Originally Posted By danyoung >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.< But you're acting as if that's the only reason the Aulani was built - to bring synergistic attention to the other Disney properties, and that's all. And that's not what Weiss was saying at all. Aulani will most likely be a hit all on its own, and will make bazillions of dollars for the Disney company. And if, along the way, it also drives activity elsewhere within the Disney empire, well that's a bonus.
Originally Posted By fkurucz I'm wondering of Disney is shifting gears as our nation's demographics are undergoing great change. The "pack the kids into the stationwagon, we're going to Disney" crowd isn't what it used to be. So they have to chase after other people (who have $$$$) who might not have quite been in the marketing crosshairs in the past.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 ^^^ absolutely - the middle class is being wipred out... those who really have money are getting richer...
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt In America. In other countries (China, for example) the middle class is growing rapidly. With two theme park resorts already in Asia and another on the way I'm sure that Disney is looking at growing markets on that continent to help drive business to resorts like the Aulani. Honolulu is only a 5 hour flight from Tokyo. I imagine that it's only a matter of time before we hear that Disney will be adding Asia to its cruise itineraries.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom Dr Hans Reinhardt I think you may have hit on something. I just did a little research and your right the Chinese are considered to be an untapped market. According to an article Chinese tend to frequent California and Los Vegas. Hawaii has been marketing heavily to Chinese tourists. Apparently Chinese tourists spend twice as much as their counterparts from any other country. <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/2009-11-30-chinese-tourists_N.htm" target="_blank">http://www.usatoday.com/travel...ts_N.htm</a>
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt And that's just one article. We have to assume that Disney has sizable research data that and it is using it to support the company's business plans.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom That, plus I'm sure Disney wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth. They new from their Disney Adventures where people where going and where they wanted to go. Once Aulani is finished expect Disney to build more of the same elsewhere in possibly Hawaii and the Americas. I would have figured Disney would have learned this one from the US Defense Dept with their multiple, armed forces recreation center resorts around the world.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 Aulani's #1 market is Japanese tourists ... and they'll likely do great with it. The new DVC sales center at Ikspiari books tours of the models (in the old Planet Hollywood) weeks in advance I was told when I was in Tokyo in December. The American audience will be a distant second and you can bet DVCers will make up a large portion of that crowd. And none of this really has anything to do with WDW beyond what parts of Aulani may wind up in transformed Polynesian Resort ... likely with 543 Lilo & Stitch themed guestrooms if the current trend of swapping legit theming for characters and branding is any indication.
Originally Posted By SeventyOne <likely with 543 Lilo & Stitch themed guestrooms if the current trend of swapping legit theming for characters and branding is any indication.> At least that would make (slightly) more sense than putting Cinderella and Belle in the antebellum South.
Originally Posted By MPierce I think the vast majority of people going to any other offerings from Disney are most likely already Disney fans.
Originally Posted By fkurucz >>I think the vast majority of people going to any other offerings from Disney are most likely already Disney fans.<< I think the whole idea is to bring in new customers, from previously untapped demographics, especially people who would never set foot in a Disney themepark (and they are legion). They've pretty much maxed out the Princess and DVC crowds.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>Except eventually people will realize there are better places to vacation if all you're going for is the hotel.<<< Yep, our recent stays at the Hotel Colloseo at Europa Park and the Ling Bao in Phantasialand both felt more highly themed and immersive than any Disney hotel we have stayed in - and yes, we have stayed in all the DLP hotels, The Grand Californian, The Poly, the Contemporary, AKL and Dixie Landings. Aulani better kick it up several notches. Trip report from our 3 week trip to Europe is on the DLP boards and the Colloseo stuff will be going up this week.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Hmmm, interesting reading so far. I will say I have met many Europeans who do not think WDW is that great and prefer Universal Studios or some of the European resorts. Their rationale - poor transport, poor hotel service for the money. Not everyone is blown away by WDW. I had one colleague who loved to travel but hated Epcot. Her mantra was, it was one big shopping mall. I did not agree, but I could understand her perspective. The reality is, Disney, as a hotelier is subpar. Really, they are. For me Aulani is more about trying to milk Disney fans who like the parks and may have wanted to try Hawaii, but can't stand the idea of missing a trip to the parks. It is to convince them. Or the family where the teens are tired of WDW/DL and want to go to Hawaii, but the parents still love Disney (I have met many families like this). But after our 3 week trip to Europe last month, it showed me further how much WDW has fallen. As we waited 3-5 minutes for most public transport, and had amazing immersive themed experiences in the German park hotels, it showed me that Disney may have opened the game, but they certainly are no longer the only game in town. Europa Park is now my children's fav resort. And while I do not 100% agree with them, it does show me, things have changed.