Disneyworld needs updated to better attract tweens and teens

[conandrob240]

Well, my 14 yr old nephew still loves it too and was actually appalled when I confirmed his interest in this years summer trip before buying tickets. But, I agree they really should tap the teen/tween market better. This group is actually a huge buying segment. I'd love to see more shops geared towards them and why not some sort of evening " club" modeled on the teen cruiseline concept. I think that would be hugely popular.

[pigletto]

I don't know, they do seem to be drawing in thousands upon thousands of teens and tweens.. they just happen to be tour groups from South American countries. Those teens appear to love it.

As far as personal experience, my 15 almost 16 year old still absolutely loves it. She is less about the thrill rides and more about the nostalgic aspects, fireworks, shows, swimming, dining out every night and staying in a new hotel every trip. I have to say, I think they do an absolutely fine job of having something for everyone.

[GreenCntryGirl]

I do not want Walt Disney World to become a "Disney-fied" version of Universal or any other theme park.

YMMV

[GeorgiaHoo]

Disney definitely needs more headlining rides, especially at Epcot and to a lesser extent DHS (they just need more rides period at DHS). And of course it should be more attractive to teens. If my teens all said they didn't really want to go to Disney I wouldn't spend thousands of dollars to go. I wouldn't mind seeing a headlining roller coaster at Epcot. The coasters at DHS and AK are very good and show that Disney knows how to do a good coaster, even if they aren't quite as intense as those at other parks. Disney obviously realizes it needs to continue to add/improve rides.

[Laketravis]

Originally Posted by shademan

Why? Tweens don't have much money. Tweens would prefer to go somewhere that only focuses on rides.

Disney wants families to come, stay on resorts, eat at restaurants and buy big vacation packages.

Really? Looks like "Tweens spend about $43 billion a year and influence the spending of billions of dollars more on everything from cell phones to vacations to automobiles"....

http://newswise.com/articles/read-tw...act-on-economy

[Mad Hattered]

So just to be clear here.....most of you are stating that if Disney were to include just one single ride somewhere in one of the parks that the entire family couldn't be included in it would destroy Disney?? Would the "magic" just up and poof on you?

Is some kid going to throw a tantrum (other than the fact that they have been up since 6 am and it nearing 2 pm) because his brother or sister got to ride something they didn't? It's nothing a Mickey Bar shoved down their throat won't solve. Seriously.

A more adventurous ride would attract people. Period. Or they could just throw up a giant scrim in EPCOT with one portrayed for a short period of time and call it Limited Time Magic.

[davedmaine]

Originally Posted by smj2610

I was wondering how many people feel as I do that disney is missing out on a substantial opportunity by not adding more to attract the tweens and teens(okay alot of thrill seeking adults too) I have 3 daughters one of them grown but also a 10 and 15 year old who are really losing their desire to go to disneyworld as they say that there is not enough stuff that they like to do. They only really like splash mountain and big thunder mountain railroad at Magic Kingdom, TOT and Rockin Rollercoaster at the Studios. They are finally telling me they don't really care to go to disney anymore which is heartbreaking for me as I love the place. Then again I can understand them as they love Islands of Adventure and Busch Gardens for you guessed it Thrill rides. Of course they have also outgrown the princess stage to my horror. I think it is time that disney created more thrill rides based on the villians, which I will admit are my favorite characters. How does anyone else feel? My daughters know about change.org and actually asked for me to get a petition going so disney will know how they feel but I do not want to just jump on that bandwagon

Seems like I'm the only one here who gets what you're saying. Disney is lacking a coolness factor. I agree with what you're saying.

[Gumbo4x4]

Originally Posted by Princess Sleepy

If they are into thrill rides, there are lots of places for them to pursue that interest. The intention of Disney World was to have attractions that everyone could do together. It's the atmosphere as much as the actual "ride." They will probably get over it and come back to the fold when they stop being teenagers. (Although I have to admit I still loved WDW as a teen.)

I went to Disneyland at 10 and liked it (didn't love it - preferred Six Flags). DisneyWorld MK at 17 and HATED it. AK at 31 and LOVED it. And at 45 all of DisneyWorld with my kids and Loved it. MK is still not my favorite place personally, but had a ball watching the kids. But, my experience of disliking it so much is why we pushed to go when we did - oldest daughter is 12 now and I was afraid she'd grow out of it before she even got to see it.

[andyman8]

I have to say that I agree with OP on this. The fact is, from a business perspective, Disney's most logical next move to compete with UOR would be to attract teenagers by building thrill rides (they already have some extraordinary ones). Ideally, WDW could move to attract families with young ones and older ones. I think that rides like the 7DMT is a step in the right direction, as it combines classic storytelling with a mild roller coaster that everyone can still enjoy; I'll think we'll see high speeds with a lot of twists and turns but no drops or inversions (basically a bit milder than BTMRR).

That being said, OP won't find much sympathy as most posters on this board are parents of younger ones thus that money must go to attractions for their kids.

[davedmaine]

Originally Posted by shademan

Why? Tweens don't have much money. Tweens would prefer to go somewhere that only focuses on rides.

Disney wants families to come, stay on resorts, eat at restaurants and buy big vacation packages.

There is a certain segment of teenagers that are going to rebel against anything that even seems slanted towards kids. Disney has little shot with them anyway.

Disney is doing fine as they are.

