A Spirited Dirty Dozen ...

[tirian]

Utterly insane what WDW charges and then management wonders why it needs to convert hotel inventory to DVC. Very simple. WDW and Orlando can't command $300-1,000 a night for 2-3 star service at resorts with dreams of 4-5 star grandeur. So, instead of making a profit with $75 rooms at values, $100-175 rooms at moderates and $200-300 rooms at deluxes, it just keeps pushing price points higher because that is the business model and Iger isn't going back on it. Yet, it has already proved to be a failed long term model. The ceiling was reached quite a while ago ...

TBH, the monorail Deluxe resorts probably need to be priced in the $400 range to alleviate overbooking. But $600 and up is outrageous.

Edit: As you probably already know, although Disney's hotels do boast impressive occupancy, an average of 70% Deluxe rooms are booked on some sort of discount package.

 

[WDW1974]

Another NGE comment, but it was supposed to roll out worldwide (much like Avatar wasn't supposed to be just a one shot deal). Tokyo/OLC refused it outright. So did HKDL where most days there really isn't even a need for any FP at all. DLP has none because it won't work. SDL, which was built with the entire process in mind, will likely never even get a piece of it.

Only Anaheim is getting any portion of it, and my strong guess is that it won't ever last because there is no place to put people while leaving queues open.

 

[AEfx]

I really have to question the health of any individual who prefers a theme park stay over an excursion in Europe, Asia, Africa etc. Even a cruise to the Carribean, cliche tourist adventures and all, ranks higher

Okay, I've tried to stay out of this one but come on. People have different tastes. A Caribbean cruise? I would rather pour my money down a toilet and flush it than spend a week on a cruise ship. I cannot think of anything more boring. Most people who go that I ask really just like the inclusive booze, and since I don't drink - that does nothing for me. Maybe if there was unlimited weed...but I digress.

 

[tirian]

Another NGE comment, but it was supposed to roll out worldwide (much like Avatar wasn't supposed to be just a one shot deal). Tokyo/OLC refused it outright. So did HKDL where most days there really isn't even a need for any FP at all. DLP has none because it won't work. SDL, which was built with the entire process in mind, will likely never even get a piece of it.

Only Anaheim is getting any portion of it, and my strong guess is that it won't ever last because there is no place to put people while leaving queues open.

Don't state facts.

 

[WDW1974]

Really? Still trying to go there? That place has zero interest for us. We would go stir crazy inside a day.

Some people enjoy the real world. If you only wish to visit the same overrated tired theme parks year after year, then more power to you. ... But as much as I enjoy theme parks (even some of WDW's), the real world is so much better. When I hear about people taking their 31st trip to a WDW resort in the last 15 years, I just think they are addicted to something that is far less than is marketed and they believe.

 

[Darth Sidious]

They never actually tried, but as I stated, it was heavily rumored once upon a time that it was being considered.

I think Disney was thrown around as someone who could acquire parts of Time Warner as recently as last year. However, I would expect to see Disney make some splashy acquisition in the next year. Likely, it will be for Netflix and hopefully it won't be a knee jerk reaction to AT&T.

 

[FigmentJedi]

And really, EU was the biggest IDGAF in fandom. No one could follow all that crap.

I think the people who actually managed to crowdfund a billboard to angrily demand Disney keep making stuff in the old EU would say otherwise.

Not to mention it took well over a year for Wookiepedia to make the Canon pages the default tab for existing material. Like they finally got the switchover done the week TFA came out.

Whatever your feelings are about the Expanded Universe, rebooting it for something more managed was absolutely necessary for the franchise's future. And it's been pretty successful so far. It actually all feels connected versus the MCU's disconnect between TV and films.

 

[tirian]

So new topic:

@WDW1974 Since you're back, have you heard any timelines for the Epcot Future World rebrand? I know there's a strong internal push to polish the resort where possible (see: Tomorrowland updates). Is anything moving forward?

 

[WDW1974]

Bit disingenuous, wouldn't you say? That rate is either for a Hospitality Suite or a 1 bedroom DVC villa. Normal hotel rooms there are in the $450-500 range.

