I think there is a attitude of toxic positivity that permeates through the Disney fandom. It's much more difficult to be honest about the situation than it is to pretend that none of it is happening. I applaud you for being honest
IMHO, 'honesty' doesn't mean negative or positive, you can be positive and still be genuine, you can also be negative and be phony. Not saying The DIS is phony, not at all, I love what they do. I am just saying that just because there is a more 'negative' view on a matter, does not automatically equate to 'honesty'.
I appreciate that you aren’t peddling pixie dust despite your interest in selling trips. I went to WDW almost yearly for 40 years but I’ve no desire to return unless there is major improvement. Thanks for keeping us informed with honesty.
Joseph, if I was desperate for a vacation, I'd try Busch Gardens or Universal. I went to Universal 18 months ago because Disney priced me clean out the door. It's a huge park and you can't see everything in one day. If you do go, I recommend at LEAST two days at Universal. If you have a ton of vacation time racked up, go for three days. If staying at one of their hotels, you do get one hour Early Access (their term for Extra Magic Hours. Since they have all the Harry Potter theme parks inside, I wonder why they don't say Extra Wizarding/ or Witching Hours. 😂🤣)
@@largol33t1 lol its not one huge park. It's two parks next to each other. Of course they feel connected because of Hogwarts express and are both attached to city walk. Everything is just way more convenient because of the proximity of the parks and all the hotels.
I agree with you Pete! First, let me state that I have been fully supportive of Disney during the pandemic and the tough business environment they emerged from. I live in NJ, and have visited numerous times before and after the shutdown as my daughter is a FT student in the Orlando area. We are a Disney family, have been for over 20 years, and I am an AP holder. That said, I stayed at the Boardwalk over Christmas, and brought my elderly parents. Upon check-in, I found myself having to search for, and grab a duster off a housekeeping cart to dust my own room. It wasn't a little dust in an out of way place, it was the entire room. I can tell you the little amount of housekeeping offered did not improve during our stay. Next, (along with everyone else), I had to get up and try to plan my day at 7:00 AM (I am used to preplanning and know what I am doing in advance as is everyone else), so I pay for the privilege of trying to schedule what we want to do, which is hit or miss at best. Because you can only book 1 LL pass at a time, I was dragging my 80 year old parents back and forth across the parks constantly. They were on scooters, but I was not (between 25,000-30,000 steps per day). I thought it would all be ok because I love Disney, and the magic would hit me, and it would be wonderful. It was not. This is the first time I was actually glad to be leaving, and the first time I did not plan a return trip before or shortly after I left. Denny, I love watching you and hearing your take on things, but when I am spending thousands of dollars a day to go to the parks, stay at the hotels, and eat at the restaurants, I should not have to look for ways to connect with the Disney magic. For the money I spent, they should be standing on mainstream and hosing me down with it. The positive was the tremendous cast members and excellent dining (I did not go the Hollywood and Vine lol). Honestly, my next trip to Orlando will be to go to Universal, and the next big vacation just might be a Disney cruise. WDW has lost me, at least for now. Sorry for the long rant, but this has been building up...
I wish Josh or any executive would say to themselves would I want to do that, before they implement something new. For examples: do I want to get up early while on vacation to make a virtual reservation for a ride and still not be able to get one? Do I want to make my lunch mobile order at 9am and still not get it at the time I would like to eat? Do I want to decide what and when I want lunch at 9am? Do I want to go to a park on a bad weather day instead of changing it to the day I had set aside as a resort day? Oh wait I can't because I can't get a park reservation for another day. Do I want to pay for an individual attraction and by time I finish, the time goes from 12am to 6pm? I wish they would pick a family and shadow them for a day, from early morning trying to get that virtual que, standing in lines, etc, till the end of their day. Then they might understand the frustrations.
Yes to this! Either the execs themselves or the execs find Disney park goers who would be willing to be a “test audience” to test these new park innovations first BEFORE implementing them to everyone. This way, the company can prevent what could become a problem and make the necessary changes!
The light saber bag debacle could have easily been diverted by offering to mail the bags to the participants when they come in and giving the 10% discount.
Pete .... you are our Disney Walter Cronkite (you cut through the pixie dust) we watch you more than network TV!! Amazing show, my wife already commented ,please keep it up. We are addicted DVC members, will be back to OKW in 30 days (sorry Fiasco), but we do see the days of Universal / DCL on the horizon. And Yes THE BULL AND BEAR IS AWESOME!!!!
Don’t worry about complaining guys. We get it. Complaining happens when something becomes more expensive for a new normal that is significantly degraded. The current Disney World park experience isn’t what we knew and love, even as recent as 2-3 years ago.
It’s not complaining when what you’re saying is completely true and especially when you’re trying to keep people from being ripped off. With that said however many are complete zealots and will continue packing the parks while “complaining’ about the prices.
What a great show today !!!! You guys are saying absolutely everything that the hubby and I talk about almost every day !!! Trying to plan our trip in February and almost dreading it 😔😔😔
We go to Disney at least once a year - usually twice. We just cancelled our April trip and booked a trip to Universal Orlando and staying at Portofino. I hate to say we are disappointed with Disney right now but we are.
Doesn't Universal also charge for 'front of the line' passes? So not sure what people are gaining by going to Uni instead, it's not that much different.
@@OrangeGrove55 yeah that’s why I said included. I’m aware you pay more for those resorts. No reason to be rude. It’s still cheaper than a Disney vacation package staying at one of the nicer resorts. I just commented on a UA-cam video lol. No reason to get intense.
