Anyone else think Disney is getting Greedy?

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

I can't begrudge Disney for wanting to capitalize on any possible thing they can to grab every single penny from me. I get it. However I do feel there is very little "magic" left unless you're willing to pay top dollar for it.

Simply paying park admission = a room in steerage on Titanic.

 

[sethschroeder]

So for these extra add-ons think about it this way.

Someone brought up snorkeling which is like $10-$50 I think someplace in there lol. Anyways Disney has 2 options:

1.) Charge for the extra add-on so that only so many people will do it
2.) Don't charge and have a ton of people upset that they couldn't secure a spot to take advantage of this opportunity

I look at the extras that are paid for as a way to be a gate keeper. (Supply / Demand)

If Disney doesn't charge or lowers costs Demand goes so high that Supply cant keep up. Just think about entrance to MK being cut to say $50 instead of $100 for a 1-day ticket, could you imagine how many more days potentially would have gate closures to non-resort guests?

 

[Kingdome8]

Nope. I think Disney is what is right with this country. When most companies were thinking of laying off people cause of health care mess. They stepped up and offered full time.
Disney brings so much fun and happiness to my life and there is no price tag on that. Lol.
But all companies try to capitalize and make profits. That's America. It's a shame our country frowns upon that.
People hate to see other succeed. Would rather knock them down or tax them to death,

People have choice to not go to Disney or buy stuff. Free enterprise

Just like that store that went to court about not offering contraceptives. Workers have right to switch jobs and people have right to not shop there.

 

[fizz13]

I'm with the OP on this one, I will never stop coming to wdw, I just love it too much. However! ... The premium package for the frozen events this summer has really irritated me. Yes I've gone to the special events and yes I've bought tickets for the villians unleashed event but when it comes to charging extra for in park events available to all then I think that's going too far. I will still be able to go do all the events and I will, but knowing I'm already locked out of prime viewing areas even if I arrived hours in advance and planned everything because I can't afford one more extra .. When is enough just enough?
I have no doubt the premium packages will all sell out too. Yes Disney is a business, but Disney set itself apart from other theme parks in its spirit and magic moments, I have never known so many paid extras as in recent years, they are sadly losing the quality that set them apart, people used to want to go to Disney just because it was Disney, it doesn't reflect well that this is what's slipping, they feel they need extra.
Hope that makes sense

 

[minnie mum]

Getting greedy? GETTING greedy? No. They are no worse than any other "for profit" organization- trying to wring the last possible dollar out of their patron's pockets. But with the elimination of previous perks and "extras" and constant cost cutting, it is just more blatant now.

We have a budget for our WDW visits. So we simply choose not to waste money on extras in which we find little value. And that includes almost all hard ticket events. Its a choice.

 

[sethschroeder]

Nope. I think Disney is what is right with this country. When most companies were thinking of laying off people cause of health care mess. They stepped up and offered full time.
Disney brings so much fun and happiness to my life and there is no price tag on that. Lol.
But all companies try to capitalize and make profits. That's America. It's a shame our country frowns upon that.
People hate to see other succeed. Would rather knock them down or tax them to death,

People have choice to not go to Disney or buy stuff. Free enterprise

Just like that store that went to court about not offering contraceptives. Workers have right to switch jobs and people have right to not shop there.

There is a line though between bad Capitalism and good Capitalism which starts to skew into socialist aspects.

Bad Capitalists are like what you saw at the start of the 1900s when workers had pay cut, hours extended, and no recourse if they were injured on the worksite.

Good Capitalists are like what I recently read about with a local fast-food chain in Wisconsin. There was a fire that burned down the stores location and during the rebuilding phase the owner actually paid out of pocket everyone's wages to the tune of $144,000.
http://www.channel3000.com/money/culvers-owner-pays-144k-to-employees-out-of-pocket/26770916

In the end I would hope that with extra profits Disney would not just keep the money but would think of the longevity of the model that would be built with happy employees and reinvestment into the organization.

PS- Something about the bold, that is more true today with "good" capitalists but if you look at mining towns in the past they literally would owe the company their life because they would only be paid in "company money" which could only be redeemed at company stores and was worthless everywhere else. Essentially this made them indentured servants for the remainder of their life. I think this is part of the reason why there is such bad blood still with certain parts of the US between corporate America and hometown America even if the new capitalists are doing things the "right way".

 

[Julylady]

A business is offering a new product that some people are willing to pay for. How can that be considered "greedy?" I never understand these types of posts.

