Originally Posted By leemac <<I honestly wonder how "good" the attendance numbers at WDW would be if there were NO japanese guests coming from Asia. And worst...what would happen if the British weren't so close minded about coming to WDW and skipping DLP...>> Well the whole of Asian tourists to FL doesn't come close to 1.5m Brits. Plus Canadians, Mexicans, Brazilians, Swedes, Germans etc.
Originally Posted By leemac <<Same attitude that helped sink Euro Disney when the american tourists in Paris snubbed the park.>> And how many Americans is that? EDL's problems were with their core audience of the UK, France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain and Italy.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Furthermore...I honestly wonder how "good" the attendance numbers at WDW would be if there were NO japanese guests coming from Asia. And worst...what would happen if the British weren't so close minded about coming to WDW and skipping DLP...>> Yes. I wondered about that myself. It seems that British-French rivalry (is hatred too strong a word?) certainly keeps many UKers away. The very strong pound to our weak dollar (thanks George, the economy is great, can't wait for $5 gas!) also is a major factor. I just can't imagine having a park that wonderful so close and opting to fly across the ocean for WDW instead. Although, in fairness, many tourists from the UK spend a month on 'holiday' in Florida and do a whole lot more than WDW, so I suppose we should be thankful they are helping pump up our service economy. Just wish they'd dress better ;-)
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>TDLFAN you need to open your eyes if you think OLC does hardly any promotion. Those huge billboards in the metro aren't cheap and there are literally dozens of them in Tokyo station (often competing with Universal Studios Japan). Add in tonnes of TV and radio commercials and they spend a fortune on marketing.<< Locally yes, especially when they have special events for a short amount of time..I can understand why promotional efforts are needed, but international promotions like the relentless WDW campaigns about faux celebrations? No. Or at least I am missing them because I am yet to see one ad for TDR anywhere outside of Japan. And even in Tokyo, I am not being bombarded with promotional stuff like I see in Orlando where everywhere I turn, there is a billboard promoting a "Spinning Coaster at DAK" or an "Extreme Car Show at MGM". It's pathetic they don't even name their new offerings byu their given names.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss 1.) WDW is not in or near a major metropolitan area as all the other resorts are. It MUST advertise well beyond Florida to survive. 2.) WDW has four theme parks, two water parks and more than 30 hotels with tens of thousands of rooms to fill; again, they need to advertise well beyond Florida to do do that. 3.) I would imagine WDW has billboards all over Orlando (and Florida) to draw tourists attention who are driving through to points south, and those tourists not staying on Disney property. 4.) 3.2% of TDR guests are foreigners; of that number, you can bet most of them are from other parts of Asia. It would be foolish for OLC to advertise TDR here in the USA when the remaining 96.8% are Japanese, and 68.9% of those are in the Tokyo/Kanto region.
Originally Posted By leemac <<Or at least I am missing them because I am yet to see one ad for TDR anywhere outside of Japan.>> When 90%+ of visitors are from Japan why would they advertise elsewhere? There is no commercial sense to that at all. <<And even in Tokyo, I am not being bombarded with promotional stuff like I see in Orlando where everywhere I turn, there is a billboard promoting a "Spinning Coaster at DAK" or an "Extreme Car Show at MGM".>> Honestly TDLFAN you couldn't be more wrong. OLC spends a great deal of advertising. It has to if it is going to attract guests from its ever-decreasing target market. The subway posters are everywhere. You can't get off at a major metropolitan station without seeing one.
Originally Posted By Skellington88 To balance my negativity, here are 7 reasons why WDW is better than Tokyo Disney Resort: - Far larger property - Superior Monorails/Monorail System - Delux Resorts are HIGH Quality (Polynesian, Contemporary, Wilderness and animal kingdom lodge, etc.) - We got SOARIN' and Journey to the center of the earth's little sister (Expedition: Everest) (unfortunatly we also have stitch escape *weeps*) - Presumably WDW's Pirates of Caribean will be more tecnologically sophisticated and immersive than Tokyo's even though tokyo's is based on the CA version. - WDW has OHANA - Cinderella's Castle in WDW is far superior to Tokyo's. Ours has a full fledged and elaboratly themed reasturant inside AND an apartment at the top. Tokyo's is essentially just a hollow "Prop" especially now that they closed the castle mystery tour which was the only thing theres had going for it. So yea WDW has the better castle.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<Superior Monorails>> You must not have ever ridden the TDR monorail. Aside from the "fact" that they don't look as sleek, there is _nothing_ about the WDW trains that is superior to the TDR trains. The TDR trains run on schedule with never a delay, they are cleaner, the seating is more luxurious, they have cute Mickey handholds for standing riders and there are little showcases at in the cars with Disney artifacts. Bottom line: TDR monorails ARE better.
