Very interesting video

[Gringrinngghost]

Todays Disney cares about per capita spending not attendance and if feels like (to me at least) todays Disney does not care about the guest experience in my opinion.

To be fair, that's every business notwithstanding stock buybacks.

 

[Disstevefan1]

To be fair, that's every business notwithstanding stock buybacks.

In my opinion, todays Disney does not worry about attendance for the sake of attendance as a measure of success in their parks like they did in the old days.

It seems their focus now on getting whoever shows up is spending more money while they are there. I think they rationalize, if they can have less people in the parks spending more money, the revenue will still go up at the same time the parks are less crowded, requiring less cast members, lowering their costs and less crowded parks may help the guest experience.

Therefore if they see the attendance slip a few percentage points but the revenue is still climbing, all is well and working correctly.

 

[Goofyernmost]

For most people ANYONE that makes more money than they do they are considered rich. I can't tell you how many people look at me as a long time business owner that say.. Oh you are rolling in the dough.
Anyone can go to WDW if they save, budget and sacrifice for their trip. Yes it's gotten more expensive and knowing that you must save more to afford the trip. But to say ONLY the rich can afford Disney is a fallacy.

I have to respectfully disagree with you. There are many benefits to owning a business when it comes to being able to afford to do things. Basically cash flow! People that survive paycheck to paycheck tend to at least try to keep up with people that are making more money, but it is all a show. They can't! I spent many years trying to put money away, but my kids seemed to get into the habit of wanting to eat on a daily basis. My car required payments, my house required payment, repairs and constant attention. They also were possessed with having clothes that, at least, looked like they were sporting some type of "label". And then there were those pesky medical insurance premiums coupled with co-pays and on and on. The key thing is one cannot save up if there isn't any excess to do that with.

I went to Disney early in the days when it was something that you could aim for if you wanted to go to a place like WDW.
We went probably more often then most, but it was tight and consisted of basically melting credit cards from over use to do it. That, of course, also required repayment after the fact. We budgeted and save up as much as we could for each trip and I'm talking about times the it cost $35 for a three day (all parks) pass. Now it is heading straight to $200 per day per person. For a family of four that alone is $800.00 per day, not counting lodging, food and transportation. With todays cost of housing and utilities and the fact that businesses have been fairly lacking in making sure that the wages they pay their employees a wage that keeps up with the degree of inflation, it is no where close to doable for many more people than ever before. And that isn't even mentioning the charges that Disney has put on actually being able to see all the things they offer. Things that once were covered by the cost of admission.

I owned a business for 14 years and during that time, I also had the cash flow that allowed me to do things that I otherwise would not have been able to do, but even then things could be very tight. Now that I am older and no longer have all those other expenses to the degree they were when my family was young, yes, I can find the money to do those things, but I don't want to because Disney doesn't want average people there. They only want those that are flush with cash and can feed the executive bonus bottomless pot.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Disney doesn't want average people there. They only want those that are flush with cash and can feed the executive bonus bottomless pot.

This!

And for all of the folks who always say we don’t know what Walt would think, I am confident Walt would not like this.

 

[JIMINYCR]

I have to respectfully disagree with you. There are many benefits to owning a business when it comes to being able to afford to do things. Basically cash flow! People that survive paycheck to paycheck tend to at least try to keep up with people that are making more money, but it is all a show. They can't! I spent many years trying to put money away, but my kids seemed to get into the habit of wanting to eat on a daily basis. My car required payments, my house required payment, repairs and constant attention. They also were possessed with having clothes and, at least, that looked like they were sporting some type of "label. And then there were those pesky medical insurance premiums coupled with co-pays and on and on. The key thing is one cannot save up if there isn't any excess to do that with.

