Disney will eventually relearn that annual passes, magic keys, whatever you want to call them are essential for Disneyland.
As much as they want Disneyland to be more tourist based, it isn’t going to happen. Yeah, you will get the average tourist (I don’t mean the die hard Disney Tourist, but they tend to fall more into the passholder category in terms of spending anyway) to visit one or two days, maybe even three on rare occasions to the parks, but not really much beyond that. There is so much to do in southern California for tourists that while Disneyland is a big item for many, it definitely isn’t for all. Instead, theme parks in southern California have always had to rely on locals to fill in the gap and yes, that includes Disney. Disney has forgotten this and while the economy is doing good, it might even work for them, but once a recession hits (and it will at some point), Disney will be in a world of hurt.
They will find that their historically loyal fans aren’t so loyal anymore and even some of the ones that might still be willing to go back won’t be able to do so because they don’t already have a pass. Historically when things went south in the economy, there were always a certain amount of passholders that could help ride it out because they already had a pass that would be valid for a certain amount of time before expiring, again, not the case now.
I agree with you for the most part. I think they realize they need a pass to some degree, but they will learn Disneyland will not ever become Walt Disney World. They want Disneyland to be a California version of Disney World in terms of spending and hotels, but it won’t ever be that.
The current CEO is all about short term revenue / profit over brand image/loyalty. That is going to hurt in the long run especially when there is a recession looming in the background.
They can blame the fans for everything as they usually do but … They will learn ticket sales will drop long term due to an unfavorable CEO with unfavorable decisions.
My pass expires this month. The parks are not crowded even on weekends. They keep pushing that so cal select ticket and it’s still not generating more people in the parks. I agree they want Disneyland to be like wdw but it never will. Even if they offer renewals again so many passholders are fed up and not planning on renewing. I am so disappointed in Disney for not even keeping their loyal guests informed. Leaving us hanging with no word about passes. The new Disney way of business really sucks.
I have visited Disney World many times since 2003. Our last visit, in November 2021, was very disappointing. Genie + requires early morning and all day commitment to use. Then, the additional fees for popular rides are also RUDE.I will never go on vacation there again.
ITS TOO EXPENSIVE..ITS GONE ALL “APP” ..etc.yuck
WE ARE FL RESIDENTS
.used to go up for quick 3 days ..etc.. its insanely ridiculous, not enjoyable to ck App ir wait time all day.. Ruins the MAGIC… Disney.. stop charging $7 for a mickey bar , and maybe ppl will actually enjoy.the lil stuff again..
There are multiple issue with this money-grab that Disney (California) has changed to.
1. They made the Genie+ (paid service) to replace the (Free) fastpass. Before Covid, they had the fastpass that anyone could use by going to a ride and requesting a pass from the Kiosk. You had to pay for the convenience to have it on your phone. Now, there is no other method to get an express ride (fastpass) except to pay for Genie+. With ride times exceeding 60-90 minutes in peak times, the Genie+ is pretty much a requirement to enjoy the park.
2. The big ticket rides (Rise of the Resistance, Spiderman, Cars) are not included in Genie+. Those rides require an individual fluctuating price ($7-$20 per ride depending on demand) for the “Fastpass”. So you can pay extra to get the Genie+ and still wait 90 minutes to ride the new Star Wars ride.
3. Removal of single rider lines on some rides. Popular rides like Space Mountain removed the single rider line and now the ride has empty seats when odd numbers of riders are in line. Many Pass Holders would go on the single rider line to skip the long lines and ride individually. No longer.
4. As an out of state Key holder, the reservation system for Key Holders fill up 60 days in advance. Some days would be available for your key, but were already reserved so not available even if you have purchased the key. Those spots would open up a day or two before because of cancellations, but it is nearly impossible to plan a trip without having 60+ days advance warning when you paid to be able to go every day.
Add in the annual passes not being renewed and it is the last straw for some local and near state visitors.
How can an iconic brand slip so far so fast? Now you can spend a lot of money visiting Disney and get rewarded with long waits for rides or just skip Disney and go somewhere much more enjoyable at the same price point. It isn’t a difficult decision.
