$100 photobook with free dining= Disney epic fail

[KSDisneyDad]

Disney is a buisness, one day there may be NO DISCOUNT at all...it's a choice, if you don't like the price/deal, you just don't go! I am really confused how people are complaining and thinking Disney is doing something wrong with promotions and dates of promotions that come out! Disney is a buisness out to make money, PERIOD!

*this is a message board and anyone is entitled to their opinions, but some people are really thinking Disney is doing something wrong to the public!

I competely agree! Disney is an entertainment business competing for our vacation $$'s. If the perceived vacation value received by guest is less than the amount paid, guests will stop coming. Period.

And I also agree that everyone is entitled to their opinion. It's okay to be frustrated about a particular discount and complain about it. However, not everyone is going to agree with taking it to an extreme and boycotting Disney. For the vast majority, I believe that they will be thankful for the discount received (with or without the photo book) as it is better than nothing. For most who travel during these off-seasons, the perceived vacation value is now that much greater than the amount paid so they will happily take the offer even with the forced "purchase". Some may be slightly disappointed as it's been diluted from prior years, but they understand that it's a small price to pay for a large discount to visit a place that they enjoy.

 

[DisOrBust]

THe fact is WDW is just overpriced. We did not go to WDW over spring break this year. after 15 trips I just can't justify it without a decent discount. There were rooms available everywhere in WDW but I couldn't book anything onsite at UO for the same dates because they were completely booked up!

I have been going long enough to WDW to remember the days before the DP when reasonable priced for rooms and dinning existed and discounts were rare.

They may still attract the first time customer but the repeatability I'm sure is down.

I just wonder if the bean counters are counting the right beans.

 

[Colleen27]

And yet the Magic Kingdom sees 18 million visitors a year, more than Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and Sea World combined. It's no wonder. USO is a shoddy patchwork quilt of other companies' brands and products just to piece together a measly pair of one-day parks. Dudley Do-Right? Popeye? The Blues Brothers? Really? How about the Rip-Off Ride Rockit, a.k.a. Rock 'n Roller Coaster 2? As for WWoHP... One new E-Ticket that's like a baby Soarin' on a track and re-themed previous rides, which, BTW, were designed by Disney Imagineers, just doesn't cut it. USO appeals to people who care more about saving money than making memories; parents who let their teenagers go their own way, and not families who like to spend time with their children. Sadly, that says everything right there.

Disney FTW!!!

Need to ease up on the Disney kool aid, my friend.

Ya think?

We're splitting our trip between Disney and Universal this year because we want to do something for the WHOLE family, including the teenager who is "over" most of what Disney has to offer. He tolerates Disney for the rest of us, but he is super-excited for that rip-off of Rock N Roller Coaster and the Harry Potter attractions.

 

[GraceLuvsWDW]

They may still attract the first time customer but the repeatability I'm sure is down.

I just wonder if the bean counters are counting the right beans.

I completely agree.

 

[KSDisneyDad]

THe fact is WDW is just overpriced. We did not go to WDW over spring break this year. after 15 trips I just can't justify it without a decent discount. There were rooms available everywhere in WDW but I couldn't book anything onsite at UO for the same dates because they were completely booked up!

I have been going long enough to WDW to remember the days before the DP when reasonable priced for rooms and dinning existed and discounts were rare.

They may still attract the first time customer but the repeatability I'm sure is down.

I just wonder if the bean counters are counting the right beans.

It's not a "fact" that WDW is overpriced. It's an opinion. I believe that WDW is high priced, but we are willing to spend money with Disney for our vacations compared to alternative family vacation destinations. At some price point, we may change our mind and find that the value we get is not worth the price as you have done.

Spring Break is also "prime" season and they often charge a lot. I've honestly been surprised to see discounts the past couple of years during Spring Break.

I'm sure that everyone involved in pricing at Disney - not just the "Bean counters" - was pleased with the first quarter in FYE 2011. Theme park profits were up 25% in the first quarter compared to the 2010 first quarter. Disney also stated that their increase in theme park profits "was driven by increased guest spending, hotel occupancy and attendance."

Second quarter 2011 results should be published in the next day or two. We'll see if their theme park profit trend continues or not.

 

[dmband]

Of course, this attitude is a good argument for Disney needing to wean the public of these discounts. "How dare Disney not give me a HUGE discount on my vacation! Screw you Disney!"

or that could show how overpriced things are.
if they can give 35% discounts they can lower the cost and have no discount and still come out with the same profit margin

on topic now
personally the dining plans are not good for me and never work out in my favor
if it was free i would still take it though

 

[Colleen27]

or that could show how overpriced things are.
if they can give 35% discounts they can lower the cost and have no discount and still come out with the same profit margin

I don't think there's any real doubt that Disney's rack rates are inflated on the assumption that most guests will have a discount of some sort. That's pretty common in the hotel industry. I think people misinterpret what Disney is saying when they talk about weaning guests from the discounts; I don't believe they expect that people will be paying rack rate, but rather that the discounts will be smaller and more uniform (percent-off offers rather than things like free dining where the discount can exceed the room rate).

 

[donaldtutter]

I have to agree. We have been able to take advantage of the Free Dining Discount many times since it was first introduced in the fall of 2005 and it usually saves us between $1,200 and $1,500.00. To this day, it is the best discount WDW has ever made available for our family.

