Why Have People Put Up With Disney So Lazy and Cheap?

[ford91exploder]

I have an excuse...I am a Disney apologist with a lot of emotional nostalgia built in, but what's the excuse for everyone else?

I'm frankly shocked that people haven't done more "voting with their wallets" and punish Disney, particularly for the EPCOT and DHS debacles of the last 10 years.

Now I know Universal has seen some nice gains, but Disney still grows their attendance to the point the parks are now almost literally bursting (thanks for not expanding more).

I strongly dislike Iger and his failed model of expansion in other parts of the world, focus on margin, and general auto pilot on WDW. Yet, he has been under watch as Disney World sets attendance records and the stock hovers near all time highs.

How is the consumer so resilient? Perhaps they just don't know what they're missing?

I think its because Disney is now running on the inertia of decades of stellar service and quality and people STILL associate a Disney vacation with those qualities.

The reality is that for the past dozen years Iger has been unwinding that 'quality will out' mindset with one which is based on strictly financial metrics.

We contribute to the problem by continuing to visit the parks and hotels. My last park visit was in 2015 and sold my DVC in 2017.

The only thing that will change disney is voting with the wallet.

That means cancelling your next trip and writing Disney a letter saying why you cancelled trip and that you will not be coming back

 

[Chef Mickey]

I think its because Disney is now running on the inertia of decades of stellar service and quality and people STILL associate a Disney vacation with those qualities.

The reality is that for the past dozen years Iger has been unwinding that 'quality will out' mindset with one which is based on strictly financial metrics.

We contribute to the problem by continuing to visit the parks and hotels. My last park visit was in 2015 and sold my DVC in 2017.

The only thing that will change disney is voting with the wallet.

That means cancelling your next trip and writing Disney a letter saying why you cancelled trip and that you will not be coming back

Even with my strong opinions on Iger, the lack of expansion, closures of my favorites, massive crowds, and the erosion of some aspects of quality, there are still too many positives and too much nostalgia for me to go any less. I still love Disney World.

 

[ford91exploder]

Even with my strong opinions on Iger, the lack of expansion, closures of my favorites, massive crowds, and the erosion of some aspects of quality, there are still too many positives and too much nostalgia for me to go any less. I still love Disney World.

So do I but I can't support any longer what Disney management is doing.

 

[Lou Filerman]

I think the majority of the world doesn’t feel the same way doom and gloomers on this site and many others feel. The internet is for faceless people to complain about EVERYTHING. I for one love the way the company is run. Iger is my hero for growing my stock the way he has. I think the parks are run great and I love what they have planned. THe paying for parking brings them in line with the industry and will help my

 

[TheDuke]

Well, in the case of EPCOT I really don't care what they do with Future World as long as the WS is still there. It would be nice if there was more there, but that's not what I come to EPCOT for.

As for HS, I haven't been in some time and probably won't bother until Star Wars opens. It is currently a mess.

 

[WDWTank]

LOL, anyone notice that the original post is from 2016 and yet here they are in 2018 having meltdowns about the same issues. Oh and hte parks are as crowded as ever so many folks complain.

methinks Disney is not the one with the problem.

Disney World is still AWESOME!!!

Even with my strong opinions on Iger, the lack of expansion, closures of my favorites, massive crowds, and the erosion of some aspects of quality, there are still too many positives and too much nostalgia for me to go any less. I still love Disney World.

Walt Disney World is still my favorite place on Earth!

 

[MrAwesome]

In my opinion, although Disney may now be cheaper than they once were, It still blows any competitor outta the water when it comes to magic, and WDW is my favourite place on earth!

 

[John park hopper]

As an early MK guest (72) I have seen many changes at WDW over the years some good and some I consider bad. Am i still a Disney fan --yes--- but not to the degree I once was. IMO Disney has been overbuilding DVCs and resorts but not expanding the parks to accomadate the increased attendence, at the same time off site hotels have flourished again increasing attendance. My biggest complaint is what used to be all inclusive you are now charged for, attraction wait times at times are on the absurd level. The cost of staying on site IMO has become way over priced for what the deliver. Will I go to WDW in the future probably but it is not my go to vacation. There are far to many other less crowded places to vacation and not have too plan 6 months in advance at what time I have to eat, at what time to ride an attraction etc so I can beat the crowds. As a business Disney is out to make a profit (that is their right) IMO in recent history it seems to be at the expense of it's guests . My advice don't bite the hand that feeds you

 

[eliza61nyc]

As an early MK guest (72) I have seen many changes at WDW over the years some good and some I consider bad. Am i still a Disney fan --yes--- but not to the degree I once was. IMO Disney has been overbuilding DVCs and resorts but not expanding the parks to accomadate the increased attendence, at the same time off site hotels have flourished again increasing attendance

I do agree with this, I wish they would stop with building additional resorts. I think that may come back to bite them in the backside especially with repeat visitors.

