News Round Up 2019

[TheMaxRebo]

Dis Dining Show with Deni, Steve, and Corey all seemed to really like it and that was on opening night. I love John and Kevin but I think they can be a bit over critical at times. Dining is always hit or miss with people though.

Kevin and John are great and their food reviews are generally very entertaining- but I also think they like what they like and don't what they don't and feel strongly both ways and convey that

Also just watching the DIS Dining Review now and thank goodness Deni was there to help the guys pronounce things

 

[tlmadden73]

I think some places have been hit. I know Vegas tourism is down over the last few years some pointing the finger at resort and parking fees though I think it's a combination of things. Some this year political in nature in terms of trade and visa application issues not just for travelers but also for people who go to Vegas to work.

But I totally agree that for the Disney parks the attendance numbers aren't as high as I think most of us thought it would be with Star Wars opening. I am intrigued how WDW will do though in its first few months. There's been quite the price increases so close together for Disney this year just like the last few years. I wish Disney would rethink that the only way to make money is to increase price or turn something into an add on charge. It's an easy way but easy shouldn't always be the go-to.

But this is what Disney wanted right? Raise prices to help reduce crowds. Crowds were growing probably at an unmanageable pace (WITHOUT Star Wars) to the point where people would start to avoid it not from price, but from bad experience. So they had to do something to keep the crowds down and raise revenue, so they've upped prices over the last 8+ years (SIGNIFICANTLY, mind you) and added "add-ons" and increase "special" events.

This last round of AP price increases will probably price out a lot of folks and not only will those folks not get an AP, they may only take 1 trip a year instead of the 2 or so per year they had been making. So a lot of families may still go, but their spending at WDW will decrease significantly. I am in that boat.

So .. while we may go to Disney in 2020, it would only be once, not 2-4 times. The parks could be less crowded next year from families like mine as well that simply don't go due to increased prices or just go less.

 

[skier_pete]

Hmmmm, it's interesting about the softness at WDW in the fall. I can see DLR having problems because they barred too many APs, but WDW? We've been talking for 15 years how Disney is someday going to price out too many people - I wonder if they are finally seeing it happen? I've always said that Disney is positioning themselves VERY poorly for the next recession by pricing out so many people - but maybe it won't even take a recession.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

But this is what Disney wanted right? Raise prices to help reduce crowds. Crowds were growing probably at an unmanageable pace (WITHOUT Star Wars) to the point where people would start to avoid it not from price, but from bad experience. So they had to do something to keep the crowds down and raise revenue, so they've upped prices over the last 8+ years (SIGNIFICANTLY, mind you) and added "add-ons" and increase "special" events.

This last round of AP price increases will probably price out a lot of folks and not only will those folks not get an AP, they may only take 1 trip a year instead of the 2 or so per year they had been making. So a lot of families may still go, but their spending at WDW will decrease significantly. I am in that boat.

So .. while we may go to Disney in 2020, it would only be once, not 2-4 times. The parks could be less crowded next year from families like mine as well that simply don't go due to increased prices or just go less.

I think it's what we've been told that Disney wants. But the more time has gone on the more I'm less convinced crowd management was a top priority. I may be thinking wrong but it just feels like too many dominoes in the last few years for this to be mostly about crowd management.

 

[tlmadden73]

I think it's what we've been told that Disney wants. But the more time has gone on the more I'm less convinced crowd management was a top priority. I may be thinking wrong but it just feels like too many dominoes in the last few years for this to be mostly about crowd management.

Oh . I am sure it is not ALL about crowd management, but I am sure it is a concern.
I mean .. Disney could have kept prices stable the last 8+ years and the parks would probably be overwhelmed with demand (their marketing machine is GREAT)-- they'd have to hire more castmembers, handle complaints about crowds, have rides break down more cause they are used more, have safety issues, etc. etc. There is a balance I am sure they are trying to reach. They don't want the parks empty, but they don't want to turn people away at the gates either or have a BAD experience (that they share on social media) because they had to wait an hour plus for every ride.

