The Spirited Seventh Heaven ...

[PhotoDave219]

Thanks. Knowing it was an AP news article explains a lot. Theyre the worst (when it comes to getting unbiased news)

Considering there one of my clients… My friend wrote that article? I'm kind of offended. I'm a tad insulted.

 

[FigmentJedi]

Yes, I know - puppets. That's what I loved about them. It also makes them ideal for theme park use. The "Muppet" thing is about how the CGI characters act - that silly little creature who sings Jedi rocks who is simply meant to make Jabba's less threatening and more kid friendly, all that garbage. The silly tone, not the manner of their construction.

No, CG Sy Snootles and Joh Yowza were the ancestral Jar Jar. The ancestral CG Scooby Doo. Hell, the ancestral "Horrifying realistic version of old cartoon characters forced to do poop and fart jokes" in general.

Really as far as the SE band goes, it might have been okay if it was just the original song with enhanced backing. It's not just the horrifying '97 CG cartoons, the song itself just doesn't work. Even though they're both Huttese, Lapti Nek actually comes off as being a real song with words that mean something. Jedi Rocks just sounds like gibberish set to improvised jazz like some kinda Tim and Eric bit.

 

[seascape]

Just doing some quick math:

A theme park with 8 million guests per year spending an average of $180 a day makes as much money as a theme park with 12 million guests a year spending an average of $120 a day.

A theme park that makes is guests spend an average of $180 a day is ripping it's customers off compared to a park that makes them spend. $120 a day. In fact I think Disney is ripping off their customers in California more than Universal is in Florida with their $150.00 two park one day ticket. Neither company should charge that much. The highest should be $100.00 a day with park hoppjng. Anything more is too much. Let them both offer after hour parties if they want more money.

 

[Goofyernmost]

I never said anything remotely close to that. The conventional wisdom inside Disney and amongst many fans was that anybody who went to Orlando was, essentially by default, going to go to Walt Disney World. It was the "a rising tide lifts all boats" philosophy. Nobody believed that people would, in sizable numbers, only visit Universal Orlando Resort, but they have been. People are willing to travel to Orlando and never step foot on Disney property.

Yup! I don't disagree with you. I just added to what you said because without Disney there, right now, it is hard to imagine that they could hold there own. They rely on the Disney overflow. Yes, there are many now that do just visit Uni and never set foot in WDW. But are there enough to support it completely? I doubt it, right now. That can easily change over the next few years, but in order to be a coveted vacation destination, they need both in Orlando.

 

[twebber55]

Watch Fox during an election

How you guys feel about fox is how conservatives feel about network news and msnbc and cnn
Not that im conservative but pretty much fox kills it in cable news
Its not even close

 

[jdmdisney99]

Watch Fox during an election

How you guys feel about fox is how conservatives feel about network news and msnbc and cnn

Yay! Unnecessary politics!

 

[ChrisFL]

A theme park that makes is guests spend an average of $180 a day is ripping it's customers off compared to a park that makes them spend. $120 a day. In fact I think Disney is ripping off their customers in California more than Universal is in Florida with their $150.00 two park one day ticket. Neither company should charge that much. The highest should be $100.00 a day with park hoppjng. Anything more is too much. Let them both offer after hour parties if they want more money.

I never said anything about FORCING them to pay. I said average guest spending...that means park admission and things people WANT to buy...food and merchandise.

 

[twebber55]

Yay! Unnecessary politics!

Haha sorry knew i should not of posted

 

[mahnamahna101]

A theme park that makes is guests spend an average of $180 a day is ripping it's customers off compared to a park that makes them spend. $120 a day. In fact I think Disney is ripping off their customers in California more than Universal is in Florida with their $150.00 two park one day ticket. Neither company should charge that much. The highest should be $100.00 a day with park hoppjng. Anything more is too much. Let them both offer after hour parties if they want more money.

That's for things such as food and the gift shop... in other words, optional spending. Basically, nothing to do with what you just posted. Imagine what 10-12 million guests spending an average of $180 a day compares to the 18 million spending an average of $100-120 a day.... in 10 years, Universal isn't going to be a second-tier park with second-tier numbers. No one can exactly predict how much since the economy could get worse, etc. but 10 million by 2024 for both parks is feasible. 11 million maybe. 12 million is a long shot but who thought IOA would nearly double its attendance in less than 5 years? USF could easily add 2-2.5 million guests over the next 2-3 years with Diagon Alley and the KidZone revamp combined.

Universal Orlando and Disneyland California have the parks literally right next to each other... the 2 park/one day option is a steal during the off-season when both parks are slowing down. You can experience your favorites at both parks with no more than a 5-10 minute walk. As opposed to the sometimes hour long waits for the buses to park-hop at WDW.

I do agree the tickets are expensive, but you generally get the bang for your buck at USF, IOA, DL, and MK. DisneySea too.

