Disney World Hasn’t Felt This Empty in Years

[chapjim]

I guess we could also say that companies should not take political positions or this is the risk.

I get censored when I say stuff like that!

 

[NachoDaddy]

Do you think Iger would honestly admit that picking a fight with around 50% of the US population was part of the problem?

I still go but I have family and friends who have backed out of WDW plans due to the culture war.

Pricing is a big part of it but there are multiple factors involved IMO.

(Getting a little off track but one online article mentioned it's not only the parks... Disney plus has had pull back and their movies have turned into an anchor...

"Disney is facing massive losses, even after a summer full of big releases. According to box office analyst Valliant Renegade, Walt Disney Co. has lost nearly $900 million following its last eight studio releases, including box office flops like LIGHTYEAR and STRANGE WORLD.")

They have also removed the ability to smoke anywhere in a park. One must completely leave the park to have a smoke during the day. While this may not affect many, I can say they did lose two AP holders (my wife and I) due to this policy and I will bet they have lost others as well. It seems they are trying to piss off everyone at the same time.

 

[ChiefIlliniwek]

They have also removed the ability to smoke anywhere in a park. One must completely leave the park to have a smoke during the day. While this may not affect many, I can say they did lose two AP holders (my wife and I) due to this policy and I will bet they have lost others as well. It seems they are trying to piss off everyone at the same time.

Pretty ridiculous. The war on cigarettes has gone far enough.

 

[Luanne]

They have also removed the ability to smoke anywhere in a park. One must completely leave the park to have a smoke during the day. While this may not affect many, I can say they did lose two AP holders (my wife and I) due to this policy and I will bet they have lost others as well. It seems they are trying to piss off everyone at the same time.

Smoking has been prohibited in both Disneyland and DisneyWorld since 2019. Thank goodness.

 

[cbyrne1174]

It's not political, it's economical. People can't afford to vacation anymore. Less people have the money to fly here because airfare has gone up 40% since before the pandemic. If I didn't live an hour away, I wouldn't go. Also, it's mainly people with kids who go to WDW and TBH my generation can't afford them anymore, which is why the birthrate is declining.

 

[NachoDaddy]

Smoking has been prohibited in both Disneyland and DisneyWorld since 2019. Thank goodness.

Right. Like people hiding in the bushes and behind buildings (where Disney made smokers smoke) at least 50 feet from any main walkway to have a smoke really cause you problems.


And my last trip to Disney was in 2018 specifically because of the ban in around 2019. I'm sure Disney doesn't want my dirty smoke filled money anyway.

 

[Luanne]

Right. Like people hiding in the bushes and behind buildings (where Disney made smokers smoke) at least 50 feet from any main walkway to have a smoke really cause you problems.

And people dropping their cigarette butts on the ground. Lovely. Have you been carrying this grudge since 2019?

 

[NachoDaddy]

And people dropping their cigarette butts on the ground. Lovely. Have you been carrying this grudge since 2019?

How would you know people were dropping their butts on the ground if you didn't go back into the smoking areas?

And yes, I'll carry this grudge and flip off Disney any time I can. I'm very happy to see they are suffering.

 

[Luanne]

How would you know people were dropping their butts on the ground if you didn't go back into the smoking areas?

Because I know smoker's habits and have seen it just about everywhere smoking is allowed.

 

[TravelJoy]

European airfare:hotels this summer are $$$ and Europe cruise bookings for 2024 also $$$. Cannot get tickets to Rome colosseum for summer 2023. Vatican jam packed. Of course, we’re headed there.

I can’t but help chime in on extraneous activity revolving Disney particularly when “Swifty“ concerts are still sold out, it’s not entirely Disney prices.

 

[ljmiii]

I can’t but help chime in on extraneous activity revolving Disney particularly when “Swifty“ concerts are still sold out, it’s not entirely Disney prices.

At the same time, there is something about Disney nostalgia that makes people think that a trip for a family w/kids to WDW should cost $X...and they get upset that it no longer does. Particularly if they were taken to WDW when they were kids.

I also think that people who drive to Disney and stay off property are much more affected by the price of tickets (or APs). For those of us who have to fly in and rent a car (or stay on property) the ticket price is a much smaller percentage of the cost of a WDW vacation.

 

[ChiefIlliniwek]

I can’t but help chime in on extraneous activity revolving Disney particularly when “Swifty“ concerts are still sold out, it’s not entirely Disney prices.

The level of hate some (many?) people have for Disney is something to behold.

 

[needvaca]

Maybe people decided to spend their big bucks in Europe instead of Disney this year. I know we did

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/tourism-europe-pacific/index.html

 

[gln60]

The level of hate some (many?) people have for Disney is something to behold.

