After just a few brutal years of worth will increase and modifications that harmed the visitor expertise, Walt Disney World has proven a brand new need to enhance satisfaction and restore a number of the misplaced magic. The latest occasion of this occurred earlier this month, however frankly, it didn’t go almost far sufficient to maneuver the needle. This listing covers what else Disney ought to do in the event that they wish to make followers happier.
For many of you, the “why” of that is most likely apparent. However in case not, visitor satisfaction and intent to return or advocate metrics took a beating after the “honeymoon” interval post-reopening, as cuts have been made that eradicated Disney’s Magical Specific, free FastPass, Further Magic Hours, and many others–whereas additionally implementing insurance policies that many followers hated.
Truthfully, this didn’t actually matter for a few years. Revenge journey was operating sizzling, and vacationers–particularly these with children who had missed a pair priceless years–have been making up for misplaced time. Some Walt Disney World diehards would grumble about paying extra and getting much less, however different followers and common vacationers have been simply glad to be again of their glad locations. Nevertheless, issues have modified.
Pent-up demand has largely exhausted itself, and Walt Disney World has seen a slowdown in each attendance and resort occupancy post-Spring Break based on the corporate itself. Consequently, they’ve gotten rather more aggressive about reductions, with a number of the greatest particular presents we’ve seen since 2018-2019 beginning this vacation season and persevering with into the primary half of 2024.
That’s not all. With the discharge of 2024 Walt Disney World trip packages, the corporate introduced 5 main enhancements to make your go to simpler. Originally of the 12 months, there have been 3 massive modifications to convey worth and adaptability. Most not too long ago got here the information of all-day Park Hopping returning in early 2024. Granted, it got here alongside virtually across-the-board worth will increase, however these occur yearly. We’ll take the wins the place we will get them!
Level being, all of those are initiatives to enhance visitor satisfaction and customary complaints about Walt Disney World being too difficult. Numerous these bulletins crossed off entries in our Want Checklist for Modifications Bob Iger Might Make Upon Returning as CEO. from instantly after he returned. So we’re fairly happy with these incremental enhancements, and acknowledge that nothing occurs quick at Walt Disney World. Progress takes time.
Nevertheless, it’s additionally very apparent that Walt Disney World nonetheless must do extra to repair visitor satisfaction and rebuild goodwill with lifelong followers who’ve develop into jaded, disillusioned, or stopped visiting totally. If all the discounting and statements on earnings calls are any indication, that is fairly pressing.
Discounting alone isn’t going to unravel the issue (nicely, except they get 2008-2009 ranges of aggressive!). If Walt Disney World desires to make an enormous splash and win again followers, we’d advocate one other “we’re listening and fixing stuff we broke” announcement with a seize bag of no less than 3 of the next expertise updates to enhance visitor satisfaction…
Deliver Again Leisure
Right here’s only a partial listing of the atmospheric acts and reveals which might be nonetheless conspicuous omissions from Walt Disney World leisure lineup:
- Residents of Hollywood
- Jedi Coaching Academy
- Voyage of the Little Mermaid
- Residents of Principal Road
- Principal Road Trolley Present
- Pandora Rangers & Drummers
It boggles the thoughts that a few of that is nonetheless lacking. Jedi Coaching Academy was completely adored by company, and was a ‘magical second’ for thus many children and their households who had the possibility to take part. Voyage of the Little Mermaid was dated, positive, however may simply be refreshed. Puppets are timeless and the present supplied a priceless indoor, air-conditioned providing at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Look, I’m not asking for this listing of issues to return again on a one-for-one foundation, similar to what was supplied in early March 2020. However I believe it completely is sensible to have one other massive ‘leisure replace’ demonstrating that Walt Disney World nonetheless cares about streetmosphere and reside performers.
