12 Hollywood Studios Rumors (A Disney Rumors video is on pg. 1) and (an update is on pg. 16)

[TipsyTraveler]

lockedoutlogic, do we know what percentage of visitors are once-in-a-lifetime vs. repeat travelers? Because as much as I'm sure they'd like to make their business plan all about "increase the Y" I just don't know if that's feasible long term.

I went to WDW three times as a kid. That would've been the end of my Disney days except then they opened DAK and AKL and I wanted to see them. So that drew me back as an adult. After only two adult trips I'm already feeling a sense of been-there-done-that, and I'm starting to branch out to get my Disney fix from places that have something new to offer me. I did Tokyo this year. Thinking about my next Disney trip, I get stuck. Paris is in sad shape. Hong Kong doesn't have much to offer. Shanghai will be new and exciting, but it'll still be just one park and that seems like a long way to go for something that will only fill two parks days. Anaheim? Maybe, but I've been there once before, too. So I think about going back to WDW, I price it out, and I just can't justify spending that kind of money on something I've already experienced multiple times.

It seems to me like they're going to HAVE to build/upgrade/expand at some point if they want to keep bringing people in, regardless if those people are the X% or the Y%. Even with DVC members who are more or less locked in, I imagine their vacation habits will change if Disney doesn't offer them something new. They'll start treating their vacations like a relax by the pool resort. Why spend money for park tickets when they've done every ride a hundred times and there's nothing new to see? Why go to overpriced restaurants for mediocre food when they can eat in the room? Why buy souvenirs from a place they've gone to every year for the past twenty years? And this is how Disney loses money. (DVC may end up being Disney's kiss of death.)

I guess my long-winded point is that Disney is going to have to invest in giving us new things if they want people to A) come, or B) spend like they used to. Unless they can keep floating by solely on once-in-a-lifetime visitors (new ones are being made every day) to whom everything is new and exciting. Although, even there it seems like the "increase the Y" strategy can't work forever. Are the Y income folks of 2030 really going to drop loads of money to go to experience cutting edge 1990's technology? If Disney lets its reputation of "a childhood wonderland where memories are made" shift to "old-timey, stale parks your grandparents like for the nostalgia", they're sunk.

I don't know, the more I think about it the more I think they're going to have to "build" their way into the future vs. solely attempting to increase the Y.

Sorry if I'm going too off topic for this thread. Let me bring it back: Hollywood Studios... Yeah, it needs stuff.

 

[rteetz]

lockedoutlogic, do we know what percentage of visitors are once-in-a-lifetime vs. repeat travelers? Because as much as I'm sure they'd like to make their business plan all about "increase the Y" I just don't know if that's feasible long term. I went to WDW three times as a kid. That would've been the end of my Disney days except then they opened DAK and AKL and I wanted to see them. So that drew me back as an adult. After only two adult trips I'm already feeling a sense of been-there-done-that, and I'm starting to branch out to get my Disney fix from places that have something new to offer me. I did Tokyo this year. Thinking about my next Disney trip, I get stuck. Paris is in sad shape. Hong Kong doesn't have much to offer. Shanghai will be new and exciting, but it'll still be just one park and that seems like a long way to go for something that will only fill two parks days. Anaheim? Maybe, but I've been there once before, too. So I think about going back to WDW, I price it out, and I just can't justify spending that kind of money on something I've already experienced multiple times. It seems to me like they're going to HAVE to build/upgrade/expand at some point if they want to keep bringing people in, regardless if those people are the X% or the Y%. Even with DVC members who are more or less locked in, I imagine their vacation habits will change if Disney doesn't offer them something new. They'll start treating their vacations like a relax by the pool resort. Why spend money for park tickets when they've done every ride a hundred times and there's nothing new to see? Why go to overpriced restaurants for mediocre food when they can eat in the room? Why buy souvenirs from a place they've gone to every year for the past twenty years? And this is how Disney loses money. (DVC may end up being Disney's kiss of death.) I guess my long-winded point is that Disney is going to have to invest in giving us new things if they want people to A) come, or B) spend like they used to. Unless they can keep floating by solely on once-in-a-lifetime visitors (new ones are being made every day) to whom everything is new and exciting. Although, even there it seems like the "increase the Y" strategy can't work forever. Are the Y income folks of 2030 really going to drop loads of money to go to experience cutting edge 1990's technology? If Disney lets its reputation of "a childhood wonderland where memories are made" shift to "old-timey, stale parks your grandparents like for the nostalgia", they're sunk. I don't know, the more I think about it the more I think they're going to have to "build" their way into the future vs. solely attempting to increase the Y. Sorry if I'm going too off topic for this thread. Let me bring it back: Hollywood Studios... Yeah, it needs stuff.

