Sorcerers of the MK review and ruminations - aiming at DVC now? http://miceage.micechat.com/kevinyee/ky013112a.htm
I think it’s most likely they are aiming at the repeat visitor. Specifically, they are aiming at those who have seen the parks over and over again. Chief among such visitors would be the Disney Vacation Club (DVC) owners, who often come every single year. They have a long-term contract, but would get restless if they don’t see a reason to come every year. A typical DVC member will take things slowly in the park and not rush from ride to ride—exactly the sort of person who would benefit from a three-hour experience in the park, don’t you think? In fact, it seems unlikely that a ‘day tourist’ would want to invest three full hours in the extended “true-life” video game (to borrow a phrase from Walt’s day), now that we think about it. It’s only the frequent visitor (and we must lump in the local annual passholder in that group) who will get truly excited about this offering.
But that’s OK, too. Disney World needs to meet the needs of its various stakeholders, and for too long the locals, regulars, and DVC members have played second fiddle to the first-time visitors. They need a bone every so often as well. It helps that the spell cards are doled out only five at a time, but can be kept as souvenirs. You had better believe that a black market for trading the cards will spring up immediately, if it hasn’t already. The locals eat up this kind of thing.
In fact, it’s just possible that SotMK marks a shift in the thinking of Walt Disney World management. Instead of targeting only infrequent visitors, as has been their wont for decades now, perhaps they will start to pay equal heed to the needs of the returning folks who come time and again. WDW will never be a “locals” park, but it is increasingly frequented by people who have been there before (this is partly due to the spectacular success of the DVC program over the past decade). And they have needs too. As they get increasingly vocal, we can expect their goals to be targeted more and more. SotMK may only be the beginning.
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