Prices just hit my threshold :-(

[crostorfer]

THIS x1000000.

I believe that Disney has adopted a Vegas mentality. They would rather have one "Whale" family visit than 10 value-conscious, repeat customers.

 

[Slapshot1188]

The funny thing is all the people complaining about the costs going up also want a raise every year.

AP price has gone up 50% in just 5 years. No new parks have opened and the only really new feature I can think about is New Fantasyland. More attractions have closed than have opened...(take a look at HS...)
Sure wish I could get my salary to go up at that pace!

 

[Don Disney]

Corporate greed.......that's what is wrong with the world these days.....We love Disney,but we won't be staying on property anymore,AND I think it's time we give Universal some of our hard earned $$$ anyway....at least they add attractions faster than at a "snails pace"!!!!

 

[Slapshot1188]

In 2012 after sandy hook gun's and ammo doubled overnight. That to me is price gouging and I will not spend my money with the company's who did that.

However in this case I do not believe Disney is doing this just because they can.

I truly believe they have increased cost's and its time to raise the prices.

You think Disney's Park costs have gone up 50% over the last 5 years? Seriously?

 

[jesse8931]

You think Disney's Park costs have gone up 50% over the last 5 years? Seriously?

No I do not but I would be willing to bet they have gone up 20%.

And to keep the profit margin where it needs to be they need to raise the costs.

In 5 years these prices we will consider cheap.

 

[jesse8931]

You guys really should look at how our government has been hedging inflation to hold off another recession.

The US government pays farmers to keep food cost and has been using our stock of gasoline to keep gas prices low.

However Disney does not have anyone helping them with the costs so once again prices go up.

 

[Slapshot1188]

No I do not but I would be willing to bet they have gone up 20%.

And to keep the profit margin where it needs to be they need to raise the costs.

In 5 years these prices we will consider cheap.

Yes they will, because in 5 years if they continue the trend the prices will be ANOTHER 50% higher. That's honestly a silly perspective to have.

 

[YawningDodo]

I'm just looking at the first page of this thread, thinking...man, if being "priced out" of Disney World meant I felt I could afford to go there "only" once per year, I'd be in a lot better shape than I am. I'm shooting for a DLP trip two years from now after having gone to WDW for the first time in five years this fall, and two years is an extremely fast turnaround for me on a major trip like that. When it comes to the majority of people, the ones who don't post to these types of boards, I really think the average person won't really notice the price hikes. For most people, WDW is just lumped into the "very expensive" category and they're probably not watching prices from year to year because they don't expect to visit annually, let alone multiple times per year. And I think the comments about how Disney isn't looking to attract budget-conscious repeat visitors are probably quite accurate. They're looking for people going less frequently but dumping more money on each trip, because there are plenty of families who approach a Disney vacation that way and Disney is not hurting for attendance at this point. Is that frustrating for the AP types? Of course it is, and if they're not willing to pay the price hike, that's perfectly reasonable. But magical or not, Disney is a business, and businesses are gonna business.

 

[jesse8931]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2015/04/10/investing-inflation-hedges/25535785/

 

[DisDadDVC]

I wonder how many Disney employees that work hard every day can afford a Disney vacation?

I wonder how many people that assemble iPhones can afford iPhones?

 

[jesse8931]

The best part of all the people freaking out is they are doing multiple trips a year so it's not like they don't have money.

The people who go once a year will not be affected.

 

[mummabear]

How is Disney supposed to control crowds? They need to reduce the number of people at the parks somehow.

By building capacity for them by adding more rides, a 5th gate even....

Am I the only person not really bothered by this?

I mean, it's not as if it's unprecedented, or that WDW is anything but a completely luxury and whimsical want, not a need, not a right, certainly not owed to anyone. Frankly, I'm perfectly ok if a bunch of people don't go due to prices, I am willing to pay the prices and if it means I get less crowds for the higher price, all the better. Would I prefer it were cheaper? Sure, probably, unless it meant the crowds got even worse, than it starts to not be so clear cut.