WDW is a lot more about once in a life time
Disneyland is more about repeats because there are so many AP holders there. Anaheim gets a lot more new things than WDW does. I would suggest Anaheim to people over WDW especially now with Carsland.
I'm sure you saw in Tokyo it's much different because those parks are not run by Disney.
Paris is getting better in terms of Disney doing something about it. The hotels are under massive refurbishment and they just opened ratatouille.
New attractions may not come to WDW every year but new experiences, parades, events, restaurants etc. do change every year. AK is getting new offerings, DTD is completely transforming. DHS has stuff in the works at least. DVC and hotel expansions are happening.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

There's not a correct answer...


That's an internal number that doesn't have to be disclosed.

I can tell you that 10-15 years ago... 50% repeat was the goal. They appear to have moved off

I can only guess 30% +/- are what would be "frequent"

Probably around 40% "one time"

And the 30% "infrequent with potential to develop"

That's an educated guess based on experience.

The middle number won't change much... The last number is the focus.

 

[skier_pete]

lockedoutlogic, do we know what percentage of visitors are once-in-a-lifetime vs. repeat travelers?

After only two adult trips I'm already feeling a sense of been-there-done-that, and I'm starting to branch out to get my Disney fix from places that have something new to offer me.

You know, DW and I felt that way after our second "adult" trip 1997 and 2000, but we were staying off-site. Our next trip 2006 we were bitten by the bug, and now we are those "once-a-year" types.

WDW is a lot more about once in a life time.

Agree to an extent.

I can only guess 30% +/- are what would be "frequent"

Probably around 40% "one time"

And the 30% "infrequent with potential to develop"

That's an educated guess based on experience.

TO me you are missing a piece here. It's the locals/AP holders. Now, I know it's not the level of DL - which supposedly has close to a million AP holders of different sizes, but there is definitely a portion of visitors - maybe 10 % - that are locals and frequent visitors. They of course spend in a very different pattern. (Less souvenirs, less hotels, probably more dining than the average park-goer.)

However, I am going to give you my experience of this, which is of the group of people I know - NOT through the DIS, but through other life experience, work, school, social.

I would say the percentage of people that become hooked on the mouse enough to go back frequently, and I will use frequently as in every other year or more, is actually very small nationally. I would be surprised if it is above 5% of the population. Now, being that this group travels to Disney more frequently, they make up a bigger chunk of the Disney guest population, but even then I would still argue that it remains in the 10-20 % of guests. In the "real" world (non-DIS), I know of a grand total of 3 families that frequent Disney World to this extent.

Then there's the folks that repeat visit, but not as frequent. Mostly these are people that really like it, but financially can't swing more frequent visits, or maybe they just don't want to go that often. These folks go every 3-6 years while there kids are young, and maybe stop going once the kids grow up. My guess is they make up maybe another 30% of park visitors. We know 4 or 5 families like this.

So, total that up:
10% locals
20% <2 years
30% 3-6 years

That means I'm leaving 50% of the park population as infrequent guests. In my experience, this is what most travelers are. I know dozens and dozens of families that have gone to Disney World once, some twice. And this is within middle class families that can probably afford it. It's just not what they enjoy.

