BrianLo
Well-Known Member
Is Phase 3 the "virtual" 3rd gate, or are you actually talking a third Harry Potter build occurring in the parks?
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Spirited News & Observations II -- NGE/Baxter
- Thread starter WDW1974
- Start date
Is Phase 3 the "virtual" 3rd gate, or are you actually talking a third Harry Potter build occurring in the parks?
So ... TWDC released 2013 quarter 1 results ...
http://thewaltdisneycompany.com/sites/default/files/reports/q1-fy13-earnings.pdf
... and being that the real world called me, and I had to take the call ... what's the talk?
Was it about the fact that WDW's numbers were allegedly (after they were waterboarded) 'up a hair'? ... What kind of hair? Was it long and luxurious and on top of a gorgeous head? Or was it some unwanted hair ... like on Aunt Martha's upper lip when she kisses you?
Is anyone spinning that the four percent P&R increase is not a result of DLR and DCL and higher prices overall and instead due to the mediocre New Fantasyland?
BTW, I'm trying to determine what is Bob Iger's biggest concern right now: NGE at WDW or how Oz will fare at the box office.
http://thewaltdisneycompany.com/sites/default/files/reports/q1-fy13-earnings.pdf
... and being that the real world called me, and I had to take the call ... what's the talk?
Was it about the fact that WDW's numbers were allegedly (after they were waterboarded) 'up a hair'? ... What kind of hair? Was it long and luxurious and on top of a gorgeous head? Or was it some unwanted hair ... like on Aunt Martha's upper lip when she kisses you?
Is anyone spinning that the four percent P&R increase is not a result of DLR and DCL and higher prices overall and instead due to the mediocre New Fantasyland?
BTW, I'm trying to determine what is Bob Iger's biggest concern right now: NGE at WDW or how Oz will fare at the box office.
xdan0920
Think for yourselfer
ParentsOf4
Well-Known Member
That's got to be a no-brainer. NGE will stumble along and return something. Oz could become another Pirates or another John Carter. I know what I'd be worried about if I was in Iger's shoes.
the.dreamfinder
Well-Known Member
Or it could break even.
xdan0920
Think for yourselfer
Pirates had an iconic performance from an iconic actor. Oz has.....James Franco?
Oh, someone told me that Al Lutz was trying to steal Bob Iger's thunder in the fanboi community by writing his once in six-eight week column and focusing largely on WDW.
I have to admit (without having a chance to source it) that Al's info seems to mesh with what I've been hearing. Pandora was pushed entirely out of the budget for FY'13 and one might wisely see those funds shifted over to the Studios project. And if enough of them are pushed over (and things like Luigi's get left out -- as I told you it would), Cars Land could easily be built with said funds.
But there is no way in hell that you'll see it in 2015. You wouldn't if construction started tomorrow and that isn't happening. This isn't UNI where they put up an E-Ticket in less than a year. This is Disney where the modest (why do I always have to repeat it?) Fantasyland project winds up lasting from 2009-2014.
Also, if Disney has gone away from the 'value engineered' version of Cars Land and for a close to duplicate, you must wonder what that means for the Monsters coaster, the Ratatouille ride, the new shows to replace the tired and ancient Mermaid and B&B shows, the Fantasmic replacement etc ... the park needs lots of work. Lots.
But I'd like to hear a confirmation before going with what was said.
Oh, and someone should have told Al that DAK is WDW's No. 3 park in attendance not No. 4.
I have to admit (without having a chance to source it) that Al's info seems to mesh with what I've been hearing. Pandora was pushed entirely out of the budget for FY'13 and one might wisely see those funds shifted over to the Studios project. And if enough of them are pushed over (and things like Luigi's get left out -- as I told you it would), Cars Land could easily be built with said funds.
But there is no way in hell that you'll see it in 2015. You wouldn't if construction started tomorrow and that isn't happening. This isn't UNI where they put up an E-Ticket in less than a year. This is Disney where the modest (why do I always have to repeat it?) Fantasyland project winds up lasting from 2009-2014.
