In defense of Disneyland

[Lukey114]

I've seen a whole lot of posts here that tend to be a negative view on what Disneyland is doing, things that are unavailable, the prices being too high, etc.

I want to defend Disneyland management for a moment, as I think they are doing an amazing job with the pace at which they are opening new offerings.

Let me preface this by saying that I've been fortunate enough to travel a bit during the pandemic, and while most of my travel plans were cancelled, including Disneyland in April 2020 (I'm not in California), I was able to travel to Arizona, Las Vegas, Palm Springs, and Hawaii throughout the last 9 months or so. Each of the hotels that I stayed at was lacking, but my expectations were very low because I felt fortunate enough to be able to travel, and so I went with it.

Most of the places I travelled used Covid as an excuse to offer less, and offer it at an equal or greater price than before Covid.

The pace at which Disneyland is attempting (keyword) to get everything back to normal really impressive to me, and the level of detail that they are doing so really shows me that they want to get the experience right. My last trip was May 2019 (Which was really packed, with a constant 135 min wait for Space), and my next trip is the end of July.

If it was just about money, they wouldn't have brought back:

• The band/other live non-character entertainment
• The fireworks
• Tom Sawyer's Island
• Canoes (Probably takes much more resources than it's worth)
• Small offerings in Hollywood Land

They wouldn't be working on new offerings, and they would have probably just kept a few more rides such as Matterhorn down that simply took resources to get back up and running.

People will pay for Disneyland right now regardless of what they're offering, and whether you agree with the pricing model, or whether Disneyland management is greedy, if you look around the rest of travel, everyone else is offering less for more. And I believe for being open only a couple of months (with nearly no ramp up time), what they've done is amazing, and I think they deserve credit for at least attempting to get things back to normal and get every entertainment option back.

I'm really excited to visit, and I'm excited to see every week on here what new offering is available.

[Matt Stringer]

I tend to agree with you - tourist destinations, resorts, and theme parks that will survive and thrive in the coming years will do so on positive word of mouth, and that word of mouth needs to be "it's worth the price of admission". And it's those little things, the intangibles or the obscura, that will help make it worth it.

In the past, I could get an AP and go a dozen times or more, and justify the supposedly lesser experience (primarily, the overcrowded experience) with the fact that I was going "for free" by the time I went X amount of times. "Sure its packed on February Nth but I'm basically going for free now!". But now, no AP means you really have to make the most of your ticket, so the onus is on the park to deliver the goods. Maybe the death of the AP is the big solve for the park experience. Part of that starts with "it's not so crowded anymore" but it ultimately must evolve into "and they do this and that and it's really worth the extra cost", you know, all those longtail experiences that make the visit extra special. I'm excited to see where it goes, as long as they aren't trying to upsell me with things that don't feel like a worthwhile upsell.

[savarese04]

Disneyland is a "little things" park. All those little things add up to Walt's vision. You remove any component and it starts to crumble. So yes, they have to bring back the canoes, Tom Sawyer Island, the band, etc. People were crying when the band came down Main Street last week. There's an emotional element to Disneyland that is not replicated at any other Disney park. If you go to WDW, the predominantly tourist customer base could not tell you the difference between the band and the Dapper Dans. When you get off POTC or Peter Pan there and listen to people rave about how great it is, while you're laughing at what a pile of garbage it is, it tells you who their customer is. It is NOT the same customer base that led a full on revolt when they put merch inside the Main Street Theater or tried to take out Mr Toad multiple times. That is why they are bringing back the band and the canoes despite "less offerings."

Right now, the biggest issue is they can't get enough help. Whether some of that is Chapek cuts or CMs finding better jobs during the layoff, we can debate that all day. Ultimately, Disneyland's biggest asset is CMs and until they can get those CMs back, doing what they're best at, making the park what it's best at, it's going to be slow going.

[SillySpook]

I agree with you. And in addition to the things you've mentioned, there are even more projects DLR management could have scrapped, in the interest of cost savings, if it only cared about bilking people:

• Jungle Cruise retheming
• Splash Mountain retheming
• Snow White retheming
• Avengers campus
• Web Slingers ride
• Mickey's PhilharMagic updating

Our family has a very short trip planned for the end of this month - two days, one park per day - and we absolutely cannot wait.

[aluisi]

I'm really excited to visit, and I'm excited to see every week on here what new offering is available.

You are excited now. Just wait till you go. Once you go come back and post your thoughts.

My two experiences at both disneyland and DCA were miserable. I have had a pass since the 90's. I love Disneyland. But I have to say I would rather go to Knott's now. They are doing it right. Disney is so miss managed right now its insane.

