OC Register Reports on DCA's Attendance

Originally Posted By cheesybaby

>>>The cruise line, Aulani, Adventures by Disney<<

>Those won't fill hotel rooms in Orlando.

Oy. Of course they won't. That's the point.

 

Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt

I have a friend who stayed at Coronado Springs on business and didn't visit the parks. His experience was positive, but from what I hear that property is better set up for business travelers. I know people in Orlando who are heavily involved in the local convention business and according to them the Dolphin and Swan are hugely popular for meetings because of their huge conference facilities.

 

Originally Posted By danyoung

What a surprise. CSR is the only moderate hotel on Disney property with convention facilities, while AKL is absolutely NOT a convention hotel. When you stay in a hotel where 95% of the hotel guests are not there for a convention, and you're there for a convention, you're likely to feel a little bit alienated.

 

Originally Posted By fkurucz

"What she did say was that the Lodge was not well set up for a business traveler, and she did start to feel like an outsider with most of the people staying there on family vacations."

My point exactly. Sure, they're conventions and such. But without the parks there's no way in Hades they would fill those tens of thousands of hotel rooms. Or sell those DVC vacation plans.

"but I stand by my remarks that Disney's other operations warrant significant resources"

Well of course. You can't have umpteen "resorts" without significant resources. But what makes those hotels valuable are the theme parks. They are the value proposition.

 

Originally Posted By danyoung

But that wasn't the original assumption. It was that Disney execs are just running theme parks, which in some way should seem demeaning. But that's not true - they're running all of those businesses that surround the theme parks, like lodging, food service, merchandise, etc. I can't imagine any Disney exec at any level in any way being embarrassed by their job.

 

Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt

"My point exactly. Sure, they're conventions and such. But without the parks there's no way in Hades they would fill those tens of thousands of hotel rooms. Or sell those DVC vacation plans."

Well of course, but on the other hand there's no way in Hades that the vast convention and meeting facilities at the Dolphin, Swan, Contemporary, and Coronado Springs would sell out if the only people visiting the place were all day at the parks. As a theme park fan you many want Disney to focus only on parks, but the reality is that their business model is has many different facets and expanded beyond theme parks over three decades ago.

 

Originally Posted By TP2000

Thanks to all for seeing me through my Mr. Cranky Pants phase. ;-)

That's a great article Hans, thanks for the link! It does seem Iger is keyed in on the DCA revamp and relaunch, and he is not minimizing its long-term impact on the Company's bottom line. That's very good news. It's also the most in depth I've ever heard Iger speak about any of the parks. Quite interesting.

I also couldn't help but notice the softening of his language regarding the failure of DCA under Eisner's watch. Iger is letting old wounds heal, and a super succesful new DCA seems to have been just the medicine needed for those old wounds. Very different language than the "candor" that Iger was using about DCA back in '07 through 2010.

This summer has been an amazing time to observe the Anaheim goings on.

 

Originally Posted By Moon Waffle

In the long run, DL will pull in more than DCA. The only reason the split is 50/50 today is because of Cars Land.

DL is still the better park overall.

When DL gets a new ride, it will grab a larger percentage of the overall attendance.

During a year when neither park has any brand new offerings, I think you'll see about a 60/40 split between DL and DCA's attendance, respectively.

 

Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt

"DL is still the better park overall."

I prefer DCA now. It's not just Cars Land. It's BV Street and the Carthay Circle restaurant and lounge. It's all the new entertainment. It's the improved dining options. It's World of Color. The attractions and shows are fresher and newer, and the place doesn't feel like you're in a sardine can even when it's busy. I know that DL is the flagship and has the history, the magic and all, but I seriously enjoyed DCA more than DL on my last trip. I'm sure I'm not alone.

