Mouse Extra

This week we usher in a New Year, and to commemorate the event we thought it would be a good idea to look forward to what stories may define Disney’s 2009.  We’ll focus mostly on what may be the big moments at Walt Disney World, but we might add one or two from outside the Orlando theme parks.  We’ll be talking rumors and predictions, and this time next year we can look back and see how close we were.

As we spend the next few days talking about what we think, and what we hope, may be added to Walt Disney World this coming year we will always feel the constant presence of a giant elephant, or a thousand pound gorilla if you prefer, in the middle of the room staring at us.  Because everything we think may happen in 2009 is “subject to change” so to speak, thanks to the economy.  It may very well be the dominant issue throughout the world next year, and it will most definitely exert a massive influence on everything happening at the Mouse.

It seems every week we discuss something new with regards to the economy.  Cutbacks are already a reality and the future will see more.  Some of them will not be noticed too much by guests, but others will likely make the Disney World experience suffer.  The decision to slash showings of Fantasmic! was a perfect example of a budget cut that just plain stinks, any way you look at it.  Besides show times, park hours are already being cut and there is almost certainly more to come.  Cast Member jobs might be lost and budgets for new attractions will be decreased.  How significant these decreases are is the question we will all be watching to see how it is answered by Disney’s bean counters.

Now, it is important to note that not everything the economy influences at Disney World will result in something negative.  While we can certainly expect cutbacks, we can also expect deals.  Disney has already launched aggressive marketing and discount programs to try and lessen the bleeding and hopefully there is more to come.

Disney has also showed a desire to project ahead and try to stay in front of the trends.  When the recession turns around, Disney may want to be ready with new and exciting attractions so that when people start hunting again for vacation spots Disney World has something different to offer.  Did Disney know what was coming and thus cutback on development in 2008?  Will that change in 2009?  Only time will tell.