Add Nighttime Spectaculars
On the nighttime spectacular entrance, the next stay lacking:
- Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular
- As soon as Upon a Time
- Rivers of Gentle
Three entries could seem insignificant, however we’d argue that’s a big quantity on the subject of spectaculars. Not solely that, however daytime parades have been minimize from Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios a number of years pre-closure, and Magic Kingdom misplaced its nighttime parade. Evaluating nighttime spectaculars and leisure right now to a decade in the past is a fairly brutal comparability.
Once more, not asking for these precise choices to return. But when Walt Disney World is severe about getting individuals to remain longer in Animal Kingdom, the reply till Tropical Americas opens (2026?) is essentially going to be leisure. Effectively, except Dr. Seeker begins taking hostages.
Concrete Calendars
This isn’t a brand new downside. For so long as I can bear in mind, Walt Disney World has printed boilerplate park hours with extensions and the precise hours not coming till a lot later. Even preclosure, we ceaselessly complained about how Walt Disney World expects company to plan months upfront, however didn’t maintain themselves to the identical customary. It’s irritating that Disney virtually forces you to plan, but in addition doesn’t permit you to correctly plan.
It additionally looks as if it has gotten worse. Within the final 6 months or so, park hours extensions have ceaselessly been extra final minute and likewise much less predictable. Magic Kingdom hasn’t persistently accomplished 8am openings on celebration days and different parks much less constant schedules. It’s the same story with Prolonged Night Hours, which has been everywhere–I can’t think about shelling out massive bucks for a Deluxe Resort months upfront, solely to seek out out that I’d have consecutive nights of EPCOT.
However the ultimate “straw” that landed this entry on the listing is the Skyliner gondola refurbishment in early 2024. We’ve been warning readers for over a 12 months that there’d seemingly be a refurbishment throughout the winter low season, since there was for the previous few years. Nevertheless, not everybody reads this weblog (the overwhelming majority of company don’t!) and the upcoming refurbishment is longer than ever earlier than.
Regardless of that, Walt Disney World waited till the top of October to launch dates and, including insult to harm, there have been a number of reader experiences of the decision middle not being prepared to rebook company at totally different resorts below previously-released particular presents. (It’s comprehensible that availability may be restricted, which is kinda the purpose–this data ought to’ve been launched earlier. The “previous Disney” would’ve understood the difficulty, and upgraded company or supplied restoration to compensate for the inconvenience and lack of a defining characteristic of the resorts in query.)
Some followers will make all types of excuses for Walt Disney World being sluggish to launch this data or replace hours, however none of them are good excuses. The underside line is that anticipating individuals to plan months upfront whereas being sluggish to launch the information that’s wanted to make knowledgeable selections for planning is poor visitor service.
Longer Common Hours
Efficient arsonist fails at preventing hearth.
So lots of Walt Disney World’s ineffectual “options” to overcrowding are fixing an issue that they themselves created. We mentioned this at size in Disney Doesn’t Actually Need Decrease Crowds, however restoring park hours would immediately will increase park capability by redistributing crowds over the course of the day. It might additionally relieve a number of the strain to buy the Genie+ line-skipping service.
Including hours is a time-tested answer, and exactly the rationale why Magic Kingdom used to open at 7am throughout peak season dates and keep open till midnight in the summertime within the aughts. Even then, Principal Road was busy till 1am with customers. It’s additionally why Magic Kingdom used to have Further Magic Hours till 2am or 3am. (Sure, actually–Night Further Magic Hours have been 3 hours lengthy!)
Now, attendance is considerably increased (by a number of hundreds of thousands of company per 12 months) and common park hours have been diminished by a number of hours per day–most notably at Magic Kingdom. There’s additionally much less leisure because of the stage reveals and atmospheric acts which were minimize, in addition to the lack of 3 totally different parades.
To Walt Disney World’s credit score, we’re lastly beginning to see vital park hours extensions this vacation season, with three midnight closings scheduled for Magic Kingdom in November. That’s a superb begin, but it surely’s solely a begin. Given modern crowd ranges, these needs to be commonplace–and 9am to 9pm hours for Magic Kingdom needs to be a factor of the previous totally.
