Disney is hurting for cash

[gatour]

Not surprised based on how many die hard fans on here have postponed their trips, let alone the casual vacationer who probably doesn't want to take the risk. Just curious for the locals, what would/could Disney do to attract you to visit more often and spend more money there?

Well they have started to do something. They are offering Florida residents discounted multiday tickets. Which is a bit tempting.

However there are two drawbacks for us.

1. The lack of park hoping. We have been so many times we will spend part of the day in one park doing our must do (and any new rides that we haven't been on) and then going to another park for the rest of the day.

2. The reduction of menu items in the restaurants. Part of the reason we go to Disney is for the food. With the reduction in number of choices it is not as appealing. Plus they are making menu changes more often, so there is no guarantee that a dish that I am interested in will be on the menu two weeks from now.

 

[DanSG]

For me, the number one thing they need to do to get me to spend money is start selling AP's again. I'm a new-ish local who even pre-Covid had been waiting for some financial pieces to fall in place before buying passes for any of the parks. Once the final piece settles, we'll be ready to spend, and we'll be fine taking our money to the "dark side" of Universal and SW/BG if Disney doesn't want to sell us AP's (preferably with bonus perks such as extra months, greater food/merch discounts, even free waterparks once they open).

Honestly, for a company that is hurting, by not selling annual passes or letting me renew my annual pass, they are missing out on me spending money for hotels, food and drink, and merchandise.

 

[skeeter31]

Honestly, for a company that is hurting, by not selling annual passes or letting me renew my annual pass, they are missing out on me spending money for hotels, food and drink, and merchandise.

You can renew your pass currently. As long as it’s not expired, you can call the VIP pass line and renew.

 

[Eric Smith]

I think people are cancelling right now because of the reduced experience and they think it will be better next year or at some point.

If no vaccine by end of year, I think people will start to see that this is indeed how it is for now and need to decide - do we want to not visit Disney for a possibly very long time, or do we want to go and adapt to the way things have to be for now? Even if a vaccine, I don't think masks requirements will go away over night. And masks/restrictions will still be most anywhere people visit, not just Disney.
I think when people finally accept (most people anyways) that this is how life is for now, bookings will go up again by later in the year, definitely next year. It's amazing what people can adapt to.

Honestly, the mask deterrent will lessen as people get more and more used to wearing masks and seeing others wear masks. I don't even really notice it anymore.

I think people are canceling right now because they don’t want to vacation in the coronavirus capital of the world. We just cancelled our September trip last night for this reason.

 

[skeeter31]

I think people are canceling right now because they don’t want to vacation in the coronavirus capital of the world. We just cancelled our September trip last night for this reason.

I think trying to generalize why people are cancelling is useless. People are going to cancel for a multitude of reasons right now, that’s why Disney is offering discounts, especially to locals.

 

[Farro]

I think people are canceling right now because they don’t want to vacation in the coronavirus capital of the world. We just cancelled our September trip last night for this reason.

Well obviously right now that's why people are cancelling.

But that's not the only reason and that's why I'm speaking in terms of the future. Florida's numbers won't always be this bad.

 

[iheartglaciers]

Well obviously right now that's why people are cancelling.

But that's not the only reason and that's why I'm speaking in terms of the future. Florida's numbers won't always be this bad.

I agree, I think some people are also cancelling because they don't want to visit during a period of limited experiences. Even when Florida's numbers go down, there's uncertainty around when Disney can resume parades, fireworks, etc.

 

[Edward90]

to be honest your never gonna see the splash mountainr replacement

 

[cranbiz]

people do indeed need to cancel i heard a mom lost lost two grown children to covid after visiting disney

Source?

 

[Edward90]

a couple of news reports said a mother lost 2 of her grown children after a family trip to orlando

 

[Farro]

Source?

It wasn't linked to Disney. Children had visited Florida.

 

[Paul70]

I am interested in this thread’s thoughts on the possibility that Disney’s financial situation will necessitate the closing of attractions. Pete W. mentioned on The Dis unplugged that the recent announcement of permanent closures is a harbinger of things to come. I agree; I told DW on our trip last week to take in everything we can because I think we will see fewer attractions in the future as Disney makes cuts to less popular attractions that need more maintenance and labor. Do others agree?