@@beth199013 My apologies if I am coming off rude, I just think this notion that Universal is such a 'deal' is kind of ridiculous. They are just as greedy and not a whole lot cheaper than what you get with Disney.
Let me for one say I watch this show and love this show to here Pete's classic rants!!!! His opinions and straight forward views makes this show soooooo awesome!!!!! Keep up the great work guys 👍
We compared the prices of a Disney World trip vs Disney Cruise and the cruise was a few hundred dollars less expensive BEFORE you considered food was included in the cruise. We booked a cruise! It’ll be our first and I’m so excited!
There’s a reason I most consistently watch you guys and WDWNT - I really appreciate the honesty. Sometimes I agree and sometimes I don’t, but I know you’ll say how you really feel. I also love watching the trackers or listening to WDW Radio at times for the feel good highlights, but I *do* take that with a grain of salt when it’s always happy happy fun time, especially at a time like now when the bar is dropping so much. I’m not knocking them, it’s their brand, and there’s a time and place for that. But I really appreciate the honest takes more than anything
What a great show. I am so excited that you are bringing back DIS Radio. I am a long time viewer & remember the time it was available & remember listening to it when I was missing the parks.
Deni is right, this show and your channels, I find very balanced. It's not a lot of fluff and it's not a lot of despair, it's giving us true observations of what's going on and thoughts about what's going on. Even if we may not agree with everything at times, I still think it's a very balanced company in views and actions.
Thanks for the perspective for families traveling from out of town with kids- it really is a whole different world of ‘vacationing’. I just love the added perspectives of Elaine and Deni- they add a lot.
We cancelled our 2022 trip, not because of the variant, rather because the 50th is underwhelming and the parks are more crowded than in years past. Not sure when we will go back to WDW...perhaps in a few years, and for several years we went multiple times. Looking at going to DL later this year.
I appreciate the honesty and realistic picture of how things are. I don’t see you sugarcoating how things are, I see you keeping it real. That’s what I want to see.
I loved how Denny is struggling to not laugh while reading Iger's third "pillar" of goals. He's a terrible liar and has a memory retention of oh, about 1 minute. He has definitely already forgotten all the negative experiences people have been going through in the theme park since it reopened.
We hold Disney to a certain standard because that’s the standard they delivered! Now, we’re the bad guys for being disappointed. You can’t keep lowering standards and expect everyone to be okay with it, especially if you’re raising prices at the same time!
Just to let you know I had to cancel our trip from UK 3 times last year which would have cost £12k GBP. Just tried to rebook for October, £17.5 k 😮😮 won’t be coming!!! You’re doing a great job guys, love listening to you
Thank you Pete ! for not drinking the Kool aid and being honest. Keep up the great work, we love you and the gang......My wife and I love Disney also but seriously have to laugh when a bag of 6 animal crackers sells for $4.99 .....we only bought 2 ...lol. Not a chance.......there's odviously more to it then we all "see," some unheard of delusional reason for extreme pricing.
One of the many reasons I listen to this channel besides their theme park reporting is also hearing them chat about everything from prices to food to little things in theme parks that most wouldn't know about (example: they once had a show where they discussed secret places to hide and rest in Universal).
Pete thank you so much for the truth. I’ve been going to Disneyworld with my handicapped son for 28 years every year. A few years back I noticed that Disney was not as nice and helpful to handicapped people as they were 10 years ago. I have a trip planned for Nov of 22 to say goodbye to our family’s happy place. I’m minutes from canceling this trip. The problem is Iger said years ago that they did not need the middle class to make money. Everything they are doing is proving they believe that. My heart is broken my whole life has been Disney and the next trip. It’s cheaper for me to go to Europe than Disney! Thank you so much I can’t say it enough for the truth!
Yeah he signs off on everything that happens at WDW. Annual passes could be as they were in 2019 with everything that was included at those same prices. Magic hours could be the same as they were. But we keep getting less for more and Josh signs off on it all and he is letting Lex Luther take all the hate for it
Thank you for telling the unvarnished truth. I cannot applaud you more for doing this especially as you have so much 'skin in the game'. This attitude should only garner you more followers than less. Some Disney coverage is so sweet it sticks in my throat knowing that not all is rosy in the garden. Surely being honestly critical has a better chance of bringing improvements than hiding the truth...keep on being you.
