But I'm getting alot of bad vibes as to what is really going on in the world and it's really starting to get me to wonder. Is Disney turning into a money machine, that is only interested in making a buck and forgetting about all it's fine customers/guests?
Disney dining - They have increased all buffets services and lowered the quality of food, i.e. took off prime rib at Boma and a few other restaurants.
That could be blamed on the economy and that the average guest could care less about fine dining.
Disney CL Service - I've been reading that the food isn't what it used to be. Yet people pay a large premium for this. Food runs out and is not replenished etc.
In many venues, all Disney food is now of similar quality of an off-site equivalent. Heard it's even moreso at
Disneyland.
Christmas attractions - Took away the lights at Epcot. It was just beautiful. It totally ruined the whole effect last Christmas season.
Never did the holidays at the world - but again, it doesn't surprise me.
Nickel and Diming the guest - Holiday surcharges for buffets. Okay, I can understand Thanksgiving and Christmas. But Memorial Day through 4th of July too! It's just plain wrong.
Agreed.
Doubling the price of a stroller- Double stroller 1 1/2 years ago was $18.00 now it is over $30.00. If you multiply that by 7 days it's the price of a rent a car!
That doesn't seem to be a "fair" increase - a couple of bucks I can understand, but $12.00-plus ??
Ticket increases - Every August there is a ticket increase!
Again, inflation plays a role - this year's increases seemed "middling" compared to the stroller (maybe that's why they raised stroller rental prices?).
Brazilian groups- Extremely disruptive, rude, crass, and down right hazardous (blocking pathways), making loud noises outside of value hotel rooms in the early morning hours. There are 2-3 threads about this outrageous behavior, with hundreds of complaints from our DIS friends. Yet, Disney refuses to do anything about this.
Disney refuses to do anything about this because tourists from Brazil equals big money. Can't alienate a whole group of people...
With the economy in the tank, people out of jobs, it would seem that Disney shouldn't be this greedy, for a lack of a better word. I'm just starting to notice some of these ill effects taking place. This is just my observation.
Any thoughts?
Yes, as with all international tourist desitinations, if WDW isn't "drawing 'em in" from here in North America, it's time for the marketing gurus to look towards other countries with the intent of bringing their tourist dollars to the property.
Secondly, everyone on the board tends to forget a simple fact when it comes to all things Disney - The Walt Disney Company is a conglomerate (a word, more often that not, used to describe big outfits like Walmart and GE) - in Disney's case, The WDC's speciality is media/entertainment. Like other big business conglomerates, their primary businesses are in place to make money and return some of those profits to their shareholders.
And when times get tough, Disney, like others, has to work extra hard (cut a few corners) to keep the money flowing...