The Future Walt Disney World Resort

[Goofyernmost]

2. Disney will not do that for ALL TS reservations for the simple fact that it will cost them money to do it, so I cannot see that ever happening. If they charge your CC, then have to refund the money, it costs them in transaction fees. Not ever going to happen.

The thing is that is not how it works. You make a reservation, they take your CC information. If you show up nothing at all happens. If you don't THEN you get charged for the reservation. Just like in most hotels. It is not upfront, but, if you are a no show you get charged for holding a place and then not being there. It simply means that you deprived them of a paying transaction by reserving and then didn't show up. Why they don't do that for all of them is a mystery to me. It came about because so many of those really clever "guests" figured out that if they made multiple reservation at different times, they would be sure to have a place to go. That meant depriving others of the opportunity. Those that are planning to show up or have a good reason for not doing so will not be charged anything extra. Absolutely nothing not understandable about that. The upset came about after those that had been working the system to their own advantage and not caring a lick about anyone else had their little scheme undermined. Poor babies!

 

[LuvtheGoof]

The thing is that is not how it works. You make a reservation, they take your CC information. If you show up nothing at all happens. If you don't THEN you get charged for the reservation. Just like in most hotels. It is not upfront, but, if you are a no show you get charged for holding a place and then not being there. It simply means that you deprived them of a paying transaction by reserving and then didn't show up. Why they don't do that for all of them is a mystery to me. It came about because so many of those really clever "guests" figured out that if they made multiple reservation at different times, they would be sure to have a place to go. That meant depriving others of the opportunity. Those that are planning to show up or have a good reason for not doing so will not be charged anything extra. Absolutely nothing not understandable about that. The upset came about after those that had been working the system to their own advantage and not caring a lick about anyone else had their little scheme undermined. Poor babies!

They do require it for all TS restaurants now. I think it should have been more, and I think the cancellation period should be extended to 2 days instead of the night before. People are still making many reservations that they have no plans to keep, and then just cancel the night before to save the fee. If they extended the requirement to 2 days, that would free them up a bit earlier, and give more of us a chance to grab them. As it is, you have to look early in the morning for those that are free up from the night before.

I completely agree with you that people shouldn't be doing it. We would never even think of making multiple reservations for the same time to game the system. Just not in our nature to be rude. And people saying that they don't know what park they will be in, or what they might feel like eating 6 months in advance - well, too bad, then don't make any reservations, and eat on the fly. We've never had a problem with it.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

1. First off, no one can even verify if there even was a test for parking fees at all. The article in question was certainly not an official Disney publication, and simply spouted off something that Disney MAY be thinking of testing, but actually hasn't done so.
I agree that Disney MAY institute some sort of parking fee for non-resort guests at some point. It has already been debunked that Disney cannot charge for parking at DS, since they don't own the parking garages. Never going to happen.

2. Disney will not do that for ALL TS reservations for the simple fact that it will cost them money to do it, so I cannot see that ever happening. If they charge your CC, then have to refund the money, it costs them in transaction fees. Not ever going to happen.

3. I cannot see Disney ever charging for FP+, but I can see a future where you might receive extra for staying on property. One extra for value, 2 for moderate, and 3 for deluxe.

4. Not going to happen until the entire U.S. is cashless, and that won't happen in our lifetimes and maybe never. Too many people don't trust cards at all (I see people still writing checks at grocery stores every single time we go), so going cashless will probably never happen.

5. You're kidding, right??? There is no way that Disney is going to pay for every person to get a free MB, not too mention the fact that a lot of people are mistrustful of the MBs in the first place, and would never link their CC or Debit card to it. Lot's of people prefer cash, and that is not changing in our lifetime.

6. Again, never going to happen. Disney states on their website in multiple places that Disney transportation is free to everyone while on the resort. There is simply no way that Disney is going to try to charge for a service that has been free for over 40 years. The ONLY use I can see for MBs at the resort bus stops is to let Disney know how many people are waiting at a particular location, so they can add buses as needed.

7. Really??? Again, Disney will never NOT accept cash, and so anyone can buy as much as they want with cash, and Disney will never know who it was. There would be a huge revolt if they even thought of doing something so stupid.

8. Again, Disney would be stupid to alienate their AP holders. We purchase APs every year, and can see no reason why Disney would add additional hoops.

9. I really want what you are smoking. Never, ever going to happen. Too much of a cash cow for Disney that costs them nothing more than a plastic card right now, and pretty much near zero cost in the future. Our 2 APs are over $1000, linked to our MBs, and cost Disney a few cents. Why would they ever give that up????

10. Oh, so we're just going to throw away the millions of visitors that stay off-site in the future, and spend hundreds of millions of dollars at our theme parks. Again, I really would like some of what you are smoking.

I realize that you are just throwing stuff out there, but a little more thought would go a long way in maybe coming up with ideas that make a lot more sense.

I Applaud you for bringing those points across....Well done!

 

[Tom]

10 will never happen since that would cut off locals. 7 will never happen because it would cut into revenue.

I agree on 10 for sure....but with the inevitable further decline of our litigious society, I think 7 will happen.

And the rest.....very possible, and some of them very likely.

Logistically, cashless in the parks would be a major win for Disney. Think of how many locations need to handle cash, eliminating that would save them a lot.

If they tried it now, they'd lose a lot of revenue at snack carts, since I've yet to encounter any fewer than 2 per trip, during each of my last several trips, where "my connection is down - I can't take cards or bands." Until they fix their wifi, network and devices, they can't go cashless.

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

1. First off, no one can even verify if there even was a test for parking fees at all. The article in question was certainly not an official Disney publication, and simply spouted off something that Disney MAY be thinking of testing, but actually hasn't done so.
I agree that Disney MAY institute some sort of parking fee for non-resort guests at some point. It has already been debunked that Disney cannot charge for parking at DS, since they don't own the parking garages. Never going to happen.

2. Disney will not do that for ALL TS reservations for the simple fact that it will cost them money to do it, so I cannot see that ever happening. If they charge your CC, then have to refund the money, it costs them in transaction fees. Not ever going to happen.

3. I cannot see Disney ever charging for FP+, but I can see a future where you might receive extra for staying on property. One extra for value, 2 for moderate, and 3 for deluxe.

4. Not going to happen until the entire U.S. is cashless, and that won't happen in our lifetimes and maybe never. Too many people don't trust cards at all (I see people still writing checks at grocery stores every single time we go), so going cashless will probably never happen.

5. You're kidding, right??? There is no way that Disney is going to pay for every person to get a free MB, not too mention the fact that a lot of people are mistrustful of the MBs in the first place, and would never link their CC or Debit card to it. Lot's of people prefer cash, and that is not changing in our lifetime.

6. Again, never going to happen. Disney states on their website in multiple places that Disney transportation is free to everyone while on the resort. There is simply no way that Disney is going to try to charge for a service that has been free for over 40 years. The ONLY use I can see for MBs at the resort bus stops is to let Disney know how many people are waiting at a particular location, so they can add buses as needed.

7. Really??? Again, Disney will never NOT accept cash, and so anyone can buy as much as they want with cash, and Disney will never know who it was. There would be a huge revolt if they even thought of doing something so stupid.

8. Again, Disney would be stupid to alienate their AP holders. We purchase APs every year, and can see no reason why Disney would add additional hoops.

9. I really want what you are smoking. Never, ever going to happen. Too much of a cash cow for Disney that costs them nothing more than a plastic card right now, and pretty much near zero cost in the future. Our 2 APs are over $1000, linked to our MBs, and cost Disney a few cents. Why would they ever give that up????

10. Oh, so we're just going to throw away the millions of visitors that stay off-site in the future, and spend hundreds of millions of dollars at our theme parks. Again, I really would like some of what you are smoking.

I realize that you are just throwing stuff out there, but a little more thought would go a long way in maybe coming up with ideas that make a lot more sense.

So let's address #9 shall we. Since you think it is delusional. Take a quick read on what's happening over on the west coast
http://www.mousemonthly.com/5-steps...-to-get-rid-of-passholders-disneyland-resort/

I'm sure that it only is limited to DL and will in no way whatsoever creep its way into Central Florida. So I'm sure we have absolutely nothing to worry about.

Disney has a capacity problem. No. It's not happening tomorrow. But over the course of time (possibly a decade or 2) it will. AP's sole purpose was to help Disney fill the parks during the slower periods of time. Fact is, they don't need the help anymore. AP prices will continue to rise (disproportionate to daily ticket increases) until it hits a level where it is not beneficial to purchase them. In short, they will be phased out.

As an example: What happens in 5 years (or whenever they feel the time is right) when they decide parking is no longer offered as part of the AP. Is it still the bargain for an AP Holder who visits the park 40x year. If now all of the sudden there is an additional $800 a year he is paying for parking?

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

I agree on 10 for sure....but with the inevitable further decline of our litigious society, I think 7 will happen.

And the rest.....very possible, and some of them very likely.



If they tried it now, they'd lose a lot of revenue at snack carts, since I've yet to encounter any fewer than 2 per trip, during each of my last several trips, where "my connection is down - I can't take cards or bands." Until they fix their wifi, network and devices, they can't go cashless.

I agree that #10 is a stretch. But if Disney thought they could pull it off they would. At the very least there will be an increase of "benefits" offered to Resort guests that won't be available to non-resort guest. It is the same philosophy behind EMH. I think we will get to a point in time where EMH is extended for every park daily. Your MK regular ticket is good from 9am-8pm but if you stay on property you can be at MK from 8am - Midnight.

 

[Retroman40]

I for one don't see the OP as delusional in any way. While implementation of some of the ideas is quite far off, none are totally implausible and a couple perhaps closer than we might think.

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

2. Disney will not do that for ALL TS reservations for the simple fact that it will cost them money to do it, so I cannot see that ever happening. If they charge your CC, then have to refund the money, it costs them in transaction fees. Not ever going to happen.

Let's address this one now. Have you ever made a reservation for a Dinner Show? HDD Revue, MBYBBQ? It is a prepayment. No holding your card and charging if you don't show up. Paid upfront - all of it.

Is it really a stretch to think Disney would require a $25, maybe $50 "deposit" on a TS reservation? It is absolutely not costing them money. It all goes into a interest bearing account (Interest for Disney). It's all about breakage. Yes, they will have those that cancel. And yes, they will incur a small cost to refund a credit card. But the associated costs will be severely outweighed by money they are making on interest from those that don't cancel.

 

[copcarguyp71]

Whatever happens over the next 10 years I think more and more it will either increasingly exclude the middle class or make them feel very middle class because there is going to be upcharges to many offerings that the people already stretched thin on budget will not be able to afford. Not complaining...just what I see in my crystal ball.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Whatever happens over the next 10 years I think more and more it will either increasingly exclude the middle class or make them feel very middle class because there is going to be upcharges to many offerings that the people already stretched thin on budget will not be able to afford. Not complaining...just what I see in my crystal ball.

That is said a lot and it makes me wonder. If the middle-class is being excluded who (or possibly whom) currently are filling the parks to capacity? Are there that many upper-class people out there beating Disney's doors down? To me the only people that are just being outdistanced by their pricing is the lower economic class. They have always been excluded and the gap now is even bigger, so really I don't see much in the line of change there.

 

[copcarguyp71]

That is said a lot and it makes me wonder. If the middle-class is being excluded who (or possibly whom) currently are filling the parks to capacity? Are there that many upper-class people out there beating Disney's doors down? To me the only people that are just being outdistanced by their pricing is the lower economic class. They have always been excluded and the gap now is even bigger, so really I don't see much in the line of change there.

I don't think they will be entirely outpriced. What my point is that they will be able to afford the very basic experience but Disney is going to increase the divide a good bit more by making "plussed" experiences cost more and be far more plentiful. I get where they are coming from on a bottom line stockholder point of view but I personally would rather not go at all if it feels like my kid, spouse, family feels lesser because we could not afford the "super duper express fastpass plus" option or the "arrive early, stay late option" or "preferred seating for $$$" or whatever other cash cow options they can come up with. I miss the days when one guest was equal to another but alas...I have to realize those days are coming to an end and we are being more classified and broken down than ever before. In the end Disney will do whatever they will do...but so will my vacation dollar. I am not a pixie dust addict, I once loved a thing but that thing is vanishing so I am in the minority that is seeking life elsewhere.

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

5. You're kidding, right??? There is no way that Disney is going to pay for every person to get a free MB, not too mention the fact that a lot of people are mistrustful of the MBs in the first place, and would never link their CC or Debit card to it. Lot's of people prefer cash, and that is not changing in our lifetime.

On to #5. If you stay on property you get a MB. Heck, I have 9 of them. I don't want 9 but they keep giving me one every time I stay on property. Recently I have been refusing them. If you stay on property you get one. If you are an AP, you get one. So the majority have one anyways (mistrustful of them or not). Some people do prefer cash, I agree. But to say that is not happening in our lifetime is pretty naive if you are keeping up with world events. Disney at some point in time will go cashless. The same way a lot of things in life do.

Don't know about you, but I can't remember the last time I walked into the counter at the local gas station and plopped down a $50 and said fill me up on pump 9. Now, I'm sure some people still do, but those numbers are dwindling. Try paying in cash for an Amazon purchase. Or write Apple a check for an app.

Out of curiosity..is your debit or credit card linked to your Apple or Amazon account? How about Netflix?

 

[Goofyernmost]

I don't think they will be entirely outpriced. What my point is that they will be able to afford the very basic experience but Disney is going to increase the divide a good bit more by making "plussed" experiences cost more and be far more plentiful. I get where they are coming from on a bottom line stockholder point of view but I personally would rather not go at all if it feels like my kid, spouse, family feels lesser because we could not afford the "super duper express fastpass plus" option or the "arrive early, stay late option" or "preferred seating for $$$" or whatever other cash cow options they can come up with. I miss the days when one guest was equal to another but alas...I have to realize those days are coming to an end and we are being more classified and broken down than ever before. In the end Disney will do whatever they will do...but so will my vacation dollar. I am not a pixie dust addict, I once loved a thing but that thing is vanishing so I am in the minority that is seeking life elsewhere.

