Originally Posted By Doobie This topic is for discussion of the November 15th Land of the Rising Mickey column by Marc Borrelli. This article is at: <a href="News-ID110110.asp" target="_blank">http://LaughingPlace.com/News-ID110110.asp</a>.
Originally Posted By Fathom7 What are the office ladies? Does Disney ever close because of snow? I was planning to vist in Jan or Feb hoping for low crowds. But I hate it when the parks here in the states close at 6 or 7pm. Whats the latest the parks usually stay open in Tokyo during these times? Weekends & weekdays. Thanks.
Originally Posted By MagicalNezumi Office ladies, or OL's (not to be confused with Oriental Land Company - OLC), are the driving force of the Japanese economy and a major reason why the Tokyo Disney Resort makes money hand over fist. The term refers to women aged 18-35 or so, that have a a lot of disposable income and seem to spend much of it visiting TDR and buying plenty of souvenirs very often. The parks at TDR usually close at 10pm throughout the year except during weekdays in the January and February. Weather is not much of a factor in determining the changing the scheduled opening or closing of the park. Tokyo faces its share of typhoons, storms, occasional snow during winter, and the summer heat! -- MagicalNezumi
Originally Posted By wtg2000 I hope your painter friend is happy at the thought of all the smiling faces that walk around TDS everyday. I hope she is very proud of the wonderful job she did. The painting in the park is simply wonderful, from the seamless wall and building painting to the exquisite artwork adorning such places as the Broadway Theatre and Port Discovery Electric Railway Station. I for one, as a recent visitor, thank her for the hard work and dedication.
Originally Posted By foolishmortal Good job Marc! So what is the opinion of OLC? Is it a hit for them or are they worried? Is it above projection? Is TDL cannibalized and is Pooh holding it's own a year later?
Originally Posted By Shreks_Pal "So what is the opinion of OLC? Is it a hit for them or are they worried? " I've read a news item from Bloomberg's that report OLC is going to show a rebound in their profits in about half the time they projected after spending for TDS. Seems that with the help of their E-ticket "Pooh's Hunny Hunt" attraction and the early success of TDS, OLC is doing just fine. In a perverse way, this validates Uncle Walt's strategy of providing high quality, family entertainment that will make you rich. On the otherhand, that other Disney designed park in Anaheim doesn't seem to be doing nearly as well. Happy Birthday Walt!
Originally Posted By TDLFAN It's just not PooH's Hunny Hunt keeping the # of guests at a healthy level at TDLand. You can not discount the positive effects that the Dreamlight Parade, Pin Trading, several new stage shows, Disney's Halloween, Xmas Fantasy and Party Express events have had in the overall performance of TDLand. This park is not just about one or two new attractions; it's about the constant and ever changing special events and the food and merchandise that go with it. It certainly keeps me going back for more quite often!
Originally Posted By wtg2000 I was there a couple weeks ago and Pooh was lined up for miles. TDL seemed pretty solid for a weekday in October and TDS was packed. What impressed me at TDS was how lined up the expensive sit-down restaurants were.
Originally Posted By CousinOrville It's funny how quiet the press is about TDS, especially as compared to DCA. I'd think they would do exactly as mentioned and compare the philosophy of both efforts and the results. I'm excited to hear that OLC is doing well and that WDI didn't steer them into the hell that Disney corporate was so afraid of on DCA. Walt made it simple when he instructed Herb Ryman to "design something people will like". It's as simple as that! 100 years of mastering the obvious! Go Walt!!
Originally Posted By Shreks_Pal "It's funny how quiet the press is about TDS, especially as compared to DCA." I read that Disney Co. had asked OLC to not offer press passes to media organizations outside of Japan and Asia. It seems that Disney wanted to avoid the media making logical comparisions between two Disney designed parks opening in the same year on opposites sides of the Pacific. Also, the US media usually ignores ANY news in Asia unless it's bad (building collapses in S. Korea, earthquakes in China, lousy economy in Japan) or oddball stuff. A little better than Africa, but not by much. "100 years of mastering the obvious! Go Walt!!" I'd like to concure and add: 16 years of greed! Go Mike--LEAVE!
