Disneyworld needs updated to better attract tweens and teens

[#1DopeyFan]

I think the area where they really lack is souvenirs and clothing.

Oh how I WISH my kids and I agreed with this statement!! We all spent a LOT of money this last trip and already saving spending money for the next trip.

 

[Laketravis]

They also sold off some of their parks.

This is why forums are so filled with misinformation. One poster claims Six Flags is losing money when the fact is that the most recent three years they've had record profits.

Then someone says they also sold off some of their parks. But that was in 2004.

Six Flags went thru a reorganization in 2010 and they've been profitable since with increasing attendance.

I'm not suggesting that Six Flags parks are anywhere near the caliber of WDW, but people need to get their facts straight.

 

[pixie08]

Your bus driver was wrong. Maybe that's what they want people to believe, but it's not the truth.

This is completely creating a side conversation,so this is the last I will say of this, but I agree with TDC Nala &Trek Girl. That is what they tell people, but not the whole truth.


Now all of us Disney fans are siding with the "family version" of the park. Yes this is true, but thrill rides do sell park tickets. Look at AK, they used to close at 4:00 most nights. Add a wild and crazy coaster and now attendance went up. The large pulls at HS yes is TSM, but also RNR and TOT. So thrill rides are also an important factor. I think the difference at Disney is balance between the thrill ride, the child's ride, the family ride and the show. This is how it comes together to be a full family experience.

 

[momto2girls]

I have always been a big Disney fan. DH and I loved coming here when we were dating (we lived in FL then). We got married here. We bought in to DVC. We've brought our children here yearly (or close to it) since our oldest was 2. I do agree that Disney shouldn't change it's formula. It obviously works.

That being said, I do see where it is less appealing for Tweens and teens. My older DD is 12. She isn't one to crave the super-thrill rides at Six Flags, etc. She is fine with Disney's level of exciting. She loves TOT, Rock and Roller Coaster, etc. Even so, there aren't many rides/activities at each park that interest her. We are at WDW right now and as I've looked around, I've realized that so many of the things we used to do to fill our days are now too young for my kids. I really think that WDW is suited much better for little ones. I've even been bored myself this trip. I think my family has outgrown Disney.

I guess I didn't anticipate this when we bought DVC. Fortunately, we can use the points for Hawaii. After that trip, I'm not sure what we will do about the DVC. I am looking forward to taking more exotic trips overseas rather than going to WDW, but it still is a bit sad. It feels like the end of an era.

 

[mikesdisneymom]

I think Disney is perfect the way it is. I have a 15 year old that does not like the thrill rides, he will not go on Splash, Everest, TOT, RnR. I am fortunate to get him on some of the larger rides. We enjoy Disney for the atmosphere and thrills that we get from the rides.

 

[claryche]

I love thrill rides and would love to see a few more. But my first trip to Disney World was when I was a teen, I was 18, first Spring Break at college. And this was back when there was only MK and Epcot and Epcot didn't have the rides it has now. And I remember having a blast. It was great times. We saw characters, we rode rides, I even bought a Mickey Balloon. So Disney does have stuff for teens. You just have to have the teen that likes the stuff Disney has.

 

[Jacquie668]

This is why forums are so filled with misinformation. One poster claims Six Flags is losing money when the fact is that the most recent three years they've had record profits.

Then someone says they also sold off some of their parks. But that was in 2004.

Six Flags went thru a reorganization in 2010 and they've been profitable since with increasing attendance.

I'm not suggesting that Six Flags parks are anywhere near the caliber of WDW, but people need to get their facts straight.

Well it is easy to say that and know everything when you look at the Wiki page about Six Flags haha. Just sayin'! jk jk jk

The amusement park operator filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in June 2009, not long after the shares were delisted from the New York Stock Exchange. The restructuring, approved in April 2010, essentially wiped out the value of the stock formerly known at Six Flags.

Source: USA TODAY

Added info since one could say you left out the Chapter 11 bit with your "reorganization." I believe the posters were not spreading misinformation, but were merely leaving out dates for the sake of conversation.

I do agree, that Six Flags is not the same as WDW or DL. Though obviously those who constantly compare Disney to every other amusement park out there probably would disagree with that, but there you go.

 

[kmb584]

As others have said, Disney is fine as it, and that's a statement I agree with 110%. There are 4 theme parks, 2 water parks and DQ, all in which include attractions families can enjoy together as well as attractions for the thrill seekers. No, there aren't over the top, 15 loop, 200 ft drop coasters and I like it that way.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

This is why forums are so filled with misinformation. One poster claims Six Flags is losing money when the fact is that the most recent three years they've had record profits.

