Disney News, Discussion & an Element of Fun - 2022 Edition

[mrsap]

Nutmeg the Baby Babirusa Born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

 

[brockash]

Test Track Closing Early Again at EPCOT

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What is the deal with this? Do we know why this is happening or they're choosing to do this? Makes me concerned with trying to ride it during extended hours.

 

[mrsap]

Rare Look at Repainting of Aladar Iguanodon at DINOSAUR Entrance in Disney’s Animal Kingdom

 

[HokieRaven5]

The Walt Disney Company Q1 FY22 Earnings Report

For those interested in reading it.

Some key takeaways:

• Disney+ adds 11M subscribers from previous quarter up to 129M total subscribers.
• Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution Revenue: $14.585B
• Disney Media and Entertainment Operating Income: $808M
• Global Disney Parks Products and Experiences Revenue: $7.234B
• Domestic Parks Operating Income of $1.555B

 

[mrsap]

Up to 50 percent of Walt Disney World park guests are upgrading to Disney Genie+ according to Bob Chapek

In an interview with CNBC this evening, Disney CEO Bob Chapek commented again on the roll-out of Disney Genie+ at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort. According to Chapek, between a third and a half of guests are upgrading to Genie+. This appears to be an increase in early reports when he commented at the last earnings call in November that about one third of guests were opting for Genie+.

In today's Walt Disney Company Q1 2022 earning report, Genie+ and Lighting Lane purchases were specifically mentioned as a contributor to the increase in average per capita revenue.

 

[The Foolish Mortal]

The Walt Disney Company Q1 FY22 Earnings Report

For those interested in reading it.

Some key takeaways:

• Disney+ adds 11M subscribers from previous quarter up to 129M total subscribers.
• Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution Revenue: $14.585B
• Global Disney Parks Products and Experiences Revenue: $7.234B
• Domestic Parks Operating Income of $1.555B

I watched the Chapek interview on CNBC after these earnings were announced. I don't really have an opnion one way or the other on Chapek (which I know puts me in the minority on this board). But I will give him credit for being honest and not trying to spin things. He made clear that the park experience is more expensive because of demand and it will continue to be expensive as long as guests are willing to pay more for a more peronalized and/or VIP experience. He did emphsize that there are less expensive ways to do it on less busy days, but you have to be willing to book your vacation for the second tuesday in september rather than a weekend or the height of summer.

 

[SkyGuy]

What is the deal with this? Do we know why this is happening or they're choosing to do this? Makes me concerned with trying to ride it during extended hours.

It wasn’t open during our extended hours last week. Kind of ruined our plan of attack.

 

[LSUmiss]

I watched the Chapek interview on CNBC after these earnings were announced. I don't really have an opnion one way or the other on Chapek (which I know puts me in the minority on this board). But I will give him credit for being honest and not trying to spin things. He made clear that the park experience is more expensive because of demand and it will continue to be expensive as long as guests are willing to pay more for a more peronalized and/or VIP experience. He did emphsize that there are less expensive ways to do it on less busy days, but you have to be willing to book your vacation for the second tuesday in september rather than a weekend or the height of summer.

Except it’s still packed in sept even if it’s a little less packed b/c ppl have already caught on to going during less crowded times. And paying extra for some things like genie plus doesn’t take away from the fact that many things have disappeared & have not returned. And, most importantly, genie plus is an inferior product to fast pass AND costs money.

 

[The Foolish Mortal]

Except it’s still packed in sept even if it’s a little less packed b/c ppl have already caught on to going during less crowded times. And paying extra for some things like genie plus doesn’t take away from the fact that many things have disappeared & have not returned. And, most importantly, genie plus is an inferior product to fast pass AND costs money.

I guess its a matter of personal opinion on what constitutes "packed". I agree, WDW is busy year round. There are crowds every day of the week. But some times are worse than others. Besides, I'm not trying to make a post about whether or not recent decisions and changes are good or bad. That dead horse has been flogged to the point that more threads on the subject are pointless. I just thought it interesting that a CEO was so direct about customers paying more for the product being sold on nothing more than simple supply and demand terms. Its something that happens frequently, but rarely these days do the companies offer that direct and honest explanation

 

[LSUmiss]

I guess its a matter of personal opinion on what constitutes "packed". I agree, WDW is busy year round. There are crowds every day of the week. But some times are worse than others. Besides, I'm not trying to make a post about whether or not recent decisions and changes are good or bad. That dead horse has been flogged to the point that more threads on the subject are pointless. I just thought it interesting that a CEO was so direct about customers paying more for the product being sold on nothing more than simple supply and demand terms. Its something that happens frequently, but rarely these days do the companies offer that direct and honest explanation

I agree but also think he’s still spinning it imo b/c there really is no less expensive way to enjoy it other to cut stuff out.

