News Round Up 2017

[OhioStateBuckeye]

I'd rather they do this all day long than add on resort fees or parking surcharges.

I'd also prefer this over resort fees, but I don't think it's an either or choice.

 

[Irish_Mike]

That would cost money. I also don't know if I would like that. I like see the views of the MK and Epcot from the monorail.

Little late to this, but I think it would be a nice touch for the ride from TTC to Epcot. It's the lengthiest of the rides, and you don't actually have much to look at (You know, unless you like looking at roads and trees) until you get to Epcot and the brief overview of Future World. Would be a nice touch to help immerse guests in the trip - though I'm not sure exactly what they would show.

 

[skier_pete]

News

New Ultimate Classics VIP Tour

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...sney-classics-vip-tour-at-magic-kingdom-park/

It seems to me a slightly lower cost option to "rent-a-plaid" for the day. Basically for folks who are rich enough not to want to wait in line. Whatever, they've had VIP tour guides at Disney for 50 years.

 

[mollmoll4]

This is such a touchy subject that its hard to even comment on but its possible there is a board meeting. Before joining this executive committee, Iger had 0 ties as far as I know with President Trump. Iger was a supporter of Trump's opposition. And that's about as far as we can go on this board.

http://variety.com/2016/biz/news/bob-iger-donald-trump-policy-forum-1201932273/

This article talks about his involvement in the panel. He served on the same panel for Obama and lauded it as "non-partisan". Not to get too into politics, but I'm guessing he (and the board members/holders of the purse strings) are a little panicky about what happened to Uber.

 

[Travis B]

You will be riding a banshee just not exactly what's in the photo which is hard to see anyways.

Yeah, I honestly couldn't even make out where the second person was.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

What a silly waste of money.

Dear Disney, please hold my hand as I walk through the parks. Here is $200 to help me experience things I can do on my own that usually have short waits.

I assume part of the appeal is access to a VIP tour guide .... if they are full of great stories and background information I could see it being fun

That said $200 is pretty steep

 

[mikepizzo]

I assume part of the appeal is access to a VIP tour guide .... if they are full of great stories and background information I could see it being fun

That said $200 is pretty steep

At the same time, the stories they would tell are probably part of their script that they have. And if they are part of the script, a well seasoned vet would probably know most of them already.

I would rather just spend 15 bucks and pick up a Jim Korkis book myself. He seems like a really well respected Disney historian, but maybe I'm naive.

 

[rteetz]

So I am not even half way through Disney War yet but something that relates to today's Disney already caught my attention. Michael Eisner and Frank Wells nearly had a deal with Marriot and Tishman to create new hotels for WDW. Card Walker always said they were in the theme park business not the hotel business which kind of led to this. Anyways moving forward the deal never happened and Eisner lured Marriot's CFO away to Disney, Gary Wilson. What was the first thing he did? Raise theme park ticket prices... Something Walker was opposed to during the Miller tenure. Direct quote from the book "The increase had little impact on the number of visitors to the parks. Indeed, the only thing that surprised him was how much guests were willing to pay."

That mentality has stayed with TWDC for now about 30 years. Prices go up, and people still pay it with little to no affect on attendance.

 

[rteetz]

At the same time, the stories they would tell are probably part of their script that they have. And if they are part of the script, a well seasoned vet would probably know most of them already.

I would rather just spend 15 bucks and pick up a Jim Korkis book myself. He seems like a really well respected Disney historian, but maybe I'm naive.

I haven't yet read a Korkis book but I love listening to podcasts that he is on. He is a wealth of Disney information.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

At the same time, the stories they would tell are probably part of their script that they have. And if they are part of the script, a well seasoned vet would probably know most of them already.

I would rather just spend 15 bucks and pick up a Jim Korkis book myself. He seems like a really well respected Disney historian, but maybe I'm naive.

no i think you are right - and if it is promoted as for families and stuff they aren't going to be able to say much "behind the scenes" stuff so, like you said, for most Vets you probably won't get much out of it

probably more for the people that want to be seen being led by a "plaid"

 

[TheMaxRebo]

So I am not even half way through Disney War yet but something that relates to today's Disney already caught my attention. Michael Eisner and Frank Wells nearly had a deal with Marriot and Tishman to create new hotels for WDW. Card Walker always said they were in the theme park business not the hotel business which kind of led to this. Anyways moving forward the deal never happened and Eisner lured Marriot's CFO away to Disney, Gary Wilson. What was the first thing he did? Raise theme park ticket prices... Something Walker was opposed to during the Miller tenure. Direct quote from the book "The increase had little impact on the number of visitors to the parks. Indeed, the only thing that surprised him was how much guests were willing to pay."

That mentality has stayed with TWDC for now about 30 years. Prices go up, and people still pay it with little to no affect on attendance.

If anything attendance is way up over the last 30 years despite the price increases - wasn't part of the thinking behind magic bands and tiered pricing to try to even out crowds and crowd control?

To me, if you have a high quality product, people will pay whatever you charge (especially when that quality help leads to a "cult" following) ... I mean, Apple could charge $5,000 for the next iPhone and people would buy it

That is why I think, long term, any hit to quality will have a much greater impact to Disney and crowds than and raise in price

 

[rteetz]

If anything attendance is way up over the last 30 years despite the price increases - wasn't part of the thinking behind magic bands and tiered pricing to try to even out crowds and crowd control?

To me, if you have a high quality product, people will pay whatever you charge (especially when that quality help leads to a "cult" following) ... I mean, Apple could charge $5,000 for the next iPhone and people would buy it

That is why I think, long term, any hit to quality will have a much greater impact to Disney and crowds than and raise in price

The only park where attendance really has a weird hit is Epcot. I need to find some number to show how its gone up and down there.

