News Round Up 2016

[TheMaxRebo]

This is the worst part... All of these "add-ons" or "a la carte / state fair / carnival" pricing models are hurting everyone else's experience. Bottom line is, it devalues the original high ticket / admission price. The devaluation is extremely small. So small most people won't even notice or care; but, it is still devalued none the less. The problem is, the more "add on" options there are, the more they add up and are more noticeable to other guest. Most of these "add-on's" include prime viewing locations or some sort of preferential treatment over other guest. When prime viewing locations are taken away from the general admission guest or park resources are diverted to cater to a small group of people it devalues the experience for all other guest. It's not that the "up-sells" aren't adversely affecting your vacation because they undeniably are; it's just they haven't bothered you enough to really complain. That slight devaluation of the general admission doesn't mean much to the average guest; but that devaluation means a lot to WDW when applied to millions of guest throughout the year.

The flip side to this is (granted, coming from a more optimistic / "Disney-colored glasses" place) is that rather than increase the price of the standard ticket even more than they already do to it their targets/make Wall St happy they are finding ways to get extra income from people willing to may more while keeping the baseline experience 99% as good

 

[rteetz]

exactly - and maybe it will but there is enough actual stuff going wrong in the world I don't think we need to flip out about stuff that might happen

I'd much rather worry about Disney than what's happening in the world it's a happier worrying.

 

[WebmasterJackie]

exactly - and maybe it will but there is enough actual stuff going wrong in the world I don't think we need to flip out about stuff that might happen

I'd much rather worry about Disney than what's happening in the world it's a happier worrying.

#same

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I'd much rather worry about Disney than what's happening in the world it's a happier worrying.

I agree - and maybe people just feel safer worrying about/complaining about Disney vs things that really impact the real world

Just seems like it can't be healthy to get so worked up playing things out 10 steps down the road to things that very well may never happen

 

[lockedoutlogic]

There's a case to be made that obsessing over Disney/trip planning is really desensitizing people to the world and bad for the human condition...

...and because people are ignoring reality and making disney THEIR reality (which it isn't) - it's lead to abuse by disney against its customers.

...a case.

I'm a strong opponent of turning off the brain...ever...you lose it if you don't use it.

 

[LSLS]

I'll take a guess as to why people get so upset with these things (I really don't, but I'm trying to put myself in other's shoes here). I think a part of it is people starting to feel like they aren't as important/worth as much. When you would to Disney World, you couldn't really tell the difference between the person who came down on a private jet and a person who saved for this trip their entire lives once you entered the park. These things at WDW could be making people feel insecure. I also think it's just a bit optics of getting all these things for people who can pay more while giving those who come to the parks less. How many times have you seen complaints about Tomorrowland the bathrooms or trash cans overflowing? That is not addressed, but they are willing to put up some tents that will have their own attendants for people willing to spend a ton of money.

 

[sachilles]

I'm a strong opponent of turning off the brain...ever...you lose it if you don't use it.

Not sure I completely agree with you.

One of the reasons I really enjoy Disney, is the ability to turn things off and tune out. I'm somewhat disappointed I feel compelled to leave my phone on while at disney to take advantage of some of their services. Though I guess I'm not turning my brain off. Certainly the place allows me to stop using the part of the brain that obsesses about work and home life.

 

[Party.Of.4-NY>>>FL]

There's a case to be made that obsessing over Disney/trip planning is really desensitizing people to the world and bad for the human condition...

...and because people are ignoring reality and making disney THEIR reality (which it isn't) - it's lead to abuse by disney against its customers.

...a case.

I'm a strong opponent of turning off the brain...ever...you lose it if you don't use it.

^^this is a real thing^^

We are not frequent Disney visitors. But since we had children (now 8 and 2) we try to visit every ~2 or 3 years. It is very easy to get caught up in the planning process. I'm a firm believer in educating yourself about places you are going to be vacationing however, the level of prolonged attention that a Disney vacation planning requires can be very distracting if one is not careful.

 

[circus4u]

Inside Disney World's new private cabanas
http://www.cnn.com/videos/travel/2016/12/06/inside-disney-worlds-new-private-cabanas-orig-mobile.cnn

 

[luisov]

Disney has known how to do business in the theme park industry for over 50 years, and they never had the need to do all of this. Even if no one is making me pay for these add-ons, it does feel like it somewhat devalues the admission ticket. Not to mention that a lot of resources are being allocated to give VIP treatment to those who can pay for it, while the rest of us have to experience over-flowing trash cans, dirty bathrooms and broken animatronics at a price that is still high.

