Josh D'Amaro comments on rising prices and "additional" or removed services: "An inevitable result of progress"

[monothingie]

Our guests are really kinda fat. Smaller and more expensive portion sizes will be good for them.

 

[monothingie]

$275 per DVC point? How can I go wrong?

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Never said that is the market in Orlando , but the think tank groups dreaming up ways to extract guests to spend more is working - fact.

Yes…but they have a target audience…and that’s not it.

 

[Lilofan]

Our guests are really kinda fat. Smaller and more expensive portion sizes will be good for them.

You also just described some upscale dining places in my area and when we go the places are full, a zoo on weekends.. Nothing new here.The smaller portions I can deal with, for the bartender don't water down my drinks, I can tell the difference !

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

$275 per DVC point? How can I go wrong?

…So “locking in” a studio at poly for like $600 a night in real cost for 55 years isn’t a “great” deal then?

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

You also just described some upscale dining places in my area and when we go the places are full, a zoo on weekends.. Nothing new here.

Do you go there for 3 meals a day, 8 days in a row?
And are they next to old amusement rides that have the odor of aspergillus and once had asbestos on the ceiling?

 

[Lilofan]

Do you go there for 3 meals a day, 8 days in a row?
And are they next to old amusement rides that have the odor of aspergillus and once had asbestos on the ceiling?

The most unappetizing dining room smell is at DHS Sci Fi drive in. Not sure why it smells like old gym sneakers.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

The most unappetizing dining room smell is at DHS Sci Fi drive in. Not sure why it smells like old gym sneakers.

…Probably a locked door with used hydraulic fluid from the witch in the great movie ride behind it?

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Since they control “minority” stakes of the communist parks (why they never should have stepped near them)…I don’t believe any of that stuff is lumped in the P&R line items? But I’m rusty as well.

That's what I thought too, yet:

Paging @MichWolv.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

That's what I thought too, yet:

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Paging @MichWolv.

Hmmm…

That’s interesting…I didn’t think they did that when they used to say euro was an “independent company” (haha) until they had to resign to claiming it?
But maybe…

If that’s the case…then “investment” is diluted to a much lower level than we thought.

These “big numbers” aren’t very big at all. Combine that with bloated budgets and timelines and it ain’t much.
But @marni1971 has been “hinting” at that for a long time without actively getting the flamethrower out.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Hmmm…

That’s interesting…I didn’t think they did that when they used to say euro was an “independent company” (haha) until they had to resign to claiming it?
But maybe…

If that’s the case…then “investment” is diluted to a much lower level than we thought.

These “big numbers” aren’t very big at all. Combine that with bloated budgets and timelines and it ain’t much.
But @marni1971 has been “hinting” at that for a long time without actively getting the flamethrower out.

$6 billion is a significant deviation from trendline growth.

 

[HauntedPirate]

Someone said a few pages ago that they listened to the investor’s call recording and couldn’t find the audio where $lappie said $6 billion. He heard $5 billion, though. YMMV.

Cruise ships. DVC. Refurbs. On-going construction costs. With Disney’s costs these days, that CapEx isn’t going as far as it did in the past.

 

[larryz]

Here’s the bottom line here…and there’s is zero defense/argument on THIS one:

A senior exec who’s responsible for selling a completely disposable, discretionary product - amusement parks - just said “progress = pain” to a live mic.

This isn’t chemo treatments, manufacturing processes or new ways to set broken bones.

It’s a completely tone deaf and inappropriate comment for the product. Leisure…optional…nothing “necessary” about it.

End. Period.


Sell it…but don’t be stupid, you nitwit. Silence is enough sometimes.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

An old work colleague of mine visited a few months ago.

You couldn’t find someone more covered in pixie dust. His parents brought him up on a diet of DVC and DCL. His second homes were Hilton Head and WDW. He made me look like a casual guest.

He messaged me whilst there with a simple message. “The magic is gone“.

I wonder if a lot of it is people focusing on what isn't there/gone whereas people who don't go as often are still able to focus on what is there

I had two families we are friends with take trips this summer, for one it was their first trip ever, for the other was the first in a number of year and only been a couple of times in total.

They both absolutely loved it and are planning their next trip

 

[The Mom]

I think it’s a combination of things. Some DVC contracts have increased in value from when they purchased (I know mine have) and that combined with the it’s just not worth all the hassle and/or cost anymore crowds…that is why we are seeing so many resales

The lack of selling APs right now and DVC guests feeling like they are no longer important to Disney doesn’t help things either

Don't forget the demographics. My BIL was the king of getting his money's worth out of timeshares 30 years ago. But now they aren't able to travel, and the maintenance fees are just money flying out the window. At a time when retirement accounts have been diminishing. It's not just the fees, but the travel expenses, expenses while there, and use of limited vacation time.

The younger generation are not interested in them, so they have sold all but one. And their family is trying to talk them into selling that one, also.

Just as our children don't care about most of our expensive household stuff, they don't care to take on our vacation homes/timeshares either.

Obviously, there are some who will be more than happy to vacation at a Disney resort every year, and won't mind paying the fees, but just as many will not.

 

[Zummi Gummi]

Scott Gustin just tweeted this part of the article, where D'Amaro talks about sending people food and merchandise discounts via Genie to disperse crowds. Has anyone ever gotten a food or merchandise discount via the app before? Because I sure haven't. This sounds like complete nonsense.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

An old work colleague of mine visited a few months ago.

You couldn’t find someone more covered in pixie dust. His parents brought him up on a diet of DVC and DCL. His second homes were Hilton Head and WDW. He made me look like a casual guest.

He messaged me whilst there with a simple message. “The magic is gone“.

…the issue is that I’d bet the farm he’ll keep going.

And I bet I get to keep the farm

 

[GhostHost1000]

Scott Gustin just tweeted this part of the article, where D'Amaro talks about sending people food and merchandise discounts via Genie to disperse crowds. Has anyone ever gotten a food or merchandise discount via the app before? Because I sure haven't. This sounds like complete nonsense.

View attachment 663108

There was talk about that when it was getting developed many years ago but of course has never happened.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

$6 billion is a significant deviation from trendline growth.

View attachment 663107

Two big questions remain:
1. Where is it being “spent”?
2. Is it actually being “spent”?

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Scott Gustin just tweeted this part of the article, where D'Amaro talks about sending people food and merchandise discounts via Genie to disperse crowds. Has anyone ever gotten a food or merchandise discount via the app before? Because I sure haven't. This sounds like complete nonsense.

View attachment 663108

Sounds like something theoretical that talking about to investors sounds good but isn't actually done.

Would be great if they did do it. Heck, they could offer up free Park Hopping and a bonus LL to entice people to switch parks to spread the crowd - and people would react positively as they are "getting something"