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Yellowstonetim said:
People forget that a large part of that money is for the SERVICE of several people setting it up while you are away to surprise the kids. THAT is what some find valuable. Its a little stiff for my blood, but I can see the value even if I didn't bite.
Click to expand...

ummm….
So the "service" of having a handful of $8 an hour employees unlock the world of disney 30 minutes after it closes anyway is worth $50?

I can get my lawyer to file a lawsuit against my neighbor cheaper than that...
 
I am guessing he was referring to the $450 room decor, since he mentioned the part about "while you are away".

And to speak towards that, I understand there is a premium charge for extra fluff like this. The problem is, the antlers are $1.99 to add an extra pair. The noses are $1,99 to add an extra nose. The treats can't possibly add up to more than $40 worth (and that's saying the 8 provided treats would normally run $5 a pop, with no factored discounts or anything else). I can get a personalized blanket on the disney store for about $30, so lets be generous and say pillow cases cost the same, and just round up and say the pillow cases and blanket would cost $100 (they wouldn't). Finally you factor in the glitter/confetti (I'll be super generous here - $5) and the mickey LED lights... again... I'll round way up and chalk them up to $10 a piece. Finally, there is the door banner - which is a piece of plastic that says Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays or something. I'll splurge and say $15 tops for this.

Rounding up in every case, I just itemized about $175 (retail cost, not bulk price, no discounts, etc) for the things they are providing. Which means they are charging me $275 to go to my hotel room, regurgitate it all up, and walk back out.

Being Disney (ie: expensive) and being a floral company (ie: expensive), I could see something in the range of a $100 delivery fee. Maybe even $150 if it required actually doing more than throwing a plastic banner over the door, tossing glitter on the ground, and tuning on 2 LED lights.. Which would mean I expect to see a value off $300-$350 in the items they are providing. A value of $175 falls very very short of this... and honestly, $175 is an inflated joke. It is much closer to a value of $100-$125, but I decided to round everything up to stave off claims I was undervaluing the package. If I was to compare the actual COST to disney rather than the retail value, then I'd have a hard time believing it costs them for than $40 or $50 for the things they are providing. Which is a ridiculous, even for Disney, mark-up.

Will some people pay for it? Ya, probably. I'm guessing they will be predominately disappointed though. The description for what you receive is extremely vague on their website. I had to specifically request an itemized list of what was included.

If anyone else here sees that package and thinks it's the bee's knees, then have at it. If I had a suicidal wad of $450 bucks, then I would choose to spend it on actual gifts for the kids at the park, have it all shipped back to the resort, and then have the wife keep them busy on rides or at shows while I pop back to the room and lay it all out. In the end, I'm still out cash and the kids get their surprise, but the difference is Santa Mickey doesn't look like such a cheapskate. Pillow cases and a blanket? Screw you buddy. You suck at Santa.
 
eXo said:
I am guessing he was referring to the $450 room decor, since he mentioned the part about "while you are away".

And to speak towards that, I understand there is a premium charge for extra fluff like this. The problem is, the antlers are $1.99 to add an extra pair. The noses are $1,99 to add an extra nose. The treats can't possibly add up to more than $40 worth (and that's saying the 8 provided treats would normally run $5 a pop, with no factored discounts or anything else). I can get a personalized blanket on the disney store for about $30, so lets be generous and say pillow cases cost the same, and just round up and say the pillow cases and blanket would cost $100 (they wouldn't). Finally you factor in the glitter/confetti (I'll be super generous here - $5) and the mickey LED lights... again... I'll round way up and chalk them up to $10 a piece. Finally, there is the door banner - which is a piece of plastic that says Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays or something. I'll splurge and say $15 tops for this.

Rounding up in every case, I just itemized about $175 (retail cost, not bulk price, no discounts, etc) for the things they are providing. Which means they are charging me $275 to go to my hotel room, regurgitate it all up, and walk back out.

Being Disney (ie: expensive) and being a floral company (ie: expensive), I could see something in the range of a $100 delivery fee. Maybe even $150 if it required actually doing more than throwing a plastic banner over the door, tossing glitter on the ground, and tuning on 2 LED lights.. Which would mean I expect to see a value off $300-$350 in the items they are providing. $175 falls very very short of this... and honestly, $175 is a joke. It is much closer to $100-$125, but I decided to round everything up to stave off claims I was undervaluing the package.

