Entertainment Cuts & Returns at Disney World
There’s good and bad news on the Walt Disney World entertainment front, as one stage show returns to Hollywood Studios while another is cut, and with it a 32-year run by a beloved orchestra comes to an end. In this post, we’ll cover what’s ending, what’s returning, timelines, the likely motivation for the changes, plus extensive commentary.
Let’s start with the good news. “For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration,” is returning to Disney’s Hollywood Studios on October 5, 2020. The Royal Historians of Arendelle will once again deliver their comedic retelling of their kingdom, including a sing-along from Disney’s “Frozen” and special appearances by Anna, Elsa and Kristoff. It’ll be the same show as pre-closure, albeit with adjustments to staging and audience seating to allow for appropriate physical distancing.
Given the recent high attendance levels at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, something is definitely needed to help soak up crowds. In all likelihood, several stage shows need to return to DHS to round out the day, but this is at least a start. Unfortunately, it’s one step forward, one step backwards with this announcement…
Along with this announcement from Disney, the Grand Floridian Society Orchestra revealed on their Facebook fan page that their relationship with Walt Disney World will end on October 3, 2020 when they play the last performances of “The Disney Society Orchestra” at the Theater of the Stars in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
From their announcement: “It’s hard to find the words but, sadly, our days at the Grand Floridian are over. In fact, as of Oct 3, 2020, our days at WDW will come to an end as well…So after 32 years of playing together and playing music we love… we’re done. We are so thankful for the opportunity to play in a beautiful setting for the hotel guests and friends we have met & made over the years. We’ll never forget you and how wonderful you’ve made us feel. We will miss you! Thank you-thank you- thank you!”
You might’ve missed it in the chaotic news cycle, but right before Walt Disney World closed in March, the company terminated its relationship with numerous other contract entertainment acts. EPCOT was hit particularly hard at that time, with the following all being cut:
- Matsuriza, the drummers in the Japan pavilion
- British Revolution, the band in the United Kingdom pavilion
- Serveur Amusant, the stacking-chair acrobats in the France pavilion,
- Master Juggler Sergio, the juggling clown act in the Italy pavilion.
Keep in mind, these are just the entertainment acts that were notified in advance that they would not be brought back. Countless other performers simply have their statuses in limbo (literally too many to list here), and have not returned to Walt Disney World.
It’s likely the only reason we know the Grand Floridian Society Orchestra’s time with Walt Disney World is coming to an end is because the company brought them back for the interim show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. If not, they’d be among the many other entertainment acts that are indefinitely on ‘temporary hiatus’, unaware they’ve already performed for the last time at Walt Disney World.
While we’re disappointed about the Grand Floridian Society Orchestra news, we’re not surprised. It’s easy to point to the exorbitant rack rate at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa or the almost laughable drink prices at Enchanted Rose Lounge and say, “X of these per day could easily cover the cost of the orchestra.” X wouldn’t even be a high number in either case.
The problem is that Walt Disney World is increasingly less concerned with delivering commensurate value for money, and more preoccupied with increasing profit margins. So much has been removed from the post-reopening park and resort experiences with minimal attempts at replacements, but still largely comparable price points. With a guest-first mentality, continuing cuts don’t occur at a time when prices are mostly static.
With a profits-first perspective, the company looks at reduced hotel occupancy and park attendance levels, and justifies further cuts on those bases. The focus is a quantitative one of costs versus revenue, rather than a qualitative examination of the individual experience of those guests who do show up–and pay full price or close to it for the Walt Disney World experience.
This is nothing new, and Walt Disney World leadership is not suddenly going to have an epiphany and change its approach. We saw largely the same scenario play out while Disney’s Hollywood Studios was a veritable construction zone a few years ago, yet Disney further cut entertainment and held or increased ticket prices. (Heck, we’re now seeing exactly that again at EPCOT!)
We’ve written largely this same editorial several times, including last year when Muppets Present Great Moments in American History and more were cut from Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom. Our commentary commonly fixates on the dangers of Disney cutting too much fat from budgets to the point where they “hit bone.”
