Does this scare anyone?

[DisneyFan 2000]

"But we are looking at other concepts," he said, referring to the success of the Disney cruise line pointing to "small parks, weekend concepts" as other possible projects."



I'm really scared Disney is turning into Six Flags. Maybe I'm just reading too much into this? Share your thoughts!


:wave:

 

[General Grizz]

Did Eisner say this? If so, where?

 

[GaryT977]

That's the first time I've heard the cruise line referred to as a small park. Weird. Is he planning on having small parks all over the country? I'd love to see a Pleasure Island down here.

 

[cloudboy]

It's hard to say anything without knowing the full context of the quote.

PErsonally, I wouldn't have a huge problem if they did something - but then again DisneyQuest wasn't a great success. It would depend upon what they did.

With their current track record of cheap sequel rides and pretty much cookie-cutter character theming, I don't think it would be good. But if they really went all out and did somethign different - completely different - then maybe it would be worth doing.

 

[DisneyFan 2000]

Did Eisner say this? If so, where?

Him or one of his puppets.... It was mentioned during the shareholder meeting...


EDIT: Iger said it. But does it matter? Eisner's decission is the final one in the end.

 

[speck76]

PErsonally, I wouldn't have a huge problem if they did something - but then again DisneyQuest wasn't a great success. It would depend upon what they did.

DisneyQuest was profitable, jsut not as much as they would have liked. I don't really think they picked great locations.

Downtown Chicago? Sure, I love Chicago, but to put something like this downtown, where not as many tourists will go during the week...maybe not such a great idea.

Downtown Philly (never opened)....same issue, but Philly is not nearly as popular with tourists as Chicago.

The following locations would have been better:

Washington DC
NYC
San Francisco
Las Vegas


Smaller versions would have been good in the major tourist traps of the country like Myrtle Beach, Branson, and even Niagara Falls.

 

[Shaman]

I remember a rumor, a long time ago, that they were going to put a DQ down here in Miami, rumored to go Downtown, where our old basketball arena still stands...that didn't work to well though....

If Disney builds small parks all over the country...why would people need to go to either Orlando or Anaheim to get their fix? Its a mistake to do "small parks or weekend concepts"...that would completely destroy what they have working for them now...the best example would be what happened when they built AK...in WDW...the park didn't bring more people...its just took away from the other parks attendence figures....

:brick:

 

[General Grizz]

Agreed. Mini-parks will add more supply, less demand, and just like the films, result in VERY dangerous affects on our treasured kingdoms.

Eisner killed 2-D (and seems to be killing its own Live Action). He's starting to fool with are parks now, eh?

 

[cloudboy]

If they are the same, yes. But if they are something completely different from the parks, and I mean more than just different rides - different park concepts, then I don't think it would be a major drain. I think it would capture a lot of people who otherwise would not make the trip to Florida or California anyway.

Animal Kingdom unfortunately didn't have enough of a draw on it's own, and people just couldn't extend their vacations anymore. That's where it went wrong. But I think in some ways it did help - I think that some people who would normally have taken one day out of Disney to head over to Tampa ended up staying at Disney that extra day.

I don't think there is going to be a whole lot of growth in the Florida parks for a while. In their ROI mindset it just isn't justified. They have to try something new, and I think they are worried that Six Flags is drawing away from their market share.

 

[Shaman]

If they are the same, yes. But if they are something completely different from the parks, and I mean more than just different rides - different park concepts, then I don't think it would be a major drain. I think it would capture a lot of people who otherwise would not make the trip to Florida or California anyway.

Animal Kingdom unfortunately didn't have enough of a draw on it's own, and people just couldn't extend their vacations anymore. That's where it went wrong. But I think in some ways it did help - I think that some people who would normally have taken one day out of Disney to head over to Tampa ended up staying at Disney that extra day.

I don't think there is going to be a whole lot of growth in the Florida parks for a while. In their ROI mindset it just isn't justified. They have to try something new, and I think they are worried that Six Flags is drawing away from their market share.

It can be said I think...that most people on East Coast go to WDW and don't go West to DLR...if Disney had any park, anywhere other than Florida and Cali, that would further divide its market...and hinder the future development and survival of both giant resort areas...I don't know its just too risky...not to mention it makes a Disney Themepark less unique...if it pops up all over the place....there are good things, don't get me wrong....but I think the cons outweight the pros...just my opinion....

 

[Tim G]

Agreed. Mini-parks will add more supply, less demand, and just like the films, result in VERY dangerous affects on our treasured kingdoms.

Eisner killed 2-D (and seems to be killing its own Live Action). He's starting to fool with are parks now, eh?

WDI was asked to come up with something all different, something entirely new...
A kind of businesses that could fuel Disney's growth. One such idea was a nationwide chain of entertainment centers DISNEY QUEST.

The plan came from M.E. The idea from WDI...

So, you can draw your own conclusions...

 

[Shaman]

WDI was asked to come up with something all different, something entirely new...
A kind of businesses that could fuel Disney's growth. One such idea was a nationwide chain of entertainment centers DISNEY QUEST.

The plan came from M.E. The idea from WDI...

So, you can draw your own conclusions...

I don't wanna draw my own conclusions....

What kind of budget did this plan get?

 

[General Grizz]

But "mini parks" sound so dangerous. . . Dumbo, the Flying Elephant at malls across the US? :lol:

 

[DisneyFan 2000]

and seems to be killing its own Live Action

But that's OK because anything that's failing is probably coming to an end anyway!



EDIT: I urge everyone to read my signature and repeat: "Eisner is all about me, me and more me. :wave:

 

[Tim G]

What kind of budget did this plan get?

No can tell...:kiss:

 

[speck76]

Another problem is weather.....how many warm markets can they build in? If they put a park in the Midwest, it would have to be seasonal, as who is going to visit in mid-January. With the seasonal park, you really only have 130ish to be open, with 40 of those days being during the school year. Can they really make money in that amount of time, or will they have to scale the park back so much, it is just another Six Flags....

 

[Pioneer Hall]

Don't see it happening...

 

[bgraham34]

I heard this somewhere else before but can not remember where.

 

[Buzzes Dad]

I hope that this is some sort of joke, having mini Disney parks pop up would just erode their entire market share due to the fact that it would no longer be special and hence no reason to continue to goto Cali or Florida parks. We have a six flags about an hour away from me in Lake George(Six Flags- Great Escape). It is plain to see that this paticular six flags does not get the money or the attention that the others get. Ridea are constantly down, items seem to always need paint and never get it, ect.. This would be a very bad plan for Disney to try and as some one already pointed out where would they put these mini parks and what about the cost?