Pete addressing all the hate on the podcast

[jimmymc]

I mean.......kinda

It certainly does on a Friday or Saturday night!

And for what it's worth, a festival where each booth has food and drinks unique to a different country does fit the theme of world showcase.

 

[jimmymc]

Haha I admit I am guilty of seeking out commiseration here!

Sometimes it helps! Especially if one of the changes does make a big impact on you.

The other thing for me was that I didn't hate some of the changes nearly as much as other people did. And I'm in a position where I don't have to save every last penny to get to Disney, so if charging a little bit more means the parks will be less crowded, and if Genie+ works well enough that I can get on 5 or 6 rides a day with a 5 minute wait, I'm all for it. But the one group I will feel bad for are people who now can't afford the parks at all.

 

[ZellyB]

I didn't hear Pete saying that people aren't allowed to complain or to disagree with him about whether the shows are good or not. What I heard was the intensity of the complaints seems disproportionate. It's a fireworks show. And, I'm a huge Disney fan and I LOVED HEA and I'm sad it's gone, but at the end of the day...it's a fireworks show. The vast majority of parkgoers won't know or care about HEA versus Enchantment or Harmonious versus Illuminations. It's this small uber-fanbase that even pays attention to this stuff. I think Pete's rant was more about the extreme nature of the complaints rather than that people didn't like the new shows. Reasonable and well-voiced complaints are ok and more likely to be taken seriously by the company. I'm obviously reserving judgment until I see the shows in person. I've never felt like recordings of fireworks really capture the shows (regardless of the quality of the recording). I'm hoping I will enjoy Enchantment and grow to love it like I love HEA. And, if I don't, well then I guess I'll enjoy shorter ride times while the show is running.

 

[annekablam]

For those who think Disney is going to collapse because they wont renew their annual pass I think they need a wakeup call, because they probably will and if not there is a whole new generation who likes what Disney is doing, IP for their young kids with movies they grew up on and they will and are spending money

I definitely don't think they will collapse, and I definitely don't want them to!! I do want them to feel the heat of competition though, because competition drives innovation. Super pumped to hear Universal is getting Pokemon. Disney will HAVE to do something exciting in response IMO.

Sometimes it helps! Especially if one of the changes does make a big impact on you.

The other thing for me was that I didn't hate some of the changes nearly as much as other people did. And I'm in a position where I don't have to save every last penny to get to Disney, so if charging a little bit more means the parks will be less crowded, and if Genie+ works well enough that I can get on 5 or 6 rides a day with a 5 minute wait, I'm all for it. But the one group I will feel bad for are people who now can't afford the parks at all.

It's funny I was just reflecting on that. It's not that I can't afford it now, but it is that Disney is SO far away from me that these changes seem to cut so deep. If I could live in Florida and just pop by the parks any time then the changes would bother me less I think. As it stands, when I go to Disney my time is SO limited that I am afraid I'd feel forced into a bunch of IA purchases. That one change is really the foundation of any other negative opinion I might hold. That one hurt lol.

 

[CBMom01]

I was thinking about this in the context of how much I absolutely love HEA. And I do, I mean I really do. But my love is in part - even mostly - because of a couple of really happy memories associated with it. Well, that and the Brave & Moana parts. And the ending. And that part where the castle burns down....but I digress.

ANYway, I'm going to see Enchantment for the first time with my new blended family and something tells me when those happy brain chemicals start firing as I stand there and watch, it will become my new favorite thing that I never want to change. As long as I'm open to it and don't go into it convinced that since it's not HEA I'll be disappointed.

 

[jimmymc]

I definitely don't think they will collapse, and I definitely don't want them to!! I do want them to feel the heat of competition though, because competition drives innovation. Super pumped to hear Universal is getting Pokemon. Disney will HAVE to do something exciting in response IMO.