Relentless focus on [Disney's] audience?! Chapek goes on to claim that the way we - as the audience - want to experience Disney Parks has changed. Really? Let's assume that this is true (serious suspension of disbelief here) and try to extrapolate what Chapek claims we want based on what Disney has done lately: Chapek's idea of a current Disney Park fan: 1) Wants to pay more for entrance tickets, annual passes, parking, resort rooms, and all food in the parks. 2) Wants to eliminate the complimentary Magical Express. 3) Wants to pay $15-20 each day for Genie+ Lightning Lane access, but not for all rides; make some of them require some out-of-pocket to get in those lines. 4) Wants to pay more and get less for that lightsaber build experience; happy to pay full price, get a plastic bag, and receive the old brush off in the event that those carrying cases run out. 5) Wants to walk everywhere, so keep those parking lot trams closed; it's good exercise for the walk to and from the airport. 6) Wants to be publicly insulted by official Disney social media accounts for sharing opinions about Disney Parks. 7) Wants Magic Keys instead of Annual Passports; in particular, let the highest tier, most expensive key specifically advertise as being the only key with no blockout dates during the Holidays and then block all of them out from October through December (note: this, obviously, would only apply to those top Magic Key holders, not those purchasing single or multi-day entrance tickets, because there's clearly some room for reservations.) 8) Wants Disney to lay off Cast Members during the pandemic, instead of leaving them on furlough. Shareholders and restoring executive pay ASAP is obviously the priority. 9) Wants Disney to eliminate large swaths of live/spontaneous entertainment Cast Member jobs; theme and immersion are clearly no longer important to park fans these days. 10) Wants Chapek to focus so much on the audience that he knows when to ghost D23 attendees. In my opinion, the only place where Disney has maintained a "relentless focus on [their] audience" is on social media, where official Disney accounts are literally insulting a large portion of Disney Park fans for ever questioning anything that Disney is doing these days. It really doesn't surprise me that the man behind the concept of the "Disney Vault" (ie indefinitely charging a premium after manufacturing a shortage in supply) is now expanding that same thought process to Disney Park resort room availability and beyond. Was the Disney Park system truly that "underpriced" that everything, everywhere needed a massive price increase? Was that still not enough, to where loads of previously-complimentary perks needed cutting? It feels like there is only one pillar in Chapek's Disney dream: increase quarterly earnings beyond the earnings of the prior quarter, indefinitely, regardless to the cost in goodwill. Sorry, but that goodwill and marketshare won't survive this beating forever, particularly not when Universal and various other parks are actively focused on supplanting Disney as being the "Gold Standard" of parks. Successfully booking and carrying out a Disney World vacation should come with a plaque to commemorate that tremendous feat. It's just not that magical anymore. I hope this changes, but I doubt it with Chapek not-so-artfully dodging Disney fans.
Love todays show. And Pete I just love your show and if I agree with you or not I love that you tell it like it is. It’s so refreshing to get the real information and not get information thru rose colored glasses.
Clownfish TV is also a good source of information on Disney and other theme parks. Watch out, the guy's wife Geeky, has a sharp tongue and won't hesitate to let Disney have it when she's voicing her anger/frustration at them!
Pete, I’m just now listening to this episode regarding the three pillars from Bob Chapek. Thank you for your honesty and transparency especially with your recovery that you quickly mentioned. That hit home with me. Our reservations are for the last week of November and the first week of December 2022. Hoping there might be some positive changes but always looking forward to spending our time there as we do every year. Blessings to you and your amazing staff. Happy New Year 💜
Disney Park music is the background of my daily life. we listened to Disney Radio years ago. I've been listening to a Disney music streaming channel for about three years and love it. Looking forward to hearing more about yours's.
I enjoyed the show and keeping things real. I know The food prices in the parks have steadily increased, but they have been soaring in the grocery store as well. The sad part, the grocery store may eventually drop their prices, where as Disney will not bring their prices down.
Already bookmarked and started listening to DIS Radio! It was my introduction to the DIS Unplugged network of media and information years ago and I was disappointed when it ended. Now y'all are like family!
Intense feelings of conflict with WDW now. Really glad I have a cruise booked for the fall. I have a room booked next month at WDW and I can’t justify paying full price, no discounted room or tickets or food or AP discounts. It’s just 💯 more expensive than it used to be
"Relentless focus on our audience" - Bob Chapek. I needed a good laugh. We just got back from our every other year vacation. We did not buy Genie + or lightning lanes. Needless to say, lines were horrible. Still not going to pay (if we ever go back).
Glad you didn't fall for Cheapek's poisonous apple trick (sorry, can't resist Snow White jokes!). Still, I went to a rival theme park three years ago because Disney had already priced me out the door. I knew it was getting bad but never in my wildest dreams did I imagine them just taking dynamite and wrecking everything Walt built. They need to get rid of all their characters and just keep Scrooge. He's the new face of the Disney brand whether they admit it or not.
These shows are great because, as a CM I agree with so much of negative downsides of Disney and their actions, but also they offer some upsides as well. I think its a great dichotomy of it all. Theres a lot ups and downs with Disney and always has been. Love these shows!
I went in November and was lucky enough to get a bag with my light saber. But my nephew built a Droid and the droid stopped working when they got back to their hotel room. Disney was fantastic at handling it and let him park in preferred parking (free) and they took the broken Droid and built a new one for him immediately. My brother was impressed with the customer service and it was his family's first time at Disney since we were kids. He loved the whole vacation so much he went from not understanding why my and my sister are Disney nuts to planning his next vacation! So while I appreciate the honesty, there are good experiences to be had.
Always be concerned when companies which have had established principles for decades start to fall back on the pillars BS. At this point, there are no pillars and is just a house of cards. Specifically 3 Card Monte.
Bob Iger's foundation? No mention of Uncle Walt? Just call me a very disappointed North Star. So, Chapek should be visited by the three hitchhiking ghosts....There's a new attraction in there, maybe. Thanks for your integrity, Pete. That's exactly why I'm here. Yes, I may disagree with you (Today I don't), but I always appreciate your point of view.
I appreciate the honesty you guys bring, and share your frustration. I’ve been a WDW fan since I was in gradeschool in the early 80’s, and have definitely seen a lot of changes, (many not for the better), but I’m still attached, if partly for reasons of nostalgia. I love the idea of more people choosing Cruiseline, to open up more space in the Parks for me, a person who would literally not _take_ money to set foot on an ocean liner lol…. I’ll be going on my first trip back to Orlando since Fall 2019 this June, and hoping for the best with Genie+ etc, while celebrating my 50th at WDW’s 50th 😊
Being a Disney World fan is like being in a marriage. It’s forever, but there will be high seasons, low seasons, and sometimes you’re not sure if you’re going to make it. But you keep trying and loving because it’s part of who you are.
As someone who got a divorce years ago, sometimes the best solution for the long run is to cut ties even though it hurts a lot at first. This may also be true for many WDW fans if current trends continue. I’ve been a WDW fan since 1981, but my love has declined a lot.
