Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>Whether or not hordes of newly enshrined Disney fans will funnel into the parks as a result of a stay in one of these places is yet to be seen, however it doesn't take a nuclear physicist to see the synergistic relationship between the theme parks and the off site resort destinations.<< Well, that's good, because I'm not a nuclear physicist. You just underscored the point I've been making in this whole thread (that it remains to be seen if "newly enshrined Disney fans" will then head off to the parks.) Yet, it feels like you're taking issue with that same point? Mr. Weiss' comments suggested that there exists a number of people who haven't wanted to visit the parks, but would choose a resort like the Aulani. And upon seeing how nice it is ("Great programming!" the guest will exclaim), will then think about giving the parks a try. I'm saying that is an unlikely scenario. Of course I understand how synergy works, and yes, undoubtedly there will be no shortage of cross promotion for the parks and other Disney ventures. But the most likely prospects of that marketing are people predisposed to already love Disney's products, now newbies. I'd bet a dollar that if you surveyed guests of the Aulani over a 5 year period, the number of people staying there that have never before visited a Disney park (or at least wanted to) would be quite small indeed.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan By the way, just to be clear, I don't agree that his statement suggest that "we're going to sit on our behinds". I don't see that at all. I just don't buy the scenario he suggests in his comments.
Originally Posted By danyoung I think there's quite a large segment of people who have never been to a Disney park, because they've been to their local Six Flags, so why go halfway across the country for something that they have right there at home. These people simply don't have a clear picture of the way Disney does things. And I think this is the segment that Al is targeting in his statement - the people who will go to a resort like Aulani, see that Disney can do things in a first class way, and then think that maybe they were wrong about the parks.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>And I think this is the segment that Al is targeting in his statement<< A group that is quite satisfied with their local Six Flags park is going to choose the Aulani in Hawaii? I think the whole scenario gets more unlikely by the moment.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt “You just underscored the point I've been making in this whole thread (that it remains to be seen if "newly enshrined Disney fans" will then head off to the parks.) Yet, it feels like you're taking issue with that same point?” Kar2oonMan please note that I said “hordes”. That’s different than what you say above, so no, I’m not taking issue with the same point. “Mr. Weiss' comments suggested that there exists a number of people who haven't wanted to visit the parks, but would choose a resort like the Aulani.” I think what he’s saying is that the Aulani is a different Disney vacation experience from the parks, just like the cruises. Whether or not he is specifically addressing Disney newbies or not isn’t really the point. What the company appears to be attempting to do is tap into the sizeable family vacation market and naturally, a family visiting the Aulani might be inclined to plan a DLR or WDW vacation after a good time at the Aulani. Again, I think it’s important to remember than we aren’t just talking about “people” here… obviously Weiss is talking about Disney’s core customer: families with children. “Of course I understand how synergy works, and yes, undoubtedly there will be no shortage of cross promotion for the parks and other Disney ventures. But the most likely prospects of that marketing are people predisposed to already love Disney's products, now newbies.” I agree with you to a degree, but Disney is already a brand known for quality. You don’t have to be a fanatic geek hanging out on LP to be able to appreciate what Disney has to offer for a certain demographic. My aforementioned boss and his family are probably closer to the kind of vacationer that Disney is targeting than most of the folks posting in this thread, that is middle class parents looking for a way to have fun on vacation together as a family. “I'd bet a dollar that if you surveyed guests of the Aulani over a 5 year period, the number of people staying there that have never before visited a Disney park (or at least wanted to) would be quite small indeed.” Who knows if it will be large or small, but a basic rule of brand loyalty means that someone impressed by their first stay at any Disney property will be inclined to either return or try another one of their resort offerings some place else. I think that’s the main point that Weiss was trying to make. >>And I think this is the segment that Al is targeting in his statement<< "A group that is quite satisfied with their local Six Flags park is going to choose the Aulani in Hawaii?" Why not? Plenty of the most hard core Disney fans who post here and on fan sites like this one are fans of Six Flags.
Originally Posted By danyoung >A group that is quite satisfied with their local Six Flags park is going to choose the Aulani in Hawaii?< That's not at all what I said. I was talking about the dad that takes his kids to the local Six Flags, and thinks that all amusement parks are operating at that same low level. They've never given the Disney parks a chance, cuz they think that they've already been there and done that. And seeing how Disney operates at Aulani just might entice this dad into considering a Disney park vacation, as perhaps his eyes are opened to the fact that Disney does NOT operate at the same low level as Six Flags.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom Basically this is all about cross promotional marketing. And it remains to be seen if those individuals who stay at an upscale Disney resort and timeshare are intrested in going to a Disney park. To some extent this is true. I have to admit that I intentionally chose a Disney cruise because I knew it wouldn't be all about a floating casino/ singles bar. I can see it working as go the the parks first then perhaps stay at some Disney offsite property. But I don't see the corilation between staying at the Aulani and then motivating someone to visit a Disney park. The whole point of having a Hawaiian resort ( just like cruise ships ) is to give your customers a "different" experience from the parks.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 ^^^^^^ they are trying to market to those few people in the world that have disposable income right now - period. There aren't that many % wise.
