Is Disney World becoming a shell of its former self?

[Disneychick75]

I love Disney, I'm sad that many people like you are delaying trips because it is not as "magical" as it once was.

It just isn't as magical for our family. We used to love being able to hold fast passes. Having to book FP+ months in advance is a pain because we now have small grandchildren. With little ones, one can't tell months in advance if they are going to have a good day- usually our little grandson is fine but who knows. He will be 4 on our next trip but his little brother will be 2 and his little sister will be 1.Planning WDW trips used to be a fun part of the trip- the whole trip was fun- but now it feels more like work. Then, the onsites have become very expensive and, imo, not worth it. As I posted yesterday, our family would rather stay at Bonnet Creek and use the money we save to book a VIP tour for one of our days.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Yeah, I think I'll just go and enjoy it again.

And ask for nothing for a higher price, huh?

 

[ParkHoppers]

Now that Shanghai Disney is open hopefully Disney will start doing even more for its USA parks.

 

[rteetz]

Now that Shanghai Disney is open hopefully Disney will start doing even more for its USA parks.

That's if Shanghai is successful.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

That's if Shanghai is successful.

That's if they see immediate, 3 to 1 profit to expense quick scores if they bother to spend money...

 

[rteetz]

That's if they see immediate, 3 to 1 profit to expense quick scores if they bother to spend money...

Disney has already come out and said the park won't be profitable in at least its first year which is what happened to most newly built parks. They just aren't profitable right away.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Disney has already come out and said the park won't be profitable in at least its first year which is what happened to most newly built parks. They just aren't profitable right away.

I meant 3 to 1 on domestic expenditures...

If not...more movie previews and cupcake parties.

They are NOT in it for the long term on domestic investments. No longer

 

[STLstone]

Now that Shanghai Disney is open hopefully Disney will start doing even more for its USA parks.

I would love that. But if people are going to just keep filling the USA parks, while they keep raising prices of everything, there really is no financial reason to substantially improve the US parks.

As much as I wish the US parks could have the next generation rides like we see on youtube, even I have to admit, there doesn't seem to be a business case for it - unless they can forecast an attendance drop-off without it.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I would love that. But if people are going to just keep filling the USA parks, while they keep raising prices of everything, there really is no financial reason to substantially improve the US parks.

As much as I wish the US parks could have the next generation rides like we see on youtube, even I have to admit, there doesn't seem to be a business case for it - unless they can forecast an attendance drop-off without it.

...the truth of the matter.

I think there are some "foundation cracks" there that disney is becoming aware of...

Similar to the yeti

 

[STLstone]

...the truth of the matter.

I think there are some "foundation cracks" there that disney is becoming aware of...

Similar to the yeti

That's my only hope is that they know they're on borrowed time in the US and that attendance will drop off if they don't do something.

Of course, they are adding Avatar, Star Wars and Toys Land, so maybe they already feel like they're doing enough to upgrade...

 

[ParkHoppers]

I meant 3 to 1 on domestic expenditures...

If not...more movie previews and cupcake parties.

They are NOT in it for the long term on domestic investments. No longer

Ummmm! Cupcakes.

 

[manning]

$79 cupcake or $79 Shula's stake, $79 Shula's steaks or $79 cupcake

Hmm what to do, what to do.

 

[EveDallas]

Unfortunately, it's my understanding that you almost need the universal equivalent of the Park Hopper where in Disney, I do not. Now that being said, I have never been to Universal and I do want to go, but for my family of 4 to shell out over $1K for 2 days on a park(s) we may not even like, is hard to swallow.

I think universal (and Disney alike) should offer a REALLY reduced price for "First Timers" to "Hook" them. If it's really a good park, then we will be back. If not, well they will know that too. If I could take my family of 4 to explore Universal for, let's say $500 for a couple of days (able to go between parks) as a "Primer" to see if it's something we want in the future, then I might be tempted.

How on earth would they know if you are "first timers" or not?

 

[Kiwini]

And ask for nothing for a higher price, huh?

That's right. I know what I'm paying for; I know what my choices are and I've made my choice. I'll enjoy it because that's what I do.

