was advertised well around us though. I had several people ask me “who’s Coco?” When I told them “the kids and I are going to see Coco.”

Agreed that it deserves to do better than this. Wonderful film!

 

[writerguyfl]

In May, we took an Uber back to MCO. Our driver claimed to be a full time imangineer who just liked driving Uber on the weekends to pick up extra cash and meet different people. He explained that Disney was working with the city of Orlando on a way to expand the monorail all the way to MCO. He claimed US was begging to be let in on the system. My husband listened wide-eyed as he took it all in while my eyes were internally rolling. Upon arriving at MCO, DH listened to my explanation of how Disney bus drivers and Uber drivers aren’t the most reliable sources and have been known to bend the truth. Also, that Disney can’t even maintain its current monorail and they certainly weren’t going to incur that massive cost.

There have been multiple rail systems proposed for Orlando. As far as I know, only one ever included Walt Disney World in their plans. Here's a brief summary:

• Florida High Speed Rail: The high speed rail line was supposed to connect the Orlando area with Tampa. There were several different routes proposed. One started at the Orlando International Airport (MCO), stopped at Walt Disney World (with Disney donating the land in exchange for the stop on the route), and continued to Tampa. The second stage would have connected Orlando with South Florida and/or Jacksonville. The federal government was prepared to give Florida over $2 billion in categorical funds to partially fund the project. In 2011, Governor Rick Scott killed the project. All that money was redistributed to other high speed rail projects in other states. I do not believe that Universal or the International Drive (I-Drive) area was ever included in any of the proposed routes for the high speed rail line.
• SunRail: This is the government-funded commuter rail system in the greater Orlando area. Currently, there is only one line. It runs roughly north/south from Debary, through Downtown Orlando, to Sand Lake Road (about 5 miles from MCO). It is a true commuter rail system because it only operates on weekdays. This line does not enter any of the tourist areas like I-Drive.
• Maglev: This is a proposed rail line using maglev technology that would connect the airport (MCO) with the Orange County Convention Center (on I-Drive). It is to be privately funded. However, I believe this project is dead. A similar route operating via more traditional light rail was supposed to use a similar route. The last article I read about it stated it was due to begin operations at the end of 2017. Since it doesn't exist, I'm guessing the light rail version of this route is also dead.
• Brightline: Formerly known as "All Aboard Florida", the Brightline is a four-stop line between Miami and Orlando. The initial three stations should be operational soon. Those stations are Downtown Miami, Downtown Fort Lauderdale, and Downtown West Palm Beach. The final station will be the Orlando International Airport (MCO) at the Intermodal station mentioned in the linked article. Brightline is privately funded.

Sources:
Florida High Speed Rail: https://www.upi.com/Florida-rejects-funds-for-high-speed-rail/62511297895389/
SunRail: http://www.sunrail.com/
Maglev: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/tourism/os-orlando-airport-light-rail-20151209-story.html
Brightline: https://gobrightline.com/

 

[PaintsWithAllTheColors]

There have been multiple rail systems proposed for Orlando. As far as I know, only one ever included Walt Disney World in their plans. Here's a brief summary:

