"What's Next?" presentation December 7th

[WDW1974]

Unfortunately exactly what I thought you meant. Makes me glad I'm moving closer to DL... where the massive and ugly price increases will at least give me a much better product.

DLR is worth the cost (although I just spent three days there for free and that is always the best way to go), but they are pushing the boundaries. The $199 PAP I had a decade ago is now $549. And those will be increasing twice in the next 18 months too.

But if you are just talking about getting quality for money paid, DLR certainly can be justified a lot easier than WDW can.

 

[WDW1974]

Said it before and I'll say it again - ill take any price increase that brings quality back and the end of the endless nickel & diming. May also convince some of the Wal-Mart shoppers that enabled the parks to get to this point to stop going...

I have always been willing to pay for true Disney quality and would still, even in a bad economy.

But I don't think that's really an option. WDW (yes, the pretty new Fantasyland addition nonwithstanding) seems intent on charging more while offering less.

And the Walmart shoppers don't know any better and/or don't care.

 

[WDW1974]

Unfortunately, the Walmart shoppers are paying the price increases too, probably more willingly than you or I... and telling themselves that this is the "high-end family vacation" they've earned, all the while finding the vast cheapness of Disney -- in everything but actual price -- both familiar and comforting.

THIS.

A billion times.

The guests who I would term Walmart shoppers that visit WDW truly have no idea what a high end premium product is, so when they stay at the Poly and get the same towels that guests at the Pop Century motel get, they don't get why that isn't supposed to be. They are a simpler guest.

The type who thinks concrete peanuts in the pavement of Storybook Circus will kill their child who suffers from peanut allergies.

 

[ChrisFL]

They're going to announce a new premium vacation club for DVC members, or as it will be called the DVCVC...the best kept secret in all of the property. Expect special DVCVC resorts to open next to existing DVC ones and promise it will be more "magical".

 

[menamechris]

I just want to repeat that the largest increases in WDW admission in the history of the resort are coming in 2013. Want everyone to remember it (barring something like a depression or terrorist act or something of that ilk that affects business in a huge global sense).

I am guessing passholders will once again take a beating. They hate us after all.

 

[TP2000]

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

Yup.

They have never announced anything "major" at a What's Next media reception.

I bet they'll throw out two or three new sketches of Seven Dwarfs Mine Train artwork, and announce a new afternoon parade for Magic Kingdom for 2013. Plus remind folks they are building a DVC wing at Grand Floridian, there's a new bowling alley coming to Downtown Disney, and maybe announce the Glow With The Show ears from Disneyland are coming out to WDW in '13.

 

[Thrill Seeker]

Whats the over/under on Uni announcing HP2 on dec. 6th or 7th?

I heard in November there is talk of an announcement of something for Universal. Hopefully Transformers, possibly Simpsons expansion, maybe Potter too. With all the projects they have going on, the question becomes when are they going to announce them all and which ones will be announced when or will they be announced all at once? A huge announcement of all three would be quite big. Throw in the rumored Mount Crumpit Coaster and Uni has quite a 2013/14 planned...

 

[RedFurredCadet]

Wonders of Life reopening. Duh.

And with every request, there is pressure.

 

[disney fan 13]

Price increases. On all passes at every level ... some will be VERY ugly.

Let's hope UNI doesn't try to keep up with them this time...

 

[NewfieFan]

THIS.

A billion times.

The guests who I would term Walmart shoppers that visit WDW truly have no idea what a high end premium product is, so when they stay at the Poly and get the same towels that guests at the Pop Century motel get, they don't get why that isn't supposed to be. They are a simpler guest.

The type who thinks concrete peanuts in the pavement of Storybook Circus will kill their child who suffers from peanut allergies.

I'm sure the mom who complained about the peanuts is a very small minority (very, very, small). But aren't we the "Walmart" shoppers? Are we not paying to go to Disney? How are we any different from the general population (who doesn't spend their days on forums discussing cougharguingcough Disney)?

 

[Murphketeer]

Maybe some ideas.
SDMT details
DAK/ Avatar theme moves.
Epcot Test Track
MK Peter Pan upgrade with Nex Gen FastPass
MK Jungle Cruise rework
DHS changes (any speculation)

 

[Atomicmickey]

And with every request, there is pressure.

Um, 69 signatures isn't really any sort of pressure at all.
Even if I signed it to get to 70 (and I don't necessarily think that WOL should reopen, anyway),
you'd need something on the order of, I dunno, conservatively, 100,000 more signatures
or something like that to get anyone's attention, if ever.

 

[M.rudolf]

I'm sure the mom who complained about the peanuts is a very small minority (very, very, small). But aren't we the "Walmart" shoppers? Are we not paying to go to Disney? How are we any different from the general population (who doesn't spend their days on forums discussing cougharguingcough Disney)?

Yes we are all probably Walmart shoppers but that doesn't mean that Disney has to follow the Walmart business plan. We should be getting what we pay for and sadly we aren't. I'm definitely willing to pay more for a better product and so is most of the public. I'm sorry but I don't want or need the equivalent of a great value product at Disney. Disney needs a blend of high end and mid not more bargain basement items and experiences.

 

[NewfieFan]

Yes we are all probably Walmart shoppers but that doesn't mean that Disney has to follow the Walmart business plan. We should be getting what we pay for and sadly we aren't. I'm definitely willing to pay more for a better product and so is most of the public. I'm sorry but I don't want or need the equivalent of a great value product at Disney. Disney needs a blend of high end and mid not more bargain basement items and experiences.

I'm not arguing that at all! I choose to go to Disney because I like a higher quality product for my vacation time. Not everything that Disney does is of high value, no, of course not but as a whole the experience is something not often duplicated (yes, we can argue other Disney theme parks and other theme parks in general have duplicated it). I don't want "Walmart" either! (I'm still not entirely sure what "Walmart" applies to in terms of WDW - the word is used so many ways on these forums that it seems to be the phase for anything somebody doesn't like anymore.)
Would someone care to highlight exactly what is Walmart about WDW? Is it the trend of the same merchandise in every shop (which I agree is sad but it seems there are some unique items making their way back in)? And how does this apply to entertainment and experiences?

My point was if WDW is indeed "Walmart" than are we not all Walmart shoppers (for those of us on the forums that actually visit the place)!?!

 

[RSoxNo1]

Bad? Nah.

Sad? Quite possibly.

I don't think it's gonna happen unfortunately. I hope it's as exciting as the last Chris Beatty chat.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Price increases. On all passes at every level ... some will be VERY ugly.

More extreme than Disneyland?

 

[TP2000]

Does Disney actually read the forums? If so, do they comprehend how the guest are perceiving them? I'd hate to be CEO and read these threads!

The CEO isn't here, nor is anyone above the rank of Vice President. They are busy people and have their own communications team to handle info downloads for them.

There are Disney employees here, but generally just churro salesgirls and ride operators and hotel desk clerks and their supervisors who have no ability to make real decisions or impact any real change. The corporate decision makers didn't get to be decision makers by wasting time on the Internet, like I do.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

More cheese on the burgers, and extra happiness and magic to be issued at turnstiles based on guest weight and nationality.

 

[KCheatle]

Out of curiousity, how long do these press conferences usually last? Is it like a post-game conference with a coach or is it like an all-day deal?

 

[GLaDOS]

Out of curiousity, how long do these press conferences usually last? Is it like a post-game conference with a coach or is it like an all-day deal?

Usually they clock in under an hour.

And it sounds like Universal is getting ready to drop 1.5 billion into their Orlando resort. Things have gotten even more interesting. Maybe Disney really should pull something out of their hat for this.