Pete... my husband and I are with you... we need to look more for the positive, but its been hard. We are coming back next week for 2 weeks! Hoping it's better than November's quick trip... we almost canceled this trip because of last trip. Let's hope this is better... please or this could be the end of 35 years in a row. Will look for positive... we really will!
You should do a Universal Vs. Disney weekend comparison trip with two of your employees families. Document the truth of the visit and have them go the same weekend. Have them track expenses and overall satisfaction. I think this will shed light on where people will get the most value for their dollars.
We were supposed to cruise to Alaska this past summer. We live in Michigan. We submitted all of our testing in Michigan and then flew to Seattle to spend the weekend before the cruise started. My husband and kids were negative and I was positive. I didn’t know until I got out to Seattle. Canceled the cruise. Ended up renting a house and just hung out in the house for a week quarantined. Definitely understand the worry about testing positive before a cruise. We were cruising on Royal Caribbean and it was extremely easy to get refunded just an FYI.
Great convo, as always guys! Re: WDW resort prices, shockingly they are pretty cheap in late April & May, in part thx to that discount. Jambo under $400 a night, All-Stars under $150, & Coronado under $250. Hopefully these prices stay for a bit, although doubtful
We’re going on our Feb trip cuz we’ve already invested too much into it. Gunna pay for genie+ but the table service prices are outrageous now so we’ll skip those. Covid may shut stuff down but we’ll do what we can. N95 on face. It’ll be safe.
I don’t always agree with the opinions on your programs, but at least I always know they are based on your actual experience and knowledge and most of all HONEST.
Thank you. It is bc you speak your minds and say it like it is why I watch. When things are wrong it needs to be called out or it will not be addressed. Like Denny still me and my families happy place, just feel like those incharge dont have that same love
And about the “complaining:” we’re fans and we’re likely to stick it out through this dark time at WDW. It’ll pass and great times will happen again. But I wonder if any new fans are being created now? Would you love it as much if your first visit occurred in today’s WDW?
Have to disagree on cruiseline. Our recent sailing on the Wonder was disappointing. The dining room service was outrageous. We did not go more than 3 minutes without a server interrupting us (actually interrupting our conversation) to make sure everything was “excellent;” it was impossible to carry on a conversation with my family. (This has been a complaint on each our previous 11 cruises, but it was far far worse on this one.) Edge and Vibe were at capacity almost every time my kids tried to go ( yes, I know it’s Covid, but if you have kids this age, you know how important those clubs are to their fun on the cruise and I’m allowed to be disappointed). We missed the extra entertainment they usually have (magician, comedian etc) even though we do understand why they didn’t have it. It’s going to be a while before we’re back on a Disney ship. Now, DVC-we’re loving our points these days! Lazy trips with lots of resort time! I’m not worried about genie because I’ll be lounging at the pool all day. 😁
Having just been in the parks last week, they don't "need" anyone else in the parks. I couldn't believe how crowded the parks were in late Jan/ early Feb.
I think there is a attitude of toxic positivity that permeates through the Disney fandom. It's much more difficult to be honest about the situation than it is to pretend that none of it is happening. I applaud you for being honest
IMHO, 'honesty' doesn't mean negative or positive, you can be positive and still be genuine, you can also be negative and be phony. Not saying The DIS is phony, not at all, I love what they do. I am just saying that just because there is a more 'negative' view on a matter, does not automatically equate to 'honesty'.
I can tell you from the inside, this is true. If you question anything you’re deemed “negative.”
I appreciate that you aren’t peddling pixie dust despite your interest in selling trips. I went to WDW almost yearly for 40 years but I’ve no desire to return unless there is major improvement. Thanks for keeping us informed with honesty.
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Joseph, if I was desperate for a vacation, I'd try Busch Gardens or Universal. I went to Universal 18 months ago because Disney priced me clean out the door. It's a huge park and you can't see everything in one day. If you do go, I recommend at LEAST two days at Universal. If you have a ton of vacation time racked up, go for three days. If staying at one of their hotels, you do get one hour Early Access (their term for Extra Magic Hours. Since they have all the Harry Potter theme parks inside, I wonder why they don't say Extra Wizarding/ or Witching Hours. 😂🤣)
@@largol33t1 lol its not one huge park. It's two parks next to each other. Of course they feel connected because of Hogwarts express and are both attached to city walk. Everything is just way more convenient because of the proximity of the parks and all the hotels.
@@largol33t1 you on .hyn h. Fvg I yygv
I agree with you Pete! First, let me state that I have been fully supportive of Disney during the pandemic and the tough business environment they emerged from. I live in NJ, and have visited numerous times before and after the shutdown as my daughter is a FT student in the Orlando area. We are a Disney family, have been for over 20 years, and I am an AP holder. That said, I stayed at the Boardwalk over Christmas, and brought my elderly parents. Upon check-in, I found myself having to search for, and grab a duster off a housekeeping cart to dust my own room. It wasn't a little dust in an out of way place, it was the entire room. I can tell you the little amount of housekeeping offered did not improve during our stay. Next, (along with everyone else), I had to get up and try to plan my day at 7:00 AM (I am used to preplanning and know what I am doing in advance as is everyone else), so I pay for the privilege of trying to schedule what we want to do, which is hit or miss at best. Because you can only book 1 LL pass at a time, I was dragging my 80 year old parents back and forth across the parks constantly. They were on scooters, but I was not (between 25,000-30,000 steps per day). I thought it would all be ok because I love Disney, and the magic would hit me, and it would be wonderful. It was not. This is the first time I was actually glad to be leaving, and the first time I did not plan a return trip before or shortly after I left. Denny, I love watching you and hearing your take on things, but when I am spending thousands of dollars a day to go to the parks, stay at the hotels, and eat at the restaurants, I should not have to look for ways to connect with the Disney magic. For the money I spent, they should be standing on mainstream and hosing me down with it. The positive was the tremendous cast members and excellent dining (I did not go the Hollywood and Vine lol). Honestly, my next trip to Orlando will be to go to Universal, and the next big vacation just might be a Disney cruise. WDW has lost me, at least for now. Sorry for the long rant, but this has been building up...
