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

[flyerjab]

I’m not one to complain as much as some. However, what seems to be a current possible trend towards financial anxiety by the company (in regard to some of @PREMiERdrum ‘s more recent posts), it takes me back to that story about Josh D’Amaro talking to Iger about how excited he was about the parks and the stories that are still out there to be told, and Bob simply looks at him and says “go.”

That could have been a seminal moment in the company’s history. A point at which Bob threw a bit of caution to the proverbial wind and opened the flood gates of creation and expansion and welcomed in a new Disney Decade.

It would seem, however, that Bob’s definition of the word “go” is a bit more measured. Now I’m not going to complain too much…and there is a lot that is still not known. However, let’s list some things we think we know: a newly imagined land at DAK (3 new rides) with hopefully an added LK attraction, new ToL Zootopia show, Moana attraction at Adventureland, Coco ride in Frontierland, a fully tracked and refurbished BTM, new night parade for MK, TBA (just throwing this in here), drone show for DS, something at DHS, with some other resorts wide changes/additions. I guess this is turbocharging?

Don’t get me wrong, I’ll probably love it all and this list most likely isn’t everything. But I really wish Bob truly meant it when he said “go”.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I’m not one to complain as much as some. However, what seems to be a current possible trend towards financial anxiety by the company (in regard to some of @PREMiERdrum ‘s more recent posts), it takes me back to that story about Josh D’Amaro talking to Iger about how excited he was about the parks and the stories that are still out there to be told, and Bob simply looks at him and says “go.”

That could have been a seminal moment in the company’s history. A point at which Bob threw a bit of caution to the proverbial wind and opened the flood gates of creation and expansion and welcomed in a new Disney Decade.

It would seem, however, that Bob’s definition of the word “go” is a bit more measured. Now I’m not going to complain too much…and there is a lot that is still not known. However, let’s list some things we think we know: a newly imagined land at DAK (3 new rides) with hopefully an added LK attraction, new ToL Zootopia show, Moana attraction at Adventureland, Coco ride in Frontierland, a fully tracked and refurbished BTM, new night parade for MK, TBA (just throwing this in here), drone show for DS, something at DHS, with some other resorts wide changes/additions. I guess this is turbocharging?

Don’t get me wrong, I’ll probably love it all and this list most likely isn’t everything. But I really wish Bob truly meant it when he said “go”.

D’amaro is as much of a “false prophet” for parks as any of them…

He just gets more cred because he’s more personable than the previous 3…

But the actual on the ground complaints have only intensified as he has jockeyed for position.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I can do 2-3 days of just resort hopping and Springs with 5 or 6 days in the parks. We're not heavy hitters in the parks and kind of just walk around hitting a few rides.

I hear that/do that

But the problem is they have shunned that type to their own detriment the last few years. It’s dvc/ap/fla.

Because we aren’t on the clock.

The “whales” bob and Bob gave each other sponge baths over never existed. People throwing money around and with no concern aren’t Disney park diehards. They convert to dvc and get demanding like the rest of us. Or go to many other places as well.

The one with the high daily Revenues are the ole middle class. The ones on a timetable and a budget. Which means they can’t leisure it and skip like you or I do…

And that’s who they’re losing and the drain is open until they restore the appearance of value.

 

[flyerjab]

D’amaro is as much of a “false prophet” for parks as any of them…

He just gets more cred because he’s more personable than the previous 3…

But the actual on the ground complaints have only intensified as he has jockeyed for position.

This is some Monday morning quarterbacking part, but for someone as savvy as Mr. Smiles, he is either being forced by management, or is totally misreading the last few D23 presentations.

Showing “What we might do” has really backfired on him. He was a fan and media darling for some time. Those last two parks presentations were laughable. And here’s another example: let’s show everyone a WDI lightsaber that you can’t use. Or, thinking that blocking “lasers” by moving yours lightsaber 3 inches to the left or right was really going to help sell the Star Wars hotel experience. Then he turns to the crowd with that huge smile and is greeted with a “meh” applause.

If he wants the big chair, he needs to watch out for those types of presentations. He ends up doing more harm than good. Hopefully this year, though, he seems as though he will actually have some real news to give.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Underbuilt? For opening day, the park will have a solid lineup.

I guess it’s relative

3 of the last 4 parks opened in Orlando - dak, mgm and USO - had about nothing when they opened. Epic already blows those out of the water

Complete? Maybe not. But would we doubt Comcast will immediately add?

We shouldn’t…they did it with Diagon.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

This is some Monday morning quarterbacking part, but for someone as savvy as Mr. Smiles, he is either being forced by management, or is totally misreading the last few D23 presentations.

