*Rumor* Iger at WDW

[jtwibih]

Periscope is a live-streaming thing. People out there now live-stream their lives. Can't imagine my life ever being so boring I need to watch the live feed of someone else's.

(You guys could have looked it up - google search type Periscope.)

You are right I could have. I was thinking it was another word for spying or something. Haha.

 

[rteetz]

How many times did that thing get the go ahead and then was stopped? 2 or 3 times at least.

What about Hyperion wharf...

 

[LuitaChris]

I'm just glad we actually have 'something' to look forward to when it comes to DHS. Has anyone been around the parks or Boardwalk in the last few days and spot them?

 

[Planogirl]

The rumors are definitely flying!

So it's expected that Disney will announce new plans at D23 then? I hope that many here are right and that we're not just looking at new spinners and something new Star Wars related, for an upcharge of course. DHS is really pathetic and they are bound to agree when they tour the place.

 

[eXo]

Maybe it's just me, but it sounds pretty dirty. (Periscoping that is).

 

[Josh Hendy]

What about Hyperion wharf...

Yeah what about that. Not the actual expansion or renovation, but what it says about Disney's procedure for planning, approving, announcing, starting and finishing major projects. It doesn't look like they have a very smooth process, more like a kind of lurching stop-and-go approach. Unless it's DVC.

Possibly they plan projects with zillions of contingencies ... "if advance bookings don't hit N% by date XYZ then we'll trim the expansion by Q percent" ... or more likely the plans are subject to the whims or hunches of Iger or the political back-and-forth between Iger and the people whose opinions/approval he needs to court ... if there are any.

 

[DDLand]

What about Hyperion wharf...

I'd point out that Hyperion Wharf is a different thing, requiring the cooperation of interested tenants. Whereas if WDW said I really want to build an attraction they could get it done at a reasonable speed. Compare that to trying to round up several different retailers and restaurants who were spooked after a recession. Also it appears Hyperion Wharf was a smaller more contained refurb, whereas Disney Springs is a radical redo of the entire area. It's really an apples to oranges comparison.

 

[luisov]

The rumors are definitely flying!

So it's expected that Disney will announce new plans at D23 then? I hope that many here are right and that we're not just looking at new spinners and something new Star Wars related, for an upcharge of course. DHS is really pathetic and they are bound to agree when they tour the place.

They are dedicating its own event to parks and resorts at D23. I want to think that they wouldn't hold that event if they didn't have anything important to announce for the US parks. The same kind of demanding guests that keep the money flowing at DLR also attend these events. Disney knows they wouldn't settle for a couple of Shanghai concept arts. The questions is what is going to be announced and how substantial that is.

 

[umichigan10]

What about Hyperion wharf...

I mean ultimately we got Disney springs so its actually an improvement in the big picture. Point definitely rings true tho

 

[skier_pete]

Yeah what about that. Not the actual expansion or renovation, but what it says about Disney's procedure for planning, approving, announcing, starting and finishing major projects. It doesn't look like they have a very smooth process, more like a kind of lurching stop-and-go approach. Unless it's DVC.

Possibly they plan projects with zillions of contingencies ... "if advance bookings don't hit N% by date XYZ then we'll trim the expansion by Q percent" ... or more likely the plans are subject to the whims or hunches of Iger or the political back-and-forth between Iger and the people whose opinions/approval he needs to court ... if there are any.

They are a big corporation, and like any big corporation things change on the whim of a few individuals.

My biggest fear would be if there is a major economic downturn before the project gets underway. That's the most likely thing that would cause the project to be cut/cancelled. Short-sighted management that is looking only at the next quarters earnings. (I work for a big company and it's no different, they do so many foolish things to save a buck today that will cost them 10 in a year.)

 

[Ismo]

My biggest fear would be if there is a major economic downturn before the project gets underway. That's the most likely thing that would cause the project to be cut/cancelled.

I wasn't worried about this before, but I am now! I've been so optimistic, I didn't think about that.

 

[DDLand]

They are a big corporation, and like any big corporation things change on the whim of a few individuals.

My biggest fear would be if there is a major economic downturn before the project gets underway. That's the most likely thing that would cause the project to be cut/cancelled. Short-sighted management that is looking only at the next quarters earnings. (I work for a big company and it's no different, they do so many foolish things to save a buck today that will cost them 10 in a year.)

I'm pretty sure once the board jumps in it would taken their intervention to stop the train. I think. Bob Iger going to the board after just making his grand and glorious pitch saying it should be cancelled doesn't sound great.

Even if there was a recession, once dirt starts moving there's only so much that can be done. They'd have crippled DHS, and begun construction. They'd either have to accept that DHS would suffer irreparable brand damage and longterm losses or build the thing. Good odds.

As a side note, the last recession Disney dumped billions into CapEx in order to build two cruise ships, DCA, and HKDL throughout the downturn. This strategy was risky, but the rewards were massive. Those investments helped propel DPR into a strong growth phase coming out of the recession. With this in mind Iger may be more willing to stay strong.

