Americans are back at Disney Parks, profits up 73 percent!

[nataliej_vk]

I've been to both parks but WDW is very different from US. US is a park with rides where as I view Disney as an experience with rides. At Disney you can take a true vacation and shut out the chaotic world for a bit. Live a few days at a more "sleepy" rate(though still running around with your head cut off heheh) disney offers a whole package. For me as a single mom I adore that when I get on the plan for Orlando I do not have anything to worry about. Transportation, hotel and food is taken care of. I know my child will b entertained as well as myself. US I feel (and did) see everything in 2 days Disney after 3-5 day trips I still havnt seem it all. US has thrill rides but for someone who literally has an allergic reaction to heights loves that at Disney I get stories, rides and thrills for my daredevil little one where as at US I'd have spotty transport and less themed hotels. I pay the money for a total vacation. Package and piece of mind and I believe that's what most family's love over all the coasters at US

 

[smak1026]

We are going twice this year! What an amazing place.

 

[mvk]

Disney is coasting. Going by what they had been known before. Unless they do somehow grand soon, they will be playing catch up with Universal.

LOL!!!

I didn't know this was the comedy forum!

 

[buckeev]

"Disney reported lesser growth at its international parks, thanks to higher guest spending at Disneyland Paris and larger crowds at Hong Kong Disneyland. ___"

Sorry..I guess I'm not "bizness savvy"...but can someone explain that statement?

Personally, I attribute the great WDW Corp. profits in the US to the obviously rebounding US economy.

US/Comcast is making it hand-over-fist too, so it's not just a Diz thang.

 

[jade1]

Simply stated, if they cared more about lining their pockets, than re-investing in the company,

No unit performed better for Disney than its parks division, where Disney has plowed close to $6 billion into new projects over the last few years.

 

[jagfanjosh3252]

LOL!!!

I didn't know this was the comedy forum!

Sorry. How is that funny? Pray tell

 

[DizFanSLD]

Not to jump into an argument, but I'm just curious. If all four Disney parks had major expansion construction going on at the same time for months, or even years, wouldn't that tend to annoy both frequent and infrequent guests even more than having parks that need some expansion?

I totally get that there are some areas that are in extreme need of updates (Indiana Jones at DHS sorta leaps to mind!), but I know that I would be hacked if I spent all of my money on a Disney trip and had construction walls up all around me at all four parks. They are in the last stages of New Fantasyland, and assuming it is still happening, Avatarland starting soon at AK. I would think that it makes more sense to finish up at MK before starting on a major project at either DHS or Epcot.

I am only able to afford a Disney trip once every two years, so I am always hoping for minimal construction and upheaval during my trips. Maybe I would feel differently if I could go several times a year like many of the folks here.

Just my 2 cents...

 

[mvk]

Sorry. How is that funny? Pray tell

Universal will never surpass Disney, so Disney will never be playing catch-up.

Is the shine already off of HP the original? Or is Universal just not a true destination, only a side excursion to a WDW vacation?

Disney parks was up 73% last quarter while Universal was up 12%. That widens a gap that was already very very large.

I think it might be even funnier that you weren't just trying to be funny when you said Disney will be playing catchup to Universal if Disney doesn't do something grand soon.

 

[lego606]

Uh.... that's Tokyo Disneyland's castle.

 

[ChrisFL]

The problem is there is NO breakdown of those numbers of Anaheim vs Orlando....most of that increase was probably in Anaheim.

 

[michelleiada]

Good post. All great points.

Everyone really needs to stop comparing US and Disney. Honestly, if Disney were not in Florida none of the other parks would nearly as successful as they are. Disney is a vacation spot. You can spend 2 weeks and still have not done everything. US is an amusement park. The rides and attractions at US are well done and yes, they are putting in a great effort. But lets be honest. How many families are going to US for a week or more each year? Not nearly as many as Disney and that doesn't even include the DVC members that are there all the time.

