Happy Sunday, Fellow Disney Fanatics,
(For the record, I've been a member here since the early 2000s, but can't login due to defunct email address).
Many of us, for more than 10 years, have been sounding the alarm on cost increases being too much and the decline of services offered for attendance. We've been saying for years, to the flames of others, that at some point this will affect WDW in a negative way, that they would out price the average consumer, and it seems to have come to fruition, aided by the opening of EU at USF and affordability of USF, SW, and Dollywood in PF, Tn.
The parks in Orlando were virtually empty for July 4th, historically the third most attended day of the year save for Xmas and Thanksgiving. Many will say "it's the economy," however nearby USF and SW are bursting at the seams, seeing record increases in attendance. Additionally, I've never seen the Florida beaches more crowded (or condos more expensive).
If anyone doubts this, please see WDW PRO podcast on YT for the average wait times throughout the days on July 3 and 4, and for real time video and pics, a long with other data.
I have to say this is disheartening. I still love WDW, was watching Top 7 Must Dos on YT with the family this morning. Ultimately, I long for the way WDW used to be. Where I felt valued as a guest, and was treated as such.
So what will fix all of it? In my opinion, new leadership, in not only Iger and his upper Management across the organization, but the leadership change is needed on the Board of Directors, too. This Company needs a Walt (impossible), or a Michael Eisner circa 1986, a creative mind who aims for cutting edge innovation and offering value to guests. That's a tall ask.
As we face the destruction of Frontierland for another remake of an IP, and the change of the landscape of the Magic Kingdom that will be nearly irreversible, what do you think?
I think the downturn in Disney attendance is just beginning, as WDW prices mirror the cost of a trip to Europe, and nearby parks are, on average, a thousand dollars cheaper for a family over a 5 day trip (I've priced it).
What do you think will fix our beloved company and Theme Park?
Or do you think everything is fine as is? (I can't imagine this to be true).
I'm ready for the flames and sarcasm, but my intent was not to provoke. Rather, open a thorough dialogue as to your thoughts on this. I perused through 6 pages of posts to satisfy those who will tell me this has been discussed adnauseum, but these new realities of July 4th attendance renew the debate. We've been predicting the alienation of guests from WDW since the massive price hikes and charging for once free perks of attendance, and the elementary addiction to IP, low level attractions while USF began to act more like the Disney we knew and loved. I think we've arrived at that point....
(For the record, I've been a member here since the early 2000s, but can't login due to defunct email address).
Many of us, for more than 10 years, have been sounding the alarm on cost increases being too much and the decline of services offered for attendance. We've been saying for years, to the flames of others, that at some point this will affect WDW in a negative way, that they would out price the average consumer, and it seems to have come to fruition, aided by the opening of EU at USF and affordability of USF, SW, and Dollywood in PF, Tn.
The parks in Orlando were virtually empty for July 4th, historically the third most attended day of the year save for Xmas and Thanksgiving. Many will say "it's the economy," however nearby USF and SW are bursting at the seams, seeing record increases in attendance. Additionally, I've never seen the Florida beaches more crowded (or condos more expensive).
If anyone doubts this, please see WDW PRO podcast on YT for the average wait times throughout the days on July 3 and 4, and for real time video and pics, a long with other data.
I have to say this is disheartening. I still love WDW, was watching Top 7 Must Dos on YT with the family this morning. Ultimately, I long for the way WDW used to be. Where I felt valued as a guest, and was treated as such.
So what will fix all of it? In my opinion, new leadership, in not only Iger and his upper Management across the organization, but the leadership change is needed on the Board of Directors, too. This Company needs a Walt (impossible), or a Michael Eisner circa 1986, a creative mind who aims for cutting edge innovation and offering value to guests. That's a tall ask.
As we face the destruction of Frontierland for another remake of an IP, and the change of the landscape of the Magic Kingdom that will be nearly irreversible, what do you think?
I think the downturn in Disney attendance is just beginning, as WDW prices mirror the cost of a trip to Europe, and nearby parks are, on average, a thousand dollars cheaper for a family over a 5 day trip (I've priced it).
What do you think will fix our beloved company and Theme Park?
Or do you think everything is fine as is? (I can't imagine this to be true).
I'm ready for the flames and sarcasm, but my intent was not to provoke. Rather, open a thorough dialogue as to your thoughts on this. I perused through 6 pages of posts to satisfy those who will tell me this has been discussed adnauseum, but these new realities of July 4th attendance renew the debate. We've been predicting the alienation of guests from WDW since the massive price hikes and charging for once free perks of attendance, and the elementary addiction to IP, low level attractions while USF began to act more like the Disney we knew and loved. I think we've arrived at that point....
