Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt "But that really isn't a sustainable way to do business. At some point, people are going to realize that there's nothing really new or special there any more and all they're selling are hollow promotions." I agree, but only building new rides doesn't seem to work either. Furthermore, WDW's Magic Kingdom has gone for long periods without building any major new attractions and seems to maintain it's postion as the top visited theme park in the country. Most likely the solution is striking the right balance of both.
Originally Posted By plpeters70 "Guests would be more active participants in the story being told instead of just passive viewers of a series of show scenes." They already have a hard enough time getting guests to suspend their disbelief while riding the attractions that they already have, and now they expect them to "play pirate" for the day. Bleeh. Personally, I think Disney's worst attractions are the ones that expect you to interact with actors or other crowd members. You have to have some really good actors and a crowd of people who are really "in the mood" for it to work well.
Originally Posted By plpeters70 "Furthermore, WDW's Magic Kingdom has gone for long periods without building any major new attractions and seems to maintain it's postion as the top visited theme park in the country." It's hard to look at the Magic Kingdom as a good example. Practically everyone who visits WDW goes there - they would really have to screw the place up for it to see a drastic decline in attendance. Heck, they've already done alot to that place that ruins it in my mind, and yet people still go all the time. I don't think Disney could get away with as much at their other theme parks without seeing a major decline in attendance. (Obviously, they know that too - that's why the MK gets no large new E-tickets, but all the other parks do.) I still think it will catch up with them one day - it will probably just take a little longer at the MK. "Most likely the solution is striking the right balance of both. " I totally agree.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt It's hard to look at the Magic Kingdom as a good example. Practically everyone who visits WDW goes there - they would really have to screw the place up for it to see a drastic decline in attendance. But given the argument that new attractions are needed to keep attendance going then the Magic Kingdom should should have seen a slow decline in attendance over time during those periods when new attractions were not built. Instead, the MK's attendance, along with the rest of WDW seems to be more effected by external conditions such as the economy, tourism trends, and weather. My guess is that with DL evolving as a resort, Disney probably investigating new ways to get tourists to stay even longer. A "boutique" theme park is likely just a preliminary business concept at this point.
Originally Posted By ni_teach Ursula said: I've seen the artwork. I fell in love with those concepts, too. You don't happen to have a link that the rest of us could look at do you?
Originally Posted By Ursula ^ No, sorry, I don't. They were a part of the annual report for stockholders and CM's with company stock. It wasn't online that I saw them, I took a peek when The Husband brought them home.
Originally Posted By mrichmondj Disney's annual report is online at Disney.com under investor relations.
Originally Posted By oc_dean Problem with this idea ...... I think it would be an excuse (later down the road) to attempt to raise prices to EVEN higher (more absurd) prices in DL and whatever DCA metamorphasis into ... in the name of the ALL MIGHTY DOLLAR - Other known as The Bottom Line!
