Spirited Spring Break News, Observations & Thoughts ...

[wdisney9000]

I don't think Disney could have ever gotten away with taking FP away entirely from guests... but having advanced FP only for onsite could have been defend-able IMHO.

I think it would have been very defend-able. Offsite guests could not be upset with Disney for rewarding its onsite guests with perks. They would only be mad at themselves for not ponying up the dough to stay onsite and it very well may drive them to stay at a Disney resort next time to have the privileges that come with it. I agree with @ParentsOf4 that they may have missed an opportunity with this aspect of MM+. Disney should create that "badge of distinction" for guests who stay onsite. People will wear it proudly and they crave that feeling of being special. We all know most guests at WDW act like they own the joint anyway. I see it constantly in my line of work. People will do the most outrageous things or pay high fees to be a VIP at an event.


@71jason made a good point as well. Most people dont bother to learn half of this stuff anyway. Im always amazed when friends who are planning a trip ask me basic questions that could have been answered by using google or going to Disneys website. Something as simple as EMH has been enough to sway a friends decision to stay onsite. Those very same friends would stay offsite in a heart beat if they got the same perks without a Disney resort. Could Disney possibly be overestimating the average guests awareness or knowledge of what is available to them at WDW? I think so. There was already so many things average guests did not know existed and now with MM+ plus there is much more to be aware of. Even though Disney is making a much stronger effort to create a higher awareness level, most people wont take the time to fully educate themselves because (and I think this is what Disney forgets) its just a vacation to them.

 

[wdisney9000]

The problem with your suggestion is that while it makes standby lines better, it will create discontent among those who stay off site and potentially cause a loss of good will and guests down the road.

Perhaps, but look at EMH. I dont see many offsite guests complaining a about it. Granted, MM+ is a much bigger perk, but the way Disney is operating these days it appears they dont mind if guests are upset about something, especially when their motive is financial gain. Take the Poly lobby for example, 99% of people are begging them not take out the WF, but they will probly do it regardless and thats only due to "maintenance" issues, not financial (for the most part). It may cause a loss of goodwill down the road, but it may drive more guests to decide to spend that extra $80-100 per night to be onsite which could outweigh the loss of goodwill. I guess it would depend on the % of guests who stay offsite. If that number is extremely high perhaps they wouldnt want to risk it.

 

[doctornick]

Perhaps, but look at EMH. I dont see many offsite guests complaining a about it.

It's very different though. It's one thing for resort guests to be in the parks before/after you when you aren't there. It's "out of sight, out of mind". It's another thing to see resort guests with these MBs on getting on rides while you wait in a slow standby line.

That's why I think any implimentation of greater FP+ use for resort guests should allow for all guests to have some level of baseline access to FP+. That way, it would be tougher for an off site guest to really be bothered since the onsite are simply getting "more" of the same perk, not getting an entirely new perk altogether.

Personally, I think the best options might be:
1. Given 4 FP+ pre-bookings to onsite guests maybe limited to Moderates and Deluxes). Or conversely, give 2 FP+ reservations to off-site and keep it at 3 for onsite.
or
2. Make the "get more than 3 FP+ once you have used them" perk to onsite guests only. Off site only get 3 FP+ a day period.
or
3. Remove tiers for onsite guests (probably wouldn't be that valuable on its own, but may be used in combination with one of the previous 2)

 

[wdisney9000]

It's very different though. It's one thing for resort guests to be in the parks before/after you when you aren't there. It's "out of sight, out of mind". It's another thing to see resort guests with these MBs on getting on rides while you wait in a slow standby line.

That's why I think any implimentation of greater FP+ use for resort guests should allow for all guests to have some level of baseline access to FP+. That way, it would be tougher for an off site guest to really be bothered since the onsite are simply getting "more" of the same perk, not getting an entirely new perk altogether.

Personally, I think the best options might be:
1. Given 4 FP+ pre-bookings to onsite guests maybe limited to Moderates and Deluxes). Or conversely, give 2 FP+ reservations to off-site and keep it at 3 for onsite.
or
2. Make the "get more than 3 FP+ once you have used them" perk to onsite guests only. Off site only get 3 FP+ a day period.
or
3. Remove tiers for onsite guests (probably wouldn't be that valuable on its own, but may be used in combination with one of the previous 2)

Great options, if the average guest would learn that (very simple) system, it could work great. I agree that the "out of sight, out of mind" aspect plays a part. Im not saying take away FP+ for offsite guests. Your idea is a better way to put it. I think "day of" FP for offsite guests is more than enough. That may sound harsh, but this way they still have access but there is greater reward if they spend the extra money for onsite resort. Love the idea of removing tiers for onsite as well. I think it goes back to what @ParentsOf4 said. They missed an opportunity to create some type of distinction/reward between on and offsite.

 

[ParentsOf4]

I have to say I am surprised that MM+ could drive a 6% increase in occupancy. Actually, it makes me wonder if there must not be other factors at work as well (a cold winter possibly among them). Most WDW guests aren't nearly as "plugged-in" as those of us here, and many aren't going to be aware of the details of MM+, such as the extent of its roll-out or that legacy FP is history (if they are more than vaguely aware of MM+ at all).

