Orlando Sentinel article...CEO says park goers happier now than before Covid

[_19disnA]

Surveys can be worded in such a way that they get the answers they wanted and the results used as justification for what leadership already believes. The article doesn't really state what was asked and if it relates to covid, clearly it was not a survey used previously. Therefore, it would be difficult to compare the results to something from a few years ago. Covid is still an issue and hasn't gone away, so I have to believe the first groups of people returning to Disney are avid fans and likely that would influence their responses to any survey. Someone who is overjoyed that the parks have reopened are probably not the most objective people to survey.

Certainly you would expect the CEO of Disney to speak optimistically as a PR move regardless of what people are actually saying about their recent experiences.

 

[dachsie]

I would say some of the happiness comes from finally getting to do something because we've all been trapped in out homes and communities by Covid. The fact that we are able to go do something fun and get away and get some sense of normalcy again contributes to that happiness score. It's the Covid effect.

 

[mshanson3121]

Coming from someone who hasn't been...

To repeat what I, and others, said on another thread:

Without sharing what the questions are that were asked, there's no way Chapek can compare apples to apples. Chances are the questions were about how things are being handled during Covid, and my suspicision is he's intentionally taking those questions out of context because he wants to spin this story so that they can NOT bring things back. Because as someone else said above - if guests are happier now than before, there's no need to bring everything back.

While early on (last summer), yes, I saw a LOT of happy customers thrilled with the low wait times and crowds, since the crowds picked up late this fall, I have seen a lot more unhappy customers, who are less than thrilled with the longer wait times, heavier crowds, lack of offerings etc...

My own personal opinion, I don't have to go to know. There is no way we would be happier with Disney now, than before. Would we like the character calvacades and pop up appearances? Sure. But in no way would those/will they ever replace real character meet and greets for us. We would not be happy with lack of FP+, reduced hours, loss of EMH, the lack of basically all entertainment options and shows, the reduced dining, the virtual queues for shopping etc...

 

[Nabas]

Coming from someone who hasn't been...

To repeat what I, and others, said on another thread:

Without sharing what the questions are that were asked, there's no way Chapek can compare apples to apples. Chances are the questions were about how things are being handled during Covid, and my suspicision is he's intentionally taking those questions out of context because he wants to spin this story so that they can NOT bring things back. Because as someone else said above - if guests are happier now than before, there's no need to bring everything back.

While early on (last summer), yes, I saw a LOT of happy customers thrilled with the low wait times and crowds, since the crowds picked up late this fall, I have seen a lot more unhappy customers, who are less than thrilled with the longer wait times, heavier crowds, lack of offerings etc...

My own personal opinion, I don't have to go to know. There is no way we would be happier with Disney now, than before. Would we like the character calvacades and pop up appearances? Sure. But in no way would those/will they ever replace real character meet and greets for us. We would not be happy with lack of FP+, reduced hours, loss of EMH, the lack of basically all entertainment options and shows, the reduced dining, the virtual queues for shopping etc...

We've been to WDW several times since the reopening.

With the exception of masks, we are much happier at WDW than we have been in years.

I do miss several shows but the reduced attraction list and lower crowds allow us to experience everything at a park without having to go crazy commando style, joylessly marching from attraction-to-attraction to try to squeeze everything in.

The last few trips have reminded me how much I dislike FastPass+ and crowds blocking walkways. In many ways, today's WDW feels like a return to earlier times when you didn't have to microplan every moment of your day.

I suspect there are many others who feel the same way.

 

[LiveLifeLoud]

My own personal opinion, I don't have to go to know. There is no way we would be happier with Disney now, than before. Would we like the character calvacades and pop up appearances? Sure. But in no way would those/will they ever replace real character meet and greets for us. We would not be happy with lack of FP+, reduced hours, loss of EMH, the lack of basically all entertainment options and shows, the reduced dining, the virtual queues for shopping etc...

This is how we feel. We haven’t gone and have no desire to go until things are more normal. I know I would hate it and my kids said the same. I had a trip booked last month that we cancelled and my kids weren’t upset at all. We’re planning late 2022 and would like to rent points but won’t be doing that because if disney is still not more normal we won’t go. In the meantime there’s lots of beautiful places to go that are more open and not as restricted and MUCH cheaper.

