Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom <<February is a dead time of the year>> Historically speaking this statement is inaccurate for WDW. The first two weeks of February are the slowest part of the year at WDW, hense a great time to go. But immediately after February 14th, WDW swings into high season, which lasts until Easter. Adding an extra day on February 29th is a good idea. But, it will only benefit those that can be there for the 29th. To everyone else, it is meaningless. At least with other PR campaigns there was the potential for everyone to benefit, free park admission on your birthday, free meals during your stay, 3 days free accomidations. Offering a free park day on February 29th to a Disney park in the south eastern corner of the North American continent isn't exactly appealing to the majority of people here let alone elsewhere in the world. This is all about bridging what would otherwise be a little "dip" in WDW attendance between Valentines Day and Mardi Gras. Once Mardi Gras hits you get college and school spring breaks which keeps WDW packed till Easter.
Originally Posted By DlandDug So many so harsh here. If Leap Year is being used as an excuse for a 24 hour party, why all the hate? Any day for a party at a Disney theme park sounds fun to me. An "extra" day is just icing on the cake.
Originally Posted By standor A one day celebration is useless unless you live in central florida and have nothing planned on that day. If they are going to have a celebration, have it go on for a long time, so people who are interested, can attend.
Originally Posted By DlandDug It's actually at Disney World and Disneyland. It's no more "useless" than any stand-alone event, like the opening of an attraction or a holiday event.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom Just saw in a seperate article that Disney did infact announce the MK and DL will be open at no expense to quests on Leap day.
Originally Posted By leobloom More PR smoke and mirrors to hide the lack of substance. I feel sorry for anyone who got excited for this announcement.
Originally Posted By DlandDug It's a pretty straightforward announcement and promotion. No smoke or mirrors needed. I feel sorry for those who are so jaded and cynical that a simple one-day promotion raises such ire.
Originally Posted By TP2000 Doug, I've been curious about that too. But I think most of the criticism on this promotion is coming from our friends back East who are focused on WDW. There, they've been waiting so long for announcements on something to get excited about... Hyperion Wharf on permanent hold with the Adventurers Club and Pleasure Island still in mothballs three years later. They are waiting for some big surprise about Fantasyland Expansion to get excited about, instead of just a DCA clone, a double Dumbo and a short kiddy mine train coaster. There's just endless DVC and non-Disney development or development-on-ice in the form of the Four Seasons hotel, Flamingo Crossings, DVC Grand Floridian, etc. Avatarland is out there, but is rather useless as its so distant both on the calendar (2016?) and in concept (not a peep about rides, shows, attractions, and not so much as a blurry sketch on the back of a used cocktail napkin to go on). I think the Easterners were hoping for some big surprise announcing a much-needed new ride or land for DHS or AK or something new and fresh for the painfully aging Epcot Center Future World. (Hello, Ellen? 1995 called and they want their attraction back. Hello, Kodak? The bankruptcy judge needs to speak with you by this Tuesday at the latest.) They were thinking there'd be something in this over-hyped New Years Eve announcement. That's mainly Disney's fault, as they let their mindless and gag-inducing Marketing Department get a hold of this and build up the expectations way too high. As for us laid-back Californians... we are in a totally different frame of mind. We've got an embarassment of riches in our fabulous Resort, with 2012 set to become the biggest and most memorable year for Anaheim since Pirates and New Tomorrowland opened in the same year in 1967. For guys like you and me Doug, this Leap Year Day gimmick sounds like a fun way to stay up late one night and wander around New Orleans Square at 2AM and watch the sun rise over a coffee and fresh pastry from the brand new Jolly Holiday Bakery. It's a gimmick, but it seems aimed mainly at casual Disneyland AP's and SoCal locals. And for us, it's just a fun thing to laugh about and look forward to instead of something to stress over out at WDW.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom There are so many other places I would much rather see Disney put this money rather than a silly promotional thing on Feburary 29th. Why not instead invest that PR money in an additional country in the World Showcase? It has got to be costing Disney in the millions to run this promotion. Wouldn't a better use of that money be to actually spend it on some substance rather than fluff? Feb 29th will come and go and no Disney park will be fit for the better.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper I don't have a problem with the promotion. I just worry about the shape of the park after a night like that, and following it up with a full day's operation.
Originally Posted By LadyandtheTramp Posted earlier in the thread: "Just saw in a seperate article that Disney did infact announce the MK and DL will be open at no expense to quests on Leap day." Uh, I didn't get this from the Disney press release. Seems like you can get an extra day and night with purchase of non-discounted room and ticket package, but that wasn't in conjunction with the 24 hour opening.
Originally Posted By Bob Paris 1 I don't think they even really know how this is going to work. The fact that it is all so vague and confusing, with very little clarifying information coming forward means they are still scrambling to work it out.
Originally Posted By TP2000 That's also what I'm thinking Bob. I like the concept, but the fact there were so few details announced with the big national TV spot on New Year's Eve is a pretty obvious clue there still a lot of logistics and details to be worked out in Anaheim and Lake Buena Vista.
