Spirited News, Observations & Thoughts Tres

[MattM]

Aren't the tickets already over $100? Once the tax is added on?

Consumers tend to not factor in taxes when looking at price.

 

[WDW1974]

I thought that the reason the park had such limited hours were because of the animals. The last thing WDW needs is rumors on animals being overworked and abuse type claims???

That's just what they tell people. The real reason is that you can go on every ride in about three hours, so there's no reason to keep it open late.

What time does it usually close... 6? It doesn't get dark until 8:30 this time of year.

I don't know what DAK's hours were today, but I was in O-Town for most of May and most nights were 7 or 8 closings (I've seen them as late as 9 in the past). I have a hard time when folks complain about a 9-7 or 8-8 operating day.

The animal excuse is just that and largely Internet/CM/fanboi/urban myth that Disney has no reason to deny. As to 'overworking' the animals, this isn't a circus and the animals aren't working animals.

 

[Calvin Coolidge]

I don't know what DAK's hours were today, but I was in O-Town for most of May and most nights were 7 or 8 closings (I've seen them as late as 9 in the past). I have a hard time when folks complain about a 9-7 or 8-8 operating day.

The animal excuse is just that and largely Internet/CM/fanboi/urban myth that Disney has no reason to deny. As to 'overselling' the animals, this isn't a circus and the animals aren't working animals.

Considering they go through an extensive process of moving all of the animals "backstage" ever night, I'm not sure how late park hours would be too much of a problem; just bring the animals backstage, end the Safaris, Flights of Wonder, the Jungle Trek, etc. before the rest of the park. Frankly, if keeping the park open longer meant removing animal exhibits from the front of the park, I don't think it'd be the end of the world.

 

[luv]

Yes, but $95 plus tax is much more palatable then $100 plus tax

To whom?

Me, myself, there is no psychological difference between $97 and $100. There is a $3 difference - that's all.

Maybe I'm the oddball. I don't know. Maybe most people think there is a world of difference. ???

 

[WDW1974]

Exactly. I wouldn't call Terrace, Cosmic Ray's, or even most of the DAK CS locations excellently themed on their own. They're all part of a larger "system" that makes them seem much better than they are. FFB's "system" isn't yet done.

I'd sort if disagree with that statement. DAK's QSRs are intricately themed. Just had a nice meal at PIzzafari last month and all the DAK locales are similar efforts. Terrace has no theme at all, just a nice locale, and Cosmic Ray's (in addition to the worst turkey sandwich I have ever had) ostensibly has Sonny Eclipse doing his sets to tie-in to the greater T-land 'story' such as it is.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Although, to large extent, possibly: full extent, the same applies to non-animated IPs. They are very limiting. A Frontierland is always more engrossing than a Lone Ranger land. Even if the Frontierland too is nothing but an amalgam of several internalised IP properties such as Lone Ranger.

It is an issue of several design choices. Had Harry Potter been an animated series, would Hogsmeade be any less impressive? I don't think so because the world of the books is big enough to be built and what was built was built in such a manner as to let us explore as ourselves. Despite what Disney says, two buildings and a fountain do not a village make. New Fantasyland stays stuck in its chosen narratives because it does not offer us the chance to explore anything. We only get what is dictated. We see the same problem at the Seas Pavilion and the Submarine Voyage. The oceans are an incredibly vast frontier to explore and could even be guided by some cartoons, yet we are only offered a rehash of the known narrative.

I think Mickey's ToonTown is a good example of a place established in the animated portions of a single film but built out in a manner that breaks free of Who Framed Roger Rabbit's narrative. The current flatness of Disney's worlds stems from the assumption of ignorance. "Average people won't know" rules the decision making process and therefore there is no expectation that the "guest" will know an exotic world locale or even a slight extension of a film's world. This is why Walt Disney Imagineering has damned the Prince and his servants, because they expect people to be too stupid to understand that Belle broke the curse.

