Overseas trouble

[buurd64]

International theme parks are beginning to generate great revenue, especailly in the UK & Germany. How can the USA theme parks offer international visitors more then what exists in their own countrys. Disney and other places are going to lose customers by the growing industry over seas.

 

[Sir Hiss527]

It's called the great, and wonderful U S of A...!

 

[MouseRight]

In spite of all of the Negative Publicity over the last week or so, Walt Disney World and Disneyland are still the greatest Theme Parks in the world. No one else does it like Disney and never will. To borrow a line from a classic movie - "If you build it, they will come"

 

[jrriddle]

I think it's about branding.
Disney is so recognized worldwide that it is something special to go to one of their parks.
Yes you can go to the local amusment park and have a great time, but if you have the money it would be really something to go to a Disney park in the states. A real special experience.
Makes you wonder though, why Disneyland Paris is not bringing them in on a more consistant bases.

 

[mkt]

Disneyland Paris does a half-assed job, Tokyo Disney gives 110%... one has a culture that despises all things american, one has a culture that idolizes all things american. Which is more likely to fail?

 

[Shaman]

Originally posted by mkt
Disneyland Paris does a half-assed job, Tokyo Disney gives 110%... one has a culture that despises all things american, one has a culture that idolizes all things american. Which is more likely to fail?

Negativity never works, so which is more likely to fail...I would say the haters....or was that a rhetorical question......

American themeparks need to first worry about getting the attention of the American consumers...they are closer and if you can't get their attention it will be harder getting international attention...its like WDW and DLR appeasing locals and state residents with discounts and stuff....just on a bigger scale....international visitors are important; if consumers at home can be convinced to spend money at themeparks, then they stand a chance with consumers abroad, and can better compete for visitors with other themeparks abroad.....just some thoughts....

 

[celticdog]

When DL and WDW were built, I don't think that the international consumer was given top priority. The parks have survived for decades and they will survive for many, many more. Just because a few foreign visitors stay home, does not mean the end of Disney. It may actually benefit us better: less crowds, shorter lines and more frequent discounts.

 

[disneyisbest]

The reason why Disney will always be appealing is because it is just like the name. It is like going to another "World." Disney is the only theme park that I have every been to that gives you that feeling of leaving reality behind. I think that is something that will carry them on for a long time.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Originally posted by celticdog
The parks have survived for decades and they will survive for many, many more. Just because a few foreign visitors stay home, does not mean the end of Disney. It may actually benefit us better: less crowds, shorter lines and more frequent discounts.

I think you will find that the numbers of visitors from the UK and Europe is returning to pre 9/11 levels it is the locals that are staying at home. Something to do with the $$$$ and exchange rates for us.

I take it that given your statement about less guests being a good thing that Economics is not your strong suit.

 

[MouseRight]

I read somewhere, and have personally seen it in my many visits in 2002 & 2003, that the South American visitors to WDW is still lower than pre 9/11 days (Just using that phrase still gives me chills and says volumes of about life in the old USA today). Particularly the Brazilians. You don't see the masses of Brazilian teenagers as you used to. While WDW attendence has increased since 2002 the foreign visitors have not in the same proportion. That is one of the reasons that WDW has shut down hotels over the last 2 years and still has not opened them to full capaicty. Also, the surrounding area hotels (Who cares about them?) have also struggled and some have closed.

Over the years, WDW grew from a local East Coast theme park to the resort that the whole world visits. As a frequent visitor, I enjoy the thin crowds, but WDW will never fully recover until they return.

 

[TURKEY]

Originally posted by MouseRight
I read somewhere, and have personally seen it in my many visits in 2002 & 2003, that the South American visitors to WDW is still lower than pre 9/11 days (Just using that phrase still gives me chills and says volumes of about life in the old USA today). Particularly the Brazilians. You don't see the masses of Brazilian teenagers as you used to. While WDW attendence has increased since 2002 the foreign visitors have not in the same proportion. That is one of the reasons that WDW has shut down hotels over the last 2 years and still has not opened them to full capaicty. Also, the surrounding area hotels (Who cares about them?) have also struggled and some have closed.

Over the years, WDW grew from a local East Coast theme park to the resort that the whole world visits. As a frequent visitor, I enjoy the thin crowds, but WDW will never fully recover until they return.

The South American crowds are smaller than pre 9-11, but it has more to do with their economies and exchange rates than terrorism/security fears from what I understand.

Rodrigo (MKCustodial) could help more. In fact, I think I read where he said Disney was shutting down some sort of center they had in Brazil.

Right now is an excellent time for Europeans to be traveling to the US.

 

[lebernadin]

Originally posted by mkt
Disneyland Paris does a half-assed job, Tokyo Disney gives 110%... one has a culture that despises all things american, one has a culture that idolizes all things american. Which is more likely to fail?

These are very stereotypical comments and really untrue of the majority of the people you're brushing a broad stroke over. I co-own a restaurant in Paris and have spent a good amount of my life growing up overseas, mainly in Europe.