 

[Bete]

This is all skewed right now. Revenge traveling is skewing these results for one. This is all very controlled right now by park capacity levels being low due to Covid concerns. This is not how it will stay. It can't continue this way or Disney World will go under for sure. Those going at the moment are the ones that are better Disney fans and they will be happy for anything right now. When you think about it, all the resorts are not opened yet and all the restaurants are not opened, either. Will Disney have the same percentage crowds when everything opens up? I doubt it.

I'm not falling for any of it. Without shows, parades, and fireworks Disney will be lucky if I return even once and the only reason would be the 50th anniversary celebration. It will be my last hurrah if I even go.

Bob Chapek better be ready for a rude awakening.

 

[BrianL]

Some of the conclusions people are coming too are really unfounded. They will be bringing back fireworks and shows. Do not worry about that - it will happen. What do you think those big barges in the World Showcase Lagoon are for? The idea that they will just keep things as they are because it saves them money is ridiculous. Some of you act like they don't spend anything on the parks at all and yet how many new attractins have they built in the past few years? Maybe they aren't spending the money where you want them to, but investment hasn't been stagnant.

 

[Marionnette]

That's a genuine concern of mine. We might be in the "conditioning mode"" right now that our baseline shifts southward in terms of expectations.

This is my concern as well and if it's true, someone else can have that watered down experience.

 

[Pinkshoos]

All I see and hear in my head when I read that is, "It's great! Everything's great! We're great! It's all great!" with a massive anxious neurotic smile.

 

[ford91exploder]

Some of the conclusions people are coming too are really unfounded. They will be bringing back fireworks and shows. Do not worry about that - it will happen. What do you think those big barges in the World Showcase Lagoon are for? The idea that they will just keep things as they are because it saves them money is ridiculous. Some of you act like they don't spend anything on the parks at all and yet how many new attractins have they built in the past few years? Maybe they aren't spending the money where you want them to, but investment hasn't been stagnant.

Those barges are Pre-Covid - they've laid off what 25% of the staff Post covid who knows whats coming back, I suspect due to the Bob's extreme parsimony WRT the parks it will be far less than the more optimistic posters believe, At TWDC you dont pull down big bonuses by SPENDING MONEY on the parks.

 

[BrianL]

Those barges are Pre-Covid - they've laid off what 25% of the staff Post covid who knows whats coming back, I suspect due to the Bob's extreme parsimony WRT the parks it will be far less than the more optimistic posters believe, At TWDC you dont pull down big bonuses by SPENDING MONEY on the parks.

Yeah, but they are rolling out and testing the barges for a big fireworks show. The idea that "fireworks are never coming back" is what I take issue with. Clearly they will. You can pontificate on what they are or are not spending on and why you hate everything they do, but I am pretty sure that HarmonioUS will happen.

 

[LiveLifeLoud]

Some of the conclusions people are coming too are really unfounded. They will be bringing back fireworks and shows. Do not worry about that - it will happen. What do you think those big barges in the World Showcase Lagoon are for? The idea that they will just keep things as they are because it saves them money is ridiculous. Some of you act like they don't spend anything on the parks at all and yet how many new attractins have they built in the past few years? Maybe they aren't spending the money where you want them to, but investment hasn't been stagnant.

Yes I agree. Fireworks will return. SOME shows will return. Maybe FoF parade will return. As for other extras like CoH, I’m not so sure. EMH, FP+....not so sure.

 

[mshanson3121]

Some of the conclusions people are coming too are really unfounded. They will be bringing back fireworks and shows. Do not worry about that - it will happen. What do you think those big barges in the World Showcase Lagoon are for? The idea that they will just keep things as they are because it saves them money is ridiculous. Some of you act like they don't spend anything on the parks at all and yet how many new attractins have they built in the past few years? Maybe they aren't spending the money where you want them to, but investment hasn't been stagnant.

Yeah those investments were made before Covid, so moot point. It's very naive to think things aren't going to be cut - whether for a few years or permanently. Shows will return, sure, but not all of them, and not necessarily like they were, either. However you're also making a flawed assumption - assuming people are just referring to entertainment, when we're also referring to things like EMH, the cutback on park hours (not likely coming back to what it was anytime soon), and other changes like the FP+ etc... The conclusions are far from unfounded - they're based in reality. And the reality is, when your business has been dealt a huge blow financially, you make necessary changes, and if you have to put a spin on things to justify those cuts for PR reasons, then you do it.