 

[|Q|]

But seriously.

What can you look longer at: a drawn Ariel cartoon, or a real woman with a shell bra? The first is great, but limited. On the latter, you can project an infinite amount of, well, 'fantasies' - although I mean that in a clean sense.

The same applies to a Little Mermaid cartoon castle or a New Orleans Square. Neither the cartoon girl nor the cartoon environment can rise above the limits of their story. A story which is fun, perhaps it's even a blast at first to visit, but ultimately its unfulfilling. This is why so very soon guests grow tired of New Fantasyland and want to leave for elsewhere in the park. You were never really part of that world, never did enter Ariel's cartoon world.

Uhm, i could agree with you, but I think Cars Land proves the opposite. The world of Cars should be the most difficult to relate with (since toon cars overthrown man and became rulers of the world), but it looks like in the end it works quite well

 

[WDW1974]

So @WDW1974, thoughts on Maingate Ads?

None yet as I am mot familiar with them and haven't had time to check them out ... And I'm only sorta paying attention to this as I watch Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

 

[Clever Name]

To whom?

Me, myself, there is no psychological difference between $97 and $100. There is a $3 difference - that's all.

Maybe I'm the oddball. I don't know. Maybe most people think there is a world of difference. ???

It's the age old process of pricing. Seldom do you see a product in a store (or the Internet) priced at $30.00. Rather they use the price of $29.99. It's been proven to work.

 

[WDW1974]

Seems like daring Walt Disney World to match and make the Magic Kingdom $97.00. The new pricing structure now means that Walt Disney World will be the first to hit $100 with a Magic Kingdom ticket.

Well, if WDW has the product it sez then one might wonder why it doesn't just raise prices dramatically ... We all know they want to. So just raise a day to $129 plus tax and take the small PR hit.

 

[Mr.Skunkape]

Spirit, what do you know about Run Disney. Is it a huge profit cash cow for WDW? They put on 6 running events each year and almost always do all the marathons sell out well in advance. I know the registration fees to run are not cheap plus many runners bring their family with them, stay on property and buy the high priced 3 or 4 day park tickets. WDW expenses to put on a race I would not think would be that great ( manpower to staff the course, renting traffic control equipment, insurance ) plus the runners love to buy the marathon pins and shirts. I may be totally wrong but it would seem that these events would have a high profit margin and they help draw in guest in the "off season" when they put on the events.

 

[WDW1974]

The REALLY GOOD food at Uni's restaurants had me skipping fast food almost all the time.

I think that many vacationers, going commando, lack the wherewithal to walk to CityWalk and just want to eat and drink wherever they are when they decide its time. So, makes sense to put in fast food.

But I've often thought, too, its almost crazy to eat fast food at Uni when City Walk is full of great restaurants that aren't $50/person.

While I agree about CityWalk (although my last meal there was at Moe's), I was speaking of the full serve dining locations in UNI and IOA.

 

[RSoxNo1]

I don't know what DAK's hours were today, but I was in O-Town for most of May and most nights were 7 or 8 closings (I've seen them as late as 9 in the past). I have a hard time when folks complain about a 9-7 or 8-8 operating day.

The animal excuse is just that and largely Internet/CM/fanboi/urban myth that Disney has no reason to deny. As to 'overselling' the animals, this isn't a circus and the animals aren't working animals.

You know me, I love DAK, but I was able to hit Kilimanjaro Safaris, Pangani Forest, Kali River Rapids, Dinosaur, Festival of the Lion King, Maharajah Jungle Trek, Tree of Life Exhibits, Discovery Island Trails, Oasis, Finding Nemo the Musical, Rafiki's Planet Watch, and several rides on Expedition Everest in under 8 hours last January. The real reason why the park doesn't stay open late is because it needs more rides.

