Comments on the 7/20 Podcast Episode

[jcb]

I use to listen to a lot of their podcasts. However lately they seem to be nothing but
cheerleaders and justify any questionable moves Disney makes.

I've listened to Disney podcasts since 2007. The DIS is the only one I have consistently listened / watched for this reason. I'm not sure what that says about me,

 

[OKW Lover]

I'm not sure what that says about me,

It says you are a man of good taste.

 

[Starport Seven-Five]

I should have been more clear. That $1500 is flight, hotel, transportation to and from the airport, and park ticket. So, it isn't ALL on Disney but that would be my total cost for the trip (minus food and merch) so that's the number I use when making a decision because that is what it will cost me to go to the park for a day.

I mean, I don't disagree that the $1500 doesn't make sense for a single park day but I feel like that price quote is a square peg in a round hole. No one is going all the way to Anaheim for a single day in the park.

 

[jujubiee4]

I've listened to Disney podcasts since 2007. The DIS is the only one I have consistently listened / watched for this reason. I'm not sure what that says about me,

That you enjoy them and you should. Just like my local sports team. I don't always like some of the moves
they make but i still go watch if it is worth it.

To me their DCL podcasts are usually the best around so I still check them out but stopped the others.

 

[GAN]

I use to listen to a lot of their podcasts. However lately they seem to be nothing but
cheerleaders and justify any questionable moves Disney makes. Do they get any kickbacks?
They seem to have deeper pockets than the average family. We all know Disney is expensive
but is the value still there? I saw some youtube comments that they are sounding like elitists.
I don't know about that but i did this morning watch their newest one about DCL changes.
Elaine said something about basketball court will be shut down to a sundeck and Pete was like
Oh thank god because the noise drove me crazy while I was getting my massage.

Uh yeah ok.

I was at DL same days they were and it was ok. They were not too far off the mark with review. Our family
still had fun. Really i just heard some people complain about prices crowds etc. In other words
nothing unusual.

What makes you think they have deeper pockets than the average family? Because Pete said playing basketball disturbed his massage? I'm not a huge massage person but I'm guessing the pounding sound of a basketball on the ceiling doesn't really set a relaxing atmosphere ..lol. He owns a couple successful businesses so he probably does have deeper pockets than the average person, but none of the others have ever made me think that -I think they're probably paid as decent as anyone else out there for the work they do. Disney built Value resorts -but even with those it has never been a "value" and I'm sure their intention was never to market themselves that way ...I think they're the same as they've ever been.

 

[jujubiee4]

What makes you think they have deeper pockets than the average family? Because Pete said playing basketball disturbed his massage? I'm not a huge massage person but I'm guessing the pounding sound of a basketball on the ceiling doesn't really set a relaxing atmosphere ..lol. He owns a couple successful businesses so he probably does have deeper pockets than the average person, but none of the others have ever made me think that -I think they're probably paid as decent as anyone else out there for the work they do. Disney built Value resorts -but even with those it has never been a "value" and I'm sure their intention was never to market themselves that way ...I think they're the same as they've ever been.

On the 12 DCL cruises I have gotten massages on each one and never bothered me or anyone I was with.
If it is irritating don't get the massage. I have never stayed at a value so can't comment on that but I
read complaints about the pricing. I'm not in the average family range but I have family members that
are.

Honestly everything has gone up but that is everywhere not just Disney. I'm usually a defender
of Disney but can understand the criticism. They are not for everyone. Unplugged still has the
best DCL podcasts hands down.

 

[Jrb1979]

The one thing that bugs me is people going on about Disney losing billions last year to justify them cutting things and charging more. All to appease shareholders. How come Cedar Fair and Comcast aren't doing the same? I'm pretty sure they both lost money with their parks being closed.

 

[Waiting2goback]

I actually agree with you to a degree -I wasn't trying to prove anything, just stating fact. I don't think they're necessarily trying to lower crowds with increases either -their hope is that they can better control them. So, if an area is over-crowded, figure out how to entice them to other areas ...this way they keep the numbers high and it creates a better guest experience. The other side of that is that -sure, they will charge what the market bears. Most people who sell their car don't settle for a bad price -they want to get as much as possible, and if your car is in high demand you want to find the buyer who really wants it and "overpays." I've stated this dozens of times on this Board ....Disney doesn't worry about loyal guests, they have new "loyal" guests being born every day. I'm not saying they will treat you like dirt -in fact, I think at times I've received some preferential treatment along the way ...but they aren't perfect. If I want to leave because it's too expensive or I'm not happy with a decision -they aren't going to come crawling to me begging me to visit again ....they're moving forward because they know the parks will still be full.

