Space Mountian redo a let down

Originally Posted By bobbelee9

<<Did it have a pin code Bobbelee?>>

yes it did, does anybody want it???

This proves WDW does a terrible tracking job, all the vacation charges were on my AE card, I made all the phone calls for ressies. I'm really hurt that he got the e-mail and not me. It's suppose to be all about ME.

Poor Kitty, you ruined her vacation.

 

Originally Posted By bobbelee9

Sorry Nikki!

 

Originally Posted By MPierce

Nobody else can use that pin code Bobbelee.

>> Poor Kitty, you ruined her vacation. <<

I never liked her anyway.

 

Originally Posted By bobbelee9

^^Just because it says not transferable?
I've often wondered if all the so-called contests I've won and with the Disney thing, if everyone gets the same pin number. Like they just put it there to make you feel like you're getting something special and will be more likely to take advantage of the offer.

 

Originally Posted By demderedoseguys

<But Disney's never-ending cycle of discounting has played a role. If every year you come to WDW you get free dining or three free nights then you'll come to expect it.<

Thanks for making my point.



>>I have spent hundreds of nights on property in the last decade and have yet to pay rack. Often my discounts have been in the 35-60% range. Disney has conditioned me to expect discounts. I'm not the only one.

Thanks for making my point again.


<<I don't hear anyone insisting that Disney charge full price for everything and asking them to get rid of all the giveaways and promotions like room discounts, dining plans, etc.>>

I have. Often.<<

Really? Please. Give me a break. I'd bet that the majority of guests just sit back and wait for the discounts like Disney has, in your own words, conditioned you to do. I know of many people who wouldn't even go to WDW or end up taking their kids out of school to go because of the discounts. I doubt if any of these Disney goers are demanding to pay more. There may be a few like me who would want to pay more for a better product, but IMO the majority will settle for the watered down version of what Disney used to be and pay less to do it and still complain about it. Can't have it both ways.

 

Originally Posted By RoadTrip

<<ORDDU: My sisters and I had always heard that Florida's version of Space Mountain would be less than a stellar upgrade. As for Disneyland, the entire track was replaced. The management in Florida didn't want to spend as much money on theirs--if they could avoid it and it sounds like they have. We suppose you could blame the bad economy for this.>>

Are you SURE it was Disney not wanting to spend money? I heard that they were concerned about having an MK signature attraction out so long.

Unlike Disneyland where the majority of visitors are local residents, most WDW visitors travel a LONG way to get there. They don't like it much when they find a major attraction is down.

 

Originally Posted By Inside the berm

Also Disneyland has more E tickets and other attractions than Magic Kingdom, so when a major attraction is down in Anaheim, there's plenty of other stuff to pick up the slack. That's not the case at Magic Kingdom. Maybe it's time for MK to start planning more E tickets?

 

Originally Posted By brotherdave

Good point, but they also have twice as many parks in Florida (not counting waterparks), thus more "E-tickets" combined than DL/DCA. I'm sure that's their reason for adding less "E-tickets" in the Magic Kingdom (well, at least to management).

 

Originally Posted By grlweatswchpstx

>>This proves WDW does a terrible tracking job, all the vacation charges were on my AE card, I made all the phone calls for ressies. I'm really hurt that he got the e-mail and not me. It's suppose to be all about ME.<<

I had to update my Magical Express and they couldn't find my name, the reservation had gone under my boyfriend's name (alphabetically it makes sense) but I was the one who made the reservations, was the cast member on the trip, and had paid for it all. So either they are sexist, or they were going alphabetically.

 

Originally Posted By bobbelee9

Probably sexist, my first name starts with B and my husband's with V.

 

Originally Posted By mousermerf

What phone number or zip code did you give them?

Ressies are filed into "Households" by last name and phone/zip.

Once in a household, they make traveling parties by last name. Hence, you booked again, he didn't, he gets the promo to entice him to come back - they don't need to entice you.

Just got one last week for an ex i'd like to forget. Othertimes i've gotten 4 in the mail at once, one for each of the people i'd been with in the last few years.

Want pin codes? Book a ressie once under a new household (don't give them your standard name/number/address - do NOT update the old one)

Never use it again - then you become "targetted."

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

>>I have spent hundreds of nights on property in the last decade and have yet to pay rack. Often my discounts have been in the 35-60% range. Disney has conditioned me to expect discounts. I'm not the only one.

<<Thanks for making my point again.>>

Not sure what your point is.

My point is that Disney is severely damaging its brand by going for volume over price. That is the Walmart model all the way.

Walmart, new logo aside, is about as low end as you get. Disney likes to consider itself a premium product.

You can't be Neiman Marcus and offer Walmart deals.



<<I don't hear anyone insisting that Disney charge full price for everything and asking them to get rid of all the giveaways and promotions like room discounts, dining plans, etc.>>

I have. Often.<<

<<Really? Please. Give me a break.>>

I'm not giving you or anyone a break. I am in an ornery mood and have no desire to defend the man or The Weatherman or the way his minions run P&R.

I'm always willing to pay premium prices for a premium product.

I'm not willing to pay a discounted price for a product that is advertised as premium, but is less.

<<I'd bet that the majority of guests just sit back and wait for the discounts like Disney has, in your own words, conditioned you to do. I know of many people who wouldn't even go to WDW or end up taking their kids out of school to go because of the discounts. I doubt if any of these Disney goers are demanding to pay more. There may be a few like me who would want to pay more for a better product, but IMO the majority will settle for the watered down version of what Disney used to be and pay less to do it and still complain about it. Can't have it both ways.>>

You are kind of making my point ... or we're on the same page, just at different points.

I don't disagree with the above, it's just I see the damage long-term that constant discounting does.

