Dixie Stampede closes

[Richard Bruvofetc]

Just picked this up from the Orlando Sentinel:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-bk-dixie010708,0,2754708.story?coll=orl_tab01_layout

[Jakey Rowling]

Never managed to see this, was thinking of it this year now that the kids are a little bit older for something a bit different.

Maybe a little bit out the way for the night time shows possibly, but I'm still a bit surprised.

It'll confuse a few guide books for '08.

[PoppyAnna]

I just read this on the US board. I looked on the Dixie website and there is no reference at all to the Orlando branch!
Shame, the girls were a bit too young to go, was looking forward to going in the future.
Sounds like it was a bit of a shock to the staff when they turned up for work.:mad:

[paulh]

well things do go bust:rotfl2:
sorry couldent stop myself.We were planning on going this year.think they had a bad buissnes plan in not serving unlimited alcohol with meal,they relented last year but only 2 drinks per customer
Must have been dollys religous views on it?
Paulh

[SimonV]

Yup, this is a real stunner as it came absolutely out of the blue. There wasn't a hint of any problems and they seemed to have a really good Christmas season.

They did have problems in the early days (through not selling alcohol, as that kept the Brits away in droves!!), but the last few days they had got on to a very even keel.

The fact it has been sold, and they are looking for a new site to relocate Dixie Stampede to, suggests it has been bought by land developers who value the site as far more than a dinner show. It is on prime land next to I-4 and adjacent to Orlando Premium Outlets, and my initial pet theory is that it has been bought by the Chelsea group (who own the massively successful Premium Outlets franchise) and that it will be an extension to OPO as part of their campaign to hit back at Prime Outlets International on I-Drive, who now have a bigger version of the same type of development.

It is still pretty amazing, though, that a deal of this nature could go through so quickly and quietly, and happen so suddenly.

[Goofysmate]

We went to see this and loved it.:goodvibes

[jjk]

what a shame ,we were hoping to see this this year

[natalielongstaff]

I never managed to see it either :confused3

[disneyholic family]

Yup, this is a real stunner as it came absolutely out of the blue. There wasn't a hint of any problems and they seemed to have a really good Christmas season.

They did have problems in the early days (through not selling alcohol, as that kept the Brits away in droves!!), but the last few days they had got on to a very even keel.

The fact it has been sold, and they are looking for a new site to relocate Dixie Stampede to, suggests it has been bought by land developers who value the site as far more than a dinner show. It is on prime land next to I-4 and adjacent to Orlando Premium Outlets, and my initial pet theory is that it has been bought by the Chelsea group (who own the massively successful Premium Outlets franchise) and that it will be an extension to OPO as part of their campaign to hit back at Prime Outlets International on I-Drive, who now have a bigger version of the same type of development.

It is still pretty amazing, though, that a deal of this nature could go through so quickly and quietly, and happen so suddenly.

your pet theory certainly makes sense...
i guess the chelsea group (or whoever) made an offer they couldn't refuse...

[wayneg]

We planned on going every visit but never got around to it. Same as Arabian nights a few years back, I bought tickets off ebay took them with us a couple of trips but ended up selling them at a profit eventually.
Evening shows are just something we never find time for, we see them as something to do if we are stuck for ideas, never have been.

[disneyholic family]

We planned on going every visit but never got around to it. Same as Arabian nights a few years back, I bought tickets off ebay took them with us a couple of trips but ended up selling them at a profit eventually.
Evening shows are just something we never find time for, we see them as something to do if we are stuck for ideas, never have been.

same here - we've always thought it would be nice to go to the dixie stampede, but never got around to it..
too many other things to do, or just rest up from the long day...

[Minniespal]

Never got round to seeing this. Anytime we were driving along the I4 or at the Premium Outlets, we kept saying we need to see this. Never did.

[Netty]

we went and thought it was great! dh had a girl dancing on the table right in front of him- he was made up!!

[CustardTart]

Never got round to seeing this. Anytime we were driving along the I4 or at the Premium Outlets, we kept saying we need to see this. Never did.

Same here. DS and I saw an ad on TV for it when in WDW during December, thought it looked good and planned to go in the future...:guilty:

[SimonV]

This quote from Dolly Parton (in today's updated story in the Sentinel) really makes you seethe for the people who are out of work:

"We at Dixie Stampede have been blessed, but I am a firm believer in timing and opportunity," Parton said. "This was an opportunity we could not pass up. We're exploring our options now and we will be back better than ever!"

An opportunity she couldn't pass up to make a big killing on the sale and put 160 people out of a job with no notice whatsoever.

And how does she propose to come back "better than ever" when they would have to start from scratch with a new site and new employees (is she expecting them to hang around on 60 days' severance pay on the chance the show might get up and running again)?

The original building took well over a year to construct and prepare as it is not just something you throw up overnight. They clearly don't have another site in mind yet, and that could take months of preparation and research. And then they expect the public to be willing to rush back and see them after being snubbed like this?

It is asking an awful lot for anyone to believe they have any intention of starting up again (at least in Orlando) and someone of her reputation is particularly tarnished by this closure. :mad:

[disneyholic family]

This quote from Dolly Parton (in today's updated story in the Sentinel) really makes you seethe for the people who are out of work:

"We at Dixie Stampede have been blessed, but I am a firm believer in timing and opportunity," Parton said. "This was an opportunity we could not pass up. We're exploring our options now and we will be back better than ever!"

