FYI: More Cuts Coming

[jtwibih]

Out of the tens of thousands of guests who pass through the gates every day, how many do you think are even aware of the cuts ahead of time, or would even notice the impact of said cuts upon getting there?

While we(the most knowledgeable of disney guests) are not happy about the cuts, management for the most part could not care less what we think.

At the risk of repeating myself...it's just sad that the parks Walt built are now all about the bottom line. i.e. even though we turned a profit, it's not big enough...CUT CUT CUT etc..

The reason they don't care what we think is because we are not the target audience. Disney is clearly marketing to 1st time visitors and those folks are likely not diving into these cuts like most of the folks who post on these boards. Now......what they will eventually notice is that the experience is not living up to the $$$$ spent which will likely result in few repeat visits or just a one and done. I'm not sure it's that noticeable yet but we are seeing more threads/posts on these boards about bad CM interactions and lack of new entertainment/attractions. I don't know if people are hyper sensitive and go into their visits already somewhat cynical or looking for something bad to happen in order to confirm their suspicions because the comments they are reading or if it's really THAT bad. I lean towards the middle. I don't think it's ever as bad as people make it out to be but at the same time, it is something we should continue to watch.

The WDWMAGIC forums are going bananas about this. They are emailing the executives like crazy about these cuts and are apparently getting replies. I understand why people are upset. Disney fans seem to be a very nostalgic group of people (probably because Walt was and we relate with him in some way) and don't like to see things change in this fashion. It's like the "glory days" are long gone and never coming back.

 

[rteetz]

The WDWMAGIC forums are going bananas about this. They are emailing the executives like crazy about these cuts and are apparently getting replies. I understand why people are upset. Disney fans seem to be a very nostalgic group of people (probably because Walt was and we relate with him in some way) and don't like to see things change in this fashion. It's like the "glory days" are long gone and never coming back.

Well emailing guest relations isn't going to get anything done. It never has and never will. Emailing executives is the only chance we have.

The glory days are gone for now but I don't know if I can say they are never coming back yet.

 

[jtwibih]

Well emailing guest relations isn't going to get anything done. It never has and never will. Emailing executives is the only chance we have.

The glory days are gone for now but I don't know if I can say they are never coming back yet.

I have zero problem with people emailing the executives. Also my point about the glory days had more to do with the mindset of alot of people rather than fact. Not sure I made that clear.

I sit in the middle on alot of this. I have seen a decline in the quality since we have been going every year and lately twice a year. Clearly it hasn't been enough to stop us. However we have a 3 year old who loves the place as much as we do so it is still very new to him.

My opinion on the cuts is that they are completely unnecessary and quite a few take away the nice things about being on the grounds. They aren't game changers or anything but they are what makes the experience a little better for everyone.

 

[CandleontheWater]

The really sad part about all this is in 5 years or so we'll be looking back at these days as the "good ole times". I'm sure Disney is actively working on ways to get the guests to run the park and they'll find a way to monetize it too! I'm really looking forward to the announcement of the VIP Princess Experience!! where you get to come to the parks and be transformed into Cinderella or Snow White and get to experience first hand the days the days before they were transformed into royalty (complete with replica scullery maid costume!). You'll get to really explore your inner princess and connect with the characters of Snow White and Cinderella while you spend your day scrubbing toilets, sweeping up popcorn and emptying garbage cans. After your eight hour shift, um... I mean immersive experience, you will get to be transformed into royalty via a cheap plastic wand and tiara. The fun doesn't end there- you'll really feel like royalty when you get to watch Wishes from a special reserved spot (jammed in with 6,000 of your royal subjects), and you even get a (paltry) SPECIAL EDITION cupcake and glow cube. This incredible, magical, unforgettable experience could be yours for the price of $999.99! (not including park admission, which is necessary to take part in this once-in-a-lifetime experience)

 

[KateP85]

The WDWMAGIC forums are going bananas about this. They are emailing the executives like crazy about these cuts and are apparently getting replies. I understand why people are upset. Disney fans seem to be a very nostalgic group of people (probably because Walt was and we relate with him in some way) and don't like to see things change in this fashion. It's like the "glory days" are long gone and never coming back.