Disney has always been expensive, but still worth the admission price. Some of these add-ons are simply rip-offs. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I'll take a guess as to why people get so upset with these things (I really don't, but I'm trying to put myself in other's shoes here). I think a part of it is people starting to feel like they aren't as important/worth as much. When you would to Disney World, you couldn't really tell the difference between the person who came down on a private jet and a person who saved for this trip their entire lives once you entered the park. These things at WDW could be making people feel insecure. I also think it's just a bit optics of getting all these things for people who can pay more while giving those who come to the parks less. How many times have you seen complaints about Tomorrowland the bathrooms or trash cans overflowing? That is not addressed, but they are willing to put up some tents that will have their own attendants for people willing to spend a ton of money.

I agree with the other parts of your quote but not the insecure part.

I CAN afford certain things in life including vacations (ok not a private jet for sure lol) but I CHOOSE not to spend my money on certain things. I'm not insecure, nor would I imagine many people feel insecure about desert parties, ice cream socials, cabana, express transportation, etc (however we are both assuming so ya know), about the adds ons.

Yes some people save their whole lives for that one special WDW trip but IMHO I don't think their disappointment in the add ons lies in their insecurity of their finances. I think most just want to not feel nickeled and dimed and when you go to a place that has so many extra things you have to pay for, regardless of actually wanting to do those things, it can create that feeling and not only that but if all those add ons are so out in the open it can amplify that feeling versus add ons that are more sight unseen (or at least less noticable). That feeling, at least to me, doesn't equate to being insecure. But we're all just speaking our opinions.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I'll take a guess as to why people get so upset with these things (I really don't, but I'm trying to put myself in other's shoes here). I think a part of it is people starting to feel like they aren't as important/worth as much. When you would to Disney World, you couldn't really tell the difference between the person who came down on a private jet and a person who saved for this trip their entire lives once you entered the park. These things at WDW could be making people feel insecure. I also think it's just a bit optics of getting all these things for people who can pay more while giving those who come to the parks less. How many times have you seen complaints about Tomorrowland the bathrooms or trash cans overflowing? That is not addressed, but they are willing to put up some tents that will have their own attendants for people willing to spend a ton of money.

I think "optics" is a key word - it does feel like there are more and more extras and more "in your face about the things you aren't doing because you didn't pay extra".

Were there VIP tours in past? yeah, but Disney didn't push it out constantly on their blogs that there were - everything coming from Disney is about extras you can get for paying more not just about how great the new things are for everyone

I also think there was some bad timing this year in when they announced a bunch of things close together (seems like they are throwing things at the wall to see what sticks) the same time they roll out tiered pricing and then there is the video that went viral of the person cleaning the table with the floor mop and people post online about dirty bathrooms, etc.

So even if these "extras" really are extra and don't directly impact the baseline experience, the "optics" this year certainly make it feel like they are giving you less and wanting you to pay more

 

[koala1966]

So... in spite of continued questioning and challenges about all the add-on hard ticket events, we've now turned ride shut downs for overlays into a hard ticket event? Good grief. Whats the plan? To shut a ride down each year to keep this inflow coming?

So I'm real liberal about the hard ticket events, I don't mind them and occasionally I attend them, but this even crosses my line...

 

[rteetz]

News

Dark side Half Marathon medals

http://www.starwars.com/news/feel-the-power-of-rundisneys-2017-dark-side-medals-first-look

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I think the problem/insecurity many have...including me...is that disney appears to be actively pushing people to their economic breaking point and they are ok with it.

You can never shake the thought. That's on this money grubbing management regime.

I'm not close/there yet...but also have no illusions that they may get me there one day. It crosses my mind every time I book something and I do think about those that have been left behind.

You wanna talk about "ruining the magic"?...then that is it.

And this isn't a "dad lost his job" type thing...this is sprinting past hard working people at a price increase policy faster than they can fight through the marathon of the modern world.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Sorry...back to new tshirts at the co-op:..I won't jack the thread anymore, sheriff

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Not sure I completely agree with you.

One of the reasons I really enjoy Disney, is the ability to turn things off and tune out. I'm somewhat disappointed I feel compelled to leave my phone on while at disney to take advantage of some of their services. Though I guess I'm not turning my brain off. Certainly the place allows me to stop using the part of the brain that obsesses about work and home life.

Don't get me wrong...I'm not discounting escapism...I think that's very healthy...

But I'm taking about about the "365" mindset that justifies 3 hours at $150 from behind a computer in Ramsey, NJ or Germantown, Pa...

No perspective and that feeds the beast at revenue control in Lake Buena Vista, Fl.

 

[luisov]

News

Splitsville officially announced for Disneyland's Downtown Disney!

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...strict-at-the-disneyland-resort-in-late-2017/

I loved the idea of The Edison coming to DLR. It's a shame, but Splitsville sounds really fun too.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I loved the idea of The Edison coming to DLR. It's a shame, but Splitsville sounds really fun too.

Guess that's what a house of blues becomes, huh?

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I loved the idea of The Edison coming to DLR. It's a shame, but Splitsville sounds really fun too.

There is already an Edison in Los Angeles (the one at Disney Springs is supposed to be quite similar to it) so many they figured that was close enough - so rather than duplicate they did the Splitsville