New Al Lutz Today FYI

[HydroGuy]

Hi All:

Since DLR and especially DCA has been in building mode for the last 4-5 years, I have summarized Al Lutz articles and provided links which generally covered a lot of rumors about how the construction was progressing and what was changing.

Now that we are past that hump I just don't feel like keeping it up. His articles and the fact that I posted links has provided lots of discussion and in some cases disagreement, but regardless I still think his rumors are fun to consider. I have never cared for his snide criticisms and even cynicism, but I have generally liked hearing his rumors.

So, with that, just wanted you to know I am laying down the torch of summarizing Al and unless I see a reason to pick up again in the future, I plan to let it go.

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

Thanks for doing it in the past! But its a lot of work, so I understand not wanting to continue!

 

[Pesky]

I've appreciated your summaries in the past but totally understand dropping it. Personally, I think he is hilarious but I have a sarcastic sense of humor.

 

[Sherry E]

Thank you, Trey, for your continued efforts over the years. I will be sad to not see your Lutz summaries anymore, and yet I understand why you want to stop doing them. They have, indeed, inspired a lot of interesting discussions and speculation of 'what could be.' Plus, quite frankly, often times it just saved me the trouble of having to go over to MiceAge and look up his articles because the link and the bullet points were right here!

Even if someone else eventually picks up the Lutz torch and carries it, I'm not sure that anyone could do quite as effective of a job of reading, pulling the highlights, summarizing, writing up the disclaimers about Al not being an employee of Disney, etc.

 

[Girimama33]

Thank you, Trey, for your continued efforts over the years. I will be sad to not see your Lutz summaries anymore, and yet I understand why you want to stop doing them. They have, indeed, inspired a lot of interesting discussions and speculation of 'what could be.' Plus, quite frankly, often times it just saved me the trouble of having to go over to MiceAge and look up his articles because the link and the bullet points were right here!

Even if someone else eventually picks up the Lutz torch and carries it, I'm not sure that anyone could do quite as effective of a job of reading, pulling the highlights, summarizing, writing up the disclaimers about Al not being an employee of Disney, etc.

Ditto ~

 

[GrandBob]

OK, here's my attempt at a summary. I'm no Hydroguy, but I'm willing to take one for the team

- DCA shot right past the projection of 7M visitors per year, with the help of CarsLand, and is now on track to hit 9M or even 10M. This is well past all hopes and dreams of the TDA execs.

- BTMRR rehab delayed because Indy needed more work than originally thought. Now BTMRR is scheduled to go down on Jan 14 2013, and to be down most of the year.

- Acknowledged that DCA does Christmas-lite but plan to do the full Christmas treatment for CarsLand and Buena Vista Street.

- CarsLand FP distribution to stay at BugsLand. Original CL FP distribution area to become retail expansion of Ramone's.

- Major problems with dubious GAC passes being used to bypass FP at RSR. The reason FPs run out so quickly for RSR is that they can only distribute 1/3 as many as planned, since GACs are being effectively used as FPs.

- Problem with dubious GACs affects plans to go to NextGen, a la WDW. NextGen planning was scheduled for 18 months behind WDW, including enforcing FP times.

- Plans to build a themed alley behind the east side of Main Street to alleviate congestion

- Much dissatisfaction with cancelling DLR employee Christmas party.

Enjoy!
Bob

 

[deejdigsdis]

Thank you, Trey, for your continued efforts over the years. I will be sad to not see your Lutz summaries anymore, and yet I understand why you want to stop doing them. They have, indeed, inspired a lot of interesting discussions and speculation of 'what could be.' Plus, quite frankly, often times it just saved me the trouble of having to go over to MiceAge and look up his articles because the link and the bullet points were right here!

Even if someone else eventually picks up the Lutz torch and carries it, I'm not sure that anyone could do quite as effective of a job of reading, pulling the highlights, summarizing, writing up the disclaimers about Al not being an employee of Disney, etc.

Yes, well said Sherry! Thanks HydroGuy!

