Disney Leadership Is Damaging the Company Brand
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 มี.ค. 2022
- Here, we're going to be taking a look at how the last two decades under Iger and now Chapek have led to a degradation of the Disney brand. The irony, is that these two public figures love to throw around "brand" as a corporate buzzword and frequently speak about how important it is to the company. Yet, the Disney parks have declined in maintenance and cleanliness standards, as well as a number of other areas including theming and attraction quality. On top of this, a recent slate of anti-consumer policies and park cuts have been implemented, leading to a revealing lack of the "Disney Difference" that once defined this company. Join me today as I break down how leadership, obsessed with promoting the Disney Brand, has made damaging mistakes with almost every move they make.
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I can’t believe the short-sightedness of companies these days. Doesn’t Disney realize that they are so profitable right now because of decades of relationship-building with its fans? If families don’t make it part of their kids growing-up experience (because it’s not financially accessible) their kids will turn into adults that aren’t fans, and won’t go regularly with their own families in the future.
So true! My family started going because my Uncle took his family every year. Then it became a family saving game to save money all year to take a trip to Disney every Spring. We did it for over 10 years. Now, we are only able to go because two of us have jobs and can pay our own way. I have no rush to go back because of how expensive it is now and how Disney has been cutting corners.
With most companies these days, it’s all about the short term profit… the future is their problem.
Agreed 1000%....in fact I have been saying for over ten years to deaf ears: "Will these children's children be Disney theme park fans?" Of course...responded with looks of bewilderment and confusion that such a thing could happen.
Bingo. The main reason I was a hardcore Walt Disney World fan is because I went with my family annually for decades as a tradition. My first trip was 1981 as a kid, so much of my fondness is nostalgia. We haven’t been back since 2019 due to a decline in quality.
@@josephbrown9685 I was lucky enough to experience the parks '72 through '89. Can't top those years and why would I try??? 😂
I'm a cast member and am doing my best to keep the Walt Disney spirit alive.
Keep it up man!!
You are doing what the higher ups can’t, keep up the great work! Cast members like you are who I will always remember!
Thank you 💜
Thank you!
@@katiekirk3268 that's so nice to hear and is exactly what motivates me at Disney. I know so many guests are there for the old Time classic Disney experience.
I genuinely cannot express enough how disappointing it was to go through epcot and barely feel like I learned anything about the countries they showcase. Remember when the Mexico Pavillion was actually about the history of mexico??
It is our responsibility as the fans and consumers to not support bad business. Don't give them your money. They are not good anymore.
I hate what they are doing to EPCOT. It used to be my favorite park.
Epcot is so disappointing now, we used to visit it occasionally (It wasn’t ever our favorite park) but completely stopped since there just was nothing impressive about it anymore. They stopped caring about it and the last good aspect, the world pavilion, has been degraded to just IP which is so disheartening
@@alfredocamba1995 Some people arent but they still make money what then
I hate how they've made food and wine almost like an eternal event now. It's just becoming a drunken food fest. I hate epcot it's my least favorite park now
honestly as a local, the moment disney really pissed me off was when they fired a bunch of people from their parks instead of furloughing them. and then, made had a mass hiring when they opened up fully again, & made them interview in like spring 21 to get their jobs back. i know quite a few people who never went back to disney after lockdown because of that. my coworker had done the disney college program and landed a nice job at a hotel there, was fired, and she started working with me, then got an amazing job offer to move to germany and work at an american hotel there. really felt bad for her bc she was a huge disney stan, but she moved onto better things just
like everyone else will.
I hitchhiked from Pennsylvania to Central Florida to join the Disney Cast with a college friend who told me about the spirit, inspiration, and opportunity that Disney offered at Walt Disney World. It was 1975. I remember spending my free time being inspired watching Walt dozens of times (at the Disney Story Theater in Town Square, Magic Kingdom) explain his plans for the Florida property. I remember spending HOURS exploring the Magic Kingdom appreciating the physical realization of excellence, and the human capacity to approach perfection. As Cast members, we were self-motivated to be a part of those high standards in everything we did for the company. Excellence was the motivator. The money - mountains of it - came along with it. It was a miraculous formula - Mishandled and eventually abandoned long ago by unimaginative, incompetent company leaders.
The fact that hey're going to rennovate the Grand Floridan Resort -- a hotel whose entire theme is a Gilded Age/Old Florida resort -- so that it's -- wait for it -- more modern and with more IP is a prime example of this unimaginative corporate mindset. Sure, let's gut the thing the place is most notable for and turn it into just another high-priced collection of cubes with gift shops in it.
Dont forget the removal of the Luau dinner show to build that ugly modern timeshare tower.
This is the second time I've seen this mentioned, but I don't recall Disney every announcing anything like this. What am I missing?
@@PoseidonEntertainment idk if it's true but I saw wdw news today talking about it
@@PoseidonEntertainment are you talking about the modernization of the Grand Floridian? I did see a very long TH-cam video featuring Ryan March discussing the resort the other day.
@@AwkwardConverse-ation WDWNT is not a reliable source.
Themed entertainment designer here (won’t say for who). There is most definitely a Renaissance happening at Universal Creative, while a Great Depression is occurring at WDI. You highlight this very well in your video. What is most damning is the abandonment of the guest experience at Disney. There is clearly a communication gap between the Imagineers and the Operations teams when creating these new experiences. They should be bouncing ideas off each other, not trying to commandeer the entire development process by excluding each other. Such a shame. There’s no question what Disney is heading towards… and it’s not going to be pretty.
Yup
And that's just the tip of thr iceberg. Safe to say Walt wpuld hate just about everything Disney has become.
Is Disney too stupid to see it? Or are they in denial or just so short sighted that they figure they’ll deal with it later?
@@kkraut it’s the leadership. They’ve completely lost their vision. They are laser focused on profits and pleasing the shareholders, not pleasing the guests.
Also an insider here, prefer not to say “how and what” either…. and you are 100% correct. And thus, your story fully checks out hahah. To those reading: Mike is telling the sad truth.
Disney needs to actually promote creatives, dreamers, and those with passion for the business AND it’s history… instead of all bean counters and company politicians. Hire the best and most dedicated talent to manage all things creative, instead of butt kissing yes men with agendas or dollar signs in mind.
Actual gifted creatives at Disney are stifled by people who have no clue what makes the parks special. Again, this is the 100% sad truth. And it makes me really unhappy to say this.
@@joen8529 couldn’t have said it better myself!
Creativity and Imagineering at Disney completely died the day Joe Rohde left. He was their last pillar of pure childlike imagination and wonder. Leaving Disney for Virgin Galatic? It makes me think just how much of Disney corporate policies had to do with him calling it quits.
Rumor was he was told that the budget would be such at Disney that he wouldn’t be able to do anything interesting anymore so he should consider leaving.
Nonsense. It started a long time before that. Rohde didn't do anything to stop what happened.
Well, Imagineering should have more autonomy from executives above them, for one thing.
he is pretty old I think its a high probabillity that he just was ready to retire
I think it goes farer back to Mary Skylar's retirement. He had been with the company since Disneyland opened.
came here from the Schaffrillas video
Same here
same
Same here, quite more educated than anything in Epcot, despite of me loving the park itself.
same
Same
We stopped visiting Disney when we found ourselves feeling disappointed at the end of our visits. Instead of feeling excitement about our adventures, we felt cheated and regretful. The best way to avoid this regret is not to go.
Some twenty-odd years ago now, I remember going to Disneyworld and finding waiting in line pretty interesting just because of the details. The thing that sticks out in my mind is finding that the missing letters from the Tower of Terror's notice board having "fallen" out in the bottom of the glass case to spell "EVIL TOWER U R DOOMED". This was hidden by the frame, so you actually had to have your face up against the glass to see it. But a detail like that? Pretty awesome.
Many fans don’t realize it, but Disney IS NOT the golden standard for theme parks anymore. It happened gradual rather than a dramatic fall, but nevertheless they lost that title.
Like mentioned in the video, Universal’s Epic Universe will be a game changer- and the fact that Disney doesn’t even have a plan to counter it tell you all you need to know about the current executives… this would have never happened under Eisner
They'll hastily announce a fifth park right after when Epic Universe gives them a butt kicking. "Duh-uh.... Disney's.... IP GALAXY!"
You're so right! Disney went from a passion project to a money grab. The theme parks are making more revenue than ever, but attendance has lessened. Universal is still focused on the consumer experience, unlike Disney, and they have been managing their theme parks very well through the pandemic.
