MK private event tonight (May 31) - early close and perimeters for Wishes

[TarzanRocked99-]

Slightly off-topic, but I went to the IPW site to see if I could register for one of these conferences someday to get into one of these parties and now I'm wondering what exactly this conference is. I looked around the website and what I can piece together is that there are sellers / exhibitors and buyers in the travel industry attending that have one-on-one meetings set-up by a computer (but can be manually changed). So what exactly is being bought and sold? My current theory is that someone like AAA or Costco goes as a buyer, buys hotel rooms, transportation, and experiences in bulk and then puts them together to re-sell them as packages. Is this in the ballpark? Sorry, but it's really bugging me now. Just thought someone might have some insight.

You are corrct, these are travel buyers from other countries that bring international guests into the U.S. The convention is in Orlando every four to five years and a lot of $$$$ is pumped into it to keep the tourism train going. Basically this is Disney, Sea World, and Universals best shot to make the most impact on potentially millions of visitors. That's why you see these over the top parties. Sea World has one tonight and Univeral closes out the event on Wednesday.

 

[ItlngrlBella]

Are you suggesting welfare and food stamps don't cover hard ticket events?

I can't even...

 

[TarzanRocked99-]

Also that's why you saw so many announcements the past week. They were getting their messaging out ahead of IPW

 

[ItlngrlBella]

Also that's why you saw so many announcements the past week. They were getting their messaging out ahead of IPW

Yet Disney remained silent.
Oh wait, they're debuting a new cupcake!

 

[ItlngrlBella]

We are completely talking about the same people.

...and let me guess, their main habitat when resting is laying in the middle of the hub-astro-turf like entitled beached whales?

 

[Rasvar]

Slightly off-topic, but I went to the IPW site to see if I could register for one of these conferences someday to get into one of these parties and now I'm wondering what exactly this conference is. I looked around the website and what I can piece together is that there are sellers / exhibitors and buyers in the travel industry attending that have one-on-one meetings set-up by a computer (but can be manually changed). So what exactly is being bought and sold? My current theory is that someone like AAA or Costco goes as a buyer, buys hotel rooms, transportation, and experiences in bulk and then puts them together to re-sell them as packages. Is this in the ballpark? Sorry, but it's really bugging me now. Just thought someone might have some insight.

One other thing to remember is that Disney, while still getting money, discounted what they would normally charge as a cost of marketing to these groups. It was as much of a sales pitch as it was a paid event. Kind of like some of the press junkets but with people who actually will be responsible for driving sales. The salesmen (and saleswomen) always get the best parties.

 

[asianway]

The problem with a hard ticket as described above is that you have to hit a significant critical mass to make it cost effective over the opportunity costs of keeping the park open. That is why I think what you will see is more of the Star Wars Weekend style programs where the VIP gets a more segregated access to the events and some private functions during the event. I'm sure you could get some guests who would be willing to pay a lot of money for some of the kind of events you suggest. I'm just not sure short of some big backer who fronts a lot of the cost with a huge check, it would ever happen. At least this has been the way a lot of big ticket events that I have been at elsewhere have gone down.

Personally, I hate this trend of the two class system. I just don't anything that will slow it down anytime soon.

I don't see the opportunity cost of a 7pm closing being a deal breaker. There's 8 months of the year they don't sell the park 2x daily. A lot of meat on that bone

 

[asianway]

...and let me guess, their main habitat when resting is laying in the middle of the hub-astro-turf like entitled beached whales?

They are definitely the type who watch wishes 4x a trip

 

[techteej]

Just was in Disney and had went to MK for my last day (2nd time there in the trip). I couldn't help but think how much it sucked for people that didn't know about this closure and had planned to see Wishes, etc. that night.

 

[PhotoDave219]

The problem with a hard ticket as described above is that you have to hit a significant critical mass to make it cost effective over the opportunity costs of keeping the park open. That is why I think what you will see is more of the Star Wars Weekend style programs where the VIP gets a more segregated access to the events and some private functions during the event. I'm sure you could get some guests who would be willing to pay a lot of money for some of the kind of events you suggest. I'm just not sure short of some big backer who fronts a lot of the cost with a huge check, it would ever happen. At least this has been the way a lot of big ticket events that I have been at elsewhere have gone down.

Personally, I hate this trend of the two class system. I just don't anything that will slow it down anytime soon.

I do as well.

It's about philosophies on how you run your business. I have a vastly different philosophy that doesn't involve constantly recording record profits - simply making a profit will do for me.

 

[ItlngrlBella]

They are definitely the type who watch wishes 4x a trip

I mean, I love Wishes too - but more like once a trip every few years.

I really hope we don't run into these folks in July - my only on property plans the weekend I'm down there is maybe dinner at a WDW hotel and some Tiki drinks at Trader Sam's.

Of there's a lot of them at TS I may just ask for the hard stuff. ...and if they get annoying we'll send them a round of kiddie cocktails.

 

[asianway]

Or they will just do something like the VIP package for Star Wars Weekends?

If they can squeeze $400 out of a rube for this or $100 for ayce ice cream bars, there's a market for this

 

[ItlngrlBella]

I just did a little search on my IG for #IPW... The pulled out costumes and heavy duty set/props for the photo ops... Dayum!

 

[Rasvar]

I don't see the opportunity cost of a 7pm closing being a deal breaker. There's 8 months of the year they don't sell the park 2x daily. A lot of meat on that bone

My point is that it would have to be a very very slow night for a hard ticket event that is only based on $500-$700 tickets to make the profit levels that a night of selling a bunch of cheap lighted things, sodas and other snacks can make off of even 20K guests. Your whales are going to expect higher level food and drinks included, along with swag. There could be some collectibles for sale too. But you still need quite a few sold to meet the volume level profits of the cheap stuff. Not to mention the salaries of the staffing needed and the extra costs of the entertainment. It's one thing to have a group buy out a park (which usually tends to be DHS and rarely MK these days), versus having Disney close it for a hard ticket event as being proposed.

 

[R W B]

It would be nice.... but management will always trot out that bit about WDW being primarily a "one and done" destination....

How close are the numbers between the one and done trips vs the repeat guests like most of us on here? I'd imagine it's a smaller margin then most people think.

 

[PhotoDave219]

How close are the numbers between the one and done trips vs the repeat guests like most of us on here? I'd imagine it's a smaller margin then most people think.

That I simply don't have any data to look at it on.

Maybe a travel agent would know, based on their customers?

 

[WDF]

I love how the "sellers" get these fantastic parties...that their "buyers" will never receive.

 

[asianway]

I love how the "sellers" get these fantastic parties...that their "buyers" will never receive.

We talking day guests, existing HP/CP concept or an super party of sorts?

 

[WDF]

We talking day guests, existing HP/CP concept or an super party of sorts?

Any participant in a blogger/travel agent/press type event. They are the sellers to the general public and yet they have experiences so far beyond what they are actually selling. Just interesting.

I've never understood the "LOOK AT ALL THIS FUN I'M HAVING THAT IS NOT AVAILABLE TO YOU!" type of thing. Private corporate events are one thing, but when it is people who, in effect, do marketing for Disney and spend the entire event publicizing all the party offerings it seems strange.

 

[asianway]

Any participant in a blogger/travel agent/press type event. They are the sellers to the general public and yet they have experiences so far beyond what they are actually selling. Just interesting.

You referred to buyers-which I assume means you. Where do you think this sort of amped up entertainment should take place?