All the raging against Disney

[jodifla]

I see thread after thread complaining about Disney and how they aren't offering this and that and speculating about bad things to come.

Two months ago in my state Covid cases were still Sky high. We are just turning the corner in this thing. I pray it lasts.

To expect WDW or DVC to turn on a dime in this market with supply chain and staffing problems seems unrealistic and unreasonable.

And as a reminder, people were unhappy with crowds and lines in early 2019.

Yes, things will likely be different going forward. They were certainly different on our trip last month, but we had a fabulous time in spite of diminished shows, etc.

Over 50 years WDW has found a way to wow people. I think they are not done yet.

 

[StageTek]

On the other hand, this is a place to express and discuss your feeling about Disney. And very often with like-minded people.

I, too, have seen thread after thread complaining about Disney and how they aren't offering this and that and speculating about bad things to come and on each one there are people who talk about the good time they had despite the missing things.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

But other places have done it.

 

[Marionnette]

I see thread after thread complaining about Disney and how they aren't offering this and that and speculating about bad things to come.

Two months ago in my state Covid cases were still Sky high. We are just turning the corner in this thing. I pray it lasts.

To expect WDW or DVC to turn on a dime in this market with supply chain and staffing problems seems unrealistic and unreasonable.

And as a reminder, people were unhappy with crowds and lines in early 2019.

Yes, things will likely be different going forward. They were certainly different on our trip last month, but we had a fabulous time in spite of diminished shows, etc.

Over 50 years WDW has found a way to wow people. I think they are not done yet.

You're entitled to express your opinions but others have that same right. If you want to read like-minded posts, then you want to find a blogger that thinks like you do. If you don't want an echo chamber of thoughts, then discussion boards are a better choice. Personally, I prefer to read both the good and the bad. And if the good is being outnumbered by the bad, then Disney should pay attention to what people are saying.

 

[808blessing]

Agree that discussion boards can be a useful tool to learn where your own beliefs and boundaries lie. We can choose to read long threads that only agree with your current thinking or learn from diverse perspectives. It’s not a static thing and love/hate paradox arises from everything from a decadent chocolate dessert (calories vs. craving) to changing your first born’s dirty diaper (the pride/the stench).
You can stand your own ground in the Disney negative threads or create your own Disney positive threads, like this one?! Respectful exchanges need to be upheld even with polarized views. We don’t live in black or white in real life. Why should we expect it to be that way online?

 

[New Mouse]

To expect WDW or DVC to turn on a dime in this market with supply chain and staffing problems seems unrealistic and unreasonable.

I dont know, it seems they turned on a dime when it came to cutting costs and now when it comes to raising prices. It seems to me that where theres a will theres a way.

 

[sethschroeder]

To expect WDW or DVC to turn on a dime in this market with supply chain and staffing problems seems unrealistic and unreasonable.

They are turning like a semi right now but not exactly in the right direction fully.

Sorry about your state but that has not been the case everywhere. At Disney though you had since basically March limited park availability to basically no availability in April for people to even get in the parks. So Disney is absolutely seeing crowds.

Also Disney has told people NOT to show up to work so its not like the local chicken factory that can't get people to show up. They even just recently bragged about how everyone is coming back that is being asked basically.

In addition its not "The Grand Floridian Society Orchestra is not performing temporarily" instead they removed them completely. Its not a "we will see how Magical Express looks in December" instead they removed it.

I think more people would be accepting if they said "______ is suspended temporarily due to supply chain constraints" instead of just removed/cancelled.

Did you know that Disney made almost $1b in profit in the first half of their fiscal year? After posting a total of -$5.4 the prior two quarters and just -$2.86 for all of 2020. Also 2018 $12.6 and 2019 $11.05b in profit during those two years. Their goal is to cut costs to make money and really nothing short of that and as guests people can absolutely show their displeasure for that mindset when Disney pulls in so much profit normally.

 

[Evita_W]

There is a very important reason to express how we feel (good and bad) on discussion forums. Disney monitors discussion boards as one of the many tools to guage how the public feels about what they are currently doing, so expressing here or other discussion boards is one way to get Disney to see what needs improving and what is working.

 

[RivShore]

They are turning like a semi right now but not exactly in the right direction fully.

Sorry about your state but that has not been the case everywhere. At Disney though you had since basically March limited park availability to basically no availability in April for people to even get in the parks. So Disney is absolutely seeing crowds.

Also Disney has told people NOT to show up to work so its not like the local chicken factory that can't get people to show up. They even just recently bragged about how everyone is coming back that is being asked basically.

In addition its not "The Grand Floridian Society Orchestra is not performing temporarily" instead they removed them completely. Its not a "we will see how Magical Express looks in December" instead they removed it.

