Pixie Dust & Profits

Each week, we come to you with ideas from the Mouse on how you can better run your online business. In this episode, we're discussing Disney's newest rides: Ratatouille, Rise of the Resistance, and Mickey's Runaway Railway. If you are thinking about starting something brand-spankin' new in your business, listen now to hear how you can use things you already have in your business instead. This way, you can stop chasing the "new and shiny," and instead get results for your audience and your bottom line. Listen now and discover:

• Disney's brand "new" rides and what we think about them
• The Rise of the Resistance and the trackless ride system
• How to use things you already have to influence your next decisions
• How to revisit old products or offers to see new potential

Your small business takeaways:

• Amplify the things that are already working in your business rather than taking on brand new projects!

Links:

• Stop Chasing Squirrels
• Profitable and Productive Party

Each week, we come to you with ideas from the Mouse on how you can better run your online business. In this episode, we're talking about the steep learning curve that is booking a Disney World vacation.

First-time visitors to Disney World are faced with unfamiliar lingo, important (and unknown) deadlines, and ever-changing rules. Listen now to hear why it's so important to make your products easy to understand *and* use.

Listen now and discover:

• The lexicon of WDW knowledge we drew upon to be able to hit all the headlining rides at Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios
• Our early impressions of Genie+ and Lightning Lane

Your small business takeaways:

• Design your post-purchase experience around your most basic, entry-level customer
• Revisit your audience's points of entry with your brand with the eyes of a newbie

Links:

• Squirrel Syndrome Workbook

Each week, we come to you with ideas from the Mouse on how you can better run your online business. In this episode, we're discussing how Disney+ is leveraging home viewings to distribute their theatrical releases.

We've all had to majorly pivot our offerings over the last two years due to the shutdown. Listen now to hear how you can appeal to different audiences by expanding your current offerings.

Listen now and discover:

• The benefits of being able to watch movies in your own home and why Disney will continue to make this a reality for a specific audience
• Why it's so important to consider verbiage in your contracts to provide "wiggle room" for circumstances like coronavirus
• How we pivoted with our Pixie Dust LIVE events because of the shut down and why it (positively) changed the game for our future events
• A few ideas on how to shift your current offerings so that it appeals to more audiences

Your small business takeaways:

• Sometimes risks aren't a bad thing (when you're protected by contracts and terms of conditions, that is)
• Appealing to multiple audiences can help your revenue tremendously

Each week, we come to you with ideas from the Mouse on how you can better run your online business. In this episode, we're discussing rulebreakers who abuse Disney's convenient guest experience policies… and how Disney has pushed back.

If you have pushy customers that don't respect your policies, listen now to hear how you can place strong boundaries in your own small business so that you aren't being taken advantage of.

Listen now and discover:

• Why the Disney disability policy has been so highly abused by customers...and how they've made changes to it to keep this from happening
• How to put strict boundaries into place so that customers can't take advantage of you
• Easy ways to protect your business (especially if you're a digital service provider) from pushy customers

Your small business takeaways:

• Always state your boundaries and rules up front...customers can't fault you for this when you're honest and transparent.

Each week, we come to you with ideas from the Mouse on how you can better run your online business. In this episode, we're hashing out the recent updates to the classic Disney ride, Jungle Cruise.

Continuous improvement is a hallmark of the DisneyParks brand. We'll cover what changes have been made and why. Skip(per) on over to hear why it's important to always be thinking about small tweaks and changes you can make in your own small business.

Listen now and discover:

• The brand new updates to the classic ride, Jungle Cruise
• How most changes to the new experience are addressing their racist origins and creating a more inclusive feel… and where we think they fell just a tad short
• Why it's important to take a look at your business to make sure you're standing out from what others are offering
• How to refresh and improve, even if you've been in business for a short time

Your small business takeaways:

It's okay to grow and change!

Each week, we come to you with ideas from the Mouse on how you can better run your online business. In this episode, we're revealing what we know about the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser experience.

Despite its guarantee to be an out-of-this-world experience, our sticker shock was still astronomical. Listen now to hear how Disney prepared their audience well to buy into this experience, and how you can do the same with your customers.

Listen now and discover:

• The shocking price tag for the brand new Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser experience
• How the price per person can be justified by the huge operational undertaking
• The different ways this experience stands out from other hands on experiences at Disney (and whether or not we plan to take part)
• How to get your customers prepared financially to make upcoming purchases in your business

Your small business takeaways:

• Leak your offers as early as possible to prepare your audience

Each week, we come to you with ideas from the Mouse on how you can better run your online business. In this episode we're discussing the not-so-welcome changes to Disney's Annual Pass program.

Price increases and less perks that we no longer get access to without having to pay even more money? Ew. Listen now to learn better ways to prepare your customers for upcoming changes.

Listen now and discover:

• The return of Disney's Annual Pass and why we're frustrated with the changes
• The perks we love, the extras we don't
• How the prices have changed and why it no longer feels like a "no brainer" renewal for us
• Why we believe Disney is targeting a different audience than they used to

Your small business takeaways:

• Price increases don't always equate to more money in your bank account
• Consider your audience before making big changes in your business

Each week, we come to you with ideas from the Mouse on how you can better run your online business. In this episode, we're looking at Disney World's 50th Anniversary celebration.

New rides, limited-edition merchandise, and once-in-a-lifetime fireworks displays await inside! Listen now for tips on building excitement and anticipation with your customers.

Listen now and discover:

• What you can expect to see during The 50th Anniversary celebration
• The different ways Disney builds FOMO and gets their customers excited
• How to hype up your products and make a huge celebration in your business
• Our tips on how to make easy updates in between different seasons or celebrations in your biz
• Companies we love that excel at repurposing the same product, but with a different look year after year

Your small business takeaways:

• Consider releasing your most beloved products, but with a new look. It will excite your customers to see a new, but familiar product.

Each week, we come to you with ideas from the Mouse on how you can better run your online business. In this episode, we marvel at Disney's ability to reimagine their characters, rides, and movies in new (and profitable) ways.

The latest is Behind the Attraction, a new Disney+ series telling the stories behind the iconic rides at Disneyland and Disney World. We also discuss the upcoming Jungle Cruise movie, live-action remakes, and Disney's ability to weave together universes through multiple mediums.

Listen now and discover:

• Our excitement for the brand new Disney+ series, "Behind the Attraction"
• Why Disney continually refreshes their intellectual property
• How to create compelling stories from fresh angles

Your small business takeaways:

• Gather feedback, without paying a penny for it
• Share new angles to old stories with your audience
• Repurpose, reuse, and consider new formats for existing content

Each week, we come to you with ideas from the Mouse on how you can better run your online business. In this episode, we're getting real about one of our biggest Disney frustrations —the phone lines.

It's not always pixie dust and magic, but we can learn a thing or two during the wait (or really, really long hold). Listen now to hear about why you should be caring for your current and most loyal customers in your small business.

Listen now and discover:

• Some sneak peek experiences we're planning for our LIVE event happening at Disney in the fall
• Why ticket prices are significantly higher for this special after-hours bash
• The frustration in trying to purchase tickets and why we're not so forgiving of this operational hiccup
• Why you should be caring for your loyal customers just as much as you care about obtaining new business

Your small business takeaways:

• Create a happiness metric and survey your customers to see if they have any solvable frustration points
• Treat your existing customers as well as your new ones
• Take your resources into account when you plan your promotions