But isn't that the whole point? To keep people out?

[GeneralTso]

Everything I have read about the price hikes is to literally decrease the number of visitors to the park. Especially Disneyland and California Adventure.

Of course the realize this prices many people out, that's the point.
I don't think they really (really) care that people won't be able to afford it anymore. It isn't about that.
They figure if you really want to go, you'll figure it out and go anyway.

It does cut out a significant number of people, which was the goal. It's not nice, but there it is.

 

[mom2rtk]

Pretty much.

But that doesn't mean it hurts any less.

 

[taniahappy]

We all understand it but it still sucks

 

[GeneralTso]

Precisely my point. It's hard for people to take their emotions (and bank accounts!!) out of it. It's literally a slap in the face for many families.
The past few years in the park though---holy churros has it been ridiculously crowded. Like, out of control. Definitely not magical.
I think they decided they needed to swoop in and act quickly with one deep cut. Take the hits and it'll be a memory soon.
Those that can, will continue to go and sadly, those that can't just don't.

 

[Indiana Scott]

No, I don't think that's the goal.
I think the main point of it is to make money.
It's not like in Walt's day, when he was happy to make a decent profit for him and a few others. Now they have to make a huge profit to satisfy literally tens of thousands of share holders.
What ever the corporation does, first and foremost it is to make the biggest possible profit. There may also be some that want to stick to Walts visions and priorities but they are in the minority.

 

[Malela9]

What shocks me is that Walt Disney World prices are less than Disneyland. I don't need free Photo Pass Plus that much, either. Their are 5 people in my family, only my girls and I will have passes after they expire.
Walt Disney is rolling in his grave.

 

[GeneralTso]

There may also be some that want to stick to Walts visions and priorities but they are in the minority.

I think that ship has sailed, unfortunately.

And you are right, money is always the #1 goal. Profit. And they will still make a huge one. HUGE.

I'm sure we've all heard it in the parks, and have friends and family who literally save for a year or two to be able to afford to take a Disney vacation. Just knowing that this is going to take that away makes me sad.

 

[Indiana Scott]

I think that ship has sailed, unfortunately.

And you are right, money is always the #1 goal. Profit. And they will still make a huge one. HUGE.

I'm sure we've all heard it in the parks, and have friends and family who literally save for a year or two to be able to afford to take a Disney vacation. Just knowing that this is going to take that away makes me sad.

Every time we get to the parks I see less and less of Walt.
It genuinely saddens me.

 

[GeneralTso]

And maybe this is their preemptive strike to accommodate the new Star Wars land. That's a whole new and different demographic.

 

[Indiana Scott]

That's an interesting point.
Clean out some of us dredges so they can make room for a new, almost obsessed fan base that will spend tons on theme based merchandise.

 

[planningjollyholiday]

The goal of this price increase was not to decrease attendance. If that was the goal then they would have eliminated monthly payment plans.

 

[deetman]

If you truly believe Walt wasn't in it to make money, you need to do more reading. I was a cast member at WDW for quite a few years, and we had memos and info going back to 1971, talking about the need to maximize profit.
The goal was always to provide quality entertainment for the money--but maximizing the money was always key.
I love Disney--everything about it. But I'm not naive enough to think The Disney Company has ever been a charitable organization. It is a corporation whose goal is to maximize profit. Pure and simple.
Walt himself owned Retlaw Enterprises to provide merchandise to Disneyland--to make money!

 

[bumbershoot]

That's a whole new and different demographic.

Star Wars' demographic is from those who were adults seeing SW in the theaters, to their kids, then those kids (me) are grown and in their 40s, and they have kids and some early-starters have grandkids.

I live in a building with some very retired people, up to 97 years old, and almost all of them are SW fans. The 97 year old took his GRANDkids to see it in the theaters originally.

While that neighbor won't be hitting DL anytime soon, his kids are still spry enough to do so. There is no ONE demographic for SW. It encompasses any age, truly. It has lasted a long time, and was never appealing to just one generation.

 

[pindecisive]

This last trip to DL was about 60% not fun or Magical. DCA was more magical, more relaxing, more enjoyable. Quite a few things I loved in DL are gone. Frequently I heard, "oh that was years ago" or "not in a few years." I was here 3 years ago. 3 years. I felt like I'd been gone a decade.

It didn't change this much from '08-'12. Parts of classic rides were different (some for the holidays), but much of the weekend was me forcing myself to be positive - I love my partner and I am fortunate to have been able to go on my trip.

My choices in the future are to throw a bunch of money and get mostly the experience I want or not go. That's probably Disney's goal.

 

[cijay]

I didn't get to Disneyland 'til I was 26. It was AMAZING. I went with my BFF. From the time we were 8 years old, we watched Disney on TV and just drooled, figuring we'd never make it. When we finally got there, we spent the first night, after the park remembering how badly we wanted to see it and finally we were there.
I was glad that I didn't go with family for a few reasons. One - my dad was a miserable thing and every family holiday was awful. Second, my BFF and I were the ones who HAD the memories. I didn't have Disney childhood memories with everyone else so all the 'look, look at that' moments were with the one who helped me remember our childhoods.

So if the new prices keep families with little children away (which I hope it doesn't but if it does) then it's just as magical when those kids grow up and save their money and go when they're 26.

 

[Kittyskyfish]

It was just a few years ago that Disney invested 1 Billion Plus dollars to revitalize DCA and installed Carsland. Revamping Tomorrowland and bringing Star Wars and Marvel to DLR is the next Billion Plus dollar expansion. Money to build and expand has to come from somewhere and we're paying the bill. It's reflected in ticket prices, food prices, souvenir prices.

 

[DizMe]

If you truly believe Walt wasn't in it to make money, you need to do more reading. I was a cast member at WDW for quite a few years, and we had memos and info going back to 1971, talking about the need to maximize profit.
The goal was always to provide quality entertainment for the money--but maximizing the money was always key.
I love Disney--everything about it. But I'm not naive enough to think The Disney Company has ever been a charitable organization. It is a corporation whose goal is to maximize profit. Pure and simple.
Walt himself owned Retlaw Enterprises to provide merchandise to Disneyland--to make money!

You know that Walt died in 1966? There is no debate about Walt expecting a profit. It's the percentage of profit that may come into question.

 

[deetman]

You know that Walt died in 1966? There is no debate about Walt expecting a profit. It's the percentage of profit that may come into question.

He did? Really? Gee...thanks.
My point is, just 5 years after his death, with Roy still right there, Profit was at the forefront of internal company communications.
This debate has raged for years, and I think emotions often weigh more heavily into it than may be warranted.
Then again, everyone is entitled to an opinion. This one just happens to be mine.

 

[TheForceIsWithMe]

I think they just raised the prices because they can and they know exactly the sweet spot that they can jack up the price and still make more money on AP and ticket sales than they made at the old prices and higher attendance levels, even accounting for the additional lost revenue from in park food and merch. It would be really sad if they were just doing it to reduce attendance at the expense of lower income families.

 

[Jeremy517]

I'm sure we've all heard it in the parks, and have friends and family who literally save for a year or two to be able to afford to take a Disney vacation. Just knowing that this is going to take that away makes me sad.

Those people aren't buying annual passes, so this price hike shouldn't affect them.