Poll: Are You Rewarding Disney for Bad Behavior?

[tlmadden73]

The free market is rewarding Disney with record high attendance despite increased prices (tickets, food) and more crowding in the slow season.

I don't think anyone is planning longer vacations BECAUSE of the crowds. If anything .. I bet the crowds push people to Universal. Instead of an extra day or two at Disney Parks, I bet a lot of people are doing 2-3 days at Universal. My aunt and uncle were just there and were pleased with all they were able to get done.

Eventually the pricing and the crowds will hit the peak point and Disney will see the attendance numbers drop .. but maybe just for this year. With the new big things that are set to open in 2017, 2018 and 2019 .. I am sure the parks will see a surge in attendance.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Did you even read my post? I even stated that "bad behavior" was used in jest.

Right. And I'm simply responding that the increase in crowds isn't entirely Disney's "fault". Not scolding you for your post. I think it's interesting to think about all the factors that have gone into increased attendance - more hotels at less cost, cheaper flights, etc. When it comes down to it, if Disney increases capacity (more hotel rooms, higher capacity in hotel rooms, bigger parks) or lessens it (through higher tickets prices or otherwise), they will never be able to please everyone. My point is, if you want to go, one simply needs to find ways to adjust to current conditions in order to have a vacation that works for them!

 

[minnie mum]

The use of the phrase "rewarding Disney for bad behavior", even in jest, is misleading and inappropriate. Why not just ask if people add extra days to compensate for larger crowds? The only bad behavior at WDW is by boorish guests. Disney has done nothing that could be considered bad business practices.

Are crowds greater than 20 years ago? Of course. But the parks are also bigger than they were 20 years ago. There are more parks, more attractions, and more non park activities. THAT is why we stay longer than 20 years ago. Plus we have the leisure of much more available vacation time than we had 20 years ago.

If and when the crowds become a problem for us ( we already plan our visits for less crowded periods) then we will go somewhere else.

 

[GPC0321]

So I was sitting around thinking about park crowds and how Disney has done a good job at building crowds during the more traditionally slow times of year. The parks are so crowded that its hard to get as many things done in a day as apposed to 20 years ago. (at least it seems that way) Though Disney is planning some major new expansions, it is expected those parks will see increased attendance which will negate the new areas' ability to absorb the already high crowds. So basically unless Disney Builds a 5th park to house some of the guests (which would also increase overall attendance), the Crowds will remain at ridiculously high levels.

What do I mean about rewarding Disney for Bad Behavior you ask? 20 years ago my family went to Disney for 4 days and had a blast. 5 years ago we would go for 5-6 days. This year we are going to the World for 8 days, primarily to reduce stress caused by high crowds and long wait times. So we are rewarding Disney for their high wait times by giving them more money.

One more note. I am a big fan of capitalism, and don't think Disney is evil or anything like that. When I say "Bad Behavior" its mostly in Jest. I know Large crowds are a good problem for Disney to have. I have also praised them for their increase in reinvestment that they have started the last few years. I just wonder if we take away their motivation to fix the problem.

 

[Davey Jones II]

Not necessarily. If they added more net new attractions (not just replacements for things they close) the parks would absorb the crowds better.

That's not too bad if they are only replacing unpopular attractions. But at Disneyland Resort, they are replacing Aladdin, a consistently popular show, just because they've got Frozen on the brain.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

We go to WDW because of the Disney Magic and pixie dust. We feel is well worth it!

AK

 

[ChloesDaddy]

We've taken 7-night trips in the past. We decided on 10 nights this time to mix in more pool and relaxation time. I can see how that might also help us to better manage crowds, but it's more of a side benefit for us.

 

[Flamingeaux]

We have settled into a 5.5 park day trip. The half day is our first night which is usually our MK night. It used to be our DTD night but lately we want to see Wishes. We than do two days at MK and one day at the other three parks.

 

[ArwenMarie]

We do less of the Disney parks per trip now. I have no qualms about cutting out a park or two every trip.

I'm probably compensating for the crowds this way now that I think about it. I give the extra day(s) to MK or whatever park we are interested in that trip.

