Spirited Spring Break News, Observations & Thoughts ...

[Buried20KLeague]

Oh yeah, they are already offering 35% off this summer on their deluxe resorts to FL residents, but that trick doesn't keep working when the rates keep going up. I won't pay their rates when I can get 50-60% off cast discounts, so 35% is something I just laugh at.

I don't know where our resident occupancy expert @ParentsOf4 went (I hope all is well ... maybe Disney got smart and bought him off when he was down there a few weeks ago?)

That reminds me, seeing Thickhead's fake 'I went to Tokyo and WDW is better' BS trip thread, whatever happened to @Buried20KLeague ? He hasn't been seen since he went to TDR ... where's the trip observations?

I'm here, back in reality. I haven't hardly been on this site because it causes such depression after being at the best two Disney parks in the world for 8 days. Actually, 8 1/2. Our last full day in Tokyo we weren't planning on going to the parks, but even after 8 full days in the parks (and 5 in the city), we all wanted one last evening, so we picked up some starlight passes. That's when you know how great a product is... When after 8 full days, you're still begging for more.

If you can overlook the theming issues their Magic Kingdom has (and we EASILY could), those parks are just pure perfection. I sound like a broken record, but everything from the people to the maintenance to the food... Perfection. We thought it was even better than our first visit there in 2008. We found it crazy that at times we had to look for quite a while to find a trash can in the parks, yet there wasn't a speck of trash anywhere. Constant smiles on EVERYONE. Not just CM's, but guests. The parks were packed, and everyone was in a great mood. It was completely opposite of WDW when it's crowded. There, all you see are people complaining, pushing, shoving. NONE of that at TDL. It's fantastic. It really made it easy to accept the crowd levels and go with the flow. How wonderful it is that everyone SITS DOWN for the parades??? And how does one honestly enjoy the MSEP after having seen Dreamlights? How can you not see MSEP as tired, worn, and dated?

It was a great vacation that really allowed us to do a "deep dive" at the parks and explore every nook and cranny. I thought about sharing some thoughts here, but the reality is the Tokyo section of the boards is deader than the cemetery near my house. I didn't feel like shouting in an empty room. Those that have been there know how incredible it is, and those that haven't been NEED to.

@WDWFigment ... I saw on another board that you asked about the Polynesian Terrace. It was a BEAR for me to get us reservations. I tried everything, from going to GR (they wouldn't help!), to going to the concierge at the hotel (also wouldn't), to using google translate (which didn't work). I finally was able to get reservations made by joining the morning sprint at 8AM and heading straight there. I found a girl at the entrance that spoke fairly good english, and I explained I had tried all sorts of ways to make a reservation. She then pulled out her personal cell phone, and went through everything and made reservations for me for three days later (the first night with openings). Perfect example of going "above and beyond". Having said that... We were highly disappointed. We found plenty of food we really liked at the parks, but we found the food to be pretty bad for the dinner show, and not in any way geared toward Westerners at all. It was one of those meals where we weren't even sure what each item was, even though we had a menu right in front of us. And the show was alright. It was mostly just polynesian music with a handful of dancers, and the characters came out to dance with them for a few songs. The luau at WDW was worlds ahead of it, in our opinion, although we haven't been to the luau in a quite a few years either. The one high point was when they had the little kids come up on stage to teach them a dance. Our 5 year old still talks about that, even just yesterday. But beyond that, we didn't find it to be worth what it cost... Not at all. And we REALLY wanted to love it. Also, there are huge windows that normally overlook the jungle cruise which are currently covered up. Really took away from the "tropical" thing for us. Made the big room dark and closed in.

Since we've been back, it's been awfully hard to get excited to discuss WDW. Maybe the few changes they made to FP+ over the past couple weeks will help... But the problems are so much deeper reaching and depressing than a new technology. And I wonder, really, if there's any hope it CAN change, no matter who's in charge. I wonder if many of the problems are due to the culture of the country, and the "Nemo Seagull Mindset" (MINE! MINE! MINE!) that is so prevalent here. TDO could hire Matt Ouimet himself to pull a DL style rehab on the entire property, but you'll still have ECV's running into your ankles, people sneaking in front of you for a spot at a parade (even though you've been there for 30 minutes), dads hoisting little ones onto their shoulders right in front of you right when a show starts, Enterprise-class strollers, and a sense of entitlement that SHOULD be downright embarassing to people.

