Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>The only thing that should scare people in this really zainy scenario is not a new owner of the resorts, but whoever the separate entity is that buys all of the land in Orlando. And make no mistake it would be a separate pool of developers. That would really be the fall from grace in the scenario. Again, I don't see any of this happening. Not saying Spirit is wrong, it could be attempted or discussed. Yet, hard to see it reach the finish line in today's world with today's companies<<<< Agreed. Totally. If only there was a way to import better managers and that is that. Still have WDI build and create. Just get the operations up to par. And yes, it's a plausible idea... but if it becomes reality, it is lightning striking.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>Gosh, I hope so. Not to mix threads, but even the Disney Parks blog has made the usage of this quasi-brand monkier into fingers on the chalkboard.<<< It robs ALL Disney parks and resorts of their uniqueness. I want to go to Disneyland, or EPCOT, or Animal Kingdom... not a Disney's Land or a Disney Park. Let things market and brand themselves.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>But even that can backfire. If DVC owners begin to believe that it's not worth it anymore they could either resell ther DVC or if there is no market they could simply stop making the annual maintenance payments and surrender it.<<<< Or use it to go to REAL destinations? (You heard me... lol )
Originally Posted By Bolna The question here shouldn't be whether any sale will ever happen, but if Iger and Staggs seriously consider that possibility. Because if that is the case it will have an impact on the parks whether they succeed or not. It would be enough if the mindset in TWDC was to try and sell off the parks. There would be a real danger that this would create even more of an incentive to just make the parks look good for an investor, i.e. very short term profits while not investing anything at all in anything long term. That appears to be an issue at WDW already right now and things most definitely wouldn't improve during a time when the parks were on the market in the mind of TWDC.
Originally Posted By Bolna <<It robs ALL Disney parks and resorts of their uniqueness. I want to go to Disneyland, or EPCOT, or Animal Kingdom... not a Disney's Land or a Disney Park. >> I agree with ChiMike and you... I found it very creepy when I read about "the difficulty to decide where to stay at Disney Parks" - as if someone would say "I want to travel to Disney Parks - should I stay at the Disneyland Hotel or the Contemporary????
Originally Posted By Christi22222 >>It would be enough if the mindset in TWDC was to try and sell off the parks. There would be a real danger that this would create even more of an incentive to just make the parks look good for an investor, i.e. very short term profits while not investing anything at all in anything long term. That appears to be an issue at WDW already right now and things most definitely wouldn't improve during a time when the parks were on the market in the mind of TWDC.<< We might just be learning about this now, but clearly if true the idea HAS been in their heads for awhile. So it fits that the parks have seen a fresh coat of paint if nothing else of substance in the last year or so. A theme park style "fix and flip." I'm going to be sick. I agree with whoever said on here that whether this information turns out to be true or not, it sure would explain a lot of things and make sense of what has been utter nonsense at the parks for awhile. Also, I am not a big roller coaster lover. They are fun. I go. But mostly I love Disney (old Disney). I do not believe it would be possible to sell the parks and have them be better in any way. Even if they have been stinking it up lately. Not the same situation as Japan at all. The reason the term Spirit uses is "wal-marting" is because that is what we currently do in America. Cheapen and homgenize and copy everything. Even apple, current king of the world. How many frickin' sizes can the same toy come in? I'm over Wall Street. I'm losing faith in humanity. And I'm going to go to my room and pout now. This just sucks. As if the flood weren't enough.
Originally Posted By HMButler79 forget the parks, its the resorts that need to be sold off. They have turned into white elephants and you can't claim a 4 star resort when you have daycare pool activites and movies at night bothering other guests and when the towels are the same as at Pop. Anyone could do a better job of running 22 hotels than Disney can.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>It would be enough if the mindset in TWDC was to try and sell off the parks. There would be a real danger that this would create even more of an incentive to just make the parks look good for an investor, i.e. very short term profits while not investing anything at all in anything long term. That appears to be an issue at WDW already right now and things most definitely wouldn't improve during a time when the parks were on the market in the mind of TWDC. <<<< Great point. It certainly fits, doesn't it? This could be the reason for all the synergy, for all the quick fixes. All the more reason to want Iger out.
Originally Posted By Christi22222 Agreed. But even though service would improve, I would worry that we would lose the immersive theming. I also would worry about them selling off any of the resort property. It's a slippery slope and they already have been sliding.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>I agree with ChiMike and you... I found it very creepy when I read about "the difficulty to decide where to stay at Disney Parks" - as if someone would say "I want to travel to Disney Parks - should I stay at the Disneyland Hotel or the Contemporary????<<<< Thanks. And it certainly supports the mentality of the one time visitor. . . "it's all the same, why go back and compare parks? Or quality?" Homogenized product, homogenized guest experience, homogenized amount of cash taken. Next customer.
Originally Posted By ChiMike see: <a href="http://www.loews.com/loews.nsf/home.htm" target="_blank">http://www.loews.com/loews.nsf/home.htm</a>
Originally Posted By matthewdort The sooner Disney sheds the parks the better. When the toddlers of today hit adulthood, the theme park as destination concept will likely have run its course, at least in America. Besides becoming prohibitively expensive for an increasing number of people, the theme park concept seems about 20 years past its expiration date, and outside of the fan contingent, I just don't think it's perceived as cool for much of anyone over the age of 13 or 14 (or possibly younger). This generation of kids will likely question and reject a great deal of what has been established in this nation in the previous 50 years, and I don't foresee them taking their children to Disney just because that's what their parents did with them. The theme park industry might have new success in developing nations, but here it's becoming passé and is likely on its way to obsolescence.
Originally Posted By ChiMike Sorry.. >>Anyone could do a better job of running 22 hotels than Disney can. << see: <a href="http://www.loews.com/loews.nsf/home.htm" target="_blank">http://www.loews.com/loews.nsf/home.htm</a>
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>Agreed. But even though service would improve, I would worry that we would lose the immersive theming. I also would worry about them selling off any of the resort property. It's a slippery slope and they already have been sliding.<<< Orrrrrr... We could go the OLC route and have it made in the shade. LOL We don't know enough to jump to any conclusions, IMO, which everyone seems to looove to do. I see this as a possibility... With a ton of hurdles that will probably/hopefully get in the way.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Maybe they'll just deed the whole thing to the DVC and let us run it... ;-)
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>Maybe they'll just deed the whole thing to the DVC and let us run it... ;-)<< Does that mean we have to look forward to folks with coolers of beer and Walmart shopping bags trampling through Main Street?
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>Maybe they'll just deed the whole thing to the DVC and let us run it... ;-)<<< Bring back quality and creativity, I'd be a fan. Speaking of the devil, how does DVC amd things like DCL fit this plan?
Originally Posted By leemac <<Anyone could do a better job of running 22 hotels than Disney can. >> Please - any hotelier would die for the occupancy rates and RevPAR of the WDW and DLR hotels. WDP&R knows how to run hotels and resorts - those are the true cashcows of the business unit.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer ^ And the parks aren't, as they are a risk... The Walt Disney Hotel Company working in conjunction with someone who owns their MK, their EPCOT, their DAK... Heh. How does Apple/Jobs feel about all this?
Originally Posted By leemac I get so irate when people bring up OLC as the model for how to operate a Disney resort - they conveniently forget that Japan is an entirely different market to the US. Debt is cheap, the Japanese love to vacation at home and they have societal conventions like meibutsu and omiyage. None of those national peculiarities translate to the US. OLC have spent years trying to figure out how to expand outside of the native country and can't.