 

[MattM]

Spirit, what do you know about Run Disney. Is it a huge profit cash cow for WDW? They put on 6 running events each year and almost always do all the marathons sell out well in advance. I know the registration fees to run are not cheap plus many runners bring their family with them, stay on property and buy the high priced 3 or 4 day park tickets. WDW expenses to put on a race I would not think would be that great ( manpower to staff the course, renting traffic control equipment, insurance ) plus the runners love to buy the marathon pins and shirts. I may be totally wrong but it would seem that these events would have a high profit margin and they help draw in guest in the "off season" when they put on the events.

You are right on.

 

[WDW1974]

Spirit, what do you know about Run Disney. Is it a huge profit cash cow for WDW? They put on 6 running events each year and almost always do all the marathons sell out well in advance. I know the registration fees to run are not cheap plus many runners bring their family with them, stay on property and buy the high priced 3 or 4 day park tickets. WDW expenses to put on a race I would not think would be that great ( manpower to staff the course, renting traffic control equipment, insurance ) plus the runners love to buy the marathon pins and shirts. I may be totally wrong but it would seem that these events would have a high profit margin and they help draw in guest in the "off season" when they put on the events.

Great question ... As Run Disney has become a large profit center for Disney Sports. There's a reason why they went from one marathon to about a dozen races a year, spread out on two coasts now (and headed for France in 2014). ... They will add them as long as they can find open dates on the calendar.

The problem is that you have too many folks racing in the big runs who aren't runners and are not even in shape, but want the bling (i.e. The medals Disney gives out). Disney should only give out participation medals or ribbons or certificates to someone who enters a 13.1 mile race and drops out two miles in. Only finishers should get the bling. I know from friends who run that it can be a safety issue when you are a serious runner and you are trying to get by a herd of elephants who just want Mickey's medal. Disney also needs to cap these races at lower numbers. It won't do either because these races have become a cash cow.

 

[WDW1974]

You know me, I love DAK, but I was able to hit Kilimanjaro Safaris, Pangani Forest, Kali River Rapids, Dinosaur, Festival of the Lion King, Maharajah Jungle Trek, Tree of Life Exhibits, Discovery Island Trails, Oasis, Finding Nemo the Musical, Rafiki's Planet Watch, and several rides on Expedition Everest in under 8 hours last January. The real reason why the park doesn't stay open late is because it needs more rides.

Is that EPCOT's excuse too?

 

[Darth Sidious]

Or just call and ask the White House?

 

[Funmeister]

Hey Spirit...any insight on the stalled plans of relocating the barns at Tri-Circle D Ranch to make way for the long awaited DVC (much much watered down version of what Buffalo Junction could have been)? I know Cast members were told at one time (about 3 years or so ago) that the horse barns would be moved to the front of Fort Wilderness to make way for DVC on the current site and old River Country.

 

[ParentsOf4]

To whom?

Me, myself, there is no psychological difference between $97 and $100. There is a $3 difference - that's all.

Maybe I'm the oddball. I don't know. Maybe most people think there is a world of difference. ???

It depends on your point of view.

If my DW wants to buy something, it's "only $99".

If I want to buy something, it's "over $100 with tax".

 

[Mr.Skunkape]

Great question ... As Run Disney has become a large profit center for Disney Sports. There's a reason why they went from one marathon to about a dozen races a year, spread out on two coasts now (and headed for France in 2014). ... They will add them as long as they can find open dates on the calendar.

The problem is that you have too many folks racing in the big runs who aren't runners and are not even in shape, but want the bling (i.e. The medals Disney gives out). Disney should only give out participation medals or ribbons or certificates to someone who enters a 13.1 mile race and drops out two miles in. Only finishers should get the bling. I know from friends who run that it can be a safety issue when you are a serious runner and you are trying to get by a herd of elephants who just want Mickey's medal. Disney also needs to cap these races at lower numbers. It won't do either because these races have become a cash cow.

That's why I could not find anything about Run Disney under the parks division because I needed to be looking under the sports division. Thanks Spirit