Or we could subtitle this post: WDW is in dire trouble and they finally get that timeshares, data mining and cost-cutting won't be enough to cut it.
There's been a lot of chatter of late about WDW and its response to Potter (or lack thereof), but WDW no longer needs just a Potter Swatter or a Transformers Trasher ... and apparently the suits are starting to get VERY worried.
And, yes, that's why you've heard of grandiose plans to redo TPFKaTD-MGMS and drop part of Carsland in (actually as near as I can tell, it's simply RSRs, a shop, and a snack stand, but it could well be more and I don't know what has been proposed to whom at this point). ... Because of the Pandoran Delegations delays in bringing blue aliens to DAK, there's a strong push to get this done and started soon (like as soon as the next fiscal year) and have it open first.
I admit that it is surprising. I've fought it. And I hate the idea that RSRs could wind up in FLA ...BTW, so does Georgie K and TDA because there's a thought that the larger resort will siphon many of the new visitors to Anaheim away if the larger one suddenly has the biggest piece of the redevelopment puzzle ... and John Lasseter could step in and stop this too. This is a VERY fluid situation because Anaheim never expected their top new attraction to suddenly be desired by their cross country cheaper cousin. They, somewhat naturally, don't want to share. And WDW is set to debut Test Track 2.0, but that in no way is an equalizer.
But Kathy Mangum was one of the top folks on Carsland and she now will be residing at Celebration Place, and it isn't because she's replacing Jim MacPhee on Next Gen or because she needs to reign in Joe Rohde's travel expense account.
Right now TDO is running scared (like a fanboi an at Imagineering party who has just tried a 'special' punch and feels a little 'funny'). They have a stale product. They realize (even if some fanbois don't) FINALLY that the modest Fantasyland project isn't enough and they know getting aliens into DAK is not going to be an easy or quick task at all. They also get that timeshare sales may make the bottom line look vastly better than it should, but those won't last forever.
Resort attendance this summer has been abysmal at times (no, you shouldn't have resort load levels in the 60s in the summer!), both DME and DDP are way down. The parks have been lighter than they should be (with the exception of the water parks, which are having phenomenal summers).
The DDP problem many at TDO suspect is because people are opting to either not stay on-site or spend days away from their rooms at POP, PO or the BW making them less likely to get tied down to a meal plan that makes Disney a small fortune.
They are looking to cut costs across the board, because that IS the best way TDO knows how to operate. That's why there is not one single midnight MK closing in August (with many 9 and 10 p.m. nights). That is why they have already announced an hour being removed from EMHs. They are looking at cutting entertainment budgets yet again. ... And also expect to start seeing (if they haven't started yet, conflicting info on this) to have even more staggered hours for attractions. In other words, don't be shocked if Jungle Cruise or PoC starts opening at 11 a.m. when the park is open at 9 (those are just possibilities, so don't say I said that was definitely happening!)
Some resort dining locales may soon see shorter operating hours and lose meals entirely (does any of this sound like WDW in the past?)
Disney also will be taking more hotel inventory out for 'rehab; likely as we head into 2013. That is again a bottom-line as well as PR move. If you remove say 600 rooms for 'work' at ASMu, then you may be able to crow that the resort is 87% full -- now, of course it won't be, but that doesn't matter so much. And work will be coming to many resorts starting next year.
Now, I don't want this to read like bad news, because it actually appears that TDO's running scared because of the competition and Burbank is keeping closer tabs and realizes something needs to be done. ... And while you'll likely see smaller projects at all parks (I'd definitely expect to see Wishes replaced by something better when the new parade debuts now -- that's just an educated opinion there, not fact), it certainly looks like the weak sister Studios will be where the action happens (no, no Marvel, fanbois!)
That shouldn't really surprise, though, because the park most like DCA in Florida is, and always has been, TPFKaTD-MGMS.
Again, I really think this will be GOOD news down the road. But look for more cost cutting, penny pinching and cast and guest screwing until we get there!
