Joyland Books

As most of you will have read on this forum, Bob says Disney's parks are in trouble and they are trying to sell them off.

So imagine my total surprise when I read in a newspaper that Disney's figures are up, and it's attributed to their parks!

When did Bob say that? I can't imagiene they are in that much trouble as they are building Expedition Everest at the Animal Kingdom which is quite possibly their most ambitious ride project to date and let's remember Disney don't actually own Disney Land Paris.

I can't actually remeber Bob mentioning Disney but it does rather sound like him. At the end of the day I'm not sure what he's doing talking about Disney anyway. Disney Parks and the Dreamland we are campaigning for are on completely different scales. Disney Land Paris has had problems largely because to set up they took out massive loans and now it requires a lot of money just to pay the interesst. Philip Miller wouldn't need to take out a loan to develop Dreamland into a state of the art amusement park so the finances would probably work out far better.

Bob tried to tell us that parks could not operate more than about 3 months of the year, there just wasn't the trade, so I said he had better not tell Disney.

His reply was to say that Disney were in trouble, might as well just wrap the whole lot up.

The press report was quite happy to blanket all the parks together and say that they were why Disney was picking up, they would have said if there was a weak link.

Vince.

vince69619 wrote:Bob tried to tell us that parks could not operate more than about 3 months of the year, there just wasn't the trade, so I said he had better not tell Disney.

His reply was to say that Disney were in trouble, might as well just wrap the whole lot up.

The press report was quite happy to blanket all the parks together and say that they were why Disney was picking up, they would have said if there was a weak link.

Vince.

Your post clearly indicates you do not know how to read a P&L account. Nice try but you will have to do a lot better.

No actually my post clearly indicates that I didn't read a profit and loss account at all.

It clearly states that the national press diagrees with Bob's wide sweeping statements.

Vince.

I too have not read a profits and loose account but if the Disney were in that much trouble they would not be building Expecdition Everest. Besides it is silly to state that the park would only open for 3 months a year as the standard season is from late March though to the end of November. This refers to parks from Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach to Lightwater Valley.

Adventure Island (whose owner would like to purchase and develop Dreamland) opens all year round with winter openings. How does Bob know that if Philip Miller owned Dreamland, Dreamland to wouldn't be opening on selected days all year round?

Moreover Brighton Pier amusement park opens every day of the year (except possibly not Xmas day) suggesting that even small amusement park will open all year round

We have already said that we do not see Dreamland as a rival to Disneyland so it is a bit of an irrelevant point to make. Again Bob I really do wonder whether you're walking around with tinted spectacles (if so they are certainly not rose tinted if you know what I mean).

Yeah right,
Disney sure is hurting. I happen to work at Magic Kingdom park in Orlando (I am a Labor Stat- I tell Casting how many people we need to hire on a weekly basis). The only thing we are hurting for right now is more personnel! What a joke....

Jade

Hi Jade, great use of the American spelling of Labour!! I love the fact that people nearly 5,000 miles away can add hard evidence to the Save Dreamland Campaign. I wouldn't normally want Mickey and Minnie on my side, but I am always happy to make exceptions!

Hi Jade,

Thanks for the insider infomation, and look forward to seeing how well you are doing in July when I visit.

Another out of towner visit to a park, only this takes more planning than Margate which I WOULD travel to if a real theme/adventure park was on offer.

Vince.

Hi Jade,

Funny you mention casting there as I could currently do with a job. I remember on my first ever visit to Disneyworld in 1989 I heard our coach rep saying that you could work for Disney for up to 18 months apparently as a non-US citizen. (Just wondered if there was any truth in that, assuming it still applies).

Ironically I'm due to go to California this coming Friday for six days so I'd be in the original park, if I decide to go. I notice on Disneyland's website that there's a new attraction in Disney's California Adventure (DCA) park based on Monsters Inc (I believe it's housed in the former Hollywood drive-thru type attraction whose name escapes me). Just goes to show how Disney always attempts to lure back the visitors, and there's the revamped Space Mountain across the road in the original Disneyland Park. No doubt I won't be able to resist the temptation while I'm in SCali!

I don't know the real numbers regarding guests to Disneyland and the opposite DCA, although I have read that DCA hasn't lived up to their expected guest target forecasts. However, with the recent addition of the Hollywood Tower of Terror I expect gradual future investments in the property will only enhance their guest totals in years to come. I have to personally admit that I thought DCA was a little disappointing but what attractions they have are of a high quality in my opinion, even Tower of Terror is subtlely different, and in its operation of the elevator cars' launch system.

I know the above is a bit off topic but as we're talking Disney I thought it might be useful.

By the way Vince, you'll certainly have a great time in Orlando if it's your first visit, however for some reason I tend to still prefer the original park at Anaheim, California. (Probably because its smaller and has the classic Matterhorn roller coaster ride; the world's first tubular steel tracked ride).

Martin

Hi Martin,

I am in California next month (1st visit mainly business), and then back to Orlando for my second visit (all holiday) - staying in the Marriott World Centre again - some hotel that is!

I will also most cetainly visit most of the UK parks during the summer, so before someone starts bashing on, my USA visits do not mean I won't also be a UK tourist!

Vince.

It's too bad you will be too early to visit Cedar Point in Ohio (closed for winter).
http://www.cedarpoint.com/public/park/r ... /index.cfm

It has 3 of the top 10 rated coasters in the world. 5 of their 10 major coasters were height and speed record holders at one time.
First over 100, 200, 300, 400. (Last 3 were also speed champs)
Most inversions (5 or 6...?).

I used to live about an hour away. Great place. World class.
Way better than the Disney family oriented rides (Don't get me wrong, I love Disneyland).

My wife is still recovering from a problem with her ankle, so we might be keeping out of parks and looking at more railway enthusiast locations. But I will still have full access to the forum from the office.

Vince.

Hi, Yeh I am still recovering from a bad ankle but hopefullly I will able to
go back on the rides when we go in July back to Florida. I am Vince69619 Wife my name is Nicola. But looking forward to coming to Margate and going
on some rides.

Take care

Nicola.

porterm wrote:Hi Jade,


I don't know the real numbers regarding guests to Disneyland and the opposite DCA, although I have read that DCA hasn't lived up to their expected guest target forecasts.


Martin

Actually I know a good part of the reason why DCA has had issues. First of all, it was the first (and will probably be the only) park to open on budget. To do this, they didn't theme it as well as they have all their other parks. To most visitors it seemed less "Disney". I have been there and I actually quite agree with it. It seems like most of the original rides are a bit too Carny for me and just not Disney enough. As you can imagine they have been working since it opened to rectify this. Hence all the very well themed rides they have added and are continueing to add.

Also- the post about Cedar Point- I LOVE THAT PLACE!!! I used to live in Ohio I had an annual pass for 7 years in a row.

I am unsure about the I9 (non-US citizen workers) question. I don't work in casting, I just let them know how many open positions we have that need filling. If anyone wants a job MOVE TO ORLANDO!! Disney needs you! LOL

Jade
PS I really hope to visit not just Dreamland but Black Pool Pleasure Beach too to ride (I think?) the only remaining Horse Steeplechase coaster in existence.