WDW Surveys Guests: Gambling!

[Nicole]

Well I for one don't see the appeal in bringing gambling to WDW. They have already had to open up PI to children because there are so many people there with kids. I don't know the reasoning behind that, but I'm assuming it's because they didn't have the numbers they wanted.

If they were to have gambling (which is illegal anyway at this point) I'm sure it would be like Vegas where kids under 18 aren't allowed in the casino areas. I remember vividly my mom playing the slots at the Vegas airport years ago, and me and my sisters having to stand behind a taped line on the ground so we weren't within 10 feet of the slot machine.

Yes there are people who come to Disney without kids, but there are also lots who do come with kids. Why build something that automatically excludes a large portion of your audience? I don't see it happening. People who want to go to Disney will go to Disney. People who want to go to Vegas will go to Vegas.

 

[jrriddle]

I've been reading this thread off and on today and seen both arguements.
Why not have a casino (and one only, I don't want to see the place turn into a 2nd Vegas).
I also would like to see an entire resort devoted to it.
Keep it out of PI & The Boardwalk so as not to offend anyone.
I would think the majority of visitors would not even realize that it's on Disney property.

Besides, you have to be just a little curious as to what kind of Casino WDI would come up with.
Not to mention the Entertainment they could bring in to add to the things to do at WDW.
Remember not everyone gambles in Vegas.

 

[Shaman]

So you're suggesting that "done right", Disney can "create a new market" in Vegas? Sorry, but I don't think you're being realistic, unless I'm misunderstanding the point you're making.

When Walt built Disneyland, Anaheim was essentially desert. The land it was on was primarily orange groves. Tourists didn't flock there. Since it was a clean slate, Disney was able to "create a new market". Likewise, the Florida property was essentially swamp land and scrub brush. Again, it was not already established as a tourist destination. Disney once again "created a new market" from that clean slate as well. By contrast, Vegas already has a market that is the main draw. In addition, it happens to be one which is controversial to some...to the extent that families (as a rule, rather than the exception) tend to avoid it. Some avoid it because of religious or moral beliefs and others avoid it because it's not an environment they want their kids exposed to. That same demographic that would be avoiding it (families) is the demographic that Disney targets. Why would that market want to go to a city they find so unappealing just to visit a Disney resort? If the plan is that Disney would make it so spectacular that no one would want to see anything else in Vegas, then what would be the point of putting it in Vegas in the first place? It just doesn't make sense. Am I missing something here in what you're trying to convey?

No no...two separate things...I brought up the whole Vegas thing because I was just wondering why Disney had never built a resort on the Vegas strip.

Speck is the one making the argument about Disney putting themeselves in direct competition with Vegas...which I agree could happen if they put a couple of casinos on property.

As for the "new market" thing...I do think that Disney CAN help create a new market in Vegas...if they build a resort, etc...it may be unrealistic...but so be it...just my opinion.

 

[Rosso11]

Also people must realize that a giant portion of revenue come from conventions and bussiness people. Disney might be tossing around this idea to help lure conventions away from Vegas and onto Disney property. Conventions are extremly profitable to Disney and make up to close to 40% of bussiness except for the summer and holidays. I'm not sure exactly how accurate that # is but that's what I was told when I was a Cast Member, I'm sure its very close.

 

[longfamily]

So there shouldn't be gambling but it is okay to head off to Pleasure Island and get smashed and "make a right a$$ out yourself"?

It is okay to go out while on vacation, drink some, and then pick your kids up from a Kid club/DisneyQuest (yep, they see you like that, they aren't stupid) and go back to the hotel with you slurring and telling them how wonderful the vacation is going. Then the next day, you wake up feeling like crap and you can't give 100% to your kids while in the park. This is good and gambling is bad?

Loosing a little money playing blackjack isn't going to offend the kids as much as missing breakfast with the princesses because you're praying to the porcelin god in the morning.

Sure, most of us don't get drunk enough to put a damper on our vacation, but we have the option too which is the point. :sohappy: and i have yet to hear anyone complaining that pleasure island is a bad bad place.