Will some people pay for it? Ya, probably. I'm guessing they will be predominately disappointed though. The description for what you receive is extremely vague on their website. I had to specifically request an itemized list of what was included.

If anyone else here sees that package and thinks it's the bee's knees, then have at it. If I had a suicidal wad of $450 bucks, then I would choose to spend it on actual gifts for the kids at the park, have it all shipped back to the resort, and then have the wife keep them busy on rides or at shows while I pop back to the room and lay it all out. In the end, I'm still out cash and the kids get their surprise, but the difference is Santa Mickey doesn't look like such a cheapskate. Pillow cases and a blanket? Screw you buddy. You suck at Santa.
Click to expand...

Ok...that does make more sense.

Florists are always a ripoff...couple that with the operation down there and it's a "synergistic" blood sucking effect.

I am still in awe with the "ticket" to go into world of Disney and buy the same mass produced stuff as in walmart.
Just incase anybody is confused or doesn't understand...let me spell this out:
IT'S THE SAME TOYS AS EVERY OTHER STORE.

Nothing special.
 
lockedoutlogic said:
I am still in awe with the "ticket" to go into world of Disney and buy the same mass produced stuff as in Walmart.
Just incase anybody is confused or doesn't understand...let me spell this out:
IT'S THE SAME TOYS AS EVERY OTHER STORE.

Nothing special.
Click to expand...

Ya... I think awe adequately describes my feelings towards it as well. I can't believe they are charging people to get in line to buy stuff....

In all seriousness though - *is* it the same stuff that is at Walmart? Disney often sells different toys in their stores versus what is available at chain stores/amazon. Examples I can think of are the Bing Bong plush (Inside Out) available through Disney Store is much higher quality than the abomination I saw at target one day that looked like an escaped martian from Total Recall. And then with Frozen, the dresses, costume accessories, and dolls available at the Disney Store were much nicer (and yes, more expensive) than anything at Walmart.

I don't know much about the Star Wars merch coming out, so I was sure if they were doing the same thing with it. If they are, then I can see why someone might pay the $50. Before you flame me for saying that, let me explain. Stuff that is only sold through the Disney Store sells out fast then goes to eBay for a 200%-400% markup. A collector who wants the items for themselves might see spending that $50 entrance fee as much cheaper than the overall mark-up they would pay for buying several of these on eBay. Then, on the other side you have the eBay flippers. They might see $50 as worth it because they are going to take that $25 action figure and list it for $100 anyways. So the first figure they sell covers the cost of admission, and the other 10-15 they sell are pure profit.

Granted, all this goes right out the window if the toys available at this event are indeed identical to the ones sold in every other store. At which point it is simply a cash grab (well, technically it is a cash grab ether way - but in one scenario I can see why some folks might be able to justify it) and I go back to being in awe that there are people willing to drop $50 for the "privilege" of buying toys.
 
eXo said:
Ya... I think awe adequately describes my feelings towards it as well. I can't believe they are charging people to get in line to buy stuff....

In all seriousness though - *is* it the same stuff that is at Walmart? Disney often sells different toys in their stores versus what is available at chain stores/amazon. Examples I can think of are the Bing Bong plush (Inside Out) available through Disney Store is much higher quality than the abomination I saw at target one day that looked like an escaped martian from Total Recall. And then with Frozen, the dresses, costume accessories, and dolls available at the Disney Store were much nicer (and yes, more expensive) than anything at Walmart.

I don't know much about the Star Wars merch coming out, so I was sure if they were doing the same thing with it. If they are, then I can see why someone might pay the $50. Before you flame me for saying that, let me explain. Stuff that is only sold through the Disney Store sells out fast then goes to eBay for a 200%-400% markup. A collector who wants the items for themselves might see spending that $50 entrance fee as much cheaper than the overall mark-up they would pay for buying several of these on eBay. Then, on the other side you have the eBay flippers. They might see $50 as worth it because they are going to take that $25 action figure and list it for $100 anyways. So the first figure they sell covers the cost of admission, and the other 10-15 they sell are pure profit.

