Disney Announces Big Changes To Parks

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

http://www.wftv.com/news/23682597/detail.html

 

[kate_wdw]

Thanks for posting this. I'm excited to see that the Main Street Electrical Parade will be back. Spectromagic is nice, but I think the Main Street Electrical Parade is truly magical. The music takes me right back to childhood.

 

[Oglet]

If they are really serious about getting more people in the parks then offer the same kind of payment plans for annual passes that are offered at Disneyland. Half of the local community cant afford to pay $1000+ for a average size family.

Vent over

 

[ramona]

Thanks for posting!

 

[pat fan]

Really? They want MORE people in the parks? I love WDW, don't get me wrong, and we're going again next month, but sheesh, it's already crazy crowded like heck, I really don't want MORE people there, especially as we can only go during the summer!

BTW, I am psyched about MSEP! We saw it on our first trip when DS was 7 and can't wait to see it again on his HS graduation trip!

 

[Donut23]

Disney is stuck between a rock and a hard place because they simply didn't plan ahead. Operating profits are down....even after agressive cutbacks the last 2 years.

Now they face a new challenge (Harry Potter) which will draw away a percentage of guests. What percentage....no one knows yet...the great debate.

Bob Iger just boasted "no more discounts" to the stockholders.....after announcing a 40% discount on rooms through October...don't forget dining!

Yes, they are rebuilding Fantasyland....but will not help this summer.

Moving a parade from California is not really "big" changes.....but at least the centerpiece of their "Nightastic" will not loose it's head the night before opening.

The centerpiece and BIG promo for Nightastic last summer at DL was the new dragon for Fantasmic. Yes, I have seen the dragon and it IS FANTABULOUS.....but the night before opening night of Nightastic......the dragon's head broke. Since it wasn't a story of the "headless dragon".....the dragon never made it's entrance until AFTER Nightastic was over in the fall. That would be an oops.

Life is tough for "fellow castmember Bob". Profits down, people in the parks on big discounts but not spending extra $$$, promises of no discounts to stockholders AND Harry Potter opening.

BIG changes at US vs. a great (and happily refreshed) night parade. Which park actually has the "big" changes?

 

[phorsenuf]

If they are really serious about getting more people in the parks then offer the same kind of payment plans for annual passes that are offered at Disneyland. Half of the local community cant afford to pay $1000+ for a average size family.

Vent over

I second this!

 

[sjs314]

I am glad to see the return of the Electrical Parade, although unless they keep it running into the fall/winter we will miss it this trip , but it does bring back happy memories of our first trip to WDW.

As far as attendance and discounts go I think offering the deep discounts the past couple of years is going to have a double edge sword effect on attendance,on the people planning vacations in the future if they do lesson the discounts. Many will just hold off going in hopes of a discount or go to US I am not talking just this year but next year also, humans are stubborn by nature and want what they want and will forgo that trip to Disney until they get the discount or FD like in previous years.

 

[skiingfast]

I'm not sure these are big changes. Certainly not break news either.

MSELP is on loan from DL while DCA phases in their new night time show the World of Color. If WDW would get it's act together they would make a copy of the MSELP and get rid of Spectromagic.

Keep in mind that Disney is well aware that cutting discounts will drop attendance. Also be sure that not everyone who visits is aware of free dining or room disctounts. People will still go.

So many people complain about the annual pass cost in WDW compared to DLR. WDW is already cheaper. The Low cost DLR passes have huge resrictions. If you can't take the cost all at once, then save the monthy payments you'd like to pay this year, so you can pay it all at once next year.

 

[Uncleromulus]

They said PROFITS were down.
Didn't see that attendance was down..?
Plus I thought Company profits were actually UP last year?
Don't get me wrong--they have to continually improve the Parks and attract new and repeat visitors.
It almost sounds like Universal and Harry Potter will put WDW out of business.
Somehow, I don't think so.

 

[skiingfast]

They said PROFITS were down.
Didn't see that attendance was down..?
Plus I thought Company profits were actually UP last year?
Don't get me wrong--they have to continually improve the Parks and attract new and repeat visitors.
It almost sounds like Universal and Harry Potter will put WDW out of business.
Somehow, I don't think so.

For Disney, profit was up compared to the year prior, but had taken a hit the previous year.
Attendence was up for disney though just slightly, while USF was down sharply.
If US is lucky they will recover their drop in guests with Harry Potter. I doubt they will get the guests at the expsense of WDW.

 

[DC7800]

If WDW would get it's act together they would make a copy of the MSELP and get rid of Spectromagic.

Walt Disney World always had a copy of the Main Street Electrical Parade, dating from the 70's, but it was sent to Hong Kong Disneyland. Hence, the need to borrow California's edition. I wouldn't want them to do away with Spectromagic, bui really the time has come for an all-new nightly parade, something to top both the classic MSEP and aging SpectroMagic.

What's curious is that the MSEP reportedly never ran at Hong Kong. So why is it (presumably) still there, and not returned to Florida?

 

[anthony2k7]

wasnt there rumours a year or so ago about dlp's fantillusion parade being part of the swap around? dunno what happened to that rumour - i assume fantillusion is staying at paris for now.

as for attendance being up but profits down and guests spending less - maybe thats got more to do with choice and quality of merchandise and food? i do wonder if the bean counters have just got it very wrong with where they are going with the choice of products available and quality of food.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

Man are they worried about Harry Potter. I never thought I'd see the day where WDW would be so obviously worried about a competitor - even though, in reality, they have none.

I think HP is going draw huge crowds this summer and WDW will feel it. Serves WDW right for treating us like $$$ instead of guests.

 

[Uncleromulus]

It'll draw huge crowds--for awhile.
But not for terribly long.
I do think it'll save Universal though, who's attendance figures have taken a BIG drop.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

Uncle, I don't know how long Universal will draw but I'm sure the summer will belong to them.

During dinner last night I asked my daughters what they thought and both my 17 year old and college daughter from U Tampa think HP will be big for a long time. They both said kids are talking about HP at school and can't remember the last time their peers talked about Disney (although they both thought it might have been the original POC movie). My point is this may not be big to many of us older adults but the younger gen just may fuel some interesting results in the near future.

 

[Uncleromulus]

I agree-Potter will be the big thing this summer, for sure. I may even wander over if it isn't too much of a thrill park.
Of course I'm a Senior Citizen who never read any Harry Potter and saw only the very first movie. You are right in that it's the youngsters who will determine which theme park goes which way.
I imagine tho there will never be any outright winner in the duel and there are enough people to populate both parks.

 

[Orlando313]

Walt Disney World always had a copy of the Main Street Electrical Parade, dating from the 70's, but it was sent to Hong Kong Disneyland. Hence, the need to borrow California's edition. I wouldn't want them to do away with Spectromagic, bui really the time has come for an all-new nightly parade, something to top both the classic MSEP and aging SpectroMagic.

What's curious is that the MSEP reportedly never ran at Hong Kong. So why is it (presumably) still there, and not returned to Florida?

I would have a hissy fit if they permanently got rid of Spectro for MSEP. When they brough MSEP to MK a few years back (during the Millenium Celebration maybe?) we were all sorely disappointed. Yea, it's a good parade, but to replace Spectro with MSEP is not a good idea to me. If they are going to get rid of Spectro at all, then I second the idea of creating something brand new and amazing. I am happy to see MSEP for the summer and (and the new fireworks show) but then I hope they send it on it's merry way in August.

 

[JimB.]

Anyone know what the "Art of Animation" project mentioned in the arcticle means?

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

Just saw the DIS podcast video of HP and the theming looks pretty incredible. I'm thinking it may be bigger than I thought.