Interesting read about Disney here! I gotta agree!

[Klinger13]

http://www.foxbusiness.com/investing/2016/01/02/disney-world-cant-phone-it-in-again-in-2016/ Thoughts?

I think it's on point and I say that as a family of first timers going on our first trip to WDW in less than 3 weeks. (I went to MK once 25 years ago for a few hours so that doesn't count for much.) We're SUPER excited for our visit and know we'll have a great time (thanks to the amazing advice & knowledge gained here on the DIS), but after this visit I'm sure we'll wait quite a few years to return so there are a number of new rides & attractions to experience when we go back. I don't think I could financially justify a return sooner when there won't be much "new" to see and there are other parks/places with great new experiences to try.

 

[mom2rtk]

I think Disney is the master of soaking as much sizzle out of each little project for as long as possible. You can say "but this is coming" and "that is coming". But the proof is in the pudding.

How many net new attractions have been added in..... say...... the last decade? When was the last E ticket attraction added? How has the attendance (and revenue) increased during that time?

 

[eliza61]

A lot of people on here lack objectivity because they've been so many times, they have a very different set of expectations and forget what it can be like for first timers.
As first timers we absolutely LOVED Hollywood Studios, spent a full day there, and still didn't see/do it all, and easily would have gone back for another day. That's not "happy ooey gooey Disney is God", that's just how we as a family enjoyed it.

Oh I definitely agree and I usually always say as a "used to be annual visitor" I try to take that in account. But even when I've traveled with family members who were first timers, almost all of them where extremely "underwhelmed" with HS and Epcot.

Now I too am "excited" for the things that supposedly will come, as I said I'm taking a "wait and see" attitude. but would i plunk down over 400 bucks a head for a 6 day hopper pass? would I recommend a new comer? No to both, and even here a number of people will say how HS. is a 1/2 day park at best, many skip it all together. Problem is we're paying premium price.

 

[mshanson3121]

Oh I definitely agree and I usually always say as a "used to be annual visitor" I try to take that in account. But even when I've traveled with family members who were first timers, almost all of them where extremely "underwhelmed" with HS and Epcot.

Now I too am "excited" for the things that supposedly will come, as I said I'm taking a "wait and see" attitude. but would i plunk down over 400 bucks a head for a 6 day hopper pass? would I recommend a new comer? No to both, and even here a number of people will say how HS. is a 1/2 day park at best, many skip it all together. Problem is we're paying premium price.

I guess I look at it as, when you buy a 6 day pass, you're only spending about $52 per day. IMO, HS is easily worth $52 to visit, I mean heck, we spent $40 just to take our children to a 2 hour movie. Would I pay $100 for a one day pass to go see it? No.

 

[mom2rtk]

I guess I look at it as, when you buy a 6 day pass, you're only spending about $52 per day. IMO, HS is easily worth $52 to visit, I mean heck, we spent $40 just to take our children to a 2 hour movie. Would I pay $100 for a one day pass to go see it? No.

But you can't compare $52 to your $40 movie expense. You have to be there a certain number of days to get those lower ticket prices. So add in travel, lodging and food away for that extended time.

 

[eliza61]

I guess I look at it as, when you buy a 6 day pass, you're only spending about $52 per day. IMO, HS is easily worth $52 to visit, I mean heck, we spent $40 just to take our children to a 2 hour movie. Would I pay $100 for a one day pass to go see it? No.

Not a true comparison, because the 52 dollars is the average. tickets prices decrease the longer you stay, lol they plan it that way. Movie going is instantaneous. So if you decided to take your family to disney for 1 day it would be quite a bit more than 52 bucks.

In fact wasn't there a price increase and now a one day pass is over 100 bucks per person. also when you spend 40 to take your kids, that's usually more than 1 kid. I took myself and two adult kids to see The big short sunday. 3 adult tickets matinee 40 bucks. 3 adult 1 day tickets to disney about 300 with tax.

What I try to do is compare vacation venues. Like last year we did a cruise. first time. royal caribbean Oasis of the Seas.