It's interesting though as far as planning goes I think for repeat visitors that is really less of an issue. For example I know what my favorite restaurants are and I find as you get older the big popular ones where you really need reservations at 6 months, become less sought after. I'm never going back to CRT or be our guest. those were "do once" type of things for my family. so now even with a 7 day trip we may make 2 adr's at 6 months.

Case in point this time next week I'll be leaving for a 5 day girls trip. I just went on line and put in a dinner reservation for 4 at 7 pm and it brought back 50 availabilities. I went with Boma. never ate there.

 

[Yert3]

TBH I’m not sure what you’re talking about. If this were 2012, then I’d agree with you, for that was WDW’s lowest point ever IMO. Things have gotten better since then, a lot better. To me it’s pretty close to feeling like the old WDW again. Not quite there, but it’s pretty close.

 

[Dutch Inn '76]

Even with my strong opinions on Iger, the lack of expansion, closures of my favorites, massive crowds, and the erosion of some aspects of quality, there are still too many positives and too much nostalgia for me to go any less. I still love Disney World.

Not meaning to pick on you, but...

"Lack of expansion." Recently we've seen New Fantasyland and Pandora; two of the largest land expansions in WDW history. DHS is a mess, but Toy Story Land opens this summer, and Star Wars will be HUGE next year.

"Closures of my favorites." I know, I know, it's tough...but Disney never closes a truly popular attraction. I looooved Mr. Toad. What was always the shortest wait in Fantasyland? Mr. Toad. Honestly, I wonder why Country Bears & Carousel of Progress are still with us. I'll hate it when they go, but it won't surprise me one bit.

"Massive Crowds." Think about that for a minute. Yogi Berra said something to the effect of, "Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded!" It seems to apply here too.

"Erosion of quality." I've been to WDW twice in the last three months, and I see zero "erosion of quality." The cast members were still smiling, the place was still clean, and the experience was still excellent. YES, it is more expensive than it was 25 years ago, but so is everything else.

WDW is still popular because it is still the BEST collection of theme parks in the world, period. Yes, Epcot is diminished. Yes, DHS is too (but should be better soon). Even so, what's better than WDW? <crickets>

 

[Chef Mickey]

Not meaning to pick on you, but...

"Lack of expansion." Recently we've seen New Fantasyland and Pandora; two of the largest land expansions in WDW history. DHS is a mess, but Toy Story Land opens this summer, and Star Wars will be HUGE next year.

"Closures of my favorites." I know, I know, it's tough...but Disney never closes a truly popular attraction. I looooved Mr. Toad. What was always the shortest wait in Fantasyland? Mr. Toad. Honestly, I wonder why Country Bears & Carousel of Progress are still with us. I'll hate it when they go, but it won't surprise me one bit.

"Massive Crowds." Think about that for a minute. Yogi Berra said something to the effect of, "Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded!" It seems to apply here too.

"Erosion of quality." I've been to WDW twice in the last three months, and I see zero "erosion of quality." The cast members were still smiling, the place was still clean, and the experience was still excellent. YES, it is more expensive than it was 25 years ago, but so is everything else.

WDW is still popular because it is still the BEST collection of theme parks in the world, period. Yes, Epcot is diminished. Yes, DHS is too (but should be better soon). Even so, what's better than WDW? <crickets>

And not to pick back at you but...

• New Fantasyland was not nearly enough and we lost Snow White to get 2 so-so attractions and a restaurant.
• Pandora was JUST opened recently and we still don't have Star Wars or Toy Story. WAY too little, too slow. Even after this and EPCOT projects, WDW needs A LOT more expansion. Iger simply waited too long and stood on the shoulders of the geniuses before him.
• No new E-Tickets since Everest (Until Flight of Passage). Full credit for that but nearly every "great" ride at Disney World is pre-Iger
• Both the "major" attractions (Mermaid and 7DMT) are underwhelming.
• Disney needs MORE rides, not less. Mr. Toad never needed to be closed. It's still at Disneyland along with Pinnochio, Alice, and Snow White.
• I love the Disney experience, but show quality HAS eroded, no question about it. Food quality has also eroded, but perhaps slightly less obvious and maybe not full consensus like show quality.
• I have defended the cast members as a remaining bright spot that has never wavered. Excellent service, great character interaction, and the best team in the world for the least pay. No arguing that and I haven't.
• I think prices at WDW are TOO cheap, not too expensive. I support doubling ticket prices to increase the quality and drive people away while maintaining revenues. I'm happy to pay double to reduce crowds by 1/3 and keep Disney's revenue constant.
• Parks ARE too crowded which as eroded the experience on many levels. I've been to WDW going on 100 times and currently have season passes. I absolutely know what I'm talking about here. Raw numbers show MK has essentially doubled in annual visitors but remains roughly the same size besides New Fantasyland.
• I still think WDW is by FAR the best theme park experience in the world. I have season passes and don't bother attending Universal. It doesn't exist to me. I only go to Disney when I'm in Orlando.
• I am a large shareholder of Disney and support the company in full. They have just done a poor job at WDW the last 12 years or so and I'm optimistic it's changing with the new projects they've opened and will open. They still have A LOT of work to do.