Rates start at $356 and go up to $750 (all rates plus tax) for standard rooms in 2016. Deluxe rooms and concierge and suites go well into four figures.

My comparison is because people are trying to compare the two. WDW has theme parks. Except for Paris, Europe does not. Doesn't matter how you look at it, it is apples and oranges, and 2 completely different kinds of vacations. You might think it's the same, but it simply isn't. When you go to Europe you are pretty much sightseeing. If that is all you are doing in Orlando, then stay off-site and sight see without ever setting foot on Disney property. Much cheaper than Europe.

Europe absolutely has theme parks. In 2016, I have visited the top two parks/resorts in Germany. They are both wonderful and worthy of my hard-earned money. Oh, there's also a Disney resort in France that has been open for almost a quarter of a century now. And blessedly (thank you, Jesus!) no one is telling you ''to have a MAGICal day" every time you ask where the nearest toilet is located. ... One might add that if all you ever do is sit on WDW property when in FL while giving as much money as you can to the "Make The Weatherman a Billionaire Before He Leaves" fund that you aren't visiting FL at all so much as feeding a BRAND addiction.

 

[tirian]

Okay, I've tried to stay out of this one but come on. People have different tastes. A Caribbean cruise? I would rather pour my money down a toilet and flush it than spend a week on a cruise ship. I cannot think of anything more boring. Most people who go that I ask really just like the inclusive booze, and since I don't drink - that does nothing for me. Maybe if there was unlimited weed...but I digress.

I too would rather go somewhere with plenty of activity, which is partly why I enjoy theme parks.

I'm still confused how an acknowledgement that a hotel is overpriced became a flame war about WDW versus other vacation destinations, as if someone cannot enjoy WDW unless he also accepts the rack rate at a deluxe monorail resort.

 

[SorcererMC]

Utterly insane what WDW charges and then management wonders why it needs to convert hotel inventory to DVC. Very simple. WDW and Orlando can't command $300-1,000 a night for 2-3 star service at resorts with dreams of 4-5 star grandeur. So, instead of making a profit with $75 rooms at values, $100-175 rooms at moderates and $200-300 rooms at deluxes, it just keeps pushing price points higher because that is the business model and Iger isn't going back on it. Yet, it has already proved to be a failed long term model. The ceiling was reached quite a while ago ...

Yep. Only in the short term can a company keep increasing prices without increasing the quality to go with it ....the average consumer evaluates their 'value proposition' regarding hotel quality and service, moreso for high-end/luxury consumers (who know the difference, will compare it to others, and then go elsewhere). I'm wondering how soon it will be before they redistribute the Value-Moderate-Deluxe inventory, ie convert some moderates to deluxe prices.

 

[WDW1974]

So new topic:

@WDW1974 Since you're back, have you heard any timelines for the Epcot Future World rebrand? I know there's a strong internal push to polish the resort where possible (see: Tomorrowland updates). Is anything moving forward?

Largely just visiting as I can only tolerate so much insanity at once! I did think about starting another thread and decided against it because I feel some responsibility to hang around for a while when I do so.

Much of the information I have revolves around other Disney resorts and even divisions. The biggest news out of WDW is (this will shock no one) that just about any/every project is behind schedule with many also over-budget.

Rivers of Light is beyond a joke at this point considering this is a project that started in 2007. Chew on that one. ... And Pandora is headed down a similar path. But, no, Joe Rohde isn't (currently) going to lose his job or 'retire' when it finally debuts.

What I last heard on EPCOT was that nothing huge is set in stone. Lots of ideas. Some halfway decent, many involve raping the carcass and adding more IP where it shouldn't be.

Right now, the park continues to do huge business as the largest outdoor bar in Florida. And ... bars ... themed bars with pricey mugs for OCD fanbois ... continue to be a large push for the P&R unit. The amount of pop-up places to have alcohol all around WDW is truly astounding. Oh, and yes, there remains a real problem with drunks and boorish behavior (you know, the stuff that supposedly killed Pleasure Island).

Please don't even ask about The Star Wars Experience because the more I hear, the more I believe Disney will continue to lie in marketing and make fans of the films (who aren't park regulars) plan trips to 'The Star Wars Park' only to find Star Tours 2.0, and a giant commercial/shop known as Launch Bay. Yes, the new pyro show (I still haven't seen it) will be tweaked a bit before it returns after the holidays, but only to add Rogue One into it.

