News D23 Expo 2022

erasure fan1

Well-Known Member
The idea that people are going to leave Disney in droves for Universal is delusional. I'm sorry, but I don't understand this mentality.
Again, I don't think too many people think there will be some mass Exodus from WDW. Are people saying that Disney could lose a day with some people? Yes. And does Disney care? Who knows. I think they do, considering they spent money on microchips in cups to save literally a penny or two. So if they care that much about soda, I'm sure they care about losing a possible day from customers.
 

CaptainAmerica

Premium Member
Again, I don't think too many people think there will be some mass Exodus from WDW. Are people saying that Disney could lose a day with some people? Yes. And does Disney care? Who knows. I think they do, considering they spent money on microchips in cups to save literally a penny or two. So if they care that much about soda, I'm sure they care about losing a possible day from customers.
Losing a day from Joe doesn't matter if Kathy has been waiting to book and everything is sold out.
 

erasure fan1

Well-Known Member
Losing a day from Joe doesn't matter if Kathy has been waiting to book and everything is sold out.
Maybe, maybe not. You don't think they want both? They spent a lot of extra money on soda cups to stop Joe from drinking 4 cents extra of soda. I'm inclined to think losing $1500 from him might be something they wouldn't like.
 

EricsBiscuit

Well-Known Member
It's an expanding market and Disney doesn't give a crap about share. "Expanding market share" does not mean "taking away from Disney."

Pretend Disney has 100 guests (77% share) and Universal has 30 guests (23% share).

Then Disney goes to 110 (74% share) guests and Universal goes to 38 guests (26% share).

In that example, Disney gained more guests than Universal did, but Universal still gained market share. A smaller competitor "gaining market share" from a larger competitor is expected because the same raw increases count more for them in percentage terms.
It absolutely does mean they are taking from Disney because of opportunity cost. Those guests could have gone to Disney. Disney is missing out!
 

CaptainAmerica

Premium Member
It absolutely does mean they are taking from Disney because of opportunity cost. Those guests could have gone to Disney. Disney is missing out!
A Harry Potter fan who goes to Universal because they have Harry Potter was never going to go to Disney.

People do NOT say "I'm going to go to Central Florida for a theme park vacation, but I need to decide whether to go to Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando Resort." That's not how the decision making flows.
 

bhg469

Well-Known Member
Simply not true. My friend from NY just left town with the decision made to only go to one park. They chose universal this time and only went to Disney springs.
 

mysto

Well-Known Member
Where were the new attractions?

The rethemed Dino area in AK and "beyond big thunder" in MK will need attractions. You are right they didn't announce them, but if the new areas are greenlit then several attractions will eventually be announced.

So the new attractions are implied? A glint in the eye?

I also agree it's a bit disappointing, I'm just saying that there was news, they are looking ahead.
 

erasure fan1

Well-Known Member
The rethemed Dino area in AK and "beyond big thunder" in MK will need attractions. You are right they didn't announce them, but if the new areas are greenlit then several attractions will eventually be announced.

So the new attractions are implied? A glint in the eye?

I also agree it's a bit disappointing, I'm just saying that there was news, they are looking ahead.
I don't think you can really count the blue sky stuff as implied. I have a hard time giving them any credit for looking ahead. Not with how absolutely horrible this D23 showing was. Covid can't be an excuse. These useless people in charge had 2 years to figure out how to improve the parks with new attractions. But all they were concerned about was what can we get rid of, and what things that were included can we upcharge for.
 

HauntedPirate

Park nostalgist
Premium Member
And I think "trend under Chapek" is just a nonsensical concept right now. The entirety of the "under Chapek" timeline has been pandemic and pandemic-recovery. There hasn't been any time to establish a trend because he's only been a wartime boss.

And not for nothing, but Toy Story, Galaxy's Edge (x2), Avenger's Campus, and the Wish all came from his relatively short tenure as Parks chairman.
Not exactly shining examples of Disney’s finest, outside of Rise and the visual depth in GE. Don’t forget he also greenlit DE, KiteTails, and allegedly came up with the base idea for HARModious.
 

HauntedPirate

Park nostalgist
Premium Member
The idea that people are going to leave Disney in droves for Universal is delusional. I'm sorry, but I don't understand this mentality.

Harry Potter single handedly saved the parks sector of Universal. They've been able to strike deals for other IPs since, which is great for their portfolio.

