Is the Electrical cheaper to run then Spectromagic

[THEMEPARKPIONEER]

I'm starting to come to the conclushion that the main reason for using the Electrical Parade was so save a buck or 2. I didnt feel like counting but im starting to think that they were able to lay allot of people off when the Electrical Parade came along. That clavicade in Spectromagic was probably the entire cast for the Electrical Parade, actually it kind of is. No mourning allowed on this thread, just trying to figure out if they were just being cheap.

 

[PhotoDave219]

I'm starting to come to the conclushion that the main reason for using the Electrical Parade was so save a buck or 2. I didnt feel like counting but im starting to think that they were able to lay allot of people off when the Electrical Parade came along. That clavicade in Spectromagic was probably the entire cast for the Electrical Parade, actually it kind of is. No mourning allowed on this thread, just trying to figure out if they were just being cheap.

Not more expensive to operate… But it was going to take on the order of reportedly had allegedly $1 million to repair and bring up to show standards.

(I've heard that number thrown around a few times. I'm not sure whether it's accurate or if I agree with it but in my opinion it's believable.)

 

[kap91]

Seriously doubt it. Elp is a waaay longer parade, and pretty sure the cast is larger as well.

 

[CDavid]

Not more expensive to operate… But it was going to take on the order of reportedly had allegedly $1 million to repair and bring up to show standards.

(I've heard that number thrown around a few times. I'm not sure whether it's accurate or if I agree with it but in my opinion it's believable.)

If SpectroMagic was scrapped because it was going to cost $1 million to repair and restore, that is a far, far bigger travesty then we had realized. It's simply an abomination; A million dollars to The Walt Disney Company is little more than an incidental expense. To put it in perspective, that is less than six cents for each Magic Kingdom guest for one year.

Just unbelievable.

 

[WDWDad13]

I'm starting to come to the conclushion that the main reason for using the Electrical Parade was so save a buck or 2. I didnt feel like counting but im starting to think that they were able to lay allot of people off when the Electrical Parade came along. That clavicade in Spectromagic was probably the entire cast for the Electrical Parade, actually it kind of is. No mourning allowed on this thread, just trying to figure out if they were just being cheap.

*facepalm*

 

[boufa]

If SpectroMagic was scrapped because it was going to cost $1 million to repair and restore, that is a far, far bigger travesty then we had realized. It's simply an abomination; A million dollars to The Walt Disney Company is little more than an incidental expense. To put it in perspective, that is less than six cents for each Magic Kingdom guest for one year.

Just unbelievable.

$0.06 cents on something that doesn't directly bring in a cash flow is a lot of money. If they eliminated the nighttime parade all together, I doubt it would hurt their attendance in any meaningful way... which translates to it being their isn't helping much. I wouldn't be surprised to see the nighttime parade go away entirely soon. Sure they spent a lot on the new daytime parade, but that is now the only parade left. The eliminated Epcot (years ago) and DHS (A couple years ago) and now AK's is gone too (or soon will be). It wouldn't be a stretch for them to dump the night time parade either.

 

[bgraham34]

If they dumped the night time parade you can bet there would be a big backlash against TDO. They brought MSEP back for nostalgic reasons so you would upset many a guests.

 

[Tip Top Club]

The two parades cost roughly the same amount of money to run.

 

[marni1971]

The two parades cost roughly the same amount of money to run.

There's your answer. Can we lock this now. Please?

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

Spectro's not pinin'! 'E's passed on! Spectro is no more! He has ceased to be! 'E's expired and gone to meet 'is maker! 'E's a stiff! Bereft of life, 'e rests in peace! If you hadn't nailed 'im to the perch 'e'd be pushing up the daisies! 'Is electronic processes are now 'istory! 'E's off the twig! 'E's kicked the bucket, 'e's shuffled off 'is mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisible!! THIS IS AN EX-PARADE!!

 

[CDavid]

$0.06 cents on something that doesn't directly bring in a cash flow is a lot of money.

None of the Magic Kingdom attractions directly generate revenue either, and closing several of them could save a significant amount of money. But it is those attractions, the parades, and other entertainment for which people buy expensive $99 admission tickets. Make no mistake - what you are actually selling and what people are lining up to buy are those attractions and other experiences. They are indeed what brings in the revenue even if they don't directly have a price tag attached.

This is one reason why we would all generally be better off if Walt Disney World went back to ticket books instead of the 'one-day pass'; Disney would have more of an incentive to build more attractions and keep them open longer, to sell more tickets.

If they eliminated the nighttime parade all together, I doubt it would hurt their attendance in any meaningful way... which translates to it being their isn't helping much.

