Grand Floridian orchestra and yeehaw bob are examples of “western civilization” and are not the kind of entertainment Disney wants to highlight if they can help it. Right up there with the fife band (My personal favorite) they eliminated at the American pavilion in Epcot. Too “American.”
Absolute insanity
Don’t think there is any agenda outside of the bottom line. Musicians are most likely unionized (so fairly compensated) which isn’t something Chapek seems interested in.
So if someone rides that, they will spend 3/8 hours the park is open on one ride…Hope the ride feels worth 3/8 of the park ticket. Expensive rides.
But they will actually be spending more per hour. Remember, it will be on top of ticket price, on top of Genie +, etc. so basically it could push your price for a one day ticket to over $200 for what was $95 a couple years ago.
I don't disagree the the crowds have been a detractor but I feel like Disney has been doing what they can to discourage crowds. Raising prices, less discounts, etc.
Pre-pandemic the FOP line was frequently 3 hours. We saw that wait time during our trip in January 2019.
Disney can limit # of people entering the parks to a less stifling number. They pack 'em in to get as much $ as possible. Yes, it's a business, but for me, it's no longer fun. It's frustrating, fighting the crowds, waiting on absurdly long lines. So, they're losing a long time customer (been going yearly since it opened). But for every customer lost, they'll gain 2 more. The almighty buck drives it all. I never in a million years thought I'd give up on my happy place...but here we are.
Pre pandemic the wait was 3 hours because 80% of capacity went to FP+, which meant everyone had a chance to skip the line. (I once rode FOP 6 times in a day refreshing the app, could have been more but I got bored after the 6th).
Well, not quite everyone.
All you are hearing officially is that Disney has cut alot of stuff that was free before such as MDE, fast passes, in park musicians etc. But you haven't hear one word that Disney is increasing the salary of the regular park employees.
That’s going to be tough if you travel with friends/family and people in same party can’t or won’t afford same things.
Disney in a much publicized agreement in 2018, agreed to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour by Oct of this year.
There should be skycaps there to help you cart it down to the shuttle. Just tip them 10 bucks or whatever to cart it down for you. (Disclaimer: I haven't looked for them recently but they're usually around with the big carts.)Magical Express including luggage was especially good for me who has difficulty walking, and walking with luggage is nearly impossible. Ditto many of my friends. We have a Gals trip in December, 2 able bodied friends, 3 of us challenged, we’ll manage I am sure, but this is as young as we’ll ever be!
I think renting a car if the push luggage racks are readily available may be what we can do.
