Disney has been making a lot of changes. But WHY? And why NOW?
The current Disney CEO, Bob Chapek, has been accused by many fans of cutting costs and raising prices too frequently. Chapek is quick to point out that Disney is a company, and many other companies can make these moves without coming under scrutiny for it. But with fans still largely unsatisfied, Chapek has adopted another strategy for explaining the unpopular changes.
Bob Chapek became the Disney CEO at a difficult time — right before the start of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. The parks shut down, production on many projects was halted, and leaders had to learn how to navigate this unprecedented time. So in many ways, it makes sense that The Walt Disney Company has experienced more changes than usual over the last few years.
But price increases and other less-than-popular changes have persisted now that the pandemic is considered by many to be over. First, we’ll take a look at what some of those changes are, and then we’ll dive into Chapek’s now-common response to criticism about them.
The Recent Changes
Many of the changes that fans aren’t happy with are happening in the Disney theme parks. We’ve seen several big waves of price increases, which have affected park tickets, merchandise, food, and special experiences. There has been a price increase on Genie+ (more on that program in a bit) as well.
But the parks aren’t the only places where Disney is getting more expensive. Disney+ is about to get a major price increase as an ad-supported tier will be introduced in December and ad-free Disney+ will go up in price. Hulu and ESPN+ have both seen price increases recently, too.
Back to the parks, Disney replaced the free FastPass+ program with the paid Genie+ system (at Disney World and Disneyland). If guests want to skip the line at certain Disney attractions, they must pay a fee for each person in their party. That fee changes depending on the day, but it starts at $15 per person, per day in Disney World and $25 per person, per day in Disneyland.
During busier times (such as for the holidays or on weekends), the price goes up in both parks. The system can also be a little bit tricky to use, according to some guests, which hasn’t endeared many people to it.
Click here to learn how to use Genie+ like a pro.
Additionally, many Disney fans have expressed that they don’t like the Park Pass Reservation system, which mandates that all guests have both a park ticket and a reservation for the park they’d like to visit on any given day. If you have a park ticket but not a reservation to the park you’re visiting, you won’t be allowed to enter.
The reservations are free to make, but they do run out during busy times (especially for Magic Kingdom), so if you don’t make your reservations quickly, you may not be allowed to visit your first-choice park.
This system has been especially unpopular with Annual Passholders, who may not plan their Disney trips as far in advance as other guests. There have been multiple lawsuits against Disney by passholders who claim that the system violates their contract because their passes are supposed to have no blockout dates, but the reservation system makes it so that they cannot enter the parks on certain days.
So how has CEO Bob Chapek justified these (and other) changes?
Bob Chapek’s Strategy
During the Wall Street Journal Live Tech conference, the WSJ editor-in-chief Matt Murray asked Chapek about Disney’s future, especially in the context of what kinds of content Disney would include on its streaming services. He said, “I kind of assume Dahmer wouldn’t be on [Disney+], or Squid Games. So […] what’s the line for Disney in a changing world?”
Chapek answered, “I want to respect legacy, I want to respect what this brand is, but at the same time, I know that we may be even more precious about what’s Disney than the consumer base is and if the consumer base has more elasticity then we’ve traditionally had in terms of defining what’s Disney, then we probably ought listen to our audience.” This last phrase seems to capture Disney’s current strategy for justifying changes: Chapek is looking at audience response and making decisions based on that.
But if he’s looking at audience response and we previously said that the changes are unpopular, why haven’t there been any reversals? Based on another interview with the CEO (this time with CNBC), Chapek isn’t looking so much at what audiences are saying as at what they’re doing.
In the CNBC interview, when asked about the recent changes, such as price increases, he said, “Well, it’s all up to the consumer. If consumer demand keeps up, then we act accordingly. And if we see a softening (which we don’t think we’re going to see) then we can act accordingly as well. We’re very flexible.” So Chapek is making decisions based on demand, and he’s correct that consumer demand has largely supported the changes that have been made.
In the most recent quarterly report, Chapek said that demand for the theme parks has continued to exceed capacity “on many days.” More and more people are buying Genie+, and Disney+ has increased in subscribers as well. These all seem to support the changes that have happened as well as Chapek’s statement that Disney is following the audience.
This strategy of pointing to the consumer when justifying changes has been used several times by Chapek. In a different interview with CNBC, Chapek said, “I like to look at almost every one of our businesses through the eyes of the ultimate consumer because I believe if you do that, then you can’t go wrong.”
In another interview, this time with the Hollywood Reporter, Chapek said, “Ultimately, everybody who’s in this business caters to one entity, and that’s the consumer.” Looking back at the WSJ Live Tech conference, Chapek later said, “If you look at our company through the eyes, look at our brands, our franchises, our stories, through the eyes of a consumer, all they see is what I call capital D, they only see Disney and we should facilitate that.” He seems to have repeated on several occasions this position of considering the consumer in every change.
But is this strategy (of pointing to the consumer to justify changes) a new one? Far from it. Over a year and a half ago, during a 2021 shareholder meeting, Bob Chapek said, “As we’ve said, we believe it’s important to put the consumer in charge, and let them decide when and how they want to enjoy our films, particularly as we navigate our way through the pandemic.”
Is Bob Chapek blaming Disney fans for the changes they don’t like? In many ways, it can look like that. But he’s also correct that demand seems to support the changes that have been made.
What Can You Do?
So if the consumer is really in charge of Disney, what can you (as a Disney fan) do to bring about change? Disney has a webpage that lists several contacts you can reach out to with your questions and concerns. There are various emails listed for the Disney parks, streaming services, merchandise teams, and more. Reaching out with respectful concerns is one way you can petition for change at the Walt Disney Company.
Click here to learn how to contact Disney.
As Disney and specifically CEO Bob Chapek continue to navigate a changing world, we will likely see more and more changes come to the parks and streaming services. Especially as demand has seemed to remain steady for Disney’s products, it’s likely that these changes could include more price increases as well. As Chapek says, “it’s all up to the consumer.”
Want to learn more about what Disney CEO Bob Chapek has said recently? Check out the posts below:
- Disney CEO Bob Chapek Says He’s “Not Sure It’s Possible” to Make Everyone Happy
- How CEO Bob Chapek Plans To Turn Disney Into the Ultimate Experiential Lifestyle Brand
- CEO Bob Chapek Was Asked if Disney Is “Too Woke.” Here’s What He Said.
- Why CEO Bob Chapek Wants Disney To Avoid “the M-Word.”
- Disney CEO Bob Chapek Will “Start Balancing” Who Is Let Into the Theme Parks
- CEO Bob Chapek Reveals Who’s REALLY In Control of Disney
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As a Disney consumer, what would you want to communicate to Disney CEO Bob Chapek? Let us know in the comments.
The way to improve the Disney experience? Double the price and limit the guests to 1/2 a few days a month. On these days we can pay more but get a much better experience. They could even double the food prices. We would pay it. We go every few years but the experience is awful when the park is so crowded you stand in line for hours and end up riding a few rides. I would rather pay double for short lines and room to relax. You could also sell a fast pass that lets you get to the front of each line once like Universal does. That is very helpful. I am willing to save up and pay more for a much better experience. Give us that option.
I would also highly recommend that you put more benches all over the park. People need a place to relax and why not constantly be buying up land around the parks and slowly expanding? That would be cool.
Simply put, its too expensive and too crowded. Won’t go back.
I’ve been a FL annual passholder since the late 90s and I didn’t renew this year. Everything at Disney has gotten too expensive and the experience at the parks has diminished over the last 10 years. This last huge price increase and the attitude of the CEO made vote with my wallet.
My family will never be able to go to a Disney park since the price gouging started. My wife and I are great broken to see so much greed from Disney. You used to be about making a magical experience. Now you spit on Walt’s gave a you count your ludicrous amounts of money. Mr CEO you have ruined Disney. Resign now.
When I was growing up we couldn’t afford to go to Disney at all. So it’s hard to hear so many people complain about the price today and claim it wasn’t like that in the past. Hogwash. I had to save for a year for my first trip and I was an adult and married. I don’t know how many late hours I worked just to afford it. I never got the magic as a child due to the price. If it’s worth it, work and save up.
Disney magic is still there. Can’t wait until I save up enough for the Star Cruiser.
