Lightning Lane Is Not a Cash Grab

 I don't often defend Disney, but this time I will.  

People have been moaning and complaining about Fastpass going away and Lightning Lane replacing it.  I look at that move and applaud Disney for finally doing it.  It is the right thing to do.  

How can I say that?

The answer is simple.  People will pay it and people will keep going to the parks.  This move will only increase their bottom line.  No amount of complaining is going to change that.  Disney does not care if you complain.  You can complain all you want and Disney will ignore it.  Why wouldn't they?

I guarantee you that Disney has dumped a hefty amount of money and research into analytics.  Over the last ten years they have progressively increased the profit margin on everything at the parks and analyzed the impact.  During that time, profits increased.  They did not find a price cliff.  They did not see any meaningful repercussions.

If people are still going to pour into the parks, why not charge for Lightning Lane?  There is no reason not to.  They owe it to their share holders to deliver the most profit possible, over the longest term possible.

What if people stop going because of this?

Well first, that's not going to happen.  People have complained for years, but kept going.   Second, Disney might actually be happy with less people going to the parks, so long as their bottom line is not impacted.  You'd need to see a significant number of people take a stand for Disney to take any action. So, again, nothing is going to happen.  People will not choose another vacation option in meaningful enough numbers to have any kind of impact. 

Do not call this a cash grab.  A cash grab is taking large short term profits in exchange for long term profits.  Cash grabs are extremely short sighted and ignore anything in the long term.  Disney has done their research.  There is no doubt they have a good grasp on the amount of money they are going to make, and how many fans it will cost them.  The profits are worth the collateral damage.  

  

It's Your Fault You Now Need to Pay For Fastpass

Every year, Disney raised the prices of tickets and annual passes.  Every year you complained.

Every year, Disney slowly gutted the dining plan.  Every year you complained.

Every year, Disney slowly cut in park entertainment and amenities.  Every year you complained.

Now Disney has killed Fastpass and replaced it with a paid version.  I know your going to complain, and guess what?  It's all your fault.

You might disagree with that statement or be offended by it.  Honestly, I hope it does offend you.  

Before I go further, let me clarify who I am talking to here.  I am talking to the people who complain, but take no action.  Like a addict, they ignore quality or cost to get their fix.

I know there is another group who 100% agrees with me.  They are ones like me.  The ones, who instead of complaining, took action.

Back in 2013 I wrote a blog entry called "Taking My Ears Off."  In that post I outlined seven things that motivated me to stop giving money to Disney Parks.  They were things that transitioned Disney from an expensive, but high value vacation, to not the best value vacation anymore.   If I was to write that post today, my list would be a lot longer than seven items.

If you complained but kept giving Disney Parks your money, you did nothing but waste your time.  Why would Disney do anything differently?   Their actions were making their bottom line grow.  Until that changes, Disney will keep cutting quality, keep increasing prices, and keep finding ways to milk as much money as possible out of people.  

If you want anything to change you have to take action.  Stop giving Disney Parks your money and you might see things change.  

I haven't stepped foot in a Disney Park since 2011.  Do I miss it?  Of course I miss it.  Disney World was unlike anything else.  

If I feel that way why haven't I gone back?  Because Disney Parks are not the best value anymore.  For 60 years they were, but that is no longer the case.   The cuts have changed Disney World into a shell of what it once was. 

I know some people are going to disagree with that, and honestly I don't care.  Those people are not my peers.  They are either so addicted to Disney that they can't see the forest through the trees or are in an income bracket far above mine, and feel no impact from the price increases.

You might think I'm a Disney basher, but I'm not.  I'm still a Disney fan.  I still listen to podcasts, follow Disney news, subscribe to Disney Plus, and so on.  I simple don't give Disney Parks my money anymore, and that will continue until the parks become a good value again.

Do I think I will ever step foot in a Disney Park again?  The part of my brain that embraces fantasy says yes, but realistic side of me knows it's very unlikely.  After what people have accepted, I can't see Disney doing anything that would keep people from going to the parks.