Magic Kingdom 50th Anniversary Plans

[MisterPenguin]

I think the talk of Mary Poppins 3 or 4 was more of a hypothetical to create hype for Mary Poppins Returns than any concrete plans.

When Returns didn't perform the way they thought, I think those proposals were scrapped.

Poppins Returns nearly broke even in the theatrical window. Which means that by the time she went to premier movie cable channels, PpV, DVD, merchandising, and then Disney+, she was profitable in the end.

The MPR Mary was going to be featured in the UK with the (indefinitely) delayed attraction.

Other Disney IP that didn't (or barely) made a profit in the theatrical window, but have a life of their own afterwards: Hercules; Princess and the Frog; Tangled; Winnie the Pooh; Wreck-it-Ralph.

Indeed, many, of the classic Disney animated films of the 40's and 50's were not profitable or only managed a very small profit in their theatrical window. But they made up for it in a regular series of theatrical re-releases, then VHS, then DVD.

Disney knows how to leverage a well-liked IP that didn't make a profit at first into a merchandising franchise that eventually gets it into the black. Disney plays the long game. And when some 200 million people a year go to a Disney castle park and meet a character from a movie that wasn't profitable... The movie becomes profitable.

 

[Dan Deesnee]

Poppins Returns nearly broke even in the theatrical window. Which means that by the time she went to premier movie cable channels, PpV, DVD, merchandising, and then Disney+, she was profitable in the end.

The MPR Mary was going to be featured in the UK with the (indefinitely) delayed attraction.

Other Disney IP that didn't (or barely) made a profit in the theatrical window, but have a life of their own afterwards: Hercules; Princess and the Frog; Tangled; Winnie the Pooh; Wreck-it-Ralph.

Indeed, many, of the classic Disney animated films of the 40's and 50's were not profitable or only managed a very small profit in their theatrical window. But they made up for it in a regular series of theatrical re-releases, then VHS, then DVD.

Disney knows how to leverage a well-liked IP that didn't make a profit at first into a merchandising franchise that eventually gets it into the black. Disney plays the long game. And when some 200 million people a year go to a Disney castle park and meet a character from a movie that wasn't profitable... The movie becomes profitable.

Factually incorrect:

DOMESTIC (49.2%)
$171,958,438
INTERNATIONAL (50.8%)
$177,579,056
WORLDWIDE
$349,537,494

Production Budget: $130,000,000

Companies rarely divulge marketing budgets for movies but for a movie like this it was probably 20-30 million at most (Info on marketing P&A budgets). It made plenty of money to justify a sequel although not a blockbuster.

 

[denyuntilcaught]

Factually incorrect:

DOMESTIC (49.2%)
$171,958,438
INTERNATIONAL (50.8%)
$177,579,056
WORLDWIDE
$349,537,494

Production Budget: $130,000,000

Companies rarely divulge marketing budgets for movies but for a movie like this it was probably 20-30 million at most (Info on marketing P&A budgets). It made plenty of money to justify a sequel although not a blockbuster.

As someone who works in entertainment advertising (mainly for streaming but have done theatrical and have used MPR as a comp), the marketing budget for MPR was in the ballpark of $30-40M but that covered media (digital, social, OOH, and O&O). PR, events, (if they had any - I can't recall), awards, and synergy probably added at least another 50% to that total.

 

[Dan Deesnee]

As someone who works in entertainment advertising (mainly for streaming but have done theatrical and have used MPR as a comp), the marketing budget for MPR was in the ballpark of $30-40M but that covered media (digital, social, OOH, and O&O). PR, events, (if they had any - I can't recall), awards, and synergy probably added at least another 50% to that total.

Interesting. Still very profitable though.

 

[TTA94]

With the current vaccine starting to make it out there, As long as things go well, could entertainment return by Spring or maybe even sooner? My guess though is Disney is waiting on cases to drop rather than how many people get the vaccine?

Wondering also if the launch date for the 50th is fluid right now and depends greatly on the vaccine and number of cases? Or is it pretty set in stone for October 1st?

 

[jrhwdw]

With the current vaccine starting to make it out there, As long as things go well, could entertainment return by Spring or maybe even sooner? My guess though is Disney is waiting on cases to drop rather than how many people get the vaccine?

Wondering also if the launch date for the 50th is fluid right now and depends greatly on the vaccine and number of cases? Or is it pretty set in stone for October 1st?

My guess would be seeing cases drop, That would be standard for just about anything right?

 

[MisterPenguin]

Factually incorrect:

DOMESTIC (49.2%)
$171,958,438
INTERNATIONAL (50.8%)
$177,579,056
WORLDWIDE
$349,537,494

Production Budget: $130,000,000

Companies rarely divulge marketing budgets for movies but for a movie like this it was probably 20-30 million at most (Info on marketing P&A budgets). It made plenty of money to justify a sequel although not a blockbuster.

As a rule of thumb, the same rule of thumb that Deadline uses, the true cost of a movie is it's known production budget plus another 50% for advertising and other top level studio costs. So, it actually cost is about $195M.

Then, as a rule of thumb, the studio only gets half of the box office. (Yes, they get more than half in the U.S., but, they get less than half internationally.) The other half goes to the theater. So, Disney only got $174.8M.

That's a net loss of $20.2M.

Yes, these figures are loosey goosey, but we never get true hidden cost of adverstising nor the true split with theaters. So, we go with a rule of thumb.

$20M is easy to make up in the after-theatrical windows.

