Why so against Casinos on DCL? With Poll

[mevelandry]

Actually, no means no. Just because people say no, but it won't keep them from cruising, doesn't mean they are "not against it". It just means they're being realistic about the fact that there are enough plusses about cruising with Disney that they'll keep cruising in spite of a change they really dislike. For example, I'm strongly opposed to DCL getting rid of onboard credit as an OBB perk, but that won't stop me from cruising with them.

So the fact is that the large majority are against a casino, as indicated by the polling data.

What I meant by that is that it looks like most people wouldn't bail on the cruise line for that reason, which surprises me since the last category seemed the be the most "vocal" here.

Moving along...

 

[DanielleC]

Anyone who thinks a Disney cruise is more expensive than other cruises because they don't have casinos is mistaken. Just like the resorts, they cost more because they are "Disney" cruises. Also, it's clear that as of early Monday morning people would still cruise with Disney if they had a casino than would not.

 

[sethschroeder]

What I meant by that is that it looks like most people wouldn't bail on the cruise line for that reason, which surprises me since the last category seemed the be the most "vocal" here.

Moving along...

To follow up on the others point. People don't see what would be planned and can not visualize it in their head. I would say it's more likely people give it a hard pass vs deciding they love it in the long run (as most likely wouldn't give it a chance).

I still say if you want gambling and Disney is going to offer it then it should be an app. Possibly even put out tablets in rotating bars each night for those without smart devices.

 

[FigmentSpark]

I'd love it if they changed up the trivia and even if they had those trivia apps like back in the 90s where you'd go as a 'team' to a bar and play against others anywhere in the world. Probably hard due to the wifi, but if they can have wifi on the ship at all, they could run an online thing like that once a night, too.

 

[Ravenclaw78]

I'd love it if they changed up the trivia and even if they had those trivia apps like back in the 90s where you'd go as a 'team' to a bar and play against others anywhere in the world. Probably hard due to the wifi, but if they can have wifi on the ship at all, they could run an online thing like that once a night, too.

Or at least fact-checked the trivia... Family Feud style guest-surveyed trivia questions suck when half the surveyed guests think Washington, DC is a state.

 

[MomOTwins]

Anyone who thinks a Disney cruise is more expensive than other cruises because they don't have casinos is mistaken. Just like the resorts, they cost more because they are "Disney" cruises. Also, it's clear that as of early Monday morning people would still cruise with Disney if they had a casino than would not.

It's a pretty slim majority though--not exactly a landslide. I don't think it is an answer to say they charge more because "Disney." A big part of what the Disney brand means to people is a family friendly experience. "Pleasure Island" at what is now Disney Springs was a huge flop and they got rid of it in favor of more inclusive family experiences. Disney resorts do not have gambling either. There is no way to make a Casino family friendly because kids by definition aren't allowed in. The sum total of adult only experiences on DCL are (1) swimming pool/hot tub, but there are also family pools and hot tubs available; (2) spa experiences, but there are also spa treatments for kids; (3) an adult only district--but it is only adult-only at night and hosts family events during the day; (4) a few onboard activities like drink tastings and certain classes, but more family-friendly entertainment options overall; and (5) Palo and Remy, but there is still a "fine dining" experience in the MDR for those that don't want to eat without their kids. This makes me think that if they did something like a Casino, it would be something like Dave & Busters that is kid friendly in the day, but in the evening they make it adults only and add something like a few table games for the adults to make it a quasi-casino.

 

[starvenger]

If any place were to have "a few" casino games I'd guess they'd be some sort of electronic machine. With table games you need quite a few people to handle the games and the money.

With machines (slots, video poker etc) everything can be handled electronically, probably to the point where you'd go to guest services to cash out.

I'm not advocating for any of this, by the way. Just doing the thought experiment of "what if".

 

[mcd2745]

"Pleasure Island" at what is now Disney Springs was a huge flop

That is not accurate. It was very successful until they started to tinker with it in an attempt to prop up the rest of "Downtown Disney". They did seem to want out of the business of being a club operator, but not because they weren't successful at it.

 

[Yokelridesagain]

I voted no, wouldn't sail because my wife despises casinos, although I wouldn't particularly care about it. (I wouldn't go to an onboard casino because blackjack is the only casino game I like, and the odds on shipboard casinos are heavily weighted toward the house.)

Allowing smoking in the casino would be a total dealbreaker.

 

[FSU Girl]

Wow. I am surprised at how "heated" this topic has become. Just curious, for those of you who would like to see a casino onboard, do you gamble regularly at home? Or, is this an "activity" you expect/choose for vacations? I just can't fathom the thought of a Princess/Mickey meet or greet happening around the corner from a room full of slot machines

I am not a regular gambler, can count the times on one hand. But I've gambled in Vegas and on a cruise and had a lot of fun those times, even when I lost money. I only played Roulette, slots doesn't really interest me. I have a lot of friends who refuse to sail with Disney because they don't have a casino. The adult activities are lacking for them so I'll never get them on the ship with me. It really surprises me how strongly people are against the casinos

 

[belle032]

DH and I just did our first DCL together and he missed having a casino onboard. He's not a heavy gambler, but enjoys throwing a $20 in the slots now and again. Especially before or after dinner. Me? Don't care either way. However, we felt that the adult activities were a little lacking for us (just our preference!), so he may have felt the loss a little more.

