Is Disney Still a “Premium Product”

[linkeq2001]

So, with the announcement of the Genie “Never had an upcharge like me” experience I started thinking. Whenever we grumble on the board here about prices, hotels, food, tickets and more the response or conclusion is very often “Well you’re paying for a premium product in the theme park sector.” To some extent I would have agreed with this sentiment in the not so distant past; when you compared Disney to its competitors the quality and experience was often “premium.”

Now though? I am not so sure. I think about everything that encompasses the experience at DLR and compare it to other parks and places: the food, entertainment, hotel, cleanliness, attractions, staff and if there are differences that gaps are definitely much closer.

So setting your frustration about cost aside and perhaps ignoring your love for a particular IP, is Disney truly the premium theme park experience compared to its competitors that it used to be? Or has the gap now closed enough that it just doesn’t quite stand head and shoulders above the rest anymore.

I don’t want to set the conversation off in any particular direction but as a starter for me one of the biggest knocks against the title is now the lack of entertainment that set the DLR parks apart. For that day ticket price guests used to have access to two very high quality and well done shows in The Magic Map and Aladdin and then Frozen; with both those spaces effectively shuttered and seemingly no plans to return in my opinion the experience is brought down a notch or two.

[Mr Wiggins]

...is Disney truly the premium theme park experience compared to its competitors that it used to be?...

No. With the opening of the creatively lackluster Avengers Campus and the launch of the blatantly corporate "Genie," the Chapek regime has proclaimed its final break from the history, heritage and brand attributes that built Disneyland.

The only questions now are how many of Disney's branded-lifestyle consumers will drift away, and where will they spend their money.

[BigThunda]

Nope.

[Psychotic Parakeet]

Not anymore. It used to be though. Unfortunately, it has turned into "just another theme park" like the rest of them. I was selfishly thinking that the pandemic might shake things up a bit to change it back to its former glory days. Boy was I wrong. Increasing crowd capacity within an understaffed park with watered-down offerings -- no thanks.

[Jaygatzby]

Sadly I think Disney, especially Parks and Resorts, is quickly moving into the ‘loathed’ product class amongst consumers.

While RotR is one of the most technologically and advanced multi-show staged attractions Disney has produced in the US since RSR, it also introduced a hugely arbitrary lottery element on guests that I have seen many dismayed when they didn’t ‘win’ a boarding pass.

On the other end, it would be fairly easy to argue Disney’s latest offering, Webslingers, is the worst, least enjoyable shooter experience in SoCal, with Knotts, Legoland, and even Six Flags Magic Mountain with their similar Justice League attraction having more thematic elements.

When Universal is trying to give a close race in attraction quality, that makes a case your still a premium offering. But when Six Flags is now offering a similar, but far more more superior attraction offering its time to face it:

Disney once may have been Tiffany’s, but today they are quickly becoming Big Lots.

[Jesser-pie]

In terms of competitors like Knott's and Universal Studio’s Hollywood, I think Disney is relatively still premium in sheer amount of offerings. Knott’s may be going in a better direction with entertainment, but their latest ride additions and past slate of attractions leave a lot to be desired. Knott’s is really only a theme park in Ghost Town and that’s where it’s best attractions (IMO the Calico Mine Train and Log Ride) reside. I don’t consider HangTime a themed roller coaster (a blue coaster with some sand in queue does not a surf theme make). Knott’s other coasters (barring Pony Express doing the bare minimum) are also unthemed.

This isn’t to say that Disney doesn’t have its poor themed coasters (Incredicoaster), but there is still BTMRR, Space Mountain, and Matterhorn if you want an actual themed coaster. Hence, by sheer amount of older offerings Disney is relatively providing the superior experience (for me).

Honestly though I am biased so that should be taken into account; I think Knotts is overrated (minus their chicken and biscuits). There is a reason its passes are so cheap. They get all the excuses of being a small park when they are owned by Cedar Fair. It may not be as massive as the Disney Co., but that makes Knott’s far from the mom and pop park that I see some people treat it as.

Universal is much more of a closer competitor. Many of its attractions are actually themed (though yes barring Hogsmeade, the exteriors are no NOS). It’s size however, hurts it. Offerings are limited and while it’s not about Quantity over Quality, the two are not opposed to one another. The sheer quantity of legacy attractions (like MS vehicles, Mark Twain, Tiki Room and Jungle Cruise) added to the overall premium feel to Disneyland.

I guess that Disney has done so much that they can and are resting on their laurels.

[Mr_IvanStark]

Yeah... premium in their pricing

[tarheelalum]

No.

[linkeq2001]

In terms of competitors like Knott's and Universal Studio’s Hollywood, I think Disney is relatively still premium in sheer amount of offerings. Knott’s may be going in a better direction with entertainment, but their latest ride additions and past slate of attractions leave a lot to be desired. Knott’s is really only a theme park in Ghost Town and that’s where it’s best attractions (IMO the Calico Mine Train and Log Ride) reside. I don’t consider HangTime a themed roller coaster (a blue coaster with some sand in queue does not a surf theme make). Knott’s other coasters (barring Pony Express doing the bare minimum) are also unthemed.