Still, Epcot which is the least liked park has more visitors than any of the Universal Parks, excluding Japan. I dont think theyll change soon
In the last 20years WDW has changed to the point it is no longer fun. I used to praise them, "Disney know how to do a theme park", no more. Sucks, there will still be fanatics and die hards but I can't justify it. At first I figured it was a response to the pandemic with all the cash grabs and cuts, but this sees more like where they were and are headed. Still cannot wrap my head around paying for parking while staying in the resorts. Going to Disney feels gross the way they try and take advantage of guests.
At the time we hated Eisner, but looking back, Eisner was better than we give him credit for.
I love Disney but I can tell Disney does not love me back. It is so obvious this company is always looking for an opportunity to get more of your money instead of offering value. This is a turn off. I would like my kids to have the same experiences I had when I was a kid but this is not going to happen if things stay the same.
Yes
I just wrote a whole damn thing out and you captured my feelings MUCH more concise and clear 🤣
Just imagine the creative potential Disney would have if they didn’t tie themselves down to a brand. They could make anything.
The Park Pass system is also very inconvenient for cast members, as we are also subject to it. Free park admission is supposed to be one of the perks of being a cast member, and deciding at the last minute to visit one of the parks on your day off used to be a thing that everyone did, but that is no longer the case.
As far as your critiques, I agree completely, especially about Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser. That was such a colossally bad idea. I maintain they could have done a Star Wars themed dinner theater attraction, basically a Star Wars version of Medevil Times, or even a full fledged Star Wars hotel that actually mixed regular hotel experiences with a Star Wars theme. What they did with SWGS is create an experience aimed at the average fan, but priced out of range for any but the rich or those willing to save years just for a two day experience.
I've never worked for Disney, but didn't the park block outs start with Galaxy's Edge? I remember cast members being a bit angry that they wouldn't get into HWS, especially since the park never saw the crowds that Disney leadership anticipated. But now it's extending to other parks as well? Disappointing.
It is not just a perk it is part of our compensation which kept wages lower…….
@@PoseidonEntertainment Blackout dates for employee passes have been around since the 1980s.
@@lohphat But not to the level that they are today. I was a cast member 2012-2015, and we were only blocked out on incredibly busy times like 4th of July or New Years Eve. Now friends who stayed with Disney have told me that it’s very difficult for cast members to visit the parks any time of year.
@@PoseidonEntertainment2 years late but i couldnt go too hollywood studios untill 2023 because it was blocked for my dad
You didn't mention the "nostalgia" factor that I believe also exists. Many of us have very fond memories of family vacations with our parents at Disney parks, and bring our own children back now in the hopes to recreate those fond memories for our kids. I bet a lot of people keep coming back for that reason as well and that probably won't change for a while, until all of the older people are gone and the younger people, more disillusioned with Disney, grow older and decide to go elsewhere.....
Well said!!!
Nostalgia tends to only work the once if the new experience is significantly degraded from memory. I can only speak from my own experience of course. I tend to not return to an establishment if that was the case.
honestly i’m so devastated about disney rn. when I was rly young, I was overwhelmed by all the detail and story telling that went in in the rides. I drew up rides and my dream to be an imagineer started when I was so young. fast forward, I started to ask why nothing original was coming from the parks, but only based on existing IP’s. I didn’t think of it too much and I was hardly able to go to Disney anyways as it already was so expensive. I just remember being so excited for Avengers Campus and then i got there and I was like… this is it? this is what i was waiting for? Idk it’s so underwhelming and dull. It’s devoid of imagination and purely based on numbers. I still like disneyland because of my past connection with it, but if it weren’t for that, nothing new rly makes me go “wow”
I completely agree and felt the same way when i was younger. I started to wonder if i just outgrew theme parks, until i saw some new universal rides and said “wow” and knew it was just that i lost the Disney magic. I’ll always have a connection from when i was a kid, but it’s not the same.
Disney brings people in because of the nostalgia we have for it, and we want to give our families the same experiences. But what happens when this upcoming generation of kids never went because their families could never afford to go? They aren't going to have that nostalgia and they won't be willing to shell out all that money
I never remember easily seeing giant unthemed warehouse looking buildings and areas I shouldn't be able to see until the last few years
To me the feeling of Disney is in evoking a feeling when you're immersed in a world or ride...one that's usually of nostalgia and a bitter sweet happy/sad feeling. It's an innocence. That's not in any of the new rides
@seven471 I definitely disagree with you there.
I don't get how it's so hard for them to stick to the formula that's worked for so long. There's nothing wrong with updating things, and the parks were never meant to be static museum pieces anyway, but there's a level of nostalgia and rose-tinted looks at the past that makes Disney Disney, and they messed up big by forgetting, or ignoring, that. I honestly think Bob Iger hated the company he worked for, he only used his role as a stepping stone for his political ambitions.
I hate seeing people defend an overall decline in theming and attraction quality as the parks "evolving" and not "staying like a museum". There are reasonable ways to update things that keep core experiences around, which are worth preserving. Spaceship Earth serves as a good example I think, in that while updates have been necessary, the essence of the ride has always stayed the same. Now though, that Disney leadership wants to have Moana's grandmother flying around and turning it into a "storytelling" experience? Disgusting.
@@PoseidonEntertainment as an old school Epcot fan, I definitely agree. And using Epcot as an example, I always tend to compare and contrast it with things like the Boston Science Museum. Things are always being updated, but it's still just as fun for me now (a childless woman in her late 30s) as it was 25 years ago. And they even have a whole section of old/outdated exhibits mostly for nostalgic purposes. That's the level of creativity and care that Disney should strive for.
There are just too many middle managers that need to justify their existence year after year.
There seems to be a sickness in Corporate boardrooms - 20+% year-to-year growth. At some point, companies begin to consume themselves to hit those numbers for just one more year of bonuses before "leadership" bails for another company to ride in to the ground. Maybe Disney "leadership" is doing that gallop.
It’s simple: the people involved right now are willing to fill their pockets with cash despite the long term damage to the brand that’ll start to take effect once they’re gone lol
I’m very amazed that so many people look at Bob Iger as such a good thing and Chapek as some evil villain. Seems to me that nothing Chapek is doing could have been done if not set up for by Iger. Iger truly started the pay more give less strategy that has been running rampant.
I won't complain about Iger's acquisitions, so much as his handling of them. Regarding the parks though, he absolutely was terrible. I think that he is better at controlling his public image than Chapek, but he's still a vain and arrogant person.
Chapek is just an unlikable person and not a good public speaker. Also Disney's PR team is just awful.
@@PoseidonEntertainment the seeming hate iger had for mark woodbury , ceo of universal parks and recreation, gave me more respect for Woodbury if anything. Look at the handling of everything since opening again from the pandemic Universe vs Disney. Iger must have been jealous!
I see the most decline at Epcot. It was always my favourite park, but the multiple changes have dropped it down the list. I always loved that it was IP-less. It made it feel unique and different. Finding Nemo and the Three Caballeros were a great way to add IP without damaging what made Epcot special. It was still about conservation of the coral reefs and the culture of Mexico. Frozen Ever After has nothing to do with Norway and Remy's Rataouille Adventure has nothing to do with France. They sell toys and that's it. I always thought Hollywood Studios would be a good place for IP attractions, not Epcot. I'm excited for the Guardians coaster, but desperately don't want it at Epcot.
This shows Disney exec's shortsighted-ness. They are changing beloved and unique parks for the worse to temporarily sell toys. I once had a free day at Disney in 2010: I chose to go to Epcot. My last trip had two park days; one was definitely Hollywood Studios to see Galaxy's Edge for the first time. Choosing the second day was easy: Animal Kingdom. It's the only park left that still has the Joe Rohde touch!
I agree with this whole post, Epcot is my favorite as well. Its sad to see the park downgrade from what made it special. Hoping Guardians can add to the thrill factor I think it needs, but thematically it doesn’t work. Fuji coaster would’ve worked instead.
epcot has not been worth the money for years...its just a big building site with some very outdated attractions
Just wait until they decide to add a Zootopia land at Animal Kingdom.
Epcot was great until Michael Eisner came to power and got his ignorant Mits into things. For example, He completely ruined journey into Imagination, and the only reason he (and disney to this day) kept the Figment character around is because it's merch & plush is still a big money maker.
@@gc4644 Yep, you are right. Journey is a beyond a joke and is an insult to anyone who rides it.