 

[deejdigsdis]

OK, here's my attempt at a summary. I'm no Hydroguy, but I'm willing to take one for the team

- DCA shot right past the projection of 7M visitors per year, with the help of CarsLand, and is now on track to hit 9M or even 10M. This is well past all hopes and dreams of the TDA execs.

- BTMRR rehab delayed because Indy needed more work than originally thought. Now BTMRR is scheduled to go down on Jan 14 2013, and to be down most of the year.

- Acknowledged that DCA does Christmas-lite but plan to do the full Christmas treatment for CarsLand and Buena Vista Street.

- CarsLand FP distribution to stay at BugsLand. Original CL FP distribution area to become retail expansion of Ramone's.

- Major problems with dubious GAC passes being used to bypass FP at RSR. The reason FPs run out so quickly for RSR is that they can only distribute 1/3 as many as planned, since GACs are being effectively used as FPs.

- Problem with dubious GACs affects plans to go to NextGen, a la WDW. NextGen planning was scheduled for 18 months behind WDW, including enforcing FP times.

- Plans to build a themed alley behind the east side of Main Street to alleviate congestion

- Much dissatisfaction with cancelling DLR employee Christmas party.

Enjoy!
Bob

Been wondering about BTMRR. I hope this is accurate. Thanks Bob!

 

[Sherry E]

Thank you, Bob!

I'm shocked that they are not giving the CM's a party this year.

Not only has DCA been doing Christmas lite but they have been doing Halloween extra, extra-lite, and this madness must end!

 

[Here4mydisneyfix]

Thanks so much for your efforts in the past, it was really appreciated! I too don't really enjoy Al's snide comments, etc., but the insider info and rumors are interesting reads!

 

[Jaina]

I'm so sad to find out that BTMRR is going down early next year! We are hoping to take a trip, and it's one "mountain" my little kids might actually enjoy! But thanks for the summary - better to find out things like that now rather than a week or two before...

 

[Sherry E]

Two more very, very interesting quotes from Al Lutz's article today:

...more AP price increases are coming this winter...

Much like they’ve done with Halloween, the long term goal for 2013, or ’14 at the very latest, is to turn that menu of Christmas offerings into an extra-cost private party held after park hours. Going the way of Disney World’s Very Merry Christmas Party, Disneyland would bundle the existing Christmas Fantasy Parade and Believe In Holiday Magic fireworks with a performance of the Candlelight Ceremony into one big evening of entertainment.

 

[hurleysweety]

Am I crazy, or did I read that AP prices are gonna go up again this winter??!

And thanks, HyrdoGuy, for all your efforts to help everyone on here - from seasoned veterans to confused and overwhelmed newbies! We totally understand you "laying down the torch" and for all your summaries regarding the DCA construction/rumor mill process!

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Am I crazy, or did I read that AP prices are gonna go up again this winter??!

I think Disney's philosophy on this seems to be whatever the market will bear. Back in July, David Koenig over on MousePlanet said that it was rumored that Disney was looking at the possibility of raising ticket prices again as soon as this Christmas season and again before next summer. So the rumblings are out there. It's not that surprising really. As long as attendance continues to increase despite increased prices, from a business perspective, Disney may as well keep testing how much higher they can go. I am curious what the tipping point will be. I wonder how high they will be able to raise the prices before attendance plateaus. I know it won't be much longer though before my family is priced out, at least out of doing Disney the way we have been for the last few years. Oh well, we've already started expanding our horizons anyway.

 

[GrandBob]

Thank you, Bob!

You're quite welcome!

Two more very, very interesting quotes from Al Lutz's article today:

You're right! Those are two more salient points that I should have included in a summary, and skipped right over. Oh well, I said I wasn't Hydroguy!

-Bob

 

[Sherry E]

You're quite welcome!



You're right! Those are two more salient points that I should have included in a summary, and skipped right over. Oh well, I said I wasn't Hydroguy!

-Bob

It's okay! You did a great job. I probably would have overlooked all the stuff you highlighted! Somehow my eyes went right to the AP increase and the Christmas party mentions.