I think that was the real gist of the article, folks are really trying to get the most for the vacation dollars and Disney has to step up it's game.

When I start planning, I look at total cost and how it's comparable. lodging cost, food cost, entertainment value for the cost, cost of getting there.
Paris France was just about the same price we spend at the world, once we got a great deal on airfare. Now I'm lucky in that I live on the East coast in a major city, I can still find a flight out to Europe for 700-800 per person. Our hotels where less expensive, food definitely was cheaper, as was the attractions.

Now that's a totally different type of vacation but I think the major point is that now the people I know are starting to look at "total" bang for the buck.

 

[mshanson3121]

But you can't compare $52 to your $40 movie expense. You have to be there a certain number of days to get those lower ticket prices. So add in travel, lodging and food away for that extended time.

True. So $205. I spent $120 for 4 of us to attend our local fair for one day. So again... IMO, still worth it. I think trying to factor in travel, lodging and food for one day at HS is pointless, since most people are not traveling to WDW for HS alone, they're traveling for the whole package, which is more than worth it.

 

[mshanson3121]

I think that was the real gist of the article, folks are really trying to get the most for the vacation dollars and Disney has to step up it's game.

Probably so. IMO to comparing it to Universal as they did though... I don't see how that's getting more bang for your buck. I mean, 4 days at US is $840 (2 adults, 2 kids). 4 days at Disney is $1255. So yes, Disney is definitely more money, but IMO you also get far more at Disney than you do at US. Though I agree that US has some very amazingly themed rides, especially thrill rides. But to me that's the difference, US seems more geared to older children/teens whereas Disney typically is more geared towards the younger child. BUT... I think Avatarland and SWL will also help with that. If we had older children (12+) with Disney as is right now, I think we would be more apt to go to US, but for us with younger children, there's not much for us there.

 

[mom2rtk]

True. So $205. I spent $120 for 4 of us to attend our local fair for one day. So again... IMO, still worth it. I think trying to factor in travel, lodging and food for one day at HS is pointless, since most people are not traveling to WDW for HS alone, they're traveling for the whole package, which is more than worth it.

You can discount those costs if you want. But you only get that less expensive price per day if you pay the higher price for the longer stay. And some people can only fly to get there (because of limited time off, living too far away, etc.) so those cost factors can be very substantial for an entire family.

Honestly though...... I'm not sure right now if I would plunk down $52 for my family to visit DHS even if I lived local and had no extra overhead to get there. I KNOW I wouldn't pay $105 each. Not on a bet. Although I did pay $105 each to attend the MK last summer. But we were there for a full second day and did not pay to enter ANY of the parks. One day in the MK is worth it to us. A second day at any other park (even the MK) just not worth it.

 

[rwdavis2]

These long delays for additions and changes to the parks are why we are happy to go only every 4-5 years. We go this November and won't be back until the Star Wars additions are completed and have been in operation for a while.

 

[mshanson3121]

You can discount those costs if you want. But you only get that less expensive price per day if you pay the higher price for the longer stay. And some people can only fly to get there (because of limited time off, living too far away, etc.) so those cost factors can be very substantial for an entire family.

Honestly though...... I'm not sure right now if I would plunk down $52 for my family to visit DHS even if I lived local and had no extra overhead to get there. I KNOW I wouldn't pay $105 each. Not on a bet. Although I did pay $105 each to attend the MK last summer. But we were there for a full second day and did not pay to enter ANY of the parks. One day in the MK is worth it to us. A second day at any other park (even the MK) just not worth it.

Seeing as how we had to spend 3 days and drive roughly 3000 km to get there, I'm well aware of the "substantial costs" for an entire family to travel to Disney
At any rate, we agree on the one day thing, no I would never pay $105 to go to HS for a day. But, honestly, I also probably wouldn't pay it for 1 day at MK, either. The value comes in the multi-day tickets for us. It's pointless to haggle over "Well if you buy this ticket it's this much" etc... Each family is going to buy what they buy, which will factor in whether HS is worth it for them or not. For us, easily worth $52. But there are also a lot of people that have made up their minds to hate HS, and don't feel it's worth it, their perogative. My point was - no, maybe HS isn't worth $105, but when you're buying a 6 day pass, you're not paying $105, you're paying half of that. And that's really the way you need to look at it when buying multi-day tickets.

