Mixed feelings on supporting the Parks right now

[EPCOT-O.G.]

Let me preface by saying that we’ve been twice since the start of COVID: once in the fall during a bad lull in attendance, and second more recently last week. For our first COVID trip, while it was definitely a selfish splurge, we felt like we were helping out those who worked there stay afloat, like going to a restaurant that is kind of hanging on. Many times we saw CMs with little to nothing to do, hardly any other visitors around, and felt we were doing our (very very small and insignificant part) to help justify keeping the operations going. Just so I’m unequivocal: I do not view our first trip as pure altruism, but it was something I thought about as we were hearing of so many layoffs and furloughs while we were there. I’m glad to hear many have been rehired or have had their jobs offered back to them

For our second trip more recently, the Parks were much, much more crowded. I view that as a good thing. I was happy to see things start to return to normalcy, and while we enjoyed the relative tranquility of an empty park, and the ability to come and go on rides without stopping, there was a vitality missing that’s since returned. Again, all very good things.

What concerns me is the direction the company is going. I don’t want to rehash the general complaints against corporate cost-cutting, but am worried that as demand is starting to outpace supply, it’s going to remove many incentives for the Parks to bring back some of those things (live entertainment, more flexible dining options, etc) since people are paying full freight for a reduced experience. (The bus transportation situation is atrocious right now, but I don’t chalk that up to corporate cost cutting so much as a combination of social distancing needs on transportation, a scarcity of drivers, and inherent fluid situation of transportation needs). I know WDW has been operating at a self-imposed reduced capacity for some time, but I cannot help but wonder how many people in C-suites are crunching the numbers at how profitable these operations are for the foreseeable future without having those costly things like live productions and fireworks, and people are still lining up to pay for their APs and park hoppers regardless of the absence of those things.

I’m not much of a live entertainment or fireworks kind of person, but I am a fan of making sure companies don’t dwindle down a product without adjusting the cost.

 

[Tuffcookie]

I certainly share in your concerns! Our May 2020 trip was cancelled and I haven’t rescheduled another trip to WDW because of all the cuts and regulations. In my opinion the value is not there right now. Why should I spend full price when parades have been cut, entertainment has been cut, character meets and dining have been cut, and no fireworks?

TC

 

[Shughart]

This is happening because people chose to spend their money there for the past year, since they reopened, which a diminished experience, but for a full price. Now you're conflicted? You, and others are telling Disney it's OK.

This is why I'm waiting until everything is back as it should be.

 

[gharter]

We lost 2 trips last year, but went it April. Was it different? Absolutely! Was it worth going? Yes.
If you're waiting for everything to get back to the old normal, that may not happen.
I'm happy to see them open, slowly bringing back CMs, opening more restaurants and resorts.
At the end of this, I suspect very few things will be the same as they used to be.

 

[ScubaCat]

I've been several times since the reopening last summer and it's been well worth it every time. A lot more has been open at Disney than most places. Sure, I'm excited for more to come back, but I'm fine with how it's been. I'm pretty far from declaring a disney strike at this point.

 

[Amunet]

I have no idea if the big wigs are thinking this or not ...

My take is that people are flocking to Disney because the overall stress caused by Covid and everything it affected. People are willing to overlook the diminished entertainment because it's a temporary thing and Disney is one of the few vacation spots open that doesn't have Covid outbreaks.
However, once people have more choices where to go, what they expect for their money may change. Will people really continue to pay for a reduced experience on such a massive scale when Disney makes it clear they won't be bringing these experiences back?
I think many people are giving Disney some slack cause Covid is restricting a lot right now and they just want some form of happy in their life.

 

[whiporee]

I think it's all going to be the way it used to be -- fast passes will come back, busses will be crowded, people will complain about how much better it was before COVID. I haven't seen any signs that WDw is monetizing any of this -- they reduced their capacity in order to keep people feeling safe. People complained that there weren't enough reservations.

People complain about Disney. Nothing is ever good enough to justify the expense to some people. It will always be too crowded. But the truth is that since Disney has been open, the world's population has more than doubled. The US population in 1970 was 61 percent if what it is now. There are just more people in the country and in the world. So Disney is going to be more crowded.

