Spirited News & Observations II -- NGE/Baxter

[GoofGoof]

I don't think its usually in the written presentation, but when Rasulo (or whoever) is talking on the call he will slip some numbers in, or if an analyst asks a more direct question.

If there is a growth in WDW attendance YOY they will find a way to talk about it in the earnings call. They will probably also attribute it to FLE. Most likely they will wait for the question they know they will get from an analyst about FLE and WDW and then give a number. Well probably not an actual number, but at least a ballpark. Something like low single digit growth or high single digit growth or maybe a phrase like up a hair which is what they used last call. If they dodge the WDW attendance question completely it means the numbers weren't good. As far as room occupancy anything they talk about domestically is pretty much WDW. The 2,000 rooms at DLR are statistically irrelevant for the most part.

 

[alissafalco]

On day to day items. Vacations, usually not so much.

Sure....

 

[lazyboy97o]

I wanted to drop a great quote I read by Walt. (it is my signature now as well)

"This concept here will have to be something that is unique, so there is a distinction between Disneyland in California and whatever Disney does in Florida."

The irony of this comment is that in "The EPCOT Film" the theme park is an exact copy of Disneyland.

 

[MattM]

Sure....

ok...

 

[Rodan75]

So all of the on-property hotel talk is a little offensive. I do like to stay on-property at a deluxe resort for a couple of reasons:

1. My partner and I really enjoy easy access to MK.
2. I travel for work 12 to 18 weeks a year, each of those stays is at an un themed hotel with a crappy free breakfast.

While we're not rich, we are comfortable enough to take a week and spoil ourselves a little. I suspect a lot of other families feel the same.

I think we should back off of judging folks based on where they stay or want to stay.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

More Marvel Land HKDL news from Alain at Disney & More.
http://disneyandmore.blogspot.com/2013/04/finally-no-marvel-land-for-hkdl.html?m=1
I found this part interesting...

Editing: An anonymous reader has left this comment to the article:
"There was no "Marvel land" to begin with. All they were going to do was the most cheap/uninteresting option: drop a single Marvel-themed ride into Tomorrowland (not that that makes any sense). And the ride would just be Star Tours redressed to be about the Avengers. Unimaginative and uninspiring."

I double checked and It seems that the info above is true. And i have to agree, too, that there is not much space left in HKDL Tomorrowland, so 1 or 2 ride will eventually fit well, but a real land, no way! If Marvel is going to be a mini land at HKDL Tomorrowland, then the rides part would be just as big as Toy Story Land's rides... Which means that may be the Marvel land or "mini-land" deal is finally not done yet and may be Disney would prefer to keep anything Marvel for HKDL second gate where they will have plenty of room for a "real" Marvel land...

 

[MattM]

So all of the on-property hotel talk is a little offensive. I do like to stay on-property at a deluxe resort for a couple of reasons:

1. My partner and I really enjoy easy access to MK.
2. I travel for work 12 to 18 weeks a year, each of those stays is at an un themed hotel with a crappy free breakfast.

While we're not rich, we are comfortable enough to take a week and spoil ourselves a little. I suspect a lot of other families feel the same.

I think we should back off of judging folks based on where they stay or want to stay.

I don't think he was really being offensive, certainly not intentionally. He wasn't saying anything about those who choose to stay offsite, but rather the "perks" and savings of staying offsite do not matter to those who may want to stay at the GF regardless of the price.

And he's right.

 

[Tim_4]

So all of the on-property hotel talk is a little offensive. I do like to stay on-property at a deluxe resort for a couple of reasons:

1. My partner and I really enjoy easy access to MK.
2. I travel for work 12 to 18 weeks a year, each of those stays is at an un themed hotel with a crappy free breakfast.

While we're not rich, we are comfortable enough to take a week and spoil ourselves a little. I suspect a lot of other families feel the same.

I think we should back off of judging folks based on where they stay or want to stay.

I certainly wasn't judging anyone. I was just pointing out Disney's portfolio and pricing strategy based on the behavior patterns of groups of guests over time. It's not about any individual guest, but these historical patterns.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

Btw, is it just me or is Disney crazy not to put ST: TAC into HKDL. If they were to start work this year, they could easily have it opened right before Episode 7 comes out.

 

[ThemeParks4Life]

Btw, it just me or is Disney crazy not to put ST: TAC into HKDL. If they were to start work this year, they could easily have it opened right before Episode 7 comes out.

They're crazy. It's the only Disney resort without Star Tours in it.

 

[Rodan75]

I understand. And I agree. Disney is well aware of the value of their resorts and prices accordingly. (Value, by definition, is specific to the person paying the price). Personally I don't value hotels like POP as much as I do WL, GF, and Poly. So personally I find the prices for POP to be too high for the return.