I went to Disney early in the days when it was something that you could aim for if you wanted to go to a place like WDW.
We went probably more often then most, but it was tight and consisted of basically melting credit cards from over use to do it. That, of course, also required repayment after the fact. We budgeted and save up as much as we could for each trip and I'm talking about times the it cost $35 for a three day (all parks) pass. Now it is heading straight to $200 per day per person. For a family of four that alone is $800.00 per day, not counting lodging, food and transportation. With todays cost of housing and utilities and the fact that businesses have been fairly lacking in making sure that the wages they pay their employees a wage that keeps up with the degree of inflation, it is no where close to doable for many more people than ever before. And that isn't even mentioning the charges that Disney has put on actually being able to see all the things they offer. Things that once were covered by the cost of admission.

I owned a business for 14 years and during that time, I also had the cash flow that allowed me to do things that I otherwise would not have been able to do, but even then things could be very tight. Now that I am older and no longer have all those other expenses to the degree they were when my family was young, yes, I can find the money to do those things, but I don't want to because Disney doesn't want average people there. They only want those that are flush with cash and can feed the executive bonus bottomless pot.

That's fine, we can disagree.
In life Ive learned that if you want something bad enough you can find a way to make it happen. There are many people living paycheck to paycheck ( We were at that same situation for years when we first started out in business, and it was a struggle) but there are options available. How about getting a part time job? Yes it's going to be difficult finding the time and you will sacrifice family time, but it will bring in much needed money that helps pay the bills and allow more savings. Look at what's being spent on things you really can't afford. Everyone has things that they seem to have but could do without or scale back on...( phones, cable tv, lottery tickets, booze, pot, betting, sporting events, eating out just as a few examples). But they can't see those things as a money burner. They want them but complain they have no extra money at the end of the month.
It's your choice not to go to Disney and you haven't gone in many years. But you could if you wanted to. I know by your many posts that you don't get the pleasure you once did when you had your kids. You don't see the value in paying what has to be paid out. The Disney now isn't the Disney you once enjoyed. That's fine. I'm accepting of that. No one has to be forced to support Disney with their trips.
I agree many corporations are top heavy with execs and staff that drives the costs up because of their salaries and perks. I know the waste that gets poured out that could translate into better costs for park goers if only that was fixed. Yes Disney wants people who have more money to go knowing they will drop more cash on their trips. They are targeted because profits raise faster. But that doesn't mean they don't want non rich folks. They are also spending when they go but unlike those with huge bank accounts, they spend themselves into further debt.
I am getting into discussions with my DW about looking at finances after we return from our May trip and have some serious looks at me retiring and shutting down my business after running it 42 years. We will still want to go to Dis and I'm sure I will find ways to cut back and sacrifice and save to ensure those funds will be there to make return trips. If you want something bad enough you will find a way. Im not saying its going to be easy, it will take will power and making hard choices but it can be done, no matter how bad a persons situation is.

 

[JIMINYCR]

This!

And for all of the folks who always say we don’t know what Walt would think, I am confident Walt would not like this.

I agree with some aspects. I think Walt would not like the direction Disney has taken for some time or some of the things they currently do. I think he would enjoy seeing the growth Disney has taken, how it has expanded and some have made decisions that's keeping it from being taken over. But Walt was a man who knew the realities of running his business, meeting budget, needing to pay his workers, keeping the doors open, dealing with banks and financing projects. He lived and gave his family a good life and wasn't stingy with paying himself. Don't fool yourself into thinking Walt would not want those with money spending it in his parks. Money gives you the opportunity to grow and stay solvent. Walt knew how prices need to be structured and rise to keep up and meet the demands of time. Although he counted on Roy to handle the financials, he wasn't ignorant as to how business functions. His pricing today would have to reflect the industry and business needs and competetiveness to continue functioning no matter how much he felt that the parks should be less costly. Disney isn't a one man show anymore and Walt would have to submit to the will of the company stockholders and business world.

