I can say with 100% certainty its not declining. At the worst status quo, but we did quite a few things last time that we hadn't done before.
Ok...here's the ideological divide...
Status quo or decline is a recipe
For disaster at amusement parks and has historically been proven to be the case 100% of the time.
That is something that Disney was adamant about not having happen...and their "low" periods have been punctuated by stagnation in parks.
I'll give you a couple relevant examples:
DCA was opened poorly equipped and was all but abandoned prior to massive rebuild.
Universal Orlando was pretty impressive after IOA was opened...but experienced multiple ownership changes in the following 10 years that result in no additions...and was as stale as it gets...and in steep decline.
It's not just that they are in status quo that is annoying/worrisome...
It's that it's status quo with this "how far can we take it before we are FORCED to do something" mentality
Menu streamlining combined with price increases...about 10 years
Huge hikes on tickets and especially passes over 10 years
Hotel Rate hikes happening at the same time as a global economic peel back...
Premium events all over the place... Now being paired with premium event add ons
More shops with less stuff being put In them...for about 10 years
Closures of rides without replacement... Which
Amounts to Disney sacrilege
Closure of three guest areas... Even if they were dated... With no reciprocal replacements
And large gaps in additions to the existing parks...which... Even if its Disney... Need refreshes. (Yes... Some of us in the core audience do actually represent a significant portion of the revenue and HAVE seen it/done it all... So a nibble just might keep the dogs happy)... For about 10 years.
It's like a game...they'll keep pushing and only a massive financial punch in the face will keep them honest...
... Which is never gonna happen.
Wdw has always been a cash cow... No bones about that. But what happens when there's no more cash in rewarding the customers? Blood letting and decline...
That always my fear and after looking at this all for many years from a variety of perspectives has not quelled the fears...
So please...don't just give me the "some people just hate Disney" line of crap. It's the equivalent of playground name calling. Because their symbol is a mouse and they direct market to my kids and the emotional button in the human DNA sequences...don't check the brain at the door.
Orlando is NOT a priority to reward the customers...nor to stengthen the parks/brand/company...nor even to really maintain the status quo by some measure.
It...like Disney springs... Is kinda a very elaborate shopping mall on cruise control.
Until I see this great avatar and the "inevitable" and yet unannounced and not even hinted at
pixar place, starwarsland, and cars land at studios...and whatever other junk that a big company is "given the benefit of the doubt" on...it's not gonna be an easy sell on garnering effusive praise.