Attendance Down, Revenue Up

[Mikie]

What?? You don't find this to be revolutionary?

Or this??

Surely this must pass your test of system development.

Ladies and gentleman...I give you exhibits A, B and C of Disney's profound laziness of late. Really hoping that Avatar breaks that string.

I think I get what you mean, but I have never delved into the ride technology or innovation much. I always considered the appeal of WDW (to me) to be theming, "show" and story. I like that there are so many slow/dark rides with stories and no height requirements. Are other rides at Disney known to be more revolutionary in terms of the ride motion? Obviously the spinners are ordinary and many complain about those, but kids still like the different themes. I LOVE Tower of Terror, but its appeal is mostly theming, as many parks have a drop ride - perhaps the fact that it moves horizontally before the drop and the randomness are the unique part.
Point is, I'm looking to be enlightened on what is more revolutionary in their older rides vs the examples you showed of what's not revolutionary lately.

 

[park]

Back to performance of the company: Motley Fool has an article today on the subject and they do see the cracks in the foundation of the theme park business--moreso than many other articles following the quarterly results. Have a look:

Disney World -- Not ESPN -- Is the Real Problem at Disney

http://www.fool.com/investing/gener...ld-not-espn-is-the-real-problem-at-disne.aspx

 

[JimmyV]

I'm looking to be enlightened on what is more revolutionary in their older rides vs the examples you showed of what's not revolutionary lately.

Revolutionary has to be measured against the time period in which the attraction was introduced. Consider that Pirates was introduced (to Florida) in 1973. HM in 1971. And Under The Sea With LM in 2012. Can an argument be made that the 2012 ride raised the bar on the earlier attractions, or are the earlier attractions still the gold standard? BTMRR was introduced in 1979. 7DMT in 2014. Was there a leap in technology beyond the faces of the dwarfs? What ride has Disney introduced in the last 10 years that can compete with the intricacy and scope of Splash Mountain? If Disney goes through with its ridiculous plan to build a slinky dog coaster and a spinning alien ride, can that be viewed as anything other than a step backwards?

 

[ChipnDale79]

Revolutionary has to be measured against the time period in which the attraction was introduced. Consider that Pirates was introduced (to Florida) in 1973. HM in 1971. And Under The Sea With LM in 2012. Can an argument be made that the 2012 ride raised the bar on the earlier attractions, or are the earlier attractions still the gold standard? BTMRR was introduced in 1979. 7DMT in 2014. Was there a leap in technology beyond the faces of the dwarfs? What ride has Disney introduced in the last 10 years that can compete with the intricacy and scope of Splash Mountain? If Disney goes through with its ridiculous plan to build a slinky dog coaster and a spinning alien ride, can that be viewed as anything other than a step backwards?

I understand what they are doing with Toy Story land, an area for young kids is needed BADLY at DHS, they need a place for families to spend time in that park. They currently do not have that.

My expectations for TSL is not high, it shouldn’t be for what the goal is here.
However my expectations for Star Wars is very high. If they miss here, it’s a big deal to me.

They need to wow you, blow your socks off, make you talk about it at the water cooler at the office.

I don’t see many people planning new trips to WDW because of Toy Story, however many will because of Star Wars. They fail to wow with Star Wars, they’ve got big time issues.

 

[anthony2k7]

Did the report specify where attendance was down?

I imagine attendance at DLP has took a big drop this year with the terror attacks, and the lack of anything new in the parks, and the huge amount of ride closures for refurbs.

 

[ChipnDale79]

Did the report specify where attendance was down?

I imagine attendance at DLP has took a big drop this year with the terror attacks, and the lack of anything new in the parks, and the huge amount of ride closures for refurbs.

up at DLR and down at WDW.

 

[MinnieSweetheart]

Surely this must pass your test of system development.

Hey now!! Ariel is one of the most lifelike cartoon mermaid animatronics in existence!!

 

[TwoMisfits]

What?? You don't find this to be revolutionary?

Or this??

Surely this must pass your test of system development.

Ladies and gentleman...I give you exhibits A, B and C of Disney's profound laziness of late. Really hoping that Avatar breaks that string.

You know, seeing that picture of the coaster is really sad. Where's the Toy Box? Where's the theming? I think my local Six Flags beats that all to heck for kid coasters if that's really all they are gonna build in that pic...you can build a kid coaster and actually still "wow" with it without spending a lot of money...but it's nice if you do spend a little...I mean, flat, plain asphalt - really?

 

[rteetz]

Back to performance of the company: Motley Fool has an article today on the subject and they do see the cracks in the foundation of the theme park business--moreso than many other articles following the quarterly results. Have a look:

Disney World -- Not ESPN -- Is the Real Problem at Disney

http://www.fool.com/investing/gener...ld-not-espn-is-the-real-problem-at-disne.aspx

The author at the fool likes to take things from the forums at wdwmagic it seems.

 

[rteetz]

You know, seeing that picture of the coaster is really sad. Where's the Toy Box? Where's the theming? I think my local Six Flags beats that all to heck for kid coasters if that's really all they are gonna build in that pic...you can build a kid coaster and actually still "wow" with it without spending a lot of money...but it's nice if you do spend a little...I mean, flat, plain asphalt - really?

