Is Disney World becoming a shell of its former self?

[Planogirl]

After reading this whole thread I still have the same feeling that I did when I first read the post heading.
People will book there vacation for Disney. I don't know how many people would book a whole vacation around Universal. Ye some people visit for a couple of days during their Disney trip, but this is no different then going to SeaWorld, LEGOLAND or any other side place.
That is why I don't see Disney being screwed. You can compare rides and shows till the cows come home, but how many of you or your friends say I am going to Florida for a week at Universal.
Disney has built something that you can spend a week or two at and still not experience everything. From rides to shows to parades and fireworks and all the side experiences you can have both at the parks, but at all the resorts and DD and BW.
Further to that, I haven't seen too many travel agents in my area promoting complete packages for Universal.
That's all I got.

I often plan a Universal trip for us and other places become side attractions but I do realize that we are oddballs. It works for us.

 

[Disneychick75]

I disagree

Shrek and Despicable Me are basically the same ride with a different movie. The seats are uncomfortable and badly in need of maintance. I could barely hear the movie over the sound of the Shrek seats.

I don't know why you don't like Philharmagic. It is awesome, I always enjoy it every time I do it. Unless there's an annoying kid next to me. They don't have to put in cheap seats to keep people entertained for this movie.

Jurassic Park is a joke, the dinos are so cheap looking. The rubber flaps around much like it does on the E.T. ride. I'd take Jungle Cruise over Jurassic Park anyday. At least with Jungle it's trying to be lame, whereas Jurassic is just lame.

Did I say that I don't like Philharmagic? Nope
Do you like the Jungle Cruise better because the animals are more realistic? LOL

At least the rides work at Disney. It seems like they're always breaking down at Uni. It feels like Gringotts has broken down more than Pirates has and it's been around for 40+ more years.

P.S. You call those animatronics? I've seen dead people move more than them.

The rides work at Disney? Seriously, TT, SPM, TSM, MS, to name a few, breakdown a lot.

Sounds like you're just pulling things to make a point only it's not working with those of us who visit both WDW and Uni often. As I said, both parks are good in their own ways.

 

[Planogirl]

Did I say that I don't like Philharmagic? Nope
Do you like the Jungle Cruise better because the animals are more realistic? LOL




The rides work at Disney? Seriously, TT, SPM, TSM, MS, to name a few, breakdown a lot.

Sounds like you're just pulling things to make a point only it's not working with those of us who visit both WDW and Uni often. As I said, both parks are good in their own ways.

I agree 100% which is why I decided not to go there. I admire those who try though.

I like both for different reasons.

 

[disneymac000]

After reading this whole thread I still have the same feeling that I did when I first read the post heading.
People will book there vacation for Disney. I don't know how many people would book a whole vacation around Universal. Ye some people visit for a couple of days during their Disney trip, but this is no different then going to SeaWorld, LEGOLAND or any other side place.
That is why I don't see Disney being screwed. You can compare rides and shows till the cows come home, but how many of you or your friends say I am going to Florida for a week at Universal.
Disney has built something that you can spend a week or two at and still not experience everything. From rides to shows to parades and fireworks and all the side experiences you can have both at the parks, but at all the resorts and DD and BW.
Further to that, I haven't seen too many travel agents in my area promoting complete packages for Universal.
That's all I got.

Quite a few actually. None who are first time Orlando visitors though which Disney will always be able to get. I offered my significant other a trip to Disney World and was asked if we could go to Universal and Discovery Cove instead and this person goes to Disneyland at least 3 times a month. Coworkers ask me if anything new is at Disney since the last time they went and I tell them the truth and literally all are them are still going to Orlando but to do other things outside of Disney like Universal, Orlando Eye and Busch Gardens and Aquatica and also shocked how much cheaper it all adds up to in the end in comparison to their Disney trips.

Yea people still book vacations to Disney but its no longer I HAVE to go to Disney. Its more so oh maybe we will go...nah we can do other stuff for cheap. Or I can do stuff thats new rather than stuff we already done over and over.

 

[Josh Hendy]

You can compare rides and shows till the cows come home, but how many of you or your friends say I am going to Florida for a week at Universal

My family did exactly that, a week at Universal, SeaWorld and Busch Gardens.

But I take your point, I don't have any personal friends or relatives who've done it.

Most of my friends and relatives who have gone to Orlando did the following:

Booked a really big, expensive, first-time-ever trip to Orlando visiting only WDW parks and usually staying only at onsite hotels and eating only at WDW.

Went at a busy time of the year.

Had a fairly lousy time and complained about the crowds, the transportation, the cost and the value for money ... and vowed, "never again".

