Media Spotlight on Disenchanted Disney Fans

[eliza61nyc]

Many people in states the drive to Orlando might rethink it due to the cost of gas, plus the prices are at their peck during the summer months, might lower the crows (just a

I was just talking about this last night with some friends, I think the summer months maybe okay as people have already sort of committed. They may have gotten their tickets and made park reservations. We're going to the beach this year and already booked the condo so we'll have to absorb the hit to our budget.
Also I wonder if Disney will become the fallback on folks who may be rethinking Europe due to the invasion
If there is a slowdown I think it won't show up until fall

 

[Rickcat96]

Folks want to get out and get back to some kind of normal. Parks appear to be busy, but that's because most of the crowd dispersing shows and parades etc are still stalled. Food and beverage is still understaffed, mobile ordering wont fix that either. Shifting the lack of capacity of rides to Genie, so Disney can profit for there own lack of commitment of maintaining and building new people eating attractions- makes it a PENALTY for those whom choose not to pay for Genie. Great way to treat your paying quests.

The rides Disney praise in every word the comes out of their mouths as so "groundbreaking" are consistently breaking down, adding to the crowd woes.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Folks want to get out and get back to some kind of normal. Parks appear to be busy, but that's because most of the crowd dispersing shows and parades etc are still stalled. Food and beverage is still understaffed, mobile ordering wont fix that either. Shifting the lack of capacity of rides to Genie, so Disney can profit for there own lack of commitment of maintaining and building new people eating attractions- makes it a PENALTY for those whom choose not to pay for Genie. Great way to treat your paying quests.

The rides Disney praise in every word the comes out of their mouths as so "groundbreaking" are consistently breaking down, adding to the crowd woes.

You are right but folks will continue to show up and MOB the parks..

 

[Disstevefan1]

Many people in states the drive to Orlando might rethink it due to the cost of gas, plus the prices are at their peck during the summer months, might lower the crows (just a little).

Folks who are paying the big bucks to vacation at WDW and choose to drive will just factor it in like Genie +, ticket price increases, food price increases, parking price increases, room price increases etc.

 

[seascape]

Folks who are paying the big bucks to vacation at WDW and choose to drive will just factor it in like Genie +, ticket price increases, food price increases, parking price increases, room price increases etc.

I think you are missing the actual cost of these price increases. The average family is facing a $2,000.00 increase in gas costs and a $1,000.00 increase in food costs based on $4.17 gas. If it hits $5.00 a gallon those costs rise dramtically. People need to cut their expenses and fast. Then add in the increases in interest rates and those that carry a balance will see their costs go up on that. Face the facts and look at history of the loss if business due to gas costs in the 1970s and 1980s. People will cut their Disney/Universal vacations because the have no other option. And yes that includes Universal, Disney and even Six Flags and Cedar Fair's parks. Everyone is going to lose. I will likely not buy much extra stuff when I go in April, September and November.

 

[Disstevefan1]

I think you are missing the actual cost of these price increases. The average family is facing a $2,000.00 increase in gas costs and a $1,000.00 increase in food costs based on $4.17 gas. If it hits $5.00 a gallon those costs rise dramtically. People need to cut their expenses and fast. Then add in the increases in interest rates and those that carry a balance will see their costs go up on that. Face the facts and look at history of the loss if business due to gas costs in the 1970s and 1980s. People will cut their Disney/Universal vacations because the have no other option. And yes that includes Universal, Disney and even Six Flags and Cedar Fair's parks. Everyone is going to lose. I will likely not buy much extra stuff when I go in April, September and November.

I guess time will tell. My guess is the parks will remain MOBBED. For all folks they lose due to gas prices, there are many, many more who will show up and spend..

 

[monothingie]

I have yet to see one person after experiencing parks during Cheapek regime eagerly wanting to go back. Even the diehards (myself included) just don't seem to have the enthusiasm or desire to book a return trip...and more importantly renew our APs.

You would think that when your loyal guests are floundering and bailing on you, it would result in a rethink of strategy.

 

[StarshipDisney]

I am definitely one of those disenchanted fans. I am 50/50 now on canceling Coronado Springs and planning our next trip to simply stay off-site. I think I can go to Disney and be okay with not riding any of the good rides if I know that all I paid for is a basic ticket.

This is a tremendous change from staying 8-nights at a deluxe Disney resort and staying in the bubble for 9 days. I am also still planning to replace some days at Disney at Universal Portofino Bay.

I just heard Portofino Bay has reinstated daily room service...wonder how many years it will be until Disney does the same. But I bet at Disney that if daily room service ever does come back, it will be with an upcharge!

 

[jpinkc]

Hey after what we saw over Thanksgiving, it certainly has caused us to not make a spring trip this year. The new systems and seemed like lower quality food at most places we like. The New night shows both are not good to my family. Genie is a joke, even my 16 yr old felt it unlike any time before my 18 yr old said she actually felt bad about how much more it cost to go. She wanted to go for her High School Graduation for a week but she said she didnt want to after we got back and has not changed her mind yet.

 

[networkpro]

I have yet to see one person after experiencing parks during Cheapek regime eagerly wanting to go back. Even the diehards (myself included) just don't seem to have the enthusiasm or desire to book a return trip...and more importantly renew our APs.

