Let's Discuss the Future

[Chef Mickey]

I am genuinely distraught about the future of WDW, not from a profits and attendance perspective, but just from a "Is This the New Normal?" perspective. I know there are record profits, great attendance, and Disney is still the undisputed leader. However, let's discuss what we think the parks will look like in 10-20 years.

WIth current management, what has been the last "Great" attraction added with no expense spared?

7DMT immediately comes to mind. Although a nice D-Ticket attraction, it's almost obvious riding it that there were budget cuts and/or not an "All In" mentality. I think they actually accomplished their goal, but I question the goal. Why couldn't it have been even better? Why couldn't there have been more details? Why couldn't it have been longer? Why couldn't it be finished in a more timely manner?

Now really think. What has been the last "OMG" attraction with details that Rival a Haunted Mansion, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, American Adventure, Tower of Terror, Spaceship Earth, Pirates, or even Small World? I believe that last ride was Expedition Everest. That seems to be the last time Disney went ALL IN an attraction (Let's not bring up the Yeti. I'm just talking about the concept to delivery).

With more rides moving toward the popular movie Du Jour, where does that leave timeless classics? Are we headed for bandaid fixes and cheap sugar rushes (Frozen Maelstrom) or will Disney realize that standing on the shoulders of geniuses will only get them so far? Do they not care as long as the profits keep rolling in?

I just find it troubling that the "best" rides also seem to be 15, 20, 30, or even 40+ years old. The newer stuff just isn't the same. Maybe it's nostalgia, granted. But maybe, Haunted Mansion, Pirates, Everest, ToT, Splash Mountain, and Spaceship Earth actually ARE better than Nemo, Test Track 2.0, "New" Fantasyland, 7DMT, and Ariel's Undersea Adventure.

What do you think the future holds? Will Disney ever get back to imagineering detailed, "All-In" attractions with an appeal lasting 50 years, or has the consumer changed so much that a long term horizon is a dying concept?

I know this was all over the place, but I wanted to get some thoughts down and a discussion going. I do know Disney has the content, resources, capital, intelligence, people, etc etc to make it happen. They just have to DO it and it might take a new CEO.

 

[copcarguyp71]

I predict more of the same under Iger. No guarantees though that his successor will not be of the same ilk...or worse so be careful what you wish for. The board also has a fair amount of control as well so to coin a corny corporate term, it will take "synergy" to pull up out of this perceived slump of homogenized offerings and get back to (as Walt put it) "plussing" the experience.

 

[TubaGeek]

They haven't bothered to top Spider-Man yet. I don't see them doing it anytime soon.

 

[afar28]

I think Avatar and Star Wars will give us our answer. If they go all out then that'll be great, but if they cheap out on the rides then we will know that Disney simply isn't the same when it comes to being the best right now

 

[stuey222]

I feel the New Fantasyland project got scaled back in a big way due to Avatar. Keep in mind 7DMT was a late addition, and my guess is they were given a footprint from the Fairy Forest and had to make the idea work. If it had been a part of the plan from the beginning, I would venture to guess it would have been a genuine E-Ticket.

 

[Chef Mickey]

I feel the New Fantasyland project got scaled back in a big way due to Avatar. Keep in mind 7DMT was a late addition, and my guess is they were given a footprint from the Fairy Forest and had to make the idea work. If it had been a part of the plan from the beginning, I would venture to guess it would have been a genuine E-Ticket.

Although I'm not a huge fan of Avatar, I feel like the possibility remains that it could be a really cool land with a lot of beautiful theming. I'm also wondering if enough time passes and "Avatar" becomes less relevant if the Avatar feel can fade a bit and it gradually becomes something else.

I'm confident that if Disney goes "All-In" on something, even if it's not the best idea, they can make it great.

 

[Redsky89]

I think refurbishments to classic rides will take place. I would have a hard time seeing a ride like Space Mountain just completely go away. Star Wars is the answer to the future though. With the new films coming out over the next few years that franchise is going to take off again.

 

[Chef Mickey]

I predict more of the same under Iger. No guarantees though that his successor will not be of the same ilk...or worse so be careful what you wish for. The board also has a fair amount of control as well so to coin a corny corporate term, it will take "synergy" to pull up out of this perceived slump of homogenized offerings and get back to (as Walt put it) "plussing" the experience.

Yes, I agree. He's a margin manager and he's been great for shareholders. I don't think the parks have ever been in need of serious investment more than right now, perhaps besides the MK.

EPCOT and Hollywood are truly desperate for some life. EPCOT is probably the most in need.

 

[Chef Mickey]

Agree and I hope it's phenomenal. They have so much potential. They can do better than the current Star Tours as well.

Of course, Star Wars doesn't address the EPCOT problem. I swear, that place needs about $1b invested and to be closed for about 6 months to truly fix it.

I think refurbishments to classic rides will take place. I would have a hard time seeing a ride like Space Mountain just completely go away. Star Wars is the answer to the future though. With the new films coming out over the next few years that franchise is going to take off again.

 

[Redsky89]

Agree and I hope it's phenomenal. They have so much potential. They can do better than the current Star Tours as well.

