Wat Would Walt Say

[goofy]

I was just wandering what every1 thought of the mass merchandising by disney. Both at the Parks and any shops in every country u seem to be able to get Disney everything.

I just wandered wat peolple thought Walt would think of all this as i dont think when he planned WDW that he was in it to make Millions and Millions of pounds (or Dollars)

He seemed to do it as it was a dream where as now everything seems to be done to make more and more money

I know its the way life is i just think Disney are loosing the real reasons Walt decided to construct the parks.

Nowadays its "how much will this cost" and how much will we make in profits" wher as walt would overlook the money side of things and see the new rides/parks as a new imagineering challenge not as another way to make money

 

[Maria]

Originally posted by goofy

I just wandered wat peolple thought Walt would think of all this as i dont think when he planned WDW that he was in it to make Millions and Millions of pounds (or Dollars)

He seemed to do it as it was a dream where as now everything seems to be done to make more and more money

Nowadays its "how much will this cost" and how much will we make in profits" wher as walt would overlook the money side of things and see the new rides/parks as a new imagineering challenge not as another way to make money

I agree with you in the motivation fro Walt to make WDW... but I am sure he was not thinking only in challenging imagineerings to build it! I am sure he was thinking of businness! He probably didn´t expect the huge success it has become...or he probably did.....

At the end of the day, amusement parks are a businness too... someone has to make the most out of them with good management or they would go to bankruptcy.

On the other hand, it is us who help this happen.... just check on this board how many times people have visited WDW, the length of stay there, the memorabilia and merchandise they own... amazing!

I would love to see prices going down, of course, but I understand this is all marketing and a huge businness that I really like to visit! I think Walt would be amazed....

 

[Debbie]

I'm with Maria

 

[Dizknee_Phreek]

I see your all's point...it IS business. BUT at the same time, the marketing people at Disney HAS to understand that the economy isn't at it's best right now, so we're all hurting. And Disney is making it harder for working class families to take trips to WDW. The prices at the 'value' resorts are no where near what they were a few years ago. They used to only cost about $70 a night...now I've heard that they're like, what...over $100 a night?! That's not value! It may be for Disney, but for the rest of the US it's ludicris to pay that much for a hotel room. I honestly don't know how my family has managed to keep up going every year to WDW. Somehow we do, but it's a mystery to me. If Disney doesn't chill out with these prices for a while, they're going to end up losing a lot of business, i'm afraid! Doubtfully mine and my family's, but other families who can barely afford to go every few years or so. Now don't get me wrong...I know all prices rise sooner or later, and Disney's no different...but raising the prices at least $30 in a 3 year span? That's ridiculus!

 

[Maria]

You are reinforcing what I just said... Your family visits Disney every year?? Why not changing to another location for vacation?

Don´t take me wrong, I am not attacking anyone, but I am sure Disney knows that people will still be going yearly once or twice or even three times! no matter how much they raise the prices of things there.

I wish I could afford it...but I also like seeing other places that are cheaper and different from Disney. How much could a park change in so little? Not too much for me, unless it was a special celebration like the Millennium or so...

I do love Disney, but I don´t go crazy for it (as you may have noticed...hehe). It´s a huge businness and we all support it!

 

[wdwmaniac]

I think Walt would be happy with the money and theme-parks but be upset with the Disney company in them making Adult movies thought there Touchstones and Miramax. He also would be upset with all the problems with some churches and the all the other problems.

 

[mightyduck]

Originally posted by Maria
You are reinforcing what I just said... Your family visits Disney every year?? Why not changing to another location for vacation?

Don´t take me wrong, I am not attacking anyone, but I am sure Disney knows that people will still be going yearly once or twice or even three times! no matter how much they raise the prices of things there.

I wish I could afford it...but I also like seeing other places that are cheaper and different from Disney. How much could a park change in so little? Not too much for me, unless it was a special celebration like the Millennium or so...

I do love Disney, but I don´t go crazy for it (as you may have noticed...hehe). It´s a huge businness and we all support it!

Maria-

We went every year for close to 10 years. My brother is six years younger than I, and even though we kept saying we would go someplace else, we knew that a Disney vacation meant something for all of us. My brother, sourpuss that he is, would not have been impressed with a city vacation. We live at the shore. Beach resorts bored him. A trip out west bored him. Our last trip to Disney with him, he didn't smile for an entire week (until our last day when I took him to see Muppets 3-D). He was 19 years old then! So while it was expensive, we never managed to see everything...

 

[Maria]

wow.... what a brother!! Next time, rent a movie for him and tell him to stay home! cheaper... hehehe... does he have a girlfriend? just wondering... maybe that is what he needs...

 

[markymark]

I see your point about the merchandising, Goof. But I think that the world is a much different place to when Walt was around. I think if he were around today, he would recognise the need for as much income as possible, sure it may be different to his original vision, but he was disappointed in how DL got surrounded by commercial businesses, and this is why he bought so much land in Florida. I am convinced he would want WDW to keep evolving, and I sure he would realise that a way to help this progression is to raise as much income as possible by merchandising.

