Another controversial idea. This theater should have a lobby where you can buy, wait for it, snacks.
I don't know, their whole expectation that people will just lounge around in stores is just antithetical to how I've always done the parks. I think I've only ever bought a tchotchke from a theme park once (a Toothless plush).
I understand where you’re coming from, and I get how this can seem simple, but, there are so many more factors at play when they make these decisions. When you allow food/drink into the theater, you are now paying more people for clean up after each show, as well as the additional cost of storage, food waste and CM to staff the new snack stands—when they employ a ton of other people in those roles elsewhere in the park. They would have to now find them work elsewhere in the park, as well, in between shows.
It’s also not just about how you or I do the parks. Plenty of folks will spend hundreds of dollars a day at a park, or an event, and only experience a few attractions because their interests are different than yours, or mine.
The main point of my comment was to show what management sees as opportunities to make money. When you’re spending an hour on the whole to experience, say Aladdin (lining up early, waiting for showtime, filtering out) management sees that as potential revenue that is wasted. A show like Aladdin, or even Frozen, costs a lot to operate, has only a few showtimes per day and typically won’t draw more guests into the park. That’s why we saw Rogers the Musical as a limited time offering.
You’ve got to understand their main goal is to make as much money possible by spending the least amount possible, whilst delivering a satisfactory product for their paying customers.
In their mind, it is cheaper to have a ride running from park open to park close, and funnel people into a gift shop, than it is to hire actors, stagehands and more for 3-5 showings per day.
I’m with you on having a nice 20-30 min show where I can buy a snack in the lobby, sit back and enjoy it. That’s a great way to fill out the offerings of a park. But Team Disney doesn’t see it that way