Now, what I can't tell you is how that skews as you get closer to WDW. In Charleston, SC which is 8 hours away from Orlando, that may skew much heavier to frequent visitors. I know we would go more than once a year if it was a reasonable drive away, so I'm sure that changes. But, for folks that need to get on a plane to go, there's just not a lot of demand for it.

Actually, now that I look at those numbers, I think lockedoutlogic and I agreed again! Zowie.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Pete,

Point taken...but as you deciphered...that local ap number is very low...no more than 5% total.

That's still alot of APs...but it's such a large number of travelers to compare it to.

And my "frequent" number is based on 2-3 trips every 5 years.

I'm not talking the DVC from toms river, nj or Greenwich, ct armed with 600 points...
That number is probably 1% or so...

So yeah...again...we agree.

(Let's not admit this day ever happened...deal? )

 

[disneyworld1977]

Hey TIPSYTRAVELER, We just got back from TOKYO. Enjoyed the parks! Dont want to get off topic either...lol

Its been a while that I have been on here and just scanned the last few posts on this thread, didn't want to go thru them all.

We know we need something at DHS. Looks like we are seeing some movement there. I know I probably missed some posts on it but what are the current rumors? Pixar expansion? Carsland or some Cars attraction? Star Wars Land?

And back to the point of visiting or not visiting because of something new. I came back from Tokyo DL and now we still want to plan our next trip to WDW. To change it up and give us something fresh at least....a resort we havent stayed at, different time of year we never have been before, different restaurants at Epcot, and of course I haven't ridden the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train so that will be fresh to us. I don't know, we enjoy going even though we repeat some things, its inevitable, but we try to add a few different things like I stated above.

Again...I am getting off topic too..haha.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

WDW is a lot more about once in a life time
Disneyland is more about repeats because there are so many AP holders there. Anaheim gets a lot more new things than WDW does. I would suggest Anaheim to people over WDW especially now with Carsland.
I'm sure you saw in Tokyo it's much different because those parks are not run by Disney.
Paris is getting better in terms of Disney doing something about it. The hotels are under massive refurbishment and they just opened ratatouille.
New attractions may not come to WDW every year but new experiences, parades, events, restaurants etc. do change every year. AK is getting new offerings, DTD is completely transforming. DHS has stuff in the works at least. DVC and hotel expansions are happening.

To the first bolded... Ain't that the truth. Part of me worries that whenever I do make it back to WDW it's going to seem like a dump in comparison.

To the second bolded... I realize that Disney can't build entire new lands and parks on a yearly basis. I don't expect that. It's their overall lack of effort that leaves me dismayed. Attractions that are so dated it's embarrassing, attractions that are removed and never replaced, attractions in need of general upkeep and/or repair, a park that was incomplete on opening day and remained that way for 15 years. These things, combined with the lack of "new and exciting" are what leave me feeling 'meh' about going back over and over again. A new parade or restaurant refurb is not enough to get me to book a trip. The events are hard-tickets and are a ploy to get me to spend more. Honestly, I was fine with that and gladly opened my wallet to attend when they were limited to special holiday events. But now, with the recent explosion of hard-ticket events across all four parks and the Halloween hard-ticket within a hard-ticket, I'm so turned off by the grotesque money grab that I don't want to support those anymore. DTD renovation and DVC expansions aren't changes that are going to add any value to my vacation. Those are just more ways to try to get more money out of me. More stores at DTD doesn't entice me to book a trip. I can buy Disney merchandise online without spending a penny on airfare. Yes, they are adding Avatar. (I despise the idea but I realize that's a personal problem.) Should I give them points for finally completing a park that's sat unfinished for the last decade and a half? Hmm... So it comes down to DHS. I really, really hope Disney builds something grand and innovative that shows they take pride in what they do and restores my faith in them. But, based on their track record, I'm not holding my breath. The bottom line is that I feel like Disney has been taking away more than they've been improving and in turn, the value of a Disney vacation keeps going down. I hope that changes. (I apologize for sounding so cynical. I promise, I'm not normally like this. Lol.)

