1/6: Auld Lang Dollar Sign

[Al Lutz]

Disneyland's next New Year: $50, Annual Pass sales up, DCA, More... Discuss the latest update here!

DIRECT ARTICLE LINK: MiceAge.com - A different look at Disney...

[Walt Jr.]

Thanks for a great article!

I really hope that the celebration street parade will end up just as bad as light tragic, so then Disney will be put into enough shame to bring back PoD.

I think it could happen, with enough guest complaints.

Quick Q (Off Topic): Will the floats be dismantled? Or Saved just in case?

[RenMan]

DL vs. WDW

Even the plan for Walt Disney World to take Disneyland's old Parade of Dreams has fallen through, due to a lack of funding and political will from Florida.

Once again, I am astonished by the fractured nature of the Disney Company's political structure. WDW is not some old half-abandoned kiddie park, it's a national treasure and one of the quintessential theme parks on this planet and I'm amazed that it should languish for lack of "political will" to maintain it. I'll say it again: a strong charismatic leader is needed to pull the entire company together.

I guess this brings up a corollary question: why don't Iger and Lasseter care more about the HUMONGOUS Florida property? I really don't get it.

CMs

I was wondering if there was any news on the cast member situation. I'm glad their turnover rate has turned around, but I'm sad that TDA didn't have to improve CM conditions (mainly their pay) in order to keep employees. Now they're probably feeling vindicated in paying so little.

[ni_teach]

Originally Posted by Walt Jr.

Thanks for a great article!

I really hope that the celebration street parade will end up just as bad as light tragic, so then Disney will be put into enough shame to bring back PoD.

I don't think that anything could be as bad as Light Magic also the celebration street parade will cost a fraction of what that awful LM and PoD cost so from the management point of view it's a winner before anyone sees it.

My guess is that celebration street parade will run for the year and be replaced in 2010.

[DisneyIPresume]

I'm starting to get the feeling that Disney wants to sell WDW and make money off of lic ensing fees.

I'm sure the cost to maintain WDW is astronomical compared to its other parks around the globe. And I think that the burden of owning and maintaining WDW is cutting into the potential profits of the other divisions in the company.

Sorry for the doomsday prediction but I've witnessed companies neglecting their subsidiaries before selling them off to the competition.

[PEZZ Lightyear]

Loved the update and the photo "quotes"!

[cellarhound]

I am thinking GardenWalk is, was, and may continue to be a DOA sale to visitors to the resort for three basic reasons.

1. There is no reason to go there. What is the big attraction? A movie theater? (Downtown Disney has an AMC) Sketchers? Bubba Gump?

2. There is no conveniant transportation that links it up with anything important. Do you really want to go to an out door mall that doesn't have a big draw via ART?

3. It is too hard to find... Most out of towners don't even know there is a street named Katella.

Sorry to say it, but it is a TOUGH sale. Perhaps even tougher than DCA.

[RenMan]

Originally Posted by DisneyIPresume

I'm starting to get the feeling that Disney wants to sell WDW and make money off of licensing fees.
...
Sorry for the doomsday prediction but I've witnessed companies neglecting their subsidiaries before selling them off to the competition.

Wow, well that might explain things. I wonder if that's the plan.

Originally Posted by cellarhound

I am thinking GardenWalk is, was, and may continue to be a DOA sale to visitors to the resort for three basic reasons.
...
2. There is no conveniant transportation that links it up with anything important. Do you really want to go to an out door mall that doesn't have a big draw via ART?

I was thinking this while I was reading about Rasulo's desire to move forward with the hotels there. If they had a peoplemover that took people from GardenWalk and the hotel there to the promenade it would make all the difference in the world.

[sir clinksalot]

Great update Al.

I can't believe Disney is REALLY considering having people cross harbor after parking in the new structure where Pumbaa is. Even now if you park in there, the crowds of people crossing harbor are insane. I can't imagine 5 more levels of that. They need a pedestrian bridge, or tunnel under Harbor with moving sidewalks.

And then they can connect it to Gardenwalk which will hopefully bring more people there as well.

[Chernabog]

Originally Posted by Al

A hundred foot Chernabog rising from the water twice per night isn't exactly an easy thing to pull off, you know.

Woot! I can finally take my rightful place in DCA history.

[perlster]

Lemme tell ya, if I had to pay $12 (or maybe more in the future) to park in Pumbaa or any other lot in the boondocks, and then hike to DLR, I wouldn't be in a good mood ...

[RenMan]

The practical application of some sort of next-generation PeopleMover would solve the Pumbaa and GardenWalk issues, and the fun would begin before you're even in the park!

(I'm a broken record, I know)

[DisneyIPresume]

Originally Posted by perlster

Lemme tell ya, if I had to pay $12 (or maybe more in the future) to park in Pumbaa or any other lot in the boondocks, and then hike to DLR, I wouldn't be in a good mood ...

I think the Pumbaa lot is actually closer to the DL entry gate than the structure is. But they still will need a bridge or tunnel to prevent hoards of people having to cross Harbor at the crosswalk.

[Chernabog]

.

[Chernabog]

Originally Posted by sir clinksalot

I can't imagine 5 more levels of that. They need a pedestrian bridge, or tunnel under Harbor with moving sidewalks.

My vote is for "travel via slingshot."