 

[Dutch Inn '76]

And not to pick back at you but...

• New Fantasyland was not nearly enough and we lost Snow White to get 2 so-so attractions and a restaurant.
• Pandora was JUST opened recently and we still don't have Star Wars or Toy Story. WAY too little, too slow. Even after this and EPCOT projects, WDW needs A LOT more expansion. Iger simply waited too long and stood on the shoulders of the geniuses before him.
• No new E-Tickets since Everest (Until Flight of Passage). Full credit for that but nearly every "great" ride at Disney World is pre-Iger
• Both the "major" attractions (Mermaid and 7DMT) are underwhelming.
• Disney needs MORE rides, not less. Mr. Toad never needed to be closed. It's still at Disneyland along with Pinnochio, Alice, and Snow White.
• I love the Disney experience, but show quality HAS eroded, no question about it. Food quality has also eroded, but perhaps slightly less obvious and maybe not full consensus like show quality.
• I have defended the cast members as a remaining bright spot that has never wavered. Excellent service, great character interaction, and the best team in the world for the least pay. No arguing that and I haven't.
• I think prices at WDW are TOO cheap, not too expensive. I support doubling ticket prices to increase the quality and drive people away while maintaining revenues. I'm happy to pay double to reduce crowds by 1/3 and keep Disney's revenue constant.
• Parks ARE too crowded which as eroded the experience on many levels. I've been to WDW going on 100 times and currently have season passes. I absolutely know what I'm talking about here. Raw numbers show MK has essentially doubled in annual visitors but remains roughly the same size besides New Fantasyland.
• I still think WDW is by FAR the best theme park experience in the world. I have season passes and don't bother attending Universal. It doesn't exist to me. I only go to Disney when I'm in Orlando.
• I am a large shareholder of Disney and support the company in full. They have just done a poor job at WDW the last 12 years or so and I'm optimistic it's changing with the new projects they've opened and will open. They still have A LOT of work to do.

I keep hearing that folks aren't happy with NFL. What's wrong with it - and what were you expecting? 7DMT is exactly what I expected: a fun family coaster. It's the best ride in the park for littles, and I like it too. Mermaid is what it is: a Fantasyland dark ride in the spirit of the other classics, but better. You left out Storytime w Belle - it's a GREAT attraction. I've had some of the most "magical" times I've ever had at WDW in there with my family. ...and c'mon you know that there was never a wait for Toad. Pooh has one of the longest waits in Fantasyland. ...and the fact that it's at Disneyland is exactly why they felt they could close it at WDW.

We'll just have to disagree that WDW needs "a lot" more expansion. After this, only the front of Epcot will need attention. ...and it doesn't need expansion, just a decision from The Mouse as to what the theme will be and then implementation of that theme over the existing buildings.

Lastly, if you agree that castmembers are still great, then what about show quality could have eroded? Everything else is fixed. I think the "show quality" is as good now as it's ever been.

I can only imagine the howling we would hear on this board if The Mouse doubled the price of admission. I'd just have to stop coming here.

 

[wdisney9000]

Comes down to this, those who have a complaint take the time to type it out either here (which does nothing but give them some sort of satisfaction and is the reason most of us subscribe to the forums), or through a carefully worded e-mail to Disney (which I am speculating contains the phrase "give me a free trip' somewhere in it).

You could not be more wrong.

 

[wdisney9000]

I keep hearing that folks aren't happy with NFL. What's wrong with it - and what were you expecting?

After 7 years of construction I expected more than a cloned attraction, a kiddie coaster and a meet and greet where you hold paper cut outs over your face. They built all of Epcot in less time than it took current Disney to build NFL. I am not saying its bad, but the are capable of so much more.

We'll just have to disagree that WDW needs "a lot" more expansion.

Attraction capacity is absolutely needed at WDW.

 

[wdisney9000]

You dealing with 5 things. First, you are dealing with Nostalgia for Disney some of the guests.

