Disney(World) vs. Disney(land)?

[TP2000]

The local Anaheim newspaper had a story on this, with quotes from Bob Iger specifically about the wild success of Cars Land and what it's done to Anaheim attendance. A few choice quotes...

For the first time, Disney California Adventure was drawing half of the visitors who come to the resort; it is unclear whether the company includes the three Disney hotels and Downtown Disney in that statistic, or just the two parks.

Before, California Adventure drew just about 25 percent of tourism traffic, said Bob Iger, chairman and chief executive officer of the Walt Disney Co.

"California Adventure is now an excellent park in its own right," Iger said during a conference call with investors.

Overall attendance at U.S. Disney parks experienced a 1 percent increase in attendance, compared to the same period for last year. Occupancy dropped by 1.5 percent at Disney hotels, most of which are in Florida's Walt Disney World. The three Anaheim hotels are booking rooms "substantially ahead" of Walt Disney World's pace, Iger said.

"It's being driven, we believe, by the investment in California Adventure," Iger said.

Amazing times, indeed. And with the Anaheim parks very busy this summer, with the stats from Al Lutz claiming up to an extra 10K each day, that would mean the WDW parks must be seeing some noticeable drops in attendance. And the comments on the Anaheim hotels being "substantially ahead" of their Florida cousins would back up that assesment of the park attendance between Disneyland and Disney World.

The full story is here, with Facebook comments from a bunch of SoCal locals who are furious Disneyland attendance keeps rising with the ticket prices. http://www.ocregister.com/entertainment/disney-367697-adventure-california.html

 

[danlb_2000]

Nope it would be an underhanded and shady move that no company would do. Drawing more business away from Disney? Do you realize that even if WDW took a 20% dip in attendance they would still be beating UNI and unlike Disney people who visit Universal almost universally also go to WDW

But how long do you think WDW could stay in business if they took a 20% dip in attendance? They would have to make some serious cuts to be able to survive with that big a loss in attendance.

 

[jt04]

You are so far off, it's ridiculous.

You do see what UNI is adding to its parks, both here and in Hollywood and abroad, right?

You do know that their execs are passionate about the theme park business and bullish on its future and are actively throwing money into bar-raising projects, right?

Or do you and the newbie just want to get the discussion off-track by spouting total BS?

Uni still only gets a tiny fraction of the numbers WDW parks get. Also Uni has very limited space for expansion unlike WDW. You are just painted in a corner with no way out. You have only yourself to blame. I am not saying Uni can not hurt Disney's bottom line because obviously they can. But in the long run only if the mouse stands still which only happens in cycles and then there is more investment. It is a pattern that never changes.

Word on another site has WDW hotels stuck at around 60% occupancy. The crowds are not returning--and guests who are returning are staying in a better room at a lower price that's as equally convenient to IoA as it is to WDW.

BTW, saw a bartender catch a mouse behind the bar at a DELUXE hotel this week. Appropos of nothing...

WDW is in the 'down cycle' of adding new content and the economy stinks. So of course this is the low point. As I have said many times TWDC's priorities have been elsewhere while still investing in WDW infrastructure.

Soon the FLE opens. Pandora is underway. And rather than building all new attractions, perhaps while we wait for Pandora we will see existing attractions upgraded. Rumor has it the JC will soon receive its overhaul. And we all know Test Track is getting a new overlay. I expect similar projects. Those that drink the spirited kool-aid are looking more foolish by the day.

 

[jt04]

Let's explain it like this:

Yes, Disney company as a whole reported great numbers. Parks & Resorts looks wonderful. On a scale of 1 to 10 they hit a solid 9.8. (The numbers scale is pure analogy, bear with me.) The point these folks are trying to make is that the sum of all the parks added together made that total number good. The fact that there was an obvious omission of WDW's piece of that 9.8 score while specific mention was thrown for the huge contributions from Tokyo (which Disney doesn't even own, it's all a license agreement), Disneyland, and Disney Cruise Line speaks volumes. Again, the sum of the numbers is good. But that number breakdown is more like:

Tokyo: 2.5
Disneyland: 3.5
Disney Cruise: 3.0
WDW: 0.8

It's obvious when one of the bunch there isn't pulling its weight. The way TDO keeps their numbers looking okay is they cut spending by reducing offerings, cutting budgets, etc. basically they spend less but charge the guest more. It's not a healthy business model. At some point consumers get tired of spending more to get less.

