| # | Author | Message |
1
| TDR_Fan
Thu 8/2/2007 8:18a | I know it's still much too early to know for sure, but is the proposed Soarin' concept still being considered or has it been rejected? There was all this talk about it being placed in Mediterranean Harbor and having a Da Vinci theme, but where exactly did all these rumors come from? |
2
| barboy
Sat 8/4/2007 12:57p | "being placed in Mediterranean Harbor and having a Da Vinci theme"
Please, please.... I beg for this to materialize.
I'll be the first in line. |
3
| davewasbaloo
Sat 8/4/2007 1:08p | My understanding is this project is currently on hold as olc does not have the funds. |
4
| leemac
Sun 8/5/2007 7:00a | Soarin' with Jiminy Cricket was just one idea being tossed around for TDS's expansion (the majority of which is now on hold). The problem with Soarin' is that its proposed location requires a lot of backstage reorganization. That program was due to begin this year (and includes razing the largest admin building back there) but it appears that is on hold too. Soarin' would impact the backstage docks and with both Mythica and BraviSEAmo! being so large in scale all of that dock space is used. |
5
| TDR_Fan
Mon 8/6/2007 5:03a | Surely we'll see some kind of expansion before/for Tokyo DisneySea's 10th Anniversary? |
6
| Mr X
Mon 8/6/2007 6:00a | I suppose that really depends on how well things go til that point.
Lee, you didn't elaborate, but are things on hold because of financial stress, or are things on hold because they are happy with the numbers "for now"?
I admit, I know very little about how this stuff works (TDL, for example, seemed to be "just fine" to me when they invested a HUGE sum of money in the Pooh ride...whereas DCA seems to be sinking a lot of money in to "prop things up")...I admit that's a rough approximation (was TDL stagnating, and that's why they went for expensive Pooh?
Of course, would love to hear thoughts from anyone even though it's Lee I directed the question to. |
7
| leemac
Mon 8/6/2007 6:08a | It is a combination of things at the moment. A lot of future development will be planned around the budgeted cash flow from TDL's 25th. If that tanks or underperforms it will impact the next 5 Year Plan.
TDS is doing okay. Not great, but okay. Merchandise and F&B revenue is definitely down as is the average ticket price (due to more promotional tickets being sold). Still good but not enough for OLC to justify another $200m bet like Tower.
The other issue is that OLC is using TDR cash to develop its other interests both Disney and non-Disney related. The group is getting pretty complex and they are desperate to diversify away from both their Maihama base and their reliance (or over-reliance) on Disney. |
8
| Mr X
Mon 8/6/2007 6:17a | Interesting information Lee, thanks. |
9
| leemac
Mon 8/6/2007 6:25a | <<Surely we'll see some kind of expansion before/for Tokyo DisneySea's 10th Anniversary?>>
That isn't really the preferred method at any Disney park any more. Tower was definitely the anomaly but then the 5th had kicked off nearly 2 months prior on July 15. Pooh opened in an off-year (September 2000) and Monsters will open right at the end of the 25th (January 2009). It is about sustainability of attendance numbers and that is difficult if you open everything at once. DL's 50th was the perfect example: Monsters, Inc. Space Mountain, Buzz, etc. all opened at separate times. When you rely on the fan base you need to give them a reason to come back again and again. |
10
| TDR_Fan
Mon 8/6/2007 7:04a | Well, as long as a new E-ticket attractions comes in the next 5-10 years I'll be happy ;) |
