Magenta Panther
Well-Known Member
I think to Magenta, if it is not Disney, it is not the answer.
Especially since we're talking attractions for a DISNEY park.
I think to Magenta, if it is not Disney, it is not the answer.
Especially since we're talking attractions for a DISNEY park.
Please, before you write further about WDW as a business, read this.
It will tell you a little bit about the history of WDW as a business. You should find it informative.
As a business, WDW is being badly mismanaged right now and gross margins are down.
Current management is attempting to "fix" this by raising prices and cutting quality.
That's not a "fix". That's the problem.
One thing that CAN'T be undone: all the growth that has happened BECAUSE of Harry Potter. Transformers, Springfield, Despicable Me, the Wet and Wild acquisition, land acquisition, and all of the upcoming expansions and growth owe their promptness and speed to Harry Potter.
And I dunno what stores you walk into, but there is still PLENTY of Potter merch lining the shelves, and more will come when they release Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, which takes place in the Harry Potter universe.
I stay on this site in hopes that I'll find some info that will spark some hope for me. Hope that the parks will finally live up to their reputation.
Just because Disney is seeing a lot of guests doesn't mean that they're being treated right. Have you heard of "The Rizzo Effect"?
And trust me, being a CM sucks. Been there, done that, it's not a good life. They have no trouble filling positions, though, because of the College Program/slave labor, which is why you rarely see a frontline CM with more than a year experience. Just look at their nametags next time; if it says a college instead of a city, that's someone making dirt, living in an overpriced apartment with five other people, and keeping Disney from having to actually HIRE someone. When you're working for minimum wage, you don't want to spend your lunch break buying a $7 meal from some third-party company that Disney sells you out to. I could go on, but that's for another thread.
Walk into Wal-Mart, Target or Kmart tomorrow and tell me how much Potter merchandise you find outside of the DVDs. Check toys, bedding, clothing, and kids plates and cups for starters. Tell me how much Potter you find, then how much Star Wars. I already know the answer but it appears you do not. I much prefer Potter over Star Wars myself, not a huge SW fans at all, but it's the better property longterm. I would much prefer to see new Potter media released than SW but that is not what is going to happen.
Since you seem to consider yourself an expert of the history of WDW as a business, does that mean you've read Disney's 10K and 10Q filings and listened to their earning calls?I know the history no link needed but thanks....
Since you seem to consider yourself an expert of the history of WDW as a business, does that mean you've read Disney's 10K and 10Q filings and listened to their earning calls?
I really have to ask, how many multimillion dollar theme parks have you run? If you have run some, then you are fully qualified to make all of your statements. Otherwise, they are not statements but your opinions. You are fully welcome to have them but just because someone has an opinion doesn't make the opinion right. All the opinions are equally valid because they are just opinions. None of us have the facts that lead to the various decisions so we are all just having opinions.Oh great, it's you...
How ironic that you accuse use of being led by an individual as opposed to our own findings. Maybe if you tried opening your eyes instead of hanging out on the bandwagon you'd learn a thing or two.
Star Wars isn't the answer? The most successful movie series in history will drive droves of visitors to the parks in a way that Harry Potter never could. You will have 3 full generations of people that will fill a Star Wars land where Potters Field will be passe in 10 years. Of course, that is just one man's opinion.
Thank you. And just because TWDC became over time a wildly successful Wall Street darling, and mass merchandising the brand being one of the ways it did so, does not take away from the value, the timelessness of characters in the Potter stories.Did you ever stop to think that maybe there are reasons beyond "Potter isn't popular" (or whatever you're claiming) that are behind things like mass produced action figures and such on supermarket shelves? The Potter LEGO sets sell very well, but they're pretty much the only "mass-market" Potter merch I've seen. We all know how particular Rowling is about her story and the world it takes place in, and mass-market crap toys seem to be exactly the kind of thing she doesn't want, and she certainly hasn't been hurting for money despite there being little to none of it. Also, think about the merch sold in the parks, and how some or most of those items might do in a common supermarket. Now, I actually see a lot of Potter merch in varying forms in smaller shops like Hot Topic, but mostly shirts with phrases or other articles of clothing, pretty much no "cheap" toys. The only place you can find anything like a "cheap toy" is Universal. Seems like a great way to charge a higher price and maybe take a slightly higher royalty payment as a result.
Judging something by the merchandise available in Walmart/Target/Kmart isn't exactly a great way to go about it.
I agree about the Star Wars part. Harry Potter will never ever be passe. I still pull my books out and read the stories over and over.
When did I say I was a expert, your the one passing judgement on current management on here not me. I said that you nor I (or anyone else) has the information the managament has when they make business judgements. What exactly is your management experience? Just curious as to why you think you have such insight.
When paying bodies thru the gate, in the beds and in the restaurants seats is used to judge business success (as it is in any resort) then yeah WDW is doing pretty well.
Interesting.When did I say I was a expert, your the one passing judgement on current management on here not me. I said that you nor I (or anyone else) has the information the managament has when they make business judgements. But when paying bodies thru the gate, in the beds and in the restaurants seats is used to judge business success (as it is in any resort) then yeah WDW is doing pretty well.
I really have to ask, how many multimillion dollar theme parks have you run? If you have run some, then you are fully qualified to make all of your statements. Otherwise, they are not statements but your opinions. You are fully welcome to have them but just because someone has an opinion doesn't make the opinion right. All the opinions are equally valid because they are just opinions. None of us have the facts that lead to the various decisions so we are all just having opinions.
Me, I've been going to Disney parks since 1957. I can see the issues that are there now but also saw the problems that existed when Walt was still running DL. He made lots of mistakes at DL and there were maintenance problems and issues, rides that had to be removed due poor design and concept and, well really everything people complain about today. You should have been around to see the anger about the ticket books, a lot like the complaints for FP+. Nothing new really to have problems now.
Record profits due to increased prices not attributed to growth in attendance. That kind of growth diminishes because eventually you have to slow down the price increases or your customers will look elsewhere.
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