Anyone else so cheesed they will not return next year

[Cruella de mom]

I had already decided not to do Goofy next year before I looked at the prices but if I was on the fence that would have stopped me cold.

However, I have been noticing that the prices for all the big races are going up quite a bit. for instance: Country Music Half Marthon in 2009 was $65 and in 2010 it was $90 WITH A DISCOUNT.

These races fill up fast so they can justify the price. Sorry guys, its just good business. Its economics 101. Disney is a business not a charity.

Besides how many of those cheaper races are providing you door to door transportation to and from the expo and the race as part of the race fee? I have done a dozen or more non Disney races and not one provided that service although one did mail me my chip and bib for a $14 fee.

By the way, good luck to all of you who have commited to running Goofy. I hope you have as much fun as I did the two years I ran it. I might still join you for the full.....

Cecilia

 

[Big Vic]

I had already decided not to do Goofy next year before I looked at the prices but if I was on the fence that would have stopped me cold.

However, I have been noticing that the prices for all the big races are going up quite a bit. for instance: Country Music Half Marthon in 2009 was $65 and in 2010 it was $90 WITH A DISCOUNT.

These races fill up fast so they can justify the price. Sorry guys, its just good business. Its economics 101. Disney is a business not a charity.

Besides how many of those cheaper races are providing you door to door transportation to and from the expo and the race as part of the race fee? I have done a dozen or more non Disney races and not one provided that service although one did mail me my chip and bib for a $14 fee.

By the way, good luck to all of you who have commited to running Goofy. I hope you have as much fun as I did the two years I ran it. I might still join you for the full.....

Cecilia

Well said.

 

[ultramickeymouse]

The thing that upsets me is Disney continues to raise the prices but cuts benefits. They raised Goofy $10 in 2008 but removed the commemorative CD mailed to everyone. In 2009, they raised it again $10 but cut mailing your program and bib ahead of time(I didn't even get one because it wasn't included in packet or shirt bag) and won't mail nice finisher certs(now I have to buy good paper and print out myself). In 2010, they raise the price $50 and only add a disposable camera(which we have to pay to get pics developed). Everyone packs digitals as cheap and easy way to take photos.

All of these items make Disney even more money than the increased fees.

They will continue to raise the Goofy and Half every year as they will always fill way in advance. Mostly with one timers who want to do it once. Some of us 5 timers will end their streak someday.

I love Disney and there races but when the Goofy almost as much as it costs to renew my AP

 

[skfulkers]

I totally agree, Robert. The cut benefits are what hurt the most. As you said, the "one timers" that they may attract will never notice the cut benefits, but those who continually make the trek to WDW for the races defintiely get a slap in the face.

I know Disney has every right to run their business and charge whatever they deem acceptable given the demand. But, as we see in a lot of things recently with Disney, they need to be careful not to "bite the hand that feeds 'em." I work in a competitve environment, and I know that the best customers are repeat customers; they make up the bread and butter of our business. One timers will never give a business the economic stability that repeat customers will. So we try hard to keep the repeat customers happy.

I realize Disney isn't stupid and when it really comes down to it, if they don't see a drop in race attendance or capacities, they probably never will give back some of the benefits or (gulp) lower the prices of the races. And in the long run, there may not be enough of us unsatisfied racers to make them give a rip. But it can never hurt to voice our opinion, right?

Steve

 

[jeanneg]

I just got the email about the finisher's certificate and am very much ticked off. I actually do not have a color printer, so what can I do? I can't go to Staples and say " Here, open up my email and print this up!" It was bad enought that they didn't mail the race program and waiver, but now they are cutting back on the other end also. I didn't even realize they were offering a disposable camera for next year's Goofy......who uses those anymore anyhow?
Of course, it IS a business, as someone already mentioned, and they will do whatever they can get away. Perhaps I wouldn't mind so much if their stock hadn't tanked so badly recently. Grrrrrr.......sorry to vent, but it's irritating.

 

[windwalker]

I just got the email about the finisher's certificate and am very much ticked off. I actually do not have a color printer, so what can I do? I can't go to Staples and say " Here, open up my email and print this up!" It was bad enought that they didn't mail the race program and waiver, but now they are cutting back on the other end also. I didn't even realize they were offering a disposable camera for next year's Goofy......who uses those anymore anyhow?
Of course, it IS a business, as someone already mentioned, and they will do whatever they can get away. Perhaps I wouldn't mind so much if their stock hadn't tanked so badly recently. Grrrrrr.......sorry to vent, but it's irritating.

