This is a fun place to speculate what may occur in the future, and although the OPs view of the future is not impossible, it's also not very probable. We're living in unprecedented times (at least for our generation), and the way companies have had to shift and adapt to make ends meet is a wild card that needs to be part of the discussion.
I am not defending what's happening by any stretch of the imagination, but honestly regardless of how many "rubes" and "pixy dusters" we claim are out there, there is a breaking point. Honestly I think we're close.
For as much amazing price gouging that Chappie and crew are coming up with, I am not convinced it's sustainable. It think some of it was initially necessary to get WDW 'back on it's feet'after taking the pandemic hit, but again with the world and the World starting to slowly come back to some extent the ability to take advantage of that situation is coming to a close.
Based on the conversations we're having here I think we're seeing more and more people who are either not going, or are going and staying offsite, or are NOT paying for Genie Plus or NOT making ILL purchases.
The over-priced Star Cruiser although not officially launched is looking to be exactly that, over-priced and is looking like it may be a huge disappointment.
I think Universal's upcoming 3rd (4th?) gate is going to be another factor in combating Chapmaster's plans for world domination as well.
Again I enjoy debating everyone's 'crystal ball' vision of the future, so we should continue to have it, for me? I really think the wheels are going to be coming off the bus on this particular Chappie money grabbing road-trip.
Then again I am often accused of being a bit too optimistic.
I agree with you on the point that there is some "breaking point" for this where people will just stop paying.
Unfortunately, I think that's a generation or two out. Currently, no matter what Disney does, people line up at the gates each day and just pay it.
I think, short term, what I discuss in my OP is the future. As @Sirwalterraleigh mentioned, it's about finding the max price people will pay (or "Market Price" as I was taught in a business class). They're clearly not there, yet. I think Bob is actively looking for that market price and, when he finds it (gate receipts take a dip in an otherwise normal year) he'll backoff just a bit (say a year or two - don't ever want to back off the price) and then do the calculations and keep the price at that level relative to inflation/population (a growing population is more people who'll pay more).
The downside of that is that I think they'll lose the multi-generational nostalgia folks who love the parks and it'll be an "elite" activity like going to a sports game (and you can see how, as they do blackouts, raise prices for games, etc. to where dad's no longer take their kids that it has affected people being interested and buying merch.)
I think Bob will be long gone by the time the generational problem hits, however (and he'll be a lot richer based on all the money he made for the Street! in both stocks and bonuses!).
The long term affects - they're coming, and it's unfortunate.
Also, thinking ahead, I'd argue that it's unlikely we'll have people in charge who care about that parks (even being theme park enthusiasts) going forward. We're going to get business guys who make business decisions and they don't see the "made up" number on their spreadsheet where the customer experience affects them. They're just selling a product.
You had Walt (obviously) and Eisner (I think he genuinely cared about the parks/resort). Iger was more an acquisition man which, in a weird way, showed how much he didn't believe in Disney talent. He'd just go somewhere else and acquire a property/company.
