Disneyland Paris released its revenue numbers for the first fiscal quarter of 2011 and the news is good. Over all revenue increased by 8.5%. Most of that increase came in the lodging side. A 14% increase in hotel revenue was the result of more bookings… Read More »Disneyland Paris Revenue Up 8.5%
One of Disney’s most desperate mom’s is giving advice on how to best enjoy your day at Walt Disney World. Teri Hatcher, who has a long run on ABC’s Desperate Housewives, is also a big Disney fan. In the following video she gives some advice… Read More »Teri Hatcher gives Disney travel advice
The Let The Memories Begin press event also came with a bit of research from one of Disney’s partners in Orlando, Peter Yesawich of the Ypartnership. Disney has relied on studies from Ypartnership to bolster their decision making for theme park forecasting in the past and I always find these studies fascinating.
The full press release is below the jump:
Read More »Disney Receives Study on Children’s Influence over Family Travel
Last week the Magic Kingdom rolled out the carpets for visiting media and VIPs to showcase the latest promotion for Disneyland and Walt Disney World, “Let The Memories Begin.” The centerpiece of that promotion will be a nightly show on Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom and the facade of It’s A Small World at Disneyland.
“The Magic, The Memories, and You!” is a new show is gracing the spires and turrets of Cinderella Castle in the Magic Kingdom. Sixteen digital projectors throw photos and videos of park guests and the history of the Walt Disney Company directly onto the facade of the castle using new digital mapping and projection technology. The result is a show that will amaze and move you as only Disney can do.
We saw the show standing about 4/5ths of the way across the hub (right near the popcorn cart). The angle wasn’t a problem, the projections cover both the front and the sides of the castle, but the distance was. To really make out all the details of the guest photos that are added to the show, you have to be somewhere between the Partner’s statue and the Castle stage. You will get a slightly different show from the sides, so maybe view it twice, three times if you want to view it from Main Street for the longer range view.
Overall I was impressed with how the show used the technology to wrap the castle with images and video. I don’t want to go into too much detail to the story and pacing since I’ve only seen it once. But as the show itself is only 10 minutes long and you can probably walk up and get a good spot 10 minutes before the show starts, I recommend you check it out for yourself on your next visit.
Follow below the jump for a special preview of the show and my complete show video, plus more on the magic behind the show:
Read More »The Magic, The Memories, and You! debuts at Magic Kingdom
Apparently all that lobbying money and fundraiser donations to political candidates isn’t doing much to help Walt Disney World. The US Embassy denied a travel visa to a 9-year old boy in Britain whose grand parents wanted to take him on a surprise trip to… Read More »US policies denying 9-year old Britons from visiting Disney World
Apparently the New York Times quoted my article published November 28th, 2010 where I was reacting to the news that while Universal Orlando was having a banner year, Walt Disney World actually decreased in attendance. Here’s the full context:
The first was an Orlando Sentinel story on the flat attendance at Walt Disney World. I have to think that given the poor state of the economy, Disney would have been happy to have not lost any ground. But the reality is Disney did lose ground to Universal Orlando (despite their attempts at hiding the figures). Harry Potter is drawing guests away from the mouse house and Disney still has no answer lined up. That’s very troubling.
I then went on to talk about how Osceola County can capitalize on increase in attention that’s coming Central Florida’s way with LEGOLAND Florida and the Orlando Thrill park.
Like Disney states in the NY Times article, I believe that the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is a net gain for Orlando tourism business. Unlike Disney World officials, I do believe that there is a high risk of guests shifting their attendance to Universal away from Disney resulting in a net-loss for Disney. Universal is already siphoning off the teens and twenty somethings and LEGOLAND Florida threatens to do the same for the 6 to 10 year old set.
Look at all the Hogwarts scarfs and t-shirts you see next time you’re at WDW. Those guests all visited Universal before coming to Disney. The money they spent there on broomsticks and Butterbeer will not be spent on mouse ears and popcorn. That doesn’t include the guests who are spending a day or two at Disney and then visiting Universal. I can’t understand why Disney doesn’t appear to be worried.
Read More »Does Disney World have an answer for Universal Orlando?
The Disney Parks blog recently announced that February 11, 2011 will be the last day to visit Mickey’s Toontown Fair. That’s nice information to have for those planning vacations. Unfortunately, you really have to plan more than 6 months out these days just to get… Read More »Fantasyland Expansion impact on Magic Kingdom will be huge
Friday was the grand opening ceremonies of the new Pollo Campero, Fresh-A-Peel, and Babycakes NYC at Downtown Disney Marketplace. 2010 WDW Ambassador Vanessa Rosas was on hand for the opening. Pollo Campero donated $5,000 to Make A Wish foundation to help a child with a… Read More »Pollo Campero and Fresh-A-Peel Grand Opening