The biggest problem with modern Disney parks is that they have basically been stropped of their personality by out of touch executives who have clearly never been to a theme park in their life, and think they should be centered exclusively around their movies rather than making original, engaging experiences. Sure many of the original attractions weren't based on movies (or in cases like Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion, would be made into movies), they were still as much of a part of the Disney image as the movies were.
Now it just feels like you have attractions based on movies for the sake of having attractions based on them, while lacking the immersion that the movie-based attractions of it's rivals like Universal Studios Orlando have, all while sacrificing the original rides not based on any pre-existing IP for the sake of a quick cash grab. Like what does an Indiana Jones themed park at Animal Kingdom have to do with animals? It's called _Animal_ Kingdom for a reason.
If anything, Disney theme parks now honestly feel like the parodies of them you saw in cartoons and movies, or parodies of Disney in general. Disney _as a whole_ now feels like a parody of itself.
I hope there come a day that Disney goes back to their old standards and then I can watch a video on how proud Poseidon is of their decisions.
I'm absolutely shocked that they built 2 massive lands with Avengers Campus and Galaxy's Edge and yet there's only 3 total attractions to show for it.
Just an hour long roast of Disney leadership and I loved every minute
I honestly thought the video would be 20 minutes when I started writing the script. Even at an hour long, I realize how much more I could have said.
@@PoseidonEntertainment Should make it a multi part series. Would watch each one.
@@PoseidonEntertainment I for one, look forward to part 2. 🤓
@@PoseidonEntertainment one thing you really should add is one of the "disadvantages" Disney has with WDW. Keep in mind, WDW has all this land, which in a way holds them back. Yes, Walt praised it as a blessing. And it is. But all of that land also contributes to "overhead". It means more roads to interconnect everything, which require maintaining. Which also requires a large vehicle fleet, which require maintaining. Which requires gas/fuel as well more people to drive them.
As you can see, this adds to everything. Look at Bay Lake. Roads around it, monorail around it, many boats go over it.
Oh, and don't forget the taxes Disney pays for everything I listed above.
This in no way is intended to defend them, but to point out that Disney has overhead their competitors do not have. In order to show "good returns" on investments, etc they need to charge more, compared to Universal. Sadly, if you want that level of experience, they need to charge more. But what they have done is cheapen much of the experience.
One thing I hate is how much of the sight lines have been ruined by the Skyliner. I have nothing against the Skyliner, except for the ruined views. And now the Bay Lake Tower, and soon the DVC tower for the Polynesian. (Both cheapen the views at MK.
@@PoseidonEntertainment Keep going we'll watch
40:57 that shot of "future epcot covered by emoji's" is the most disheartening thing i think ive ever felt. Simplistic character design makes me feel like im going to die. i dont know how else to explain it but that was genuinely upsetting and terrifying to me.
i thought it was an edit by poseidon to show how tacky it's becoming. you can imagine my horror when i realised that no, that is in fact official
Always remember at both Disney and Universal (have worked at both for many years) the overnight employees - custodial, ride techs, maintenance, horticulture, etc. - work their hardest to ensure everything is working, operational, and clean.
If you ever wonder why something is dirty or broken, blame management & (more importantly) executives. They are the ones who decide the budget for labor and supplies.
I just mention it because the overnight staff work really hard and nobody notices what they've done; only what they haven't done.
I've heard from a handful of cast members that Disney is struggling to hold onto techs at the moment because the pay is so low.
Actor Ian McKellen (Gandalf) once said on his blog that he loved theme parks. The sets, music, actors, lights, etc reminded him of his own art and he is right. That was why Disney was so successful, he created movies, he told stories and he hired the best people in their trade to make Disneyland. That is now all gone, the current batch of imagineers and film makers lack the quality of making art or are forced to create consumables for consumers, a product that founds it's existence NOT in art and the urge to tell a story but on a spreadsheet showing how much to who can be sold. Disney is DINO (Disney In Name Only) and like the dinosaur it's extinct due to global greed.
It's shocking to me how long it's taking the "loyal fans" to see how this brand isn't in any way or form resembling the theme park leader it once was. Thankfully Universal is doing an amazing job down the road.
That's a perfect summary of how I see things.
The DINO reference is great! I agree that Universal is doing a better job. I took my 11 year old daughter to Universal last year, and it was a wonderful experience. The price was more reasonable than Disney and Express Pass is more straightforward.
SO true..
This is probably a really weird perspective, but I’ve always felt like the frozen attraction in Epcot was really creepy. Like a very on the nose brainwashing. That’s what I describe it as I guess. The constant use of Frozen related buzz words like the literal word frozen and let it go is just creepy to me. Like “BUY OUR FROZEN SHIT👹👹” idk that’s just kinda how I see it
I'd say your enjoyment of that ride solely depends on if you like the IP or not, which doesn't make a great ride. I bet if you removed the IP from the Frozen ride, then it would be considered Superstar Limo 2.0.
@@Attmay Superstar Limo was trash, but what sucks about the Frozen ride is that it could've been good, but they did the bare minimum with it.
Putting in animatronics over barely themed scenes and have them sing fan favorite songs for no reason doesn't make a good ride, it's just tacky fan service at best.
This is why Tokyo Disney and Disney SEA are some of my all time favorite parks in the world. I've always had a great time there, absolutely astounding theming, service and food. Probably because they aren't owned by Disney, just leasing it.
It's always been interesting to me how a company that's not Disney, has consistently been providing the Disney standard better than Disney itself has over the last two decades.
I went to TDR in 2019 and it may have ruined me on any other disney park. After my WDW trip last year, I think I'm done with that place for a long while, but I can't wait for a return to Japan.
Unfortunately they've been influenced and pressured by Disney to amp up their reliance on IP. The new areas they are opening at DisneySea are all IP based including a Frozen Land smh. I'm sure they'll be pretty well executed, but it's clear there's a creative bankrupcy at Imagineering.
The people in charge aren't worried on quality. It's just a machine to make money. For investors, and their bonuses.
Without someone in charge wanting to offer quality for consumers and encouraging their teams to explore artistic ideas, Disney won't be anything more than a money pit.
Because that's all it is for the leadership now.
It's a pretty stark contrast with Eisner I think. I recognize that he too attempted to make as much money for shareholders as possible and wanted to shore up his compensation. Yet, it's very clear that he appreciated the product and was heavily interested in the creative process, knowing that people came to Disney specifically for a unique and high standard experience.
@@PoseidonEntertainment Yeah, I never thought I'd miss Eisner but this new guy is a disgrace. Iger not too bad.
@@PoseidonEntertainment Yes but Eisner attempted to become the "face" of Disney. A position for which he was not qualified.
What's the last thing Walt Disney wrote. Kurt Russell. I do believe at the time, Walt was trying to say who should be the face of the company.
With how much money they make u would have thought they could cut us some slack. i mean sure alot of people go to the parks but if the price keeps going up its going to be out of reach for most fammilys so not as many people will be able to go. and really do they need to charge 9 quid for a single ride of rise of the resisstence when they have already charged u 20 quid just for fast pass for the day? i mean surly thats pushing it a bit far
Refreshing to see a fact-based take down of the REAL reasons this is happening; as opposed to the nonsensical “cultural warrior” reasons. A+
What Disney was: A theme park and vacation destination that celebrated art, animation, and ingenuity with unique and well thought themes
What Disney is now: a dilapidated shopping mall filled with cheap IP merchandise that costs more than a weeklong stay at a luxury resort overseas
Part of why my hubby never wants to go back to WDW is because there is “nothing new” and the new attractions that do exist are all really bland and similar. Pirates and the mansion are beloved because they are unique and creative and are not based on a movie but were their own projects with their own stories. That’s also what makes Everest such a great attraction. You notice something new every ride through and it’s beautiful. They all feel and even SMELL different. If I want to watch Frozen or Cars I can watch Disney+ Much more cheaply than going to Disney
Thank you thank you thank you! I’m glad people are finally starting to wake up and realize that Disney has been feeding us mediocre corporate pandering garbage over the past 10 or 20 years. I’ve been pointing this out for years but Disney fans always shut me down by saying “you just don’t like change“ or “all you like to do is complain.“ it was so maddening I gave up on Disney discussion forums all together. This perspective is so refreshing and so well balanced and thawed out. Thank you so much sir!
Im with you! I started complaining about the beginning of the downward spiral back in the mid-late 90s, when they got rid of The Magic Kingdom Club and began their Nickle & Diming guests to death campaigns. Ppl kept telling me I was wrong or complained to much. Problem is many disney fans have rose-colored glasses permanently wielded to their faces, so NOTHING disney does is ever bad or wrong (in their eyes). Well look whom was right all along..
