Originally Posted By Rebekah This topic is for discussion of the 8/19/2003 news item <b><a href="http://www2.ocregister.com/ocrweb/ocr/article.do?id=53090" target="_blank">OCReg: Disney to sell tickets off-site</a></b> The August 19th <I>Orange County Register</I> reports Disneyland is debuting an off-site ticket location in the Hilton Lobby.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt This a good idea. The Hilton is the major meetings hotel in Anaheim. They are obviously going after the attendees at the convention center.
Originally Posted By RangerPooh Don't some of the other hotels in the area sell DL tickets at their front desks? They at least have signs for it. FYI you can still buy them at the Disney Store.
Originally Posted By CMM1 It's surprising that they don't sell tickets like they do at AMC movie theatres - you order ahead of time with a credit card, insert your card when you get to a ticket machine at the theatre and then get your tickets. Seems like the could have banks of automated machines at DLR - hey, they could save lots of money in ticketseller salaries and charge extra service charges to boot ....
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt "Don't some of the other hotels in the area sell DL tickets at their front desks?" They do, but this is the first free standing Disney operated ticket booth inside of a hotel in the area. I haven't seen the booth but I'm assuming, if it's like those I've seen in Orlando, very, very visible. It is a particularly interesting marketing move because it is located in a large meetings hotel that gets a lot of traffic from people in town attending conventions next door.
Originally Posted By Big Thunder I did'nt read the article [yet] but this was being broadcast over the news radio station I listen to in the car all day today, the cliff hanger was..."stay tuned, the Anahiem Hilton has sprouted 7 foot ears" then explained the booth and off site ticket sales, there was also something about Hilton guests getting a free bonus day when purchasing 3 day passes. The Disney spokesperson said that if this works out, they will probably offer it at a few other locations.
Originally Posted By roberts1398 OK, so... instant reaction... great idea. Then I read the article. Basically, this is no different than before, with the exception being that there will be (1) a separate desk (2)with Mickey ears! (3) staffed by Disney. Other than that, it's no different than just buying them at the hotel's front desk. AND it's limited to Hilton guests. Whoop-de-doo.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt I think you missed the point. There is a clear shift in marketing strategy here. Instead of simply assuming that everyone visiting Anaheim (convention goers in this case) is automatically making their way to Disneyland or stopping by their hotel's front desk to buy park tickets Disney is agressively marketing to them by installing a very visable ticket booth in a major hotel's lobby. This is very different than just having tickets tucked away behind the front desk at some mom and pop motel on Katella. I'm assuming that the station will be staffed with a Disney cast member. Does Knott's or Universal have kiosks like this one in hotels near their parks?