I'm not saying that the lesson is to avoid Disney and go to Universal instead, I'm just saying that accepting the proposal of a "Disney vacation" where you basically sign on the dotted line and let Disney plan everything for you is often not a very satisfying experience. If you take charge of planning your own vacation and assessing the needs/desires and budget of your family, you will very often come up with a "split vacation" between WDW and the other parks, and you may cut WDW out the picture entirely, especially if your kids are over 12 and not particularly smitten by princesses. Or at the very least, they will practically insist on going to see Harry Potter for part of their trip (like mine did).

 

[DDLand]

Not to disagree with your general post, but I do think this is funny.

I offered my significant other a trip to Disney World and was asked if we could go to Universal and Discovery Cove instead and this person goes to Disneyland at least 3 times a month.

If someone goes to Disneyland three times a month, isn't it sort of unnecessary to go to Disney World? I know there are differences, but if I was going to Disneyland 3 times a month I would question whether paying hundreds of dollars to buy tickets at WDW is worth it.

Your point stands though.

 

[Planogirl]

My family did exactly that, a week at Universal, SeaWorld and Busch Gardens.

But I take your point, I don't have any personal friends or relatives who've done it.

Most of my friends and relatives who have gone to Orlando did the following:

Booked a really big, expensive, first-time-ever trip to Orlando visiting only WDW parks and usually staying only at onsite hotels and eating only at WDW.

Went at a busy time of the year.

Had a fairly lousy time and complained about the crowds, the transportation, the cost and the value for money ... and vowed, "never again".

I'm not saying that the lesson is to avoid Disney and go to Universal instead, I'm just saying that accepting the proposal of a "Disney vacation" where you basically sign on the dotted line and let Disney plan everything for you is often not a very satisfying experience. If you take charge of planning your own vacation and assessing the needs/desires and budget of your family, you will very often come up with a "split vacation" between WDW and the other parks, and you may cut WDW out the picture entirely, especially if your kids are over 12 and not particularly smitten by princesses. Or at the very least, they will practically insist on going to see Harry Potter for part of their trip (like mine did).

Most people I know that know little about the themeparks say that they want to go to Disney and also see Harry Potter.

 

[Josh Hendy]

Most people I know that know little about the themeparks say that they want to go to Disney and also see Harry Potter.

And if Universal or DreamWorks ever has a hit "princess movie" or some kind of really big girlie thing ... watch out.

I think Disney should be worried about that because the formula for princess movies is pretty straightforward. I'm not saying it's easy to have a monster hit like Frozen - even Disney only succeeds maybe once in every 10 tries. But there is absolutely nothing preventing anyone else from doing it.

If Universal had the theme park rights to something as big as Frozen, then WDW would almost overnight have to start drawing in people with more than frozen singalongs and Star Wars breakfasts. But what if that happens and they're sitting on construction contracts for Avatar that will finish in 2017 and a Star Wars addition that will open in 2021? And a handful of Pixar-based kiddie rides. Ouch. Then they really would be scr-wed.

 

[DDLand]

Alright, the 1 million dollar question. Is WDW screwed? This seems to be a topic of fascination for many different people and has been for like a decade.

For years all we've heard is Disney World is becoming unbearable for x y and z reasons and they'll be doomed. I've started to call this WDW's day of reckoning. When all of Disney's sins will come back to haunt the evil corporation and destroy them for all the supposed ills they've committed against us the guest. Whether it's due to overcrowding, lack of new investment, or declining quality there are those who see its doom ahead.

So far nothing has happened.

That's not to say WDW couldn't lose its way, but once again so far nothing has happened. In fact, the opposite has been taking place. WDC keeps reporting record Revenue, Profit, and attendance with a key contributor coming from WDW. There is no immediate panic, and I don't think there should be any panic yet. With that said, there is risk. There's always risk. We could call WDW's response to Universal Studios non existent, and that would be accurate. However WDW has been investing wisely with MyMagic and preserving the WDW ecosystem and protecting the Resort from outside pressures by locking people on property with multiple different incentives.

I think if Universal Studios ever was to take down WDW it would only be after years or even decades of sustained quality from Universal and problems at WDW. We're not even close to that. WDW and Disneyland are ingrained into American culture, and it'll take even more than the boy wizard to take down their combined clout. All the same, I don't actually think Magic Kingdom and DAK are terrible now so at best WDW is sending mixed messages.

More likely than say Universal taking them out, I think Disney is more at risk to uncertain economic factors...

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

You may not be making a trip to universal but a good amount of other are starting too. I haven't yet and don't plan too either but the skipping Disney all together or trading a few days for universal is becoming much more common.