Nah, Disney has definitely changed and not for the better.
@@gc4644 A lot of Disney fans seem to have it in their mind that if you criticize Disney at all, that means you hate them. My favorite insult is “if you hate Disney so much then just don’t go! Shorter lines for me!“
@@spinlok3943 here’s the thing….the fans with rose colored glasses will like whatever Disney sells them….so they should let us complain and make it better for us. They will like it either way right?
Disney zealots will suck up to any kind of mediocrity and defend it as some "misunderstood artistic masterpiece" like they do with any ride, or show, or whatever that gets even a slight amount of criticism.
Disney was past their prime for a while and with Chapek in charge, he's only putting the decline of the parks in full throttle.
Former cast member under Iger/Chapek leadership. You hit the nail(s) right on the head. Awesome analysis
It is interesting to see that only Universal seem to notice the weakness of Disney. In Europe they have far more competitors with smaller parks which can deliver a themed experience for a much lower price and people go for it.
Within the US, most parks belong to the three big chains: Six Flags, Cedar Fair, and Parques Reunidos. None of them are particularly interested in providing "magic"; instead, they follow a cycle of massive capex with rides (Six Flags), focus on "park experience" (Cedar Fair), and stagnation (Parques Reunidos). Right now, all three are moving to the next place in the cycle.
Being in the Mid-Atlantic area I’m fortunate enough to be near parks like Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Hershey Park and Kings Dominion. With all of them just 2-3 hours away and with a much more reasonable price, I can and do visit my regional parks.
There are smaller themed parks in the states, but those parks aren't often talked about when you have Disney, Universal Studios, and Six Flags.
I mean, if you tell the average person about two parks, with one of them being a lovingly crafted Legend Of Korra-themed park with mainly gentle rides and one lackluster coaster, and the other being a Six Flags park featuring an awesome new Batman coaster, most people would want to go to Six Flags first and check out the Legend Of Korra park later on.
Here's the thing. People generally prefer coffee when it has cream and sugar in it that makes the taste more palatable, but those same people will tell their friends that they like their coffee black. I feel like something similar could be said for Disney parks. Yes, we all love to talk about how much we want Disney parks to be more like the themed Harry Potter park, but what we actually want and buy is tickets to the park with the most coasters.
congrats on the schaffrillas shout-out man, very well-deserved
I once watched a video by a corporate insider who described this problem essentially as, "Corporate culture doesn't know how to create, only to buy." Disney was built on the idea of innovation at all costs, and now their only solution to a problem is to buy one.
I think the perfect example is how now that is coming to light that Genie+ is a total disaster, Disney is telling guests to only expect getting 2-3 rides with the service instead of scrapping the program. The only motivation here is money and guest experience isn't even part of the thought process.
AND its a big fat headache trying to get ride times. NOT enjoyble. And yes I know how to work the system.
On a recent trip, at the Magic Kingdom inside the Pinocchio quick service restaurant, I wrote down a wish inside the “wish book” there. I only asked that Bob Chapek step down quietly; hoping that one comes to fruition, although it might be thrown away as blasphemy
I just went to Orlando last week, visited Disney first and Universal second (for the first time in 10 years). Everything you said is spot on. I was super underwhelmed and disappointed with Disney. The service, food, theming, everything has gone downhill. It is not worth the price tag anymore. Not to mention the poor cast members who are working understaffed at a stressful environment with a small wage (in comparison to how much these parks actually make in one day). I did, however, have the best time at Universal. They are really picking up and executing all the things Disney is lacking. Definitely worth the price tag, definitely less stressful.
The Iger quote disparaging Expedition Everest really captures the disconnect: the allure of Disney World was never just "here's Disney characters", it was "here's how Disney handles (insert interesting topic here)". As a child I loved everything from dinosaurs to history to film and music, etc.; *all of that stuff was featured at Disney World*, and the fun was in seeing how Disney handled those subjects. That could be done without a single preexisting Disney character! Importantly, this helped create loyal, repeat customers; if all you're getting as a "Disney experience" are Disney characters, you're likely going to turn a lot of people off, as, honestly, not everybody likes Disney properties. Plus, there are simply too many Disney properties now; it's such a sprawling universe that it's hard to find consistency in themed design with them. It feels like imagineering for years would think "here's an interesting concept, maybe there's a pre-existing character we can attach to it" (like Splash Mountain), but under the Bobs it's been "here's a property we own: now figure out a way to get it into the parks" (like the Guardians rides).
But it goes deeper: I don't necessarily care about rides that "immerse" me in a movie; if I want to experience a movie, *I'll watch the movie!* Film and theme parks are two distinct mediums with different strengths; grafting one onto the other minimizes those strengths. Potter works at Universal because as a book series it's very sensory driven: you read about the foods, the scents, the lived-in world, and you want to experience it. Star Wars and Avatar are film-based franchises and *do not* work like that; they're visual, so trying to make a whole land based around it that will engage you in the scents and tastes falls flat, because, well...what's the Star Wars equivalent of Butterbeer? Blue milk? Nobody cares about the blue milk. What's a location in Star Wars you want to visit? Star Wars isn't about the locations, beyond "this is the ice world"/"this is the cloud world", etc. Maybe something like Tolkien would work for that, but most film franchises just don't.
And yeah, getting into the anti-consumer policies is a whole other ball of sadness.
It’s simple. Disney has shifted it’s focus to a guest that is willing to go into credit card debt for a less sophisticated mire general product. So the quality of the rides, the hotels, the restaurants appeal to the lower consumer. I’m sorry but it’s true. Look around the parks. Scrambling for cheap merch, fist fights, etc. Disney is no longer a high end place…on purpose.
I do like to refer to the Mainstreet Emporium as the Arena.
I think that’s kind of what he was saying when he mentioned that it was once in a lifetime so they’re willing to blow money on pretty much anything.
There’s such a stench of classist language in this comment. “Less sophisticated” “lower”. Yeah Disney is targeting lower income people but you don’t gotta depict them in such a condescending way.
I think that the way a company views and treats its customers affects their behaviour, especially in entertainment where the product being sold is an experience that guides the emotions. Treat guests as if they want experiences that are as meaningful as they are fun, and will appreciate every corner you don’t cut, and you might be surprised at the result. Treat guests as if they only want to see their favourite characters, and won’t notice anything beyond the surface of what you present them, and you probably won’t be surprised at the result.
Maybe they should stop screaming like banshees and getting into fistfights over cheap plastic junk if they don't want to be viewed as lesser? Just a thought.
I took a Disney vacation late last year, and despite the one Universal day being cut in half due to an incident, I think I had more fun there than at the Disney parks. The most use that Galaxy’s Edge has to us was a water bottle refilling area.
Out of curiosity, what did you like about it?
The wait times were more fair and the attractions were just more fun in my opinion. The Amazing Adventures of Spider Man was one of the best rides I think I’ve ever been on. And as somebody who doesn’t care for the Harry Potter franchise, I had an amazing time on Forbidden Journey. Plus both had lines that were shorter than Slinky Dog Dash, which is what we spent most of our day in Hollywood Studios waiting for. The longest Universal line we had was for the Hogwarts Express.
I think that proved that guest experience is much more important than IP, because while Disney has more IPs that I like, Universal was a more fun time where we could just do whatever we wanted without planning every move, and as a result I would plan to return there rather than Disney should we go back to Florida.
Foreign tourist here. Disney has ceased to attract many international tourists because of how low the offer is in terms of value for you buck. It certainly feels like Disney thinks that people should be paying premium dollar for the brand and not for the experience. From luxury hotels outside Disney being much cheaper than those offered by them, to overpriced food and merchandise, the Disney experience is much like paying 100 USD + to visit a luxury mall where you have to spend more money to try to experience something you most probably didn’t want to in the first place. Disney is not a destination I would choose in the near future. And frankly my family has much better time at Universal.
I think they planed on attracting masses of chinese tourists. In Paris , my town , they have a peculiar way of doing tourism , it consists mostly on touring all monuments sites as fast as possible, take a picture, not visit them and then go and buy as much perfume and bags as they can . SO Paris had to adapt to that kind of "brand tourism" and luxury french boutiques to sell lower quality products with the brand on it , or "PARIS" written in big at the expense of the brand itself.It reminds me of what I just saw about disney , when theme , creativity and coherence are made irrelevant, because this type of tourist did'nt buy a themed florida hotel but "Disney".