Further, I have to ask: why are people so invested in what Disney does to combat Epic Universe? It surely isn't because these individuals care about Disney "losing its hold on the industry?"

Steering back to D23 Expo: Disney made announcements that they are committed to implementing. And now that time has passed since the presentation, I think I prefer this parks panel approach over a breadth of announcements being cancelled and never being mentioned again.

Personally, I think sharing news at this Expo is important (if you're going to hold it and charge admission, make it worth it)—but it's also become clear that they want year-round buzz for the parks. They consistently publish on the Parks Blog about food, merchandise, and events throughout the year. But what if, and I know it's a what if, Josh is shifting the mentality that year-round announcements of large Parks information is the way to go? Why NOT announce a new land, attraction, or experience on a pre-determined date mid-year and keep the Parks buzz going instead of during one big event?
What are they committed to implementing?
 

V_L_Raptor

Well-Known Member
What are they committed to implementing?

Philosophically or logistically? I mean, there have been tons of projects they've been "committed" to completing that got stuffed one way or another. Even a notion of committing is kind of useless at this point. It's more like D23 is laying out the board for a huge game of cowpie bingo, and everyone's waiting for the cow to drop a... well, project.
 

CaptainAmerica

Premium Member
Not exactly shining examples of Disney’s finest, outside of Rise and the visual depth in GE. Don’t forget he also greenlit DE, KiteTails, and allegedly came up with the base idea for HARModious.
Understood, but sort of beside the point that I'm making. I'm not saying that Bob Chapek is a creative genius, only that his time as Parks chairman showed a willingness to invest. I'm not judging whether that stuff is actually any good, I'm just pointing out that he was willing to pay for it. (And I forgot to mention Runaway Railway.)
 

lazyboy97o

Well-Known Member
Understood, but sort of beside the point that I'm making. I'm not saying that Bob Chapek is a creative genius, only that his time as Parks chairman showed a willingness to invest. I'm not judging whether that stuff is actually any good, I'm just pointing out that he was willing to pay for it. (And I forgot to mention Runaway Railway.)
But you’re giving him credit for things that were not his decision. Galaxy’s Edge was a directive from Iger but Chapek was involved in cutting the ongoing operating costs. There’s almost no chance that Toy Story Land was able to be pushed through Blue Sky, Concept Design and Feasibility in the few months between Chapek getting the job and the announcement at D23. Even Evolving Epcot had huge sums dedicated to Iger playing architecture patron, which Chapek fully abandoned once Iger was completely out the door.
 

CaptainAmerica

Premium Member
But you’re giving him credit for things that were not his decision. Galaxy’s Edge was a directive from Iger but Chapek was involved in cutting the ongoing operating costs. There’s almost no chance that Toy Story Land was able to be pushed through Blue Sky, Concept Design and Feasibility in the few months between Chapek getting the job and the announcement at D23. Even Evolving Epcot had huge sums dedicated to Iger playing architecture patron, which Chapek fully abandoned once Iger was completely out the door.
Again, I'm not saying he's amazing. I'm saying it's too soon to know because COVID.
 

Phicinfan

Well-Known Member
A Harry Potter fan who goes to Universal because they have Harry Potter was never going to go to Disney.

People do NOT say "I'm going to go to Central Florida for a theme park vacation, but I need to decide whether to go to Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando Resort." That's not how the decision making flows.
Not sure I fully agree with that. Some do have to decide Disney vs. Universal, unless they plan off site stay and going to both, which I have done with my family in the past
 

DisneyDodo

Well-Known Member
Understood, but sort of beside the point that I'm making. I'm not saying that Bob Chapek is a creative genius, only that his time as Parks chairman showed a willingness to invest. I'm not judging whether that stuff is actually any good, I'm just pointing out that he was willing to pay for it. (And I forgot to mention Runaway Railway.)
Does the Parks chairman have control over how much money is invested in the parks? Or is the budget given to him, and he then decides how to invest that money?
 

CaptainAmerica

Premium Member
Does the Parks chairman have control over how much money is invested in the parks? Or is the budget given to him, and he then decides how to invest that money?
Both. He doesn't have unilateral control, and projects over a certain dollar amount would likely need CFO, CEO, and Board approval, but I would imagine Parks prepares their own capital plan and then presents it to Corporate for approval.
 

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