New Al Lutz ( Micegage Update )

[Priory]

I figured the fastpass crackdown was coming. It won't be easy though. What will Disney do about guests who are late for legitimate park caused delay? Just last week Big Thunder BBQ was so slammed we were seated a full hour after our reservation time. What if a guest breaks down on another ride? This policy will force CMs to play "judge" for every guests plea or create an unfair situation for legitimately delayed guests on occasion.

The other news on Tomorrowland is interesting, it would seem the long rumoured Starks Expo is coming in since Innoventions is the only thing going away.

Before last week I would have been fine with the private Christmas parties. However after experiencing a Halloween party that was every bit as busy as a summer day, the appeal of it is definitely limited.

 

[furb & dez]

I agree with everyone here. However, they are doing it because they can. There's a recession going on, but Disney wouldn't know.

There is a recession going on AND they know it. They just don't care.

Why? People are still going. Until that changes, prices will continue to rise.

It's basic business economics.

 

[Patrick in Oregon]

There is a recession going on AND they know it. They just don't care.

Why? People are still going. Until that changes, prices will continue to rise.

It's basic business economics.

You beat me to it. Raise the prices until the demand starts to go down and attendance goes down. Then cut your prices and act like it is an act of generosity to get every one back.

Disneyland is a strange company though. Because in a recession it "should" be that people stop spending money, making profits go down, so a company has to cut its prices in response. I guess if one good thing can be gleaned from this, is that the demand for Disney is so high that people make it a priority in a time when maybe it shouldn't be?

Maybe once the Carsland hype goes down, attendance will also go down and price will be more of glaring issue.

 

[sheetz]

Regardless of what is happening in the overall economy, the local tourism industry is currently not in a recession. It's not just Disney, but hotels everywhere in the state are doing very well.

 

[LisaCat]

This is sad. DL AP is already more expensive than WDW(a lot more), now they want to charge for parties? We went to their version of MNSSHP last night and DL has a lot to learn from WDW, I did not find it worth the extra cost. I'm a CA resident and it is starting to get to where it is cheaper to go to WDW with the lack of DVC availability (we own SSR),gas, and food (noticed turkey legs were 9.95!). The powers that be need to recognize that they are not WDW and that the newness of Carsland will die off.

Or they want to make DL into more of a "vacation destination" rather than a "local park". People are OK with dropping $10 for a turkey leg if it's a "once a year thing". Unlike WDW however, I can leave the park, walk a block and eat at any number of "chain restaurants" and be back in the park in under 2 hours. All I know is that I've had a AP since 2004 or 2005 and have never had a problem finding an "off season" time to visit like I do now. It's getting more expensive to get to the parks too. I used to be able to get fares on Southwest for $59 - $79. Today I got a "sale offer" for $98. People are excited to find DL 4 day park hoppers at Costco for $210 (after the $50 in Costco cash). I paid about that for a 6 day ticket for my upcoming trip to WDW. It's getting crazy expensive to justify holding onto my DL AP. :-(

 

[ArchOwl]

Well I guess I knew the late FP policy was too good to last forever!

I will miss those halcyon days of FPs a-plenty! Seems like it was just the other day when I would have a fistful of those babies and the park felt like my own playground. Oh well, change happens and who knows, maybe I will like this new Next Gen thing better. It does seem so 90s to use paper for these things. I mean, I am basically carrying around a computer in my pocket these days (I love you iPhone!) and it would be silly of Disney to not innovate.

I do feel sorry for the CMs who will probably be dealing with upset guests, so I will be super polite to hopefully make up for it. Poor things with the cancelled Christmas parties and the horrible parking and now the upset guests. I do wonder what percentage of guests know about the late FP return policy? It seems as though many people don't know about it, but we do have a lot of APers who may be more familiar with FP policy than in WDW.

 

[ArchOwl]

Regardless of what is happening in the overall economy, the local tourism industry is currently not in a recession. It's not just Disney, but hotels everywhere in the state are doing very well.

True! I wonder if people are staying close to home? Rather than spend a lot of money traveling over holidays, it seems as though lots of people may be staying in the state for vacation. I know several people who in the past few years would have normally gone overseas or out of state for a vacation and instead went to Mammoth, Tahoe, San Diego, etc. I think people still want to go on vacation, even if they don't go as far.

 

[ducky_love]

I hope they will hold out on the FP change for another month!! This will be our last trip for a while. With all the ticketing changes we've already decided to go to Disneyland Paris next.

I had only figured out there isn't a Christmas party at DL when planning this trip. I was amazed that the fireworks were free every night and the parade. The WDW party isn't much more than that at $60+. We only get them for free the horrible busy week of Christmas. Seems like the charm is wearing off DL and there isn't much reason to fly cross country for it when WDW is in my backyard.

 

[disneymom0104]

I don't think the FP return has anything to do with the system not working. I think it works just fine, and late FP has little to no effect on anyone else. But with the NextGen system, FP returns have to be enforced or the whole system gets messed up. I know they have a lot of trial and error to do, but I think it starts with FP enforcement.

I hate it I also wish they wouldn't try to fix what isn't broken. I was really looking forward to another opportunity to use FP when we wanted this Dec., but now it sounds like the enforcement will be happening already

 

[Sherry E]

I've talked about the reindeer being gone from the Round-Up and what I think about the idea of the parade, snow and fireworks becoming part of a holiday party in the Christmas Superthread, in my TR thread and elsewhere (way before this Lutz piece came out), so I don't want to repeat myself too much.