[tarheelalum]

This thread has been brought to you by Team Disney Anaheim.

[Captain Andy]

I've never viewed Disneyland Resort as a vacation spot, and I never will. I've done my share of traveling as well in 2021, and now that I've experienced Disneyland for myself, I can say that I definitely got more out of my money in Georgia, Texas, and Santa Barbara than Anaheim's DLR. I suppose it depends on what you view as an actual vacation, but I will always view Disneyland itself as a theme park destination, and I liken it to concert events, convention experiences, beachside carnival time w/ some wine tasting; etc.

I agree with savarese04... Disneyland Resort is made magical on the backs of its cast members first and foremost. I think Disney has a lot to invest in that sector if they plan on making their parks worth the money. I think I and many others have a strong belief that Disney is distancing itself from five-star hospitality by cutting its workforce in half, and taking away the incredible training programs that were once included in new hire orientations. While I'm a stickler for rides not being maintained properly, or being shutdown altogether, it's more jarring that certain parts of the resort are running on skeleton crews with many knowledgable CM's now down for the count.

Quality has gone down while the prices continue to go up. I think Disney is doing okay, but for a company that has as much money as it does, it has the ability to do better at the sacrifice of some executive salaries and bonuses. And not up charging the customer any further.

[merlinjones]

...there are even more projects DLR management could have scrapped, in the interest of cost savings, if it only cared about bilking people:[LIST][*]Jungle Cruise retheming[*]Splash Mountain retheming[*]Snow White retheming[*]Avengers campus[*]Web Slingers ride[*]Mickey's PhilharMagic updating...

Depends on one's point of view. Snow White is the only thing on this list that is a draw for me. Splash Mountain retheme is a big minus - like Walt, I'm a huge Br'er Rabbit fan.

[DLHMFAN]

I don't think Disneyland should be defended as far as the Haunted Mansion goes. They're shutting it down way too early this early and it was only running for three months as of August 16th. Since this is a shortened season for the Haunted Mansion, the least Disney could do was wait until November 1st. That way everyone is happy.

[Starcade]

I have to disagree with the "DLR is doing a great job in the face of adversity and other theme parks are doing no better and we should just all accept it" argument.

I have been to Knott's recently and I think the OP needs to try it out and see what another theme park with 1/3 the size but also 1/20 the funding ( or less ) has been able to accomplish during the same time. I have heard from close friends/family who have been to Universal, Sea World, Six Flags etc. all are noticeably out performing DLR when it comes to getting things back up and making guests feel like actual guests. If the other parks were pulling the same garbage as DLR then I would tend to be less harsh on chapek and co. but they aren't. All Disney domestic parks can easily do more than other none Disney parks and can afford to expand and pay CM's properly and bring in enough help. If they truly can't then I want to know when the forensic accountants come in to find out who is embezzling?

[Eagleman]

Well -I VOTE WITH MY WALLET !
It's matter worth IMO for years Disney Parks is down grading........
and Today Disney leadership ,does come near to Walt's vision !

[savarese04]

I don't think Disneyland should be defended as far as the Haunted Mansion goes. They're shutting it down way too early this early and it was only running for three months as of August 16th. Since this is a shortened season for the Haunted Mansion, the least Disney could do was wait until November 1st. That way everyone is happy.

Yup, username checks out. In all seriousness, Haunted Mansion Holiday covers both Halloween AND Christmas. Opening it on Nov 1 means it would be closed for the bulk of October to retheme it. I highly doubt anyone would be happy with being unable to go on the ride during Halloween month.

[DLHMFAN]

Yup, username checks out. In all seriousness, Haunted Mansion Holiday covers both Halloween AND Christmas. Opening it on Nov 1 means it would be closed for the bulk of October to retheme it. I highly doubt anyone would be happy with being unable to go on the ride during Halloween month.

Most people are not happy with the regular version not open on Halloween right now.

[Disneyidol]

Not sure what “defense” means when this is an open forum of opinions and personal experiences. It’s actually a interesting measure of the “temperature” if you will of some the most passionate loyal guests Disneyland still has left. There’s no denying that the park AND resort has undergone some of biggest changes since it’s opening. So reality sometimes bites. Not everyone overlooks the impacts of those changes and opinions about them. Yea they matter too.

Up front - the absolute dissatisfaction I have at the resorts direction is the addition of Avengers Campus. While I opined a lot about the horrible theming of Galaxy’s Edge — I cannot and will not EVER accept Spider-Man et al being at the DISNEYLAND resort. No way. Horribly out-of-place. PERIOD. Seriously folks - that franchise needed its own fate if ever there was a reason for one. For god sake think of the library of genuine Disney character history that could have plussed up DCA… No way ok with Avengers at Disneyland / DCA period.

