Direct Entertainment Competition To Disney Theme Parks

[Raineman]

For a while, there has been talk of the rising costs of a WDW/DL visit in relation to affordability and value. And, we are in an era where disposable income, for most people, can be hard to come by, so it can be impossible to spend as much as you want on all of your favorite leisure/entertainment options.
When it comes to Disney theme parks in North America, what would be the direct competition as far as leisure/entertainment options? The obvious one would be Universal Studios, but is that enhanced due to the fact the two Universal resorts are in the same area as the two Disney parks? Would they be as big of a factor if Uni instead had parks in Texas and Tennessee, for example? And how would amusement parks, going to games/concerts, museums, beach resorts, etc, stack up as competition with Disney for people's $ spent on leisure/entertainment options? Would people find more value in season's tickets, season passes to Six Flags, resort stays, road trips, etc, than they would a Disney theme park vacation?

 

[jloucks]

As someone who had season passes to Six Flags for almost a decade, I can say that Six Flags is a great alternative to WDW. I say "alternative" because I am unsure if it is "competition". It is like comparing a Toyota to a Lexus. They are both cars and will both get you there, but the experience is remarkably different, as is the price tag.

Uni is a direct competitor to WDW. All things balanced out, and to me, they are very similar in what they provide. But, UNI is also very pricey. Again, very similar.

Now if Disney built a park in Texas, it would be a problem for Six Flags. Airfare savings is one of the big advantages of regional parks. A Disney park in north or central Texas would be reachable for folks in all of Texas, southern Oklahoma, western Arkansas, Louisiana, and possibly eastern New Mexico. It would defiinitly take customers from Six Flags.

Buuuutttt... Six Flags tickets are less than half the price of WDW tickets, and the food prices are also cheaper. Six Flags has better coasters too. So, while there is competition, Six Flags might be able to market their coaster offerings to WDW visitors and poach some WDW visitors for a day to visit their parks (there are two in Texas, and I have been to both... a lot). These are folks who would otherwise not go to Six Flags, but since it is right there and affordable with great coasters, why not?

This is similar to the logic I used when I first ducked out of WDW to visit UNI. Glad I did.

 

[networkpro]

We are both wdw and uni ap holders, but with guest conduct issues in Six Flags parks we don't visit in spite of the closest on being only 35 miles away.

 

[AidenRodriguez731]

I don't think there is a direct "competition" other than maybe some regional theme parks? There's nothing for me that gives me a remotely comparable experience to Disney at a slightly cheaper price. Universal is the closest but like you said, it's not really applicable here. Six Flags... was somewhere I used to frequent quite a lot but with their rising prices, declining perks, and various problems, I'm not even in the boat of comparing the two. Disney has a very distinct niche where tbh the real competition for them, I guess, would be someone going somewhere else to vacation entirely? Like a different country or something would be Disney's true competition as their main "problem" is to get you over to Florida/Cali/Paris/Tokyo/Shanghai/Hong Kong

 

[DrStarlander]

For out of state visitors going to a Disney park was, for many, an alternative to more expensive international travel. But with rising costs and travel-planning stress/complexity at Disney Parks, and meanwhile web tools for finding great travel deals and resources (web sites, videos, podcasts, online booking) for making international travel more accessible, both are nearing parity in the middle. A family can visit Europe or Japan, etc. at a competitive price and level of planning effort, and see actual historic and cultural landmarks. So, I think Disney park's competition is broader now than it was 20 years ago.

 

[Raineman]

I don't think there is a direct "competition" other than maybe some regional theme parks? There's nothing for me that gives me a remotely comparable experience to Disney at a slightly cheaper price. Universal is the closest but like you said, it's not really applicable here. Six Flags... was somewhere I used to frequent quite a lot but with their rising prices, declining perks, and various problems, I'm not even in the boat of comparing the two. Disney has a very distinct niche where tbh the real competition for them, I guess, would be someone going somewhere else to vacation entirely? Like a different country or something would be Disney's true competition as their main "problem" is to get you over to Florida/Cali/Paris/Tokyo/Shanghai/Hong Kong

Good points, but I guess what I was more referring to are not necessarily competition as far as the specific theme park/amusement park areas, but competition for overall $ that people spend on leisure/entertainment activities. Like, would some people decide that seasons tickets to their favorite baseball team be a better value for them than a couple of WDW trips every year? Or maybe a week or two at a ski resort in Colorado, or at an all-inclusive in the Caribbean. I know in my specific case, for example, 2 weeks in a concierge level suite at a 5 star all-inclusive resort in Mexico is less $ than 8 nights/7 day park tickets/dining plan at a moderate resort at WDW. That at the very least kind of forces me to make that decision of which one of those 2 trips is more valuable to me for the $ spent; they are two very different types of trips, but both are what I really like and want to do.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

The obvious one would be Universal Studios, but is that enhanced due to the fact the two Universal resorts are in the same area as the two Disney parks? Would they be as big of a factor if Uni instead had parks in Texas and Tennessee, for example?

Funny you should say that because Universal is building a park in Texas, but much smaller and with rides intended for kids under the age of 10. Obviously not intended to have the same draw or appeal as the other Universal parks

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

In some ways, yes.
Years ago, I opted to go to state fair. I paid like $20 for parking, $20 admission, and then the only included option was looking at jars of jelly and giant produce. If you wanted to see animals, that was an extra fee, rides were another considerable add-on fee, and carnival games were $5 a pop, and so forth. Why would I want to look at jars of jelly that I can't taste?