When it comes to cuts and their justifications or lack thereof, our thesis statement of sorts is that Walt Disney World is more than the sum of its parts. It’s the little moments, the ambiance, the live musicians, the way everything just feels alive that, cumulatively, defines a trip even if you don’t actively notice at the time.
In past years, we’ve expressed significant concern that Walt Disney World would make such aggressive cuts at times of record attendance growth and profits. If that is how Disney reacted to unprecedented prosperity, how bad would things get when the country entered a recession and Disney felt an actual “need” to further reduce costs to meet profit targets?
In my wildest dreams, I never imagined the recession taking its current form and travel being hit particularly hard, but here we are. So I’m not exactly surprised that Disney is acting in a manner completely consistent with its moves of the last decade.
This may sound overly bleak or fatalist, but there’s good news here. Consumers can vote with their wallets and cancel their trips–the overwhelming majority have done exactly that when it comes to the post-reopening “product” that Walt Disney World is selling. Even though attendance has increased in the last month or so, it’s still well less than half of normal levels. Current visitors are also disproportionately locals, which is not Walt Disney World’s “preferred” demographic.
Now, there are myriad reasons for tourists to cancel their trips right now. We won’t pretend that reduced entertainment is the sole or even main cause of cancellation–it’s just one of countless reasons. However, judging from the chorus of comments, if you could theoretically return everything else to normal except the entertainment cuts, Walt Disney World attendance would still be down 15-25%.
That may seem insignificant, but every single percentage point matters to Disney’s bottom line. Even a 5% drop would be utterly unacceptable in normal times–heads would roll. Moreover, the cost of restoring that entertainment pales in comparison to the revenue to be earned from it. On top of those who would return directly due to the entertainment, its presence would increase guest satisfaction and other important metrics among all guests.
While I can offer a ballpark range of guests who cancelled specifically due to the missing entertainment, Walt Disney World has a much more precise number thanks to their cancellation questioning and guest surveys. And unlike in normal times when Disney can frame queries or obfuscate to get the feedback results they’re seeking (to support preordained decisions), there’s no concealing the actual impact of the current cuts. There are too many of them and they’re glaringly obvious in totality.
Unfortunately, there’s also no ability to theoretically return everything else to normal at Walt Disney World right now in order to see entertainment restored. Capacity is going to remain reduced. Tourists will remain reticent to travel and visit theme parks. The hampered economy and ongoing recession will prevent others from visiting. Health safety protocol–no matter what that is or is not–will alienate and keep some guests away.
As such, there’s no end in sight to the scaled-back slate of entertainment at Walt Disney World. In the near-term, we’re going to see more of this–or at least not have all acts brought back anytime soon. That’s disappointing, and I truly wish Walt Disney World had more foresight and were willing to endure a few lackluster quarters for the sake of the guest experience, and to ensure a swifter recovery and engender fan loyalty.
The silver lining is that it’s abundantly clear Disney will have to bring back all of this entertainment (and likely do more) if the company wants a full recovery. Locals turning out at EPCOT in full force on the weekends to buy booze might be a short-term life raft, but it’s not a viable long-term strategy with (literally) tens of thousands of hotel rooms sitting empty. For the next several years, the travel industry is going to be increasingly competitive and less of a seller’s market. If Walt Disney World wants its slice of the pie, it’ll need to do more, not less.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you think of these Walt Disney World entertainment cuts and additions? Are you optimistic or pessimistic about WDW restoring more stage shows and other acts that are currently on hiatus? Are you worried that it might be a while before Walt Disney World is back to normal in terms of its offerings? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
Thank you for this well-written and very thoughtful article. I went to WDW this past weekend to use the remaining three days left on a Florida resident pass. While I very much enjoyed having a little more space (due to social distancing rules which were exceedingly well done by Disney), I must say that my experience was “less” this time.
Of particular note, my half day at Epcot. What makes this relevant is that Epcot has always been my absolute favorite park. One where I would arrive at gate opening and stay until the last possible minute. What I realized is that there wasn’t much to see or do outside of eating and drinking. Shops were mostly closed, and the shows were minimal in number. I felt bored and ended up leaving after spending only 4 hours in the park.