It's funny I was just reflecting on that. It's not that I can't afford it now, but it is that Disney is SO far away from me that these changes seem to cut so deep. If I could live in Florida and just pop by the parks any time then the changes would bother me less I think. As it stands, when I go to Disney my time is SO limited that I am afraid I'd feel forced into a bunch of IA purchases. That one change is really the foundation of any other negative opinion I might hold. That one hurt lol.

I think because my time is limited, I am more OK paying for Fastpasses if it means I get more than 3 a day. The other contributing factor is that I didn't like FP+. I loved the paper fastpasses, and I've enjoyed going recently where nobody gets them because attraction lines haven't been bad. I was also able to go to Disneyland Paris a few years ago where they still used the paper ones, and that reminded me of how much I missed them in Florida.

I'm also someone who will stay at the top tier Universal hotels to get Express, and I'll consider Fastlane at Cedar Fair parks if I'm coming in from out of town. So maybe I'm just used to parks with paid Fastpasses.

 

[BadPinkTink]

Disney has one of the most change-averse fans of any community out there.

For those who think Disney is going to collapse because they wont renew their annual pass I think they need a wakeup call, because they probably will and if not there is a whole new generation who likes what Disney is doing, IP for their young kids with movies they grew up on and they will and are spending money

These two posts just about sum it all up.

From DVC to Disney Cruise to Disney Parks, the huge resistance to change is so obvious. Its not Disney who are out of touch, its the older Disney fans who are out of touch.

Disney are a forward thinking company, embracing new technologies and changing social attitudes to continuously refresh and grow the company and attract a new customer.

Where as the over 40 people want nostalgia, want things to be the same on every visit, don't want the processes and how things are done to change, the it worked fine before so why change frame of mind.

Pete is right, Disney will tune out the complaints and will have a stuff you, we don't care about your whining, off you go to Universal attitude about all this. I've seen it myself with clients. Businesses will survive , they just move on to the next customer.

You are just a number to Disney, but I guess you never realized that, and thought that a big global corporation cared that you grew up with xyz and now want your kids to experience xyz but Disney now have changed it to 123 and 123 is not what you want from a Disney experience. You think they care about that email you sent that said you had an AP for 10 years but now you don't. Nope , it probably got added to a teams log of how many dumbos complained today, and there is probably a team competition for who gets the most bat doo complaints in a week.

 

[annekablam]

I think because my time is limited, I am more OK paying for Fastpasses if it means I get more than 3 a day. The other contributing factor is that I didn't like FP+. I loved the paper fastpasses, and I've enjoyed going recently where nobody gets them because attraction lines haven't been bad. I was also able to go to Disneyland Paris a few years ago where they still used the paper ones, and that reminded me of how much I missed them in Florida.

I'm also someone who will stay at the top tier Universal hotels to get Express, and I'll consider Fastlane at Cedar Fair parks if I'm coming in from out of town. So maybe I'm just used to parks with paid Fastpasses.

I'm Canadian, I barely get to go anywhere and my money is always worth way less lol, so it's the pay-per-ride aspect of it I don't like, as it makes it difficult/impossible to forecast a budget for your day.

 

[Leight19]

My only complaint with Petes rant is he leaned in so heavily I felt it created hesitation for some of the other team members to express their opinions. My interpretation was he seemed to be the only team member who liked the show and others seemed to have varying negative reviews or hadn’t seen.

My general opinion is Disney has used a terrible situation (covid) to push through some changes they knew customers would dislike. While some were linked to covid itself many seemed to just be an excuse to use pent up demand to allow changes to happen without effecting attendance and establish it as part of new normal. I think this has backfired as rather then covering the outrage it seems to have amplified it and I really can’t blame guests. Yes the outrage over the shows is a bit over blown but it’s one of many changes that have compounded and the outrage is cumulative not a one-off thing.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

So complaining is only valid when it’s coming from certain voices?

 

[GeneralTso]

I love how he (Pete) said he wasn't going to rant and then ranted away anyway. What he spoke was TRUTH though.