Showing “What we might do” has really backfired on him. He was a fan and media darling for some time. Those last two parks presentations were laughable. And here’s another example: let’s show everyone a WDI lightsaber that you can’t use. Or, thinking that blocking “lasers” by moving yours lightsaber 3 inches to the left or right was really going to help sell the Star Wars hotel experience. Then he turns to the crowd with that huge smile and is greeted with a “meh” applause.

If he wants the big chair, he needs to watch out for those types of presentations. He ends up doing more harm than good. Hopefully this year, though, he seems as though he will actually have some real news to give.

Remember…the P&R guy is the human shield for the ceo and has been since pressler. By design. Because the park customers are the one spending real cash on the mouse. And they let you know it.

It’s not someone in Ohio buying D+ or a ticket to the latest silly live action remake.

P&R is the target so we have to consider that. But that’s all from the C Suite. By design.

The “we might” is a complete embarrassment. For Disney? It was the worst idea you can think of. What the actual hell? Comcast won’t do that. They announce and build. Guess who started that?

Anyway…I think what’s been going on the last 5 years has been misread - leading to the “we’re thinking”

Bob hates parks…he hates parks guests. Nothing he’s done since 2005 contradicts. It’s all “if I have too…” in response for him.

So his “I need a park legacy” program
Started in 2011 at fantasyland…and ended with the opening of tron. They never had any intention of continuing to build…cause they hated it in the first place. Bob. Mr yacht and mixers at Sun valley.

So they squeeze some excuses out of Covid…then tried the blue sky crap…but they haven’t deviated at all. Either Bob. They were in lockstep on reduce and exploit. That’s why 80% are replacements…just moving maintenance deck chairs around on an overcrowded ship with fees attached.

I haven’t fully dissected his comments yesterday - because my head would explode and I need to finish some projects for work first - but everything I’ve seen was crap. LAUGHABLE crap - in fact.

 

[Doberge]

That’s not an “uncommon” sentiment at all…

And I think 3-4 days at universal is more than enough.

But what makes wdw 10?
That’s not saying I dispute it…just how do you fill it up?

We pretty regularly do about 9 nights and have a trip like that later this summer. One night and two days at beach club will be mostly resort time and popping into epcot for dinner. Then four nights at OKW to split time mostly between HS, EPCOT, AK, and DS. Then four nights at Fort Wilderness splitting time between resort activities and MK.

But first we have a six night trip at the end of next week and we're talking about what we want to prioritize and what we want to cut out.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

We pretty regularly do about 9 nights and have a trip like that later this summer. One night and two days at beach club will be mostly resort time and popping into epcot for dinner. Then four nights at OKW to split time mostly between HS, EPCOT, AK, and DS. Then four nights at Fort Wilderness splitting time between resort activities and MK.

But first we have a six night trip at the end of next week and we're talking about what we want to prioritize and what we want to cut out.

Annual pass…that’s not the “standard” traveler

Basil explained it well…
What I was getting at is the majority of visitors - still - don’t get there as much as we do and can’t “leisurely skip” the lines or pop in for dinners when the gate is $115-$180 a pop. And a kidney if you want to park hop

 

[montyz81]

With all this money being spent, is there any chance the Yeti will get fixed?
Oh mayb that is why Joe is back!

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

With all this money being spent, is there any chance the Yeti will get fixed?
Oh mayb that is why Joe is back!

Maybe after the Dino reskins?

 

[wtyy21]

He now confirms us at media conference with MoffettNathason that all future Disney Parks project would be IP-based (including acquired ones that most recently from 20th century fox), not original stories.

Iger: Future of Disney Theme Parks Is IP, Not Original Stories

In a recent interview, Disney CEO Bob Iger outlined that the future of the Disney theme parks around the world is IP, not original stories

blogmickey.com

 

[Magenta Panther]

Okay, a vlogger going by the handle TDR Explorer got a special first look at Fantasy Springs in Tokyo Disneyland. And...I can't possibly describe how joyful, and astonished, and bitter, and angry I felt after watching the video he posted about his visit.
As I watched, I kept saying "Oh my god, OH MY GOD". So beautiful, and not just beautiful in a classic Disney way, just plain beautiful! The detail and artistry just blows the mind. It's unbelievable, indescribable. And the bitter and angry part is about the fact that we Americans will never see anything like Fantasy Springs in the country where Disneyland was born. We get the broken yeti and building facades falling down and light fixtures collapsing and lights not working anymore and great rides being ripped out and being replaced by dreck.

Watch his video. It's a long one, because he looked at stuff besides the excellent rides. I'm telling you, Walt himself would weep with joy over this park. How can anyone look at WDW the same after seeing THIS?

60 billion dollars to be invested in WDW, right, you betcha, Bob. None of it will be to THIS level. You can't touch this, because stateside Disney just doesn't have the talent anymore.

Perhaps the most bitter irony is the difference between Tokyo Disneyland's Rapunzel's Tower and WDW's Rapunzel's Tower. It is to weep.

