Leak of the DTD make over

[arthuruscg]

In alot of ways it sucked before PI closed.

PI was a fan favorite (especially with the CP/frat party crowd)...but it was plagued by too many extended low occupancy periods.

Could it have stayed or had some new life infused in it? of course
but Disney looks towards revenues/profits in the Billions now...millions aren't good enough anymore.
PI was never gonna last as is. There also has been some "de-Eisner" movements over the past 5 years. Which in some ways can be good...in other ways are short sighted and somewhat of a lack of gratitude.
Eisner was the primary champion of PI...he never backed away from the idea of "adult" offerings.
But adults don't buy as much disney chinese junk for themselves as they do for kids...so all things ultimately yield back to the giftshop in strategic direction.
In this case: the desire to have somebody else sell it for you and collect fees without any overhead.

The closure of PI was also a stupidity move based on the real estate bubble. just goes to show that you can sit on billions of operating capital and have 1000 Wharton grads working for you...but they got sucked into the stupidity of the "phony money" market that sucked most mom and pops in...and based at least this decision - i believe - on the belief that somehow a ludicrous bubble wouldn't break. Two ounces of common sense per person couldn't have broken the whole cycle of stupidity on that - the numbers never added up. An international ponzie/pyramid scheme.

Back to development:
At this point (and I'm a harsh critic)..i just want them to do "something" and put the needed capital infusion back into the place. In a way...i'm giving them carte blanche and hoping that the public embraces whatever they do -lest they put up anymore south american fried chicken places or balloons.
Parodoxical reasoning from me on this one.

from 97-05...after the west side addition (minus of course planet hollywood)...the area was very impressive.
It has fallen into decay...a trend that has been repeated in other places at their "flagship, cash cow" destination

I have never/will never let disney off the hook for that. Not for a second.
It costs too much...they make too much...the public should demand more.
We pay for it.

Disneyland customers rejected DCA and they got a billion dollar overhaul (it took patience and time...but they got it). If only WDW clientele (and there are alot more of them) could grow some stones for five years and hold the line on something like this - they took something away that you not only are still paying for...you're paying MORE for.

In my world...people would stop dumping Franklins into World of Disney for a couple of years.
Wonder how fast we'd see some movement then?

Iger would be out there with a shovel himself...and Erin Wallace and Al Weiss would have been pushing the wheelbarrow.

Adults buy Chinese stuff but just different Chinese stuff.
Imagine if you will, Jessica's was expanded to go toe to toe with Victoria's Secret/ Fredericks ect. and there could be a section for Rodger Rabbit. Hum I am not sure if that is implying a section for Men or something else. Either way way tipsy adults with credit cards would be purchasing things. Humm..... Disney now owns Star Wars. So there could be a Princess Leia themed line of clothing.

All of witch would be good for the long term bottom line. Think about Disney "souvenirs" and wanting to return with the little souvenirs when they can remember the park.

Having the adult stores on PI would keep the adult side away from the little kids preventing possible outrage over the merchandise. Entrance before say 10pm could be free with 18+ ID but after 10 require a ticket.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Adults buy Chinese stuff but just different Chinese stuff.
Imagine if you will, Jessica's was expanded to go toe to toe with Victoria's Secret/ Fredericks ect. and there could be a section for Rodger Rabbit. Hum I am not sure if that is implying a section for Men or something else. Either way way tipsy adults with credit cards would be purchasing things. Humm..... Disney now owns Star Wars. So there could be a Princess Leia themed line of clothing.

All of witch would be good for the long term bottom line. Think about Disney "souvenirs" and wanting to return with the little souvenirs when they can remember the park.

Having the adult stores on PI would keep the adult side away from the little kids preventing possible outrage over the merchandise. Entrance before say 10pm could be free with 18+ ID but after 10 require a ticket.

I agree with your points...but i have to point out that disney has purposefully streamlined its merchandise property wide so there is no differentiation...which means what you're proposing is a reversal i don't see them going for.