I think they are probably ecstatic that the numbers for WDW have held so well while they invested in other parks and divisions. Now attention will turn to WDW with the opening of the FLE and construction of Pandora and whatever else the mouse has up his sleeve. Exciting times!

 

[jt04]

I am hoping things will get cleaned up. And we can continue tomorrow without the nonsensical BS that plowed in tonight.

What truly astounds me is this was a thread about good (maybe great) stuff coming to WDW and we still got an idiot troll (maybe our old pal) and we got the worst behavior from JT (who I, like most here, have been trying to figure his purpose since joining) ... ughhh .. good night!

You started throwing out the insults first pal. I just responded. The mods understand how you operate now and your demands to be treated "special". Likely you will not get any sympathy when you insist on holding people to a different standard than you expect of yourself.

I have been saying for years that WDW would see an uptick in investment in attractions but that for a time WDW was not on the front burner. Now you realize I was exactly right and you come in and claim it is the result of ""spirited change". You are a complete opportunist.

Reminds one of the person that risks their own life to save a drowning person in treacherous waters. A crowd gathers on the shore to watch the drama. Then once the hero has dragged the poor drowning victim into ankle deep water the crowd rushes forward to drag both people the last few feet to safety. And from then on everyone in the crowd tells the children and grandchildren how they almost died saving a drowning person. You represent the crowd. Pure and simple. Iger is the hero.

Have a good day player.

 

[jt04]

The local Anaheim newspaper had a story on this, with quotes from Bob Iger specifically about the wild success of Cars Land and what it's done to Anaheim attendance. A few choice quotes...



Amazing times, indeed. And with the Anaheim parks very busy this summer, with the stats from Al Lutz claiming up to an extra 10K each day, that would mean the WDW parks must be seeing some noticeable drops in attendance. And the comments on the Anaheim hotels being "substantially ahead" of their Florida cousins would back up that assesment of the park attendance between Disneyland and Disney World.

The full story is here, with Facebook comments from a bunch of SoCal locals who are furious Disneyland attendance keeps rising with the ticket prices. http://www.ocregister.com/entertainment/disney-367697-adventure-california.html

Supply and demand economics for all to see. Capitlism is awesome.

Now TWDC needs to repeat this scenario as often as possible. Walt Disney had it right from day 1.

 

[flynnibus]

even a broken clock is right twice a day JT...

 

[RSoxNo1]

So, 74... I guess my JC question was buried by the nonsense talk of bulls yet again... Please can you enlighten us if you heard this about Jungle Cruise:

-Extended ride path around the Swiss Family Tree house, adding about 5 minutes to the attraction
-New scenes for extended ride path
-Partially automated spiel.
-New queue
-Wheelchair loading dock

I said this in private, but I'll put it out their publicly as well - If they're going to extend any attraction shouldn't it be Kali River Rapids?

 

[jt04]

even a broken clock is right twice a day JT...

Except this "broken clock" hears that quote far too often for it to be a coincidence. Obviously I make mistakes but I will put my track record up against anyone else around here.

If I don't say it who will?

 

[Lee]

Good morning!
Did I miss anything?

 

[jt04]

Good morning!
Did I miss anything?

Same ol' same ol'

 

[flynnibus]

Good morning!
Did I miss anything?

Same old thing.. sock puppets.. boomerang banned users... people replying upset to people for being the same people they've been for years, surprised they are still that way instead of evolving and using the ignore feature as they should.

