News Round Up 2016

[Goofy2015]

It looks like Disney only distributed Bridge of Spies in North America. We were looking at this earlier and it seems like virtually every studio out there did something when it came to this film.

Which is true. It was developed by various companies and distribution rights split between Fox and Disney.

 

[skier_pete]

I'm mourning that Charlie Brown once again only got a rock. At least the Good Dinosaur was left out which hopefully will teach someone something.

The Peanuts Movie was a great little movie, but had a very retro feel that gave me something I had already seen before. (The amount of rehashing was at least as much as in Star Wars:TFA, if not more so. To me I would not consider it a very likely movie to be nominated. Not sure all 5 movies were better because I haven't seen them, but certainly Inside Out is a far superior film.

 

[soniam]

I am sure like Avatar-land is officially called "Pandora: The World of Avatar", that this will have a name that isn't just "Star Wars Land". Probably something like "Jakku Spaceport- a Star Wars Experience". However - I would be a bit surprised that they would bother to announce what it is this early - so I put that one in the "believe it when I read it" category. Even Rteetz called "grain of salt" on it.

Don't spoil the move Avatar for me We just started watching it. I am actually amazed that I went all of these years without knowing the plot I knew about the blue beings but barely. I must live in a cave.

 

[916chipndale]

Wait... Poly DVC Tower? Where?

The Poly DVC tower is what was originally rumored (or planned?) for the Polynesian, but they later instead converted 3 longhouses and built the bungalows. I'm not sure if bungalows would have also been built had they gone with the tower. Height test balloons were at the Polynesian near the Spirit of Aloha show. I do think a tower for the Poly will happen, just when is the question.
http://cdn.wdwmagic.com/imgstore/El...quality=90&encoder=freeimage&progressive=true

 

[beer dave]

True...a lower point charge would mitigate the higher upfront cost some...that's their only recourse.

But...then you've got the same problem at Saratoga or animal kingdom: those owners (hand raised) would flood the wilderness lodge with older, cheaper points.

And again SSR gets kicked back to vacant.... despite the point change and the Spring attachment.
I agree that the points will be the same as WL1--- with lower cabin costs.

 

[DDLand]

Note that the deluxes have their lowest occupancy in the summer. We stayed at the YC one summer and only saw one other family on our floor the entire visit.

I'd keep in mind that Disney is still heavily reliant on seasonality.

"Parks and Resorts revenues fluctuate with changes in theme park attendance and resort occupancy resulting from the seasonal nature of vacation travel and leisure activities. Peak attendance and resort occupancy generally occur during the summer months when school vacations occur and during early-winter and spring-holiday periods."

Not to discount your experience, (occupancy got a little crazy a couple years) but that doesn't line up with crowds, occupancy numbers, or pricing. Though it has been becoming more even year around.

 

[rteetz]

Flame Tree BBQ getting more work

http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2016/01/flame-tree-barbecue-work-at-disneys.html

 

[Aurora0427]

I'd keep in mind that Disney is still heavily reliant on seasonality.

"Parks and Resorts revenues fluctuate with changes in theme park attendance and resort occupancy resulting from the seasonal nature of vacation travel and leisure activities. Peak attendance and resort occupancy generally occur during the summer months when school vacations occur and during early-winter and spring-holiday periods."

Not to discount your experience, (occupancy got a little crazy a couple years) but that doesn't line up with crowds, occupancy numbers, or pricing. Though it has been becoming more even year around.

I think there's something to that though.... Latest BB offer has deluxe discounts available all summer with fall blacked out. I think their pricing is also a lower tier than mods and values in the summer... But it's been a while since I checked easywdw seasonal breakdown, so I may be incorrect.

 

[Aurora0427]

Speaking of actors and Oscar snubs, British actor Alan Rickman has passed away today at the age of 69 after months of battling cancer. Better known for his roles of Hans Gruber in Die Hard and Severus Snape in Harry Potter, Alan's final film was Disney's Alice Through the Looking Glass to premiere later this year.

As a big Potter fan, this really saddens me. RIP Alan Rickman.

I feel so incredibly sad about Alan Rickman. I've loved him since I was 15 when I first saw him in Rasputin. I went back and watched every movie he'd made until that point, and haven't missed one since. He was a special special human.

 

[adam.adbe]

http://qz.com/594955/people-definitely-do-not-think-standalone-espn-is-worth-20/

I'm not surprised by the headline figure, but the sub-stat that 56% of cable subscribers would drop ESPN if it would save them eight bucks a month is not going to help Disney's bargaining position with Comcast going forward.

 

[Reddog1134]

Lights, Motors, Action closing April 2nd.

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...w-one-more-time-at-disneys-hollywood-studios/

 

[ColoradoDreamin]

http://qz.com/594955/people-definitely-do-not-think-standalone-espn-is-worth-20/

I'm not surprised by the headline figure, but the sub-stat that 56% of cable subscribers would drop ESPN if it would save them eight bucks a month is not going to help Disney's bargaining position with Comcast going forward.

