Universal Creative VP Taking Over WDI Development

Misty

User Terminated
The fact that teens aren't the target is definitely why Disney is number 1 over the other parks.

You hit the nail on the head! Sadly, as much as we'd all like to believe that the reason Disney has the most successful theme parks is because they are simply "the best", that's just not really true anymore. The key to their success is less about quality and great entertainment, and more about knowing how to target market. Disney is the master at this concept, and they understand marketing to families better than any other company.
 

AEfx

Well-Known Member
People keep debating about teenagers...did I miss the part where only teenagers like so-called "thrill" rides? I think people forget that "family" does not simply mean "family with toddlers/small children". That is a huge part of Disney's marketing push, but it's hardly the only demographic. I see people of all ages at Disney parks, and while some may be more lucrative than others, more "thrilling" rides don't confine themselves in appealing to only those aged 13-19.

AEfx
 

DisneyYorkian74

Active Member
Sorry, found it necessary to state, I don't know what teenagers you've been around, but when I was a teenager, not so long ago, I had tons of expendable money!!! I didn't have any "responsiblities" so I didn't have things that had to be paid for, so any money I had got to go towards whatever I wanted it to. I would buy tons of junk just b/c it looked interesting. (Or had NSYNC on it...but that's a whole other issue...:lookaroun ) So I don't see that as a reason for Disney not to target towards teens.

I'm a 19 year old who has a part-time job right now and I definitely do not have "tons of expendable money" to spend on going to Disney.

I have some "expendable money" when it comes to spending all my money on fast food for meals, buying certain clothes or sneakers, going to the movies on the weekends, etc... (little things that cost under 100 dollars)

But you have to realize that it's not that easy for teenagers (whether they're still in high school or just getting out of high school) to find great paying jobs that give you a lot of hours.

Right now I'm getting paid a little over minimum wage and only work around 25-30 hours a week.

The average teenager probably makes only 5-10 thousand dollars a year compared to 30-60 thousand dollars a year the average adult makes.

There's no doubt that you have more bills to pay and responsibilites on your shoulders as an adult; but you also have more "expendable income" as an adult because you get paid a lot more and work a lot more hours.
 

Scar Junior

Active Member
I'm not sure what your personal opinion of teenagers and their spending habbits has to do with this topic, let alone the News and Rumors section...
 

duck_daddy

New Member
Right, thrill rides don't attract people, that is why Disney built RnR, ToT, EE, closed WoM for TT and destroyed Horizons to build M:S. Of course they broke attendance records after making thos changes.

As far as CP being compared to the Disney parks goes it is like trying to decide who is better at basketball - the Denver Broncos or the Seattle Mariners.

They are 2 different kinds of parks and CP is a great place as are any of the Disney parks.

Don't get me wrong - Splash Mountain and Expedition Everest are beautifuly themed rides, but sometimes those big steel behemoths are beautiful in their own "magical" way!

millennium_force_07.jpg
Two words: HELL NO!!!!
 

Misty

User Terminated
I think people forget that "family" does not simply mean "family with toddlers/small children". That is a huge part of Disney's marketing push, but it's hardly the only demographic.

It is Disney's primary target market, and they make no secret of that. So much so, their brand is largely based on it. And rightfully so. That's where the $$ is. As an earlier poster stated, that's the secret to Disney's dominance in the theme park industry...much more so than the quality of their product.

I see people of all ages at Disney parks,

That's hardly a scientific data collection method.
 

AEfx

Well-Known Member
It is Disney's primary target market, and they make no secret of that. So much so, their brand is largely based on it. And rightfully so. That's where the $$ is. As an earlier poster stated, that's the secret to Disney's dominance in the theme park industry...much more so than the quality of their product.

