The new park commercials

[Chi84]

So you and Tig are the “true believers”?

All the other disciples are still out there…they just aren’t here because some mean people are saying lighting lane and “galaxys edge” are a joke?

…you may be right I suppose

Bad press and attendance drop be damned

I don’t think anyone is being mean. I agree with a lot of what’s being said.

But when you show up with the same complaints in every thread it makes the site seem overwhelmingly negative.

I do know some posters who have moved on to other sites. They didn’t move because of problems with WDW.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I do know some posters who have moved on to other sites. They didn’t move because of problems with WDW.

My question is what do they think of wdw?
That’s where the sauce is being made. Not what I…nor anyone…says here

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

This used to be a more balanced site. Now it’s a repository for constant complaints.

I really hate to see this. We lost good posters who made valid points other than just continually pointing out how bad Disney has become (for them).

Alas, you do have options.
1. block anyone you feel is too negative
2. ignore (without blocking) any post you feel is too negative.
3. don't read 5 pages of any thread that opens with a complaint about WDW

But posting again and again how much you don't like this forum just feeds the negativity.

And just to support my point, you'll notice I didn't respond the last time you quoted me. I didn't think responding would be productive. sometimes- in a forum like this- tone is hard to convey. and that's sometimes why not responding is sometimes the best response if one doesn't want to argue.

To be fair to you, I would also like to see a little more positivity on some subjects. In this case though, the VERY FIRST POST in this thread described the commercial as, "bad," and that it seemed to them that WDW had, "given up." We all knew some people would agree with the OP.

 

[Chi84]

Alas, you do have options.
1. block anyone you feel is too negative
2. ignore (without blocking) any post you feel is too negative.
3. don't read 5 pages of any thread that opens with a complaint about WDW

But posting again and again how much you don't like this forum just feeds the negativity.

And just to support my point, you'll notice I didn't respond the last time you quoted me. I didn't think responding would be productive. sometimes- in a forum like this- tone is hard to convey. and that's sometimes why not responding is sometimes the best response if one doesn't want to argue.

To be fair to you, I would also like to see a little more positivity on some subjects. In this case though, the VERY FIRST POST in this thread described the commercial as, "bad," and that it seemed to them that WDW had, "given up." We all knew some people would agree with the OP.

You definitely have a point

And I think your posts are balanced and fair.

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

What *reasonable* things do y'all believe should be done to 'restore the magic' and get us on the right track? Emphasis on reasonable. They aren't going to bring back Splash or destroy the dreaded planter and put a fountain in.

1. Almost certainly, new leadership.
2. Refocus on providing amazing customer service.
3. Improve/restore food quality. When people visit a theme park for a day, many want cheap fast-food type food. When people visit a resort for a week though, many want/need to eat healthier food. Over the last 20 years, fresh fruit has all but disappeared from WDW. I can list 10 places- half of them quick serve locations - that used to have fresh berries every day. Meanwhile, I recently paid about $150 to stay in a suite at Universal's Endless Summer. The food court there had self serve strawberries and blueberries! THAT put a smile on my face.

Mind, there have been some improvement from the days when Pizza Planet was in HS. Twenty years ago, WDW pizza was atrocious. IMO, WDW food quality has had ups and downs. It tends to go up when WDW wants to win people back, but then they try to cut corners and it goes down again.

4. More water refill stations in obvious locations.
5. More attractions that are mid-tier. Sure, add some blockbusters, but HS especially needs more mid-tier attractions like Aliens. FYI, the new Moana water attraction is perfect. The theming might have been a better fit in a different location, but it is 100% the kind of attraction HS desperately needs. BUT- they need to add to the total # of attractions- NOT remove/replace.
6. More merchandise that is unique to each location, and work to having more reasonable pricing on the merchandise. IMO, that's why IP everywhere doesn't always work well at WDW. Each country in the World Showcase has potential to be as good as the Japan gift shop. Japan consistently has many items that are under $20, and thematically fun. Like they have long sold packages of quality origami paper.

Those are just a few off the top of my head for a start.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

In my many years of experience, “go back” almost never happens. The commercial focuses on what they offer now.

…I’d settle for “not keep going further”

It’s a management problem. It’s not the first time something like this has happened…won’t be the last.