 

[Kingdome8]

A business is offering a new product that some people are willing to pay for. How can that be considered "greedy?" I never understand these types of posts.

Agree!!!

 

[DisUniversal]

It seems like everyday some new adventure pops up for Disney. I think it is getting out of hand. I understand the party tickets for Halloween and Christmas. But you can now get glorified FP's for you family for 300 bucks each, see Frozen characters for 60/35 buck per person. I know people will pay for this stuff, or they would not offer it, but when you pay 100 to get into a park, it hurts a little to have to pay more to get the ultimate experience. I know several families that are going to Florida and only getting to do Disney for a day, because of the cost. It just seems like they are nickel and dimeing people every chance they get. what happened to buying a ticket and having it cover everything?

Yes...I love Disney but lately it seems like their goal is to charge as much as possible for as little as possible. The Frozen event is just the most recent example of their seemingly endless attempts to remove as many dollars out of the pockets of their customers as possible while giving as little as possible in return.

The Magic Band 'bling' is another recent example...charging $6.95 for 3 little pieces of plastic that probably costs them less than 50 cents to have manufactured.

Turning Flower and Garden into a spring version of Food and Wine just so they can sell more overpriced food and drinks.

The never ending increases in parking fees....which I don't see the point to begin with. They are charging me to park at their business so I can come in and spend tons of money? Fortunately there are ways around that and in over 20 years and perhaps hundreds of visits to the parks, I've paid for parking maybe two or three times.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

I can't begrudge Disney for wanting to capitalize on any possible thing they can to grab every single penny from me. I get it. However I do feel there is very little "magic" left unless you're willing to pay top dollar for it.

Simply paying park admission = a room in steerage on Titanic.

Really? Having to wait an hour longer for a parade and buy your own cupcakes individually would not be magical and equals steerage on the Titanic? Or is it just basic resentment on walking up to a roped off area and being told "this is a VIP section."

With some planning you can do everything at the Frozen event that anyone who bought the package can do and probably spend less. What you're paying for is really the convenience. There aren't many businesses anywhere that don't charge extra for something more convenient.

If you're talking about events like the MK seasonal parties or Harambe Nights where only those who pay the price get to experience the event, then there's something of a point there, but I'm not sure I'd expect even WDW to provide catered meals, open bar and an hour long special show to everybody at all times. The only way to satisfy those who resent the offering is to just not offer it at all.

The Magic Band 'bling' is another recent example...charging $6.95 for 3 little pieces of plastic that probably costs them less than 50 cents to have manufactured.

Don't buy any. Unless what bothers you is the fact that other people will purchase them because they want them.

Turning Flower and Garden into a spring version of Food and Wine just so they can sell more overpriced food and drinks.

Don't buy any. I enjoyed the food and drinks and was pleased they were on offer.

 

[siskaren]

Yes...I love Disney but lately it seems like their goal is to charge as much as possible for as little as possible. The Frozen event is just the most recent example of their seemingly endless attempts to remove as many dollars out of the pockets of their customers as possible while giving as little as possible in return.

The Magic Band 'bling' is another recent example...charging $6.95 for 3 little pieces of plastic that probably costs them less than 50 cents to have manufactured.

Turning Flower and Garden into a spring version of Food and Wine just so they can sell more overpriced food and drinks.

Yes, but you don't have to do any of those things.

You can see the Frozen events without buying the premium package.

The Magic Bands work just fine without the bling.

The Flower and Garden Festival can be enjoyed without buying anything from the food booths.

 

[HM]

This sounds like the dreaded "Pay for Fastpass" that we've all feared might come. The cost of this package is really for a set of fastpasses/special viewing areas, right?

 

[Raenstoirm]

I'm not saying that I agree or disagree wiht you - but haven't heard anything about the $300 fastpasses or the paid meet/great with Elsa/Anna... where can i learn more about that?

Disney website. The $300 fast pass is a special tour and the A&E thing is a special day at DHS. I think you can book both on MDE actually.

As for greedy or not, things are pricey, but worth it. Life is a struggle between time and money. For some it is worth the money to save the time standing in the line to see A&E. For others, the money is not worth it, so they are willing to stand in line. It is not Disney's fault that A&E is so popular so if you want to see them, you spend the money or you spend the time. Now if Disney starts saying you can only see A&E if you spend the money, that is a different ballgame.

 

[tim123]

huh? you do realize that Disney is a business... and their main objective is to make money, right?

Disney's vision and mission may be changing with the times and capitalizing on what customers want but that's no different than ANY other business out there.

