Originally Posted By AutoPost This topic is for Discussion of <a href="http://www.LaughingPlace.com/Latest.asp?I1=ID&I2=3245" target="_blank"><b>Latest: Fantasmic! to go to 2 days a week at DHS</b></a> According to the calendars on WaltDisneyWorld.com, Fantasmic! at Disney's Hollywood Studios will be cut down to twice per week in January after the holiday season.
Originally Posted By Disneymom443 has the attendance gone down? I know that it's been several years that I've wanted to see it and now I able to do so by booking the Fantasmic dining experiance. We just never had the time to wait in the long lines to see the show. I do know that I'm looking forward to the show.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< has the attendance gone down? >>> Not necessarily. They'll move mountains in order to meet their earnings growth goals. Imagine how much money it will save to cut out 10 shows a week.
Originally Posted By sun-n-fun We usually go once each trip and it is always packed. The line is out front is deceiving because usually they haven't let people in yet. They do a great job of getting everyone in and out. I'd imagine people will now be turned away - what a shame!
Originally Posted By Malin I hope guest will complain about this, but do we know the reason yet. It may be that WDW are cutting down the performances to do routine maintenance to the show. Anyway people can't complain to much as Disneyland does this pratice all year round, talk about your double standards.
Originally Posted By tonyanton I think the difference here is that when Fantasmic! isn't running at DL, there is still many things to see and do. At the Studios, there are far fewer attractions to begin with. I guess though with American Idol coming and Midway Mania just opened this is a cost saving move during the off season.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Also, Disneyland pulls in mainly a local crowd. Whereas people book a year in advance (and 6 months for ADRs) at WDW. Big difference.
Originally Posted By DlandDug Wow. This is actually a big deal. You see, Fantasmic! has been keeping DHS alive after 6pm for years now. All the restaurants and shops have been counting on the income derived from folks waiting around for the East Coast version of this Disneyland demi-classic. My guess is this is more a reflection of how rising gas prices are affecting the Resort, rather than the popularity of the show. I am surprised, though, at this "sacrifice." It will have a big impact on DHS's profits.
Originally Posted By mmaus1962 It's cutting back after the holiday season, but does it indicate whether those cut shows will be reinstated when the busy season starts, say around spring break or Easter?
Originally Posted By Malin <<< I think the difference here is that when Fantasmic! isn't running at DL, there is still many things to see and do >>> Most guest who visit DHS are either Annual Passholders or tourist visiting on a park hopper ticket. WDW has a lot of other cool places to visit too. <<< Also, Disneyland pulls in mainly a local crowd. Whereas people book a year in advance (and 6 months for ADRs) at WDW. Big difference. >>> Is this the same DLR thats trying to be the WDW of the west coast. I think you point out just how little DLR Management care about anyone who isn't a local, and the fact that Resort clearly caters to much towards the Annual Passholder, a reason why I think a lot of tourist would rather visit WDW.
Originally Posted By DlandDug >>Is this the same DLR thats trying to be the WDW of the west coast. I think you point out just how little DLR Management care about anyone who isn't a local, and the fact that Resort clearly caters to much towards the Annual Passholder, a reason why I think a lot of tourist would rather visit WDW.<< Hmm. This is really a discussion for another thread, but I will address it. Generally speaking, Disneyland draws in a mostly local crowd, and WDW caters mostly to tourists. There was an effort made to create a multi-day experience at Disneyland with the creation of the Disneyland Resort. The Resort wasn't "trying" to make this happen; a specific segment of Disney management was. The issue is that Anaheim is in the middle of everything, and Orlando is in the middle of nothing. (That was certainly the case back in 1971 when WDW was established.) Disneyland can never have the same lock on guests as WDW does, despite any misguided efforts. That the current Disneyland management recognizes this doesn't mean that they don't care about tourists. It just means that the reality is that locals (including a sizable contingent of Annual Passholders) need to be accommodated. The original assertion (>>Also, Disneyland pulls in mainly a local crowd. Whereas people book a year in advance (and 6 months for ADRs) at WDW. Big difference.<<) is not a value judgement, simply an astute observation. There's no need to speculate beyond it, unless one has an axe to grind.
Originally Posted By NikkiLOVESMickey Personally, this isn't a big deal for me because I'm not all that big a fan of Fantasmic. I've seen it a few times and I find it disjointed. I'd rather watch Wishes or Illuminations. Overall though, this makes me worried: what else are they going to cut next? They're already closing PI, and now they've cut back here. I fear more cuts may be in the works soon. Disney guests will have a very limited choice of activities to engage in after the sun goes down.
Originally Posted By dshyates As far as PI goes, I think they are opening a dance club at the Boardwalk, and they just opened a dance club at Corronado. I wouldn't be surprised to see a few more Danc Clubs open at some of the other resorts. I think they could make a really hip Club at the Contemporary. I still stand by my opinion that one of the reasons that they are closing PI is that it is attracting a rowdier local crowd than Disney wants to deal with. And at DHS they will have the "Best of the Day" American Idol evening finale show to pick up the slack.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< Overall though, this makes me worried: what else are they going to cut next? ... Disney guests will have a very limited choice of activities to engage in after the sun goes down. >>> And, consider what this will do for people that really want to see Fantasmic. Instead of visiting any day of the week, they will need to pick one of two days a week to visit DHS. This is likely to concentrate attendance on those days. I guess they really won't know until they try, but much like the dining plan, I suspect that this sort of partial-week schedule of major shows will cause unanticipated changes in guest behavior that will have to be dealt with.
Originally Posted By dshyates They will probably schedule "Disney's Extra Magical Dreams Hours" at one of the other parks to spread out the crowds.
Originally Posted By NikkiLOVESMickey <<And at DHS they will have the "Best of the Day" American Idol evening finale show to pick up the slack.>> I've said it before and I'll say it again - AI at WDW is a sign of the apocalypse. BLEEEEEEEECH!
Originally Posted By vbdad55 For a park that offers so little these days ( when it is not Star Wars Weekends) - what I think they will find is people may skip this park - let's hope those idiot bean counters have factored this in also. Or maybe the loyal Disney customer who spends the entire trip on the grounds may venture up the road to see that new Wizard land coming...
Originally Posted By Mr X MGM was the only park we skipped this past December, probably the first time I've ever skipped ANY park on a major WDW visit.