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I wish Josh or any executive would say to themselves would I want to do that, before they implement something new. For examples: do I want to get up early while on vacation to make a virtual reservation for a ride and still not be able to get one? Do I want to make my lunch mobile order at 9am and still not get it at the time I would like to eat? Do I want to decide what and when I want lunch at 9am? Do I want to go to a park on a bad weather day instead of changing it to the day I had set aside as a resort day? Oh wait I can't because I can't get a park reservation for another day. Do I want to pay for an individual attraction and by time I finish, the time goes from 12am to 6pm? I wish they would pick a family and shadow them for a day, from early morning trying to get that virtual que, standing in lines, etc, till the end of their day. Then they might understand the frustrations.
Exactly!
Yes to this! Either the execs themselves or the execs find Disney park goers who would be willing to be a “test audience” to test these new park innovations first BEFORE implementing them to everyone. This way, the company can prevent what could become a problem and make the necessary changes!
The light saber bag debacle could have easily been diverted by offering to mail the bags to the participants when they come in and giving the 10% discount.
Exactly!!
Good idea
Pete had me at “if there is an ounce of truth in this Bullshit”. Africkin’Men!
Pete .... you are our Disney Walter Cronkite (you cut through the pixie dust) we watch you more than network TV!!
Amazing show, my wife already commented ,please keep it up.
We are addicted DVC members, will be back to OKW in 30 days (sorry Fiasco), but we do see the days
of Universal / DCL on the horizon.
And Yes THE BULL AND BEAR IS AWESOME!!!!
Don’t worry about complaining guys. We get it. Complaining happens when something becomes more expensive for a new normal that is significantly degraded. The current Disney World park experience isn’t what we knew and love, even as recent as 2-3 years ago.
Right.
So true, my trip in 2016 was awesome compared to last year.
It’s not complaining when what you’re saying is completely true and especially when you’re trying to keep people from being ripped off. With that said however many are complete zealots and will continue packing the parks while “complaining’ about the prices.
What a great show today !!!! You guys are saying absolutely everything that the hubby and I talk about almost every day !!! Trying to plan our trip in February and almost dreading it 😔😔😔
You shouldn't feel dread for a vacay. Try Europe or Aulani.
@@mtngrl88 or DisneySea!
We go to Disney at least once a year - usually twice. We just cancelled our April trip and booked a trip to Universal Orlando and staying at Portofino. I hate to say we are disappointed with Disney right now but we are.
Doesn't Universal also charge for 'front of the line' passes? So not sure what people are gaining by going to Uni instead, it's not that much different.
@@OrangeGrove55 If you stay at a Premier resort it's included with your stay.
@@beth199013 Uh yes it's 'included' because you pay more. So it's not really 'free', is it?
@@OrangeGrove55 yeah that’s why I said included. I’m aware you pay more for those resorts. No reason to be rude. It’s still cheaper than a Disney vacation package staying at one of the nicer resorts. I just commented on a UA-cam video lol. No reason to get intense.
@@beth199013 My apologies if I am coming off rude, I just think this notion that Universal is such a 'deal' is kind of ridiculous. They are just as greedy and not a whole lot cheaper than what you get with Disney.
Let me for one say I watch this show and love this show to here Pete's classic rants!!!! His opinions and straight forward views makes this show soooooo awesome!!!!! Keep up the great work guys 👍
We compared the prices of a Disney World trip vs Disney Cruise and the cruise was a few hundred dollars less expensive BEFORE you considered food was included in the cruise. We booked a cruise! It’ll be our first and I’m so excited!
There’s a reason I most consistently watch you guys and WDWNT - I really appreciate the honesty. Sometimes I agree and sometimes I don’t, but I know you’ll say how you really feel. I also love watching the trackers or listening to WDW Radio at times for the feel good highlights, but I *do* take that with a grain of salt when it’s always happy happy fun time, especially at a time like now when the bar is dropping so much. I’m not knocking them, it’s their brand, and there’s a time and place for that. But I really appreciate the honest takes more than anything
Loved today's show. It really is a fine line finding the balance between honesty and keeping your love for Disney alive.
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Proud of you for your recovery, Pete!
Congrats to Elaine on her marathon run!!
I love this show and how honest the panel is about Disney.This is why I watch this you tube show every week.
What a great show. I am so excited that you are bringing back DIS Radio. I am a long time viewer & remember the time it was available & remember listening to it when I was missing the parks.
Thanks for your honesty and trustworthiness this is why I enjoy to tune into your many platforms. Thanks 👍🏻❤😊
Fantastic show. Limiting the people in studio gives more time for them to shine. Craig was super engaged in this episode 👏🏻
Pete, love your honest attitude and greatly appreciate you for it. I agree those idiots that get upset with should just move along. Don't change!
Deni is right, this show and your channels, I find very balanced. It's not a lot of fluff and it's not a lot of despair, it's giving us true observations of what's going on and thoughts about what's going on. Even if we may not agree with everything at times, I still think it's a very balanced company in views and actions.