Secondly, and assuming MyMagic+ is indeed largely behind the numbers, is it sustainable? Given that the program is now available to everyone, and that at least some people are always going to be turned off by the extent of planning and advance knowledge required to fully utilize MM+, I am now very curious to see the next quarters' results.

WDW current hotel occupancy level has been going on for a while now and it isn't much better than Metro Orlando's 71% occupancy at non-WDW hotels. Non-Disney affiliated Lake Buena Vista hotels are running at 78%.

In 2013, Disney reported a hotel occupancy of 79%. This number is inflated by DVC's guaranteed stays. WDW's hotel occupancy is closer to 76%, making it lower than LBV hotels.

Given the advantages WDW has over the surrounding hotels, Disney management should be embarrassed by this performance, especially since WDW occupancy was at 90% only a few years ago.

Remember, a 6% growth represents only about 20K families for the quarter. Spread out over 13 weeks and that's only about another 1500-1600 families per week who theoretically switched from offsite to onsite. (Perhaps 2000 if we assume shorter than 1-week onsite stays.)

From Disney's perspective, the important thing to remember is those families went from spending their hotel money elsewhere (and almost certainly some food & merchandise as well) to spending their money at WDW’s highly profitable hotels.

MyMagic+ doesn't have to convince many families to switch to start producing measureable profit.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

I wonder if we will see a Disney/UNI hotel stay spilt in the future where they both offer so many privileges to on site guests that it becomes difficult to justify say staying at just Disney and taking Mears or renting a car to go to UNI and vice versa.

 

[PeterAlt]

Now that they've finally gotten a handle on MM+, will George K. finally come out of hiding and start focusing on attractions?

Also, when are they going start building more hotels? Since Iger took over, only one new resort has been built, and that actually started previously. Under Eisner, it seemed like there was a new resort every other year.

 

[lebeau]

Now that they've finally gotten a handle on MM+, will George K. finally come out of hiding and start focusing on attractions?

They JUST built one! That buys Disney at least three years before they are due for another.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Now that they've finally gotten a handle on MM+, will George K. finally come out of hiding and start focusing on attractions?

They are. Avatar.

 

[Rodan75]

There's a difference between what I want WDW to do as a customer vs. what WDW should do as a business.

As a customer, I'm looking forward to the free theme parks tickets.

Good point. I have tendency to look at TWDC more as a business and look at their decisions thru that lense.

 

[jonvn]

I think LP.com lost something when Jon was pushed out. Yes, he did argue just for the sake of it ... but there are folks on every/any site (Disney or any other subject you can select) who do likewise.

I did love when he and I were talking about how DCA saved and secured DL's future in Anaheim and it was driving the DCA haters crazy. But at least I believed what I was writing.

Well, actually, it did save it. Most people who discuss these things have very little understanding of any of the things they talk about.

 

[PeterAlt]

They are. Avatar.

Well, with four parks, just one at a time is getting attention. It just doesn't feel like they are keeping pace with what Uni is spending now and what Disney used to spend. The construction engine is running on steam. We need maglev for this bizniz.

 

[Rodan75]

You'd hope so. They so desperately need to move away from discounts for this, free for that. It is an unsustainable model. But they've possibly gone too far down the road now.

I don't they would do that. People like to perceive they are getting a discount, especially on 'luxury' items. Crystal clear pricing doesn't provide the same thrill for many shoppers. It is a strange dynamic, personally I prefer clean pricing models.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Well, actually, it did save it. Most people who discuss these things have very little understanding of any of the things they talk about.

Yes, the DCA expansion did save the resort. But that was because of The Grand Californian and DtD. DCA, itself, cost a lot of money to get turned around.

Anyway, good to see you again, Jon. Btw, I am dshyates over at LP.

 

[PeterAlt]

Yes, the DCA expansion did save the resort. But that was because of The Grand Californian and DtD. DCA, itself, cost a lot of money to get turned around.

Anyway, good to see you again, Jon. Btw, I am dshyates over at LP.

Exactly. I've been wanted to articulate that for a while now.

 

[EPCOTCenterLover]

Hello. Am I famous?

Glad to find you here!

 

[PeterAlt]

How's my new avatar?

 

[Rteetz]

Now that they've finally gotten a handle on MM+, will George K. finally come out of hiding and start focusing on attractions?

Also, when are they going start building more hotels? Since Iger took over, only one new resort has been built, and that actually started previously. Under Eisner, it seemed like there was a new resort every other year.

They are building hotels it's called DVC. That's what's selling right now not just regular rooms. They don't need a whole new resort at the moment. Art of Animation was already in construction as the legendary years they just continued it and made a new theme.

 

[asianway]

They are building hotels it's called DVC. That's what's selling right now not just regular rooms. They don't need a whole new resort at the moment. Art of Animation was already in construction as the legendary years they just continued it and made a new theme.

No they're converting hotel rooms to timeshare because the deluxe hotels are not meeting profit targets. There's a big difference

 

[Rteetz]

No they're converting hotel rooms to timeshare because the deluxe hotels are not meeting profit targets. There's a big difference

That just proves there is no need right now to build new hotels. And they are only converting at the poly right now. GF was new construction, bay lake tower was new construction, other resorts have converting also but most have had some sort of new construction. The poly is getting the bungalows as new construction. I don't see a need for a new full hotel and if you did what category would it be?