The Spirited Seventh Heaven ...

[PhotoDave219]

Shall we also start a LeBron sub-forum then?

I had no idea he was a Sub. Always figured he was a Dom.

 

[GoofGoof]

You do amazing research but you act as though Disney is not connected to the rest of the economy which is underperforming and has been for a long time. Until that changes expect more of the same.

A Billion plus at DCA
2.5 Billion in China
A billion plus on NextGen

The economy didn't stop that. TWDC is investing in Parks, just not enough at WDW or not on what we want.

 

[LondonGopher]

I agree with the seats. If they had more especially in the store for the husband's to sit at and talk to the other husband's who are waiting while their wives shop. In fact if they had a bar in some of the stores they'd make even more.

At the St. John Boutique in Chicago (Michigan Avenue) - husbands get a full bar, leather furniture and a flat-screen telly to enjoy while their wives shop. The liquor helps with the sticker shock!

Seriously, I went looking for my wedding outfit here - my brother (with me at the time as we were headed to a baseball game afterward) was whisked off by a young lovely, poured two fingers of top-shelf whisky and offered his choice of magazines and sports on the box. Brilliant idea. They should do this in the castle for dads enduring BBB!

 

[twebber55]

Lebron and Jordan are two of the greatest basketball players of all time for many different reasons though. i grow up watching Jordan and living in Chicago he was and will be the best ever for me. But I am not stupid enough to say Lebron stinks or is not great. He is a physical freak and what he has done in his time in the NBA is outstanding he is a blast to watch. People need to get over his PR team screw up on the "decision" and respect the man for his on court talent. Just like the spurs what a great great organization. To do what they have over 16years is crazy!

exactly
Magic and Kobe cheat on their wives
Jordan had severe gambling issues
crickets
LeBron does an interview with espn.... outrage
not a Miami/LeBron lover just being real

 

[jt04]

A Billion plus at DCA
2.5 Billion in China
A billion plus on NextGen

The economy didn't stop that. TWDC is investing in Parks, just not enough at WDW or not on what we want.

Exactly my point. If the US economy was thriving we would see more content being added to the Florida parks sooner. But in the meantime the emphasis will be on infratructure and DVCs. The best hope is that Potter 2 will compel the mouse to suprise us. Star Wars is a sure winner. Fingers crossed.

 

[ParentsOf4]

A Billion plus at DCA
2.5 Billion in China
A billion plus on NextGen

The economy didn't stop that. TWDC is investing in Parks, just not enough at WDW or not on what we want.

Right but with P&R annual revenue over $14B in 2013, even the $2.3B in China is only about 16% of P&R revenue for a single year. How many years is that cost being spread over?

In terms of percentage, the company's most valuable physical asset and largest single source of revenue is receiving the least about of investment dollars, and has been for years.

It's time for corporate Disney to once again re-invest in WDW.

 

[ParentsOf4]

Exactly my point. If the US economy was thriving we would see more content being added to the Florida parks sooner. But in the meantime the emphasis will be on infratructure and DVCs. The best hope is that Potter 2 will compel the mouse to suprise us. Star Wars is a sure winner. Fingers crossed.

The Wizzarding World Of Harry Potter in 2010 and Cars Land in 2012 both proved that the current economy is more than ready to provide a strong return on investment if the right product is built.

Heck, if you believe TEA's numbers, the New Fantasyland helped increase the Magic Kingdom's attendance by 6% while all the other parks were languishing at under 2%.

If you build it, people will come.

 

[JediMasterMatt]

Not completely accurate with respect to Anaheim. They are looking to build the business there and ADD bodies to the parks. DCA, especially, can handle millions more visitors annually. And DL with expansion can as well.

What TDA is desperate to do is change the visitorship patterns of local APers who use the place as a mall. To be fair, WDW Lifestylers do too, but they generally spread out more and WDW has acres and acres and acres and acres of paved parking. TDA doesn't want Friday nights and all day Sunday to be insane with traffic nightmares as well. They don't want a Sunday in October to be busier than a Saturday in June. That's what's behind the suspension of all new (they will renew anyone) SoCal annuals. They simply want to change the way the locals use the parks (misuse might be the accurate term).