 

[MataHari22]

The only reasons I have added any extra days to my trips is because I am too exhausted on my travel day there to go to the parks or do anything but rest up and get a good start on my trip, and I leave too early on my travel day home to go to the parks. That, coupled with the fact that I'm not as spry as I used to be, made me increase my trip so I can have seven days in the parks. I don't work, so I don't have to worry about time off, I just have to worry about saving up enough money to go.

 

[Yellowstonetim]

I reward Disney for giving me what I want that no one else can give. I stay longer not specifically because of crowds and lines, but rather because we want to enjoy everything and still relax. Even if the parks were empty, there is a lot of walking and a lot of things to do.

 

[hakepb]

More days hurts Disney. More days is less $/day.
In DL, they stopped selling tickets longer than 5 days, as they want guests to take shorter trips so they can serve more guests per month.

 

[MrKnight]

IMHO I wouldn't call it "bad behavior".. Disney is a business and they are smart to tweak things to stay busy year round, the busier they are the more money they will make..

 

[MamaMaleficent2016]

We stay 10 days or more but it has nothing to do with lines or crowds. We have a two day drive to get there and we are in no hurry to get back in the car for the trip back home. We also enjoy a leisurely pace. We love to soak it all in.

 

[tripletmomsrock]

We added days because we have to go in the summer (I'm a Vice Principal) and I want to ensure that my kids get to see and do everything they want. We only go every 3-4 years so when we go I want to make it amazing for my kids. Yes, it maybe rewarding Disney, but it's also rewarding my kids with the kind of vacation they want (and I want).

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

So I was sitting around thinking about park crowds and how Disney has done a good job at building crowds during the more traditionally slow times of year. The parks are so crowded that its hard to get as many things done in a day as apposed to 20 years ago. (at least it seems that way) Though Disney is planning some major new expansions, it is expected those parks will see increased attendance which will negate the new areas' ability to absorb the already high crowds. So basically unless Disney Builds a 5th park to house some of the guests (which would also increase overall attendance), the Crowds will remain at ridiculously high levels.

What do I mean about rewarding Disney for Bad Behavior you ask? 20 years ago my family went to Disney for 4 days and had a blast. 5 years ago we would go for 5-6 days. This year we are going to the World for 8 days, primarily to reduce stress caused by high crowds and long wait times. So we are rewarding Disney for their high wait times by giving them more money.

One more note. I am a big fan of capitalism, and don't think Disney is evil or anything like that. When I say "Bad Behavior" its mostly in Jest. I know Large crowds are a good problem for Disney to have. I have also praised them for their increase in reinvestment that they have started the last few years. I just wonder if we take away their motivation to fix the problem.

Larger crowds actually work quite well with our touring strategy. We like to visit in the summer when the operating hours are the longest. Even though the parks do get crowded, those crowds seem to have shifted earlier and earlier in the day. These guest eventually tire out and leave early. We know that if we're patient, things will empty out around us later into the evening.

We actually get more done now than we did even 4-5 years ago and never arrive much before 11 am. My kids like to ride the headliners multiple times each visit and that is becoming easier and easier.

We're heading to Disneyland this summer and I kind of dread going back to the old school Fast Pass.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

What do I mean about rewarding Disney for Bad Behavior you ask? 20 years ago my family went to Disney for 4 days and had a blast. 5 years ago we would go for 5-6 days. This year we are going to the World for 8 days, primarily to reduce stress caused by high crowds and long wait times. So we are rewarding Disney for their high wait times by giving them more money.

One more note. I am a big fan of capitalism, and don't think Disney is evil or anything like that. When I say "Bad Behavior" its mostly in Jest. I know Large crowds are a good problem for Disney to have. I have also praised them for their increase in reinvestment that they have started the last few years. I just wonder if we take away their motivation to fix the problem.[/QUOTE]

It is my firm belief that FP+ was designed specifically to try to get guests to spend more days at WDW. Their "ideal" guest rides their 3 scheduled rides, maybe 2-3 3rd tier standby rides, wanders in the park for a bit, eats 1 Table Service meal then returns to their WDW resort for a Table Service supper. This guest only spends 3-4 hours actively riding rides or standing in cues, clearing out of the park after accomplishing no more than 1/2 what they wish to accomplish in that park because they're coming back another day, perhaps 2 more days.