Gambling is the same. Pleasure island exist for those who wish to use it. As a mature adult you should be able to monitor gambling as well. If you don't like either of them that is okay. There are many other venues of entertainment available.

That is why I like my disney gambling after hours cruise. Kids won't see it and adults can play until their hearts content

 

[sjnichol]

I live not far from Atlantic City in NJ and I see the types of people that gambling has brought to that area and it is not good. Not all of the people are bad, but I feel like I need a shower after I leave the place. The problems are not just in the casinos, this environment invites criminals and these people know that many vacationers are out at the parks all day, so the rooms are empty and vacationers usually carry a fair amount of cash. The crime rate on the property would skyrocket. There is just to much space for the unarmed security staff to patrol.

 

[Master Yoda]

Well this may not be true at the rate they are going.

The state just voted week before last, on legalizing slot machines in the state of Florida, and it passed. However there are commities looking to sue because they don't like the outcome, claiming that it was so many thousand absentee ballots that tipped the scales, but from what I have heard it has already passed.

This is already in addition to the multiple dog tracks, horse tracks, Jai-Ali, state lottery, and gambling cruises they already have in the state. So don't be surprised if they legalize casino gambling it the next few years.

The amendment you are speaking of did not legalize slot machines in FL it merely allowed the stat to tax the existing slot machines already on Indian reservations. The tax money is supposed to add to the public schools budget. They have tried to legalize gambling in FL for years but the bills always fail to pass.

 

[longfamily]

I live not far from Atlantic City in NJ and I see the types of people that gambling has brought to that area and it is not good. Not all of the people are bad, but I feel like I need a shower after I leave the place. The problems are not just in the casinos, this environment invites criminals and these people know that many vacationers are out at the parks all day, so the rooms are empty and vacationers usually carry a fair amount of cash. The crime rate on the property would skyrocket. There is just to much space for the unarmed security staff to patrol.

Good point

 

[speck76]

Also people must realize that a giant portion of revenue come from conventions and bussiness people. Disney might be tossing around this idea to help lure conventions away from Vegas and onto Disney property. Conventions are extremly profitable to Disney and make up to close to 40% of bussiness except for the summer and holidays. I'm not sure exactly how accurate that # is but that's what I was told when I was a Cast Member, I'm sure its very close.

I can confirm this, since I am in the role of revenue strategy for a group of convention hotels in Orlando. The biggest competition for Orlando is Las Vegas, and the biggest reason that high-dollar conventions choose Vegas over Orlando is because Vegas has more adult-oriented entertainment. (better nightlife, casinos...)

Yes, it is true that there would be no convention market in Orlando if it was not for Disney World (although WDW itself is not a big player in the Orlando convention scene). Almost 50 million people will visit Orlando in 2004, and of those 50 million visitors, only about 46% visit a theme park (of those 46%, most visit 3.5 parks). The average daily spending for a "theme park" visitor is about $165, including hotel, admission, and food/beverage. The average daily spending for a convention guest is about $400....BIG difference.

Anything Orlando can do to draw more "high-ticket" would be a good thing.

 

[speck76]

I live not far from Atlantic City in NJ and I see the types of people that gambling has brought to that area and it is not good. Not all of the people are bad, but I feel like I need a shower after I leave the place. The problems are not just in the casinos, this environment invites criminals and these people know that many vacationers are out at the parks all day, so the rooms are empty and vacationers usually carry a fair amount of cash. The crime rate on the property would skyrocket. There is just to much space for the unarmed security staff to patrol.

Did you ever see Atlantic City before the casinos opened in 1977? It was much, much worse.

 

[General Grizz]

I'm usually not to opinionating on the subject of gambling (amendment here in Florida, I couldn't care less), but NOT AT DISNEY.

Trust me, even beyond D-Army (it's coming, don't worry!), this will get a MASSIVE protest.

 

[Disnut]

Disney does not need gambling. That would ruin alot of the magic for me.

 

[speck76]

Disney does not need gambling. That would ruin alot of the magic for me.

Really, even though you could choose to avoid the casino, not ever going near it.....just the thought of being within a few miles of a casino would ruin everything for you.....really?