 

[Twitterpaited]

You need to do what feels right to you. I really think most of these experiences will return by the 50th, and probably before so they have it well under control for the big day.

 

[Heather07438]

The past 5 years we’ve increasingly been disappointed with some aspects of WDW money grabs. Mostly the less for more stuff. Notably the bad MK hours around party season and the over crowded parties themselves. The reduction of staff and hours that reduced guest experience. Dessert parties going to triple digits etc. Dining Plan denting the variety and quality of TS menus.

But... as far as this situation goes I’m willing to give them a chance to readjust first before judging. We went in January and it was far from a full experience but was reasonable considering the necessary limitations. We have another trip booked for Sept and so far I’m optimistic much of the experience will be reinstated over this summer. I can’t be mad until there’s something to be mad at. Just because they aren’t releasing a schedule of expansion to normalcy doesn’t mean they do not have things planned. It’s likely a case of risk of dated commitments that keeps them from sharing details at this time. If they continue the trajectory started this week I think we’ll all be pleasantly surprised what returns this summer.

 

[Brett Wyman]

This is the Walt Disney Company now. Cost cutting, IPs shoved everywhere, and no respect for the history or its original intent. It's not going to get better only worse. Im certainly frustrated by some choices but not enough to stop me from going. The company is evolving and those sitting around waiting for Walt's Disney to return are just going to be frustrated and left behind. And after that earnings statement call Thursday the cost cutting and fleecing of guests is only going to get worse in the short run. We just try to find our sweet spot and what works for our family in the new Disney world order and make the best of it.

 

[gharter]

This is the Walt Disney Company now. Cost cutting, IPs shoved everywhere, and no respect for the history or its original intent. It's not going to get better only worse. Im certainly frustrated by some choices but not enough to stop me from going. The company is evolving and those sitting around waiting for Walt's Disney to return are just going to be frustrated and left behind. And after that earnings statement call Thursday the cost cutting and fleecing of guests is only going to get worse in the short run. We just try to find our sweet spot and what works for our family in the new Disney world order and make the best of it.

If you listen to quotes from Walt, he would never want Disney to go to what it was. It was always to be going forward and evolving.
Now how its evolving, good or bad can be debated, but going back is not an option.

 

[Piranha71]

I am totally discouraged by Disney's new business model - Unfortunately I am still supporting them because I have DVC points
I need to use up. I am sure that Chapek and his cronies are going to misinterpret any and all upticks in business as a measure of support.
I am very depressed on the future of Disney with him at the helm.

 

[seashoreCM]

You don't book a trip for the purpose of supporting the parks.
You book a trip because you want to enjoy the parks. (Or you have points or vouchers etc. that expire so it is "go now or never.")

Unfortunately when things are full to capacity there is no urge to add features or benefits or freebies. And if they added features that would increase dissatisfaction due to the crowding and the difficulty of finding vacancies in resorts and seats in restaurants and (now) openings in theme parks that line up on the same days.

As far as cheapening the experience goes, I would not like to see all those molded and carved animated figures of Br'er Rabbit and Br'er Fox replaced with rows of video screens depicting the princess and the frog.

 

[igrsod]

I agree with what the OP was saying. It is a conflict between wanting to support workers and get the company back to normal, and giving a green light to Disney to offer far less of an experience for the same large price.

I think people are willing to do that right now for a variety of reasons, but that will wear off over time. I have a trip planned for the fall. I have come to terms that everything might not be what I have come to expect. BUT, if it continues to be this way, I will in the future spend my vacation dollars elsewhere.

I hope the Disney powers that be are keeping their fingers on the pulse of the people and don't let money and greed ruin what is a wonderful and magical place to spend time with family and friends.

 

[irfan ilyas]

dont over think go and just enjoy

 

[kimmar067]

I am totally discouraged by Disney's new business model - Unfortunately I am still supporting them because I have DVC points
I need to use up. I am sure that Chapek and his cronies are going to misinterpret any and all upticks in business as a measure of support.
I am very depressed on the future of Disney with him at the helm.

