When a sports team constantly loses and is seemingly neglected by its owners, the fans notice and the support wears off. The die hards stick on, but most people move on for greener pastures.
Then some winning happens, some excitement brews, perhaps the team makes an unexpected playoff appearance to end their decade long drought. Even though the team was a first round exit, that didn’t matter, the team got there.
The next year, there are real expectations, the team makes the playoffs, makes the semi-final game and loses. No one cares, everyone is super excited the team got this far. Sure, would’ve been nice to go all the way, but that’s what next year is for.
And they do. The team is on top of the world. Everyone is happy, everyone is thrilled, people are buying merchandise like crazy, everyone is happy to support their team. Some crazies are even willing to buy dirt from the big game.
The next year the team has a lot of support and continued excitement. The team as a result increases ticket prices, parking, etc. The team makes a late playoff exit and the fans are disappointed.
The next year the prices stay high and the team gets an early playoff exit. Now the fans are annoyed, angry, and frustrated.
I think this hypothetical cycle I have witnessed elements of in both myself and many other people (like my professor who hilariously bought World Series dirt for an astronomically high price after a surprise win) but is now disappointed with even superb performance.
It’s no secret that Disney parks were neglected in the early 2000s, especially after Everest opened in 2006. Really nothing new came to the parks. Attendance was low, profits were low, etc.
Then in 2012, New Fantasyland opened, and while I wasn’t on the forums back then, having something new, anything at all, was very welcome. It showed a lot of potential. It wasn’t the best thing since sliced bread, but it included incredible and beautiful theming. Only if we got more.
In 2017, Pandora opened. An exceptional land with arguably the best simulator in the world, fantastic place making, just overall gorgeous execution by Joe Rhode. Attendance soared at AK. People loved it. Absolute winner. We want more.
In 2018, Toy Story Land opens and people, on here especially, are disappointed by its one-dimensionality and lack of depth. “Is this is?” and “why didn’t they do more?” comes to mind. The land opens without real merchandizing capabilities, but people just want more.
In 2019, Galaxy’s Edge opens featuring Rise of the Resistance (eventually) and Smuggler’s Run. There’s much debate over Galaxy’s Edge, but based on the scope of the expansion, assume this is essentially winning a championship, just perhaps sloppily. This time, though, Disney came prepared to profit off their expansion, announcing something called “Disney Genie” would eventually arrive at the parks, and the plethora of merchandise locations and up-charge experiences available to guests.
In 2020, MMRR opens, covid shuts down the world, etc.
In 2021, Ratatouille arrives to a very warm reception, especially with the creation of its new area, but Disney Genie arrives as well, creating headaches and frustration for all kinds of fans.
In 2022, Guardians of the Galaxy opens.
In 2023, Tron opens.
Guests and general sentiment among the fans are extremely negative at the moment, even surrounding seemingly positive features, and I honestly think we’ve entered a phase where Disney needs to deliver a championship-level win consistently, and not rely on small projects to hold its guests over, especially now that they’re reaping the rewards of past experiments. During the championship times, it’s easy to squeeze the fans and demand championship prices, but failing to deliver on championship expectations while your prices reflect those ambitions, really sours your fan base.
In summary, a bizarre fever-induced connection.
Then some winning happens, some excitement brews, perhaps the team makes an unexpected playoff appearance to end their decade long drought. Even though the team was a first round exit, that didn’t matter, the team got there.
The next year, there are real expectations, the team makes the playoffs, makes the semi-final game and loses. No one cares, everyone is super excited the team got this far. Sure, would’ve been nice to go all the way, but that’s what next year is for.
And they do. The team is on top of the world. Everyone is happy, everyone is thrilled, people are buying merchandise like crazy, everyone is happy to support their team. Some crazies are even willing to buy dirt from the big game.
The next year the team has a lot of support and continued excitement. The team as a result increases ticket prices, parking, etc. The team makes a late playoff exit and the fans are disappointed.
The next year the prices stay high and the team gets an early playoff exit. Now the fans are annoyed, angry, and frustrated.
I think this hypothetical cycle I have witnessed elements of in both myself and many other people (like my professor who hilariously bought World Series dirt for an astronomically high price after a surprise win) but is now disappointed with even superb performance.
It’s no secret that Disney parks were neglected in the early 2000s, especially after Everest opened in 2006. Really nothing new came to the parks. Attendance was low, profits were low, etc.
Then in 2012, New Fantasyland opened, and while I wasn’t on the forums back then, having something new, anything at all, was very welcome. It showed a lot of potential. It wasn’t the best thing since sliced bread, but it included incredible and beautiful theming. Only if we got more.
In 2017, Pandora opened. An exceptional land with arguably the best simulator in the world, fantastic place making, just overall gorgeous execution by Joe Rhode. Attendance soared at AK. People loved it. Absolute winner. We want more.
In 2018, Toy Story Land opens and people, on here especially, are disappointed by its one-dimensionality and lack of depth. “Is this is?” and “why didn’t they do more?” comes to mind. The land opens without real merchandizing capabilities, but people just want more.
In 2019, Galaxy’s Edge opens featuring Rise of the Resistance (eventually) and Smuggler’s Run. There’s much debate over Galaxy’s Edge, but based on the scope of the expansion, assume this is essentially winning a championship, just perhaps sloppily. This time, though, Disney came prepared to profit off their expansion, announcing something called “Disney Genie” would eventually arrive at the parks, and the plethora of merchandise locations and up-charge experiences available to guests.
In 2020, MMRR opens, covid shuts down the world, etc.
In 2021, Ratatouille arrives to a very warm reception, especially with the creation of its new area, but Disney Genie arrives as well, creating headaches and frustration for all kinds of fans.
In 2022, Guardians of the Galaxy opens.
In 2023, Tron opens.
Guests and general sentiment among the fans are extremely negative at the moment, even surrounding seemingly positive features, and I honestly think we’ve entered a phase where Disney needs to deliver a championship-level win consistently, and not rely on small projects to hold its guests over, especially now that they’re reaping the rewards of past experiments. During the championship times, it’s easy to squeeze the fans and demand championship prices, but failing to deliver on championship expectations while your prices reflect those ambitions, really sours your fan base.
In summary, a bizarre fever-induced connection.
