Originally Posted By Doobie This topic is for discussion of the 4/27/2001 news item <b><a href="http://www.latimes.com/editions/orange/calendar/20010427/t000035641.html" target="_blank">LATimes: Disney to Plug Electrical Parade In at New Venue</a></b> The April 27th <I>Los Angeles Times</I> examines Disney's California Adventure attendance problems and the upcoming addition of the Electrical Parade.
Originally Posted By Westsider So now that the LATimes is using "internal documents" to illustrate the awful attendance turnout at DCA instead of Internet fansite webmasters, can we all generally agree that DCA attendance is worse than planned? I seem to remember that there were several people who did not buy into the concept of a failing DCA because the critics and information offered by the media was coming from Internet fansites. But when one of the largest newspapers in the country obtains "internal documents" that prove the point, I have to think that's a fairly strong argument. This Times article paints an ugly picture, and points to the desperation neccesary to shoehorn the 1970's Electrical Parade into the 21st century DCA.
Originally Posted By SJHYM Eisner is already worried. I know for a fact that he looks at attendance figures for the parks everyday and more importantly, he looks at media perception which can influence stock prices. The bad press (whether deserved or not) has him very concerned and very worried. I can tell you from experience that when Animal Kingdom was getting bad press nationally about how the animals were treated and several of the animals dying, everyone inside the park heard about it and we were told not to discuss it with anyone and fix any problems ASAP. I am sure that the same thing is happening at DCA. I expect that the DCA of today will look very different within the next several years.
Originally Posted By Doobie I don't think anyone disagreed that DCA was doing worse than expected. It's the specific numbers that were brought into question and the source of those numbers that brought the integrity of the journalist into question. But pretty much everyone agreed that the jist of the stories are correct - DCA attendance is below Disney's expectations. And I contend that these low numbers don't equate to a failing park. Disappointing - yes. Failing - premature. Doobie.
Originally Posted By MGuttag <<And I contend that these low numbers don't equate to a failing park. Disappointing - yes. Failing - premature.>> That may depend on what the word "failing" means. I don't know if DCA is "failing" yet financially, but the decision to put the MSEP in the park seems to indicate that Disney has pretty much thrown in the towel on the idea that it was a good idea to make DCA a significantly different type of park than DL. MSEP is about as traditional DL as you can get. Mark
Originally Posted By smiley_face2 I know they had planned on moving "Disney's Electrical Parade into DCA many months ago, it is not a reaction to the "bad attendance" figures!
Originally Posted By believe >>>can we all generally agree that DCA attendance is worse than planned?<<< On April 15? times article, it already quoted Ray Gomez saying "February was terrible" regarding attendance. So yes, we should agree.
