DIS Unplugged 04/20/21

[Lashed34]

What happened today, hope everyone is OK, bit of a cliffhanger this week!

 

[fla4fun]

Sounded like a lightning strike close the studio. I don’t blame them for shutting everything down right away. Lightning here can be brutal, and can really fry your electronics.

 

[GAN]

TuTus the Tiki reared his head ....sure hope he doesn't bring bad luck like on that Brady Bunch episode when they were in Hawaii...

 

[Capitalangel]

Craig had mentioned in the chat that storms were in the area and they were hoping to make it through but might have to end it and the lightning/ thunder ended it.

 

[SorcererHeidi]

TuTus the Tiki reared his head ....sure hope he doesn't bring bad luck like on that Brady Bunch episode when they were in Hawaii...

@GAN - Watching the show now - actually jumped when Craig and Pete just said "GAN". Fantastic name - CONGRATS!!!!!

 

[SorcererHeidi]

Sounded like a lightning strike close the studio. I don’t blame them for shutting everything down right away. Lightning here can be brutal, and can really fry your electronics.

Wow - I jumped here, just watching it on TV! Hope all, and everything, is OK!

 

[samsteele]

Congrats @GAN! Fantastic name choice. Just watching the show after work tonight. No better name for the new tiki! Inspired.

 

[GAN]

@GAN - Watching the show now - actually jumped when Craig and Pete just said "GAN". Fantastic name - CONGRATS!!!!!

Congrats @GAN! Fantastic name choice. Just watching the show after work tonight. No better name for the new tiki! Inspired.

Thank you both! I was working, not really paying attention and I heard Craig make the comment ..caught me by surprise for sure! I hope Tutus brings Pete years of protection from those close lightning strikes

 

[hertamaniac]

It looks really cool, but that oscillating mode can be a little distracting.

 

[fumanchu2488]

Not sure if this belongs here, but I was really interested in the end of the show and discussion around eliminating things we love. I would agree to disagree. My thought would be that things are definitely going to change, but that they would not remove or eliminate the experience like Pete suggested. There are two sides to the equation and Pete's discussion centered around cost cutting.

My belief is that Disney will go for the price increases. For almost a year, Disney has limited the experience at the same price; and people are still willing to pay. Pete mentioned an excellent point; a large population of people will have some lasting complex with being around large crowds. So what will they do? My bet is increase prices over the next 12 - 18 months..... A LOT. They will also probably look to monetize other areas such as FastPasses like was suggested on the show.

In my view, price increases accomplishes two major things.

1. Most importantly for Disney, it raises revenue as long as the increase in price outpaces the decrease in attendance. For example, if they were to double the price and only lose 30% of the visitors, they would make out on top or close to it (lose some merch sales and food sales).

2. Decreasing attendance will increase guest satisfaction. Less waits, lines, crowds. This would make people feel more comfortable in a post pandemic world. It would also provide Disney opportunities to optimize staff and provide a better overall guest experience by allowing cast members more time to focus on providing the best service without feeling overwhelmed.

However, they could get the same result by eliminating experiences. Less people go because it isn't as magical, costs can stay lower and they can keep up with nearly the same profits.

Time will tell.

 

[Bigmace]

2. Decreasing attendance will increase guest satisfaction. Less waits, lines, crowds. This would make people feel more comfortable in a post pandemic world. It would also provide Disney opportunities to optimize staff and provide a better overall guest experience by allowing cast members more time to focus on providing the best service without feeling overwhelmed.

Price increases haven't reduced guest attendance though. Before the pandemic the parks were packed as ever. We go to DLR & DCA one or two times a year and the parks are super packed not matter the time of year or day of the week. And we made our first trip to WDW in November and even with reduced capacity its seemed like the parks were packed and Pop Century filled like it was full. Only thing price increases seem to due is make lower income families unable to afford a trip.

 

[StargazerNova]

Glad everyone is alright but I cant say I didn't belly laugh with Pete nearly hitting the ceiling as Craig shouted "Whoa!
had to rewind it to laugh some more. Please I am not cynical just laugh at jump scares . It's a family thing in my home!

 

[Bobb_o]

Price increases haven't reduced guest attendance though. Before the pandemic the parks were packed as ever. We go to DLR & DCA one or two times a year and the parks are super packed not matter the time of year or day of the week. And we made our first trip to WDW in November and even with reduced capacity its seemed like the parks were packed and Pop Century filled like it was full. Only thing price increases seem to due is make lower income families unable to afford a trip.

In a way it has, since 2015 YoY attendance increases have become pretty flat. From 2014-2015 there was a 6% increase and for the following years it was as follows (rounded): +0%, +0%, +2%, +1% which you can compare to an average increase of 4% from 2011-2015. While they may not be shrinking the amount of people coming they are holding it steady. If they had continued at that 4% rate you would have had 3M more people in the park or roughly 8200 more people per day.

