Thanks for the golf, Disney!

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

I dont think you have been paying that close of attention to what has been announced/proposed. This is going to be a shopping district minus the entertainment. They are putting in a hanes make your own T-shirt store, have announced a tie in that will presumably go into PI with Dave and Busters and further shopping venues. Oh and the balloon that they have at DLRP, which is a seperate charge and doesnt handle many folks anyway, even when its running. You still think this new idea is going to be a big 'draw' especially at night? I am not saying that PI was a perfect incarnation, but every attraction at DW spreads folks out and appeals to a different segment.

IMO, disney doesnt care if its a big draw or not, there no longer operating there just leasing space, so it effectively doesnt matter going forward if/when it pulls people in as long as their tennants pay the rent on time.

And I'm not sure if you understand much about the field of business. The tenants will only continue to pay their rent if there are people patronizing their establishments and thus they are making money. So, yes, Disney does have an interest in making sure people go there. Not only that, but Disney obviously wants anything on their property to be a draw because, although people might be draw to WDW by one thing, chances are once they are there, they will spend their money throughout the entire World.

I actually have been paying very close attention to this story but I guess we must be reading different articles, you and I. Take the article from Allearsnet for example. It starts like this: (emphasis mine)

Walt Disney World Resort today unveiled a new vision for Downtown Disney, with extraordinary new shopping, dining and other experiences including a completely re-imagined Pleasure Island. Also planned are numerous enhancements to popular Downtown Disney locations, as well as additional theming and storytelling brought to life by Walt Disney Imagineers.

"We are committed to offering guests new and exciting experiences they can only have at Walt Disney World Resort," said Downtown Disney Vice President Kevin Lansberry. "Our bold new vision for Downtown Disney reflects the feedback we receive from our guests each and every day and will enable us to continue to offer the high-quality entertainment that is our hallmark."

That doesn't quite scream "standard shopping mall" to me.

Maybe you'll be right in the end but we won't know that for quite awhile now, will we?

 

[angelmav]

I actually have been paying very close attention to this story but I guess we must be reading different articles, you and I. Take the article from Allearsnet for example. It starts like this: (emphasis mine)



That doesn't quite scream "standard shopping mall" to me.

Maybe you'll be right in the end but we won't know that for quite awhile now, will we?

Well then perhaps you missed the Orlando sentinal article or the FAQ on disney's website regarding PI. What they have announced specifically is shopping/dining. Perhaps that 'qualifies' as entertainment by your definition, but IMO it misses the mark. I dont see how there can be much 'Imagineering' going on when disney wont be operating in the space, but a 3rd party leasing out the space for their own use will.

Many large businesses would love to have the Disney tie in, regardless of how well trafficked their shops may be, do you think hanes needs their store to be packed to the gills or do you think they are happy with the advertising opportunity? Same for Dave and Busters, you can bet they will tout their new Disney location in all their existing places, advertising etc...

Further, they have effectively changed the hours that folks will be drawn to the area, from a night time destination to a day time activity with much fewer exceptions.

Do you still think this wont have any residual effect?

 

[WDSearcher]

I dont think you have been paying that close of attention to what has been announced/proposed. This is going to be a shopping district minus the entertainment. They are putting in a hanes make your own T-shirt store, have announced a tie in that will presumably go into PI with Dave and Busters and further shopping venues. Oh and the balloon that they have at DLRP, which is a seperate charge and doesnt handle many folks anyway, even when its running. You still think this new idea is going to be a big 'draw' especially at night? I am not saying that PI was a perfect incarnation, but every attraction at DW spreads folks out and appeals to a different segment.

IMO, disney doesnt care if its a big draw or not, there no longer operating there just leasing space, so it effectively doesnt matter going forward if/when it pulls people in as long as their tennants pay the rent on time.

Have you been to DTD in Anaheim? It's what I believe DTD at WDW will be like. There are restaurants (some themed like Rainforest Cafe, some branded like House of Blues, some with performance venues like Bongos), lots of "make your own" or "makeover" locations (Club LibbyLu, Build a Bear, etc), high-end boutique shops (selling the "boutique" product lines from Disney as well as other specialized stuff) and then generic shops (bookstores, coffee, etc). And it is HOPPIN'! Every single night there are crowds eating, shopping, drinking, watching live music, families with kids ... it's a true entertainment hub. Hands down a livlier place than PI of late, and it has far fewer people to draw from, from a resort standpoint. To me, CityWalk at Universal is the oddest conglomeration of restaurants and shops I've ever seen, and yet it's packed every night. THAT's what WDW is looking for in its DTD area, I think. And it has two models that show that it can happen and that it is possible. Put either of these areas up against PI, and you have a pretty compelling argument for "shopping and dining."

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

Well then perhaps you missed the Orlando sentinal article or the FAQ on disney's website regarding PI. What they have announced specifically is shopping/dining. Perhaps that 'qualifies' as entertainment by your definition, but IMO it misses the mark. I dont see how there can be much 'Imagineering' going on when disney wont be operating in the space, but a 3rd party leasing out the space for their own use will.

Many large businesses would love to have the Disney tie in, regardless of how well trafficked their shops may be, do you think hanes needs their store to be packed to the gills or do you think they are happy with the advertising opportunity? Same for Dave and Busters, you can bet they will tout their new Disney location in all their existing places, advertising etc...

Further, they have effectively changed the hours that folks will be drawn to the area, from a night time destination to a day time activity with much fewer exceptions.

Do you still think this wont have any residual effect?

First, I just watched a video of Kevin Lansberry being interviewed about the closure while standing in front of PI. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JABUaC-OVXE) He said: "...our guests are asking us for more shopping and dining opportunities and more of other types of entertainment." (emphasis mine) You keep missing that part!

Second, show me where Disney has said they "won't be operating in the space, but a third party leasing out the space for their own use will." These are complete assumptions at this point.