Is it a bad idea to push DCA's projects back?

[DisneyMickey]

I think they are being stupid by pushing DCA's projects back. They are only going to end up making bigger headaches for themselves. The work was supposed to start in October, then it was pushed to January 2008, and now it won't begin until 2009? They are only going to end up having to do more at the same time if they keep waiting.

If they keep waiting and these projects pile up, things will probably end up just being canceled. Philharmagic is the first example of this.

[DLFreak71]

Re: Is it a bad idea to push DCA's projects back?

They are afraid people won't come over if the park is impossible to get into.
I can see the point of view they have, but at the same time

The longer you put something off, the least likely it will get done.

Personally...
I'm thinking (and it's just my opinion and hoping I'm very much in the wrong about this)
If the few things they are planning to put into the park pan out and bring higher attendance, they won't have to redo the park. They are already scared about the money that it's going to take to redo the park and some buildings are proving to be more costly than orig. thought. Pray I'm wrong and Lasseter gets some heavy fire lit under certain people and the plans move forward.

[Pressler69]

Re: Is it a bad idea to push DCA's projects back?

They should just close the park and get the makeover done.

Disneyland was built in a year, and while it was much simpler than a modern theme park, how can the makeover posibly take four years? Just close it and do it right.

[DLFreak71]

Re: Is it a bad idea to push DCA's projects back?

They should just close the park and get the makeover done.

Disneyland was built in a year, and while it was much simpler than a modern theme park, how can the makeover posibly take four years? Just close it and do it right.

I agree.
With low attendance numbers as it is, it's not like it's going to hurt them at all.
And just think
with everyone out of work on that side, payroll will make up for the little to none in ticket revenue that the park makes.
Oh, wait...jobs.
Dang, plan foiled.

If they could get work for those in DCA, I would def. agree to close the park for a year or so.

[mainstreetcm]

Re: Is it a bad idea to push DCA's projects back?

They should just close the park and get the makeover done.

Disneyland was built in a year, and while it was much simpler than a modern theme park, how can the makeover posibly take four years? Just close it and do it right.

Isn't the reason it is suppose to take four years is because of the financials. While Disney has pledged over 1 Billion to the project, that money is not just lying around somewhere. Thus if they build in phases they can use capital that comes from quarterly performance instead of just taking the large sum at the beginning.

I could be wrong but I believe that is why it takes much longer than the original Disneyland did. Also Disney didn't have enough money to build Disneyland to begin with, it was because of ABC that the park got built in a year (and even then Tomorrowland wasn't finished on time).

[DisneyMickey]

Re: Is it a bad idea to push DCA's projects back?

I think if it was just up to WDI, work would have already started, but TDA is holding them back from just getting the work started and finished with.

[mrfantasmic]

Re: Is it a bad idea to push DCA's projects back?

Let's not forget about the Cast Members who would be laid off if the park were to close.

[Coheteboy]

Re: Is it a bad idea to push DCA's projects back?

I could actually see and understand what TDA is worried about and for once, i think they have a pretty good point.

They're afraid of losing more attendance than they already have right now, so if by giving us Toy Story Mania AND World of Color Lagoon show, that would give us extra incentive to then use the separate side entrances into the park.

But with Toy Story Mania opening in the summer, woudln't that be enough of a weener to bring us into the park?

but I can also see the aesthetic of revealing the grand entrance for the 10th anniversary. that would be quite awesome indeed.

[techskip]

Re: Is it a bad idea to push DCA's projects back?

I could actually see and understand what TDA is worried about and for once, i think they have a pretty good point.

They're afraid of losing more attendance than they already have right now, so if by giving us Toy Story Mania AND World of Color Lagoon show, that would give us extra incentive to then use the separate side entrances into the park.

But with Toy Story Mania opening in the summer, woudln't that be enough of a weener to bring us into the park?

but I can also see the aesthetic of revealing the grand entrance for the 10th anniversary. that would be quite awesome indeed.

I can see a valid point in holding back. However, if they wait for the crowds of summer and the opening of Toy Story, or the opening of Lagoon, wouldn't it be more crowded making the problem worse? Just a thought.

[ROBONICS95]

Re: Is it a bad idea to push DCA's projects back?

I agree with TDA's decision to push it back until the DCA draw is more established. I can't wait to see these projects take shape but delaying the start of certain projects has not changed the 2011/2012 premieres, which Disney has publically committed to.

While hearing/reading insider information is appealing it can cause frustration with certain matters. The average guest knows nothing about these delayed projects but knows the final project is to be completed by 2012, which is and always has been the goal.

Now if they started pushing back the completion date, then that would be extremely frustrating.