When I see what (how little and mostly already done elsewhere) DLP is doing for its 25th Anniversary next year, I worry about TSWE and new entertainment highlighting WDW's 50th.

 

[WDW1974]

Personally I'm relieved reading all the Pixie Dusters on these boards. It gives me hope that I'll be able to sell my DVC membership if things get any worse.

There is no shortage of people who get out of bed in the morning and think 'What Would Bob Iger Want Me To Do Today?'

 

[WDW1974]

Most people have interests which extend to varied destinations, not just all theme parks, all the time.



Never heard of Legoland or Port Aventura I take it? There is a long list of parks across Europe, but again, most tourists are going to have other priorities. A park doesn't have to have the Disney name in front of it to be worthwhile (just ask Universal). Do you travel all the way to Orlando to eat at McDonald's and shop at Wal-Mart? It's the same principle.



Are you serious??? Did you actually just compare sightseeing in the city of Orlando to the entire continent of Europe? Can you honestly not think of anything worthwhile to see in all of Europe outside of the Disney Parks? Unbelievable.

Nothing is unbelievable here. Nothing. The MAGIC Never Ends!

 

[WDW1974]

Gee the wonders of the world are why Eisner created 'Adventures By Disney', Un freaking real, I like theme parks but there is so much to explore outside of theme parks. I'll never get to see 5% of what I want to see.

Not completely. AbD was created because DIS saw a market for this product in two groups:
1.) The affluent Guests who still visited Disney parks and took DCL; and
2.) Rubes with money who were afraid to visit places outside their comfort zones (for many this means home town and WDW!) and were thought might travel abroad if Mickey held their hands the entire way;

And, yes, I do know this for a fact.

 

[WDW1974]

No, the original poster compared the cost of a WDW stay to a trip to Europe. Luv is the one who tried to compare the trips themselves to theme parks.

And flights from Orlando to Bora Bora in mid-November will run you $3009, per Expedia two minutes ago.

Even that isn't a fair comparison as who is flying from O-Town to Bora Bora then? Maybe a family of seven that has a Darden exec in the household and lives in the real Windermere?

Mid-November would be a prime period as well. Wonder how flights are in say July or August out of major hubs. ... I do know flights to Asia (where there are really nice Disney and UNI theme parks too!) can be had for as low as $500 out of LAX on a fairly regular basis. ... People travel where they are comfortable. Many don't want anything more than to ride the worst Space Mountain and worst PotC and etc etc for the 432nd time. Nothing changes on that front.

 

[PiratesoftheHM]

@WDW1974 sorry, but interested to know if you've heard anything about internal conflict over the negative reaction to GOTG tower at DCA?

 

[WDW1974]

This is what people talk about when they say Americans are self-centered and lack global awareness.

I encounter that in virtually every country I visit. I try to not be the typical American ... beyond eating once at a McDonald's in the nation since I know it will be worlds better than an outpost in the USA.

 

[WDW1974]

@WDW1974 sorry, but interested to know if you've heard anything about internal conflict over the negative reaction to GOTG tower at DCA?

Don't be sorry. TDA, and to a lesser extent Burbank, are extremely displeased that the reaction has been so negative. They also, Colglazier in particular, were on the warpath (Is that racist now? We are still abusing Native Americans and stealing their lands, or rights in North Dakota, for a pipeline after all.) when yours truly told the world this was coming. Tried to find my sources and behead them. It didn't work.

What is going on in Anaheim right now is an abortion. I was out there last month and one day the Tower was in its glory and ...well, you've seen the pics. TDA is actually whoring the closing and selling loads of merchandise, but the majority of fans and APers seem very against it (not quite as bad for SWE, which is even worse!) How tacky to be actively destroying an attraction when you are conducting a marketing campaign around it.

If the GotG wind up in EPCOT, Disney will take a different tact I've been told with social media and how the plans are announced.

 

[WDW1974]

Only for the people who think a Disney park is all their soul needs...

They belong in a Pixie Dust Filled Basket of Deplorables.