Granted, all this goes right out the window if the toys available at this event are indeed identical to the ones sold in every other store. At which point it is simply a cash grab (well, technically it is a cash grab ether way - but in one scenario I can see why some folks might be able to justify it) and I go back to being in awe that there are people willing to drop $50 for the "privilege" of buying toys.
Click to expand...

Thank you for saying what I wanted to, just more elaquantly. The actual write up on the $50 event thing at Once Upon a Toy, is for exclusive Disney Parks products which would not be at walmart or anywhere else, not even Disney store most likely. This is for collectors. diehards that want the stuff. Good for them, but the same type of shopping experience is available for a much bigger price tag the Thursday before Star Wars Weekends starts, give Disney what 300 bucks and go shopping for stuff that would be sold out in the first weekend, yes they don't restock everything and most of it is limited.
with this Force Friday stuff though, who knows.. but 50 bucks to shop for things I have no need for just isn't worth it. The little kid in me playing with the original toys in late 70's early 80's had no thought in the world at how valuable the toys would have been left in packages. Now everything is so mass produced and collectors think that they can buy stuff now and it'll be worth just as much in say 30 years, are silly and will be preventing so many kids from the enjoyment we all had as kids. Kind of sad actually.
 
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disneydennis said:
Thank you for saying what I wanted to, just more elaquantly. The actual write up on the $50 event thing at Once Upon a Toy, is for exclusive Disney Parks products which would not be at walmart or anywhere else, not even Disney store most likely. This is for collectors. diehards that want the stuff. Good for them, but the same type of shopping experience is available for a much bigger price tag the Thursday before Star Wars Weekends starts, give Disney what 300 bucks and go shopping for stuff that would be sold out in the first weekend, yes they don't restock everything and most of it is limited.
with this Force Friday stuff though, who knows.. but 50 bucks to shop for things I have no need for just isn't worth it. The little kid in me playing with the original toys in late 70's early 80's had no thought in the world at how valuable the toys would have been left in packages. Now everything is so mass produced and collectors think that they can buy stuff now and it'll be worth just as much in say 30 years, are silly and will be preventing so many kids from the enjoyment we all had as kids. Kind of sad actually.
Click to expand...

Regardless of whether the stuff is unique or not, charging people for the right to look at stuff and consider buying it is pretty greedy. However, people with a collector mentality will likely pay.
 
Ahha - so it *is* exclusive merch. I had a feeling it might be.

It is worth mentioning here that the Shop Parks app allows folks to order items directly from stores in Disney now, meaning there really is no such thing as "only available in parks" merch anymore. However I'm betting this iniital wave of star wars stuff won't stay in stock long enough to make it to the app. So ya, $50 to get in is chump change for the people who are going to go list it all on eBay. And it is probably easily worth $50 for the people who want to avoid buying it all on eBay.

I collect an assortment of toys and models myself. Between my own hobbies and my kid's wants & desires, I have learned the sting of eBay markup. Back when Frozen came out I didn't take my daughter to see it until a few months into it's run. Her three year old mind was enamored, so I happily suggested we pop on down to Toys R Us and get her an Elsa doll. Dumb daddy thought these things would be easy to find. Dumb daddy instead found an aisle that looked liked t had been raped by a Rancor. The price tags on the shelves were the only indication that frozen products had once lived in these abandoned halls.

And thus began my eBay adventure, culminating in checking the Disney Store at 5am on Tuesday when new stock tends to appear only to find the deluxe Elsa dress to finally be in stock one morning. Disney's website has a habit of allowing you to place things in your cart and not tell you it is sold out until you actually hit the final submit payment button. I have also had them allow me to submit payment and then receive an email the next day saying they didn't have it anymore, so uh here is your money back. Fearing this my wife also got on the website and tried to buy the dress. At this point I wasn't sure which size to get her... so i panicked and got 2 different sizes. Meanwhile, my wife does the same thing. $400 later we get shipment confirmation of 4 bloody Elsa dresses. <sigh>

Sending them back means I'll have to pay return shipping, since the error is my fault. So instead, I found a forum with people lamenting how much they wished they could find one for their daughter/grand daughter and just sold it to them for what I paid.

