Disney got my money for the last time

[Matt_Black]

Fair enough. But let me jot your memory back just a few months ago when MK started those hard ticket after hours events with a premium price. Didn't Disney GIVE AWAY a few hundred tickets?

A few months ago? Disney's been doing MNSSHP for years!

 

[BigBlueWho]

@Chef Mickey: are you an accountant? If so, what constitutes an insane margin?
I am seriously asking as an accounting student; my textbook for this semester is loaded with Disney finances from 2012-14.

 

[xdan0920]

I do feel for the OP but at the end of the day, the CM made a mistake. I'm guessing everyone calling for this CM's head is infallible? No one here has ever made a mistake? Let's get the pitchforks and torches and hunt the CM down!

Who's calling for the CMs firing?

 

[LuvtheGoof]

Fair enough. But let me jot your memory back just a few months ago when MK started those hard ticket after hours events with a premium price. Didn't Disney GIVE AWAY a few hundred tickets?

So yes, it can be done if they wanted.

And thankfully, they seem to have gone away. Yes, they could have, but maybe the OP wasn't nice about it either. From the post, I would say that he wasn't, and if so, I wouldn't have given him the time of day, much less access to a ticketed event.

 

[raven]

A few months ago? Disney's been doing MNSSHP for years!

No. I'm talking about the paid extra hours event with free ice cream.

Point being.. The customer is not always right.
A lot of people seem to think the opposite, but the fact is a company can not rectify everyone's dissatisfaction.
I get disgusted to read some of the demands, complaints, and resulting comps from them.
I feel for the OP, and especially his daughter. The entire situation could have been prevented, and I for one am actually glad to see that Disney has limits to what they will do for complaining customers.

"Where Dreams Come True"
"Happiest Place on Earth"
"Where Magic Happens"

Aren't these all phrases identified with Disney? Isn't Disney known for making Magical Moments and making dreams come true? They certainly put it all over their social media and want everyone to know this. So it's kind of hard to read this statement when everyone knows they pride themselves on being #1 in guest service.

A little girl was told she would be able to see the fireworks over the castle and her heart was set on that after a CM told them that they would be able to. This is definitely a Disney fault. Being sent to Epcot, DHS or DAK isn't an option. They could've simply offered the family to stay if they wanted.

 

[21stamps]

Fair enough. But let me jot your memory back just a few months ago when MK started those hard ticket after hours events with a premium price. Didn't Disney GIVE AWAY a few hundred tickets?

So yes, it can be done if they wanted.

Statements like this make me fear for the future economics of our country.

Bottoms Line- a business can choose to do what they wish. They can charge for an event, product, etc. and it is completely within their right to "give away" something for free if they wish. On their terms.

I think people forget that the Disney Corporation has never been a not for profit organization.

 

[Matt_Black]

No. I'm talking about the paid extra hours event with free ice cream.

You mean the separate new event that only recently started and isn't as popular yet as MNSSHP? That's a bit like arguing that since the NFL gave out free tickets to a pre-season exhibition game between the Jaguars and the Titans, then they absolutely should give out free tickets to the Superbowl.

 

[21stamps]

No. I'm talking about the paid extra hours event with free ice cream.


"Where Dreams Come True"
"Happiest Place on Earth"
"Where Magic Happens"

Aren't these all phrases identified with Disney? Isn't Disney known for making Magical Moments and making dreams come true? They certainly put it all over their social media and want everyone to know this. So it's kind of hard to read this statement when everyone knows they pride themselves on being #1 in guest service.

A little girl was told she would be able to see the fireworks over the castle and her heart was set on that after a CM told them that they would be able to. This is definitely a Disney fault. Being sent to Epcot, DHS or DAK isn't an option. They could've simply offered the family to stay if they wanted.

The parents of that little girl should have prevented that situation.

I have messed up plenty of times. I took my kid to an amusement park a few weeks ago..we arrived at 7pm. I hadn't checked the hours and didn't realize that was the first week they closed at 8pm instead of 10pm.
My kid was upset. It was my fault.

This situation is different bc they were given bad info..and if the info wasn't available at their fingertips or months in advance of their travel then I would agree with you. But the info is available, not even close to hidden. So at the end of the day it's the parent's responsibility to ensure their daughter gets what she wants. If that means paying for a party bc you didn't check the website, read posted signage, look at a flyer or tv in your room.. Well then, that's what you need to do to prevent the tears.

 

[raven]

You mean the separate new event that only recently started and isn't as popular yet as MNSSHP? That's a bit like arguing that since the NFL gave out free tickets to a pre-season exhibition game between the Jaguars and the Titans, then they absolutely should give out free tickets to the Superbowl.

That's no comparison here. The little girl really only wanted to see the fireworks.

 

[Chef Mickey]

@Chef Mickey: are you an accountant? If so, what constitutes an insane margin?
I am seriously asking as an accounting student; my textbook for this semester is loaded with Disney finances from 2012-14.

I am in finance. Graduated from Wharton.

I did a little analysis on here arguing the same point. Disney's operating margin at theme parks is around 18%. Media networks (TV) is around 33% and studios (movies) is around 28%.

For comparison, Apple's operating margin is over 30% and I'm sure you've owned an iPhone at some point. Or Visa. Ever swipe your credit card? They make around 70% operating margin.