 

[hurleysweety]

I think Disney's philosophy on this seems to be whatever the market will bear. Back in July, David Koenig over on MousePlanet said that it was rumored that Disney was looking at the possibility of raising ticket prices again as soon as this Christmas season and again before next summer. So the rumblings are out there. It's not that surprising really. As long as attendance continues to increase despite increased prices, from a business perspective, Disney may as well keep testing how much higher they can go. I am curious what the tipping point will be. I wonder how high they will be able to raise the prices before attendance plateaus. I know it won't be much longer though before my family is priced out, at least out of doing Disney the way we have been for the last few years. Oh well, we've already started expanding our horizons anyway.

I agree - Totally makes sense from a business standpoint - why not test how much higher they can charge and still get the same attendance?

IMHO --- Will be interesting to see what happens as those less frequent visitors(every 2 to 3 year families) make their first visit to Cars Land and think, "Wow, this is awesome and I want to come again next year instead of waiting...blah blah" and then find out that the same vacation will cost their family 10-20% more for the exact same hotel/tix/time of year.

Also should be interesting to see how the price increase affects locals if their AP rates rise more and more. Will they ever decide to give up their AP, even with DLR in their backyard?

And also, with people who I used to be like, the 6 hour away AP holders who visit 3-5 times a year and find the current deluxe and premium AP prices too high already - and we're just a family of two! I know, I know, to each their own. I just hope when we do have kids, we can afford to take them! Can't imagine what prices will look like in 5 years. Of course, that's probably what we all said 5 years ago... (Also would like to add that it is very hard for us to make a 4 night trip to DLR on-site hotel for the same price it would cost for airfare and 4 nights in WDW moderate resort, and possibly free dining...)

Just my two cents...maybe three.

 

[Sherry E]

I've been wondering what/when the stopping point for price increases would be as well, and when the "enough is enough" feeling will take over among guests. Some people will definitely be priced out of DLR trips for a while, until maybe some really nifty deals come along down the road to lure them back in.

Coincidentally, in my TR I was just talking about the decision of whether or not to renew my AP when it expires after November 13, and this was before being reminded that the AP rates will likely go up again by "winter." I know I will be going back to DLR in December - that is a given in any year - but I don't know if I will renew the AP, or let it lapse and just get a Hopper for the December trip.

Also, something I mentioned in Bret's/mvf-m11c's TR is this "commemorative book" that I received a few days ago from Disneyland Annual Passport. It's a really nice paperback book full of photos, and land-by-land breakdowns of each park - it reminds me very much of a thicker version of those old souvenir pictorial books (same rectangular shape) that used to be sold in Disneyland in the old days (I got one on every childhood trip, and there was a more recent version sold back in 2007 or 2008).

Anyway, has anyone else received this commemorative book? It's called something like "A Celebration of a Wish Come True" and it is apparently being sent out in lieu of the Backstage Pass magazine.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

And also, with people who I used to be like, the 6 hour away AP holders who visit 3-5 times a year and find the current deluxe and premium AP prices too high already - and we're just a family of two! I know, I know, to each their own. I just hope when we do have kids, we can afford to take them!

This is us although we are a family of 4. Takes us about 7 1/2 hours to get to Disney with a couple of quick breaks on the way down I-5. I bought a set of AP vouchers for us before the last big price increase, so we have one more year of Disney ahead of us. Really on the fence about the next year though since the prices keep going up and my boys who still love, love Disney and want to go as many times a year as we will take them also want to do more and more other (sometimes expensive) activities. We might finally have to dial it back to once every 12-18 months. I say that, but the hardest person in the family to convince in the end will be me.

 

[sheetz]

OK, here's my attempt at a summary. I'm no Hydroguy, but I'm willing to take one for the team

- DCA shot right past the projection of 7M visitors per year, with the help of CarsLand, and is now on track to hit 9M or even 10M.

At this rate DCA could very well draw in excess of 11 million in 2012 as that will be the first full year the expansion will be open. That would put it 3rd in behind WDW's MK and DL as the third most visited theme park in North America.