That's really the main complaint but what can you really do with it. This is Andys backyard with all of his toys.

 

[Mikie]

The author at the fool likes to take things from the forums at wdwmagic it seems.

I think his stuff is well-written, but on several of these "what is the business doing?" threads lately, the more critical voice is a link to Motley Fool and I think this author in particular. I am NOT accusing, because I don't read enough of the Motley Fool content to know, but I wondered whether he was simply known to be a harsher critic. The 3 articles I've read recently all have an element of "this part may LOOK good now, but just you WAIT" Wondering whether that's an accurate assessment of current reality or whether he has a kind of slant all the time.

 

[Mikie]

You know, seeing that picture of the coaster is really sad. Where's the Toy Box? Where's the theming? I think my local Six Flags beats that all to heck for kid coasters if that's really all they are gonna build in that pic...you can build a kid coaster and actually still "wow" with it without spending a lot of money...but it's nice if you do spend a little...I mean, flat, plain asphalt - really?

That's really the main complaint but what can you really do with it. This is Andys backyard with all of his toys.

I don't follow all the construction and plan updates religiously, so there could definitely be known changes that I'm not aware of. However, from what I've read and sketches I've seen (and this, of course, is also a rendering) it looks like it could be really cool. I like the idea that the slinky goes all around and through the backyard area and isn't just one isolated attraction beside another isolated attraction, no matter how well themed each is. Really connects it as a whole "land". Of course, it's a kiddie coaster, so if that's your complaint, it's valid but I think DHS could benefit from some younger stuff. Definitely the gray asphalt could use some work to make it look more like a patio, grass, deck in a backyard.

 

[rteetz]

I think his stuff is well-written, but on several of these "what is the business doing?" threads lately, the more critical voice is a link to Motley Fool and I think this author in particular. I am NOT accusing, because I don't read enough of the Motley Fool content to know, but I wondered whether he was simply known to be a harsher critic. The 3 articles I've read recently all have an element of "this part may LOOK good now, but just you WAIT" Wondering whether that's an accurate assessment of current reality or whether he has a kind of slant all the time.

He is kind of that way a lot. He also seems to take big topics off of the wdwmagic forums. It's just an observation on my part and others on that site.

 

[Iowamomof4]

That's really the main complaint but what can you really do with it. This is Andys backyard with all of his toys.

I think they decided to make the coaster like the "post-garage sale version", AFTER his mom has sold most of his toys.

 

[rteetz]

I don't follow all the construction and plan updates religiously, so there could definitely be known changes that I'm not aware of. However, from what I've read and sketches I've seen (and this, of course, is also a rendering) it looks like it could be really cool. I like the idea that the slinky goes all around and through the backyard area and isn't just one isolated attraction beside another isolated attraction, no matter how well themed each is. Really connects it as a whole "land". Of course, it's a kiddie coaster, so if that's your complaint, it's valid but I think DHS could benefit from some younger stuff. Definitely the gray asphalt could use some work to make it look more like a patio, grass, deck in a backyard.

Toy story land has already seen cuts from when it was first announced. I still think it's okay but nothing like avatar or Star Wars will look like.

 

[TwoMisfits]

That's really the main complaint but what can you really do with it. This is Andys backyard with all of his toys.

Then make it look like a backyard in "honey I shrunk the kids" form...I mean, the coaster is obviously oversized, so the grass would be, too...

 

[rteetz]

Then make it look like a backyard in "honey I shrunk the kids" form...I mean, the coaster is obviously oversized, so the grass would be, too...

Look at toy story land in Paris or Hong Kong at least we aren't getting that.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Look at toy story land in Paris or Hong Kong at least we aren't getting that.

Okay, I've never looked at their pictures before you mentioned them...they are sad...but beating something that sad-looking isn't a win for Orlando...it's just not a catastrophe...it just seems like another area where Disney used to lead the way on theming and now they seem to be aiming for "very, very cheap" and "good enough to not be embarrassing"...and this isn't hard to theme...

Here's hoping the artists were just being minimal in the art and more theme and fun will be in that area...

 

[mcd2745]

Toy story land has already seen cuts from when it was first announced. I still think it's okay but nothing like avatar or Star Wars will look like.

#thanksshanghai


Anyway, for Toy Story Land....isn't TSMM still going to be the centerpiece of that area? Toy Story Land is not going to just be the slinky coaster and alien spinner. Of course we would like to see them add more, and we generally like to only focus on "what's coming" as opposed to what's already there. However, TSMM should be included when talking about Toy Story Land but usually gets left out. I agree, concept art so far on the coaster may be unimpressive, but I need to see more before passing final judgement.

 

[rteetz]

Okay, I've never looked at their pictures before you mentioned them...they are sad...but beating something that sad-looking isn't a win for Orlando...it's just not a catastrophe...it just seems like another area where Disney used to lead the way on theming and now they seem to be aiming for "very, very cheap" and "good enough to not be embarrassing"...and this isn't hard to theme...

Here's hoping the artists were just being minimal in the art and more theme and fun will be in that area...

And before the cuts toy story land in DHS was going to cost $500 million...