@@largol33t1 they really are. i’m a local & love to go to universal during off season so crowds aren’t as bad. but even when i went to universal during off season, it was crowded! i think people are also going all out after lockdown. right when they started opening the borders for european people to visit and such, they started flooding in lol. i’ve had nonstop british tourists coming into my work. also lots of people from germany, iceland, etc. it’s pretty cool to see so many international people here
An hour long video by Poseidon? One of the best things to see in my subscriptions feed :)
But in all seriousness, there's a reason why places such as Dollywood have been winning the customer service awards and not any Disney park.
I really need to go back there. I haven't been in about 15 years, but I think I would appreciate it a lot more now.
We live two hours away from Dollywood and it’s absolutely stunning. The service is impeccable and although their attractions are nowhere near WDW in terms of technological advance, the general theming, ambiance, and entertainment is well worth it.
Idk... Tokyo Disneyland is still gaining customers....
@@victoriabell9546 Thats because Disney doesn't run that park the Oriental Land company does
@@AdamSmith-gs2dv Exactly. Which is why they're gaining more customers. I'd rather we not count out **every* Disney Park. Though, TDL probably isn't for everybody.
I'm a former Disneyland Cast Member, and I'm watching this video for the Schadenfreude after years of abuse at the hands of mid-management.
28:19 Ah yes, the Cheapek era. It really is like the Pressler/Harris era on steroids. Has Cheapek has announced what base-metal color he's going to be painting Tomorrowland?
The power of the brand is too strong. They can hike up prices and cause pure chaos and the die hard fans will still show up for rope drop every day. Not me. They’re not getting my money.
I was in town recently for work and a coworker wanted to go hop on the monorail for fun since it’s free, so we did. I’ve never seen so many miserable people. The kids were excited, but the parents looked agitated and exhausted. Compare that to Universal CityWalk where everyone looked much happier and the place was less crowded.
Disney is like many established companies - they become mediocre but trade off the reputation they once had.
It takes a while for people to accept this, mainly due to feeling a sense of loyalty towards the brand they once loved - it’s hard to admit it’s not the same.
Then suddenly your realise the company you valued , does not value you as a consumer.
I agree in concept, but there are far too many of these "Disney Adults" who are basically cult members and will NEVER realize how bad disney has gotten because breaking out of a cult mindset is INCREDIBLY difficult. They've drunken so deep of the nostalgia coolaid that they don't want to see the truth and no matter how obvious it's put in front of them, they will ignore it because disney is who they are now.
Universal does the same thing but at least they are honest about it. They also focus on making a good ride first.
They’ve also taken recent criticism to heart and try to improve upon it
@@Meatball2022 and for every FF (including Jimmy Fallon) we have 3 awesome Jurassic World rides, a classic dark ride reminiscent of the old Disney days in Secret Life of Pets, and an ACTUALLY immersive land in Super Nintendo Land.
@@NinthShinigami You said exactly what I came here to say. I would also like to add Hagrid's and the Bourne Stuntacular to that list. 2019 and onwards, Universal has completely turned around the level of attractions that they're bringing into their parks.
@@PoseidonEntertainment oh yea I forgot about those two for a sec lol
The price of Universal is proportional to what you get so it’s fair. Disney though charges for top tier quality but delivers low quality product.
When I constantly say that "Disney needs to go back to its roots" THIS VIDEO IS THE EXACT REASON WHY IT SHOULD AND EXPLAINS IT!!! THANK YOU FOR MAKING A VIDEO THAT WE'VE ALL BEEN THINKING!!!!
Like I said previously. I think Bob Iger fundamentally changed the Disney business model, from an entertainment company that does marketing, to a marketing company that does entertainment if that makes any sense. At least thats how it feels, because everything they have made the last, lets say one or two decades, feels so bland and generic that you have got to accept that for modern Disney its just the means to an end, rather than a genuine attempt to sell you a specific entertainment product, like a ticket to a movie theater or a themepark.
What they actually seem to sell you is the brand. It has become effectively a fashion company and people are just willing to way overspend on logos. I mean, who buys Louis Vuitton bags because they genuinely think they are of such a good quality that they are actually worth the price? Nobody of course, they buy it for the brand, the logos and all that. And for bragging rights "hey look how much disposable income I have so that I can waste it on stuff like this". It really has nothing to do with the bag itself any longer, the bag is just the vehicle, the method of delivering the marketing, and I feel thats exactly where Disney is at right now.
Take the Disney cruises for example. You can get the exact same cruise Disney offers with lets say Royal Caribbean for half the price. So, what have Disney just sold you? Not the cruise, because if that was the actual product nobody in their right mind would buy it from them paying twice as much for the exact same thing... Thats also the reason Disney bought Marvel and Star Wars. Because if you really thing about it, its sounds rather counter productive right? Disney can make their own shows and films so why would they buy them? Well, again, their business is no longer creating memorable experiences, its marketing them, so from that perspective it really doesnt matter if you produce it yourself or just buy them.
You can really see how blatanly obvious this is by two themeparks in Europe: The Efteling and Europapark. They offer a park experience for a fraction of the cost that is just superior in every way, just like the Royal Caribbean cruise is. Because thats what they do, thats their business; They sell an entertaining day at a park for a price that matches the enjoyment youll get out of that day. Nothing more, nothing less. And Disney seems to be so far removed from this concept that its almost painful to see.
Disney is developing a cult through DVC and it’s members will press hard to guilt you into joining them. Most magical rip off on earth.
I completely disagree that “nobody was asking, ‘Where’s Jack Sparrow’ in Pirates of the Caribbean”. Some people definitely were. Just not the NEVER CHANGE DISNEY crowd. But it would be nice if the parks could back to the days when they were only trying to get the majority of my money (instead of demanding all of it like now).
We’d never would have Pirates of the Caribbean, the Haunted Mansion, It’s A Small World, Country Bears, Space Mountain, the Train, Autopia, Tower of Terror, etc. if these attractions were forced to incorporate existing IP. These attractions all called for brand new storylines and Imagineers ended up creating brand new IP. I look forward to that kind of originality again.
Man not me getting a disney plus ad on a video criticizing disney 😂
The Devil works hard, but Disney works harder 😆
The whole experience has changed when visiting Disneyland for me. It's so busy for starters I can't help but compare when I went as a child in the 80s. We could easily do 30-40 or even more rides in a day. Having to use an app takes away from the magical experience. However if you don't use it you won't be able to maximize how many attractions you can do during your visit. Also agree on all.the nickle and diming of food/merchandise etc..
They're supposedly big on changing the parks to push the IPs, but they still make baffling decisions like only giving the high-quality and well-loved "Tangled"...a bathroom.
It's certainly odd. I understand that there wasn't really any room for an attraction in that specific space, but the rest of the New Fantasyland project seems like a mostly waste of potential.
@@PoseidonEntertainment It just seems - wait for it - ill-thought-out, lazy and cheap. "Hey. Tangled was really good and really popular. We have a small footprint over here in this corner where we can put a downsized version of the Tower. Oh, it's right over a bathroom? Theme the bathroom to the movie...DONE!!... NEXT!"
They announced New Fantasyland to counter the upcoming Wizarding World. The problem is Disney animated films were at a low point in the mid to late 00s so there wasn’t a strong recent property to work with. When New Fantasyland was announced they leaned heavily into the Disney Princesses brand that had successfully revitalized older IPs for a new generation of girls. They scaled back a little by adding Mine Train. As luck would have it, Tangled and Frozen were massive hits, but there was no place to put them after the massive expansion. So Tangled got a bathroom and Frozen got the empty space after Snow White closed.
New Fantasyland, Pandora, and Galaxy’s Edge all fell short in different ways because Disney rushed to compete with Universal. New Fantasyland left out popular new films. Pandora was based on a high grossing film with no staying power.
Galaxy’s Edge attempted to get ahead by aiming for the sequels but ended up being behind the more critically acclaimed Mandalorian which along with Book of Boba Fett would have justified building Tatooine instead of Batuu, planet that’s not even in the films.
At this point, Disney is so far behind Wizarding World I don’t think they can catch up. They’ll certainly be behind Epic Universe.
The greatest sin of New Fantasyland was replacing Snow White with a meet and greet. Borderline criminal. They should have at least given us a clone of mr toad or Pinocchio in that space.
NTM that the bathroom tower ruins the (once valued) site lines from Liberty Square.😑
Eisner built things, Iger bought things, Chapek broke things.