That’s what happens when a company alienates 50% of its customers.

 

[needvaca]

That’s what happens when a company alienates 50% of its customers.

They did? What did they do?

 

[gln60]

They did? What did they do?

Refer you to post #12

 

[needvaca]

Refer you to post #12

post 12 says Disney took a "political position". What political position did Disney take that "alienated 50% of its customers" as you say?

 

[rickandcindy23]

Our son stopped smoking when our DIL was pregnant with the twins. He said it was a tough habit to break, and Disney policies against smoking were making him grouchy while we were in the parks, he was just in need of that cigarette, but he did buy nicotine patches to get through the days, but it's partly the habit and not just the nicotine. He had the Disney park motive for quitting.

I told him his health was a great reason to quit smoking. He needs to stay as healthy as possible. Unfortunately, he now struggles with his weight because he replaced cigs with sweets. He did buy a Hydrow rower, redundant, which is really a cool machine. I think I should get one to rehab my arm.

Rick and I lost all of our birth parents due to lung cancer and emphysema associated with smoking. All had oxygen, all suffered for many years before dying. How could our son see my mom so emaciated with lung cancer and still light up? She died 20 years ago on 7/19/2003. I miss her so much, especially as we are helping my stepdad cope with his health currently. He is 89 next month. So sad.

 

[dioxide45]

post 12 says Disney took a "political position". What political position did Disney take that "alienated 50% of its customers" as you say?

You are just trying to bait the conversation.

 

[needvaca]

You are trying to bait the conversation.

not really. I haven't followed the Disney situation, so really don't know the issue, but many on this thread keep referencing it. The only thing I saw in news was that Disney has always been its own government/tax district, but FL may now revoke it. But don't know why. Did they break laws?
Whatever- I don't care, was just curious what "politically alienating 50% of customers meant"

 

[Huskerpaul]

Smoking has been prohibited in both Disneyland and DisneyWorld since 2019. Thank goodness.

Just went to Silver Dollar City. They have a few remote smoking sections away from the crowds that don't bother anyone. Nicotine is a powerful drug, do not underestimate it. My wife vapes and will not do it unless in a designated area.

 

[DaveNV]

Rick and I lost all of our birth parents due to lung cancer and emphysema associated with smoking. All had oxygen, all suffered for many years before dying. How could our son see my mom so emaciated with lung cancer and still light up?

Because your son didn't have a "smoking habit" - he had a nicotine addiction. It is a very different thing to consider.

I smoked for decades, thanks to the Navy, and finally quit more than 20 years ago. I'd quit a hundred times previously, but always felt I wasn't really a nonsmoker, just that I was "between" packs of cigarettes. I always started up again. When it dawned on me that I wasn't smoking out of habit, that I was smoking due to an addiction, it smacked me right between the eyes. It completely changed my perspective about quitting, and I was finally able to quit for the last time. I now consider myself not a nonsmoker, but an ex-smoker. The distinction is important.

Dave

 

[rickandcindy23]

Because your son didn't have a "smoking habit" - he had a nicotine addiction. It is a very different thing to consider.

I smoked for decades, thanks to the Navy, and finally quit more than 20 years ago. I'd quit a hundred times previously, but always felt I wasn't really a nonsmoker, just that I was "between" packs of cigarettes. I always started up again. When it dawned on me that I wasn't smoking out of habit, that I was smoking due to an addiction, it smacked me right between the eyes. It completely changed my perspective about quitting, and I was finally able to quit for the last time. I now consider myself not a nonsmoker, but an ex-smoker. The distinction is important.

Dave

My dad also got addicted while in the navy during WWII. Cigarettes were provided to all of the military, which today would be insane.

I don't see him going back to smoking after being that addicted to it. He has been breathing better than ever, and I think that rower has helped.

 

[dioxide45]

not really. I haven't followed the Disney situation, so really don't know the issue, but many on this thread keep referencing it. The only thing I saw in news was that Disney has always been its own government/tax district, but FL may now revoke it. But don't know why. Did they break laws?
Whatever- I don't care, was just curious what "politically alienating 50% of customers meant"

Since politics and contentious social issues aren’t permitted in the forums, it may be best to do a Google search.

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

The “emptiness” extends to all the Central Florida theme parks, not just Disney. That seems to indicate it’s not really a Disney only thing. Most likely a combination of factors, but one obvious one is that most people dont’ go to Disney **every** year, they go every other year, or every third year, or something like that, and because of Covid they all revenge travelled all at once, driving record numbers, and now people who did their “theme park trip” in 2022 are doing other things. This is just a reversion to the mean. Disney World hasn’t felt this uncrowded in years, yes, but it’s probably not that much emptier than Disney World was circa 2017ish.