You know, DW and I felt that way after our second "adult" trip 1997 and 2000, but we were staying off-site. Our next trip 2006 we were bitten by the bug, and now we are those "once-a-year" types.

We stay at AKL and I adore that resort. The "Disney bug" side of my brain wants to go once a year but the side of my brain that looks at the prices and considers the things I said above can't justify it, especially if it's going to be at the exclusion of traveling to other places that I haven't experienced before. Even when I consider doing a yearly Disney vacation in addition to an international trip so that I don't feel like I'm giving up one for the other, I still can't bring myself to loosen the purse strings. It always comes down to, "Why am I going to spend this much money to do the same thing I've already done that, honestly, is getting kind of stale?" I don't know if I'm in the majority or minority or somewhere in between by feeling that way, but I know I'd be inclined to visit more frequently if they made improvements and/or opened new attractions on a semi-regular basis.

Interesting that you brought up who you know in real life who travels to WDW because I've thought about this myself. My boyfriend and I are the only people I know who have gone to WDW in their adult lives. We (and our social circle) are in our early thirties, middle class, live on the east coast, and most of our friends have kids under the age of ten. I would think this is the Disney demographic, yet we know exactly zero people who have been. Mentioning Disney doesn't get more than a few polite grunts from them. It just doesn't seem to be on their radar, nor do they have any interest in going. If I include every acquaintance on my Facebook newsfeed then I can name two people who have taken a Disney trip. It just seems weird to me. I didn't come from a "Disney family" by any means, but I've always thought of Disney as something most parents treated like a childhood right of passage -- If they could afford to do so, their kids got to go at least once. But now I look at my friends who could afford to take their kids and they just have no interest in doing so. I don't know if things have changed over the years or if I had it wrong all along.

Hey TIPSYTRAVELER, We just got back from TOKYO. Enjoyed the parks! Dont want to get off topic either...lol

Glad you enjoyed the Tokyo parks! So did we.

 

[disneyworld1977]

DTD renovation and DVC expansions aren't changes that are going to add any value to my vacation. Those are just more ways to try to get more money out of me. More stores at DTD doesn't entice me to book a trip. I can buy Disney merchandise online without spending a penny on airfare. Yes, they are adding Avatar. (I despise the idea but I realize that's a personal problem.) Should I give them points for finally completing a park that's sat unfinished for the last decade and a half? Hmm... So it comes down to DHS. I really, really hope Disney builds something grand and innovative that shows they take pride in what they do and restores my faith in them. But, based on their track record, I'm not holding my breath. QUOTE]

DTD renovation is fine with me, but doesn't make me want to go there just for that, more stores, less stores, I don't care. DVC expansions does nothing for me at all.

AVATAR being added to AK - While I didn't like it at first, I have eased up. Reason being, which I am hoping, is they do it right by really focusing not on the movie itself but on Pandora, preservation, and animals. So it can be done right I think, but we will see.

And with DHS, well I think we are seeing the signs of them doing something. With a track record at WDW in particular I can see why one isn't getting their hopes up however, if you look over at DCA and what they did there, which I really like with what they did with BUENA VISTA area and CarsLand, there is the potential for them to really do the same type of "semi-overhaul" at DHS...Pixar, Star Wars, etc. Its got POTENTIAL to be big. Again, we will see

 

[skier_pete]

It always comes down to, "Why am I going to spend this much money to do the same thing I've already done that, honestly, is getting kind of stale?" I don't know if I'm in the majority or minority or somewhere in between by feeling that way, but I know I'd be inclined to visit more frequently if they made improvements and/or opened new attractions on a semi-regular basis. .

