For $2 Billion Disney could have built 16 major attractions instead of fast pass+

[jade1]

Oh and by the way, even I can improve every attraction in WDW, US and Tokyo if I have the budget.

 

[Hokie2000]

I was being sarcastic. (Bad caveman. Bad)

Earlier in the thread I made the comment that guests care primarily about the entertainment value of the parks. Many disagreed, including you to some degree.

Then several posts later you correctly pointed out that Disney's primary market is 3-9 year old kids who really only care about fun little attractions. "It's all about the kids".

Ergo, my comment about them being totally blown away by Disney's $2B investment and how that hit the target dead center. Not.

Maybe I should forget about a career in stand-up........

Hold up. Entertainment or RIDES? Entertainment value encompasses a lot more than just RIDES.

Their primary market may be 3-9 year olds but Mommy and Daddy are footing the bill.

 

[Suvadoo]

For the rides... yes. For the thrill rides... no. Remember WDW is marketed to families with kids 3-9. Older than that, teens and pre-teens start to seek out independence and become the prime target of Six Flags and Universal. A 14-year old would be happy spending a day at SF. A parent of 3 young kids, not so much. They want Disney.

I'd say people visit Disney World because it is a happy, fun, extremely kid-friendly VACATION. The parents are on vacation, enjoying their family and their kids. Their kids want to ride, but are really thrilled just to be there and see stuff and play on the less than E-ticket rides that their parents feel compelled to get them on without a wait.

There are locals who go primarily for the rides, but they are a tiny minority in Orlando.

Really I could go to probly 10 theme parks w/in a few hours drive from Chicago, many of which have some of the greatest roller coasters in the world, for a fraction of the price I pay to take the fam to WDW. Yet, here I am, going to WDW. So clearly it is *not* the rides, else I'd go to Cedar Point and ride their two world-renown mega coasters. Or I'd go to Six Flags SL and ride Mr Freeze, or I'd go to my very own Great America and ride the new Goliath. All are amazing rides that dwarf Disney rides.

Cuz Disney's draw is not, has never been, and will never be the thrill rides. It is the little things that they do which makes a theme park vacation with little children FUN. They have so much to do and see... Cuz at Six Flags? Our 3- would be bored once we leave the kiddie area. But in the kiddie area, we'd be bored and thinking these are silly carnival rides. It's all about the kids.

At WDW, a parent and a little child can enjoy POTC, HM, SW, Tiki Rm, Mermaid, BTMRR, Space, Splash, SDMT -- together. Plus you're on vacation and when you're not riding a ride, you're meeting a character, or something else magical.



Concur. It is the hot topic, and even tho I may not agree w every post, it is interesting to hear perspectives and debate.

Personally, I'm not into "thrill" rides. I'm 53 yo, so I don't fit your target audience, but I do have the disposable income Disney is after. But new attractions are what drive me, not a crappy reservation system. I don't care about the technology unless it's used to enhance rides. I go to WDW to experience the environment, not to spend more time with my face buried in my phone.
I just hope MDE stays at WDW and never goes to DLR. If it contaminates DLR , I will be a very sad person.

 

[jade1]

Hold up. Entertainment or RIDES? Entertainment value encompasses a lot more than just RIDES.

Their primary market may be 3-9 year olds but Mommy and Daddy are footing the bill.

Yea it's funny-we made to sure to watch Elsa freeze the castle at least once each MK visit (and Holiday Illuminations as well).

Much more "entertaining" than a very high QTY of attractions in MK and other places, at least for us (and the shoulder to shoulder folks around us.

Also the day parade has really improved as well.

 

[tommygunn]

My point was not to build more roller coasts type rides. It was to make investments in real infrastructure that will help build on the magic and beauty that is wdw. Not to throw it into some app that has everyone staring down at their phones half the day. It is textbook over engineering and misuse of funds. The old fp system was fine and actually worked better and I don't think too many people really care about opening their room or paying for their Mickey bars with a wristband. Imo their increase in revenue has zero to do with magic bands and has everything to do with an improvement in the general economy.

 

[jade1]

The old fp system was fine and actually worked better

Not for us sorry.

