Everything’s Coming Up Disney Experiences
All Simpsons fans know the quote, “Everything’s coming up Millhouse.”
Springfield’s iconic dweeb finally catches a break when he’s wearing his galoshes during a flood.
Photo: The Simpsons
So, Millhouse takes this as a sign that his luck finally turned after, well, his entire life.
Lately, I’ve been feeling the same way about Disney’s theme park division, which is definitely running hot right now.
Photo:visitorlando.com
Yes, everything’s coming up Disney Experiences. Let’s discuss a few recent highlights.
The Disney Treasure Dazzles
Photo: Disney
As our Tori Carle mentioned on Wednesday, Disney executives provided a glowing report on the Disney Treasure.
MickeyBlog has detailed the many triumphs of this vessel, which redefines cruise ship luxury and amenities.
Disney Treasure
Tourists have always trusted Disney Cruise Line to deliver an immersive vacation experience.
Somehow, Disney has raised its game with the Disney Treasure, though.
This new vessel offers a score of unprecedented amenities, including the already iconic Haunted Mansion Parlor.
Calling this place a lounge feels like calling the Taj Mahal a building.
The statement is technically correct, but you’re missing the spirit of the place by describing it that way.
And “spirit” is the pertinent word at the Haunted Mansion Parlor, which recreates the environment of Disney’s classic ride.
Haunted Mansion Parlor
You’ll enter a small-scale recreation of the Haunted Mansion.
However, this one features spooky drinks and nifty tricks. Imagineers have seeded the space with their spookiest ideas.
Haunted Mansion Parlor
Whenever you hear the clock strike in this lounge, something mystical is about to happen. Pray you live through it.
I wax poetic about the Haunted Mansion Parlor because I consider it one of the best things Disney has ever done.
According to CEO Bob Iger and CFO Hugh Johnston, customers agree.
The Disney executives indicate that the ship’s initial launch has vastly exceeded expectations.
Disney Treasure Grand Hall Stairs
Thus far, the Treasure has effectively sold out every itinerary to date.
Along those lines, the belief is that the Treasure will already be profitable during its first quarter in operation. That’s stunning.
Dory’s Forget-Me-Knots
Disney officials added that the ship’s survey results thus far already rival those of its most popular vessels.
Generally, a ship experiences hiccups during its early voyages.
That’s not true of the Treasure, which has instantly become the crown jewel of the fleet.
Disney Shocks with Premier Pass Success
Photo: Disney
Okay, I’ll confess that I’m the one shocked here, although I’ve had the epiphany that I shouldn’t be.
When Disney announced Lightning Lane Premier Pass, I felt confident it would work.
Photo: Disney
Not enough Disney analysts are acutely aware of how much tourists desire upscale amenities.
We’re talking about a destination vacation option for families and singles alike, many of whom commemorate life events at Disney.
My complaints about Premier Pass centered on its implementation, as Disney didn’t make it a multi-park offering.
I also felt strongly that Disney had priced it too high to make it a solid option for most families. And here’s where I’m an idiot.
Photo: Disney
On the same day as Disney’s latest earnings report, Magic Kingdom sold out its Premier Pass allotment.
This sellout was the second at Magic Kingdom in six days. And the latest one occurred on a random Wednesday in early February.
Mickey and Minnie Mouse
We can explain some of the others as weekend dates or holiday-related or the like.
Since Disney expanded Premier Pass availability to all guests, the conversation has turned.
Frozen Ever After
Now, we’re witnessing a relatively hot commodity despite its sizable price.
I Should Have Seen This Coming
EPCOT – Spaceship Earth
People aren’t experiencing sticker shock to the level I had anticipated…and I should have seen it coming.
I just mentioned that Disney is a destination vacation, which means people spend birthdays, anniversaries, and honeymoons here.
EPCOT
Those are times when tourists tend to stretch their budgets and live a little. Premier Pass plays right into that behavior.
Since Disney offers only a modest amount of Premier Passes – reportedly 2,000 daily at Walt Disney World – sellouts will happen.
Photo: Washington Post
And here’s the significant part. Disney noted that it hasn’t really marketed the product yet.
Right now, Premier Pass is almost in a beta phase, which Disney describes as follows:
Photo: Disney
“(We are) moving slowly with that product in order to make it a great experience both for the purchasers of Lightning Lane and for the rest of our guests in the park.”
Also, “(Premier Pass is) going to build over time, but it’s certainly very much (in its) early days.”
The scary thought here is that Disney is basically saying that it could be pushing harder and trying to sell it more.
Nobody is doing that because Disney wants an honest gauge of the product’s demand and popularity.
So, Premier Pass is selling out without Disney putting its thumb on the scale.
Based on what I’m seeing so far – and I can’t believe I’m saying this – Premier Pass is, if anything, underpriced. Wild, right?
Epic Universe and the Non-Impact
Photo: Universal
Here’s a TBD (to be determined) wherein Disney already believes it knows the answer.
During Disney’s most recent earnings call, one investor asked about the impact of Universal Epic Universe on Walt Disney World.
Universal Orlando
Disney officials had previously indicated that they’d allowed for this impact in their 2025 forecasts.
The person asked whether Disney had changed its projections based on more current booking information.
Photo-Illustration: Vulture | Photo: Gary Hershorn/Getty Images, Julio Aguilar/Getty Images
CFO Hugh Johnston dismissed this notion. “Obviously, (there is) no change to the guide that we had previously provided.
“We had said Experiences would be up six to eight (percent) on the year. The strong Q1 increases our level of confidence in the guide, for sure.”
Flowers – Partners Statue – Magic Kingdom
That’s Disney’s top numbers expert saying that Disney now feels more confident than ever about its theme park performance.
The statement comes with a caveat that operating income in the Disney Experience/theme park division fell five percent this quarter.
Magic Kingdom
However, Disney faced what it calls “nine points of headwinds.”
In simplest terms, Disney would have been up four percent in the quarter if not for two hurricane-related closures and a cruise ship payment.
Universal
Johnston did acknowledge that when Disney “built our (2025) plans, we did anticipate some small impact.”
So, the belief is that any Epic Universe effect on Walt Disney World is negligible at best.
Photo: Universal
We’ll find out for sure in less than four months when the new Central Florida theme park opens.
Still, you can’t blame Disney for the level of confidence it’s showing.
Photo: Disney Parks Blog
Everything has been coming up Disney Experiences for the past few months, and 2025 has started incredibly well.
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