WSJ: Even Disney Is Worried About The High Cost Of A Disney Vacation (gift link)

[GhostHost1000]

In 2024 the experiences segment made up almost 60% of the OI for the Walt Disney Company. In terms of revenue, it was around 48%. The largest single driver of revenue and OI in the segment is Walt Disney World resort.

With Sewage leaks, falling ceilings, ground lights that don’t work, less offerings and higher cost, what could go wrong

 

[monothingie]

With Sewage leaks, falling ceilings, ground lights that don’t work, less offerings and higher cost, what could go wrong

The sad part is it’s the low hanging fruit that could be grabbed that would improve the value equation for guests dramatically with minimal impact to the bottom line.

Bring back magical express.

Eliminate the reservation system for AP holders.

Simplify and streamline lightning lane.

Incentivize guests to stay on property by offering them true perks, a complementary lightning lane reservation, depending on the type of hotel they stay in.

How about daily housekeeping?

Bring back entertainment and parades.

Don’t let the bean counters run your hospitality business. It never works out well.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

Relatable... but after 15 years of having some version of Florida resident annual passes, we've given them up and did not renew.

The cost for a family of 4 has skyrocketed and honestly the joy has been taken out of the parks with the amount of planning and time spent on your phone having to navigate to the next lightning lane or ordering food an hour in advance. I miss the days of waking up in the hotel and asking "what park do you feel like going to today?" and no longer being able to soak the moments in with my family.

We've decided going once a year when Disney offers the Florida resident discovery tickets from January thru May is more cost effective for our family.

I’m extremely interested to see what happens with APs this year, primarily at DL.

I feel like DL has been largely immune to WDWs attendance Issues because so many of their guests are APs, repeat visitors don’t “need” LL because they don’t care if they miss a few rides, DL didn’t have the hotel perks so they didn’t lose ME, luggage delivery, free MagicBands, etc. DL has avoided the pushback largely because most the negative changes were felt primarily at WDW. With the renewal date for most DL APs now come and gone over the last few months my anecdotal evidence is that more than 1/2 of my friends who had DL APs DIDN’T renew them. The prices have gotten too high, too many black out days, and the reservation system too frustrating.

I think last year started to show the cracks at WDW and my suspicion is this year is going to show even worse cracks at DL.

 

[Nobody nobody]

with the constant price increases, everything mentioned in this thread, and although I may be biased as a fan, I also think the whole muppetvision controversy to a minor extent have all worked together to paint the narrative that Disney is out of touch with their guests which I think is starting to grow.

Disney is playing a dangerous game. They seemingly know they are, but the unfortunate issue is that taste of right now, they do not want to put their pride aside to actually fix the issues at hand, only doing continuous band aids. They don’t seem to be working as intended. The cracks are showing, and disney is desperate to not kill the golden goose.

Let’s hope they get desperate enough to green light figment 4.

 

[aladdin2007]

I'd like to see out of touch D'Amaro spend a day in the park like a regular guest and put up with all that guests have to put up with anymore. They may as well just end the passholder program if they are going to keep up the reservation stupidity (minus busy weeks and holidays of course), something needs to get changed. Vahle should have been shown the door in the latest management shuffle but all these yes numbers people keep running the show and things aren't getting fixed. Epcot lights mess, tiana operating disaster, ripping up half the mk for a mud truck rally....and they wonder why people don't want to return not to mention the costs discussion.

 

[ConfettiCupcake]

An Undercover Boss spin off, Undercover Guest, would be my new top Disney+ show if they would do it.

They get a set budget on a preloaded credit card, a list of tasks to accomplish on their vacation, and must either handle all the logistics themselves or can enlist the help of a Disney travel agent - using a fake name. No extra spending of one’s own money allowed, if you’re relegated to hotel iron grilled cheese and coffee pot hot dogs by the end of the week and can’t afford the balloon you were supposed to buy, so be it.

 

[GhostHost1000]

An Undercover Boss spin off, Undercover Guest, would be my new top Disney+ show if they would do it.

