Maybe that's the grand plan: Instead of announcing a charge for FP+ and p***ing everyone off, they announce this ridiculously expensive up charge and make people feel like they are getting rid of free EMH, and then say "Ok, we'll scrap that idea, but we're going to start charging for FP+," and everyone will think that's a better alternative.
Even I'm impressed by that operating margin.
Yep Mickey Bars and Dasani have gone through quite the transformation in recent times!
Haha, so from 12 bucks to 150 in a little over a decade. "Impressed" is one word for it.
We have seen this before.
Over a decade ago, before EMH, Disney offered something very similar, less the ice cream.
Of course, the cost of that offering was about $15, so I fail to see where the "value" lies in Disney's latest offering.
Unless it's REALLY good ice cream.
While I don't doubt that folks cutting back is contributing to what you witnessed I'd contest that the declining food quality (thanks DDP) may be contributing to those empty tables. IMO, over the last 5 years food has been tanking.
I generally agree with everything you are saying here. If I were in your situation I would be less likely to go back too. I had a long break between trips before I had kids and that was 10+ years ago. It wasn't necessarily just because of issues with the parks or prices but mostly because there were a lot of other things I wanted to do. I go now mainly because I like spending time in the parks with my kids. They still believe in the magic. They don't notice the issues, especially the price increases
. Maybe I'm still hooked a little on the pixie dust too,but I love seeing them experience some of the things that I did as a kid even though it's not all the same. I know things were better and I see the problems but we generally still enjoy ourselves. We also enjoy ourselves at places that are a lot better value. Just got back from a short spring break trip where we hit the Smithsonian air and space museum (which is free) and Busch Gardens which with discounts was about half the price of a 1 day ticket to WDW. MK is still superior th Busch Gardens IMHO, but I'm not sure it's twice as good. 
They don't have money to burn but they have credit cards
Nothing beats going into debt to finance a vacation. There are plenty of people who can legitimately afford WDW that still go. Rich people still have kids. As prices go up the pool is definitely shrinking, but the once in a lifetime crowd will still go and spend big.
I actually think you may be right. Disney Springs was wall-to-wall both nights we went. After 40 years of going to WDW, I finally ate at Fulton's which was incredible. We received on point service from our excellent waiter, Tom (who even brought me the recipe for one of the appetizer spreads that I raved about), and we talked briefly about the restaurant closing. [sidebar...I was very saddened listening to him emotionally speak of he and other co-workers who have been there over 20 years losing their jobsI don't doubt your observations but those restaurants are still mostly hard to get ADRs for (especially Be Our Guest). Maybe everyone is eating at Disney Springs now
] Our food was delicious and worthy of being served on linen tablecloths by waitstaff in formal dress. Conversely, we paid nearly twice as much (!!!!) for a completely underwhelming breakfast at 'Ohana (I'm 99% sure they served us powdered eggs. If not, they sure tasted like it). I failed to mention our first (and last) meal at Skipper Canteen (which was also half empty at 7:15)...$180 for crap. I was soooo disappointed as this was one of the meals I was really excited about. The Shu Mai were decent, but the rest? Certainly not the quality of cuisine normally consumed by the well-to-do, and definitely not worth that much of anyone else's hard-earned money. I'd rather just eat popcorn for dinner. From all of the empty tables, it appears the number of guests (of any income level) willing to say "Hey, let's go throw away $200 on the crap they serve at Tony's Town Square" is finally diminishing. I suspect all of these up-charges will drive the stake even deeper into the heart of Tony, Pooh and Beast.
It could be a trend. It wasn't that way when I was there in August. We still had a hard time getting a table at a few of the places you mentioned, but really only the Boat House was newly open at Disney Springs so it may be that crowds are flocking there now that more is opening up. We did eat at Raglan Road and it was quite packed. I really like what they are doing with Disney Springs and with 3rd party vendors mostly in charge the quality can and should remain high. Based on news dropped in Spirit's other thread they are going to be cutting back even more on quality and portions at Disney run restaurants.I actually think you may be right. Disney Springs was wall-to-wall both nights we went. After 40 years of going to WDW, I finally ate at Fulton's which was incredible. We received on point service from our excellent waiter, Tom, (who even brought me the recipe for one of the appetizer spreads that I raved about) and we talked briefly about the restaurant closing. [sidebar...I was very saddened listening to him emotionally speak of he and other co-workers who have been there over 20 years losing their jobs