And let's just agree that all cable/network news is full of baloney

 

[Travel Junkie]

In business, "number of units sold" is significantly less import than margins (i.e. profitability).

In 2013, Disney’s Parks & Resorts (P&R) segment generated operating income of $2.2B on revenue of $14B, a 15.8% gross margin.

In 2013, Universal’s Theme Parks segment generated operating income of $700M on revenue of $2.2B, a 31.5% gross margin.

Currently, one organization is about twice as effective as the other at providing its shareholders with return on investment.

Lucky for Disney they own ESPN.

Neither company releases official attendance statistics, so all of these attendance figure fights are dealing with rough guesses anyway. The above numbers are the only ones the company cares about and all we should care about. How much money Disney and Uni are making will influence future investment. Uni has invested quite a bit recently and is seeing a sizable ROI. This is emboldening them to invest more.


NCIS is the most viewed TV show. It is the MK of the TV world. So you think they would be able to charge the most per 30 second ad correct? No. Actually it is not even in the top 20. NCIS maybe the most viewed TV show but it is far from the most profitable. Disney maybe the more attended theme parks, but Uni is proving to be creating the bigger margins.

 

[Figments Friend]

And like Olaf, I like warm hugs ... from anyone except Imagineers ...those are creepy!

Now, now....

That depends on who the said Imagineer is that is giving the hugs.

 

[flynnibus]

A theme park that makes is guests spend an average of $180 a day is ripping it's customers off compared to a park that makes them spend

It's not making them spend it like a ticket price.. the point is what the guests spend.. including food/souvies/add-ons/etc. The company can't 'make' the guest spend more than they are willing to or have. But hey, predisposition is in your counters your forte...

Neither company should charge that much. The highest should be $100.00 a day with park hoppjng. Anything more is too much. Let them both offer after hour parties if they want more money.

And on the 8th day... "seascape" defined the theme park price commandments. Let it be known!

Ok, lets all take a pact to stop replying to this. My name is in the hat..

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Mines on the monorail

 

[crispy]

This is not being talked about nearly enough. And no one at WDC even gave half a second's consideration to what the blow back so such a stunt could be.

Say goodbye to Christmas Parade TV tapings folks!

Let's talk about this more. Is this normal tit-for-tat between Disney and Universal or is this considered a low blow? (I mean, I consider it a low blow, but I am wondering how it was perceived by people who are not me). I would love to know what type of repercussions there may be for this.

 

[Bairstow]

So, Disney isn't afraid of UNI taking business away, right? Just in from a kind friend in Burbank, but look at Fallon's set now and look at clips of it from Monday. You'll notice some significant changes that were the result of TWDC threatening via Zenia and legal to go to the government and file a complaint because of what was perceived by Disney as constant advertising for free (even if they are the same company, no money was exchanged, no ad time bought). So suddenly the UNI globe disappeared and the UNI arch was made tougher to make out/blurred and Fallon was moved into a blocking position in front of it.

Yes, Disney is that petty. Really. Mindblowingly petty. ...

How would Disney have standing to bring suit?

 

[Todd H]

It's not making them spend it like a ticket price.. the point is what the guests spend.. including food/souvies/add-ons/etc. The company can't 'make' the guest spend more than they are willing to or have. But hey, predisposition is in your counters your forte...



And on the 8th day... "seascape" defined the theme park price commandments. Let it be known!

Ok, lets all take a pact to stop replying to this. My name is in the hat..

Ignore is your friend.

 

[AEfx]

.... I'm fine with PG dancers. Maybe PG-13.

I'm cool with that - as long as you are cool with them including a boy. I don't think they will have a hard time finding a guy in WDW entertainment who can cover that. (Preferably that really good looking brunette guy who does stilts at Lion King, haha.)

I sincerely doubt it would surpass in total attendance. Outdrawing DAK or DHS for the rest of the summer? Thats a possibility.

And isn't that...something?

That's what I think some folks are missing. That was UNTHINKABLE up until a few years ago. Even the most hardened cynic would have said it never would have gotten this far.

And if Universal keeps expanding at this rate? If they add a third gate at some point? And if Disney doesn't get off it's behind and throw some real money down in Orlando on something other than bracelets? If things continue as they are, they very well could turn into Universal being the high-end of the market in terms of dollars even if they never overtake Disney in overall attendance (which, with four parks, isn't likely to happen).

Yeah, sounds crazy - but these are crazy times.

No, CG Sy Snootles and Joh Yowza were the ancestral Jar Jar. The ancestral CG Scooby Doo. Hell, the ancestral "Horrifying realistic version of old cartoon characters forced to do poop and fart jokes" in general.

Really as far as the SE band goes, it might have been okay if it was just the original song with enhanced backing. It's not just the horrifying '97 CG cartoons, the song itself just doesn't work. Even though they're both Huttese, Lapti Nek actually comes off as being a real song with words that mean something. Jedi Rocks just sounds like gibberish set to improvised jazz like some kinda Tim and Eric bit.

