Len Testa - “Disney positions itself as the all-American vacation. The irony is that most Americans can’t afford it.”

[jah4955]

If you break down the math…that’s not really an effective discount to do that stated goal. Because there are minimum purchase caveats imbedded all over the place in those “deals”

Not like this kinda thing:

I remember that (well-made) commercial! I apologize if this was mentioned before, but anyone remember the, "you'll think you'll own the place" ad campaign? I remember it in the early naughts in these things called newspapers...had a picture of the castle with a clothesline attached. It made the point since I remember it about a quarter century later (couldn't find anything online)!

Hope Disney isn't just thinking about uber-rich & Disney Adults, b/c those wells will one day run dry.

 

[HoustonHorn]

I remember that (well-made) commercial! I apologize if this was mentioned before, but anyone remember the, "you'll think you'll own the place" ad campaign? I remember it in the early naughts in these things called newspapers...had a picture of the castle with a clothesline attached. It made the point since I remember it about a quarter century later (couldn't find anything online)!

Hope Disney isn't just thinking about uber-rich & Disney Adults, b/c those wells will one day run dry.

I was curious, so I put "disneyworld.com/affordable" into my browser. It no longer exists - now it just redirected me to https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/

ETA - I tried adding /affordable to the main link, and I got this:

 

[SamusAranX]

I was curious, so I put "disneyworld.com/affordable" into my browser. It no longer exists - now it just redirected me to https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/

ETA - I tried adding /affordable to the main link, and I got this:

View attachment 886157

Oh, the irony…

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Oh, the irony…

It used to be a picture of Bob with a Mai tai in his Tanning booth…but they thought it was a bad joke after they started bombing all the MCU movies

 

[Nubs70]

Hope Disney isn't just thinking about uber-rich & Disney Adults.

This is the developing demographic that will be in place in 5-10 years if the current birthrate trajectory continues.

 

[LittleBuford]

Do we have any data showing that children are proportionally less represented among guests than they used to be?

 

[Touchdown]

Just stating a pricing fact, I will be heading to a Dominican all inclusive the last week of October.

I priced out the same number of days at Pop, park tickets, and DDP.

WDW was 2x the price than the all inclusive and WDW price did not include flights.

You’re willingly going to a Carribean Island during peak hurricane season. That’s why it’s so cheap, I hope your gamble pays off

 

[Sir_Cliff]

Totally agree, this is why Disney should change leadership frequently, when a CEO and the board start worrying about their legacy rather than the companies legacy they need to go.

Even Walt Disney had this issue when he wanted to be known for more than a mouse. He had the common sense to leave the park and movie operations to others while he focused on Epcot though.

The parks need someone running them who’s only goal is running the best theme parks in the world, the studios need someone running them who’s only goal is putting out the most entertaining movies they can make… when those company goals get replaced by personal legacy goals it’s time for changes at the top.

To be honest, it sounds counterintuitive to me that enforcing shorter terms for the CEO and board members would result in longer term thinking. Wouldn't the incentive then be to get as much from the position in the limited time you had?

Even the question about legacy seems counterintuitive: why would someone unconcerned about their legacy care more about the health of Disney in the longterm than someone who was concerned about their legacy?

 

[Figments Friend]

A lot of international destinations can be pretty affordable - once you get there

We definitely want to do Japan but the cost of flights for 5 people to get there from the East Coast and when have to fit that lengthy of a trip into the school schedules, etc - every time we have looked into the cost of the flights just makes the entire trip a real challenge for us.

On the flip side, we are doing Paris next year as we found affordable flights during a school vacation week so could make it work

Hot tip -
When you do eventually make that trip to Japan, considering flying from the East Coast to the West Coast and stopping there for a night of two.
Then take a flight from the West Coast to Japan.

Breaking up the flight into two may help with the expense, and it will also help you adjust better to the massive ‘jet lag’ you would have to deal with if flying across the world in one shot.




-

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

This is another example which applies to both Disney and Vegas, “loss leaders” are a concept of the past. Vegas used to be famous for its cheap buffets, free drinks for even penny gamblers, free lounge acts, etc… losing a few dollars on something that would get you in the door dropping $20s in a machine was viewed as a good investment, that mindset is unfortunately gone, now everything has to be profitable on its own or it’s cut.