 

[Laketravis]

Hold up. Entertainment or RIDES? Entertainment value encompasses a lot more than just RIDES.

I believe I used the word "Entertainment" in conjunction with "..value in the parks".

So yeah, I think we both agree. Sort of.

What constitutes entertainment value to a 3-9 yo? Rides? Parades? Fireworks? Costumed Characters? Parsed data from a $2B collection system that indicates her eyes were focused on that shiny doodad + her pulse increased by 25% + her birthday is in < 90 days + proximity sensors indicate she is currently with her mother = 20% off coupon good only for SKU #1277564 to her mother's cell phone?

Dang it, there's that sarcasm again.

 

[Hokie2000]

I believe I used the word "Entertainment" in conjunction with "..value in the parks".

So yeah, I think we both agree. Sort of.

What constitutes entertainment value to a 3-9 yo? Rides? Parades? Fireworks? Costumed Characters? Parsed data from a $2B collection system that indicates her eyes were focused on that shiny doodad + her pulse increased by 25% + her birthday is in < 90 days + proximity sensors indicate she is currently with her mother = 20% off coupon good only for SKU #1277564 to her mother's cell phone?

Dang it, there's that sarcasm again.

Maybe not you, but some posters are insisting that there is only value in rides and I obviously don't agree.

My 5yo is such a Momma's girl, she definitely prefers that I check my phone for FPs right beside her rather than leave the group to run and pull them out of a machine. And my husband appreciates not hearing where's Momma, where's Momma? over and over again until I catch up. It's the little things...

 

[Hokie2000]

I should add before someone points out that I can't get a 4th FP on my phone - I know! Last trip 4th FP wasn't even an option but I did make several changes to our FPs on the MDE app. So that's what I was talking about.

 

[Laketravis]

Maybe not you, but some posters are insisting that there is only value in rides and I obviously don't agree...

Got it. I don't think that's what the OP meant, although it's easy to use the word "rides" when more is actually intended. Maybe "attractions" would be more appropriate. That could mean anything from tea cups to meet & greets.

 

[Suvadoo]

Got it. I don't think that's what the OP meant, although it's easy to use the word "rides" when more is actually intended. Maybe "attractions" would be more appropriate. That could mean anything from tea cups to meet & greets.

this is exactly what I meant. It's not just rides, it's the fireworks, illuminations, the shows. Even though people keep claiming that Disney is investing in attractions the only things I see are the Maelstrom facelift and Avatarland. I see things closing in DHS but nothing has been announced. So as the Caveman asked, " where's the beef ?"

 

[HulkBuster]

Not for us sorry.

iguess i am supposed to be imprest with this pic because you post it alot. could have done these fp or similar since 7dmt wasnt around and much more *and have even on thanksgiving day* in the old days but whatever

 

[jade1]

iguess i am supposed to be imprest with this pic because you post it alot. could have done these fp or similar since 7dmt wasnt around and much more *and have even on thanksgiving day* in the old days but whatever

Its nice to have when the "the old system worked better" comments appear as absolute fact as if for everyone. So you may see it a lot, sorry.

Many of us said this is exactly what we liked about the system way back-just never really knew for certain it work as wonderful as envisioned.

And if you believe you could arrive 9PM on Thanksgiving and create a way to walk on even one of these-much less 3 in an hour and a half your dreaming.

 

[HulkBuster]

Its nice to have when the "the old system worked better" comments appear as absolute fact as if for everyone. So you may see it a lot, sorry. Many of us said this is exactly what we liked about the system way back-just never really knew for certain it work as wonderful as envisioned. And if you believe you could arrive 9PM on Thanksgiving and create a way to walk on even one of these-much less 3 in an hour and a half your dreaming.

didn't say it and don't believe it but twist it however yo want .. i just said im not impressd and will never be cause I culd do muchmore in the old days

 

[Davey Jones II]

For the record, I don't hate the Magic Bands, FP+ or MDE. They all worked quite well for us during our October trip this year. I wouldn't mind any of it, if it were not for the fact (yes, it seems to be quite factual, from everything I've read) that chronic cost overruns associated with this system have led to delays, and possibly even cancellation of some projects that would have added to park infrastructure. A lot of things ended up on the back burner, instead of being green lighted.

