Expect more premium events with recent organizational changes

[Obobru]

Remove the water fountains and add vending machines with bottled water. Remove all outdoor vending carts and replace with vending machines. Disney is facing hard times we all must help them out, how about a justgiving page?

Disney have become so greedy it's become out if control. I stopped going to Disney world twice a year for 2-3 weeks a time 7 years ago when it started getting worse with the desperate cash grabs. In that time I have been to Disneyland for a conference and didn't go to the parks, I stopped renewing my Disneyland Paris annual pass and I have only been to to HK twice and Tokyo twice. They have have turned me off as a visitor who used to go to multiple parks a year to one who goes every couple of years to none Americans parks.

 

[ford91exploder]

Remove the water fountains and add vending machines with bottled water. Remove all outdoor vending carts and replace with vending machines. Disney is facing hard times we all must help them out, how about a justgiving page?

Disney have become so greedy it's become out if control. I stopped going to Disney world twice a year for 2-3 weeks a time 7 years ago when it started getting worse with the desperate cash grabs. In that time I have been to Disneyland for a conference and didn't go to the parks, I stopped renewing my Disneyland Paris annual pass and I have only been to to HK twice and Tokyo twice. They have have turned me off as a visitor who used to go to multiple parks a year to one who goes every couple of years to none Americans parks.

Exactly over the last 5 or so years Disney has embraced the 'Gordon Gekko' ethos. And frankly the only answer is to vote with your dollars. I have lots of grest memories from WDW. But I will not be creating new ones because thats rewarding bad corporate behaviors.

Japan is a good choice because Disney does not directly profit from your visit if one MUST have a Disney 'fix'

 

[Casper Gutman]

Here we go - I can solve two problems at once!

Go back to having random characters wander around the park with no set schedule. Get rid of most of the regimented meet n' greets. Keep a Mickey and Minnie, maybe an Anna and Elsa.

Build a "Character Meeting Center" somewhere on property where you can go and get a picture with any character of your choice - $50 for one, discounted $125 for three of your choice. And you get a cupcake.

I like my awful idea.

 

[21stamps]

So, interesting fact-

I was online looking at options for our next family trip- one upcharge is now gone.
Ultimate Day of Thrills Tour has been discontinued.

I don't know if that fits in with the narrative of this thread...but there's one Up Charge Option that is no more.

 

[drizgirl]

So, interesting fact-

I was online looking at options for our next family trip- one upcharge is now gone.
Ultimate Day of Thrills Tour has been discontinued.

I don't know if that fits in with the narrative of this thread...but there's one Up Charge Option that is no more.

Could be the market reacting to the cutback on rides and dining in that offering.

 

[21stamps]

Could be the market reacting to the cutback on rides and dining in that offering.

Most likely. I had wanted to do it until they eliminated AK from the lineup. I'm sure plenty of people were not very happy. The point would be to hit all of the "thrill" rides, not Soarin'. Hopefully it comes back in it's original form someday...or even better- add a pandora ride.

 

[ford91exploder]

I can, as with Villains Unleashed, they both spent a ton on entertainment and name talent and many fewer attendees. Much lower margins than people snapping up MNSSHP tickets in the tens of thousands for running a 15 yo parade and fireworks and mostly daily ops meet n greets.

Star Wars Weekends were subsidized by Lucas - thats what killed them, not the gutting of the park. SWW utilized nothing on Sunset, they could have kept them going if they shifted things around.

For a true high end event, tickets would have to be $200+.but then "Disney would be greedy" so until then, everyone gets what they deserve.

Hmm, Seems to me that Disney BOUGHT Lucasfilm so there would have been no issues besides Disney being too cheap to continue SWW

 

[ford91exploder]

The 'whales' don't go to the swamps to experience 'Upsells'. They go to experience the base product. If they find the base product lacking, the upsells won't make a difference with them (though if placed poorly as many of us have said it can degrade the base product).

The focus should be on the base product that everyone, including the whales, enjoy.

I love the constant mantra that companies MUST maximize short tern shareholder value. And yet there is NOTHING in US corporate law that so mandates that mindset.

That line actually came from junk bond king and CONVICTED FRAUDSTER Michael Miliken.

This 'unlocking of shareholder value' has done more to create stock market crashes and long term value DESTRUCTION than anything else in history.

 

[rob0519]

I love the constant mantra that companies MUST maximize short tern shareholder value. And yet there is NOTHING in US corporate law that so mandates that mindset.

That line actually came from junk bond king and CONVICTED FRAUDSTER Michael Miliken.

This 'unlocking of shareholder value' has done more to create stock market crashes and long term value DESTRUCTION than anything else in history.

Totally agree. Wall Street has opened the floodgates on higher and higher profits with the "Shareholder Value" propaganda. Long term corporate health no longer matters in the United States, it's only did you hit the growth numbers projected by an analyst sitting in NY? I would add that chasing shareholder value has added to the unemployment rates in the country as jobs are the easiest thing to cut in order to raise profits and meet quarterly numbers.

 

[Tavernacle12]

So, interesting fact-

I was online looking at options for our next family trip- one upcharge is now gone.
Ultimate Day of Thrills Tour has been discontinued.

I don't know if that fits in with the narrative of this thread...but there's one Up Charge Option that is no more.

I assume it wasn't bringing in the $$$ they needed it to in order to justify it, especially since I'd assume there's some operations related things that tour in particular would have to deal with.

 

[drizgirl]

I assume it wasn't bringing in the $$$ they needed it to in order to justify it, especially since I'd assume there's some operations related things that tour in particular would have to deal with.

