Disney spreads fun over calendar
Published November 3, 2004
CHECK THE CALENDAR. It's not your imagination: The special events at Walt Disney World are getting longer.
By the time this year's Food and Wine Festival wraps up Nov. 14, the Epcot grub-and-grape event will have run 45 days compared with 30 in 2003.
Disney added more days to its Halloween party and the Night of Joy Christian music fest. The company tacked on a full week to the Epcot Flower and Garden festival last spring.
All told, nearly half the year -- 170 days -- is devoted to something special at the parks. Five years ago it was more like 112 days.
"People come back again and again," said Ken Potrock, one of Disney's senior vice presidents.
The Mouse has been criticized for recycling ideas -- but who can ignore this sort of efficiency: Extending the length of a festival is an inexpensive way for Disney to make more money. And starting new events pegged to Disney products -- such as an ESPN weekend this summer -- is just working the brand.
The Disney festivals attract residents and tourists, though Potrock wouldn't break out numbers.
Safe to say, attendance has grown. Disney doesn't make a habit of doing things if there isn't demand. Some events require a special ticket, but others, like Food and Wine, require only park admission to get in.
As for the future, Potrock said folks could expect some tie-ins with Disney movies.
"What do you do with a Pirates of the Caribbean, Princess Diaries, The Incredibles?" he asked. "How do you take some of those ideas . . . and how does that morph into a special event?"
Sounds like we'll be finding out next year.
Published November 3, 2004
CHECK THE CALENDAR. It's not your imagination: The special events at Walt Disney World are getting longer.
By the time this year's Food and Wine Festival wraps up Nov. 14, the Epcot grub-and-grape event will have run 45 days compared with 30 in 2003.
Disney added more days to its Halloween party and the Night of Joy Christian music fest. The company tacked on a full week to the Epcot Flower and Garden festival last spring.
All told, nearly half the year -- 170 days -- is devoted to something special at the parks. Five years ago it was more like 112 days.
"People come back again and again," said Ken Potrock, one of Disney's senior vice presidents.
The Mouse has been criticized for recycling ideas -- but who can ignore this sort of efficiency: Extending the length of a festival is an inexpensive way for Disney to make more money. And starting new events pegged to Disney products -- such as an ESPN weekend this summer -- is just working the brand.
The Disney festivals attract residents and tourists, though Potrock wouldn't break out numbers.
Safe to say, attendance has grown. Disney doesn't make a habit of doing things if there isn't demand. Some events require a special ticket, but others, like Food and Wine, require only park admission to get in.
As for the future, Potrock said folks could expect some tie-ins with Disney movies.
"What do you do with a Pirates of the Caribbean, Princess Diaries, The Incredibles?" he asked. "How do you take some of those ideas . . . and how does that morph into a special event?"
Sounds like we'll be finding out next year.