There. I feel better now.

[Lukey114]

I have to disagree with the "DLR is doing a great job in the face of adversity and other theme parks are doing no better and we should just all accept it" argument.

I have been to Knott's recently and I think the OP needs to try it out and see what another theme park with 1/3 the size but also 1/20 the funding ( or less ) has been able to accomplish during the same time. I have heard from close friends/family who have been to Universal, Sea World, Six Flags etc. all are noticeably out performing DLR when it comes to getting things back up and making guests feel like actual guests. If the other parks were pulling the same garbage as DLR then I would tend to be less harsh on chapek and co. but they aren't. All Disney domestic parks can easily do more than other none Disney parks and can afford to expand and pay CM's properly and bring in enough help. If they truly can't then I want to know when the forensic accountants come in to find out who is embezzling?

This I can absolutely see, and I was absolutely comparing other travel options (non theme park) that i've personally experienced to the park.

I have not visited any other theme parks, and I can see how disappointing it could be that other theme parks were better prepared, or have bounced back a lot faster. Probably too many cooks in the kitchen for Disney, and not enough foresight in regards to preparing to open (Such as training parade employees during the shut down, or continuing training for CMs who are senior and would be back).

All i'm saying is that i'm surprised that they're at least attempting to open things up, instead of a phased opening.

[YeaDZNY]

Not sure what “defense” means when this is an open forum of opinions and personal experiences. It’s actually a interesting measure of the “temperature” if you will of some the most passionate loyal guests Disneyland still has left. There’s no denying that the park AND resort has undergone some of biggest changes since it’s opening. So reality sometimes bites. Not everyone overlooks the impacts of those changes and opinions about them. Yea they matter too.

Up front - the absolute dissatisfaction I have at the resorts direction is the addition of Avengers Campus. While I opined a lot about the horrible theming of Galaxy’s Edge — I cannot and will not EVER accept Spider-Man et al being at the DISNEYLAND resort. No way. Horribly out-of-place. PERIOD. Seriously folks - that franchise needed its own fate if ever there was a reason for one. For god sake think of the library of genuine Disney character history that could have plussed up DCA… No way ok with Avengers at Disneyland / DCA period.

There. I feel better now.

God...I thought I was the "only" other person here that also feels this way. Like I have said before...all this Super Hero crap belongs at Universal not here!! There are soo many more and other "Real Disney" worlds and characters that still dont have an attraction yet...so over this Super Hero crap and the movies aren't all that much better either

[Mr Wiggins]

God...I thought I was the "only" other person here that also feels this way. Like I have said before...all this Super Hero crap belongs at Universal not here!! There are soo many more and other "Real Disney" worlds and characters that still dont have an attraction yet...so over this Super Hero crap and the movies aren't all that much better either

Sadly, Disney management continues to follow Eisner's mandate that "Disneyland is all about turning movies into rides" -- a blatant copy of Universal's "Ride the Movies."

Management continues to see DLR as a marketing mall for its movie brands. So said Chapek when he was head of Disney Parks, and so he's doing now.

[Pips]

For the most part I agree that patience is a virtue here post-pandemic. But some stuff...

We stayed at a hotel out in the desert recently and even there, where a lot shuts down for the summer, all hotel restaurants were operating. It seems super low-bar to open DLH with very little food service. I mean, in a hospitality industry of lodgings, food goes along with that. So some stuff is hard to wrap my head around. But personally I'm not scratching any businesses off of my list if they are having trouble regrouping. This is an unprecedented event.

[Karalora]

Sadly, Disney management continues to follow Eisner's mandate that "Disneyland is all about turning movies into rides" -- a blatant copy of Universal's "Ride the Movies."

Management continues to see DLR as a marketing mall for its movie brands. So said Chapek when he was head of Disney Parks, and so he's doing now.

It's kind of a bizarre strategy if you think about it. Movies already have multiple marketing platforms and are easy and affordable for consumers to experience, hence their popularity. Using a theme park--which requires a lot more effort and money to visit--to advertise for movies is like taking out an ad on a country club bulletin board to promote your big-box discount store.

[DarthBrett78]

Yup, username checks out. In all seriousness, Haunted Mansion Holiday covers both Halloween AND Christmas. Opening it on Nov 1 means it would be closed for the bulk of October to retheme it. I highly doubt anyone would be happy with being unable to go on the ride during Halloween month.

I always say it should be closed ON Nov 1st the day after Halloween and then it can re-open just in time for Thanksgiving and the xmas holidays. HM gets Halloween, HMH gets Christmas and NY.