I admit I am not in this boat. Every time I go (and I think my wife agrees) we cannot get enough and we immediately want to go back. We DO enjoy other places, but I find I simply don't look forward to OTHER vacations as much as our Disney ones. Which is actually kind of pathetic in my mind, but I can't help feeling that way. There's so much to see in this world, why am I pulled back to this overprice overcrowded place? I don't know, but we're sneaking off for the weekend in two weeks. And we bought DVC. And we have 2015 and 2016 trips planned.

It isn't just the "Disneyness" of it though - we took a cruise back in February, and my feeling was right away "Well, no hurry to do THAT again", so it must be the parks themselves.

I think part of it is the opposite of what you said, I feel that every trip is a unique experience. We always try new things. I have a policy of "one new thing every day" and 10 trips in we have kept to it. Still rides we haven't ridden (not many) and restaurants we haven't tried (lots actually). We also go to Mrytle Beach a lot - and there it feels like "more of the same". WDW it always feels different and special.

So, sorry to get away from the topic. I like most frequent visitors would love big chance, I hope it is coming. For many years they were sinking their investiments into DCA and it paid off. They have big additions to AK, I think people will be amazed by Avatarland (possibly wishful thinking, but I have a feeling on this). Many complain that the MK additions weren't big, but they were actually pretty extensive. Not high-tech, but it was aimed at kids anyways - MK always focuses on the family experience much more than the other parks. Let's put it this way, the biggest addition to MK in about 25 years, so not shabby. A big project in DHS would be great. Epcot needs love too, and more than a Frozen ride.

 

[ArwenMarie]

It's not the number of customers and how they break down...it's the breakdown of the profit per customer group that matters. In Orlando, I think local APs are just a blip on their radar.

I look at Disney's actions and work backwards. Take local APs or even tourist APs who don't stay onsite. They lowered their booking window from 60 to 30 days. Ouch. And those APs are not cheap.

The money is to be made in the hotels. I also think the focus is first-time visitors, more and more. The trip of a lifetime! If they have to go to the ends of the earth to get them, they would rather do that then try to build loyal, long-term, returning customers here in North America. Returning customers are annoying and complain a lot.

Some things that make me think this...no frequent visitor program like most hotel chains have. Refusing to change out things that would be of minimal expense to a company like Disney, such as shows. Cutting entertainment offerings including parades. If you're a first-time visitor, you don't even know that there used to be a parade or an entertainer there, you don't know how old that show is. It's only the repeat customer that can sense the void.

Another reason I think this is because of the quality of the hotels. Make them look good on the website, lure people in. Done. So what if the rooms don't live anywhere up to what they should for the prices they are charging? Who cares if people come back? Same for the quality of a lot of the food.

 

[rteetz]

To the first bolded... Ain't that the truth. Part of me worries that whenever I do make it back to WDW it's going to seem like a dump in comparison.

To the second bolded... I realize that Disney can't build entire new lands and parks on a yearly basis. I don't expect that. It's their overall lack of effort that leaves me dismayed. Attractions that are so dated it's embarrassing, attractions that are removed and never replaced, attractions in need of general upkeep and/or repair, a park that was incomplete on opening day and remained that way for 15 years. These things, combined with the lack of "new and exciting" are what leave me feeling 'meh' about going back over and over again. A new parade or restaurant refurb is not enough to get me to book a trip. The events are hard-tickets and are a ploy to get me to spend more. Honestly, I was fine with that and gladly opened my wallet to attend when they were limited to special holiday events. But now, with the recent explosion of hard-ticket events across all four parks and the Halloween hard-ticket within a hard-ticket, I'm so turned off by the grotesque money grab that I don't want to support those anymore. DTD renovation and DVC expansions aren't changes that are going to add any value to my vacation. Those are just more ways to try to get more money out of me. More stores at DTD doesn't entice me to book a trip. I can buy Disney merchandise online without spending a penny on airfare. Yes, they are adding Avatar. (I despise the idea but I realize that's a personal problem.) Should I give them points for finally completing a park that's sat unfinished for the last decade and a half? Hmm... So it comes down to DHS. I really, really hope Disney builds something grand and innovative that shows they take pride in what they do and restores my faith in them. But, based on their track record, I'm not holding my breath. The bottom line is that I feel like Disney has been taking away more than they've been improving and in turn, the value of a Disney vacation keeps going down. I hope that changes. (I apologize for sounding so cynical. I promise, I'm not normally like this. Lol.)



