Your opinion of possible WDW RESORT and cruiseline casinos?

[athenna]

Casinos at Disney???
Bad idea!!!!!
Can you picture all the mom's with the kids walking around WDW, and the dad's are nowhere to be found because they're off gambling? Doesn't sound very family oriented to me. Walt would turn in his grave!
I have no interest in it. If I wanted to gamble, I am a 2 hour drive away from 2 different resort/casinos. My bf and I go for the night once a year for our anniversary and even then we don't really gamble much, we just like to get all dressed up and have a nice evening out.

 

[drusba]

I, like many above, believe it is a bad idea for Disney and its image for it to stick its name on a casino.

However, I am not quite sure how I would feel if Disney did this in a way like it does its movie empire--e.g., using Miramax for R rated movies. If it created a new cruise company without the Disney name with ships with casinos geared toward an adult crowd without the Disney characters running around, that is something I probably would not find inappropriate even though it is still owned by Disney.

Sticking one at WDW like at Boardwalk ... well, I have to believe that is just stupid rumor.

 

[DBBN]

We cruise DCL and visit WDW on a regular basis and like each of them without casinos. Yes, the fares on DCL are more expensive than other cruise lines but that hasn't stopped us from the sailing. I have no objection to paying a higher fare to keep casinos off the ship.

I have no moral objections to gambling but since we don't frequent casinos I'd rather see other enhansements to our vacation experience. My choice would be to keep the casinos off the ships and off WDW property.

 

[erikthewise]

I gladly pay extra to go on a DCL cruise, in part because it DOESN"T have a casino. And I don't want to see one at WDW either.

However if Disney did put one in either location, I don't think it would do very well. Same reason why miniature golf and going to the movies at DD are not at the top of most people's WDW agendas. There are better places, and closer places, to go gambling if you want to do that. Why spend time gambling at WDW when you could do that at home, or at Vegas? I just don't think it would be very popular.

But since I have no interest in gambling anyway, maybe I'm missing something.

Let's not forget that gambling tends to attract organized crime (and not-so-organized as well).

 

[lcsmom]

Do all other cruise lines have casinos? I've never done a cruise, but DH and DD keep mentioning one and DCL is expensive. However, it looks a whole lot better if all the others are cheap because they have casinos.

 

[sarhenty]

Yes actually most do and I don't know of one, besides DCL, that doesn't. I imagine thats what keeps their fares so competitive. If you can and your budget permits, DCL is the best way to cruise. JMHO...


I really hope that thats just a bad rumor... gosh, I couldn't even begin to imagine if they put one on the BW. That would be such a big mistake...

 

[tjkraz]

Random thoughts:

* I think it would be interesting to see what sort of casino the Disney Imagineers design.

* I don't necessarily buy the argument that casinos should not happen simply because they aren't "family oriented." One could make the same argument about much of the entertainment at Pleasure Island, but I don't see any picket lines forming.

* I don't really care for gambling, but my wife enjoys it. We've been to Vegas a whopping TWO times (in about 15 yrs together) and Windsor Ontario once--not exactly hardcore gamblers, eh? That said, I'm sure she wouldn't mind pulling a few slot handles if it was offered at WDW or on a Disney Cruise. Does that somehow make her "un-magical?"

* What negative impact would a casino have on a Disney cruiseship? It's my understanding that most cruise ship "Casinos" are basically a hole in the wall with a handful of slot machines that don't pay off. It's not like they have a Roulette wheel sitting poolside. Are folks worried that the "undesirable element" will be more inclined to book a $2000 Disney cruise because of the gambling?

* Pleasure Island seems like an appropriate place for a casino--assuming they would be willing to lower the gates again and restrict the entire complex to adults 21+. Boardwalk--bad idea.

When all is said and done, I'm on the fence. While no offense is intended to Pa@okw95 or anyone else, I think we probably could produce statistics about an increase in crime rate, etc. in areas with Casinos. And I think the first time I saw a family walking down Main Street arguing about gambling losses, it would be pretty memorable (although no less so than a family arguing about how much someone drank last night, the cost of the vacation, spending the trip watching sports at the ESPN club, etc.)

Still searching for that one overwhelming reason to hate the idea...

 

[cpbjgc]

I wouldn't be too interested. We have a number of casinos within driving distance (and 2 in our city), so definitely not something we would do at WDW or on a cruise even if it were available.

However...

Random thoughts:

* I think it would be interesting to see what sort of casino the Disney Imagineers design.

Finally some new Character opporunities:

Scrooge McDuck - Casino Manager!
Goofy - Blackjack Dealer (who wouldn't want to be at that table!)
And animotronic band from the Aristocats would have someplace to play!

I'm sure there are others...

