Prices just hit my threshold :-(

[Nigel Channing]

I think Disney would love to spread the crowds out as evenly as possible throughout the year. Makes staffing much easier.

 

[dlavender]

What they should do, is just make the month of July rich people month. Charge $5000/day admission, and triple hotel costs. Parking could be $100/car, $120 van. DP a must, at an additional $2000 per day. This way, the successful hard working people could enjoy their version of Disney. Dessert parties everywhere. They could enjoy the spoils of their labors, without worrying about the measly middle class (what have they ever done for the country?). Then, the other 11 months, they could just continue operating like they would without "worrying" about not up charging enough. Seems like a win win win.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

You can buy WDW merchandise at the outlets in Orlando. Think about it, if you are staying at a hotel you are more likely to eat your meals at the parks. If you are on vacation you will buy lots of souvenirs. If you live here, you will buy ice cream at the parks but you will have dinner at home. You wont spend tons of money on something you can get at the outlets either.

Wal mart near the parks sells tons of Disney merchandise too. We got a car rental on our first day to stock the room and get cheaper t shirts etc.

Nope the AP price hikes is not for those visiting Florida it is to keep those away who really do not spend that much money at the parks.

I hear you, but that wasn't the case. Truly, the fanciful desserts at Kona, and the unique view of Cali Grill were draws for both us and the locals I know. Eating on WDW property was once a fanciful, affordable, easy to arrange pleasure. Going to AKL was as much fun for them as it was for us!

Granted, it isn't just prices...180 day ADR's and no show fees aren't a big hit either.

Yes, Walmart has cheaper t-shirts. They also cost less. Well, it used to be that the shirts sold on property were higher quality. I've been to the WDW Walmart, the shops on I-Drive, and the Orlando WDW outlet shops. At one point, I actually did find some good stuff at the outlet.

But the treats my friends sent came from on property. We enjoyed snack treats direct from the Main St. Bakery, and unique items only sold at special one-time events. They were our source of fun stuff we couldn't buy anywhere else.

Disney merchandise used to be special. I agree with you that it isn't nearly so special any more.

Makes me sad to think of the beautiful plants we used to buy in Epoct, the unique pirate stuff near PotC, and all the fun stuff we found at AKL.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

What they should do, is just make the month of July rich people month. Charge $5000/day admission, and triple hotel costs. Parking could be $100/car, $120 van. DP a must, at an additional $2000 per day. This way, the successful hard working people could enjoy their version of Disney. Dessert parties everywhere. They could enjoy the spoils of their labors, without worrying about the measly middle class (what have they ever done for the country?). Then, the other 11 months, they could just continue operating like they would without "worrying" about not up charging enough. Seems like a win win win.

Funny to hear you put it this way.

A few years back, my extended family could only go over a season split. Part of our visit was during a value season, and part of our stay was during spring peak pricing.

At that time, the cost difference wasn't HUGE, but it was something.

I went with extended family, and I booked all. I was the only one who knew about the two pricing seasons.

My family noticed the change in guest conduct and crowd levels all on their own. No dessert parties, but the food quality DID change in the TS we visited. (though that is pure anecdote).

 

[saskdw]

Funny to hear you put it this way.

A few years back, my extended family could only go over a season split. Part of our visit was during a value season, and part of our stay was during spring peak pricing.

At that time, the cost difference wasn't HUGE, but it was something.

I went with extended family, and I booked all. I was the only one who knew about the two pricing seasons.

My family noticed the change in guest conduct and crowd levels all on their own. No dessert parties, but the food quality DID change in the TS we visited. (though that is pure anecdote).

You're saying the food quality improved when the peak season pricing kicked in?

 

[hopemax]

They'd be fine operating on a Christmas type capacity every day.

I actually don't think they do. Too high of labor and other operational costs. Wear & tear on the rides, they'd require more frequent maintenance, replacement of expensive items more frequently. That results in more downtime, adding even more stress to the areas still open. Turnover would become even more of an issue than it is now. CM's work 6 days often during holiday periods, they can't do that all year, so they'd have to increase hiring, it's a snowball of costs that WDW doesn't want. And as out of touch as management is, I think they do know they can't be running at maximum all the time without burning out the staff, and the guests (holiday's are fun for people with the right attitude, and a nightmare for those that show up with the wrong expectations).

That's why I am kind of believing the "redistribution line" but only up to a point. Certainly there are other ways, capacity is desperately needed, but they have rejected that a thousand times over, and went with their FP+ shell game idea instead. Don't think it's working out quite like they expected (in terms of attraction/park operations, it may be succeeding in the people spending more with their MBs). This is the next bullet they are firing (with the benefit of increased revenues) because as someone around here was saying when FP+ was rolled out, "all options are on the table except building new attractions."

 

[condorthb]

I think Disney would love to spread the crowds out as evenly as possible throughout the year. Makes staffing much easier.

I think its more about revenue then staffing.

 

[lugnut33]

I think its more about revenue then staffing.

Plus they have an unlimited cheap labor force in the College Program.

 

[anniemae]

I think Disney would love to spread the crowds out as evenly as possible throughout the year. Makes staffing much easier.

This is what I think, they want to even the crowds out a bit.

 

[b2k1121]

Good luck with that. It happens but man is it rare.

It's actually not that rare. As I have advanced in my career, I have had less actual 'hard work' expected of me than before. I don't know why so many people think that making more money = working hard. In reality, as people get promoted, their work load tends to decrease. Some of the hardest working people in this country are making the lowest wages. I think it must be that some of those that worked smart and/or were fortunate enough along the way to obtain a high paying job justify their position in their mind that they must have worked harder than everyone else. They also think that because they have obtained this position, that everyone else should be able to as well, if they just 'work as hard as they did'.

