DVC and the Future of the Walt Disney Company

[SpaceMountain77]

Over the past few days, I have been following the “General Feeling of DVC Membership” thread, which is also in the DVC-Mousecellaneous forum. This thread is prompted by several of the comments posted in that thread.

Aside from thinking about past and current DVC experience, do any of you wonder about the future of Disney Parks & Resorts and, specifically, the position of the Walt Disney Company 10, 20, or even 50 years from now?

Please know that I am a very happy DVC member; I thoroughly enjoy my trips and the memories that are created in Disney parks. However, I am able to recognize that Disney Parks & Resorts is a division of a multinational mass media corporation.

I suspect that many DVC purchases are based on the assumption that the Walt Disney Company will continue to be the gold standard in its industry. Out of curiosity, do you ever wonder about the future of your contract and purchase?

 

[WilsonFlyer]

Over the past few days, I have been following the “General Feeling of DVC Membership” thread, which is also in the DVC-Mousecellaneous forum. This thread is prompted by several of the comments posted in that thread.

Aside from thinking about past and current DVC experience, do any of you wonder about the future of Disney Parks & Resorts and, specifically, the position of the Walt Disney Company 10, 20, or even 50 years from now?

Please know that I am a very happy DVC member; I thoroughly enjoy my trips and the memories that are created in Disney parks. However, I am able to recognize that Disney Parks & Resorts is a division of a multinational mass media corporation.

I suspect that many DVC purchases are based on the assumption that the Walt Disney Company will continue to be the gold standard in its industry. Out of curiosity, do you ever wonder about the future of your contract and purchase?

No.

In your research, look up where the Disney Company makes its money and you will have the answer to your question.

 

[DebbieB]

No, I'm not concerned. If my DVC was cancelled tomorrow, I think I've got more than my monies worth.

 

[CarolMN]

No, I'm not concerned. If my DVC was cancelled tomorrow, I think I've got more than my monies worth.

Me, too.

 

[crisi]

No, I'm not concerned. If my DVC was cancelled tomorrow, I think I've got more than my monies worth.

Yep.

But I think Disney has been going downhill for years. Food used to be way better. I think the parks used to be cleaner. Pre-internet there was more pixie dust.

But what industry - theme park based resorts - to the best of my knowledge. Resorts in general - only if above gold there is platinum and diamond.

 

[Dean]

Over the past few days, I have been following the “General Feeling of DVC Membership” thread, which is also in the DVC-Mousecellaneous forum. This thread is prompted by several of the comments posted in that thread.

Aside from thinking about past and current DVC experience, do any of you wonder about the future of Disney Parks & Resorts and, specifically, the position of the Walt Disney Company 10, 20, or even 50 years from now?

Please know that I am a very happy DVC member; I thoroughly enjoy my trips and the memories that are created in Disney parks. However, I am able to recognize that Disney Parks & Resorts is a division of a multinational mass media corporation.

I suspect that many DVC purchases are based on the assumption that the Walt Disney Company will continue to be the gold standard in its industry. Out of curiosity, do you ever wonder about the future of your contract and purchase?

I'm not concerned but one would be foolish to ignore the risks if say the parks were to close or air fare got so expensive that it was not reasonable for most to fly or fees went up so much that most couldn't afford them. Unfortunately, when most do their analysis, they assume what's effectively a best case scenario. Everything that's variable is likely to go against them if it doesn't track their assumptions.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I did consider before buying DVC and do consider it virtually every time someone is concerned with the 2042 resort expiration vs 2060 or some other later date. There is very very little that stays the same for that long.

And I then realize that I personally have been going to Disney parks for 44+ years. I quit thinking about it at that point but there certainly have been many many changes over that time. It's something that should at least be recognized as a possible vulnerability of a timeshare so tied to another business entity.

 

[Jousey]

I have not really thought of it till now with this post. I guess my personal feeling is things are going to change one way or another, a lot can change in 50 years. But I have faith in the growth we are seeing in DVC and the multiple resales being purchased and the resorts being built. I see an upswing coming less Pixie Dust, because buisness is doing beter. Maybe less perks because of cost, but i see growth. I see there may be less for free but mor opertunity to say buy a special item or more merchendising fro DVC. Disney has been the leader in Mechandising in the parks and movies. I see this trend following to DVC. I see growth and potencial to thrive, I am not blind I know a nother finacial crisess could take that growth out in a heart beat and I forsee a few times were that can and will happen in the next 50 years. but I feel I made a good investment in my future travel and plan to use DVC to the fullest fro many years.