Disney hasn't made any official announcements since Avatarland. Is there anything else in the pipeline? Maybe, maybe, but you really have to scour the rumor mill to see any signs of it. We're reduced to reading the tea leaves.

They are closing some attractions in DHS. We can only hope that we will actually see something new, to replace those shuttered attractions, in our lifetimes.

In any case, we know how long these things take, from blue sky to actual opening. By all appearances, all of Disneyland Resort and any park not named Animal Kingdom will see very little new for the rest of this decade, and maybe into the next. And all signs point to MDE/FP+ as the culprit for that.

 

[MrInfinity]

didn't say it and don't believe it but twist it however yo want .. i just said im not impressd and will never be cause I culd do muchmore in the old days

Guys, no one is ever saying that FP+ is better for someone who efficiently used FP-. Those few ppl who did use FP- to ride many rides are clearly way worse off. But, MOST guests, and Disney, are better off, because those who used to be better off under FP- are now only equal.

I know it sucks if you loved FP- but you have to look past how FP- was great for you cuz you used it and most everyone else didn't... to now see that most guests are using FP+ to get on a few rides quick. They're not getting on 9-10 rides quick like you used to, but they're getting on 3, which is 3 more than they used to.

For most guests, and for Disney profit, FP+ is awesome.

 

[Davey Jones II]

It's not one bit at your expense. You paid to go to WDW, after that it's Disney's money. You got full value for it in the vacation you enjoyed.

Would you go up to a car dealership when you bought a car last year and say "no you shouldn't invest in a new garage, you should buy me a pie". No? What? You're going to invest in things to better the future of your business? But how does that help me! It doesn't. I'm a loyal customer you should spend the money I gave you on things I want. After all it's my money you're spending.

Erch. back up. Nope. Not your money any more.

That's why it shouldn't bother ppl so much that Disney is furthering their own cause with money they earned from you, and me, and every other guest.

Furthering their own cause? If they do right by the guest experience, they further everyone's cause.

The parks division is earning record profits, quarter after quarter. The places are crowded, which impinges on the quality of our trips. Disney doesn't have an obligation to reinvest much of those profits, in the parks?

Nonsense.

 

[HulkBuster]

Guys, no one is ever saying that FP+ is better for someone who efficiently used FP-. Those few ppl who did use FP- to ride many rides are clearly way worse off. But, MOST guests, and Disney, are better off, because those who used to be better off under FP- are now only equal. I know it sucks if you loved FP- but you have to look past how FP- was great for you cuz you used it and most everyone else didn't... to now see that most guests are using FP+ to get on a few rides quick. They're not getting on 9-10 rides quick like you used to, but they're getting on 3, which is 3 more than they used to. For most guests, and for Disney profit, FP+ is awesome.

greater good argument.. check

 

[MrInfinity]

greater good argument.. check

If you think that, then you're just missing the whole point. Disney is not being Robin Hood and taking from you to give to others to be nice to them... They're simply leveraging the value of their rides and using them to book more hotel rooms by offering FP+ as a perk. Want to get 3 FPs? Before you would just grab them. Heck grab 9 in a day. Now you can't. You have to book a room. And then you only get 3, so they can save the rest for the next guy that will book a room and they'll have enough for all such people to get 3. And so on!

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Guys, no one is ever saying that FP+ is better for someone who efficiently used FP-. Those few ppl who did use FP- to ride many rides are clearly way worse off. But, MOST guests, and Disney, are better off, because those who used to be better off under FP- are now only equal.

I know it sucks if you loved FP- but you have to look past how FP- was great for you cuz you used it and most everyone else didn't... to now see that most guests are using FP+ to get on a few rides quick. They're not getting on 9-10 rides quick like you used to, but they're getting on 3, which is 3 more than they used to.

For most guests, and for Disney profit, FP+ is awesome.

Nah, I'm not buying that. There are still lots of guests who show up with no plan & now they're facing longer standby lines, including long lines on rides that pretty much never had long standby lines.

IMO, FP+ is working best for those who über plan - and for the most part, those are the same people who used FP- effectively.