But even if DCL did add some sort of casino on their ships, I cannot imagine they would do it in a loud, neon, Vegas-style fashion. I imagine it would be non-smoking, tucked away, and done very tastefully. So saying having a casino somewhere onboard is a complete deal breaker seems a little extreme, in my opinion. If you don't want to visit it, then don't. But it definitely wouldn't be enough to affect my cruise vacation.

 

[Onceuponamarathon]

I always imagined that if Disney did a casino, it would be very lux. As in soft music playing, men required to wear suits/tuxes, women in floor-length gowns, you pay for alcohol if you want it, high minimums, and basically only a few table games. Logistically that would probably make the most sense as a high-end adults-only event one night on the cruise, rather than a dedicated casino.

 

[Ravenclaw78]

I always imagined that if Disney did a casino, it would be very lux. As in soft music playing, men required to wear suits/tuxes, women in floor-length gowns, you pay for alcohol if you want it, high minimums, and basically only a few table games. Logistically that would probably make the most sense as a high-end adults-only event one night on the cruise, rather than a dedicated casino.

DCL doesn't even require a tie at Remy, much less any formalwear whatsoever on "Formal" nights. I can't envision them ever requiring a suit or tux for anything onboard.

 

[Onceuponamarathon]

DCL doesn't even require a tie at Remy, much less any formalwear whatsoever on "Formal" nights. I can't envision them ever requiring a suit or tux for anything onboard.

I don't think it makes sense to actually do it, more a thought experiment of what Disney's take on a casino would be. I definitely don't think Disney would go for the smoke-filled loud casinos that you typically see on cruises. If they were ever going to cross into the casino world, it would be more refined.

 

[squirk]

I agree that if DCL ever did do a casino, it would be a non-smoking, high-end “Monte Carlo”-type setup. But I still don’t think they would do it.

Getting away from your kids for a few drinks is one thing. Getting away in order to gamble? Without condoning or condemning, I just feel like that’s “a bridge too far” for Disney.

They could have gotten into the casino business years ago if they really wanted to, both land- and ship-based. I am certain Parks & Resorts is well-aware of how lucrative casinos can be. But P&R clearly made a decision that that’s not a good fit for their brand.

 

[BuzzLightyearInTampa]

There are plenty of other lines that do have casinos. So those people who really want them can easily book one of those. Why push for them on a cruise line that is probably never going to put them in? (A cruise line that many of us are drawn to because of reasons like, among others, the fact that they do not have casinos.) Also, after speaking to multiple DCL Captains and Cruise Directors on this subject and others that make DCL unique, I am pretty sure this entire argument is moot anyway.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Just saying... if they wanted to do a "Disney casino", there's always the one in the last Star Wars movie. But I agree, I don't think they will. If they wanted to, they would have done it already... unless that whole casino scene was so that one day they could put a casino on some Disney property?

 

[cdnfamily]

We began cruising Disney strictly for our kids. We wanted them to have the best possible vacation on a ship that put their interests first – above ours. Disney delivered. Not once did we hear “I’m bored”. Their days were filled with fun and excitement. Even mealtime was fun ! They were up early and exhausted and happy to go to bed at the end of the day in anticipation of the next day’s adventures.

That is, IMO, what makes Disney cruise so successful. Yes they have adult activities, but their focus is the kids and they hit that out of the park.

There is nothing kid friendly about a casino. If they have an "extra" room on the new ships I would much rather them add another amazing activity for the kids or family friendly activity.

 

[Jack_Sparrow_NJ]

We began cruising Disney strictly for our kids. We wanted them to have the best possible vacation on a ship that put their interests first – above ours. Disney delivered. Not once did we hear “I’m bored”. Their days were filled with fun and excitement. Even mealtime was fun ! They were up early and exhausted and happy to go to bed at the end of the day in anticipation of the next day’s adventures.

That is, IMO, what makes Disney cruise so successful. Yes they have adult activities, but their focus is the kids and they hit that out of the park.

There is nothing kid friendly about a casino. If they have an "extra" room on the new ships I would much rather them add another amazing activity for the kids or family friendly activity.

Then by the same logic all of the bars and areas that serve alcohol should be removed because obviously they are not kid and family friendly. They could use the space for an additional VR theater or other family friendly activity.

That's the problem most folks who say no casino are the same that wouldn't give up the alcohol

But Disney won't stop the booze because that has a high profit margin. That's the reason they are adding more and more alcohol to the parks.

 

[Ravenclaw78]

Then by the same logic all of the bars and areas that serve alcohol should be removed because obviously they are not kid and family friendly. They could use the space for an additional VR theater or other family friendly activity.

That's the problem most folks who say no casino are the same that wouldn't give up the alcohol

But Disney won't stop the booze because that has a high profit margin. That's the reason they are adding more and more alcohol to the parks.

Every lounge onboard is used for family-friendly activities at some point during the day. A casino has no other possible function than to be a casino, and by law nobody under 18 can touch anything in it. The crew can't just cart all the slot machines and card tables off to some backstage area for an hour and set out chairs in their place, and then bring everything back out when the trivia game is done.

A cruise ship has a very limited amount of public space and far less backstage storage. Nearly every public space onboard must be multi-use (even the kids' clubs get repurposed some nights on the longer cruises - WBPC had "act like a kid" times when adults got to go and do the Oceaneer activities after the kids had gone to bed).