IMO, Chapek is reaping the benefits of seeds sown by Micheal Eisner. Eisner flooded us with the Disney brand with family friendly movies in the 90’s and beyond, Disney stores everywhere that kept you in touch with the Mouse, ABC plugging Disney by attaching the Mouse to almost every special announcement and event, and all the way down to the fine details of EVERY resort had it’s own distinctive Resort Mug, not the almost generic same mug everywhere that you find today. Eisner’s work started the thoughts in many a parent’s head to go to Disney and for many it took waiting till now to get there and Chapek believes it is because of something he has done. I firmly believe many of those supporting the parks right now are the “new money” folks who think they are rich or those who are swimming in debt but don’t realize it yet. Once these people get their quick thrill out of the parks, they will be on to the next grand adventure somewhere else, or too broke to return. I will have to chuckle when (and the time will come) Disney has to reel in their current “high prices for less product” policy and “beg” the consumer with free dining plans, reduced room rates, etc. I look forward to that time as the parks will be less crowded than ever and Disney execs will be sweating during the wait to see just how many of us tried and true Disney fans are still out there willing to return. I raised my kids in the WDW parks from early 90’s thru 2010’s and Disney has a lot of memories for me and my family during our 45 plus family visits from out of state ranging from 7-14 days each. I’ve left a good retirement account with the mouse and feel quite bitter with management for what I now get in return for being such a loyal & faithful customer.
I belive the pass holder passes be reinstated especially for Florida residents Disney is losing tons of money from Florida residents restricting them to weekend passes is ridiculous. Let them bring their children when they are out of school Disney will see they can make more money. With all the restrictions its making people hate Disney. Walt and Roy would not be happy Listen to your customers.Notupset with the raise in prices that’s understandable but restrictions on pass holder passes is hard to understand.
Sorry to see that corporate greed has replaced Walt’s magical place for all to enjoy. Why are we struggling with inflation?
10 of us with rv’s enjoyed Disney for a week for 10 years running. Spent a ton of money for our annual trip. However, Disney, like professional sports has become the place for the rich and your corporate pals Mr. Chapek. So enjoy counting your bonus money at Christmas Mr Scrooge.
Disney World is not a theme park. It is an immersive experience where you create your own story given the pieces provided by the imagineers. It is very difficult to feel immersed when that immersion is interrupted by park inaccessibility.
I so agree with your statement, Eric. With all the restrictions requiring preplanning and keeping your face in your phone, the spontaneous fun is impossible to attain. I can get over the price increases, just give me back the original parkhopper and add enough to the ticket price to reinstate the original fastpass system. No amount of money can buy the same experience that was available at WDW 5 years ago, and I refuse to believe ANY customers asked for this change nor does Covid cause it to remain in place.
I went to Disney in in the 90’s. It was crowded and it was expensive at that time to stay on the property. But my son was able to see and approach all the characters roaming the park. We spent our money for 4 days eating at Disney restaurants and my son got to take home a stuffed doll of his favorite character. Fast pass was never ok for those families that stood in line with their kids who did not sign up; Hard to wait while others walk right up and your time waiting gets even longer. When we all had to wait…much better experience. The beauty of the park was the workers in period costumes, the polite and customer centered workers. It’s now hard to believe that a tat and purple haired young lady came from the 50’s or other various time period parts of the park. We went to the park a few more times and it slowly was losing its magic. We went right before COVID 3 years ago, and will never go back. The park it’s self had buildings throughout the park wrapped in tarps and many attractions we ” under construction” the hotel we stayed at on the property was horrible. I was served a salad in the park with plastic wrap shredded through the salad when I went to seek help, was told the only thing they could do was give me another one.Would you want to try it again if this is their quality control? There were no characters walking freely walking the park and if you saw one they were being escorted by a guard and we were told not to approach. If we want to take a pic or say hi we would have to make a reservation and wait in line for a meet and great. The rides were horrific due to families talking on their phones with friends, and camera phone hold up taking videos and park goers sharing their experience in real time. The guides rush through the what use to be entertaining speeches with an up beat narrative to a “they make me say this” attitude. The obscene price for a beverage is gouging at every level. I heard families all through the day shocked when for a family of 5 as example paid 65 dollars for ice cream. How can you park workers enjoy interacting with the general public when people are upset with the price gouging. The park no longer has a feeling of magic and joy. It’s now a stress filled over priced experience. If Disney is gouging it’s visitors and profit is down, But the park is packed, you are doing something terribly wrong. Friends retuned a few months ago and said you are not allowed to switch from one park to another on the same day. They said it was the worst experience for their kids 5&7 and will never go back. The kids were stressed and cried alot. Disney needs to go back to the magic it once was, and Mr. CEO your explanation of … we charge more because customers want us to…is ludicrous.
It’s also because Disney just keeps making remakes,bad sequels and going woke. The Last time I was at Disney world was in 2003 and again in 2011. They keep building more rides and attractions of course prices will sore plus with inflation forget it.