Our kids have started begging us to go to Universal. We usually go to WDW once a year for 8-10 days and stay at a moderate resort. For our 2016 vacation, we will probably cut that down to 5-6 days at a value, followed by 3-4 days at Universal at one their deluxe resorts. And we might end up getting annual passes, since they are so much cheaper than WDW's.

 

[Planogirl]

And if Universal or DreamWorks ever has a hit "princess movie" or some kind of really big girlie thing ... watch out.

I think Disney should be worried about that because the formula for princess movies is pretty straightforward. I'm not saying it's easy to have a monster hit like Frozen - even Disney only succeeds maybe once in every 10 tries. But there is absolutely nothing preventing anyone else from doing it.

If Universal had the theme park rights to something as big as Frozen, then WDW would almost overnight have to start drawing in people with more than frozen singalongs and Star Wars breakfasts. But what if that happens and they're sitting on construction contracts for Avatar that will finish in 2017 and a Star Wars addition that will open in 2021? And a handful of Pixar-based kiddie rides. Ouch. Then they really would be scr-wed.

I thought that DreamWorks might have something when they created Princess Fiona but I guess that ogres don't appeal all that much to little girls. DreamWorks and Universal have the problem of trying to create things that appeal to all ages while keeping their edginess. It might be impossible and they might have to settle for their niche.

I can't relate because I always ran away screaming from Princesses but I know that that is not typical. I know that young girls drive a lot of this. Time will tell.

 

[rteetz]

Our kids have started begging us to go to Universal. We usually go to WDW once a year for 8-10 days and stay at a moderate resort. For our 2016 vacation, we will probably cut that down to 5-6 days at a value, followed by 3-4 days at Universal at one their deluxe resorts. And we might end up getting annual passes, since they are so much cheaper than WDW's.

My 2016 vacation is during marathon weekend so I am sticking to just Disney. I have yet to go to universal ever but I might be intrigued to go eventually. However with that said Disney will be doing a lot of work over the next five to seven years that will stop me from doing that.

 

[Planogirl]

My 2016 vacation is during marathon weekend so I am sticking to just Disney. I have yet to go to universal ever but I might be intrigued to go eventually. However with that said Disney will be doing a lot of work over the next five to seven years that will stop me from doing that.

Are you absolutely sure that they will be doing so much work? What if we end up with some spinners and a few meet and greets and ride overlays? It worries me.

 

[rteetz]

Are you absolutely sure that they will be doing so much work? What if we end up with some spinners and a few meet and greets and ride overlays? It worries me.

2.8 billion is much more than spinners and meet and greets. The board already shot down the first plan last year now we are on the second plan. MK is also looking at a possible frontierland expansion with new e ticket. Epcot is likely getting an illuminations replacement.

 

[Planogirl]

2.8 billion is much more than spinners and meet and greets. The board already shot down the first plan last year now we are on the second plan. MK is also looking at a possible frontierland expansion with new e ticket. Epcot is likely getting an illuminations replacement.

It sounds like a lot of money but I have heard so many different things that might be done. If they spread it around too much then you end up with a lot of spinners and meet and greets.

But I definitely hope that you're right. It's time to make WDW (besides MK) amazing again.

 

[rteetz]

It sounds like a lot of money but I have heard so many different things that might be done. If they spread it around too much then you end up with a lot of spinners and meet and greets.

But I definitely hope that you're right. It's time to make WDW (besides MK) amazing again.

It's unclear right now if there will even be one spinner in this project.

 

[Planogirl]

It's unclear right now if there will even be one spinner in this project.

Most people seem to believe that the Pixar area will likely get at least a few. I see nothing wrong with that. Little kids love them.

 

[Peaseblossom]

And to this day, nothing -- I repeat, nothing -- at Disney even comes close to equalling what is now a 16 year old effect at the end of Spiderman, where you experience a simulated 400 foot drop that is terrifyingly realistic and made possible through the simultaneous use of a moving building set, coordinated lighting and motion simulation, projections and wind effects.

I just had to ask my son if we rode Spider-Man when we were there 9 months ago. He thinks we did. I really don't remember it.

It's not a personal attack on you. I love individual aspects of the parks (everything about WWOHP, The Mummy is good, too, a couple of others) I just don't love it overall.

 

[Planogirl]

I just had to ask my son if we rode Spider-Man when we were there 9 months ago. He thinks we did. I really don't remember it.

It's not a personal attack on you. I love individual aspects of the parks (everything about WWOHP, The Mummy is good, too, a couple of others) I just don't love it overall.

The Mummy is my favorite ride anywhere. Good taste.

 

[rteetz]

Most people seem to believe that the Pixar area will likely get at least a few. I see nothing wrong with that. Little kids love them.

well its likely to have kiddie rides thats for sure its just we don't know what.