The 2nd thing is you are dealing with new guests who don't know how things were. While I first went to WDW in the early 1990's, I know people outside of the interent that didn't go WDW before the last 10 years

The third thing is there are people who just think there are getting their money's worth at the correct prices and actually think they are getting a bargain. While I don't think the prices at WDW are a bargain, it doesn't mean no one thinks the prices aren't bargains. You shouldn't have problem with people thinking the prices are bargains because you said the current princes at the Magic Kingdom are bargains .

The fourth thing you are dealing with is some parents actually went to WDW once or twice they were growing up, and they actually want their kids to experience being at WDW like they did. I am pointing this out because I know people outside the internet that actually want their kids to experience WDW like they did.

The final thing is you dealing people that actually can't wait any longer for going to WDW due to the amount of years saving for the trip. The best way to put this is I know people outside of the internet that wanted to go WDW for years with their kids, but had to wait for a very long time for going to WDW from a money standpoint.

I just have one question. Do you know people outside of the internet?

 

[Dutch Inn '76]

After 7 years of construction I expected more than a cloned attraction, a kiddie coaster and a meet and greet where you hold paper cut outs over your face. They built all of Epcot in less time than it took current Disney to build NFL. I am not saying its bad, but the are capable of so much more.

Attraction capacity is absolutely needed at WDW.

You're impossible to please if you reduce 7DMT to a "kiddie coaster" and Storytime to a "meet and greet." Really, that's nuts.

 

[wdisney9000]

You're impossible to please if you reduce 7DMT to a "kiddie coaster"

Is it not a kiddie coaster? That does not mean it is a bad attraction. Tossing out a bunch of adjectives (fun, family friendly and enjoyable) does not make it something else. Unless a family is being injured or insulted on an attraction, then its safe to assume its "family friendly". The restrooms in Tomorrowland immerse you in a futuristic, family friendly bowel movement of the future! See, anything can be spiced up with adjectives.

and Storytime to a "meet and greet."

What would you classify it as? You go in, and you meet a character. Granted, the entrance is a bit more elaborate than the average M&G and the character (Belle) tells a short story to spice it up a bit, but it is still a meet and greet. And again, that does not mean it is a bad attraction. My point was only that they are capable of so much more, especially considering how long it took to complete them.

 

[Dutch Inn '76]

Is it not a kiddie coaster? That does not mean it is a bad attraction. Tossing out a bunch of adjectives (fun, family friendly and enjoyable) does not make it something else. Unless a family is being injured or insulted on an attraction, then its safe to assume its "family friendly". The restrooms in Tomorrowland immerse you in a futuristic, family friendly bowel movement of the future! See, anything can be spiced up with adjectives.

What would you classify it as? You go in, and you meet a character. Granted, the entrance is a bit more elaborate than the average M&G and the character (Belle) tells a short story to spice it up a bit, but it is still a meet and greet. And again, that does not mean it is a bad attraction. My point was only that they are capable of so much more, especially considering how long it took to complete them.

"Spiced up with adjectives." Why be such a jerk?

Storytime with Belle is a great attraction. If you don't "get it" maybe you'll enjoy the coasters at Six Flags more. For families with kids under 10, I think Storytime is one of the best at WDW. On top of that, it's unique to Orlando and always has a long wait.

So now you like 7DMT? Good, because it's another great attraction, and it's crazy wait time validates it. My only complaint is that it's a little short, but they only had so much room to work with. My three year old had no problems with it though, because it was his favorite ride in Orlando.

I don't know what else they could have done with NFL. I think it's a great addition, as it's exactly what it needed to be: increased capacity for Dumbo, a new popular restaurant with large capacity, a splash pad, a new coaster that kids can ride, a new dark ride, and a unique interactive attraction.

 

[larryz]

I keep hearing that folks aren't happy with NFL. What's wrong with it - and what were you expecting? 7DMT is exactly what I expected: a fun family coaster. It's the best ride in the park for littles, and I like it too. Mermaid is what it is: a Fantasyland dark ride in the spirit of the other classics, but better. You left out Storytime w Belle - it's a GREAT attraction. I've had some of the most "magical" times I've ever had at WDW in there with my family. ...and c'mon you know that there was never a wait for Toad. Pooh has one of the longest waits in Fantasyland. ...and the fact that it's at Disneyland is exactly why they felt they could close it at WDW.

We'll just have to disagree that WDW needs "a lot" more expansion. After this, only the front of Epcot will need attention. ...and it doesn't need expansion, just a decision from The Mouse as to what the theme will be and then implementation of that theme over the existing buildings.

Lastly, if you agree that castmembers are still great, then what about show quality could have eroded? Everything else is fixed. I think the "show quality" is as good now as it's ever been.

I can only imagine the howling we would hear on this board if The Mouse doubled the price of admission. I'd just have to stop coming here.

It's nice.
It would have been nicer if there could have been a few more rides. 7DMT was a hastily added afterthought.