keith_h

Updated your post to modern business theory. While shareholders might get to ride along I think most modern corporations are designed to do nothing more than to enrich the executive corps. If you need proof look at the number of companies where shareholders lose value but executive pay increases. 

Before retiring I worked for one of the very large computer companies. As I told newer kids when they came in fresh out of college I would not look at making the company a lifetime career like I did as the company had changed dramatically. However I told them if they could stick it out for 2 - 5 years having worked here still pulled a lot of weight in the industry and looked good on a resume. I suspect Disney is in a similar place so my advice to a young person would be the same. Use the time to build up some experience and bolster the resume as having worked at Disney should pull a lot weight when competing for other jobs in their field.

But I think you're describing a large portion of corporate America

How is that any different than a vast majority of CO-OP jobs at any college?   You get to work for slightly above minimum wage for College Credits and no other benefits and there is no guarantee that you will be hired after graduation.  I have a good friend who swears by the College Program and he "Loves DIS" for the doors that the program opened for him.  He is currently the Director of Ticket Operations for an NFL team.

I'm purchasing the "Hard Pass" this time around

The fact that it sounds even remotely reasonable for the price to have doubled in 6 years is proof that we’ve lost our collective minds.  Housing prices have doubled.  The price of a steak has doubled. The price of a Disney vacation has doubled.  Has your income doubled?  If it has, good for you.  But I bet most people would answer no.  I know we all make decisions and prioritize spending based on what’s important to us, and I am not criticizing anyone for choosing to spend their money at WDW.  I just don’t see how this is sustainable in the big picture.  

I'm going to touch on a few topic that i've read in this multi page thread.
 
1. Is FF slowing down?  Answer yes, I think other social media consumes peoples free time online.  I think they get most of their breaking news / updates there and come here just to see if anyone they know has something going on.  I'm not a social media user I only use Discord and involved in several topic servers there.
2. There are no moose in Great Smokey Mountains National Park, they would be Elk very very big elk.
3. The cost, and frustration of going to DW or the Fort.  My wife, our son (now 6) and I have been going to the fort every fall (Mid Sept) for over 10 years.  Our first year going we made reservations about 8 weeks out and hand APs for the parks.  As they years went by and my son was born (Oct 1, 2014) we moved our trip to Late Oct - Early Nov so we could do the Halloween Party and Christmas Party.  By this time we had to book our site over a year in advance.  This is where frustration with Disney, and the booking systems started for me in 2014 or 2015.
We missed 2020 due to me coming down with Covid but had done a fly down trip and stayed in a resort.  Then another fly down trip in March 21 when we renewed our APs and they gave us a large discount on a room.
Our  trips into the parks where a huge letdown.  While the parks were open, and most attractions were open they Magic was gone.  Completely Gone.  We saw No cast members making magical moments by interaction with guests.  The parks were not clean (clean to Disney Standard).  We will be leaving on Sep 10th for a 3 week stay at the Fort, but this trip is a lets see how it goes trip for us.  The park reservation system is by far the worst thing that's been implemented.  We enjoy waking up and deciding where we want to go that day.  We never pre book Fast Passes, usually only pre book a few meals.  Disney has taking our laid back family vacation and put us on their schedule.

bettcha my flip phone won't make the cut

In other Disney news, guests visiting Mickey's Backyard Massage Parlor and Casino are strongly encouraged to be up to date on their tetanus inoculation, and have a current prescription for penicillin on hand. 

I bet when you return to the cabin in the evening, there will be a QR code on your bed to scan and see pictures of towel animals. 

Hmmmm, stuff like this just makes me go into passive aggressive mode and play dumb old person. If and when I go back and have tickets, I'll just have to go to guest services and find out how to use this Genie+ thing without a smart phone. That's how we got RoR boarding passes.

I can't get any answer anywhere, but my biggest concern is that it seems to be based on having to use a guest-provided smartphone to use the system. I REALLY hope that they revamp the FP kiosks to use the system with a card or Magic Band. I HATE using my phone in the parks, and have gone so far as to telling Guest Services and CMs that I don't have one. In the three or four times I've tried, I have NEVER even been able to get my phone to recognize the RoR queue. I've tried all the tricks. It merely goes from not time, not time, not time, not time..... full.
It really started rubbing me the wrong way, when we started dining out again and restaurants wanted us to use our phones to see the menu, and when we went to Disney, them trying to say we had to use mobile order, or using our phone to get a text for seating. I want a menu, I want a beeper to be called to my table, and I want to order in person.

It sounds like the return of ticket books in virtual form. For no additional cost Genie will direct you to the A, B and C ticket rides. Pay $15 and you get access to the D ticket rides and pay an unknown amount for access to the 'E' rides. 

I fixed it. 
Imagine taking the kids to WDW in the 1970's under that system....
DAD:  "ok kids, want to ride the Carousel of Progess, If you Had Wings, or the train?"   
KIDS:  "no Dad!!  We want to ride Space Mountain!!!"
DAD:  "sorry kids, that's just for rich people.  But hey, how about we ride the Peoplemover with our eyes closed?  It'll be just like Space Mountain!" 

It sounds like the return of ticket books in virtual form. For no additional cost Genie will direct you to the A, B and C ticket rides. Pay $15 and you get access to the D ticket rides and pay an unknown amount for access to the 'E' rides. 

Too bad he doesn't know DIT then he would understand......

I imagine pricing will be determined in real time in the app using algorithms based on crowd size and location, date, time, and whether Chapek has met his quota triggering bonus and restricted stock grants.  

That's a bold assumption as to who I was referring to as "polite company". 😁
 

One of those diseases we aren't supposed to mention in polite company?

That's a bold assumption as to who I was referring to as "polite company". 😁
 

One of those diseases we aren't supposed to mention in polite company?

One of those diseases we aren't supposed to mention in polite company?

Fixed it...

Do you know what $4800 will get you at MBYMPAC? 

Oh and yes I will be doing this as a crazy Star Wars fan.