No New Nightastic According to Al Lutz

[cheezbat]

Disney is spending BIG bucks on California Adventure...and on building up Hong Kong Disneyland...AND building a whole resort in Shanghai.

So what REALLY needs TLC the most next? Disney Studios Paris. The worst park in the chain of Disney parks...but definitely after that Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. I think what should be implemented is a multi-billion dollar buildup and fixup of those three parks. DAK needs more attractions BADLY, DHS is one incohesive mess, and WDSP...the red-headed stepchild that just can't seem to find it's place.

I honestly hope the high-ups see whats happening at the two of their resorts that are severly in neglect when it comes to new attractions.

 

[rodserling27]

Now it's time to wipe out the scars of Nightastic and bring back Spectro.

SpectroTragic, you mean?

Don't start bashing on my favorite Parade (MSEP) now! I still think TDO should keep them both...run em both.... cuz there is enough love for both!

MSEP forever. Run them both would be a good idea, or it would be a better ridea to take a $ledge hammer to the floats of SpectroMagic [edit: uhh it edits out the word "$ledge???" That's why I had to put that dollar sign in.]

And the Memories campaign... while I like the campaign - It is quite boring!!! Disney needs to hire WDWMAGIC people at least we would know what to do!:ROFLOL:

I agree that the campaign itself is fantastic, but the way its being executed doesn't sound all that great. I will reserve judgment til I get down there in September.

would have LOVED to see ElecTRONica at the Studios.... such a HUGE opportunity they are missing out on. shame on them, to be honest!

Would have been cool, but I'm not sure how much of a draw it would be now since the cinema days of the film are long behind us.

 

[MichWolv]

SpectroTragic, you mean?

MSEP forever.

I agree that the campaign itself is fantastic, but the way its being executed doesn't sound all that great. I will reserve judgment til I get down there in September.

Would have been cool, but I'm not sure how much of a draw it would be now since the cinema days of the film are long behind us.

Agree with you MSEP. I like Spectro, but I'll take MSEP in a landslide.

As for the memories campaign, it seems they could do more, but the castle projection show (and the IASW projection show at DLR) is amazing. The things that works worst about that show it the guest images, but the show is otherwise visualling stunning. A night at MK with the Magic, Memories and You, MSEP, and Wishes makes for a great evening even if you ride nothing.

As for Electronica, the atmosphere they've created at DCA is great. Very adult, though, not for kids or families really (not that there's anything inappropriate, just not appealing, except for Laserman, who should appeal to everybody). So it probably wouldn't work in MK, although Tomorrowland has the right visiual to support it. It'd be good in Future World or the Streets of America or Animation Courtyard parts of DHS, I think.

I doubt it'll happen, given the timing, but perhaps the success of Electronica will convince TDO to do something similar at WDW.

 

[Brian Noble]

Seeing as how the summer travel season starts in about three weeks, and there has been nary a peep about Nightastic from Mickey's Mighty Marketing Machine, this isn't exactly news, is it?

 

[COProgressFan]

For once, it would be nice to think TDO is at least TRYING to raise the bar and keep guests entertained/happy with new experiences. But again, we can see that this just is not happening.

Again, some new projects are on the way (though not as many as there should be) but why not put on something for the summer again to give something new for guests to see in the meantime? I mean, new fireworks or a new parade are relatively inexpensive (compared to attractions), so why not put forth the effort?

They feel that towing the line, and just doing the bare minimum is enough. And then it's no shock (to critics anyway) when they have to discount hotel rooms up to 40% off for most the year. Giving just barely enough is not the way to build long term interest from your customers. I just don't get it.

 

[drew81]

To part one of your post, while Al may have a negative POV to WDW, but he hit's the nail on the head almost every time concerning the suits in Orlando ... TDO is lazy and will only do something new if they are forced too.

Regarding the second half, they are adding a nothing more than a promotion for the new Pirates movie while just around the corner the lift hill on BTMRR has had a black trap covering it's show pieces for a couple years now.

They added an interactive que that while it does look great to the Haunted Mansion, but meanwhile PPF is falling apart and has been for a while. They took the easy way out on a Space Mountain re-hab, and over at Animal Kingdom, you have two headlining attractions with there main AA's that don't function properly, one which hasn't run right since 6 months after the attraction opened.

