The Night Kingdom

[MJMcBride]

Not to add fuel to the 5th gate fire, but here is a story on the rumored Discovery Cove take-off.

http://www.mouseextra.com/2008/02/1...-coming-sooner-than-you-might-think/#comments

It does sounds interesting. Especially, the bat caves and night vision goggles.

 

[episode]

Not to add fuel to the 5th gate fire, but here is a story on the rumored Discovery Cove take-off.

http://www.mouseextra.com/2008/02/1...-coming-sooner-than-you-might-think/#comments

It does sounds interesting. Especially, the bat caves and night vision goggles.

The direct story is here, for those interested:
http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_h...e-the-disney-theme-park-going-experience.aspx

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

I don't know about you but $600 for one night in DNK would be a little steep for DW and me too. They should have everyone be able to reserve a night there, pay maybe $50-$100 each, and have the admission added to their ticket card/room key.

 

[stepnut]

The very reason they have a price so high is the very reason you object to. They don't want EVERYONE in at the same time. Most people will not be willing to pay that kind of money for the experience, but some people will. Basic economic principles...price something to whatever the market will bear. Price something to reflect a level of exclusivity. Price something to control distribution (or availabilty or access). Price something to make sure whatever the amount sold, there's still a reasonable gross profit.

 

[serendipity]

I am all about this...sure the price is high but I think it's worth saving for.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

WTH...There is nothing here that is stupendous at this point. The price is high and the experiences mentioned so far are quite generic. Why pay an inflated price unless you're just a Disney brand monkey (which is the hope I guess)?

Disney can't offer safari's as good as the real thing. Disney can't offer mountain climbing as good as the real thing, Disney can't give a deluxe hotel experience as good as the real thing. But Disney can give the Disney name and a minimum wage college program lacky in a Mickey Mouse suit...Is that really all it takes?

I can't fathom anyone being anything more than mildly interested in any of this, based on the limited info we have.

At least Sea World was true to themselves when offering Discovery Cove and I don't blame anyone so interested to partake in that, but this Disney offering, at this point, has no substance.

Just my opinion, of course.

 

[stepnut]

Disney can't offer safari's as good as the real thing. Disney can't offer mountain climbing as good as the real thing, Disney can't give a deluxe hotel experience as good as the real thing. But Disney can give the Disney name and a minimum wage college program lacky in a Mickey Mouse suit...Is that really all it takes?

Disney isn't about "the real thing". It's about stepping outside the world of reality and offering something that is fantasy, magic and unexpected. When you think about it, if Walt Disney was into the "real thing", he never would have been enamoured with cartoons in the first place! Cartoons and animation are about starting with the real thing and making it surprisingly unreal, while retaining the realism at the same time. Not that WD has anything to do with this night park idea, but the analogy fits.

I agree with you in that I doubt I'd be a likely customer of such a high priced park, but I guarantee that there are people out there who would not only love the idea, but be more than willing to pay for it. It's amazing what people will pay for! I'm sure Disney corp has done thier homework to analyze markets, spending habits, and all that they need to make such a business decision.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

Disney isn't about "the real thing". It's about stepping outside the world of reality and offering something that is fantasy, magic and unexpected. When you think about it, if Walt Disney was into the "real thing", he never would have been enamoured with cartoons in the first place! Cartoons and animation are about starting with the real thing and making it surprisingly unreal, while retaining the realism at the same time. Not that WD has anything to do with this night park idea, but the analogy fits.

I agree with you in that I doubt I'd be a likely customer of such a high priced park, but I guarantee that there are people out there who would not only love the idea, but be more than willing to pay for it. It's amazing what people will pay for! I'm sure Disney corp has done thier homework to analyze markets, spending habits, and all that they need to make such a business decision.

I agree with your post almost entirely but maybe not the premise it was built on.

Yes Walt was all about fantasy and dreams but how will Disney "dreamify" mountain climbing or feeding animals? These are hands on activites that could be better suited in the real life situation.

I agree that there will be people who will be excited about having their hand held and doing these things with the perceived Disney blanket of security covering them but truly how many Disney brand shoppers can afford this price tag and for how long?

My only disagreement with your post is your belief that Disney's research has covered this issue. I don't have that confidence in Iger or this organization anymore. They didn't meet their goals with AK, DCA was a disaster, they gave away the farm in negotiating for the Pirates movies and somebody (Iger) green lighted a tv show about Cavemen based on a Geico tv ad.

 

[stepnut]

My only disagreement with your post is your belief that Disney's research has covered this issue. I don't have that confidence in Iger or this organization anymore. They didn't meet their goals with AK, DCA was a disaster, they gave away the farm in negotiating for the Pirates movies and somebody (Iger) green lighted a tv show about Cavemen based on a Geico tv ad.

Good point. I stand corrected. There have been obvious failures in thier marketing research and negotiations. Having just finished reading the story of how Eisner took Disney from where it was in the 80's to where it was when he was ousted in the early 2000's, I was struck by all kinds of examples when the company made bad decisions, had overly optimistic projections, missed deadlines and goals, and just flat out failed. It happens in business, and it almost always can be traced to the leader at the helm. It's always a crapshoot, despite the best talent, the best data, the best economy and the best intentions.

