Lightning Lane at Walt Disney World

[Jrb1979]

I skipped Universal for 15 years because of their pricey line skip program. Wasn’t going to pay that price and wasn’t going as a second class visitor without it. Could absolutely see people doing the same with Disney if the do the same.

Bolded IMO is part of the issue going back to FP. Guests feel they need FP or Genie+ to visit the parks.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Listen ive been on these board for over 2 decades and literally never commented until this & Splash tbh.. but in my circle and a couple groups chats im in i have been saying this from here to eternity.. screaming it. I 100% agree with you that eventually capacity & lack of rides were gonna bite them in the a$$ & we have finally seen that happen... & what is next? as you say Wall St may start getting annoyed at #s but i will say this from working here for 20+ years they are gonna care about revenue and profits agreed attendance numbers dropping will be a factor but they can easily spin generating the same or more net revenue as a positive not a negative. they have a ton of land and open spaces yet refuse to use it.. these overlays are ridiculous. Dont get me wrong change is good when needed but some of these decisions lately are just blatantly bad and so obvious better options could and should have been made...

It’s not a “luxury” spot…it’s a middle class spot with some window dressing.

There is no “just get more with less people” model that exists. And I believe you know that…because I knew it working at TDO over 20 years ago.

It doesn’t exist and it won’t happen. The model dating to pre-wdw is profits off the masses. Nothing has changed. Don’t let DVC blocks fool you. That’s not where the profit comes from. It’s from the conch flats general store.

 

[Jrb1979]

Listen ive been on these board for over 2 decades and literally never commented until this & Splash tbh.. but in my circle and a couple groups chats im in i have been saying this from here to eternity.. screaming it. I 100% agree with you that eventually capacity & lack of rides were gonna bite them in the a$$ & we have finally seen that happen... & what is next? as you say Wall St may start getting annoyed at #s but i will say this from working here for 20+ years they are gonna care about revenue and profits agreed attendance numbers dropping will be a factor but they can easily spin generating the same or more net revenue as a positive not a negative. they have a ton of land and open spaces yet refuse to use it.. these overlays are ridiculous. Dont get me wrong change is good when needed but some of these decisions lately are just blatantly bad and so obvious better options could and should have been made...

We all agree they need more capacity. The problem is unless it can be marketable and sell lots of merch they aren't interested in adding to the parks. I know I am going to get hated on for saying this but what they need to do is add in rides similar to what DCA had at the beginning. Rides like Maliboomer, the swings, ferris wheel.

 

[crazy4disney]

Their focus is more on bottom line than the guest experience. Not how it used to be. Sure they were always looking at spend and revenue, but they were also looking at perception. It’s like they don’t even care anymore about that part of the Disney company (and this goes even beyond theme parks)

Totally agree. They know they had their loyal fans that were going nowhere. DVC basically forcing people into the parks. Overseas guests that my guess numbers stay constant. They simply offset everything they lose by raising prices. I will say this tho. Even tho covid was able to implement alot of what they wanted to and use it as an excuse. I think and actually know people who now dont feel the need to go back bc once they missed that 1 trip possibly 2. They were more open to other places… granted plenty of die hards that still going as we see but they have 100% lost touch with their customer base completely. Whats sad is not much was/is needed to get that feeling back problem is they refuse to do it and when and if they decide it takes them
So long to complete. Whats the point… like after Tron and whatever Moana is gon a be how long before we see something open up?!? Ive said this before. They are banking are people straggling over from Uni and they will be the perfect guests for them. Coming for 3-4 days max. Paying top dollar to enter the parks and paying for whatever upgrade they can bc Uni is still gonna be what a 3-4 day vacation max…

 

[crazy4disney]

It’s not a “luxury” spot…it’s a middle class spot with some window dressing.

There is no “just get more with less people” model that exists. And I believe you know that…because I knew it working at TDO over 20 years ago.

It doesn’t exist and it won’t happen. The model dating to pre-wdw is profits off the masses. Nothing has changed. Don’t let DVC blocks fool you. That’s not where the profit comes from. It’s from the conch flats general store.

Yes i agree totally they lose too many people they will not be able to recover that revenue but they are not there yet eventually they will be agreed and thats when wesee them begging for people to come back…

 

[crazy4disney]

We all agree they need more capacity. The problem is unless it can be marketable and sell lots of merch they aren't interested in adding to the parks. I know I am going to get hated on for saying this but what they need to do is add in rides similar to what DCA had at the beginning. Rides like Maliboomer, the swings, ferris wheel.

I would agree. Every ride doesnt need to be some half billion dollar attraction

 

[lazyboy97o]

Their focus is more on bottom line than the guest experience. Not how it used to be. Sure they were always looking at spend and revenue, but they were also looking at perception. It’s like they don’t even care anymore about that part of the Disney company (and this goes even beyond theme parks)

What we are seeing is the result of decades of decisions. It’s not a recent change, it just all hit very quickly due to external factors that finally snapped the stalling.

We all agree they need more capacity. The problem is unless it can be marketable and sell lots of merch they aren't interested in adding to the parks. I know I am going to get hated on for saying this but what they need to do is add in rides similar to what DCA had at the beginning. Rides like Maliboomer, the swings, ferris wheel.

There are ways to cost effectively add capacity without just dumping in flat rides. They don’t need to be more of an amusement park to provide adequate capacity, especially since the requirements are different for themed experiences.

 

[crazy4disney]

What we are seeing is the result of decades of decisions. It’s not a recent change, it just all hit very quickly due to external factors that finally snapped the stalling.