So they've upped prices, but also upped their game. How many new rides will be opening in just the past few (and upcoming) years (since New Fantasyland)? A lot.

 

[rteetz]

Where do I find this? The unplugged youtube channel?

Hmmmm, it's interesting about the softness at WDW in the fall. I can see DLR having problems because they barred too many APs, but WDW? We've been talking for 15 years how Disney is someday going to price out too many people - I wonder if they are finally seeing it happen? I've always said that Disney is positioning themselves VERY poorly for the next recession by pricing out so many people - but maybe it won't even take a recession.

I have been wondering this a lot myself lately. Are we finally seeing that threshold? Are people starting to really be priced out?

 

[rteetz]

News

http://strw.rs/6189EvT2N?fbclid=IwAR38vRsTrxI22O6KZWAWEKOvXWuq4FWKFG_MTnYr3dFgzco0hFYnr5FPRt0

 

[rteetz]

News

Select Limited-Time Offerings to No Longer Be Available at Walt Disney World Later This Year

 

[rteetz]

News

Dark Horse Comics Announce Three Part “Disney The Little Mermaid” Series

 

[rteetz]

News

Universal Orlando Resort’s Passholder Appreciation Days Return in August

 

[rteetz]

News

Jon Favreau Currently Working on Season 2 of “The Mandalorian”

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Oh . I am sure it is not ALL about crowd management, but I am sure it is a concern.
I mean .. Disney could have kept prices stable the last 8+ years and the parks would probably be overwhelmed with demand (their marketing machine is GREAT)-- they'd have to hire more castmembers, handle complaints about crowds, have rides break down more cause they are used more, have safety issues, etc. etc. There is a balance I am sure they are trying to reach. They don't want the parks empty, but they don't want to turn people away at the gates either or have a BAD experience (that they share on social media) because they had to wait an hour plus for every ride.

So they've upped prices, but also upped their game. How many new rides will be opening in just the past few (and upcoming) years (since New Fantasyland)? A lot.

I mentioned that crowd management wasn't a priority. I'm sure it's one piece of their very large working puzzle totally agree there

I think a lot of this is subjective in terms of upping their game.

Is shortening park hours upping their game? One caveat of course is that I get to see AK at night now
Is turning park hours and/or EMH into paid-events upping their game?
Is shortening operating hours for some attractions upping their game?
Is removing a nighttime parade from their busiest park (even with logistical obstacles because those existed before) upping their game?
Is adding overnight parking charge to their onsite resorts upping their game?
Is removing entertainment schedules upping their game?
Is adding nearly $700 tents in their busiest park upping their game?

And we haven't even gotten to what others mentioned with visual detractors like trash and bathroom cleanliness and overall conditions of the park (speaking towards TSL and the paint chipping really early on for instance) even if that is something I don't notice because I don't go often enough. Nor have we gotten to what I would call the 'overplanning' feeling. One doesn't have to do this or that but to some the very idea that you can (ADRs 6months or FPs 60days/30days) is not considered upping their game or at least becomes a detractor to some. While I can't say positively deferred maintenance likely has a hand in at least some ride issues. Plus other things I've not mentioned.

I'm all about net gains in rides (meaning not a replacement for an existing ride) because riding rides is a big component of our trips but even as a casual WDW park-goer the experience is more than just that. I don't think it had to have been an either/or type situation the last few years. Stagnant pricing is seldom expected but rapid increase and multiple increases in pricing combined with what they've been doing the last few years leaves a sour taste in my mouth.

**Sorry way long of a post apologies **

 

[OSUZorba]

I think some places have been hit. I know Vegas tourism is down over the last few years some pointing the finger at resort and parking fees though I think it's a combination of things. Some this year political in nature in terms of trade and visa application issues not just for travelers but also for people who go to Vegas to work.

