Al Lutz: "Management must stop bending over to pick up pennies as dollars fly over their heads"

[SirOinksALot]

I think WDW is at lowest point and will start at 5-10 year of improvement and some expansion. Having said that, I think we came through this 'low point' relatively unscathed. WDW, imho, still has the good far outweigh the bad, and is just beginning an ascension that will only increase exponentially as we get to the 50th anniversary.

I tend to agree.

Paul Pressler ran Disneyland into the ground between 1994 and 1996 when the park was 39-41 years old, and the Internet community (yes, the Internet did exist then) went crazy about it. WDW is 41 years old. I somehow doubt that Disney has it laid out that they're going to strip mine the parks for dollars at a specific age, but there's certainly a precedent. It just took Paul Pressler leaving, and I don't doubt that TDO is due for some rotation/exit.

It's a long-run game. People seem to forget that Universal was tanking much worse between 2005 and 2008 than Disney is now and hasn't been remotely close to hitting its max single-park attendance figure for a year set in 1998. Sooner rather than later out of Disney would be nice though.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Dsney was not touched by attendance drops. 2010 since has marked as Disneys highest amounts of toursit visiting the parks since the so called post 9/11 park reduction.

Was 9/11 so called or the "park reduction" so called?

 

[Virtual Toad]

You didn't really think you were flying that thing did you? Those joysticks never did do anything except give you something to hang onto while you pretended you had control.

I know the joystick didn't control anything (but wouldn't that have been cool!)... I was referring to the tactile "feedback" or resistance it's supposed to have, pushing against your actions to make you feel like you were struggling to control the ship. Another neat effect that used to work reliably but which is very hit or miss as of late.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Not quite sure how this thread drifted into the Star Tours controversy. But it brings up a good point.

From what I understand, ST 2.0 hasn't done a thing to help DHS financially or boost attendance. If that's true, TDO could certainly make the argument that they were right and Burbank was wrong. ST 2.0 has not gotten any return on investment. WDW's profit would have been better off without ST since the revenue is presumably the same as it was before the refurb, but without the millions in expenses for the upgrade.

Of course, we all see the big picture. DHS needed so much more than the tiny ST band-aid. And if TDO had killed the project knowing it would produce no short-term gains, then the park would be all the more stale in 5 years.

But obviously TDO (and Burbank as well) is mostly concerned about quarterly results. In that respect, ST hurt the company. Does TDO have a stronger hand in future TDO-vs-Burbank battles when they can point to ST? And will that give TDO any kind of voice in final approval of Avatar since Al and others seem to believe Burbank's ego is the only driving force behind the project?

They forgot to advertise Star Tours 2.0 and they closed the original Star Tours around the same time they stopped running Fantasmic nightly. They didn't do any favors for that park around that time.

 

[RSoxNo1]

You know I keep hearing this theory... but when can you recall seeing TV ads for WDW for a new attraction? heck, have you seen any TV ads for the new fantasyland? or TT2?

I saw tons of marketing for ST2 where I see most of WDW's build up for new attractions... on Radio Disney.. Disney Channel.. and billboards in FL.

Disneyland does a lot of TV spots for new entertainment offerings - but I don't see WDW doing it - only their usual generic 'come to wdw' discount ads.

People keep saying ST wasn't marketed - I say 'compared to what?'

Compared to Harry Potter's marketing, or Expedition Everest, or Carsland, or Star Tours in California...

 

[Virtual Toad]

First things first..welcome to the boards.

I think WDW is at lowest point and will start at 5-10 year of improvement and some expansion. Having said that, I think we came through this 'low point' relatively unscathed. WDW, imho, still has the good far outweigh the bad, and is just beginning an ascension that will only increase exponentially as we get to the 50th anniversary.

Thanks, this is a fun place to be

We may agree on more than you think. Semantics aside, I do hope you're right, that we are at the lowest point. WDW is certainly at a low point. And, like others, I see a lot of parallels to DL's situation circa 2000 or so.

BTW, for those who think Al Lutz loves DL and hates WDW, his attitude toward Disneyland back then sounded a lot like his attitude toward WDW now. He's not afraid to criticize where criticism is due. Some may find him too critical but I guess that's a matter of personal taste.

 

[flynnibus]

Compared to Harry Potter's marketing, or Expedition Everest, or Carsland, or Star Tours in California...

The only thing WDW in there is Everest - and that I never saw ads for either. Just the 'making of..' special and countdown they did. My point is I never see WDW ads for new attractions on TV. Star Tours was no different from my point of view.

 

[Goofyernmost]

I know the joystick didn't control anything (but wouldn't that have been cool!)... I was referring to the tactile "feedback" or resistance it's supposed to have, pushing against your actions to make you feel like you were struggling to control the ship. Another neat effect that used to work reliably but which is very hit or miss as of late.

OK, I understand your post now, but to be honest, I have never even noticed anything different over the years, I will have to look for that next time, but, it always seemed the same to me.

 

[COProgressFan]

Just spent the last couple days exploring SW and the Uni parks.

You know what? SW has hands-down the best Christmas decorations and shows in Orlando. Funny how I mentioned to one of the employees that they had far more decorations than Disney. Her response: "Really? You're the second person who's told me that today."

The ice-skating show at SW (Winter Wonderland was its name, I think) was fantastic. And that was only one of five or six Christmas shows they perform for day guests.

Apropos of nothing, SW had special napkins for their Christmas celebration ("Where the Season Meets the Sea" it says at the bottom).

Agree with this completely. The majority of the park is decorated, the little holiday details (napkins, cups, food offerings, employee name tags) are there, and there are a multitude of holiday shows and events going on -- all for the price of regular admission!!!! I really wish I had been able to spend more time there recently, as it is difficult to see all the holiday offerings in one day/night.

