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

[WDF]

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

Let's just say that when Mariah Carey rents out a park for her wedding she doesn't then try to turn around and sell you a week-long stay at a value resort. It just seems dissonant to me is all. My opinion.

When bloggers or travel agents or press get first crack at normal guest experiences it makes sense. They can then knowledgeably market these things to their "customers."

And no, I don't consider myself their targeted "buyers."

 

[asianway]

Let's just say that when Mariah Carey rents out a park for her wedding she doesn't then try to turn around and sell you a week-long stay at a value resort. It just seems dissonant to me is all. My opinion.

When bloggers or travel agents or press get first crack at normal guest experiences it makes sense. They can then knowledgeably market these things to their "customers."

And no, I don't consider myself their targeted "buyers."

I think most on this thread agree there is a high level of hypocrisy in the entire sequence. We've also been discussing what the proper forum to allow normal guests to share the same experience would be, I thought you were touching on that

 

[WDF]

I think most on this thread agree there is a high level of hypocrisy in the entire sequence. We've also been discussing what the proper forum to allow normal guests to share the same experience would be, I thought you were touching on that

I do think that trying to compare a corporate event that is primarily attended by "non-Disney fanatics" and a small number of them at that, to a potential hard ticket event which would be inundated by hardcore fans with specific expectations of rare characters is not a good exercise. It could happen, but to really give an exclusive experience would command a ticket price higher than has even been touched on in this discussion.

 

[asianway]

I do think that trying to compare a corporate event that is primarily attended by "non-Disney fanatics" and a small number of them at that, to a potential hard ticket event which would be inundated by hardcore fans with specific expectations of rare characters is not a good exercise. It could happen, but to really give an exclusive experience would command a ticket price higher than has even been touched on in this discussion.

I think once you hit $500 you start to lose the fanatics and start attracting people who just want the experience, the tea party table etc

 

[Monorail_Red_77]

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

One and done for some maybe. But, for me. Enough is never enough.

 

[Monorail_Red_77]

How much per WDWMagic registered forum member for us to buy out the MK for a night? It may be the only way in our lifetime for us to see WDW firing on all cylinders. I wonder if we pay enough we could have a Bob Iger meet-and-greet... or dunking booth?

Who am I kidding, we couldn't even rent out DHS.

What does corporate buy out nights tell us about WDW these days?

- They can put on a great show when the money is right.
- They are very capable of doing random/rare "magic" encounters for guests when motivated ($$).
- They are willing to close the busiest theme park in the world at 6:00pm for a corporate buy out and still charge full price admission for those guests visiting MK that day. These hours are even more reduced from WDW's own up charge events that close at 7:00pm.
- The above is being done in a park where the per day admission is greater than the others on property.

Yet, we are supposed to believe that WDW is the most magical place on earth and now more than ever we are in greater control of our vacation experience than ever before.

Who's living in Fantasyland now?

So if we are allowed to dunk Iger... Can we get to pick what we dunk him in for an up-charge?

 

[PhotoDave219]

So if we are allowed to dunk Iger... Can we get to pick what we dunk him in for an up-charge?

Only Caviet is that Iger must wear the Yoda Dress.

 

[ItlngrlBella]

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

This reminds me of the incentive travel & meetings trade show I used to go to when I was a corporate event planner in another life just after college. We did national sales meetings and top-tier incentive trips for Fortune 500 companies and often we would rent out a portion of parks and our purchasing agent worked with Hello Florida (destination management company) to set up special meter and greets, food and bev, etc... It could be for 200 to 2000. If this is for domestic and overseas corporate event planners and done only am every few years, then I could see why/how they'd go all out. It's a win-win for Disney - they are paid BIG BUCKS to showcase what they have to provide for group corporate/tour operators.

 

[englanddg]

Only Caviet is that Iger must wear the Yoda Dress.

 

[bfox1183]

Can someone please explain about the attendees of this private party, once again. Did all of they buy expensive tickets? Were they all foreigners who spoke Spanish who were selling the resort?

If not, can someone explain this? Thank you.

Its a conference selling the area to tourism groups. They put their best face forward to sell to these people because they will send more money their way. Disney probably spent in the range of 5 to 10 million on this event knowing full well that it would bring in 5 to 6 hundred times that within the next few years.

 

[englanddg]

Thank you so much for the response. Makes sense now.

But why were bloggers who live in Orlando at the party. (such as those in the picture I posted). They post videos every day already. That is what confused me.