 

[Maxwell]

Well this would rule out all families with little kids. Nmber one the price is just not worth it and number two it does not sound like anything that a little kid would stay focused on for very long.

 

[disney[xo]sweetie]

you're just a Disney brand monkey

hi everybody, disney brand monkey here.

ok, i think it sounds really imaginative, and cool. i would pay the extra $$$ to say ive been there and be able to share the experience with my family. it doesnt seem half bad, i mean, zip lining over crocodiles! how exciting is that!? its like youre living out peter pan!
i think it sounds magical

 

[Rence]

Well this would rule out all families with little kids. Nmber one the price is just not worth it and number two it does not sound like anything that a little kid would stay focused on for very long.

But families with little kids become families with big kids - sure this probably isn't appropriate for a family with a couple of toddlers, but a dozen years later, the same family with a couple of teens now has a reason to come back. when the kids have outgrown princesses and Pooh.

 

[Another Voice]

Is that really all it takes?...

The only thing Disney sells today is the name "Disney". They don't even try anything else.

Some of the public still buys it. Looking for a brand name on something eliminates all that bothersome thinking. Just like Disney Cruises is for people too intimidated by real cruises, and Adventures by Disney is for people too afraid of travel - I'm sure the $3Benjamin park will appeal to a certain segment of the public too timid to try real experiences. If you can get people to pay an extra grand for a three day cruise, you can certainly find people willing to drop an extra C to climb a fake rock wall.

Disney used to be all about making the impossible come to life. But now as a comfort brand Disney is all about make the real bland enough for wimps with money.

 

[TDC Nala]

$250 to see the Adventurers Club...

 

[MJMcBride]

Well this would rule out all families with little kids. Nmber one the price is just not worth it and number two it does not sound like anything that a little kid would stay focused on for very long.

we'll have to see if they do this, what are the final attractions. But you're right in that it doesn't sound kid-friendly at this point

 

[Luv2Roam]

I could certainly see convention groups shelling out the cash without a second thought.
This reminds me of a vamped up Disney Institute.
And the AC is already used for large groups. It is not unusual to find AC closed until 9 p.m. due to entertaining a private group. Then at 9 those guests are escorted to Comedy Warehouse for their next show.
Loys of $ opportunity. However I will believe it when it is announced.

 

[serendipity]

The only thing Disney sells today is the name "Disney". They don't even try anything else.

Some of the public still buys it. Looking for a brand name on something eliminates all that bothersome thinking. Just like Disney Cruises is for people too intimidated by real cruises, and Adventures by Disney is for people too afraid of travel - I'm sure the $3Benjamin park will appeal to a certain segment of the public too timid to try real experiences. If you can get people to pay an extra grand for a three day cruise, you can certainly find people willing to drop an extra C to climb a fake rock wall.

Disney used to be all about making the impossible come to life. But now as a comfort brand Disney is all about make the real bland enough for wimps with money.

Give me a break. As someone who has traveled a good portion of the world, I can say that Disney does not only a good job, but a very good job at keeping people of all ages entertained. The idea of having a theme park that entertains a select amount of people, having experiences that have one on one experiences with animals from other parts of this world will not only be an experience, it will be an experience of a lifetime. Would I pay extra money to swim with dolphins? Yes. Would I pay the same extra money to feed a hippo? Absolutely. And I can do this in the United States without having to go to Africa? Even better.

This idea is imaginitive in the same way that Walt Disney was interested in creating theme parks, that strayed strictly from the traditional theme park state of mind. That was the innovative spirit that he poured into EPCOT, and that undoubtedly he would have thrown into all of his future theme parks. We are referencing the man who has pictures with tigers on his desk that made nature documentaries. Undeniably he would have been all about this park, regardless of the high prices that he was admittedly against.

 

[Nikisha421]

That is oNe HEAVYprice to pay to enter a theme park. I will a) have to pass all together or b)save my pennies starting right now

 

[Tink's Tormentor]

That is oNe HEAVYprice to pay to enter a theme park. I will a) have to pass all together or b)save my pennies starting right now

You found a way to become a DVC member right???? Well, you no longer have to pay for a room, so, I bet you can scrounge up $300.00 somewhere...

 

[Another Voice]

Give me a break.

I would have no problem if Disney actually came up with an idea that was worth several hunderd dollars a day to experience (and over the years they have). But Disney's collective mind doesn't think that way any more.

The exact same thing happened in California. Instead of coming up with a great idea for a theme park first - they decieded their marketing indicated a profitable opportunity to enhance revenue generation in the Anaheim division. So they went about and slapped together a proposal and figured out what would be just barely enough to get people to hand over some coin and created Disney's California Adventure.

That stunning disaster is going to cost the company for a generation.

What Jim Hill described is nothing but luke-warm concepts from a night-time Animal Kingdom event. Consturcting a second gate to hold the suckers - I mean guests - until the regular park is clear (the Adventurer's Club) and then letting the well-heeled into repurposed sections of the park. There's nothing in the plan worth spending $300 bucks on. Sure, you'll find people here that will get out all the bouncy emoticons their broswer will handle, but these are the same people how are thrilled with DCA...and that's not a good representation of success, is it?

If Disney would simply do things right from beginning, there would be no need for billion dollar make-over and free popcorn giveaways.