Originally Posted By Bolna Thanks for all the advice on what to see in Washington DC! I think you proved Kennesaw Tom's point quite well: I now have a recommendation to see an art museum, a list of top five things to see, the recommendation not to go (and the warning not to get lost and end up at the baseball stadium) and then the recommendation to go and also see the surrounding areas as well.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>Whether or not he is specifically addressing Disney newbies or not isn’t really the point.<< It is the whole point, Hans. He said, specifically, that staying at the Aulani would attract newbies to visit the parks. That's what I was addressing. I don't think that will be the case. I think that people already fans of the parks are much, much more likely to head to the Aulani than the other way around. I don't believe that the Aulani will be the very first Disney experience of very many families. Mr. Weiss was speaking to Orlanda tourism folks when he made that statement. So, he was tthrowing them a bone, giving them a "what's in it for me?" statement on why Orlando folks will benefit from a development in Hawaii. Disney's Aulani will do quite well, I'm sure. And it will be primarily populated by folks who have vacationed at Disney parks for years.
Originally Posted By Bolna I think the question whether Aulani's guests will be mostly Disney parks regulars or not will depend largely on the price they will charge for this resort. If the price is comparable with what other resorts there charge for the same level of service than I can see a lot of first time Disney guests ending up there because they think that it is a great looking hotel. If they charge a premium just for having Disney in the name as they do with the hotels at WDW and DLR as well as with the cruise line, I don't think that they would be able to attract new customers.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "But I don't see the corilation between staying at the Aulani and then motivating someone to visit a Disney park." It's not just the parks... it's Disney RESORTS. The hope is that if you and your family enjoyed the Aulani and its "programming" then you are going to be tempted to consider a vacation at WDW with all its hotel resorts, theme parks, water slides, shopping, recreation, nighttime entertainment, and blah blah blah. It's kind of like saying well I really liked Paris, next time I think I might try out Rome.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom <<Thanks for all the advice on what to see in Washington DC>> Washington DC is an incredible place to visit! I highly recommend it. There is just too much to do, and most of it is free. It's pedistrian friendly and just about everyone has a musuem there. I would NOT drive around town. I would recommend walking or using the subway. I have yet to get lost in DC. It's layed out pretty well.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt >>Whether or not he is specifically addressing Disney newbies or not isn’t really the point.<< “It is the whole point, Hans. He said, specifically, that staying at the Aulani would attract newbies to visit the parks. That's what I was addressing.” Well yes, of course. What I meant is that it wasn’t really *my* point, which is that Disney properties like the Aulani or the cruise ships drive additional visits to the theme park resorts regardless of whether they are new Disney customers or not. As Kennesaw Tom said, basically this is all about cross promotional marketing. It’s kind of like that old argument about DCA being California’s second most attended theme park only because it’s next to the most attended one. The two places feed off each other. “I don't believe that the Aulani will be the very first Disney experience of very many families. Mr. Weiss was speaking to Orlanda tourism folks when he made that statement. So, he was tthrowing them a bone, giving them a "what's in it for me?" statement on why Orlando folks will benefit from a development in Hawaii.” Maybe. I have no idea what the specific goals and objectives are, or how they will be measured, but the general strategy does make sense to me. If Disney’s core audience likes WDW enough to take cruises and visit places like the Aulani, it’s possible that it might work the other way around.
Originally Posted By leobloom >> Washington DC is an incredible place to visit! I highly recommend it. There is just too much to do, and most of it is free. It's pedistrian friendly and just about everyone has a musuem there. I would NOT drive around town. I would recommend walking or using the subway. I have yet to get lost in DC. It's layed out pretty well. << This is true. You can pick virtually any of the museums in the area and not go wrong. But the museums along the National Mall and the surrounding area are especially not to be missed. (And the Library of Congress is pretty spiffy, too.)
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom I just don't see the cause and effect here. And you can use that excuse to justify anything! Well, we blowed nearly a billion dollars into our Hawaiian resort because in hopes that it will motivate people to: ( add your own Disney product here) see the Lion King in NYC, watch Diane Sawyer on ABC news, take their kids to Disney on Ice. It would be like saying we encouraged painting Disney cartoon characters on USAF bombers in WWII because we hoped it would motovate families to bring their children to see Bambi. Weiss:"The Disney Company spent a whole lot of money on ( your choice of non typical Disney brand product) because we believed it would help us reach a totally different audience and motive that target audience to ( fill in your choice of Disney property,cruise ship or park, but not Disneyland Toyko, Hong Kong, or China).
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "Well, we blowed nearly a billion dollars into our Hawaiian resort because in hopes that it will motivate people to: ( add your own Disney product here) see the Lion King in NYC, watch Diane Sawyer on ABC news, take their kids to Disney on Ice." You really don't understand how powerful Disney's brand image is, do you?
Originally Posted By SeventyOne <I think the question whether Aulani's guests will be mostly Disney parks regulars or not will depend largely on the price they will charge for this resort. If the price is comparable with what other resorts there charge for the same level of service than I can see a lot of first time Disney guests ending up there because they think that it is a great looking hotel. If they charge a premium just for having Disney in the name as they do with the hotels at WDW and DLR as well as with the cruise line, I don't think that they would be able to attract new customers.> I completely agree. But if DCL or the WDW resorts are the model, I think we can assume they will charge an especially high premium (mostly because they know their loyalists will pay it).