 

[Tiggerrules]

I think they are probably ecstatic that the numbers for WDW have held so well while they invested in other parks and divisions. Now attention will turn to WDW with the opening of the FLE and construction of Pandora and whatever else the mouse has up his sleeve. Exciting times!

If that was their intention,IMHO that is a flawed plan. Why neglect your flagship park and hope to come in and save it later. When you neglect or ignore that part of your business it will take 4 to 5 times more capital to get to where it would have been if you had just taken care of it. And yes, I own my own business and have for numerous years, learned alot through the hard knocks of ignoring certain parts of the business and how hard it is to get it back.

 

[GLaDOS]

Also Uni has very limited space for expansion unlike WDW.

I'm not getting into the whole "Uni/WDW is trying to put the other out of business" rabble, because it's false as false can be, and instead stick to facts. And this isn't one.

Yes, obviously WDW has more space than Uni, but Universal still has a good amount of viable expansion plots, especially in IoA. There are plots in Seuss, Jurassic Park, Toon Lagoon, and Marvel that can all hold substantial attractions without replacing anything. The studios is a bit more land locked, but still has room to add an entire land back by Simpsons and Men in Black.

If that was their intention,IMHO that is a flawed plan. Why neglect your flagship park and hope to come in and save it later. When you neglect or ignore that part of your business it will take 4 to 5 times more capital to get to where it would have been if you had just taken care of it. And yes, I own my own business and have for numerous years, learned alot through the hard knocks of ignoring certain parts of the business and how hard it is to get it back.

It wasn't their plan. At all. Pay no attention to the man below the tin foil hat.

 

[alissafalco]

Well, all in all, I hope that this is the kick in the but that WDW needs to start changing some of their cheap ways. Lower the hotel prices (especially AoA) to make it more affordable, bring back those extra special touches that differentiates Disney from the rest (printed napkins, EMH, 2 snacks for DDP, etc.), and start making the existing 4 parks a top priority in upkeep and maintenance. I really do love Disney and will take Disney over Uni on any given day. It's just so upsetting to see the path that it has been going down for some time.

 

[flynnibus]

Well, all in all, I hope that this is the kick in the but that WDW needs to start changing some of their cheap ways. Lower the hotel prices (especially AoA) to make it more affordable, bring back those extra special touches that differentiates Disney from the rest (printed napkins, EMH, 2 snacks for DDP, etc.), and start making the existing 4 parks a top priority in upkeep and maintenance. I really do love Disney and will take Disney over Uni on any given day. It's just so upsetting to see the path that it has been going down for some time.

Why lower prices when you can offer discounts of 40% that make people want to 'jump on the deal' even more..
Why reinvest in minor details you've already conditioned the world to accept at a lesser standard?
etc

If you think things are simply going to be 'rolled back' I think you are setting yourself up for disappointment. Disney will continue to move forward, but what is done is done.. its very very very rare for the company to go back to something. Instead they will try something 'else' when their replacement something fails.

Going back requires admitting a mistake - instead they replace something that under performs with 'an even better idea' so they don't have to admit to a mistake.. instead it's 'plussing'

 

[cbconglom]

Good morning!
Did I miss anything?

not much, but some random guy named lee was about to tell us something great

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I think they are probably ecstatic that the numbers for WDW have held so well while they invested in other parks and divisions. Now attention will turn to WDW with the opening of the FLE and construction of Pandora and whatever else the mouse has up his sleeve. Exciting times!

I hope the focus does shift. I don't criticize WDW because it's fun to do so. I genuinely love the place & want to see it as polished & amazing as its California sibling. I try not to come off as a mindless basher. Ya know? Like I said, I really do hope this is the case!

 

[wannab@dis]

For someone that whines about people following him online or making (up) threats, you sure don't mind naming names and attacking them. So, put out your name so we can all know who's behind the mask.

 

[GLaDOS]

For someone that whines about people following him online or making (up) threats, you sure don't mind naming names and attacking them. So, put out your name so we can all know who's behind the mask.

It's not who he is underneath, but what he does that defines him.