2018 Price Increases

We are taking our grands to WDW for their first visit next week and have budgeted accordingly. When we take them back in a few years, we will budget again as they are worth it. I find all this complaining here about price increases much ado about nothing. Our priorities are less about any price changes but more about seeing happiness in those kid's eyes. Can't put a price on that.
 

When we take them back in a few years, we will budget again as they are worth it. I find all this complaining here about price increases much ado about nothing. Our priorities are less about any price changes but more about seeing happiness in those kid's eyes. Can't put a price on that.

This is pretty insulting to those who don't have your financial ability.
 
Guess I'll never see Disneyland for a while.

No, you may not. We'll probably never see it again after our next trip. Would I like to? Definitely! Do the price increases suck? Yes. Is Disney pricing people out? Yes. Does it frustrate me? Sure, though largely for nostalgia's sake. Let's face it, they're now nothing more than your typical greedy corporation and Walt's original vision of an affordable family destination is long gone. They want and are catering to a different demographic than Walt. It is what it is. What it shouldn't be however, is life-ending. There are a lot of other great (arguably better), less expensive things to experience in this life, so focus on that, instead.
 
No, you may not. We'll probably never see it again after our next trip. Would I like to? Definitely! Do the price increases suck? Yes. Is Disney pricing people out? Yes. Does it frustrate me? Sure, though largely for nostalgia's sake. Let's face it, they're now nothing more than your typical greedy corporation and Walt's original vision of an affordable family destination is long gone. They want and are catering to a different demographic than Walt. It is what it is. What it shouldn't be however, is life-ending. There are a lot of other great (arguably better), less expensive things to experience in this life, so focus on that, instead.
Forget I ask.
 
I find all this complaining here about price increases much ado about nothing. Our priorities are less about any price changes but more about seeing happiness in those kid's eyes. Can't put a price on that.

I also find it insulting but I don't think the poster meant for it to be. I think the "can't put a price on that" was in reference to the increase, not the overall cost. When you're spending the money you spend on a Disney vacation, $25 increase isn't much in the grand scheme of things (even though it is when you're paying multiple tickets). I don't think the poster meant to imply that families who can't afford Disney are prioritizing other things over their kids' happiness.
 
I also find it insulting but I don't think the poster meant for it to be. I think the "can't put a price on that" was in reference to the increase, not the overall cost. When you're spending the money you spend on a Disney vacation, $25 increase isn't much in the grand scheme of things (even though it is when you're paying multiple tickets). I don't think the poster meant to imply that families who can't afford Disney are prioritizing other things over their kids' happiness.

Agree. I guess that's just how it came across at first to me. I read too much into it.
 
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This is pretty insulting to those who don't have your financial ability.
As this comment was made on a Disney blog it only makes sense that being able to afford to go is at least possible. Few people could would go from being able, to not being able because of this price increase. If I was on a luxury yacht blog I guess I would find most comments insulting when they refer to the 'little 100 footer for 3 million'. So I don't go to that blog and live happily without a yacht.
 
Well I apologize for being hasty, but how am I going to renew my pass later this year while getting myself a job is in the works?

I’m so sorry you’re going through a rough financial time. ☹️ I sympathize with you. Disney isn’t going anywhere and when you find a job, you can save up for a new AP if you choose.

I wish you luck in your job search! I hope all goes well.
 
It seems like every time there is a price increase we have this same discussion. I do understand wanting to go to WDW and not being able to afford it. There is only one WDW, let's face it while Six Flags may be fun it's not the same thing. Being able to complain about it and having others to commiserate with can make you feel a little bit better. We could afford to go every year, however it would be hard to justify the cost. Besides there are other places we want to see. For me trips to WDW are a luxury and a self indulgence, but also a bit of a personal Mecca. I am a very frugal person (my wife calls me cheap). I do things like make a lunch for us to take everyday, drive an older car, do my own home repairs etc. You would be shocked how much money can be saved with relative small changes. I do these things because it is financially smart, but also because when we do go to WDW I don't feel guilty.
 
It seems like every time there is a price increase we have this same discussion. I do understand wanting to go to WDW and not being able to afford it. There is only one WDW, let's face it while Six Flags may be fun it's not the same thing. Being able to complain about it and having others to commiserate with can make you feel a little bit better. We could afford to go every year, however it would be hard to justify the cost. Besides there are other places we want to see. For me trips to WDW are a luxury and a self indulgence, but also a bit of a personal Mecca. I am a very frugal person (my wife calls me cheap). I do things like make a lunch for us to take everyday, drive an older car, do my own home repairs etc. You would be shocked how much money can be saved with relative small changes. I do these things because it is financially smart, but also because when we do go to WDW I don't feel guilty.

I agree with you on all this.

Someone else suggested that one price increase shouldn't price anyone out (and if it does you don't belong here) - I disagree. Because many people do have that threshold, that tipping point, where it just finally reaches that point where you can no longer afford it/justify it. There are many people in the world, and even some here, myself included, where yes, that extra $200-300 does finally make or break whether you go or not. Especially when you've already scrimped and cut back and saved as much as you can.

And when that happens, whether it's because you financially can no longer do it, or whether you can no longer justify it, it's disappointing and frustrating for sure. And as you said, it's only natural that people will come here to complain and commiserate with others who feel the same way.

That said, I wonder when people complain.... are they really that upset that they can't go to Disney, or just more upset at the whole idea of what Disney is doing/becoming? For me, it's the latter. Their greed is ruining the fantasy.
 
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Unless I can get a great discount through my employer or Working Advantage, it looks like our future trips will only last two or three days. They used to be no less than five or six days.
 
I’m so sorry you’re going through a rough financial time. ☹️ I sympathize with you. Disney isn’t going anywhere and when you find a job, you can save up for a new AP if you choose.

I wish you luck in your job search! I hope all goes well.
Thank you. I didn't say I have rough financial problem per say, I just don't know how to afford it while finding a new job is in the works. I'm sure we'll figure it out somehow.
 
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For me, what I can afford to pay is different than what I'm willing to pay. The concept of a "threshold" (as mshanson3121 mentioned) of what someone is willing to pay is something I too thought about and find interesting. I can remember when the cost a ticket was $35.00, I can see a time when that cost is $200.00/day, perhaps in my lifetime. Now I love WDW, but I'm not willing to spend $1000.00 per night for a resort and $500.00/day for tickets whether I can afford it or not. There are guests at WDW right now that are spending that much money. Some families will take shorter trips as above mentioned, some will go from Luxury to moderate resorts or moderate to budget. Unfortunately some families will have to go from 2-3 day trips at budget resorts to none at all.
 














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