What does "lessons learned" even look like?

britain

britain

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Ok, so many of us think that WDW has been making bad decisions over the past 15 years, and the past 5 have accelerated in awfulness.

The last time something like this happened, Disney made a lot of hay over how "DCA needed a soul, needed more immersion, yada yada." They won't do things like 'apologize' but they can make a lot of gestures to indicate that they hear the public loud and clear, and they are changing course.

As a thought experiment, I'd like to ask what would need to happen for the current administration to truly see they've gone astray, and what would they need to do to clearly demonstrate they're changing course? And it has to be realistic (They aren't going to put the ROA back).

I ask because I'm not really sure we know what to hope for. Maybe more things like the entrance to Epcot and TT 3.0: It says "We still need to maximize profits, but we miss old Epcot too."

What else could they do?
 
T

Trauma

Well-Known Member
britain said:
Ok, so many of us think that WDW has been making bad decisions over the past 15 years, and the past 5 have accelerated in awfulness.

The last time something like this happened, Disney made a lot of hay over how "DCA needed a soul, needed more immersion, yada yada." They won't do things like 'apologize' but they can make a lot of gestures to indicate that they hear the public loud and clear, and they are changing course.

As a thought experiment, I'd like to ask what would need to happen for the current administration to truly see they've gone astray, and what would they need to do to clearly demonstrate they're changing course? And it has to be realistic (They aren't going to put the ROA back).

I ask because I'm not really sure we know what to hope for. Maybe more things like TT 3.0: It says "We still need to maximize profits, but we miss old Epcot too."

What else could they do?
Click to expand...
Cancel cars land in its current location and build it somewhere else.
 
D

DisneyHead123

Well-Known Member
I actually think they are course correcting already. I like a lot of what they’re doing on the cruise ships, Beak and Barrel and the new parade look great, I think adding more extensive pool features to the new DVC is a great idea, I think the AK changes look very promising, etc.

The areas where I disagree would be largely:

- The Cars rides. I think they should replace like with like. The riverboat was charming, quaint, historic Americana… Cars are wacky, cartoonish (in a fun way, but still), “in your face” - the vibe mismatch is too big. It’s like putting an arcade (a tasteful arcade, but an arcade) in Williamsburg Virginia. It should be something like French Quarter, Coco’s Village, heck just call it “The Enchanted Woods of Marceline” and put whatever merchandise-able stuff they want with the idea of it being a woods where Walt might have walked and dreamed as a child.

- I’m not a big fan of the minimalistic design at the new resorts, although admittedly it seems to sell well.

- Minor point but they need to make the pricey new Magic Bands worth it. Thus far they’re way more expensive and cause endless technical issues so that we can see them light up once in a blue moon? They need to do something that’s interesting or else go back to the old ones and sell wands like Universal.

Again, though, on the whole I think they’re doing a lot of cool things.
 
TheMaxRebo

TheMaxRebo

Well-Known Member
They would need a lot of feedback from a large contingent of guests (beyond just the segment that posts on message boards) around specific changes and that it is costing them money. They saw that with Harmonious (from guests and restaurants, etc) and they adjusted.

But I don't expect them to see that with most of the changes announced. For example, outside of boards like this I know way more people excited for the changes with Cars coming and replacing the river than upset by it.

So when they feedback from the typical guests is positive I've and they make more $ that will tell them the path they are down is correct

So no, I don't see them "course correcting" as they don't need to for most things
 
rd805

rd805

Well-Known Member
To me - it is a clear momentum in terms of the newer attractions, and never going a year without something major opening up. They have some great projects in the works, but as always they've been announced for a long time and we are still minimally 2-5 years away before seeing any of it.

I want faster visible construction, and then an announcement for the next 3ish attractions that should be in the works: SGE replacement, combo that with the new attraction in Laugh Floor, Animation Courtyard total revamp, new WS attraction, replacement for Mission Space, Figment update & retelling, SSE actual update.

There is room for so much even beyond what is happening now - WOL attraction, Indiana Jones Stunt Show or Star Tours retheme?!
 
FiestaFunKid

FiestaFunKid

Well-Known Member
Try to maintain some semblance of cohesive theming within the individual parks, rather than continuing down the current path of one giant indistinguishable WDW experience.

While they need to continually innovate, they should value the nostalgia factor for the great asset and draw it is. If squandered, they will lose a significant differentiator from fans perspective, contributing to their advantage over Universal
 
Epcot82Guy

Epcot82Guy

Well-Known Member
My main things would be:
1. A great return to the parks and lands having a unique, cohesive (within themselves) identity. I'm not delusional to think they were always perfect. There were lots of exceptions. But, things simply don't fit today. (With notable exceptions, of course.)