On top of that, I was staying at a Disney property and due to no-contact check in and related cleanliness policies, I never had an interaction with anyone. So there was no experience (WDW or otherwise) to be had. If I had a question, I had to find answers myself through the myDisney app. Even when I called and asked for some specific help, I was told to check the myDisney app. When it came to wanting to have breakfast, I was told I needed to order through the myDisney app and then just go and pick it up. While I totally respect the focus on safety, I travelled by myself and left feeling like I hadn’t connected or experienced much of anyone or anything.
Because I want to end on a positive note though, I do believe that WDW is an amazing and magical place run by really smart people. I also believe they have cornered and optimized a very specific market and are without a doubt the market leader. They haven’t achieved this place by ignoring what the target audience is telling them, but they like all of us are finding their way through the uncharted waters and perfect storm that is our current reality. I do have faith that they are listening and are smart enough to take the necessary actions before it’s too late.
We were so disappointed to hear about the Grand Floridian Orchestra. We had finally booked an overnight stay at the GF and were really looking forward to hearing them. We are both musicians, so we were particularly interested in this. Vacation ruined? Well, no. We will make the best of it. We will still stay at the GF for Narcoossee’s and just to experience the resort, but probably won’t be in a hurry to come back. In the meantime, I sent an email to guest communications. I expressed that anyone can pipe in music over a speaker, but the magic is in the live performances. I think, as you said, they need to focus on keeping those things that set Disney apart from everyone else. As people start traveling again, I think they will think long and hard before spending their money and time at a place offering a fraction of its former attractions.
I can’t believe the orchestra is gone. They were an integral part of the GF experience. We will definitely be re-thinking that resort which was my wife’s favorite and hence often we went! Of course the whole trend is very disturbing to say the least. Thinking out site or Universal in 2022.
Very well-written article! Thanks for keeping us up-to-speed on what’s happening at WDW. We are annual winter visitors from KY and made our most recent visit around Valentine’s Day – right before everything went sideways. We love WDW and always will! Just hoping that things return to a more “normal” sooner than later….and hopefully WDW can follow suit.
This is a great summary of the relative (lack of) value going on right now at WDW. For those reading who have never been to Disneyland, I would recommend keeping your eyes on that as an alternative in the future (eg once things are half-way back to normal). A lot of the high prices – and high expectations – are significantly better in Anaheim. There’s definitely a lack of bubble, but for decades it has been obvious that within the parks, DLR puts a much higher value on the nuances and small things that make the experience feel alive. One acquaintance has described WDW as “Disneyland after the actuaries got to it”. It’s hard to know if this will hold post-pandemic, but my hope is that DLR continues to maintain closer roots to its original ethos. WDW has always been a marketing play (albeit a fulfilling one) and that mindset is coming back to bite them now.
The orchestra at the Grand Floridian was one of my favorite things at Disney world. Sitting there with a nice cocktail was a pleasures. Don’t plan on visiting Disneyworld until they bring the magic back. Just a glorified six flags park right now.
Spent 4 days at Disney. Neighbor hood resorts. Paid 80 a night. Try to book at value resort but the price is to high at 215 a night. We are pass holders n live in Florida. I was shock at the price. Going in November to Disney but was inform I have to many reservations for parks admission unless I stay in one of their resorts again at over 200 a night. They say they want more but then when u try u get less value. I am book into Fort Wilderness for 7 days in July I guess that doesn’t count n we just stay there last July after they open for 5 days so what’s up.
