Are all Disney resort perks fair?

[Brian Noble]

I just want to hear opinions from other offsite people as well as onsite guests.

I switch between offsite and onsite, even for Disney-centric vacations. I don't have any issues with Disney trying to use the parks to help support hotel bookings and prices, and in the grand scheme of things think they've kept the impact to an offsite guest minimal.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

The Disney guests that are being treated unfairly are the locals who have APs.

Absolutely without a a doubt...

And it's because we are in "good" times and when that happens... They put the fl residents and APs in the Kohler and start flushing...

And when times are bad...they dust them off/count on them.

Only this time - whenever that will be - it will be at a much higher price.

But as long as we don't get to that bridge before 2018...hakuna matata

 

[ArwenMarie]

Sorry they have changed it. It used to be that they could not go 60 days out but now they can.

Oh ok, I was just wondering your reasoning.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I saw most of this mentioned in a post/article in the last couple of days but can't seem to find it again. Do you have the link?

It all personal experience/work experience and memory...

I get alot if disputes on my diatribes...like defending the pass at Thermopylae...but in the end it usually just resets back to zero.

 

[msb578]

Sorry they have changed it. It used to be that they could not go 60 days out but now they can.

When did they change it?

 

[ArwenMarie]

When did they change it?

Last March (2014)

 

[msb578]

Last March (2014)

I believe that's when it went from 60 down to 30. And until just now I had no idea it was going back to 60

 

[ArwenMarie]

I believe that's when it went from 60 down to 30. And until just now I had no idea it was going back to 60

That's when it went from 60 to 30 for APs, unless you are staying onsite, then you get 60.

It's not going back to 60 without an onsite stay (I don't think?)

 

[Shaden]

You CAN access 60 day FP, you choose not to. There isnt some secret society here that you must be a member to get that perk. It is fair because anyone can get it, now because you dont choose it doent mean it isnt fair. Equal opportunity not equal outcomes.

Funny so many of us have made this same argument about FP- vs FP+ ... but those who didn't like FP- argued a whole lot they "couldn't" get FPs because they went later in the day and therefore the new system is "more" fair.

 

[itchin2go]

Funny so many of us have made this same argument about FP- vs FP+ ... but those who didn't like FP- argued a whole lot they "couldn't" get FPs because they went later in the day and therefore the new system is "more" fair.

Very true.

I guess it's correct that both systems were open to everyone. The old one hinged on getting to the FP machines before they ran out. The new one hinges on where you choose to stay for your vacation.

I know everything's subjective, but the new one seems like a bigger barrier to me.

(Of course, rope drop is my life, so I'm not entirely unbiased ...)

 

[cakebaker]

Funny so many of us have made this same argument about FP- vs FP+ ... but those who didn't like FP- argued a whole lot they "couldn't" get FPs because they went later in the day and therefore the new system is "more" fair.

Just to get it out of the way- for me it wasn't wanting to come into a park later (as in sleeping in) but being able to park hop to a 2nd park and still have rides available. And yes, that has changed dramatically now.

I didn't like the way it worked, but I changed how we visited the parks and adapted to fit the system because I had a choice- do it or don't. Same thing applies now- you might not like the path to get what you want, but it's there regardless.

 

[Shaden]

They're doing the EXACT opposite...

Instead of limiting capacity to preserve value...they're laying concrete and turf grass to accomodate more.

You know...under horrid Michael eisner's leadership... They built
Things (not always wisely or perfectly...not by a longshot) to attempt to saturate the property and provide enough things so that the stays would increase. Not everyone would go to PI or boardwalk...but the goal was to spread the net to capture as many fish as
Possible.

The problem is...primarily with Americans...that nobody is allowed time off. How can you leave your desk when you can respond to emails for 10+
Hours a day and have the same conversations with you're coworkers? (Never about money...of course...that's "not what this company is about")...
So the wall was hit and the strategy was shifted.

I never really disagreed with a "recentered" philosophy.

Now we've almost gone "hard to port" and we're off keel again. They're almost contracting the offerings...circling the wagons around stale offerings...

That isn't right either. Perhaps people will not come for more than a sat-sat trip...but perhaps the frequency will increase? That is/was the success of the 90's approach and DVC.

Now...we know the "1st time magicals" buy the junk... So they are going only after them....

But knowing somewhat how the Disney corporate mind thinks...I think they expect to be knocked off this 10 year tact...they're just running with it.
They're probably laughing at all of us...they aren't buying this "the guests are finding more value" nonsense...because they of all people know how hard it is to keep an attention span. And they know the amount of 1st timers who can afford the place is NOT unlimited. Contrary to the "not in the real world" economic analyses we see here alot.

I think they're all sipping wine in the 33 club in anaheim and laughing at us all...because they're almost conducting an Orwellian price experiment in a vacuum.

What hasn't/doesn't get nearly enough play is the ride tiering In the parks...that is 100% a flat out admission that they don't have enough to accomodate their crowds freely. And if they said "were working on it..." And had plans going forward in those parks... I'd give leeway. But they have not done that...no fires
Lit at all...and these are the two parks that have shown significant closures and decay...really going back along time. There's just no excuse (the bait is in the trap...go for it )

I think they're laughing at everyone. And when it hits the fan - the next plan is rolled out. Because they already probably expected to have used it right now...the consumers
Should have forced it by now.

Where have you been all my life ?

Just fantastic post here.

