Will expansion of DVC give rise to more unique activities/offerings?

[rutgers1]

There have always been people who vacationed regularly to Disney World. However, with the rise of DVC, the number of not only repeat visitors, but FREQUENT (as in every year) visitors is going to go up (I go WAY more often than I did pre DVC). Even though there is so much to do on Disney property, it is indeed possible for someone to get a "been there, done that" feeling after traveling 15 times in 10 years, etc.

So, with that said, two questions:

1) Do you think the increase in repeat/annual visitors will encourage Disney to create more unique activities/offerings? I am picturing things similar to the Segway rides, as those tend not to interest someone there for the first time yet are great for someone who is looking for something different.

2) And if so, what types of things would you be willing to pay extra for?

I say pay "extra" because I think that is how Disney can appeal to the repeat visitors while still making money. I am picturing more dinner shows, live theater, back stage type tours, etc. It seems like the Disney Institute was heading along those lines, but perhaps it was a plan before its time.

As I type, I am realizing that there already are a bunch of custom add-ons and other things you can do to keep things fresh, but I still would love to see more - or at least talk about what Disney could do if they decided to add more.

 

[hakepb]

A quality Disney does not need anything else to always stay magical trip after trip.

But when they let quality go down, then I guess you need to think of other things.

 

[FindingFigment]

with the rise of DVC

What do you mean by this?

 

[sweetdana]

I think they do alot of this now.

Every single trip we do a # of new things. From rest. to dinner shows, from rides we never tried, or stopping to look at things. WE have been prob 10 - 15 times over the past 4 years.

Last trip we did dino ride at AK, the HDD show, Ellen's ride. Just off the top of my head.

Next trip, (May) we are trying San Ann, going to the Poly to watch fireworks while swimming in the pool. We look at the gardens in Epcot in may as those are always breath taking, and in Aug we are trying a water park for the 1st time, and maybe mini golf, along with Sci fi dinner.

 

[sweetdana]

Double post.

 

[eliza61]

There have always been people who vacationed regularly to Disney World. However, with the rise of DVC, the number of not only repeat visitors, but FREQUENT (as in every year) visitors is going to go up (I go WAY more often than I did pre DVC). Even though there is so much to do on Disney property, it is indeed possible for someone to get a "been there, done that" feeling after traveling 15 times in 10 years, etc.

So, with that said, two questions:

1) Do you think the increase in repeat/annual visitors will encourage Disney to create more unique activities/offerings? I am picturing things similar to the Segway rides, as those tend not to interest someone there for the first time yet are great for someone who is looking for something different.

2) And if so, what types of things would you be willing to pay extra for?

I say pay "extra" because I think that is how Disney can appeal to the repeat visitors while still making money. I am picturing more dinner shows, live theater, back stage type tours, etc. It seems like the Disney Institute was heading along those lines, but perhaps it was a plan before its time.

As I type, I am realizing that there already are a bunch of custom add-ons and other things you can do to keep things fresh, but I still would love to see more - or at least talk about what Disney could do if they decided to add more.

Honestly. No. Primarily imo disney the last few years has been doing the exact opposite.
1) homogonization of menus and down grade in quality of on site restaurants
2) homogonization of souvineers (sp?). very few unique items to a ride or a resort
3) cutbacks in various entertainment. I remember live shows before Beauty and the beast, fantasmic and Indiana Jones. Now you simply sit and wait. HS used to have "character" actors crawling along the streets when it was MGM, now- not so much.

Can't see this trend reversing.

 

[rutgers1]

What do you mean by this?

By "rise of DVC" I mean the fact that it has expanded so quickly, wiht more people locked in to Disney vacations.

 

[Reddog1134]

By "rise of DVC" I mean the fact that it has expanded so quickly, wiht more people locked in to Disney vacations.

I think you said it right there "locked in". Disney doesn't have to do anything to keep you coming back. I hope they do, but you're already committed to returning so there is nothing needed to entice you.

 

[KerTggr]

I think the rise in overall resorts on property will have a greater effect than DVC specifically. With the new animation themed value suites it will introduce a whole lot mroe guests - just like All Star & Pop & AKL & etc did. Part of the appeal of the on-property resorts from a business sense is the fact that it entices people to spend time on your property (parks, shopping, eating, etc) instead of looking for entertainment elsewhere. Their goal is to keep occupancy in these hotels high, so I would expect they will continue to scale the "world" as needed.

This is an area where DL has really lacked - particularly with the AP options and people living in So Cal. Generally, I avoid the DL parks on Saturday if I can. Even in much of the slow seasons. DL really doesn't have much expansion room in Anaheim. WDW does and I expect will make strategic decisions on when to utilixe this space.

 

[rutgers1]

We are locked in, but we are only locked in to stay on the property, not necessarily eat on the property or even attend the parks. That is why I think they will eventually work to create even more premium activities for those who have been to Disney over and over, and who don't mind spending a bit more money for a "different" experience.

I will never get "bored" in Disney. But by the same token, the more I visit, the more I am looking for something else different to do. Whereas I wouldn't have spent extra money for something like the Cirque de Soleil (spelling?) years ago, I am considering it now. Same with some of the dinner shows. In fact, I can see a time in the not so distant future where we'd come down and not spend a day in the parks.

 

[Deb & Bill]

They added the new jungle trek (or whatever they called it) at AK. For the first few guests, it cost maybe $130/guest. Now it is about $189/guest as a discounted price. In May, if they are still doing it, it will go up to something like $250/guest and that will be the regular price. I thought I read here on the DIS about someone who wanted to try it in June and were told they weren't scheduling beyond April or March at this point.

