Originally Posted By Rebekah This topic is for discussion of the 11/20/2001 news item <b><a href="http://www.ocregister.com/business/anaheim01120cci2.shtml" target="_blank">OCReg: Anaheim didn't reap</a></b> The November 20th <I>Orange County Register</I> reports the economic outlook for the Anaheim Resort including the now delayed planned projects such as an aquarium and themed hotel.
Originally Posted By Westsider An interesting article. Disneyland has been extremely busy the past couple of weeks, after a normally busy Fall. And Downtown Disney is packed, with 2+ hour waits for the restaurants on weekends. Does the blame fall squarely on DCA, and all that that encompasses? (Marketing mess, ticketing mess, entertainment mess, restaurant messes, an attraction roster that lacks E Tickets and isn't aimed at the targeted demographics correctly, an underwhelming theme, etc.?)
Originally Posted By KanakiKid In the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday, I'd like to sort of tone down this post a bit. I'm thinking that SoCal residents are a bit too jaded (myself included) and may have expected too much from DCA. There really did seem that there's and WOW! attraction that made the new park a must see. If ToT was in the opening mix, that might have been enough of a draw in February. While GRR, Screamin' and Soarin' are all excellent attractions, they don't seem to be on the same level that Indy initially drew a few years back. I suppose if DCA was built outside of LA/OC area, it would be an excellent park. Perhaps between SF and San Jose (believe it or not, the SJ area is the second largest metro in CA)it would have generated more than decent crowds slow economy or not. Definitely a success if it was built (with some themeing changes) in any other US city of 1million+ population. IMO, the problem was that Disney calculated that a second gate (and possibly a third gate) would be a success in the WDW mode. Since the other WDW parks are reasonable successes, that model was grafted on to DLR which really doesn't appear to work with locals who might visit more than once a year over many years. For DCA to rally and become a great park and a financial success, I think Disney has to make the "phase II" additions much, much better than the average part from "phase I". Just plunking down a generic show building like they did with the hurried up "Millionare" and trying to do the new attractions on the cheap won't be the thing to appeal to discriminating locals who don't normally have a burning desire to visit a Disney park. Disney has also have to do a much, much better job in generating interest in DLR. The pre-opening promotion was pretty lousy, if I wasn't reading the Disney sites on the Internet, I really wouldn't have know exactly what was happening last winter. Likewise the advertising during it's first year never made DCA very compelling (what another rollercoaster in LA?) and maybe a turnoff to people under 13 years (no offense revern'd maynard). Finally the total lack of promotion of Walt's 100th is pure stupidity, there should be huge events the two weekends bookending Dec.5 to get people hyped about the works of Walt (how many people would get excited for the 100th birthdays of Jack Warner, Sam Goldwyn, etc?) here in the LA area. I can imagine the hype Disney will put on when Uncle Mikey turns 65--big deal!
Originally Posted By damon63 Disney did make more than a few goofs with DCA. However, they are, for the most part, things that can be remedied over time. The ongoing attendance problem appears to be just antoher indicator of a much bigger problem: the ongoing economic downturn aggrevated by the events of September 11. A recent L.A. Times article reporting on Disney's annual report stated that Disneyland Park's attendance is down by a "low double digit" figure this year. It should also be pointed out that other American destination theme parks (The two Universal resort/parks and Walt Disney World in particular) are reporting similar drops in attendance.
Originally Posted By AladdinAZ KanakiKid says: "In the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday, I'd like to sort of tone down this post a bit. . . . . Finally the total lack of promotion of Walt's 100th is pure stupidity." I'm laughing so much right now, knowing that you toned down your feelings in your statement. I'm just as frustrated as you with the lack of acknowledgement of Walt's 100th at DL and it obviously points out some of the larger problems going on with the entire Disney organization. At least we can share our frustration about some of the awful decisions that have been made.