An opportunity she couldn't pass up to make a big killing on the sale and put 160 people out of a job with no notice whatsoever.

And how does she propose to come back "better than ever" when they would have to start from scratch with a new site and new employees (is she expecting them to hang around on 60 days' severance pay on the chance the show might get up and running again)?

The original building took well over a year to construct and prepare as it is not just something you throw up overnight. They clearly don't have another site in mind yet, and that could take months of preparation and research. And then they expect the public to be willing to rush back and see them after being snubbed like this?

It is asking an awful lot for anyone to believe they have any intention of starting up again (at least in Orlando) and someone of her reputation is particularly tarnished by this closure. :mad:


the big guys always make money on the backs of the little guys...
and it always disgusts me....
the company i work for is exactly the same way.......the big boys took the money and ran after it went public....and that was billions of dollars ....the top dog of our big boys now lives on his yacht most of the year so that he doesn't have to pay taxes anywhere in the world....the man is worth many billions of dollars, but isn't willing to pay any taxes to any country....despite the numerous tax benefits the company received when it was a start up...
they're all disgusting....pirates and slave drivers....

[paulh]

This quote from Dolly Parton (in today's updated story in the Sentinel) really makes you seethe for the people who are out of work:

"We at Dixie Stampede have been blessed, but I am a firm believer in timing and opportunity," Parton said. "This was an opportunity we could not pass up. We're exploring our options now and we will be back better than ever!"

An opportunity she couldn't pass up to make a big killing on the sale and put 160 people out of a job with no notice whatsoever.

And how does she propose to come back "better than ever" when they would have to start from scratch with a new site and new employees (is she expecting them to hang around on 60 days' severance pay on the chance the show might get up and running again)?

The original building took well over a year to construct and prepare as it is not just something you throw up overnight. They clearly don't have another site in mind yet, and that could take months of preparation and research. And then they expect the public to be willing to rush back and see them after being snubbed like this?

It is asking an awful lot for anyone to believe they have any intention of starting up again (at least in Orlando) and someone of her reputation is particularly tarnished by this closure. :mad:

I am sorry simon,but i have to dissagree.As a buissnes they did the right thing.
If someone offers you silly money for your property its hard to resist
As an outlet vilage is planed for the site more jobs will be provided,in building and opperating it.
As they have staeted they are planning on opening elceware,but as you say that will take time
When Darden closed some of there resturants i heard no outcry from you,and they would have employed more than dixi.
On the point about giving employes notice what would have hapened if they gave it and the deal fell througth?Yes they would have there jobs,but no outlet and anouther dixi wouldent be built
If someone came along with the right money even disney would sell(personly it would be in the form of jobs or gates to buy the firm)
Paulh

[Jakey Rowling]

Simon,

I share your cynicism of the decision but IF they restart with the right product in the right place then it will be a success.

It won't be in place for us this year in all probability but if its there in '09 then I would go if it suited us in all honesty.

I suspect most visitors will be the same.

[wayneg]

I agree, as a business owner myself no matter how much I love my business and had 18 great years if someone came and offered me silly money sentiment and the community are out of the reckoning.
My Brother went thru this a few years back, his business was worth about £500k was offered £1m by his competitor, employed about 22 staff. He could not refuse.

[Merylj]

When we were talking with taxi drivers last month they all said what a great show it was at Christmas and booked up quickly with locals. So I`m sorry it closed.
I know its tough in business, I sold my business when the going was right, never an easy decision though.

[SimonV]

I don't blame DP for making money on her business, just the underhand way it was done, leaving 160 people without jobs at the start of the year in a very tough jobs market.

She could certainly have done the deal and kept the show running for a few more months to give people the chance to find new jobs while they are working; that is the way most people with a conscience would work. And, if they had just made a killing on something way over market value, they would probably be inclined to compensate their workforce to the tune of more than 60 days' wages (and that's only for those who have worked there longest).

I still think it is taking the money and running (all this talk of opening up at another venue is just so much hot air), but, ultimately, it is a matter of conscience. If she is happy pocketing upwards of $30m and leaving town, so be it. It doesn't sound like she will lose any sleep over it.

Blessed? Yes she certainly is, especially at the bank. But I bet there are another 160 folk who don't feel very 'blessed' right now.

[Jakey Rowling]

For info, the Chelsea Property Group was indeed the purchasers as per Simon's pet theory.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/custom/tourism/orl-dixie0908jan09,0,1286931.story?coll=orl_tab01_layo ut

[SimonV]

You beat me to it, Jakey, I was going to post that link!

Yes, it is no great surprise, even though they are not saying what their plans might be just yet. I would imagine it would be pretty much more of their very successful formula, plus more parking, as they really struggle for parking space these days.

It seems very much that they are meeting the challenge of Prime Outlets International just up the road head on.

Oh, and we have spoken to a DS insider who says that, sadly, there are NO plans to look for a new venue at the moment. It would require a huge investment to start from scratch and the company has no real appetite for that, apparently. :(

[Lisash]

That's a shame. Not the cheapest night out we have ever had but it was fun all the same :sad2: