The guests that Disney does not want

[ariel90]

First off I am in the 18-25 crowd and I'm sort of irritated .There are some of us in this age group who are proud to be Disney geeks. We want to recruit as many people as possible into Disney Geekdom and most of them complain that of there's not a coaster (that Disney can do tastefully) and what is there to do at night.

Nightclubs are exclusive to this crowd but roller coaster...no. Ive seen people ride since they were tall enough to they're "old as dirt".Many of time of seen " Disney's target audience" ask their kids what they want to ride and they say TOT for the tenth time in a row.

Moreover not all of us are bad people there to corrupt your kids. When my friends and I go to Disney were courteous and not unruly.We're partners but not 24/7 and have enough decorum not to behave like a cold crazed stripper in public (or discuss coke crazed strippers in public) If you're going to learn bad habits you're going to learn from your own peers in your own class not on family vacation. Parenting starts at your house not in a theme park.Also maybe a nice parenting tip would be not to take your kids to the nightclubs. I grew up when there was a PI and that's so far away that you could never notice it. I never knew Disney had night clubs until a planning video.

Furthermore as for finances are concerned our age group has a lot of expendable income.Our income is for us no dependents but we will bring a huge group of friends.We can focus on wants not needs because we are young ie. if we want to go to Disney we will go no thinking of ok so what about the kids because its easier to pick up and go without them ie multiple trips per year.As for staying at a deluxe resort no because we were going to stay out in the parks as long as humanly possible. But we will indulge in fine dining, alcohol, and buy souvenirs on sight because it was cool and we want it. In my opinion not targeting to our age group leads to a loss of revenue. We're exposing people to Disney who otherwise would have never gone and thus can bring their future generations.

 

[maryszhi]

First off I am in the 18-25 crowd and I'm sort of irritated .There are some of us in this age group who are proud to be Disney geeks. We want to recruit as many people as possible into Disney Geekdom and most of them complain that of there's not a coaster (that Disney can do tastefully) and what is there to do at night.

Nightclubs are exclusive to this crowd but roller coaster...no. Ive seen people ride since they were tall enough to they're "old as dirt".Many of time of seen " Disney's target audience" ask their kids what they want to ride and they say TOT for the tenth time in a row.

Moreover not all of us are bad people there to corrupt your kids. When my friends and I go to Disney were courteous and not unruly.We're partners but not 24/7 and have enough decorum not to behave like a cold crazed stripper in public (or discuss coke crazed strippers in public) If you're going to learn bad habits you're going to learn from your own peers in your own class not on family vacation. Parenting starts at your house not in a theme park.Also maybe a nice parenting tip would be not to take your kids to the nightclubs. I grew up when there was a PI and that's so far away that you could never notice it. I never knew Disney had night clubs until a planning video.

Furthermore as for finances are concerned our age group has a lot of expendable income.Our income is for us no dependents but we will bring a huge group of friends.We can focus on wants not needs because we are young ie. if we want to go to Disney we will go no thinking of ok so what about the kids because its easier to pick up and go without them ie multiple trips per year.As for staying at a deluxe resort no because we were going to stay out in the parks as long as humanly possible. But we will indulge in fine dining, alcohol, and buy souvenirs on sight because it was cool and we want it. In my opinion not targeting to our age group leads to a loss of revenue. We're exposing people to Disney who otherwise would have never gone and thus can bring their future generations.

 

[copcarguyp71]

Has the basis of this entire thread been based on anything other than supposition and conjecture? It has sparked quite a bot of controversy and I guess rightfully so but is there actual proof that this is TDO's actual point of view? Just curious and perhaps it was covered in the previous six pages but I missed it.

 

[GoofGoof]

Has the basis of this entire thread been based on anything other than supposition and conjecture? It has sparked quite a bot of controversy and I guess rightfully so but is there actual proof that this is TDO's actual point of view? Just curious and perhaps it was covered in the previous six pages but I missed it.

I asked the same question a few pages back around the official reason for PI closing. Here was the response.

Guest feedback. Surveys designed to get people to say they wanted more dining and shopping without mentioning other options or that it would be at the expense of the clubs.

 

[spacemt354]

Has the basis of this entire thread been based on anything other than supposition and conjecture? It has sparked quite a bot of controversy and I guess rightfully so but is there actual proof that this is TDO's actual point of view? Just curious and perhaps it was covered in the previous six pages but I missed it.

I think it's really based on speculation that has evolved through the realization that disney's attractions, for the most part, are geared towards families and not the specific demographic of age, say 18-25. From what I have noticed, Disney doesn't build 450 ft coasters like Kingda Ka in Six Flags, not just because it's more geared towards teens, but also because it isolates some members of a family. There are only so many people that can withstand high g-force like that, and since Walt Disney wanted his parks to be about the parents and the children having fun together, building rides like Kingda Ka kinda defeats the purpose.

Now, I'm in that 18-25 bracket. For the last few times I have gone down to wdw, I have seen a lot of kids my age walking around the parks, either by themselves or with their families. From my perspective, I feel like people in my age group are still going to go to disney because they want to relive their childhood before turning to adulthood. You can go to any theme park and ride a roller-coaster with inversions and what not. But disney is the only place where you really can feel like a kid again, and that is what I think attracts that age group, to a certain extent. And I think Disney knows this.

Let's say Disney builds a Kingda Ka type thrill ride in their parks to attract teens and young adults. Well now disney has the same ride as Six Flags, but it's like 3x more expensive to ride. That's not going to attract teens, if that was their goal. If anything it's going to encouage them to go to six flags for the cheaper rate.

Disney is always going to focus on the family, because all age groups are included in the term "family". From little kids, to teens, to adults, and to grandparents, disney offers something for everyone. And a lot of the time, the same experiences are enjoyed by overlapping age groups, like Soarin', or Splash Mountain, or Pirates, and so on. That is what Walt Disney wanted and that is why Disney targets the family, and doesn't dismiss any particular age group.

 

[a2grafix]

Wild roller coasters and nightclubs invite a certain demographic of guests (young and "cool"). Young and "cool" people tend to irritate Joe and Sally Suburbs and interfere with their vacation by creating paranoia about shielding Little Timmy and Sister Susie from the various horrors of sex, drugs, and rock and roll common in today's teens and young adults.

But what about me? I am in my early 40s, am an active member of the US military, and love wild roller coasters of all kinds. Am I an anomaly in your theory / reasoning? I am a roller coaster junkie thrill seeker. My main goal when I stay at Shades of Green is to ride as many thrill rides as possible at WDW, Universal and SeaWorld. Sure, WDW's roller coasters are a little bit tame than compared to Universal's and SeaWorld's and Busch Garden's roller coasters, but TDO's roller coasters help nourish my appetite for thrills and speed.

Outside of Central Orlando and Tampa, I also make annual trips to Cedar Point, Kings Island, Kennywood, Hershey Park, Kings Dominion, and Busch Gardens Williamsburg. Every so often I fly out to California to take in Disneyland's and Knott's Berry Farms roller coasters.

Heck, before the Adventurers Club and Mannequins closed at Pleasure Island, you would find me there almost every night while I was on holiday.

Tim_4, I believe your theory is flawed but I like that, even though I am 42, I am be considered "young and cool" since I ride and love to ride wild roller coasters. I don't feel 42, more in my late 20s and early 30s. But to each his or her own. Walt Disney World and Disneyland cater to everyone, every demographic.

 

[GoofGoof]

The only guests that Disney does not want are those with no money. If you are paying they want you. They have added thrill rides, kids rides, shows, meet and greets and other things to appeal to everyone. The one area they seem to have neglected is young adult night life. With PI closed you have a few options at DTD and the boardwalk but not much else. I don't think they are looking to turn away young adults who enjoy the parks and other entertainment but they chose to close PI based supposedly on guest feedback and failed to replace it with some alternative. I don't think Disney ever envisioned itself as a spring break Mecca but when PI was open they probably drew more of the college and young 20s crowd.

 

[koryadams]

Spring Breakers!!! I have grown to hate them! They were rude on my last vacation! They are better off at an amusement park because they don't appreciate Disney! And they are loud and obnoxious and they think they can do whatever they want! A group of kids started screaming for no reason in line for space mountain and I was like oh no! The cast members tried to get them to stop and one started calling (for backup?) It was bad. But my point exactly. Maybe thats why they stopped college nights? hmmm....

 

[sgtmgd]

Spring Breakers!!! I have grown to hate them! They were rude on my last vacation! They are better off at an amusement park because they don't appreciate Disney! And they are loud and obnoxious and they think they can do whatever they want! A group of kids started screaming for no reason in line for space mountain and I was like oh no! The cast members tried to get them to stop and one started calling (for backup?) It was bad. But my point exacly. Maybe thats why they stopped college nights? hmmm....

You will get that in any park at times..not only constrained by college kids or teenagers either.

Personally I don't think Disney needs to cater to teenagers..certainly future attractions will evolve as technologies advance..the new mine coaster will be eagerly anticipated....the whole expierence at Disney is something you can't get at any other park

 

[Disneydreamer23]

I don't think Disney is focused specifically on age . Disney is focused on people who love Disney if your 23 and a party animal and don't like Disney you won't go, but at the same time i'm 23 dh is 24 and we are party animals but at Disney I am a kid and drink maybe 1 drink at the studios, Disney doesn't care if your 5 or 95 they will take you and your money

 

[JohnLocke]

First off I am in the 18-25 crowd and I'm sort of irritated .There are some of us in this age group who are proud to be Disney geeks. We want to recruit as many people as possible into Disney Geekdom and most of them complain that of there's not a coaster (that Disney can do tastefully) and what is there to do at night.

Nightclubs are exclusive to this crowd but roller coaster...no. Ive seen people ride since they were tall enough to they're "old as dirt".Many of time of seen " Disney's target audience" ask their kids what they want to ride and they say TOT for the tenth time in a row.

Moreover not all of us are bad people there to corrupt your kids. When my friends and I go to Disney were courteous and not unruly.We're partners but not 24/7 and have enough decorum not to behave like a cold crazed stripper in public (or discuss coke crazed strippers in public) If you're going to learn bad habits you're going to learn from your own peers in your own class not on family vacation. Parenting starts at your house not in a theme park.Also maybe a nice parenting tip would be not to take your kids to the nightclubs. I grew up when there was a PI and that's so far away that you could never notice it. I never knew Disney had night clubs until a planning video.

Furthermore as for finances are concerned our age group has a lot of expendable income.Our income is for us no dependents but we will bring a huge group of friends.We can focus on wants not needs because we are young ie. if we want to go to Disney we will go no thinking of ok so what about the kids because its easier to pick up and go without them ie multiple trips per year.As for staying at a deluxe resort no because we were going to stay out in the parks as long as humanly possible. But we will indulge in fine dining, alcohol, and buy souvenirs on sight because it was cool and we want it. In my opinion not targeting to our age group leads to a loss of revenue. We're exposing people to Disney who otherwise would have never gone and thus can bring their future generations.

I guess I'm now just outside your age range, but I think you're partially right. Thrill rides are definitely a must, because they really appeal to all ages. I'd also say that this audience, while it is a subset of the total, is growing as people who experienced bigger thrills at a younger age are a growing number. The ideal number of thrill rides per park, would probably be around 4-5, I'd think, and Disney seems to fall just under this in every park.

That said, the experience is still the supreme factor and Haunted Mansion or Pirates of the Caribbean would probably trump some of the bigger thrills for most.

For point two, while I'll admit I've never been as much of a club/bar person, I just don't really see the big deal about not having as much of a night life option in this regard. Granted, I always wanted to experience the Adventurer's Club, by and large it seems that these options are a bit more trouble than they're worth. No one comes on a Disney vacation to chiefly go clubbing, at least I seriously doubt it. Liability and press wise, they kind of seem like a bad idea, and if it's a necessity, I'm sure downtown Orlando offers some decent ones off property.

All that said, neglecting portions of that age group for now, won't really matter as much long term, because many grow and mature and if they don't become Disney fans, they'll at least probably take their kids to Disney a time or two and those that don't Disney probably doesn't need.