Good news that the profits are there. Please be assured that a goo chunk of those profits are needed and will be used to continue updating and expanding the options at the parks. I still think the cost is reasonable for what my family gets.

I agree, I'm happy Disney is doing well, because I know they will continue to deliver top notch vacations. You get what you pay for and I'm ok with paying a little more for continued quality!

 

[beer dave]

The problem is there is NO breakdown of those numbers of Anaheim vs Orlando....most of that increase was probably in Anaheim.

If anaheim represents, lets say for arguments sake, one fourth of the revenue for the parks ( I think this is generous) and was the major source of the increase, their revenue would have to increase by 280 percent to result in a 70 percent increase in the total park revenue. Likewise, to represent half of the increase, they would need 140 percent.-- Did cars land really do that much? That would be amazing.

 

[beer dave]

I agree, I'm happy Disney is doing well, because I know they will continue to deliver top notch vacations. You get what you pay for and I'm ok with paying a little more for continued quality!

agree.
I'd be surprised if anyone has ever spent an entire week at US exclusively.

 

[Mouse14]

Disney doesn't have to do what Universal is doing, this article just kind of proves it. Disney can continue to coast or adding attractions that aren't mind blowing like Universal is, yet people will still go.

As long as attendance is still up, Disney will continue to do the least they can and try to get every penny out of their guest. It's no longer about Customer Service, it's all about bottom line now.

I completely disagree with this, Disney has always been and still is about customer service....everytime I'm there I am blown away from the high level of customer service.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

I completely disagree with this, Disney has always been and still is about customer service....everytime I'm there I am blown away from the high level of customer service.

I totally agree!

 

[Lucille1963]

The problem is there is NO breakdown of those numbers of Anaheim vs Orlando....most of that increase was probably in Anaheim.

This was my first thought too.

 

[bcrook]

I completely disagree with this, Disney has always been and still is about customer service....everytime I'm there I am blown away from the high level of customer service.

I guess it depends on what you compare it to. None of the hotels or resorts provide a high level of customer service if compared to other high quality hotels in the same price range around the world.

I don't get the same high quality service at restaurants in wdw as I do at other restaurants that I drop $300.00 per meal.

I don't find the bartenders or kiosk vendors doing an exceptionally good job either. The level of training is simply not there compared to the price.

I wouldn't say Disney has bad customer service, but I think it would be a stretch to say they have a high level.

I am not being argumentative, but it really is about perspective.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

I guess it depends on what you compare it to. None of the hotels or resorts provide a high level of customer service if compared to other high quality hotels in the same price range around the world.

I don't get the same high quality service at restaurants in wdw as I do at other restaurants that I drop $300.00 per meal.

I don't find the bartenders or kiosk vendors doing an exceptionally good job either. The level of training is simply not there compared to the price.

I wouldn't say Disney has bad customer service, but I think it would be a stretch to say they have a high level.

I am not being argumentative, but it really is about perspective.

You are on the money about it all being about perspective and being very subjective.

I do agree the hotel are expensive, but I have always found the service to be top notch. Granted you are not at the waldorf or fours seasons. The fly in the ink well with this is your paying for being at WDW, on Disney property and paying for all the perks and extras like the transportation, monorails, boats, , near DTD, shows, fireworks, campfires, characters about, in a nut shell *pixie dust*. You can't find Pixie dust anywhere else and Disney knows it. Hopefully Disney will never forget it either! I think Iger got a good kick in the rump with HP.

Maybe another way to put this.......if you took the Disney resorts and put them out in a Kansas corn field, could you charge what they charge now? NO......if you took the Waldorf and put it out in another Kansas corn field, could you charge what they are charging now...NO!

Its about location!

Otherwise I have rarely ever had anything but great service in the restaurants, parks etc. Again the price reflects being at Disney!

Like all companies Disney is going to charge what the market will bear.

JMHO,

AKK