Returned a week ago from out of state visit. By now, I would be obsessively dreaming about my planned December trip. Instead, I am seriously considering canceling. I question whether it is worth it anymore. Why would I spend a week or ten days there when nearly half of them will be riddled with the choice of battling crowds or staying at a resort where the only entertainment is food or alcohol? I know we are in unprecendented times so I don’t expect to Disney to provide everything it did previously during this period. However, removing some of the things that set Disney apart from others of its kind (ambient entertainment like GF orchestra, Citizens of Hollywood, World Showcase performers, etc) is long-term impact for a short-term situation. That makes it different in my book. Knowing those things are not likely to return, even when things return to normal, is reducing Disney’s gravitational pull on me. What I appreciated about Disney was the intangible magic of the Citizens of Main Street, the Rivers of Light shamans and numerous other spontaneous person-to-person interactions and amusements. Those are the things I cherish and remember when the trip is over and the things I point to when I wonder why I just don’t like Universal quite as much (I should like UO/IOA better because I am a big HP and coaster fan but I don’t). Without those, Disney gets closer and closer to any other amusement park in America. Why would I go clear across the country and spend a lot of time and money to have essentially the same experience I can get in my backyard? Again, not because that is the experience now but because that is the experience I have to look forward to in the future.
Regarding DVC, I rented with DVC Rentals on this most recent trip. I did not have the same agent I had on my prior rentals. In fact, I don’t know who helped me, as all correspondence was signed with the company moniker. Not sure what changed because, when I booked a trip in July, I had my regular agent corresponding with me. Unless I am ABSOLUTELY sure I will not be changing my plans, I am not renting DVC. It feels too much of a risk. I booked my September trip a couple weeks out so I was relatively sure I could commit. No way will I book with them for a potential December trip. Maybe if a super good deal came up a few weeks prior AND there is enough of a draw for me to tolerate the hassle of getting there under our current situation. Right now, I am only willing to book if a full refund is guaranteed.
You said the magic word: Intangible. And intangibles are what has set WDW apart since it started. The problem is that the bean-counters are in charge, and have been for quite a while, and they don’t understand that magic word.
It’s the live entertainment that creates the atmosphere in so many different areas of Walt Disney World. I have no interest in walking around a lifeless park just to go on rides.
I’m grieved at the loss of the orchestra and other performers. These groups always forced us to pause and just… enjoy. That’s irreplaceable. The arts will be the last sector to recover from this nightmare and these people need jobs or they will go elsewhere. I desperately wish Disney would find a way for them to return.
I can’t agree more! I have made an average of an annual trip for the last 15 years and I do not have any plans to go back in the foreseeable future right now. The entertainment is what sets Disney apart from the competition in my opinion, especially for my husband and I who go all the time, even though we have no children. I was already having issues wanting to go back before the pandemic hit and now I just don’t feel that pull to go back like I used to feel. I have been a die hard Disney fan all my life, but right now I find myself in love with something that doesn’t really exist anymore. Even if I did go back in the near future, I am afraid that I would be so sorely disappointed that it would even ruin the fond memories of my past trips. It is sad to say, but unless things change drastically, I may have already made my last visit for several years or my last at all.
I love the comment. You summed up my feelings. You are in love with something thst doesnt exist anymore.
We were there the week of labor day and it was so bad I have no intent on going back. Since my wedding in 2014 we have gone every year and there has been an inverse relationship between price and quality. But this trip especially there is absolutely no reason to stay on site. No fast pass, no EMH, And no DDP which is a debatable perk. I’ve never waited longer and experienced less than I did on this trip. With no end in sight for price hikes I don’t see my family returning anytime soon, even as badly as I want to be a part of the 50th anniversary.
we go for a few hours a couple times a week, we live locally but even though we are local , the magic just doesnt seem to be there . Its ok and we can get on the rides. I absolutely hate having to use my charge card to mobile order , I’d rather just pay cash, so they lose out by us bringing a snack with us or we just buy a pretzel and eat that. We will still go some, but bought annual tickets to two other places which we go to more often . One requires no reservations which I like. I hope they have something for evenings , (even if just early evenings after dark) because we usually go for our anniversary and this one is special. We drive and at first it wasnt bad to walk from the parking lot because there wernt many cars but last week when we went we had to walk from the next to last row of peter pan to the monorail which is quite a walk in the heat, and especially when we leave and have to walk back to our car. I normally would not complain about having to sit to have a drink of anything, but the heat on the pavement is bad and Its tough to find a place to sit sometimes to get that drink, especially now that attendance has gone up. I complain here but we still do go but not for long hours,
Tom: If you tell me how to contact you privately, I’d be happy to forward you the response I got from David’s. Basically, they said they would try to re-rent the booking. If it sold, they would refund our money minus $3.00/PT in fees or offer us re-booking within the next 36 mos. if it did not re-sell, we are out what we paid. Moreover, they flat out refused to contact the points owner other than to get their permission to re-rent. If the points owner did not agree to re-rent, I would still be out my payment. I have booked successfully thru David’s in the past, but I don’t think I will do it again. PS: If you check the re-rental listings, there are hundreds of them. I doubt my listing will re-sell.
