Disney pricing the middle class out

[Gator Kate]

We're FL resident's and used to visit WDW more often then we do now. Across the board tickets, food and hotels have risen considerably. I have not done the math so this is based on personal experience alone but I do know we can't afford as many visits per year. Lately it's only once a year and often we don't go into the parks at all. The ''we" in this case is my sis and myself, middle-aged, who can enjoy the hotels and dining enough to not miss the parks that much. That said if the tickets were more affordable we would gladly stroll through Epcot for the dining and ambiance. We just enjoy being together and make the most of our few days in the World.

 

[rteetz]

Exactly-Disney has no way to make everyone's trip preferences the same price (affordable). Guest "wants" or "needs" will change the cost of the visit.

Even your example shows just how the "discussion" of "pricing out the middle class" makes my point exactly.

Your going what..30 times over your lifetime? That's not exactly saving up for the WDW trip.

You "want" a hopper, you want longer than 5 days, you want onsite dining.

You "need" a room for 5 (for now I assume). Indeed that does add, but parties of 1 or 2 or even 3 still need/pay for a room for 4.

You "need" to go in the summer (for now I assume), but over a lifetime for the "one WDW trip" most folks can plan when they prefer.

I "might" agree with a thread that says:

"Disney is pricing out the middle class for families of 5 that want to visit a full week every other year, stay onsite, with hoppers, onsite dining and visit in July".

But it would still depend what they do with their money the rest of the year, and if they fly etc.

My point was that everyone has different circumstances. There is no standard or normal price for a WDW vacation. We still have to save up for a trip that's why we go every two years and not every year or something. I have never stayed deluxe because that's just not affordable for my family. Staying moderate for our family was cheaper than value at the time. We also do fly because we don't have much wiggle room in the amount of vacation time we have right now, 21 hours isn't the best drive either. Everyone is differnt there is no doubt about that. I think the main point of the article is that disney vacation prices keep rising much above the rate of inflation. Disney also hasn't been creating more value rooms either they keep building DVC villas because that's what is selling for them.

 

[quagmire0]

Well, I'm 38 now and my family went to Disney World ONCE when I was a kid. I don't remember it very well, so I'm guessing this was in the very early 80's and I was probably around 4 or 5 years old. My oldest is 8 and she's been to Disney World twice now and June will be the third time. I consider our family to be 'middle-class'. Is it cheap? No. But I also don't think it's meant to be a multi-time-a-year or even every-year sort of vacation. I think most folks probably take a few years between visits (at least) and it's their 'big vacation'. If you're going there multiple times a year every year, you're not going to see the value because you're going to expect to be wowed every time. That's just not going to happen if you go that often. However, if this is a special 'every few years' event, you're going to see new-to-you attractions and exhibits. But Disney isn't doing what any other amusement park/resort/indoor water park isn't doing. They charge you to get in. They charge you higher prices for the food and lodging they provide. They charge you extra for souvenirs. Disney Parks work on an enormous scale and have to pay the bills. It's not a traveling carnival.

 

[theyoungs07]

I'd pay an extra $500 per year if they installed a Monorail from the Chicago area down to the TTC.

 

[quagmire0]

I'd pay an extra $500 per year if they installed a Monorail from the Chicago area down to the TTC.

I second that!

 

[minnie-apple-mouse]

My point was that everyone has different circumstances. There is no standard or normal price for a WDW vacation. We still have to save up for a trip that's why we go every two years and not every year or something. I have never stayed deluxe because that's just not affordable for my family. Staying moderate for our family was cheaper than value at the time. We also do fly because we don't have much wiggle room in the amount of vacation time we have right now, 21 hours isn't the best drive either. Everyone is differnt there is no doubt about that. I think the main point of the article is that disney vacation prices keep rising much above the rate of inflation. Disney also hasn't been creating more value rooms either they keep building DVC villas because that's what is selling for them.

Agreed-everyone's life choices have led them to the list of prices and options available to obtain a WDW vacation. Probably skip the $3,000 room, $50 dessert party and $110 steak the article pointed out.

Outpacing low inflation (like many things have done) to me just means the middle class just needs to be more selective on their WDW trips, or how they budget the rest of their daily lives if they want a WDW trip.

Oh and we did stay value until DVC, so guilty there.

 

[pmaurer74]

IMO most of the "priced out" complaints are not just a WDW trip, but the upgraded WDW trip.

They "want" the mod or even deluxe resort, and a trip every year or even couple times per year, 7 to 10 day stays instead of 5, the hopper or AP, the MNSSHP or MVMCP, the dinner or drink or dessert or tour packages, the signature dining.

That does start to price out the middle class IMO. But not a regular WDW trip at a value or offsite.

