Santiago Disney park ??

[Tallman1818]

I was talking with a body of mine in Bavaro beach over the Semana Santa holiday and he mention the fact, that a group of German business men back during the Hipolito Mejia goverment wanted to buy a large piece of land and built a Disney park here in DR, to bring all those families that have the money to afford such place but can not get US visas to visit the park in Florida or California.
Now I ask you what about if these idea was to became a reality in during the next goverment of Leonel Fernandez and was built in Santiago, a city with an internation airport looking to be expand, a major hotel coming soon (Gran Cibao), but very little turism attracion and not a lot of jobs for the poorest of its citizen.
Would this idea work in the caribe area The Dominican Republic (Santiago) or would it be another Europe Disney mess.

[NALs]

That's an interesting idea.

I guess it could work if:

1) There is enough demand.

2) The packages are combined with beach resort/mountain resort escapes. (ie. The person starts their vacation at the amusement park, spends a few days there and discovering Santiago and then they are off to Puerto Plata/Sosúa, Juan Dolio, or Bávaro-Punta Cana for some sun, sand, and surf or to Jarabacoa or Constanza for some nature/mountain/hiking, etc.

It could work, but, of course, market research is needed to know if there is a demand, what the initial and operating costs might be, have an idea of the type of profit margins possible, etc.

-NALs

[SantiagoDR]

Originally Posted by Tallman1818

I was talking with a body of mine in Bavaro beach over the Semana Santa holiday and he mention the fact, that a group of German business men back during the Hipolito Mejia goverment wanted to buy a large piece of land and built a Disney park here in DR, to bring all those families that have the money to afford such place but can not get US visas to visit the park in Florida or California.
Now I ask you what about if these idea was to became a reality in during the next goverment of Leonel Fernandez and was built in Santiago, a city with an internation airport looking to be expand, a major hotel coming soon (Gran Cibao), but very little turism attracion and not a lot of jobs for the poorest of its citizen.
Would this idea work in the caribe area The Dominican Republic (Santiago) or would it be another Europe Disney mess.

Darn,
.........did I miss the election, I thought it was in May!

Personally, I don´t think it stands a chance to work. There would never be enough turn-around business to sustain it. It works in the states because of the large population base to draw in business. Repeat business from Florida residents helps a lot. Dominicans may not be able to afford to do that repeat business.

2) The packages are combined with beach resort/mountain resort escapes. (ie. The person starts their vacation at the amusement park, spends a few days there and discovering Santiago and then they are off to Puerto Plata/Sosúa, Juan Dolio, or Bávaro-Punta Cana for some sun, sand, and surf or to Jarabacoa or Constanza for some nature/mountain/hiking, etc.

Nals, that would not help the "PARK" to sustain itself. The people would have to hold back money to pay for those other amenities, thus less time and money to spend at the park. A large part of the income at Disney are the food and gift shops with their high prices.

[carrie]

A Disney park. Well maybe not on the grand scale that it is in Florida. But the most popular attractions.

Dominicans need employment, a Disney park would bring some employment and a much needed tourist attraction other than sun, sand and beach.

Almost every family here in D.R. has someone in the family who is abroad working and sending money. I assure you that when that family member be it aunt, uncle, mother, father or godparent is here and can take their little ones to a Dominican Disney they will. Also the Disney park visit would be popular for birthday celebrations and graduations and of course school day trips.

I (an American citizen married living in d.r.) have the money to travel with my favorite niece or nephew to Florida disney but how the heck can I get a visa for them...they are not handing them out that easily.

Native middle class dominicans all scream we have no money but watch "they have money for new clothes, new shoes, hair salons and taxis" so don't believe everything you hear.

Carrie

[leekiv]

Would this type of park not require constant hydro? I mean if the hydro cut's off can you imagine how many generators etc would be required? Is it workable from that point?

[NALs]

Originally Posted by SantiagoDR

Nals, that would not help the "PARK" to sustain itself. The people would have to hold back money to pay for those other amenities, thus less time and money to spend at the park. A large part of the income at Disney are the food and gift shops with their high prices.

In that case, it would be best to develop such a project somewhere along the coast where the hotels are in fact on the beach and thus, they can get the best of both worlds, assuming that the park developers would operate and own a few hotels/resorts.

Bávaro-Punta Cana might be an ideal place for this, considering the relatively high number of families that visit the place, that after a few days are bored to death and screaming of leaving their resort walls.

Originally Posted by Carrie

A Disney park. Well maybe not on the grand scale that it is in Florida. But the most popular attractions.

Something like Universal Orlando, which I personally think is much better than Disney or any other amusement park I have ever been to. They have two parks, a shopping/entertainment village, and three themed resorts.

This is very interesting.

The question now is how many people in the region belong to the demographics (economically, etc) that is targeted and are capable of sustaining a business of this type.

-NALs

[PICHARDO]

Hmmm... Great idea!...

[DOMINCAN BOY]

Originally Posted by carrie

Native middle class dominicans all scream we have no money but watch "they have money for new clothes, new shoes, hair salons and taxis" so don't believe everything you hear.

Carrie

You forgot a pasola to go to school, and mobile phones

[Tallman1818]

The question now is how many people in the region belong to the demographics (economically, etc) that is targeted and are capable of sustaining a business of this type.

-NALs

NALs, the idea was base on the fact that a lot of people in Latin America such as South and Central America need visas to enter the States and visit the park on Florida also because of the Dominican Republic location on the Caribe it will be closer for Europeas to came here and a lot cheper giving the hotel accomodations prices in DR, the Central and South american citizens will need NO visa to enter the DR, which will make it a lot easier for families to enjoy this theme park.

[Hillbilly]

Disney on Ice is coming to Santo Domingo--at the Basketball Arena in the Centro Olímpico Juan Pablo Duarte.

Let's see how well they sell the place. full house of 10000+....???

HB