Originally Posted By Roger55 I agree on larger property, POC and the castle (now that Mystery Tour is gone). However, all the other reasons just don't hold water. >>Deluxe Resort are HIGH Quality << And the Mira Costa and Amabassador are not? Resort quality is certainly not an argument for WDW being better. >>Journey to the center of the earth's little sister (Expedition: Everest) << Have you been to TDR? JTTCE is nothing like EE. Completely different attraction and experiences. If you want to hold up technologically unique attractions, there is none more unique that Pooh's Hunny Hunt. Cancels out the fact that TDR doesn't have Soarin'. Also, Soarin' is a clone from DCA, so it doesn't even go in WDW's "claim to fame" list. Also, as already pointed out, there is no way one could call WDW's monorail system superior. Maybe one could say WDW's version is more stylish based on one's own opinion. But superior? No Way! >> WDW has OHANA <<< Whaaaaa???? If you mean the restaurant, I find it hardly worth mentioning in a comparison of the resorts. If you are trying to make a statement about WDW having the feeling of OHANA and TDR not having it, well I just don't see that at all.
Originally Posted By Skellington88 you guys are absurd..."tokyo's has mickey mouse handels and florida doesnt" well boo-hoo I dont want stupid cartoon charecter tie-ins in my monorails thank you very much. Ambassador and that other hotel may be fine hotels in their own right...but they cannot come close to the majety of the Seven Seas Lagoon resorts or the two lodges. Do they have refillable mugs at tokyo disneyresort? NOPE! This topic really got me thinking that its ironic, The magic is slowly slowly returning to the Disney parks in america and the magic is disapperaing in Japan...look at the last attractions they opened Raging spirits and buzz astroblasters...an "off the shelf" coaster and a pixar clone no less...and look what they got in development...a Monsters Inc. version of Midway mania and an altered clone of an eleven year old MGM studios attraction (tower of terror). It would appear that the Oriental Land Company is coming down with a serious case of Pressler-Syndrome.
Originally Posted By Skellington88 and on top of that dont you have to pay to use the monorails at Tokyo Disney?
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<you guys are absurd..."tokyo's has mickey mouse handels and florida doesnt" well boo-hoo I dont want stupid cartoon charecter tie-ins in my monorails thank you very much.>> Once again, you are merely falling back on styling issues alone. That in no way makes WDW's monorails superior. TDR monorail trains are technically superior and provide guests with a higher quality riding experience... those factors count for much more than style. <<dont you have to pay to use the monorails at Tokyo Disney?>> Yes, but I think guests or the TDR hotels do not pay. TDR's monorail system falls under Tokyo government transit regulations, which I believe is the reason for the fee... there is no Reedy Creek equivalent at TDR.
Originally Posted By Roger55 >>Do they have refillable mugs at tokyo disneyresort? NOPE!<< ROFLMAO! If this is representative of your value system, there is no vaule in trying to discuss this issue any further! Thanks for the laugh. ;-)
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy >> TDR monorail trains are technically superior and provide guests with a higher quality riding experience... those factors count for much more than style. << Tell that to the American auto industry. QUESTION -- Can any one tell me why the TDR monorails look so boxy? It can't be just a cultural/style thing. The Japanese bullet trains sure look sleek enough. Is it just me? Maybe the average Japanese guest thinks they look cool?
Originally Posted By Roger55 I can only speculate, because I have no direct information regarding the design. My guess is like most things the Japanese designers do, they wanted it to be as functional and as efficient as possible. The boxy shape makes the most efficient interior room for passengers, which is needed for TDR's monorail for handling the high capacity requirements. Rounded or smoothed exterior shape does not add to the interior usable space for passengers. There is no need for an aerodynamic stream lined shape because of the relatively low speed it travels at. The bullet trains however, require a low drag design, thus thier sleek design. The 500 series bullet train was actually modeled from the beak of water diving birds that enter the water from a steep aerial dive in order to plunge into the water and catch fish. I personally like the look of the monorail. I agree it isn't that stylish, but it has a unique look. Hey, people by Scions and Honda Elements don't they? Boxy shape for maximum interior efficiency for passengers. Absence of sleek bullent train style because it wasn't necessary. That is my take!
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy Fair enough. I appreciate your points, and you're probably right. But the Disney monorails don't need to look sleek for any good aerodynamic reason either. Just simply to look cool. A Japanese monorail with a bullet-train nose would have been a cool idea, and a way to differentiate from the WDW styling. The guys designing the interior and setting the dimensions don't have to have their ergonomics visibly carry over to the exterior. >> Absence of sleek bullent train style because it wasn't necessary. << But just about everything else in a theme park is about theming, and unnecessary extras -- style and flair that goes beyond what is needed. Everything else goes along with this. Why not the monorails?
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy >> The 500 series bullet train was actually modeled from the beak of water diving birds that enter the water from a steep aerial dive in order to plunge into the water and catch fish. << Cool.
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy ONE MORE QUESTION -- When they built TDL, much was copied directly from WDW's/MK, and this was no accident. The park's owners wanted much to look just like in Florida. The castle is a virtual copy. So why didn't they try to make the exterior of their truly production-class monorails at least look like the ones in Florida? Would it have been that hard to add a much more sleek looking nose to the train, and leave everything else as it is?
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<A Japanese monorail with a bullet-train nose would have been a cool idea, and a way to differentiate from the WDW styling.>> Your statement implies that the TDR monorails are not distinctive, which is obviously not true. <<Would it have been that hard to add a much more sleek looking nose to the train, and leave everything else as it is?>> I guess the designers weren't going after the sleek look. A sleek-looking nose may not look good mated to the boxy body and other design elements such as the Mickey windows either.