We stay at AKL and I adore that resort. The "Disney bug" side of my brain wants to go once a year but the side of my brain that looks at the prices and considers the things I said above can't justify it, especially if it's going to be at the exclusion of traveling to other places that I haven't experienced before. Even when I consider doing a yearly Disney vacation in addition to an international trip so that I don't feel like I'm giving up one for the other, I still can't bring myself to loosen the purse strings. It always comes down to, "Why am I going to spend this much money to do the same thing I've already done that, honestly, is getting kind of stale?" I don't know if I'm in the majority or minority or somewhere in between by feeling that way, but I know I'd be inclined to visit more frequently if they made improvements and/or opened new attractions on a semi-regular basis.

Interesting that you brought up who you know in real life who travels to WDW because I've thought about this myself. My boyfriend and I are the only people I know who have gone to WDW in their adult lives. We (and our social circle) are in our early thirties, middle class, live on the east coast, and most of our friends have kids under the age of ten. I would think this is the Disney demographic, yet we know exactly zero people who have been. Mentioning Disney doesn't get more than a few polite grunts from them. It just doesn't seem to be on their radar, nor do they have any interest in going. If I include every acquaintance on my Facebook newsfeed then I can name two people who have taken a Disney trip. It just seems weird to me. I didn't come from a "Disney family" by any means, but I've always thought of Disney as something most parents treated like a childhood right of passage -- If they could afford to do so, their kids got to go at least once. But now I look at my friends who could afford to take their kids and they just have no interest in doing so. I don't know if things have changed over the years or if I had it wrong all along.




Glad you enjoyed the Tokyo parks! So did we.

Its exactly how you said Disney is just trying to get more money out of you without spending much money to get that money. A lot of people don't realize this WDW doesn't get those huge attraction changes but they do get new hard ticket events all the time or special tours or add ons, disney just wants your money plain and simple. I dream to one day go to tokyo and see what a real investment is. Also as for attraction refurbs its hard you can't take major attractions out of commission for a long time or people will be upset and there may not be enough to do hence the reason the Yeti hasn't been fixed yet. If they take EE down for a year to fix it that is really a half day or even less park. Disneyland on the other hand will do those things because the majority of their guests are return guests like BTMRR was down for 14 months I don't think you could do that in WDW. A lot of how investments work is based on the type of guests that come. Majority of disneyland is repeat guests, they don't call it a locals park for nothing. WDW is a world destination people go there for vacation. Disneyland a lot of people just go for a weekend or a day.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

And with DHS, well I think we are seeing the signs of them doing something. With a track record at WDW in particular I can see why one isn't getting their hopes up however, if you look over at DCA and what they did there, which I really like with what they did with BUENA VISTA area and CarsLand, there is the potential for them to really do the same type of "semi-overhaul" at DHS...Pixar, Star Wars, etc. Its got POTENTIAL to be big. Again, we will see

I agree that DHS has potential but my concern is that they would never give a DCA type of makeover to a WDW park. A "locals park" has to keep evolving to keep people coming back. There's less need to please when the customer base is "one and done".

Which is actually kind of pathetic in my mind, but I can't help feeling that way. There's so much to see in this world, why am I pulled back to this overprice overcrowded place?

It isn't just the "Disneyness" of it though - we took a cruise back in February, and my feeling was right away "Well, no hurry to do THAT again", so it must be the parks themselves.

Did I write that first paragraph? Get out of my head! Bummer to hear about your cruise experience. I was considering doing one as a way to get in some Disney while also trying something new. Hmmm... Might be back to the drawing board for me.