As much hate Eisner may get, at least the man tried to experiment with the parks in a good way
I personally think iger bought things and broke things while chapek has done nothing noteworthy
@@vincentparisi2644 Losing billions? The only misstep from Iger was ESPN. Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars have paid for themselves multiple times over since their acquisitions, and Fox will pan out just as well. As for the pandemic, how dare Iger not predict a global health crisis!
I've said and felt this for a very long time now and always felt I was one in the wilderness doing so; Disney has more than enough of its own characters to use; it does NOT need to buy other companies' IP. I was and am still against their buying The Muppets, Pixar, Star Wars, Lucas, Marvel, Fox, and who knows what else. In addition, they are making some of the worst decisions in history closing down learning attractions such as Universe of Energy and World of Motion. To replace World of Motion with Test Track: what were they thinking?????? Ditto for Universe of Energy, soon to be an attraction based on comic book characters instead of teaching about the energy crisis. It boggles my mind. Thank you for a great video and speaking your mind.
So my family's favorite section of Disney growing up was Epcot, whenever we ended up going we would always make sure to spend at least half, sometimes all of the time we spent at Disney at Epcot. One of our favorite rides was actually the Norwegian one (mine is Big Thunder Mountain and was the only reason we ever went to Magic Kingdom other than Space Mountain). And then they changed it to a Frozen themed ride. I don't think we ever went back to Disney because we saw what was coming and decided that yeah no we probably should stop there and instead do other kinds of trips because that really cemented that Disney gave into the cash-grab urge.
Disney has completely lost the freeing feeling of going to these parks use to give us fans. To leave our day to day lives and immerse ourselves and be kids again. They've made it such a soulless app based schedule schedule schedule experience that its become more stressful than my actual work week. I understand technology has to come into play but sorry cell phones were just has predominant in 2014-2019 and the parks still felt genuine. My wife and I are in our 30s without kids and could roam around freely and have fun, now you literally can't do anything without scheduling it on your phone hours ahead and spend half your day staring at your screen refreshing the app. I used to leave my phone in my bag and only take it out for pics or to look at ride times on the old app occasionally. It's just completely lost the entire point of what made them who they are.
Thank you for this great insight! As a former Cast Member, I agree that the brand that I grew up with and the stories that moved me to borderline obsession have been shelved for the quick cash grab and the glossy filtered photo ops. I only hope that it will one day cycle back around to its original vision. The one that Walt would have wanted.
The last time I went to disney was 2013, we were in the area anyway for my graduation, the last time we had been was early 00s--I had seen Lilo and Stitch and wanted to go to Hawaii so we ditched several years of disney to save up for that instead and...never got around to going back.
That last experience was a severe disappointment--for the happiest place on earth everyone was dour, we weren't informed beforehand that the parks would close early to 'casual payers' for the Halloween event, and the few rides we managed to go on felt like they were a few shades away from falling apart (not to mention if you dared to buy any of the merch you then couldn't GO on any of the rides). Compared to the Universal experience, which we went to the next day--we told the ticket lady we were there for the one day only (which we also told the disney ticket lady) and wanted to see the Harry Potter area. She gave us the fastpass, whipped out a map and outlined the fastest way to that section of the park. The entire experience at Universal was WORLDS better than disney, starting with the attitude of the people in front.
I might have had years of pleasant experiences at disney, but that one experience destroyed any goodwill I may have originally felt for the parks. It ended up being like the satire theme park from the Foxtrot newspaper comic by Bill Amend--only focused on the price and the purchase over any genuinely fun experience. Strange how that ended up predicting disney's current state.
Agreed on everything you’ve said! What I loved about going to any of the parks was the escapism and immersion, the theming is really what I want from the parks. The amazing shows, fun rides that don’t rely on just screens, and dining that is good quality. All of that quality has gone down massively, unfortunately!
I feel like Iger really started the whole "ip before quality" and just handed the dumpster fire to Chapek. That being said Chapek clearly isn't doing anything about it and is just making things worse
Nah, Chapek actively made it worse. He was Chairman of Parks and Resorts for six years and you can see his influence. It's the difference between Cars Land and Avengers Campus that shows the contrast.
You described the Everest queue perfectly. Everytime I'm in queue there I stare at all the pictures, artifacts, and newspaper articles and just stand in awe of it all. The queue, not the coaster, make the ride for me.
Disney World used to be an experience that felt unique, that made you feel special. Now, it feels like a grind: lineups, crowds, waiting, Disney's App, the Genie+ system, trying to find something fun for your kids, waiting, getting nickled and dimed, lineups, grab, grab, grab at your wallet. It's not fun for kids. It's not fun for parents.
Rarely does it not feel this way. I often go for attractions that I enjoy, but it also manages to feel like work.
It’s simple. Disney has shifted it’s focus to a guest that is willing to go into credit card debt for a less sophisticated more general product. So the quality of the rides, the hotels, the restaurants appeal to the lower consumer. I’m sorry but it’s true. Look around the parks. Scrambling for cheap merch, fist fights, etc. Disney is no longer a high end place…on purpose.
Your comment is ironic, its not a high end place anymore, but you're also stipulating that its too expensive for the common person lmao. So which one is it?
Charging “high-end” prices for a non-high-end product simply is not sustainable in the long run. Disney seems to overestimate the value their intellectual property (IP) provides to the parks.
Simple put, IP is intangible; its value fluctuates based on consumer perceptions and demands. People might have a positive perception of Disney IP from TV and movies, but that positive perception does not necessarily translate into Disney parks, especially if the latter provide a less-than-stellar consumer experience.
It always had cheap merch, fist fights, etc. You're just older. And you'll get even older. And then you'll live long enough to hear younger people, now old, complaining about how *now* they've gone too commerical, and pining for the nostalgic experience of their youth.
@@SplotPublishing the human condition
@@RatchetHCO I think OP is saying that that Disney is targeting unsophisticated consumers who are willing to spend more for less. i.e. If they're stupid enough not to to be able to discern the difference in quality, they are also stupid enough to go into credit card debt for whatever crap Disney shovels out. It's incredibly cynical on Disney's part, and it reveals their contempt for their fans and customers.
I absolutely LOVE this video essay. You've said everything I've thought over the company over the past few years. These days I can barely afford to go once a year. I regularly go to SeaWorld and Universal instead. Lovely video 💖
There's some schadenfreude in your videos, but for the people who truly love the parks and the cast members, (maybe more than the IP), these videos feel cathartic. Even beyond that, they feel like reassurance that old school fans were not going crazy about the decline in the parks. I went in May 2011, then January 2018 and that was a long break from the parks for me. Or, at least, it was a long break. I looooved my trip in 2018, best food ever and perfect weather. There was a ton of construction, in prep for the 50th Anniversary, which I was happy to see. I want the property to look good, that's where I want my dollars to go. But, something changed. Retailed popped up everywhere, in places NO ONE asked for. I don't want an expensively- cheap do-dad, I want an overpriced, delicious cookie. I want jewelry that looks like it came from one of the treasure chests in Pirates, not a plastic necklace with Jack Sparrow. Now, with all these changes I don't know if I'll ever go there again. Why, why, why Disney have you decided to turn off and price-out people who come to the parks every couple years consistently, looking for a unique experience, in favor of IG and influences?
The merchandise is another huge factor of Disney's decline. They've had the tacky and cheap stuff for decades, but there was also plenty of other interesting and more quality items as well. Under Chapek, merchandise has become so consolidated and lacks the uniqueness that it once had. It's weird seeing 50th Anniversary Walt Disney World merchandise at Disneyland.
@@PoseidonEntertainment WDW merch at Disneyland? Didn't know that. Ripping off themselves... at their own parks. Cheap and lazy. You're better of getting merch from Etsy, those sellers care about quality and uniqueness.
@@PoseidonEntertainment The 50th anniversary merchandise was very lackluster and uninspired. It was also incredibly cheap from what I've seen (like the iridescent lettering peeling off the shirt when it's worn for the first time). I used to be able to trust that merchandise I got from Disney was good quality, but in recent years, I've experienced a lot of doozies.
This is exactly how I had felt. I always went to the parks to collect unique top hats that were themed differently. Now they only sell minnie ears and the same three hats that have been around for decades. Nothing exciting.
@@PoseidonEntertainment the merch is an interesting example of Disney's decline. I remember when DW stores had unique stuff. Now its largely homogenized. And often of dubious quality. I don't mind paying a premium for a nice bit of Disney themed clothing. But now it's premium for an uninspired crap garment. Anything actually interesting is out of stock (and still likely to be sub-par in quality). That applies across the board - beyond clothing.