I agree that Disney has a cult following however, Disney also relies heavily on those once in a lifetime visitors which they will theoretically always have. If prices keep rising those once in a lifetimers might start to get priced out.

Quality has started to decline, at least many would say that. Now when does it decline enough to affect attendance.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

The only park where attendance really has a weird hit is Epcot. I need to find some number to show how its gone up and down there.

I agree that Disney has a cult following however, Disney also relies heavily on those once in a lifetime visitors which they will theoretically always have. If prices keep rising those once in a lifetimers might start to get priced out.

Quality has started to decline, at least many would say that. Now when does it decline enough to affect attendance.

Your last point is the most important ... and, for those first time visitors, I think the biggest impact is if their friends come back and start saying "eh, it was ok, but not as great as I remember it being" that is really going to impact if they go or not. Right now I still think there is that feeling of a trip to WDW being a "rite of passage" that everyone needs to do at least once ... but what if that changes?

 

[rteetz]

Jim Hill/Len Testa Musings

Festival of the Arts was a rushed event.

DHS has no EMH in March or anything beyond that.

Len says February for Rivers of Light. Jim says the show needs to get up and working before Avatar debuts. The park needs it.

My aforementioned press event news is making the rounds. Len says they will highlight one thing a day at this week long event.

Jim says Caribbean tower will have either a lounge or restaurant on the top with "views".

Jim thinks Universal will make a Nintendo announcement at the Volcano Bay press event.

 

[rteetz]

News

Don Ducky Williams to hold special event Feb. 18th at the Festival of the Arts

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2017/02/don-ducky-williams-to-host-special-member-event/

 

[rteetz]

News

Dining Packages Now On Sale For 2017 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Your last point is the most important ... and, for those first time visitors, I think the biggest impact is if their friends come back and start saying "eh, it was ok, but not as great as I remember it being" that is really going to impact if they go or not. Right now I still think there is that feeling of a trip to WDW being a "rite of passage" that everyone needs to do at least once ... but what if that changes?

I agree with that but I will add that no one around me growing up viewed WDW as a rite of passage. Frankly no one I knew growing up went to it. We grew up on Disney don't get me wrong (hello it was the 90s/early 2000s) but people didn't talk about when they were planning their WDW trip. Instead people were talking about when they were going to the Lake (meaning the Ozarks) or Branson or to an extent with those whose families had a bit more money when are we going skiing in Colorado. I know that a bit of that is what is near us. Plan a WDW trip or go to Worlds of Fun in a 45min-ish drive if you need your amusement park fix....plan a USO trip or drive 3-3 1/2 hrs and go to Six Flags St. Louis or Silver Dollar City. Granted this is just my experience with just those around me. My neighbor did go last year to WDW and he was sorta like "ehh it was alright but I think the kids would have been fine not going"

I do agree though there is that mentality of "you gotta go at least once in your lifetime" in certain areas and like you I do wonder what happens if/when that changes.

 

[rteetz]

I agree with that but I will add that no one around me growing up viewed WDW as a rite of passage. Frankly no one I knew growing up went to it. We grew up on Disney don't get me wrong (hello it was the 90s/early 2000s) but people didn't talk about when they were planning their WDW trip. Instead people were talking about when they were going to the Lake (meaning the Ozarks) or Branson or to an extent with those whose families had a bit more money when are we going skiing in Colorado. I know that a bit of that is what is near us. Plan a WDW trip or go to Worlds of Fun in a 45min-ish drive if you need your amusement park fix....plan a USO trip or drive 3-3 1/2 hrs and go to Six Flags St. Louis or Silver Dollar City. Granted this is just my experience with just those around me. My neighbor did go last year to WDW and he was sorta like "ehh it was alright but I think the kids would have been fine not going"

I do agree though there is that mentality of "you gotta go at least once in your lifetime" in certain areas and like you I do wonder what happens if/when that changes.

I think the mentality of you gotta go at least once is something more recent. My family is an exception as I am sure many of us here are. My mom starting going in 1973 and went every year until she was 18. We had cousins go to WDW in January. They were your typical once in a lifetime visitors. They have never been, family of five, stayed at AoA, dining plan, etc. The kids enjoyed it very much but I think you could tell it was almost an exhausting vacation. They didn't plan FP 60 days in advance and only had a couple ADRs. They had fun but I don't think they will go again or at least for a long time.

 

[nkosiek]

I think the mentality of you gotta go at least once is something more recent. My family is an exception as I am sure many of us here are. My mom starting going in 1973 and went every year until she was 18. We had cousins go to WDW in January. They were your typical once in a lifetime visitors. They have never been, family of five, stayed at AoA, dining plan, etc. The kids enjoyed it very much but I think you could tell it was almost an exhausting vacation. They didn't plan FP 60 days in advance and only had a couple ADRs. They had fun but I don't think they will go again or at least for a long time.

I think part of the problem for Disney is that it can be exhausting for people who have never been. There's a lot to do but most people just think of Disney as an amusement park, not as a place the size of San Francisco. If you were going to SF, you'd do some planning and research as to what to see and do. You probably don't do much planning to go to your 'local" amusement park and so therefore why plan for Disney. That lack of planning makes the vacation stressful once you're there and can carry through to the post-trip conversations. It also doesn't help that most people have no idea how to relax and unwind with the constant connectivity due to today's technology, and the current MyMagic stuff doesn't allow people to disconnect much either.

 

[Tigger's ally]

Yeah, I honestly couldn't even make out where the second person was.

Yeah, I never found the second person either. But, if you look real close the one person you can see is actually Raymond Reddington.