 

[Jrb1979]

Yeah, but they are rolling out and testing the barges for a big fireworks show. The idea that "fireworks are never coming back" is what I take issue with. Clearly they will. You can pontificate on what they are or are not spending on and why you hate everything they do, but I am pretty sure that HarmonioUS will happen.

Look fireworks and shows were always coming back. It's the little things that are gone most likely for good. You're streetmosphere is done. No more citizens of Hollywood most likely. The perks that were once free if they do come back they will most likely charge you for it. FP will most likely be a paid system.

 

[BrianL]

Yeah those investments were made before Covid, so moot point. It's very naive to think things aren't going to be cut - whether for a few years or permanently. Shows will return, sure, but not all of them, and not necessarily like they were, either. However you're also making a flawed assumption - assuming people are just referring to entertainment, when we're also referring to things like EMH, the cutback on park hours (not likely coming back to what it was anytime soon), and other changes like the FP+ etc... The conclusions are far from unfounded - they're based in reality. And the reality is, when your business has been dealt a huge blow financially, you make necessary changes, and if you have to put a spin on things to justify those cuts for PR reasons, then you do it.

That's why I said some of the conclusions. There is certainly some debate to be had, but the idea that "fireworks are never coming back" is really a bridge too far. They clearly will. Certianly we will see some changes and such (and not all of them bad), but things will normalize, and I feel pretty confident in saying that it will include the return of fireworks.

 

[afan]

Look fireworks and shows were always coming back. It's the little things that are gone most likely for good. You're streetmosphere is done. No more citizens of Hollywood most likely. The perks that were once free if they do come back they will most likely charge you for it. FP will most likely be a paid system.

But streetmosphere to me isn't gone. The dapper dans are still there as is the main street band. I very rarely even came upon citizens of hollywood. It's not all gone and very well could come back at other parks not just mk. But it's not gone.

 

[Heather07438]

That’s a bull crap statement Bob. There’s a difference between satisfaction marks taken under normal circumstances and then later during a pandemic. 2 different mindsets responding.
Higher satisfaction marks does not equal happier experience. I think there’s some confusion here. While we accepted the necessary alterations on our last trip, it did not come close to being a better happier trip in direct comparison.

Honestly his statement is like a slap in the face. Guests show goodwill by compromising their expectations in these challenging times and then he reacts like park experience is the best ever? No Bob...

 

[BrianL]

But streetmosphere to me isn't gone. The dapper dans are still there as is the main street band. I very rarely even came upon citizens of hollywood. It's not all gone and very well could come back at other parks not just mk. But it's not gone.

I think they will bring some of that back. I have said it before, while some people here LOVE the streetmosphere stuff, I would be willing to be that Disney's resaearch on the matter shows that more guests would rather have new rides instead. Certainly I like both, but if streetmosphere doesn't move the needle for most guests, then scaling it back isn't unwarranted.

 

[ford91exploder]

Yeah, but they are rolling out and testing the barges for a big fireworks show. The idea that "fireworks are never coming back" is what I take issue with. Clearly they will. You can pontificate on what they are or are not spending on and why you hate everything they do, but I am pretty sure that HarmonioUS will happen.

if it does not add to the bottom line, i dont belive its coming back. People make the assumption that I don’t want stuff to come back, no its merely me extrapolating what the uniquely soulless moder n american megacorp will do, And hopefully someone reading this does not pull the trigger on a cut just to prove guys like me wrong, an oucome im happy with

 

[ChipnDale79]

Parades are nice, but they also really mess with traffic flow throughout the park. I don't mind there only being one parade in MK.

I think we all have a different thought on the parades...what you bring up about the flow is a big deal, it can be a nightmare.

but i'll tell this story to the day i die. My father inlaw is a retired national guardsman, spent his civilian career inspecting navy ships. Doesnt like a lot of things that arent needed, if that makes any sense. He and my mother inlaw went with us to disney when my kids were really little, i think she sort of drug him there. I'll never forget watching main street electrical parade, looking over at my father in law and him trying to record it. If you tried to watch that recording, youd get dizzy, he was too busy dancing to the music and waving to the characters. Id never seen that side of him before, it was really cool as hell to see.

I was never a fan of the day time parades...too hot to sit around and watch, but i do love the night time ones. so many people watch them, that you get a shorter wait time on rides during them also.