Disney is going to price us out of the Kingdom..

[NickMaio]

How do you make this happen? When Walt owned the company, he may have been happy to limit his personal profit if it meant a better guest experience.

Disney is now a corporation. It is owned by a multitude of shareholders who are in it for the profit. Running things the way Walt did is a nice fantasy, but it's just that now, fantasy. You can't put this genie back in the bottle.

We can discuss how Disney is run now versus how it was run in the past versus how we think it should be run, but at what point are these ideas completely beyond the reality of what will ever happen? It just feels very futile and pointless.

It is called a conversation a discussion- - - a dialogue if you wish.

If WDW limits guest attendance - - - for many the guest experience will rise - - people will go more per year - people will spend less time in lines - - people might even spend more money in the parks.

There is a tipping point in ever economic scenario - - - WDW is playing right on it.

 

[NickMaio]

How do you make this happen? When Walt owned the company, he may have been happy to limit his personal profit if it meant a better guest experience.

Disney is now a corporation. It is owned by a multitude of shareholders who are in it for the profit. Running things the way Walt did is a nice fantasy, but it's just that now, fantasy. You can't put this genie back in the bottle.

We can discuss how Disney is run now versus how it was run in the past versus how we think it should be run, but at what point are these ideas completely beyond the reality of what will ever happen? It just feels very futile and pointless.

Not every company needs to follow the status quo - - - - - crunching money figures - maxing people out of their product.

 

[bubbles1812]

We love WDW, sure... But we travel to other places (e.g. Tuscany, Azores, Germany) far more often.

It's a great big, beautiful world out there - and most of it's cheaper than Disney.

I balance WDW every 2-3 years with trips abroad. This year, we're going to Austria/Germany next month for two weeks and then WDW in December. Europe is more expensive. Though I admittedly skip staying in hostels. We stay in midlevel to occasionally pricier hotels and also typically fly at least economy plus for international flights, so we're not trying to make it super cheap. I, at least, do all my own trip planning, which is something I enjoy but many do not. But it does save money.

That all being said, the trip won't be an astronomically higher amount compared to our Dec WDW trip. Both are in the thousands of dollars. Next year, the plan is to do the Czech Republic and Hungary on two separate trips. Won't be back to WDW until 2021 or 2022.

I love Disney. It'll be my 10th time in WDW this December and 12th trip to a Disney park overall. So I really love Disney. But I refuse to give them all my vacation dollars. The world is, as you said, great, big, and beautiful. Spending it only at theme parks is foolish in my eyes. In other words, I like your attitude

 

[SteamboatJoe]

How do you make this happen? When Walt owned the company, he may have been happy to limit his personal profit if it meant a better guest experience.

Disney is now a corporation. It is owned by a multitude of shareholders who are in it for the profit. Running things the way Walt did is a nice fantasy, but it's just that now, fantasy. You can't put this genie back in the bottle.

We can discuss how Disney is run now versus how it was run in the past versus how we think it should be run, but at what point are these ideas completely beyond the reality of what will ever happen? It just feels very futile and pointless.

What are we here to do if we aren't to be discussing things that are futile and pointless?

 

[Amidala]

Not every company needs to follow the status quo - - - - - crunching money figures - maxing people out of their product.

But companies that avoid these things aren’t typically Fortune 500. I’m not defending them, it’s another greedy move in a series of greedy moves. But I don’t think @Wendy Pleakley’s point is that we shouldn’t discuss concerns, just that we shouldn’t continue to expect a huge company with a bottom line to put its customers ahead of its sales, because it’s just not going to happen & only leads to disappointment.

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

It is called a conversation a discussion- - - a dialogue if you wish.

If WDW limits guest attendance - - - for many the guest experience will rise - - people will go more per year - people will spend less time in lines - - people might even spend more money in the parks.

There is a tipping point in ever economic scenario - - - WDW is playing right on it.

At what point is discussing a fantasy scenario a waste of time?

I still see comments online, saying if only Disneyland would eliminate the payment plan for annual passes, attendance would decrease. People have been saying this for, what, a decade now? Disney does not want to limit attendance.

Just like your tipping point comment. People have been saying this for as long as I can remember - Disney has *finally* gone too far! Yet, attendance patters continue to say otherwise.

If attendance is limited, people will go more often? I'd want to go more often if that were the case as well, but so would everyone else. Demand would exceed supply and I'd actually be able to go less often.

 

[flynnibus]

How do you make this happen? When Walt owned the company, he may have been happy to limit his personal profit if it meant a better guest experience.

Disney is now a corporation. It is owned by a multitude of shareholders who are in it for the profit. Running things the way Walt did is a nice fantasy, but it's just that now, fantasy. You can't put this genie back in the bottle.

We can discuss how Disney is run now versus how it was run in the past versus how we think it should be run, but at what point are these ideas completely beyond the reality of what will ever happen? It just feels very futile and pointless.

When the customer experience IS YOUR PRODUCT and market differentiation... it makes sense to prioritize it and not sacrifice it.

The Walt comparison is just an attempt to derail things. It’s completely off base. Disney has been a public company for more than 50 years. Wdw has a whole was conceived and implemented during the time Disney has been a public company.

The “it’s a public company” excuse is not anything new in the last 20 years. So stop using it as the excuse as why the new behavior is somehow needed now verse before.

 

[SteamboatJoe]

But companies that avoid these things aren’t typically Fortune 500. I’m not defending them, it’s another greedy move in a series of greedy moves. But I don’t think @Wendy Pleakley’s point is that we shouldn’t discuss concerns, just that we shouldn’t continue to expect a huge company with a bottom line to put its customers ahead of its sales, because it’s just not going to happen & only leads to disappointment.