What?? If Disney can't attract teens, they're going to make mom & dad go somewhere else. Teens/tweens are critical to Disney; 15 years from now when these kids have kids of their own, they're not going to think Disney..

[Gumbo4x4]

Originally Posted by davedmaine

What?? If Disney can't attract teens, they're going to make mom & dad go somewhere else. Teens/tweens are critical to Disney; 15 years from now when these kids have kids of their own, they're not going to think Disney..

Originally Posted by Laketravis

Really? Looks like "Tweens spend about $43 billion a year and influence the spending of billions of dollars more on everything from cell phones to vacations to automobiles"....

http://newswise.com/articles/read-tw...act-on-economy

Good points. And on that note, there seems to be plenty of things for tweens/teens at the water parks. No reason a few new rides couldn't pop up at the main parks as well.

[North of Mouse]

Originally Posted by smj2610

I was wondering how many people feel as I do that disney is missing out on a substantial opportunity by not adding more to attract the tweens and teens(okay alot of thrill seeking adults too) I have 3 daughters one of them grown but also a 10 and 15 year old who are really losing their desire to go to disneyworld as they say that there is not enough stuff that they like to do. They only really like splash mountain and big thunder mountain railroad at Magic Kingdom, TOT and Rockin Rollercoaster at the Studios. They are finally telling me they don't really care to go to disney anymore which is heartbreaking for me as I love the place. Then again I can understand them as they love Islands of Adventure and Busch Gardens for you guessed it Thrill rides. Of course they have also outgrown the princess stage to my horror. I think it is time that disney created more thrill rides based on the villians, which I will admit are my favorite characters. How does anyone else feel? My daughters know about change.org and actually asked for me to get a petition going so disney will know how they feel but I do not want to just jump on that bandwagon

Disney was never meant to be another Busch Gardens or Six Flags.

Do you see the attendance down or something, that makes you think they need to attract more people?

I, for one, do not want it to turn into a series of parks that attract mainly thrill seekers, ie. teenagers, adults that mainly want that type of rides. That is not what Disney is all about. It's to attract *families*.

I don't see by the attendance crowds that anything needs changing. Don't worry, Disney is watching their bottom line and has it under control. The crowds are growing by the year, and it's hard to even find a slow (er) time anymore to go.

Why do you think Disney got on the DVC bandwagon? People are basically compelled (to a degree, as long as they're owners) to spend time at Disney. There are thousands of units that are rented out 52 times a year (using a i wk. timetable). Disney is smart like a fox, they know exactly what they are doing.

[andyman8]

Originally Posted by Gumbo4x4

Good points. And on that note, there seems to be plenty of things for tweens/teens at the water parks. No reason a few new rides couldn't pop up at the main parks as well.

My thoughts exactly. If you can get the teens into the theme parks, you can obviously get use them being in the theme parks to get them into the water parks (through advertisements and such) where I'm sure they'll have a good time and spends lots of money.

And, by the way, I see a lot of generalizations about rowdy, obnoxious teens who cut lines and break rules; I have yet to have a problem with a teen at Disney (not counting the tour groups who are usually foreign).

Originally Posted by North of Mouse

Disney was never meant to be another Busch Gardens or Six Flags.

Do you see the attendance down or something, that makes you think they need to attract more people?

I, for one, do not want it to turn into a series of parks that attract mainly thrill seekers, ie. teenagers, adults that mainly want that type of rides. That is not what Disney is all about. It's to attract *families*.

I don't see by the attendance crowds that anything needs changing. Don't worry, Disney is watching their bottom line and has it under control. The crowds are growing by the year, and it's hard to even find a slow (er) time anymore to go.

It's called "adapting" and in order for any business to survive (even a company as large as Disney needs to do it) and they've done it before. How do you think they saved MGM? With Sunset Boulevard. While Disney maintains their lead in attendance, the percent of increased attendance is decreasing while the opposite is happening over at UOR. Even though their attendance numbers are not close to each other, that should be a huge concern for Disney, which it is (that's why we're seeing "Avatar-land"). Not trying to start an argument, though, just getting it all off my chest now.

[ThreeBeans]

Originally Posted by andyman8

I have to say that I agree with OP on this. The fact is, from a business perspective, Disney's most logical next move to compete with UOR would be to attract teenagers by building thrill rides (they already have some extraordinary ones). Ideally, WDW could move to attract families with young ones and older ones. I think that rides like the 7DMT is a step in the right direction, as it combines classic storytelling with a mild roller coaster that everyone can still enjoy; I'll think we'll see high speeds with a lot of twists and turns but no drops or inversions (basically a bit milder than BTMRR).

That being said, OP won't find much sympathy as most posters on this board are parents of younger ones thus that money must go to attractions for their kids.

This is rather ridiculous. I would have said the same thing 10 years ago when I was childless.

Disney does not NEED to do anything. It does just fine focusing on the demographic it has chosen. It has not chosen teenagers wanting thrill rides. They are not interested in catering to that demographic. They also know that if they did, if they started changing the timber of their guests, they could drive away their bread and butter.

If thrill rides are your thing, that's fine. There are plenty of options for you. Disney is not going to cater to that 'thing'.

[ThreeBeans]

Originally Posted by davedmaine

What?? If Disney can't attract teens, they're going to make mom & dad go somewhere else. Teens/tweens are critical to Disney; 15 years from now when these kids have kids of their own, they're not going to think Disney..

Except...that is not true at all. They do think Disney. They bring their own families there...generation after generation.