Disney will try all sorts of ways to separate guests from their money. Special parties (long gone Pirate and Princess). Multiple races (marathon, half marathons, 13K, etc) and they charge exorbitant prices for those. Once they start losing money on those events, they cancel them.

 

[rutgers1]

They added the new jungle trek (or whatever they called it) at AK. For the first few guests, it cost maybe $130/guest. Now it is about $189/guest as a discounted price. In May, if they are still doing it, it will go up to something like $250/guest and that will be the regular price. I thought I read here on the DIS about someone who wanted to try it in June and were told they weren't scheduling beyond April or March at this point.

Disney will try all sorts of ways to separate guests from their money. Special parties (long gone Pirate and Princess). Multiple races (marathon, half marathons, 13K, etc) and they charge exorbitant prices for those. Once they start losing money on those events, they cancel them.

So I guess you don't like those things? I see your point about raising prices and then canceling.

I guess my point is that there might be a larger crop of people soon who would be willing to pay for those things. A few years ago, I would have laughed if someone suggested paying for a private boat to watch the fireworks. Well, we teamed up with another Dis family last year to do it -- and we had a great time. So, I think it can work out sometimes.

 

[WDWMom]

I think they do alot of this now.

Every single trip we do a # of new things. From rest. to dinner shows, from rides we never tried, or stopping to look at things. WE have been prob 10 - 15 times over the past 4 years.

Last trip we did dino ride at AK, the HDD show, Ellen's ride. Just off the top of my head.

Next trip, (May) we are trying San Ann, going to the Poly to watch fireworks while swimming in the pool. We look at the gardens in Epcot in may as those are always breath taking, and in Aug we are trying a water park for the 1st time, and maybe mini golf, along with Sci fi dinner.

I feel just the opposite. We try to find something new to do every trip (20 in the last 16 years), but not so much anymore. We've done all the rides/attractions unless there is something new. We are not big into spending lots of money on food so trying TS restaurants is not our thing. In fact, the few we have tried, we have not been impressed with quality of what we paid for it. In the early years we did most of the character meals and loved them even though they were way overpriced for the food you got. Boys are teens and could care less now.

We only go into the parks 2-3 days per trip (usually 10 days long) and a water park or two. The rest of the days are at the pool (or hopping). Maybe an afternoon walking around DTD. We really don't spend a lot of $$$ at WDW anymore. Cook in our room and relax. We might spend $$ on something new if it was affordable and something we couldn't do elsewhere. What we consider affordable is probably different from someone else. Just like beauty it is in the eye of the beholder.

It's not that we are bored with WDW/DVC because that is not the case. I thought this topic would open up ideas to new options and I was hoping to hear some of those ideas. Wish I had something to share.

 

[WDWMom]

I wish they had more options of DVC or resort specific activities. Sort of along the line of Sunrise Safari for those only stay CL at AKL. At POR RS, they have fishing. Not sure what they could add at other places, but those are the kinds of extras I would like to see.

 

[tjkraz]

Disney will try all sorts of ways to separate guests from their money. Special parties (long gone Pirate and Princess). Multiple races (marathon, half marathons, 13K, etc) and they charge exorbitant prices for those. Once they start losing money on those events, they cancel them.

I agree. That seems to be Disney's latest trick--particularly in the last 2-3 years--for bolstering the bottom line. Off the top of my head, I would add things like the fireworks dessert parties and renting out space around the lagoon for Illuminations events. Segway tours have really expanded--now they have a wave at Fort Wilderness. The balloon ride at Downtown Disney.

I don't think there's anything nefarious about it. Most of the time these events don't impact the experience of other guests, though I've heard some people say that good Illuminations spots have been lost to reserved seating for events.

Most of the time they are just optional add-ons which guests can take or leave. My day at Animal Kingdom isn't diminished if I choose to not pay for the jungle trek. I still get to enjoy Wishes without paying for a dessert party.

Honestly if Disney wants to make more money I'd rather these sorts of add-ons offered rather than bigger increases in park ticket or dining prices.

 

[Dean]

There have always been people who vacationed regularly to Disney World. However, with the rise of DVC, the number of not only repeat visitors, but FREQUENT (as in every year) visitors is going to go up (I go WAY more often than I did pre DVC). Even though there is so much to do on Disney property, it is indeed possible for someone to get a "been there, done that" feeling after traveling 15 times in 10 years, etc.

So, with that said, two questions:

1) Do you think the increase in repeat/annual visitors will encourage Disney to create more unique activities/offerings? I am picturing things similar to the Segway rides, as those tend not to interest someone there for the first time yet are great for someone who is looking for something different.

2) And if so, what types of things would you be willing to pay extra for?

I say pay "extra" because I think that is how Disney can appeal to the repeat visitors while still making money. I am picturing more dinner shows, live theater, back stage type tours, etc. It seems like the Disney Institute was heading along those lines, but perhaps it was a plan before its time.

As I type, I am realizing that there already are a bunch of custom add-ons and other things you can do to keep things fresh, but I still would love to see more - or at least talk about what Disney could do if they decided to add more.

Expansion will be good and bad depending on specifics. Here are a few issues.

Good:

More resort choices
More options to trade in for those of us that are also RCI members.
More protection for Maint fees after the 2042 resorts expire.
More 7 month choices depending on the demand of the additional resorts.


Bad:

More competition at the 7 mo window, esp if additional resorts are not above the average demand (SSR example).
More points to be dealt with with cash rentals for exchanges likely meaning less options, higher points costs or both.

I'm sure the list could go on and on and for some, what might be a positive might be a negative for others. Personally I see more resort choices as a good thing in almost every situation but then again that's because I do most of my stays by exchanging in through RCI.