EPCOT Center’s World Showcase famously duplicates some of the best known landmarks from around the world, so it makes sense that their big summer concert series would feature duplicates as well. Technically these are tribute bands, who are not necessarily impersonators, but close your eyes… Read More »“Sounds Like Summer” lineup revealed for EPCOT
SeaWorld’s newest Killer Whale show One Ocean debuted in Orlando last month and is opening in San Diego this weekend. It will reach San Antonio in June, but they have to be patient as it was just announced that they’ll be getting their own Aquatica in the future too.
I’ve got two quick videos to peak your interest this morning. First is a look beneath the waves at how SeaWorld produced the show:
Then follow below the jump for my video from the grand opening show of One Ocean
General manager Adrian Jones poses with a map of Legoland FL LEGOLAND Florida just announced that its official opening date will be Saturday, October 15, 2011. Park officials revealed the date as early as possible to help families already planning vacations in the fall. The… Read More »Legoland Florida announces October 15th, 2011 Grand Opening Date
The longtime manager of Reedy Creek Water District, the governmental body Disney had the state set up to make Walt Disney World possible (this is the book to read), has announced that he will be stepping down. Thomas DeWolf is 84 and suffering from diabetes,… Read More »Disney’s Private Government Loses its Manager
A few days ago, I was invited to take a tour of the construction site for SeaWorld Orlando Discovery Cove’s next big expansion – The Grand Reef. Scheduled to open in June 2011, The Grand Reef is 2.5 acres of total immersion in the world… Read More »Discovery Cove’s The Grand Reef- Construction Site Tour
SeaWorld’s Discovery Cove promises a new level of immersion in an undersea environment.
If you’ve ever been to SeaWorld Orlando’s Discovery Cove boutique park, then you know what an incredible experience it is. Those who haven’t yet been, may not realize what a great value the all-inclusive retreat provides the Orlando visitor. That experience and value is soon to be expanded as the all-new area called “The Grand Reef” will be opening in June of 2011.
Most of the animals coming to the Grand Reef will be moved from the existing reef experience. That area will be closed to design a new experience.
Read More »The Grand Reef – SeaWorld’s Discovery Cove Expansion Coming this June
SeaWorld parks across the United States are nearing the debut of the all-new killer whale show “One Ocean.” The show promises to connect guests to the sea with a new level of energy, excitement, and vibrancy as it educates and inspires them to make a… Read More »SeaWorld nears debut of new Shamu show – One Ocean
The Walt Disney World Resort just released an interesting report that looks at the economic influence Team Mickey had on Florida in FY 2009 (which ended Oct 2009).
The $18.2 billion in annual economic activity generated locally by Walt Disney Parks and Resorts accounts for a staggering 2.5 percent of the gross domestic product for the entire state.
Of the 7.2 million Floridians in the workforce in 2009, more than one out of every 50 had a job that can be directly or indirectly tied to the operations of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. Locally, 6 percent of all jobs in Central Florida can be attributed to Disney’s operations.
Those are some big numbers. But it has to be put in perspective. The end of 2007 saw a contraction of Florida’s economy that only grew worse through 2008 and 2009. While housing and auto sales plummeted dramatically, tourism was not as impacted as an industry. So Disney’s percentage of the GDP for the entire state is probably inflated. Similarly the percentage of the workforce.
Is it a little manipulative for Disney to release these numbers right now or justified crowing about legitimate economic impact? Let’s call it Mickeynomics – a little of both.
Sure without Disney, Florida’s economy would really be in a shithole. But to pick those particular numbers to crow about without sharing how that compares to similar numbers in a healthy economy is less than straightforward. Still, can you blame them?
Now let’s look into the near future a bit.
2011 is shaping up to be a lot like 2008. Gas prices are rising, which threatens to impact Disney’s family vacation based business. But 2011 is different than 2008 in that we’re coming out a recession, not heading in.
I have a theory about gas prices. When planning a vacation, families are actually more concerned with the overall cost of the vacation than the price at the pump. As gas prices go up so do airline tickets, making it significantly more expensive to fly a family of four to Orlando. So expensive that driving, the time it takes, and the wear and tear on the car begins to look like a better option. If you do the math, it actually is far less expensive.
This economic equation means families who live within a days drive of Disney World are now more likely to drive to Disney for a vacation instead of flying somewhere (Mexico or the West Coast, for instance). That’s new traffic for Disney, and it can actually come close to replacing the volume of visitors who live more than a days drive away and are instead choosing to vacation closer to home.
What Disney saw in 2008 was that those who drive, tended to stay in Orlando a day or two longer on average. But they didn’t travel as frequently throughout the year, rather they saved it up for one long vacation. This means that the number of visitors to the parks only declines slightly, and it also tends to spread the visits out over the whole year. That’s the pattern we saw in 2008 and 2009 and the pattern we’re seeing now.
My only question is with the economic recovery just barely underway, are families saving more and passing on travel this year in order to rebuild their savings? What Disney needs is for the Southeast US to recover quicker than the rest of the nation. Those are the customers Disney World needs to covet for the foreseeable future. DVC members are already locked in, but everyone else wants maximum entertainment value for their vacation dollar. Disney can provide that, but they must continue to offer the highest quality as well.
I’m sure Disney would prefer to continue to ween its market off the discounts it offered in 2008 and 2009 to bring in business, so the only other option is improved entertainment value. To me this means, more rides per capita, more shows and parades, tastier food options, longer park hours, and better festivals. I think we’re seeing some of this already. What else would you like to see Disney do, excluding discounts, to increase the value for your travel dollar?
Read the rest of the 2009 Mickeynomic numbers released by Disney below the cut: