Originally Posted By leobloom >> I think it's risky, but the rewards will cement WDW as a World class luxury resort destination. << Are you serious?
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Are you serious? << Dead serious. A Four Seasons, and 450 million dollar plus luxury villas with fine dining complete concierge sevice, addition links, plus WDW, and all of it's amenities equales to a deluxe Luxury vacation retreat as far as I'm concerned.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I'd agree on the discounting front - I never agreed in that strategy (not that I had a voice at the table!). Consumers have long memories and simply offering transparent discounts is a huge mistake. It will take a long time (if ever) for WDW Co. to get back to where it was.>> That's right. I recall when getting a discount was really special (80s, well into 90s) ... but since late 2000/early 2001, Disney has done almost non-stop discounting ... even once never-discounted periods are offered up. I, myself, will never stay on property for less than 40-60% off now. Just won't. Haven't paid rack since 1998 and never will again. Congrats! The Walmarting worked. <<I never understood why they didn't keep their premium product and dial back on the park schedules - I think guests would have understood if (e.g.) D/MGM went to 5 days a week etc. if that park had proper opening hours, entertainment and was fully staffed on those days.>> Absolutely. I have said this for years. I honestly think they could get away with five day a week operating schedules at both Studios and DAK. I even think they could possibly do six days at EPCOT seasonally, but I know they wouldn't want to because of the damn DDP. Five days of true Disney quality beats seven days of stale pixie dust. Walt Disney never felt DL needed to be open 365 days a year. Yes, I know times have changed etc. But WDW has four parks, if three are open seven days and you close another, you save so much. <<It annoys me immensely that we are now stuck in a cycle that could have been handled much better by Al and his cohorts. Focusing solely on revenue generation isn't smart.>> We are agreeing too much. <<I do disagree on the albatross comment though - resorts can be shuttered entirely so that their running costs are virtually zero. If the business isn't there then just shut up shop and move full-timers elsewhere.>> There still is a cost to maintaining the property (or not when it comes time to reopening). And it looks bad if suddenly CBR closes for 22 months. It's preferable to have it be like the 1980s when WDW ressies were coveted. It won't happen unless they stop building and remove some inventory!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Amen Lee. If Disney had opted for that model, I would still be singing their praises. But to pay for an experience where there are staggering attraction times (with little warning until at the attraction), shuttered facilities, no live entertainment, and poor maintenance, well there are other vacation destinations that start to look more appealing. If Disney still offered the qualtiy product consistantly in line with what made us all fall in love with the company, but had different dark days (well advertised), then that would be great. Is it too late for that kind of model?>> I don't think a model like this has ever or will ever be seriously considered barring some catastrophe. I'm not quite sure why, but if DAK was suddenly closed on Tuesdays in September and the Studios on Wednesdays, TDO feels the perception would be of a failing enterprise. Funny how they have no problem cutting park hours, staffing, attractions, entertainment etc and think that those things don't equate to a failing (or flailing) enterprise.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<For anyone who's never been skiing it's fantastic.>> I agree ... until one hits a tree.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>Walt Disney never felt DL needed to be open 365 days a year. Yes, I know times have changed etc. But WDW has four parks, if three are open seven days and you close another, you save so much.<<< Can't agree with that at all. While it would be great for Maint, it would not see right to turn guests away to MK, or EPCOT, if they were perhaps visiting on a whim, or without planning. Just doesn't sit well.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo But EE, this is no different that what DL used to do from the 50's to the 80's. And they would more likely have a demo that would just turn up on a whim. In the day of the internet, I do not see it as a problem. WDW is definately not the place it was. The attractions are in a bad state of repair, the entertainment is stale, (and diminishing in scale all the time), cast members that don't give a damn (50's Prime Time diner might as well have been Denny's when we went). It is the weakest in terms of quality of all the resorts across the globe, people are just simply dazzled by the quantity. But I always did prefer a smaller meal of quality than a buffet where people trough the stuff that is not as good. The funny thing, the problems of WDW are easy fixes if you have the money and can be more choosy with casting. And the model is already employed to a degree by the alternativing between Blizard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon in the off season. If there was a chance to have alternate parks but raise the bar on quality again, I would be back in a heart beat.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>But EE, this is no different that what DL used to do from the 50's to the 80's. And they would more likely have a demo that would just turn up on a whim. In the day of the internet, I do not see it as a problem. WDW is definately not the place it was. The attractions are in a bad state of repair, the entertainment is stale, (and diminishing in scale all the time), cast members that don't give a damn (50's Prime Time diner might as well have been Denny's when we went). It is the weakest in terms of quality of all the resorts across the globe, people are just simply dazzled by the quantity. But I always did prefer a smaller meal of quality than a buffet where people trough the stuff that is not as good. The funny thing, the problems of WDW are easy fixes if you have the money and can be more choosy with casting. And the model is already employed to a degree by the alternativing between Blizard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon in the off season. If there was a chance to have alternate parks but raise the bar on quality again, I would be back in a heart beat.<<< I know, I know. It just feels wrong. But if it was the answer to many of our problems, it's a pill I could swallow.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Walt Disney never felt DL needed to be open 365 days a year. Yes, I know times have changed etc. But WDW has four parks, if three are open seven days and you close another, you save so much. << I could go for that except I would hate the day Epcot was closed. I never miss a day on a trip. The only other problem I see is that it would definetly increase crowds. >> We are agreeing too much. << It does happen on occasion.
Originally Posted By MPierce <<For anyone who's never been skiing it's fantastic.>> >> I agree ... until one hits a tree. << SOLUTION: Stay on trail. Don't attempt to ski between trees.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>I could go for that except I would hate the day Epcot was closed. I never miss a day on a trip.<<< Agreed. And it would be more crowded on the days it is open. And it would make trip planning a pain. However, if this was WDW's biggest problem, I'd be happy.
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 I still don't know when Fantasmic will be showing. So we can't plan which day for MGM. I'm glad we don't have any dinner plans after the second day. Too much planning isn't fun.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer Skip Fantasmic...you ain't missing much... *runs from the Fant! fans*
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer Ahhhh. Sorry. It's a nice show, granted, but nothing until the "Mickey on the Mountain" gets me. It feels contrived.
Originally Posted By MPierce You mean they don't post the days Fantasmic will be showing at least a week in advance?
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 >>>Walt Disney never felt DL needed to be open 365 days a year. Yes, I know times have changed etc. But WDW has four parks, if three are open seven days and you close another, you save so much.<<< <<Can't agree with that at all. While it would be great for Maint, it would not see right to turn guests away to MK, or EPCOT, if they were perhaps visiting on a whim, or without planning. Just doesn't sit well.>> EE ... pardon my bluntness, but your age is a factor here. You have grown up in a 24/7 world where no one is allowed to take time off and everything is expected to be open all of the time. For example, when I was your age in FLA, Publix was CLOSED on Sundays. And they opened at 9 or 10 a.m. during the week, not 7 a.m. I also grew up in an era that saw late theme park hours (like EPCOT having midnight summer closures nightly) but also saw slow months with EARLY closures. Imagine having MK open only 9-6 or 9-7 EVERY day in say September and October and EPCOT being 9-8 at the same time (9 or 10 though on weekends). And that was in the days where this Internet didn't exist. Now? Disney would never close MK at all. And again, I doubt because of Food and Beverage that EPCOT would ever close. But if they put the other two parks on five or six day operating schedules, I just don't think it would be a hardship to anyone at all. Unless someone is going to mention some ignorant once in a lifetime visitor from India who can only visit Studios on a Tuesday when the park is closed. It's just a lame arse argument all the way. I wouldn't ever close MK nowadays ... but the fact is DL (and even TDL) used to close 1-2 days a week in off-seasons. People who are going somewhere always should check to see if the place will be open. You don't assume anything in this world and if someone does then they should get whatever is coming to them.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 >> Walt Disney never felt DL needed to be open 365 days a year. Yes, I know times have changed etc. But WDW has four parks, if three are open seven days and you close another, you save so much. << <<I could go for that except I would hate the day Epcot was closed. I never miss a day on a trip.>> This is all hypothetical/nevergonnahappen dept. stuff anyway ... but I know when Disney talked of possible park closures when our current depression first hit bigtime in 2008 they were not talking EPCOT at all ... just the 3rd and 4th gates since EPCOT may cost a great deal to open, but also generates tremendous revenue in food and beverage and retail. I just believe that you 'could' have EPCOT closed one day a week for 5-6 months a year and not ruin vacations. But it would never happen, so this is almost as worthless a fanboi armchair Imagineering thread! <<The only other problem I see is that it would definetly increase crowds.>> Not really. Not if it was done when the crowds aren't there to begin with. If you have four very uncrowded parks and suddenly only three are open, you may see an uptick in attendance at the others, but it likely will be spread out ... along with water parks and other resort activities. >> We are agreeing too much. << <<It does happen on occasion.>> But it is scary when it's me and Leemac!