But hey... PoTC and HM have FP+, so it's all good, right? RIGHT?!?!?!?!?!?!?

 

[Gabe1]

But Ricky says he got nothing from Disney. ... And, I have had small (very small) instances of Guest Recovery over the years and don't ever recall giving my driver's license (I think I gave it once where they overcharged my CC for an AP and they refunded me the difference in cash) for anything.

BTW, am I the only person who thinks a Disney balloon shouldn't cost more than $5? Just wondering as someone in my circle brought up the absurd prices Disney charges for those lovely balloons.

Not much time this afternoon for MAGICal hijinks.

But Jason Garcia, who I generally view as a poor reporter and waste of space, just put this story up. And I love the Disney vs. UNI debates almost as much as a refillable mug thread or social media one ... btw, wdwgems.com still up and open for folks to ask for invites.

<<
:30 pm, April 19, 2014
Universal Orlando's second Harry Potter land is set to open by summer, and that could be bad news for Walt Disney World and SeaWorld Orlando.

An analysis of theme-park attendance data shows that Universal took visitor market share from its rival resorts after the original Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened in Universal's Islands of Adventure park in 2010.

Disney World's share of Orlando theme-park traffic shrank from 74.9 percent in 2009, the year before the first Wizarding World debuted, to 71.3 percent in 2012, the most recent year for which figures are available. SeaWorld's share dropped from 9.1 percent to 7.9 percent.

Universal's piece of the pie, meanwhile, grew from 16 percent to 20.8 percent during the same period.

Driven almost entirely by Universal's growth, total Orlando attendance rose 7.2 percent, from 63.5 million in 2009 to 68 million in 2012. Disney World's attendance grew modestly during the period, while SeaWorld's declined.

"To see that kind of shift in market share is really phenomenal," said Dennis Speigel, president of International Theme Park Services, a consulting business in Cincinnati. "Very seldom do we ever see that kind of shift in competitive markets."

Universal would not comment. But executives at the resort's parent company, cable operator Comcast Corp., have said in the past they expect to gain more market share, particularly once the Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Diagon Alley opens at Universal Studios Florida.

"We're doubling down on theme parks," Comcast Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Brian Roberts told analysts at a conference in January. "We have a low market share — and only one way to go."

The market-share calculations are based on annual attendance estimates compiled by the Themed Entertainment Association and the consulting company AECOM. Because the theme parks do not disclose figures themselves, the TEA/AECOM estimates are widely used across the industry. SeaWorld Entertainment Inc., for example, cites the reports in regulatory filings.

Attendance estimates for 2013 are expected to be released in about a month.

Both Disney and SeaWorld officials would not directly answer questions about why they think they have lost market share and whether they expect further losses once Diagon Alley opens.

"We are very pleased with the performance of our parks and resorts business," Disney World spokeswoman Jacquee Wahler said. "As we've publicly reported, we continue to set attendance records, invest in our product and provide more reasons for guests to return."

SeaWorld said attendance alone is not enough to accurately evaluate its performance.

"Analysis of a theme park company's performance should include revenue, operating profits, and the free cash flow that factors into the cost of building and financing new attractions," the company said in a written statement.

"SeaWorld Entertainment does not report attendance on a park-by-park basis, but last year generated its third consecutive year of record revenue and operating profit. That performance is based in part on strong attendance in our SeaWorld-branded parks."

Not surprisingly, Universal's Islands of Adventure, as home to the original Harry Potter attraction, made the biggest gain among individual gates in Orlando, with its market share rising from 7.3 percent in 2009 to 11.7 percent in 2012. Neighboring Universal Studios Florida grew more modestly, from 8.7 percent to 9.1 percent.

All four of Disney World's theme parks ceded ground during the period. The biggest decline occurred at its biggest park — Magic Kingdom — whose share slipped from 27.2 percent to 25.8 percent.

Analysts say various factors likely have contributed to the shifts. Both Disney World and SeaWorld have added only a few major attractions since Universal launched Wizarding World. The bulk of Disney World's Fantasyland expansion in the Magic Kingdom didn't open until late 2012, while SeaWorld's Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin attraction didn't arrive until early 2013.

