WDW to prevent AP holders from visiting parks many mornings

[SL6827]

When does Epic Universe open? That mighg help with crowd levels.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

When does Epic Universe open? That mighg help with crowd levels.

Summer 2025 at this present moment

 

[Smugpugmug]

When does Epic Universe open? That mighg help with crowd levels.

I doubt it'll help crowds. If anything it'll make them worse since more people will be travelling to Orlando to see the new park and hit up other attractions while they're in town.

 

[Madame]

When does Epic Universe open? That mighg help with crowd levels.

The rising US dollar will take care of some of it after the summer’s worth of prepaid packages. Both the pound and the Euro are down against the dollar not to mention the Canadian dollar but we’ve just accepted our perpetually underperforming currency

 

[lowlight]

Okay, but back to my previous example: it still behooves them to bring back more VIP tours (the mid level ones) in which people are paying hundreds of dollars more than their ticket prices. But they haven't brought them back. Why?

If I'm understanding your position correctly, you're saying that if Disney was prioritizing profit, they would have filled the VIP guide roles first, over something like tram drivers? I'll default to my previous answer- money. I'm not a bean counter or strategist at Disney, but the answer is money even if it doesn't seem that way and it's a roundabout way to get there. I once worked where my sole job was to create a line out in front of a business. The business wasn't full to fire marshal capacity inside (we clicked everyone in and out), it was to make it appear as though the demand was high when it was really just normal. I would go down the line and pick out the person with the most expensive looking clothes and bring them to the front of my fake line, open the stanchion ropes, and let them in like they were some kind of VIP. People walked by and saw the line and got in it, because anything with a wait is good. I can't tell you how many $100 bills I was slipped to get into the front of my fake line, and this was almost 3 decades ago. My point is that money doesn't have to translate into immediate bottom line earnings, it could be brand desire. Want to book the $800/hr VIP tour right now? I bet you it's booked for months, it was last I checked. Why? They could slam hiring full with plaid cast members and rake in the money, right? Obviously Disney has done some number crunching on what to bring back and when, they aren't just willy nilly putting people into roles. It's why we have Minnie Vans instead of all the trams at the moment. Whenever you have to question a motivation for a corporation, it's always, without fail, money. I enter the Pinto as the ultimate example of the sole motivator of corporations.

 

[BeachClub2014]

Disney currently has job postings for 72 different positions at Walt Disney World Resort, many of them with hiring bonuses of $1000+.


No but not every decision made results in Disney being the clear "winner" and customers as the clear "losers". There are times when changes are mutually beneficial.

The common inference seems to be that Park Pass allows disney to reduce attraction staffing, which in turn leads to increased wait times. In my humble opinion, most Disney attractions don't see their rider capacity affected by staffing. Omnimovers like Buzz and Haunted Mansion keep absorbing guests at a steady pace. Dark rides and coasters always seem to be operated such that as soon as one vehicle arrives, it's unloaded and another group is ready and waiting to board.

Labor savings from Park Pass likely comes from support positions which may not be needed on certain days, plus avoiding over-staffing on days when the parks are not as busy. Up until 2 years ago, staffing the parks was never an exact science. Sure Disney knows how many guests are in hotels, how many tickets they've pre-sold and how many ADRs are booked (all of them, most days) but Disney couldn't predict what portion of the guests would decide to go to each park. Now they can.

But that doesn't mean they're cutting staff and running Space Mountain and Haunted Mansion at any lower capacity. Guests are still moved thru the queue and positioned to board as soon as a vehicle arrives. When I see a 45 minute standby wait for Haunted Mansion, I can only assume that it would be even longer without Park Pass limiting the number of guests in MK. Additional staffing isn't going to help that attraction--or most others--increase its hourly rider capacity.

We keep looking for nefarious reasons for long lines at all of the parks when the most obvious reason is there are massive numbers of guests visiting the Disney parks right now.