Meanwhile at WDW....same old, same old. Any new cuts to MVMCP this year? Or just a price increase?

 

[Mickey_777]

Al Lutz...for some reason I always crave potato chips when I hear his name...

 

[RSoxNo1]

The only thing WDW in there is Everest - and that I never saw ads for either. Just the 'making of..' special and countdown they did. My point is I never see WDW ads for new attractions on TV. Star Tours was no different from my point of view.

That's part of the problem. Disney World ads celebrate family time, they rarely celebrate new attractions. Expedition Everest had some standard commercials but also had things like the travel channel specials that were certainly advertisements as well. There was nothing outside of 192 for Star Tours 2.0

 

[ULPO46]

I agree with many of you. I may be new to this blog but not new to other official disney blogs. People forget the amazing logistics of Disney. So corparate is F'd up doesnt matter when the board of share holders and stockholders get fed up when we see our invesments in Disney go to waste but in this economy which our president and media has said sucks. Disney is King and people from America and all over the world visit Disney parks world wide. So if 4 million a year is bad for a park on the other side of the world. 17million + is great stateside. 80 million+ people were said to have come through the I-4 corridor this year and has set new records for my state in tourism. If you do not live in Florida. Then you cannot fight me. There are only two industries that keep floridas economy alive because NASA said goodbye a while ago. That is our Touirism Industry and the U.S. Department of Defense. We do not have mines that are the back bone of America like Georgia, the Carolinas, Virginia or any other mountainous state. Nor do we have big automotive factories but without Disney would seaworld or Universal have come to the Swamp land that was florida. Look i am a native floridian have both Spanish and Smeinole Indian blood running in my veins and have witnessed with my own eyes that without Walt, Henry Flaglers Flagler railroad bust would have been unable to keep floridas econmy alive. So disney is loosing attendance or loosing money I'd be dammned to witness that since I have lifetime member passes and will always go to and work at the parks. I am a college student sure hell I am but my imagination is better than what alot of the guys in Imaganeering have been doing. Retro fitting things in 3D is not going to make our parks better. I want to make rids better. If you don't think that the voice of the people triggers ideas into disney than you are wrong. That we can build a rocket to land the first man or woman on mars is far fetched but that we can fix glitches is something that we can do. After all without WDW would there be a blog called WDW Magic or would it just be DL Magic. I've been to Disnelyland California and love it because they duplicated it in Florida. But you cannot compare a 1 square mile resort to a 42 square mile resort area which has still not been developed in many parts. But I know the idea of 1.5 million to 8.5 million dollar homes next to the MK is a stupid idea in Floridas Economy but people are buying and thats what counts. As long as we are kings of the industry, thats all that counts.

 

[ULPO46]

P.S i remeber seeing somebody saying why people complain so much about not seeing new cool things in Animal Kingdom. I don't think people want to pay 50 dollars per person to go to a "Zoo" they like animals but they want to see really cool out of this world rides. Corparate's stupid and does not like seeing that. They just play with numbers. People want more rides and beastly kingdom. They want to see new worlds and new things. Tell me if Disney never changed year round would you come back over and over again to spend 100's of dollars?

 

[ULPO46]

Was 9/11 so called or the "park reduction" so called?

I had meant Post 9/11 park attendance reduction. At the walt Disney World resort not disneyland. You can find books, documentaris, and news articles about it.

 

[flynnibus]

As long as we are kings of the industry, thats all that counts.

Exactly the mentality sinking the ship... way to go.

I kind of pictured you on a podium with a big mouse ears flag waving behind you as you gave your inspirational speech.

Someday, you'll graduate, and you'll move out of the bubble, and if you are good, you'll get to see what the real trenches look like. But right now, you sound like a pom-pom cheerleader.

 

[ULPO46]

thanks in a way i guess. Actually i play baseball at UCF and am studying engineering and theme park hospiltality. Not a cheerleader.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Concerning ST2.0, I was at the park for the Grand Reopening. At noon, it had a stand-by line of 30 mins.

This is why I am a bit confused when I keep hearing all about the popularity of the franchise. Heck, I'm not even a Star Wars fan and I made it out to the Opening. I'm not questioning the breadth of the fan base, just it's passion. I know there are a lot of SW fans, but I believe the age of the franchise (and fans) has squelched some of it's energy.

 

[twebber55]

Concerning ST2.0, I was at the park for the Grand Reopening. At noon, it had a stand-by line of 30 mins.

This is why I am a bit confused when I keep hearing all about the popularity of the franchise. Heck, I'm not even a Star Wars fan and I made it out to the Opening. I'm not questioning the breadth of the fan base, just it's passion. I know there are a lot of SW fans, but I believe the age of the franchise (and fans) has squelched some of it's energy.

i guess i feel the same way...i dont think the franchise is slam dunk like it used to be...although im 40 and grew up with star wars and enjoyed the movies i would welcome a new addition

 

[Calvin Coolidge]

Concerning ST2.0, I was at the park for the Grand Reopening. At noon, it had a stand-by line of 30 mins.

This is why I am a bit confused when I keep hearing all about the popularity of the franchise. Heck, I'm not even a Star Wars fan and I made it out to the Opening. I'm not questioning the breadth of the fan base, just it's passion. I know there are a lot of SW fans, but I believe the age of the franchise (and fans) has squelched some of it's energy.

If you don't tell anyone it's happening, how will they know there's a difference?

 

[lazyboy97o]

As long as we are kings of the industry, thats all that counts.

No, it is not. This attitude is incredibly dangerous. When the long time king like Disney actually falls in the financial and economic metrics the damage is so far beyond just these numbers that to turn around means not just fixing the product and services, but also repairing a heavily damaged image. Waiting to fall from No. 1 is a recipe for death.