Just finished listening to Len's appearance on the Tomorrow Society podcast. Huge fan of Len, Touring Plans, etc. As always, tons of great insight from Len. But this episode left me feeling depressed about where WDW is headed. Between monetizing wait times, not building new attractions, low value of cast members and guests, and just an overall dismal view of park operations, it was tough to hear. I try to be positive but not idealistic about my love for Disney, but yikes. Is this really where we are headed? Definitely recommend you give it a listen, but brace yourself.
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Theme Park Think Tank with Len
- Thread starter DisneyDave71
- Start date
"El Gran Magnifico"
Mr Flibble is Very Cross.
It's been heading this way for a long time. No surprises.
Poseidon Quest
Well-Known Member
Haven't listened to the podcast, but I take the point. We all here see the major issues with the parks and how Chapek is the single consistent factor in their decline. Ultimately, I think Disney can keep doing what they're doing because there's this weird cultural phenomenon where people come regardless of quality. The parks ride off of a reputation that is long gone and the rubes just eat it up.
That being said, I think Disney will manage to find itself in trouble within the next few years. The narrative keeps shifting towards more enjoyable Universal vacations, and when Epic Universe opens and continues to expand with a slate of new hotels, I have a feeling Disney is going to lose a lot of market share. Inevitably, the company will have to either change course or just simply continue to lose out.
That being said, I think Disney will manage to find itself in trouble within the next few years. The narrative keeps shifting towards more enjoyable Universal vacations, and when Epic Universe opens and continues to expand with a slate of new hotels, I have a feeling Disney is going to lose a lot of market share. Inevitably, the company will have to either change course or just simply continue to lose out.
JIMINYCR
Well-Known Member
Unfortunately weve seen a turn around for quite a few years in how Disney views guests and how to bring magic. But its not just Disney. Look at a majority of corporations and businesses and you can see a deterioration of how not only customers but staff are treated. Its all about the bottom line and bringing in the dollars. I worked for a company that was successful because of the quality they brought to what they produced. Once their reputation got them to the top of their industry, they started viewing quantity of numbers as being the most important factor, customer satisfaction dwindled and the product no longer was what it once was. Once upon a time the customer drove the company and your goal was to satisfy. Now its very opposite.
skypilot2922
Well-Known Member
It's all a side effect of the Wall St casino and stock based compensation for executives and the fact that executives are not required to actually hold the stock for say 5-7 years before being allowed to sell it. If that single change was made there would be huge changes in corporate governance.
skypilot2922
Well-Known Member
Here's the problem Disney took the wrong lesson from the success of the Wizarding World, They thought they could simply roll out the biggest movie box office smash i.e. Avatar and that was the answer to the Wizarding World.
They never realized that the Wizarding World was a totally immersive and interactive environment and that Potter fans could cosplay in the space which only added to the ambiance. Plus your wands actually work and can trigger special effects. Of course ex-Disney imagineers built the place. Even the food offerings there are what one would find as pub food in the UK, Every element reinforces the other. Disney USED to know how to do this. Instead they are copying Universal in the 'ride the movies' department and failing miserably at it.
Poseidon Quest
Well-Known Member
I think we're definitely in agreeance here. Granted, while Pandora does lack the interactive element of The Wizarding World and Super Nintendo Land, I still think it's a really solid addition to Animal Kingdom because of the leadership of Joe Rohde on the project. It's the right addition for the park, but for the wrong reasons.
I think where Disney truly failed is with Galaxy's Edge though. That in itself also displays a true lack of understanding of their competitor, but has no creative people to save it.
skypilot2922
Well-Known Member
skypilot2922
Well-Known Member
The real problem with SWL is twofold it was designed with interactive streetmosphere which of course the bobs stripped away, Second Batuu has no cultural resonance. I’m told the rides are great but i have no interest in visiting a bombed out wasteland.
Had they built Mos Eisley spaceport and a BIG cantina the noisier the better. They then could have say used the Star Tours sims for a trip to Batuu like the Hogwarts express between diagon alley and hogsmeade
Had they built Mos Eisley spaceport and a BIG cantina the noisier the better. They then could have say used the Star Tours sims for a trip to Batuu like the Hogwarts express between diagon alley and hogsmeade
Kingoglow
Well-Known Member
I don't think this is fair. Unless we are choosing to ignore RotR, Guardians, Remi, Runaway Railroad and Tron (plus Avengers Campus).
But ya, F all that, right?
Edit: Sure, MMRR, Galaxy's edge and Guardians replaced(ish) existing attractions, and Tron removed a couple hundred feet of Speedway, but still...
Andrew25
Well-Known Member
They have added new rides, but that's not until recently. DHS received it's last E-ticket in 1999, it wasn't until 2019 we received a great, but broken, E-ticket. (Toy Story Mania and the Falcon are not E-Tickets)
Tron is the latest E-Ticket at the Magic Kingdom... the last one was Splash Mountain. (Will also have very poor capacity compared to what they should be building with the attendance MK receives.)
Animal Kingdom was a park built poorly (in terms of attractions) since the start, especially for children.
Also is Tron truly as great as people say it is? It's only about a minute long with multiple brake runs and simple helixes.
It’s fair. 3 of those are finished so what’s next?
Beacon Joe
Well-Known Member
Thanks. I always enjoy hearing Testa's thoughts and analysis.
Edit to add: Oh, man, I just finished listening. That was depressing.
And I share Len's dismay over whoever approved those awful barges. After ruining the appearance and theme of Future World by inserting a massive and thematically nonsensical comic book ride which also makes Spaceship Earth look like crap, they then doubled down on the destruction by ruining the lake and view of the World Showcase.
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tentaguasu
Member
I thought you might be exaggerating about the podcast being depressing. People are *always* complaining about Disney going downhill and I've never really seen it.
But I just listened.... it was very depressing.
But I just listened.... it was very depressing.
Yeah, I try to stay away from the daily criticism. My kids have literally grown up in the parks. We still love the magic so much. Maybe the changes will be fine and I’m just resisting change.I thought you might be exaggerating about the podcast being depressing. People are *always* complaining about Disney going downhill and I've never really seen it.
But I just listened.... it was very depressing.
I agree, and we are super excited about the new attractions. I didn’t word it properly - it was in reference to Len‘s comments in the podcast that if wait times are monetized there would be less incentive to build new attractions in the future.
"El Gran Magnifico"
Mr Flibble is Very Cross.
The thing is a lot of us have gotten to a point (me included) - where we still love the place - but we aren’t particularly fond of the company who is running it.
Its kinda like being a diehard fan of a particular sports team - and recognizing the owner, GM, and coach are absolutely worthless. But you still wear the colors on game day. Then curse at all the bad decisions the day after
Its kinda like being a diehard fan of a particular sports team - and recognizing the owner, GM, and coach are absolutely worthless. But you still wear the colors on game day. Then curse at all the bad decisions the day after
Couldn’t agree more. The more successful Universal is the more Disney has to stay on its toes. Better for all of us.