 

[Princess Mulan]

Not to mention the NFL expansion in MK.

For a minute, I was all excited about our new professional football team!

 

[Angel Ariel]

Then Star Wars Land was announced six months ago, we still don't have any sign of construction.

In florida, perhaps...though they always said construction would start in January (at least as I can recall). DL has permanent and temporary closures happening beginning Jan. 11th so that construction of SW land can begin. These closures have been well publicized to the DL guests for quite some time (closing dates were announced before our November trip)

 

[mom2rtk]

In florida, perhaps...though they always said construction would start in January (at least as I can recall). DL has permanent and temporary closures happening beginning Jan. 11th so that construction of SW land can begin. These closures have been well publicized to the DL guests for quite some time (closing dates were announced before our November trip)

I think they can get away with more delays in Florida because they just don't have the same sort of local AP base holding their feet to the fire that DLR does.

 

[Boopuff]

I'm also of the mindset that HS is a half day park. That said, I also think many repeaters don't "stop to smell the roses" On our last trip my family slowed down, we saw the shows. We didn't go on a mad dash to ride all the big rides. So if you're a first time family and you take time to enjoy all the shows and everything else I think you could get most of a day out of HS. Now Epcot.... the empty pavilions and innoventions a hot mess....

 

[mom2rtk]

Now Epcot.... the empty pavilions and innoventions a hot mess....

And outside of a new ride overlay in Norway, a new-ish meet and greet, and increased capacity coming on an existing ride.... what hope is there of anything new there any time soon? How about not so soon? Crickets.

I have no doubt the Frozen stuff will cause quite a little flurry of activity. But that too shall fade. When will Disney really address Epcot?

 

[Love Tink]

Though I agree that US has some very amazingly themed rides, especially thrill rides. But to me that's the difference, US seems more geared to older children/teens whereas Disney typically is more geared towards the younger child. BUT... I think Avatarland and SWL will also help with that. If we had older children (12+) with Disney as is right now, I think we would be more apt to go to US, but for us with younger children, there's not much for us there.

I see this attitude a lot on here and I always assume the poster has never actually been to Universal. There is a lot there for younger children - assuming your younger children like Harry Potter, Dr. Suess, Marvel superheroes, Despicable Me, Shrek, The Simpsons, Transformers, etc. I only have boys, but I know my boys were more "into" the Universal themes than the Disney themes, even when they were very young.

It is also much easier to meet characters at Universal, and the rider swap system is better there.

 

[Happyinwonerland]

It is getting sad at WDW. I changed my spring trip after thinking about it and realizing there just isn't much to do that we haven't done. I had been excited about Garden Rocks, but then I realized the bands there are not interesting to me at all. Instead, we are going to take a few 3-4 day weekend trips to hilton head and Chicago and Atlanta. We'll still do disney, but not as often as previously planned.

 

[BelleBee]

Probably so. IMO to comparing it to Universal as they did though... I don't see how that's getting more bang for your buck. I mean, 4 days at US is $840 (2 adults, 2 kids). 4 days at Disney is $1255. So yes, Disney is definitely more money, but IMO you also get far more at Disney than you do at US. Though I agree that US has some very amazingly themed rides, especially thrill rides. But to me that's the difference, US seems more geared to older children/teens whereas Disney typically is more geared towards the younger child. BUT... I think Avatarland and SWL will also help with that. If we had older children (12+) with Disney as is right now, I think we would be more apt to go to US, but for us with younger children, there's not much for us there.

When did you last visit Universal?

 

[BigFatPickle]

I thought it was a very interesting article that captured the opinions of many. It's probably a pipe dream to wish that Disney would read it and maybe change their course a bit but that would be my wish. The taste of large profits can sometimes make one forget the long term effects of what they are eating.