[mousechild]

Re: Is it a bad idea to push DCA's projects back?

They should just close the park and get the makeover done.

Disneyland was built in a year, and while it was much simpler than a modern theme park, how can the makeover posibly take four years? Just close it and do it right.

Disneyland 1955 did not look like Disneyland 1980 much less Disneyland 2007, so the park you see today was not built in a year.

The entire park segment of Disney posted a $430M net income for fiscal year 2007, so a $1B capital expenditure for one park, when all parks require continual upgrading is not an insignificant undertaking.

I have no inside knowledge of how Disney operates internally but I would bet that there is a lot of high level analysis going on regarding what the expected return on Investment is going to be for this project. A billion dollars is a lot of money for any corporation. So right now the people who dreamed up the makeover are being grilled about what kind of impact these changes will make to park revenue.

One benefit of going a bit slower is that if the project are phased in slowly guests reaction to the changes can be gauged against expectations and adjustments made to the later phases.

[Oswald the Rabbitt]

Re: Is it a bad idea to push DCA's projects back?

Id say yes it's a bad idea cause I was looking forward to the change, but I suppose it's for the best. I'll probably not be able to go to Disneyland for a few years anyway so I'll get to see it in person instead of live vicariously through micechat photos and TR's

[ni_teach]

Re: Is it a bad idea to push DCA's projects back?

They should just close the park and get the makeover done.

I disagree. Yes, remodels are always a pain the the you-know-what, but the final product is worth it.

Also it's not fair to all those who have planned their vacations and trips year's in advance to say.... "sorry there is no park for you".

While there are problems remodeling area by area, I think that it can be done and it will be fun to watch the park slowly change.

[Kasey]

Re: Is it a bad idea to push DCA's projects back?

If we were politically cynical we could think that the DCA public announcement served it's purpose by scaring off the SunCal development project.

[thrax]

Re: Is it a bad idea to push DCA's projects back?

as much as i want to see the changes to DCA, (epically the new 1920's Hollywood pictures back lot) i would rather that they take there time and not rush the changes, just because they're concerned of what other people think or want.

[ROBONICS95]

Re: Is it a bad idea to push DCA's projects back?

If we were politically cynical we could think that the DCA public announcement served it's purpose by scaring off the SunCal development project.

Which is most likely the case but it's still an announcement of things to come by Disney.

I remember reading that the SunCal issue would be a Disney fan benefit simply because Disney would be required to present what they had in store for the Resort. If the SunCal issue had not immediately vanished like it has, we may have also heard plans for a third theme park.

Disney announcing their future plans puts them in a unique spot, where most of their approved projects are not formally announced until construction is well underway which makes it a little easier for Disney to make any changes/cut backs they feel necessary. Disney is now in a position that they have publicly committed to this project and the guests are waiting for them to deliver.

[Oswald the Rabbitt]

Re: Is it a bad idea to push DCA's projects back?

Just imagine all the good press that came of the announcement with the changes, now just imagine all the bad when they here there postponed

[ROBONICS95]

Re: Is it a bad idea to push DCA's projects back?

Just imagine all the good press that came of the announcement with the changes, now just imagine all the bad when they here there postponed

That's the catch...it's NOT postponed entirely.

The ground-breaking dates are being switched around but they are still scheduled to be completed by 2011 and 2012.

Another thing to keep in mind is that Disney never said when these projects would begin, this is all insider information. The public is not going to notice that Disney has changed the dates these projects begin. All they know is that they are to be completed by 2011 or 2012.

[sediment]

Re: Is it a bad idea to push DCA's projects back?

Let's not forget about the Cast Members who would be laid off if the park were to close.

There are plenty of positions in DL. There has been a shortage of cast members (coincidentally?) since DCA was opened. Closing DCA would fix that problem, too.

However, one should note that it's easier to build something from scratch (DL) than it is to build around stuff. Logistical issues often get in the way. Mainly, you have three hotels that need to be filled with people NOT going elsewhere with their vacation dollars. DCA was built with the intention of keeping those people on property. That's a year (or more) of not filling hotels, and shorter parkhopper sales.

I do not think that a Philharmagic on the cheap would make people happy.

Movie-heavy attractions are supposed to be easily upgradeable without extreme infrastructure changes. So, update Muppets.
Giant WWTBAM building should be able to fit Philharmagic in there somewhere. Hollywood and Dine space can be used.

[CaliforniaAdventurer]

Re: Is it a bad idea to push DCA's projects back?

/\
Sediment, once they move over to Disneyland they're never going to want to return to DCA.

It's better that they keep their staff in place so they have SOMETHING to build on in the years ahead.