Very much agree, I think the uptick in the US (and global Economies) and the boost from Frozen have done wonders for the parks, but I don't think their investment is really doing the work they wanted, but they are going to run with things while they can.

Reading through several of the last investor calls what becomes quite obvious is that a) attendance is up and b) spending is up. Iger et al are very careful to stress these elements. But if you read through the lines a bit and put it in context, the picture is a little less rosy. For instance when discussing the overall positive impact MM+ has had on revenue, Iger noted that attendance was up 4% (ok, though considering the environment economic, the big PR push, frozen etc I wouldn't call this awesome) and per capita spending up 6% ... but the tag line attached to that 6% is that its on higher prices. Now we don't know the margins or how much exactly MM+ has spurred on more purchasing, but a 6% increase in per capita spending vs the price increases I have seen doesn't seem like much.

So I don't see where all this spending on the new system is really "working" if you would. You would expect businesses to be doing well as the economy improves, lots of other companies are feeling the same, but luxury spending (vacations) are particularly affected by economic cycles. NO one blames Disney for the crowd contractions during the 2008 recession, no one pops on and says "See Disney, you screwed up" ... but so many people here are popping on when the economy is growing again and after an economic lull has passed to argue "See Disney is doing awesome because people are spending in their parks again" ... um ok ?

When this is over, in a couple years when the pent up luxury spending has passed, what then ? I mean of course we will see, but in the mean time WDW seems to just be squeezing to try and get as much of the extra cash flowing back in the economy as they can, without really offering more, in fact in some ways offering less.

How long this works as a business model is harder to say, but it will be interesting to see.

 

[Shaden]

Just to get it out of the way- for me it wasn't wanting to come into a park later (as in sleeping in) but being able to park hop to a 2nd park and still have rides available. And yes, that has changed dramatically now.

I didn't like the way it worked, but I changed how we visited the parks and adapted to fit the system because I had a choice- do it or don't. Same thing applies now- you might not like the path to get what you want, but it's there regardless.

Oh I didn't say FP+ didn't work better for some people, of course it does, its the "fairness" part I was referring to the argument that somehow FP+ is "more fair" than legacy FP was ... which I have read at least 100 times on these boards ...

 

[cluno]

LOL! YOur post made me think of another thread. Someone named the DME return trip to the airport DIsney's Tragical Express. I am still chuckling!

Good one! Magical De-press is funny too. I called the return DME bus our Doom Buggy.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Funny so many of us have made this same argument about FP- vs FP+ ... but those who didn't like FP- argued a whole lot they "couldn't" get FPs because they went later in the day and therefore the new system is "more" fair.

It's only "fair" to you if it works the way you want it to.

 

[Nancyg56]

Where have you been all my life ?



When this is over, in a couple years when the pent up luxury spending has passed, what then ? I mean of course we will see, but in the mean time WDW seems to just be squeezing to try and get as much of the extra cash flowing back in the economy as they can, without really offering more, in fact in some ways offering less.

How long this works as a business model is harder to say, but it will be interesting to see.

I agree. I am not at all sure how much boost the entire MM thing is going to have. I will say that the increased prices have begun to weigh heavily in my husband. Now it is all kind of relative when you compare the Deluxe resorts and what we paid way back when (honestly, if my husband tells me he spent less than $100 of the CR on his first visit one more time, I swear I will toss him off the top off of that viewing outlook!), however he is right that even with discounts, WDW is not as much of a value to us as it was in recent years. I do think that Disney is pushing towards a primarily DVC resort, and wants to have that committed guest, but I am not at all sure that this is the best idea. We'll see.

 

[MrKnight]

I do not see anything wrong with WDW Resort Guests getting extra perks, as previously stated by several DISers, WDW Resort Guests decide to stay on-property to get the full WDW experience AND the perks of being a Disney Resort Guest. HOWEVER, I do have a problem with current AP Holder Benefits, AP Holders invest a good chunk of money into WDW that is most often equivalent if not greater than a WDW Resort Guest vacation, but yet, AP Holders currently receive LESS benefits than WDW Resort Guests. Does anyone have any insight on this?

 

[ArwenMarie]

I do not see anything wrong with WDW Resort Guests getting extra perks, as previously stated by several DISers, WDW Resort Guests decide to stay on-property to get the full WDW experience AND the perks of being a Disney Resort Guest. HOWEVER, I do have a problem with current AP Holder Benefits, AP Holders invest a good chunk of money into WDW that is most often equivalent if not greater than a WDW Resort Guest vacation, but yet, AP Holders currently receive LESS benefits than WDW Resort Guests. Does anyone have any insight on this?

I don't see how the local APs are getting less than anyone else. The Florida AP rate is at a discount, parking is free, hopping included, if you go often your ticket cost per day can be very low. What other perks do you think should be included, just curious.

 

[mom2rtk]

I do not see anything wrong with WDW Resort Guests getting extra perks, as previously stated by several DISers, WDW Resort Guests decide to stay on-property to get the full WDW experience AND the perks of being a Disney Resort Guest. HOWEVER, I do have a problem with current AP Holder Benefits, AP Holders invest a good chunk of money into WDW that is most often equivalent if not greater than a WDW Resort Guest vacation, but yet, AP Holders currently receive LESS benefits than WDW Resort Guests. Does anyone have any insight on this?

It merely tells me it's more important to Disney to fill more rooms than it is to sell more APs.

 

[tup1830]

Perks are as fair as disney charging $3 for a soda they pay maybe $.01 on...ie no