It'll be interesting to see 2022 vs 2019 (I think you have to throw 2020 and 2021 out the window)

 

[GAN]

Price increases haven't reduced guest attendance though. Before the pandemic the parks were packed as ever. We go to DLR & DCA one or two times a year and the parks are super packed not matter the time of year or day of the week. And we made our first trip to WDW in November and even with reduced capacity its seemed like the parks were packed and Pop Century filled like it was full. Only thing price increases seem to due is make lower income families unable to afford a trip.

I've been visiting as an adult since the mid-80's. Pricing people out is nothing new for Disney. Back then, most average families couldn't afford to visit every year ...maybe it was every 4-5 years. That's the way it was and we made it work. Now, we have some families planning 2-3 trips a year! I agree, it's crazy, that the significant increases haven't reduced crowds ...and I'm sure Disney is saying the same thing. What they don't want to do is investment more money into a new Park or new Hotels, so I think they do push the envelope with price. Which means families will be left out....

 

[fumanchu2488]

I've been visiting as an adult since the mid-80's. Pricing people out is nothing new for Disney. Back then, most average families couldn't afford to visit every year ...maybe it was every 4-5 years. That's the way it was and we made it work. Now, we have some families planning 2-3 trips a year! I agree, it's crazy, that the significant increases haven't reduced crowds ...and I'm sure Disney is saying the same thing. What they don't want to do is investment more money into a new Park or new Hotels, so I think they do push the envelope with price. Which means families will be left out....

Exactly! I have been hearing lots of talk about not bringing back attractions but I see this as an opportunity for them to baseline cost on what is there now and increase cost as they bring things back that used to be included. “Fireworks are back so we are increasing costs by 10%”. There are things that aren’t coming back like DME or complimentary magic bands. But for the most part I believe everything will.

I also see them trying to capitalize on attractions big time in the future which Pete mentioned in the video. The hint of that Genie app from D23 a few years ago that has magically been forgotten was a sign. That app (or whatever it becomes) is going to monetize the attractions behind the makeup of a convenience. Taking it all the way back to the beginning where you bought tickets for attractions. The more you spend the more you can do.

 

[Peter Venkman]

well they upped the Lightsaber build by $20 a few days ago so they aren't shy about raising prices right now. no doubt that is just the beginning.

 

[jimmymc]

It was a lightning strike. Storms can interfere with the video and audio equipment they use in the studio, and a power outage could damage things.

 

[MichelinMan]

Interesting discussion on the impact of price rises. It has already changed my plans. I was meant to be going this year, staying 2 weeks at Coronado Springs, followed by 5 nights ar RPR at Universal. But I've just postponed until July next year - but the prices at Disney are now much higher at CS, which I just can't justify. So instead, I have downgraded to staying at POP, but for just 12 nights now, followed by 5 nights at Cabana Beach, then 4 nights at RPR. I finally realised what great value Cabana Beach is compared to Disney, and I will use that as a base for when we do SeaWorld, Aquatica and Busch Gardens rather than when we are staying on Disney property. Maybe it will take more people like me before Disney realises people are staying less time on Disney property.

I was tempted to stay off-site completely this trip, but wanted the safety net of staying on Disney property just in case perks like fastpasses come back. My prediction is that once fastpasses come back, they wil be a paid option, but guests staying on site will get some free ones - Value 1 pass, Moderates 2 passes and Deluxe 3 passes for example.

 

[StargazerNova]

Interesting discussion on the impact of price rises. It has already changed my plans. I was meant to be going this year, staying 2 weeks at Coronado Springs, followed by 5 nights ar RPR at Universal. But I've just postponed until July next year - but the prices at Disney are now much higher at CS, which I just can't justify. So instead, I have downgraded to staying at POP, but for just 12 nights now, followed by 5 nights at Cabana Beach, then 4 nights at RPR. I finally realised what great value Cabana Beach is compared to Disney, and I will use that as a base for when we do SeaWorld, Aquatica and Busch Gardens rather than when we are staying on Disney property. Maybe it will take more people like me before Disney realises people are staying less time on Disney property.

I was tempted to stay off-site completely this trip, but wanted the safety net of staying on Disney property just in case perks like fastpasses come back. My prediction is that once fastpasses come back, they wil be a paid option, but guests staying on site will get some free ones - Value 1 pass, Moderates 2 passes and Deluxe 3 passes for example.

I certainly agree with you 100% but unfortunately the hard core Disney fans will pay whatever the cost. IMO there will never be a lapse in business regardless of what they do.

 

[MichelinMan]

I certainly agree with you 100% but unfortunately the hard core Disney fans will pay whatever the cost. IMO there will never be a lapse in business regardless of what they do.

Thing is, hard core Disney fans only make up a small part of the visitors. I think there will be plenty more people like myself starting to look off-site and at Universal, where you get more bang for your buck.