 

[lcsmom]

I guess I really should get out more, besides Disney that is. I knew at various times there have been "cruises" out of Texas ports into International waters so people could gamble, didn't realize regular cruise ships had "casinos." Not something that would interest me, anyway.
However, Scrooge McDuck as a casino manager does have some appeal. Just wouldn't want to see it on the Boardwalk.

 

[RayJay]

When we vacation at WDW we have to drive to Tampa to go to the casino there. I would love to see casinos at WDW.

okw95,

Your kidding right, you got 2 of the biggest right in your state, I live like 2 minutes to Mohegan Sun. I'll pass on Casinos at WDW.

RayJay

 

[CharlesTD]

Actually a casino at the Boardwalk would be so great we love to hit the casino and spen our money up here so it would be great to have the option there also.

 

[castleri]

originally posted by RayJay in reply to Pa@OKW95

Your kidding right, you got 2 of the biggest right in your state, I live like 2 minutes to Mohegan Sun. I'll pass on Casinos at WDW.



My thoughts exactly - being 15 minutes from Foxwoods myself and a little further from Mohegan Sun I can live without that type of entertainment when I go on vacation to WDW. That said my DD, DGD and myself did a Carnival Cruise over Christmas week this year and it was amazing how quickly my DGD age 18 (birthday was the day before we boarded) poured money into the casino. They had slots, and table games as well as the ones you put quarters in trying to push a bunch of them into a shute. On cruises you only need to be 18 to gamble- but 21 to drink.

 

[JimMIA]

the rumor is that Disney is pushing FL gov't for permission to have casinos on Disney property-i.e. The Boardwalk area.

There is some gambling discussion going on in the current Florida legislative session, but it has nothing to do either with Disney or casinos. Voters recently approved an initiative to have some kind of slot machines in existing paramutual facilities (horse tracks, dog tracks, jai alai frontons, etc.) in ONE of Florida's 67 counties. The Legislature must decide specifically which class of slots, and how much to tax them. The majority of Florida voters, and a huge majority of Florida legislators, are anti-casino. The only way the dog track folks got slots approved was by bypassing the legislature, and I suspect those chickens will come home to roost this session. My money is on allowing a type of slot they can't make money on, and then taxing them out of existence.

I don't think Disney would need any approval from the state to put casinos on their cruise ships. Cruise casinos operate only outside US waters and are therefore outside the jurisdiction of both the US and Florida governments.

I personally would NOT want to see casinos on any Disney property. I don't have anything against casinos, gambling is just not what I go to Disney for.

 

[lodgelady]

Thanks for your informed reply, JimMIA. I feel much better about the short-run prospects for no gambling at WDW. I do know, however that Disney is very powerful in FL. My fear is that they will set their cap to do a casino and open the floodgates for gambling there. Once any company gets a whiff of that easy gaming revenue, there is no turning back-like sharks and blood! That is why I am even opposed to gambling on the ships. Corporate greed will not let it remain just slots or a small casino for long. It is bound to spread. That would change everything after awhile.

 

[tjkraz]

Once any company gets a whiff of that easy gaming revenue, there is no turning back-like sharks and blood! That is why I am even opposed to gambling on the ships. Corporate greed will not let it remain just slots or a small casino for long. It is bound to spread. That would change everything after awhile.

I think that's a little reactionary. Based upon the responses in this thread there are clearly people who believe that Disney-affiliated enterprises are not suitable for casino gaming. Disney is sensitive to that fact and has certainly taken it into account when evaluating their options in the past.

As Jim said, there are no laws prohibiting gaming on cruise ships (international waters), and it's actually quite common in the industry. And I don't think there would be any insurmountable obstacles if they wanted to put Casino games at WDW either. But Disney made a decision not to go down that road...regardless of the revenue that was sacrificed.

I'm still curious to hear from some folks opposed to this with the reasons WHY they think it would be such a bad thing. Why would it be so horrible if Disney took one of the dance clubs at PI and turned it into a casino with a few table games, slot machines, video poker, etc.?

