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

hopemax

hopemax

Well-Known Member
WDW used to be like the #1 Honeymoon destination in the US. Not exactly for kids, is it? This was common knowledge in the 90s and 00s. It’s part of what drove the nice dining and amenities at Deluxe resorts, the golfing, entertainment at the Boardwalk and Downtown Disney, etc. If you say Disney and Honeymoon now, people think you’re a fan, and not it was just what people thought of because Europe and Hawaii were less accessible.
 
Agent H

Agent H

Well-Known Member
flynnibus said:
Well in the 80s, the Polynesian offered a cool unique pool slide... a beach... boats... a kids club... snack bar... and monorails at the curb to reach both parks.

Now... it offers a bar you can't just goto adhoc... a pool... monorail to two parks and buses to everywhere else.
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Minus the kids club does it not still offer all these things?
 
flynnibus

flynnibus

Premium Member
Agent H said:
Minus the kids club does it not still offer all these things?
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Beach is only for walking on... the boats are dinosaurs compared to what kids experience anywhere else today... snack bar is more pool side service now.. and you'll ride buses more than you do a monorail.

The point is it's not really all that unique anymore nor particularly appealing to youth.
 
ConfettiCupcake

ConfettiCupcake

Well-Known Member
Bottom line IMO is nobody or very few are booking a resort where the entry level rooms are in the range of like $700-1k a night (rack rate) because their kids really like it. They built this empire on first and foremost adults enjoying themselves and wanting to come back. Some are adults bringing children, some aren’t.

If they manage to erode at that, that’s a problem.
 
Agent H

Agent H

Well-Known Member
flynnibus said:
Beach is only for walking on... the boats are dinosaurs compared to what kids experience anywhere else today... snack bar is more pool side service now.. and you'll ride buses more than you do a monorail.

The point is it's not really all that unique anymore nor particularly appealing to youth.
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Yes I’m sure kids are so sad that they can’t swim in the alligator infested water.
 
Agent H

Agent H

Well-Known Member
flynnibus said:
Fun fact... I learned to water ski at WDW as a kid... and survived to tell the tale.

We also enjoyed River Country... w/o fear of snakes or gators.

Maybe recognize what you know of the world now.. isn't what it always was.
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It was cool back then and I’m glad it existed so kids like you could make memories like that but I think we all know that there would be significant user errors if you could still do it today.
 
D

DisneyHead123

Well-Known Member
James Alucobond said:
Part of the problem is that, even for older children, there is more “required” adult participation. When my siblings and I were old enough to do so, my parents just turned us loose in the parks and told us to circle back at meal times. Now, with arrival windows for restaurants and attractions, the purse strings attached to pre-bookings you might have, etc., it’s a lot more difficult to let go. Paper FastPass was really the last time the parks facilitated an approachable experience for families that wanted to split up and do different things.
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I agree splitting up isn’t really a thing anymore but I think that’s more changed cultural norms than anything. I think kids have to be 14 before they can be alone in the parks.

I will say on the cruise lines I think Disney invests heavily in the kid’s club for this very reason. Drop the kids in the holding pen - er, kid’s club - so mom and dad can check out the Haunted Mansion lounge.
 
Minnesota disney fan

Minnesota disney fan

Well-Known Member
Chi84 said:
The people who are nostalgic for the parks when they started are pretty old now. Their kids can’t afford to take their families. So what place will nostalgia have down the line?
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You hit the nail on the head. We went to WDW with our kids because we were nostalgic for the Disney we watched as kids. We waited each week to watch Wide World of Color and the Mickey Mouse Club.
The kids enjoyed it but I don't think even they knew too much about Mickey. They just loved the rides and atmosphere, and of course, the pool, LOL. They took their kids because we had taken them and had such a good time.
Now that the "grandkids" are grown with kids of their own, Disney is not even on their radar. My grandsons like Mario and other newer cartoon characters. The world has grown so much due to the internet that there is a wide variety for them to access. We only had WDW and Mickey Mouse Club with our 3 channels. So Disney has to contend with all this.
 
Agent H

Agent H

Well-Known Member
TheMaxRebo said:
Adults too as we get reminded every episode how we suck as parents compared to a couple of dogs
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Don’t worry your just adulting!
 

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DonniePeverley

DonniePeverley

Well-Known Member
mngwdw said:
I guess you are successful then in keeping me away :(
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Why are you being kept away ?

Disney is a business. It's not a back garden and nice landscape for locals to pop in day in day out to relax. It's a theme park that relies on tourists, international visitors who will spend money on hotels, merchandise, tickets for a couple of weeks, etc Locals are welcome, but quality spending locals, who will spend money in their parks - not locals who come for walk and bring their own food and drinks in for a picnic. These contribute to crowds and litter the parks for no benefit.

If you want a nice garden for a picnic, cut your lawn and grow some trees, and eat it there.
 
DonniePeverley

DonniePeverley

Well-Known Member
Minnesota disney fan said:
You hit the nail on the head. We went to WDW with our kids because we were nostalgic for the Disney we watched as kids. We waited each week to watch Wide World of Color and the Mickey Mouse Club.
The kids enjoyed it but I don't think even they knew too much about Mickey. They just loved the rides and atmosphere, and of course, the pool, LOL. They took their kids because we had taken them and had such a good time.
Now that the "grandkids" are grown with kids of their own, Disney is not even on their radar. My grandsons like Mario and other newer cartoon characters. The world has grown so much due to the internet that there is a wide variety for them to access. We only had WDW and Mickey Mouse Club with our 3 channels. So Disney has to contend with all this.
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Valid points, but also some nonsense sprinkled in.

Disney is still a brilliant vacation. Years of penny pinching, not investing in the parks properly have left it flat at times. But as a vacation for a family i don't know anything better, and i've travelled the world. Combine it Universal being nearby it's near enough perfection.

As Disney opens more resorts around the world, you will see less international visitors which can mark down attendance - especially the California parks. With the expansion in Paris, you may see less Europeans visiting Florida.

The nostalga brigrade are horrific. They are simply the worst set of visitors. Disney accountants however must love them, as they give weight to not investing in anything and keeping things as they were forever.
 

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