WDW Changes

[DancingBear]

I'd forgotten about Bicker--what became of him?

He doesn't hang on this board because we don't play nice. He's over on the dining board educating everyone about the dining plan.

 

[MassJester]

When did we stop playing nice?

 

[MassJester]

Go to the DVD boards and see the notes written about perks being removed.....it's even happening to Disney's sacred group as well!

Ok, I went over and looked and couldn't find the posts about the perks being removed. What did they lose?

 

[CanadianGuy]

Go to the DVD boards and see the notes written about perks being removed.....it's even happening to Disney's sacred group as well!

Ok, I went over and looked and couldn't find the posts about the perks being removed. What did they lose?

Something about no more special bonus features and director's commentaries?

Seriously though... (ahem) I have no idea what recent perk the DVC members lost.. Wonder if someone can enlighten us...

Knox

 

[MassJester]

Something about no more special bonus features and director's commentaries?

Seriously though... (ahem) I have no idea what recent perk the DVC members lost.. Wonder if someone can enlighten us...

Knox

I'm not sure we can expect a response to this.

 

[shanomi4]

AV,

If you will could you please enlighten us on how Disney isn't doing the right thing with the parks and as a business on the whole? Please state facts. Not interested in personal experience or opinion. I want hard numbers to look over. Attendance levels. Profits. dating back to the beginning to now or whatever you can come up with. Being that you are far more informed then little old me, perhaps you could persuade me to your line of thinking. Again, lets stay away from ride x was better then ride z, or the parks were cleaner or anything of that nature. lets just look at the numbers and at the least have a mental graph of the company then and now. I think it may shed light onto the business of Disney. Thanks....and this is not a loaded request as I honestly do not have any of the numbers. If you do not either then maybe we can all get together and contribute hard data to help understand the DIS business.

 

[shanomi4]

funy how bicker has a rep here and on a cruise site I frequent. I never saw him here, but over at that site several posters were talking about how he was alos on the Dis boards. Is this the same bicker?
http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=12331011#post12331011

 

[DancingBear]

That's him.

 

[shanomi4]

That's him.

Ok....thought so!! Thanks! And the next time ANYONE calls me Bicker i am going to wave my wand and spread some pixi poo on them!
'not that there is anything worng with being" a Bicker.

 

[DancingBear]

AV,

If you will could you please enlighten us on how Disney isn't doing the right thing with the parks and as a business on the whole? Please state facts. Not interested in personal experience or opinion. I want hard numbers to look over. Attendance levels. Profits. dating back to the beginning to now or whatever you can come up with. Being that you are far more informed then little old me, perhaps you could persuade me to your line of thinking. Again, lets stay away from ride x was better then ride z, or the parks were cleaner or anything of that nature. lets just look at the numbers and at the least have a mental graph of the company then and now. I think it may shed light onto the business of Disney. Thanks....and this is not a loaded request as I honestly do not have any of the numbers. If you do not either then maybe we can all get together and contribute hard data to help understand the DIS business.

Nobody has a lot of hard data beyond what Disney files with the SEC. I have previously pointed out that you can see substantial increases in Parks and Resorts segment revenue, but a corresponding decrease in operating income (not as a percentage, but actual dollars). Of course, we're not privy to what exactly that means.

Certainly we can discuss things like why did Disney scrap the Secret Lab and completely cede computer animation to Pixar, meanwhile slicing their in-house animation staff to the bone, until they were forced into paying $7 billion for Pixar because, as Iger said, Disney hadn't created a memorable character of their own for ten years?

 

[shanomi4]

Thanks Bear. I have never looked at the issues we are discussing. Wasn't my cup of tea. But the longer I sit here and read the debates, I think I am getting reeled in to a debate I know nothing about. First arm your self with fact...................

 

[minnie61650]

Yes it take an MBA to see that Caveman sucks before it hit the air. Yes it takes a Disney exec to see the brilliance behind Underdog The Movie...............

I agree that the Disney company has had a few flops in the last couple of years but they have had several successes as well. The Disney Channel and ESPN are enjoying top ratings. It was reported November 8,2007 that Euro Disney revenues increased 12%this year. That was growth in the Theme parks attendance and the hotel occupancy. The Domestic Parks have also reported near record attendance. During the 4th quarter WDW resort occupancy rate was reported be 90% which is up from 83%.
I think a 90% occupancy rate is a very good showing especially when one considers that WDW has over 20,000 rooms.



I agree Caveman was a really bad idea. I can't even believe that show made it onto the drawing boards let alone into production. On the other hand two of ABC's new network shows Pushing Daisies and Dirty Sexy Money are doing very well in latest fall ratings.

Underdog the movie was a cute movie nothing to write home about but cute. Disney should be able recoup more of it's investment when it is released to DVD.
Game Plan has had very good box office ratings so far.
And even though Ratatouille did not have as high a box office turnout in the US as expected it has been very popular internationally. In fact Ratatouille is now Pixar's second-highest grossing film right behind Finding Nemo.



Just my 2 cents.

 

[G8RFAN]

Underdog the movie was a cute movie nothing to write home about but cute. Disney should be able recoup more of it's investment when it is released to DVD....

