All FP machines to be removed from Animal Kingdom by next week and....

[Tozer]

Which their reports attribute wholly to price increases.

So they're not actually buying more, just spending more.

That was just part of the reason they report:

Increased guest spending was due to higher average ticket prices, food, beverage and merchandise spending, and average daily hotel room rates

They report that sales rose in spending on food, beverage, and merchandise by their guests.

 

[pilferk]

That was just part of the reason they report:

"Increased guest spending was due to higher average ticket prices, food, beverage and merchandise spending, and average daily hotel room rates "

They report that sales rose in spending on food, beverage, and merchandise by their guests.

Hmmm, I read that differently. I'll have to revisit the older reports to check their phrasing.

To me, that looks like price increases, with the "Higher average" prefix carrying through from "ticket prices" all the way through to "average daily hotel rates".

Otherwise, that last part doesn't seem to make grammatical sense.

"Higher average spending" would mean, to me, increased prices. Not increased volume, just increased spending.

I have no horse in this race...but that's the way it reads to me.

 

[doconeill]

Hmmm, I read that differently. I'll have to revisit the older reports to check their phrasing.

To me, that looks like price increases, with the "Higher average" prefix carrying through from "ticket prices" all the way through to "average daily hotel rates".

Otherwise, that last part doesn't seem to make grammatical sense.

"Higher average spending" would mean, to me, increased prices. Not increased volume, just increased spending.

I have no horse in this race...but that's the way it reads to me.

Here's how I'm parsing it:

Increased guest spending was due to:

• higher average ticket prices
• food, beverage and merchandise spending
• average daily hotel room rates

So increased spending on food, beverage and merchandise, but higher ticket prices and room rates.

 

[J and R's mom]

So, did the fast-pass machines in AK get covered up this week or are they still in use?

 

[mesaboy2]

So, did the fast-pass machines in AK get covered up this week or are they still in use?

Sounds like they've been covered since yesterday.

 

[Angel Ariel]

There are many new high priced DVC units being sold now. Should someone who stays at the Holiday Inn be given the same perk as someone who buys points at Grand Floridian Villas, or even someone who stays at the Grand Floridian? Units are being built at the Poly as well.

Offsite guests already do not have perks that Disney resort guests do. I realize that not many DISers find those perks valuable, but that doesn't mean the non-DIS majority of WDW guests feel the same way.

Most people I speak to about onsite/offsite love the onsite perks. If they don't stay onsite, it's generally because of the cost of onsite. A family's budget isn't dependent on perks - it's what they can afford. If they can't afford onsite, no amount of perks will get them there.

 

[Laketravis]

If they can't afford onsite, no amount of perks will get them there.

Good point. Just doesn't seem fair, does it?

 

[pampam]

So, did the fast-pass machines in AK get covered up this week or are they still in use?

I appreciate you trying to get this thread back on track.

 

[KatieCharlotte]

A family's budget isn't dependent on perks - it's what they can afford. If they can't afford onsite, no amount of perks will get them there.

And the offsite versus onsite price difference increases dramatically if you have three or four children and/or travel with extended family. The Orlando area is unique because there are not only very cheap hotels, some with two-room suites, but also many very affordable vacation rentals for six or more people. It is very common for families to travel to Disney with grandparents, other family, even friends, so these rentals represent enormous savings for people already spending a small fortune on tickets.

 

[ArwenMarie]

From a consumer's point of view, no one should be rooting for a drastic difference in FP access between onsite and offsite, even if you always stay onsite. The offsite hotels do keep a check on Disney's hotel prices, as hard as that is to believe when you look at Disney's rack rates. And then there are all of the discounts and free dining offers etc that are offered throughout the year, also good for people who stay onsite. But if they make FP extremely different for onsite versus offsite, onsite will be paying more for it, in one way or the other, including loss of discounts and FD. Its really in everyone's best interest that there doesn't end up being a massive gap in the park experience based on where you are sleeping that night. Also even if you stay onsite now, you never know when you will want to, or need to, stay offsite. More options at the lowest price is better for all customers. All JMHO of course

 

[Msmithmd]

From a consumer's point of view, no one should be rooting for a drastic difference in FP access between onsite and offsite, even if you always stay onsite. The offsite hotels do keep a check on Disney's hotel prices, as hard as that is to believe when you look at Disney's rack rates. And then there are all of the discounts and free dining offers etc that are offered throughout the year, also good for people who stay onsite. But if they make FP extremely different for onsite versus offsite, onsite will be paying more for it, in one way or the other, including loss of discounts and FD. Its really in everyone's best interest that there doesn't end up being a massive gap in the park experience based on where you are sleeping that night.

I wish you were correct, and you almost are- but what you are forgetting is that Disney stopped being a company focused on the theme parks and became a hotel and restaurant company some years ago.

