This is a long post, but I think it's worth reading if someone wants to be part of a level-headed discussion.
It's a bit of both arguments: the demographics have changed (mostly Disney's own fault), but the company also isn't investing as it should (Wall Street has said so and has downgraded Disney stock to "hold"). I personally try to be very balanced about WDW, because even though I always enjoy my days there (I go frequently on weekends), as a CM, I see a lot of the behind-the-scenes nonsense that has stopped several fantastic projects from coming to the MK.
I agree that WDW has become a victim of its own success, but the marketing is screwed up right now, too: Guests feel it's their "right" to enjoy no lines, private time with the characters, and non-stop pixie dust, because that's how the place is advertised.
For business reasons I don't have time to explain, the mid-80s through mid-90s are generally considered WDW's heyday; the place was a cultural force that represented the pinnacle of American vacationing. WDW regularly added new attractions to its parks and remained immensely profitable. The Company marketed the full experience—the MK, Epcot Center, D-MGM, golf, parasailing, etc.—to attract the broadest demographic possible. WDW ads in high-end magazines like
Condé Nast focused on Epcot, golf, and PI; newspaper ads generally targeted families. Broadcast network TV specials featured the latest, greatest attractions at the parks, increasing the "drool factor" among potential Guests.
Of course, it didn't hurt that the Studio was cranking out one high-quality hit after another, thereby increasing Disney's brand value and recognition among the general public. From "Roger Rabbit" to "Pretty Woman," and "The Little Mermaid" to "The Lion King," Disney's perceived value was at an all-time high since Walt's death. The public equated Disney with high quality and full experiences.
Fast forward to today. The parks aren't the trash heaps some jaded online bloggers claim, but they're also not as well maintained as they should be. The Marketing Machine pushes the MK, only the MK, and nothing but the MK, meaning that the park is swamped with Guests trying to get the magical experience falsely promised to them in the commercials. People-eating E-tickets have been closed with no replacements, meaning that those same Guests spend most of the day wandering from one overcrowded queue to another; and Disney has added enough seasonal events to effectively obliterate any true off season at the MK, which used to be utilized for routine maintenance. Add the resort's poor management, and even worse WDP&R management, which mindlessly blocked all necessary infrastructure upgrades back when profits were high (before the recession), and the MK is particularly in a precarious situation right now for Ops and Guest satisfaction.
Even worse, the studio hasn't turned out a well-regarded hit in a while, degrading people's perception of the WDC. Proof: Wall Street analysts have downgraded Disney stock to "hold," reasoning that the company's perceived brand value is dangerously low.
Some analysts have even pointed out that the company hasn't presented any long-term growth plans for WDW to attract more Guest when the tourism industry picks up again. People equate Disney with Hannah Montana and the Jonas Brothers—great franchises for the Disney Channel, but bad for long-term profits, especially when the company once gave us "Beauty and the Beast." The public has become very savvy about Pixar vs. Disney, and Disney's CGI films have not been able to ride the Pixar coattails to success. I truly hope "The Princess and the Frog" changes this downhill slide!
Anyway, let me make this clear: I don't think WDW is falling apart. I don't think it's hopelessly stale or worthless, and I don't agree with the stupid fanboy mindset that the MK isn't worth visiting. There's still a lot of good stuff in WDW, and I enjoy it! BUT to maintain its
long-term value, leadership is going to have to stop relying on the resort's nostalgic past, and start investing in it again. The MK cannot support its current Guest levels; what happens when the economy improves and attendance goes even higher? There is unfortunately a glut of character-centric attractions instead of original ideas, and we've already seen what happens when a character has been overused past its relevancy date (Stitch's Dance Party=epic fail). Epcot has two underused FW pavilions, creating unrealistic waits for the other FW attractions. DHS is finally getting the attention it has needed for about ten years, and DAK will need to add another land within the next ten years.
That's the unbiased fact. I still enjoy the place—heck, I personally don't agree with the online notion that DL effectively trumps the MK—but I do acknowledge that the resort needs a huge investment to maintain long-term growth and profitability. Frankly, I'd like to see it get new management too, all the way up to Rasulo, because the exec leadership needs to understand how the entertainment business works. That's what WDW is: entertainment. It's not the meaning of life; it's not the most important thing in America; it's not another business that can be run by spreadsheets. It's an entertainment-based resort for families who want to escape everyday life, and the only way to maintain the "Magic"—whatever the @!#$ that is considered to be right now—is to take creative risks.
pathology is pandemic.