WDW is playing this game in other ways. They want to discourage park-hopping. They know MK is bursting at the seams and they don't want to add real expansions and people-eaters. So, they think the answer is better spreading of the crowds (so they'll use FP+ to greatly increase waits at attractions where they never were much of an issue from small attractions like the Tea Cups to major ones like Pirates and Mansion) and trying to push the crowds to Disney's other three gates, which also can handle millions more guests annually.

I like what TDA is doing much more than what TDO is.

And there in lay the proverbial rub... attraction capacity. Anaheim has more than enough capacity per park (more is a subjective term, but I'll pretend I'm part of TDO's management), while Orlando doesn't (TDO managment thinking we've got enough with MM+). The real issue is one of convienience of hopping out for DCA into DL in comparision to doing that in Orlando. Since DLR is so easy to get around, DL itself suffers because of this. It is uncommon for a guest of DLR to visit and at least not spin the turnstile of DL. This is especially true when compared to a guest at WDW. The main issue at DLR is that when those guests enter the gates of DL, the streets start to burst at the seems. DCA, with its wider pathways, can handle the load. The solution and saving grace for DL is that fortunately, there is almost 60 years worth of attractions that can consume guests or else absolute gridlock would occur. I still maintain that a "busy" day at DL will feel busier from congestion than the MK; but, the actual wait times will be signficantly shorter. So while yes, DCA can handle more than it currently is, as long as park hopping is available - DL will still get more than its fair share of those DCA guests per day.

I do agree the "issue" is that DLR is the local and their visiting patterns. Hopefully, weeding out some of those that would purchase the Select will help offset it.

I still think the real issue is the ease of park hopping in comparison to WDW. I wouldn't want it to happen; but, perhaps the "locked in day" from Tokyo would help; but, then the issue is that most of the locals have annual passes and can hop at will. Quite the quandary.

The only real solution long term will be expansion. Ultimately, that will include a 3rd gate and when that happens, park hopping behavior will finally change a bit as the time to do so from a few blocks away won't be the same as walking across the Esplanade.

Just imagine if WDW was interconnected by monorails that could get you from park to park efficiently? I would think guest behavior would change and hopping would increase. I don't think we ever need to worry about that because if you could hop efficiently, people could knock out Animal Kingdom and Studios in one day and that would take away the need for one more night spent on property at a resort. We can't have that happen now can we?

 

[jt04]

The Wizzarding World Of Harry Potter in 2010 and Cars Land in 2012 both proved that the current economy is more than ready to provide a strong return on investment if the right product is built.

Both moves were as risk free as these things get. They now move so slowly and carefully in this economy. Can't say I blame them. Eisner did not have to deal with as many complex issues. I only mention him because you often compare the dynamics WDW faces today to what WDW faced 20-25 years ago. Everything has changed dramatically. Shrinking middle class, greatly increased competition and a stagnant economy all are limiting factors that have to be considered. IMO.

 

[jt04]

And there in lay the proverbial rub... attraction capacity. Anaheim has more than enough capacity per park (more is a subjective term, but I'll pretend I'm part of TDO's management), while Orlando doesn't (TDO managment thinking we've got enough with MM+). The real issue is one of convienience of hopping out for DCA into DL in comparision to doing that in Orlando. Since DLR is so easy to get around, DL itself suffers because of this. It is uncommon for a guest of DLR to visit and at least not spin the turnstile of DL. This is especially true when compared to a guest at WDW. The main issue at DLR is that when those guests enter the gates of DL, the streets start to burst at the seems. DCA, with its wider pathways, can handle the load. The solution and saving grace for DL is that fortunately, there is almost 60 years worth of attractions that can consume guests or else absolute gridlock would occur. I still maintain that a "busy" day at DL will feel busier from congestion than the MK; but, the actual wait times will be signficantly shorter. So while yes, DCA can handle more than it currently is, as long as park hopping is available - DL will still get more than its fair share of those DCA guests per day.

