News Disney plans to accelerate Parks investment to $60 billion over 10 years

[James Alucobond]

The investment in EU created a new destination.

Adding a new land or an attraction or two to an existing gate does not increase the popularity of the resort as a whole. Coupled with higher prices, over the past 5 years, even with all the new additions to WDW, we still see that attendance is still lower than it was pre-pandemic.

So you would likely find fault with any response short of a fifth gate (which, sorry, shouldn’t happen). The strategy instead seems to be reinvigorating interest in each of the existing parks, encouraging a water park day with the bonus pass, and perhaps even pushing for a double visit to MK if they follow through on an alternate nighttime spectacular viewing angle/presentation, to limit the number of stolen days. While that’s not as exciting, I prefer that to what’s happening with USF while EU launches.

 

[Disstevefan1]

One of EU's lands (HTTYD) doesn't even have an E ticket, although it does have three rides and what is apparently an incredible show.

I would take three rides and a show (plus the meet and greet to pet the dragon) over 1 E ticket any day of the week.

 

[MR.Dis]

Beware, Iger has already made statements of cutting based on new tariffs. Classic recent Disney is over promise and under deliver.

 

[Disstevefan1]

I don't think WDW needs a fifth gate. I think they should truly expand capacity in each of their parks INSTEAD OF destroying and replacing attractions.

 

[HauntedPirate]

sadly, yes.

Which means it doesn’t count as a “counter to EU”. In 2011 it was considered Disney’s Potter Swatter. Its development had nothing to do with Epic Universe.

 

[TheDisneyParksfanC8]

Beware, Iger has already made statements of cutting based on new tariffs. Classic recent Disney is over promise and under deliver.

I think Disney is in wait and see mode now to see if the tariffs stick or are removed or struck down.

 

[Agent H]

The investment in EU created a new destination.

Adding a new land or an attraction or two to an existing gate does not increase the popularity of the resort as a whole. Coupled with higher prices, over the past 5 years, even with all the new additions to WDW, we still see that attendance is still lower than it was pre-pandemic.

You don’t think galaxies edge pandora Toy Story land frozen ever after or cosmic rewind increased the popularity of the resort as a whole?!

 

[monothingie]

So you would likely find fault with any response short of a fifth gate (which, sorry, shouldn’t happen). The strategy instead seems to be reinvigorating interest in each of the existing parks, encouraging a water park day with the bonus pass, and perhaps even pushing for a double visit to MK if they follow through on an alternate nighttime spectacular viewing angle/presentation, to limit the number of stolen days. While that’s not as exciting, I prefer that to what’s happening with USF while EU launches.

Disney's MO has been and continues to be the optimization of operational expenses and focus on maximizing per guest spending. AKA run the resort as cheaply as possible and squeeze every last dollar out of guests.

It's a strategy that's working great and is totally sustainable!!!!!!

Disney could afford a new gate at anytime. That's the cheap part! In fact I'll say that it's never been about to cost of building the new gate, it's the inability to generate substantial OI versus maintaining the existing gates that discourages expansion.

Comcast was able to make EU because their existence isn't dependent on the quarterly profit at USO. Disney IS dependent on the quarterly profit from WDW.

 

[monothingie]

You don’t think galaxies edge pandora Toy Story land frozen ever after or cosmic rewind increased the popularity of the resort as a whole?!

No. SWGE was actually kept people away for Summer 2019. Then post covid the numbers never recovered.

 

[Tha Realest]

Disney's MO has been and continues to be the optimization of operational expenses and focus on maximizing per guest spending. AKA run the resort as cheaply as possible and squeeze every last dollar out of guests.

It's a strategy that's working great and is totally sustainable!!!!!!

Disney could afford a new gate at anytime. That's the cheap part! In fact I'll say that it's never been about to cost of building the new gate, it's the inability to generate substantial OI versus maintaining the existing gates that discourages expansion.

Comcast was able to make EU because their existence isn't dependent on the quarterly profit at USO. Disney IS dependent on the quarterly profit from WDW.

Weirdly, and tacking on to your comments, I don’t think they care about the build out cost as much as they do the day-to-day or long term operational/employee costs.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Which means it doesn’t count as a “counter to EU”. In 2011 it was considered Disney’s Potter Swatter. Its development had nothing to do with Epic Universe.

