CNBC Article - Theme park economy on a great ride

[lebeau]

I agree. I just got back from a Disney trip about a week ago. And before I went, after hearing about WDW on these boards I honestly wasnt as excited as I normally would be because of alot of the negatively here. But I was completely wrong, I had an amazing WDW vacation. All the hate directed toward WDW is a bit much. Obviously is has its glaring problems but it isn't as bad as it is made out to be

Is Disney World still worth visiting? Absolutely. They have a lot of great attractions. 5-10 years of bad management hasn't wiped away what was built up for decades before that. At least not yet. If it had, we'd all pack up and leave. We're here because we still love the place and want it to be as great as it has been in the past.

That's why we complain about the things that are wrong. The things that need attention. The things Disney needs to fix. If we don't, people will just accept things the way they are. They will accept this as the standard and not notice as the standard continues to slide.

If that happens, you may eventually reach your breaking point too. And you'll come on here and complain about how tickets should cost $200/day and you shouldn't have to book a ride 6 months in advance and Disney shouldn't be giving you electric shocks through your magic band when you say "Harry Potter". And when you complain, someone will be there wanting to know why you still go to the place if you hate it so much.

We focus on the problems because we have to. Doesn't mean we don't love the good stuff just as much or more than anybody else.

 

[DznyGrlSD]

Eh, Cedar Fair is their #1 priority. As long as WoF continues to turn a profit, that's all they care about. It'll never have the biggest or the best again – those will always go to CF. As a matter of a fact, CF is transferring the ThunderHawk from Knott's to WoF as their big addition next year. Problem is, it's stranded people and been shut down by OSHA twice. It really hasn't ever worked right. That should show you what they think of WoF.

They took out the Zambizi Zinger coaster (a huge favorite as well) and sold it. It's now the largest roller coaster in South America!!! Morons.

It seems Cedar Fair is much more interested in adding things to their Halloween events than anything else.

I worked at ValleyFair (Minnesota) in 1999 and they haven't done much to VF either...I'm hoping we can hit up KC for the KC Ren Fest, WoF and OoF at the same time...we'll see how timing goes

any advice? Fee free to PM me since we're thread-drifting

 

[Cletus]

 

[afar28]

Is Disney World still worth visiting? Absolutely. They have a lot of great attractions. 5-10 years of bad management hasn't wiped away what was built up for decades before that. At least not yet. If it had, we'd all pack up and leave. We're here because we still love the place and want it to be as great as it has been in the past.

That's why we complain about the things that are wrong. The things that need attention. The things Disney needs to fix. If we don't, people will just accept things the way they are. They will accept this as the standard and not notice as the standard continues to slide.

If that happens, you may eventually reach your breaking point too. And you'll come on here and complain about how tickets should cost $200/day and you shouldn't have to book a ride 6 months in advance and Disney shouldn't be giving you electric shocks through your magic band when you say "Harry Potter". And when you complain, someone will be there wanting to know why you still go to the place if you hate it so much.

We focus on the problems because we have to. Doesn't mean we don't love the good stuff just as much or more than anybody else.

I agree. I do often complain about the management over the last decade or so, but the way some folks complain here make it seem like nobody should ever step foot on WDW property ever again. For me,fastpass plus is pushing me towards it. If it really is as bad as it seems, I will probably be at my breaking point. I don't know that yet, and I'm not going to bash on something I haven't tried yet.

 

[lebeau]

I agree. I do often complain about the management over the last decade or so, but the way some folks complain here make it seem like nobody should ever step foot on WDW property ever again. For me,fastpass plus is pushing me towards it. If it really is as bad as it seems, I will probably be at my breaking point. I don't know that yet, and I'm not going to bash on something I haven't tried yet.

While I read a of of criticism, I think people around here overstate how negative it really is around here. Even the most critical posters I have seen also talk about the things they love. I very rarely if ever see anyone say they will never return.

 

[PhotoDave219]

I have lost track of how many thousands of negative posts I have found on this board (some may be suprised to find many other boards discussing the same topics except the tone not negative) over the last few years insisting that Disney is ruining everything and their attendance will show that.

