News Round Up 2019

[OSUZorba]

right, but the 2nd attraction could have been something without a height restriction - I don't have an issue with one having a height restriction, just a bit tough to take when both new ones do

(or heck, add a third or a fourth that don't have height restrictions or a play area or something for the youngest/smallest to do ... and not just the youngest: I am sure there are a lot of grandparents or just people that don't do roller coasters or spinny rides that won't do either new attraction)

IIRC, since 2016 they've closed two rides without heights restrictions and openned three with restrictions. They also have two other rides, one with no restriction and one with a low one closed to put in Tron.

I think it is also assumed that both Star Wars rides will have restrictions. I doubt MMRR will, but do we know about Rat yet?

The big reason I was originally attracted to coming to Disney with DD was how many rides she could do even as an infant, but once she hits 42" my personal amusement/theme park money is going to get spread around more.

Right now there is nothing an infant could ride in DHS, so I think it is fair to say Disney is shifting away from at least young families.

 

[hertamaniac]

Just the "big" things overshadow a lot

For sure. E-ticketers are the draw for most in my mind. But, I have seen plenty of seasoned guests tackle fears, capture a youthful moment or succumb to family peer pressure and try an attraction outside their comfort zone; I applaud these guests.

* have we agreed on something shorter to use for "Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway" yet? If I put MMRR will people know what it is?

Not to get droid, but M2R2?

 

[OSUZorba]

Certainly Disney believes in pricing things to see what the market will bare. Star Wars is a major investment in that park, and it will do nothing to reduce crowding there. Might as well hike the prices when you know you have a market that is going to overwhelm the property. They can double there money and scare away some crowds for later. It makes perfect business sense, but is unfortunate for many people.

The problem from a business point of view is people are slow to adapt. So it is very possible to drive over a cliff and not realize it until you already lost a large amount of your customers. This is especially true if the economy takes a turn. Who will lay down 4k on APs for a family of 4 if they think they may be about to get laid off.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

The AP increases at DL have been huge. They are really trying to get the number of APs down a bit to help with crowds.

Maybe they are still coming but I would have expected more blackout dates around Galaxy's Edge - something like unless you had the signature or higher you were blackout out of GE (if not all of DLR) for 3 months after GE opens

 

[TheMaxRebo]

News

‘Celebrate Mickey’ 90th Anniversary Merchandise Kicks Off the Mouse Party at Walt Disney World

maybe I am just feeling extra cynical today but this reads to me as "In honor of the Mouse that started it all we are kicking of this celebration by ... providing new ways for you to give us more money!!!"

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Certainly Disney believes in pricing things to see what the market will bare. Star Wars is a major investment in that park, and it will do nothing to reduce crowding there. Might as well hike the prices when you know you have a market that is going to overwhelm the property. They can double there money and scare away some crowds for later. It makes perfect business sense, but is unfortunate for many people.

I know we (meaning, many people that posted here and elsewhere) kinda scoffed at the idea of requiring a separate admission to Galaxy's Edge, but I am starting to wonder if that would have been a better way to go ... let people go to the rest of the part at flat or only slightly higher prices, but then charge an extra $50 or whatever to get into GE (at least for the first year or so). People would still pay it to do it some but then should keep crowds down a bit there and don't force people who don't care about SW to have to deal with increased costs as well

 

[sachilles]

The problem from a business point of view is people are slow to adapt. So it is very possible to drive over a cliff and not realize it until you already lost a large amount of your customers. This is especially true if the economy takes a turn. Who will lay down 4k on APs for a family of 4 if they think they may be about to get laid off.

I don't disagree with you, however I think Disney has already built in their safety net.
Raise the prices, then discount it deeply later if they think they need it, therefore "lowering" the prices back to the new norm.
People are always expecting "30% off". Who really pays full rack rate? Well, let the people that absolutely positively have to be there first, pay sky high rates. Especially since california doesn't have the disney owned bed base to capitalize on the big crowds, that money has to come in via the gate.

Florida is building the beds now. Tickets will no raise as drastically, but the beds will be required for certain perks and the beds will not get any cheaper.