 

[peg110]

How on earth would they know if you are "first timers" or not?

I have not been to Universal, so I don't know how they operate, but I can guarantee that Disney knows if you have been to the parks (at least now-a-days). Registering your name with your bio-metrics to get into the park is a start of "Knowing."
It would be nothing for a company to require registration for the "First Timer" to get the discount, if you tried to come a second time and obtain the discount, then you would have "Register" again (as if you were a "FIRST timer") and then a flag would be raised that you are trying to get it a second time. Simple, right? (at least it is in my mind).

Every time we go to WDW we have the same conversation.... Is it worth the money to go to Universal. Every time, we do the math (less days at WDW also means price per day for WDW is also more, added that the couple of days at Universal at a lot of $$$$) it just doesn't add up for us. Maybe it does for others, just not us.

 

[RedSox68]

The light is at the end of the tunnel for DAK. Everything is going to change come April 22nd.

Sorry - what happens on April 22nd?

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Sorry - what happens on April 22nd?

What happened was a logistical failure and embarrassment...but they can recover and hope they will

 

[EveDallas]

I have not been to Universal, so I don't know how they operate, but I can guarantee that Disney knows if you have been to the parks (at least now-a-days). Registering your name with your bio-metrics to get into the park is a start of "Knowing."
It would be nothing for a company to require registration for the "First Timer" to get the discount, if you tried to come a second time and obtain the discount, then you would have "Register" again (as if you were a "FIRST timer") and then a flag would be raised that you are trying to get it a second time. Simple, right? (at least it is in my mind).

Every time we go to WDW we have the same conversation.... Is it worth the money to go to Universal. Every time, we do the math (less days at WDW also means price per day for WDW is also more, added that the couple of days at Universal at a lot of $$$$) it just doesn't add up for us. Maybe it does for others, just not us.

Universal doesn't need to give discounts to get people through the gates. Stay with Disney if that's what you prefer - I (and many, many like me) will stick with Universal. Disney hasn't appealed to my son or my nieces/nephews since they hit puberty.

 

[peg110]

Universal doesn't need to give discounts to get people through the gates. Stay with Disney if that's what you prefer - I (and many, many like me) will stick with Universal. Disney hasn't appealed to my son or my nieces/nephews since they hit puberty.

If Universal is good with the amount of customers they have, then you are absolutely right, they don't need to give discounts. It's not that I don't like Universal or that I DO like Disney. The problem here is, that I don't know if I like Universal or not AND it's a lot of money just to see. MANY MANY MANY businesses have a business model that has a "Try before you buy" or Deep discounts to allow you to try. That's how they "Hook" you. If the product is good/great, then they will make their money back in no time.

If your son, nieces, and nephews don't find appeal in WDW now that puberty has hit, then it seems you have made the right choice for you and your family. My DD18, her BF21, DD11, DW40+ and myself (also 40+) enjoy WDW for many reasons and not all of us like all the same things. Of the 5 of us only my DW has been to Universal years ago and she is not really interested in going again, because most of the rides tend to be more "Thrill" rides which she is not into. (At least that's what she has said. Again, I don't know as I have not been there).

All that being said, my whole point is that I'd love to go to Universal. I might even end up as a Universal Fanatic (or not), but it's just too expensive for the average Joe to spend that kind of money to possibly find out that it's not for us or maybe it is, we just don't know. A (descent) discount could make the venture to try, easier. That's all.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Universal and Disney both operate under a different model than they did pre 2005.

It's meant to expand the network of one time travelers to capture higher profit, frivolous spending.

Disney has seemingly fully committed to that. They have all but abandoned the 1985-2005 Eisner "loyal customer" strategy.

Heck...even the core of that - DVC - is actively pushing people away.

Universal is like Disney circa 1995-2000...still actively pursuing expansion for raw numbers. When they reach stasis/saturation...which they will likely more quickly than Disney did (lower cap number)...then they will turn to higher pricing/cheap profit focus as well.

So what's the benefit of "first time discounts"?

There isn't One...they will move off of that soon enough.

Just how it seems to be going.