I had been wanting to plan a trip because I was trying to stay oblivious to the fact that Disney is a shit stain, but this made me realize once again how horrible Disney has actually gotten. The last time I went (in 2019) I had such an amazing time. Of course, that’s when the world felt normal but with that being said it was a good time. I didn’t spend a crazy amount on it and it was fun! I worked there in the spring of 2017 at animal kingdom. It was right before pandora was opening. I was always confused why they were building it, but when you said that it was the highest grossing film at that time it all clicked. Honestly, I love pandora a lot but like you said had Joe Rhode not been the head of it, it would have been garbage. I miss the old Disney. I miss all the old promo videos, the shit that felt cheesy, and I miss the quality over quantity. It doesn’t matter that they just made all these rides and worlds. I had high hopes for toy story land and Star Wars land, as I should have, and they’re just so disappointing. (I’ve not been to Star Wars land, but just from what I’ve heard). I want fast passes back. I want the entertainment back. The parks don’t feel alive anymore and they need to. The cast members are burnt out because they’re overworked and they don’t care as much anymore to make meaningful connections because they don’t have the energy. I know when I worked there, I was exhausted constantly because of the amount of hours I was given. I couldn’t give it my all. I feel like the magic is still there, but Disney executives are trying everything in their power to take it away. What we really need is a hardcore fan to be ceo, or perhaps a group of fans who are dedicated to the work. Not these stuffy men in suits who really don’t give a shit about what Disney really means. It’s not about IP, it’s not about the money, it’s about the memories you make and seeing your kids face when they meet Mickey Mouse for the first time, having meaningful interactions with cast members… Stuff like that. The average family can’t afford that anymore and that really sucks. Makes me so mad and sad.
I want the E,D,C,B,A ticket rides back and you all just wait your turn in line, hand stamps, no parks to hop to, watching fireworks, mule rides, root beer in the saloon, concerts at night, it was family fun and relaxed. Disneyland in the 60s and 70s was amazing.
For me the the older rides with no Disney movie theming always felt like new movies I’ve never seen before! They are telling a new story for me that is by Disney still. Now that so many rides are getting the Disney treatment it just doesn’t feel the same. Also I always loved the educational stuff that Disney rides had. I feel like that has been going away too :( also I don’t think you mentioned it but dinosaurs is also a well themed area of animal kingdom with a great ride. It fits with the rest of the park while it still being a Disney franchise movie. It’s possible to make it work. I just really really hope they don’t overly “disney stamp” animal kingdom ever because right now it has the least amount of it.
I worked with Steven Davison on Harmonious and the entire experience was a disaster. Steve was in the midst of a substance use addiction and his partner served him with a divorce and a domestic violence restraining order. The management kept throwing money at the project the show went from a budget of $240 million to a final price of $580 million. With the chaos swirling around Steve It isn't surprising that the show is a mess.
I've never been to a Disney park (I'm from the UK and we've never had enough money to really go), but I was so jealous when some of my friends got to go when I was younger. Now if I had the chance for a once in a lifetime US trip, I'd probably go to Universal and/or Busch Garden Tampa Bay - the rides and theming interest me more than what Disney has (this may be mostly because one of my special interests is roller coasters specifically which those parks give me more variety of (like Velocicoaster, the Hulk, Iron Gwazi, Sheikra you get the idea)).
Came from a Schaffrillas video, this is a very well made video!
Although eisner was a controversial ceo, he was willing to take bold risks that actually benefited the parks and 'the disney brand'. Now under Iger, and now Chapek, they are turning a much loved brand into just boring, basic and unoriginal
I've noticed that the more the Disney Parks have Disney IP in them, the less they feel like Disney Parks. It's a weird thing to say, but the more they replace non-IP attractions with IP, the less it feels like a true Disney Park.
That's exactly how I feel. Ever since I was little, I noticed and appreciated how little of the films were incorporated into the parks. When they were, they were done so tastefully or in a way that made thematic sense.
@@PoseidonEntertainment Same here. EPCOT used to be my favorite park as a kid because it felt new and exciting, like I was on a big adventure. Magic Kingdom was there for me to see the characters and feel like I was in their movies, but EPCOT was there to give me a chance to learn new things and meet new characters (like Figment), which made me love it so much. Going back a few years ago and seeing Norway turned into "Arendelle except in name" was a huge disappointment, and seeing the track Disney is on now is even more disappointing, especially since there's really no way to reverse the damage.
Same goes for Animal Kingdom - a park that was incredibly original and really had no IP, that is starting to get IP shoehorned in and is losing its identity. It hasn't been ruined as much as EPCOT, but it's only a matter of time before it will be.
This problem is replicated in the Disney Theatricals business unit. The Lion King musical was groundbreaking, but every subsequent attempt at stage adaptation has been simply to convert the film to the stage, rather than creating a theatrical experience in the way that Julie Taymor did with TLK. The epitome of this problem is the Frozen musical, which is merely a piece of merchandise itself, as well as a trigger to sell the copious physical merch in the theater foyer. As a piece of theatre, it's dull as dishwater - reflected in its premature closure on Broadway.
Formula, formula, formula. Innovation, originality and risk are now rare factors in Disney's business practice.
"It's not like I'm going to India to ride some non-descript coaster."
I'm not super familiar with India, but I would totally ride an India themed coaster that was done well.
Great video, as always!
The replacement of the Great Movie Ride is probably the most blatant slap in the face to Disney fans I have seen. I wouldn't have believed you if ten years ago you told me Indiana Jones would outlive the Great Movie Ride. Replacing arguably one of the best attractions which held together the theming for the entire park for a cheap feeling ride just to cut on maintenance costs is disheartening and does not make me hopeful for the future. Though I preferred Malestrom, at least its replacement made sense given the demand for a Frozen attraction. Who was asking for a Mickey Mouse cartoon ride?
Some points of contention:
I don't think Winnie the Pooh is as bad of an attraction as you make it out to be, plenty of value there for an attraction with little wait, though certainly not on the level of what it replaced. Also, I actually enjoy the theming of the France pavilion expansion as it sort of transitions into an aesthetic that more closely resembles the world of Ratatouille, so the detail of the original theming may not fit as well.
I’d say the removal of GMR was a harder slap than Will Smiths to Chris Rock
Little wait for Winnie the Pooh? As of right now from checking the app, it's a 40 minute wait. I don't hate it, but even the Disneyland version puts it to shame.
I also appreciate the courtyard for Remy does fit the aesthetic of the film, but it's the details that are missing. Even watching the shots of Paris from the film, the buildings are animated with much more texture and contrast than what Imagineering delivered with the ride.
@@PoseidonEntertainment It's definitely not worth a 40 minute wait, though it does seem to just be a busy day at MK. Under the Sea and PoTC are also 40 minutes and I think we can agree that's a wide spectrum as far as quality there. Also, like you said in the video it's an attraction you're likely to have available on Genie+ (I hate that that's a selling point of any attraction).
I think you're right that the Disneyland, and certainly the Tokyo version, are better. Though for an attraction built in 1999, the ride vehicle and set effects make for an attraction that I think is a lot closer to the "Disney difference" you mention than something like Under the Sea which was built 13 years later and somehow seems more dated.
And yes, especially if we are including the ride itself the France pavilion expansion is missing much of the detail that the film has.
I think Winnie the Pooh is best if you have small children who need an engaging wait and a tame ride. It's painful for adults, but wee ones love that chaos.
@@PoseidonEntertainment To me what's sad about that whole area is it's always covered with people sitting on the ground sweating in the sun with their head in their hand waiting to get on the remy ride because they're in queuing
My family and I went to the Disney parks a few years ago 2019 I believe......and splash mountain was 1 of all my kids fav rides . My kids range from 5-13 at that time. Not a single one knew a single thing about that movie. Just goes to show the ride and atmosphere are far more important then the franchise.
Very much enjoy your video essays! They are all very thorough and well researched. Been a Disney fan for as long as I can remember and the nostalgia of it is why I keep defending the parks but your videos definitely brings a lot of issues into the light. Thank you for creating! Will keep my eye out for more.
I used to defend these parks as something "not just for kids", but I had a difficult time trying to do so. With the many changes over the last five years, I've now realized why.
This is gold. Thanks! Always waiting for your videos.
I personally don’t mind IP based attractions done right but when they’re done poorly it shows
Exactly. There’s a world of difference between Indiana Jones Adventure and Web Slingers.
