Nope. It was a good excuse to get a crowd into the #4 park on likely the slowest Friday of the year.
They have tried numerous times to bring an event to the Studios, TDO always kills it.
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Spirited News, Observations & Thoughts IV
- Thread starter WDW1974
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Nope. It was a good excuse to get a crowd into the #4 park on likely the slowest Friday of the year.
They have tried numerous times to bring an event to the Studios, TDO always kills it.
PhotoDave219
Well-Known Member
So Fur/Fabric? Well when you have characters out that NEVER come out. Or are specially flown in. Hades? He's never out. Meg? Characters-in-Bloom ... which is long gone. Oggie? Caught the red-eye. Shan Yu? Off building Shanghai I believe. Shadow Man? Stuck in the Bayou.
These are people who are never out yet have a very loyal following thats bigger than the Orange bird. The point is that you cant see these people every day and its likely you wont see them again, ever.
DJ Elliott? Probably the best the parks have. But he's being overused.
You're right that it's something different and something likely to never happen again.
It is not dead. It just isn't going where it was proposed andcamethisclose to being built in 2008.
luv
Well-Known Member
This villain thing is an excellent example of the little extra stuff that Disney cuts because they think it doesn't make any money. These little things...they bring people in. They bring people back. They matter.Last night's DHS events represented a convergence of several factors:
By comparison, the Magic Kingdom was a ghost town with the hard ticket MNSSHP.
- Closure of MK to a hard ticket event on a weekend night, causing both locals and guests to seek alternative entertainment.
- Fireworks at DHS.
- A one-time special event.
- The appearance of rarely seen Disney Villains.
IMHO, it simply shows that onsite attendance is low (not surprising for mid-September) and locals don't like paying for specially ticketed events.
I understand why Disney hasn't attempted a party here. They don't want to do hard-core gore (or anything that might upset the preschoolers) and a toned-down version probably wouldn't compete well with HHN.
Toss in some villains on a regular basis. It costs next to nothing and people like it! Things that people like DO make money. Disney never gets that, which is why we have no Christmas Country Bears or Lights of Winter.
Maybe have two or three of these Halloween/Villain events next year. See how it goes.
I usually spend most of my WDWMagic time on the News and Rumors forum, but occasionally I check out General Discussion or Trip Planning or Chit Chat and come across extremely active and well-regarded posters whom I've never heard of before -- and many of them have been posting for years. But a large number of these people have never once posted to a Spirited thread to my knowledge, or to some of the other active threads in News and Rumors either.
The point is -- there are a great many diverse forums and threads on WDWMagic, and a great many posters with diverse perspectives and experiences. There should be more than enough discussion on these boards for any Disney fan, no matter what his or her views may be, to engage in fulfilling, thought-provoking, and ultimately enjoyable discourse.
What's significantly more limited, however, is time in the day. Since we all have only a finite amount of time to devote to internet posting, I don't know why some people seem to insist on devoting a substantial amount of that time to threads or discussion that they find distasteful or frustrating.
Squandering one's online time on such threads not only does a disservice to your own leisure time, but to the breadth of opportunities on WDWMagic to find and engage with fellow Disney fans whose company you enjoy.
Yep, quite aware of the O-Town dining month. Some folks that we both know went to Ruth's Chris earlier this week on it and had an amazing meal from what I have been told. We have something similar down this end of the state.
I still find the food at many Disney locations to be super. Jiko for instance. Had a great meal there earlier this year and knowing I can get it for 40% off if I go with friends makes it a no-brainer. But Disney isn't doing this out of the kindness of their collective hearts. They are suffering in food and beverage and even the 2-3 time a year price increases and DDP rubes can't make up for it.
I saw and heard, but trust me, Dave, it still doesn't come close to being as edgy as what HKDL puts on annually every Thursday-Sunday and is included in regular admission. Their event is much closer to UNI's minus some of the gore and all of the alcohol.
As to the media outlet getting the boot, I have heard that as well. I would love it if one of their people would join us over here and discuss it and social media in general. I have an inkling they already have at least one account here. They would have nothing to lose at this point and they'd be able to prove to the folks here who still do not get what Disney is doing, how if you are fair and unbiased with the mouse it gets you tossed out on your proverbial . I also think something else is at play with said media and the Mouse.
novawildcat18
Well-Known Member
December 13th is also a Friday. Do you think that WDW will attempt anything similar to this a second time?
No. Absolutely not.
PhotoDave219
Well-Known Member
No. It's in the middle of Christmas season. It does not fit the theme.
luv
Well-Known Member
I think you're wrong about why people went. I know you're wrong in my case. It was a special event. I looked forward to it. It wasn't like "Andy Gibb comes back to life and sings, 'An Everlasting Love' in person" looking-forward, but I was kind of jazzed. I like the villains.
I think you could not have been there last night. This was much, much worse than any 4th of July traffic I've ever seen. It isn't even comparable, really. We moved approximately ten feet every ten minutes and that was only because someone would drive through the grass to u-turn and leave, so we would advance that car length. Traffic-wise, we did not move AT ALL. We just sat. Stopped. The light would change from red to green, over and over...nobody could turn. Not one single car. There was no way to advance.
It wasn't just slow. The traffic did not move. Guys were getting out of their cars and walking into shrubbery and walking back. I wished i were a guy! Some woman let her son get out and do somersaults. I wondered if Disney used reclaimed water on that grass and if that kid got traces of it on him.
Tons of people walked. A woman pushed a stroller down the road.
It was a SERIOUS traffic situation, not your typical 4th of July deal.
JimboJones123
Well-Known Member
Disney worked as hard as it could NOT to make money last night.This villain thing is an excellent example of the little extra stuff that Disney cuts because they think it doesn't make any money. These little things...they bring people in. They bring people back. They matter.
