More immersive, fully-themed resort hotels?

[Jonfw2]

I've been wondering recently that if the SW hotel is successful (sorry for the "if"), why wouldn't Disney continue to build these types of properties? You could charge far more than even for a deluxe villa and with guests more likely to spend time staying in, you get more people onto the property with little stress on park attendance.

For example, you could do an Arendelle Castle themed property centered around the coronation. One 3 day and one 4 day stay each week, leading up to the coronation and party on the final evening. Each day you're there, there are activities centered around the coming event. People could choose to go to the parks or not.

Would this work in your opinions? What other themed properties could they develop?

 

[Farro]

In my opinion I don't think it would work long-term. The novelty of the movie of the moment/flavor of the month would wear off at some point.

I'm assuming the rates for these types of hotels would be very high without a lot of people willing to fork out that kind of money.

Or I could be completely off base and they could make a ton of money.

 

[Jonfw2]

I hear you. I think you couldn't just throw the latest movie at the idea. But there are a few we all know have legs- Star Wars for sure. I'd think Frozen as well.

 

[siren0119]

I think the SW hotel is going to change the game a bit, just by its very nature...but it will have very specific applications.

For one, as was mentioned, the pricing is likely to be close to the cost of a luxury cruise. That alone narrows the market that will even have access to it, especially when that pricing is likely to ONLY include the short stay at the SW hotel (with food and in-hotel activities included) and probably one morning's access to SWGE. No other park access, and the need to move to another hotel if you want to stay and visit the other parks or the rest of HS.

And then, you have to focus the experience around one theme/event/situation. While that will be a novelty for many people over a decent length of time, eventually the interest will taper off if they don't make significant changes to create a new experience. Which leads to my last point....

The logistics behind creating that kind of experience are huge. In order for it to be fully immersive, you have to have segregation from the rest of the park, a full storyline with room for variation, a fully trained cast able to perform and improvise, plus all of the background logistics that keep things running smoothly. Paired with a narrow market and a fair chance there would need to be major revisions to keep the pipeline full, it's not likely that it would be worth the investment to have more than one onsite. Fandom of the other Disney IPs (with *maybe* the exception of Marvel as a whole) doesn't even come close in numbers to Star Wars. They'd need an IP that had comparable draw to even consider another experience.

 

[gorkt]

I actually think this will be a good test case as a possibility for where WDW will expand in the future. Designing new parks is expensive - ride design etc... It is cheaper to make more immersive themed hotels and restaurants and many people love them.

 

[siren0119]

I actually think this will be a good test case as a possibility for where WDW will expand in the future. Designing new parks is expensive - ride design etc... It is cheaper to make more immersive themed hotels and restaurants and many people love them.

I would agree about better themed resorts and more immersive restaurants - because they can keep the price points more accessible to a greater percentage of their customers in both of those cases. The moderate and deluxe resorts don't have much of a problem with occupancy, and I could 100% see a more deeply themed moderate being built. The Space themed restaurant may not be an inexpensive option, but I could see it falling somewhere in a price range above the 1TS locations but below the high end dining experiences like V&A's and Tiffins. Still accessible for those who want to treat themselves. But as far as a cruise line-model landlocked experience that fully immerses the way SW will....I just don't see ANY IP of Disney's coming close to having the fandom numbers to support it long term.

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

People spend a lot more money at the parks than at the resorts, so that is where Disney wants them. It's not in their interest to keep people in the resort all day.

 

[hereforthechurros]

I would consider a haunted mansion or pirates themed hotel stay!

 

[siren0119]

I would consider a haunted mansion or pirates themed hotel stay!

I know it will never happen, but I would save as many pennies as I needed to for a Haunted Mansion themed stay! I'd be happy if they would just build a permanent Haunted Mansion restaurant