Disney(World) vs. Disney(land)?

[JohnMarkT]

COA* please for "POP, PO or the BW."

*COA: Clarification of Abbreviation

 

[sweetpee_1993]

COA* please for "POP, PO or the BW."

*COA: Clarification of Abbreviation

POP=Pop Century Resort

 

[Master Yoda]

COA* please for "POP, PO or the BW."

*COA: Clarification of Abbreviation

pop century, port orleans boardwalk.

 

[Lee]

I won't pretend I have any insider information here, I don't, but I would think cloning RSR Overseas would be far less detrimental to DCA's attendance than cloning it at WDW, so I don't think what you're suggesting is impossible. I'd love to see what someone with more insight thinks.

It's true that putting RSR into an overseas park would not have a signficant inpact on attendance stateside.
However....where would it go?
Paris? It would have to go into the Studios park...but they can't afford it.
Tokyo? Have to be in TDL. Where would it fit/make sense? I can't figure that.
Hong Kong? See Tokyo.
Shanghai? So far it isn't in the plan, and wouldn't really make sense in that park.

My guess? Carsland, and it's components, will be US only.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

All this talk about John Lasseter...

First, isn't he pretty tied up with the next E-ticket going in at DL? Didn't I read that's his next baby? Second, and I say this purely off impression as I know nothing about the man personally, JL comes off as a creative soul. In my mind, if there's going to be a reason he'd fight cloning RSRs in Florida it would begin with the lack of creativity in cloning something. That's boring and uninteresting to a creative brain. I would envision him fighting for the opportunity to bring another of his prized Pixar greats to life in another park regardless of which coast it's on. So **if** JL is fighting the cloning of RSRs I'd think that in addition to the possibility or ramifications of pulling the rug out from under DCAs success it'd also be from his creative side that seeks to do new things when the potential opportunity is there.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Lee, what I don't get, is why "Skipper John" would have any problem at all with propagating his
legacy out around the globe, in all the parks. It would seem to be the logical thing to do. Maybe
just because being "hands on" across the country is tougher, or something. But I'd think in the
case of his properties, more is more, as far as building a legacy.

I don't know or get the innards, and I understand loyalty to one's local team, but I'd think
that he, and anyone else at that level, would be thinking globally, more than locally.

Best guess - he sees that putting a cheaper Carsland on the East Coast will prevent people from visiting a better version on the West Coast. Also likely, he gets it.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Lasseter does not have so much clout that he can engage in such power plays. Not that I believe he is anyway.

The smartest thing Bob Iger has done is to placate John Lasseter. It's been widely reported that Lasseter doesn't get along with him, but it seems that Iger has gone against his own opinions in order to satisfy Lasseter's.

But the thing is Carsland hasn't translated into more guests going thru the turnstiles at DLR as a whole. I've seen multiple reports of the numbers overall in Anaheim staying flat from last year.

Personally, if I want to see Carsland I'll book a trip to DLR. Don't bring it to WDW. Besides RSR's, the rest of the attractions aren't anything special and it's been well documented how slow and inefficient load times are for those rides. It just doesn't make any sense to bring that stuff here IMO.

I'd love to see couple of Pixar Cars and Monsters Inc attraction built to complement TSMM but not a clones from Carsland.

Overall resort numbers are definitely up. Al Lutz has the hard numbers and they were between 5-10K per day. That's very substantial.

 

[Lee]

All this talk about John Lasseter...

First, isn't he pretty tied up with the next E-ticket going in at DL? Didn't I read that's his next baby? Second, and I say this purely off impression as I know nothing about the man personally, JL comes off as a creative soul. In my mind, if there's going to be a reason he'd fight cloning RSRs in Florida it would begin with the lack of creativity in cloning something. That's boring and uninteresting to a creative brain. I would envision him fighting for the opportunity to bring another of his prized Pixar greats to life in another park regardless of which coast it's on. So **if** JL is fighting the cloning of RSRs I'd think that in addition to the possibility or ramifications of pulling the rug out from under DCAs success it'd also be from his creative side that seeks to do new things when the potential opportunity is there.