Have you guys been on any Disneyland Facebook groups lately? It's pathetic. It's about 90% griping and complaining. Much "Walt is rolling over in his grave" and "Chapek has ruined my entire life" stuff. Really stupid.

A lot of people are unhappy and have an urgent need to post about it the moment they confirm their terrible suspicions were true. They live for it.

So many others are curious, open minded and want to see for themselves. Not nearly as many as those folks post on the boards or Facebook.

Sure there are many changes. People just need to get used to it. It's happening. It has happened. It's the new way. Little will change.

 

[CBMom01]

So complaining is only valid when it’s coming from certain voices?

I don't think it's that. More like "I'm disappointed because I really liked HEA more than Enchantment because of the quality of the projections." is very different than "Disney obviously didn't even try to make Enchantment good because they don't care at all about quality anymore and therefore Chapek is the devil and has ruined my life".

 

[BadPinkTink]

So complaining is only valid when it’s coming from certain voices?

No complaining is only valid when the suggested changes or complaint can be actioned by the company. Complaints were customers are unhappy but the changes are part of the corporate business plan will just get ignored.

 

[Ruttangel]

I like Pete but he is in a different financial situation to a lot of us, I mean he has like 2000 DVC points and lives in Florida
For some of us being nickel and dimed by Disney can be the difference between taking days off your holiday, going once every 2 years or not at all.
When we get there we hope new rides and shows are of a standard we have come to expect, that’s it.

 

[josa3279]

Granted Disney has used COVID as an excuse to make changes they probably have always wanted to but WOW the complaining is unbelievable
Disney has masks policy - Disney sucks Im not going and wearing a mask
Disney removes mask policy - Disney is crazy dont they know there is a pandemic going on
Disney limits capacity - they suck and thats why the parks are empty
Disney increases capacity - They are crazy its too soon
Disney makes park reservations required - That sucks
and on and on
I read where people with annual passes at Universal went to the parks and were denied entry due to being at capacity! Happened to hotel guests too can you imagine if that happened at Disney
As much as we all love Disney its a luxury. I wonder how many people are spending time on boards complaining about things they need to live. Gas prices are up, supermarket prices thru the roof and less items on shelf, housing and rents are sky high, these are necessities Disney is not something everyone is entitled to. Sad but true. I get on a plane and I walk past first class to a seat in the back just because I paid to be on that plane doesnt entitle me to first class seats, food and service. Has anyone looked at the price of a Football or baseball game lately or a Broadway show! No one says you have to pay for Genie + you can still wait and for goodness sake its not even out yet, how can you complain about something that isnt even out yet?? yes you used to get free fast passes or magical express (believe that they were free and I have a bridge for sale). Try booking a cruise on Norwegian and get the "FREE" drinks and restaurant package and see if your price doesnt go up.
Yes you have a right to a complaint and be unhappy but please express it in a human way.
I have a gas station I frequented for 20 years bought everything there knew the employees and all. I needed air for my tires and $2 fee! Yes its not much but it annoyed me, air used to be free, you know what I did? I found another gas station.
Disney is a vacation and/or luxury yes you have your rights to your opinion and to voice them but at some point if you that upset walk away! They dont owe you anything

 

[Punkrockbebop]

Honestly, I think people are rude from both sides of this issue, and yeah, maybe there is more rudeness, now, but I’ve always been shocked how nasty some Disney fans can be online (almost everyone is nice in the parks, though!), and it doesn’t have to do with change. I don’t really know what it is. It’s puzzling.. A newcomer comes to the boards and doesn’t know the exact rules of a thread and it’s open season and everyone jumps on them, for instance. This is nothing new. It is ironic, though, that a thread about nastiness turned a bit nasty in some of the comments.

That being said, last I checked, EVERYBODY is entitled to their opinions and has the right to express their disappointment or like, whatever it may be, and we don’t need to be scolded like children for openly expressing that we hated Harmonious (which apparently I am required to qualify that I viewed IN PERSON from a great viewing spot, and it’s actually worse in person than in videos). I can’t help that other people are nasty online, that’s thier problem, but I don’t need a nanny to lecture me about expressing an opinion that doesn’t match your own. Theres a great saying, Pete, “Live and let live”.