 

[sachilles]

I know we (meaning, many people that posted here and elsewhere) kinda scoffed at the idea of requiring a separate admission to Galaxy's Edge, but I am starting to wonder if that would have been a better way to go ... let people go to the rest of the part at flat or only slightly higher prices, but then charge an extra $50 or whatever to get into GE (at least for the first year or so). People would still pay it to do it some but then should keep crowds down a bit there and don't force people who don't care about SW to have to deal with increased costs as well

How they built it, I'm not sure it makes sense, but it concept I agree.
I really think Star Wars shouldn't have been part of Disneyland. Would have rather seen it at DCA, but the geography didn't really support it.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

IIRC, since 2016 they've closed two rides without heights restrictions and openned three with restrictions. They also have two other rides, one with no restriction and one with a low one closed to put in Tron.

I think it is also assumed that both Star Wars rides will have restrictions. I doubt MMRR will, but do we know about Rat yet?

The big reason I was originally attracted to coming to Disney with DD was how many rides she could do even as an infant, but once she hits 42" my personal amusement/theme park money is going to get spread around more.

Right now there is nothing an infant could ride in DHS, so I think it is fair to say Disney is shifting away from at least young families.

Their is no height restriction on Rat in Paris, so I assume it will be the same. Not sure about MMRR, but I figure either none or rather low

yeah, that point about an infant in DHS is totally my point (and will be the same or very similar in DCA now that Bugsland is closed) ... we loved taking our kids as infants to WDW and there was a ton they could ride - I'd hate to lose that (and obviously we aren't there yet, but just *feels* a bit like heading there)

 

[mikepizzo]

maybe I am just feeling extra cynical today but this reads to me as "In honor of the Mouse that started it all we are kicking of this celebration by ... providing new ways for you to give us more money!!!"

Remember when Disneyland gave away a GM car to every 30,000th guest for their 30th Anniversary? Jack Lindquist was one of a kind.

 

[HuskieJohn]

Posted above.

I think they found their model was way too low and they are now overshooting. A jump from a 1 to a 9 is huge. I definitely think a 1 was too low so I am expecting more along the lines of a 6-7 type crowds for AK on Jan. 9th than 9.

With their answer I think they need to put out 2 different numbers. Park crowd level and line crowd level. Lots of people who go frequently on here seem to enjoy the park itself rather than just worrying about the lines.

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

The AP increases at DL have been huge. They are really trying to get the number of APs down a bit to help with crowds.

True to a point, but if they really wanted to cut down I think they'd take away installment payments from California residents.

 

[rteetz]

True to a point, but if they really wanted to cut down I think they'd take away installment payments from California residents.

That was rumored to happen at one point.

 

[rteetz]

News

Disney Vacation Club Announces Resale Contract Limitations Beginning January 19

 

[rteetz]

News

Members to Celebrate with Disney on Broadway Stars Feb. 25

 

[saskdw]

I don't disagree with you, however I think Disney has already built in their safety net.
Raise the prices, then discount it deeply later if they think they need it, therefore "lowering" the prices back to the new norm.
People are always expecting "30% off". Who really pays full rack rate? Well, let the people that absolutely positively have to be there first, pay sky high rates. Especially since california doesn't have the disney owned bed base to capitalize on the big crowds, that money has to come in via the gate.

Florida is building the beds now. Tickets will no raise as drastically, but the beds will be required for certain perks and the beds will not get any cheaper.

Yeah, there's very little risk here for Disney. If attendance and occupancy drop too much they will just put on a "real" free dining promo, not the the pretend quick service dining and people will flock back in droves. Also a RO offer of 25%-30% and rooms are filled instantly.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Yeah, there's very little risk here for Disney. If attendance and occupancy drop too much they will just put on a "real" free dining promo, not the the pretend quick service dining and people will flock back in droves. Also a RO offer of 25%-30% and rooms are filled instantly.

plus packages they love to do - like "Fun and Sun" or whatever where they say "now a family of 4 can visit for 4 days for less than $1,000) or whatever (even though that only works when staying on one specific 4day span and you have to stand on one foot when clicking your mouse with the pinky on your left hand)

And maybe more of the ones where they include some hard ticket events .... espcialll if they role out some paid extra hours for Galaxy's Edge and then bury the price of that in with a package

 

[rteetz]

News

‘It Was All Started By A Mouse’ Merchandise Line Arrives at Walt Disney World

 

[TheMaxRebo]

New Menu at Backlot Exress - no more Star Wars items

Looks like a new chicken with biscuits entree is replacing the Dark Side Chicken and Waffles ... not so sure about the idea of a spicy strawberry glaze (and then bacon too?)

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Well I expected the Star Wars stuff to move away once the new land opened up but interesting they pulled it so early (at least IMO).