But I will add that I have noticed that it is very interesting to observe what the Disney folks say and do not say in their Blogs or news items. You can kind of read between the lines and figure out which things are not coming back.

Under the recent Disney Parks Blog about the holiday season dates (which we all already knew months ago) and the new highlights vs. the "returning favorites," a reader posted a reply in the Comments section and asked Erin Glover (the author of that Blog) about the reindeer returning. Erin totally ignored that reindeer question, but answered another question about WoC right near it. It was clear to me at that moment that the reindeer would not be coming back to the Round-Up this year.

Also, another interesting thing to note is that I submitted a question/comment/reply to that same Blog, and I mentioned that I hoped the themed New Orleans Square decorations and themed Toontown decorations were among the "Returning Favorites," as Erin did not mention them in her blog.

And guess what? Not only did my question about NOS and TT never get answered, but my comment/question was never even posted...while many other comments that came in after mine were posted. I'm not sure if that means anything, but as I said, it's interesting to note what is said and what is not said...

In any case, my feeling is that, while I've expected a Christmas party for years, to me - because I've got the Halloween Superthread and the Christmas Superthread and I pay a lot of attention to what exactly is added into and what is taken away from each season (other folks may not obsessively pay as much attention to that stuff as I do!) - it seems like Disney is removing things from both Halloween and the holidays, little by little, while continuing to hike up the prices for everything.

If the party happens in the exact way Al Lutz is saying it will next year, and all of the seasonal price hikes go into effect at the same time, it will just seem like Disney is trying to do too much, too soon...all at one time. Taking the longstanding holiday parade, snow and fireworks out of the regular seasonal entertainment will be a controversial and risky move. They will get a lot of backlash from longtime holiday visitors, I'm sure.

I think TDA has a hard time grasping the fact that DLR is never going to be WDW - logistically, it is just not possible, and the addition of Cars Land is not going to suddenly make DLR into WDW. And DLR shouldn't be WDW - they should be different! But they are sure going to treat DLR like it's WDW until they have people believing that the resorts are equal.

But hey, the good news is that Downtown Disney is getting an ice rink and small Christmas "village" this year. Take away the reindeer; add in a rink!

 

[cmwade77]

FastPass enforcement coming?

All I can say, is I am glad that they are going to do so. It is needed at times at many of the attractions.

 

[Brissymum]

As an international tourist who usually goes to DL at Christmas, I have to say I am very disappointed. They now want to try and charge for what was free or kick us out of DL early? We usually buy 14 day park hoppers ( which thankfully they haven't got rid of yet) how many nights out of our stay would the park close early for the Christmas parties? So very disappointing if this does happen

 

[longhorns2]

Boo FP enforcement.

 

[gokdog]

I feel really good that we are going this year for the holidays, but sad that we will be there after the FP enforcement changes, if they indeed go through.

We attended the MVMCP last year during our 1st visit to WDW and it was a great time, but the cost will absolutely restrict some front attending.

As these price increases continue to come, the WDW free dining promotion really does ring of value for my family, will be very interesting going forward.

 

[mydisneymoney]

I am thankful we decided to go this Christmas before all of the changes go into effect (other then FP enforcement). While DLR is closer for us, it has gotten to the point where it costs the same to fly to WDW and go there as it does to go to DLR. I think it will be many years after this trip before we return to DLR.

 

[aan1701]

I think I am only the second person here to say this. I am thrilled for FP enforcement. Also, as someone who tested the Fastpass+ at WDW last month I will tell you I absolutely hated it. It was very stressful trying to preselect the FP around ADR times. I joked on my survey, which was a joke and a whole other topic because the survey was so on sided, that next Disney will want me to plan out restroom stops. As for the parties I don't go will not go. The only parade I have every liked is the Electrical Parade, and remember dreams come true is still the best fireworks show out of all the ones they do.

Sent from my iPhone 5 using DISBoards

 

[holcomb-mania]

FP enforcement blows. While it will impact us only once for our DLR trip next summer, as DVC members it can impact us a lot going forward at WDW. If UO/IOA keeps their FOTL perk, staying onsite there becomes very attractive, and DVC less so.

And that's a heck of a refurb for BTMRR. Good thing we've ridden the WDW version a bunch. Kind of takes pressure off trying to fit it into our plan, along with the rumored shut down of Innoventions.

 

[madigraham]

To give an idea of the ap $$ spikes. I got my premium pass in may for 500$. It is now $650.

I have not heard anything about a fp enforcement?? When did you guys first hear about this?

And charging for a Christmas party like wdw??? Any legit sources?

I can ask when I go on Thursday.

 

[MommyLove]

I am sick over the possibility of FP enforcement. Ugh.

 

[DLR29]

I think I am only the scone person here to say this. I am thrilled for FP enforcement. Also, as someone who tested the Fastpass+ at WDW last month I will tell you I absolutely hated it. It was very stressful trying to preselect the FP around ADR times. I joked on my survey, which was a joke and a whole other topic because the survey was so on sided, that next Disney will want me to plan out restroom stops. As for the parties I don't go will not go. The only parade I have every liked is the Electrical Parade, and remember dreams come true is still the best fireworks show out of all the ones they do.

Sent from my iPhone 5 using DISBoards

This logic doesn't make sense. The whole idea of FP enforcement is so that they can slowly introduce FP+. If you hated having to plan out every min of the day, why wouldn't you want to flexibility that DLR offers right now to come back whenever you can with your FP?