Remember, operating margin is not profit. It won't include things like taxes, interest expense, etc.

Bottom line. Theme parks make decent money, but it's a somewhat low margin business due to high labor costs, maintenance, expansion, etc.

 

[21stamps]

That's no comparison here. The little girl really only wanted to see the fireworks.

Fireworks that are exclusive to a party that people paid to attend. That's the difference.
Good news- you can also watch said fireworks from outside of the park. We have a MK day that closes at 7pm, and we aren't attending the party that night. We will be watching Holiday Wishes from our room.

 

[raven]

The parents of that little girl should have prevented that situation.

I have messed up plenty of times. I took my kid to an amusement park a few weeks ago..we arrived at 7pm. I hadn't checked the hours and didn't realize that was the first week they closed at 8pm instead of 10pm.
My kid was upset. It was my fault.

This situation is different bc they were given bad info..and if the info wasn't available at their fingertips or months in advance of their travel then I would agree with you. But the info is available, not even close to hidden. So at the end of the day it's the parent's responsibility to ensure their daughter gets what she wants. If that means paying for a party bc you didn't check the website, read posted signage, look at a flyer or tv in your room.. Well then, that's what you need to do to prevent the tears.

Wasn't that what the father was doing when he was talking to the CM? Getting info on park hours? Should he have to verify it with printed material if he asked a front desk CM directly? To me this seems like the best option for the most correct and up to date information.

 

[Nemo14]

No. I'm talking about the paid extra hours event with free ice cream.


"Where Dreams Come True"
"Happiest Place on Earth"
"Where Magic Happens"

Aren't these all phrases identified with Disney? Isn't Disney known for making Magical Moments and making dreams come true? They certainly put it all over their social media and want everyone to know this. So it's kind of hard to read this statement when everyone knows they pride themselves on being #1 in guest service.

A little girl was told she would be able to see the fireworks over the castle and her heart was set on that after a CM told them that they would be able to. This is definitely a Disney fault. Being sent to Epcot, DHS or DAK isn't an option. They could've simply offered the family to stay if they wanted.

I agree with you to a point, but had Disney simply given them tickets to the party, who's to say that the OP wouldn't have reported that on social media only to start a flood of freeloaders trying the same thing. I do feel bad for the OP, and the CM that gave him that info was surely at fault, but as had been stated countless times in this thread, there were other ways to figure this out.

 

[raven]

Fireworks that are exclusive to a party that people paid to attend. That's the difference.
Good news- you can also watch said fireworks from outside of the park. We have a MK day that closes at 7pm, and we aren't attending the party that night. We will be watching Holiday Wishes from our room.

Yes. You and I and other avid Disney fans know this but not all guests know that. That information could've been given to them as well when they were at GR but it wasn't.

 

[BigBlueWho]

I am in finance. Graduated from Wharton.

I did a little analysis on here arguing the same point. Disney's operating margin at theme parks is around 18%. Media networks (TV) is around 33% and studios (movies) is around 28%.

For comparison, Apple's operating margin is over 30% and I'm sure you've owned an iPhone at some point. Or Visa. Ever swipe your credit card? They make around 70% operating margin.

Remember, operating margin is not profit. It won't include things like taxes, interest expense, etc.

Bottom line. Theme parks make decent money, but it's a somewhat low margin business due to high labor costs, maintenance, expansion, etc.

Thank you for this!

 

[21stamps]

I am in finance. Graduated from Wharton.

I did a little analysis on here arguing the same point. Disney's operating margin at theme parks is around 18%. Media networks (TV) is around 33% and studios (movies) is around 28%.

For comparison, Apple's operating margin is over 30% and I'm sure you've owned an iPhone at some point. Or Visa. Ever swipe your credit card? They make around 70% operating margin.

Remember, operating margin is not profit. It won't include things like taxes, interest expense, etc.

Bottom line. Theme parks make decent money, but it's a somewhat low margin business due to high labor costs, maintenance, expansion, etc.

I'm in finance. Not a Wharton grad...but even with my lowly degrees, I still think people are ridiculous and unrealistic in their assumptions and expectations of a for profit company.

 

[21stamps]

Yes. You and I and other avid Disney fans know this but not all guests know that. That information could've been given to them as well when they were at GR but it wasn't.

Disney emails you info pre trip. They encourage you to check the website and make an account. The hours are posted there. It doesn't matter if you go to Disney every week or once every three years. The same info is available for all.

 

[Matt_Black]

Wasn't that what the father was doing when he was talking to the CM? Getting info on park hours? Should he have to verify it with printed material if he asked a front desk CM directly? To me this seems like the best option for the most correct and up to date information.

Well, going by the OP it looked like he was asking at least a day or two in advance. In that case, YES you absolutely should double check in case of unforeseen events.

 

[raven]

Disney emails you info pre trip. They encourage you to check the website and make an account. The hours are posted there. It doesn't matter if you go to Disney every week or once every three years. The same info is available for all.

Disney doesn't email every guest who visits their park. Many obtain tickets at offsite resorts.

 

[Matt_Black]

Yes. You and I and other avid Disney fans know this but not all guests know that. That information could've been given to them as well when they were at GR but it wasn't.

That information was readily available to the OP well before. He said he was there on Sunday, and times guides are good through the entire week, and they are available at both the resort and the park entrance. You have to be trying exceptionally hard to not see them.