 

[Josh Hendy]

I'd point out that Hyperion Wharf is a different thing, requiring the cooperation of interested tenants. Whereas if WDW said I really want to build an attraction they could get it done at a reasonable speed. Compare that to trying to round up several different retailers and restaurants who were spooked after a recession. Also it appears Hyperion Wharf was a smaller more contained refurb, whereas Disney Springs is a radical redo of the entire area. It's really an apples to oranges comparison.

A comparison was made between the somewhat lurching on-again-off-again-on-again approach to developing Hyperion/Disney Springs and attractions like Monsters Inc. and I think it is a fair one.

Yes they could plan, announce and build an attraction a reasonable speed but they almost never do. The lurching approach is apparent in practically every non-DVC construction program at WDW: Hyperion/Springs, Monsters Inc, Pixar Place, Star Wars, Avatar, New Fantasy Land.

The only outlier is Frozen Fo'Evah which was probably viewed as a hands-down no-brainer money grab. And to be honest, it doesn't even count as a new ride. Compared to a new ride, it's more like the makeover of the Pirates attraction to include Johnny Depp, Davey Jones and the Pirate training academy. A couple of new AAs, some video effects, a meet and greet, and toy sales. Ba-da-bing, ka-ching.

It's an interesting and significant piece of NewSpeak that Disney decided to re-christen the lurching approach to theme park development "extreme deliberation" ... in Iger's statement on the much-expected and much-ballyhooed Star Wars Land. Call it what you like, Bob. I'll be down the road checking out the new rides at Universal, SeaWorld and Busch while you're, ah, deliberating.

 

[eXo]

I'm reading this with slight interest, as new announcements are always fun. But seriously. If they announced a lemonade stand today it wouldn't be ready until holiday 2016. If DHS is the next park to get some attention, then we might as well go into cryostasis and check back in 8-10 years. At best we'll have a phase 1 opening in about 4 years. Dare I say even that feels rushed for them?

Meanwhile, Disney has shown a disinterest in large renovations on more than a single park at once (which to a certain degree is good business sense). But that also means that Epcot will be waiting in line for nearly another decade waiting for it's turn at the chopping block. But who knows, I'd love to be wrong. Technically Epcot's future world pavilions could be made useful again without actually causing too much problems for visiting guests.

I suppose I should restate. I am excited for change (as long as it adds something new). And unlike many others, I don't tend to believe that Iger is the devil incarnate (that was Eisner). But I also know the pace at which Disney moves and am somewhat saddened by the fact that any changes in the pipeline likely won't hit until by my 4 year old is practically an adult (or worse, a teenager!). Seeing that Disney did nothing 10 years ago to prepare for this generation of visitors is what irks me more than anything.

Ah well. Time to go read more about all the crazy stuff Universal is doing.

 

[ChipnDale79]

I'm reading this with slight interest, as new announcements are always fun. But seriously. If they announced a lemonade stand today it wouldn't be ready until holiday 2016. If DHS is the next park to get some attention, then we might as well go into cryostasis and check back in 8-10 years. At best we'll have a phase 1 opening in about 4 years. Dare I say even that feels rushed for them?

How long ago did they make the announcement that Starbucks was coming to WDW? I believe the just finished the the last one at AK. Ive never seen a company move so slow on construction.

 

[rteetz]

I'm reading this with slight interest, as new announcements are always fun. But seriously. If they announced a lemonade stand today it wouldn't be ready until holiday 2016. If DHS is the next park to get some attention, then we might as well go into cryostasis and check back in 8-10 years. At best we'll have a phase 1 opening in about 4 years. Dare I say even that feels rushed for them?

Meanwhile, Disney has shown a disinterest in large renovations on more than a single park at once (which to a certain degree is good business sense). But that also means that Epcot will be waiting in line for nearly another decade waiting for it's turn at the chopping block. But who knows, I'd love to be wrong. Technically Epcot's future world pavilions could be made useful again without actually causing too much problems for visiting guests.

I suppose I should restate. I am excited for change (as long as it adds something new). And unlike many others, I don't tend to believe that Iger is the devil incarnate (that was Eisner). But I also know the pace at which Disney moves and am somewhat saddened by the fact that any changes in the pipeline likely won't hit until by my 4 year old is practically an adult (or worse, a teenager!). Seeing that Disney did nothing 10 years ago to prepare for this generation of visitors is what irks me more than anything.

Ah well. Time to go read more about all the crazy stuff Universal is doing.

Now I think you're exaggerating a bit much there. If they add some Pixar kiddie rides I don't see why they wouldn't have those done in no more than two years. Disney built the circus area in NFL in less than that. I don't believe Little mermaid took more than two years to build either.

 

[rteetz]

How long ago did they make the announcement that Starbucks was coming to WDW? I believe the just finished the the last one at AK. Ive never seen a company move so slow on construction.

Well they did one park at a time with this. MK and Epcot were done fairly quickly. DTD also was done pretty quick as well. DHS started later and then AK started after DHS started:

 

[rteetz]

Tom Staggs is in WDW

https://twitter.com/StormyWx/status/613751482182205440

 

[rteetz]

According to Spirit the proposals worked and the board is on board...

 

[Ismo]

I am sure we'll see some stuff trickle in over a few years, but I'm guessing most of it will be "done" just before 2021. I assume that's what they're aiming for.