Cash-Strapped Disney

[larryz]

It’s the adult equivalent of playground kids telling each other to repeat “Bloody Mary” seven times in a mirror.

I've done that at a bar... got me really drunk.

 

[celluloid]

Nothing says "were really hurting financially" like canning Tom Bergeron.

The biggest face of thousands canned. Saved millions instantly.

 

[WDW Pro]

@WDW Pro While some of it makes sense, take AKL for example. None of the cash rooms are opening any time soon. Any idea how long they leave some of these resorts that are fairly popular closed? WIll they continue the In progress refurb of ALL stars?

I'm not sure. I'll ask around a bit.

 

[Mainahman]

I'm not sure. I'll ask around a bit.

It just seems to me, that a refurb as far in as music, might be finished, but maybe sports gets put on hold? and AKL cash rooms doesnt make a whole lot of sense when you have Kidani, and Jambo DVC rooms open.

 

[WDW Pro]

It just seems to me, that a refurb as far in as music, might be finished, but maybe sports gets put on hold? and AKL cash rooms doesnt make a whole lot of sense when you have Kidani, and Jambo DVC rooms open.

Many times it has to do with how contracts were written.

 

[Mainahman]

Many times it has to do with how contracts were written.

Makes sense for sure! Interesting times. Makes booking a 2021 stay a bit of a waiting game to get a decent price and accommodations for sure.

 

[Touchdown]

It could be because deluxe bookings remain soft and Disney wants to push people who would otherwise book at WL and AKL to crescent lake or monorail resorts.

 

[Mainahman]

It could be because deluxe bookings remain soft and Disney wants to push people who would otherwise book at WL and AKL to crescent lake or monorail resorts.

I thought of that too, its highly possible. With the All Stars out, they have the slightly more expensive POP ( our usual home) and AoA to pick up that traffic with skyliner. Ive always wondered why they close certain things, and what the thought process is behind it all.

 

[Nathan H]

Sure, but the number of people who have read Harry Potter or seen the movies absolutely dwarfs the number of people who have read that Black Spire novel. Hundreds of millions versus maybe hundreds of thousands.

Let's be honest about how poorly publishing is doing. That number is closer to thousands. Comic books, tens of thousands.

 

[Touchdown]

They are really risking "over-promise, under-deliver" on this one, aren't they?

It’s not so much they over promised rather (just like Harry Potter or Star Wars) the public just has an incredibly high expectation for a Mariokart ride because of how amazing every entry in that series has been.

 

[Kamikaze]

That’s where the genius lies in picking Mariokart as the main ride, it’s a competitive racing ride, you’ll get all the thrill seekers happy, and being able to hit dad with a red shell and improve your time is just going to draw people back to that ride. As long as that ride delivers on its promise there is no way it won’t be a home run for Nintendo and Universal.

And don’t forget, as of last sales report Mariokart 8 deluxe has sold 24.77 million copies. 3 people in 1000 own that game planet wide, obviously it’s even higher then that in North America. (I can’t find US sales numbers.)

I think you're completely backwards on Mario Kart as the centerpiece attraction. Mario Kart the game is 1 vs 7 where you get to control and drive your vehicle on your own. In the ride you're going to have up to 6 people in the vehicle and what are they all going to do? Obviously you don't get to control the car, so how many of the 6 are going to get to control powerups (which I presume will do something to the other vehicle you're 'racing')? I just don't think it works because its not anything like the games are presented. They would have been better off doing a VR style ride where there aren't actual tracks but you get inside some personal (or 2 seater for kids + parents) immersive motion sims and go 1 v 7 that way.

And you won't be able to hit 'Dad' with a shell, you'll be shooting at some random other group of people in another car.