 

Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub

I agree with you, Hans. I was there in June for opening day and again Fourth of July. Spent very little time in DL and did not miss it both trips. I plan to return for New Years to stay at PP and will probably be at DCA for NYEve and I am one of those crazy people that have entered every NY's Eve Day to sit in front of the castle on the bench from open to midnight to celebrate ...I hear DCA has a great party i guess I will find out this year...

 

Originally Posted By TP2000

I agree with Hans. I'd rather be in DCA now, all day and into the evening.

The "sardine can" effect of Disneyland has taken its toll. I just don't like to hang out there now as much, I'd rather use DCA's more modern and relaxing design. I may head over to Disneyland to cherry pick a favorite ride or two (Pirates, Space, maybe Indy or the Holiday rides), but I would be perfectly happy spending all day in DCA now.

I never would have said that just a few years ago. Something changed this summer. It's like they threw a switch or something.

It may change in a few years, but for now I want to be in DCA more than I want to be in Disneyland.

And lets be honest, too much of Disneyland is looking really old and hokey now; from 1980's kitsch Captain EO to 1960's fiberglass Indians and fake plastic moose from a riverboat ride.

 

Originally Posted By SuperDry

<<< The "sardine can" effect of Disneyland has taken its toll. I just don't like to hang out there now as much, I'd rather use DCA's more modern and relaxing design. I may head over to Disneyland to cherry pick a favorite ride or two (Pirates, Space, maybe Indy or the Holiday rides), but I would be perfectly happy spending all day in DCA now. >>>

Isn't that amazing? For many people, it's a "180", as they used to cherry-pick a couple of rides at DCA and then spend most of their time in DL.

<<< I never would have said that just a few years ago. Something changed this summer. It's like they threw a switch or something. >>>

I started getting that feeling when WoC opened, and for sure it was complete this summer. I was fortunate to be at DCA during the May/June openings (WoC, then Mermaid, then CarsLand) each of the past three years, and it's been really fun to see all the changes as they unfolded.

 

Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt

"And lets be honest, too much of Disneyland is looking really old and hokey now..."

Cobwebbed is the word I like to use.

As a single grown man I mostly feel like DL management is catering the park more towards families with kids. It's gotten to the point now where I barely set foot in Fantasyland at all and I skipped Toontown altogether on the last trip. Maybe I'm getting old - I spent a fair amount of my time at DLR just hanging out at the DLH pool sipping mai tais. I will always love the Magic Kingdoms, but thankfully Disney is more than just castles and pixie dust.

 

Originally Posted By Manfried

Disneyland was originally designed for families with kids, and not as much for single guys. I like that it is striving to do more of that.

 

Originally Posted By tashajilek

I think Dl will always be my favorite park, and even with Carsland DL still has the lion's share of great attractions. I can see how DCA would be a new favorite because people are bored of the same old at DL. It's nice to have a park with the old favorites and a park with brand new attractions.

 

Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt

"Disneyland was originally designed for families with kids, and not as much for single guys"

I kind of like to think that DL originally had something of interest for everyone. After all it was modeled on the principles and values of a adult man, not a preschooler. Much of the original vision still remains, but there's been a subtle shift over the years to push everything that appeals to 8 year old girls to the forefront, at least that's the impression I get. Just look at the difference between the original story line of the Submarine Voyage compared to Nemo and you might understand what I'm saying. I'm not complaining about DL, just stating why I find DCA more appealing.

 

Originally Posted By ralphjr


"Adults are interested if you don't play down to the little 2 or 3 year olds or talk down. I don't believe in talking down to children. I don't believe in talking down to any certain segment. I like to kind of just talk in a general way to the audience."

-Walt Disney

 

Originally Posted By Dabob2

I still remember reading articles in 60's magazines about how kids could enjoy Adventureland and Frontierland and NOS, but couldn't possibly enjoy them as much as adults.

Walt was right. Don't dumb it down, and the kids will get what they can, and the adults won't feel talked down to. There HAS been some dumbing down in the parks in the name of "appealing to kids" in more recent years, IMO.