Good point. I'm sure creativity is a factor for JL.
As far as what he's working on at DL, that isn't something that would prevent him from working on other things elsewhere. His position isn't particularly hands-on all that much. More supervisory and advisory.

 

[Todd H]

Believe it or not, both.

TDO has execs literally poohing their pants because they have watched their numbers and UNI's and they are projecting things to get even worse even with two Dumbos (imagine that?!?!) or you wouldn't see all the cost-cutting that you will (and for every cut you see on stage, rest assured there are 3-4 backstage that you can't see).

But Burbank is starting to grasp that the situation could have big problems for P&R's numbers in the years ahead. Smoke, mirrors and marketing has kept attendance basically flat.

UNI's numbers keep going up. Their numbers in Hollywood this summer have shocked even the Comcast execs ... and that's just with Transformers.

Disney finally blinked and admitted (years too late) that it indeed is involved in a war ... and if it isn't careful, in a few years could see many longtime guests who would stay for 10 nights, suddenly not staying on property at all and visiting for only 2-3 days. There is HUGE concern. And considering the arrogant, greedy bunch, that's saying plenty.

Speaking as someone that just spent two days at Universal Orlando for the first time, I couldn't agree more with the last part. We usually spend about six days at WDW visiting the four parks. Now, we'll probably bump that back to four and spend the remaining two days at Universal. And as my son gets older that number could sway towards Universal even more.

 

[yensidtlaw1969]

Good point. I'm sure creativity is a factor for JL.
As far as what he's working on at DL, that isn't something that would prevent him from working on other things elsewhere. His position isn't particularly hands-on all that much. More supervisory and advisory.

Speaking of what he's working on at DL . . . any insight you can offer? All I keep seeing is basically "Big unnamed Tomorrowland E-Ticket". Sounds good so far, but any idea what it might BE?

 

[Lee]

Speaking of what he's working on at DL . . . any insight you can offer? All I keep seeing is basically "Big unnamed Tomorrowland E-Ticket". Sounds good so far, but any idea what it might BE?

I do have an idea what it is, but I'm waiting to get some firm confirmation before putting it out there.

 

[NoChesterHester]

The smartest thing Bob Iger has done is to placate John Lasseter. It's been widely reported that Lasseter doesn't get along with him, but it seems that Iger has gone against his own opinions in order to satisfy Lasseter's.


Overall resort numbers are definitely up. Al Lutz has the hard numbers and they were between 5-10K per day. That's very substantial.

5K per day = a gain of 2 million visitors per year. At $80 a head that is +$160 million in one year. Doesn't take long to pay off a big investment if any of those folks buy food + merchandise... Which they do.

 

[Expo_Seeker40]

I don’t think the pendulum is going to swing back toward the quality of the 1980s or early 90s just yet. I fear it will swing so far back it will break and go off track, reason being...based on their record, I wouldn’t doubt that TDO will make a series of haphazard and quick decisions to solve the Potter Swatter problem.

I’d expect to see “new” parades and fireworks shows or other events that will be technically new and be heavily marketed as such, but will be on a tight budget. So instead of getting one major new fireworks show along the line’s of DLP’s Dreams, the MK would instead get something vastly inferior, but would be new and different than “Wishes”. Same with possible new parades or other entertainment.

As for as new attractions, I can’t imagine anything new coming to the MK besides the FLE. A few things concern me such as the Carousel of Progress will be “turning” 50 in 2014 and has been playing the same show since 1994, the longest version of it yet.

Will we have more refurbed attractions a long the lines of the Tiki Room and Swiss Family, who knows...

AK to me is not a big problem. I still have my doubts about Avatarland ever happening.