Its easy to say all Americans hate the French and vice versa but all it shows is that you aren't speaking from a position of authority on the subject and are just perpetuating a negativism.

DLP, from what i'm told, is still one of the top, if not THE most visited theme park in Europe. I think people in the US, including Disney management, haven't grasped the reality that the European market is much more different than that of Japan. Their expectations are clones of the stateside theme parks and resorts and as a result are constantly having to invest and divest and push back loan payments as a result.

As far as the Japanese loving all things American, its more along the lines of loving all things(ie the ideal consumer). For as many that are visiting and purchasing US products there are just as many travelling to Australia, SE Asia, Europe, and increasingly South Africa.

 

[mkt]

Originally posted by lebernadin
These are very stereotypical comments and really untrue of the majority of the people you're brushing a broad stroke over. I co-own a restaurant in Paris and have spent a good amount of my life growing up overseas, mainly in Europe.

Its easy to say all Americans hate the French and vice versa but all it shows is that you aren't speaking from a position of authority on the subject and are just perpetuating a negativism.

Bring the child of European parents (Spaniards from Barcelona... 80km from France) and having lived in Europe and experienced DLP and the surrounding Parisian culture firsthand, I stand by what I said. To this day when I go abroad, I use my Spanish passport over my US one as my primary identification.

Originally posted by lebernadin
As far as the Japanese loving all things American, its more along the lines of loving all things(ie the ideal consumer). For as many that are visiting and purchasing US products there are just as many travelling to Australia, SE Asia, Europe, and increasingly South Africa.

and furthermore... I also spent time in Tokyo in 2001. The Japanese love american culture. It goes down in most facets of their life... see their top 10 TV shows, top 10 movies, top 10 record sales... predominantly American titles/artitsts. Look at their cars... yes, mostly Japanese cars.. but look at the badging on them. Lexus, Infiniti, and Acura aren't sold in Japan. You will see Toyota Soarers rebadged as Lexus SC300, you will see Nissan Primeras rebadged as Infiniti G20's, and you'll see Honda Integras rebadged as Acura RSX's. Walking down the street, people would ask my friends and I if we could have pictures taken. Being a Gaijin in Japan was like being a well liked local newscaster in the US. Not quite a celebrity, but people would still ask you for your picture.


Yes I know not all French dislike Americans (and vice-versa). And my previous comments were not directed on on the attitudes of the cultures per se, but rather at the local management style. And I also know there are Japanese that loathe ANY foreigners, especially Americans (the Japanese countryside is a perfect example. People would shut their windows as we walked by). But again, the comments were directed to local park management, and NOT the local culture.




Je suis fier d'être un Américain.

Je suis fier d'être un Européen.

Je suis fier d'être un citoyen du monde.

 

[NowInc]

Being european...greek more specifically..i can tell you that we rely HEAVILY on american tourism/markets....but that doesnt mean we cant survive without it.

The euro kinda screwed greece up in a way (wont get into this)..


...how did this topic change anyway?

 

[ChrisTUK]

Put it this way...

There aren't any theme parks here in the UK or europe that would keep me from visiting Orlando. Nothing comes close to comparison, theres something about Orlando, Disney etc. that beats other destinatons by a mile.
I've visited US theme parks more than I have visited UK and European parks.

 

[mkt]

Originally posted by ChrisTUK
theres something about Orlando

The exchange rate and the weather? :lol:

 

[celticdog]

Originally posted by Pumbas Nakasak
I take it that given your statement about less guests being a good thing that Economics is not your strong suit.

Yes sir, you would be correct.

 

[Tielo]

I don't know why but I have always had trouble to book a plane to Orlando (from Amsterdam).
the planes are always full when I'm in there. Even after 9-11!

There is nothing that can compare to Disney (or Universal or Sea World). There a a few nice parks in Europ but they don't have the benefit of the Orlando parks. they can't stay open 365 days a year so attractions only can make money half of the time. There are a few park who open in the winter for weekends but it's only for a few days.
The Disneyparks in France aren't comparable to Disney World, they are cheap and as my nephew said, They don't belong there, there out op place in the cloudy rainy weather.

 

[barnum42]

With the exception of Disneyland Paris, I think that most European parks are seasonal. They shut down over the winter, so they are not a year-round proposition. I have never been to a UK theme park that was a patch on Disney. They are more Six Flags.

From a British Perspective I don’t think 9-11 affected the Orlando trippers. I flew out about three days after USA airspace was cleared for international traffic post the attacks. The plane was packed. I guess we have had to live with terrorists for some decades now due to the Irish situation.

 

[lebernadin]

Originally posted by mkt
To this day when I go abroad, I use my Spanish passport over my US one as my primary identification.

Fortunately i've never been in a situation(yet!) where my citizenship could cause me physical harm, but i also know of friends who have said they're from Toronto.

the comments were directed to local park management, and NOT the local culture.

Ok, thanks for clarifying. I haven't interracted with the CM's at DLP to take a pulse on their enthusiasm so i'll take your word on that.