 

[mrsap]

Obi-Wan Kenobi Will Make Its Disney+ Debut on May 25th

 

[mrsap]

Restaurant capacity and live entertainment restrictions are currently limiting Walt Disney World theme park attendance according to Bob Chapek

“He continued, "The self-imposed capacity constraints are really a function of our food and beverage sort of mitigation, if you will. But the second one is live entertainment. And we're working towards restoring both of those so that we can get up to something that would be more similar to what we've seen in the past in terms of the number of people we put into our parks. But I must tell you that our ability to increase our guest experience through a reservation system and a very carefully managed demand ticketing system has been something that we really like, and I think guaranteeing our guests that they have a great experience no matter when they come, whether it be the Christmas holiday or whether it be in the middle of the month of September, that's really important to us. And so we're going to self-manage this to optimize the guest experience, but at the same time we know we have head room, whether do it international or expansion and reinstatement of things like live entertainment."

 

[LSUmiss]

Restaurant capacity and live entertainment restrictions are currently limiting Walt Disney World theme park attendance according to Bob Chapek

“He continued, "The self-imposed capacity constraints are really a function of our food and beverage sort of mitigation, if you will. But the second one is live entertainment. And we're working towards restoring both of those so that we can get up to something that would be more similar to what we've seen in the past in terms of the number of people we put into our parks. But I must tell you that our ability to increase our guest experience through a reservation system and a very carefully managed demand ticketing system has been something that we really like, and I think guaranteeing our guests that they have a great experience no matter when they come, whether it be the Christmas holiday or whether it be in the middle of the month of September, that's really important to us.”

 

[snikki]

Up to 50 percent of Walt Disney World park guests are upgrading to Disney Genie+ according to Bob Chapek

In an interview with CNBC this evening, Disney CEO Bob Chapek commented again on the roll-out of Disney Genie+ at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort. According to Chapek, between a third and a half of guests are upgrading to Genie+. This appears to be an increase in early reports when he commented at the last earnings call in November that about one third of guests were opting for Genie+.

In today's Walt Disney Company Q1 2022 earning report, Genie+ and Lighting Lane purchases were specifically mentioned as a contributor to the increase in average per capita revenue.

I see a price increase coming.

 

[Turksmom]

I see a price increase coming.

We arrive 3/2, so my guess is that it will be increased on 3/1.

 

[bsmcneil]

Restaurant capacity and live entertainment restrictions are currently limiting Walt Disney World theme park attendance according to Bob Chapek

“He continued, "The self-imposed capacity constraints are really a function of our food and beverage sort of mitigation, if you will. But the second one is live entertainment. And we're working towards restoring both of those so that we can get up to something that would be more similar to what we've seen in the past in terms of the number of people we put into our parks. But I must tell you that our ability to increase our guest experience through a reservation system and a very carefully managed demand ticketing system has been something that we really like, and I think guaranteeing our guests that they have a great experience no matter when they come, whether it be the Christmas holiday or whether it be in the middle of the month of September, that's really important to us. And so we're going to self-manage this to optimize the guest experience, but at the same time we know we have head room, whether do it international or expansion and reinstatement of things like live entertainment."

"Secondly, Chapek said that live entertainment continues to be restricted, 'because we don't want our guests to feel an excessive level of density.'" Wait, what?! In my perspective, more live entertainment would help with the crowd density!

 

[snikki]

We arrive 3/2, so my guess is that it will be increased on 3/1.

We go in November so I just added it to my tickets on my package so I can be locked in. I fully expect it to go up by then.

 

[LSUmiss]

"Secondly, Chapek said that live entertainment continues to be restricted, 'because we don't want our guests to feel an excessive level of density.'" Wait, what?! In my perspective, more live entertainment would help with the crowd density!

Uh and what about the MK fireworks crowd. I don’t think it can possibly be more dense than that!

 

[Jennasis]

He is so full of it.

Excessive density?? Has he seen Main Street during fireworks? Not a "live actor" anywhere.

Hogwash.

 

[RivShore]

I guess its a matter of personal opinion on what constitutes "packed". I agree, WDW is busy year round. There are crowds every day of the week. But some times are worse than others. Besides, I'm not trying to make a post about whether or not recent decisions and changes are good or bad. That dead horse has been flogged to the point that more threads on the subject are pointless. I just thought it interesting that a CEO was so direct about customers paying more for the product being sold on nothing more than simple supply and demand terms. Its something that happens frequently, but rarely these days do the companies offer that direct and honest explanation

Actually they have been honest about that for years, Bob 1 said as much when they moved to dynamic pricing.