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Thanks for the perspective for families traveling from out of town with kids- it really is a whole different world of ‘vacationing’. I just love the added perspectives of Elaine and Deni- they add a lot.
We cancelled our 2022 trip, not because of the variant, rather because the 50th is underwhelming and the parks are more crowded than in years past. Not sure when we will go back to WDW...perhaps in a few years, and for several years we went multiple times. Looking at going to DL later this year.
We canceled a 2021 and 2022 trip, both because of the lack of value for the price at this point. Going skiing instead.
I appreciate the honesty and realistic picture of how things are. I don’t see you sugarcoating how things are, I see you keeping it real. That’s what I want to see.
I loved how Denny is struggling to not laugh while reading Iger's third "pillar" of goals. He's a terrible liar and has a memory retention of oh, about 1 minute. He has definitely already forgotten all the negative experiences people have been going through in the theme park since it reopened.
We hold Disney to a certain standard because that’s the standard they delivered! Now, we’re the bad guys for being disappointed. You can’t keep lowering standards and expect everyone to be okay with it, especially if you’re raising prices at the same time!
Just to let you know I had to cancel our trip from UK 3 times last year which would have cost £12k GBP. Just tried to rebook for October, £17.5 k 😮😮 won’t be coming!!! You’re doing a great job guys, love listening to you
If you're in the UK, have you ever gone to Disneyland Paris or Tokyo instead?
@@JH-lu5yg Been to Paris many times but more to do at Orlando, not looked at Tokyo
Thank you Pete ! for not drinking the Kool aid and being honest. Keep up the great work, we love you and the gang......My wife and I love Disney also but seriously have to laugh when a bag of 6 animal crackers sells for $4.99 .....we only bought 2 ...lol. Not a chance.......there's odviously more to it then we all "see," some unheard of delusional reason for extreme pricing.
I agree...the music hits you! It gives you all the feels and brings back great memories and just puts you in a good mood...it’s soothing ☺️
You all are fun to hear chatting it up! Thank you!
One of the many reasons I listen to this channel besides their theme park reporting is also hearing them chat about everything from prices to food to little things in theme parks that most wouldn't know about (example: they once had a show where they discussed secret places to hide and rest in Universal).
Pete thank you so much for the truth. I’ve been going to Disneyworld with my handicapped son for 28 years every year. A few years back I noticed that Disney was not as nice and helpful to handicapped people as they were 10 years ago. I have a trip planned for Nov of 22 to say goodbye to our family’s happy place. I’m minutes from canceling this trip. The problem is Iger said years ago that they did not need the middle class to make money. Everything they are doing is proving they believe that. My heart is broken my whole life has been Disney and the next trip. It’s cheaper for me to go to Europe than Disney! Thank you so much I can’t say it enough for the truth!
Sorry but I link Josh D right in with Chapek
Yeah he signs off on everything that happens at WDW. Annual passes could be as they were in 2019 with everything that was included at those same prices. Magic hours could be the same as they were. But we keep getting less for more and Josh signs off on it all and he is letting Lex Luther take all the hate for it
Thank you for telling the unvarnished truth. I cannot applaud you more for doing this especially as you have so much 'skin in the game'. This attitude should only garner you more followers than less. Some Disney coverage is so sweet it sticks in my throat knowing that not all is rosy in the garden. Surely being honestly critical has a better chance of bringing improvements than hiding the truth...keep on being you.
I love Elaine! She is the best
GREAT SHOW! Today’s show is the perfect example of the new format. Loved it.
This was the best episode in a long time. I laughed out loud in several spots!
This was a fantastic episode. Enjoyed every minute of it
Relentless focus on [Disney's] audience?!
Chapek goes on to claim that the way we - as the audience - want to experience Disney Parks has changed. Really? Let's assume that this is true (serious suspension of disbelief here) and try to extrapolate what Chapek claims we want based on what Disney has done lately:
Chapek's idea of a current Disney Park fan:
1) Wants to pay more for entrance tickets, annual passes, parking, resort rooms, and all food in the parks.
2) Wants to eliminate the complimentary Magical Express.
3) Wants to pay $15-20 each day for Genie+ Lightning Lane access, but not for all rides; make some of them require some out-of-pocket to get in those lines.
4) Wants to pay more and get less for that lightsaber build experience; happy to pay full price, get a plastic bag, and receive the old brush off in the event that those carrying cases run out.
5) Wants to walk everywhere, so keep those parking lot trams closed; it's good exercise for the walk to and from the airport.
6) Wants to be publicly insulted by official Disney social media accounts for sharing opinions about Disney Parks.
7) Wants Magic Keys instead of Annual Passports; in particular, let the highest tier, most expensive key specifically advertise as being the only key with no blockout dates during the Holidays and then block all of them out from October through December (note: this, obviously, would only apply to those top Magic Key holders, not those purchasing single or multi-day entrance tickets, because there's clearly some room for reservations.)
8) Wants Disney to lay off Cast Members during the pandemic, instead of leaving them on furlough. Shareholders and restoring executive pay ASAP is obviously the priority.
9) Wants Disney to eliminate large swaths of live/spontaneous entertainment Cast Member jobs; theme and immersion are clearly no longer important to park fans these days.
10) Wants Chapek to focus so much on the audience that he knows when to ghost D23 attendees.