(Combining the 2 points above, reasonably than doing week-by-week park hours extension, they need to establish all dates for the remainder of the 12 months when park hours needs to be longer. Make these extensions in a single fell swoop, and make an official announcement trumpeting the variety of “extra midnight Magic Kingdom nights!” It’d be a simple win with followers, much like earlier this 12 months when Disneyland marketed including extra of the most affordable ticket dates.)
Restore Upcharges
Nothing says “handle visitor complaints about pricing” like including issues that price more money…proper?!?
Effectively truly, yeah. Not everybody has issues with the visitor expertise that revolve round worth will increase. Not solely that, but it surely’s attainable to take concern with paying extra whereas getting the identical or much less, but in addition wanting sure upcharge alternatives that supply one thing for the additional cash to return. The 2 notions usually are not in battle–it’s attainable to carry each!
There’s truly rather a lot within the Enchanting Extras Assortment (and related add-ons) that offers Walt Disney World an incredible quantity of repeatability for regulars. Issues like sure behind the scenes or VIP excursions, eating or dessert events, early or late park entry, and rather more. The massive one for us is the EPCOT competition seminars and experiences–with out these, Meals & Wine has misplaced a number of its luster. (They’re additionally lacking from different festivals, but it surely’s most evident at Meals & Wine.)
Though I’m not big on upcharges, I’d likewise like to see one other themed After Hours at Magic Kingdom occasion. The short-lived Villains After Hours was higher than the vanilla model, and it’s about time Walt Disney World revived the Pirates & Princess idea. Earlier this week, I made a plea for a Nostalgia Nite at Magic Kingdom with Needs, SpectroMagic 2.0, and Disney Afternoon characters.
Additionally, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes comes out subsequent 12 months–a bunch of preventing monkeys within the park can be the proper synergy play for Animal and/or Magic Kingdom. It’s proper there within the title of the film!!!
Remake Lacking Meals
This looks as if such somewhat and inconsequential factor, however we hear from longtime Walt Disney World followers who’re nonetheless upset by eating places or particular meal choices which might be nonetheless lacking:
- 1900 Park Fare
- Be Our Visitor Restaurant – Breakfast & Counter Service Lunch
- Brunch at California Grill
- Eating with an Imagineer
- Grand View Tea Room
- Plaza Restaurant – Breakfast
- Trattoria al Forno – Bon Voyage Character Breakfast
- Pizzafari Household Fashion Eating
- Restaurantosaurus Burgers & Sundaes
- Restaurant Marrakesh
The 2 character meals, particularly, are massive ones with households. Identical goes with breakfast and lunch at Be Our Visitor Restaurant–a venue that’s pretty beloved, however not for the present prix fixe dinner. In all probability much less vital to common company, however we actually miss Brunch on the High and Restaurantosaurus Burgers & Sundaes (don’t chuckle!).
Bringing these again would give the Disney Eating Plan extra attraction and supply wanted eating capability. Win-win!
Rejuvenate Restaurant Menus
No first-timer is sitting on pins and needles, ready to ebook their ceremony of passage Walt Disney World trip till the Grilled Hanger Steak returns to Primo Piatto. They don’t care that the menus at Contempo Cafe or Gasparilla Island Grill are shadows of their former selves. They most likely are even unbothered or unaware that the counter service scene sucks at Magic Kingdom. I get all of that.
That is about successful again longtime followers, although, and Walt Disney World’s culinary panorama could be very a lot ‘a factor’ to the diehards, and it’s noticeably worse than it was in early 2020 as a result of scaled again menus. Enhance sufficient of these, and it could transfer the needle for no less than some Walt Disney World regulars.
