Animatronic functions turned off at Dinosaur?

[Tom Morrow]

The average person may not know things are missing, but what is going to wow them more and make them want to come back? A ride where everything is functioning as intended? Or where half of it is broken but deemed "good enough"? Stop making excuses for them to be lazy. WDW became what it was by striving for perfection and delivering the best possible quality, not "good enough."

 

[flynnibus]

Still, their reports highlight the fact that even though the ride experience has changed over the years, it is still enjoyable and the changes aren't even noticed by many (most?).

Slippery slope on your right... please keep to the right...

 

[Bairstow]

The average person may not know things are missing, but what is going to wow them more and make them want to come back? A ride where everything is functioning as intended? Or where half of it is broken but deemed "good enough"? Stop making excuses for them to be lazy. WDW became what it was by striving for perfection and delivering the best possible quality, not "good enough."

As you can tell by this thread, half-broken is good enough for most people, especially if when you don't point out what's broken and/or missing.

 

[dadddio]

The average person may not know things are missing, but what is going to wow them more and make them want to come back? A ride where everything is functioning as intended? Or where half of it is broken but deemed "good enough"?

Both. A person who doesn't know about what has changed and still loves the ride couldn't care less about what might have been.

Here's another thought on this topic: One of my favorite rides at WDW is EE. I've been riding that thing since it's soft opening. I remember what it was like to have the animitronics operating. Still, it's an awesome ride and I keep wanting to go back.

Stop making excuses for them to be lazy. WDW became what it was by striving for perfection and delivering the best possible quality, not "good enough."

I think that the company has to balance fanboy desires with economic reality. As a stockholder, I have an expectation that they will make these decisions in a fiscally responsible way.

 

[marni1971]

As a stockholder, I have an expectation that they will make these decisions in a fiscally responsible way.

As am I. They used to be able to.

"Good enough" is not good enough for who used to be the leader in the field.

 

[dadddio]

As am I. They used to be able to.

"Good enough" is not good enough for who used to be the leader in the field.

Not knowing exactly why the changes were made or kept, it is impossible to agree with you. It is certainly possible that the ride was toned down to appeal to a greater number of guests, for instance. It is also possible that some issues (EE) are not corrected because it would simply be fiscally unsound to do so.

 

[Sneezy62]

Both. A person who doesn't know about what has changed and still loves the ride couldn't care less about what might have been.

Here's another thought on this topic: One of my favorite rides at WDW is EE. I've been riding that thing since it's soft opening. I remember what it was like to have the animitronics operating. Still, it's an awesome ride and I keep wanting to go back.
I think that the company has to balance fanboy desires with economic reality. As a stockholder, I have an expectation that they will make these decisions in a fiscally responsible way.

Seriously? I can't fathom putting my money into a company that accepts "good enough" in their product. If they aren't striving for excellence in their product they don't get my money. Disney seems to strive for excellence in many of their products. I want them to strive harder in the park I grew up with. Polish the brass. Make sure the little and big things are working. Clean the last guest's hair from behind the toilet. The money will follow excellence not "good enough". That's basic business.

 

[dadddio]

The money will follow excellence not "good enough". That's basic business.

Disney's profits are up hugely. Clearly, the money is following whatever it is that they are doing. Perhaps what they are doing is 'excellence' and some people just have unreasonable expectations. Either way, neither they nor I need to be schooled on 'basic business' on some Internet forum.

 

[flynnibus]

Disney's profits are up hugely. Clearly, the money is following whatever it is that they are doing. Perhaps what they are doing is 'excellence' and some people just have unreasonable expectations.

The irony in this statement is so heavy it would break my back to try to lift.

Yes - profits will be up when you CUT COSTS. The problem is you can't keep cutting, and eventually your audience catches on. Your attitude is the exact type of attitude that the cost cutter supports right up to the point of no return and then it's time to pay the piper.

 

[dadddio]

As am I. They used to be able to.

"Good enough" is not good enough for who used to be the leader in the field.

Used to be? Disney crushes the competition. It's closest rival doesn't outperform any of the WDW parks.

 

[dadddio]

The irony in this statement is so heavy it would break my back to try to lift.

Yes - profits will be up when you CUT COSTS. The problem is you can't keep cutting, and eventually your audience catches on. Your attitude is the exact type of attitude that the cost cutter supports right up to the point of no return and then it's time to pay the piper.

Your post would carry more weight if their guest numbers were not up, also.

 

[flynnibus]

Your post would carry more weight if their guest numbers were not up, also.

Marginally at best. Feel free to keep buying the fluffy vague merged domestic parks message.

Guest spending is up (hard to imagine its not when you jack up prices)... Attendance has been boltered by steep discounting to keep things flat to single digit growth... profits are up with cost savings... which of the above is a sustainable growth model? answer: none of the above

 

[dadddio]

Marginally at best. Feel free to keep buying the fluffy vague merged domestic parks message.

Guest spending is up (hard to imagine its not when you jack up prices)... Attendance has been boltered by steep discounting to keep things flat to single digit growth... profits are up with cost savings... which of the above is a sustainable growth model? answer: none of the above

You're arguing that their profits are way up because they increased prices AND discounted prices. Really?