In my opinion, the only place where Disney has maintained a "relentless focus on [their] audience" is on social media, where official Disney accounts are literally insulting a large portion of Disney Park fans for ever questioning anything that Disney is doing these days. It really doesn't surprise me that the man behind the concept of the "Disney Vault" (ie indefinitely charging a premium after manufacturing a shortage in supply) is now expanding that same thought process to Disney Park resort room availability and beyond. Was the Disney Park system truly that "underpriced" that everything, everywhere needed a massive price increase? Was that still not enough, to where loads of previously-complimentary perks needed cutting?
It feels like there is only one pillar in Chapek's Disney dream: increase quarterly earnings beyond the earnings of the prior quarter, indefinitely, regardless to the cost in goodwill. Sorry, but that goodwill and marketshare won't survive this beating forever, particularly not when Universal and various other parks are actively focused on supplanting Disney as being the "Gold Standard" of parks. Successfully booking and carrying out a Disney World vacation should come with a plaque to commemorate that tremendous feat. It's just not that magical anymore. I hope this changes, but I doubt it with Chapek not-so-artfully dodging Disney fans.
Loved it today! Very entertaining
you guys are nailing everything. great video
Thank you for speaking up and defending WDWNT. I watch you both. That memo was ridiculous to them.
YES!!! Dis Radio!! I'm so happy!
I never knew this existed! Nice!
It's about time you stand up for your memories! It's about time!
I feel like the line has moved from "if you can dream it then you can do it" to "if you can pay it then we can charge it" 😂😬
DiS Radio is a great idea. Already started listening.
Love todays show. And Pete I just love your show and if I agree with you or not I love that you tell it like it is. It’s so refreshing to get the real information and not get information thru rose colored glasses.
im cracking up with Pete and Craig the liquified ham and lemon! thanks i needed that!
Great show! Pete I thank you for your honesty.
Deni’s hair looks super cute!
I appreciate Pete’s honesty, it’s why I watch! I don’t need the Pixie Dust version, I need the consumer (honest) version.
Clownfish TV is also a good source of information on Disney and other theme parks. Watch out, the guy's wife Geeky, has a sharp tongue and won't hesitate to let Disney have it when she's voicing her anger/frustration at them!
I’m excited for DIS Radio to come back! I have fond memories of tuning in every night back in the summer of ‘08 to listen to Fantasmic.
Can’t wait to get the honest review of the galactic cruiser! Pete, please pay for the crew to go!
Doesn't sound like Pete is paying anyone to go there. But others will give a clear review.
Pete comparing Chapek’s comments to Scrooge being visited by the 3 ghosts is quite possibly my favorite thing so far in 2022.
The Dis, my number one! You all are great and I truly appreciate your honesty and insight with the state of all things Disney.
Pete, I’m just now listening to this episode regarding the three pillars from Bob Chapek. Thank you for your honesty and transparency especially with your recovery that you quickly mentioned. That hit home with me. Our reservations are for the last week of November and the first week of December 2022. Hoping there might be some positive changes but always looking forward to spending our time there as we do every year. Blessings to you and your amazing staff. Happy New Year 💜
I just got back from Orlando. Didn't go to anything Disney. Didn't miss it.
Disney Park music is the background of my daily life. we listened to Disney Radio years ago. I've been listening to a Disney music streaming channel for about three years and love it. Looking forward to hearing more about yours's.
I enjoyed the show and keeping things real. I know The food prices in the parks have steadily increased, but they have been soaring in the grocery store as well. The sad part, the grocery store may eventually drop their prices, where as Disney will not bring their prices down.
Already bookmarked and started listening to DIS Radio! It was my introduction to the DIS Unplugged network of media and information years ago and I was disappointed when it ended. Now y'all are like family!
Disney: we are the former storytellers that now buy extant storytelling, ie marvel.
Intense feelings of conflict with WDW now. Really glad I have a cruise booked for the fall. I have a room booked next month at WDW and I can’t justify paying full price, no discounted room or tickets or food or AP discounts. It’s just 💯 more expensive than it used to be
Then why are you going? Take a break.
WEEEELLL now I'm highly interested in this so-called "Bull and Bear" 😂
"Relentless focus on our audience" - Bob Chapek. I needed a good laugh. We just got back from our every other year vacation. We did not buy Genie + or lightning lanes. Needless to say, lines were horrible. Still not going to pay (if we ever go back).
Glad you didn't fall for Cheapek's poisonous apple trick (sorry, can't resist Snow White jokes!). Still, I went to a rival theme park three years ago because Disney had already priced me out the door. I knew it was getting bad but never in my wildest dreams did I imagine them just taking dynamite and wrecking everything Walt built. They need to get rid of all their characters and just keep Scrooge. He's the new face of the Disney brand whether they admit it or not.
End of show was fun. Deni got the show "off the rails" there.
The end was g!
Great!
Pete always the voice of reason.
I definitely want a "I Am The Northstar!" shirt now!
These shows are great because, as a CM I agree with so much of negative downsides of Disney and their actions, but also they offer some upsides as well. I think its a great dichotomy of it all. Theres a lot ups and downs with Disney and always has been. Love these shows!
great show today everyone; and Pete, i agree with you about the parks and about DCL!
I went in November and was lucky enough to get a bag with my light saber. But my nephew built a Droid and the droid stopped working when they got back to their hotel room. Disney was fantastic at handling it and let him park in preferred parking (free) and they took the broken Droid and built a new one for him immediately. My brother was impressed with the customer service and it was his family's first time at Disney since we were kids. He loved the whole vacation so much he went from not understanding why my and my sister are Disney nuts to planning his next vacation! So while I appreciate the honesty, there are good experiences to be had.
Always be concerned when companies which have had established principles for decades start to fall back on the pillars BS. At this point, there are no pillars and is just a house of cards. Specifically 3 Card Monte.