Returning customers are annoying and complain a lot......If you're a first-time visitor, you don't even know that there used to be a parade or an entertainer there, you don't know how old that show is. It's only the repeat customer that can sense the void.

Exactly. Which is why I wonder if their massive DVC push is going to eventually come back to bite them.

Also as for attraction refurbs its hard you can't take major attractions out of commission for a long time or people will be upset and there may not be enough to do hence the reason the Yeti hasn't been fixed yet. If they take EE down for a year to fix it that is really a half day or even less park. Disneyland on the other hand will do those things because the majority of their guests are return guests like BTMRR was down for 14 months I don't think you could do that in WDW.

I understand and agree. On the other hand, perhaps it wouldn't be so problematic to take one ride offline if they had more rides to begin with.

 

[beer dave]

I admit I am not in this boat. Every time I go (and I think my wife agrees) we cannot get enough and we immediately want to go back. We DO enjoy other places, but I find I simply don't look forward to OTHER vacations as much as our Disney ones. Which is actually kind of pathetic in my mind, but I can't help feeling that way. There's so much to see in this world, why am I pulled back to this overprice overcrowded place? I don't know, but we're sneaking off for the weekend in two weeks. And we bought DVC. And we have 2015 and 2016 trips planned.

It isn't just the "Disneyness" of it though - we took a cruise back in February, and my feeling was right away "Well, no hurry to do THAT again", so it must be the parks themselves.

I think part of it is the opposite of what you said, I feel that every trip is a unique experience. We always try new things. I have a policy of "one new thing every day" and 10 trips in we have kept to it. Still rides we haven't ridden (not many) and restaurants we haven't tried (lots actually). We also go to Mrytle Beach a lot - and there it feels like "more of the same". WDW it always feels different and special.

So, sorry to get away from the topic. I like most frequent visitors would love big chance, I hope it is coming. For many years they were sinking their investiments into DCA and it paid off. They have big additions to AK, I think people will be amazed by Avatarland (possibly wishful thinking, but I have a feeling on this). Many complain that the MK additions weren't big, but they were actually pretty extensive. Not high-tech, but it was aimed at kids anyways - MK always focuses on the family experience much more than the other parks. Let's put it this way, the biggest addition to MK in about 25 years, so not shabby. A big project in DHS would be great. Epcot needs love too, and more than a Frozen ride.

Yup-- this is me too. Maybe I'll run into you at F@W...we will be at BC in 2+weeks... I'll look for the hat...

My beach vacations are at home, and then the Disney trips. DW wants to go on a cruise, but I am hesitant. Too confining for me I think. At disney, you can get away from the crowds when you need to... maybe not on a ship...

I am happy to see that they seem to be going for it at HS. These boards needed some new topics. (or at least new direction to old topics. )

Finally it seems that the whole place is getting upgrades and changes. I don't care what the motivation.

 

[skier_pete]

Yup-- this is me too. Maybe I'll run into you at F@W...we will be at BC in 2+weeks... I'll look for the hat...

If it's not too hot I plan on wearing my Indiana Jones style Fedora. If it's hot it'll probably be a Buffalo Sabres hat. (Hockey season starts next week!) The fez is in the shop. WE'll be at F&W on the 16th, 19th and 20th.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Yup-- this is me too. Maybe I'll run into you at F@W...we will be at BC in 2+weeks... I'll look for the hat...

My beach vacations are at home, and then the Disney trips. DW wants to go on a cruise, but I am hesitant. Too confining for me I think. At disney, you can get away from the crowds when you need to... maybe not on a ship...

I am happy to see that they seem to be going for it at HS. These boards needed some new topics. (or at least new direction to old topics. )

Finally it seems that the whole place is getting upgrades and changes. I don't care what the motivation.

Really Dave? You believe they're "going for it"?

trust the shovels, my friend


FYI...we're going on the Dream with the kids next month...let you know how that is. I do like cruiseships though...so I'll probably love it.