And since Disney has 30,000 rooms and timeshares to sell nightly, I don't see how they're ever going back to the old ways, even if the economy rebounds (BTW, to quote Seth Myers on SNL last night: "I'm sure the 15 million Americans who are out of work and sitting on their couches in their PJs jumped for joy when the DOW hit 10,000 this week.")

Back to Space Mountain ... I can't wait to see 743 pictures this week of the queue and new fountain/seating area/planter in front. That is good stuff!

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

<<Are you SURE it was Disney not wanting to spend money? I heard that they were concerned about having an MK signature attraction out so long.>>

Yes. It's always about money, although you are quite right. TDO and Phil Holmes and Erin Wallace are always concerned about closing major attractions for any major stretches of time.

That's why so many E-Tix ... from EE to CTX at DAK to PoC and Splash Mountain at MK seem to always have huge show quality issues.

Of course, the fact Disney has taken huge chunks of capacity out of its parks by killing attractions without replacements, killing entertainment and shuttering shops and food venues all contribute to the problem.

As I've said before, funny how MK can feel 'packed' when it only has 30,000 guests in it these days. This is a park that once hosted over 90,000.

And that was pre-FP days.


Unlike Disneyland where the majority of visitors are local residents, most WDW visitors travel a LONG way to get there. They don't like it much when they find a major attraction is down.

 

Originally Posted By sjhym33

I think the tell tale sign for Disney is going to be the summer. If we continue to see discounting through next summer I dont think it will be good for Disney in the long run. It is one thing to offer discount rooms to AP holders during the off season, but another to offer deep discounts on rooms year round over an extended period of time.

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

<<Good point, but they also have twice as many parks in Florida (not counting waterparks), thus more "E-tickets" combined than DL/DCA. I'm sure that's their reason for adding less "E-tickets" in the Magic Kingdom (well, at least to management). >>

Yeah ... what does it say on the tees:

Four Parks: One Stale World?

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

<<I think the tell tale sign for Disney is going to be the summer. If we continue to see discounting through next summer I dont think it will be good for Disney in the long run. It is one thing to offer discount rooms to AP holders during the off season, but another to offer deep discounts on rooms year round over an extended period of time.>>

They already are.

I was emailed 'codes' for discount rates 30-40% off through early June 2010 last week.

Funniest thing is this is the first year since sometime in the 1980s that I haven't stayed at a WDW resort despite the discounts.

Yet, I still think they are playing games by holding back huge blocks. Disney is notorious for doing so. CBR can look 100% sold out if CRO only has access to 42% of the rooms at the resort for instance.

I tried to book either CM or AP rates for early December and was given two choices -- preferred view at Beach Club or one-bedroom at Saratoga Springs. Not quite what I had in mind. Meanwhile, Travelocity (among others) shows rooms available at pratically every WDW resort for the same time.

At the same time, they are plastering the airwaves with commercials for both the Stay 4, Get 3 free deal and a new special offer for FLA residents ($45 a night a person for room and tix, based on four people).

All part of Jay's crazy business plan that has The Weatherman's seal of approval!

 

Originally Posted By demderedoseguys

>Not sure what your point is.

My point is that Disney is severely damaging its brand by going for volume over price. That is the Walmart model all the way.

Walmart, new logo aside, is about as low end as you get. Disney likes to consider itself a premium product.

You can't be Neiman Marcus and offer Walmart deals.<

Yup.

>I'm not willing to pay a discounted price for a product that is advertised as premium, but is less.<

We all do even as we kick and scream about it.

>You are kind of making my point ... or we're on the same page, just at different points.

I don't disagree with the above, it's just I see the damage long-term that constant discounting does.<

Actually, you are making my point.

>And since Disney has 30,000 rooms and timeshares to sell nightly, I don't see how they're ever going back to the old ways, even if the economy rebounds.<

Yes, we agree on all points.

P.S. -- My wife and I will be down in 2 weeks for our 30th anniversary, right where we started it all on our honeymoon.

 

Originally Posted By sjhym33

I have tried to book at the CM discount rate for a couple of weekends for a nice weekend getaway for my wife and I. Last weekend we couldnt get a room at all. This weekend there were a couple of options but none in the rate category we could afford. If I am going to spend that kind of money I would rather be in the Contemporary or Polynesian rather than Saratoga Springs.

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

>I'm not willing to pay a discounted price for a product that is advertised as premium, but is less.<

<<We all do even as we kick and scream about it.>>

Not really.

Like I said, 2009 is the first year in more than two decades that Disney hasn't earned a penny from me in lodging revenues.

Disney has also earned less in Food and Beverage and Merchandise at WDW than any year in recent memory.

Sure, I'm still going.

But I'm not staying at Disney's hotels or eating at Disney's restaurants or spending at Disney's shops. That's where they made their lion's share of money from me for decades.

Because even with the discounts, I'm finding better deals elsewhere. Why eat at Tony's Town Square when I can have better for less at Portobello? Why eat at Coral Reef when I can get better at Fulton's? Why stay at a moderate resort at Disney at a discount when I can Priceline and get a great deluxe resort for less (for instance, the Hyatt Grand Cypress is tossing rooms out for $60-65 per night)?

So, while I may be spending time at WDW, I'm not spending money and that's what should concern the Mouse (it doesn't though because they'd rather lose a longtime loyal guest with expectations for a newbie who believes character meals and pins and hard ticket events are magical).

 

Originally Posted By demderedoseguys

^ Are most people like you? I don't know. I'm not. Disney still gets my money. I own DVC, still buy my AP and DDE (Oops Tables in Wonderland). I do spend less there than I used to but only since my son and daughter moved down to Fl and I have other places to stay and eat if I choose.