A Spirited Perfect Ten

[bhg469]

unfortunately im thinking frozen will help epcot

No doubt it will. Epcot will have more turnstile clicks than they ever have. I don't for one second believe they will see much more sustained attendance in all the parks but people who wouldnt be going to epcot for more than the seas with nemo will be spending more time there.

 

[bhg469]

Clearly it's to get @PhotoDave219 angry.

If that is their goal all they need to do is come here and post spoilers.

 

[Cesar R M]

So, the rich execs hate poor people?

you mean they dont?

 

[Cesar R M]

So the Bora Bora Bungalows are renting rooms by the hour now????....

"Love motel" kinda sounds in my mind.

and why the bora bora name? they do not like the bora bora ones.. they look like pizza huts.

 

[bhg469]

"Love motel" kinda sounds in my mind.

and why the bora bora name? they do not like the bora bora ones.. they look like pizza huts.

Because people associate an over water bungalow with Bora bora Regardless of how this the whole reason of getting one of those on a Polynesian island is to plunge into the ocean.

 

[xdan0920]

you mean they dont?

Do they? Do you know many Disney executives?

 

[Rodan75]

It's not hatred. Disney management does not hate its customers.

Instead, it's a matter of prioritization.

In any collection of individuals, there are competing interests. The question is: Which interests are given the highest priority?

Under the old Disney management, customers were given the highest priority. It's a philosophy that believes everyone's best interests are served by putting the customer first. This is what comes across in OLC's annual reports and public statements. This is what comes across when visiting TDL.

Under the current Disney management, money is the deciding factor. In this pecking order, Disney executives come first, shareholders second, customers third, and employees last. Executives manage according to objectives defined in their compensation packages. Of course, Iger (like many CEOs) exercises tremendous influence over the Executive Compensation Committee and steers it in a direction that maximizes Iger's gain. Customers are not hated but they are used (some would say manipulated) as a means to an end. It's the idea that "Greed is good."

Amen @ParentsOf4 . I think one of the reasons the Parks Execs get away with this is, they have 2-3 years in each leadership role and then they rotate on. Leaders need to exist in a role long enough to see the cause and effect of their decisions, but the rotations promote a consistent culture of 'Quick Hits' that over time diminish the quality but demonstrate that the leader can 'achieve results'. I don't know if I would classify it as 'Greed as Good', but more as self preservation.

The best thing TWDC could do for the parks is to stop the rotations or expand them to 5-7 years, give these leaders a chance to live with their decisions and enforce more direct guest and cast member interaction.

 

[PhotoDave219]

This is a serious question. Why is it, according to many here, that TWDC, and more specifically TDO, hates its guests? What is it that causes such maliciousness to take place in Florida? I own a small business, and the idea of hating my customers is so completely foreign to me.

I wouldnt say they hate them. I'd say condecend.

They believe the guests will always come.

 

[PhotoDave219]

I'm a small business owner as well. I don't think its hatred, more that they take their customers for granted. A level of complacency has set in because they've been customers for years and they always come back. Enough executives in the wrong places within TDO or the entire company for that matter, have figured out that they can do less and less in Orlando and still make a $^*#@load of money.

I believe the that hits the nail on the head.

The beancounters believe "The guests will always come."

They believed that on September 10, 2001 as well.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Can someone explain to me the rationale for building Star Wars at DL first, but delaying it at DHS?

Because its the 60th? Because its near Glendale? Because they have plenty of room? IDFK.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Clearly it's to get @PhotoDave219 angry.

If you'll excuse me, I need to continue my training with my master and together we shall rule the galaxy!

 

[PhotoDave219]

Walt Disney's core value was, "It's my name on it; I want to produce a quality product at a fair price." Walt Disney genuinely seemed to care what the public (his "Guests") thought, even if he was a difficult boss. (From everything I've read, I would not have wanted to work for Walt Disney.) If Walt Disney were magically transported from 50 years in the past, it is reasonable to assume his core value would not change.

Exactly, I think Walt was the Steve Jobs of the day, Created incredible things but was a monster to work for.

Walt was a complete SOB to work for, according to almost everyone who's every been asked the question publically.

That being said?

He had standards. He had his way of wanting things done. The man was clearly never complacent and never settled for anything. Born out of that was the greatest entertainment company ever made.

You need those qualities in a leader.

 

[JediMasterMatt]

I would *HOPE* (.... thats right, High Hopes....) that SW at DL is announced. As SW at DL will happen long before it happens here in DHS. I dont expect anything SW related for Orlando to be announced.

For what it's worth, I had a conversation with my Lucasfilm friends last week and they told me that DL is still a go. WDW is in a holding pattern and awaiting further landing instructions from air traffic control. DL is a priority as they really want the back of the park to remain open until close every night, unlike Toontown. I'm cautiously optimistic that we will see the DL announcement at D23, for nothing other than DL wanting the extra space available full time.

I'm still being told that much like Diagon Alley/Hogsmeade are two locales within the same universe, Star Wars Lands are being prepped the same way. Attractions and ride systems will be cloned; but, the actual environments the land is set in will vary based on the park.

Can someone explain to me the rationale for building Star Wars at DL first, but delaying it at DHS?

Simple. Management doesn't feel they need to do much of anything in Orlando as they've been doing as such for many years and the attendance and profits have yet to suffer. "If you build it... or if you don't, they will come" is the mantra they are living by in Florida. Universal can do the heavy lifting and draw guests into the area and Disney feels they have the bare minimum in the pipeline to keep the gates spinning.