I’ve used the DVC Rental Store and for a slight surcharge, they have a “cancel for any reason” option. They are great to work with.
Michael – I agree. I’ve used both Dave’s & the DVC Rental & prefer the DVC Rental Store. They seem to have a bigger inventory. Due to the pandemic, the cost of the Cancel For Any Reason insurance has gone up. A LOT. But it will cover the pandemic, when most other trip insurance plans won’t.
I didn’t get that for my Sept 2020 trip to Disney (which was booked before the pandemic), but I got most of my money back because they sold my reservations. I get the same consultant every time I book with them, which is nice, too. And I love that you don’t have to pay 100% at time of booking like you do with Dave’s.
This is why I would never book through David’s or any other timeshare sell; I don’t care how much of a discount it is from Disney’s prices. You get sick, injured or a family does, etc. and you are out everything. Why be penny wise and pound foolish?
I was going through some papers the other day, I found my most recent WDW vacation package receipt o from 2018 and the other from 2013. Consequently, in 2013 I had 4people with me and 2018 only 3, the exact same package cost me $1500 more for one less person. While I was looking at said receipts, I thought about both trips, in 2018 we all commented about how service was less, food wasn’t as good, entertainment had been cut and CM seemed far less happy. Furthermore, while we were on our trip Disney was actually raising prices from one day to the next! It’s all about the money. It’s a buyers market, they just haven’t figured that out yet.
Thanks as always for the great article Tom!
Tom and all, thanks for the post and so many great comments. I’ve decided to cancel a November Disney trip and head to an off-season beach trip instead. I just don’t think the increased crowds and wait times with reduced park hours, limited dining options, cut back entertainment, etc. outweigh the upside (I’m not sure what that is now). I plan to put a trip on the calendar in February 2021, hoping for some improvements. I wish the best of luck and times to everyone going this year. And please, encourage Disney to add some of the magic back.
Such a short sided cut to get rid of the GFSO. They were the reason we always stayed at the Grand. So very disappointed.
I agree. It looks like there’s an online petition to bring them back.
Michael – Where can we find the online petition?
Al – I don’t think I can put a website address in the post, so go to Goggle and search on the following… “disney please change grand floridian orchestra“ and it’s the second or third link down.
Michael – Got it. Thank you.
Odd as it may sound, our Florida friends (some who work for Disney and Universal) are coming to NJ during the period of time we would normally be going to Disney, which is the week after Thanksgiving. They are super excited to see NYC in all of it’s Christmas glory, and for whatever else they are able to do. There will be a carriage ride through Central Park and a visit to the MOMA. Were it not for the pandemic, I doubt this type of trip would be happening.
However (and this is a big however), those of us who remember Disney prices and entertainment offered from two or three decades ago are horrified at what Disney has been able to get away with. I’m a bargain hunter and would never settle for a vacation that offers less and costs more.
We have a Disney trip booked in late April 2021 and have decided we may forego theme parks and just make it a resort trip. And we’re just fine with that.
Don’t they have to quarantine for 14 days to enter NY or NJ from Florida?
DebC, we’re hoping they’ll lift the quarantine requirement by December, but if they do have to quarantine, they’ll be here long enough to do so.
While COVID is a major factor in our not taking our Xmas holiday trip, the lack of entertainment, dining, and fast passes plus no parades, no fireworks AND reduced hours are significant factors. We are even taking a mid four figure hit due to a non-cancellable reservation through David’s Vacation Club Rentals. But I figure, why throw more good money after bad. From what Tom is reporting, I think we will not be back at Disney for a very long time. It makes me really sad because we could always count on having a great time at WDW. But now it just sounds like a lot of expensive hassle for little reward. Not sure I’ll be a “mouselover” for very much longer.