I LOVE Disneyland…its my Happy place! All i have to do is step foot in the park and all of sudden i am smiling, laughing like a little kid. For the last 2 years I have been jinxed though….haven’t been able to go. Honestly I don’t care about the prices….though I know $1200 wont go far, but it’s all i can afford to save a 3 day trip. I honestly don’t like the “reservation” system they have now, from what i have seen its not helping with crowds or wait times for the rides…but I will wait in all lines to get on the rides…again – its my Happy place. If I could work there i would….but apparently you need a high school diploma (which sadly I never got). The one thing I don’t like is the retheming of Splash Mountain…no one really knows what the movie is the ride is based on & honestly I don’t think anyone really cares. The ride is focused on the cartoon characters!! I am sad I will never get to ride it again as Splash Mountain….the laughing place is seeing its last days for no good reason in my opinion. And agree with me or not I don’t care – the world has gone crazy with being “politically correct” or whatever you wanna call it. Sad that Disney had to fall in line….
The only fix is for enough people to not go that they lower prices. Considering those crowds that seems unlikely.
I’d be curious to see some studies on *why* crowds are so massive and huge at everything (national parks, concerts, sporting events, theme parks, etc) now compared to the crowds we had when I was a kid in the early 90s. Population hasn’t increased enough to justify the massive increase in crowds and I’m constantly being told how we have a huge income inequality problem now, yet what i actually see are people buying cars at 2-3 times the price of the 90s, and huge crowds lining up to spend absolutely tremendous amounts of money at parks, events, concerts etc.
He’s sorely misguided. People buying Genie+ or paying higher prices for tickets while receiving less benefit doesn’t mean it’s what the consumer wants. It’s just that the consumer has no choice but to accept the corners being cut.
Just because a starving person eats the poop sandwich you offer them when there’s nothing else to eat doesn’t mean that they like the poop sandwich.
That CEO’s problem is forgetting about what Walt Disney’s reason for opening the parks was. In Walt Disney’s heart, he wanted children to experience the innocence and joy of Disney with the Disney parks, making them affordable for everyone, not just for the wealthy. This CEO has gone outside that philosophy, treating the parks only as businesses.
Yeah really you make it impossible for children and families who experienced it when they were kids that want to take their kids for the same experience you make it impossible with your outrageous prices. It’s insane and and truly heartbreaking for many families and prices lately have become unrealistic. I guess my children will never get to experience Disney world at this point. It’s all about money for the company not enjoyment for families and the kids anymore.
It would be nice to have Disney Movies on the tv again at 6:000 on Sunday nights! With the Mickey Mouse club and old classics. Please consider this as a come back. Family time!!!!
Agree 100%, I watch YouTube just to see the opening of the wonderful world of Disney. I miss the old shows and the 8wnderful world of Disney. Don’t care for the new Disney remakes at all, rather see these old shows
I’m fine with premium prices for premium products, but the “cheap” feeling in creeping into the “brand” system wide. If you can’t keep the parks Disney Magic spotless then raise prices till you can afford the staff and reduce the crowds.
Genie+ on our trip in the spring was fantastic. Essentially never had to wait for anything and the 90-120 line skip for Cars & StarWars rebellion for their individual fee was totally worth it. The quick serve food in StarWars & Avengers lands was also excellent.
We’re infrequent visitors but if we can pay to have the crowds and quality back to the mid 80’s I’m all for it.
I have been to Disney World many, many times. I love the parades, the shows, the characters, the singing, and shops. All gives the magical feeling we’ve all come to love. However, with all the things I’m hearing about the parks, all the changes, I’m so disappointed. I have a friend who has never been to the parks. It is on he bucketlist, but she has no desire to go now because of the unfavorable changes. We have friends visiting from Australia in 2023. I was so looking forward to have them experience Disney parks. However, I told them the cost sky rocketed, the food portions are so much smaller, rides are always beoken down, and cast members no longer care for the customers experience in the park. I refuse to return to Disney until changes are reversed and Disney truly cares about the people. What the CEO has done is no where near what Walt had in his vision for the parks. It is the saying, don’t try to fix what isn’t broken. Listen to the people and bring back the magic we all know and love. If not, people will stop visiting and spend their money where they are appreciated.
But it was broken. People willing to spend more for a less crowded experience want higher prices to drive some away. People not willing to spend more still complain about how crowded it is. The obvious commonality being everyone is fed up with the crowds. People who just wish the crowds were lighter have no business friendly solution while those willing to pay for for a less crowded experience are starting to get that a bit. “Wishing” and “hoping” are not adult solutions.
