New Al Lutz: WoC FPs, Dining Ressies, Glow Fest, Three Shows...

[iheartdisney]

I remember camping out on 7-17-05. It was an experience, for sure! I got in line approx 4 a.m., and it was wrapped around the bus area. That day, there was no special line for GCH guests, and good neighbor hotel guests got in the line like everyone else. I am very interested in how many people will be willing to camp out (or get in line in the pre-dawn hours) with their entire family, seeing that only tickets (including APs) that are scanned through the gate can get a FP. And I would love for someone to take pictures of the revolt that happens when people try to let their families in the line with them at the last minute, in front of the sleep deprived folks behind them in line!
On a subject other than WOC...
I remember reading that Walt Disney kept the parking rate at $1 because he didn't want his guests to feel fleeced the minute they pulled in. IMHO, charging extra for the seasonal fireworks is the DEFINITION of fleecing the customer, as well as setting a very bad precedent. If it works for the Halloween "extras", why not the Christmas fireworks and parade as well, as is done at WDW? It is a BAD move, period.

 

[HydroGuy]

On a subject other than WOC...
I remember reading that Walt Disney kept the parking rate at $1 because he didn't want his guests to feel fleeced the minute they pulled in. IMHO, charging extra for the seasonal fireworks is the DEFINITION of fleecing the customer, as well as setting a very bad precedent. If it works for the Halloween "extras", why not the Christmas fireworks and parade as well, as is done at WDW? It is a BAD move, period.

Disney is dealing with a different issue today than in Walt's time and I am not as sure as you are that it is a bad move. When Walt ran DL the average car held four people. Today it is 1 or 2 people because of all the AP holders. Disney is having to dramatically expand its parking because of the success of its AP program. They want to discourage people from coming solo in cars. The only way to do that is to increase price.

I think it has less to do with fleecing customers and more to do with discouraging solo drivers.

 

[iheartdisney]

Sorry if you misunderstood. I wasn't refering to the parking. (my personal opinion is that the single riders arriving later in the evening should be scuttled to the sattelite lots, not the families arriving at 11 am.)
I was using it as an example of how Mr. Disney did not believe in fleecing his guests, as is the plan to use the WDW model of making people pay twice for the day if they want the seasonal extras, which at DL, are still included in the price of the ticket.
Another example would be the fact that DL still doesn't charge for Fastpasses, while every other theme park in the industry does. To create such a class system would be penny wise but pound foolish.
WDW and DL are still two seperate parks, with two seperate demographics. At WDW, if they choose to close the park early for a special party, there is still another park with another night time spectacular to watch. If you don't pay extra to get back into the park you have already paid for the day, you have seen the same fireworks show and parade for how many years now?
Compare that to DL, where in the past 12 months, we can see 4 different fireworks show. A marketing move, in part, to encourage return visits at different times of the year. There obviously will be opposition when a company decides to charge loyal customers for something they usually give away. Look how many people are still complaining, almost 3 years after the fact about baggage fees.
So yes, you can count me with the ones that think it is a bad move, period to extend the seasonal shows only to guests with the most disposable income. Penny wise, pound foolish. I stand by what I said.

 

[HydroGuy]

Sorry if you misunderstood. I wasn't refering to the parking. (my personal opinion is that the single riders arriving later in the evening should be scuttled to the sattelite lots, not the families arriving at 11 am.)
I was using it as an example of how Mr. Disney did not believe in fleecing his guests, as is the plan to use the WDW model of making people pay twice for the day if they want the seasonal extras, which at DL, are still included in the price of the ticket.
Another example would be the fact that DL still doesn't charge for Fastpasses, while every other theme park in the industry does. To create such a class system would be penny wise but pound foolish.
WDW and DL are still two seperate parks, with two seperate demographics. At WDW, if they choose to close the park early for a special party, there is still another park with another night time spectacular to watch. If you don't pay extra to get back into the park you have already paid for the day, you have seen the same fireworks show and parade for how many years now?
Compare that to DL, where in the past 12 months, we can see 4 different fireworks show. A marketing move, in part, to encourage return visits at different times of the year. There obviously will be opposition when a company decides to charge loyal customers for something they usually give away. Look how many people are still complaining, almost 3 years after the fact about baggage fees.
So yes, you can count me with the ones that think it is a bad move, period to extend the seasonal shows only to guests with the most disposable income. Penny wise, pound foolish. I stand by what I said.

Actually now that I understand what you are saying, I agree 100%. At a minimum, those who come to DLR or WDW on the days with special ticket events should be given a discount for that day.