I do agree the "issue" is that DLR is the local and their visiting patterns. Hopefully, weeding out some of those that would purchase the Select will help offset it.

I still think the real issue is the ease of park hopping in comparison to WDW. I wouldn't want it to happen; but, perhaps the "locked in day" from Tokyo would help; but, then the issue is that most of the locals have annual passes and can hop at will. Quite the quandary.

The only real solution long term will be expansion. Ultimately, that will include a 3rd gate and when that happens, park hopping behavior will finally change a bit as the time to do so from a few blocks away won't be the same as walking across the Esplanade.

Just imagine if WDW was interconnected by monorails that could get you from park to park efficiently? I would think guest behavior would change and hopping would increase. I don't think we ever need to worry about that because if you could hop efficiently, people could knock out Animal Kingdom and Studios in one day and that would take away the need for one more night spent on property at a resort. We can't have that happen now can we?

I personally hope they do not think like this. Creating a quality experience ensures repeat business. Making park hopping easier would do that. Really hoping Hogwarts changes the dynamics at WDW. That Universal found a way to profit from park hopping increases those chances. Just hope it succeeds.

 

[ParentsOf4]

Both moves were as risk free as these things get. They now move so slowly and carefully in this economy. Can't say I blame them. Eisner did not have to deal with as many complex issues. I only mention him because you often compare the dynamics WDW faces today to what WDW faced 20-25 years ago. Everything has changed dramatically. Shrinking middle class, greatly increased competition and a stagnant economy all are limiting factors that have to be considered. IMO.

Investing in communist countries is never risk-free.

Star Wars Land in DHS is as risk-free as it gets.

 

[JediMasterMatt]

I personally hope they do not think like this. Creating a quality experience ensures repeat business. Making park hopping easier would do that. Really hoping Hogwarts changes the dynamics at WDW. That Universal found a way to profit from park hopping increases those chances. Just hope it succeeds.

Don't try applying common sense to anything going on in Reedy Creek these days. Trying to do so will simply make your head hurt.

I also hope that Comcast starts stealing nights away from the WDW resorts. That's the only way I think would wake the sleeping giant.

 

[jt04]

Investing in communist countries is never risk-free.

Star Wars Land in DHS is as risk-free as it gets.

No comment on the first point.

Watching for construction walls on the second.

OK, leaving this spirited haunt until summoned again by a certain spirit. Adios.

 

[Cesar R M]

Investing in communist countries is never risk-free.

Star Wars Land in DHS is as risk-free as it gets.

economically wise.. china is hardly a "communist" nation now.
and a huge market with a billion or more people.. all together in the same country.

 

[ParentsOf4]

economically wise.. china is hardly a "communist" nation now.
and a huge market with a billion or more people.. all together in the same country.

You mean the Chinese economy is exactly what the communist government allows it to be.

And this is "as risk free as these things get" (quoting JT) exactly how?

 

[NormC]

I guess we need a runDisney forum.

or a walkDisney forum.

 

[PhotoDave219]

No comment on the first point.

Watching for construction walls on the second.

OK, leaving this spirited haunt until summoned again by a certain spirit. Adios.

You're going to be waiting for a while I think… There's no budget approved as far as I know…

 

[PhotoDave219]

Wow we have really strayed off-topic in the past couple of days… Whatever happened to that chit chat forum that we started to trying keep this thread somewhat under control?

 

[MarkTwain]

Not

Most recently - Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow. Previously, American Idol, One Man's Dream, bits of New Fantasyland, the Pirates of the Caribbean tweaks, Haunted Mansion makeover.

Not exactly a portfolio of fan favorites, is it? Although in fairness, that might be more the result of projects he was put on rather than any fault of his. Many of those projects (POTC additions, Mansion makeover) could potentially have been disastrous but were made successful through their implementation, so who knows, maybe he was really great. Either way it's odd to see yet another senior Imagineer leave, but this time with little to no fanfare.

 

[wdwmagic]

Wow we have really strayed off-topic in the past couple of days… Whatever happened to that chit chat forum that we started to trying keep this thread somewhat under control?

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