I understand the futility of it all The problem is that is exactly what they want you to do. Just shrug your shoulders, say "oh well", and keep opening your wallet.

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

But companies that avoid these things aren’t typically Fortune 500. I’m not defending them, it’s another greedy move in a series of greedy moves. But I don’t think @Wendy Pleakley’s point is that we shouldn’t discuss concerns, just that we shouldn’t continue to expect a huge company with a bottom line to put its customers ahead of its sales, because it’s just not going to happen & only leads to disappointment.

A wise person once observed that while many of us love Disney, and have an emotional attachment to the company and the theme parks, Disney does not actually love us back.

Hence so many reactions that are emotional, but just not realistic.

 

[OneofThree]

Disney has been a public company for more than 50 years. Wdw has a whole was conceived and implemented during the time Disney has been a public company.

I would submit that the way public companies have approached consumers has changed significantly over that time, as a rule.

 

[SteamboatJoe]

The point about being a public company is misleading. Disney has been on the NYSE since 1957. The difference between then and now is nothing more than sheer will and vision.

 

[Amidala]

When the customer experience IS YOUR PRODUCT and market differentiation... it makes sense to prioritize it and not sacrifice it.

The Walt comparison is just an attempt to derail things. It’s completely off base. Disney has been a public company for more than 50 years. Wdw has a whole was conceived and implemented during the time Disney has been a public company.

The “it’s a public company” excuse is not anything new in the last 20 years. So stop using it as the excuse as why the new behavior is somehow needed now verse before.

But how vocal are these kinds of complaints? What tangible effect are they having on park attendance? MK and Disneyland remain the two most highly attended parks in the world, so if customer experience is the litmus that determines Disney’s success...we’re a speck in an ocean, and that ocean is satisfied. Satisfied enough to continue to go, and continue to pay. So what are they sacrificing? I just don’t understand. To me, that’s the reality of this situation.

 

[SteamboatJoe]

I would submit that they way public companies have approached consumers has changed significantly over that time, as a rule.

This, unfortunately, is accurate.

 

[OneofThree]

The difference between then and now is nothing more than sheer will and vision.

As much as my heart remains there, the "then" WDW likely would not survive the current business paradigm.

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

But how vocal are these kinds of complaints? What tangible effect are they having on park attendance? MK and Disneyland remain the two most highly attended parks in the world, so if customer experience is the litmus that determines Disney’s success...we’re a speck in an ocean, and that ocean is satisfied. Satisfied enough to continue to go, and continue to pay. So what are they sacrificing? I just don’t understand. To me, that’s the reality of this situation.

So true. There's this common assertion that guests are unhappy with the WDW experience, completely contradicted by people's increased willingness to pay for said experience.

 

[SKG]

Is it feasible to say that WDW is under priced?

And no I'm not suggesting to raise prices...

 

[eliza61nyc]

When the customer experience IS YOUR PRODUCT and market differentiation... it makes sense to prioritize it and not sacrifice it.

The Walt comparison is just an attempt to derail things. It’s completely off base. Disney has been a public company for more than 50 years. Wdw has a whole was conceived and implemented during the time Disney has been a public company.

The “it’s a public company” excuse is not anything new in the last 20 years. So stop using it as the excuse as why the new behavior is somehow needed now verse before.

it really isn't an excuse. One simply cannot expect a company to run the way it ran 50 years ago. Yes it's been a public company for a while but expectations and objectives are not the same. WDW is not immune to that, nor are they immune to what their stockholders want.
If it is a choice of giving the customer what they want or giving the shareholders what they want, the shareholder is going to win every time, every day and twice on Sunday.

I don't think she was saying it was "needed" but that's a whole different discussion. does any company "need' to make 55 billion in revenue?? who knows

the one "Walt" comparison I wish would go away is the one where "Walt" wanted everyone to be able to come to the parks.

 

[eliza61nyc]

So true. There's this common assertion that guests are unhappy with the WDW experience, completely contradicted by people's increased willingness to pay for said experience.

so true
we are a teeny tiny % of wdw guest.

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

When the customer experience IS YOUR PRODUCT and market differentiation... it makes sense to prioritize it and not sacrifice it.

The Walt comparison is just an attempt to derail things. It’s completely off base. Disney has been a public company for more than 50 years. Wdw has a whole was conceived and implemented during the time Disney has been a public company.

The “it’s a public company” excuse is not anything new in the last 20 years. So stop using it as the excuse as why the new behavior is somehow needed now verse before.

How should Disney improve their experience?

We've seen the suggestion that if Disney capped attendance, people would go more often and spend more. There's no logic to this. We can't have smaller crowds AND go more often. We'd be able to go less often. We'd be less happy.

After Hours events actually provide this experience. Smaller crowds and guests spend more. Yet, these events are seen negatively by a great many people.

You noted that DCL gives a classic Disney experience. True, but it's outside many people's price point.

How do we possibly get to this mythical place where we all get a premium experience at an affordable price? If it's too expensive, people are turned away. If it's more affordable, people are turned away.

 

[flynnibus]

If it is a choice of giving the customer what they want or giving the shareholders what they want, the shareholder is going to win every time, every day and twice on Sunday.

That is the mindset that leaves you only with shareholders and no customers.

Disney did not get where it is by being the same as everyone else. Yet people continue to insist the only way it can be going forward is to be like everyone else. Think about that...

Disney is a brand all about loyalty. It used to be about expectations and service too. But “great returns to shareholders” is not what will carry Disney forward as the lifestyle it became for generations.

Holding companies put shareholders first. Great companies know that doing great things will generate the returns to satisfy the fiscal side of life.