This isn’t to say that Disney doesn’t have its poor themed coasters (Incredicoaster), but there is still BTMRR, Space Mountain, and Matterhorn if you want an actual themed coaster. Hence, by sheer amount of older offerings Disney is relatively providing the superior experience (for me).

Honestly though I am biased so that should be taken into account; I think Knotts is overrated (minus their chicken and biscuits). There is a reason its passes are so cheap. They get all the excuses of being a small park when they are owned by Cedar Fair. It may not be as massive as the Disney Co., but that makes Knott’s far from the mom and pop park that I see some people treat it as.

Universal is much more of a closer competitor. Many of its attractions are actually themed (though yes barring Hogsmeade, the exteriors are no NOS). It’s size however, hurts it. Offerings are limited and while it’s not about Quantity over Quality, the two are not opposed to one another. The sheer quantity of legacy attractions (like MS vehicles, Mark Twain, Tiki Room and Jungle Cruise) added to the overall premium feel to Disneyland.

I guess that Disney has done so much that they can and are resting on their laurels.

I agree that in SoCal Disneyland still stands a little above the rest in terms of sheer offerings. The scale of Universal just isn’t there to compete, and Knotts is definitely a bit of a mix between Amusement Park and Theme Park.

On a grander scale though I think it may be a lot closer. Universal in Orlando, especially if Epic World lives up to expectations would come close to equaling the Disney product, if not even surpassing it in some ways.

[kjhorton25]

Not without their wide variety of entertainment still badly missing from the parks
The Disneyland Band (Which is one of the best entertainment options even in normal times) and the pathetic excuse that is Mickey's Mix Magic Fireworks are the only things at Disneyland.
Over at DCA they have the Avengers stuff which is really cool, but no WoC.
Fantasmic, the premier show at both parks is still also missing. Until live entertainment makes a complete return Disneyland is no different than Knott's or Six Flags. Disney's live entertainment is what sets them apart from the other parks, and it is desperately lacking at the present time.

Edit: They also have ZERO parades, ZERO.

[Jesser-pie]

I agree that in SoCal Disneyland still stands a little above the rest in terms of sheer offerings. The scale of Universal just isn’t there to compete, and Knotts is definitely a bit of a mix between Amusement Park and Theme Park.

On a grander scale though I think it may be a lot closer. Universal in Orlando, especially if Epic World lives up to expectations would come close to equaling the Disney product, if not even surpassing it in some ways.

I do think Disney World needs to be wary of Universal Orlando. Especially as a resort, you can get a more premium experience than what Disney offers for a better price. The “deluxe” hotels have more perks with include express pass and even their moderate resort Cabana Bay has a lazy river.

[brerphysicist]

They're copying their competitors instead of leading. They're still charging a premium, though.

[Eagleman]

Is Disney Still a “Premium Product”

""NO""

Disney is a WANT.....NOT A NEED
and Disney worth is not there any more!

[whoever]

Yes, they still are, however they've "temporarily" removed so many features as to be falling behind until they restart what you are paying for.

[Starcade]

It hasn't been since the 80's.

[Eagleman]

It hasn't been since the 80's.

I AGREE.....
It got to be, to much.....the way the leadership was running the parks , on the road of "Greed" .

They use the Play Book of
P. T. Barnum is widely credited with coining the adage -
"There's a sucker born every minute"
So ,I gotten away from Di$ney
imo

[Golden Zephyr]

I do not believe that Disney is a premium product any more. When Disney was celebrating the 60th anniversary, the premium nature of the product was indisputable compared to other offerings.

However, today's condition of the park only offers a marginal difference in its offerings compared to competitors, and all of those essentially pre-Chapek.

The parks are now essentially monetizing and liquidating generations of accumulated goodwill from customers to provide short term boost. The liquidation of that goodwill and history I think will eliminate its premium distinction within 10 years or less.

I do not think the upcoming generation will not have the stored love/goodwill for the parks that the previous generations had.

[Eagleman]

I do not believe that Disney is a premium product any more. When Disney was celebrating the 60th anniversary, the premium nature of the product was indisputable compared to other offerings.

However, today's condition of the park only offers a marginal difference in its offerings compared to competitors, and all of those essentially pre-Chapek.

The parks are now essentially monetizing and liquidating generations of accumulated goodwill from customers to provide short term boost. The liquidation of that goodwill and history I think will eliminate its premium distinction within 10 years or less.

I do not think the upcoming generation will not have the stored love/goodwill for the parks that the previous generations had.

BINGO my Friend
I one of the old generation ,that got to see Disneyland in it's Glory,

before the down roll greed ,specially now with Chapek-
I AGREE ,I do not believe that Disney is a premium product any more
less for me Disney nor longer a Want - and is not a NEED !

[TheLoop]

They are looking to the next earnings call and not 10, 20, 30 years down the road

[Eagleman]

They are looking to the next earnings call and not 10, 20, 30 years down the road

IMO
All Disney Leadership are short time thinker.......I agree