 

[PREMiERdrum]

60 billion dollars to be invested in WDW, right, you betcha, Bob. None of it will be to THIS level. You can't touch this, because stateside Disney just doesn't have the talent anymore.

Perhaps the most bitter irony is the difference between Tokyo Disneyland's Rapunzel's Tower and WDW's Rapunzel's Tower. It is to weep.

Not at all a talent issue, as WDI is WDI.

Simply - and sadly - one organization that views the experience as their product and guests as their customers, and another that views their stock price as the product and it's shareholders as their customers.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Not at all a talent issue, as WDI is WDI.

Simply - and sadly - one organization that views the experience as their product and guests as their customers, and another that views their stock price as the product and it's shareholders as their customers.

I don’t get - and this very well could be contractual? - why they don’t straight up ripoff all the OLC stuff?

It’s probably contracts for development costs…

But they didn’t serve the same markets…at all…and there really is no business conflicts.

There’s already the standard nonsense rumors thrown around about the tangled ride and the snuggly going into Epcot

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Okay, a vlogger going by the handle TDR Explorer got a special first look at Fantasy Springs in Tokyo Disneyland. And...I can't possibly describe how joyful, and astonished, and bitter, and angry I felt after watching the video he posted about his visit.
As I watched, I kept saying "Oh my god, OH MY GOD". So beautiful, and not just beautiful in a classic Disney way, just plain beautiful! The detail and artistry just blows the mind. It's unbelievable, indescribable. And the bitter and angry part is about the fact that we Americans will never see anything like Fantasy Springs in the country where Disneyland was born. We get the broken yeti and building facades falling down and light fixtures collapsing and lights not working anymore and great rides being ripped out and being replaced by dreck.

Watch his video. It's a long one, because he looked at stuff besides the excellent rides. I'm telling you, Walt himself would weep with joy over this park. How can anyone look at WDW the same after seeing THIS?

60 billion dollars to be invested in WDW, right, you betcha, Bob. None of it will be to THIS level. You can't touch this, because stateside Disney just doesn't have the talent anymore.

Perhaps the most bitter irony is the difference between Tokyo Disneyland's Rapunzel's Tower and WDW's Rapunzel's Tower. It is to weep.

It’s not the designers…it’s the motivations of two very different managements.

OLC is “we got enough yen…let’s have some fun”

Burbank is “we are so awesome…we can sell sand to drink to suckers”

 

[Ike Arajo]

I don't think you have a firm understanding of Disney's ability to waste money.

Exhibit A: The NBA Experience at DS
Exhibit B: Star Wars Galactic Cruiser.

 

[osian]

The bolded are the only ones that are popular with kids. Nemo and Figment are always dead. Test Track and especially Guardians are too intense. It’s really just a park for locals and for food.

I would disagree with the "just a park for locals and food" bit! But Disney have been trying very hard to make EPCOT appeal to just kids as opposed to all ages, so they've obviously got the wrong IP, or done it wrong, or maybe they just shouldn't have tried. There have been some colossal IP failures recently, perhaps EPCOT is actually the biggest one so far?

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Exhibit A: The NBA Experience at DS
Exhibit B: Star Wars Galactic Cruiser.

…maybe not “firm understanding”…

…but you’re definitely in the right ballpark

 

[davis_unoxx]

My 2 cents...
So according to Iger, he is betting all his eggs on Disney IP's to compete with Universal Epic Universe?
to me, that is saying they have no plans to do anything in response to the opening of Epic. That is just arrogance!
They keep saying that the Parks are busy, but if watch the vloggers, you see the truth...its empty!

I believe that Epic WILL impact Disney and they will not have a comeback to counter their new park! Even if they did build additions to the parks, it would not be ready for 5+ years...Epic, the entire park, only took 5 years to build. I believe Disney will hurt for attendance for 2-3 years after Epic opens and will scramble to announce something!

Disney is loosing fans, even die hard fans and they don't care except for how much money they can nickel and dime their guests!

Exactly! And 70% of their profits are from the parks, vs a decade ago was around 25% of profits.

So with falling attendance they are in trouble. I was cast member out West until a few months ago, the amount of hours part timers getting is so little. So many 4 hour shifts it wasn’t like this pre pandemic.

Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland is the least busy part of the park at night, New Orleans Square has so much energy in comparison. If Disney thinks people will just come for their IP they’re wrong, they come to be transported to another world not Marvel Campus.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland is the least busy part of the park at night, New Orleans Square has so much energy in comparison. If Disney thinks people will just come for their IP they’re wrong, they come to be transported to another world not Marvel Campus.

Don’t worry…when the Johnson trilogy and the new Daisy Ridley movie where she explores the deeper meaning of the force and performs in the Jedi traveling circus come out…they are gonna add some meet and greets and rechristen the land “BadToo”

…that’ll fix it