Originally Posted By Bob Paris 1 "I would love some new entertainment at the parks (can you say year long promotion?!)" No, no, no, NO, NO!!!!!!! Have you BEEN to WDW in the last ten years? This is ALL they have been doing - promotion after promotion after PROMOTION!!! People are SICK TO DEATH of "The Year of a Million False Promises" being a substitute for REAL bricks and mortar attractions!
Originally Posted By lazyboy97o >>Keep in mind that the same 17m people through the gates now MAY spend more money once in the parks to make up the difference. Given the cut backs in maintenance spending, entertainment, food choices and cheaper merchandise the "cost" to entertain each of those guests is probably less than it was in 1997.<< The discounts have not maintained guest spending as was desired. Disney kept blaming different external factors (tourism slump, economy, etc.) but Universal has just shown that is not the case.
Originally Posted By Manfried Those same people are the ones who keep going and then complain when there is nothing new. Stop going all ready.
Originally Posted By fkurucz **>>But we do know that their numbers have been dropping for YEARS. They have been inflating their numbers with free dining<< how does that work?** The idea is that via discounting you get more customers. When a big portion of your operating costs are fixed discounting to bring in more bodies can work.
Originally Posted By fkurucz >>That's how they artificially inflate the numbers with free dining, discounts and gift cards. As in without those their numbers would have been way off the 17M mark.<< Yup
Originally Posted By fkurucz >>Given the cut backs in maintenance spending, entertainment, food choices<< Examples of fixed costs.
Originally Posted By fkurucz >>This is a hole they dug themselves and now they can no longer kick the can down the road.<< Cutting costs is pretty much the mantra or Corporate America these days. At some point quality is severly compromised. Also,if you train your customers to expect discounts they will learn to keep their wallets shut until you offer them a deal. The big 3 automakers did this. When the rebates disappeared or shrank customers stayed home.
Originally Posted By fkurucz >>This is ALL they have been doing - promotion after promotion after PROMOTION!!! People are SICK TO DEATH of "The Year of a Million False Promises" being a substitute for REAL bricks and mortar attractions!<< You mean that a chance to win some free mouse ears or an all day fast pass isn't enough to bring 'em in? "Those same people are the ones who keep going and then complain when there is nothing new. Stop going all ready." We haven't been back in 3+ years. We're sick of the year round crowds at DLR, and the ever increasing prices haven't been an incentive either. Maybe once the DCA redo is done we'll go back. As for WDW, the place felt so stale the last time we were there ... let's just say we'll go to DLR instead.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom With a thread in the WDW area of LP titled "Major overhaul and refresh at WDW", I would hope in my heart it would pertain to the parks.... but I would know it would only really be about new carpeting and furniture being installed at one or two DVC complexes.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost You know, it seems to me that all those that think that WDW has done nothing but sit on their collective butts all these years never went there in the years before 1982. I'd be willing to bet that at least a couple hundred bucks have been spent on attractions since then.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom I'm trying to be funny and sacrsastic at the same time, but I think back in 1982 their was an e ticket submarine attraction actually occupying a certain lagoon in Fantasyland.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom <<You know, it seems to me that all those that think that WDW has done nothing but sit on their collective butts all these years>> I think there are very few people here who would argue that Disney management has done nothing over all those years. Seems to me we might be forgetting about Disney's Best Kept Secret. Excuse me while I trip over the "welcome home sign".
Originally Posted By CDF1 What about the makeup of the US population? Could it be that the number of baby boomers with smaller kids that look for one-stop vacation destinations like WDW for the whole family now have older kids that aren't willing to tag along on a family trip? Also, given the current state of the world's economics, might there now be fewer families with the disposable income to afford a week-long Disney vacation? There is no doubt WDW has offered more discounts now as compared to the past, particularly in terms of all-inclusive food plans or park ticket packages. The real question is whether or not those type of programs are simply stop-gaps to get past a temporary downturn or whether they are endemic of a future trend that might change the way in which WDW resorts need to do business going forward.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 I think there are very few people here who would argue that Disney management has done nothing over all those years. Seems to me we might be forgetting about Disney's Best Kept Secret. Excuse me while I trip over the "welcome home sign". ---- yep if there never was DVC all would be right with the world- oh brother !!
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>---- yep if there never was DVC all would be right with the world- oh brother !!<< Actually, if there was no DVC. Disney would have to work even harder to keep their attendance numbers up. Give a reason to get folks to come back year after year, without being contractually encouraged to. This would more than likely translate into newer, fresher offerings. A more competitive approach to guest retention that just, ah, timeshare programs. Also, without DVC, the Deluxe resorts would see a higher demand from potential guests, thus less discounting, thus better quality facilities, rooms, and better service from staff.
Originally Posted By leobloom Vbdad, your going-away party is like Oprah's last week on the air. I'm afraid if you leave, DVC won't have any defenders and the non-stop negativity might make Mickey cry magical pixie dust tears. For the love of Walt's frozen head, please reconsider!
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>Vbdad, your going-away party is like Oprah's last week on the air.<< Kind of like when the MSEP was 'glowing away for ever...'
Originally Posted By leobloom I would never admit to being one of the suckers who bought one of those last MSEP lightbulbs back when DL "retired" it. By the way, anyone wanna buy an MSEP lightbulb?
Originally Posted By ChiMike I thought Disney had to buy all those special lightbulbs back when they decided that their Guests demanded that they break their promise and rescue DCA.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>Kind of like when the MSEP was 'glowing away for ever...'<<< Thank WALT it didn't!!!! >>By the way, anyone wanna buy an MSEP lightbulb?<<< I could use a second one... I love ephemera like that. Heh.
