Is attendance really down at WDW this or…

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I drive almost all the time as well but still miss ME. Seeing all the Disney themed busses at the resorts and people coming and going was part of the charm in a weird way. It was always nice to know if we wanted to fly, everything would be easy and taken care of.

It was a convenience (which I rarely used) buried in fees that now become an open nuisance.

Sometimes common sense is the reason for things in our debates

 

[monothingie]

In the age of Ridesharing guests can easily pop over to Universal in an Uber even if Magical Express kept them from renting their own vehicle. So the value of Magical Express for Disney quickly evaporated.

I don’t discount what you’re saying, but have you ever tried to load up a family with kids and a stroller into an Uber? It doesn’t work.

Maybe the ride share thing applies to Disney adults, but that line of analysis was made by people who have no idea who their guests are.

And again thanks to those geniuses we have half closed resorts as a result.

 

[ABQ]

Exactly

It’s a burden that really ticks people off no matter what

Until the Runway ends in the Epcot parking lot…Disney has to be concerned about transport. It’s always been this way.

They took their own bad advice about “unprecedented demand” and gave the consumer another reason to question what they’re paying/getting

That’s the problem

Serious question, in the pre-covid days when WDW had airline check in at the resorts, which I know people always conflated with Magical Express, but was not actually part of that service, but a stand alone option, what do you think that cost WDW to have? My guess is nothing other than space at the resorts as all the people working it were not Disney cast, but pretty much just curbside check-in folks working offsite from MCO. That perk was to me and my family one of the very best things offered on property that you couldn't get elsewhere. Great benefit with likely cost Disney nothing and could be returned without a full fledged Magical Express return and raise on property guest satisfaction overnight.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I don’t discount what you’re saying, but have you ever tried to load up a family with kids and a stroller into an Uber? It doesn’t work.

Maybe the ride share thing applies to Disney adults, but that line of analysis was made by people who have no idea who their guests are.

Ridesharing to IOA is 100% optional from port orleans

Getting to port orleans is NOT…

That was the screw up…schlepping off a mandatory expense with Chapek’s “concrete hands” delicacy.

And if Iger was ticked - which I believe in this case - it’s because he knew to get it back, rather than continue it, would cost them a lot more…in multiples

Tough to add $100 a night to hotels you came sell to cover new costs.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Serious question, in the pre-covid days when WDW had airline check in at the resorts, which I know people always conflated with Magical Express, but was not actually part of that service, but a stand alone option, what do you think that cost WDW to have? My guess is nothing other than space at the resorts as all the people working it were not Disney cast, but pretty much just curbside check-in folks working offsite from MCO. That perk was to me and my family one of the very best things offered on property that you couldn't get elsewhere. Great benefit with likely cost Disney nothing and could be returned without a full fledged Magical Express return and raise on property guest satisfaction overnight.

The cost was minor additional staff and Mears to haul the bags to and from the terminal

The luggage delivery - my guess - were the highest costs to them on the whole. Bells were paid guaranteed gratuities for large operations - like conventions - and magical express would have the same guarantees. They’re tipped and nobody received their bags. They were getting at least $1 a bag

But I only managed bell for a very short time a very long time ago so I can’t be sure

 

[Jenny72]

I used the lastest Mears bus service recently, and while it's functional, it's somewhat less than magical. It sort of felt like a Greyhound terminal. There's no theming/color/joy except for one limp inflatable palm tree next to some piece of electronic equipment, which actually made the whole thing a bit sadder. There's nowhere to sit except the floor (where we languished for about 50 minutes). The staff was pleasant enough but it did not set a great tone. I know ME had its flaws, but killing it really did suck a bit more magic out of a trip. That's the value that the management really has lost sight of.

 

[DisneyNittany]

I don’t discount what you’re saying, but have you ever tried to load up a family with kids and a stroller into an Uber? It doesn’t work.

To hell with an Uber, they're a pain in the to get on a bus. Every dad here knows that the stroller will inevitably get caught and not fold at the very exact moment the bus arrives. It's Murphy's Law.

 

[Ayla]

I used the lastest Mears bus service recently, and while it's functional, it's somewhat less than magical. It sort of felt like a Greyhound terminal. There's no theming/color/joy except for one limp inflatable palm tree next to some piece of electronic equipment, which actually made the whole thing a bit sadder. There's nowhere to sit except the floor (where we languished for about 50 minutes). The staff was pleasant enough but it did not set a great tone. I know ME had its flaws, but killing it really did suck a bit more magic out of a trip. That's the value that the management really has lost sight of.

To be fair, there was nowhere to sit while standing in the DME line, either.

 

[wannabeBelle]

To be fair, there was nowhere to sit while standing in the DME line, either.

