M-I-C...C U later!
Now’s the time to say goodbye…to just one company….
M-I-C…see you later!
K-E-Y…why? I think you KNOW why!
M-O-U-S-E
Anyone who knows me even marginally is aware that I’m a big Disney fan. I’m definitely a legacy kind of guy, Walt alive working wonders and what-not, and I’m big on the arrival of the Eisner era, even if he didn’t stick the landing. And though I have a good amount of respect for Bob Iger and his stewardship, it was on his watch that I, total Disney Kool Aid drinkin’ sonofagun that I am, decided that me and Disney needed to go our separate ways for a while. We both need a little time to think.
Really, I’m talking mainly about the theme parks. I’ll still watch Disney+, but that’s about the extent of it. The parks, especially Walt Disney World resort, have long been the playground of the rich where mere lower class mortals are allowed to tag along, but even that’s getting to be tough. I realized it back when Pandora debuted at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Annual Passholders were able to experience the big E-ticket rides at a preview, so yay for that, but subsequent visits to the park weren’t nearly as easy. Using virtual queue technology via smart phone app, you basically had to win the lottery in order to grab a coveted spot in line.
This got even worse when Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge debuted the ambitious Rise of the Resistance attraction. Lucky I got to experience it in previews, because every single try after that date yielded a big fat goose egg. People who do hardcore Disney know all of the ins and outs, tricks and tips, and you should’ve seen the Disney forums filled with suggestions on how to “set your world clock and time your submission to five seconds before park opens and you’ll get a slot.” I spend enough time on my phone. I don’t wanna have to stare at it just to maybe get a chance to ride something.
Then, for the first time in forever, the resort closed for the pandemic. Not very long, mind you, just several weeks as opposed to a whole year for Disneyland, but when Walt Disney World reopened, something had definitely changed. Much of that was necessary due to international cast members needing to head back home. Staffing issues aside, the Mouse, largely directed by current CEO Bob Chapek (called “Paycheck” by disgruntled Dis-nerds), suddenly began dropping all of its perks, up-charging resort guests, removing entertainment and announcing things like Genie, a new version of FastPass where you pay extra bucks to skip the line.
Now, I love to hang out in any theme park, it doesn’t matter, and Disney’s been the leader for a long time, but I think hubris has gotten stuck in their eyes, because they’re churning out second-rate stuff while local competitors like Universal Resort Orlando and Sea World are literally knocking it out of the park with their offerings. Universal alone debuted a world-class roller coaster (Jurassic World VelociCoaster) and you can actually go to the park and, get this, ride it that same day! No apps needed, no blood tests, no aligning of the planets, just line up and go. Maybe it’s time for Disney to open a fifth gate and redistribute some of the heaving hordes.
Most recently, Disney announced (!) that they were raising prices and decreasing food portion sizes. We get it, pandemic, reduced capacity, but the other parks aren’t doing this. In fact, the other Orlando parks offer gracious free perks and discounts where Disney is savagely cutting perks and asking for more money for less entertainment value.
So, we canceled our Disney passes and haven’t been back since, choosing to hang out at Universal and Sea World instead (with some love shown to Fun Spot Orlando, Fun Spot Kissimmee and Busch Gardens as well) where we feel we’re getting good value. An occasional glance at the Reddit Disney boards reveals that we’re far from alone in feeling stiffed by Disney, especially as long-time fans. From what I’m reading and seeing about the new offerings, we’re really not missing anything anyway.
And at least we don’t have to wait for an app to tell us that we don’t even have a shot.
Jae and I’ll get tickets again some day (if for nothing else but the Tron Lightcycle Power Run coaster), but only after they’ve finished all of their projects and are ready to play ball again. I’m still a big fan of the parks, with loads of great memories there. It would just be a lot easier to enjoy or even justify without getting poked with a stick around every turn.