Big Annoucement in October? About This Page:

[mousestruck]

Originally Posted by RobDVC

I'll bet it's going to be a big "State of the Parks" press event.
-Details of the 2009 theme
-Details of the Contemporary DVC
-Details of the online ADR booking capability
-Details of upcoming attractions.

[Caldercup]

Originally Posted by RobDVC

I'll bet it's going to be a big "State of the Parks" press event.
-Details of the 2009 theme
-Details of the Contemporary DVC
-Details of the online ADR booking capability
-Details of upcoming attractions.

I agree -- we were there for the big press event in October 03 and again in May 05. I think they get more national and international press if they "really put on a show."
Eileen

[Cam22]

Now I can't wait for October!

[tikimimi]

Hmmm - On the DVC Member Cruise website, the following is what they have said in discussing the speakers on our cruise. The member cruise website says, "Discover the inspirations behind a planned Theme Park project unlike anything in Disney history." The cruise is at the end of September, so I wonder if the October announcement will make this park project public. October 3 is the next Friday after we get back. I wish we were going to be there then!

[ilovedisney247]

Oh boy a new park!! I'm excited!

[disneygal]

ooh, how exciting!

[ellis2729]

Well I know for a fact that they are not going to contiue with the year of a million dreams I have talked to many Dream squad members and they are done in december of this year. My Husband has said that the last time Joe Rodie came to animal kingdom he was hinting at something big as a new park or something like that.

[Caldercup]

Wonder if they're going through with the "Night Kingdom" idea even though it was basically panned by all on-line communities.
Eileen

[Jookiba]

Originally Posted by ellis2729

Well I know for a fact that they are not going to contiue with the year of a million dreams I have talked to many Dream squad members and they are done in december of this year.

I'd like to know when they even STARTED as I never see any Dream Squad members around when we're there-and we're always in the parks, never at DtD.

[Anna M]

I'm not sure what the announcement will be, but for Disney to cancel a money maker like MNSSHP, I would say that it is going to be really big. It seems that for something less than HUGE, they could use another of the parks for a press event. The Contemporary DVC or 2009 theme doesn't seem to warrant that kind of response. I could see a new park doing that, but for the rumor mill to be so quiet on this seems unusual. I would lean more towards something completely new, like an idea such as the Adventures by Disney. It should be exciting whatever it is.

PS. My boys think that it will be something related to HSM3 since that will be released in Oct.

[Dave Marx]

I think in this case it won't necessarily be a single, big thing to announce, but a bunch of more routine things. Gather enough of those announcements together, and you have enough of an excuse for a major event.

I have no firm ideas of what they have in mind for the media event. I kind of doubt a new, full-sized park, but I'd be happy to be wrong. I don't think they'd bother with a big event for a smaller-sized park like Night Kingdom (which would probably be similar in size to a water park). They also didn't bother with a big event for Year of a Million Dreams, but maybe they want to do it for whatever promotional event is coming next.

There was a time when Disney depended on these big media events - they spent very little on consumer advertising, preferring to get free press coverage. Once they began spending a lot on consumer advertising, there was undoubtedly financial pressure to spend less on media events.

The last kick-out-the-jams national media event was in 2005 for Disneyland's 50th. They may just be feeling it's time to bring the media in for another extravaganza - they may not be lubricating the press as much as they used to, but some grease is still required. And a usually-neglected aspect of these events is that more than half the invited guests are actually members of the travel industry (travel agents, etc.). It's not just a matter of getting free press coverage, but of "juicing" the folks who sell Disney vacations.

Location in MK, rather than one of the other parks? It's a function of the setting they desire for the event. MK says "Disney," while other parks tend to communicate less far-reaching themes. If the majority of new attraction announcements are focused on MK, that's another reason, of course. However, the big media events do park-hop, and announcements tend to happen during the daytime. Parties happen at night. After a day of scooting around to one or more parks for park-specific announcements, they usually head elsewhere for the party. Epcot has the Food and Wine Festival, so a party there would mess-up all that Food and Wine revenue/attendance.

What will be on the agenda for the event? Normally, they try to have an attraction grand opening, but American Idol won't be opening for a couple/few more months, and it's been there, done that for Toy Story Mania. The entire assembled multitude can't be acommodated at T-Rex (the restaurant at Downtown), which might be open by then. They're not going to show us empty clubs at PI. Pretty much, it comes down to announcements of things to come. Those are done in the morning and early afternoon, to make sure it makes the afternoon/evening newscasts. Nighttime? Maybe showing off a new night parade or fireworks show, or an attraction opening (Mickey's PhilharMagic had a nighttime opening). Maybe they want to do MNSSHP for the assembled multitudes, not that it needs huge amounts of publicity (but they could want the travel agents to push it harder).

As to lost revenue, since Media Relations (Marketing) actually has to pay MK/Parks Catering for the event, I'm sure MK will get at least as much money for this as it would have gotten for an early October Halloween party. The cost per guest for one of these includes catered food and alcoholic beverages (in MK? Yep, the MK), as well as the park rental fee - much more than the average guest spends at MNSSHP.

Possible announcements are as long a list as our regular "rumors" wish list. That means everything from that coaster in Fantasyland to a revamped Star Tours, to an attraction to replace Pocahontas at AK, the long wished-for Indy ride, more Pixar-inspired stuff, that big construction project next to the Contemporary... I do think MK is "due" for a new attraction, even if it's something as small as converting the Indy Speedway to a Cars theme.

One thought I had recently for a cool announcement (be sure to give me credit for the rumor, folks!), is that DisneyQuest, which has long been rumored to be on its way out, would be a great location for a couple of nightclubs/restaurants. In other words, another shot at the Pleasure Island concept. If they do that, I wouldn't expect a re-make of the beloved clubs, but something inspired by them - more interactive/inprovisational comedy, but with different themes. What's more, there could be food on premises, something the PI clubs sorely lacked. Since folks wouldn't have to go inside unless they wanted to, I don't think you'd hear many complaints about "un-Disney" entertainment (one problem for PI is that it was in folks' faces).

Of course, I reserve the right to be wrong about every bit of this.

[Jenny Pooh]

One thought I had recently for a cool announcement (be sure to give me credit for the rumor, folks!), is that DisneyQuest, which has long been rumored to be on its way out, would be a great location for a couple of nightclubs/restaurants. In other words, another shot at the Pleasure Island concept. If they do that, I wouldn't expect a re-make of the beloved clubs, but something inspired by them - more interactive/inprovisational comedy, but with different themes. What's more, there could be food on premises, something the PI clubs sorely lacked. Since folks wouldn't have to go inside unless they wanted to, I don't think you'd hear many complaints about "un-Disney" entertainment (one problem for PI is that it was in folks' faces).

OMG I love that idea!!!!

[tndisneyfam]

Very interesting! Can't wait!

[JaimeandChad]

Wow, that's a good Idea Dave. Impressed I am.

[BellaBuggy]

Here is another thought:

Jim Hill : Look for Mickey to get Shanghai-ed in September