I disagree, these things you mentioned are on top of the increasing price tag of dining, tickets and rooms. We are having to stay fewer days and with cheaper room categories. These items you mentioned are just a way to manage the increasing crowds. Yes you can stay offsite or value for cheaper but the tickets and food pricing remains the same.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Tickets (and airfare if you have to fly) are the only items that are hard to get for cheaper. There are a lot of lodging and food options. You can even bring food into the parks.

 

[crazy4wdw]

I disagree, these things you mentioned are on top of the increasing price tag of dining, tickets and rooms. We are having to stay fewer days and with cheaper room categories. These items you mentioned are just a way to manage the increasing crowds. Yes you can stay offsite or value for cheaper but the tickets and food pricing remains the same.

Agree with you. 10 years ago, the 7 day pass was $199 (without park hopper). Today that same pass is $355. The rates at the moderate resorts have increased dramatically over the last 10 years -Standard view from roughly $135/night to $210/night. For 2016, the rates for some of the moderates, depending on the season, are approaching $300/night.

 

[nco91590]

I've researched other "all inclusive" type vacations for my 10 year anniversary, and they're all like, $5k and up for a week without airfare. And that's pretty much what you can bank on spending at WDW for a week when they run their promotions, right?

I don't think Disney owes it to anyone to include as many people as they can for the sake of their own bottom line. They do, however, owe it to guests to update rides and attractions and to hire a well paid workforce to provide really excellent service.

 

[rteetz]

I've researched other "all inclusive" type vacations for my 10 year anniversary, and they're all like, $5k and up for a week without airfare. And that's pretty much what you can bank on spending at WDW for a week when they run their promotions, right?

I don't think Disney owes it to anyone to include as many people as they can for the sake of their own bottom line. They do, however, owe it to guests to update rides and attractions and to hire a well paid workforce to provide really excellent service.

The only thing that's more crazy priced is Disney cruises.

 

[jimsanfilippo]

I'd pay an extra $500 per year if they installed a Monorail from the Chicago area down to the TTC.

Then you might as well extend it to Milwaukee.

 

[jimsanfilippo]

Agree with you. 10 years ago, the 7 day pass was $199 (without park hopper). Today that same pass is $355. The rates at the moderate resorts have increased dramatically over the last 10 years -Standard view from roughly $135/night to $210/night. For 2016, the rates for some of the moderates, depending on the season, are approaching $300/night.

Yes, and the average price for a pound of ground beef in May, 2005 was $2.36 and in May, 2015 it's $4.14. That's about a 75% increase, pretty much exactly in line with the 10 year old Disney prices you quoted above. Stuff costs more and the middle class is being squeezed out of everything, including food. It's not just a Disney World problem.

http://data.bls.gov/timeseries/APU0000703112?data_tool=XGtable

 

[rteetz]

Then you might as well extend it to Milwaukee.

I am definitely ok with that!

 

[eXo]

Milwaukee has certainly had its share of visitors. The French missionaries and explorers were coming here as early as the late 1600s to trade with the Native Americans.

In fact, isn't "Milwaukee" an Indian name?

Yes, it is. Actually, it's pronounced "mill-e-wah-que" which is Algonquin for "the good land."


.....I was not aware of that.

 

[bltman]

Dave Shute has a good take on this issue:
http://**************.net/2015/06/30/hey-middle-class-you-really-are-welcome-at-disney-world/

 

[rteetz]

Milwaukee has certainly had its share of visitors. The French missionaries and explorers were coming here as early as the late 1600s to trade with the Native Americans.

In fact, isn't "Milwaukee" an Indian name?

Yes, it is. Actually, it's pronounced "mill-e-wah-que" which is Algonquin for "the good land."


.....I was not aware of that.

Wisconsin is also an Indian/Native word.

 

[manning]

I'd pay an extra $500 per year if they installed a Monorail from the Chicago area down to the TTC.

Instead a Mag Lev train. Those suckers can travel at or above 200 MPH

 

[Planogirl]

Could this train swing through Dallas and give us a ride too? I'd love to avoid that drive.

As for the increased pricing of WDW and food, I don't see that as the same thing. One is a necessity and one isn't therefore one gets priority over the other. Going without food sure does get tiresome though.

 

[Alicefan]

I guess you could say that. But we did Disney two years ago, and stayed off site and it was very affordable. The tickets to the parks cost more than the house for a week did.

In about a week we are going back and staying on site, and it is costing a LOT more, but not that bad as long as we budget where we are eating, and save up for the trip.

I guess my wife and I make decent money, but not what I would call 'rich' and actually, my wife doesn't even start her new job until August, so we only have the one income. <shrug>

The article makes good points, but I think you can do Disney on a budget is all I am saying.

I think that's the point though. In order to really get the full experience you have to have money. It's not as much fun to stay off property and bring in sandwiches. You miss out on all of the cool themes and such.