I'm paying the price and going next year cause I wouldn't miss a Jeanne hug for anything.

The trips we take to Disney to meet you wonderful people there are priceless, but yes I do wish they would quit playing games with it.

Happy Panda

 

[goofyguy1958]

Now see, I should have, and usually do, listened to the advice I am always giving my children; get all of your thoughts together before you speak because you never know when your words will come back at you. I will not return in 2010 to do another Goofy because I cannot justify ALL of the expense and another 4 days away from my family. However, I will probably be back in 2011 as I do have a wonderful time and DW said that we should make a family trip of it at that time.

I do understand that the price increase is a business decision and that Disney will take what they (and any other business would do the same) can get from each and every one of us, but it doesn’t mean we have to reply with thank you sir, may I have another. As is evidence by the greater than 40% filled in 5 days, the Goofy will fill up and fill up fast. I was simply bugged that there was such a large increase and no explanation or addition (I do not count a $2 – Disney cost – camera as an addition) to the so called goody bag (was that what that bag with nothing but advertisements and no goodies was). I love Disneyworld and would like nothing more than to move to FL to be closer (ask DW how many times she has had to listen to me ask when we are moving) but felt a bit like the bump was slipped in, nothing added, things taken away (see Robert’s post above) and we lemmings continue to return, that’s all. Next trip Home is in 157 days…

 

[mkymsehi]

Last year the slogan was "Where Dreams Come True", some Disney Imagineers were dreaming of relieving us of our money, and it worked.

This year, the slogan is "What Will You Celebrate?" and those same Imagineers are celebrating, you guessed it, relieving us of our money again.

I'm back for 2010 Goofy (not Dopey), but we'll have to see how the funds are in years after that.

I agree with Dave, seeing all my friends from teams WISH, DR, and DD, PRICELESS!

 

[ultramickeymouse]

I just got the email about the finisher's certificate and am very much ticked off. I actually do not have a color printer, so what can I do? I can't go to Staples and say " Here, open up my email and print this up!" It was bad enought that they didn't mail the race program and waiver, but now they are cutting back on the other end also. I didn't even realize they were offering a disposable camera for next year's Goofy......who uses those anymore anyhow?
Of course, it IS a business, as someone already mentioned, and they will do whatever they can get away. Perhaps I wouldn't mind so much if their stock hadn't tanked so badly recently. Grrrrrr.......sorry to vent, but it's irritating.

I will print it out on my color laser and mail it for $10 Maybe I can make enough money to pay for my Disney Races with this service

 

[jeanneg]

What a guy, Robert......you're all heart! My daughter does creative for an ad agency in NY. She's gonna make it nice for me! But I can sell you a disposable camera!

 

[windwalker]

What a guy, Robert......you're all heart! My daughter does creative for an ad agency in NY. She's gonna make it nice for me! But I can sell you a disposable camera!

That whole disposable camera thing just stinks. I think we should all take them and put them on the table that disney has set up at the expo for future races. Tell them thanks but no thanks.

Rebel Panda

 

[Buckalew11]

I had no idea they upped the price that much!

DH had already said "no more Goofy's" which I really didn't believe until he only registered for the half. We're all doing just the half next year. (I should never say "just" the half. Half= whole for me! LOL

Anyway, I do not blame Disney for charging all they can and "making hay while the sunshines' but I wouldn't be happy to be paying that price either. I'd support DH if he wanted to it again (it'd be his 5th) but he's planning on another Ironman in 2010 which will cost us out the wazoo!
He just said he wants to do either the 1/2 or the whole and relax while there this trip. Since DD and I are signing up for the 1/2, he's choosing the half. It is that getting up at 3 a.m. both (or 3!) mornings while on vacation that added to his decision too.

 

[wtpclc]

It's all been said fro teh most part. Upping cost adn lowering benefits (no mailed brochures, certs or cd's) stinks.

What gets me most, though is upping costs (Full from 07 to 09) and upping number of entrants! The course really stunk in some parts this year. Like, up to mile 7 and from 11 to 16. And we're paying more and gettign less.