 

[hopemax]

Plus they have an unlimited cheap labor force in the College Program.

If you think WDW can sustain their reputation of great service, (something some people would already question) when they are replacing their staff every 6-12 months, depending on the length of time a CP stays, I've got a bridge to sell. There's a reason people say, if you don't like the answer you get, just ask a different CM/call back. There is too much information for even the best CM's to learn beyond the "basics" in that time, let alone just starting out in professional life, CPers, who might be there for the "social interactions" more than the job.

 

[DrewJB]

Points for a week in a particular season must always stay the same. If they raise the points for a day, they have to lower them for a different day. So for example if they raise Mondays 5 points, they would have to lower another day during that week by 5 points.

I'm a DVC owner and I have never heard this nor do I recall this in my contract. Unless someone can show us something official I'd take this with a grain of salt. What I do recall is that yearly points can never go up. They can move points around, but any time they add them to one date they have to remove them from another. I have never heard anything about points within weeks or seasons or anything like that and neither has any DVC owner I've asked.

 

[3DisneyFanz]

If you think WDW can sustain their reputation of great service, (something some people would already question) when they are replacing their staff every 6-12 months, depending on the length of time a CP stays, I've got a bridge to sell. There's a reason people say, if you don't like the answer you get, just ask a different CM/call back. There is too much information for even the best CM's to learn beyond the "basics" in that time, let alone just starting out in professional life, CPers, who might be there for the "social interactions" more than the job.

I don't think he was saying its a good choice only pointing out its the direction they've already gone in.

 

[chelynnah]

You didn't know that NFL was the only new attraction before you plunked down double of what you would normally spend? You knew exactly what would be there but yet you still chose to spend the money. This is why Disney will continue to raise ticket prices. People will complain after the fact but most will continue to go.

Okay, I've been in this thread so long that my brain has turned to mush. I'm reading the above post (and the quote it included) and trying to figure out what football has to do with anything! D'oh

 

[GreatLakes]

Okay, I've been in this thread so long that my brain has turned to mush. I'm reading the above post (and the quote it included) and trying to figure out what football has to do with anything! D'oh

NFL = New Fantasy Land

I think Disney would love to spread the crowds out as evenly as possible throughout the year. Makes staffing much easier.

Yes, I believe spreading the crowds out is exactly what they are trying to do.

What I think will happen is the lower profit guests will be moved out of the peak season and into the less-busy season (no more slow season) while also being replaced with more higher-profit guests which is a win-win. You can better manage not only staff but infrastructure and transportation with a flatter demand curve.

In the near future I think we will see a fairly consistent crowd level throughout the year with very shallow troughs and shallow peaks with the exception of the holidays.

 

[anniemae]

NFL = New Fantasy Land



Yes, I believe spreading the crowds out is exactly what they are trying to do.

What I think will happen is the lower profit guests will be moved out of the peak season and into the less-busy season (no more slow season) while also being replaced with more higher-profit guests which is a win-win. You can better manage not only staff but infrastructure and transportation with a flatter demand curve.

In the near future I think we will see a fairly consistent crowd level throughout the year with very shallow troughs and shallow peaks with the exception of the holidays.

I think this is true. It will be the same pretty much crowd-wise across the board.

 

[chelynnah]

NFL = New Fantasy Land.

Thanks, it did take a minute or so but I did get there in the the end. Just figured I'd lighten the mood a little by letting people have a laugh at my expense

 

[dlavender]

Someone on here stated that complaining on a DIS board will have no effect, as Disney will not hear their complaint. I beg to differ. Below is a link to an article "Why fans hate Disnelyand Price Increases" and it directly quotes a comment from this board. Im sure someone from Disney will at least read that article, and then will be exposed to the Disser's comment.

http://fortune.com/2015/10/07/disneyland-price-hikes/?xid=yahoo_fortune

“This was the last straw for us,” exclaimed LoveBWVVBR, a member of the popular Disney forum DISBoard.

Boom goes the dynamite

 

[mcd2745]

Someone on here stated that complaining on a DIS board will have no effect, as Disney will not hear their complaint. I beg to differ. Below is a link to an article "Why fans hate Disnelyand Price Increases" and it directly quotes a comment from this board. Im sure someone from Disney will at least read that article, and then will be exposed to the Disser's comment.

http://fortune.com/2015/10/07/disneyland-price-hikes/?xid=yahoo_fortune

“This was the last straw for us,” exclaimed LoveBWVVBR, a member of the popular Disney forum DISBoard.

Boom goes the dynamite

The big-wigs at Disney probably read these boards for entertainment. Or more likely, they have some lackey read it to them as they set fire to $100 bills to light their cigars.

They may think the complaining is a little louder and will last a little longer with this one...but just like the furor over previous increases, enforcing return times on legacy FP, eliminating legacy for FP for FP+, etc... they know it will die down eventually and the crowds will keep coming- in record numbers.

 

[GreatLakes]

Someone on here stated that complaining on a DIS board will have no effect, as Disney will not hear their complaint. I beg to differ. Below is a link to an article "Why fans hate Disnelyand Price Increases" and it directly quotes a comment from this board. Im sure someone from Disney will at least read that article, and then will be exposed to the Disser's comment.

http://fortune.com/2015/10/07/disneyland-price-hikes/?xid=yahoo_fortune

“This was the last straw for us,” exclaimed LoveBWVVBR, a member of the popular Disney forum DISBoard.

Boom goes the dynamite

Some articles will be written but I think the "outrage" will last a news cycle and then the media will be on to something else. All Disney really has to do is be quiet and let the short attention span of the American public forget about it like they have much bigger and more important stories. Disney even addressing it publicly would be a mistake IMO.