But it’s pretty hard to point the majority of blame anywhere else

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

You definitely have a point

And I think your posts are balanced and fair.

I do try. But I also know that in person it is easier to correct/modulate tone. Think of a teacher telling a student to sit down. Two teachers might use the same exact words, but sound very different. One might say the words calmly/softly (suggesting a plea(se), another might shout the words as a command.

[Sometimes it can be fun to see two different versions of the same play/movie, like Shakespeare to see how the same lines can be interpreted very differently by different actors.]

Similarly, I think often the criticism posted here is often meant more mildly than others read it. I might say a chocolate was too sweet, and maybe I post that here, but I still ate it. It just wasn't my favorite chocolate. In person, you'd probably realize I was eating the chocolate while saying it was too sweet. I don't think the commercial is terrible, but I also agree that it isn't WDW's best ad. There's a hint of desperation to it at the end. Like they are trying too hard to indirectly say WDW is bigger than Universal. IMO, there's a reverse psychology element to it, and it reminds me that Epic is about to open.

Also, people have a tendency towards tribal thinking. We are the tribe of WDW fans, but we have to be careful. Some people think criticism is way to improve the tribe. Others see criticism as an attack on a product they love, so they resort to defending the tribe.

 

[Chi84]

I do try. But I also know that in person it is easier to correct/modulate tone. Think of a teacher telling a student to sit down. Two teachers might use the same exact words, but sound very different. One might say the words calmly/softly (suggesting a plea(se), another might shout the words as a command.

[Sometimes it can be fun to see two different versions of the same play/movie, like Shakespeare to see how the same lines can be interpreted very differently by different actors.]

Similarly, I think often the criticism posted here is often meant more mildly than others read it. I might say a chocolate was too sweet, and maybe I post that here, but I still ate it. It just wasn't my favorite chocolate. In person, you'd probably realize I was eating the chocolate while saying it was too sweet. I don't think the commercial is terrible, but I also agree that it isn't WDW's best ad. There's a hint of desperation to it at the end. Like they are trying too hard to indirectly say WDW is bigger than Universal. IMO, there's a reverse psychology element to it, and it reminds me that Epic is about to open.

Also, people have a tendency towards tribal thinking. We are the tribe of WDW fans, but we have to be careful. Some people think criticism is way to improve the tribe. Others see criticism as an attack on a product they love, so they resort to defending the tribe.

I don’t think it’s desperation. WDW is bigger than Universal and appeals to a wider range of ages. That’s what differentiates them, at least from my perspective.

Please don’t post any more about chocolates so soon after Christmas.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I don’t think it’s desperation. WDW is bigger than Universal and appeals to a wider range of ages. That’s what differentiates them, at least from my perspective.

Please don’t post any more about chocolates so soon after Christmas.

Wdw is “bigger” because of the history of how it was constructed and 100 years of Disney brand draw.

What they are doing now…micro charge prices across the spectrum and “island themed” high rise corporate looking hotels wedged in too small a space with astrorurf “lawns”…or a new trailer park…isn’t what got them there.

All empires fall eventually

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

I don’t think it’s desperation. WDW is bigger than Universal and appeals to a wider range of ages. That’s what differentiates them, at least from my perspective.

Please don’t post any more about chocolates so soon after Christmas.

Worlds vs. Universe

Which one is bigger?

 

[Chi84]

Wdw is “bigger” because of the history of how it was constructed and 100 years of Disney brand draw.

What they are doing now…micro charge prices across the spectrum and “island themed” high rise corporate looking hotels wedged in too small a space with astrorurf “lawns”…or a new trailer park…isn’t what got them there.

All empires fall eventually

Okay fine but there’s nothing I can do about that other than enjoy it as it is now. When I no longer enjoy it I’ll stop going.

The commercial captures why I still enjoy WDW.

 

[DarkMetroid567]

There's a hint of desperation to it at the end. Like they are trying too hard to indirectly say WDW is bigger than Universal. IMO, there's a reverse psychology element to it, and it reminds me that Epic is about to open.

A good thing imo about the ad is that it’s generic enough to work without knowing what it’s responding to. You would not think it’s a response to Epic unless you’re familiar with that marketing campaign or are well-versed on the new park in general.