I understand why Disney hasn't attempted a party here. They don't want to do hard-core gore (or anything that might upset the preschoolers) and a toned-down version probably wouldn't compete well with HHN.
Toss in some villains on a regular basis. It costs next to nothing and people like it! Things that people like DO make money. Disney never gets that, which is why we have no Christmas Country Bears or Lights of Winter.
Maybe have two or three of these Halloween/Villain events next year. See how it goes.
Insane lines, closed venues, amd lack of supply may have cost Disney 7-figure sales last night.
lazyboy97o
Well-Known Member
The Nightmare Before Christmas.
luv
Well-Known Member
I think it took them by surprise.
They really don't think that little stuff makes a big difference. That's why they cut so much of it and then sit around wondering why attendance and room occupancy rates aren't higher.
Even last night will not have them saying, "Hey, maybe people like villains. Maybe the little stuff...matters?" They're going to say, "We should have cut out the main gates" (or whatever they call the new main gate cards. I know there has been some kind of change.)
PhotoDave219
Well-Known Member
This villain thing is an excellent example of the little extra stuff that Disney cuts because they think it doesn't make any money. These little things...they bring people in. They bring people back. They matter.
I understand why Disney hasn't attempted a party here. They don't want to do hard-core gore (or anything that might upset the preschoolers) and a toned-down version probably wouldn't compete well with HHN.
Toss in some villains on a regular basis. It costs next to nothing and people like it! Things that people like DO make money. Disney never gets that, which is why we have no Christmas Country Bears or Lights of Winter.
Maybe have two or three of these Halloween/Villain events next year. See how it goes.
It's all behind the scenes politics. The corporate culture revolves around budgets and what makes the most money.
Statistics are manipulated to support the agendas of the managers So they can get promotions and whatnot.
And before you know it, there isn't a creative person in sight.
PhotoDave219
Well-Known Member
This should've only been to a shock to somebody who is entirely out of touch with their audience.
Anyone who pays attention to what the cast and locals go insane over, would recognize that this is going to be an epic disaster from a logistical and operations standpoint Unless they treated like it is New Year's Eve.
The bean counters are going to love it because they're going to see how much money they made with so little staff.
Front line however should be very ed off at the bosses after that crap they had to go through yesterday.
PhotoDave219
Well-Known Member
I think you're wrong about why people went. I know you're wrong in my case. It was a special event. I looked forward to it. It wasn't like "Andy Gibb comes back to life and sings, 'An Everlasting Love' in person" looking-forward, but I was kind of jazzed. I like the villains.
I think you could not have been there last night. This was much, much worse than any 4th of July traffic I've ever seen. It isn't even comparable, really. We moved approximately ten feet every ten minutes and that was only because someone would drive through the grass to u-turn and leave, so we would advance that car length. Traffic-wise, we did not move AT ALL. We just sat. Stopped. The light would change from red to green, over and over...nobody could turn. Not one single car. There was no way to advance.
It wasn't just slow. The traffic did not move. Guys were getting out of their cars and walking into shrubbery and walking back. I wished i were a guy! Some woman let her son get out and do somersaults. I wondered if Disney used reclaimed water on that grass and if that kid got traces of it on him.
Tons of people walked. A woman pushed a stroller down the road.
It was a SERIOUS traffic situation, not your typical 4th of July deal.
I think New Year's Eve is probably the best comparison. Christmas week traffic but everybody showing up to see the fireworks Which is late.
jensenrick
Well-Known Member
Oh, this is wonderful news! I see several of my fave Citywalk restaurants are on the list!
Disney has zero, not counting Swan &Dolphin. Gee, what a shock.
PhotoDave219
Well-Known Member
I'm in the car so I have to expand these thoughts later.
First? It is a low guest timeframe. Occupancy levels on property are at its lowest point. It always says because everybody just went back to school.
Second? It's something they've never done before and likely never to do again. You have entertainment that a percentage of the returning guest population has been clamoring for over several years now. We want villains and if this is our only chance ever seen them? Damn I want to go check it out.
Third? If your college program kid and you're not working are you going to sit at home in your apartment are you going to go out and party with everybody at the studios?
They could easily turn this into a Star Wars weekends type of event. For Friday's from mid-September for mid October or just entirely in October. Treated just like Star Wars weekends and very ago. It'll be a success. You don't even need any giant celebrities. Because we have our own celebrities, they are the villains. You can even spotlight one major villain a weekend to host or one major villain a weekend that you have to get fast passes for to get autographing meet and greet like the celebrities from Star Wars.
I just don't understand how forecasting could not see this coming. Anybody with a clue realize that global to clamoring for this stuff. And if your day just with the family of four are you going to drop $250 to go to a five hour Halloween party what are you going to spend absolutely no extra money and go check out this villains partied it's never been done before? Did they really expect the guests to go to the Halloween party when they could get something that was more interesting for free?
I think it's all gets back to management culture. When it's all number driven bean counting with is your creative people, you're going to get cluster ducks like this.
Let me be abundantly clear here: I am not criticizing the frontline cast who pulled off a freaking miracle last night. I criticizing the upper-level bosses and the way they run their business anymore.
BrightImagine
Well-Known Member
Exactly. I would have loved to go to this, but it's a time of year that even I cannot justify kids missing school. If it were held several times throughout the fall like MNSSHP, I would gladly plan a trip around it.
ParentsOf4
Well-Known Member
Sure, it would be difficult for out-of-state families with school-age children to attend. You visit WDW all the time. Compared to typical crowds, was this crowd different? (Beyond the in-state/out-of-state mix you already mentioned.) Were there many families with children there? Was it mostly adults? How did the crowd distribution differ from normal late night events?
Thanks!
P.S. I know you're in the car. Looking forward to reading your thoughts later.
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