TSM standby-less test Oct. 6-9

[lugnut33]

how do we know that they will NOT be building new major attractions AND kiddie rides? We don't know. Universal's recent additions may have led us to expect instant gratification, i.e, how dare they close an attraction without telling us what is going to replace it and when.

FP+ is SO different from anything that has ever been done at a theme park that it's not surprising to see it be discussed passionately. Many regular visitors and even some first timers are not going to like such a drastic change.

I do expect a Star Wars land to eventually be built at DHS, but to me it's just so late in happening. They have allowed that park to just slowly deteriorate in terms of attractions over the years that it's in massive need of a whole restructuring like what happened to DCA. And in my mind the same goes for Future World at Epcot. I love that place, but man does it need some work done to in terms of attractions. And when I ask myself why they haven't done anything it's because they want to maximize investor profits by not taking on huge projects. They want to squeeze every last drop of money out of the parks and the guests.

It's Iger, I have really come to dislike him over the years.

I will give props out where they are due, I love the MK to this day and think it's in great shape. At least that park seems to get a little love from the execs.

 

[DisUniversal]

Disney theme park attendance is up 4.8% in the last reporting year.

http://www.teaconnect.org/pdf/TEAAECOM2013.pdf

It could be. It could also be because Disney theme park attendance is up 4.8% in the last reporting year. Or a combination of the two. But it is really important to rely on data rather than personal instinct about it. And also just for instance it is important to view the big picture. In other words, a downturn in the economy will cause a decrease in attendance and revenues for everyone in the industry but to look at that as an indicator that one of the companies made a mistake wouldn't make sense. FP+ wouldn't be the cause of an economic downturn.

If you count just WDW, attendance is up only 3%. Universal Orlando attendance for the same year is up more than twice that at 7%.

 

[ChipnDale79]

35 pages in less than 20 hours, to me, that says there's something wrong with this test.

Im not reading all 35 pages, because, well, I just don't have time, so its probably already been said.

I really feel for the people that are there this week and have planned their vacation out and then be thrown this loop.

To me this just screams that Iger and company do not care one bit about the experience they are giving their guests or about the guests themselves.

This is a new low for Disney, the greedy suits should really be ashamed of themselves.

 

[vacationer1954]

If you count just WDW, attendance is up only 3%.

Still, it is up not down.

Universal Orlando attendance for the same year is up more than twice that at 7%.

I wonder how much of that difference is attributable to Universal's FOTL access and other differences between the two parks which Universal fans love and many WDW fans hate. I mention this because the kind of things that Laketravis is concerned about happening at WDW are the kind of things that Universal does more.

 

[Laketravis]

If you count just WDW, attendance is up only 3%. Universal Orlando attendance for the same year is up more than twice that at 7%.

I was just noticing that as well. The big winners appear to be the overseas parks with attendance growth in the double digits. Except for Disneyland Paris.

In fact, of the domestic parks listed WDW actually pales in comparison to Universal Orlando (14%) as does Disneyland (1.5%) to Universal Hollywood (4%).

Yep, stats can be interesting numbers.

 

[Laketravis]

I wonder how much of that difference is attributable to Universal's FOTL access and other differences between the two parks which Universal fans love and many WDW fans hate. I mention this because the kind of things that Laketravis is concerned about happening at WDW are the kind of things that Universal does more.

I don't think comparing FOTL to FP+ with no standby is an apples to apples comparison at all.

 

[Disneyfanatic108]

Here now and will have to say that after coming 10 plus times this place is not about the consumer anymore. It's all about how can we get there money.

 

[Money82]

Concept art for Epcot was floating around in 1966. It would not surprise me if it took 20 years from concept to opening. That $1.4B would be $3.5B in todays dollars.

I'm guessing it took more than 5 years from concept to opening for Animal Kingdom also. And yes, that $800M, for a half day park, would be $1.4B in todays dollars.

First of all, AK isn't a half day park. That is laughable.

Second, Epcot at $3.5 billion vs. FP+ at $2 billion. I'm not sure what your point there is?

 

[ArwenMarie]

Yes, I was aware of that with the kiosks. And btw, there's nothing wrong with "kiddie" rides being built. WDW was never a thrill ride park- there's one of those right down the street. I'm all for rides for the over 2 under 10 crowd.

There are family rides (Magic Kingdom has many of those) and there are carnival rides.

High quality family rides are good.

Carnival rides...not so much.

 

[grimley1968]

And so it starts...

For the first time in a few years, we are not at WDW during our Fall Break, which is this week. While we miss it, this photo at least partially validates our decision not go this year. I have a lot of friends at WDW this week, and I'm guessing they'll have some not-so-complimentary things to say about this test. If I was there this week and saw this, I'd be furious.

I'm somewhat of a Disney apologist, both on these boards and in person, but some of these recent decisions at WDW leave me sad and/or shaking my head. You just don't treat people paying lots of money to come to your parks this way.

 

[summerskye]

I don't think comparing FOTL to FP+ with no standby is an apples to apples comparison at all.

I have an apple, an orange, and 2 bananas, but no FP. Does this mean I can't ride TSM...

 

[Laketravis]

Here now and will have to say that after coming 10 plus times this place is not about the consumer anymore. It's all about how can we get there money.