Originally Posted By WorldDisney It's strange how relative 'price', 'class' and 'value' can be percieved when talking about Disney. Like a lot of people will say, Disney is for the masses, it was always meant as a place for EVERYONE and since it's litterally the No. 1 theme park in America and on the planet, that's saying something. BUT, at the same time, Disneyland IS expensive for most out there. Hell, it's already the most expensive theme park in the country and planet now. As far as **I** know, there are no theme parks anywhere more expensive than Disney and for what Disney does, there really shouldn't be. Just to give you an example, Korea, where I live, their biggest theme park is called 'Everland' in Korea. The price of admission is roughly $28 now. Again, its nothing CLOSE to DL, but for the majority out there who don't know how DL really is (never having been), something twice the amount seems insane by most. Even though HKDL is the cheapest Disney park at the moment, it's still TWICE the cost of the most expensive theme park in China (and less to do than many of them and Disney is wondering why they hare having attendance issues??? Digressing now ). So for many, including most of my friends, spending a day at DL is already a REALLY expensive option for most now. Yeah, most parks have gotten expensive as well, but again, they are all dictated by Disney aren't they? When Disney raise their price, they raise there's as well just to keep up. So, for most people **I** know, they look at DL as a 'boutique' park already considering how much you pay for everything else on the property like hotels, food, snacks and etc. I mean, anytime you are looking for a hotel outside of Disney property, that hotel can be as much as %50 cheaper than the Disney one, depending on the season. Didn't someone post that the Grand Calif. already is charging around $500 a night for their top rooms? That seems a little absurd to me personally when you can get a bigger room and just as nice amenities at a another 5 star place for $250-300 a night. But, people will pay it. Why? Because they want the 'Disney magic' 24/7 and will pay it. And that's what Disney is betting on. Like it's been said, DL has been increasing their ticket prices rapidly high over the last few years. The price jumped $20 in 5 years time!! That's 50%!!! It's insane, but most have no problem paying it seems. Although I think Disney HAS priced a lot of the poorer people out, it's core audience and fans, the HUGE fanbase will have no problem paying it. Yeah, they will will moan, gripe and whine about it, post about it on the net like we do here....but will pay it anyway . Once again, Disney KNOWS that and keeps pushing the price upwards. As for the boutique park, yeah, one, I think it's just a 'blue sky' idea too, something they are dreaming up, but no way in hell would it get built. But, like I said, I think they could actually find enough people to pay it IF the quality and experience is miles ahead of the other parks. Most of you already ARE paying thousands of dollars a year for the Disney experience now as it is. I always drop my jaw when I read somewhere someone paid $5,000 plus for a week at WDW, getting the full amenities, staying at the top hotels and so on. I envy them because I could NEVER afford to do that in one week and if I could, I'm not sure I can justify it, but once again people DO!!! How many do it, have no clue lol, but if Disney could find the right mix of people that already pays for the high end hotels, the nicest restaurants and etc, it might could work and I bet MOST of you would be willing to check it out once....or even justify it once a year, every year if it was that good, that includes me as well . Like a poster mentioned, he FLEW to Hong Kong JUST to check out the park. The cost for the ticket from America isn't cheap kids, but he did it. Some are willing to go that lengths for it, enough to justify a high end park 365 days a year? Not sure. Most of my friends don't think Disney is worth the money to go once in their life time over a $50+ ticket, but then on the other end of that scale, some pay thousands through the nose every year going to the same theme park when they could've spent that money on CHEAPER options like a trip to Europe, ASIA or a cruise to Alaska or something. Like I said, it's really between class and what value they percieve it to be to pay it. I honestly think this park would put off a lot of people in one way, but it could really attract a whole host of people who probably decide instead of doing WDW for the 50th time and coming to the West Coast for a change. Those people might be intriqued enough to do it. The Japanese are ALREADY paying through the nose to see TDLR (not the parks actually, the one day admissions are CHEAPER than the American ones , but the hotels, parking, amenities, AP's and etc, but none of them don't seem to mind as well. I think most who already travel to see the American parks would easily fork over another grand to experience a park like this, not all, but maybe enough to help keep the attendance count Disney would expect. Anyway, it's not THAT bizarre of an idea because when you think about it, the company has already convince people to pay thousands a year already. How can people explain completely sold out nights every summer in their 5 star hotels when they can go all of a few miles a pay only a percentage for the same thing? Its not Disney that's why. I'm fine with that lol, but some people want the experience all the time. Having a theme park where it promises not to only give you the best shows and attractions anyway, but will immerse you in the experience like never before may get a lot of people to open their wallets....maybe even YOU!!! All that said though, I hope they just build a smaller version of TDS, charge the regular price and just be done ;D.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt I think the locals are spoiled, therefore my intuition tells me that they are most likely the ones to be vocally against this concept. If it doesn't look, taste, or smell like Disneyland Park, they're going to be suspicious or reject the idea altogether. I personally think the concept is a bit far-fetched, but the idea may just be a natural progression and evolution of the theme park concept, and the target audience may totally embrace it.
Originally Posted By mstaft I think a park can be different than Disneyland but must have Disney quality. Big difference.