You made a good point I never considered, which is, if MK is scheduled to be packed and reservations are **** down it forces people to another park that is less crowded, thereby evening out the crowds. The problem I have with that is that it makes planning your trip even more work than it used to be. I used to make any dining reservations based on what I wanted and then plan my park days around them. Now you have to plan your park days and hope you can also find dining reservations for those days and if parks are full you can’t move things around. Once again, it’s not a HUGE issue for me because I don’t make a lot of reservations and for a lot of people it could be a pain. To me it just diminishes the overall experience.

I mean, I don't disagree that the $1500 doesn't make sense for a single park day but I feel like that price quote is a square peg in a round hole. No one is going all the way to Anaheim for a single day in the park.

I have gone to DL for a Friday to Monday trip a few times. Some people think my wife and I are crazy for only two days to travel across country but we have 7 kids and schedules don’t allow for more so we make the best of it. Would I want to go for one day, nope. But it would be a solo trip I was going to fit in before she started her new job. If it was $1000-1200 I would have gone. $1500 just seems too high.

The one thing that bugs me is people going on about Disney losing billions last year to justify them cutting things and charging more. All to appease shareholders. How come Cedar Fair and Comcast aren't doing the same? I'm pretty sure they both lost money with their parks being closed.

that’s an excellent point. Airlines are trying to catch up too so Disney isn’t the only one but some companies aren’t. I just feel Disney is capitalizing on Covid to make these changes they have probably wanted to make for a while.

 

[cush1]

Pete is onto something regarding the crowd sizes. All of us who have attended private events can testify on how awesome it is with the low crowds. Also, when I’ve talked to the few friends about their recent visits to WDW, the only positive thing they mention is the light crowds.

It will be an interesting few years

 

[cush1]

Oh, to continue the conversation about what Disney will do when ppl stop going to the value resorts, I think they will do what they always do… Free Dining, that always brings families and fill the value resorts.

 

[jrgutknecht]

I could not have said it better.

I am a regular listener to the podcast. ……

. But, we all still miss it terribly, we just miss the old Disney, that cared about the guest experience.

 

[jimmymc]

I think I disagree with your sentiment in general. I started going to Disney in 2005, so I missed what were apparently the golden years of Disney parks in the 90's, but I went back when people on the boards and show like to refer to Disney as being a better experience. I think Disney is just as if not more enjoyable now than ever. There are better attractions, better food venues (Chef Mickey's has always been bad food, this is nothing new), and the resort rooms are much better now than they were back in the day. Anyone remember when All Star rooms first came out? They used the cheapest motel furniture and generic Mickey wallpaper you could find.

This is a problem I have with Dis fans in general: when Chapek was Chairman of Parks and resorts, everyone blamed him for cuts to the parks, which is fair. But now that he's CEO, and Josh D'Amaro is in his old job, everyone still blames Chapek and gives Josh a free pass. Is there a reason for this?

The next point is that I think everyone is looking at their past trips with nostalgia vision. You don't remember all the times 20 years ago where the food was bad, cast members were having off days, attractions were down, or any of the other issues people have on vacations. If you keep trying to compare trips to the perfect imagine in your head, then it will be impossible to live up to the hype. Even if every meal, ride, cast member, and resort is perfect, you'll always think of it as second best to the old trip.

And the last talking point I wanted to mention is that travel demand is higher now than it's ever been in the history of this country. And that includes going back to pre-Covid. Airline tickets are cheap, and Disney has really taken advantage of social media to market itself as a place where everyone needs to visit, not just families with young kids. So I really do think the new hotels are there to take business from the offsite places where so many guests stay.

I don't mean this as a personal attack, and sorry for continuing the rant train, but it just bugs me in general when people compare things the way they were to the way they are today. Because a trip where everything went wrong but you still had fun with your family will always seem better than something going wrong in the moment.

 

[jimmymc]

Oh, to continue the conversation about what Disney will do when ppl stop going to the value resorts, I think they will do what they always do… Free Dining, that always brings families and fill the value resorts.

First timers, all day park people, sports tournaments, and families who don't want to rent a car will continue to fill up value resorts for as long as they exist.

 

[disneyworldsk]

These boards are for people to chat and you shouldn't ever feel like if you wrote something OP that you would be attacked for it. Voice your opinion! I'm glad you did. Some people agree, some disagree, that's great!
I was finally happy to hear someone on the podcast experience the parks in vacation mode. not dvc, not a one night stay or day trip because they are locals, but a real vacation. Pete hasn't experienced vacation yet, so to pedal back from him saying i'll pay anything just to be there and now realizing, oh maybe not, I felt somehow like finally he gets it. Opening your wallet and paying for your ticket, your air flight costs, your rental, is a whole new ballgame from the past year and a half when most on the team weren't doing that. Their perspective is not the same and most don't have children which adds to the cost of course. So their experiences since 2019 are not the same as the average traveler. It would be nice to get that perspective on the podcast on occasion like we had this week from Pete himself. Maybe someone who brings a few kids down to wdw or dl to get that other perspective.
ultimately most things come down to money. and what you're willing to pay for things. and is it worth that cost. everything is going up out there. everything.