Well, how come it keeps going up?

Free Dining and other things that cut into your bottom line.

 

[Epicpilot]

I'll take that bet.

Universal isn't even close to the attendance WDW is at. Disney will start spending again, though it may take a while for them to notice Universal. By 2020 expect serious additions.

 

[flynnibus]

While I read a of of criticism, I think people around here overstate how negative it really is around here. Even the most critical posters I have seen also talk about the things they love. I very rarely if ever see anyone say they will never return.

Its there... the thing is it's a group of very vocal posters. So the volume is too loud for some.

 

[JimboJones123]

Right on, my friend.

It's now leaking that Uni will be adding to Jurassic Park and adding a Lorax ride as well over the next two years.

In the time it's taken TDO to build the FLE and the SWMT, Uni will have added:
• WWoHP
• Harry Potter's London
• The Transformers
• The Simpsons' Springfield
• Despicable Me
• a JP addition
• The Lorax
and they only have 2 parks!!!

Oh, and by the way, Avatar may still not happen.


I absolutely love WDW's new commercials that they've begun running. They aren't advertising anything new, just promoting "do it again".

Stale and stagnant are perfect words to describe WDW right now.

Don't forget that Carsland has been put on hold and may never come off hold.

 

[tirian]

No offense to anyone, but it's driving me crazy.

It's = "it is, it was"
Its = possessive case
You're = "you are"
Your = possessive case

If there's an apostrophe, it's a contraction for two words.

I'm finished being a D-bag. Carry on.

Edit: That's right, a *Disney*-bag!

 

[TalkingHead]

Universal isn't even close to the attendance WDW is at. Disney will start spending again, though it may take a while for them to notice Universal. By 2020 expect serious additions.

By 2020?

Only seven more years before Disney gets serious?!

Thank goodness. I thought they were just resting on their laurels.

Act now to reserve your FP+ for rides that haven't been announced yet!

 

[TalkingHead]

Is Disney World still worth visiting? Absolutely.

I don't think the answer is that clear cut.

Have to consider a lot of factors before answering that question.

Is WDW worth visiting annually? IMHO it hasn't been for several years.
Is it worth visiting for guests who have never been before? Probably so.

But once you start to factor in the costs involved for travel, accommodations, food, and tickets, it's harder to say WDW is "absolutely" worth visiting.

For locals or Florida residents, the overall cost is probably more reasonable. But paying for flights, staying for a week on property...all that stuff adds up and would tempt me to say WDW at the moment isn't worth the cost for a lot of people.

 

[Ignohippo]

Don't forget that Carsland has been put on hold and may never come off hold.

CarsLand wasn't anywhere in my post. Not sure why you would even reference that.

CarsLand and Star Wars are pure bluesky until it's confirmed otherwise.

 

[Sped2424]

To be clear here Universal is never going to be "On top" if the magic kingdom at least. Its going to take a lot more than just a few park expansions to do that. HOWEVER they most certainly can start to take away business from epcot, hollywood studios, and animal kingdom. Leading people to spend more and more days off property.

 

[Jimmy Thick]

Disney is spending money, to think they are not is ludicrous.

To say Disney is under bad management or blaming TDO for just about anything is completely ignorant. How does a company that is one of the hottest stocks around have bad management?

Universal on the other hand is under a delusion they can compete with Disney. First, they will never compete with them. Never. One, Disney has a 20 or 30 year head start on them in Florida. Florida needs Disney more than they need Universal as Disney drives the economy. If Universal packed their bags and left Florida, reality says no one will notice from an economic standpoint, if Disney left it would be catastrophic.

Second, Universal is hampered by the fact the don't have the same amount of land, and they won't be able to buy the land they want. If it was possible, they would have done it by now.

Third, Universal will always have a complete lack of total immersion surrounding their parks. IOA is a perfect example as when walking through the park to me it feels like a little better themed Six Flags. Viewing parking lots on coasters takes me back to the real world instead of magically transporting me away from it.