That would be consistent with an article that 1954 just linked to:

"However, most operators are aiming to increase in-park spending by visitors by increasing the sale of pre-paid packages and through the use of innovative technologies that alter visitors’ psychology and subsequent spending patterns — Disney’s MyMagic+ is the most visible example. As visitors increasingly make their largest payment before they arrive and have less need for historic forms of payment (i.e., cash, credit cards), per capita revenues should increase...."

 

[cakebaker]

Easy to say when you are sitting up there in OK and not spending money at WDW right now, like all the other guests

I've been on the taking end of unexpected closures and problems as much as anyone. I completely understand the frustration - but I also know when I go that these things can and will happen.

If they have to run the tests, they have to run them. Its too bad for those few who miss out/ just like it always is.

 

[DisUniversal]

I have an apple, an orange, and 2 bananas, but no FP. Does this mean I can't ride TSM...

Sounds like you have a slot machine. TSMM is a video game that pretends to be a ride. Not sure if that means you can ride or not...they're sorta related.

 

[summerskye]

Sounds like you have a slot machine. TSMM is a video game that pretends to be a ride. Not sure if that means you can ride or not...they're sorta related.

All I need is 3 cherries in a row...

 

[johde]

Consider that it might be terribly disappointing for some of us who may have been there the day WDW opened and are still WDW enthusiasts to this day to see some of the things they are doing today purely for profit. It may seem like a "gloom and doom" outlook but then again Disney wouldn't be the first large company to sacrifice long term results for short term gain.

I'm not mad about it, I don't hate it, I'm not going to claim that I'm going to boycott Disney. I understand it for what it is, but I will admit to being a little saddened that I can't honestly say the experience is better than it used to be, whether that experience was last year or in 1972.

Just because they're not NOW, doesn't mean they won't EVER. Some people (not necessarily saying you) come off in a way that makes them seem to think that the way the parks are now are they way they're going to be from now until eternity. Like I mentioned in another thread yesterday when Uni was brought up...they're doing really great things NOW, but they weren't always. Uni is "younger" than Disney, and what they're doing now, I'd compare to Disney in the 90s when they were adding all kinds of awesome stuff. The parks don't have to constantly be in a state of BUILD, BUILD, BUILD. It's ebb and flow. There's always going to be something that SOMEONE doesn't like.

I really regret not being able to go during that time period. I bet it was cool to see all the awesome stuff being added.

I've been going to the parks since 1976 so almost the beginning. The trips picked up in frequency in the mid '90's so I was there for the building boom. The thing is it wasn't only rides. For example, in the '90's there were the following parades.

Magic Kingdom
Mickey All American Birthday Parade (1988-1990)
Disney Character Hit Parade (1990 - 1991)
20th Anniversary Surprise Parade/Surprise Celebration (1991-1992/1992-1994)
Mickey Mania (994-1996)
20th anniversary parade "Remember the magic"/Magical Moments (1996-1997/1997-2001)

Disney MGM studios
Dinosaurs Parade (1991-1992)
Aladdin's Royal Caravan (1992-1995)
Toystory (1995- 1997)
Hercules Zero to Hero (1997-1998)
Mulan (1998 - 2001)

Spectromagic (1991-1999,2001-2010)
EPCOT
Tapestry of Nation (1999 - 2001)

That's 12 unique parades (14 if you count minor theme changes in a 10 year period). Some were better than others. Some were retreads from Disneyland but this was the days before the internet so most people didn't know that at the time.

From 2000-2010 There was 5 (8 if you count reworks)

Magic Kingdom
Share a Dream Come True/Disney Dreams come True/Celebrate a Dream come true (2001-2006,2006-2009,2009-2014)
Move it Shake it Celebrate it.

Epcot
Tapestry of Dream (2001 - 2003) Reworked Tapestry of Nations

DHS
Stars in Motors Cars (2001 - 2008)
Blockparty Bash (2008-2011)

DAK
Jungle Jammin Parade (2001 - 2014)

It seemed like almost every other year a Major something was opening in one of the theme parks.

It was an exciting time. Looking over the past 14 years, I have mixed feelings. The fact that WDW has been able to not only survive but also thrive given 9/11 in 2001, Hurricanes Charlie and Frances in 2004, and the financial meltdown of 2007-2008 is remarkable. But, I think some of us are seeing the strategy used to weather those challenges is leading to problems now.

 

[Laketravis]

All I need is 3 cherries in a row...

Penny slots?

 

[ChipnDale79]

I've been on the taking end of unexpected closures and problems as much as anyone. I completely understand the frustration - but I also know when I go that these things can and will happen.

If they have to run the tests, they have to run them. Its too bad for those few who miss out/ just like it always is.

I understand when a ride breaks down, I don't understand when something like this happens without warning.

Disney does a good job of warning you in advance of refurbs, this should have been handled the same way.

 

[vacationer1954]

I don't think comparing FOTL to FP+ with no standby is an apples to apples comparison at all.

I wonder how much that thought is a reflection of what you want to be rather than what is. In reality, there is no better comparison that could be made.

 

[summerskye]

Penny slots?

Of course, I have no money left. I have a Disney trip to pay for...