2. Pay more attention to sightlines and external details. (Something I would ask of Universal as well.) Things like Island Tower, Big Blue Box, Skinliner and Riviera from Epcot (especially RR at night), Tron's box, etc. Again, there were always lots of examples of this not being perfect. But, they just cared more.

3. Get rid of the IP mandate. I have no issue with it being 2:1 or 3:1, but have some originals, especially for DAK and Epcot. Or, at least make a commitment to preserving originals and using them well. Right now, I live in constant fear of every park-specific IP I loved being ripped away. And, that's what made me love Disney Parks.

If we're talking specific examples, I want to see good storytelling and evolution - not just rip and replace with popular IP:
1. Announce an IMAG "modern restoration". Same original story. (Put the Dreammobile in a pre-show, as I know the carousel track is done. Board in the Dreamport. Do something.) But, give me modern technology to tell the original story with a remastered original soundtrack.
2. Reanchor Epcot in the real world. Character adds are fine. But, they need a story that ties it to the country or location. That includes adjustment of the stories for FEA, Guardians and Remy.
3. Adjust the ROA plans. (No way it's happening, but dreaming...) I'm ok with the idea, but keep some of the river and a docked, repurposed boat and push the Cars things beyond Big Thunder. Walk way back around to HM is fine.
4. Replace massive unused locations before ripping out other attractions! Looking at you Animation Courtyard, WoL, AE/Stitch, unused restaurants. And, really make an effort to make those adds fit the story of their respective areas. (Maybe not Animation Courtyard, as that could be a large redevelopment.)
5. Put Muppets 3D back into Sunset Showcase when that area finally connects to Animation Court. It pains me to say, but I think having a grand "relaunch" after it's gone for a year or two would have a strong effect.
6. Get rid of the stage and add a water feature to Celebration Gardens.
 
Bocabear

Bocabear

Well-Known Member
DisneyHead123 said:
- I’m not a big fan of the minimalistic design at the new resorts, although admittedly it seems to sell well.
Click to expand...
But do you think if the new resorts were beautifully themed they would not sell? or they would sell less? I think Disney built their brand on thematic immersion...especially with the resorts... It was a unique vacation experience to choose a fantasy location on your WDW trip... Stay is a different one each visit... If they are all basically a Radisson Hotel, seems like it would take a lot of the uniqueness and fun out of the equation....
I can't imagine anyone complaining about the Wilderness Lodge, AKL or the Polynesian that they would prefer a normal Marriott hotel or Fairfield Suites...
I think the audience has always been in love with WDW's themed resort experiences....
 
Epcot82Guy

Epcot82Guy

Well-Known Member
Bocabear said:
But do you think if the new resorts were beautifully themed they would not sell? or they would sell less? I think Disney built their brand on thematic immersion...especially with the resorts... It was a unique vacation experience to choose a fantasy location on your WDW trip... Stay is a different one each visit... If they are all basically a Radisson Hotel, seems like it would take a lot of the uniqueness and fun out of the equation....
I can't imagine anyone complaining about the Wilderness Lodge, AKL or the Polynesian that they would prefer a normal Marriott hotel or Fairfield Suites...
I think the audience has always been in love with WDW's themed resort experiences....
Click to expand...

That's a really great point. I think Disney really threw the baby out with the bathwater there. The complaint was that the rooms felt dated and not up to modern standards. I think SOME of the room interiors fixed that. But, you could easily have a general resort that transports you with modern, yet themed rooms. It doesn't mean they need modern decor. Rather, they can be up to modern hotel standards but still give call to where they are trying to be. There are many rooms in cities like London that are from a classic decor perspective. But, they feel both classic yet updated at the same time. There is no reason Disney couldn't do the same. And, I would argue they've demonstrated that in some rooms (like Beach Club Villas and GF Villas).
 
D

DisneyHead123

Well-Known Member
Bocabear said:
But do you think if the new resorts were beautifully themed they would not sell? or they would sell less? I think Disney built their brand on thematic immersion...especially with the resorts... It was a unique vacation experience to choose a fantasy location on your WDW trip... Stay is a different one each visit... If they are all basically a Radisson Hotel, seems like it would take a lot of the uniqueness and fun out of the equation....
I can't imagine anyone complaining about the Wilderness Lodge, AKL or the Polynesian that they would prefer a normal Marriott hotel or Fairfield Suites...
I think the audience has always been in love with WDW's themed resort experiences....
Click to expand...

I honestly don’t know. I’m in the highly themed preferring camp myself, but Millennials sure do love their minimalism.
 
MaryJaneP

MaryJaneP

Well-Known Member
Maybe we are the only ones here that think IP can be appropriately used (minimally) to enhance (to improve, not to detract) the theme of a resort and the rooms. The converse is, of course, jamming "Incredibles" into Contemporary rooms. YMMV
 

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