As someone aptly pointed out in a separate thread, all you need to see to prove this is the fact that it's taking Disney twice as long to open a small coaster as it took them to plan, announce, and completely build a new DVC. And they're hot into construction on their Poly DVC now.

Need more proof of the point- their solution to overcrowded parks? Devise a new FP system that tries to steer guests away from the headliners and toward the small rides. Spending a billion dollars to rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic, rather than on repairing the hull (expansion of capacity on current attractions) or on iceberg avoidance technology (new headliners or even new gates).

So it's actually absolutely in Disney's interest to further differentiate the on-site versus offsite experience. How else are they going to keep people filling their ever-expanding hotel room empire? Because it sure isn't going to be with those three new E-ticket rides they just announced for Epcot. (Those being Figment, Nemo, and Living with the Land- all of which they smilingly encourage you go secure your FP+ to schedule)...

 

[FireDancer]

From a consumer's point of view, no one should be rooting for a drastic difference in FP access between onsite and offsite, even if you always stay onsite. The offsite hotels do keep a check on Disney's hotel prices, as hard as that is to believe when you look at Disney's rack rates. And then there are all of the discounts and free dining offers etc that are offered throughout the year, also good for people who stay onsite. But if they make FP extremely different for onsite versus offsite, onsite will be paying more for it, in one way or the other, including loss of discounts and FD. Its really in everyone's best interest that there doesn't end up being a massive gap in the park experience based on where you are sleeping that night. Also even if you stay onsite now, you never know when you will want to, or need to, stay offsite. More options at the lowest price is better for all customers. All JMHO of course

I'm rooting for anything that does away with free dinning and hope the dining plan dies along with it.

I think the way the DIS views Disney Parks and how the general public views Disney parks is very different and I have a feeling Disney doesn't care about the former nearly as much. Even frequent visitors and DVC owners that aren't on the DIS or other online groups probably view the parks much differently then the over-planners here.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I'm rooting for anything that does away with free dinning and hope the dining plan dies along with it.....

Another vote here for the end of the 'free', and the general plans also. Both have so negatively impacted the whole dining experience at WDW.

 

[jimmysmom74]

Another vote here for the end of the 'free', and the general plans also. Both have so negatively impacted the whole dining experience at WDW.

Totally agree! Bring back the days of walk ups and get rid of the massively overpriced entrees(make me believe I am getting value for the DDP). Oh the good old days!!!

 

[Vidia2]

Another vote here for the end of the 'free', and the general plans also. Both have so negatively impacted the whole dining experience at WDW.

Neither free dining or the dining plan is going anywhere. Disney is having to add to the incentives for onsite stays. They aren't going to subtract anything. The dining plan locks people in. Why on earth would they change that?

I can't believe this has turned into a discussion on free dining now. LOL. At least I can finally be done with this thread.

 

[FireDancer]

Totally agree! Bring back the days of walk ups and get rid of the massively overpriced entrees(make me believe I am getting value for the DDP). Oh the good old days!!!

The cancellation fees are a step in the right direction. It is hands down my favorite thing Disney has done in a decade and that includes the building of new attractions.

 

[Laketravis]

The Orlando area is unique...

At the risk of putting everyone to sleep, I'm going to sum up my recent experience at WDW, the sometimes heated debates on DIS, and my sole opinion with the following statement and move on:

The Orlando theme park market is an oligopoly. View anything that WDW or Universal does or doesn't do with that in mind and it's a bit easier to correctly anticipate what the next moves are for either.

In the current atmosphere, FastPass in both forms is fungible. Consider that as well and next moves are even clearer.

Goodnight.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Oh my goodness, I didn't mean to start a free dining debate. Sorry about that.

My point was that using Fastpass as incentive to stay onsite isn't good for consumers in general, onsite or offsite.

 

[dayvewc]

At the risk of putting everyone to sleep, I'm going to sum up my recent experience at WDW, the sometimes heated debates on DIS, and my sole opinion with the following statement and move on:

The Orlando theme park market is an oligopoly. View anything that WDW or Universal does or doesn't do with that in mind and it's a bit easier to correctly anticipate what the next moves are for either.

In the current atmosphere, FastPass in both forms is fungible. Consider that as well and next moves are even clearer.

Goodnight.

Isn't that the weasel / ferret from the "Get Fuzzy" comic strip? How'd he get in here?

 

[lugnut33]

I'm rooting for anything that does away with free dinning and hope the dining plan dies along with it.

I think the way the DIS views Disney Parks and how the general public views Disney parks is very different and I have a feeling Disney doesn't care about the former nearly as much. Even frequent visitors and DVC owners that aren't on the DIS or other online groups probably view the parks much differently then the over-planners here.

I don't really care what they do with free dining since I don't use it and as the dining experience has eroded I've simply switched our dining habits (more meals off site and back in our villa). I guess it's sort of the same way you feel about FP+, since it doesn't directly effect your habits you are fine with the changes and everybody else should be fine with it also.