I’ve been thinking over the past twenty-four hours about one of the major topics here at That Park Place and how we cover it. When it comes to theme parks globally, there is one place that is the magnum opus, the cat’s meow, the big kahuna. Nothing else comes close to Walt Disney World. Sure, Universal Studios is amazing, Dollywood is often rated the best in a host of categories, and there are fantastic parks all over the country. But when it comes to what Disney World can do, not even Disneyland holds a candle in comparison. Walt Disney World is forty plus square miles of fun. It’s an oasis in the middle of Central Florida where a huge chunk of land was purchased just to ensure that people get to play — that families get to play.
But, you know, lately we have been overwhelmingly negative on this site about Disney World. That’s no fun. It’s a reflection of decisions that are being made regularly to pull as much money out of each guest as possible while offering less than in the past. Still, crowds were huge over the holidays, and they’ve held mostly strong through the weekends of January. There’s reason for concern for Disney World when it comes to February through May as they’re putting out discounts for Florida residents to try to bolster their numbers… but that doesn’t negate a large number of people are paying large sums of money to go to the happiest place on Earth. That’s in spite of free Fastpasses being gone, lines being large, costs going up, most live entertainment still missing, and the parks switching to a DLC model that charges guests for things that were once complimentary.
So what is Disney doing right that is driving the continued success of Walt Disney World?
For one, Disney World has a legacy that is hard to shake. Generations of families have been going to the world’s largest playground, and they often have tremendous memories. Taking your child to see the castle is like a rite of passage for many American parents. For families that don’t go to the parks regularly, they don’t know that Harmonious lacks the punch of Reflections of Earth. They don’t know that you could wait in three lines for free at one point while you enjoyed a meal or shopped in retail spots. They just know that they’re going to Disney World. Some of that legacy is beginning to tarnish, however. We see it with the Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser failing to hit capacity in its first months of opening. We see it with negative guest reactions hitting mainstream press. But it would honestly take years for Disney to destroy the legacy that the parks have.
look at the growth in Disney World ticket prices over time pic.twitter.com/13lC3WwbHZ
— John B. Holbein (@JohnHolbein1) October 24, 2021
Another important thing is that Disney has actually gotten much better about fixing problems with their new systems. Tickets not being properly linked to accounts and reservations is quickly fixed by Guest Relations now. Failed queue lines due to breakdowns will result in a quick ride-anything pass given to guests. Because the hotels are still locked into 2019 price schemes, it’s also still relatively cheap to go to Disney hotels and chill while doing just a very few days at the parks. So there are ways to go to Disney at a semi-bargain, and the protocols are being smoothed out. Bag checks are much less of a hassle than in the past.
It should also be noted that while food prices are going up, and sometimes in ridiculous ways, the food at Disney is still high quality. Portions are often generous. That’s important when guests are walking 20,000 steps per day. Disney does a great job of taking care of those with special needs, both dietary needs and mobility needs. All of that is great.
And while many of the rides are beginning to show their age (seriously, Soarin’ Theater B has a huge scratch in the bottom of the screen), Disney still has some of the most interesting rides on the planet. They’re not fantastic anymore, and I’m not sure I’m quite as sold on Rise of the Resistance as I once was, but they’re still very good. It does seem that many of the rides need plussing to keep up with the expectations of the modern world. But as far as maintenance goes, the caretaking of the rides is excellent sans a few rides that are neglected (looking at you Carousel of Progress). Upgrades to the monorails and to Spaceship Earth are fantastic, though, and really add much to the feeling of the “magic”.
If you’re going to Walt Disney World to stay at a highly themed hotel with a few days at the parks, I think you’re going to have a good time. A trip to Boma, Ohana, or Narcoose’s are still excellent experiences. And in days where crowds aren’t high, I think the parks still offer value. I highly recommend going to Typhoon Lagoon. Disney World still offers a lot of things that are unique to it and to it alone. While Disney World is not what it once was, and while it has degraded greatly in what you’re receiving, it was once so fantastic that even this tarnished state is better than anything else. Do I think people are going to start getting the word and going to the beach or state parks a bit more? I do. But for so many families, there’s no way to replicate walking down Main Street USA and showing your child Cinderella Castle for the very first time.
I just really hope that Disney returns to offering tremendous value for the parks. One of the reasons for going to Disney World used to be that you paid a lot up front, but then you were taken care of like no other place on the planet. That’s diminished, and it takes away a big part of the allure. I don’t want one of my favorite places that holds so many great memories to be a place that is symbolic of what once was. I still have a Fastpass for Big Thunder Mountain that reads 2:55 – 3:55 AM on it. It hangs in my office, faded and barely legible. That’s the kind of craziness that Disney World once was. I miss it.
Maybe that’s why there are still massive crowds. Especially after this pandemic, we all miss what once was. And there’s still no place like Disney World, even if it shines a little less brightly.
