Is Disney World becoming a shell of its former self?

[3DisneyFanz]

I'm not. The frozen ride coming to Norway is still a boat ride costing 75 million. Chump change compared to the 450 million frozen land that Tokyo is getting. Because of the success of this movie it deserves a new e ticket attraction not a layover of an existing boat ride.

I was reading it as a sarcastic shot at US Disney decisions versus Tokyo.

 

[Josh Hendy]

Disney lost two days of our business last year, and they're probably losing two days of it next year. That's a pattern that's going to continue to be true. Every year or every other year, we'll probably spend a couple of days at Universal. That's a function of how good Universal is now, not a function of "how bad" Disney is. It isn't that Disney has lost our business, its that Universal has won a bit of it.

I think that Disney and some of its fans have seriously overrated the drawing power of "classic" attractions, parades, shows, etc. to the point that they convinced themselves that the public doesn't actually crave new experiences. Those two days that many families are giving to Universal parks, and/or to SeaWorld and Busch Gardens could have been Disney days if Disney had tried harder to make additions to the parks more frequently, even if it is kiddie rides. There should have been not just a New Fantasy Land but a new Dino Land, new Innoventions, new Imagination pavilion and a new Pixar Land years ago.

Not to mention some serious effort to keep teens and adults interested in WDW with additions and updates such as a new E-ticket ride at least every 3 years (not once every 10 years), and timely updates to lame and outdated adult-oriented attractions like Great Movie Ride and Energy Adventure. And more attention given to creating original dining experiences along the lines of Three Broomsticks, Leaky Cauldron and Springfield USA. Not only did Universal create 3 highly original eating and dining experiences with completely unique menus in the time that Disney created only 1 (Be Our Guest), Universal managed to do so with far more flexibility in terms of access and food/drink choices, and without giving their guests all kinds of panic and stress over whether they can make reservations or not.

Revenue and profits may still be great at Disney parks but mindspace is eroding.

 

[thiee]

But frozen is only getting a layover in Norway. If frozen was so great why aren't we getting what Tokyo is getting....

several reasons, one being disney management throughout different sectors of the company couldn't gaureentee Frozen would be the cats meow five years from now. With that they saw fit with Norway because it was a dated attraction ready to be replaced. So with that disney said lets place frozen here were it will happen quicker than building seperate building while addressing making epcot a more kid friendly park. And all marketing ABD and dcl trips to Norway. The tourism board of norge didn't put money into it so disney saw fit in getting rid of it.

 

[rteetz]

I was reading it as a sarcastic shot at US Disney decisions versus Tokyo.

Tokyo did it right. Frozen in WDW deserves a dark ride in fantasyland or something in DHS not a layover of a boat ride in world showcase.

 

[thiee]

Disney does the slow construction schedules because it costs them less in the long run. Doing this puts the costs over multiple fiscal budgets.

Actually that's debatable because contractors and tradesman like to come in and bid on a job and get it done to move on to the next one. I think longer construction has more to do with paying more to get it done quicker which is what Comcast does. You look at the schedule of disney springs which is three years long. In the end thats about right for a job that big now as for the parking garage that another debate in itself. A lot of construction comes down to accessibility which corealates with park hours, longer the park are open the less construction time at night especially with outdoor exposed construction.

 

[rteetz]

several reasons, one being disney management throughout different sectors of the company couldn't gaureentee Frozen would be the cats meow five years from now. With that they saw fit with Norway because it was a dated attraction ready to be replaced. So with that disney said lets place frozen here were it will happen quicker than building seperate building while addressing making epcot a more kid friendly park. And all marketing ABD and dcl trips to Norway. The tourism board of norge didn't put money into it so disney saw fit in getting rid of it.

Most people don't know that there was a maelstrom refurb plan prior to frozen. Very few of the world showcase countries have input or sponsorship from their actual country these days.

 

[thiee]

Tokyo did it right. Frozen in WDW deserves a dark ride in fantasyland or something in DHS not a layover of a boat ride in world showcase.

We're would it be built in fantasyland?? And it's not a Pixar or lucas films movie which is what the studios is headed more towards.

 

[rteetz]

Actually that's debatable because contractors and tradesman like to come in and bid on a job and get it done to move on to the next one. I think longer construction has more to do with paying more to get it done quicker which is what Comcast does. You look at the schedule of disney springs which is three years long. In the end thats about right for a job that big now as for the parking garage that another debate in itself. A lot of construction comes down to accessibility which corealates with park hours, longer the park are open the less construction time at night especially with outdoor exposed construction.