I think more people would be accepting if they said "______ is suspended temporarily due to supply chain constraints" instead of just removed/cancelled.

Did you know that Disney made almost $1b in profit in the first half of their fiscal year? After posting a total of -$5.4 the prior two quarters and just -$2.86 for all of 2020. Also 2018 $12.6 and 2019 $11.05b in profit during those two years. Their goal is to cut costs to make money and really nothing short of that and as guests people can absolutely show their displeasure for that mindset when Disney pulls in so much profit normally.

I think the 2 canceled items you mentioned were in discussion prior to Covid and they just pulled the trigger along with the Covid required changes. I don't like either of those going away but I'm sure they had data on ME that shows the impact would be minimal, it is such a different (uber) world than when they first signed that contract with Mears.

I'm assuming your profit numbers are correct because they also show the problem - from $12.6B of profit to $1-2B is an 80-90% cut in the bottom line. That is not sustainable, it doesn't matter that it was barely on the plus side, they are not a non-profit. They need to get back to where they were ASAP or all kinds of bad things can happen from the stock price cratering to issues around credit covenants to bonds defaulting to...etc, etc.

 

[sethschroeder]

That is not sustainable

I have shocking news for you though. It doesn't need to be because Disney's profits will be through the roof once the park capacity is at 100% and the 50th hits.

You also have limited to no availability over the next 30 days for AP, resort, offsite guests.

Also again if these were outlined as temporary changes then people wouldn't have the same issue. When they pull massive profit next year its unlikely we see those things returned so they are doing nothing more than trying to hide the fact they are cutting more simply to make more money.

 

[DonMacGregor]

I don't like either of those going away but I'm sure they had data on ME that shows the impact would be minimal, it is such a different (uber) world than when they first signed that contract with Mears.

Let's not kid ourselves though, Disney had the cost of ME baked in to the cash rooms from day 1. ME was also likely baked in to the transportation line items at each DVC resort. I know I was never foolish enough to assume I wasn't paying for it somehow, somewhere (room rate, resort fee, etc). A one-way trip, assuming full busses, probably cost Disney $5 to $7 per guest, each way including the additional fees paid to BAGS. Charter bus rentals run about $2,000 per day, including a driver. That's the cost to you and me, renting one bus. If Disney is chartering 100 busses per day from Mears, you can be sure there is some serious economy of scale going on there.

I just don't see the benefit of eliminating a service that guests PERCEIVE as free, in lieu of assuming that those guests will be equally fine paying $40-$50 each way for an Uber, especially familes with kids and luggage that aren't going to fit in the cheapest Prius Uber/Lyft. It would be much easier (and look much better) if hotel rack rates were bumped up say $10 per night (discretely and incrementally) and the service (ME) continued.

I get that the original premise was likely to keep guests "in the bubble", but it grew into something that benefitted the guest more than Disney, and in sunsetting the service, it's the guest that feels like someting was taken away.

 

[AvidDisReader]

They are turning like a semi right now but not exactly in the right direction fully.

Sorry about your state but that has not been the case everywhere. At Disney though you had since basically March limited park availability to basically no availability in April for people to even get in the parks. So Disney is absolutely seeing crowds.

Also Disney has told people NOT to show up to work so its not like the local chicken factory that can't get people to show up. They even just recently bragged about how everyone is coming back that is being asked basically.

In addition its not "The Grand Floridian Society Orchestra is not performing temporarily" instead they removed them completely. Its not a "we will see how Magical Express looks in December" instead they removed it.

I think more people would be accepting if they said "______ is suspended temporarily due to supply chain constraints" instead of just removed/cancelled.

Did you know that Disney made almost $1b in profit in the first half of their fiscal year? After posting a total of -$5.4 the prior two quarters and just -$2.86 for all of 2020. Also 2018 $12.6 and 2019 $11.05b in profit during those two years. Their goal is to cut costs to make money and really nothing short of that and as guests people can absolutely show their displeasure for that mindset when Disney pulls in so much profit normally.

Yes to this. Bob Chapek greatest ability is cutting expenses. He probably was the perfect person to be in charge during a pandemic. In 6 to 12 months things should at the new normal. People are going to be looking at what the bang for their buck is. Not sure that going forward Mr Chapek is the right person to be guiding the ship. That could lead to some real Corporate intrigue.

 

[sethschroeder]

I get that the original premise was likely to keep guests "in the bubble", but it grew into something that benefitted the guest more than Disney, and in sunsetting the service, it's the guest that feels like someting was taken away.

Exactly I can Uber anywhere. I don't need to go to Disney at that point and I can also see various places around the world.

I like WDW because it was all packaged in with a very straight forward experience.

