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

["El Gran Magnifico"]

As apose to the 2-3 days most do now

5 Nights has always been the sweet spot for me at Uni. The rates on property are affordable and the all day Express Pass is nice.

Arrival night at City Walk, 3 days/nights at the 2 parks, 1 day/night spent at the resort (pool, activities, etc.) and maybe another trip to City Walk.

Unrushed, relaxed pace, and no worries.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Let’s be clear: Disney is worried about the perception of the all-in cost of a Disney vacation.

They are also worried - some would so, more fixated - on not leaving any money on the table from their actual or prospective guests.

I think that is a really good summary and probably why they have gone to more of an unbundled approach vs just increasing pricing

Having separate price for LLMP vs just keeping FP+ included but increasing every ticket by $15 ... And then can still say the lowest ticket hasn't increased and that food prices and value results adjusted for inflation are about flat vs 2018, etc

Then look for the big increase to revenue from the premium products

And can understand that thought process especially when they see total revenue for the parks continue to increase and things like LLPP selling out often

But you lower that entry level experience too much and long term it hurts word of mouth, repeat visitors, etc

 

[Disstevefan1]

It's definitely beyond their control, but they would have to respond to this possible loss in some way, right? And as far as your question-yes, yes, yes. I would almost be disappointed if they didn't

Yes, just like this last quarterly report, we know the true reason WDW earnings were down was because skyrocketing prices while lowering offerings but Disney blames hurricanes which is code for the climate crisis.

For the next quarterly report, again we know the true reason WDW earnings were down was because skyrocketing prices while lowering offerings but Disney will blame (you know who).

 

[HauntedPirate]

They are eroding their brand loyalty and simply, they really don't care. They want the guest who comes one time and spends $10,000 - not the guest who comes multiple times a year and spends the equivalent of that. What they fail to see (or simply don't believe it will eventually hurt them) is that those of us that love/loved vacationing at Disney are no longer raving about it to friends and family, and people are more and more frequently coming back from Orlando asking "was that really worth the money?" - That is not a good thing.

No no, CFO Hugh "Verbal Diarrhea" Johnston said Disney wants the rubes first-time guests to develop a habit of coming back. Trust Hugh, he knows what he's talking about.

 

[HoustonHorn]

Ooo, anyone else remember the original Contemporary arcade? Back when it was on the first floor? It was MASSIVE. And you earned tickets and got prizes.

(Last part going away is on the state of Florida, not Disney).

OT, but one of my favorite memories was my dad taking me down to that arcade and playing until the wee hours of the morning and getting a meatball sub while my mom stayed in the room with my little brother. I was probably 8, so around 1985. We also spent time that trip on watersports in the lake.

We stayed at the Contemporary twice in the 80s, both for 5+ days with multiple park days, and some resort days. Which is why, 40 years and a dozen trips later, when the CM at the Contemporary says "Welcome Home," it feels that way to me. It is a nostalgia bomb that I don't get at the other resorts.

My dad was a mobile repairman for Sears, and my mom was a teacher. I can't see a way a family of four with those jobs could have the same experience we did without going into debt or really saving and scrimping for multiple years. So while my parents were able to give us those trips, thus creating a lifelong fan who is fortunate enough to be able to pass that love and those experiences to my daughter, that middle class market just isn't being served in the same way today.

 

[Laketravis]

For the record, I think it will meet the fan definition of success, but not the executive one.

Unless both Monsters Unchained and Ministry of Magic are mediocre, which seems unlikely. Not impossible since their track record on missing the mark on their dark rides is certainly at least 50%… but unlikely. This park was baked in the knowledge that they screwed up some of their other rides and hopefully that was weighing on the development.

I still remember all the hype around "Kong" leading up to it's opening debut. What a disappointment that turned out to be.

 

[Agent H]

I still remember all the hype around "Kong" leading up to it's opening debut. What a disappointment that turned out to be.