I'm amazed executives are responding to emails from guests. Who exactly are they emailing that's replying? I'd love to read those replies.

 

[rteetz]

I'm amazed executives are responding to emails from guests. Who exactly are they emailing that's replying? I'd love to read those replies.

Disney executives are surprising easy to get ahold of through email. Someone like Bob Iger isn't likely to respond directly but George Kalogridis the President of Walt Disney World is definitely one who reads his emails.

 

[JimmyV]

In other words, just gossip.

"So Leon. Whatcha been doin' sittin' on this Main Street curb for three hours?"

"Well Fred, I'm waiting on the second Main Street Electrical Parade and I wanted to get a good seat."

"Whoa Nelly! Didn't you hear that Disney cut the late parade?"

"Naaaaw. That's just gossip."

 

[GaryDis]

Disney is clearly marketing to 1st time visitors

I don't get this.

They've been pushing DVC, and we still hear talk of new buildings. And DVC clearly isn't for 1st time visitors.

 

[rteetz]

I don't get this.

They've been pushing DVC, and we still hear talk of new buildings. And DVC clearly isn't for 1st time visitors.

But it kind of is. Veteran WDW goers either already have DVC or know about it. Why do you think there are so many DVC kiosks all over the parks, and Disney springs. It is to sell DVC to those first timers or WDW every few years type guest. Disney loves the first time guest because they will spend the most money.

 

[jtwibih]

The one time hit that DVC gives Disney is big. However the perks to being a member seem to not have the same flair that it used to. It's the money coming from the one time purchase that they depend on. There are some who think they are doing this to suck up some of the vacancies of the open overpriced per night deluxes. That's not really marketing to repeat visitors as much as it is trying to make a quick buck. What I guess I'm trying to say is that the lack of investment in new attractions in a timely fashion as well as having stale entertainment that's been sitting there for 10+ years without change can align with Disney not caring about what the repeat visitor thinks.

Of course, the other side of the coin is "why do anything different when they keep coming back anyway".

Also the potential $$$ spent in shops, etc from first time visitors probably outweighs most of the DVC owners since they consistently go. At this point DVC folks are just taking up space in their mind. Why do the perks continue to be diminished?

I think Disney has sent a pretty strong message to AP holders by the rates shooting through the roof over the last few years. Didn't DL have a $250 increase this year? Not sure what WDW's was. Don't some of the APs have blackout dates with the customer having to pay more to get in at all times? This sends the message that they are hoping to trim the number of people with APs without losing much, if any, revenue. Doesn't sound like a strategy aimed at the repeat visitor.

 

[DoingDisney]

I'm going to believe it. You don't have to if you don't want to but a company like Disney isn't going to openly admit to something like this because they don't have to. We have evidence from numerous sources that this is what Disney is doing.

Including actual CMs reporting ...

 

[soniam]

Including actual CMs reporting ...

And family of CMs. It's definitely not just rumors

 

[dfb]

There is change a-comin'.

Winds in the east mist coming in Like somethin' is brewin' and bout to begin Can't put me finger on what lies in store But I fear what's to happen all happened before.

 

[anniemae]

I don't get this.

They've been pushing DVC, and we still hear talk of new buildings. And DVC clearly isn't for 1st time visitors.

I didn't get the whole "Disney is marketing for 1st time visitors" either. Then I thought about it and read some stuff on another forum and now I kind of get it. They would not have to build new things, because everything would be new to the first timer (don't know why they are currently building stuff), and they would not have the same high standards as a repeat visitor (who notices the chipped paint, worn out look etc. that wasn't there 5 years ago), and the repeat visitor would not buy as much in the stores because they have stuff already.