At the time, adding a day to my WDW tickets was less than $10. (plus hotel)

So that was the last time I went to that fair. Mind, I've been to other state fairs that were worthwhile, and admission to those fairs included all sorts of events, live music and free samples/low cost items like a generous portion of fresh baked apple pie meant to show off the local apples (for just a few $).

I do somewhat compare other leisure options to WDW and Universal.

Over the years, I have been both a WDW AP holder, and a Uni AP holder, off an on, esp if there is a deal. At present, being a Uni AP is considerably more valuable prospect. The initial cost is lower, the included discounts are better, the food (for price paid) is better, and IMO, the Uni parks are in better condition that WDW's. WDW's parks are in a pretty sad shape right now. Many rides are barely functioning, many others are closed or gone and not yet replaced.

Meanwhile, the quality of service at Universal is excellent. WDW still has some nice CM's, but I have been more impressed with the general quality of the staff at Universal. I'm not sure how to say, but I feel like the staff at WDW sometimes has a tendency to talk down to guests, and it is mildly annoying. I know CM's meet plenty of stupid guests, so I try to be forgiving, but some of the repeated reminders are mildly annoying, like CM's telling every guest what single rider means as they enter the single rider queue.
(yes, people in the SR still ask if they can ride together. they are idiots. the reminder doesn't work on idiots.)

I am somewhat inclined to say that Uni is much better in this regard. I just don't have the same feeling that the staff is continuously talking down to me, and I appreciate the difference.

As an AP holder, my per day costs are lower than what I get at WDW. A deluxe resort comes with a real benefit.

On my most recent stay at WDW, the 'bonus' for staying deluxe was 2 EMH hours at AK. What a useless bonus! FoP had a 70min wait, and only a few rides were open. On top of that, it rained. Staying deluxe at Universal = all day Express Pass that is good all day, every day, super easy to use. Going between parks and onsite hotels is also a lot easier, faster, and more enjoyable than it is at WDW.

 

[networkpro]

My opinion is contrary to the previous poster in that our value seeking also includes (to borrow the state fair analogy) fewer grifters, carnies, and unidentifiable fried things on a stick. We ( my wife and I ) are not vicarious thrill seekers, we've done plenty of stuff without actual guardrails and enjoy rides as well as other than ride experiences. We have APs to both Uni and WDW, but spend more time at wdw.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

it all depends on what you like - at it’s best Disney provides something for everyone.

Theme park wise - the Herschend parks come the closest (Dollywood and Silver Dollar City) but for me - I also include the Henry ford Greenfield Village, Strasburg Railroad, Illinois Railway Museum, Durango & Silverton, etc.

Since greenfiled village inspired Disneyland, it’s not surprising that it fills that role!

 

[JIMINYCR]

A lot depends on peoples perception of Disney and how they enjoyed or not their previous experiences. Also what memories they have or fondness to specific lands/ attractions, dining spots and entertainment. what at WDW draws them to want to go? The choice and value of that choice between a sporting event, concert or other form of entertainment vs a Disney vacation can vary from family to family. I have friends who drop thousands for sporting events and concerts and they have no issue with that outpouring of $$$. But they would never spend that same $$$ on a Disney trip even though totaling up the hours of entertainment from a Dis trip far exceeds the hours of those sporting events and concerts in a year.
There are many things and places to entice people away from Dis, Even though the $$$ spent might be exactly the same the entertainment differs enough that choices can easily be made depending on each persons desires. Dis is our go to place and although I spend $$$ on other things a Dis vacation calls me back.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

This is why IMO the Time Warner ownership of Six Flags in the early to mid 90's was the best in direct competition they went directly against Disney to compete with them..And this is just my opinion if they never expanded with premier and added the other parks to this had the original 7 parks and merged with Cedar Fair during this time would have been incredible!

Even the commercials were ruthless..

 

[Baloo124]

This is why IMO the Time Warner ownership of Six Flags in the early to mid 90's was the best in direct competition they went directly against Disney to compete with them..And this is just my opinion if they never expanded with premier and added the other parks to this had the original 7 parks and merged with Cedar Fair during this time would have been incredible!

Even the commercials were ruthless..

I miss the good ole days when Six Flags tried, but thought it foolish of the company to go toe-to-toe with Disneyland.
They should have marketed their own strength, as good regional, close to home entertainment. Leave Disney out of your marketing formula, because you're never going to compete with a major destination which families plan and save for months/year out.

Keep the focus on being a destination for a fun day or weekend trip that is affordable and has a good mixture of thrill levels from tame to wild.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

A lot depends on peoples perception of Disney and how they enjoyed or not their previous experiences. Also what memories they have or fondness to specific lands/ attractions, dining spots and entertainment. what at WDW draws them to want to go? The choice and value of that choice between a sporting event, concert or other form of entertainment vs a Disney vacation can vary from family to family. I have friends who drop thousands for sporting events and concerts and they have no issue with that outpouring of $$$. But they would never spend that same $$$ on a Disney trip even though totaling up the hours of entertainment from a Dis trip far exceeds the hours of those sporting events and concerts in a year.
There are many things and places to entice people away from Dis, Even though the $$$ spent might be exactly the same the entertainment differs enough that choices can easily be made depending on each persons desires. Dis is our go to place and although I spend $$$ on other things a Dis vacation calls me back.

Concerts and sporting events are not a direct correlation to the commitment to go to Disney parks

 

[JIMINYCR]

Concerts and sporting events are not a direct correlation to the commitment to go to Disney parks

No, I agree ... but the OP brought up in his last post a comparison of a Disney trip vs sporting event, ski resort or Caribbean trip. Which is why I made my post in this manner.