They get a set budget on a preloaded credit card, a list of tasks to accomplish on their vacation, and must either handle all the logistics themselves or can enlist the help of a Disney travel agent - using a fake name. No extra spending of one’s own money allowed, if you’re relegated to hotel iron grilled cheese and coffee pot hot dogs by the end of the week and can’t afford the balloon you were supposed to buy, so be it.

Now that is a good way to increase D+ subscriptions

but counter productive as they’d realize that they have to make changes in the parks or spend money so

 

[Ayla]

I mean, this isn't my first rodeo. I knew there'd be a response and what their MO might be.

I think I kept the first 38 pages of that blog post just data and observations about it.

Hard to argue with facts.

You haven't met Tarzan.

 

[Tha Realest]

Epcot lights mess, tiana operating disaster, ripping up half the mk for a mud truck rally....

This is why I’m not enamored of this “$60 billion over ten years” stuff.

First, the “$60 billion” likely includes as line items some of those very things (specifically, part of the Epcot reimagining and the Tiana work). Second, on the horizon I see some needless and costly removals and replacements (Muppets, Rivers of America) that don’t seem to be a wise use of reinvestment. And third - given how poorly those early investments seem to be faring now, it’s not clear all this money and land shuffling will be worth the cost and upheaval in the long run.

 

[Jrb1979]

One thing that seems to get dismissed a lot is those who typically read the WSJ are the ones Disney is after. Look at what many of them have to say about the value and price of a Disney vacation. It's not very flattering let's just say that.

 

[GhostHost1000]

One thing that seems to get dismissed a lot is those who typically read the WSJ are the ones Disney is after. Look at what many of them have to say about the value and price of a Disney vacation. It's not very flattering let's just say that.

I’ve also noticed some vloggers and podcasters have become a little more vocal with negative opinions as well over the last several years.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Everyone knows Bob was running the company when Chapek was in there. Chapek tried to think for himself and lead the company and that’s when Chapek was pulled out on a Sunday night.

Bob was, is, and WILL BE running the company well into the future.

The journalists who interviewed all the players would disagree with you.

Iger did stay on a year past his retirement to deal with the pandemic and closings. (So much for him abandoning ship)

But then he was gone. Gone gone. According to those journalists.

It's funny how people will remember the salacious parts of their pieces, e.g., Iger preventing Chapek from inhabiting the CEO suite, but then there is selective memory, or even -- purposeful cherry-picking -- in which people create a conspiracy story in their head that Iger was still in control during his gone-gone year.

The journalists tell the tale of how the CFO and Board Members had to reach out to Bob because he wasn't in contact with them. He was gone-gone and not pulling strings. That idea has no source. It is all conspiracy.

When Iger came back he had to undo a lot of the restructuring the Chapek did in his absence. If Iger was pulling strings, that restructuring would never have happened.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Hard to argue with facts.

First time in these forums?

 

[Disstevefan1]

The journalists who interviewed all the players would disagree with you.

Iger did stay on a year past his retirement to deal with the pandemic and closings. (So much for him abandoning ship)

But then he was gone. Gone gone. According to those journalists.

I am sure the journalists were told Bob was gone, gone, gone even though he kept his office with shower

Beside that, we should always believe journalists.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

The days of everybody trying to be a tech company so they could be as loved by the market as Netflix are NOT ones I miss.

Iger was scared so $&@less by Steve Jobs he’s spent 15 years trying to become him

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

First time in these forums?

Pot or kettle?

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I was astonished they actually gave a number. You can do a lot with that.

They also notoriously over/under report their research numbers as well…

…you know? Until the SEC raids Bob’s house with tactical gear and confiscates Willow’s Gucci Collection

 

[lentesta]

First time in these forums?

Short-term memory problems aren't all bad.

 

[mightynine]

Short-term memory problems aren't all bad.

Probably a lot of Chiefs fans who are hoping for some today…..

 

[IanDLBZF]

Until the SEC raids Bob’s house with tactical gear and confiscates Willow’s Gucci Collection

That or the FBI issues an arrest warrant.