It seems DHS and Epcot will be the focus. Epcot hasn’t had a new country since the 80s and let’s not hide the fact that Ellen, Circle of Life, and Living with the Land are basically as they are from the 90s and Captain EO is from the 80s and oh what else.....the cosmetic design of future world is a botched land from the 80s mixed with the last major overhaul in the late 90s?

Disney has a two-fold purpose with it’s P&R in WDW. To enhance and improve what already exists and bring things up to a higher quality and standard as well as bringing new experiences.

I am cautious as to how “new” these new experiences will be. I feel that refurbed attractions or bringing things out of storage such as SpectroMagic will be billed as new, but regardless TDO realizes money must be spent on an entirely new experience to WDW guests.

How much money and where they spend it will be key. I feel the easy way out is through a cloned experience rather than taking the effort to come up with an entirely unique experience for WDW.

 

[RSoxNo1]

5K per day = a gain of 2 million visitors per year. At $80 a head that is +$160 million in one year. Doesn't take long to pay off a big investment if any of those folks buy food + merchandise... Which they do.

At Disney World that's not $80 a head either. More people stay on site in Florida, that number is easily doubled.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Good point. I'm sure creativity is a factor for JL.
As far as what he's working on at DL, that isn't something that would prevent him from working on other things elsewhere. His position isn't particularly hands-on all that much. More supervisory and advisory.

Gotcha! I wondered even if he had projects under his wings to what extent was he truly involved. Not sure how hands-on he is or needs to be. I guess one could say as much as he wants to be. LOL! I just see someone who's created so much awesome stuff throughout Pixar's history being the type to be driven by opportunity to further that more-so than by numbers.

 

[flynnibus]

There are some things they could do quickly because they already have the meat...

A Wishes replacement that utilizes the projection mapping well to COMPLEMENT fireworks would get the fanbase drolling. Look at what Remember... did for DL. It became a 'must do' even for heavy repeat APs. Take what DL has learned with their non-pyro showmanship.. the 3d mapping MK has.. the much more impressive fireworks capabilities MK has.. and they could create a draw much more significant than WoC. And do so in an area where they already have the major elements in place!

Fixing up DHS has a lot of potential, and available space. Given it's the park on it's heels the most.. and the one who has lost it's vision the most. Visions of 'DCA reboot..' really do align with aspirations of 'DHS reboot..' as well. Fixing that park in a way to establish a baseline for ongoing improvements could be a battle line to help with fighting UNI. DHS has an attraction lineup the closest to UNI already in thrill.. but also has a stronger family element than UNI does.

Finally do something GOOD with F!, replace the backlot and dead tour with a new land.. or simply reboot the shows around echo lake could go a long long long way to getting DHS pointing up.

 

[yensidtlaw1969]

I do have an idea what it is, but I'm waiting to get some firm confirmation before putting it out there.

I appreciate that so much! I'd rather wait for your word and know that it's true than demand it today and have it go nowhere. Thank you!

 

[twinnstar]

And John wields a lot of power. What John wants John almost always gets. And that's why this could be a very interesting corporate power struggle.

Will his concern ever shift his focus to WDW? Or is that not somewhere he needs to be to get things done? I guess what im asking is - if he turned around tomorrow and suddenly wanted to focus on WDW, would things HAPPEN cause of the power he has? (i know that wont happen, just being hypothetical..)

 

[Mickey_777]

Overall resort numbers are definitely up. Al Lutz has the hard numbers and they were between 5-10K per day. That's very substantial.

That's the first time I've heard this. DCA is bursting at the seams but DL park is logging short wait times for it's major attractions. 35 min wait for Indy in the middle of the summer? Wierd. Something's not adding up.

 

[GLaDOS]

That's the first time I've heard this. DCA is bursting at the seams but DL park is logging short wait times for it's major attractions. 35 min wait for Indy in the middle of the summer? Wierd. Something's not adding up.

DL has lost 7-15K a day, but DCA has gained 15-20, so it's still an overall gain.