I see what you are saying. Fortunately for me, I have never been interested in the "extra" events, so something like that would not really have any affect on me. I agree that I miss the everyone was equal situation and there is one major change that Disney instituted that planted the seed for that. It was called Fastpass. No cost was involved, but, timing was everything. You paid admission fee's and watched others that paid the same (or less) go right by you in line. It was a stupid move that, if anyone had thought about it, would have been obvious that it was going to have probably more negative affect then it had positive. The positive was very positive and the negative was very negative. Anyway, to me, that was the beginning and now everything has become a "he has/she has" and I don't situation. So charging more for a special event is a natural to follow. We have already segregated the crowd with no noticeable bad thing happening to the bottom line. Let's see how far this can go.

 

[Andrew C]

So what's the point of this thread? We using it as a preemptive attack on disney for things they may never do but think they will in 20 years? Is it not enough to criticize Disney for their current or recent actions? now we have to start throwing grenades and talking nonsense about things they aren't doing. I guess we have exausted the conversations about their real issues.

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

So what's the point of this thread? We using it as a preemptive attack on disney for things they may never do but think they will in 20 years? Is it not enough to criticize Disney for their current or recent actions? now we have to start throwing grenades and talking nonsense about things they aren't doing. I guess we have exausted the conversations about their real issues.

The point is to take a look at some of the changes Disney has made in the not so recent past....like the AP increase, the charging of guests at certain resort hotels (as a test) for parking, the initiation of a cancellation fee on TS reservations..etc. and to formulate an opinion (or an idea) of the other changes they may implement. It is in no way criticizing Disney, nor is it an attempt to "lob grenades" at Disney. It is an analysis of the changes that have been made since the introduction of the MM+ technology. There is no right or wrong. As for your 20 year statement, I think some these will happen a lot sooner than that, others not. Some are already being tested or in the planning stages. If you believe Disney will continue as is, without the introduction of change, as they mine the data they are obtaining,...fine...that is your opinion. I would argue against that position.

You may want to discuss their "real issues" whatever you may feel those to be. Me? I'd like to discuss how the parks and overall resort will evolve over the next decade or so. If you don't want to be part of the discussion...well....don't

If this was 30 years ago...you'd probably be slamming me for suggesting that Disney would go to an all-inclusive pricing model.....Yeah, they're never getting rid of those ticket booklets.

 

[Andrew C]

The point is to take a look at some of the changes Disney has made in the not so recent past....like the AP increase, the charging of guests at certain resort hotels (as a test) for parking, the initiation of a cancellation fee on TS reservations..etc. and to formulate an opinion (or an idea) of the other changes they may implement. It is in no way criticizing Disney, nor is it an attempt to "lob grenades" at Disney. It is an analysis of the changes that have been made since the introduction of the MM+ technology. There is no right or wrong. As for your 20 year statement, I think some these will happen a lot sooner than that, others not. Some are already being tested or in the planning stages. If you believe Disney will continue as is, without the introduction of change, as they mine the data they are obtaining,...fine...that is your opinion. I would argue against that position.

You may want to discuss their "real issues" whatever you may feel those to be. Me? I'd like to discuss how the parks and overall resort will evolve over the next decade or so. If you don't want to be part of the discussion...well....don't

If this was 30 years ago...you'd probably be slamming me for suggesting that Disney would go to an all-inclusive pricing model.....Yeah, they're never getting rid of those ticket booklets.

Thanks for the load of bull.

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

Thanks for the load of bull.

Yep.. nothing as difficult as change is there?

So it's bull and they really didn't raise AP prices? I suppose there is no cancellation fee either if you just happen to not show up for your TS res. Ok then.

 

[Andrew C]

Yep.. nothing as difficult as change is there?

You are not fooling anyone with this thread. The purpose was to get a rise out of people and you succeeded. Bravo

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

You are not fooling anyone with this thread. The purpose was to get a rise out of people and you succeeded. Bravo

No, really, it wasn't. It apparently got a rise out of you, though. It was intended to get an opinion from others on this board as to the changes they feel Disney may be making (or getting ready to make). I'm not fan of most of the changes I outlined in the OP. But as a realist, I know a lot (if not all) at some point in time will happen. This was never intended to "get a rise" out of anyone. It was intended to be constructive. I'm sorry you didn't take it that way.

 

[WondersOfLife]

Cash at Disney World.. Are you referring to inside the parks? If so, then no. That is ridiculous. Obviously you can't get rid of cash within the parks. Much like how you can purchase candy on a cruise ship without the use of a credit card. There are kids and teens on huge field trips that do not own credit cards and bring in cash.. If they got rid of cash in the parks that way, then there's a huge chunk of money lost on spending from this group trying to buy souvenirs and snacks.

I actually kind of like the FP+ add-ons idea, TBH.. Depending on what the price would be, though.