There are ways to cost effectively add capacity without just dumping in flat rides. They don’t need to be more of an amusement park to provide adequate capacity, especially since the requirements are different for themed experiences.

Im not a fan of ferris wheels at all still dk how i was convinced to go on the one in cali but one in AK themed to overlook the savannah sounds like a sweet view to me....

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Their focus is more on bottom line than the guest experience. Not how it used to be. Sure they were always looking at spend and revenue, but they were also looking at perception. It’s like they don’t even care anymore about that part of the Disney company (and this goes even beyond theme parks)

Eisner and prior had a “repeat business” philosophy…the bobs take hostages. Almost literally.

They still…after going on 3 years…don’t offer a suitable ticket to 13,000 timeshare blocks on property. Hundreds of thousands of “members”

 

[bcoachable]

Yes i agree totally they lose too many people they will not be able to recover that revenue but they are not there yet eventually they will be agreed and thats when wesee them begging for people to come back…

And all it will take (probably) is to ring the free dining bell…

 

[crazy4disney]

Bolded IMO is part of the issue going back to FP. Guests feel they need FP or Genie+ to visit the parks.

noone "needs' anything but why would anyone prefer to wait in long lines when there is no need to do so.... far from a fun time and vacation especially at a place thats already stressful & exhausting

 

[crazy4disney]

And all it will take (probably) is to ring the free dining bell…

One of the greatest perks given lol... dam do i miss it especially how we do Disney with every meal being a character breakfast/Dinner... upgrade to Deluxe allows me to use the extra one for my mom in her room and always saved me a good amount of money and then used her free QS for any meals in the parks or 3 snacks at a time.. i know people hated the Dining plan but for me is was a big big money saver and sorely missed & when it was "free" almost every time we went in November a bigger loss...

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Says the guy who just recently purchased Genie+...

says the same guy that also points out he is part of a lot of these problems.

We tried it…it worked well. Not sure that’s a permanent thing?
I do a lot of self destructive things…what I won’t do is defend myself and claim “what does it matter what I do?!?”

It did…it does…it always will. What I buy influences what they charge you. Time for kindergarten on this to end.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

One of the greatest perks given lol... dam do i miss it especially how we do Disney with every meal being a character breakfast/Dinner... upgrade to Deluxe allows me to use the extra one for my mom in her room and always saved me a good amount of money and then used her free QS for any meals in the parks or 3 snacks at a time.. i know people hated the Dining plan but for me is was a big big money saver and sorely missed & when it was "free" almost every time we went in November a bigger loss...

It was a bait and switch. One born out over time if you analyze the details.

It was actually a brilliant Iger move - his best in Orlando - he got people to pay more for food across the board and they still beg to do it again.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Yes i agree totally they lose too many people they will not be able to recover that revenue but they are not there yet eventually they will be agreed and thats when wesee them begging for people to come back…

American businesses have taught us that once general public perception decides your product is a “ripoff”…you’re done. Few if any actual comebacks from that.

That’s always been a delicate balance they are aware of because of the legacy mindset. When you have cutthroats who would be ok with $200 mil and getting fired in 5 years…where’s the firewall to guard against that?

 

[G00fyDad]

It was a bait and switch. One born out over time if you analyze the details.

It was actually a brilliant Iger move - his best in Orlando - he got people to pay more for food across the board and they still beg to do it again.

The only time we have ever used this "perk" is when we got it for free the one and only time we went in September. I have priced this thing before each and every trip and it always costs us way more to use the Disney Dining Plan than it does out of pocket. We sit down as a family and decide where we're going to eat and what we think we might get at that restaurant. Then I tally that total up, add tax and gratuity. That total is always far less than the Disney Dining Plan cost. The only way I'd ever do it again is if it were free.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

The only time we have ever used this "perk" is when we got it for free the one and only time we went in September. I have priced this thing before each and every trip and it always costs us way more to use the Disney Dining Plan than it does out of pocket. We sit down as a family and decide where we're going to eat and what we think we might get at that restaurant. Then I tally that total up, add tax and gratuity. That total is always far less than the Disney Dining Plan cost. The only way I'd ever do it again is if it were free.

Not only does it almost always cost more…

They buried the cost in lodging and tickets when it was “free”. And the rate of increase was far above market rate at the time to profit above the curve.

 

[crazy4disney]

It was a bait and switch. One born out over time if you analyze the details.

It was actually a brilliant Iger move - his best in Orlando - he got people to pay more for food across the board and they still beg to do it again.

this is something i would love to be educated on bc to me it was simple math especially if you had your meals booked 6 months out... if the meals cost more than the plan buy the plan if not opt out.. make sure any snack you get to use the credit on was the pricier ones and call it a day... its something that always baffled me when people who go back and forth over it... not to mention the refillable mug we would get lol

 

[bhg469]

I think the last time I got dining plan was when walk up reservations weren't difficult to come by.. It has been a long time. I have never been a fan of planning a specific restaurant 60 days out.. We always toured the parks based on where we felt like going that day too which also makes dining reservations much more difficult. Now that Disney Springs has a ton of places with bar seating it is not an issue if we want to drop in somewhere.

 

[crazy4disney]

Not only does it almost always cost more…

They buried the cost in lodging and tickets when it was “free”. And the rate of increase was far above market rate at the time to profit above the curve.

again im sure they played with other prices or did they? bc honestly i always booked early before any price increases for rooms or tickets and simply called and had it added to my existing ressie... granted my case may be rare with how we dined but the plan always saved me money whether it was "free" & we upgraded or outright purchased...