I think adding in characters from the potc movies to the potc ride actually works and it’s the only instance where ip inclusion doesn’t seem forced to me. Plus it led to Shanghai’s amazing and innovative version
I greatly appreciate Poseidon Entertainment's discussion of leadership beyond Bob Chapek. Bob Iger marked a major departure from Walt Disney's original vision for the parks. EPCOT Center was a celebration of certain essential ideas, not all of which could be linked to or boiled down to Disney IP. But it was part of what made the Disney brand, and the Disney story. Iger covered himself in glory for increasing Disney's bottom line exponentially, and Chapek seems to be doing likewise, but I agree that the current trend of catering to high spenders seems very likely to result in a diminution of the generational transmission of enthusiasm for Disney cultural products.
The real question is whether we will see a meaningful fall-off in Disney Parks attendance over time. I continue to be surprised by the number of guests at Disney Parks despite what this video describes as pervasive "anti-consumerist policies."
I’m surprised too how crowded it is but I think it was from people who felt pent up from the last two years. Or ….it simply could be people who are clueless and are satisfied with lackluster experiences, people who don’t really understand what the Disney brand was.
@@brianhill6842 I'm concerned that there's a new and influential category of Disney parks guest, the social influencer. Their interest in the Disney park is much less elastic than the typical guest, who is concerned about price, quality of service, etc. That is because the influencer's purpose is merely to catalogue and experience. Whether they report good or bad results is secondary to their purpose. Traditional guests go to Disney World to enjoy themselves based on what is there. Influencers go to Disney World to enjoy themselves by the act of going in itself. It's unearned media for Disney, and depending on how large this pool of people is, potentially a new profit center. Travel analytics also point to the rise of a new, luxury vacationer, whom Disney is expressly interested in courting.
As a Floridian, I’m not surprised by the crowds. I live in a beach area and it’s been consistently crowded since late ‘20. Folks know they can come to FL with limited restrictions and enjoy their vacation after being restricted in their hometowns. Personally, this doesn’t bother me. What I do find interesting is the number of friends who in the past had no interest in WDW, are suddenly planning trips to WDW. The common theme has been, “might as well do it now because we probably won’t come back.” Let’s also keep in mind that the impact of our nation’s economy has not been fully realized yet. Will be interesting to see how this impacts travel decisions to WDW.
@@czafft4309 I love this last part about the impact of the economy hasn’t been realized yet. People running up debt on their credit cards might not be such a good idea. 😂😂😂
@@Trenacker If that is true, then the Disney brand can kiss itself goodbye.
As the old saying goes: You get rich by selling to the poor and you get poor by selling to the rich.
I’ve only been to each of the American Parks once but Animal Kingdom was by far my favorite specifically because of Everest. I was so impressed by how immersive it was. I had so much fun in the queue that by the time I got to the ride I had no time to be nervous. It’s also was just a really beautifully designed park. I’m sad to see that all the parks are being chipped away at slowly. They really had something special and impressive.
Hour long video?! Yes please! Thanks for the great content as usual!
A couple of things to add. The Harry Potter areas at Universal work as well as they do because they invite guests to actively participate in the world. It's not just that the store are appropriately stocked and themed, but guests are welcome to actually wear the outfits they sell and cosplay as students or Wizarding World residents. You can't do that in Galaxy's Edge. There are restrictions against wearing official costume pieces or using the light sabers outside of photo ops. It really kills the immersion, keeping guests solidly rooted as outsiders in the land.
The recent shift towards cheap and shoddy IP based attractions is largely following the studio's recent shift towards franchises. They've effectively buried well received films so they won't compete with the current "franchise film". Like barely having any merchandise for Zootopia because they didn't want it to take steam away from the Frozen juggernaut. More recently, you can see the same trend with Turning Red after Encanto blew up. Turning Red was well received, but isn't getting much merchandising, while Disney is looking for ways to bring out more merchandise for Encanto. It also seems like they've been trying to play it safe with the animated features since the Good Dinosaur bombed and they had all that merch they couldn't push. They really expected that one to be the next Cars.
Sadly, I think studio execs are trying to put out good films for the most part, but keep getting boxed in by corporate. I don't even think the issue with Lucasfilm is Kathleen Kennedy.
You make some solid points here. First, you've articulated how I feel about the Wizarding World better than I've been doing. I don't think I effectively made a distinction between the difference in merchandise as well as I wanted to but you've provided the words.
Second, it was odd to me how Disney is sidelining Pixar, especially since their films tend to be better received than what Disney is putting out. Yet, it didn't occur to me that the failure of The Good Dinosaur would still be resonating within the company. Still, I think this illuminates many of the issues of Disney leadership, not trusting in quality but focusing more on brand as a selling point.
Completely agree with Zootopia! Same thing also happened with their characters who were completely unmeetable and could ONLY be seen in parades for a long period, even after the film broke 1 billion and won a Oscar! It was unbelievable how poorly the film and its fans were treated and that alone put a huge strain on me ever caring about Disney ever again! I was once a fan myself and would always defend Disney no matter what but after how Zootopia’s fans were treated I washed my hands for Disney! I’ll wait and see what they do now that Zootopia two is being made, all be it 7 years later without much of anything being said or created to show they actually cared about the film or it’s fans during that time.
Well done, Poseidon! Another fantastic in-depth video.
Current Disney reminds me of Sega back in the day. Bad decisions one after the other while a competitor looms with a killer product. Back then it was PlayStation, in this case, its Epic Universe. I’m a former Cast Member and was compelled to apply back to Disney recently, just because I want to make a difference. Sadly, even recruiters seem to have their heads up, well, you know…
I worked here throughout the food and wine festival. Since I worked at one of the hotels along the skyline route, I went to Epcot a lot after work (plus it was the only park that had reservations available). The food portions started out reasonable, but every time I went, the portions got smaller and smaller and didn’t taste as good as before. I think they start out reasonable for when all the bloggers come, then get smaller as time goes on.
Thank you for these videos Mr.Poseidon. I find it hard to make my non-theme-park-goers friends understand how much damage has been done (and will continue to be done) but your videos are a good introduction to our common 'plight'. It's so disheartening to see this company that practically raised many of us fall so hard.
Blizzard, Bioware, Disney... so sad.
The “more timeless, more relevant” line over the barrage of cringey emojis is poetic cinema
I went to Disney World in December 2022 and it was awful. The only part I liked was Frontier Land. Everything else just sucked especially for the amount of money I payed for it.
You know what’s funny? Diagonally feels like they’re prioritizing immersion over sales and it’s a FRICKING SHOPPING MALL. That’s some dedication right there. Disney would foam at the mouth for that kind of opportunity and they’d do it wrong. Glad they passed her up tbh Uni was the right one for the job.
Disney is creating rides now with no animatronics! I just can’t believe this is happening. Spiderman at DCA has literally zero animatronics. And not only that but it’s literally all screens. Between the screens are walls with paint on them. It’s sickening what Disney execs are doing to the theme parks.
I think it's funny that everyone SCREAMED when Universal was doing it, but no one bats an eye at Disney when they're now doing the same exact thing.
@@NocturneFexy um, eyes are batting over here!
If Disney wanted to sell merchandise so badly, then why did they close Disney Stores all over the country? Oh... Disney Execs need you to actually come to the parks to buy the merch and along with that spend major bucks on lodging, admission and food.
The closing of the Disney Store is more a symptom of the rise of online retail. Shop Disney Parks is wildly successful, so it makes sense. While I remember the Disney Store in a positive light, I at least understand why it made sense for them to do so.
I remember riding the Magical Express as a kid. I truly don't recall much of my trips, however I do remember the Express having a huge impact on me. It made my trip so immersive, and this slight detail, along with other small ones at the time gave that "Disney magic" to the park.
Another issue that you didn't mention but I as a huge Disney fan with a disability that involves a Spinal Cord Injury, is I cannot stand that in the past couple of years all of the rides that have been announced and opened except for 3 or so, have all been thrill rides that I cannot go on. Walt Disney specifically wanted a place where everyone can be together, but now in Hollywood Studios I can only actually ride 3 rides. At least in Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom I can still ride most of the rides
They don't care to take the time and effort needed to make a great dark ride anymore. They're more focused on cheap thrills nowadays. The talent of the mid 2000's and older is seemingly waning at Disney parks, nothing feels unique or special anymore
@@notsojoerogan Agreed
I’ve been thinking a lot about this topic lately. Thanks!