Disney Doesn’t Plan to Spend a Fortune Promoting New Star Wars Attractions

Via Skift.com:

Disney has been talking about its upcoming Star Wars lands in California and Florida for years now. But when the time comes to actually pay to get the word out, the entertainment giant doesn’t expect to break the bank.

“On the marketing expense side, don’t expect much,” CEO Bob Iger told analysts Tuesday during an earnings call. “I’m thinking that maybe I should just tweet, ‘It’s opening,’ and that will be enough.”

Iger said he expects both lands — officially called Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge — to be “incredibly popular and in-demand.” Both will cover 14 acres; executives have called them the “largest single themed land expansion in our history.” The first opens at Disneyland in California this summer, with the Florida version coming online in the fall at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. An immersive themed hotel is also opening in Florida.

“I think that we’re going to have absolutely no problem gaining attention for them or to them, and it’s not going to take much marketing to do that,” Iger said. “That’s a signal that I just sent to our parks and resorts people to keep that budget really low.”

Based on Tuesday’s results, it’s not a bad idea to keep expenses in check. Revenue was about flat at $15.3 billion for the quarter that ended Dec. 29, while profit fell 8 percent to $3.65 billion. Studio and direct-to-consumer segments both saw operating income plummet year-over-year.

The parks, experiences, and consumer products segment was a bright spot, however, with revenue up 5 percent to $6.82 billion. Operating income jumped 7 percent to $1.3 billion.

Attendance at domestic parks was similar to a year ago, but per-person spending was up 7 percent as visitors spend more on admission, food, drinks, and merchandise. Per-room spending at hotels was up 5 percent domestically, Chief Financial Officer Christine McCarthy said.

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