 

[Copper3]

A casino would be a great addition at WDW. I have not been on DCL yet so I cannot comment on if it would be good for there. WDW has just about everything else that one would want to do on a vacation, this is one of the few entertainment options not there yet. I would hope it would not be anywhere near a resort, a prime location would be by Wide World of Sports just off 192. The reason this would be a good spot is it would require bus transportation from all Disney resorts and assuming there is enough land it can be seperate enough where a parking garage/lot could be built where off-siters can still get to it and not crowd the other WDW main roads. This would isolate it so the family envirnoment can still be in WDW and if you want to indulge in some gambling that's there as well. Also, Disney could try to enforce an adults-only atmosphere checking IDs at the bus-stop/parking lot tram/entrance to the casino. OK, now I'm dreaming. Personally, I very much enjoy playing poker at casinos and that would enhance my vacation experience at WDW. I think Disney is seeing a drop in PI attendance since the Hard Rock casino opened near Tampa and they want that money back plus new casino revenue. The Boardwalk would be a prime spot since a lot of conventions are held in the Crescent Lake area and Atlantic Dance can be converted into a small casino keeping many on property. I don't think they charge a cover there anymore. Does anyone know for sure? I hope it is not at the Boardwalk because it would become next to impossible to park at the BW with very long waits even for valet parking especially at night. I was surprised when they opened PI in 1989. I thought it was not what Walt would have wanted but it definitely adds to the vacation experience and this has that potential as well. Both options are adult, more-nightlife options although now they let kids walk around outside in PI, just not in the clubs.

I look forward to open discussions on this because whether you are for or against this I think it is inevitable that a casino will be built on WDW property. There is just too much money to be made through that cash-cow business.

Copper3

 

[JimMIA]

After reading tjkraz' post above, I guess I'm not as opposed to a casino generally as I thought I was. One might be a good addition to PI. I really can't see it fitting in anywhere else.

However...it ain't happening folks - and here's why. Floridians generally are opposed to casinos. The prohibition against casino gambling is part of our state constitution. Statewide constitutional amendments seeking to permit very limited casino gambling have failed miserably in Florida since the 1960's.

In 2004, there was a constitutional amendment to allow voters in Miami-Dade and Broward (Ft. Lauderdale area) Counties to vote on the prospect of allowing limited slot machines at existing paramutual facilities in those two counties only. The amendment (to allow a vote only) passed by a very narrow margin, primarily because it was disguised as a plan to raise additional educational funds.

This year, local elections were held in those two counties. Broward County passed the initiative; Miami-Dade voters rejected it. So the possibility now exists for limited slots in four paramutual facilities in Broward County only (where there are already two hugely-successful Seminole Indian casinos plus gambling "cruises to nowhere"). The owners of those paramutual facilities claim they must have Class III (Vegas-style) slots in order to survive, and they are probably right.

The real problem with Class III slots is the Indian casinos. Our Indian casinos now operate under a voluntary aggreement with the State of Florida under which the types of games they offer are sharply restricted (Class II slots and very limited table games) and they do pay taxes on some of the proceeds (I'm not sure they are called taxes, but the effect is the same.). That agreement is voluntary for the simple reason that neither the Federal or State government has any legal jurisdiction on any Indian reservation. The Indians are actually free to do anything they please, but they have made a business decision to cooperate with the State of Florida rather than spend millions of dollars litigating jurisdiction all the way up to the US Supreme Court...even though they would surely win.

If the Legislature ever allows Class III slots anywhere, all bets are off with the Indian casinos. They would convert to Vegas-style full casinos overnight, put the paramutuals out of business, pay zero taxes, and never go back.

For Disney to put in even very limited slots would require a) an amendment to the Florida Constitution, and b) approval, authorization, restriction, limitation, and taxation by the Florida Legislature. I don't see that happening, and if it did, they would find themselves competing with completely unregulated and untaxed Indian casinos.

 

[OneMoreTry]

Mickey Mouse can do what he wants. But if he puts in casinos at WDW our relationship is over. It wouldn't be the casinos that would bother me as much as the underlying strategy and philosophy they would represent. Ie. easy bucks versus Imagineering and creativity.

If Disney wants to compete with Vegas they should start a subsidiary with a different name and casinos completely off site with no mouse and no donald and no goofy.

How many people do you think avoid WDW just because it has no gambling?


Addendum: Actually, yeah, the casinos themselves would bother me, too.

 

[lodgelady]

tjkraz- Casinos attract crime. You wouldn't want one in your neighborhood would you? Then why would you want one to open up where you have a real estate interest-i.e. DVC? Kids and casinos do not mix. If a consenting adult wants to gamble there are plenty of other vacation spots for them. WDW is one of the few entertainment destinations that is still innocent fun for both kids and adults alike.

OneMoreTry- I am totally with you. If Disney gets into gaming, we will not go anymore.

 

[tjkraz]

tjkraz- Casinos attract crime. You wouldn't want one in your neighborhood would you? Then why would you want one to open up where you have a real estate interest-i.e. DVC? Kids and casinos do not mix. If a consenting adult wants to gamble there are plenty of other vacation spots for them. WDW is one of the few entertainment destinations that is still innocent fun for both kids and adults alike.

Couldn't you make the same arguments about alcohol? I've heard some pretty colorful stories about the Food & Wine Fest and I've witnessed some things at PI that wouldn't pass the "innocent fun" test...