But I totally agree that for the Disney parks the attendance numbers aren't as high as I think most of us thought it would be with Star Wars opening. I am intrigued how WDW will do though in its first few months. There's been quite the price increases so close together for Disney this year just like the last few years. I wish Disney would rethink that the only way to make money is to increase price or turn something into an add on charge. It's an easy way but easy shouldn't always be the go-to.

I stopped going to Vegas due to the resort fees and how food prices have just exploded. Then a couple years ago I flew through there and went down to the strip and learned about the parking fees and said that was it, haven't even gone done there when I've flown through. Doesn't help they tripled the price of my favorite buffet while making it completely self service. It doesn't help the current theme seems to be office building too.

Personally Disney's obvious attitude of "due to star wars we can cut as much as we want and charge as much as we want" has really turned me off to the land and has made part of me happy for the soft showing.

I've also heard on multiple podcasts, including Craig, say that to really experience the land you need an open wallet. I'm sure that is hurting the appeal of the land a lot. How much repeatability is there to building a $200 lightsaber as compared to a third ride.

 

[Farro]

I have been wondering this a lot myself lately. Are we finally seeing that threshold? Are people starting to really be priced out?

Thanks! I had found it on youtube, they loved it!

I won't say we were priced out, but definitely priced down - we just couldn't swing the deluxe price this time around, but luckily Gran Destino became an option.

We definitely won't be back after 2020 until 2023 at the earliest. Waiting to save up and for everything to be open/shiny/new.

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

Getting priced out is a real thing.

I haven't been to wdw in almost two years. We used to go 2-3 times a year.

Now, when you look at the prices of APs, hotels, paying to park at the resorts or using the (in my opinion) lackluster bus service, the skyrocketing food costs and the increased crowds... It's just too much.

Yes, Disney still gets some of my money in the form of Disneyland, or Hong Kong Disneyland next year. But I've really just been priced out and put off of wdw.

 

[ksromack]

Hmmmm, it's interesting about the softness at WDW in the fall. I can see DLR having problems because they barred too many APs, but WDW? We've been talking for 15 years how Disney is someday going to price out too many people - I wonder if they are finally seeing it happen? I've always said that Disney is positioning themselves VERY poorly for the next recession by pricing out so many people - but maybe it won't even take a recession.

You know, it's funny because one of my pathologists at work was mentioning the other day that he had read an article that stated this very sentiment....that Disney is pricing out the average family. I think that is really sad and not at all what Walt would have wanted.

 

[OKW Lover]

Looks like Walkway from GF to MK is confirmed by Disney!

https://www.laughingplace.com/w/new...connecting-grand-floridian-and-magic-kingdom/

In a statement, an official said, “This walking path from Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa will give our Walt Disney World Resort hotel Guests another convenient way to reach Magic Kingdom Park.”

Won't they need to put a security station on that path? IIRC, it would come out by the monorail station. Everybody on the monorails has already been screened but the walkers won't have.

 

[rteetz]

Won't they need to put a security station on that path? IIRC, it would come out by the monorail station. Everybody on the monorails has already been screened but the walkers won't have.

Would be just like the contemporary path.

 

[Clockwork]

Delete all

Boy it seems Universal can build new rides a ton faster than Disney. I know there is a "quality" issue when you compare, but still. Universal (both parks) is VASTLY different from when I went there in 2011 (from an attraction standpoint). And now Islands of Adventure has three major thrill coasters in the same park? (two of which are band new?) GO GO Gadget competition!

I mean .. wasn't constructed started only earlier this year? And it is complete already?

I guess this is just your normal Six Flags steel coaster with some Jurassic park theming in the entrance? (Thus how they were able to get it up so quickly?)

No, they refurbed the original Jurassic Park water ride. They kept the same basic ride structure and changed the animatronics. They also removed some and added screens. This wasn’t a from the ground up new attraction.

 

[rteetz]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1149805499753218048