I've not said or inferred that at all.

I have simply reacted to the many comments made in support of the park reservations based, in part, on staffing as well as wait times for attractions. There have been many comments on how WDW shouldn't allow more people into MK and DHS because of wait times. I don't dispute that wait times are long nor have I assigned any nefarious intent to it. I have said, and still believe, then perhaps WDW should do a better job in managing their parks to handle the flippin' load.

This was never a problem before, so why now?

 

[tjkraz]

This was never a problem before, so why now?

Simplest explanation: because the parks are collectively attracting more guests now than they have in the past.

 

[RoseGold]

Okay, but back to my previous example: it still behooves them to bring back more VIP tours (the mid level ones) in which people are paying hundreds of dollars more than their ticket prices. But they haven't brought them back. Why?

Because they are wearing plaid.

You want VIP, you are going to pay VIP.

 

[Jonfw2]

If I'm understanding your position correctly, you're saying that if Disney was prioritizing profit, they would have filled the VIP guide roles first, over something like tram drivers? I'll default to my previous answer- money. I'm not a bean counter or strategist at Disney, but the answer is money even if it doesn't seem that way and it's a roundabout way to get there. I once worked where my sole job was to create a line out in front of a business. The business wasn't full to fire marshal capacity inside (we clicked everyone in and out), it was to make it appear as though the demand was high when it was really just normal. I would go down the line and pick out the person with the most expensive looking clothes and bring them to the front of my fake line, open the stanchion ropes, and let them in like they were some kind of VIP. People walked by and saw the line and got in it, because anything with a wait is good. I can't tell you how many $100 bills I was slipped to get into the front of my fake line, and this was almost 3 decades ago. My point is that money doesn't have to translate into immediate bottom line earnings, it could be brand desire. Want to book the $800/hr VIP tour right now? I bet you it's booked for months, it was last I checked. Why? They could slam hiring full with plaid cast members and rake in the money, right? Obviously Disney has done some number crunching on what to bring back and when, they aren't just willy nilly putting people into roles. It's why we have Minnie Vans instead of all the trams at the moment. Whenever you have to question a motivation for a corporation, it's always, without fail, money. I enter the Pinto as the ultimate example of the sole motivator of corporations.

I'm not suggesting they would have filled those spots first. I'm saying that the fact that they STILL haven't filled them suggests no other possible explanation than that they still have staffing issues.

 

[BeachClub2014]

Simplest explanation: because the parks are collectively attracting more guests now than they have in the past.

And so the simplest solution is to allow fewer guests into the parks as opposed to managing the parks to allow for more guests? I realize this continues to be a circular argument and my intent is not to be difficult. I guess I am just not willing to give Disney a pass for not fixing the underlying problem and just putting a band-aid on the symptoms.

Letting fewer guests into the park doesn't necessarily make it a better park.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

On the tours couple of things to remember.

Future World tour doesn't make much sense to have with all the construction going on in Future World which well Future World is no longer anyhow.

Behind Our Steam Trains Tour doesn't make much sense because the Railroad isn't running. I don't know how popular it was to just take a photo in front of a stationary part of the train but it's possible they don't want to put resources towards a tour where people can't actually ride the train right now.

They do have the 50th Anniversary tour that is new and limited in time frame I would assume that's their main focus right now and honestly if I was doing a VIP tour for the first time while there during the 50th Anniversary time period I'd probably want to book that one. The 50th also only allows 6 people, it goes to MK (with BOG included) and Epcot (with Space 220 included and Remy) as well as Contemporary resort. My guess is the Marceline to MK tour is being heavily sidelined in favor of the 50th tour which still does MK. There is also a MK Family tour that is still available.

Just because there are other tours not available presently speaking doesn't mean much IMO, to me it just means the focus has shifted in the specific sought after tour. I see it as diverting their resources to funnel it for a more limited tour as well as constraints due to unavailable attractions/areas. I also see in part staffing issues.