Also, if Disney has gone away from the 'value engineered' version of Cars Land and for a close to duplicate, you must wonder what that means for the Monsters coaster, the Ratatouille ride, the new shows to replace the tired and ancient Mermaid and B&B shows, the Fantasmic replacement etc ... the park needs lots of work. Lots.
But I'd like to hear a confirmation before going with what was said.
Oh, and someone should have told Al that DAK is WDW's No. 3 park in attendance not No. 4.
unkadug
Follower of "Saget"The Cult
I guess that's a matter of opinion. Depp has had a many bad performances as he has good.
Iconic ? Not in my book.
bubbles1812
Well-Known Member
Is Oz tracking that badly? Know my family wants to see it... My brothers mainly want to see it for the witches
But obviously we aren't a large sample. I want to see Oz more than I do Lone Ranger though. That being said ill probably see both. It's certainly a risk though not the way I would have called John Carter a risk. At least there is brand recognition and recognizable actors and as my brothers put it so aptly "hot women"
ParentsOf4
Well-Known Member
I don't know if I'd have called Depp "iconic" before Pirates.
The point is that movies are much higher risk/reward than theme parks. Even a poorly received theme park expansion has years or even decades to make back its money. The fate of a movie like Oz, one way or the other, could be decided in a single weekend.
At this point, Iger should be much more concerned with Oz than NGE.
the.dreamfinder
Well-Known Member
bubbles1812
Well-Known Member
I'd say it depends on your definition of iconic. Depp certainly gave a memorable performance, not one easily forgotten in his portrayal of Sparrow. Those movies only worked because of the way he played his character. If he'd played it straight I do not think they would have been nearly as successful. In my opinion it was iconic. It resurrected a genre that was on the whole dead, and it wasnt something that people had necessarily seen before. Sparrow is now a character recognized the world over. That isn't easy to do when it comes to an original character in a movie based on a theme park ride. Depp's performance in the movie plus his work from his earlier good movies has made him iconic.
I will concede Depp has had some bad performances... See the tourist for one of those. Yikes.
Other thoughts ... DCL still is a monster force for good in P&R, although it would appear as if going to Galveston as well as continuing to do Mexican Riviera itineraries hurt as prices were down. ... Even having a film like the Avengers can't make up for a disaster like John Carter (keep this in mind next month with Oz if Iger is already talking up Iron Man 3 and Monsters U in Phoenix). ... OK, so WDW's hotel revenue was up four percent (due to price increases), but occupancy was down by the same four percent (likely due to more inventory at AoA coming online). ... Yes, Bob Iger played with MM+ toys last week (what did you think he was in O-Town for? To help Andy and George pick out tile for their kitchen at Golden Oak?) ... Iger and Rasulo still playing the deception game -- i.e. we won't tell you how much $$$ we are spending on NGE. ... Did I miss it or was little said about HKDL finally being in the black (due to quality additions)?
What's the pulse of the fan community? Are folks talking these results up? What about the Twits in the Twitterverse?
What's the pulse of the fan community? Are folks talking these results up? What about the Twits in the Twitterverse?
bubbles1812
Well-Known Member
Holy photoshop Batman!But there is Mila Kunis.
One final (for now) thought on Lutz: it was nice that Al tried to play up Tony going out on his own terms (it is true to a certain extent) but it also in no way tells the whole story or comes close. It will only all come out if Tony (who is extremely private) decides to smear a company that has been part of him since childhood.
But that doesn't change the reality.
Oh, and one bit of news, but it is very likely that Joe Rohde is next out the door. Their salaries (and talents) are simply too high.
But that doesn't change the reality.
Oh, and one bit of news, but it is very likely that Joe Rohde is next out the door. Their salaries (and talents) are simply too high.
PirateFrank
Well-Known Member
Quoted for truth!
You are exactly one of the demos that Disney is very concerned about, hence offering $399 PAPs the last three months of 2012.
unkadug
Follower of "Saget"The Cult
And Iger's is not?
Animaniac93-98
Well-Known Member
Well that would stink if Disney ends up having TWO box office Oz duds to its name, but I can't say I will be helping since I have no interest in seeing the new one and am only hoping for a Blu-ray release of Return to Oz when the new one makes its eventual home video debut.