I want the reservation system to go away, it isn’t fair to have a consumer have to have reservations. The park seems just as crowded with having a reservation and the lines are just as long. If the CEO is really listening to the fans then ditch the reservations and let the fans enjoy a day at the park
You forgot one other thing a Disney fan can do: boycott. They can choose to go to Universal Studios for a few years instead, and can even do like my family has done: buy unrestricted Universal Studios Florida annual passes. No need for a park reservation there. When Universal Studios opens their new park in 2025 maybe then “Cheapek” will want some of those fans to come back. But he may have a problem if some of them ultimately decide to stay with Disney’s chief rival instead by then…
Driving some out with higher prices is the entire point of raising the prices as much as they have. It’s the goal, not an unfortunate byproduct.
And it’s not only the Parks! What happened to the Disney Store??!! We always went there for our “Disney fix” when we couldn’t get to the Park (and bought a ton of merch!), but almost every non-Park store was suddenly closed by Chapek soon after we started coming back from the pandemic! The stores were Disney’s “Goodwill Ambassadors” for the rest of the nation. They kept Disney happily in our minds every day. Now, there’s certainly very little good will associated with the name Disney any more!
I agrree with others: the parks are dirty, less offerings – yet higher costs, many DVC members are not renewing annual passes as it is not beneficial. Chapek does not care about anything but profit. Yet us shareholders are not seeing dividends, so where is the money going? Chapek is cutting jobs (yet the company complained that they needed more employees), but has he taken any cut in pay or benefits? Nope. He needs to go.
We have a DVC timeshare and spend alot of nights at Disney, but we don’t go to their parks, restaurants, and bars anymore. Their prices are a joke for what you actually get. Go ahead and drop 8 grand on a Disney vacation. In the old days it was expensive, but you at least left feeling like you had a great time. There is only greed, crowds, and disappointment there now.
I totally agree with you. We stayed a week at Disney World and only went to the park 2 days due to the costs. I have thought about selling my Disney timeshare as we have not used it during the pandemic and now with prices so high, will use the timeshare less and less. I also wonder how much the timeshare yearly dues will increase
Hard to argue with anything you just said. We bought AP’s as we moved to Florida last year. Using our passes this year, outside of just being on property, we have not felt the same magic. We don’t feel we are getting our money’s worth. We will not renew. In fact, our next trip planned is to stay at the poly (renting a friends DVC points) and not going to a park at all.
The parks appear to be dirty and crowded. Dirty being the most concerning.
Disney is “the” brand looked up to, but that has always been based on excellent customer service, attention to detail, clean parks and property and guests felt like cast members cared. Now you have them all too overworked, short staffed and things looking downward. Clean things up and go back to where we were when we respected Disney as a company. The magic needs to be there and it’s not.
I just visited for my 1 year Olds first trip. I have gone to Disney a lot I only hope this is helpful. The trams only stopped one time at the back of the mk parking lot. I remember the tram making more than on drop off and pick up locations, we asked and were told it’s one stop it’s a close walk. I had to walk with my baby in the road and cars coming in at 830pm I guess for the christmas celebration..you’d think knowing people are still driving in that parking lot they’d come up with a safer system. Go back to the old ways of fast pass use phone barcode tickets and scan on a machine that picks the time for you mobile order is okay but sometimes make you wait hours with no line inside. I don’t want to try to maneuver, look around and set up fast pass or food. I miss the old days seemed less crowded then too. Maybe limit a little more because when it was 75 minute wait times and the stores were packed also seems pointless for me to book so early and stress for months because 500 isn’t a small amount of money to my family. Maybe disney forgot that also 20 dollars for a doll that’s tiny and you also have tiny clothes for…build a bear but small. Focus on the experience you’re creating and know that people are stressed about money already spent just to get themselves in. You get what you pay for…why was it less expensive and more fun in the 90s early 2000? I loved Disney this time I was ready to go home.
As a Florida retiree, I can no longer afford an annual pass or a visit to Walt Disney world. I abhor the limits on Park visits. Your comment about annual passholders sounded to me like “undesirable” pass holder. Formerly, I would usually stay on campus at Walt Disney world and eat all my meals at Walt Disney world. I would select a signature restaurant as a special treat each visit. Apparently I don’t spend enough money for you. Charging all the consumer will bear may be good for stockholders but it is against everything that Walt stood for. But, the earnings for this last quarter do not bear that your techniques are working. It is my guess that the reports of frequent breakdowns lately is due to lack of maintenance and engineering personnel. Is laying more people off the answer? You need a complete revamp of your thinking and your vision. Meanwhile I will be at Universal.