 

[beer dave]

Really Dave? You believe they're "going for it"?

trust the shovels, my friend


FYI...we're going on the Dream with the kids next month...let you know how that is. I do like cruiseships though...so I'll probably love it.

I know, I know..... I think I want to believe they are going for it. Wouldn't it be great?

I get all this business end perspective. I read it almost every day. If you could put all this aside, all of our addictions with this site, and the debates that devour every comment, whether it be from TDO, insiders, or knowledgeable posters, down to the letter of the word, like a biblical translation, couldn't there be a different perception of it all?

If we just move one step (less deep?) (didn't want to say shallow-er) in the level of scrutiny, don't we end up with money that has been spent to better park experience , that has been spent to increase capacity, and spent to refresh some areas where it is needed?

You don't have to list all the things that still need attention... we all know what they are. ( you can if you want)

Where you think of it as burying ones head in the sand, I see it as staying one level up from the bottom of the pit. Sometimes I wear the rose colored glasses intentionally.

Looking forward to hearing about the cruise. I've never been on one, and am still resisting.

 

[beer dave]

If it's not too hot I plan on wearing my Indiana Jones style Fedora. If it's hot it'll probably be a Buffalo Sabres hat. (Hockey season starts next week!) The fez is in the shop. WE'll be at F&W on the 16th, 19th and 20th.

Nice. I'm at BC friday sat and sun night. probably spend all nights at F&W. I'll be the guy leaving Canada with 2 Unibroue's and staggering a bit. DW and I will pretend to hold each other up. lol Maybe cross paths on the 20th.

 

[Suger Mag]

My beach vacations are at home, and then the Disney trips. DW wants to go on a cruise, but I am hesitant. Too confining for me I think. At disney, you can get away from the crowds when you need to... maybe not on a ship...

That is what a veranda is for... so worth the money. I can't describe how wonderful it is to sit and watch the seas go by in the early morning quiet.... and seeing a place by coming in from the water is such a different perspective We (I) have been bitten by the cruise bug. It is a nice and relaxing way to see a couple of different places, and not to have to pack/unpack all the time. And DCL does a nice job.... add in bring your own booze and free room service... you can get away from the crowds as much or as little as you want.

FYI...we're going on the Dream with the kids next month...let you know how that is. I do like cruiseships though...so I'll probably love it.

Bon Voyage Logic. I have to wait another year + for my chance to sail on the Dream. I hope you have a fabulous time!

P.S. Don't forget magnets to decorate your door, besides fun for the kids... it makes finding your stateroom soooooo much easier

 

[skier_pete]

Nice. I'm at BC friday sat and sun night. probably spend all nights at F&W. I'll be the guy leaving Canada with 2 Unibroue's and staggering a bit. DW and I will pretend to hold each other up. lol Maybe cross paths on the 20th.

We will also be at Jellyroll's the 17th and 19th as well, with dinner at Yatchman's on the 17th beforehand. Not staying at BC, we could only get SSR.

I am not sure how much time we will be near the Canadian pavillion. I live 20 minutes from Canada and find that the last thing I want when I visit Epcot is more Canada. What is Unibroue anyways? I thought they only sold Moosehead?

FYI...we're going on the Dream with the kids next month...let you know how that is. I do like cruiseships though...so I'll probably love it.

I shouldn't be one to critique a Disney cruise. That's the only cruise we've ever been on, and there's a lot of things I don't care about cruising in general. There were things about it that surprised me that I liked (the food quality in particular) there were things about it that didn't surprise me that I didn't like. It wasn't a bad experience, it was just one I'm in no hurry to repeat.

 

[disneysource]

Right now Hollywood is probably the worst of the 4 parks.

But, if they do redo Hollywood it could become the 2nd best park in Florida. Right now it has too many blank spots and old shows like Indy and B&B. They need to add more rides and different and much more fresh shows.

p.s.

To the person that was comparing Disneyland and Disney World.

It's not even close, Disney World is better in every way. It's bigger and there are a lot more things to do. From the castle to the location Florida wins hands down.