 

[WDW Pro]

I think you're completely backwards on Mario Kart as the centerpiece attraction. Mario Kart the game is 1 vs 7 where you get to control and drive your vehicle on your own. In the ride you're going to have up to 6 people in the vehicle and what are they all going to do? Obviously you don't get to control the car, so how many of the 6 are going to get to control powerups (which I presume will do something to the other vehicle you're 'racing')? I just don't think it works because its not anything like the games are presented. They would have been better off doing a VR style ride where there aren't actual tracks but you get inside some personal (or 2 seater for kids + parents) immersive motion sims and go 1 v 7 that way.

And you won't be able to hit 'Dad' with a shell, you'll be shooting at some random other group of people in another car.

Capacity crunching won the day on that design.

 

[Touchdown]

Capacity crunching won the day on that design.

Still doesn’t mean it’s not going to be great, still think it’s going to be fun.

 

[_caleb]

It’s not so much they over promised rather (just like Harry Potter or Star Wars) the public just has an incredibly high expectation for a Mariokart ride because of how amazing every entry in that series has been.

Right. And how many people have fond first-hand experiences with the game.

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

Maybe it's changed in the last few years, but being chosen by a wand absolutely required a purchase. Touring Plans advises parents who don't want to purchase a wand to quietly ask the attendant not to pick their kid.

I also don't think this is correct.

Though I'd tend to explain it slightly differently: If you know you don't care, then it is a matter of being considerate to others.

Many folks hope to be chosen, because they plan to buy a wand. While the premise is pure fiction, and the wands are all just plastic, somebody bothered to create a wand mythology. Being assigned a specific wand is a little like being sorted by the Sorting Hat. Being called a Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff supposedly says something about your personality.

A child who doesn't get chosen has to wait in line a second/third time if they care about the wand mythology.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Just the reality of them needing every dollar they can get. Things could also change. But as of now there's just not much on the table unless they discount hotel rooms.

Maybe that’s the need now...but I hear it was decreed in like 2018. Part of bob’s farewell strategy

 

[Shouldigo12]

I was thinking of an example in the video game industry that will probably be lost on most people here.

Some of you may have heard of the game Sonic 06. Some maybe not. It’s a game in the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise that has the reputation for being one of the worst games ever, due to reviews calling the game out for its technical bugs and story issues. The first time I played the game, I agreed “yeah it’s really bad”. The second time I played it, I gave it more time and went: “Wait, this is actually pretty good. There’s a lot of awesome things about this game”. It just goes to show how much a few reviews can completely dictate the reputation of a piece of media.

But then I began to think a bit more. Do companies benefit by having one controversial product that they try to trash and bury? Whenever Sega makes a bad new Sonic game, they always elude to Sonic 06, basically saying “yeah the new game is bad, but AT LEAST it’s not as bad as Sonic 06” (which is rarely true).

I haven't played the game myself, but I watched a Let's Play. Well, let's be honest here: I watched that Let's Play four times. And I can honestly say that never once did I ever think the game came close to good.

If you liked it, that's all well and good. We all have different opinions, and I'm honestly happy you were able to get enjoyment out of it. But the game was riddled with bugs, had a bad plot (in my opinion), and a weird relationship between a hedgehog and a human princess (also my opinion). I don't think the game got the reputation it has just because of hype.

Now The Last of Us part 2 on the other hand
....

 

[Kamikaze]

Capacity crunching won the day on that design.

Oh, clearly. But that doesn't mean the iteration they went with is anything like a Mario Kart game.

 

[Touchdown]

You do not have to purchase the wand if you are chosen in the show, you can simply have them “put it on layaway.”

That said, I can’t imagine how many parents have felt compelled to buy one after the show.

As for me, I was never going to buy a wand, until I lined up for the show (in my Ravenclaw Quidditch Polo shirt) near the end of the day a weekday in January and because there was no kids in the group I was chosen.

I’m now the proud owner of an English Oak/Dragon Heartstring wand, and I don’t regret my purchase and have brought it back to the parks many times.

 

[Kamikaze]

Just the reality of them needing every dollar they can get. Things could also change. But as of now there's just not much on the table unless they discount hotel rooms.

They can move 'seasons' around to sort of discount tickets while not actually discounting anything.