Disney World has aggressively raised prices since 2010, with company executives saying they were willing to sacrifice some attendance and hotel bookings in order to rebuild pricing after the global recession. And SeaWorld endured an extended stretch of negative publicity after the February 2010 death of a killer-whale trainer and the protracted litigation that followed.

Universal also struggled through a prolonged attendance slump in the years before Wizarding World opened.

Still, "there's no question that Harry Potter was the biggest driver" of the market-share shifts, Speigel said.

Executives at Disney and SeaWorld have said in the past that they expected to get a bit of a boost themselves from Potter.

"When a competitor puts a good property in the marketplace, it brings more people to the market …. And we all know that's good for us because we usually get a good piece of all visitation to Orlando," Walt Disney Co. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger told analysts in early 2011, responding to a question about the impact of the original Wizarding World.

And late last year, in response to a question about Diagon Alley's impending opening, SeaWorld President and CEO Jim Atchison told analysts, "That's actually a benefit for the whole destination. ... It tends to help raise all the ships, if you will."

But the attendance figures show that Universal has claimed almost all of Orlando's theme-park attendance growth since Wizarding World debuted. Combined traffic at Universal's two parks soared 39.6 percent from 2009 to 2012, swelling by more than 4 million visitors in all.

By contrast, Walt Disney World's overall attendance grew by 2.1 percent during the same period, as the resort added about 996,000 more visitors. One of Disney World's four parks — Epcot — was essentially flat during the period, with attendance inching up by 0.7 percent.

And SeaWorld's attendance declined during the period, dropping 7.6 percent — a loss of about 442,000 visitors.

Scott Smith, an assistant professor at the University of South Carolina, said Universal is doing a better job of keeping more of its traffic on property, as Disney World tries to do. And he said that should continue this year with the opening of a fourth on-property hotel, the 1,800-room Cabana Bay Beach Resort.

"Having two parks, plus the CityWalk area, plus the resorts — they're now able to keep people almost exclusively on their property," Smith said.

jrgarcia@tribune.com or 407-420-5414

Saw Jason posted this today:

NBCUniversal's 'Today' to broadcast from NBCUniversal's Universal Orlando on Friday, prompting Potter speculation

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-universal-orlando-today-show-20140421,0,2411192.story

 

[flynnibus]

Don't lie, you know you go apecrap over Flynn when he comes out....

I go all Sark on that little punk...

 

[Astro Blaster]

In all my years at the parks, I have ONE photo of me and a character. There was no line, and my wife asked me to do it as a joke.

Same. One photo...and it was last month when I was at Disneyland. They have a "Thor: Treasures of Asgard" exhibit in Tomorrowland Innoventions, and I wanted to check it out since I'm a fan of the films.

So, a bunch of us went into this enclosed room with movie paraphernalia, then all of a sudden it filled with smoke and a door opened. On the other side of the door was Thor's throne room, and Thor himself. A meet and greet. Oops.

He told me to give my best "hero pose" so I did a Hulk Hogan flex and then shambled off.

 

[71jason]

Ok man, you can't post stuff like this without providing a link or some other hints to find it. I'm genuinely intrigued.

In the interest of furthering discussion, he can only mean the faux E Cardon Walker on Twitter.

 

[Soarin' Over Pgh]

Same. One photo...and it was last month when I was at Disneyland. They have a "Thor: Treasures of Asgard" exhibit in Tomorrowland Innoventions, and I wanted to check it out since I'm a fan of the films.

So, a bunch of us went into this enclosed room with movie paraphernalia, then all of a sudden it filled with smoke and a door opened. On the other side of the door was Thor's throne room, and Thor himself. A meet and greet. Oops.

He told me to give my best "hero pose" so I did a Hulk Hogan flex and then shambled off.

with or without dignity intact?

 

[Astro Blaster]

with or without dignity intact?

I thought I made for a pretty good hero...

 

[Soarin' Over Pgh]

First ad I've seen for the Mine Train... the still pic on the left is actually a ten second video clip

 

[novawildcat18]

First ad I've seen for the Mine Train... the still pic on the left is actually a ten second video clip

I'm getting that all the time now too. Must be getting close!

 

[SoupBone]

In the interest of furthering discussion, he can only mean the faux E Cardon Walker on Twitter.