The other thing is that their intent (still...i believe) to outsource most if not all of DTD in the future to reduce labor committment. Whether that means now or down the road...thats a priority.

I think their mistake with Hyperion was that they were adamant to third party lease/ outsource - but the economic conditions went south and made that impossible. If they had thought to run some of the stuff in the short/ intermediate term and then later retrofit it out for third party when there was more opportunity...it might not have snagged.

 

[arthuruscg]

I thunk of merchandise streamlining as following the money for better volume discounts. Adding additional entire sections of the merchandising portfolio would be equivalent to adding additional revenue streams.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I thunk of merchandise streamlining as following the money for better volume discounts. Adding additional entire sections of the merchandising portfolio would be equivalent to adding additional revenue streams.

i agree...

but if you look at the amount of specialized merchandise that once existed in WDW - namely in EPCOT, the Resorts, and Marketplace - as compared to now?

Not very encouraging on that front.

 

[doconeill]

~I agree, lol. But, it's still an improvement overall, plus there's a train in the works! We'll see.

Not a working train.

Apparently they are going to make it look like there was at one time an overhead train, so a "canopy" over a kiosk or whatever will be styled to look like the remnants of an overhead railway with tracks. Some are shown to be balconies for dining/people watching, etc.

FYI, front line managers are apparently meeting with Tom Staggs right now, supposedly about this...(via zulemara in live podcast chat)

 

[sachilles]

That elevated train platform/patio element seems quite odd. Creating cover makes perfect sense in terms of shade and rain relief. Going to the extent of making it look like a retrofitted elevated train. If this rumor does come to fruition, it will be interesting to see just how stout this elevated platform is. It's sure to be fodder for future rumors of the monorail legend. Destined to take the fake transportation reigns away from the Empress Lily I guess.

 

[mcd2745]

Not a working train.

Apparently they are going to make it look like there was at one time an overhead train, so a "canopy" over a kiosk or whatever will be styled to look like the remnants of an overhead railway with tracks. Some are shown to be balconies for dining/people watching, etc.

FYI, front line managers are apparently meeting with Tom Staggs right now, supposedly about this...(via zulemara in live podcast chat)

I think the idea comes from the very successful High Line Park in NYC


http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/highline/photos

 

[doconeill]

I think the idea comes from the very successful High Line Park in NYC


http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/highline/photos

I'm sure that's where it comes from. It looks like it would be more "broken up" though, with short segments, and more of a "beach train" feel.

 

[doconeill]

Disney Springs was confirmed to cast members.

Disney Springs is the name.

TWO parking garages, one on each end.

Captain Jacks is closing (hadn't heard that one...)

New vendors not confirmed.

Public announcement likely to come later this week.

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

It should be pointed out that Bayside Village has done what Disney would want....manages to incorporate the tourist crowd while
Maintaining some local appeal/buzz for the local population.
Whether you love it or not.

They have to do both...can't hope for only tourists while turning off Orlando...and can't make it a hangout for reject teenagers who look like extras from the Fast and the Furious.

Size will cure that...the bigger it is...the more buzz it will have.
Like bugs to a light

~This is funny, lol. Don't worry -- the name alone will deter this crowd, maybe that's what Disney is going for.

Not a working train.

Apparently they are going to make it look like there was at one time an overhead train, so a "canopy" over a kiosk or whatever will be styled to look like the remnants of an overhead railway with tracks. Some are shown to be balconies for dining/people watching, etc.

FYI, front line managers are apparently meeting with Tom Staggs right now, supposedly about this...(via zulemara in live podcast chat)

~Wow. I feel so silly for actually thinking there might be an "overhead" train -- it's too ambitious & I forgot this is Disney and the monorail still needs work, lol.

I think the idea comes from the very successful High Line Park in NYC


http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/highline/photos

~Wow, this place looks fabulous!

~Overall, I'm glad something is finally underway to liven up & enhance DTD.