Also, it's not like the shops in WDW are tacky like the ones you see on I-Drive.

 

[mightyduck]

Originally posted by Maria
wow.... what a brother!! Next time, rent a movie for him and tell him to stay home! cheaper... hehehe... does he have a girlfriend? just wondering... maybe that is what he needs...

Don't get me started!

I gave the brat (he's 23 now) tickets to join us at a pro baseball game last week when I got home from Disney. He showed up during the 7th inning and when I asked for a snow cone or ice cream, he got up and bought one for himself and sat down and ate it, and refused to get me one! When I tattled to everyone I knew...he claimed he didn't know I wanted one. Weenie. (Mom says I can call him that when he acts that way).

Yes, he has a girlfriend now, and he's much happier when she says he can be.

I look at it this way....thanks to his moodiness, I got a lot of Disney vacations out of the deal! And frequently no birthday cake since we often traveled on my birthday, but that's a whole other set of issues....

 

[goofy]

I just think they go a bit over the top with the merchndising. How can a mother say to her child when they want a mikey teddy or a jumper or a hat or an on-ride photo, or one of those things they sell b4 the light parade that go round and round and have lights on them (they cost 10 ponds).

And this 100 tear thing is it realy to marks Walts birthday or a chance to sell a load of merchandise with 100 splashed all over it like the 2000 we had last year. (thats maybe me being a bit cynical though)

I undersatnd they need to make as much as possible but the merchandise is a bit expensive and when a mother does have to say no the child is no longer hapy and Walt wanted ever1 to be happy.

As for the commercialism as DL some1 mentiond

WDW is comercilaised u have Mcdonalds at Disney Village and 1 near Blizzard beech. A Virgin Megastore, Plant Holywood, Rain Forrest cafe. The hotels which r not run by Disney but are on Disney property. Nearly every Ride has a sponsor. So i think WDW is quite comercilased although maybe no as much as Dl. I dont if the rides had sponsors wen Walt was around.


I understand they need to make money to finance the rides but its supposed to be magical and an escape from everyday life. Bunt instead we r reminded constantly of everyday life and presented with them advertising. We are told of the official Disney Airline,credit card,motor company,ice cream maker, chocolate maker, photo company and many more. How long before we get the official Disney toilet cleaner and offficial Disney Sik bags in the plane on the way home (if they dont already exist)


It seems to me they will make as much as they possibly can and reward themselves for it with large bonuses. If all theses sponsors meant that tiket prices would be lower that would be accebtable but instead they keep gattting more sponsors and keep raising tticket prices.


Dont get me wrong I love Disney i think its amazin i just think its loosing the magic and becoming like every other theme park!!!!!!!!!

 

[FutureCEO]

They need to keep on with Walts Dream. Walt wouldn't like what he sees now.

 

[markymark]

I hear what you are saying but I really dont think you can say that Downtown Disney is similar to Anaheim. At DD it is Disney who is controlling which stores come in and out. It is an area where Disney decide who comes in, plus it is no where near as garish or tacky as the top of I-Drive.
I realise that going to WDW is an expensive thing anyway, I dont have kids so the expense is only for the two of us. I doubt I could afford to go every year if I had to pay for kids too.
Believe me I am not disagreeing with you about the merchandising, it gets on my nerves sometimes that every time you leave a ride you are steered thru a shop, and as I said perhaps as it is only 2 of us, we have no problem going thru the shop without wanting something, I am sure it is not that straight forward with kids.

I still think that the fact that WDW was Walts dream, he would have accepted the fact that merchandising is a means to an end. If you consider that amount made from movie merchandise each time a Disney movie is released. Would Walt have hated this? There is no real difference when you consider that movie merchandise is used to coin in more cash for the company, and I am sure that Walt could have never imagined all the sales opportunities when releasing a movie.

 

[The Mom]

Just my humble opinion here. I also hate the increase in gift stores at the parks, and to a lesser extent the Disney stores. They're nice for folks that can't make it to the parks, but make it harder to find a truly special souvenir to bring home. Yes, it is difficult to drag kids by all of the overpriced goodies; I'm fortunate that mine are getting beyond that stage, and quite honestly, money is not a major issue, but curbing greed is.

There are also hidden expenses in running the parks that didn't exist during Walt's lifetime. Lawsuits, ADA modifications, and environmental concerns come to mind. I don't know if WDW would have been built if Walt had to face today's regulations.

The decrease in attendance as the US economy softens may be an indicator that the prices can't keep going up. I agree that it is a shame that the average family must scrimp & save to go to the Disney parks, but just maybe that will make guests appreciate them more. (or make them feel like they've been ripped off!) Now, if everyone could afford to go, we'd really be complaining about the crowds!