 

[Rich Brownn]

As a rule of thumb, the same rule of thumb that Deadline uses, the true cost of a movie is it's known production budget plus another 50% for advertising and other top level studio costs. So, it actually cost is about $195M.

Then, as a rule of thumb, the studio only gets half of the box office. (Yes, they get more than half in the U.S., but, they get less than half internationally.) The other half goes to the theater. So, Disney only got $174.8M.

That's a net loss of $20.2M.

Yes, these figures are loosey goosey, but we never get true hidden cost of adverstising nor the true split with theaters. So, we go with a rule of thumb.

$20M is easy to make up in the after-theatrical windows.

Actuall rule of thumb is a film needs to gross twice its production costs (including marketing).

 

[MisterPenguin]

Actuall rule of thumb is a film needs to gross twice its production costs (including marketing).

Which is mathematically equivalent to what I just posted, only I gave a rule of thumb for guestimating the marketing cost.

 

[TTA94]

Total speculation but I had a thought, and not a very good one IMO. What if no parades return and cavalcades continue on even when a full parade could operate? Many have said they actually like and prefer the cavalcades over parades, and I could see Disney choosing to do this for many reasons. Those at WDW were clearly not a fan of parades even before Covid, hence why WDW only had FoF.
Worst part of this whole thing would be it would likely keep MK nighttime parade- less.

 

[HauntedPirate]

Total speculation but I had a thought, and not a very good one IMO. What if no parades return and cavalcades continue on even when a full parade could operate? Many have said they actually like and prefer the cavalcades over parades, and I could see Disney choosing to do this for many reasons. Those at WDW were clearly not a fan of parades even before Covid, hence why WDW only had FoF.
Worst part of this whole thing would be it would likely keep MK nighttime parade- less.

Now you’re thinking like TDO.

“Sir, the guest survey numbers back this up, plus we save money if we don’t run parades, although it could hurt in the long...”

“APPROVED!!! And you get a promotion.”

 

[jrhwdw]

Total speculation but I had a thought, and not a very good one IMO. What if no parades return and cavalcades continue on even when a full parade could operate? Many have said they actually like and prefer the cavalcades over parades, and I could see Disney choosing to do this for many reasons. Those at WDW were clearly not a fan of parades even before Covid, hence why WDW only had FoF.
Worst part of this whole thing would be it would likely keep MK nighttime parade- less.

Now you’re thinking like TDO.

“Sir, the guest survey numbers back this up, plus we save money if we don’t run parades, although it could hurt in the long...”

“APPROVED!!! And you get a promotion.”

I can't see Parties returning without the Parades, That was one of the biggest draws when MVMCP began in the 80's.

Wrong park but I can see SWO's Sesame Street Parade coming back, no question. That Parade won an award or something!

 

[Bocabear]

Total speculation but I had a thought, and not a very good one IMO. What if no parades return and cavalcades continue on even when a full parade could operate? Many have said they actually like and prefer the cavalcades over parades, and I could see Disney choosing to do this for many reasons. Those at WDW were clearly not a fan of parades even before Covid, hence why WDW only had FoF.
Worst part of this whole thing would be it would likely keep MK nighttime parade- less.

The parades at WDW were always heavily attended... The fact that we only have FOF is not guest preference... I would say most guests miss having a good nighttime parade as well.
Maybe TDO not wanting to spend the money would be the reason... but certainly not a lack of guest interest
...

 

[mm52200]

The parades at WDW were always heavily attended... The fact that we only have FOF is not guest preference... I would say most guests miss having a good nighttime parade as well.
Maybe TDO not wanting to spend the money would be the reason... but certainly not a lack of guest interest
...

Exactly. Guests still asked every day pre-pandemic when the night parade was. Or if there were parades at other parks. The guests want them.

 

[HauntedPirate]

Exactly. Guests still asked every day pre-pandemic when the night parade was. Or if there were parades at other parks. The guests want them.

So if guests ask about them and for them... why are we still night parade-less? Because the all-mighty “guest surveys” have been manipulated to not allow “nighttime parades” as an option? Not pointing a finger at you, I’m just so sick and tired of TDO and their leave-a-dollar-to-pick-up-a-penny ways. Thanks be to profit margins. All hail per guest spending.

 

[jrhwdw]

According to "That Other Site", Fireworks Test Tomorrow night at MK! Sould we expect anything different from the last test?

 

[Rteetz]

According to "That Other Site", Fireworks Test Tomorrow night at MK! Sould we expect anything different from the last test?

 

[mm52200]

So if guests ask about them and for them... why are we still night parade-less? Because the all-mighty “guest surveys” have been manipulated to not allow “nighttime parades” as an option? Not pointing a finger at you, I’m just so sick and tired of TDO and their leave-a-dollar-to-pick-up-a-penny ways. Thanks be to profit margins. All hail per guest spending.

Your guess is as good as mine.

 

[TTA94]

So if guests ask about them and for them... why are we still night parade-less? Because the all-mighty “guest surveys” have been manipulated to not allow “nighttime parades” as an option? Not pointing a finger at you, I’m just so sick and tired of TDO and their leave-a-dollar-to-pick-up-a-penny ways. Thanks be to profit margins. All hail per guest spending.

Hopefully Josh D’amaro is pushing for a nighttime parade. Chapek sure isn’t.

 

[TTA94]

Doesn’t sound like WDW is going to be pleasing many die hard fans for the 50th between the hatred of what’s going into Epcots WSL and the possibility of a rave style light parade at MK lol.