I don’t think it’s a horrible ride but it was definitely overhyped

 

[DarkMetroid567]

I still remember all the hype around "Kong" leading up to it's opening debut. What a disappointment that turned out to be.

Yeah, it’s why wait-and-see is the ultimate metric. You’ll never get reports from in-house teams that aren’t glowing — they’re not going to say “oh yeah, my work is trash.”

 

[lazyboy97o]

I still remember all the hype around "Kong" leading up to it's opening debut. What a disappointment that turned out to be.

I think it was though a last hurrah for just bizarre theme park promotion. They had a tie-in episode of Project Runway with Mike West even showing up as a guest judge. I’d love to see the market research that made that happen.

 

[Jrb1979]

Yeah, it’s why wait-and-see is the ultimate metric. You’ll never get reports from in-house teams that aren’t glowing — they’re not going to say “oh yeah, my work is trash.”

A good way to tell is when the Vloggers start putting out videos from the park.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

OT, but one of my favorite memories was my dad taking me down to that arcade and playing until the wee hours of the morning and getting a meatball sub while my mom stayed in the room with my little brother. I was probably 8, so around 1985. We also spent time that trip on watersports in the lake.

We stayed at the Contemporary twice in the 80s, both for 5+ days with multiple park days, and some resort days. Which is why, 40 years and a dozen trips later, when the CM at the Contemporary says "Welcome Home," it feels that way to me. It is a nostalgia bomb that I don't get at the other resorts.

My dad was a mobile repairman for Sears, and my mom was a teacher. I can't see a way a family of four with those jobs could have the same experience we did without going into debt or really saving and scrimping for multiple years. So while my parents were able to give us those trips, thus creating a lifelong fan who is fortunate enough to be able to pass that love and those experiences to my daughter, that middle class market just isn't being served in the same way today.

I feel nostalgic over that place too. I got an awesome AP rate and splurged for one night last month in the garden wing. They upgraded me to the tower. I'm like, whelp, never staying here for this cheap again.

To be fair, life is a heck of a lot more expensive nowadays. Aside from Disney trips, achieving the standard of living that our parents' had is a struggle. The only reason I have the standard of living I do is because I benefit from generational wealth. Yeah, I had to put the work in too, but I would not have my current standard of living without that generational wealth.

 

[mngwdw]

Many view Disney as the best theme park, so why 'waste' money at a 'lesser' theme park destination when you can do something different, like see the world?

Because Disney no longer cares about us.
The prices are outrageous, and the IT department is incompetent

 

[StarWarsGirl]

the IT department is incompetent

That's every IT department...

Spoiler

I'm sorry IT people; I'm just mad at mine today, lol

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

That's every IT department...

Spoiler

I'm sorry IT people; I'm just mad at mine today, lol

Just reboot.

 

[networkpro]

That's every IT department...

Spoiler

I'm sorry IT people; I'm just mad at mine today, lol

Dont be, I'm in Engineering and we laugh at them as well. There's technical and then there's IT

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Just reboot.

I wish, but it's not for my machine. I need them to send me some serial numbers for laptops purchased and their response was "oh, yeah, we have those." That's great. Doesn't help, but good to know...

 

[Jrb1979]

Because Disney no longer cares about us.
The prices are outrageous, and the IT department is incompetent

IMO the bolded has a lot to do with how some view Epic Universe.

I view Epic as the upgrade to IOA, which I'm excited for. Has some of the best coasters and dark rides at Universal Orlando.

I feel those upset with Disney want Epic to be the Universal MK. Full of attractions for all ages and heavily themed attractions

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

I feel those upset with Disney want Epic to be the Universal MK. Full of attractions for all ages and heavily themed attractions

As a long time Disney fanboi, what I really want is to see Disney humbled in a very big way.

Not to the detriment of their future survival but at least to the point where certain execs are delivered a succinct and powerful wake-up call. A point where they have an epiphany and realize that the guest is why they are employed. That their recent behaviors/decisions made at the expense of those guests, may lead to them becoming unemployed.

When we get there, then the parks will be a much better place (and experience).