A bit of an aside, but what (if any) recourse has David’s offered?
Curious because we recommend them on the blog and we’ve heard mixed feedback. It’s tough to ascertain where people have unrealistic expectations (DVC has a mess on its hands and many owners who rent points have limited recourse–but that doesn’t excuse poor customer service by the rental companies) and where there are legitimate grievances. Judging by your comment, you seem pretty reasonable–any feedback?
We’re renting through David’s and it appears there’s basically nothing we can do. Money is spent. The contract says no refunds, that’s just what it is. It’s not anyone’s fault the world fell apart.
When the resorts were closed, they seemed to be working things out with people case-by-case. I got the feeling they were letting people postpone their stay, but it was definitely a per-owner per-renter thing. It makes sense: if the resort is closed, they can’t hold up their end of the contract. But with the resorts all open it seems like we’re as locked in as we ever were.
I’d be curious about a reservation at a resort that is closed with other options available.
Again, you’re the best. Reading this blog makes me feel calm.
I canceled our Sept 2020 trip to Disney this year, but I was luckier. I rented DVC points through the DVC Rental Store and got most of my money back (in the form of a credit). They have a listing of confirmed reservations that people can buy. We had a split stay and managed to sell it all. It’s also nicer (for me) because the DVR Rental only requires an 11-point deposit instead of the entire amount paid in full in advance & they’re here in the U.S. which is where I prefer to buy when possible.
I think everyone needs to realize that Disney as well as many, many other companies are trying to figure out how to survive this life altering pandemic. I am sure they are faced with many difficult decisions that they never imagined they would be dealing with. I think we need to cut them some slack and be thrilled they are open and doing the best they can. I hope to return to Disney World in January and no matter what attractions are open, I guarantee I will cry like a baby when I walk down Main Street in the Magic Kingdom.
There definitely have been some people with unrealistic expectations, but I think many if not most people traveling now or in the near future are cutting Disney some slack.
The question is what degree of slack is reasonable and appropriate? For me, that’s circumstantial–if I’m paying half price for a hotel room or have the benefit of super low crowds, I’ll cut more slack on the cuts. If things are full price (or close to it) and crowds are heavy, I don’t have nearly as much sympathy. Especially when the company attempting to ‘survive’ has billions in cash on hand.
The saying “Disney is a business” cuts both ways–it’s not just a convenient excuse for whenever Disney raises prices. It’s the duty of the consumer to hold the business accountable for its shortcomings.
I think most everyone does realize that Disney, as well as many, many other companies are trying to figure out how to survive this pandemic. But they’ve had almost eight months to do that. High-powered executives should be able to figure it out in 3/4 of a year. They’re expecting us to return without giving us a reason to. When I’m paying more than $3,000 for a vacation, I expect (at a minimum) a $2,500 experience. They aren’t providing that with the limited entertainment, limited dining options, no FastPasses, special events, park hopping or meet-n-greets, shorter park hours, etc. I get they have to make changes. I don’t get that they’re still charging ridiculous prices for an experience we can get here at our local amusement parks.
I agree about cutting them some slack but they are not cutting us some slack. Some things need to be available. It would not cost them to make dining plan available. Put the menus out there with the restaurants that are open and let people make their own decisions about wanting to buy. I would buy. They could change up a little and have a snacks only plan. Fast pass would not cost them anything and it would make quite a few people happy. There are a whole lot more things they could do but it does seem like they are making an effort.
I’m not saying they are not justified in many of their actions but I do know they did not open for us to enjoy the park it was about making some money and these hours are ridiculous. To me the nighttime ambience is part of the experience and that has been completely removed without many guests ever realizing they were missing out on something.
Some slack, sure. But what exactly is the purpose of getting rid of the orchestra? The “savings” they’ll get from that aren’t even noticeable. Meanwhile, a much-needed entertainment option at DHS is now gone. Makes no sense.