Then someone says they also sold off some of their parks. But that was in 2004.

Six Flags went thru a reorganization in 2010 and they've been profitable since with increasing attendance.

I'm not suggesting that Six Flags parks are anywhere near the caliber of WDW, but people need to get their facts straight.

I think you better do a litle fact finding and not from wiki!

6 flags is better then they were but are still in big problems. The increase in visitors is more a matter of the economy getting better, not having anything better about the parks.

AKK

 

[Mainebound]

I have a teen boy and a tween boy, and we have been to Orlando, including WDW and the Universal and Sea World parks, every year for a decade, so I think I can comment.

Both boys love thrill rides, and we think Universal parks are terrific. But we decided to do a WDW-only vacation next week because the boys wanted it.

They love Disney and know there is nothing else quite like it, and they also realize there is more to a vacation than roller coasters.

 

[Jacquie668]

I think you better do a litle fact finding and not from wiki!

6 flags is better then they were but are still in big problems. The increase in visitors is more a matter of the economy getting better, not having anything better about the parks.

AKK

And if you are going to look things up and criticize others don't post your thoughts in the order they appear in the first few paragraphs on the WIKI page. Dead giveaway! lol Just sayin'!

 

[Laketravis]

I think you better do a litle fact finding and not from wiki!

6 flags is better then they were but are still in big problems. The increase in visitors is more a matter of the economy getting better, not having anything better about the parks.

AKK

My info didn't come from a wiki page, Jacquie668's did.

I checked their SEC filings.

At least some of us do our research. Attributing the increase in visitors solely to the economy is not based in fact. Stating there are still "big problems" is contradictory to their just announcing a ten-fold increase in stock dividends. If those are problems, I'd like more of them.

JUST SAYIN'.

 

[andyman8]

I have yet to really see an adequate reason why the addition of some more thrill rides would hurt Disney? Assuming these attractions occupy the many parts of the property that are not used for existing attractions, I don't see where people would have a problem. I much prefer a themed roller coater than than executive offices in the back pack of DHS.

 

[davedmaine]

I have yet to really see an adequate reason why the addition of some more thrill rides would hurt Disney? Assuming these attractions occupy the many parts of the property that are not used for existing attractions, I don't see where people would have a problem. I much prefer a themed roller coater than than executive offices in the back pack of DHS.

As I've learned, you are not allowed here to offer an opinion on how you think Disney can be improved.

 

[fairestoneofall]

thankfully, my older kids still love Disney. i can see the middle DS getting a little bored with it, but i'm hoping there is enough to keep his interest. DD has not tired of it at all.

honestly, i feel like WDW has done a good job of implementing both thrill rides and family rides lately. there was a spurt of thrill rides, but their recent offerings were more family oriented. i honestly think they are striving for a good balance.

i don't want WDW to become full of thrill rides and roller coasters.

i grew up going to WDW and have never tired of it. i also grew up close enough to have a season pass to King's Island, so i enjoyed a good thrill ride as a teen. but i was most excited about our annual one-day visit to WDW! ha!

 

[SpacePlace]

I get what you are saying but why couldn't they theme a roller coaster just as much as they do the other rides? Like someone mentioned after some of the Disney villains ? It could fit in without sticking out like a sore thumb. Don't get me wrong Disney World is beautiful in itself. The resorts, the lakes with watersports, the cruises, tours, firework shows and parades. But a couple of other options wouldn't hurt for the older kid range.

Thank you, yes, you picked up on that. I don't think they need to do more "thrill rides" necessarily to bring more teenagers into the park, just different themes that are a little more edgy. The obvious theme would be the Disney villains. Instead of another princess castle, they could have Malificient's castle and it could look super wicked like in LOR or the Wizard of Oz. In the daytime it could be like an innocent Sleepy Hollow town but then by dusk - light the torches, bring out the scary CMs, etc. When I was a teenager, one of my favorite things to do was to go to haunted houses and Halloween events in my city. You don't need everything a roller coaster, just need it to have the variability to take it up a notch, get a little edgy.

 

[bcrook]

I have to say that I agree with OP on this. The fact is, from a business perspective, Disney's most logical next move to compete with UOR would be to attract teenagers by building thrill rides (they already have some extraordinary ones). Ideally, WDW could move to attract families with young ones and older ones. I think that rides like the 7DMT is a step in the right direction, as it combines classic storytelling with a mild roller coaster that everyone can still enjoy; I'll think we'll see high speeds with a lot of twists and turns but no drops or inversions (basically a bit milder than BTMRR).