You would think that when your loyal guests are floundering and bailing on you, it would result in a rethink of strategy.

I disagree with your assertations. We've maintained our APs, have spent 6 weeks at Disneyworld since operations have resumed, and are quite cognisant of the labor shortage, interruptions in the supply chain, and reduction of entertainment but still find it an enjoyable destination. Things change.

 

[WishIWasRetired]

The parks are crowed because people haven't traveled in last two years and If people do not feel it is worth what they are paying for then they might not return. Only time will tell

 

[Master Yoda]

I have yet to see one person after experiencing parks during Cheapek regime eagerly wanting to go back. Even the diehards (myself included) just don't seem to have the enthusiasm or desire to book a return trip...and more importantly renew our APs.

You would think that when your loyal guests are floundering and bailing on you, it would result in a rethink of strategy.

This. ^^^

Our October trip turned the wife and me into US/IOA passholders.

 

[monothingie]

This. ^^^

Our October trip turned the wife and me into US/IOA passholders.

For the cost of a weeklong Disney stay, you can do extremely well for yourself on a cruise. (Even better if it's not a DCL cruise)

There is a world outside of Disney that you can get so much more out of.

 

[Master Yoda]

For the cost of a weeklong Disney stay, you can do extremely well for yourself on a cruise. (Even more if it's not a DCL cruise)

There is a world outside of Disney that you can get so much more out of and is incredibly accessible.

Quite correct.

Our October trip was a 3-night stay at Coronado with 2-day tickets for a party of 2. By comparison, the trip to US/IOA had us staying at Hard Rock for 2 nights with Prefered AP's. The US/IOA trip cost us a good bit less than our Disney trip.

 

[MichWolv]

Grant it Im new to Central Florida but it sure seems Disney is doing a ton of advertising locally. Has that always been the case? Is it just for the 50th?

Florida, to me, has always seemed to be blanketed in Disney advertising. And my television in Chicago is blanketed in Disney ads as well.

To your point, though, I suspect that Disney has determined that spending money on advertising the parks gives a bigger bang for the buck at this point then investing money in attractions, staffing, and experiences.

 

[sullyinMT]

This. ^^^

Our October trip turned the wife and me into US/IOA passholders.

We had a really good Thanksgiving 2020 WDW week. But, when my wife and I were making plans for this fall and we realized my call schedule lined up with the boys' time off from school in October, we looked at each other and said "HHN weekend?" It was our first instinct, not a short (4 night) DCL or WDW trip. That wouldn't have happened 2-4 years ago.

I don't know that we're really disenchanted. But WDW has some kinks to iron out without using our wallet to do it. We'll no doubt return in the next 24 months if that happens even mostly.

 

[eliza61nyc]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2015/06/12/how-theme-parks-like-disney-world-left-the-middle-class-behind/

Lol ironically the Washington post had a similar article in 2015

 

[eliza61nyc]

I have yet to see one person after experiencing parks during Cheapek regime eagerly wanting to go back. Even the diehards (myself included) just don't seem to have the enthusiasm or desire to book a return trip...and more importantly renew our APs.

You would think that when your loyal guests are floundering and bailing on you, it would result in a rethink of strategy.

Lol move to New Jersey/Philly. Now I will say the ones I know are dvc members so maybe they feel they HAVE to go. All the new moms on my job have been and are planning on returning.

But then that strategy may not be such a bad idea. Think about it. I spent waaaay more money as a first timer. I bought the ears, did every character meal offered, mickey bars galore. Now that I'm an "old timer" I don't do any of that. It's like the new star wars restaurant in epcot, we'll do it ONCE to get the experience (we like trying new things). After that we probably won't drop that type of cash on a meal. Newcomers or once in a life visitors will.

Just a thought

 

[sullyinMT]

Lol move to New Jersey/Philly. Now I will say the ones I know are dvc members so maybe they feel they HAVE to go. All the new moms on my job have been and are planning on returning.

But then that strategy may not be such a bad idea. Think about it. I spent waaaay more money as a first timer. I bought the ears, did every character meal offered, mickey bars galore. Now that I'm an "old timer" I don't do any of that. It's like the new star wars restaurant in epcot, we'll do it ONCE to get the experience (we like trying new things). After that we probably won't drop that type of cash on a meal. Newcomers or once in a life visitors will.

Just a thought

First timers absolutely spend more. The data clearly shows Disney that. But the steady stream of new first timers has been a thing because of the positive word of mouth from those of us who see/used to see the World through pixie dusted lenses.

My family may not buy all of the ears and Mickey bars, etc, any more. But now my coworkers and friends see us planning “other” vacations far more often and extending the gap between WDW trips further and further. Still worth our nostalgia dollars, but I don’t know it’s worth the massive first time investment right now. And that kind of sentiment, by enough of us loyal but not apologist customers (who you can see right through, imo), will hit just as much as the old overly positive word of mouth had been up until recently.

At least, I hope so. Because I’d love a moderate to major course correction by TDO right now.

 

[Oddysey]

Grant it Im new to Central Florida but it sure seems Disney is doing a ton of advertising locally. Has that always been the case? Is it just for the 50th?

I have lived in Central Florida all my life and Disney Parks advertising has always been a constant.