 

[jcb]

I think I disagree with your sentiment in general. I started going to Disney in 2005, so I missed what were apparently the golden years of Disney parks in the 90's, but I went back when people on the boards and show like to refer to Disney as being a better experience. I think Disney is just as if not more enjoyable now than ever. There are better attractions, better food venues (Chef Mickey's has always been bad food, this is nothing new), and the resort rooms are much better now than they were back in the day. Anyone remember when All Star rooms first came out? They used the cheapest motel furniture and generic Mickey wallpaper you could find.

This is a problem I have with Dis fans in general: when Chapek was Chairman of Parks and resorts, everyone blamed him for cuts to the parks, which is fair. But now that he's CEO, and Josh D'Amaro is in his old job, everyone still blames Chapek and gives Josh a free pass. Is there a reason for this?

The next point is that I think everyone is looking at their past trips with nostalgia vision. You don't remember all the times 20 years ago where the food was bad, cast members were having off days, attractions were down, or any of the other issues people have on vacations. If you keep trying to compare trips to the perfect imagine in your head, then it will be impossible to live up to the hype. Even if every meal, ride, cast member, and resort is perfect, you'll always think of it as second best to the old trip.

And the last talking point I wanted to mention is that travel demand is higher now than it's ever been in the history of this country. And that includes going back to pre-Covid. Airline tickets are cheap, and Disney has really taken advantage of social media to market itself as a place where everyone needs to visit, not just families with young kids. So I really do think the new hotels are there to take business from the offsite places where so many guests stay.

I don't mean this as a personal attack, and sorry for continuing the rant train, but it just bugs me in general when people compare things the way they were to the way they are today. Because a trip where everything went wrong but you still had fun with your family will always seem better than something going wrong in the moment.

I read OP a little differently. While I agree with you that there is a tendency to look back on past trips (to anywhere) and remember the fun more than the hassle, I read OP to make the point that Disney has been increasing prices and either taking away park opportunities or reducing the quality of those opportunities. That's more than rose colored glasses.

I'll give an example. Until about 2008 (I don't recall exactly), Disney charged the seasonal room rate based on when the guest checked in. So, if you checked in on December 15, you didn't pay the holiday rate even if your stay though the change to holiday rates. That was a great perk that enabled me to stay in deluxe hotels. Did I get mad at Disney for changing this? Of course not. But it did affect whether I stayed in a deluxe over the holidays (never again, as it turns out). To me, OP's point was about the value of a trip.

That said, I'll admit COVID-19 has changed how I think about a Disney vacation. It isn't that I begrudge Disney for wanting to make up for losses during the pandemic. It's more that the way Disney is going about making a profit make going to WDW less appealing to me than other trips I can take. (Not all of the changes post-date the pandemic, either, and I'll admit to having other, non-DIsney caused reasons for not going to WDW right now).

 

[Imamom2]

This Jersey girl loves Pete! I agree with Deni - the days when we stayed in MK until 2:00 am with our kids were amazing and some of our favorite memories. I am sad to see all the pixie dust fade away but Pete is right: Covid was Disney’s chance to reset. We pay premium prices for staterooms on cruises, better seats at Broadway shows and concerts, and seats on airplanes. Other parks have been doing it for years, too. I hate to admit it but I think people will pay for Rise if it means getting on.

 

[RamblingMad]

As the population grows, the crowds will grow with it. Disney hasn't added another gate since Animal Kingdom, and the US population is a lot larger since that park opened. The reality is that Disney needs to add more gates to control crowd sizes. The US population isn't shrinking any time soon.

 

[OKW Lover]

As the population grows, the crowds will grow with it. Disney hasn't added another gate since Animal Kingdom,

They've added attractions and resorts. No need for a new gate.

 

[RamblingMad]

They've added attractions and resorts. No need for a new gate.

They replaced existing attractions with new ones. They definitely need a new gate to keep up with the growing population.

 

[GAN]

They replaced existing attractions with new ones. They definitely need a new gate to keep up with the growing population.

I'm not so sure. What are the average Park capacities over the last 5-10 years -70% ...maybe? They're looking at managing crowds better. No way are they entertaining a huge Capital outlay to have 5 Gates that operate at say 50% capacity on average. It's impossible to judge based on current conditions -this is a surge primarily from guests who gave up their trips over the last year and the excitement of the 50th approaching. It would be great for us if they built a 5th gate, but not financially for them. In 20-years who knows....