That being said, OP won't find much sympathy as most posters on this board are parents of younger ones thus that money must go to attractions for their kids.

How would the addition of thrill rides detract from the kid friendly atmosphere? It seems like you're going from one extreme (very few thrill rides) to the other (all thrill rides). The number of "other kinds of rides" far outnumber the few thrill rides in the parks.

Also, I'd just like to remind everyone that 75% of Disney's most popular attractions are the thrill rides. When was the last time "it's a small world" had a three hour wait?

Andyman8's lucid points seem irrefutable. All of them. Expedition Everest is the prime example of how a ride energizes the masses to visit Disney world. The theming is AMAZING, the original design of the Yeti, the unique reverse ride aspect of the trains, the story that ties it all together - and it fits perfectly in the Land of Asia at Animal Kingdom. It is wildly popular.

Who could possibly argue that WDW doesn't need a few more rides like this at each park? Or at least at DHS, AK, and Epcot. It is very difficult to understand anything contrary to that suggestion.

How many people are planning on making a trip in Late 2014 JUST TO SEE the Seven Dwarves Mine Train? Even though it MIGHT not be as exciting as some hope, just think what kind of energy another ride with the Magnitude of Splash Mountain would have. I think the leaked plans for Avatar-Land could infuse that kind of excitement - but 2017-2018 is a LONG WAY OFF!

 

[North of Mouse]

As I've learned, you are not allowed here to offer an opinion on how you think Disney can be improved.

Absolutely, you are allowed to offer *your* opinion, just like everyone else is allowed to offer *their* opinions. Aren't you saying *why* it should be the way *you* want it just like others are stating why they think it should be the way *they* want it??

Just because the number of posters are *more* for Disney remaining *Disney like it is* doesn't mean everyone doesn't have their own opinions. That should tell you what the majority of people think about what Disney really means, and is not just *another* park with lots of thrill rides. There is much more to Disney than that, and I think that's what we're trying to convey by *our* opinions. We're not all lemmings, but individuals, with personal *opinions*.

 

[Jacquie668]

Absolutely, you are allowed to offer *your* opinion, just like everyone else is allowed to offer *their* opinions. Aren't you saying *why* it should be the way *you* want it just like others are stating why they think it should be the way *they* want it??

Just because the number of posters are *more* for Disney remaining *Disney like it is* doesn't mean everyone doesn't have their own opinions. That should tell you what the majority of people think about what Disney really means, and is not just *another* park with lots of thrill rides. There is much more to Disney than that, and I think that's what we're trying to convey by *our* opinions. We're not all lemmings, but individuals, with personal *opinions*.

Well said!

honestly, i feel like WDW has done a good job of implementing both thrill rides and family rides lately. there was a spurt of thrill rides, but their recent offerings were more family oriented. i honestly think they are striving for a good balance.

i don't want WDW to become full of thrill rides and roller coasters.

Agree as well. I don't feel the majority of people are saying "NO NEW ADDITIONS" or "NO NEW RIDES!" I feel they are saying we want Disney to be Disney and not the average amusement park. Even Universal has stepped things up to keep things above just a place full of rides. Just with Disney, it is a complete experience and I always and will always love it.

However, as stated by many many posters, Disney should continue to improve things and evolve, but not by sacrificing what makes Disney a magical place for people of ALL ages.

 

[Mousemommy1]

I have yet to really see an adequate reason why the addition of some more thrill rides would hurt Disney? Assuming these attractions occupy the many parts of the property that are not used for existing attractions, I don't see where people would have a problem. I much prefer a themed roller coater than than executive offices in the back pack of DHS.

I don't *think* that anyone has said no new rides....

To clarify my opinion, I feel that Disney is fine the way it is. But, Disney is constantly evolving and adding, and I think that's great. But, the OP was kind of insinuating that there was nothing to appeal to teens/Tweens and I just think that your teens/Tweens would have to be into the Disney thing...just as a child would ( not all kids like Disney ), and just as an adult would.

Not everyone is going to be into Disney, for sure. To generalize that Disney does not appeal to teens/Tweens is just that, a generalization. Obviously there are plenty in the teen/tween set for whom Disney appeals to. Unfortunately for OP, his/her teens/Tweens are apparently not in that set.

Disney has appealed to me at every stage of my life, and I am now 34.
I am always open to seeing what they bring next!