 

[cranbiz]

It wasn't linked to Disney. Children had visited Florida.

So, not relevant to this thread. With no contact tracing, no proof they got it in FL either.

 

[Farro]

So, not relevant to this thread. With no contact tracing, no proof they got it in FL either.

I'm sorry - they live in Florida and visited Orlando. It happened in late June.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/20/us/florida-mother-2-children-covid-19-deaths/index.html

 

[Sbunit]

I posted this in another forum. Figured I'd share my opinion here as well..

I cancelled my 2020 trip because the "experience" will not be there for us. The lack of crowds is certainly a win for many people (I mean who likes to deal with crowds). But minimal crowds along with a minimal Disney experience is a deal breaker for us and I'm sure for many other visitors who pay top dollar expecting the Disney experience. That's why I believe once a vaccine hits the market (and it will in 2020) Disney will open things up further in hopes of recouping the rest of the market and get back to business as usual. I just can't see them functioning with these limitations for the long term regardless of what the media and social media thinks.

 

[Farro]

I posted this in another forum. Figured I'd share my opinion here as well..

I cancelled my 2020 trip because the "experience" will not be there for us. The lack of crowds is certainly a win for many people (I mean who likes to deal with crowds). But minimal crowds along with a minimal Disney experience is a deal breaker for us and I'm sure for many other visitors who pay top dollar expecting the Disney experience. That's why I believe once a vaccine hits the market (and it will in 2020) Disney will open things up further in hopes of recouping the rest of the market and get back to business as usual. I just can't see them functioning with these limitations for the long term regardless of what the media and social media thinks.

I disagree. Disney is not going to stop requiring masks and social distancing until it is acceptable to do so - both medically and in people's perception.

Again, masks won't disappear just because a vaccine is here. People still have to get the vaccine.

 

[jdrasin]

Interestingly Cedar point after less than 2 weeks has dropped the reservation requirement. Most the slots were taken opening weekend. I looked recently as I planned to go again and there was at least half availability this coming weekend. Half of what is estimated at 20-25% or normal capacity.

I think that is what Disney and every other amusement park is getting right now. Except Hollywood studios.

People are terrified
Broke
Or just don’t want to pay for a halfway experience.
Or going out of state requires a quarantine

I think most business currently are people with annual and season passes.

Interesting. I thought the registration was for tracing purposes. So they could know who needed to be contacted if there were people who reported later they were positive.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

I am interested in this thread’s thoughts on the possibility that Disney’s financial situation will necessitate the closing of attractions. Pete W. mentioned on The Dis unplugged that the recent announcement of permanent closures is a harbinger of things to come. I agree; I told DW on our trip last week to take in everything we can because I think we will see fewer attractions in the future as Disney makes cuts to less popular attractions that need more maintenance and labor. Do others agree?

Well, to be honest, it would not surprise me if some rides were closed permanently. But it's not a financial move entirely. Shows and performances are far easier to cut to save cost. There is a limit to the cuts they can do and still have enough to keep people coming. However, there are some old rides that are long in the teeth which have been on the chopping block for a long time, but just never had the good excuse. some of those will probably be closed for good using the current situation as a trigger for finally doing it. But the long term strategy is still going to be to replace those rides with others. It's just a matter of timing.

But could Disney use the current situation as the triggering event to take some of those steps? Absolutely. They could call it any number of things - for example the ride is too difficult to sanitize or other such concerns and hide behind some of the other backlash they might otherwise incur.

Like who here believes Iago REALLY caught fire? YEAH. I'm sure he did - and it had NOTHING to do with the lighter that Bob Iger was holding under his wing feathers.

 

[Paul70]

Like who here believes Iago REALLY caught fire? YEAH. I'm sure he did - and it had NOTHING to do with the lighter that Bob Iger was holding under his wing feathers.
[/QUOTE]

 

[Edward90]

disney is defiantely losing money if they dont pull mulan they will lose more money