But it is true. Disney does like to help save themselves money essentially by putting the budget over multiple fiscal years. RCID pays for the parking garage so that doesn't have to do with Disney paying for it.

 

[thiee]

Most people don't know that there was a maelstrom refurb plan prior to frozen. Very few of the world showcase countries have input or sponsorship from their actual country these days.

Somewhat true but Norway has practically said they don't care what happens to the pavilion. Thats the reason NRk news in norway did a story interviewing cast members who worked there

 

[rteetz]

We're would it be built in fantasyland?? And it's not a Pixar or lucas films movie which is what the studios is headed more towards.

There is plenty of expansion room all around MK much of which people don't realize. Studios should be a showcase of all of Disneys movies therefore frozen would also fit there. Pixar and Star Wars will be on the left side of the park.

 

[rteetz]

Somewhat true but Norway has practically said they don't care what happens to the pavilion. Thats the reason NRk news in norway did a story interviewing cast members who worked there

Yes I know. That doesn't dispute the fact that frozen has nothing to do with Norway and deserves its own dark ride somewhere else.

 

[thiee]

There is plenty of expansion room all around MK much of which people don't realize. Studios should be a showcase of all of Disneys movies therefore frozen would also fit there. Pixar and Star Wars will be on the left side of the park.

Yeah room on the other side of the train tracks but no fantasyland room since they build new fantasyland and face sheilded that area off. Before the room was open, but not now.

 

[thiee]

Yes I know. That doesn't dispute the fact that frozen has nothing to do with Norway and deserves its own dark ride somewhere else.

I agree with it has little to do but it inspired the movie and they do vacation trips for thousands of dollars to norway. But marlstrom had little to do with norway, not a real good representation of the country except for the ending dock and the outside.

 

[mvk]

This thread has popped up in various forms now for the past four or five years, usually every four to six months. Disney World is not screwed, they are doing just fine. Record attendance just about every single quarter, resort occupancy up to 90%, DVC contracts selling at a high rate, and tons of new attractions on the way. Plus, they are gaining more new customers than Universal every single year. Universal still has a loooooooong way to go to come close to being in the vicinity of Disney World.

 

[rteetz]

Yeah room on the other side of the train tracks but no fantasyland room since they build new fantasyland and face sheilded that area off. Before the room was open, but not now.

Tomorrowland speedway could always go. Other things can be moved.

 

[rteetz]

I agree with it has little to do but it inspired the movie and they do vacation trips for thousands of dollars to norway. But marlstrom had little to do with norway, not a real good representation of the country except for the ending dock and the outside.

Maelstrom had a lot more to do with Norway then frozen will.

 

[thiee]

Very debatable as a person who has traveled to Norway and has several friends there. Movie inspired vs attraction with folklore trolls, just cause it's there doesn't mean it's perfect representstion. Most Americans couldn't begin to tell you were Norway is located. Grand fiesta tour is a perfect representstion of Mexico. Prime example

 

[thiee]

Tomorrowland speedway could always go. Other things can be moved.

Problem is disney builds facade fronts with plain building backs that the reason nothing indoors would ever fit into the speedway unless it was a 360 ride attraction.

 

[Douglas Dubh]

I think the difference in building schedules is being distorted. In the past 10 years, WDW has opened 6 new attractions: Lights Motors Action!, Soarin', Everest, Midway Mania, Little Mermaid, and the Mine Train. And they have updated many others. Universal has opened 5 new rides: the Suess Trolley, Rip Tide Rockit, Forbidden Journey, Transformers, and Hogwarts Express. Plus they took out Jaws and added Gringotts and updated some others.

I think these things even out over time.

And as someone mentioned, too many Universal rides spin or throw you around. I took my family to Universal in 2013 and we bought a three day pass, but while we enjoyed Harry Potter, neither my kids or my wife wanted to go back on the third day. They wanted to go back to WDW. And they went back to WDW in 2024 and again in 2015.

 

[Douglas Dubh]

Yeah room on the other side of the train tracks but no fantasyland room since they build new fantasyland and face sheilded that area off. Before the room was open, but not now.

It wouldn't be hard to take out the little shop to the east of Gaston's Tavern and the bathrooms to the north and open up a walkway to the area to the north of NFL, if they wanted.