 

[Msmithmd]

While Disney remains our favorite vacation destination, it does concern me that the guest volume versus park capacity (number of rides) seems increasingly more out of line every year.

There are still slow times of year, but even those are seemingly much busier than they were ten years ago. One would think Disney would hit a ceiling between where they can raise park admission prices versus the crowd levels in the parks. But based on the daily visitor level reports from this summer, hitting the current ($100 a day!) price isn't that ceiling.

So yes, it does in some ways seem like one receives incrementally less ability to enjoy the parks on a year-to-year basis, for an ever-increasing cost. But as a corporation, Disney still seems to know what to do to keep the revenue increasing. Many people cry and moan when Disney increases ticket prices, and yet attendance increases and sets new records. Many complain how the food offerings have declined and become homogenized, and yet booking those restaurants frequently must be done 180-190 days out from a trip, to get to eat at those conditions at all.

I just wish they would direct more resources to improving and expanding the parks themselves (which after all are the real reason we want to visit swampy land in central Florida in the first place) versus adding huge capacity in lodging to an already massive system (AoA) and fixing things that aren't broken (FP).

But until something changes that makes the corporation move in this direction, I don't see why they would.

It sure would be interesting to see what would happen if they increased daily admission ticket prices 50% overnight, wouldn't it?...or if they took a serious attempt at increasing park capacity- and doubled either the number or the size of the current Florida parks, within a three year period? Big picture threads make one think about the possibilities.

 

[bakerworld]

Whenever we're feeling the parks or hotel venues are starting to feel 'less' we vacation elsewhere and this improves our feeling towards Disney. Maybe it's just that our other vacation venues are not at the same economic standard of our DVC (which is my we joined) but it works for us.

 

[nunzia]

In the big picture I have faith that the Comapny will continue to grow and work to maintain its reputation. Remember, the Walt Disney Company has been around in one form or another since 1923 and even earlier, so 50 years forward is much less than what is already past. And to me, the company is one of the few I can think of that still has its original mission statement (before that term was even invented) intact..quality product and entertainment for all ages with a focus on families. For the most part they still do a very good job at that..better than any in the idustry. I've held Disney stock for over 30 years and never had a doubt about it (ok..maybe a bit in the Eisner years). On a micro level, of course there are issues and some that are pretty glaring, but I also believe that the issues will be recognized and corrected. The Walt Disney Company will change a lot in the next 50 years, and will look much different as will everything else in the world, but I believe it will remain the premier entertainment company it is today.

 

[disneynutz]

I'm not worried about Disney but I don't understand why DVC still has MS issues and why the rooms can't be cleaned properly.

We have been through 3 executives in charge of the DVC and none of them seemed to care about the existing owners and making the DVC something really special. Getting a clean, maintenance free room seems like something that should be doable.

Bill

 

[bonrea]

No, I'm not concerned. If my DVC was cancelled tomorrow, I think I've got more than my monies worth.

Agreed...

DH broke even on the first purchase 2 years after purchase. We broke even on second and then third after 3 years of purchase.

I'm not worried about Disney but I don't understand why DVC still has MS issues and why the rooms can't be cleaned properly.

We have been through 3 executives in charge of the DVC and none of them seemed to care about the existing owners and making the DVC something really special. Getting a clean, maintenance free room seems like something that should be doable.

Bill

Have to agree with disneynutz on this point. They have a captive audience with us DVC members. We have the largest voice for or against Disney.

 

[Disney On The Bayou]

Their are risk in anything we do.... If you purchased a condo in Miami, Destin or Pensacola prior to 2008 you are likely under-water not to mention the thousands of others who are under-water in their current mortgages. I think its a valid question, however, I don't believe that that alone should deter anybody. I always think of the flip side of it.... I'm fortunate that my family is able to financially do it, and DVC helps us make more trips. I feel blessed that we all have the health to do it as often as we do. I've made do many fantastic trips and enjoyed more experiences that if the world ended tomorrow I know I lived it to the maximum with my friends and family. Its easy to think about all the up and down side of things and its responsible to do, however, don't let what might happen 30 years from now deter you from something you may enjoy today. I think we all know tomorrow is never promised.

 

[Sammie]

Nope, don't think about it and very pleased with my experience.

 

[dianeschlicht]

No, I'm not concerned. If my DVC was cancelled tomorrow, I think I've got more than my monies worth.

I agree with this too.