I agree with you, but Disney (Iger) has said, Disney knew about EPIC for ten years and have already responded with all the changes to date and Disney does not need to respond to EPIC.

There is reality and there is Disney gas lighting speak.

 

[HauntedPirate]

No. SWGE was actually kept people away for Summer 2019. Then post covid the numbers never recovered.

To tack onto this:

Frozen Ever After didn’t move the needle. At all. TSL - Pretty much the same. Guardians increased attendance at Epcot but not overall. The only thing that truly moved the needle was Pandora when it opened.

 

[HauntedPirate]

I agree with you, but Disney (Iger) has said, Disney knew about EPIC for ten years and have already responded with all the changes to date and Disney does not need to respond to EPIC.

There is reality and there is Disney gas lighting speak.

But you just said Pandora was in response to EU. Is it for isn’t it? Pick a position and stick to it.

 

[monothingie]

To tack onto this:

Frozen Ever After didn’t move the needle. At all. TSL - Pretty much the same. Guardians increased attendance at Epcot but not overall. The only thing that truly moved the needle was Pandora when it opened.

And that was because DAK was (and still is) a half-day park.

 

[MouseEarsMom33]

Iger's response to Epic is similar to Blockbuster's response to Netflix. Doesn't want to admit that they didn't adjust fast enough and when they do, it could be too late. It seems like Universal is full speed ahead.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

In that case why not leave both alone until they’re ready to start?

…different question…same answer…

Really awful management that has to be replaced

 

[James Alucobond]

Disney's MO has been and continues to be the optimization of operational expenses and focus on maximizing per guest spending. AKA run the resort as cheaply as possible and squeeze every last dollar out of guests.

It's a strategy that's working great and is totally sustainable!!!!!!

Disney could afford a new gate at anytime. That's the cheap part! In fact I'll say that it's never been about to cost of building the new gate, it's the inability to generate substantial OI versus maintaining the existing gates that discourages expansion.

Comcast was able to make EU because their existence isn't dependent on the quarterly profit at USO. Disney IS dependent on the quarterly profit from WDW.

No one said they weren’t optimizing spending in that way or that their strategy was ideal. Obviously, constantly bulldozing existing space, shuttering in-park real estate, or homogenizing retail is bad. That doesn’t mean a fifth gate is a logistically good idea from their perspective OR ours. Most vacations aren’t long enough to require more parks than already exist at Disney. What they could use instead is more capacity within each park, which they also sometimes fail on with their replacement model, but that doesn’t mean I think the undercurrent of your point (that they basically need an equal response) is in the best interest either.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

To tack onto this:

Frozen Ever After didn’t move the needle. At all. TSL - Pretty much the same. Guardians increased attendance at Epcot but not overall. The only thing that truly moved the needle was Pandora when it opened.

Because the public is seeing the prices and have caught on to the deliberate “piecemeal” approach?

Five years too late…but it does restore the tiny faith I have in humanity a touch

And that was because DAK was (and still is) a half-day park.

Hey Mister…there are bloggers on the take that SWEAR looking at the downspouts on the bathrooms across from tusker house is AT LEAST a full day

Take it back

 

[monothingie]

Because the public is seeing the prices and have caught on to the deliberate “piecemeal” approach?

Five years too late…but it does restore the tiny faith I have in humanity a touch


Hey Mister…there are bloggers on the take that SWEAR looking at the downspouts on the bathrooms across from tusker house is AT LEAST a full day

Take it back

I was hoping you'd find your way here.

Tag...You're it!

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Disney could afford 5 new gates…or at least they could last week

But this is my required reminder that when Dak opened…the average length of stay went from 5.9 days per visit to 6.7 or so…

And that was when it was far more affordable/reasonable/widely appealing…
($12 breakfast at chef mickeys…for adults…oh my )

So the gates Endeth right there…no need for billions of dollars of upfront cost and perpetual operations cost for that level of cannibalism.

And the “boutique” concept died with the galactic cluster …

Thanks bobs

The reality is this: epic universe will be the LAST major park built in Florida. Write that down