The parks are awfully crowded for all of the “unpopular” decisions.
Love it.
Currently, it’s cheaper to purchase stock in Disney than to go to the parks for a single day. This isn’t cool. At this rate, many consumers will never be able to go to Disney and share that magic with their families. It’s just price gouging right now.
You can only price gouge necessities (milk, gas, bread…). Everything else is just what the market will bear.
So what I hear is, if our Disney fans continue to come and support us because they love what we were, then we will continue to punish them until they stop coming.
That is also what I hear. I feel like saying that it’s up to the consumer is a cheap cop out. They know the people want to go to the parks and that somehow people still find a way to be able to go to the parks. Especially their fans. People will still keep going and all they’re going to keep doing is increasing the price and blaming it on the consumer. We are being punished for liking the Disney theme parks.
We are being punished for too many of us liking disney and being able to afford it at current prices. You know bands that command $400 for seats used to play for a $10 cover before they got huge right? Disney got huge.
Right so all Disney fans need to do to enjoy Disney the way they used to is to quit the company. Don’t go to the parks. Don’t watch the movies. Don’t pay for Disney+. Gotcha.
Well it’ll be interesting next year when the postCovid travel boom is done and families deal with rising costs for everything.
So if people stop paying these ridiculous prices and decide to spend their money in other places or on different vacations the prices will drop. That’s the answer and it’s pretty simple. If you keep paying for it, he will keep taking advantage of you.
I agree. If demand is what he is going by and everyone is still going regardless of the prices increasing; then to make the prices drop, then everyone and I do mean every single Disney fan needs to cut ties, stop going to the parks, watching Disney movies, subscribing to Disney+ and etc. If what Bob says is true, and the consumers dictate the pricing by going even when prices go up; then stop it all. Let’s try an experiment, everyone stop being a Disney consumer for just 1 year, and let’s see what happens to Bob, the shareholders, etc. A smaller profit is better than no profit. A CEO that holds on to Walt Disney’s dream, legacy, what and why he built Disney (for families to come, dream, experience the magic, spend time creating memories) is better than a CEO that caters to his and shareholders pockets.
Sorry, Mr. Disney your true fans love you and what you represented and gave us, but we can’t continue to support a company that doesn’t work to keep your legacy and dreams intact for all families. We wish you were still here, because I know you were all about the magic for everyone.
Logic would tell you that is true, but Chapek is not telling us the truth. The fact is, their greed will continue to drive prices up until attendance does suffer. Once they realize they have killed their golden goose, it will be too late as they, IMHO, are failing to see that many of us have gotten over our loyalty to the Mouse, and then the cost cutting will begin with even more lax park maintenance and cleanup, along with cutting of other “extras” like mid day parades, fireworks, etc. This will then lead to unhappy consumers asking once again “what happened to the old Disney?” and attendance will decline further until the park is a ghost town and will become just another county fair. I’ve sold my Disney shares and am darn glad I never bought into the timeshare program as that will soon be like owning a lake house on a dried up lake. (No offense intended towards Disney timeshare owners)
Yes and no. Yes, people need to stop going so prices quit rising. No, prices won’t fall…they’ll just quit rising. And no, I’m not stopping going because the prices haven’t reached my threshold.
I still feel the same way fire Bob!!!! The last time I have been able to go to Disneyland was 2004. Now that bob has priced it up and up. I will never ever be able to attend the park because now it’s priced only for the rich. When I went to Disney all I had to do was pay for a park pass for how many days I was going to be there. I have never ever had to make a reservation to attend the park. Thanks to bob I will never be able to enjoy the parks because I will never ever be able to enjoy the parks.
Bob said, in part: “More and more people are buying Genie+, and Disney+ has increased in subscribers as well. These all seem to support the changes that have happened as well as Chapek’s statement that Disney is following the audience.”
I’ve been to Disneyworld (last November) and Disneyland in September. Yes, I bought Genie+. But, it wasn’t out of support of the changes. It was the only way to have a similar experience that we would have had in the past with “free” Fast Passes. And, even then, it was not as enjoyable. Our faces constantly in our phones. Fighting for food. It is a much more stressful experience than it used to be. I miss the old days!
Not at all what Walt envisioned.
Disney Has always been an expensive vacation, but IMHO value for money, but the with park passes cheap revamps and price rise’s Chapek has introduced it is not value for money any more
I would love to come to Disney world but I don’t have the money because you put it up to much for people to go
The last time I went was 2009.
It is going to go from one ear to the other without a stop over!