I think you greatly underestimate the popularity and draw of the nighttime light parade, be it MSEP or SpectroMagic. One or the other has existed at the Magic Kingdom since the 1970's, and it has become something of an institution that cannot be eliminated without guests' noticing. Even if attendance initially remains solid it doesn't mean you aren't undermining the guest experience, and that does ultimately make a difference.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the nighttime parade go away entirely soon

Well, it is supposed to, according to rumors. Which is why SpectroMagic was supposed to return to take the place of the MSEP. Running Festival of Fantasy twice - once in the evenings - isn't going to be the same thing, and I would expect a backlash from guests who arrive expecting a nighttime parade. Remember the Lights of Winter at Epcot? From all reports their elimination did produce a sharp increase in complaints to guest relations - and popular as they were, the lights paled in comparison to the institution that is the Main Street Electrical Parade.

Sure they spent a lot on the new daytime parade, but that is now the only parade left. The eliminated Epcot (years ago) and DHS (A couple years ago) and now AK's is gone too (or soon will be). It wouldn't be a stretch for them to dump the night time parade either.

No, unfortunately it isn't a stretch at all. But I don't think it is going to go over as easy as they might think. A million dollars to fix a parade beloved by millions really wasn't very much money. It is difficult to believe Disney really is that cheap.

Of course, it they hadn't let it rot in the first place...

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

If they dumped the night time parade you can bet there would be a big backlash against TDO. They brought MSEP back for nostalgic reasons so you would upset many a guests.

I'm pretty sure they've been getting quite a few ever since the nixed the afternoon parades at DHS and coming into the mix Jumping Jungle Parade at AK...

 

[harveyt0206]

Well, it is supposed to, according to rumors. Which is why SpectroMagic was supposed to return to take the place of the MSEP. Running Festival of Fantasy twice - once in the evenings - isn't going to be the same thing, and I would expect a backlash from guests who arrive expecting a nighttime parade. Remember the Lights of Winter at Epcot? From all reports their elimination did produce a sharp increase in complaints to guest relations - and popular as they were, the lights paled in comparison to the institution that is the Main Street Electrical Parade.



No, unfortunately it isn't a stretch at all. But I don't think it is going to go over as easy as they might think. A million dollars to fix a parade beloved by millions really wasn't very much money. It is difficult to believe Disney really is that cheap.

Of course, it they hadn't let it rot in the first place...

I think that is sadly where the "fear" that they will eliminate the night time parade stems from. Despite all the complaints as a result of the removal of Lights of Winter, they just hunkered down until the storm blew over. Disney is becoming more and more adept at weathering the die hard fan complaints. It doesn't look like they are reversing course on the Poly redesign, despite the most vocal objection I have seen to a project in years. And while I think we all sincerely hope that removing the night time parade is just a bad rumor, I also wouldn't be surprised one bit if it happened.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Yes because spectromagic uses AA batteries where as MSEP is clockwork wind up.

 

[RadiatorSpringsRacer]

Spectro's not pinin'! 'E's passed on! Spectro is no more! He has ceased to be! 'E's expired and gone to meet 'is maker! 'E's a stiff! Bereft of life, 'e rests in peace! If you hadn't nailed 'im to the perch 'e'd be pushing up the daisies! 'Is electronic processes are now 'istory! 'E's off the twig! 'E's kicked the bucket, 'e's shuffled off 'is mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisible!! THIS IS AN EX-PARADE!!

Glad to see I'm not the only Nostalgia Critic fan here...

 

[THEMEPARKPIONEER]

There's your answer. Can we lock this now. Please?

That's all I wanted to know lol. I am starting to like it a little more then Spectro but I'm not going to say it that much because I might jinx myself as always. Now all I want is to see them bring back the blue fairy and the circus units.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

Glad to see I'm not the only Nostalgia Critic fan here...

While I am for the Nostalgia Critic...This is the Dead Parrot sketch from Monty Python..

 

[marni1971]

They brought MSEP back for nostalgic reasons so you would upset many a guests.

For a one year engagement. Four years ago.

 

[aladdin2007]

I guess were keeping the limping MSEP afterall? Disneyland greenlit a new night parade for the 60th, according to miceage (which means nothing sometimes I know coming from them) but it will be under Davison but as of yesterday the 16th thats the latest.

 

[CDavid]

I guess were keeping the limping MSEP afterall? Disneyland greenlit a new night parade for the 60th, according to miceage (which means nothing sometimes I know coming from them) but it will be under Davison but as of yesterday the 16th thats the latest.

I want to say that's good news - Disneyland gets a new night parade and Walt Disney World won't be left without one. However, this also means TDO can put off any development of a new light parade for Florida, wheras the backlash of losing the Main Street Electrical Parade might (one hopes) have prompted development of a new parade. They've already got designs for Fantillusion, DreamLights, the scrapped SpectroMagic, and whatever Disneyland is developing. How hard (read: expensive) can it be to build a new parade?