Also, I witnessed very little to no bad behavior in the parks on October 1st, I only saw some poor crowd control and too many people being let into the Emporium at once, and a little chaos because of the crowding, which is WDW‘s responsibility. I saw ONE single video on Twitter where a couple of people got verbal with each other over merchandise, and somebody claiming there was a fist fight, but it wasn’t in the video. To hype that one incident and attribute that behavior to regular park guests enjoying the day who had nothing to do with it is beyond offensive and irresponsible. Especially when you are going on hearsay and hyperbole on social media, and you weren’t even there.

 

[josa3279]

Honestly, I think people are rude from both sides of this issue, and yeah, maybe there is more rudeness, now, but I’ve always been shocked how nasty some Disney fans can be online (almost everyone is nice in the parks, though!), and it doesn’t have to do with change. I don’t really know what it is. It’s puzzling.. A newcomer comes to the boards and doesn’t know the exact rules of a thread and it’s open season and everyone jumps on them, for instance. This is nothing new. It is ironic, though, that a thread about nastiness turned a bit nasty in some of the comments.

That being said, last I checked, EVERYBODY is entitled to their opinions and has the right to express their disappointment or like, whatever it may be, and we don’t need to be scolded like children for openly expressing that we hated Harmonious (which apparently I am required to qualify that I viewed IN PERSON from a great viewing spot, and it’s actually worse in person than in videos). I can’t help that other people are nasty online, that’s thier problem, but I don’t need a nanny to lecture me about expressing an opinion that doesn’t match your own. Theres a great saying, Pete, “Live and let live”.

Also, I witnessed very little to no bad behavior in the parks on October 1st, I only saw some poor crowd control and too many people being let into the Emporium at once, and a little chaos because of the crowding, which is WDW‘s responsibility. I saw ONE single video on Twitter where a couple of people got verbal with each other over merchandise, and somebody claiming there was a fist fight, but it wasn’t in the video. To hype that one incident and attribute that behavior to regular park guests enjoying the day who had nothing to do with it is beyond offensive and irresponsible. Especially when you are going on hearsay and hyperbole on social media, and you weren’t even there.

Thank you THIS IS IT!
I joined here to get some info on DVC and maybe find a nice community. This is the first board I have ever joined. I mean its Disney right? People will be nice!
I specifically stated I agree with everyones rights to be unhappy or not like something all I said was I was glad someone with a bigger voice addressed all the nastiness going on NOT your not entitled to your opinion

 

[Boski]

No complaining is only valid when the suggested changes or complaint can be actioned by the company. Complaints were customers are unhappy but the changes are part of the corporate business plan will just get ignored.

I'm not sure you really thought this statement through before you typed it out.

 

[BadPinkTink]

I'm not sure you really thought this statement through before you typed it out.

ok then, let me put it in plain English.

A complaint from a customer about something they are un happy about and the company or business can fix that issue is a valid complaint from a companys point of view. It might be something they overlooked, or something they were not aware of or something which was not previously highlighted during market research, focus groups or during testing. This is constructive criticism and very helpful to a company. It is usually politely written using positive tone and language.

A complaint from a customer about something they are un happy about but the issue / new change / new policy is part of their corporate business plan and the company can not change it will get ignored by the company. This type of complaint is usually written in an angry negative tone filled with emotion and a lot of personal opinion.

and yes these are generalizations.

 

[jimmymc]

I'm Canadian, I barely get to go anywhere and my money is always worth way less lol, so it's the pay-per-ride aspect of it I don't like, as it makes it difficult/impossible to forecast a budget for your day.

That part I don't like! I would've preferred they either increase the price and include everything in Genie+, or they just completely exclude the top tier attractions like Universal does. The pay per ride is probably my least favorite announcement so far.