Fourth and final, Universal has to keep spending money to keep people interested, once they stop spending and rest on their laurels, they will quickly lose market share right back to Disney who can rest on their laurels due to having a far superior product. Don't kid yourself, the cash will stop at Universal eventually, from a business standpoint its inevitable.

But what's really lost in this whole topic is the fact Disney still kills it year in year out, DHS and AK will more than likely top 10 million each this year. Without spending a dime on new big attractions.


Jimmy Thick- What more needs to be said?

 

[mahnamahna101]

Disney is spending money, to think they are not is ludicrous.

To say Disney is under bad management or blaming TDO for just about anything is completely ignorant. How does a company that is one of the hottest stocks around have bad management?

Universal on the other hand is under a delusion they can compete with Disney. First, they will never compete with them. Never. One, Disney has a 20 or 30 year head start on them in Florida. Florida needs Disney more than they need Universal as Disney drives the economy. If Universal packed their bags and left Florida, reality says no one will notice from an economic standpoint, if Disney left it would be catastrophic.

Second, Universal is hampered by the fact the don't have the same amount of land, and they won't be able to buy the land they want. If it was possible, they would have done it by now.

Third, Universal will always have a complete lack of total immersion surrounding their parks. IOA is a perfect example as when walking through the park to me it feels like a little better themed Six Flags. Viewing parking lots on coasters takes me back to the real world instead of magically transporting me away from it.

Fourth and final, Universal has to keep spending money to keep people interested, once they stop spending and rest on their laurels, they will quickly lose market share right back to Disney who can rest on their laurels due to having a far superior product. Don't kid yourself, the cash will stop at Universal eventually, from a business standpoint its inevitable.

But what's really lost in this whole topic is the fact Disney still kills it year in year out, DHS and AK will more than likely top 10 million each this year. Without spending a dime on new big attractions.


Jimmy Thick- What more needs to be said?

...but Despicable Me, a parade, and a nighttime show weren't enough to make a dent anyways... Transformers and Springfield are the turning point for USF - people will see them and go: I thought only Disney did stuff this good?

They don't "kill it"... without MK, they'd be equal to USF and IOA in attendance.

The kids of today are falling in love with Universal with all of their cool, relevant attractions (Harry Potter, Despicable Me, Transformers, etc) while Disney is expecting Mickey Mouse to draw the Facebook generation over and over and over. Nothing new but some higher ticket prices are real nice!!

25 years from now, I can see people having more of a fondness toward Universal in the theme park realm (Disney will always dominate in the movie department lol)

And I don't calling spending a billion dollars on Big Brother-style surveillance of guests "investment". Neither does a second copy of a flat ride or an "immersive, groundbreaking" meet and greet

 

[JimboJones123]

CarsLand wasn't anywhere in my post. Not sure why you would even reference that.

CarsLand and Star Wars are pure bluesky until it's confirmed otherwise.

Um.... I never said it was in your post?

 

[JimboJones123]

...but Despicable Me, a parade, and a nighttime show weren't enough to make a dent anyways... Transformers and Springfield are the turning point for USF - people will see them and go: I thought only Disney did stuff this good?

They don't "kill it"... without MK, they'd be equal to USF and IOA in attendance.

The kids of today are falling in love with Universal with all of their cool, relevant attractions (Harry Potter, Despicable Me, Transformers, etc) while Disney is expecting Mickey Mouse to draw the Facebook generation over and over and over. Nothing new but some higher ticket prices are real nice!!

25 years from now, I can see people having more of a fondness toward Universal in the theme park realm (Disney will always dominate in the movie department lol)

And I don't calling spending a billion dollars on Big Brother-style surveillance of guests "investment". Neither does a second copy of a flat ride or an "immersive, groundbreaking" meet and greet

The immersive meete and greets like Talking Mickey which has been in on again off again testing for over 3 years now.

 

[mahnamahna101]

The immersive meete and greets like Talking Mickey which has been in on again off again testing for over 3 years now.

But some Disney fans act like they're E-tickets...

 

[JimboJones123]

But some Disney fans act like they're E-tickets...

If they ever opened.