Orlando Theme Park Market Share

[Madonna3]

I don't disagree but it's really unfortunate. SeaWorld does some amazing rescue work in the area.

Agreed. They need a brilliant PR manager and marketing team to save it. I think it's worth saving, but I think it needs to come away from the Busch Gardens umbrella.

 

[Madonna3]

although I'm sure Pandora and Star Wars will help some.

I don't think Pandora is going to play into the growth as much as we thought. After my experience with it this weekend, I was underwhelmed. Once you ride the 2 rides there's nothing else to do. You can eat there if you want to and there's a bar, but that's it. There's nothing else to anchor you to the area. Once the excitement of FOP winds down a bit, I think you're going to see most of Pandora empty.

 

[sachilles]

At certain point you have a finite amount of people to pass through your doors. Disney in recent years has concentrated more on getting the average guest to spend more per day, as opposed to putting more people through the gate. That's the nickel and diming that everyone seems to be noticing.
At some point, a business has to find the happy middle ground.
Disney has concentrated on efficiencies and increased guest spending.

 

[Whatsthegoodword]

I don't think Pandora is going to play into the growth as much as we thought. After my experience with it this weekend, I was underwhelmed. Once you ride the 2 rides there's nothing else to do. You can eat there if you want to and there's a bar, but that's it. There's nothing else to anchor you to the area. Once the excitement of FOP winds down a bit, I think you're going to see most of Pandora empty.

I won't get there for the first time until December, but this has been exactly my assumption about Pandora. There's just not enough to do there for it to really be a game changer at AK. It needs one more attraction...

 

[Madonna3]

I won't get there for the first time until December, but this has been exactly my assumption about Pandora. There's just not enough to do there for it to really be a game changer at AK. It needs one more attraction...

Imo, it needs a show. Something that would constantly cycle people in and out.

 

[Redcon1]

I won't get there for the first time until December, but this has been exactly my assumption about Pandora. There's just not enough to do there for it to really be a game changer at AK. It needs one more attraction...

They should have followed Cars Land's blueprint with the attractions: one E-ticket with two lesser C or D tickets.
Even if they didn't have it completed in time, an announced third attraction would have given guests something else to look forward to in the future. There's enough land available, so not sure why they don't have something planned or if they do, at least mention it in their opening day promotion even if there's little detail to share at that point.

 

[Redcon1]

Imo, it needs a show. Something that would constantly cycle people in and out.

Did you see the drum show? Is that something worth seeing or is it just a time-passer?
I'm guessing there's not enough to it where it would to help draw in the guests.

Maybe a 15-minutes Tiki Room styled show highlighting Navi culture could work?

 

[lockedoutlogic]

From 2015 it slipped .7 points. It has slipped about 5 points in the past 8 years. I think Disney doesn't actually care about the attendance slip because they are still winning the money game by large.

They absolutely care about loss of share...that is perhaps their most sacred number...

Loss of share means loss of cash to investors...

It's not what you make...it's how much more you could be making

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I don't disagree but it's really unfortunate. SeaWorld does some amazing rescue work in the area.

Sea world has done 90% good over its history...it's a shame that in this case perception has become reality.

 

[dlavender]

I don't think Pandora is going to play into the growth as much as we thought. After my experience with it this weekend, I was underwhelmed. Once you ride the 2 rides there's nothing else to do. You can eat there if you want to and there's a bar, but that's it. There's nothing else to anchor you to the area. Once the excitement of FOP winds down a bit, I think you're going to see most of Pandora empty.

I was worried/wondering about that when they said they axed the plans for a third ride and shortened the river journey.

Perhaps they will add one in, or add a show.

It's really back to the whole problem with AK in the first place. Too much reliance on ambiance. You can't substitute ambiance for rides. Its a nice and needed compliment, definitely not a replacement. IMO

 

[dlavender]

Agreed. They need a brilliant PR manager and marketing team to save it. I think it's worth saving, but I think it needs to come away from the Busch Gardens umbrella.

Why don't you like Busch Gardens?

Bad hangover?

 

[Madonna3]

I was worried/wondering about that when they said they axed the plans for a third ride and shortened the river journey.

Perhaps they will add one in, or add a show.

It's really back to the whole problem with AK in the first place. Too much reliance on ambiance. You can't substitute ambiance for rides. Its a nice and needed compliment, definitely not a replacement. IMO

Right?! Who goes to MK and says, "oh, we're just here for the landscaping."

 

[Madonna3]

Why don't you like Busch Gardens?

Bad hangover?

It's cheap imo and everything about it reflects that.

 

[Madonna3]

Did you see the drum show? Is that something worth seeing or is it just a time-passer?
I'm guessing there's not enough to it where it would to help draw in the guests.

Maybe a 15-minutes Tiki Room styled show highlighting Navi culture could work?

I saw it. It's one of those things that if it's going on it will catch your attention, but may not keep it. It's out in the sun in the middle of a path and not really a "show" as much as it is a distraction.

Yes, they need some kind of dedicated theater. Seeing Na'vi would be AWESOME. I think it's really lacking. There's nothing about it that says, "hey, there's a separate culture that lives here"

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I was worried/wondering about that when they said they axed the plans for a third ride and shortened the river journey.

Perhaps they will add one in, or add a show.

It's really back to the whole problem with AK in the first place. Too much reliance on ambiance. You can't substitute ambiance for rides. Its a nice and needed compliment, definitely not a replacement. IMO

I thought the chances of it doing that were slim from the start...because of the IP deficiency that was sworn "didn't matter"...

..but it seems that this is just a complimentary piece...and won't really shift things for AK or the other parks.

AK now needs ANOTHER piece...
...when will it be time for us to discuss goofy Joe blowing the budget? Let me know...

 

[Madonna3]

I thought the chances of it doing that were slim from the start...because of the IP deficiency that was sworn "didn't matter"...

..but it seems that this is just a complimentary piece...and won't really shift things for AK or the other parks.

AK now needs ANOTHER piece...
...when will it be time for us to discuss goofy Joe blowing the budget? Let me know...

When the lines for FOP and RJ go to a reasonable wait, and they will, and let's put that reasonable wait around 45mins, AK will still be a half day park, just the later half if you want to catch the best aspects.

 

[Redcon1]

And therein lies the problem with Avatar: Unless there becomes an emotional connection with the Navi or the land, whether through more films or spinoffs like books, this will most likely be thought of as a nice addition that offers more to do at AK, yet won't become a MUST SEE land like HP or SW down the road. Maybe an in and out visit where riding FOP is the only must-do.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

When the lines for FOP and RJ go to a reasonable wait, and they will, and let's put that reasonable wait around 45mins, AK will still be a half day park, just the later half if you want to catch the best aspects.

So like august?

 

[dlavender]

When the lines for FOP and RJ go to a reasonable wait, and they will, and let's put that reasonable wait around 45mins, AK will still be a half day park, just the later half if you want to catch the best aspects.

Or you'll have the crowd like me, RD one, FP the other, out of there by 9:05, onto the other 3 rides at AK, catch a show then lunch, then head out around noon or 1. Just not enough. At least we would be there til 1 instead of 11 now. So there's that.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

And therein lies the problem with Avatar: Unless there becomes an emotional connection with the Navi or the land, whether through more films or other spinoffs like books, this will most likely thought of as a nice addition that offers more to do at AK, yet won't become a MUST GO TO area like HP or SW down the road.

...yep...and that was identified on the day of the announcement.

They had to overbuild it to be successful...not "ok...we've spent enough"

They did the same thing in fantasyland...but people are just nuts