Originally Posted By Westsider damon63, according to all our Attractions managers who in the past 4 or 5 months have stopped trying to be "profesional" when it comes to DCA talk... the low double digit decrease in Disneyland Park attendance is almost all due to canibalism from DCA. Add in the fact that Disneyland Park has not had a major new attraction in over 6 YEARS (Indy Jones Adventure, March, 1995) and it is pretty amazing that Disneyland is doing as well as it is. DCA is running at about a third of the original yearly estimates. One third! That is a huge hit on planned profits and income. That's why they slashed and burned things around the Resort for fiscal year '02. The salaried people aren't getting raises, they canceled their Christmas Party, etc. Disneyland has been doing just fine, even great, considering the slowing economy and the national crisis of Sept. 11th. DCA, on the other hand, has been troubled and limping since it left the gates back in February. As time wears on, and the newness and gimmicks like "The Electrical Parade is Back!" wear off with the SoCal public, DCA appears to be in some serious trouble for 2002 and 2003. Even when the economy picks back up a year from now, sophisticated SoCal'ers are not going to flood the gates of DCA all of a sudden in 2003. It's going to take several new E Tickets, some well thought out and properly budgeted NEW night entertainment, and continuing tweaks to the ticketing system. You should have heard what all the managers thought DCA was going to do a year ago. DCA did a complete 180 from the expectations.
Originally Posted By gadzuux >>I'm just as frustrated as you with the lack of acknowledgement of Walt's 100th at DL and it obviously points out some of the larger problems going on with the entire Disney organization.<< You know . . . I'm not. Walt's 100th birthday seems kinda thin to hang a theme on. Why not his 60th wedding anniversary? What's an appropriate celebration? Singing and dancing to some cornball tune in a parade or stageshow? About what a great guy walt was? I'm not sure what would be better, but it seems with the current resurgence of patriotism (the easy flag-waving kind anyway), disney is perfectly positioned to play into that mindset; it's one of their strengths, and they've been mining it from the get-go, so it wouldn't seem any more jingoistic than it ever does. But I don't feel as slighted as some that DL isn't planning a lot of hoopla over it. And for that matter, WDW is having a tough time making the theme fly too. Just doesn't get the juices flowing for the public ("we're" not public - but something else altogether). It's my guess that the mgmt types are double-thinking their whole scheme of using the 100th as a year-long theme.
Originally Posted By driftwood714 Perhaps they are keeping the 100th Walt BDay low because they're saving up for the 50th Disneyland BDay. That may be a more important anniversay for the Disney Company. Atleast I would think so.
Originally Posted By Westsider Walt hasn't been seen on TV, or heard from, for the last 35 years. There are many parents out there who were born after he passed away, and they have no point of reference for who "Walt Disney" is. Certainly there are big Disney fans who know all about him, take the "footsteps" tour, and things like that. But the vast majority of Americans just haven't had any personal relationship with a man who passed away in 1966. He is no longer the Company spokesman, and hasn't been for decades. So why would people care? I'm surprised they even went for that marketing theme out at WDW. But since they haven't had a major attraction at any of their 4 Parks since Pooh opened in '99, what else do they have? You can't exactly build a national marketing strategy around "Ladies Night" at Pleasure Island, or the fact that the Magic Kingdom has closed the Skyway, the TimeKeeper show, and the Carousel of Progress with no replacements in the last year. They had to use something, and they chose Walt. Remember, when the execs were planning all this type stuff 12 to 18 months ago, DCA was going to be the big breakout hit of 2001. And it was going to be so crowded and succesful (it was the first new Disney Park in SoCal since 1955 remember) that it would carry Resort attendance and Guest Demand right through 2002 and '03. Disneyland hasn't had a new ride since 1995, but the old Disneyland Park was going to ride DCA's attendance coattails through '02 until they could get Pooh open for '03. So why would they bother pre-planning or pre-funding any resources for Walt's 100th in Anaheim? When the decisions about long term budgets were hammered out a year ago, it wasn't going to be neccesary. Expect a special pin release, a "fabulous" ceremony by Cynthia in the Town Square with some peace doves and the Disneyland Band, and a lot of hot air from the PR department to celebrate Walt's 100th at his original Magic Kingdom.
