Originally Posted By TDLFAN Not when the entire on-property guest base is in my way at one single park for the evening. Besides, when am I not harsh?
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <Aren't they underpaying for their on-property Disney experience already? Oh I forgot..we are "Disney guests" too. Just a though... Let the crucification begin. < you want to see a crucificion - how about only certain perks for DVC members -- who pay maintenance fees and taxes ? (p.s. I don;t mean it but this should start the DVC bashing ) -
Originally Posted By TDLFAN How about EMH and early entry for JUST DVC members since you are already overpaying for your benefits...
Originally Posted By vbdad55 Works for me -- but I can still show you especially where those of us who bought in in the early 90's -- surely did not overpay -- just the free admission tix alone for 7 years ---more than made up any time value of money issues. As well as the fact that after 22 trips as a DVC member - and 14 of those with free length of stay tickets for a family of 4 for 10 - 14 days each time -- I could sell my share to day for what I paid for it -- notmany things one can say that about
Originally Posted By TDLFAN True... Still, I much rather have a cleaner, and more updated MK/EPCOT than money spent on those DVCs.
Originally Posted By basas <<Why should people paying for the cheaper rooms have to have these perks? Aren't they underpaying for their on-property Disney experience already? Oh I forgot..we are "Disney guests" too. >> I don't really agree with limiting to just moderate/deluxe hotels...everyone onsite should have the ability to go to these events (as they do). BUT, saying that- i don't really agree with the EMH system as a whole. The park should be open to everyone for the extended hours, not just onsite guests. It's a scary path, IMO. Whats next? We've already heard of 'onsite FP (depending on what hotel you're staying in), and imagine something like "onsite days" where Wednesdays at Epcot are now only for onsite guests. It's a bad route to be heading...
Originally Posted By TDLFAN I have to admit...that is a thought that never occured to me...maybe because I would prefer to think that Disney isn't that "anti-off property/local/APers" guests... But you made a valid observation... I was way put off by the crowded conditions at EPCOT tonight when this is supposed to be the "off season".
Originally Posted By danyoung >Not when the entire on-property guest base is in my way at one single park for the evening. Besides, when am I not harsh?< Well, that's true! I saw this coming when they announced the evening EMH program. The morning program works so well cuz there aren't that many people who are willing to get up at the crack of dawn while on vacation. But in the evening, folks are already up and ready to party. I avoid the evening EMH parks like the plague - just give me a regular park closing and a decent bed time!
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom When are you folks going to realize that the reason why the parks are not being improved/ maintained is because Disney isn't in the Theme Park business anymore. They are in the REAL ESTATE business. They are making HUGE profits on the DVC. Case in point. We have heard the new CEO say that there won't be any new attractions/ rides in WDW after Everest is built. Have you heard him say that they are going to stop building DVC properties? Disney can't stop buying data/ telecommunication equipment fast enough for their call centers. Its not that Disney isn't spending money or improving things, they are. They just aren't spending money or improving rides/ attractions, personel in the parks.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN Yes and no... Disney can still offer quality intheir parks if their resort operation is kept at bay, such as the case at DLR, TDR and HKDL as it is now.. But see what shambles WDW and DLP park can be with so many rooms and hotel establishments to take care of...
Originally Posted By danyoung I just don't see the problem as being one of Disney making a conscious effort to ignore WDW. The place is making great money, and occupancy is always high. So where's the incentive from a corporate standpoint to sink more money when that entity is already doing so well? Until occupancy starts falling off, why build the next great E ticket? And as long as DVC properties are selling like hotcakes, why not build more? I don't have to like it, but that's the reality of today's Disney company, where more points for the shareholders trumps happy customers.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom The answer is that when your primary function is in REAL ESTATE then you only build/ maintain mediocre theme parks. As long as quests are satisfied with mediocre parks then no problem.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN Well...I would hardly call the WDW "mediocre" (only WDSP gets that honor) but they seem to be grossly outdated and not up to standards when compared to their 4 sister resorts around the World, that's for sure. >>The place is making great money, and occupancy is always high. So where's the incentive from a corporate standpoint to sink more money when that entity is already doing so well?<< Disney corporate mentality of today... sad. But like it was stated before... guests don't know any better. They are going to WDW and that's all there is to it darn it! Shocking that there was a time the MK always looked as freshly painted and immaculately clean as TDL does every day. At $60 a day ...it should be a requirement for them to maintain those parks! Period.
Originally Posted By MrToadWildRider >>When are you folks going to realize that the reason why the parks are not being improved/ maintained is because Disney isn't in the Theme Park business anymore. They are in the REAL ESTATE business. << Wasn't that sort of Walt's dream for Florida anyway?
Originally Posted By danyoung Walt didn't want real estate development with the goal of building income. He wanted to develop a CITY, a truly modern city with no crime, no slums, no unemployment, that would be a proving ground for new techniques and technologies that could then be incorporated into other cities. Just like in his park development, it was more about doing something to better peoples' lives, not just about turning a profit.
Originally Posted By MrToadWildRider I'd still consider building a city as a real estate venture though
Originally Posted By fkurucz >>I don't have to like it, but that's the reality of today's Disney company, where more points for the shareholders trumps happy customers.<< FWIW, if the "average" WDW customer was "happy" then they wouldn't be making money and satisfying shareholders (if that is what they are doing). The truth is that the average joe has different expectations than we Disney nerds.
Originally Posted By danyoung ^^ Of course. I was just pointing out that the focus has changed. Walt believed that if you put out a good enough product, keep it clean, and update it often with the newest technological advances, then the people and the money would follow. Current management seems to have as their mantra that the money needs to keep rolling in. If the guests are pleased as a result of this, then that's a good byproduct. But it's not the main focus.
Originally Posted By fkurucz ^^I think that the money has to roll in. Unprofitable business eventually fold (unless they are airlines!). Even the densest MBA understands that money flows in because customers are happy. What differentiates the smart ones is that they understand how to keep customers happy. Walt definitely had his ideas on how to do this. Current management clearly has a different understanding of what makes customers happy. Judging by attendence figures and profitability, there aren't all that far off. This doesn't mean that they can't do better of course.
