Long term effects of WDC decision making, failure to innovate, and price gouging has caught up with WDW

[Sirwalterraleigh]

As a guest, a lower attendance is great. Unfortunately parks aren't built for thar. The profit margins on food and merch isn't high. They are built for high volume to make high profits.

The only solution is more attractions and to get people to visit the other parks over ML more.

The Disney parks have an even bigger problem than that

Their profits came almost exclusively from the gift shops for decades.

That began to shift due to a variety of factors over the last 25 years…and their attempts to fill “the void” is directly responsible for a lot of the decisions that are widely unpopular

 

[Jrb1979]

The Disney parks have an even bigger problem than that

Their profits came almost exclusively from the gift shops for decades.

That began to shift due to a variety of factors over the last 25 years…and their attempts to fill “the void” is directly responsible for a lot of the decisions that are widely unpopular

In their mind, paid LLs is more profitable then some merch or food. The LLs are mostly pure profit.

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

As a guest, a lower attendance is great. Unfortunately parks aren't built for thar. The profit margins on food and merch isn't high. They are built for high volume to make high profits.

The only solution is more attractions and to get people to visit the other parks over ML more.

The parks had longer hours and less crowds in the past.

It might be naïve to entertain the notion that they could make the experience better and make a little less money. I for one, however, would be more inclined to visit.

Look at things like cheap annual passes. They get people in the door for peanuts. Even if they only buy one meal, it's still extra money. Some of us are aware of the business model and aren't happy to pay big bucks to visit, while being crammed in like sardines, so Disney can squeeze relatively nominal amounts from those discount visitors.

 

[tpoly88]

I agree, but not to an equal extent. Obsessed fans with money or credit card space to burn have been complaining about Disney's lack of awareness that they had to keep up and not just replace, but improve present attractions. It never showed up as an empty MK on July 4th before. Along with financial worries, the real threat of international as well as national terrorism is back on top of the table and that is going to have a bigger influence on someone going there than just that an attraction is old. At this point going there to remanence is the biggest driving influence in motivating the old timers and the current newbee's have the pleasure of having 4 theme parks that they have never seen so additions will mean nothing to them at all. It's all new and impressive to them. So I maintain that the world situation is the biggest, most concerning problem for all the theme parks in the country.

Six flags is closing 2 of their parks soon. I think novelty of theme parks is going through a lull. I know a lot of my friends are “parked” out and are traveling elsewhere not because they think Disney is terrible. I will say Disney needs to get back to family friendly entertainment in addition to good series like Andor. I started to watch Snow White and it was so bad I turned it off. My wife too, turned it off after an hr. Those type of movies don’t help you want to go to Disney. I love Disney been going since 1975 and try to support them.

 

[CaptainJackNola]

It all starts with the Board ( all recently reelected ) who have the full support of Iger. No more Roy Disney like person who led a shareholder revolt to successfully get rid of Eisner.

Yeah, I read that Iger actually put the board together. He actually controls that many stock shares.

 

[CaptainJackNola]

And by the way, let’s not forget that the combined ongoing expansions of MK, AK and HS result in essentially the equivalent of all of Epic in terms of the number of major new attractions.

These refits are nowhere near the innovation produced by Epic Universe, just re-runs of global attractions. You're not competing with EPIC Universe with retrofits.

 

[CaptainJackNola]

There are three major expansions. That’s a fact. That one is further along than the others does not negate that. And once these expansions are complete, WDW will have added roughly the same number of major attractions as all of Epic. Another fact.

Look, I agree that Disney has made some really poor decisions over the years, but your claim that, because of those decisions, they are now suffering in some way that other parks are not is incorrect.

As to your point that there are subtractions to go along with additions, you are absolutely correct about that at AK and HS. However, the additions far exceed the subtractions in terms of magnitude.

Agree somewhat, but when you look at how much more expensive WDW is for admission to each of these parks, and you can add AK and DHS together and not get a full day's experience, people will keep that extra 800-1000 dollars in their wallets over a 5-7 day trip and go to USF. Heck, their food is even less expensive offering a daily food plan.

Disney's desire to be a destination for the elite (at least in pricing for the premium experiences that used to be for everyone at no charge) is rocketing this company to bankruptcy, especially when WDW profit, or theme park profits, have been propping up the whole company for years.....Well with attendance drying up, and with that merch and food sales drying up, will the Walt Disney Company generate enough profits to keep the whole company afloat?

 

[CaptainJackNola]

Theme parks are only one part of TWDC, and as along as they can keep the stock price somewhat stable, then from their perspective, all is OK.

As for theme parks, they will probably have some discounts as they feel they need to.

