The Spirited Seventh Heaven ...

[ParentsOf4]

Everyone I spoke with at the parks didn't mind that Disney spent $2.5 billion on NextGen after I explained it to them. These are ordinary people, not fans like us. I told them people on the Internet would have preferred that they spent that money on new rides and improvements to existing rides. They all disagreed and thought that the $2.5 billion was well spent. I had this conversation with about a dozen people and every single one said that. Go figure!

The one beautiful thing about the current cavalcade of Disney senior executives is that it really doesn't matter if ordinary folk think the money is "well spent".

MyMagic+'s success or failure should be judged based on how well it performs financially.

MyMagic+ should be evaluated using the following baseline numbers from the last 3 years:

Baseline

- Domestic Attendance: 3% growth per annum
- Domestic Per Capita Guest Spending: 8% growth per annum
- Domestic Occupancy: 81% average
- Domestic Per Room Guest Spending: 6% growth per annum
- Parks & Resorts Revenue: 10% growth per annum
- Parks & Resorts Gross Operating Income: 19% growth per annum​

If these numbers improve sufficiently to cover the cost of MyMagic+, then MyMagic+ was money "well spent".

If not, then MyMagic+ represents a waste of valuable corporate investment capital.

At this point, reviews or personal stories along the lines of "I love it" or “I think the money was well spent” really don’t matter anymore.

MyMagic+ has been unveiled to the masses.

At this point, it's all about box office receipts.

“Show me the money.”

 

[PeterAlt]

I find Major League Baseball executives and Corporate CEOs to be a better barometer than 20-something college boys and girls.

Just a tad more credible.

I have to add, I did try to explain to every one of them the things Disney could have built and the reaction I got each time was that they agree those things would have been cool, but the NextGen technologies are more practical and were needed as a priority.

 

[PeterAlt]

The one beautiful thing about the current cavalcade of Disney senior executives is that it really doesn't matter if ordinary folk think the money is "well spent".

MyMagic+'s success or failure should be judged based on how well it performs financially.

MyMagic+ should be evaluated using the following baseline numbers from the last 3 years:

Baseline

- Domestic Attendance: 3% growth per annum
- Domestic Per Capita Guest Spending: 8% growth per annum
- Domestic Occupancy: 81% average
- Domestic Per Room Guest Spending: 6% growth per annum
- Parks & Resorts Revenue: 10% growth per annum
- Parks & Resorts Gross Operating Income: 19% growth per annum​

If these numbers improve sufficiently to cover the cost of MyMagic+, then MyMagic+ was money "well spent".

If not, then MyMagic+ represents a waste of valuable corporate investment capital.

At this point, reviews or personal stories along the lines of "I love it" or “I think the money was well spent” really don’t matter anymore.

MyMagic+ has been unveiled to the masses.

At this point, it's all about box office receipts.

“Show me the money.”

I absolutely agree! And, you know, out of anyone here, I agree more often with your posts than most here.

 

[PeterAlt]

To the person who thinks I'm trying to debate something, I'm simply reporting what was said in conversations I had with people and I am in no way suggesting what they said speaks for the average WDW guest.

 

[Atomicmickey]

You can say that maybe they don't know what they're missing. They liked the convenience of it. I know, I'm as shocked as you, but that's the cold truth!

As I said earlier in this thread, I've talked to two families I know
recently that really liked everything about the bands.

The sad truth is, firstly--we're outnumbered--and secondly, as time goes on,
the type of consumer that Disney is cultivating will 'like' them and what
they represent, more, and more.

At least that's my dire prediction. Hope I'm wrong, but man, a lot of wreckage will
have been caused by then--either way.

 

[wm49rs]

You can say that maybe they don't know what they're missing. They liked the convenience of it. I know, I'm as shocked as you, but that's the cold truth!

To the person who thinks I'm trying to debate something, I'm simply reporting what was said in conversations I had with people and I am in no way suggesting what they said speaks for the average WDW guest.

Ok....

 

[the.dreamfinder]

I might have missed it; where was a change in ownership percentages mentioned?

Here.

Hahaha I'm a little letdown. The best gossip going around DisneyVerse right now is the 2nd park that is getting rushed for Hong Kong Disneyland that Disney *really* would rather not have to own up because of its operations in other markets.

But a second park for Hong Kong is definitely on the way and on a fast track. Ownership agreement with HK SAR calls for SAR to slowly increase their ownership stake to over 60% in the coming years. They will have effective control over their resort much in the way that OLC has. Disney has to wring cash out from HKDL and they have to do it now because as they have learned in Japan, a stable and long term-minded theme park operator does not share in the lack of vision and values as Disney does. They simply will not grow earnings as fast as Disney demands.

 

[doctornick]

As I said earlier in this thread, I've talked to two families I know
recently that really liked everything about the bands.

I have talked to three families who have used the bands and all really liked them. And people seem to like the idea of reserving rides ahead of time as well.

Plus, my niece and nephew recently got MBs in the mail for an upcoming trip and were gushing about how excited they are (they took a photo with their phone and texted it to the rest of the family).

I think these message boards are a poor example of how well "liked" the MBs and FP+ are. Now that the MBs are not having the technical problems that plagued them early on, I expect most people will view them as a trip enhancement. Not necessarily a major thing, but a nice little plus and convenience.