Its like a bad sleight of hand trick that TDO tries to play with the consumer. I for one am glad that someone with some exposure and clout has the balls to call them out on it, and kudos to TDA for realizing that they needed to try something different, and got the money to change it. I wish some of them would transfer to TDO.

They could start by getting rid of Meg 'Useless' Crofton.

Honestly, I would be surprised to see her go. I wouldn't be shocked though, to see Phil Holmes retire and/or Erin Wallace leave. I've heard rumors of that.

 

[lebeau]

Seeing as how the summer travel season starts in about three weeks, and there has been nary a peep about Nightastic from Mickey's Mighty Marketing Machine, this isn't exactly news, is it?

It's a question that's come up quite a few times in recent months. To have a confirmation that it isn't happening is closer to news than a lot of topics...

 

[devoy1701]

It's ridiculous.

I've been sitting back and resisting commenting because it's just too easy. I wanted to try to look at things differently and give them the benefit of the doubt. In the end, this just comes down to being cheap. They could easily still do the Memories Castle Lights and then do Summer Nightastic. That's a lame excuse.

I'm sure TDO sits back and thinks that no one makes their vacation plans based on a fireworks show. What they don't realize is that cutting the corners every time makes it easier and easier for Annual Passholders (like me) to make the decision to not renew. After being Passholders for the last five years, my wife is becoming more and more bored with the parks, my son is getting tired of the drive, and I've become the last person holding on. I can only imagine there a many, many more families out there like us.

As insignificant as it may seem to TDO, a different fireworks show gives us one more reason to visit and one more reason to get an Annual Pass. We really enjoyed Nightastic last year and we were looking forward to it again this year.

TDO is making it way too easy for us to save our $1500 when our passes come due. The FLE is great, but my son's favorite park is DHS. With nothing new besides TSMM (and waits of an hour plus) and an upgraded ST, there just doesn't give us enough reason to go. You'd think the enormous lines would give TDO the clue that their parks are severely lacking in new experiences, but that's a discussion for another thread.

We fall into this catagory. Our passes lapsed in February and we haven't renewed. Every once in awhile we get a pang to go, miss the ability to just go when we want, but most of the time it doesn't cross our minds. I do tend to say I can't wait to revisit once FLE is done because we'll have a whole new area to explore in addition to the new HM queue, Star Tours, Tiki Room, and hopefully one or two more other things before we get new passes next May.

There are 2 things interesting though about our situation... We were passholders for the past 4 years and we did try once to go a year without passes but broke down after only 2 months of not visiting. We don't have that urge anymore. The second thing that I find interesting is more often we find ourselves asking when can we get back out to Disneyland instead of WDW. Maybe it's a local thing and Disneyland is just a great experience for us, but ever since we visited in December of 2009 we've been dying to go back. Of course I'm trying to time it right with the opening of Carsland and also spacing it our from our Honeymoon on the Disney Fantasy next May.

 

[menamechris]

Honestly, I would be surprised to see her go. I wouldn't be shocked though, to see Phil Holmes retire and/or Erin Wallace leave. I've heard rumors of that.

I have to agree. Meg Crofton certainly hasn't been popular with Disney fans, but the company heads and shareholders are probably thrilled. Our local news reported yesterday that quarterly financials had been released and the resort's profits had increased again. Of course, this is fairly simple to do when you are making cuts left and right, and not offering anything beyond the minimum to the guest..

 

[HMF]

The Year of a Million Dreams campaign was so great that the Memories one really didn't live up to the standard they had created.

You mean the standard of covering the parks in fairy vomit and an excessive amount of banners?

 

[HMF]

You are right - and while we should be ecstatic about the new interactive elements being added to attraction lines,

Thus making them the equivalent of your local McDonald's Playground.:shrug:

 

[devoy1701]

You mean the standard of covering the parks in fairy vomit and an excessive amount of banners?

Thus making them the equivalent of your local McDonald's Playground.:shrug:

And some how deciding that a year should equal 730 days instead of the standard 365!

 

[scoobygirl39541]

Now it's time to wipe out the scars of Nightastic and bring back Spectro.

Yes please

 

[WDW Monorail]

It doesn't take a nut like Al to figure this out.
A nut like me said it last year when Nightastic was first announced here.

Nightastic can not not work for WDW because the summer crowd will be there regardless of what promotion is in place. There is no way to justify the additional cost to produce SNFS without having a significant influx of attendance.

WDW liked the way the event worked for DL and gave it ago. Now they've smartened up and pulled the plug on this draining promotion.