Disney Parks have changed. After Covid the parks, at least WDW is over crowed.
Disney STATS say that the parks are not oversold, but just visit the Park and you will see the crowds. Rope Drop, hotels, and ride times are the worst that I have ever seen in off season in Feb 2022. Very few Cast members cleaning up like prior visits. My last visit was 2020 prior to covid closing, and nothing like 2022.
Maybe this could be due to NEW CEO?? Just maybe?
Disney Stock is down …. according to the news this morning parks made 7 billion in the 3rd quarter.
Can Disney afford to hire more people and pay decent wages??
We need a new Captain to steer the ship in the Caribbean and not to Neverland.
Disney needs to wake up! I WAS a long time Disneyland pass holder even though I don’t live in CA. Now I can’t get one and even if I could my pass holder friends tell me that they can’t get dates to visit unless booked way out. Part of the fun of being a pass holder is to say, “ Hey, let’s go to Disneyland in 2 weeks.” It’s not possible now.
Also, the Genie+ sucks. Not nearly as much fun as Max Pass and actually kinda stressful. Then there is the whole money grab thing. Where is Disney value of it’s core customers?? I don’t get it. I used to go 9 or 10 times a year and spent a good deal of money each time. Now…. I’d rather spend my vacation budget somewhere else – where I feel I’m actually wanted!! I just wish the Disneyland I know and live would show back up!!
Those of us who have a key pass are the ones paying the extra 15.00 – 20.00 to ride the bigger rides…….. not those who just paid top dollar for a ticket already. Plus we are keeping the local hotels alive. Walt would be so disappointed in where the company is now.
Comments for Disney Blames Low Ticket Revenue on “Unfavorable Attendance Mix” at Parks
Chris
Disney will eventually relearn that annual passes, magic keys, whatever you want to call them are essential for Disneyland.
As much as they want Disneyland to be more tourist based, it isn’t going to happen. Yeah, you will get the average tourist (I don’t mean the die hard Disney Tourist, but they tend to fall more into the passholder category in terms of spending anyway) to visit one or two days, maybe even three on rare occasions to the parks, but not really much beyond that. There is so much to do in southern California for tourists that while Disneyland is a big item for many, it definitely isn’t for all. Instead, theme parks in southern California have always had to rely on locals to fill in the gap and yes, that includes Disney. Disney has forgotten this and while the economy is doing good, it might even work for them, but once a recession hits (and it will at some point), Disney will be in a world of hurt.
They will find that their historically loyal fans aren’t so loyal anymore and even some of the ones that might still be willing to go back won’t be able to do so because they don’t already have a pass. Historically when things went south in the economy, there were always a certain amount of passholders that could help ride it out because they already had a pass that would be valid for a certain amount of time before expiring, again, not the case now.
Alyssa
I agree with you for the most part. I think they realize they need a pass to some degree, but they will learn Disneyland will not ever become Walt Disney World. They want Disneyland to be a California version of Disney World in terms of spending and hotels, but it won’t ever be that.
The current CEO is all about short term revenue / profit over brand image/loyalty. That is going to hurt in the long run especially when there is a recession looming in the background.
Ed
Does not seem reasonable to sell magic passes, then blame the customers for using them.
Bob Cheapskate
They can blame the fans for everything as they usually do but … They will learn ticket sales will drop long term due to an unfavorable CEO with unfavorable decisions.
Steve
Maybe the real problem is that nobody without a sunk cost wants to go to the park. Passes are free right up to renewal.
Holly
My pass expires this month. The parks are not crowded even on weekends. They keep pushing that so cal select ticket and it’s still not generating more people in the parks. I agree they want Disneyland to be like wdw but it never will. Even if they offer renewals again so many passholders are fed up and not planning on renewing. I am so disappointed in Disney for not even keeping their loyal guests informed. Leaving us hanging with no word about passes. The new Disney way of business really sucks.