Originally Posted By AladdinAZ "Walt's 100th birthday seems kinda thin to hang a theme on." "But the vast majority of Americans just haven't had any personal relationship with a man who passed away in 1966." "He is no longer the Company spokesman, and hasn't been for decades" "So why would people care? I'm surprised they even went for that marketing theme out at WDW." I can understand that when WDW is in dire need of new attractraction, 4 new parades is not a Great pull back to WDW Resort. New E-Tickets are definitely a more exciting way to pull in more guests. But with all that's being said, it sounds like WD was only CEO for only a year or two, somewhere about 50 years ago. WD, dead and burried, long forgotten. Someone who had little impact in the company. And because we personally didn't know him, there is no way this virtual unknown should be celebrated. IS THAT YOUR POINT? Good Grief! It is truely unfortunate, and very sad that this is the type of attitude that appears to permiate the top management of the company that only appears to bear his name. Yes, Driftwood, the 50th at DL should be a BIG celebration at DL, no doubt. BUT the 100th Worldwide Celebration of Walt's Birthday could have been incorporated into all the new park openings this year, starting with "The Original" in Anaheim and continuing with the Opening of DCA, going to TDS, WDW 15 month celebration, and Disney Studios-Paris." All the Parks should have been included in this celebration. Instead DL has remained as silent about this as they did for the Rededication of Walt Disney Story featuring great moments with Mr. Lincoln. Certainly Walt's Birthday should be more than that.
Originally Posted By gadzuux >>All the Parks should have been included in this celebration.<< But how? In what way? What would you like them to do? A "walt e-ticket"? A parade with a giant bust? A new song? This is the problem as I see it. When you start to focus on walt the "man", rather than his accomplishments, it could become too strange very easily. Before you knew it, it would be saint walt, the patron of children, or something equally as ridiculous. And by most accounts, he was a fairly modest guy; I doubt that he would ever have sanctioned a salute to himself when he was still around. I think a smallish honor on the actual day would be more dignified than "disney's" usual style of party.
Originally Posted By AladdinAZ I had written my ideas on a previous topic. I'll see if I can locate it. But in essence, it would have begun 1-1-2001 by announcing a worldwide celebration of the Disney company founder's 100th Birthday. Announcing celebrations that would occur at all 4 worldwide resorts and open 3 brand new theme parks, the 4 new parades in WDW. The largest expansion of Walt Disney's Dream at the beginning of the new Millenium and in celebrating Walt's 100th. This could have been the 1st time all 4 resorts could have participated in a Party that could have traveled the globe. Pennants and Banners on the respective "Main Street/World Bazaar" announcing "In celebration of Walt's 100th" A Logo that could have been used at all 4 resorts, and in all advertising. Mentioning Walt's 100th at the opening of all three new parks. At the beginning of fireworks, could change the opening slightly to mention, In celebration of Walt's 100th, and at the beginning of all the Parades, Brochures, maps, in the Hotels. In short, not necessarily any E-Tickets, because you have 3 NEW Theme Parks. But the acknowledgement of the founders 100th Birthday Worldwide, (not just at WDW) would have been Respectful way to say 'Thank you' in an appropriate way and at an appropriate level. In fact, the various Disney Stores could have participated in this too. Instead what top disney mgmt has done is a shown a lack of respect by practically ignoring his 100th at all but one Disney Park. And for that, I have a lack of respect for the current Disney management.
Originally Posted By Jim in Pasadena CA Incredible. Just incredible. We kvetch and complain when Disney props up a year at the WDW Resort with a chintzy celebration of parades, exhibits and merchandise. Then, when Disneyland doesn't get that same or similar chintzy celebration, we kvetch and complain about that. Will the kvetching and complaining stop? No. Not until we get what we want, when we want, and at the level we feel it is warranted.
Originally Posted By AladdinAZ Jim, Is there any reason why DLR, TDL, and DLP could not have been included in this celebration, no. I kvetch because I care.
Originally Posted By sdboy Personaly I fell Disneyland should of at least done something for Walt's birthday if all the other "Disney" resorts are celebrating. It just seems weird that Disneyland is the original and is the only one left out. Afterall, Disneyland was Walt's creation.
Originally Posted By euroiswe Disneyland Paris is holding a celebration for Walt’s 100 Years: taken from dlp-guidebook.de: ------As already known the event will last from the 3rd to the 9th December and consists of a daily treasure hunt for guests up to the age of 16 who will roam the Disneyland Park searching for the clues to answer questions about Walt's life. ... On the actual birthday (5th) the party will be even bigger - guests will be greeted by 100 Disney characters and later treated to an exclusive, spectacular fireworks display above the castle at the end of the day - to bring a day of parties and entertainment to an end... As a special gift holders of the Annual Passport Fantasia will receive a free "100 Years Walt Disney"-poster featuring 100 characters between the 3rd and the 9th of December.----
Originally Posted By DLMAGICDARREN Tokyo Disneyland is also celebrating. DLR is the only of the four resorts yet to make an announcement.