• Florida High Speed Rail: The high speed rail line was supposed to connect the Orlando area with Tampa. There were several different routes proposed. One started at the Orlando International Airport (MCO), stopped at Walt Disney World (with Disney donating the land in exchange for the stop on the route), and continued to Tampa. The second stage would have connected Orlando with South Florida and/or Jacksonville. The federal government was prepared to give Florida over $2 billion in categorical funds to partially fund the project. In 2011, Governor Rick Scott killed the project. All that money was redistributed to other high speed rail projects in other states. I do not believe that Universal or the International Drive (I-Drive) area was ever included in any of the proposed routes for the high speed rail line.
• SunRail: This is the government-funded commuter rail system in the greater Orlando area. Currently, there is only one line. It runs roughly north/south from Debary, through Downtown Orlando, to Sand Lake Road (about 5 miles from MCO). It is a true commuter rail system because it only operates on weekdays. This line does not enter any of the tourist areas like I-Drive.
• Maglev: This is a proposed rail line using maglev technology that would connect the airport (MCO) with the Orange County Convention Center (on I-Drive). It is to be privately funded. However, I believe this project is dead. A similar route operating via more traditional light rail was supposed to use a similar route. The last article I read about it stated it was due to begin operations at the end of 2017. Since it doesn't exist, I'm guessing the light rail version of this route is also dead.
• Brightline: Formerly known as "All Aboard Florida", the Brightline is a four-stop line between Miami and Orlando. The initial three stations should be operational soon. Those stations are Downtown Miami, Downtown Fort Lauderdale, and Downtown West Palm Beach. The final station will be the Orlando International Airport (MCO) at the Intermodal station mentioned in the linked article. Brightline is privately funded.

Sources:
Florida High Speed Rail: https://www.upi.com/Florida-rejects-funds-for-high-speed-rail/62511297895389/
SunRail: http://www.sunrail.com/
Maglev: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/tourism/os-orlando-airport-light-rail-20151209-story.html
Brightline: https://gobrightline.com/

Thank you for sharing this! As Californians, we don’t know the history of public transport/light rails within Florida and this helped. Guess my assumption that the driver was just pulling stuff out of the air wasn’t entirely true! Thanks again

 

[AMusicLifeForMe]

Disney, Demi Lovato, and Idina Menzel are being sued over the famous song from Frozen..."Let it Go!"

This just seems like one of those lawsuits that won't go far.

http://www.tmz.com/2017/11/23/frozen-lawsuit-let-it-go-demi-lovato-walt-disney-co/

 

[rteetz]

That's not great.

It’s beating out Justice League. I don’t think anyone expected it to be a major blockbuster. It won’t be one of Pixar’s worst performers either though.

 

[osully]

Box Office Mojo is estimating CoCo will make $70 million over the five day holiday weekend.

I really believe it should be higher.

 

[AzzySpazbourne]

News/Rumor

Mario/Donkey Kong supposedly NOT going into Universal Orlando after all....

 

[rteetz]

News/Rumor

Mario/Donkey Kong supposedly NOT going into Universal Orlando after all....

I’m not familiar with TPUs track record but I’m not so sure Pokemon is true. I know many are thinking these blue prints/permits are a bit small for Mario/Donkey Kong however I’ve heard to think vertically in terms of this rumored land as well.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

News/Rumor

Mario/Donkey Kong supposedly NOT going into Universal Orlando after all....

I’m not familiar with TPUs track record but I’m not so sure Pokemon is true. I know many are thinking these blue prints/permits are a bit small for Mario/Donkey Kong however I’ve heard to think vertically in terms of this rumored land as well.

I will say there is a bit of logic in using smaller properties in the existing parks and saving the big names and signature attractions for the new park

Not saying I think this update is true or not more just if it is true it makes sense to me as to why given the recent land purchase that wasn't complete when those first plans leaked out

 

[TwoMisfits]

That's not great.

For its $225M production budget (see Deadline for the data), nah, it's not...just like JL, it's gonna need better box office performance to be considered a success than these weekend numbers are indicating, especially since China is off to a slower start...

 

[rteetz]

For its $225M production budget (see Deadline for the data), nah, it's not...just like JL, it's gonna need better box office performance to be considered a success than these weekend numbers are indicating, especially since China is off to a slower start...

Broke records in Mexico.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Broke records in Mexico.

Yes, but Mexico is one country...just like JL (which broke records in Brazil), one small country isn't enough for profitability when you have high budgets...you need to hit in a lot of places for a lot of money...

Just like Thor 3 did...

 

[AGoofykindagirl]

What is JL? I’m having trouble because I keep thinking Jurassic something or Jungle something. Sorry!