The Average Guest

[JLW11Hi]

I have been reading a lot of comments about how the average guest doesn't give a darn about what goes into making the parks so unique. The thematic details, the immersiveness of the world you are in, the emphasis on show above easy thrills and uncreative attractions apparently all go unnoticed or disregarded by people who are not Disney know-it-all's like us.

Does anyone think that this is an oversimplification of the way "average" people visit the parks? I ask this because I have talked to people with different backgrounds about the parks and the resort, and I get varied opinions on what the place is like to them. Some people don't like the parks, but its more because they don't like tourist places in general. However, many of the people that do enjoy WDW didn't just say that they only liked the scary rides or meeting Mickey. Often its more about how much extra goes into the parks and how special the place is to them, and how much they love the classic rides or how attentive they are to the guests. And these aren't Disney fanatics that spend their time on internet discussion boards. These are people with "normal" lives and "normal" interests who occasionally take vacations and occasionally take these vacations to Orlando. People who have never visited the park saying that they love Tom Sawyers Island or Epcot because of how it "feels" compared to the other parks.

So what do you think? Are we exaggerating how little most people care about the details and thought that goes into theme park theming and design?

 

[yankspy]

I think it is largely supposed to unnoticed. I think people just sort of realize that there many things going on at the same time that bombard the senses but they cannot necessarily dissect all of the aspects of the experience.

I'll give you an example. You come out of the tunnel and come out onto main street and all of a sudden there is this big shiny castle at the end of main street. It's an eye popper right off the bat. To continue with the visual you have this quaint safe looking American pie main street that has a very welcoming feeling visually with it's bright vibrant colors, etc.

Auditory- You have BGM that fits perfectly with that visual theme that is set to just the right level so that it does not overpower you it just blends.

Smells- As you walk down Main Street you get smells of cookies and hot dogs and all those other goodies that have a powerful subconscious impact on a person. Most people like sweet smelling things, they are associated with treats.

Taste- Well just stop by the bakery or the popcorn cart, etc.

So by the time you get to the end of main street you are on sensory overload and you have not even seen a single attraction yet. You feel magical because there is so much going on, but you can't put your finger on each individual aspect.

I am not sure if that makes any sense or if that addresses your question but I tried.

 

[Rob562]

I think on a basic, unconscious level many of the "average Guests" DO have a feeling for the details. They may not be aware of them, but they contribute to the overall experience.

If you were to walk someone through the Magic Kingdom, and then through their local Six Flags park, and then ask them the difference, they may not be able to give specific *reasons* for why Disney is different, but they'll have a sense that it is.

-Rob

 

[C&D]

I don't think there is an average guest. I'm sure if you could interview everyone, one at time, no one would consider themselves an average guest. Granted a lot of people do a lot of the same thing but I think they do them their own special way. The almost infinite variations of such a huge entertainment complex prevents this from occurring IMHO.

 

[Disney_Belle]

Each individual guest is so different, and experience and view things in different ways. I think it all depends on who it is and what they are looking for.

One of the people that traveled with us in January only cares about thrill rides. Obviously WDW is a more family oriented place, so the thrill rides aren't top priority. For this person who was with us, all he cared about was riding Rock N' Roller Coaster and ToT. That's pretty much what he focused on the whole time and he often claimed WDW was "boring and for kids" while we were there :brick:. So for him, he was so concerned on getting on the biggest and fastest rides, overlooks the small details that make WDW what it is.

But then there are people like my Dad, who was a first timer, and he couldn't comprehend the amount of work that went into making WDW a reality. He was amazed at how much was going on. We went to Tony's for dinner and he was fascinated by the woodwork. He kept saying how much steel must have been used and how no matter where you go there is lights, music and something to look at. He said he had never been to a place that had so much detail put into it. He kept telling us that he could sit on Main Street all day and just enjoy it without having to go on any rides because he felt like he was "in his own town" lol.

With Disney being a household name in so many homes, even the ones who have never been to WDW, many people already have an emotional tie to something Disney related. Whether it be a favorite book, movie, song, character, etc. Growing up with watching movies like Peter Pan, Snow White, Alice in Wonderland, etc. and then going to WDW and seeing them whether it be in character or on the rides, I think brings a sense to anyone young and old, of childhood, make believe and Disney magic. Walking down Main Street, and seeing Cinderella Castle, hearing the music, smelling the smells, is so much to take in, and all of a sudden the Disney stories, movies, music has become a reality. And I think it is that emotional tie or memory that people have of Disney at some point in their life, is what gets them to notice the details. WDW is relatable in so many different aspects to so many different people. The cleanliness, the courtesy of the Cast Members, it just brings people to feel at "home" and not just at some theme park.

Some people don't get it. Some people do just see "another theme park". But a majority of people I think have a relation to something Disney, that has brought them good memories, and when they get to WDW they can recreate memories because so much is put into making it all come to life. And those are the people who are aware of the details, the small things and the overall different feel of WDW compared to other parks.

 

[DISMOM]

When I talk to a lot of people, they mention the price...$70ish per day per person. They don't take into consideration how much entertainment you get for your buck, the entire immersion into the 'Disney experience' and how the longer length of stay can affect the price.
With the Dining Plan, it is as much of an 'all-inclusive' resort as some in the Caribean and Mexico.
Several of my friends just 'don't get' Disney. I'm not sure why.

 

[goodtimes5286]

gotta agree with rob and yankspy, it doesnt go un-noticed, it goes un-interperated. The "average guest" (or as you problably mean is the guest that doesn't do research to increase there knowledge on disney outside of price and avalibility) gets all of these sensory perceptions, they just dont conciously acknoledge them because they aren't 'into' that. I think it's fair to say that we notice because it's our 'thing', just like im sure a horticulturist would noticed the flowers at disney, an archetect would notice things, a thrill seaker would notice Tot & RnRC, etc.

I don't think Disney, or Walt for that matter, built his parks to cater to the "average guest", I think he built them to cater to EVERY guest, giving something for everyone. They say if you try to make everyone happy your going to make no one happy, but I think walt broke this mold. So reguardless if the "average guest" notices each piece of detail that a....ummm non average guest notices, I think is a moot point. It's the same way that I can't see as much detail as someone else who is also a huge Disney fan, its just preferences so for some yes we're exagerating it, and for some we're not stating the importance enough

....just my two pennies....