Always baffles me that them using such a small sample size makes them believe it can reflect the entire population. You can make numbers say anything you want (believe I know - I studied mathematics), but it really is just a way to make your article work for you. Let's not forget that woman are more likely to complete these studies, men are more likely to watch ESPN, moreover, one could argue the type of people that watch ESPN are less likely to do one of these surveys. Not saying ESPN isn't losing subscribers, but these surveys don't accurately reflect much. Both Disney and Comcast will have much more comprehensive research to "sell" or "negotiate" with. All these articles due is throw stocks for a loop.

Not that it would really be much value, but I would be curious to know the % of the survey for men vs woman. sports viewers vs reality tv viewers (I would argue a reality tv viewer is more likely to fill out a survey then a sports viewer), and what the percentage of households cable decisions are made by men vs woman, sports viewers vs reality tv viewers etc. but it would be impossible to get those actual numbers and any numbers you do get would again "assume" the sample they have accurately reflects a population. Without a far greater sample size it is impossible to accurately get a picture of the population views (think exit polls - greater sample size, vs pre election polls - often wrong and poor reflection)

 

[rteetz]

Lights, Motors, Action closing April 2nd.

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...w-one-more-time-at-disneys-hollywood-studios/

Things are really starting to move. Catastrophe canyon is starting to be dismantled.

 

[adam.adbe]

Always baffles me that them using such a small sample size makes them believe it can reflect the entire population. You can make numbers say anything you want (believe I know - I studied mathematics), but it really is just a way to make your article work for you. Let's not forget that woman are more likely to complete these studies, men are more likely to watch ESPN, moreover, one could argue the type of people that watch ESPN are less likely to do one of these surveys. Not saying ESPN isn't losing subscribers, but these surveys don't accurately reflect much. Both Disney and Comcast will have much more comprehensive research to "sell" or "negotiate" with. All these articles due is throw stocks for a loop.

I'm not going to argue with on the sample size, but your rebuttal hangs almost entirely on a uncorroborated assertion. There are quite a number of other factors that skew the numbers in either direction. Do old people respond more to surveys than young people? Are old people more likely to currently be cable subscribers than young people? How many households would forgo ESPN for purely economic reasons rather than reasons of sports engagement?

 

[rteetz]

Star Wars merchandise

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...-unique-star-wars-products-from-disney-parks/

 

[rteetz]

Flights of wonder refurb

http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions...-animal-kingdom-closing-for-refurbishment.htm

 

[twebber55]

Lights, Motors, Action closing April 2nd.

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...w-one-more-time-at-disneys-hollywood-studios/

this would lend some credence to a third phase IMO

 

[rteetz]

this would lend some credence to a third phase IMO

Yes but that area is going to be staging first. If you noticed in the article it also mentioned streets of America closing as well.

 

[Spacedog1975]

I really thought they'd leave LMA up for a while just to absorb guests twice a day. I guess they need the lot. It's exciting from a progress standpoint, but it'll be interesting to see what kind of impact it has on attendance, and upon those in attendance.

 

[LSLS]

Always baffles me that them using such a small sample size makes them believe it can reflect the entire population. You can make numbers say anything you want (believe I know - I studied mathematics), but it really is just a way to make your article work for you. Let's not forget that woman are more likely to complete these studies, men are more likely to watch ESPN, moreover, one could argue the type of people that watch ESPN are less likely to do one of these surveys. Not saying ESPN isn't losing subscribers, but these surveys don't accurately reflect much. Both Disney and Comcast will have much more comprehensive research to "sell" or "negotiate" with. All these articles due is throw stocks for a loop.

Not that it would really be much value, but I would be curious to know the % of the survey for men vs woman. sports viewers vs reality tv viewers (I would argue a reality tv viewer is more likely to fill out a survey then a sports viewer), and what the percentage of households cable decisions are made by men vs woman, sports viewers vs reality tv viewers etc. but it would be impossible to get those actual numbers and any numbers you do get would again "assume" the sample they have accurately reflects a population. Without a far greater sample size it is impossible to accurately get a picture of the population views (think exit polls - greater sample size, vs pre election polls - often wrong and poor reflection)

That's true. But judging by my friends and myself (talk about tiny sample size), I think there is something to the survey. I've actually quit on football with how corrupt it has become, but am still a huge sports fan, and I quit ESPN all together about a year ago. Once they bought the rights to the SEC (justifying their SEC bias), and started running stories that dealt more with who is dating who or who is at the clubs than actual sports, I lost all interest. And I know a LOT of my friends (especially Big 10 friends who have felt spurned by the network) have done the exact same. I think they have made some critical errors and in what they think people want to watch/listen to and they are paying for it. Is it as bad as those numbers suggest? Not sure, but I feel pretty confident in saying they are looking at substantial losses in people wanting to watch their suite of networks, especially if they go to the $20/month idea.