 

[Smiley/OCD]

OMG, you are soooo right…when I owned my business, friends & acquaintances used to think since I owned it, I must “wipe my a**” with $20 bills… they never heard about the sleepless nights trying to figure out how they were going to pay the bill that suddenly arrived, or make this week’s payroll, etc…

 

[Goofyernmost]

OMG, you are soooo right…when I owned my business, friends & acquaintances used to think since I owned it, I must “wipe my a**” with $20 bills… they never heard about the sleepless nights trying to figure out how they were going to pay the bill that suddenly arrived, or make this week’s payroll, etc…

For sure, I owned a Level 4 nursing home. By definition that means that we could not house people with severe illness or disability. Manageable yes, extreme no. That meant people with mental challenges, physical challenges and some elderly that were healthy to a point. That meant we were in reality a Residential Care Home. Their monthly charges were dictated by the state under SSI, and paid once a month at the beginning of each month. We needed 24/7 staffing and if by some chance payday happened to work out so there were 5 payrolls in one month, things got extremely nerve racking, especially if my break even occupancy wasn't reached. On top of that I can't tell you how many times I had to borrow money to pay the matching employee SS payments to the government.

Even had a chest freezer give out while I was in WDW. I had to contact local appliance dealers to supply and deliver and take away the broken one and I would pay them as soon as I got back home. I figure I was a hell of a good salesman. All that conducted on a pay phone over by the bridge to Adventure Land in MK. Yes, I'm that old! No cellphones or ability to just give a vendor your CC number and they could just charge it. Those were some very challenging years. However, it really couldn't be said that I was completely living paycheck to paycheck, but when it was needed cashflow helped me make a one time bonus to the salary I wasn't drawing, hence the reason for the part time job.

 

[JIMINYCR]

OMG, you are soooo right…when I owned my business, friends & acquaintances used to think since I owned it, I must “wipe my a**” with $20 bills… they never heard about the sleepless nights trying to figure out how they were going to pay the bill that suddenly arrived, or make this week’s payroll, etc…

Yup. No one considers the risk you are taking on starting up and running a business. Dealing with financial institutions when you need loans. The worries of where's the $$$ coming from week to week to meet bills is always there. WE got absolutely no help when Covid hit because we were deemed non- essential and had absolutely no money coming in but still had the bills coming in that we were responsible for. Then there's family time that gets sacrificed, personal time not taken, working no matter how bad you feel, taking less of a paycheck when the moneys not there....
Its a struggle but the good side is no ones going to lay me off or fire me, and I make the decisions day to day.

 

[Disstevefan1]

I agree with some aspects. I think Walt would not like the direction Disney has taken for some time or some of the things they currently do. I think he would enjoy seeing the growth Disney has taken, how it has expanded and some have made decisions that's keeping it from being taken over. But Walt was a man who knew the realities of running his business, meeting budget, needing to pay his workers, keeping the doors open, dealing with banks and financing projects. He lived and gave his family a good life and wasn't stingy with paying himself. Don't fool yourself into thinking Walt would not want those with money spending it in his parks. Money gives you the opportunity to grow and stay solvent. Walt knew how prices need to be structured and rise to keep up and meet the demands of time. Although he counted on Roy to handle the financials, he wasn't ignorant as to how business functions. His pricing today would have to reflect the industry and business needs and competetiveness to continue functioning no matter how much he felt that the parks should be less costly. Disney isn't a one man show anymore and Walt would have to submit to the will of the company stockholders and business world.

I guess we are all speculating at this point but I speculate when Walt saw something that needed correction, he was focused on the correction and he depended on Roy to find the money. The legend was Walt and Roy would fight over costs; Walt needed to do or fix something and Roy pushed back because of costs.

I would speculate today’s Disney is run more like Roy would like it to be run and less like Walt would like it to be run, because it’s a publicity traded company and it’s not the guest comes first, it’s the shareholder that comes first.

Intended or not park attendance is dropping and the only way to keep revenue climbing is to keep raising prices.

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

. Everyone has things that they seem to have but could do without or scale back on...( phones, cable tv, lottery tickets, booze, pot, betting, sporting events, eating out just as a few examples). But they can't see those things as a money burner. They want them but complain they have no extra money at the end of the month.