 

[CandleontheWater]

I think DVC is more of an impulse purchase for some people, and that is what Disney is banking on. I know it seems crazy, to make a purchase as large as DVC on a whim, but people do it. They get in the Disney mindset, they are on vacation, they get talked into it and they sign the paperwork. I'd be curious to know how many points go unused in a given year. That would be in Disney's best interest, to sell to people that don't end up using the points.

 

[rteetz]

I didn't get the whole "Disney is marketing for 1st time visitors" either. Then I thought about it and read some stuff on another forum and now I kind of get it. They would not have to build new things, because everything would be new to the first timer (don't know why they are currently building stuff), and they would not have the same high standards as a repeat visitor (who notices the chipped paint, worn out look etc. that wasn't there 5 years ago), and the repeat visitor would not buy as much in the stores because they have stuff already.

They are currently building stuff to help those under performing parks grow a bit. Many first timers only care about MK. They want those first timers to care about all four parks and spend a decent amount of time at each.

 

[hiroMYhero]

In addition to reduced MSEP and Fantasmic shows, Dream Along and JTA shows have been reduced resulting in decreased hours for the full-time CMs.

 

[GaryDis]

Veteran WDW goers either already have DVC or know about it. Why do you think there are so many DVC kiosks all over the parks, and Disney springs. It is to sell DVC to those first timers or WDW every few years type guest.

An "every few years type guest" is not a first timer. And they will notice changes in service quality.

But DVC to first timers? Are there that many people who are that foolish? (Apologies to anyone who did this. It's understandable if you had strong DVC recommendations from friends and family, so I'm not counting those as average first-timers.) Timeshares have such a horrible reputation that I can't imagine that many people on their very first trip even taking the time out to talk to a DVC rep, let alone deciding to drop $10K or more on something before they've even had a chance to get home, think about things calmly, and decide whether they really want to come back every other year.

Do we even know what percentage of guests during the year are repeat visitors? I'm sure Disney has that info, but they're unlikely to share it. Part of marketing is dividing your customers into market segments, so I'm sure that Disney treats first-timers differently from repeat visitors (obviously - first-timers don't get bounce-back offers).

I suspect what's really happening is that bean counters are only capable of counting beans and making decisions on that basis. It's really difficult to count how many people are going to reduce their spending with Disney because they haven't been keeping up with their paint jobs. So they let it go merely because no one can prove on paper that painting more frequently will yield a net profit. That doesn't mean it won't yield a net profit, just that the bean counters don't know how to prove it.

 

[mom2rtk]

Many here make the mistake of thinking Disney doesn't care about repeat visitors. I think they just take them for granted. That seems to have worked up until now. But I think there's a limit with how far they can be pushed.

 

[rteetz]

An "every few years type guest" is not a first timer. And they will notice changes in service quality.

But DVC to first timers? Are there that many people who are that foolish? (Apologies to anyone who did this. It's understandable if you had strong DVC recommendations from friends and family, so I'm not counting those as average first-timers.) Timeshares have such a horrible reputation that I can't imagine that many people on their very first trip even taking the time out to talk to a DVC rep, let alone deciding to drop $10K or more on something before they've even had a chance to get home, think about things calmly, and decide whether they really want to come back every other year.

Do we even know what percentage of guests during the year are repeat visitors? I'm sure Disney has that info, but they're unlikely to share it. Part of marketing is dividing your customers into market segments, so I'm sure that Disney treats first-timers differently from repeat visitors (obviously - first-timers don't get bounce-back offers).

I suspect what's really happening is that bean counters are only capable of counting beans and making decisions on that basis. It's really difficult to count how many people are going to reduce their spending with Disney because they haven't been keeping up with their paint jobs. So they let it go merely because no one can prove on paper that painting more frequently will yield a net profit. That doesn't mean it won't yield a net profit, just that the bean counters don't know how to prove it.

DVC isn't your typical timeshare. DVC is a Disney vacation every year of sorts I can see that appealing a lot more to first timers than say a villa on a beach somewhere, especially if you have kids.