Just curious as to how much you are saving this year.

 

[ettercap11]

these complaints kill me lol... so you are a passholder which means you get a 30-40% discount on your room depending on what time of year you go, and you wanna cry about the free dining pre reqs? passholder with dining and discount will MOST likely be cheaper anyways since you don't need to buy any tickets or photobooks!!! just get a reg passholder/dining package.


Sometimes some of you people just amaze me. As another poster stated.. these are discounts not entitlements and if you are gonna not come to DW anymore because you wanna get offended by something like this, I say (as a person that more or less lives there with how often I go) good riddance. it just makes the lines shorter for me.

 

[ettercap11]

btw.. the photobook is only 90.00 just saying (and it looks amazing!)

 

[Condorman]

...but he is super-excited for that rip-off of Rock N Roller Coaster and the Harry Potter attractions.

Low expectations at USO? I know, it's so sad how people put up with their mediocrity, isn't it? Have as much fun as you can.

 

[donaldtutter]

these complaints kill me lol... so you are a passholder which means you get a 30-40% discount on your room depending on what time of year you go, and you wanna cry about the free dining pre reqs? passholder with dining and discount will MOST likely be cheaper anyways since you don't need to buy any tickets or photobooks!!! just get a reg passholder/dining package.

It is most definitely not cheaper.

 

[cm8]

these complaints kill me lol... so you are a passholder which means you get a 30-40% discount on your room depending on what time of year you go, and you wanna cry about the free dining pre reqs? passholder with dining and discount will MOST likely be cheaper anyways since you don't need to buy any tickets or photobooks!!! just get a reg passholder/dining package.


Sometimes some of you people just amaze me. As another poster stated.. these are discounts not entitlements and if you are gonna not come to DW anymore because you wanna get offended by something like this, I say (as a person that more or less lives there with how often I go) good riddance. it just makes the lines shorter for me.

Well since these complaints are killing you already. One would think that this is not your first time here on the dis

At any rate, one offer may not be suitable for your needs and may fit my families need to a T. FD is not something that we enjoy as we don't like to plan our park visits around our meals. Room offers on the other hand we like a lot and would rather have them as BB even more

Like someone else posted, I'm glad that I can decide when too much $$$$ is enough for WDW and we can head else where

 

[coruth4]

Also, I think it is crazy to complain about a discount because they aren't giving you enough. The entitlement of todays society never ceases to amaze me.

I agree also! When we plan a trip we never count on a discount. We go becasue we want to go and still find a great value at Disney - even paying for the meal plan. IF we get some sort of a discount - that's just icing on the cake (and extra spending money in the parks)!

 

[boufa]

I hate to admit it, but I fall for the gimmick and the marketing. Everyone wants a discount. Cheaper room, that's ok. Free kids park admission, sure I like that better. Free food for the week... sign me up! Total difference between the 3 offers $150. Mind you everyone is different, and for me it is only quick service dining. But, from a emotional response point of view, fd is great. Hotel discount, well that is 1 decision that has to be made per vacation. Free kids admission, that is a once a day financial decision. Food/snacks is a multiple times a day decision process. Eliminating that is great. Kids want popcorn, sure instead of sharing maybe they can each get a bag since it is covered free. Can even be more adventurous and try new things. We are going to use whatever snacks we have left on the first day of food and wine. Before free dining we were going to skip it. We were not interested in buying $100 on agift card and trying food that we will most likely not like.

Sure, we could squeeze and plan and maybe save a couple of bucks on food, but the vacation freedom that the dining brings is worth the extra.

Since thisthread is about the photo book,we were going to buy a photopass CD, bu instead we will end up with the book... its a draw cost wise.

 

[KELLY]

I hate to admit it, but I fall for the gimmick and the marketing. Everyone wants a discount. Cheaper room, that's ok. Free kids park admission, sure I like that better. Free food for the week... sign me up! Total difference between the 3 offers $150. Mind you everyone is different, and for me it is only quick service dining. But, from a emotional response point of view, fd is great. Hotel discount, well that is 1 decision that has to be made per vacation. Free kids admission, that is a once a day financial decision. Food/snacks is a multiple times a day decision process. Eliminating that is great. Kids want popcorn, sure instead of sharing maybe they can each get a bag since it is covered free. Can even be more adventurous and try new things. We are going to use whatever snacks we have left on the first day of food and wine. Before free dining we were going to skip it. We were not interested in buying $100 on agift card and trying food that we will most likely not like.

Sure, we could squeeze and plan and maybe save a couple of bucks on food, but the vacation freedom that the dining brings is worth the extra.

Since thisthread is about the photo book,we were going to buy a photopass CD, bu instead we will end up with the book... its a draw cost wise.

That is how I feel. We are sticking with the QSDP also. From the kids free promo we saved 265.00 and are getting a photobook now. Our package is the same we added the QSDP to our kids free promo. So we are happy.

 

[rob4059]

Its just a new twist on a promo. They don't like coming out with the same promo. Different dates, different rates, different offerings. Still can't beat the free dining promo.

 

[PFopma]

I'm amazed that Disney charges $100 for a photo book. I can take my own photos and upload them to one of the gallery websites where you can also buy photo books. Last year after our Disneyland trip I uploaded our photos to a site which then sent me a free photo book coupon. I just had to pay around $3 for shipping.