Disney's Hotel Las Vegas

[Thrawn]

who guarantees it? There is casino gambling within an hours drive of WDW (Hard Rock Seminole Indian Casino - Tampa), and the various cruises to nowhere... ie, Casino Boats. There's also betting on Dog Tracks and Jai Alai all less than an hours drive from WDW.

Not to mention, only Vegas is Vegas... Biloxi is.. err.. eh, and Atlantic City makes me sick. Don't even get me started on Detroit. San Juan is nice, but unless you speak Spanish, you're SOL.

WDW doesn't need a casino.

You've never been to Foxwoods or Mohegan. They make over $300 million EACH a year, after paying 10% to the state of CT. And there is NOTHING else around there. 2 hrs from boston and NYC. (and an hr and a half from the nearest airport) People come just to gamble. Imagine if they had other things to do, like go to amusement parks or PI or wherever on property. Remember, the whole idea of WDW having its own resorts is to have a captive audience. This would add greatly to that.

Another thing ... as far as the "large areas where kids can't go". Have a huge arcade right next to the casino. They already are good money makers for WDW, so it makes sense.

 

[EpcoTim]

Circus Circus and all the other family based casinos arent fareing to well, and I dont think thats a place where Disney needs to be. I lived there for awhile, and the Disney fix would have been nice, but not sure it would draw huge crowds.

 

[mkt]

You've never been to Foxwoods or Mohegan.

I have actually... and that's why I didn't mention them. I'm aware of Foxwoods and the Mohegan Sun, the 2 wealthiest Native American Casinos.

 

[Lauriebar]

Imagine if they had other things to do, like go to amusement parks or PI or wherever on property.

It has been my experience that people who go to gambling establishments go there to gamble, period. They don't really want to do anything else and they certainly don't want there children there with them. It is an adult activity and should be treated that way. I don't think it is a good idea to promote "unfamily time" which is what putting your kids in an arcade for hours at a time while you gamble would be. Don't get me wrong, I am not against gambling at all...I just don't understand why someone would take a family vacation only to be seperated from your family most of the time. If you need me time or you and your spouse need us time then take a vacation without the kids and really have fun!!

 

[Thrawn]

It has been my experience that people who go to gambling establishments go there to gamble, period. They don't really want to do anything else and they certainly don't want there children there with them. It is an adult activity and should be treated that way. I don't think it is a good idea to promote "unfamily time" which is what putting your kids in an arcade for hours at a time while you gamble would be. Don't get me wrong, I am not against gambling at all...I just don't understand why someone would take a family vacation only to be seperated from your family most of the time. If you need me time or you and your spouse need us time then take a vacation without the kids and really have fun!!

Sorry, but thats ultimately not true. I know lots of people who only go to Foxwoods or Mohegan if there is an event there they want to see, such as Connecticut Sun basketball, and then gamble afterward.

Also, like I said, saying that WDW is only for families is dead wrong. I am going in a couple months with 4 other people, and everyone is in their mid twenties. Saying a lot of people come with their families is correct, saying it is only for families isn't. As I said when I posted the link before, if disney was doing surveys about gambling, it is something they at least have put a little thought into. They are ultimately a business to make money, something a casino certainly would do.

 

[Lauriebar]

Sorry, but thats ultimately not true. I know lots of people who only go to Foxwoods or Mohegan if there is an event there they want to see, such as Connecticut Sun basketball, and then gamble afterward.

Also, like I said, saying that WDW is only for families is dead wrong. I am going in a couple months with 4 other people, and everyone is in their mid twenties. Saying a lot of people come with their families is correct, saying it is only for families isn't. As I said when I posted the link before, if disney was doing surveys about gambling, it is something they at least have put a little thought into. They are ultimately a business to make money, something a casino certainly would do.

I didn't say WDW was only for families. What I said was that if someone were to take their family on a vacation that it would be a shame not to spend the majority of their time there with them. Of course I realize that many adults go to WDW on their own.

Gambling is a big money maker, your right. Disney would make a lot of money on it, your right. That money might be spent to make the parks better, your right. The problem is that all of these seemingly great factors pale in comparison to all of the wrong that in my opinion would come from placing a casino on WDW property.

