MrInfinity
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 23, 2012
All these extremes and calling each other wrong. Yes, it is both ways, only more moderate than you are depicting.
"Don't go, someone else will take your place"... this is true, in moderation. This is not saying Disney would sooner have all AP holders not go.
"The lowest payers / highest riders don't matter and Disney would sooner not have those guests"... this is true, to an extent. Not *all*. Nudging the price up will, little by little have an effect of turning lower paying guests into a little higher paying guests, or guests that wont pay a little higher have to not go. This is not the same as saying Disney wants to close their parks to only Deluxe / Mods!
These effects are governed by price elasticity. Disney knows that for $750, guests are willing to go. For $850, most will still go. For $2000, they might not. Some guests will decide not to go, or go less. These are the lowest in the pecking order of value to Disney as a paying guest. They're okay with losing these few guests because they will make up that loss plus some, on ALL other guests. Not just the top 10%. They raised the MYW prices last Feb!
No Disney is not marketing only to the top guests, nor would they sooner be done with Pop and the AS Resorts. These are all a very important part of the mix. All these guests matter, but by Disney raising the prices, they are milking a little bit more out of those AP guests who go the most often and ride more things in a year while paying less than an out of state onsite vacationing guest.
These are all SUBTLE effects. It's not like the park is going to be empty, yet this will have some effect on attendance, along with many other things that will have effects on attendance. Although this is a negative effect, we will not see lower attendance because other positive effects are greater.
I think taking everything to extremes is just a symptom of the internet. People love to look at a subtle effect and say it's a drastic effect if it makes their point either way. What? Attendance will be LOWER because of the hike pricing out unwanted guests, but attendance will be HIGHER because of the economy? How can it be both ways? It isn't like that. Both of these effects exist, and they will offset each other. It's like saying... if you have a number, say, 3... can you both add 5 to it and subtract 2? How is that possible? Of course you can do this.
Should Disney raise the AP price? Yes of course.
Will this offend some people? Of course it will.
Will most people still go? Yes they will.
Will some people be priced out based on not being able to afford the extra $100? Yes, but relatively few.
Will some people choose not to go or go less based on a perceived lower value? Sure.
Will this curb crowds by those who will not go? Yes... But it will be more than offset by higher crowds in general.
Will this turn previously the lowest paying guest who paid $750/year now into guests who must pay $850/year? Yes.
If the hike bothers you should you speak with your wallet? Of course. Unless... you still want to go.
Disney knows for the most part guests will still want to go. They have what people want -- so they set the price.
All of these effects are taking place. I am sure Disney has a marketing team that has studied them thoroughly, and they know what % will be offended, what % will still go, etc. This is all just business. Everyone will make their choices, tho Disney already knows what those choices will be en masse, in their projections.
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