 

[71jason]

I think they give a longer estimated wait time because its that unpredictable. I waited 20 minutes but YMMV.

There have been exceptions, but generally wait times seem to big exaggerated.

A big part of the issue--no communication with outside patio servers that a party is next on the list. Pager goes off, have to summon them over to settle up, takes another 20 minutes before you can actually go in. In a place where average visit is almost certainly <80 minutes, that's killing your capacity.

 

[71jason]

Excluding WDW, Visit Orlando reported that the average daily rate in metro Orlando was $122.50 in February 2015.

$100/night for a budget motel is high but I acknowledge that $40/night usually is tolerable but skeevy.

The problem with any Orlando metric is that it's so huge. That number no doubt includes downtown/Heathrow business hotels--and the Rosen and Gaylord--but also de facto homeless shelters along 192. I think, say, the average rate of hotels along Hotel Plaza Blvd. might be a better guidepost.

 

[ULPO46]

Yes that would be an accurate statement to the price of hotels within the toursit district. Now can we see the price going up soon yes. According to the Rosen College of Hospitality- UCF, the prices will go up as the demand for more hotels as well as influx of more tourist come into play. Eventually I believe that there will be a need for a new Hotel Strip similar to the current I-Drive but with more Vegas looking Resorts and hotels so that the companies that own them can make more money. Due in part to the Seminole and Micosukee Tribes of Florida Gambling will never be made legal in the State of Florida, but Casino Like Resorts will be the future of Orlando Tourism. It's only a matter of time before the concept comes up as vacancy becomes a problem as more and more guest come into Orlando than ever before.

 

[bhg469]

Simple. Management doesn't feel they need to do much of anything in Orlando as they've been doing as such for many years and the attendance and profits have yet to suffer. "If you build it... or if you don't, they will come" is the mantra they are living by in Florida. Universal can do the heavy lifting and draw guests into the area and Disney feels they have the bare minimum in the pipeline to keep the gates spinning.

This is why I'm so worried about WDW'S offering. It really doesn't matter what they do because they're only going to be letting down real star wars fans. They could have fiberglass characters from that XD show and it would please the masses that are already coming.

 

[MKeeler]

Can someone explain to me the rationale for building Star Wars at DL first, but delaying it at DHS?

Were TDO smart, I could see them wanting to open the makeover of DHS in waves, getting spikes with each new section opened. Start with Pixar Place, as it's largely an out of the way section of the park that can be built out with little impact on current guest flow. Open Pixar Place once fully fleshed out, get that spike in attendance and draw people to that section of the park. Put up the construction walls in the front to start on Star Wars land/lucas area and get another spike once completed.

That's if TDO were smart...

 

[PhotoDave219]

Were TDO smart, I could see them wanting to open the makeover of DHS in waves, getting spikes with each new section opened. Start with Pixar Place, as it's largely an out of the way section of the park that can be built out with little impact on current guest flow. Open Pixar Place once fully fleshed out, get that spike in attendance and draw people to that section of the park. Put up the construction walls in the front to start on Star Wars land/lucas area and get another spike once completed.

That's if TDO were smart...

Yeah, that was part of my rant about 12 hours ago.

 

[ParentsOf4]

The problem with any Orlando metric is that it's so huge. That number no doubt includes downtown/Heathrow business hotels--and the Rosen and Gaylord--but also de facto homeless shelters along 192. I think, say, the average rate of hotels along Hotel Plaza Blvd. might be a better guidepost.

Please recall that this particular thread started with a discussion of prices charged by Disney's Value Resorts which, from a luxury perspective, are comparable to Super 8 or Motel 6. The hotels on Hotel Plaza Blvd. are not budget motels.

Disney's Value Resorts have different revenue/cost structures than the typical Super 8 or Motel 6. They also differ from hotels on Hotel Plaza Blvd.

Disney's hotels generate a considerable amount of revenue from their food service and merchandise stores, a huge source of profit compared to non-WDW hotels.

Conversely, Disney's Value Resorts costs are greater than typical non-WDW hotels. Disney's hotels need to pay for "free" local bus service, "free" Extra Magic Hours, and "free" airport shuttle. Of course, these "free" incentives are offered exactly so Disney can capture a larger share of the vacationer's dollar. Disney is by no means offering these "free" benefits at a loss. In fact, Disney offers these "free" benefits exactly because they are more profitable than not offering them.

Beyond that, please consider that the hotels on Hotel Plaza Blvd. pay Disney a premium for their locations, a fee Disney's own hotels do not pay. Ultimately, the hotels don't pay this; the patrons staying at these hotels do in the form of higher room rates.

Stepping away from these revenue/cost differentials, please consider that Disney offered these Value Resort rooms for $60/night or less a decade ago. It's important to recall that Disney's Parks & Resorts has never reported an operating loss, even at these low rates.

More recently, Disney continues to offer "Room Only" and "Free Dining" discounts throughout most of the year, and domestic Parks & Resorts operating margin has steadily climbed over the last 5 years while Disney has offered these discounts.

Clearly there are considerable margins built into the current pricing structure of Disney's Value Resorts, more than enough to pay for "Room Only" and "Free Dining" discounts.

In a nutshell, Disney used to make money when the Value Resorts rooms were $60/night. They're making a heck of a lot more today.