I think over time the Value resorts will have to become more price competitive for all of the reasons mentioned abve OR they will invest in a better mode of transportation than the busses to give more guests value in staying there.

 

[Tim_4]

I understand. And I agree. Disney is well aware of the value of their resorts and prices accordingly. (Value, by definition, is specific to the person paying the price). Personally I don't value hotels like POP as much as I do WL, GF, and Poly. So personally I find the prices for POP to be too high for the return.

I think over time the Value resorts will have to become more price competitive for all of the reasons mentioned abve OR they will invest in a better mode of transportation than the busses to give more guests value in staying there.

I think even crummy transportation adds significant value to the Value resorts. It might be $50 to $100 more a night than a comparable off property hotel but you'd spend that on a rental car anyways.

 

[jt04]

High capacity rides ARE infrastructure. The parade is a replacement of a current parade - no net change.

Hoping the parade is 'new and improved' from the old one. Just the fact it is truly new will be a draw. I think new attractions are on the way but first they have to get the crowd situation under control. I imagine those decisions are still being figured out. That is why that brought in new people. This discussions will be easier after D23. Then it will be easier to determine how the future of WDW will unfold. IMO. Can't wait.

PS- I wasn't yelling. Just emphasizing the same point I have tried to make many times.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Btw, it just me or is Disney crazy not to put ST: TAC into HKDL. If they were to start work this year, they could easily have it opened right before Episode 7 comes out.

I think it is one of those things that sort of fell to the wayside in the drama of Hong Kong Disneyland. I do not have any knowledge of Disney's licensing deals for Star Wars prior to their purchase of Lucasfilm, but Hong Kong Disneyland opened without any outside intellectual property. I would guess not including Star Wars helped to keep down Disney's costs in the initial build out of the park. The recent expansions have been about correcting this, and in order to prove Disney's commitment to Hong Kong the Government demanded something unique, with terms of exclusivity tied to all three lands (Toy Story Land is exclusive to Asia). With this set of expansion over and seemingly successful, I would assume future additions will follow the intended joint financing. This means that the addition of Star Tours would still depend on the desires of the Government of Hong Kong. Do they want something already available at all of the other Resorts and possibly even at the upcoming Shanghai Disneyland? Or would they rather pursue more unique offers to distinguish the park from Shanghai Disneyland and, to a slightly lesser extent, the Tokyo Disney Resort?

 

[the.dreamfinder]

Georgie K sighting

 

[Clever Name]

Interesting. The available room nights works out to about 27,000 rooms. The room nights booked is about 22,000. DLR has a little over 2,000 rooms. Lets assume they were all available all year and at 100% occupancy. In that scenario WDW had 25,000 rooms available and 20,000 rooms booked or an occupancy rate of 80%. I guess that's still a big tick down from peak levels, but still a pretty solid number for WDW.

The numbers given do not translate to rooms that are occupied with bodies. WDW has contracts with all the major discount Internet travel sites (i.e. Expedia, Priceline, Orbitz, etc.) to which they provide room inventory allotments. These allotments are automatically taken out of the Disney Central Reservations Office (CRO) and are recorded on the books as booked. During off peak times many of these rooms do not get occupied.

They are booked as far as WDW is concerned because Disney has sold the room block at a discount and the rooms are removed from the control of the Disney CRO. Also WDW room block allocations are sold to AAA and other travel agencies for inclusion in package deals. Suffice it to say that "rooms booked" does not reflect actual occupancy rate.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Iron Man 3 opens to $195.3 million overseas:

http://www.imdb.com/news/ni52328279/?ref_=hm_nw_tp_t1

That'll buy Tony Stark a few new cars.

 

[PhotoDave219]

I generally agree, but we also need to be careful not to jump to conclusions. Attendance is highly confidential even in the best of times so I wouldn't expect anything TOO specific either way.

They keep dodging the attendance figures. The best we get is the TEA estimates, the latest of which are 2011 numbers. Then we get to do math and extrapolate averages.

 

[Lee]

Btw, is it just me or is Disney crazy not to put ST: TAC into HKDL. If they were to start work this year, they could easily have it opened right before Episode 7 comes out.

Not crazy, really.
Just as smart to open a Marvel attraction(s) near the release date of Avengers 2.

 

[PhotoDave219]

I didn't say "wealthy people." I said "Grand Floridian guests." I have friends who are managers in the call centers where these folks make there orders and yes, it's all true. They tack on recreation, floral packages, in-room daycare, concierge access, and other premium features at the slightest suggestion from the sales agents.

Obviously I'm super duper way over generalizing but Disney markets their product to the "rule," not the "exception."

In Room Day Care?!!?!?!? That's an offering!?!?