....from what I understand, many CMs are NOT happy with Chapek at the wheel....

 

[kimmar067]

....As far as cheapening the experience goes, I would not like to see all those molded and carved animated figures of Br'er Rabbit and Br'er Fox replaced with rows of video screens depicting the princess and the frog.

....I have one word: BLECCCHHH.

 

[emilymad]

I think a lot of the issue is around Disney's lack of communication. Obviously some things like the masks could not be planned in advance. There are a lot of items that if Disney would share its plan people would be able to make educated decisions about their trips. Things like FP+ and fireworks could easily have an announcement about their future. Disney's lack of communication and the cost cutting decisions they have made are not enduring them to us.

We went in February, DVC points had to be used, but instead of a week of park tickets we purchased 2 days of tickets. We have another week planned in December. We have no plans to purchase tickets until Disney announces their plans and we can decided if it is worth it to us. If there is no FP+ and no fireworks we won't be visiting the parks. Our experience was less than stellar in February.

 

[ST1TCH]

I don't get the notions expressed here. We're acting like Disney chose to do these things on purpose. If COVID never happened, WDW would still be chugging along and be the same product you experienced prior to early 2020 along with new attractions, etc being added. But because of COVID, they had to close down for 5-6 months, lay off employees, etc. I can assure you, Disney did not relish having to do that. They didn't see any of that as a "benefit".

Then they chose to re-open, under CDC and government guidelines, because they need to make money. That's what a business does. It's not a negative, evil thing. Because of those CDC and government guidelines, they had to open with a reduced experience. All of the missing things are unobtainable when you're running at reduced capacity, have to keep everyone social distanced and (until recently) masked at all times.

It's silly to think that as more and more of these restrictions fall by the wayside that these missing features will not come back because Disney is enjoying the cost savings. At this point they are still losing money. A LOT of money. They want nothing more than to provide each and every guest with the same unhampered experience that they had prior to early 2020.

It's fun to be armchair quarterback and question everything Disney is doing and why aren't they doing it the way you think. The idea almost seems that Disney leadership are just sitting around twiddling their thumbs, waiting for the tides to change and then they'll figure out what to do. You do not become as successful as Disney is with that mentality. I can assure you, those in charge and behind the scenes have been working for months (if not the whole past year) on every possible plan, system, schedule, alternate options, etc that can be put in place as soon as certain restrictions are removed at the national level.

 

[J-Dog]

I don't get the notions expressed here. We're acting like Disney chose to do these things on purpose. If COVID never happened, WDW would still be chugging along and be the same product you experienced prior to early 2020 along with new attractions, etc being added. But because of COVID, they had to close down for 5-6 months, lay off employees, etc. I can assure you, Disney did not relish having to do that. They didn't see any of that as a "benefit".

Then they chose to re-open, under CDC and government guidelines, because they need to make money. That's what a business does. It's not a negative, evil thing. Because of those CDC and government guidelines, they had to open with a reduced experience. All of the missing things are unobtainable when you're running at reduced capacity, have to keep everyone social distanced and (until recently) masked at all times.

It's silly to think that as more and more of these restrictions fall by the wayside that these missing features will not come back because Disney is enjoying the cost savings. At this point they are still losing money. A LOT of money. They want nothing more than to provide each and every guest with the same unhampered experience that they had prior to early 2020.

It's fun to be armchair quarterback and question everything Disney is doing and why aren't they doing it the way you think. The idea almost seems that Disney leadership are just sitting around twiddling their thumbs, waiting for the tides to change and then they'll figure out what to do. You do not become as successful as Disney is with that mentality. I can assure you, those in charge and behind the scenes have been working for months (if not the whole past year) on every possible plan, system, schedule, alternate options, etc that can be put in place as soon as certain restrictions are removed at the national level.

I'm not the one to talk to, because I'm not an expert, but there are plenty of threads on here talking about how Disney has been slowly reducing the experience and upping the price long before Covid happened. And how many of the cost-cutting schemes that happened due to Covid "precautions" were planned to happen anyway, Covid just helped speed them along...