 

[Slipknot]

Here is a problem I see with making all those millions, Thrawn.

Where do you think the majority of the millions of $ will go??? I could guarantee you that most of it would just go into Eisner and his goon's pockets.

 

[peter11435]

Here is a problem I see with making all those millions, Thrawn.

Where do you think the majority of the millions of $ will go??? I could guarantee you that most of it would just go into Eisner and his goon's pockets.

In 2004 the Walt Disney Company made about $30,752,000,000. Eisners salary is only $1 million. Even with his bonus, and other payment, he was paid about $10 million. I would say that it is a stretch to say that most of it would go to Eisner.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

It isn't the neccesary theme that is the problem (although I don't like it). I think the gambling is the issue. You are now crossing in to an entirely different realm. Gambling isn't something that I am saying is bad, but I think there is a reason that it isn't in WDW.

 

[tigger248]

If it was called "Disney's Vegas Casino Resort", you'd have a hard time making the argument that people wouldn't know. Or you make it an adult only resort. 500 rooms, not something huge. There are plenty of adults that go to WDW without kids, so saying "its only a family destination" is dead wrong.

Again, make it a Riverboat casino, not Vegas. No showgirls.

As far as the laws go, I'm sure Disney could find some Native American tribe that would let Disney use their name to get the casino built for a share of the profits. If not, I'm sure they can get an exception made in the law, if casinos aren't legal.

What if they don't speak english and don't understand the name? What if they're traveling from another country and aren't familiar with the Vegas scene? What if they just think "It's Disney, they are a family place"? People get lost trying to find the entrance to the restroom with a big sign that they are standing in front of. People go to Magic Kingdom and wander where "the giant golf ball" is. Trust me, people would get mad when they arrived and found out what it really is.

I'm not familiar with the Florida legal system, but if it's against the law I doubt exceptions would be made because it's disney. The law is the law and it's there for a reason. Disney is no exception and they are not, and should not be above the law.

Another thing ... as far as the "large areas where kids can't go". Have a huge arcade right next to the casino. They already are good money makers for WDW, so it makes sense.

Yeah, send the kids off on their own to play video games. That would make a great family vacation. I just think that if people are taking their family to WDW, they're gonna want their kids to have access to everything at the resort. I went to Vegas a couple times with my parents as a kid, and it was no picnic having to go out of our way to bypass the casino that we kids couldn't enter. That's not the image that WDW should be promoting.

I'm not arguing that WDW is only for families, just that they are a family oriented destination. Walt's whole reason for creating the parks was for family fun. A place where families could have fun together. An on-property casino would destroy that. Many adults do like to go to WDW. Which is fine. But we need to keep in mind that families also visit the parks/resort. If you want more adult, Vegas style entertainment, then perhaps you should consider taking a vacation out there.

 

[mkepcotmgmak]

i think if disney wanted casino style gambling, it would have started aboard the magic or wonder, but it was even said on the travel channel that disney didn't want gambling, for more of a family atmosphere, meaning that kids couldn't partake.
as far as wdw, i guess i see it both ways... what would it hurt, if you like to gamble, it's there, if you are opposed, no one is forcing it. i don't think a hotel or resort is the best place for it, but maybe pleasure island?

 

[Thrawn]

::snip::

I'm not familiar with the Florida legal system, but if it's against the law I doubt exceptions would be made because it's disney. The law is the law and it's there for a reason. Disney is no exception and they are not, and should not be above the law.

::snip::

Snipped because I've already addressed most of the other points.

If you think that a corporation the size of Disney couldn't buy enough votes for them to get a casino built, you need to do a reality check. Politics is business, and sometimes you have to break a few rules to get what you want. Laws really aren't relevant to this, because they can always be circumvented.

 

[brisem]

I think it's a terrible idea. It doesn't fit the image. It takes away from the family atmosphere

 

[Thrawn]

i think if disney wanted casino style gambling, it would have started aboard the magic or wonder, but it was even said on the travel channel that disney didn't want gambling, for more of a family atmosphere, meaning that kids couldn't partake.
as far as wdw, i guess i see it both ways... what would it hurt, if you like to gamble, it's there, if you are opposed, no one is forcing it. i don't think a hotel or resort is the best place for it, but maybe pleasure island?