 

[TP2000]

WDW liked the way the event worked for DL and gave it ago. Now they've smartened up and pulled the plug on this draining promotion.

How inspiring. Why give the people more, when they'll be there anyway?

It forever baffles me how the two American properties run themselves differently.

As if the concept of "Summer" is somehow meaningfully different between Central Florida and Southern California? It's not.

 

[AEfx]

It forever baffles me how the two American properties run themselves differently.

As if the concept of "Summer" is somehow meaningfully different between Central Florida and Southern California? It's not.

It's because they host completely different clientele.

Disneyland has to rely in bringing in locals, WDW relies on people planning full vacations.

Disneyland does things like this (and Haunted Mansion Holiday, etc.) because it brings back locals for new experiences that wouldn't, say, bring someone to have a week-long vacation. Think about the last time you saw a Disneyland ad on national TV, and when you saw a WDW. (Unless you live in So Cal.)

 

[puntagordabob]

It's because they host completely different clientele.

Disneyland has to rely in bringing in locals, WDW relies on people planning full vacations.

When I was at DLR in October it was very clear that a large chunk of the people were not Southern Californians... I asked a couple CMs (including the one leading our Walking Tour) about the Locals/ LD mix and the same answer was that the mix used to be solidly local, but that these days the ratio was changing a lot..... my impression was that depending on the time of year it would be nearly equal or even better. Shocked me after reading all these forums for so long...

Besides, a lot of us are Local to WDW....and I am so darn sick of that EXCUSE that makes it so easy for TDO to sit on their laurels...... Quality at DLR should not be way above the Quality at WDW.... its just plain BULL!

 

[wizards8507]

I understand your points, and there is no denying that there are budgets and cashflow issues in any company. But like many companies, I am sure all branches of Disney (DLR, WDW, Cruise Line, etc) are in basic competition for corporate money.

That's not even half of it. The things you mentioned (DL, WDW, DCL) are only operating units WITHIN the Parks and Resorts segment of the company. In terms of revenue, Parks and Resorts (in its entirety) is less than 25% of the company.

 

[devoy1701]

When I was at DLR in October it was very clear that a large chunk of the people were not Southern Californians... I asked a couple CMs (including the one leading our Walking Tour) about the Locals/ LD mix and the same answer was that the mix used to be solidly local, but that these days the ratio was changing a lot..... my impression was that depending on the time of year it would be nearly equal or even better. Shocked me after reading all these forums for so long...

Besides, a lot of us are Local to WDW....and I am so darn sick of that EXCUSE that makes it so easy for TDO to sit on their laurels...... Quality at DLR should not be way above the Quality at WDW.... its just plain BULL!

I think "locals" can be used as a broader term at WDW too. Maybe we should be refering to them as "regulars". Because if you think about it, the people on here (and those who aren't) who return to WDW every year and in many cases 2 or 3 times a year are just like the "local" clientel that DL feels it so important to cater too. I would think that a large amount of WDW visitors do infact fall into the catagory of "regulars", so why not add overlays and special seasonal promotions and offerings not simply as a way to entice new people to visit but to say "thank you" to those who come back and maybe get them to travel during a time they normally wouldn't? Just a thought.

 

[menamechris]

I think "locals" can be used as a broader term at WDW too. Maybe we should be refering to them as "regulars". Because if you think about it, the people on here (and those who aren't) who return to WDW every year and in many cases 2 or 3 times a year are just like the "local" clientel that DL feels it so important to cater too. I would think that a large amount of WDW visitors do infact fall into the catagory of "regulars", so why not add overlays and special seasonal promotions and offerings not simply as a way to entice new people to visit but to say "thank you" to those who come back and maybe get them to travel during a time they normally wouldn't? Just a thought.

I think this is very true. Given that WDW is in Central Florida, I think that WDW's "locals" are from all over Florida who make day trips to the resort. And there are now more passholders than ever before, thanks to the new monthly payments plan for Florida residents. Even people I know who are not huge Disney people are getting passes, because it is now affordable.

As far as Disney not doing anything because the summer is packed full of people anyway - this is exactly the mentality we should fear. How long before there are no Christmas festivities, 4th of July celebration, or parades or nightly fireworks? After all, people will be there anyways... And I suppose if that is the stance the resort is starting to have - I guess that could explain why we have heard zilch about anything to recognize the 40th anniversary...