Of course, Star Wars doesn't address the EPCOT problem. I swear, that place needs about $1b invested and to be closed for about 6 months to truly fix it.

I'd say with Epcot the key is the countries. Lets face it Epcot is the park that draws the most adults. I love going there and wasting away my money on the food but most important of all the alcohol. Either add on to some pavilions or a entire new country all together and give us the best food and drinks they can offer and to me that would add so much more to Epcot.

 

[danpam1024]

If they don't go all in and do something soon- especially with SW, they are living on borrowed time. I don't even like SW, but they need a "wow" asap!

 

[Chef Mickey]

I'd say with Epcot the key is the countries. Lets face it Epcot is the park that draws the most adults. I love going there and wasting away my money on the food but most important of all the alcohol. Either add on to some pavilions or a entire new country all together and give us the best food and drinks they can offer and to me that would add so much more to Epcot.

While I agree World Showcase is a huge draw, I believe it's somewhat down the list of what needs attention at EPCOT.

Essentially every attraction needs updating or revamping....There are entire buildings (Wonders of Life, Imagination Pavilion, Odyssey restaurant) that are under utilized or not used at all. Soarin needs help, Captain EO has run its course, Living with the Land could use a facelift, Mission Space has only been downgraded, Universe of Energy is 90s, Circle,of Life has run its course, Spaceship Earth needs an ending, Innoventions, needs help, etc etc.

I wish we could get it all, but I do believe there are some basic things that need to be addressed based on what is already there versus adding something completely new to World Showcase.

 

[danpam1024]

While I agree World Showcase is a huge draw, I believe it's somewhat down the list of what needs attention at EPCOT.

Essentially every attraction needs updating or revamping....There are entire buildings (Wonders of Life, Imagination Pavilion, Odyssey restaurant) that are under utilized or not used at all. Soarin needs help, Captain EO has run its course, Living with the Land could use a facelift, Mission Space has only been downgraded, Universe of Energy is 90s, Circle,of Life has run its course, Spaceship Earth needs an ending, Innoventions, needs help, etc etc.

I wish we could get it all, but I do believe there are some basic things that need to be addressed based on what is already there versus adding something completely new to World Showcase.

Future world should be something exciting for the kids, leave WS alone- it's the respite for the adults

 

[Chef Mickey]

Future world should be something exciting for the kids, leave WS alone- it's the respite for the adults

Exactly!

And WS is actually pretty good. Good restaurants, good food, drinks, and snacks, and solid entertainment and shopping. Could some of the buildings use a little paint? Sure. Could we get another country? Maybe. Could there be some better entertainment? Always room for improvement. But the glaring needs in Future World and other areas make WS look like a palace.

 

[sstpierre88]

I think Disney needs to get back to hiding the business side. WDW to me is starting to become less magical because they ARe letting their business side show to much. For example, look at all the extra charge events and parties that are going on. Yes we understand you need to make money Disney but do you have to flaunt that to us. It just seems now a days Disneyy has no problem showing Its customers hey look we are gonna make money off of you. Take a look at frozen. They had no faith in it in the parks untill they realized how much people like it. Then they started giving you so many opportunities to purchase frozen stuff its not even funny. to me that's like them saying oh you guys likee frozen? Well here give us money now lol I'm not saying they shouldn't think likee that but they at least should try to hide it. If they can get back to making the parks more magical and less businessy id be happy lol

 

[Gullywhumper]

While I agree World Showcase is a huge draw, I believe it's somewhat down the list of what needs attention at EPCOT.

Essentially every attraction needs updating or revamping....There are entire buildings (Wonders of Life, Imagination Pavilion, Odyssey restaurant) that are under utilized or not used at all. Soarin needs help, Captain EO has run its course, Living with the Land could use a facelift, Mission Space has only been downgraded, Universe of Energy is 90s, Circle,of Life has run its course, Spaceship Earth needs an ending, Innoventions, needs help, etc etc.

I wish we could get it all, but I do believe there are some basic things that need to be addressed based on what is already there versus adding something completely new to World Showcase.

Let's hope for the Future World renovation soon!

 

[morningstar]

I'd say with Epcot the key is the countries. Lets face it Epcot is the park that draws the most adults. I love going there and wasting away my money on the food but most important of all the alcohol. Either add on to some pavilions or a entire new country all together and give us the best food and drinks they can offer and to me that would add so much more to Epcot.

The fact that the World Foodcourt is the most appealing part of Epcot right away shows what's wrong with Epcot. When Epcot first opened, World Showcase was a second thought after Future World. Of the words in the acronym EPCOT, one is a preposition, three are more applicable to Future World, and only one seems more suited to World Showcase. It hardly has any rides. It's only the sad state of Future World that makes World Showcase stand out.