That is a good point, but the magic and wonder are enclosed areas. You wouldn't be able to (easily) seperate the gambling from the kids areas. With a resort, you would.

Don't say Disney wouldn't be able to handle that, if you've ever been to a convention you know they do a very good job of keeping non-conventioneers out. And thats much harder than seperating kids and adults, because its seperating one adult from another.

 

[Captain Hank]

Still, gamlbling itself carries a sort of "stigma." It has a negative connotation for many people. I really don't think that the Company would want something like that directly connected with the Disney name. I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility for the Company to get involved with gambling at some point in the future, I just don't think we'll be seeing the word "Disney" anywhere close to it. It'll probably go under a subsidiary company (sort of like The Disney Store is owned by Hoop Retail, a subsidiary of Children's Place Inc.).

 

[Thrawn]

I think it's a terrible idea. It doesn't fit the image. It takes away from the family atmosphere

Does Desperate Housewives fit the "image"? Image is something that is evolving, and changing. Does Tower of Terror or Rock N Roller Coaster or Mission Space, or, hell, any ride with a height restriction take away from the family atmosphere? There are many things on property that don't appeal to entire families. Golf, anyone? What is Disney building right now. Expedition Everest, a ride with a height restriction. Soarin, another one. Lights, Motors, Action, a show with a lot of explosions and such, that doesn't really appeal to the youngest crowd.

Face it, Disney is starting to branch out and appeal to the older crowd more than they used to. The Irish Pub at PI included.

I don't care if you don't like the idea, or won't gamble. But you just have to admit that:
1) Disney is NOT a family ONLY destination
2) There are quite a few things on property already that are mostly adult oriented.

Like I said, you don't have to agree with it, but Disney does a good job of hiding things that it only wants certain people to see. I wouldn't bet against a casino opening on property, especially if the company gets a CEO that is as money conscious as Eisner after he leaves.

 

[Thrawn]

Still, gamlbling itself carries a sort of "stigma." It has a negative connotation for many people. I really don't think that the Company would want something like that directly connected with the Disney name. I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility for the Company to get involved with gambling at some point in the future, I just don't think we'll be seeing the word "Disney" anywhere close to it. It'll probably go under a subsidiary company (sort of like The Disney Store is owned by Hoop Retail, a subsidiary of Children's Place Inc.).

Disney owns a studio. That doesn't work. Also, your example is wrong, because "The Disney Store" still carries the name, even though they don't "own it" any longer.

Most amusement parks also carry a stigma, ie: dirty, unsafe, etc. There are exceptions to everything. The two casinos here are probably the best thing to happen to the state in 30 or so years. Crime has actually gone down in the area they are in. The two casinos are extremely heavily themed, almost Disney like, which is why I can see this idea working perfectly well.

 

[SpectroMan]

In the long run, wouldn't they be better off spending money on new rides and fixing up their theme parks or even building a new theme park than creating a casino? They could gain much more money in these things than in a casino. The need is not there for gambling on property. People go to Las Vegas to gamble. People go to New York City to go shopping, site-seeing, and to see Broadway shows. People go to Disney World for theme parks. It is as simple as that!

 

[Ringo8n24]

I find the topic of this thread misleading. I thought I was going to read about a suggestion of Disney getting hotels that are as elaborate as Vegas which I thought was a crazy idea because Disney already does a wonderful job at their hotel theming. Now I see the gaming topic has raised its head again which I think we already beat to death in a previous thread. :hammer: Why bring gaming to Disney? Instead, bring Disney to Vegas...let them design a hotel or something in Vegas if that market needed to be pursued?

 

[Buzzforprez]

I think that Disney should build a hotel that is themed to VEGAS!!!. The hotel could be covered in neon lights, showgirls, and in the center there would be a big ol' casino! I think this idea is great. And don't give me any crap about WDW being a family destination. There are plenty of bars, beer, and boinking going on at WDW! The three B's!!! What do ya'll think? Any ideas to expand on this? What would the pool look like?

This might actually work. The board would be convinced as it would be generating more future revenue, what with all the boinking going on. :hammer: