Disney Confident Parks Safe; Expect Strong Summer
Company Unveils New Resort & Spa
POSTED: Thursday, May 27, 2004
UPDATED: 12:54 am EDT May 28,
2004
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Top Disney company executives said Thursday that they are not overly concerned about the safety of the company's various properties, despite heightened concerns of terrorism, according to a report. 
President of Disney World Resort Al Weiss said that Disney would not open its theme park gates "if we didn't feel it was safe for our guests or cast members."Weiss was in Florida to unveil Disney's newest resort, Disney Saratoga Springs Resort And Spa. Officials said time-share resorts like Saratoga Springs are part of the company's newest business strategy in a growing Florida tourism industry.
Weiss and other Disney executives said they are optimistic about the Central Florida tourism industry heading into the summer vacation season."We are certainly seeing a rebound in our business and it's continued for the last few quarters as we are beginning to see more and more guest coming out," Weiss said. "Summer looks very strong."Weiss noted record passenger loads at Orlando International Airport in March as evidence of the area's tourism rebound, Local 6 News partner Florida Today reported. The 2.93 million passengers passing through the airport was the busiest month since March 2001, when 2.91 million passengers used the airport.New numbers released Thursday showed that the resort is generating more than $5 billion a year -- or 9 percent of Central Florida's economy, Local 6 News reported. Also, an estimated 1 out of 7 people working in Central Florida are tied directly or indirectly to Walt Disney World, according to the report.Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa is the fifth Disney Vacation Club to be built at Walt Disney World.Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
President of Disney World Resort Al Weiss said that Disney would not open its theme park gates "if we didn't feel it was safe for our guests or cast members."Weiss was in Florida to unveil Disney's newest resort, Disney Saratoga Springs Resort And Spa. Officials said time-share resorts like Saratoga Springs are part of the company's newest business strategy in a growing Florida tourism industry.Weiss and other Disney executives said they are optimistic about the Central Florida tourism industry heading into the summer vacation season."We are certainly seeing a rebound in our business and it's continued for the last few quarters as we are beginning to see more and more guest coming out," Weiss said. "Summer looks very strong."Weiss noted record passenger loads at Orlando International Airport in March as evidence of the area's tourism rebound, Local 6 News partner Florida Today reported. The 2.93 million passengers passing through the airport was the busiest month since March 2001, when 2.91 million passengers used the airport.New numbers released Thursday showed that the resort is generating more than $5 billion a year -- or 9 percent of Central Florida's economy, Local 6 News reported. Also, an estimated 1 out of 7 people working in Central Florida are tied directly or indirectly to Walt Disney World, according to the report.Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa is the fifth Disney Vacation Club to be built at Walt Disney World.Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.Copyright 2005 by Internet Broadcasting Systems and Local6.com.
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