 

[morningstar]

I think Disney needs to get back to hiding the business side. WDW to me is starting to become less magical because they ARe letting their business side show to much. For example, look at all the extra charge events and parties that are going on. Yes we understand you need to make money Disney but do you have to flaunt that to us. It just seems now a days Disneyy has no problem showing Its customers hey look we are gonna make money off of you. Take a look at frozen. They had no faith in it in the parks untill they realized how much people like it. Then they started giving you so many opportunities to purchase frozen stuff its not even funny. to me that's like them saying oh you guys likee frozen? Well here give us money now lol I'm not saying they shouldn't think likee that but they at least should try to hide it. If they can get back to making the parks more magical and less businessy id be happy lol

Well, yeah, they've always had a lot of ways to spend extra money (souvenirs, snacks), but at least you got something for your money. Extra charge entertainment seems contrary to the Disney philosophy that has been in place for many decades. Provide the entertainment to everyone, free of charge. I kind of agree with you. It's not so bad that the upcharge, but that it's so crass. If they would be a little bit more sneaky - like throwing in the extras as a perk for staying onsite - then it feels a little more magical.

 

[Roakor]

What worries me is all the upcharge and hard ticket events. I understand the reasons behind them and I am not totally against them. but I feel they are starting to get a bit excessive. I fear a future where the if you want to ride that new ride, well there is a charge for that. they are slowly going back to the old 'E' ticket model...

 

[rct247]

I'd like to think that the Walt Disney Company is under the head of someone similar to Eisner in the aspect that some people loved what Eisner did and other hated him. Iger has definitely beefed up our intellectual property rights. Eisner had a good legacy with the Disney Decade in terms of Walt Disney World and Disney animated film Renaissance, but other areas of the company suffered. We have seen some good decisions and some bad, but not everyone will be happy.

I'd also like to think that Walt Disney World is going through what Disneyland went through during the 1990s and early 2000s. Sure there are additions, but overall the place is in probably one of the worst shapes it has been in since it came about.

So I don't really know what I can say the future will be like, but I do think it could go down 3 different paths: optimistic, pessimistic, and realistic.

Pessimistically, Walt Disney World will continue to fall into a very drab world full of maintenance issues and stagnation, but we will see ever increasing crowds and overcrowding and more focus on sucking every last dollar out of each guest. Walt Disney World will continue to be the mecca as a right of passage for families, but it will also become a huge tourist trap rather than the vacation destination it once was. You will have to buy into everything. In order to have the best experience, you will need plan everything. Expect more merchandise and food options especially with tie-ins to the biggest movies that can make them money. It's all about money and efficiency in the future. How many people can we cram into our parks, hotels, and attractions and how can we get the most money from them? The Disney theme park experience will essentially become compared to the airline industry where comfort is sacrificed unless you have money to spend. They'll get you to where you need to go, but everything cost extra or experienced on aging infrastructure. Sure, there will be new additions and shining glimmers of hope, but overall, the Disney theme park experience will become something that won't be that special to Universal. So, in 10 years, we will have seen 2 major expansions with a handful of C and D ticket attractions all of which will be easily cloned elsewhere. Magic Kingdom will continue to become an overcrowded stressful museum of attractions with a gift shop or mall around every corner. Epcot will be the foodie paradise with a hint at a futuristic worldly theme. Studios will get it's expansion, but still won't be enough. It will become the generic park to feature a hodge podge of events, and Animal Kingdom will finally become a "full day" park but only if you think Studios is a "full day park" because it has a nighttime show and a few headliner attractions.

Realistically, Walt Disney World will only get worse until it gets better. We will start to see a renewed focus on the parks, but in some aspects it might be too late or still won't solve the problem. New Fantasyland is a perfect example of this. Avatar will be the same. There will be hype and some beautiful aspects, but guests will be wondering "is that it?" Star Wars will be another repeat. Maintenance will continue to be an issue, but only because WDW has more to upkeep with its city like utilities and infrastructure that its budget also goes toward that other resorts around the world don't have to worry as much about. Overcrowding will still be an issue, but more events and crowd manipulation will be used to help even out these crowds even more over the year and hours of the day. 24 hour summers and holiday periods may become a norm as both a good thing and a bad thing. MyMagic+ and Fastpass+ will finally be accepted and the kinks will be ironed out. The cost may not have been worth it, but eventually we can't imagine going back to old times. So in 10 years, we will see Magic Kingdom continue to get focus on how to manage crowds better, while the other parks will focus on beefing up their offerings...just not at a success rate that we'd hope for.

Optimitically, Walt Disney World will eventually return to being a crown jewel of the Disney parks. New investments in attractions will come and maintenance will finally be on par with what we see at Disneyland. While there will continue to be a large focus on making money and merchandise, we will finally start to see the resurgence of unique merchandise and food offerings just at more of a premium price. While premium events and tiered pricing may continue and be bad in some eyes, it will lead to more exciting one of a kind experiences that may just be worth it for the fact that they will set themselves apart in the theme park industry. In 10 years, Magic Kingdom will continue to be a classic must see, but with more planning will handle crowds must better. Classic attractions will see new refreshes to please everyone. Epcot will finally get the attention it needs in Future World, while World Showcase will continue to showcase cultures by day, but serve as nightlife for adults at night. Studios will be reimagined like DCA and finally perform as it should, and DAK will finally become a true full day park that people won't skip out on for think it is a zoo with a roller coaster.