 

[tigsmom]

I see nothing wrong with a casino close to WDW, just something else for the adults to do. I really don't think I'd like to encounter slot machines in the resort lobby though, I'd have no food money left. :lol:

 

[Disnut]

Really, even though you could choose to avoid the casino, not ever going near it.....just the thought of being within a few miles of a casino would ruin everything for you.....really?

It would ruin alot for me not everything but I think nothing with gambling needs to be on sight. Just my opinion.

 

[Figment1986]

hmmm... Gambling on disney property... Thats a little strange i can see.... perhaps one day they can do small in an adult setting... a small location here and there around the world.. Not at Themeparks... but perhaps a resort...

However not big time Vegas Ever!!! that would be an end of Disney and rise of the Disney mofia....

 

[Lynx04]

However not big time Vegas Ever!!! that would be an end of Disney and rise of the Disney mofia....

The mofia has more to do with unions these days then casinos. The major casinos in Vegas are owned by corporation, not the mafia, like in the 50s and 60s.

Disney does not need gambling. That would ruin alot of the magic for me.

I don't see how having a casino on property = lost of magic. Disney can make magic out of almost anything. If you look at some rides in disney if they were in any other park it would just be a simple ride. Who is to say that Disney couldn't take a casino and make something magical out of it. It is just giving people more options to do on there vacation. I don't think they should start building a bunch of them, I don't see having one in DTD as being bad, since it could serve the locals as well and it would stay far enough away from the other resorts, where they don't have to see it.

I think it could be rather interesting to see what Disney could do with a casino.

 

[colliera]

Defining Gambling

Gambling is anything where you play the odds of winning and losing. Gambling does not have to be associated with games it can be gambling with your life by drinking and driving. Any casino game works the same way, you try to put money in to get the most return.

There is technical defination for gambling. It has three parts, consideration in this case money to play the game, chance that you might win or you might not - however you have no control over the outcome, reward or prize be it money or a token for something or junk toys.

If you remove one of the three it is no longer gambling. For arcades, county fairs, and such they remove chance and replace it with skill. Can you hit the target, pitch the penny into the ring and so forth. For radio and TV they remove the element of consideration - you don't have to pay to play.

Anyway, that's the defination the government uses or at least the Federal Communications Commission in govering games promoted over the airwaves.

 

[Gail Hayden]

I just see all of the things that go along with gambling in America... the flashy waitresses, the free drinks (and drunks), the fighting, the shouting, the screaming, THE MASS CHAOS!!!

First, I doubt Walt ever envisioned Pleasure Island, drinking at the parks or not wearing a shirt and shoes.
Second, I do go to the casinos in CT. There are few drunks, flashy waitresses and rarely fighting.
I did shout and scream when I won 5000.00 at the Blackjack table in June. But, I definitely was not rowdy.
As to Mass Chaos, have you ever watched the lines at the bus stops when the parks close?
When PI first opened they did have blackjack tables, for fun, not money.
This was back in the early 90's.
Having gambling at Disney would be great!!!!! It could be like Foxwoods or Mohegan Sun, one of the parents stays with the kid while the other gambles.
There is plenty of fun things for the kids to do. Arcades, reality rides, shopping, eating, etc. Las Vegas touts their city as a family place to be.

 

[Gail Hayden]

I have to agree with you there. WDW is a family resort. Children can't gamble obviously, so I don't really understand the point of adding gambling. I suppose if they added it to Pleasure Island if people really wanted it, it wouldn't be too bad. All I can picture, though, is slot machines in the hotel lobbies and blackjack in the line for Peter Pan's Flight!! I mean, casinos are so tawdry and over the top, they seem more suited for Universal than Disney. (Sorry to Universal and casino fans!) I know this would probably never happen, but stranger things have happened! Mouseplanet said the reactions were pretty angry, so hopefully we won't be seeing any casinos in the Magic Kingdom anytime soon!

Last I knew children were not the only people at Disney. There are adults that go there without children. The point would be somewhere where adults ONLY could go. It would be fun.