If not, maybe the writers should be giving back some of that "piece of the pie". Just kidding.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

I'm still waiting for some concrete stuff from Iger. So far he is just getting a huge salary.IMHO

1) I have started calling him Roger Ogre.
2) I am afraid to say it.
3) I am afraid to think it.
4) But, I am actually longing for Eisner to return.
5) Ego, tight rule and all.
6) But, at least he cared for the guests.
7) Ogre just wants to just make more money, and guests be darned.
. . . increasing DDE cost with mandatory 18% tips
. . . increasing DDP cost by eliminating tips and appetizer
. . . increasing room rates for weekend days
. . . increasing restaurant prices for holidays
. . . increasing ticket prices
. . . increasing employee work loads
. . . increasing employee outsourcing to cheaper outfits

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

I'm not sure we can expect a response to this.

Hi Jester!

I noticed a DVC thread ... " $95 fee and MS Comments". There seemed to be a few comments about the new reservation fee for non-DVC properties. There are also a couple of long-time DVC members who have commented on this thread about benefits they miss which have been changed over their DVC ownership.

Perhaps that will help answer your question.

Thanks!

Cathy

 

[EUROPACL]

I agree that the Disney company has had a few flops in the last couple of years but they have had several successes as well. The Disney Channel and ESPN are enjoying top ratings. It was reported November 8,2007 that Euro Disney revenues increased 12%this year. That was growth in the Theme parks attendance and the hotel occupancy. The Domestic Parks have also reported near record attendance. During the 4th quarter WDW resort occupancy rate was reported be 90% which is up from 83%.
I think a 90% occupancy rate is a very good showing especially when one considers that WDW has over 20,000 rooms.

Sigh...minnie its more than a couple of good things here and there. I could list flop after flop not just a couple here or there. You're really streching when you here gloating over ESPN and Hight School Musical. Go back again and read "exactly" what Iger said about "record attendace" and try to make real sense out of it. Yes its easy to fudge occupancy numbers when you shut down entire hotels and tear down wings.

I agree Caveman was a really bad idea. I can't even believe that show made it onto the drawing boards let alone into production. On the other hand two of ABC's new network shows Pushing Daisies and Dirty Sexy Money are doing very well in latest fall ratings.

Great now just get a warm glow all over your skin when you think it was Iger that pushed Caveman through. That one show alone is equal in **** up to buying Fox Family was for Eisner.

Underdog the movie was a cute movie nothing to write home about but cute. Disney should be able recoup more of it's investment when it is released to DVD.

You need to reread AV's posts on Hollywood boxoffice again. Its not even clear yet if "At Worlds End" is going to end up making money....much less Underdog.

And even though Ratatouille did not have as high a box office turnout in the US as expected it has been very popular internationally. In fact Ratatouille is now Pixar's second-highest grossing film right behind Finding Nemo.

Now if Disney could just stop trying to bad mouth Pixar movies before and after they come out. Even the die hard "fan" such as youself has to see Disney making the same exact mistakes again and again now that they own Pixar they are already planning Toy Story3, Cars 2 and Incredibles sequels....If you take a close look you will see a pattern with Disney movies, if they weren't made by Disney it usually a good thing.

 

[Another Voice]

Shanomi4 - I just wanted to jump in here and thank you for your question and to appologize for not getting to it yet. It's been a busy day here at the Evil Anti-Disney League of Haters headquarters and my posting time has been limited. I'll get you a response as soon as I'm able.

 

[MassJester]

Hi Jester!

I noticed a DVC thread ... " $95 fee and MS Comments". There seemed to be a few comments about the new reservation fee for non-DVC properties. There are also a couple of long-time DVC members who have commented on this thread about benefits they miss which have been changed over their DVC ownership.

Perhaps that will help answer your question.

Thanks!

Cathy

So, the institution of a $95 for properties outside of DVC is the entire list of perks removed?

 

[MassJester]

1) I have started calling him Roger Ogre.
2) I am afraid to say it.
3) I am afraid to think it.
4) But, I am actually longing for Eisner to return.
5) Ego, tight rule and all.
6) But, at least he cared for the guests.
7) Ogre just wants to just make more money, and guests be darned.
. . . increasing DDE cost with mandatory 18% tips
. . . increasing DDP cost by eliminating tips and appetizer
. . . increasing room rates for weekend days
. . . increasing restaurant prices for holidays
. . . increasing ticket prices
. . . increasing employee work loads
. . . increasing employee outsourcing to cheaper outfits

Yes, the obvious neglect of the guests explains the decline in attendance. It's so clear, everyone has apprently seen it. Afterall, why would more people come to a place they weren't cared for?

 

[DancingBear]

Yes, the obvious neglect of the guests explains the decline in attendance. It's so clear, everyone has apprently seen it. Afterall, why would more people come to a place they weren't cared for?

Many elements could be contributing to increases in attendance, including increased marketing, free food, Universal neglecting its parks for a number of years, etc. But is it sustainable over the long term? Are you giving folks the kind of "magical" experience that they had as youngsters that made them love Disney in the first place, or are you just another nice family vacation destination? Are you creating "magic," or just selling the magic that was created years ago, or by others (including Pixar, whose films wereconsistently underestimated by Disney management and marketing).

Why did people flock to Disneyland for its 50th anniversary? Because they had nostalgia for this incredible creation of Walt's, and because Ouimet changed the light bulbs and gave the place a new paint job. Obviously Ouimet thought those things mattered.

If the declines that folks here have noticed don't matter, then why are there "pilot programs" at some resorts to pump up the service quality?

If the stuff the naysayers are talking about doesn't matter, why is Iger now (finally) admitting that DCA has problems?

How come Pixar, where Lasseter said "quality is a business plan," was so incredibly successful that Iger had to go out and spend $7 billion to buy them, and give their execs power and autonomy, while Disney animation was churning out Chicken Little, Home on the Range and Cinderella XIV?