The 3 o’clock parade may not have driven attendance but it kept a lot of people in the park in the afternoon buying lunch and churros, the fireworks kept people in the park buying snacks and visiting the gift shops until dark… now they’re limited to only the busiest times of the year and weekends because Disney doesn’t see the value in spending money to make money.

How awful of a “businessman” are you if you don’t understand that you have to invest to earn?

That has never been optional…

Who was saying it was “unfair” to blame iger for problems?

He’s lead them to where they resist investing to earn. Thats on him.

And everyone hates the anti-Christ…his predecessor…but he did not cut things just for the line item on the ledger. Nor did they go past the very real price ceiling that Disney has always had…whether the fans see it or not…that would tip the scales on what customer base says about them with their “gut”

Cardinal rule

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

To be honest, it sounds counterintuitive to me that enforcing shorter terms for the CEO and board members would result in longer term thinking. Wouldn't the incentive then be to get as much from the position in the limited time you had?

Even the question about legacy seems counterintuitive: why would someone unconcerned about their legacy care more about the health of Disney in the longterm than someone who was concerned about their legacy?

Why is it counterintuitive?

Who would be bolder in their decisions? Someone who is set forever and only concerned with “legacy”? Or someone who has been on the job 5-10 years and isn’t as stale as Madonna at this point?

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

This is the developing demographic that will be in place in 5-10 years if the current birthrate trajectory continues.

Then the parks model will collapse

Get your popcorn

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

You’re willingly going to a Carribean Island during peak hurricane season. That’s why it’s so cheap, I hope your gamble pays off

How often does a hurricane hit a specific point on the map?

It’s 10+ years on average

Odds are in your favor

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Do we have any data showing that children are proportionally less represented among guests than they used to be?

There is never any obvious data disclosed on anything In the parks…

They’re really not required to beyond revenues and outlays. So that’s why things are often said to steer in a not entirely accurate direction or to avoid the problem spots

There’s ambiguity in the figures on purpose

 

[Nubs70]

You’re willingly going to a Carribean Island during peak hurricane season. That’s why it’s so cheap, I hope your gamble pays off

If one goes to a tropical north american peninsula during peak hurricane season, why is it so expensive?

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I remember that (well-made) commercial! I apologize if this was mentioned before, but anyone remember the, "you'll think you'll own the place" ad campaign? I remember it in the early naughts in these things called newspapers...had a picture of the castle with a clothesline attached. It made the point since I remember it about a quarter century later (couldn't find anything online)!

Hope Disney isn't just thinking about uber-rich & Disney Adults, b/c those wells will one day run dry.

In with @monothingie on this…

This is a huge powderkeg problem.

Disneys fandom has always been multi generational bonds from children through their grandparents…

If you are catering to 30-60 year olds only…you are cutting off your own pipeline

 

[Nubs70]

Do we have any data showing that children are proportionally less represented among guests than they used to be?

Long term strategic marketing focuses on general demographics, with declining birth rates, the proportion of Dual Income No Kid households and retirees will increase.

D inks have a higher level of disposable income. Retirees have higher disposable income due to TVM.

These are the easiest targets for the WDW "luxury" experience.

 

[Sir_Cliff]

Why is it counterintuitive?

Who would be bolder in their decisions? Someone who is set forever and only concerned with “legacy”? Or someone who has been on the job 5-10 years and isn’t as stale as Madonna at this point?

So you prefer someone who makes a lot of bold decisions about the future of the parks knowing they're not going to be around to take responsibility for the results?

 

[LittleBuford]

Long term strategic marketing focuses on general demographics, with declining birth rates, the proportion of households and retirees will increase.

's have a higher level of disposable income. Retirees have higher disposable income due to TVM.

These are the easiest targets for the WDW "luxury" experience.

That doesn't really answer my question.

 

[Touchdown]

If one goes to a tropical north american peninsula during peak hurricane season, why is it so expensive?

I can drive away from danger by driving north on said peninsula. I’m not willing to go to island where I can’t do that, it’s just not worth it. 10% chance of at best an evacuation after days/weeks without services. Worse case scenario is death. No thank you.