 

[Jrb1979]

Wdw is “bigger” because of the history of how it was constructed and 100 years of Disney brand draw.

What they are doing now…micro charge prices across the spectrum and “island themed” high rise corporate looking hotels wedged in too small a space with astrorurf “lawns”…or a new trailer park…isn’t what got them there.

All empires fall eventually

To me they used to appeal to all ages a lot better in the past. It feels like now it's all about trying to copy a lot of what Universal does but not as good. Thrills they don't go to the intensity as Universal does, and the single IP lands Universal IMO has done it better than Disney has.

It makes no sense to change direction from what has always worked for Disney.

 

[Jrb1979]

Okay fine but there’s nothing I can do about that other than enjoy it as it is now. When I no longer enjoy it I’ll stop going.

The commercial captures why I still enjoy WDW.

Which makes sense as the commercial is less about the rides and attractions but more about the joys the young kids and families get from going.

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

A good thing imo about the ad is that it’s generic enough to work without knowing what it’s responding to. You would not think it’s a response to Epic unless you’re familiar with that marketing campaign or are well-versed on the new park in general.

that's true, but only if one doesn't know about Epic.

There are quite a few ads now for Epic though, so I am wondering what % of (potential) theme park customers don't yet know about it.

We talk here about infrequent customers. If you hadn't been to either property, just based on the ads -would you rather go to a 50-year old park, or a brand new one with the latest technology? There have got to be some people out there who perceive WDW as a park for boomers, while Epic is the hip, new place to go.

Much will depend on how well Universal appeals to families (something for everyone/every age/thrill level),and how well they incorporate the latest technology. As much as a like WDW, Peter Pan's tinfoil volcano is not exactly the most exciting use of modern technology.

Disney has a long list of rides that are now old, that look old and a bit sad.

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

Which makes sense as the commercial is less about the rides and attractions but more about the joys the young kids and families get from going.

Over the holidays, WDW ran another ad that was even more directly saying this. It featured a guy talking to an interviewer in Times Square and he holds up his phone to show a picture of his family posing with Piglet at Crystal Palace.

When my family saw it, we were all like what was that? WDW ran the week before Christmas to try to get people to visit specifically over Christmas week.

That ad sounded a bit desperate. It didn't have any rides, or prices, or deals, just this guy giving a testimonial about his past holiday visits to WDW, but the way the guy talked was needy sounding, like he was desperately trying to get his old girlfriend back for the 4th time.

 

[Jrb1979]

that's true, but only if one doesn't know about Epic.

There are quite a few ads now for Epic though, so I am wondering what % of (potential) theme park customers don't yet know about it.

We talk here about infrequent customers. If you hadn't been to either property, just based on the ads -would you rather go to a 50-year old park, or a brand new one with the latest technology? There have got to be some people out there who perceive WDW as a park for boomers, while Epic is the hip, new place to go.

Much will depend on how well Universal appeals to families (something for everyone/every age/thrill level),and how well they incorporate the latest technology. As much as a like WDW, Peter Pan's tinfoil volcano is not exactly the most exciting use of modern technology.

Disney has a long list of rides that are now old, that look old and a bit sad.

Agreed. It's why IMO you see parks like Dollywood and Universal ranked up there with Disney now. While the legacy fans and fans here still prefer Disney, many average Americans are starting to choose those other parks.

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

Agreed. It's why IMO you see parks like Dollywood and Universal ranked up there with Disney now. While the legacy fans and fans here still prefer Disney, many average Americans are starting to choose those other parks.

Yeah, we'll know in a few months how well Epic lands. If they do it right, it will be a blast.

Hopefully, it will also be a wake-up call for Disney.

The ads for Epic look promising.

 

[Jrb1979]

Yeah, we'll know in a few months how well Epic lands. If they do it right, it will be a blast.

Hopefully, it will also be a wake-up call for Disney.

The ads for Epic look promising.

While I have watched the ads, the different YouTube videos on the info of the parks does a much better job.

 

[Disney Analyst]

I thought it was a cute ad. I know if I was a young kid, and I saw that… I’d be dreaming of visiting.