This came out last night

[Snickerdoodlesmommy]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/tourism/orl-bk-disneyhotels020707,0,5603094.story?track=mostemail edlink

Not much of another announcement, local6 had more of a story than is reported here, but has not put it on their website yet.

that's all.

[MargaretJ]

Hey where you been!!!!

I would love a Downtown Disney type set-up in other places than Disney but I sort of hope they don't expand too much. They had a problem with having too many Disney Stores a few years ago, just made it not as special if you had one in every mall. Maybe a resort here or there in special places but I really don't want one in every city.

[MissBianca]

Interesting. I agree with Margaret, they cannot expand indefinitely. Saturation comes pretty quickly. I know they had planned to put Disney Quest into several cities but it wasn't successful. I wonder if by "tourist draws" they mean places like Las Vegas and Nashville?

[pixie]

Hey where you been!!!!

I would love a Downtown Disney type set-up in other places than Disney but I sort of hope they don't expand too much. They had a problem with having too many Disney Stores a few years ago, just made it not as special if you had one in every mall. Maybe a resort here or there in special places but I really don't want one in every city.

I agree, I don't want Disney to be everywhere. I want to keep Disney special.

[Daddio]

I wonder if they want some of the business currently being enjoyed by themed resorts like Great Wolf Lodge.

[Moley]

I think Las Vegas is very logical. I would add Branson to that and maybe the DC area. There were rumors about parks opening in Virginia and Houston. Maybe this is what it really is.

[MissBianca]

There were rumors about parks opening in Virginia and Houston. Maybe this is what it really is.

Maybe! Sure seems more reasonable than opening more parks.

[Robin]

I'm picturing something like DCL but without the ship. An all inclusive family friendly resort. Kid's programs, so the adults can have some time to themselves. Each one could be unique, all with the Disney touch. Maybe a show or two, visits from Disney characters, even a themed party.

A resort in the Caribbean, ski resort in the Poconos, Vegas (as Moley said) maybe even a cowboy type ranch.

[AZMouseFan]

I wonder if this concept will appear in Hawaii where there is so little Disney influence. I can't remember the name of it now but several years ago we had one of the Disney little kid play places open up just down the street (they opened them the same time as Disney Quest) but it only lasted 6 months. I hope they're better prepared this time.

[Bookwood]

Great idea as long as they don't over-do. I'm still not sure why the Disney Quest idea failed- unless it just didn't have a broad enough appeal. My family loved them.

[Robin]

Right now it sounds like they are bouncing around ideas. Maybe they are trying to see wheither or not the ideas appeal to investors and consumers before moving forward.

Personally, I don't see a stand alone DTD being appealing. I think the reason most of us go to DTD is simply because it's something to do onsite. The same with the Boardwalk. Would it have the same appeal if it was just plopped down 'off site' with no WDW around it?


Disney Parks eyes stand-alone hotels, niche parks

Thu Feb 8, 2007
By Gina Keating

LOS ANGELES, Feb 7 (Reuters) - The Walt Disney Co. is considering "blue sky concepts" of creating smaller theme parks and stand-alone hotels, retail, dining and entertainment centers, Jay Rasulo, chairman of Disney's Parks and Resorts told analysts at a conference on Wednesday.
Building stand-alone hotels in urban areas where families already travel would give Disney the chance to reach out to parents who feel their children are still too young to appreciate a trip to a Disney theme park, Rasulo said.

Along those lines, Disney could locate versions of its Downtown Disneyland, a high-end retail, dining and entertainment district, in urban areas far from its parks, he said.

The company also was exploring alternatives to full-size theme parks, including "a smaller, deeply immersive park" that would offer consumers a more interactive experience at higher prices.

These ideas are "blue sky concepts" that will not be executed unless the new businesses could achieve a high return on invested capital, Rasulo said.

Disney also was looking into expanding its water park offerings beyond Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach and possibly adding ships to its two-vessel cruise lines, Rasulo said.

Rasulo had little to add about the lackluster performance by Hong Kong Disneyland, which opened in September of 2005, and failed to meet first-year attendance target of 5.6 million.

"Hong Kong Disneyland developed a little more slowly than we expected in 1999 when the deal was put together" but the company was confident of its growth trajectory, he said.

"We identified some challenges to be addressed in the near future in sales and marketing and seasonality," he added.


http://today.reuters.com/news/articleinvesting.aspx?view=CN&storyID=2007-02-09T022840Z_01_N07258697_RTRIDST_0_DISNEY-PARKS-CORRECTED.XML&rpc=66&type=qcna

[AuroraNJ29]

I don't know about anybody else but the Disney Store in the mall closest to me is always MOBBED!!! Halloween, Christmas...the lines are out the door. Whevever there are semi annual sales or whatever...there isn't a pin or a pen left on the shelves! In the NY/NJ/PA area I think a Disney anything would just be a profitable idea. I can tell you honestly that myself and all of my daughters friends parents would go there at least once and check it our for sure.