Originally Posted By OrlandoBoi "In a perverse way, this validates Uncle Walt's strategy of providing high quality, family entertainment that will make you rich." Nothing perverse about it. I call it good business sense. If you build it(i.e. high quality, interestingly themed and exciting entertainment with that special Disney touch)...they WILL come.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>Disney asked OLC not to give passes to the media outside Japan to avoid comparisons..<< OLC has proven to be quite effective at operating the best, most popular Disney resort in the world. They have the money and the business knowledge to make things happen. Heck! I'd even say they could do a much better job in bringing quality to the lackluster WDW and other Disney related ventures outside of Japan. OLC is in control if you ask me, so then why would they feel the need to hold back and not invite the media to their new TDS park? And furthermore who does Eisner think he is if he indeed asked OLC not to invite the foreign press to the opening of TDS?!? Eisner stands nothing to loose, after all he just pocketed 10% of the profits made by OLC this fiscal year. The day TDS opened, the local media here in Orlando ran segments on the opening of TDS as well as most news channels such as the domestic CNN, CNBC. I saw them as i was not able to be there that day; i was glued to the tv for any reports that would come up. I would like to believe that OLC refrained from bringing the foreign press due in part because their resort has always been marketed more for the domestic japanese market or because in Japan's society, it doesn't seem nice to "show-off" like most companies do the rest of the world. I mean they do show-off but only "within" their borders. But that is only my take on this matter.
Originally Posted By Doobie <<< I read that Disney Co. had asked OLC to not offer press passes to media organizations outside of Japan and Asia. It seems that Disney wanted to avoid the media making logical comparisions between two Disney designed parks opening in the same year on opposites sides of the Pacific. >>> I've heard this rumor as well. Don't know if it's true or not, but I do know there was plenty of American media there. I think your second point about American media and Asia is the biggest reason we don't hear much about it. Doobie.
Originally Posted By CousinOrville It will be interesting if any of the new additions to TDS make it (in any dissected form) back to the US parks. Stormrider's motion base, Aquatopia's ride system, Journey 's effects and maybe even the advanced figures in Sindbad have unique elements that may be cannibalized into a new WDW Attraction. I wouldn't pass those assets up if I was there! The interesting thing to remember about Walt was that he was frugal. He reportedly hated how much it cost to berm up and build the DL Train Station. high cost drove him nuts. He placed a high value on money, (it was always hard for him to get) and my sense knew when things were overdone. Disneyland was well detailed, but not to dripping excess or for it's own sake. It was always in support of a bigger emotion or idea. In the cases of the Columbia Sailing ship or New Orleans Square, it went as far as theatrical/historic accuracy, not excess to impress you. He was out to convince and suspend disbelief and pay off the environment with a show that validated the architectural setup. this is important. Those Pirates that live just behind the iron lace of New Orleans add a special mystique. Sometimes detail gets out of hand in that it isn't in support of any dramatic mood or to take you to another time, it is for it's own sake. When things like that happen and you end up with rich spaces that no one relates to or is interested in, then you have fiscal disaster. Walt knew the balance between entertainment, what the guest wants and how to give it to them in a reasonable way. It may be good to add a perspective when looking at these DCA,TDS,DLP WDW products.( BTW- I'm not saying any one of these is guilty or innocent of this.) Just a thought. from the bathtub of- Cousin Orville
Originally Posted By trekkeruss In a way, I have top "defend" the WDC, and how the U.S. parks have performed in relation to the TDResort. OCL has a bit of an edge in that the Japanese people on the whole, love everything about America, and Disney in particular, at least that's my impression. Americans, on the otherhand, while many of us love Disney, a lot also hate Disney, seeing the company as a sort of ugly big business. I'd almost be willing to bet that a DCA built at TDResort would have done nearly as well as TDSea. Factoring in the difference in construction costs, perhaps even better, from a purely financial standpoint. We'll never know of course.
