A Spirited Perfect Ten

ParentsOf4

Well-Known Member
Forgetting the Uni comparison for a moment, wouldn't it make sense to offer more perks to on-site guests given the high perceived cost of staying on-site (at least compared to many off-site hotels). I say perceived high cost because other hotels charge for parking, wifi, "resort fees", airport shuttles, etc. but at Disney these things are free and you also get Dine plans, EMH and early FP booking, and resort transportation. For all the complaining that happens about Disney taking stuff away, in this instance the rumor is that they could be giving more, which sounds like a great thing.

Also, Disney has been doing the "bonus FP" for a little while now and its not for a high demand attraction. So even if they gave another FP to on-site, IF it was for a low demanded ride, they should be able to operationally handle it. Or what IF they required that extra FP was only available during EMH, that wouldn't impact your day guest. There are way to make it less impactful on the operation. It doesn't have to be a bad thing.
Disney already offers a myriad of perks to onsite Guests in an attempt to distinguish onsite versus offsite stays and justify WDW's significantly higher onsite price. With MyMagic+, Disney added one more:
  • 60-day advanced FastPass+ selection
This means that onsite Guests get first shot at the best times for the most popular attractions. This would seem to be a reasonably significant benefit.

I have good reason to believe that Disney considered a wide spectrum of onsite benefits for MyMagic+, including making FastPass+ an onsite-only perk. Ultimately though, Disney decided that it wanted to use MyMagic+ to improve all business, not just onsite only stays. In order for MyMagic+ to improve the offsite part of the equation, Disney needed to offer offsite Guests something of perceived value. With the 60 versus 30 day booking windows, Disney struck a balance between the onsite and offsite Guests, offering another enticement to stay onsite without slighting offsite Guests.

Regarding the "bonus FP+", you seem to be contradicting yourself. One the one hand, you seem to be arguing that Disney should offer more FP+ selections to onsite Guests in order to increase perceived value. On the other hand, you seem to acknowledge that the "bonus FP+" is "for a low demanded ride". What's the point of providing an extra FP+ to increase perceived value if it's for an attraction with little perceived value?

Regarding FP+ during EMH, my opinion is that having any FP+ during EMH largely defeats the purpose of EMH. EMH is intended for onsite Guests only anyway. How is offering onsite Guests a FP+ selection during what's already an onsite-only time period more of an enticement to stay onsite?

Disney has been fairly transparent that MyMagic+ could be expected to evolve over time but, for the initial rollout, it seems to me that Disney struck the appropriate middle ground given their resource constraints.
 
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Nubs70

Well-Known Member
I think the Walenda's stunt was purely to get the attention of the national media.

Since the wheel isn't even open yet, there was no need to draw a big crowd to IDrive early in the AM. Anyone that did gather to see it in person was just icing on the cake.

The photos and story on the wire, and the coverage on the Today Show will be great for them. It likely caught the attention of Moms and Dads planning an OTown vacation.

Aren't lifestylers afraid of heights anyway?
But why do most people watch Walenda? They are watching to see him fall. However, he is very good at what he does which leaves people disappointed.

After watching a couple of his walks, watching paint dry is more entertaining
 

michmousefan

Well-Known Member
There were a number of new characters introduced in this film, and it still didn't include any of the crew from Guardians of the Galaxy. Add into play Ant-Man, Captain Marvel, Black Panther, The Inhumans......how do the final two parter Avengers films not become an absolute behemoth with mammoth bloat?
I liked the movie more than you did - I'd give it three of four stars - but your point about character bloat is well taken. One of the reasons that The Winter Soldier movie was so good was because it limited the cast to a couple of Avengers and Nick Fury. Much easier to tell better character stories that way, and give them a little time to breathe. Ultron felt like it could have been four hours long given all the characters Joss had to juggle. Still, great work by Ruffalo as Banner. He's the best of the bunch.
 

flynnibus

Premium Member
How many people are *actually* saying this? The 'WDW has never been better line' is a common refrain around here...but not by those who still enjoy Walt Disney World.

I don't mean to single out your post (I generally agree with what you say), but I feel like people tout this line a lot in a disparaging way, and I'm just not seeing the comments like this that they are mocking. I can think of 1-2 prominent voices who do make comments like this, but that's it.

I think when you talk to random people on the street... friends, coworkers, etc... most would say things in line with that statement. Things worse than they used to be? Besides prices which most people just grin and bear.. they are just as happy to hit WDW and do it again. They are happy with what they get.

The conflict comes when people who have known what it was prior.. know it could be so much more. It's the 'selling yourself short' and most people aren't vested enough to care... They know WDW is supposed to be this type of thing.. they know they will spend more than they want.. and they do things they find entertainment in.
 

ParentsOf4

Well-Known Member
That's perceived too. I assure you, nothing is free onsite to the average guest.
As you suggest, nothing at any hotel is 'free'. The difference is whether it's built into the rack rate, charged as a separate mandatory item (e.g. resort fees), or a la carte. In all cases, the hotel has a margin (i.e. profit) built into the price.

Did you drive to WDW and stay at an onsite hotel? Guess what. You're paying for the 'free' Magical Express even though you didn't use it. ;)

Miss any Extra Magic Hours? Guess what. You're paying for them anyway. ;)

This is not specific to WDW. It's true for any hotel or resort.
 

WDW1974

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I can eat at an Applebee's in a town of 40,000 in Arkansas. If I'm in Orlando, I'm searching for stuff not found at an exit in Conway.

As for Sea Life hurting Seaworld it only means SW will have to up its game when it comes to attractions. That's one reason for the Blue Ocean project. It will have to do stuff that can't be done at a place like SeaLife. Zoos are constantly upping their game when it comes to animal displays large and small, SeaWorld is no different.

Sea World gets the same (actually, usually worse) treatment as DAK as being animal-intensive (like that's a bad thing!) and short on rides (again, I can't imagine how folks who have been on PoTC or PPF or seen CoP can be excited about experiencing them for the umpteenth time in their current ghetto state).

I love SW. It is a high quality park that is clean and maintained with largely a great crew working there. It has a wonderful mix of great animal exhibits, terrific rides and shows. But some peeps are going to spend 3-4 days at the MK on every vacation.
 

WDW1974

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Just wanted to see what @ParentsOf4 thought about Disney's business plan compared to that of the Vegas casinos. It would seem that in Vegas they discount the rooms like he ll, but do so thinking they'll more than make the money back either in the casino or their restaurants or bars or shows or all of the above.

WDW it seems has a similar game plan with its resorts, just without the real discounting, so it largely gets the best of both worlds: captive Guests that largely are forced to spend on ticket media, meals, shopping etc., but doesn't offer true 4-star rooms for $50-200 a night like you can get in LV.
 

WDW1974

Well-Known Member
Original Poster

Only read their first day. I just have a fundamental problem with hipsters, and these kids think they are so special. Yes, some of it is entertaining, some true, some false, some edgy language (in other words, what Mother Spirit uses on me to this day!) ... I just don't feel the need to read anymore.
 

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