 

[Skip]

You're arguing that their profits are way up because they increased prices AND discounted prices. Really?

They've increased prices on food and merchandising and park tickets... while in turn offering heavy discounts on hotel stays (in which sticker rates have also skyrocketed over the past decade, meaning there really isn't a whole lot of "saving" in the first place) to maintain marginal "growth" (i.e. status quo). The model they're following right now (i.e. cuts across most departments, no new rides/attractions, tons of new hotels with not enough increasing attendance to consistently fill them) will generate profits and look good enough to Wall Street in the short term - but the model isn't sustainable. Soon enough, the average guest is going to catch on, and Disney's going to have to respond in a big way if it doesn't want to completely lose its theme park consumer trust it's been riding on for the past decade plus.

Of course, why should this model change when the CEO who would have to answer for the sudden turnaround in policy is leaving in two short years...?

 

[beachlover4444]

I think it's just hard when you have a park open 365 days a year, only closed a couple hours at night so when do you take rides down? guests complain if they go and things are closed for refurb. I work for a hotel and we need to do work but when you are sold out day after day, it's hard to really gut a room and do what needs done. Bottom line is owners of businesses want the revenue and let things slide too long. Unless guests continually complain, nothing changes. Sad but true.

 

[dadddio]

They've increased prices on food and merchandising and park tickets... while in turn offering heavy discounts on hotel stays (in which sticker rates have also skyrocketed over the past decade, meaning there really isn't a whole lot of "saving" in the first place) to maintain marginal "growth" (i.e. status quo). The model they're following right now (i.e. cuts across most departments, no new rides/attractions, tons of new hotels with not enough increasing attendance to consistently fill them) will generate profits and look good enough to Wall Street in the short term - but the model isn't sustainable. Soon enough, the average guest is going to catch on, and Disney's going to have to respond in a big way if it doesn't want to completely lose its theme park consumer trust it's been riding on for the past decade plus.

You lost me at 'no new rides/attractions'. What do you call those that have recently opened, are being built currently, and are in the pipe?

Of course, why should this model change when the CEO who would have to answer for the sudden turnaround in policy is leaving in two short years...?

Again, I haven't a clue what you are going on about. Iger was named CEO in 2005, eight years ago. That's not a drop in the bucket when it comes to CEOs of such companies. Also, the very fact that they announced his departure two years out tells us that they are pretty pleased with his performance. Finally, there's a pretty big chance that his successor is going to be Staggs. If the thought was that Disney Parks were going in the wrong direction, he probably wouldn't be on the short list for CEO.

Honestly, all of this reads like people trying to force a Disney is failing message despite reality simply because they are unhappy with some operational decisions that have been made.

 

[hokie075]

I rode it today and I thought it was better than last year when we rode it. Just my opinion.

 

[yoyoflamingo]

In addition to the effects not working, I wish they wouldn't continuously load the preshow like they often (incorrectly) do in Mansion. Every time I ride, they just keep letting people in during the preshow, which to me is one of the better preshows in WDW and by just letting people keep loading, they miss the premise of the entire attraction.

 

[Tom Morrow]

You lost me at 'no new rides/attractions'. What do you call those that have recently opened, are being built currently, and are in the pipe?

You mean the *one* attraction that has opened recently (while simultaneously losing another), the mediocre Journey of the Little Mermaid? Or the *one* D ticket attraction on the horizon, 7 Dwarfs Mine Train that is taking an excessively long time to build? There is nothing else, and little diversion scavenger hunts do not count as attractions.

Honestly, all of this reads like people trying to force a Disney is failing message despite reality simply because they are unhappy with some operational decisions that have been made.

So, do you, personally, enjoy paying MORE money for LESS quality? Shouldn't you be upset that you are not getting the quality you are paying for because TDO is coasting on the majority of their guests not knowing the difference? Yeah, it's working... for now.

It comes across like you are belittling people for wanting something they love to be as good as it can be, and wanting to get the quality that they are paying for.

 

[dadddio]

You mean the *one* attraction that has opened recently (while simultaneously losing another), the mediocre Journey of the Little Mermaid? Or the *one* D ticket attraction on the horizon, 7 Dwarfs Mine Train that is taking an excessively long time to build? There is nothing else, and little diversion scavenger hunts do not count as attractions.

In your opinion, they do not. To the loads of people who enjoy those interactive scavenger hunts, they are clearly attractions. Still, you ignore all of the other attractions that have been built or significantly changed in the last several years. I assume that is because their existence doesn't fit your overall 'Disney is failing' theory.

So, do you, personally, enjoy paying MORE money for LESS quality? Shouldn't you be upset that you are not getting the quality you are paying for because TDO is coasting on the majority of their guests not knowing the difference? Yeah, it's working... for now.

It comes across like you are belittling people for wanting something they love to be as good as it can be, and wanting to get the quality that they are paying for.

I haven't belittled anyone. Challenging ideas is not the same as belittling.