What am I missing in this back story? They are both critical of Disney, or am I also missing extreme sarcasm?

 

[Stevek]

Same. One photo...and it was last month when I was at Disneyland. They have a "Thor: Treasures of Asgard" exhibit in Tomorrowland Innoventions, and I wanted to check it out since I'm a fan of the films.

So, a bunch of us went into this enclosed room with movie paraphernalia, then all of a sudden it filled with smoke and a door opened. On the other side of the door was Thor's throne room, and Thor himself. A meet and greet. Oops.

He told me to give my best "hero pose" so I did a Hulk Hogan flex and then shambled off.

I take back what I said earlier...I did take a photo with Darth Vader at DL once. And let me qualify my earlier statement a bit. I have no issues with adults taking pics with characters in general. We all want to feel like kids once in awhile which is part of why we all love going to the Disney parks. The creepy part is what Brigante and other people do and make special trips just to meet princesses and then they film them in these very awkward interviews. And the excitement they feel when actually finally meeting them....It just doesn't feel like something that a grown man should do. Different strokes for different folks.

 

[asianway]

What am I missing in this back story? They are both critical of Disney, or am I also missing extreme sarcasm?

It's why nothing will ever change. Even those who are upset about the course of WDW can't agree on methods and what the critical areas of need are.

 

[Stevek]

Any more weird then buying and wearing clothes with these 'characters' on them? Or watching show with them performing on stage?

How about standing for 30+min to watch a parade full of them go by?

Feels very apples and oranges to me but again, both are things I would likely not do without my wife or children.

 

[danv3]

I can't spend this afternoon on MAGIC (as much as I'd like to, it isn't a holiday and I actually have lots to do to get ready for my Faux Top One Percent Spirited Spring Holiday) ... BUT ...

... when you get called out by a dead guy on Twitter, you know you own the Internet. When you hurt the feelings of a dead guy on the Twitter, you know you own the Internet. When said dead guy is anonymous and yet rails against you for doing the same thing, you know you own the Internet.

Not trying to stir anything up, but this is weird to me. I don't know who either one of you is IRL, but it seems to me that both of you are (or at least should be) on the same team with respect to what's going on at WDW these days.

Some of his responses to the recent Garcia article have been hilarious, and right in line with the kind of comments I've seen here about the comparison between UNI's strategy and WDW's.

 

[Captain Chaos]

You mean the thing about being over at 7DMT on 4/22? Is it a soft opening???

No idea... Received a text today saying big announcement Wednesday.. I figured I'd ask on here cause if anyone would know, someone on here would... I kind of wrote it off as bad information about there being an announcement.. Also, Wednesday is the 23rd, not the 22nd... Unless the 23rd starts softs for the ride? And that is what my friend meant? But he never referenced 7D, just said big announcement Wednesday...

More than likely misinformation from my friend to me... Esp if no one here knows anything about it...

 

[71jason]

What am I missing in this back story? They are both critical of Disney, or am I also missing extreme sarcasm?

Tweets from last night are still up. Don't know what more back story you might need.

 

[SoupBone]

No idea... Received a text today saying big announcement Wednesday.. I figured I'd ask on here cause if anyone would know, someone on here would... I kind of wrote it off as bad information about there being an announcement.. Also, Wednesday is the 23rd, not the 22nd... Unless the 23rd starts softs for the ride? And that is what my friend meant? But he never referenced 7D, just said big announcement Wednesday...

More than likely misinformation from my friend to me... Esp if no one here knows anything about it...

I already told you what it was. You can trust me, I'm a Disney bus driver.

Tweets from last night are still up. Don't know what more back story you might need.

Let me clarify. They both seem to be critical of Disney, yet appear not to like each other. I was just wondering why.

 

[Captain Chaos]

I already told you what it was. You can trust me, I'm a Disney bus driver.

Don't make me out you as a faux insider now!!!! LOL...

Oh, bus driver? Never mind, we know bus drivers can be taken seriously....

 

[yeti]

I go all Sark on that little punk...

Go easy on him....it's got a better ring to it than 'Walter Jr'.

 

[flynnibus]

Tweets from last night are still up. Don't know what more back story you might need.

Much ado about nothing... I feel I should have my time refunded for even looking at those tweets.