 

[limace]

I think it’s completely fair to say hey-this product you offer costs me significantly more than it did two years ago and I get significantly less, and to expect me to be thrilled about that is ridiculous.

 

[New Mouse]

I think the 2 canceled items you mentioned were in discussion prior to Covid and they just pulled the trigger along with the Covid required changes. I don't like either of those going away but I'm sure they had data on ME that shows the impact would be minimal, it is such a different (uber) world than when they first signed that contract with Mears.

I'm assuming your profit numbers are correct because they also show the problem - from $12.6B of profit to $1-2B is an 80-90% cut in the bottom line. That is not sustainable, it doesn't matter that it was barely on the plus side, they are not a non-profit. They need to get back to where they were ASAP or all kinds of bad things can happen from the stock price cratering to issues around credit covenants to bonds defaulting to...etc, etc.

Sustainable for what? Companies that make $0 profit are doing ok in the stock market so Im not sure how a company making $1bn would not be ok.

As for the cuts, I have no issue with them so long as they eliminate the cost to guests. Disney rooms cost what they do because of things like magical express, fastpass and extra magic hours.

 

[DonMacGregor]

Disney rooms cost what they do because of things like magical express, fastpass and extra magic hours.

Bingo.

 

[Drew729]

Actual conversation with my wife who practically has a Disney shrine in our living room. Yes, I am aware this is a first world problem and it is not a complaint just facts.

Wife “so maybe we skip our annual Disney trip this year because you know there are just so many little things we enjoy that haven’t come back yet, maybe we try something different”. Me “but we like Disney and it would still be fun”. Wife “sure we would but I think we should wait.”

Those little things missing like fireworks, DME, trams, Epcot monorail, eating at a restaurants ,fast passes, character dining, early admission, boats to DS, new attractions (yes Remy we are talking about you) start to add up.

I believe Disney can still make the magic happen and am hopeful for the future and not for Lingchi.

 

[Grumpy Mouse]

Yes to this. Bob Chapek greatest ability is cutting expenses. He probably was the perfect person to be in charge during a pandemic. In 6 to 12 months things should at the new normal. People are going to be looking at what the bang for their buck is. Not sure that going forward Mr Chapek is the right person to be guiding the ship. That could lead to some real Corporate intrigue.

Keep in mind that it's all about controlling costs in DPEP while they spend, spend, spend growing DMED.

DMED is their new golden child - it's growth has almost doubled Disney's share price in a pandemic and made Chapek's stock options look really sweet.


Any bets on how long this thread will go before the moderators close it?

 

[Sandisw]

Keep in mind that it's all about controlling costs in DPEP while they spend, spend, spend growing DMED.

DMED is their new golden child - it's growth has almost doubled Disney's share price in a pandemic and made Chapek's stock options look really sweet.


Any bets on how long this thread will go before the moderators close it?

As long as the thread stays with int guidelines, and doesn’t turn into arguments, not sure why you think the thread would be closed.

 

[ziravan]

Let's not kid ourselves though, Disney had the cost of ME baked in to the cash rooms from day 1. ME was also likely baked in to the transportation line items at each DVC resort. I know I was never foolish enough to assume I wasn't paying for it somehow, somewhere (room rate, resort fee, etc). A one-way trip, assuming full busses, probably cost Disney $5 to $7 per guest, each way including the additional fees paid to BAGS. Charter bus rentals run about $2,000 per day, including a driver. That's the cost to you and me, renting one bus. If Disney is chartering 100 busses per day from Mears, you can be sure there is some serious economy of scale going on there.

I just don't see the benefit of eliminating a service that guests PERCEIVE as free, in lieu of assuming that those guests will be equally fine paying $40-$50 each way for an Uber, especially familes with kids and luggage that aren't going to fit in the cheapest Prius Uber/Lyft. It would be much easier (and look much better) if hotel rack rates were bumped up say $10 per night (discretely and incrementally) and the service (ME) continued.

I get that the original premise was likely to keep guests "in the bubble", but it grew into something that benefitted the guest more than Disney, and in sunsetting the service, it's the guest that feels like someting was taken away.

I always considered MDE to be a genius move that only an entity with economy of scale could pull off. Making guests prisoners to the mouse seems like a dollar generating boss move.

I cannot fathom why they should want to do away with it except to think surely they have a reasonable alternative planned. But if so, why on earth would they suffer the incredible bad press by not rolling it out?

And that’s just it. It’s not the moves they’re making so much as the absolute silence about what the future looks like.

MDE. FPs. Fireworks.

Covid isn’t preventing Disney from being more transparent about what the near future will look like.

It’s not like THEY don’t know what they’re planning.