Correct, it is the same area. Marie

 

[yensidtlaw1969]

But I wonder if there was an unintended consequence as well in that you discontinued a major perk, and kept raising prices, you have changed the value for people. Not too long ago, people would complain about the price, but would talk about the extra perks you at least got, and Magical Express was a large part of it. Even if wasn't keeping people on property the entire stay, I do wonder if it changed the value for a lot of people in terms of the feeling of not getting what you pay for now. Anectdote, but I have a friend who stopped staying on site because they lost this perk. The interesting thing, they drive to Florida. But it was symbolic to them of a loss of perks and value (basically a final straw). Weird I know, but it shows how the value structure really was tied to perks for them, even if they weren't perks they used. And if that's keeping a driver off site, I have to imagine it's kept a lot of fliers off site.

Oh for sure. Like I said, I wish Disney hadn't discontinued the service.

But I think it will surprise none of us to say that Disney makes decisions like this all the time, which improve the bottom line in the shorter term but impact their cultural cachet in ways that are harder to calculate. And also harder to correct.

Some would say decisions like those are how we end up with *gestures broadly at the current state of things*

 

[wannabeBelle]

But I think it will surprise none of us to say that Disney makes decisions like this all the time, which improve the bottom line in the shorter term but impact their cultural cachet in ways that are harder to calculate. And also harder to correct.

Nuff said. Marie

 

[monothingie]

Oh for sure. Like I said, I wish Disney hadn't discontinued the service.

But I think it will surprise none of us to say that Disney makes decisions like this all the time, which improve the bottom line in the shorter term but impact their cultural cachet in ways that are harder to calculate. And also harder to correct.

Some would say decisions like those are how we end up with *gestures broadly at the current state of things*

There are some very easy low hanging fruit that Disney grab to really improve the guest experience and perception of value.

1. Eliminate the reservation system.
2. Streamline and simplify the App and processes needed to "use" Disney World
3. Extend EMH for guests morning and evening and bring the evening EMH to other parks.
4. Bring back as much entertainment, parades, streetmosphere, etc as possible
5. Throw resort guests and AP holders a bone and give them a complimentary ILL or G+ redemption. The $0.02 AP magnet that is guarded tighter than Fort Knox doesn't work anymore.

 

[Lilofan]

There are some very easy low hanging fruit that Disney grab to really improve the guest experience and perception of value.

1. Eliminate the reservation system.
2. Streamline and simplify the App and processes needed to "use" Disney World
3. Extend EMH for guests morning and evening and bring the evening EMH to other parks.
4. Bring back as much entertainment, parades, streetmosphere, etc as possible
5. Throw resort guests and AP holders a bone and give them a complimentary ILL or G+ redemption. The $0.02 AP magnet that is guarded tighter than Fort Knox doesn't work anymore.

3) How is this going to happen when parks and resorts can barely staff current operations with the proper amount of CMs needed?

 

[DisneyNittany]

There are some very easy low hanging fruit that Disney grab to really improve the guest experience and perception of value.

1. Eliminate the reservation system.
2. Streamline and simplify the App and processes needed to "use" Disney World
3. Extend EMH for guests morning and evening and bring the evening EMH to other parks.
4. Bring back as much entertainment, parades, streetmosphere, etc as possible
5. Throw resort guests and AP holders a bone and give them a complimentary ILL or G+ redemption. The $0.02 AP magnet that is guarded tighter than Fort Knox doesn't work anymore.

Forgive me, but I've kind of been off the grid lately...are they bringing back the 60-day window (like with FP+) for G+/LL or did I make that up?

While I still don't like it, I'd be much more willing to pay for G+/LL if it provided me with a rough itinerary for each day of my trip well in advance.

 

[wannabeBelle]

Forgive me, but I've kind of been off the grid lately...are they bringing back the 60-day window (like with FP+) for G+/LL or did I make that up?

While I still don't like it, I'd be much more willing to pay for G+/LL if it provided me with a rough itinerary for each day of my trip well in advance.

I have heard rumblings of an advance window, not 60 days worth but something, as opposed to day of, nothing official as of now though. Marie

 

[el_super]

1. Eliminate the reservation system.

This doesn't happen unless they significantly increase prices again to control the crowds.

 

[monothingie]

3) How is this going to happen when parks and resorts can barely staff current operations with the proper amount of CMs needed?

Ask yourself why is staffing so low?

Because cost cutting takes priority, even if it means loosing your customers in the process. Eventually the brain trust may figure that out.

 

[wannabeBelle]

This doesn't happen unless they significantly increase prices again to control the crowds.

They didnt need the reservation system before and Disney themselves has said that the attendance is down in their earnings calls. It isnt about the money here. Marie

 

[monothingie]

This doesn't happen unless they significantly increase prices again to control the crowds.

What crowds?

The ones they artificially create by controlling supply?

 

[el_super]

They didnt need the reservation system before and Disney themselves has said that the attendance is down in their earnings calls. It isnt about the money here. Marie

Yeah but prior to the pandemic the parks were so packed it was negatively impacting the experience. That's what the reservations were trying to solve. Why would anyone want to go back to that?