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

[monothingie]

Disney originally had the idea I think that Epic would drive traffic to Orlando, and they would benefit as well. I think they panicked at the idea that maybe prices are to the point that's just not going to happen. And I think their end result is they are going to chalk this year to a loss, and try to get people back the following years.

The rising tide lifts all boats is a lot of cope and an excuse for Disney badly misplaying their hand.

If I was Universal, I'd be worried about what happened with Nintendo land in Hollywood. Basically, got a huge bump for one year, then numbers dropped right back to where they were before. Now, an entirely new park could (should) have different results, but I'd be a lot more worried now than I was 2 years ago.

CA and Florida are two totally different dynamics. Central Florida's visitor base is much more transient than California. SWGE at DLR for example is suffering the same lack of interest, while meanwhile at DHS it's still a strong guest magnet.

 

[HauntedPirate]

If they do control attendance by limiting ticket sales it wont be mobbed and they can get their processes and procedures working.

IF however, if they change course and DO NOT control attendance by limiting ticket sales, then it will BE MOBBED because if tickets are on sale, folks will buy tickets and show up.

Just make sure you have all of your excuses covered, just in case.

 

[HauntedPirate]

Bob specifically mentioning DCL in his "surprise" appearance in the ABC board room or wherever it was around tariffs is... puzzling.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Universal is t going to punch themselves out unless Epic Universe is terrible. There other two parks are fun. All good for the fans of theme parks.
I’m excited to visit both companies this Christmas and it’s Epic Universe that is bringing me out.
Next visit will be when Disney completes all their new stuff.

We are all looking forward to your EPIC trip report!

 

[BrianLo]

No. You don't just block off $17B spend half of it and then say we'll figure out what to do with the rest later. It doesn't work that way.

Every cent of the $17B is assigned to something. Now it may never come to fruition or be cut later or be reassigned later, but Disney knows where every dollar is currently intended to go as of right now.

Well, sure, in a macro-sense. There are probably some nebulous spending figures they have assigned towards Parks X/Y in 2032. But it’s kind of early to have much specifics nailed down.

I’m not sure what your point is though. We don’t know what the whole 17B roadmap looks like. The reason I said “IF” is because there is always reason to suspect they don’t meet those targets and slow roll or cut.

The closest we have right now is about 10/12 of the planned 12B on DCL. Which suggests to me there exists options on another two of their new ships in 2032/33.

And you can see the result of the talent drain from WDI. The HP queue alone is amazing.

Yes, EU seems great. At least the parts of it that were designed by the teams 5-7 years ago. Which is why it’s so nice those project leads are now working for WDI.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

CA and Florida are two totally different dynamics. Central Florida's visitor base is much more transient than California. SWGE at DLR for example is suffering the same lack of interest, while meanwhile at DHS it's still a strong guest magnet.

Disneylanders have ALWAYS been better customers…not even close to

They demand something for their money.

When Eisner had let Anaheim rot by the time he left…they pitched a fit demanded that Bob “fix it!!!” And he had to spend a billion in short order ($999,999,999 over his standard limit for parks expenses)…

Well he’s let wdw slowly decay for the better part of 20 years…attempting to cut outlay and increase prices while cutting the guts out of the place and doing a few shiny things to divert Attention…

And the East coasters have asked for NOTHING…signing up for one bland timeshare after another.

 

[BrianLo]

Bob specifically mentioning DCL in his "surprise" appearance in the ABC board room or wherever it was around tariffs is... puzzling.

My read on that was more a partisan statement to his ABC staff to get them to be harder on current administration. Name the thing(s) that contain a lot of steel. Because otherwise it doesn’t make sense.

 

[FrontierSpirit]

We are all looking forward to your EPIC trip report!

Be tons before me… I’m in December

 

[Disstevefan1]

Just make sure you have all of your excuses covered, just in case.

Its binary.

If Universal controls EPIC attendance by limiting ticket sales it wont be mobbed. In my opinion, this is the right approach as it allows them to get their processes and procedures working and avoid an EPIC failure.

If Universal decides not to control attendance by limiting ticket sales, EPIC will be mobbed and it could get ugly.

This is Universals fight to lose. Lets see how it goes when EPIC opens to the public.

My excuses for WDW's failure is, of course, Iger.

Iger's excuse for WDW's failure is, of course, (you know who).

 

[Disstevefan1]

Be tons before me… I’m in December

Every report has value

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Yes, EU seems great. At least the parts of it that were designed by the teams 5-7 years ago. Which is why it’s so nice those project leads are now working for WDI.

But what orders are they being given?

That’s kinda important in an oligarchy

 

[BrianLo]

When the company bottom line doesn’t meet Wall Street quarterly expectations it’s not difficult to figure out what’s next.

While true - The ships are built with sweetheart financing deals from the builders that contain their costs until they are released to Disney. Plus all done externally to the US.

It’s frankly the last thing I’d expect they’d cut. They can’t get out of the close-in ones that would actually change quarterlies.

That’s why it seems like an empty partisan statement made behind closed doors to me than an actual strategy.

 

[BrianLo]

But what orders are they being given?

That’s kinda important in an oligarchy

IP, IP, IP.

But Universal is no different.

 

[Agent H]

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

It kept people away because Disney built it up too much and people got scared of it being too crowded. Annual pass blockout dates for Disneyland also played a part.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

IP, IP, IP.

But Universal is no different.

The real problem with that is it doesn’t trigger the escapism that made Disney Parks unique

But what do I know?

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

It kept people away because Disney built it up too much and people got scared of it being too crowded. Annual pass blockout dates for Disneyland also played a part.

That was the first year…those two idiots apparently didn’t know not to offend Disneyland annual passholders (which is the first commandment on the tablets)…

But it never recovered that well because they so awfully have mishandled the IP.

Some properties you just can’t make that mistake. Actually there might be only one

 

[Agent H]

That was the first year…those two idiots apparently didn’t know not to offend Disneyland annual passholders (which is the first commandment on the tablets)…

But it never recovered that well because they so awfully have mishandled the IP.

Some properties you just can’t make that mistake. Actually there might be only one

I’d argue some of the demand was caught up in revenge travel. I’ll agree that it may have been a mistake to block out pass holders in California.

 

[HauntedPirate]

It kept people away because Disney built it up too much and people got scared of it being too crowded. Annual pass blockout dates for Disneyland also played a part.

It couldn't have been that the feature attraction wasn't ready for months after the land opened...

 

[Agent H]

The rising tide lifts all boats is a lot of cope and an excuse for Disney badly misplaying their hand.

But it’s true. Is any family going to come to Orlando and not visit at least the magic kingdom?

 

[AidenRodriguez731]

But it’s true. Is any family going to come to Orlando and not visit at least the magic kingdom?

Honestly I do (because I go to visit Epcot instead)

I have never been to a Universal Park without spending atleast one day at Disney. And EU is definitely not moving that needle for me or my family. Rising tide is 100% raising some ships here. I booked a Disney vacation already this summer since in my mind, Disney should be a little less busy (we'll see if that's true)