Go Craig go! Great stuff today! Amazing show, glad to see honest discussion of the Disney universe.
Excellent show today.
Bob Iger's foundation?
No mention of Uncle Walt?
Just call me a very disappointed North Star.
So, Chapek should be visited by the three hitchhiking ghosts....There's a new attraction in there, maybe.
Thanks for your integrity, Pete. That's exactly why I'm here. Yes, I may disagree with you (Today I don't), but I always appreciate your point of view.
I appreciate the honesty you guys bring, and share your frustration. I’ve been a WDW fan since I was in gradeschool in the early 80’s, and have definitely seen a lot of changes, (many not for the better), but I’m still attached, if partly for reasons of nostalgia. I love the idea of more people choosing Cruiseline, to open up more space in the Parks for me, a person who would literally not _take_ money to set foot on an ocean liner lol…. I’ll be going on my first trip back to Orlando since Fall 2019 this June, and hoping for the best with Genie+ etc, while celebrating my 50th at WDW’s 50th 😊
Elaine has had a glow up like none other! The blonde hair and tan! Gorgeous!
There is obviously a Disney bubble (executive level) inside the larger Disney bubble.
Did Chapek’s nose grow like Pinocchio when he sent out that memo?
I am just dying with everyone saying " I am the North Star". 😅🤣😂 come on Disney Leadership, get it together and let's get the magic back!
I love you guys! I so appreciate your honesty!
Did Pete say "WDW News Tonight?" My curiosity as to why we can't say it on Disboards grows for me.
Being a Disney World fan is like being in a marriage. It’s forever, but there will be high seasons, low seasons, and sometimes you’re not sure if you’re going to make it. But you keep trying and loving because it’s part of who you are.
As someone who got a divorce years ago, sometimes the best solution for the long run is to cut ties even though it hurts a lot at first. This may also be true for many WDW fans if current trends continue. I’ve been a WDW fan since 1981, but my love has declined a lot.
Maybe if you’re a boomer. Younger people aren’t here to waste their lives in an unfulfilling relationship
I need a “I’m the North Star” T-shirt quick! My next trip to WDW is in 2 weeks!
Pete... my husband and I are with you... we need to look more for the positive, but its been hard. We are coming back next week for 2 weeks! Hoping it's better than November's quick trip... we almost canceled this trip because of last trip. Let's hope this is better... please or this could be the end of 35 years in a row. Will look for positive... we really will!
You should do a Universal Vs. Disney weekend comparison trip with two of your employees families. Document the truth of the visit and have them go the same weekend. Have them track expenses and overall satisfaction. I think this will shed light on where people will get the most value for their dollars.
We were supposed to cruise to Alaska this past summer. We live in Michigan. We submitted all of our testing in Michigan and then flew to Seattle to spend the weekend before the cruise started. My husband and kids were negative and I was positive. I didn’t know until I got out to Seattle. Canceled the cruise. Ended up renting a house and just hung out in the house for a week quarantined. Definitely understand the worry about testing positive before a cruise. We were cruising on Royal Caribbean and it was extremely easy to get refunded just an FYI.
@@ameliaerin1544 someone who was understanding and happy to make $3k for the week.
Great convo, as always guys! Re: WDW resort prices, shockingly they are pretty cheap in late April & May, in part thx to that discount. Jambo under $400 a night, All-Stars under $150, & Coronado under $250. Hopefully these prices stay for a bit, although doubtful
Awesome material thank you 🙏.
Great episode!
We’re going on our Feb trip cuz we’ve already invested too much into it. Gunna pay for genie+ but the table service prices are outrageous now so we’ll skip those. Covid may shut stuff down but we’ll do what we can. N95 on face. It’ll be safe.
I don’t always agree with the opinions on your programs, but at least I always know they are based on your actual experience and knowledge and most of all HONEST.
Raisins rock haha.. great show guys
Dis Radio!!!!!!! Great news❤️🖤❤️🖤❤️🖤❤️🖤
Thank you. It is bc you speak your minds and say it like it is why I watch. When things are wrong it needs to be called out or it will not be addressed. Like Denny still me and my families happy place, just feel like those incharge dont have that same love
And about the “complaining:” we’re fans and we’re likely to stick it out through this dark time at WDW. It’ll pass and great times will happen again. But I wonder if any new fans are being created now? Would you love it as much if your first visit occurred in today’s WDW?
Have to disagree on cruiseline. Our recent sailing on the Wonder was disappointing. The dining room service was outrageous. We did not go more than 3 minutes without a server interrupting us (actually interrupting our conversation) to make sure everything was “excellent;” it was impossible to carry on a conversation with my family. (This has been a complaint on each our previous 11 cruises, but it was far far worse on this one.) Edge and Vibe were at capacity almost every time my kids tried to go ( yes, I know it’s Covid, but if you have kids this age, you know how important those clubs are to their fun on the cruise and I’m allowed to be disappointed). We missed the extra entertainment they usually have (magician, comedian etc) even though we do understand why they didn’t have it. It’s going to be a while before we’re back on a Disney ship.
Now, DVC-we’re loving our points these days! Lazy trips with lots of resort time! I’m not worried about genie because I’ll be lounging at the pool all day. 😁
Having just been in the parks last week, they don't "need" anyone else in the parks. I couldn't believe how crowded the parks were in late Jan/ early Feb.
Liquefied ham from the my jaw is wired shut part of the menu
Good for Pete. You got a friend in me Pete
Great show today!
I agree Deni, people don't do what they say they say what they do.
If you talk the talk, walk the walk as well. Actions speak louder than words.