MrPromey
Well-Known Member
Oh, I know it all creates less satisfaction but is that really a metric Disney is concerning themselves that much with at the parks these days?
I know it sounds like I'm being cynical or as the kids around here like to say a "hater" or "doom-and-gloomer" when I say that but I honestly feel like most of their moves are based around consumer behavior now that they have better ways to track that and less on what guests actually want.
If they do something and it doesn't make people happy but enough people continue to come and spend money, does today's management really care?
In the review of the Smuggler's Run attraction on this very site, there is mention about how thanks to FP+ not being available yet, the line is constantly moving "just like the good old days".
What does that say about how things work now compared to how they used to? Has this improvement they've been able to market, especially with the extended window for property guests been an overall win for guests or for Disney's marketing?
As I've mentioned before, if FP+ works so well and spreads things so smoothly for everyone, why is there any marketable advantage to onsite guests getting an extra month's advance access?*
I'm not saying they planned it that way but it sure has worked out, hasn't it?
Speaking of Fastpasses, did anyone want a giant chunk of the most popular viewing space for Illuminations turned into a fastpass area or the fastpass area for viewing fireworks in the Magic Kingdom (we hardly knew ye) turned into an exclusive dessert party viewing area?
Nobody wants a parking fee at the resorts and nobody wants a resort fee even though Disney has implemented one and is testing the waters on the other.
Nobody wants express line monorails shut down midday as a cost saving measure or live entertainment reduced for the same reason but they've still done it while raising ticket prices and making today's "discount" days more expensive than yesterday's all-year price.
Just like all of that, nobody who pays full price really wants to see the parks get even busier right around the time of day they normally get busiest because they're convincing more people to come at that time with the lure of discount tickets - especially when the higher pricing was supposedly to reduce crowds to begin with.
... But this is all the kind of stuff they continue to do.
If it doesn't negatively impact their financials or create lines at guest relations that become problematic, I'm not convinced they actually care what guest do and don't want or prefer anymore as long as they make enough money. I really don't think guest satisfaction as most of us would traditionally consider it, is much of a concern anymore.**
Don't get me wrong - I like the parks and I'll continue to go until they price me out because I have a young child who likes them too but they used to be a lot better in most of the ways that demonstrate a care and respect for guests. Back then, I loved the parks.
*They are marketing scarcity. I seriously doubt they are in any hurry to remedy the limited availability of fastpasses for attractions like SDMT or FOP or the upcoming ones that'll be the same way because if they did, they'd be taking away a major perk for onsite guests in the process.
**I'm speaking only of higher management. I believe most front-line cast and their direct managers/supervisors still do care because they see it all first-hand.
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