 

[FutureCEO]

Originally posted by marciahahn
Just my humble opinion here. I also hate the increase in gift stores at the parks, and to a lesser extent the Disney stores. They're nice for folks that can't make it to the parks, but make it harder to find a truly special souvenir to bring home. Yes, it is difficult to drag kids by all of the overpriced goodies; I'm fortunate that mine are getting beyond that stage, and quite honestly, money is not a major issue, but curbing greed is.

There are also hidden expenses in running the parks that didn't exist during Walt's lifetime. Lawsuits, ADA modifications, and environmental concerns come to mind. I don't know if WDW would have been built if Walt had to face today's regulations.

The decrease in attendance as the US economy softens may be an indicator that the prices can't keep going up. I agree that it is a shame that the average family must scrimp & save to go to the Disney parks, but just maybe that will make guests appreciate them more. (or make them feel like they've been ripped off!) Now, if everyone could afford to go, we'd really be complaining about the crowds!

Too many shops, take the village marketplace which is a big mall disney and now that have disney stores at every mall in the USA and other counrties. At the end of rides to..like Test Track and Rockin Rolling Coaster they have a place to shop and buy photos. They have it at almost 50% of the rides plus Disney Marketplace and stuff. I bought a 2000 snow globe for like $65, thankfully i had some Disney dollarsleft over from like 6 years ago. But come on if you bought at least 2 snow globes it would mean $120.

Disney's hotels are an average $150 per person for a night. You can't have people to go to the Grand Floridiaan everytime unless their rich like Bill Gates. The parks are like $40 or more. Six Flags New England was is in massachusetts is more money to attend than all of Disneys. People are going to regional parks instead of going to Disney, Universal, Busch or Sea World because gas prices are like $1.50 and so people don't want to spend much on gas after all your sspending like $40 on just stupid gas. Gas is going to run out in a few years anyway.

Sorry for preaching

 

[FutureCEO]

i forgot about the enivornment thing, START WALKING PEOPLE BECAUSE ITS ONLY GONNA GET WORSE. Buses should be demolish and monarials should expand because so Disney says that monarials are safe for the enviroment. Thats Bush rejected a plan that would reduce CFC's. It would definely hurt car makers and sellers.

 

[Tink]

Originally posted by goofy
How can a mother say to her child when they want a mikey teddy or a jumper or a hat or an on-ride photo, or one of those things they sell b4 the light parade that go round and round and have lights on them (they cost 10 ponds)...

I undersatnd they need to make as much as possible but the merchandise is a bit expensive and when a mother does have to say no the child is no longer hapy and Walt wanted ever1 to be happy...

A parent is not obligated in the Parenting Handbook to buy everything that a child wants to keep them happy. Parents that do this, at WDW or anywhere else, will end up with unhappy children in the long run. I have found that if you don't have the money (or inclination) to satisfy your child's every desire and tell them that they may get one or two special souvenirs, those few items they choose will have more significance to them.

 

[Tink]

Originally posted by goofy
...And this 100 tear thing is it realy to marks Walts birthday or a chance to sell a load of merchandise with 100 splashed all over it like the 2000 we had last year. (thats maybe me being a bit cynical though)...

...I understand they need to make money to finance the rides but its supposed to be magical and an escape from everyday life. Bunt instead we r reminded constantly of everyday life and presented with them advertising...

...It seems to me they will make as much as they possibly can and reward themselves for it with large bonuses. If all theses sponsors meant that tiket prices would be lower that would be accebtable but instead they keep gattting more sponsors and keep raising tticket prices.

Dont get me wrong I love Disney i think its amazin i just think its loosing the magic and becoming like every other theme park!!!!!!!!!

1. I think a lot of us would be DISAPPOINTED if we went down there and there wasn't new merchandise to buy for the 100 year anniversary of Walt Disney's birthday. I am looking forward to shopping. Typical girl, I guess .

2. I feel like Disney World still is an escape from "everyday life". I don't know about you but my everday life does not include monorail rides, dropping 13 floors in an elevator, feeling like a kid, etc.

3. Imagine what ticket prices would be like without the sponsors!

4. No other park will ever come close to Walt Disney World (except the other Disney parks!).

 

[Tink]

Originally posted by wdw24557
They need to keep on with Walts Dream. Walt wouldn't like what he sees now.

I think Uncle Walt would be happy to know that there are still people interested in his wonderful dreams.

 

[Dizknee_Phreek]

Originally posted by Tink


1. I think a lot of us would be DISAPPOINTED if we went down there and there wasn't new merchandise to buy for the 100 year anniversary of Walt Disney's birthday. I am looking forward to shopping. Typical girl, I guess .

2. I feel like Disney World still is an escape from "everyday life". I don't know about you but my everday life does not include monorail rides, dropping 13 floors in an elevator, feeling like a kid, etc.

3. Imagine what ticket prices would be like without the sponsors!

4. No other park will ever come close to Walt Disney World (except the other Disney parks!).

VERY opptomistic views, Tink!! And I agree with them all!! And the thing about the ticket prices without sponsors....very true!!!