Just a guess, but because they are part of the Disney Marketing strategy? Also a chance for them to cross-promote their blogs to travel agents at the event who can use them as resources to not only answer questions, but provide information for their future customers (e.g., as an Agent, if I wanted to get you hyped up about Food and Wine, I might send you a link to a blog outlining all the stuff there is to do there).

Just a guess though...

 

[bfox1183]

Thank you so much for the response. Makes sense now.

But why were bloggers who live in Orlando at the party. (such as those in the picture I posted). They post videos every day already. That is what confused me.

If you know the right people, it is fairly easy to get into events like this. I have been to the IAAPA convention in Orlando once and watched a few non-industry types running around acting like fan boys.
But as englanddg pointed out, they could also have been invited to help the people buying find the fun activities.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Can someone please explain about the attendees of this private party, once again. Did all of they buy expensive tickets? Were they all foreigners who spoke Spanish who were selling the resort?

If not, can someone explain this? Thank you.

Yes. Very Simply, Attendees of the IPW conference. What is IPW? Glad you asked because I didnt know either:

U.S. Travel Association’s IPW is the travel industry's premier international marketplace and is the largest generator of Visit USA travel - it is NOT a typical trade show. In just three days of intensive pre-scheduled business appointments, more than 1,000 U.S. travel organizations from every region of the USA (representing all industry category components) and more than 1,300 international and domestic buyers from more than 70 countries conduct business negotiations that result in the generation of more than $4.7 billion in future Visit USA travel. At IPW, buyers and sellers are able to conduct business that would otherwise be generated only through an exhaustive number of around-the-world trips.

Rates to register for the conference started at $800 for early-bird and $1200 for normal registration.

So yes, there were a lot of foreigners. Yes, some spoke Spanish. Some spoke English. Looks like there was an Icelandic delegation registered as well, tho IcelandAir is from Sweden so its a good bet they spoke Swedish as well.

International Journalists were given a free hotel room as well as free registration. Domestic journalist registration was not disclosed.

The Journalist list can be found here and there are some familiar names on it. Keep in mind, this is press list for the full convention.

Here's the Buyers list and the Marketers list and the list of all the US Suppliers and Booth Sharing Companies.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Just a guess, but because they are part of the Disney Marketing strategy? Also a chance for them to cross-promote their blogs to travel agents at the event who can use them as resources to not only answer questions, but provide information for their future customers (e.g., as an Agent, if I wanted to get you hyped up about Food and Wine, I might send you a link to a blog outlining all the stuff there is to do there).

Just a guess though...

Here's what they said about Domestic Journalist registration:

Print and broadcast media interested in attending IPW should submit their name and credentials for review to (US TRAVEL PERSON) along with a recently published article in an accredited news outlet (within the past 12 months). Articles must be about travel within the United States. Proof of a journalist's name on the masthead of an accredited publication is also acceptable. You will be notified of your status via return email.

 

[englanddg]

Here's what they said about Domestic Journalist registration:

Print and broadcast media interested in attending IPW should submit their name and credentials for review to (US TRAVEL PERSON) along with a recently published article in an accredited news outlet (within the past 12 months). Articles must be about travel within the United States. Proof of a journalist's name on the masthead of an accredited publication is also acceptable. You will be notified of your status via return email.

Forgive my ignorance, but how does a blog go about getting "accredited" for news credentials?

 

[PhotoDave219]

Forgive my ignorance, but how does a blog go about getting "accredited" for news credentials?

THAT is an excellent question. No idea.

I supposed they emailed the person and asked, I guess.

By all this logic, *I* (as well as any number of other journalists on these forums) could have gotten in without a problem.

(I remember some local guy kvetching that they needed to verify my credentials as I was just trying to park for free, so I held up my NBA & NFL ones and about 3 others. Shut him up in a hurry)

 

[StageFrenzy]

Forgive my ignorance, but how does a blog go about getting "accredited" for news credentials?

Cupcake to actual news ratio.

 

[englanddg]

Cupcake to actual news ratio.

Guess I should start baking?

 

[Mike C]

IPW has Sea World rented out tonight, and Wednesday night they have Universal Studios Florida. Universal will have a much larger than usual fireworks show too that night.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Guess I should start baking?

I'm not sure if the Domestic Journalists had to pay. It didnt say. International Journalists were comp'd.

Even if it was $100-ish (my speculation), the familiar names likely would have paid it. The journalist list is rather long...