Hello everyone!
I don’t like doing negative videos especially about a place we love. Stay with me on this one to explain my concerns with the Magic Keys, reservations and Genie Plus.
Now some of you know me but for those that don’t, I come from a background of running some bigger companies along with owning my own so I know a little about how a company thinks and what has happened with Disney and my take on what’s going on.
As the title says I Never should have bought the Dream Key pass I meant it, Gwyn and I have been annual pass holders for a while and when the closure of the parks and the re-opening with reservations because of the limiting crowds due to the pandemic we like many others were excited about getting a new annual pass again but that isn’t what we got.
I guess the assumption that the reservation system would go away and they would hopefully give us the max pass alternative known as Genie Plus with the Dream Key was a foolish thought and totally my fault for thinking Disney was going to take care of us passers.
Getting the Dream Key Level meant no blackout dates but came to find out the reservation system keeps knocking out dates that we are able to go.
Now we paid $1400 x 2 for our Dream Key Passes and now we have more dates removed then the Enchant Key for $649 x 2 due to the reserve system.
Yes we get 5% more discount on some food and 10% more discount on Merch but is that worth paying an extra $751 x 2 for the dream keys?
Oh yeah they give us an additional 2 reservations for a total of 6 within a 90 day period so we try to use what days are still open to make reservations.
So would I buy another Dream Key next year, that is a big no if the conditions are the same. We paid less for more with the annual passes before when they included the Max Pass but now there really isn’t a benefit for buying the highest level pass so chances are we won’t and just go less at Disney and more to the other parks.
Now let me give you my thoughts on the reservation system in cooperation with the Genie Plus.
Many companies had to do some re aligning of employees and cuts with the pandemic but what this did is show them what they could do to make more profits with less employees and offices they really didn’t need otherwise becoming lean and mean.
It’s like when nobody showed up to the Starwars Batuu opening well actually both parks were empty so they decided to serve alcohol and raise prices to make up for the lack of park goers which it did with an average of 80% profit in sales with their tasty alcoholic beverages.
In my opinion and what I know about business they are using the reservation system to limit crowds for the size of cast members they have to gain more profit from them otherwise less for more. If they can use less resources to gain more profit the executives get the bigger bonus
For example in a company we had 200 employees and had to let go half and found we made the same profit with 100 employees as we did with 200 without their wages, benefits, taxes and comp. We became more efficient and streamlined
Then comes Genie Plus where they will be hurding park goers like cattle where they need to along with limiting rides and charging extra $15 per person per day for those who want to get in on the fast pass oops I mean lightning lane.
Then the added income from charging extra for riding the new rides with boarding passes that are hard to get normally and charging from $10 on up depending on how busy it is and time of month per person. They are giving nothing for something.
It cost Disney nothing because the rides will keep operating as they normally would and anytime someone buys the Lightning Lane is per profit.
It’s a shame that the ones who save up each year or even years to come to Disneyland will pay the price for that. Disney knows that this way of thinking has been cultivated for years and will say “everything is expensive in Disneyland” and since it’s a one time visit they will spend the extra money to ride those rides, to pay for the special food and drinks.
Look, don’t get me wrong, all companies need to make money but the trends I’m seeing from Disney and what some of the things cast members have told us makes me realize that the way Disney operates is changing and may not be for the better for customers and cast members.
Will we keep going? Of course we will. Maybe not as much or buy as much as we used to but Disney is inbred in us and has been for so many years along with my kids and their kids and will be for the rest of my life trying to keep the magic going that has made us feel so good for so long.
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