That said, I suspect that if you asked most of these guests whether they want MBs/FP+ or $2 billion in new rides, I find it hard to believe that many if any would not choose the rides. But that's a loaded and IMHO pointless question: (1) a lot of the money that went to the whole MM+ project would never have been allocated to park construction even if MM+ did not happen and (2) a significant amount of the expense was use and needed to upgrade infrastructure like wifi and the websites (who knows how much exactly, though) that was going to happen sooner or later regardless of MM+ existing.

 

[spacemt354]

It already is over done.

United Kingdom Pavilion
France Pavilion
Morocco Pavilion
Germany Pavilion
China Pavilion
Mexico Pavilion
Norway Pavilion

(did I miss any?)

All have characters wheter that be ride or M&G's not to mention Phineas and Ferb intertwined through the whole area.

Can't we enjoy, learn or even eat without having charaters everywhere?

I know they're popular but hell come on, this is World showcase and should be about the country and it's customs, traditions and culture no countries customs, traditions and culture are about giant characters. Enough is enough!!!!

I don't think it's overdone, yet.

The characters in the countries aren't in your face, so to speak, except in a couple of specific locations. I can still listen to English rock music in the UK, get a pastry in France, watch the Japan drum show, explore the German train set, see Italian street performers, and much much more without the inclusion of characters.

Sure, it would be nice to have more of an exclusive place, but I don't think it's overdone to the point where I can't enjoy the cultural aspects of the pavilions without being forced to be surrounded by Disney characters. As long as the characters are culturally accurate and blend into their surroundings without being incorporated into such aspects I named above, I don't have a problem with it.

 

[Mike S]

Since the conversation has turned to Magic Bands I might as well chime in and say I like them, plain and simple. Would I have preferred new rides instead? Of coarse. But what's done is done and I enjoy them. I just hate that they're losing so much money on MM+ that almost nothing will be built for a while except for Avatar.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Well, that demographic certainly seals the debate....

See its that attitude that lets this site down. Everyone knows that people in the beautification industry are corner stones of any informed assessment of factually accurate information.

 

[PeterAlt]

Oh, I forgot to mention, when I was there a few weeks ago, I had a conversation with a CM. Into the conversation, I mentioned this site and the CM had nothing but praise to say about WDWMagic.com! I then brought up Miceage and what they said about the Avatar boat ride being cut. He said he has heard nothing about it, but advised me to follow the new WDW blog on Twitter for updates... Is anyone familiar with this new WDW Twitter blog he's talking about?

 

[lazyboy97o]

Here.

I doubt that agreement is still in effect or has been delayed. Disney's ownership increased as part of the deal for the three new lands as they were paid 100% by Disney. The Government of Hong Kong still has majority ownership which is enough to give them control.

 

[Sabriel]

I am not a huge fan of Maelstrom, but I don't think it does justice to either it or Frozen to just retheme the ride, so it's disappointing all around. Between this and what they're doing over at the GCH (and everything else, of course), I am just sad, they seem to be intent on running WDW into the ground.

Anyway, I leave you with what I imagine the pitch for this Maelstrom thing was like, to the tune of Do You Want to Build a Snowman:

Do you want to build some Frozen?
It won't cost us much at all...
I really think it's overdue,
Throw in an interactive queue,
They won't know Maelstrom's gone away...

Like it never even existed
Only difference is, it's value engineered...

Do you want to build some Frozen?
I really think we need some Frozen...
Okay, bye.

 

[Mike S]

I am not a huge fan of Maelstrom, but I don't think it does justice to either it or Frozen to just retheme the ride, so it's disappointing all around. Between this and what they're doing over at the GCH (and everything else, of course), I am just sad, they seem to be intent on running WDW into the ground.

Anyway, I leave you with what I imagine the pitch for this Maelstrom thing was like, to the tune of Do You Want to Build a Snowman:

Do you want to build some Frozen?
It won't cost us much at all...
I really think it's overdue,
Throw in an interactive queue,
They won't know Maelstrom's gone away...

Like it never even existed
Only difference is, it's value engineered...

Do you want to build some Frozen?
I really think we need some Frozen...
Okay, bye.

That's so weird, I came up with a song about how they pitched this ride too Also to the tune of do you want to build a snowman.
Do you want to ruin Epcot?
Come on let's screw Norway!!
It doesn't make us money anymore, let's gut the ride, and do a cheap overlay!!!
We used to care about culture, but now we don't, money's the reason why!!
Do you want to ruin Epcot? I think we should ruin Epcot... (Approved) okay fine

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

And here I was thinking it was my neighborhood barkeep....

And WDW bus drivers. Can't sell them short....

Bar tenders are only good for the more salacious hot poop. But any form of transportation operative at WDW seems to have the pulse on both performance and future development. They are my go to people.

 

[marni1971]

new WDW Twitter blog he's talking about?

Is it official?

 

[wm49rs]

Would that make Veterinarians good people to assess the success of bands?

As good as any others mentioned here.

 

[xdan0920]

Peter, do yourself a favor and settle down. You are posting rapid fire here, and anything you are trying to say, is getting lost in the sheer volume of your posts. Make your point once, then let it be. You will find, it makes a much better impact that way. As it is, many people skim right past your posts, because there are so many of them.

 

[Soarin' Over Pgh]

Hair stylist. I mean, c'mon. haha

I was just glancing at the Avatar sub-board and realized that project is three years away. Three. Years.

A lot can happen in three years, and promptly insert many comparisons to Universal right about... here.

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