Wow! Thanks for posting the article. I get most of my Disney news from this website and I haven't been on for awhile before this week so I had no idea about any of this. I heard about the Fantasyland expansion and the basics and that is where I dropped off a few weeks ago.
300 million is a lot to spend on such a huge undertaking....of buildings and a forest. When really the only sure timeless value and guaranteed sustained interest will be Gaston's, the Beauty and the Beast restaurant, and Ariel, and perhaps Dumbo if that goes through because that is always a favorite of many.
I posted on a thread the past two days about the Execs and I am of the opinion that I also have noticed a decline in the interest of the Disney princesses as a solid profitting brand. I see less girls with princess products than I did say five years ago when you couldn't walk anywhere without seeing little girls with something with the Princess logo on it.
Still going strong as Halloween costumes but not as heavy as it was. More the infant through 10 years girls on average, I would say.
Meet and greets decline in time and that is a lot of money to spend, a lot of waste of space, and would stop so many other projects because of this.
I am all for the Beauty and the Beast restaurant. That is a smart move. Yes, take the heat off Cinderella dining a bit. So hard to get a reservation there especially with the 100 something seat limitation. Perfectly understandable, and would be desired because many people feel that dining at Disney is an event just like getting on a ride. Er, to me.:lookaroun
Can't wait for Ariel as well. And well that is about it for my excitement level.
I just hope that Cinderella's Castle, the icon of MK, is not being dealt an injustice. They can't allow another table service and rival princess areas/castles to steal its thunder. Near it was the Belle story area and I would think that would also go when Belle has the palace of her dreams in another part of the park.
Loved the castle since it was King Stefan's Banquet Hall.
Also, I gleaned over some posts where it was mentioned that Frontierland is not pulling its weight financially as a land, to paraphrase. First I was like, Whoah! How is that possible? as I thought of Big Thunder and Splash but then I started thinking, checked a map of MK, and realized that yes it was possible.
Two very popualr attractions are there that have heavy attendance which are ridden as many times as you want because it is included in the park ticket. That is maintanance, time, labor, testing, refurb, clean-up, etc. I'm quite sure the Treehouse doesn't cost that much to maintain but I could be wrong.
But what I don't get is duh, of course the place will make less of a profit from the other lands because Frontierland:
1. Has only 1 restaurant which is Pecos Bill. A plus is that it is very popular. Remember when a part of it was called the Mile Long Bar or something? Name escapes me at the moment. I believe that all the other lands have well over 2 or more which follows that it will have a higher profit. Yet, if we count the Turkey Leg wagon, those suckers sure move!
2. It also has less stores than the other lands. Not if you count Toon Town though. And let's look at what those stores are:
Big Al's - mostly headwear which is not going to sell as much as a store that has a variety of items.
Briar Patch - would bet this makes the highest profit of all 4 stores because it has the most variety.
Frontier Trading Post - pins, pins, and pins, and unless you are a serious collector, which there are many, it's still not bringing in as much as the Main Street shops.
Which leads to the last store - Prairie Outpost & Supply - candy store - which I must sheepishly admit I always pass because I loyally buy all my candy in the darling one on Main Street.
I went last summer and as I remembered I then slapped my head. I did look around those stores and coerced my fiance only because he wanted to feel the air conditioning for the bit. I only bought a magnet and I wanted to tour them with him because I forgot what they looked like inside because I never shop there.
Yeah, it does make sense. I only bought a magnet in all of Frontierland because Mickey was dressed as a cowboy on horseback riding into the sunset like John Wayne and he looked so adorable. And the Magnet said Frontierland on it. And let me tell you I wasn't sure I should buy it or not because I went a bit crazy shopping in the other lands and it was an impulse purchase.
Also, as for dining, I think there could be very cool concepts for a table service in Frontierland. Really revamp Diamond Horsehoe into a saloon, western, table service or something brand new in another location. If there is space available.
Quite possibly nothing was done because there is the Liberty Tree not too far away for those desiring table service, but alas, in profit, it is not part of Frontierland.
I think it would be great if the boys got something in Frontierland, like was brought up in the article and in posts. I could live with Tom Sawyer Island being rethemed.
Er, just don't change Frontierland too much. And I would really prefer that they concentrate on Adventureland and Tomorrowlamd first. In my dreams.
I already attacked those topics on the Disney execs threads. Basically, it was a post about how if I was suddenly made a Disney exec with full reign, what I would love to see.
And I agree that if done right I understand how immersion in a fairytale atmosphere would be awesome, but I don't think it will leave a legacy on DW's history as being one of the greats, from an attraction perspective.