Frankly, we all know this due to the optimistic response to latest menu modifications at Wilderness Lodge, Saratoga Springs, and even Plaza Restaurant in Magic Kingdom. With meals inflation relenting, it’s time to let culinary groups get artistic once more. Spotlight that on “Disney Eats” (or no matter it’s), after which emphasize the ‘new menus’ as a line merchandise in a visitor expertise enhancements submit.
Return of Further Magic Hours
I’ve been singing the praises of Early Entry at three of the parks (and even Magic Kingdom when the park opens at 8am) for over two years, and only a few of you agree with me. It’s a kind of why are you booing me, I’m right conditions. However notion is actuality, and most followers nonetheless want the previous morning Further Magic Hours to their alternative.
It’s the same story with Prolonged Night Hours. I like the perk and assume it’s far superior to night Further Magic Hours, which had develop into unbearably uncrowded. That is an much more pronounced notion downside, however in a special (and worse) manner. Followers know this can be a good perk, however are downright disillusioned and disenchanted that it’s reserved completely “for the wealthy.”
In a interval of pent-up demand the place shoppers have been spending freely/recklessly, such an method may’ve labored or been “value it” to incentivize Deluxe Resort bookings. As individuals tighten the pursestrings, it’s not going to maneuver the needle as a lot, and stands proud like a sore thumb as an easily-identifiable occasion of Walt Disney World “ignoring the center class.”
Undo that injury, convey again Further Magic Hours, and win again followers who really feel ignored. As for fixing Further Magic Hours, cease providing it to the Disney Springs Space Resorts. Positive, that’s truly simply shifting across the class hierarchy, however now no less than most of those that have been complaining loudest are a part of the in-group! 😉
Retire Genie+
Bear in mind how I spent like a dozen weblog posts whining about how Genie+ and Lightning Lanes have been the dumbest and most complicated branding selections of all time? (Then HBO and Twitter each mentioned, “maintain my beer!”) Effectively, as a lot as I hate being improper, I’ve to confess as a lot right here.
It seems that Robert Chapek was a visionary thinker in some regards. He should’ve identified that he was launching such a half-baked product that may take years of tweaks to get in a semi-functioning state and can be so reviled by company that it’d develop into a poisonous model on par with Monsanto, Philip Morris, or Comcast. Chapek was such a fantastic thinker that he foresee a day when Disney followers would soar for pleasure simply at malevolent Genie going away. (It’s actually spectacular, in a manner, that Chapek someway managed to make us hate one thing related to Robin Williams.)
We already know that the pre-booking of Lightning Lanes is arriving sooner or later in 2024. What that’ll entail is unclear, and it appears like Walt Disney World has not but settled on specifics. No matter the brand new line-skipping system does find yourself being, I’d advise Disney to ditch the Genie identify. Everybody hates it. There may be nothing of worth to be misplaced. It taints the legacy of a nationwide treasure.
It’s time to interrupt from the previous and ditch each Genie+ and Genie (I can not think about the latter is being utilized in significant numbers, not to mention fulfilling its targets of crowd redistribution/utilization). No matter what the brand new system finally ends up being–my guess is fairly near paid FastPass Plus–it is going to profit from not being connected to this poisonous model.
I’ll take this recommendation a step additional. Name it MaxPass to profit from the diploma of goodwill connected to that, even whether it is essentially totally different from that paid FastPass system. Then, in one other 12 months or so (or each time the US enters a recession) when Walt Disney World wants to spice up resort bookings and attendance, convey again free FastPass+ for resort company with the choice for a paid MaxPass+ tier.
A technique or one other, I nonetheless don’t assume we’ve seen the final of FastPass at Walt Disney World. It most likely received’t be again in 2024, however the 2025 opening of Common’s Epic Universe is correct across the nook, and Walt Disney World hasn’t damaged floor on any “reply” to that. So…
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What would you prefer to see accomplished to enhance the visitor expertise and satisfaction at Walt Disney World? Which of the entries on this listing have a real looking likelihood of coming to fruition? Assume issues will get higher or worse all through 2024? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we can assist you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