The theme parks have been the only profitable portion of the Company's portfolio for years. Both TV and Motion Pictures have been in the red for years.

 

[CaptainJackNola]

Disney has always got the bullseye on their back for critics to hone in like vultures to do what they do. When it comes to layoffs Disney has more exposure by mainstream media and unions. Unions will fight tooth and nail to protect their dues paying cast. When it comes to layoffs in Universal, the crews can just get laid off , hours cut to the bone without any unions to help them in their situations and not much as newsworthy like when Disney goes through something similar.

I've been going to WDW since 1982. You're going to say that the level of park maintenance, pricing, value for money spent, park conditions, attraction innovation, number of fully operating attractions, and amenities offered have not declined?? That's only vultures saying that?

The current state is not an accident. It's a compilation of consequences for bad business decisions by a greedy CEO who put stock prices ahead of the company's traditions and long-term success.

 

[Chi84]

I've been going to WDW since 1982. You're going to say that the level of park maintenance, pricing, value for money spent, park conditions, attraction innovation, number of fully operating attractions, and amenities offered have not declined?? That's only vultures saying that?

The current state is not an accident. It's a compilation of consequences for bad business decisions by a greedy CEO who put stock prices and a political agenda ahead of the company's traditions and long-term success.

Things change everywhere. It’s not just Disney. I would say Disney has done better than most.

 

[Lilofan]

Yeah, I read that Iger actually put the board together. He actually controls that many stock shares.

And elected by shareholders.

 

[John park hopper]

IMO Iger could care less about the parks his days are numbered and he has made millions --set for life

 

[tpoly88]

The theme parks have been the only profitable portion of the Company's portfolio for years. Both TV and Motion Pictures have been in the red for years.

I might be a little off on the numbers but I read that Disney gets somewhere near 40% of their revenue from the parks and universal gets 8%. Big difference.

 

[John park hopper]

I might be a little off on the numbers but I read that Disney gets somewhere near 40% of their revenue from the parks and universal gets 8%. Big difference.

Guess that explains the price gouging

 

[Chef Mickey]

Sacrebleu! I think the state and direction of the parks is being driven by the state of the outside world more than management. Management is just "doing what we are supposed to do" and being paid well for it. Sure they are uninspired, but that is just another aspect of the current state of the world.

Central bank emission causes rising prices, not <insert excuse here>. It is fully intentional and always has been. Some will benefit and many won't, that is the intent.

The dominance of behemoth corporations makes competition increasingly unlikely. If they build it we will come and pay because there is nothing else. We look at Universal as competition, but it isn't enough as a few here sometimes point out.

In the context of a rapidly rising population there are fewer places in the sun for those looking for one. Throwing the bums out will have little effect, sorry.

Competition destroys even the strongest companies over time. Literally almost every largest company from 30 years ago is no longer here 30 years later. Disney will eventually meet the same fate even with what you call only a few competitors. New ones will emerge and Disney will have to react.

“Behemoth” corporations have their run but it’s the exception that they can retain it for long periods.

How many of the 20 largest companies in 1989 are still in the top 20? The answer is 0. Capitalism wins again.

 

[HauntedPirate]

Remember when the new Fantasyland was marketed as "the largest expansion in MK history!!!"?

 

[Disstevefan1]

In my opinion, the poor decision making, failure to innovate, and price gouging (which are all real) has not and will not catch up to Disney and cause issues.

There are plenty of folks who will continue to show up and pay.

Part of my mind asks, "Maybe WDW will be less crowded and I may have a better experience?"

 

[networkpro]

Remember when the new Fantasyland was marketed as "the largest expansion in MK history!!!"?

We also remember things that were added for press openings that were subsequently removed and not available for the masses of paying customers (dragon, X-drones, etc), as well pronouncements of wonderous additions in the yearly D23 fantasy gathering that never have seen the light of day. We're well aware of the Disney company embracing a "Smoke and Mirrors" philosophy when it comes to the theme park customers. They'll be happy with whatever we deign to provide.

 

[HauntedPirate]

We also remember things that were added for press openings that were subsequently removed and not available for the masses of paying customers (dragon, X-drones, etc), as well pronouncements of wonderous additions in the yearly D23 fantasy gathering that never have seen the light of day. We're well aware of the Disney company embracing a "Smoke and Mirrors" philosophy when it comes to the theme park customers. They'll be happy with whatever we deign to provide.

Don't forget - You'll be happy to pay whatever we charge. And that bill increases every single year, regardless of what we have open or closed, added or removed.

 

[J4546]

If there are less crowds, that makes the parks a much better place to be imo.