Disney wants control

[lt94]

Article in Orlando paper
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/fl-disney-asserts-clout-in-gambling-debate-20111105,0,7996350.story

Disney feels Casinos 200 to 300 miles away will cut into bottom line from south america guest. Disney will need to spend more money to get people to come to Disney.

 

[c-one]

Here's a better idea: Disney World should have more to do for the 21-35 set and families who don't have kids.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

Pleasure Isla-oh wait never mind.....:brick:

 

[Computer Magic]

Here's a better idea: Disney World should have more to do for the 21-35 set and families who don't have kids.

Totally agree.

 

[duplechien]

If its anything like the Casinos in Louisiana, all they attract are older folks over 50. Around here, they are the only ones with the money to waste

 

[Plowboy]

Pleasure Isla-oh wait never mind.....:brick:

This.

:dazzle:

 

[R W B]

If its anything like the Casinos in Louisiana, all they attract are older folks over 50. Around here, they are the only ones with the money to waste

Which part of louisisana? I know the lake Charles area has a bunch that I have never been to but the 3 casinos in and around New Orleans have a good size younger crowd, especially on the weekends.

 

[trr1]

WOW! a whole new direction for Disney how a bout Walt Disney World casino
just build it at Flamingo Crosssing all the slots have disney characters
get three mickeys jackpot and you get a vacation for a week at WDW

 

[Xethos]

I thought their were casinos in the area already? I'm pretty sure I went to one a few years ago on a rainy afternoon

 

[trr1]

I thought their were casinos in the area already? I'm pretty sure I went to one a few years ago on a rainy afternoon

I think the closest one is Located about 70 miles from disney,
the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is a full-service casino located on the outskirts of Tampa

 

[c-one]

I thought their were casinos in the area already? I'm pretty sure I went to one a few years ago on a rainy afternoon

There are some Native American casinos in Florida, yes. Sounds like they're looking to open the casino industry up to anyone, though.

I'm not a gambler at all but I'd be tempted by so-called "destination" casinos.

And yes, I think closing Pleasure Island was a mistake, but that's not really what I'm talking about.

 

[lt94]

"Genting has already spent more than $300 million to buy bay-front property in downtown Miami and has announced plans for a $3.8 billion resort.Analysts say anyone that invests that much capital to build a resort also will have to spend lavishly to market the property. At a minimum, that will force Disney to ramp up its own spending on advertising, eroding its profit margins"

"Latin America — particularly Brazil, its biggest country — has become one of Disney World's most valuable markets in recent years.

It's all about Money bottom line

 

[DisneyJoe]

Aren't the Brazilian Tour Groups too young to gamble?

 

[fillerup]

"Genting has already spent more than $300 million to buy bay-front property in downtown Miami and has announced plans for a $3.8 billion resort.Analysts say anyone that invests that much capital to build a resort also will have to spend lavishly to market the property. At a minimum, that will force Disney to ramp up its own spending on advertising, eroding its profit margins"

"Latin America — particularly Brazil, its biggest country — has become one of Disney World's most valuable markets in recent years.

It's all about Money bottom line

And this is a surprise because....?

 

[Clever Name]

TALLAHASSEE — Malaysian-based Genting wants to build a $3 billion resort casino in downtown Miami. And they’re hiring an All-Star team of Florida lobbyists to make it a reality. Since summer, gaming interests of all varieties have hired nearly three-dozen lobbyists in to lay the groundwork for debate on the resort casino bill filed this week.

And all sides are throwing gobs of cash at ruling Republicans; Genting alone has coughed up more than $200,000. Since the company bought The Miami Herald building last spring, it’s hired a dozen lobbyists, including uber-fundraiser Brian Ballard; ex-education commissioner Jim Horne; ex-congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart; and Democratic lobbyists Sean Pitts and Nancy Texeira.

The company even retained former Senate Democratic Leader Al Lawson to lobby Gov. Rick Scott’s office, while Mardi Gras Gaming (which has given $55,500 this year) turned to another ex-minority leader, Steve Geller of Hallandale Beach, to lobby against the Malaysian multi-national.

Other companies with resort casino ambitions, like Las Vegas Sands, are giving to Associated Industries of Florida, the business lobby that doesn’t oppose gaming.

But Walt Disney usually gets its way in Tallahassee. The company is opposed to the expansion of gaming and has given more than $417,000 to state political parties, candidates and committees this year. It’s also beefed up its lobbying team by hiring former Republican Party of Florida executive director Andy Palmer.

You can be sure that WDW ticket prices will go up this year...again! :wave:

 

[Ignohippo]

It seems to me, the audiences going to these destinations casino resorts would be totally different than the people going to Disney. I really don't see this as competition.

If anything, I'd think the new casinos may actually be a draw to get more international travelers to Florida, and to Disney. They may draw people to Florida who would not have come otherwise.

Maybe Disney should use the money to make DHS more of an thrill ride destination (which it should be), to draw some of this new older crowd visiting Florida, and partner WITH these casinos to have comprehensive vacation packages.

 

[lt94]

Disney is concerned that with another player in the state they will start missing out on the following ."Group meetings and conventions business is also a growing profit center for Disney, which has nearly 470,000 square feet of meeting space spread among its hotels. It also routinely picks up lucrative private parties and other business tied to shows using Orange County's massive, publicly owned convention center"
These might be moving south !

 

[c-one]

Disney is concerned that with another player in the state they will start missing out on the following ."Group meetings and conventions business is also a growing profit center for Disney, which has nearly 470,000 square feet of meeting space spread among its hotels. It also routinely picks up lucrative private parties and other business tied to shows using Orange County's massive, publicly owned convention center"
These might be moving south !

Exactly. Disney makes its money from more than families with children, although you might not know it from watching their moves over the past few years.

 

[roadtripper]

I read an article a few weeks ago about the Brazilian tourism industry, and how they are the largest spending country in the world right now. There were also signs that the bottom is falling out of the tourism in Brazil, as the country is getting more in debt and the people as well.

 

[lt94]

"Latin America — particularly Brazil, its biggest country — has become one of Disney World's most valuable markets in recent years. This summer, even as overall attendance at the resort was about flat with a year ago, Disney officials said traffic from Brazil was up by a double-digit percentage.

Though Disney doesn't disclose exact attendance numbers, national data show that visitation from Brazil is up 27 percent to more than 833,000 so far this year"