Thank you for confirming exactly what I said. It is a large portion of it, but when discussing the many additions to WDW in the last decade or so, you will find the most popular ones - Tower of Terror, Test Track, Everest - aren't appropriate for toddlers. Yet many families get to ride them, because, as I said, not every family consists of parents with small children. Those kids are easier for them to please so they don't tend to develop MAJOR attractions with toddlers in mind; kids that age are more pleased with characters than anything else. That demographic gets things like Pooh's Playful Spot, Playhouse Disney on Stage, and refurbs to existing attractions like El Rio and The Seas. You don't see them building 100 million dollar attractions aimed at the toddler set.

That's hardly a scientific data collection method.
Thank you for pointing out the blatantly obvious. :) Like anyone on this board, I can only share my personal experiences and observances.

Perhaps you could actually speak to the topic - what is your experience? Do you see only 13-19 year olds in line for attractions such as Test Track, Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, Big Thunder, Tower of Terror, Rock'N'Roller Coaster, Expedition: Everest, which are the most popular attractions in their respective parks? If that's the case, and you only see teenagers on those attractions, then there goes the whole "teenagers aren't the target market" argument. Truth is, lots more than 13-19 year olds enjoy these rides. From kids who just meet the height requirement to seniors.

That was actually what the post you replied to was about. This assumption that more "thrilling" rides are exclusively for teenagers. If that were true, then it doesn't follow that Disney is busier than it has ever been yet the major additions as well as the most popular rides in each theme park are so-called "thrill rides" which are assumed to only attract "teenagers". The truth is, many people enjoy those rides, and Disney doesn't have to work hard for that "toddler who wants to meet Mickey and is satisfied playing in a themed playground" like they do for the rest of the guests.

The whole point is - many people enjoy more "thrilling" attractions than a lot of Disney fans tend to admit, or they wouldn't remain among the fastest loading, highest capacity, yet still among the busiest attractions in the parks with the longest waits.

AEfx
 

ChrisFL

Premium Member
Wow, this has gone way off track a number of times, so please let me see if I can clear things up for you guys since I am a big fan of both Universal and Disney parks and am aware of some of the things that Scott Trowbridge has done.

No, he does not build rollercoasters, B&M designed the rollercoasters for IOA. It's possible that scott may be in charge of the THEMING involved in the rollercoasters, you know the story and incredibly detailed castle you walk through for dueling dragons, and Bruce Banner's lab in Hulk.

So I don't see where the idea that he's just going to design thrill rides comes from. Have any of you saying this actually been to IOA? It's got Disney quality theming in a lot of areas and world class attractions that aren't all thrill rides.
 

Scar Junior

Active Member
Wow, this has gone way off track a number of times, so please let me see if I can clear things up for you guys since I am a big fan of both Universal and Disney parks and am aware of some of the things that Scott Trowbridge has done.

No, he does not build rollercoasters, B&M designed the rollercoasters for IOA. It's possible that scott may be in charge of the THEMING involved in the rollercoasters, you know the story and incredibly detailed castle you walk through for dueling dragons, and Bruce Banner's lab in Hulk.

So I don't see where the idea that he's just going to design thrill rides comes from. Have any of you saying this actually been to IOA? It's got Disney quality theming in a lot of areas and world class attractions that aren't all thrill rides.

Thank you for bringing some logic to a totally unwarranted drift/debate. I completely agree.
 

jmvd20

Well-Known Member
Wow, this has gone way off track a number of times, so please let me see if I can clear things up for you guys since I am a big fan of both Universal and Disney parks and am aware of some of the things that Scott Trowbridge has done.

No, he does not build rollercoasters, B&M designed the rollercoasters for IOA. It's possible that scott may be in charge of the THEMING involved in the rollercoasters, you know the story and incredibly detailed castle you walk through for dueling dragons, and Bruce Banner's lab in Hulk.

So I don't see where the idea that he's just going to design thrill rides comes from. Have any of you saying this actually been to IOA? It's got Disney quality theming in a lot of areas and world class attractions that aren't all thrill rides.

Completely agree with what you wrote here...

The only problem is that I have yet to see anyone in this thread claim that he is nothing but a roller coaster guy. For some reason this thought has come up numerous times yet no one actually stated it. I guess we just need to chalk it up to a myth/legend of this thread.
 


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