I somewhat agree, most of it was related - but the entire Jedi Rocks sequence was added to make Jabba's Palace less threatening, less bleak. Apparently I was irreparably scarred as a 5 year old by seeing such a sight, LOL. In truth, the tone and mystery helped inspire a life long love of movies and amazement in me.

I don't want to get too deeply into this, but I don't actually mind a lot of the "fixes", or even things like Ewok's blink now in the Blu-ray versions (and I think Cloud City is actually BETTER now - it always felt so claustrophobic for a sky city), but I think you will agree with me - the biggest issue with the SE's to begin with is that the CGI just wasn't very good and the technology not there to do what he was trying to do.

Thankfully, it looks like by the end of next year we will have the unaltered originals on Blu-ray, so we can shut-up about this topic for all time.

 

[maxairmike]

Read the report. The number of hotel units and or timeshares were to be 34000 in a 2015. If you check my number somewhere above you will see they are already over that number and according to my calendar it's 2014.

By the way the numbers are for their jurisdiction and therefore have to include those owned and those under lease deals.

Oh please, talking about hotels and timeshares in a Housing report when they half-heartedly talk over any action about actual impact the District and its "main landowner" have on housing in the area for those that work in the District's businesses (the main focus, but full of meaningless fluff) is about as genuine as me mumbling sorry after I run over someone with a stroller/ECV. Of course, we all know the reason the District was created for, so something like this shouldn't necessarily be a surprise.

Anyway...

I am also very interested in hearing more about the little tantrum Disney threw about the Tonight Show. That seems kind of stupid on their part, as I'm sure Universal could (and maybe will) come back after the Christmas day parade that really is nothing more than a Disney Parks commercial.

 

[AEfx]

I don't think there is any question DAK will get to 12 million by 2017

Are they going to hold everyone who walks through hostage at gunpoint until they hit that number?

Only way it's happening.

Read the report. The number of hotel units and or timeshares were to be 34000 in a 2015. If you check my number somewhere above you will see they are already over that number and according to my calendar it's 2014.

By the way the numbers are for their jurisdiction and therefore have to include those owned and those under lease deals.

And isn't that funny, WDW on-property occupancy rates are on a downward trajectory. Hmmm...might be some connection there, just can't put my finger on it.

Just doing some quick math:

A theme park with 8 million guests per year spending an average of $180 a day makes as much money as a theme park with 12 million guests a year spending an average of $120 a day.

Precisely. That's why throwing a bunch of money into Star Wars in the parks would make those wand profits look tame by comparison.

A theme park that makes is guests spend an average of $180 a day is ripping it's customers off compared to a park that makes them spend. $120 a day. In fact I think Disney is ripping off their customers in California more than Universal is in Florida with their $150.00 two park one day ticket. Neither company should charge that much. The highest should be $100.00 a day with park hoppjng. Anything more is too much. Let them both offer after hour parties if they want more money.

OK, several folks have already corrected you - but I really have to say, if you had to have this explained to you and you didn't understand what was said in the first place, you are way. out. of. your. league.

Let's talk about this more. Is this normal tit-for-tat between Disney and Universal or is this considered a low blow? (I mean, I consider it a low blow, but I am wondering how it was perceived by people who are not me). I would love to know what type of repercussions there may be for this.

Insiders always had us believe that the "cutthroat" petty stuff was more fan imagination than not, but between Marvel (remember the monorail wrap controversy?) and Universal's relentless addition of quality attractions - I wouldn't be surprised if that has changed.

It's a good thing - they need to start fighting dirty. Disney has been sitting in the corner pretending nothing is happening while they work away on billion dollar bracelets. I want them to get angry. I want them to get fierce. I want them to care enough to not take this lying down.

 

[twebber55]

Are they going to hold everyone who walks through hostage at gunpoint until they hit that number?

Only way it's happening.



And isn't that funny, WDW on-property occupancy rates are on a downward trajectory. Hmmm...might be some connection there, just can't put my finger on it.



Precisely. That's why throwing a bunch of money into Star Wars in the parks would make those wand profits look tame by comparison.



OK, several folks have already corrected you - but I really have to say, if you had to have this explained to you and you didn't understand what was said in the first place, you are way. out. of. your. league.



Insiders always had us believe that the "cutthroat" petty stuff was more fan imagination than not, but between Marvel (remember the monorail wrap controversy?) and Universal's relentless addition of quality attractions - I wouldn't be surprised if that has changed.

It's a good thing - they need to start fighting dirty. Disney has been sitting in the corner pretending nothing is happening while they work away on billion dollar bracelets. I want them to get angry. I want them to get fierce. I want them to care enough to not take this lying down.

haha I guess will have to wait and see