I agree wholeheartedly with Tom’s response here. And remember, my disgust started and ended with November 2018 trip. So they were doing this nonsense way before Covid. Don’t be fooled. They may cite that now as the reason, but it obviously isn’t. What was the excuse before the virus?
I think it was during the 20th anniversary of Magic Kingdom, one of the senior executives was interviewed about the park guest experience, and he said they wanted everything about the parks should carry the message “ It’s OK to have fun.” to the park guests. I don’t think the current senior management ever considers that, nowadays.
There’s a great story about Ray Bradbury noticing a Viollet-le-Duc spire on Sleeping Beauty Castle similar to that of Notre Dame Cathedral. When asked why Walt Disney spent $100,000 on this unnecessary spire, John Hench told him, “Because he loved it.”
“That’s why I love Walt Disney. It cost a hundred thousand dollars to build a spire he didn’t need.” And that, Ray concluded, is the secret of Walt Disney–doing things you don’t need, and doing them well. Then you realize you needed them all along.
(Full story: https://www.waltdisney.org/blog/nothing-has-die-walt-disney-ray-bradbury-friendship)
To your point of the majority of the attendees being local right now, maybe Bob Chapek will finally see the value in local PH.
I’m waiting for them to bring back Festival of the Lion King before I plan another trip. THAT’S when I’ll know it’s safe enough to travel again!
I completely agree with you about the Disney resorts being wildly overpriced for what they offer. I mean the theming and proximity does add value, but the moderates rack rates are in the $275-$400+ range and they are glorified motels and some deluxe resorts are regularly more expensive than the Four Seasons despite being nowhere close in terms of luxury and service quality.
On the other hand, until COVID, they had no problem filling the resorts at rack rates, and even during COVID, I doubt that the prices are significantly deterring those willing to make the trip to Disney from staying at the resorts either. Same goes for keeping the prices the same despite the reduced experience. That’s not to say that there aren’t some people who were on the fence about traveling to Disney during COVID who were pushed over the edge into not going because of the prices, but I think COVID is probably a far bigger reason for people deciding not to come than price and most of those who are still going during these times are still willing to pay what Disney asks.
IMO, that assumes the people comfortable to travel are looking at Walt Disney World or nothing. I’d hazard a guess that there’s a large segment of people who are willing to travel right now, but have gone elsewhere after balking at Disney’s prices.
I know we’re in somewhat of an echo chamber here with other Disney fans, but the majority of the general public is not ‘Disney or bust.’ They might do a long weekend at the beach, National Park, or regional amusement park. Heck, if I were out of state planning a Florida trip, I’d be taking a very hard look at Universal’s hotels. The bang for buck of staying there is stronger right now, I think.
We were booked to stay at Coronado Springs for Spring Break this year. That was pushed back to Memorial Day week, which was pushed back to 4th of July week. When Disney first announced that the parks would not open until mid July, we cancelled our trip. We should’ve waited to find out the resorts would open but didn’t (this was supposed to be a no parks trip as we had a park filled trip planned for Sept). We ended up travelling to Orlando for 4th of July and staying at Cabana Bay. We had a suite at Cabana Bay and as we are thinking about travelling to Orlando again this winter. As I have researched prices, a suite at Cabana Bay is half the cost of a standard room at Coronado or Caribbean. My children preferred the pool at Cabana Bay to both Disney resort pools and I prefer the suite to a standard room. If Disney wants to compete with Universal Orlando they better start offering more for the price or lower their pricing.
Agreeing with Tom’s response. My family are Disney lovers, but not fanatics. We’ve been pushing our April 2020 trip back repeatedly and it now stands in March 2021. If things don’t get a lot better, we’ll just scrap it and visit some national parks in June instead. For the price of a week at WDW (around $4K) we could spend several weeks road tripping. Heck, if our passports are ever valid again, a week in Iceland would be much cheaper. And the kids have never been to Iceland! 🙂
Hilary – in Disney’s defense, they offer WAY better discounts to the military than Universal Studios does, both in their resort and ticket prices. That’s why we go to Disney every year but never Universal. I realize that isn’t relevant to a lot of visitors, but it’s greatly appreciated by the military community.