Originally Posted By Marlin Perkins Yookeroo-- LOL...You win! You're right, I'm sure Walt would love it. However, I have no proof of that either. So, this comment probably isn't relevant either.
Originally Posted By pecos bill Well, what is relevant is how the consistently overcrowded parks affect my personal enjoyment. As a result, I have chosen to spend thousands of my vacation dollars elsewhere, and I guarantee there are many others out there just like me. I feel safe in saying that old Walt would have chosen a way to keep as many of his guests happy as possible, rather than bowing so completely to bottom line economics.
Originally Posted By Sweeper Walt walked the park, stood in the queues, experienced the park like a regular guest. I am sure he would have a few ideas for improving the show as routine cattle stampedes are not good show. I don't think he would be rubbing his hands at the thoughts of profits while muttering, "Excellent." I'm sure he would want a way to expand the space to move the crowds better or soak them up.
Originally Posted By SleepingBeauty82 <<SB - try not to take it personally. I am sure Westsider was just referring to the rude APers. From what I have seen of your posting you seem very nice.>> Thank you Bob, I appreciate that. I took a little break from this topic because I was afraid it was getting under my skin but I came back and read the whole thing. Westsider, I apologize for the "jerky comments" comment. I can appreciate sarcasm in most forms but I just felt yours was unprovoked. Anyway, I agree that the park was not built to handle the crowds it brings in. I also agree that AP holders make up a lot of those crowds. I'm torn though, because as a Deluxe AP holder who loves the Resort and is guilty of dropping for a few hours at a time AS WELL AS spending entire days there, it makes more sense for me to be an AP holder. The prices they sell them for are very affordable considering what you get. I mean I won't NOT get one on principle just because I'm contributing the crowd problem. All I can do is avoid developing the sense of entitlement that many AP holders have when it comes to the parks and be a considerate guest. I am here to formally apologize on behalf of the decent AP holders who are local and contribute to the crowds that are driving visitors away from the parks. I really am sorry that the experience has become less enjoyable for you and I'm sorry a lot of the magic is gone. I really am. Not being sarcastic. Believe it or not, I miss the old Disneyland, too! I just don't happen to mind crowds as much. Until the DisCo does something about the capacity limitations or the AP prices though, there's not much I can do. As I said, I'd be crazy not to get a pass given the prices they sell them for and my love of Disneyland. Also who WOULDN'T want the convenience of being able to go to your favorite place once in a while after work and not have to wait 6 months to go? See where I'm coming from?
Originally Posted By SFH "As a result, I have chosen to spend thousands of my vacation dollars elsewhere, and I guarantee there are many others out there just like me." I'm sure there are many, many others out there. But your reasons for doing so are the very reasons Disney isn't likely to change anything soon - they have packed parks. Now, if they find that the people who are showing up aren't spending enough, maybe they'll make adjustments to try to lure back the spenders. I guarantee you that instead of 60,000 guests in a day spending an average of "Y" dollars each, Disney would rather have 15,000 guests spending an average of 5xY dollars each, or even just 4xY dollars each, because they come out ahead with less wear and tear and staffing needed if they can get the same amount of revenue.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***But your reasons for doing so are the very reasons Disney isn't likely to change anything soon - they have packed parks.*** Parks packed with visitors paying pennies on the dollar and not buying much food or many souvies will soon bite them in the butt. Particularly if the higher paying customers start staying away in droves.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***Now, if they find that the people who are showing up aren't spending enough, maybe they'll make adjustments to try to lure back the spenders.*** Perhaps. What sort of adjustments could fix such a problem though, if the real tourists have decided to stay away?
Originally Posted By pecos bill My guess is there are still plenty of out of town visitors, as the hotels still seem to be full all of the time. I would imagine that the number of guests who have chosen to avoid the park is still relatively small, but that could change. However, I do calculate that by my avoidance alone, the Disney company has lost roughly five thousand dollars in the two years since I last visited, assuming my parties would have stayed in one of their overpriced hotels. Now just figure a very conservative 500 families out there who have done the same as me. So there is two and a half million that the mouse is never going to see. Individually we may not count for much, but as a group, we can make a formidable statement. Perhaps I should thank the crowds for forcing me to seek out other options. Having just read Mutiny On The Bounty, I have an amazing desire to visit French Polynesia.
Originally Posted By danyoung >... I do calculate that by my avoidance alone, the Disney company has lost roughly five thousand dollars in the two years since I last visited...< Unfortunately you can't simply calculate the money that you are now NOT paying to Disney, because it's probably been more than made up by all the extra folks who are now cramming the parks at all times of the year. If the spreadsheets are up, then it doesn't matter who has been disenfranchised. And there really is nothing that the individual can do, as the crowds pouring in indicate that Disney is doing enough to keep their customers happy and returning. As I've said before, the only way this will get any better is if someone like Lasseter can come in and impose limitations to either gate numbers or SoCal AP numbers, and thus bring the quality of the experience back up (at the expense of Disney income).
Originally Posted By cheesybaby >... I do calculate that by my avoidance alone, the Disney company has lost roughly five thousand dollars in the two years since I last visited...< For all we know, the individual who displaced you spent six thousand dollars.
Originally Posted By Marlin Perkins <<For all we know, the individual who displaced you spent six thousand dollars.>> Ah, but nobody gets displaced at DL. We just keep packing them in...one...after...another...
Originally Posted By Marlin Perkins The other day at DL, for just a second, the sea of people split in two different directions...and I caught a glimps of THE CASTLE! It was a splendid sight indeed.
Originally Posted By Mr X IF they tear down that short, stumpy castle and build a replica of Florida or France, you wouldn't have that problem. ;p
Originally Posted By SFH "What sort of adjustments could fix such a problem though, if the real tourists have decided to stay away?" Raising entrance prices tremendously and no longer pushing "cheap" annual passes... but there also has to be a corresponding increase in the "magic" of the experience, other than simply having smaller crowds. To hedge against "underattendance", Disney could have thousands of people signed up in program that will allow entry to a certain number of "annual passholders" upon a low attendance trigger, and those people could be alerted via text messages. Obviously, these would have to be people who live close enough to take advantage of this. That's just off the top of my head... not saying I endorse this.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***To hedge against "underattendance", Disney could have thousands of people signed up in program that will allow entry to a certain number of "annual passholders" upon a low attendance trigger, and those people could be alerted via text messages.*** Yeah...that wouldn't work. Nobody is going to sign up for an annual pass that *might* get them into the parks if they're lucky (oh, and please check your cellphones for your lucky day!). No way no how. (if the cost to participate was free, then *maybe*, but even so I wonder just how many "seat fillers" they would actually see showing up)
Originally Posted By Mr X ***Raising entrance prices tremendously*** Ticket prices for a one day admission are already higher than Tokyo (a significantly more expensive city by most measures). So how expensive, exactly, would you price the thing?
Originally Posted By Marlin Perkins >>>IF they tear down that short, stumpy castle and build a replica of Florida or France, you wouldn't have that problem.<<< I will deploy my partner Jim to the region in hopes of capturing the wild Mr. X. To assist in this task, he will take with him, the nets and long stick. Meanwhile, I will monitor his efforts from my vantage point located at the watering hole in Bucky's Casino. @@ < ~