Okay, I decided to let your earlier post go...but what?

Everyone has cable television, regularly buys pot, and gambles?

[Though admittedly, I'd opt to pay my phone bill over budgeting for a trip to WDW. A phone is just a little more of a priority, should one's employer ever need to call. For that matter, many employees now need to a phone just to access their weekly work schedule via the company app.]

 

[Chi84]

Okay, I decided to let your earlier post go...but what?

Everyone has cable television, regularly buys pot, and gambles?

[Though admittedly, I'd opt to pay my phone bill over budgeting for a trip to WDW. A phone is just a little more of a priority, should one's employer ever need to call. For that matter, many employees now need to a phone just to access their weekly work schedule via the company app.]

I think he meant those as examples rather than saying that everyone does all of those things.

 

[Disstevefan1]

In my opinion, everyone has priorities on what they want to use their money one, some are priorities because they are necessaries, electricity, water, and yes broadband. Sometimes I think my family would prioritize broadband over water, LOL.

In my family, today, WDW visits is not a priority we NEED to go to often.

I will admit, the Osborne lights WAS A NEED to visit when it existed, Dreamlights WAS A NEED to visit when it existed.

Today, when a new attraction opens, we have a want to visit, but we are OK to wait for when its right for us. today we are more selective as the costs are very high for what you get these days.

 

[Br0ckford]

Before we moved here, we used to go to WDW every 2.5 to 3 years. We would cut out what we as a family decided we could do without. Eat out only once or twice a month. Did I need the latest phone model, or tablet? AC at 76 instead of 74. Highest speed internet vs a little slower. Cut out Netflix for a few months, I can catch up later. Just little things that helped us save. For us WDW was the priority. The last several years before the move, we didn't go as much, so we upped some of the other "luxuries " we had been going without.

 

[Ayla]

Before we moved here, we used to go to WDW every 2.5 to 3 years. We would cut out what we as a family decided we could do without. Eat out only once or twice a month. Did I need the latest phone model, or tablet? AC at 76 instead of 74. Highest speed internet vs a little slower. Cut out Netflix for a few months, I can catch up later. Just little things that helped us save. For us WDW was the priority. The last several years before the move, we didn't go as much, so we upped some of the other "luxuries " we had been going without.

My netflix cost is less than $9 a month. Cutting it out for a few months would net us a whole $35. That's not getting anyone to WDW.

This is a great example of someone who prioritizes going to WDW over living life.

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

This!

And for all of the folks who always say we don’t know what Walt would think, I am confident Walt would not like this.

No one cares what some dead guy would want or not want. Nor are many people really asking.

Also, if you think the "evil" corporation is out just to make money (which it is, like all corporations as opposed to non-profits) then do you also think they care if their guests are average, above average, below average? Do you think they are concerned with what percentage of their disposable income they are using for a WDW trip.....or do you think they just care that it is being spent?

 

[Br0ckford]

My netflix cost is less than $9 a month. Cutting it out for a few months would net us a whole $35. That's not getting anyone to WDW.

This is a great example of someone who prioritizes going to WDW over living life.

Every little thing adds up

 

[Ayla]

Every little thing adds up

When we had to prioritize where our meager amount of money went, WDW was never one of the categories. Mortgage, car payments, diapers/kids needs, utilities, doctors visits, groceries, etc were the priorities.

 

[Br0ckford]

When we had to prioritize where our meager amount of money went, WDW was never one of the categories. Mortgage, car payments, diapers/kids needs, utilities, doctors visits, groceries, etc were the priorities.

Oh absolutely, agree on every one of those things. Once the important must have basics, such as what you list, and rightly so, are covered, anywhere we could save helped out. WDW was what we enjoyed saving up for. Certainly those important things would take precedent.

 

[Tom P.]

I think what it comes down to is that some people here, for whatever reason, are angry that there are other people who still choose to spend money at Walt Disney World. That's really what it comes down to.