I wonder if in part the increase in Plaids people are seeing are really just these 50th Anniversary tours that are smaller in number of people in them. I'm sure there are people throwing money down towards the tours due to inconveniences in Disney touring especially if you're seeing them at AK and DHS but I'm willing to be some of it is a small capped tour being a main focus. A normal non-themed private tour is for up to 10 guests.

 

[whiteness]

And so the simplest solution is to allow fewer guests into the parks as opposed to managing the parks to allow for more guests? I realize this continues to be a circular argument and my intent is not to be difficult. I guess I am just not willing to give Disney a pass for not fixing the underlying problem and just putting a band-aid on the symptoms.

Letting fewer guests into the park doesn't necessarily make it a better park.

I'd love for Disney to get all of the rides and attractions online, street performers and other ambiance back to where it was, and the food, beverage and retail fully staffed. And ditch Genie+/LL.

If some of the parks still feel over crowded, then try to give guests better reasons to visit the under utilized parks than locking them out of the parks they really want to visit. Disney, being Disney, should be able to come up with reasons for more guests to want to visit AK than presently do...

 

[Marionnette]

In the last 4 years, Hollywood Studios has opened Toy Story Land, Galaxy's Edge and Runaway Railway. Epcot opened two high profile attractions in just the past year.

Both Toy Story Land and GE added 2 attractions each. But to build GE, they closed Lights! Motors! Action! which had a high capacity (5,000 per show). TSL added a slow-loading coaster and a carnival ride (AS2). TSM's entrance was simply turned around and a 3rd track was added. They demolished the Backlot Tour to build TSL. MMRR replaced GMR, which had a higher capacity.

At Epcot, they closed the Universe of Energy to build GotG. Rattatouille is an import from DLP...new to this part of the world but not new. They also closed and demolished Innoventions East and West (not necessarily a bad thing given the lack of corporate sponsors).

And I'll add that these new attractions were added after years of stagnation at HS and Epcot. I'm glad that Disney hasn't allowed those parks to decline further. But let's be honest, they increased the popularity of those parks but really didn't add much in the way of capacity. And that's the core of the issue. Disney is doing very little to increase capacity of the parks to meet the demand.

 

[DonMacGregor]

Because they are wearing plaid.

You want VIP, you are going to pay VIP.

His point is that Disney has an opportunity to make a ton of easy money on VIP tours, yet they haven't even started to offer many of them again. There isn't even an option right now, so even if you "want VIP, you can't pay VIP".

 

[Jonfw2]

His point is that Disney has an opportunity to make a ton of easy money on VIP tours, yet they haven't even started to offer many of them again. There isn't even an option right now, so even if you "want VIP, you can't pay VIP".

Thank you- YES.

But to clarify, I am well aware that the very top line VIP private tours are back. I don't want to confuse anyone.

 

[DonMacGregor]

Thank you- YES.

But to clarify, I am well aware that the very top line VIP private tours are back. I don't want to confuse anyone.

Correct, but that post completely misrepresented your point, so I thought some clarification was required.

 

[Madame]

His point is that Disney has an opportunity to make a ton of easy money on VIP tours, yet they haven't even started to offer many of them again. There isn't even an option right now, so even if you "want VIP, you can't pay VIP".

They’re talking about different tours…. The real money makers are, of course, back up and running.

 

[Jonfw2]

Correct, but that post completely misrepresented your point, so I thought some clarification was required.

I totally get you! Thanks!

 

[Jonfw2]

They’re talking about different tours…. The real money makers are, of course, back up and running.

Understood. The private VIP tours are wildly profitable. But the mid level ones are awfully profitable too. And many aren't being offered.

 

[DonMacGregor]

They’re talking about different tours…. The real money makers are, of course, back up and running.

That still doesn't invalidate his point. The VIP Tours, at any level, are not all running and regardless of margin, they all are easy money from a cost versus staffing perspective.