PrevFan
I have visited Disney World many times since 2003. Our last visit, in November 2021, was very disappointing. Genie + requires early morning and all day commitment to use. Then, the additional fees for popular rides are also RUDE.I will never go on vacation there again.
MK Dream Nightmare
Yeah, Disneyland sucks now. It’s become a chore more than a fun trip. If there is a renewal option, it’ll be a hard pass from me.
Dani
ITS TOO EXPENSIVE..ITS GONE ALL “APP” ..etc.yuck
WE ARE FL RESIDENTS
.used to go up for quick 3 days ..etc.. its insanely ridiculous, not enjoyable to ck App ir wait time all day.. Ruins the MAGIC… Disney.. stop charging $7 for a mickey bar , and maybe ppl will actually enjoy.the lil stuff again..
NotTheSame
There are multiple issue with this money-grab that Disney (California) has changed to.
1. They made the Genie+ (paid service) to replace the (Free) fastpass. Before Covid, they had the fastpass that anyone could use by going to a ride and requesting a pass from the Kiosk. You had to pay for the convenience to have it on your phone. Now, there is no other method to get an express ride (fastpass) except to pay for Genie+. With ride times exceeding 60-90 minutes in peak times, the Genie+ is pretty much a requirement to enjoy the park.
2. The big ticket rides (Rise of the Resistance, Spiderman, Cars) are not included in Genie+. Those rides require an individual fluctuating price ($7-$20 per ride depending on demand) for the “Fastpass”. So you can pay extra to get the Genie+ and still wait 90 minutes to ride the new Star Wars ride.
3. Removal of single rider lines on some rides. Popular rides like Space Mountain removed the single rider line and now the ride has empty seats when odd numbers of riders are in line. Many Pass Holders would go on the single rider line to skip the long lines and ride individually. No longer.
4. As an out of state Key holder, the reservation system for Key Holders fill up 60 days in advance. Some days would be available for your key, but were already reserved so not available even if you have purchased the key. Those spots would open up a day or two before because of cancellations, but it is nearly impossible to plan a trip without having 60+ days advance warning when you paid to be able to go every day.
Add in the annual passes not being renewed and it is the last straw for some local and near state visitors.
Jake
How can an iconic brand slip so far so fast? Now you can spend a lot of money visiting Disney and get rewarded with long waits for rides or just skip Disney and go somewhere much more enjoyable at the same price point. It isn’t a difficult decision.
David A
Disney Parks have changed. After Covid the parks, at least WDW is over crowed.
Disney STATS say that the parks are not oversold, but just visit the Park and you will see the crowds. Rope Drop, hotels, and ride times are the worst that I have ever seen in off season in Feb 2022. Very few Cast members cleaning up like prior visits. My last visit was 2020 prior to covid closing, and nothing like 2022.
Maybe this could be due to NEW CEO?? Just maybe?
Disney Stock is down …. according to the news this morning parks made 7 billion in the 3rd quarter.
Can Disney afford to hire more people and pay decent wages??
We need a new Captain to steer the ship in the Caribbean and not to Neverland.
SAC
Disney needs to wake up! I WAS a long time Disneyland pass holder even though I don’t live in CA. Now I can’t get one and even if I could my pass holder friends tell me that they can’t get dates to visit unless booked way out. Part of the fun of being a pass holder is to say, “ Hey, let’s go to Disneyland in 2 weeks.” It’s not possible now.
Also, the Genie+ sucks. Not nearly as much fun as Max Pass and actually kinda stressful. Then there is the whole money grab thing. Where is Disney value of it’s core customers?? I don’t get it. I used to go 9 or 10 times a year and spent a good deal of money each time. Now…. I’d rather spend my vacation budget somewhere else – where I feel I’m actually wanted!! I just wish the Disneyland I know and live would show back up!!
Stephanie
Those of us who have a key pass are the ones paying the extra 15.00 – 20.00 to ride the bigger rides…….. not those who just paid top dollar for a ticket already. Plus we are keeping the local hotels alive. Walt would be so disappointed in where the company is now.
Comments are closed.