The nice thing about luxury things is that you get them because you work for them, I like the idea of WDW being a higher end vacation place, I work hard for my money, and I earn the option to spend it on a trip like this. If I'm being totally honest I'm ok with it being a bit more exclusive, and the same goes for tiered ticketing/FPs. If I can work harder and get a better experience for my family and myself, I'm all for it. I frankly don't love the idea that my vacation is somewhat limited by a perceived need to cater to people that don't have the same disposable income. I'm not saying those people shouldn't have access, but I think it's perfectly reasonable to have value levels of the vacation for them, just as they have value resorts. Life isn't fair, and while some of my available funds are good fortune, it's mostly effort, and even the good fortune required the right skills and effort to leverage.

I'm sure this isn't going to be a popular opinion, but that's how I feel about it!

Adam

I think that's an easy opinion to have when your not yet being priced out.
I don't have an issue with them raising the prices, but i do have an issue with them continually raising the prices while at the same time removing value (by removing characters etc)
They are building new rides but before we get to overjoyed with it look at the net gain, how many rides have been shutdown?
Yes they have stuff coming but there isn't really anything new yet to justify these increases

 

[DisDadDVC]

Here's a good rule of thumb:

If it's good for you, it's bad for Disney. Look for it to be taken away in the future...

 

[Jennasis]

As a business owner that's just not true.

Even If I gave my employee a one dollar per hour raise.

There are other cost's like matching 401k cost of health insurance etc.

Which in turn raises my cost to do business and lowers my profit margin so guess what I do ?

I raise prices.

No business owner says well I'd like to make less.

I AM a business owner. Haven't raised my prices in many many years (despite my CPA begging us to) and I am more successful now than I've ever been...due to offering a superior product at an affordable price. My employees are happy and have gotten raises. I literally have a wait list a mile long of people who want in. Word of mouth has spread...took many years of hard work to build our solid rep. Raising prices on my existing customers in such a manner would ruin my business with a mass defection and our rep would be ruined. I do concede that my business is different than Disney.




I liken this to what that tool, Martin Skreli, from that start-up pharma company did with his drug that treated toxoplasmosis. It's a total tool move by Disney, regardless of how much "business" sense it makes. PR is part of business too.

And I don't care if anyone disagrees with me...it's how I feel.

 

[Madteaparty001]

I think Disney is heading into the 'Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded.' territory. Only it's a double whammy because it's prices and crowds! I agree that if Disney was really concerned about crowds while they are making such large profits then they would have started expanding long before this.

 

[DVCcurious]

Hopefully this price increase decreases attendance and puts an end to those OMG SEPTEMBER IS SO CROWDED!!!!!! threads.

 

[the advocate]

I believe that Disney has adopted a Vegas mentality. They would rather have one "Whale" family visit than 10 value-conscious, repeat customers.

Yes, these recent price increases are directed at the value-conscious repeat customers but if history has taught us anything, Disney is about to go after the whales in the near future.

 

[ethanwa]

Corporate greed.......that's what is wrong with the world these days.....We love Disney,but we won't be staying on property anymore,AND I think it's time we give Universal some of our hard earned $$$ anyway....at least they add attractions faster than at a "snails pace"!!!!

This statement just made me laugh. You complain about corporate greed and then bark about how you are taking your money to Universal... who is owned by Comcast, public enemy #1 of corporate greed.

Give me a break.

Ethan

 

[tarheel618]

My favorite thing about Universal is that the planning is much less involved than planning for WDW. No ADRs needed, no FP to book... There are a lot of Universal pros over on those boards who can give you all the best tips.

I have gotten deluxe rooms in off season for as low as 159 per night. The front of the line pass is great but my favorite part about Universal and their hotels is I can walk to and from the park in less than 15 minutes. I don't have to rely on a bus or a boat.

 

[crostorfer]

This statement just made me laugh. You complain about corporate greed and then bark about how you are taking your money to Universal... who is owned by Comcast, public enemy #1 of corporate greed.

Give me a break.

Ethan

While I can't dispute that Comcast is an inherently evil corporation run by greedy, soulless minions from hell that rival only Montgomery Burns in their ruthless audacity, I can take comfort in the fact that they have not yet turned their evil eye of Sauron on to the theme parks. There are amazing deals to be found at Universal Orlando, especially for annual passholders.