Plus sometime last year they switched up the offerings (with no price adjustment). Took out a ride (can't remember which one) and downgraded lunch from Brown Derby to Sunshine Seasons.

 

[21stamps]

I assume it wasn't bringing in the $$$ they needed it to in order to justify it, especially since I'd assume there's some operations related things that tour in particular would have to deal with.

I think it was around for quite some time. I debated doing it but was sold out on the day I wanted- a Friday.. fairly sure that it was only offered 2 or 3 days per week, not daily.

They changed the format last year- replaced Dinsaur and EE with Soarin'. It's probably fair to assume that people weren't very happy with it. I wouldn't do it after they switched the attractions.

The price was reasonable for a one time thing, and it included lunch and breakfast snacks. All reviews that I've ever read (Before the switch) have been positive. Didn't read any after.

 

[BCNHF]

They haven't discontinued Ultimate?

 

[ford91exploder]

Plus sometime last year they switched up the offerings (with no price adjustment). Took out a ride (can't remember which one) and downgraded lunch from Brown Derby to Sunshine Seasons.

Note the trendline, Cheapen the product and maintain or increase pricing. And then they wonder why people stop coming...

This is the sort of thing that soured me on WDW and forced the realization that continuing to spend at WDW is giving tacit assent to their behavior.

 

[virk4]

At my first rip to WDW 30 years ago, I saw the greatest money machine that I could imagine. So, I bought a good amount of Disney stock. Now when I fly in three times per year, I don't feel as unhappy with the price increases and $$ grab. I could not beat them so I joined 'em.

 

[SugarMagnolia75]

If your Fastpass was for one of the attractions that you listed then you are not restricted from using it there. I really don't see how that doesn't help you. If you have a Fastpass for space mountain and it goes down you can use it at space mountain anytime once it reopens or if you don't want to wait for it to reopen you can use it nearly anywhere else. Only Mine train and Peter Pan are excluded. And if your Fastpass was for one of those two attractions then you would be able to use it at that attraction when it reopened.

When Test Track was down, I couldn't use my FP on either of the other tier one rides. (Read: Only attractions in the park that actually need FP.) To me, that's a pretty big restriction.

What are you waiting for? Why dont you tell me what experiences I have lost in the parks or resorts that I previously had with my AP that I do not have now???? Crickets...If you have an issue with a company making money, Im sorry, thats business and capitalism. Even Walt understood that. You dont think he started the company to sit in a farmhouse and make 10 dollars a day do you? They try anything to generate revenue and give guests options of new experiences. That is how business works. I have seen the P&L reports for Disney Company. As a stockholder, I should see them, look at them, and understand them. The fact they are making a profit thrills me to no end. Would I like to see more fo it put into WDW to improve the parks and give us a greater experience for our dollar? Sure, but, I also understand that employees need to be compensated. The wage scale to keep talented people isnt an easy one to manage. I think some of you really do nto have a good grasp of business principles and see WDW as a bottomless pit of money they can spend to give you whatever you want as cheaply as you want it.

What was it 12 minutes since you posted your original question? Walt was big on corporate sponsorship so that he could build without having to use his own money, but he wasn't really a great businessman. He had Roy for that. The parks have been at their best when there has been a balance of creativity and business acumen at the top. I don't think we have that balance right now.

I always watch the fireworks in all parks from exactly where I used to watch them. And since you can still watch them or even use an FP yourself, thats not a loss. I realize you are not on either side of the debate, just saying that I dont see that as a loss of anything. Nothing my AP gave me access to before is no longer available or do I have to pay extra for. INitially I wasnt happy about the price going up and including the photo pass without a choice, but, now that I have it, its much cheaper for me than a regular day guest and its been a great addition for a fraction of the cost. I use TIW but the APs this past year included an extra month, more discounts on food and merchandise, and deeper discounts on properties. If anything they have given me more for my money which makes sense since they are profitable. But the misnomer that Ive "lost" things I now have to pay for is a false premise.

I don't think you can use FP for any parades or fireworks anymore, just Fantasmic and Rivers of Light. You can't watch from Tomorrowland Terrace or the spaces currently reserved for hard ticket events. But you can get a Tony's Town Square package because I guess it's cheaper to offer parade viewing than to improve the quality of the food.

Plus sometime last year they switched up the offerings (with no price adjustment). Took out a ride (can't remember which one) and downgraded lunch from Brown Derby to Sunshine Seasons.

That's quite a downgrade.

 

[Nubs70]

Here we go - I can solve two problems at once!

Go back to having random characters wander around the park with no set schedule. Get rid of most of the regimented meet n' greets. Keep a Mickey and Minnie, maybe an Anna and Elsa.

Build a "Character Meeting Center" somewhere on property where you can go and get a picture with any character of your choice - $50 for one, discounted $125 for three of your choice. And you get a cupcake.

I like my awful idea.

Great idea... Disney Quest repurposed.

 

[Hyperspace Hoopla]

Speaking of up-sell events.... Has anyone heard if there are plans to do a premier event for The Last Jedi, similar to what they did for the Force Awakens?

 

[Horizons '83]

Note the trendline, Cheapen the product and maintain or increase pricing. And then they wonder why people stop coming...

This is the sort of thing that soured me on WDW and forced the realization that continuing to spend at WDW is giving tacit assent to their behavior.

Hmm, what report are you reading? Attendance is up...

 

[geekza]

Hmm, what report are you reading? Attendance is up...

Well, I mean there's this one. Attendance isn't down much at WDW, but any drop is unusual. Universal attendance is way up, though it is still much, much lower than Disney's.
https://nyti.ms/2rwyiAi