Rewind back to the day that TRU was full of empty shelves and there wasn't a single piece of frozen merch in site and I would have likely gladly paid $50 to be able to walk into an exclusive store to find that stuff for my daughter. Its dumb as hell to spend that kind of money to be able to buy toys, but some of the dumbest decisions I make in life are simply to make my kids happy. <looks at total bill for Christmas trip to Disney> Yep.... dumb dumb dumb =) dumb and happy though.
 
Eoghann said:
Regardless of whether the stuff is unique or not, charging people for the right to look at stuff and consider buying it is pretty greedy. However, people with a collector mentality will likely pay.
Click to expand...

The people who are dropping $50 to go to this aren't "considering" anything. They will show up and drop $500-$1000 on this stuff. And half of them, if not more, will immediately go home and list it all on eBay and make upwards of $4,000 within the week.
 
Apparently many don't understand what it is to be a "rabid" fan. The price for the function isn't for the exact same toys, there will be a few special items and a little free treat. But even if it was the exact same toys it wouldn't matter. The price is to be among the FIRST to see, buy, and own new Star Wars toys. AND you get this in a party atmosphere with other rabid fans and some special things going on. AND there will be one or two special items and you will get a small token gift of some kind.

If it isn't you, that's cool, but don't you understand the draw of such an event?! To be FIRST. For the rabid fan $50 is nothing for that privilege! As a fan of fan events themselves, if I was closer I would so do this. Not even for the products as much as to be in the atmosphere with a bunch of other fans willing to plunk down $50 to be there. A bunch of SW nuts all laughing and nerding out about the coming movie. Considering what concerts and sporting events cost today, I would have more fun at this AND would get a few SW toys. What's 50 bucks to have some fun?!

Here in PA, the Hershey Disney store is closing early Thursday the 3rd and opening at 6:30 AM Friday the 4th. I think I'm going to be there. Might be a little late to work that day. :)
 
Yellowstonetim said:
If it isn't you, that's cool, but don't you understand the draw of such an event?! To be FIRST. For the rabid fan $50 is nothing for that privilege! As a fan of fan events themselves, if I was closer I would so do this. Not even for the products as much as to be in the atmosphere with a bunch of other fans willing to plunk down $50 to be there. A bunch of SW nuts all laughing and nerding out about the coming movie. Considering what concerts and sporting events cost today, I would have more fun at this AND would get a few SW toys. What's 50 bucks to have some fun?!
Click to expand...

Honestly not really. I mean I'll accept there are people who think that way, because casual observation shows it to be a fact. But I don't understand it. I don't stand in line for movies ever and I'd generally rather not be around a huge bunch of fans.

And it doesn't change the fact that people are being charged purely for the opportunity to buy stuff. At least if you're going to a convention while there's lots of merchandise there are other things you get out of the deal.
 
eXo said:
The people who are dropping $50 to go to this aren't "considering" anything. They will show up and drop $500-$1000 on this stuff. And half of them, if not more, will immediately go home and list it all on eBay and make upwards of $4,000 within the week.
Click to expand...

Well that just means there are multiple layers of greed. It doesn't really make it any more palatable to me.

I'm not going to tell people they shouldn't do it. Nor am I going to write screeds about "Disney's Greed!!!", but it is what it is.
 
LoL. Might as well just wear a "greed" shirt every time you go to Disney, Walmart, McDonalds, Starbucks or any other large corporate company.

Hint:
Disney didn't make those Star Wars toys just so kids and adults had things to play with. They made them to make ... money! GREED!
Disney doesn't sell mickey balloons for $10-$12 just to make kids happy. They do it for... MONEY! GREEEEEEED!
Disney doesn't do ANYTHING for ANY REASON other than to..... MAKE MONEY! GREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED!

BUT! (And here is the part that some people leave out when raging against the corporate machine), for some of us the cost that Disney charges (TO MAKE MONEY) is WORTH it. Either occasionally or consistently.

Disney is probably a poor choice of destination for anyone who pinches pennies. "Affordable" is not a term typically associated with Disney vacations.
 
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