What bothers me is that, were DQ to be replaced by ESPN Zone or anything else, that it would become a pay-for-play area that kinda takes away some of the perception of "plus" features on tickets being a value. Granted "value" is always a perception anyway, but DQ is a nice place to go to when you've just had it with the heat and the crowds and the waiting in line. My wife and I usually went in the middle of our vacations and it was always a nice respite, especially during the brutal summers. Even just spending an hour or two playing classic arcade games, even if we weren't waiting on line on Cyber Spave Mountain or Pirates, was a nice diversion. But we went on a PAP. I suspect most people who go to DQ are there because their pass gives them that option (as opposed to paying a specific admission just to go). As a result, I wonder how easy or hard it is to gauge if the place is profitable or not.
But I also understand how the business model was predicated on it being a franchise. It's why there's no turnover on major attractions-to make 50 versions of an attraction to go in 50 different DQ is far more cost-effective than all the R&D necessary to make just one. Ironic, since so much of us love the MK because of our old favorites, and we kick us a fuss when there's a rumor something is about to be closed down or removed entirely. But DQ, by virtue of it being originally touted as utilizing cutting-edge technology, seems more out-of-date (or, if you prefer, less "timeless")
I almost hate myself for suggesting this, because there's enough of it everywhere else in the World, but what DQ really needs (aside from windows and a good airing out), is more sponsors. People willing to foot the bill to develop new and interesting attractions in exchange for the advertising. I'm pretty sure SOME attractions are sponsored, but if they aggressivly sought out even more sponsorships, the new attractions could breathe life into that giant warehouse of imagination. Then DQ wouldn't have to worry as much about the cost of maintaining the facility. But honestly, DQ is never going to be the cash cow they once thought it could be. But when you consider how expensive it gets to go to WDW, it'd be nice for them to put a little bit of effort into refurbing DQ, and giving people willing to spend the money on a long vacation or annual pass another place to go to where you don't have to pay any more to enjoy it.