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Thanks for the drop off Tom, I never realised it was such hassel. >>><<You might night be going to France with DLP as your primary destination, but don't you think you'd check it out if you were in the vicinity of Paris?>> Honestly Roadtrip I would not consider it. I would however go to meet up with other people people on this board ( including yourself) if you or they were going to be there. Now, someday would I like to visit DLP, sure! But, since I have never been to Europe if would definately NOT be a priority. There is just too much to do in France. And I would probably never leave the museums in Paris. In case any of UK LPers are reading this.... if I was to attend a meet, then I would suggest somewhere in the UK. <<< You would be missing out. Lulu thought the same until I convinced her to go to DLP. She left with a different view and was glad she did visit.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>> I would of course want to see Paris, but actually some of the smaller villages (as shown in Impressions de France at Epcot) intrigue me a lot more.<<< I knew you had taste. For me, it is the smaller towns and villages in France that have real charm. Paris is great for museums and monuments - like New York. But for real charm and culture, the rural areas are great. To see pictures of DLP, other French locales, Germany, and some hotels and parks that give Disney a run for their money, the trip report and pics are slowly going up on the DLP Board: <a href="http://mb.laughingplace.com/MsgBoard-T-119367-P-1.asp?c=1" target="_blank">http://mb.laughingplace.com/Ms....asp?c=1</a>
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>doesn't make one made of money- makes us numb. I have been paying over $4.20 a gallon now for over 2 months-- $4.60 for premium for my car.. in some places that's a crap load more than they are paying--<<< WE are paying $10 a gallon for fuel. But I am sorry, $18 for a kid's meal when I could get a multi courser for an adult meal in more expensive Germany at Europa Park shows how much Disney is over egging it. I wouldn't mind if they reinvested it in quality entertainment, but in Paris they are not. At least in Paris, we were able to walk up to the Silver Spur at 2pm in spring break without a reservation and get seated 5 minutes later. That rarely would happen in WDW or at the Blue Bayou in DL.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>For a lot of people, whether it's true or not(or becoming MORE true!), "Disney" means "kids"....and LOTS of the little buggers! Screaming, crying, running around and getting underfoot.....KIDS!!! I am sure there are lots of people with quite a bit of money that pay to go to fancier, more expensive places just so they don't have to be around them.<<< And some of us with kids want to stay at higher end resorts where kids are very welcome. Aulani helps to meet our demo for that (though I still think I am more likely to stay with Marriott next door, or maybe do some time at both.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>><<the reduction of live entertainment probably bothers me the most of all the negatives listed above...that is usually high quality stuff and does set Disney apart- or used to. I like the interaction with live people, not just animatronics..>> I have to agree. It's probably the reason why I spend half my days at DHS watching/interacting with the Citizens of Hollywood, and why I'm still hopping mad about the Adventurers Club closing. There's something about streetmosphere that makes a park come to life. It's what makes Disney special.<<<< One of the many reasons why I fell in love with the German parks. They learnt from Disney and topped it. Europa Park and Phantasialand both had amazing entertainments, some that were a rare treat indeed. In Phantasialand, we got out of their magic show (we are talking Penn and Teller/Zigfried and roy (who got their start in Phantasialand) quality). There were all these turn of the century Berliners cleaning windows, asking directions, strolling with the baby, and then there was a show shine boy doing some tricks with his rags. we watched him and he was great, then he grabbed me, sat me down and shined my shoes amazingly, for free, and he would not accept a tip!!!! To me, it was like the Disneyland/Knott's Berry Farm experience I remember from Childhood. In Europa Park, the Russia section, in addition to a snow dark ride, an amazing coaster, and the training MIR unit from the Russian Space agency to tour (the real deal), they had Russian craftsmen making stacking dolls, carvings, gold leaf religious art etc. It felt like the Disney I knew and loved. And when there was a little trash spotted in a lagoon, some guys got in with waders and cleared it out. They were dressed as sailors, appropriate to the area, and each shop, attraction and restaurant had different costumes. It reminded me of what it was to be thrilled by theming again.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt Dave, we all know that corporate Disney like other well known and revered brands has a built in customer base that follow every step that the company takes with its parks and resorts. Still, I really don't think the point of building the Aulani was just to lure existing Disney theme park obsessed fanatics like us. As I said, my boss and his family are really the type of clientele they are going after: average middle class parents who aren't necessarily Disney geeks but have school age children looking for activity programming that they can all enjoy while on vacation. This is a fresh new audience that Disney can build upon. Whether Disney will succeed or not with this goal is yet to be seen, but I do think that's what they are trying to do.