You, as the customer, have a choice! And that is the beauty of it... YOU can decide whether or not you pay for those items... Disney does not put a gun to your head

If you have a hard time not buying items Disney puts forth, that is an issue you need to manage yourself, not blame Disney!

If Disney's customer's have a change in heart and don't slurp up all the goodies at the price they charge, then Disney will change but for the most part, Disney's customer's are loyal brand users. If you don't like it, don't be a part of it it's really that easy...


And if the argument is about children... as parents, you need to encourage thinking outside the box and allow for your children to NOT always get what they want.... entitlement isn't a nice quality

I just love those who praise vampire capitalism. As if you were crazy to suggest that things are getting out of hand…like rolling out water to purchase as you wait 2 hours in line to fix your tracking device on your vacation. How dare you complain. Lets see when I was growing up airlines gave you a blanket. Oh yeah and a meal…Oh and heh they even let you check a bag..no two. Heh and when you went to the gas station they checked your oil, oh yeah and they pumped your gas. How dare you complain that Disney is $100 bucks and the hotels like the deluxe $600 for basic motel room..oh guess what no Mickie soap anymore…Oh and yeah I just love Goldman Sax and CEO's making hundreds of millions to rape company's ship jobs overseas gamble. loose and turn the debt over to you the tax payer…can you say GM, AIG anyone..How dare you..Its the American way…didn't you see Wall Street with Mike Douglas….not the talk show host…oh that was when they had programming that lasted more than one minute before they shoved 100 commercials at you…What's wrong with you. Disneyland is God and God is America..It says it right on our money..next to the surveillance eye.

 

[Julylady]

If you don't want to buy it, don't buy it!!! But if others DO want to buy it, why does it bother you? There are some "extras" that Disney offers that I believe are worth it to me including MNNSHP, Hoop de Doo, certain tours. There are other things that I don't purchase including Magic Band bling, dessert parties, reserved spots at pools and dining plans because I don't see enough value in them for my money.

But that's what great about capitalism. Its all up to ME! I spend my money on what I choose and so do you. Where does greedy come into this? If I was a stakeholder in Disney and I found out that they were not offering a product or service that market research had shown people were willing to purchase, I would be ticked off!

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Now if Disney starts saying you can only see A&E if you spend the money, that is a different ballgame.

Indeed. You can see A&E all you want if you do your planning or you agree to wait in line for them. What is being shown here is resentment to WDW for giving anyone the chance to skip the line if you pay for it. Or to have a less crowded spot to watch a parade in if you pay for it. Or to see a special show if you pay for it.

I don't get it. If I really want the opportunity that is being offered I'll pay for it or find a way to pay for it. If it's not worthwhile to me then I won't. How is that different from deciding to vacation anywhere else. I also don't get the "how dare they change the Flower and Garden festival by offering overpriced food and wine." It's the same festival as it used to be if you don't buy any food or wine. You know you can still bring in sandwiches if you don't want to give Disney anything for food.

 

[JimmyV]

It is a fact that your $60 entry fee (or thereabouts) buys you less than it did in the past. Hours have been shortened so that hard ticket events can be squeezed in. Disney could simply raise the avarage daily admission fee by $30 per person and then give you all the "extras" for free. But they have concluded that this works best for them, and to be honest, works best for a lot of guests as well. Lots of people love the "limited admission" events and will pay for them, and if they raised the average daily rate for everyone, the people who would not or could not stay to enjoy the evening "extras" would complain.

There is a simple math to this all. If Disney ever raises prices to the point where profits actually decrease, then it will have hit the point of diminishing returns and we can say that it got "too greedy". If they doubled all prices and ended up cutting attendance in half, then that would be a "break even". But if they doubled all prices and cut attendance to 40% of what it is now, that would be "too greedy". But if they raise prices by 5% and lose only 2% of their guests, then that is a "win" for them, and you just have to decide if you want to be a player. I could say that Ferrari got too greedy with its pricing because I can't afford one. But from their perspective, they are priced just right, and I am not a player in that field. Darn it all.

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

If you don't want to buy it, don't buy it!!! But if others DO want to buy it, why does it bother you?

It's not a matter of want, it's a matter of ability to buy it. I'm paying $12K already for our WDW vacation. Now I'm supposed to justify another $400 for our party to be part of the privileged?

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Hours have been shortened so that hard ticket events can be squeezed in.

Exactly where has this occurred? Frozen/Star Wars packages were during normal park hours. Harambe Nights was after the conclusion of normal park hours. Before the hard ticket parties the MK regularly closed to EVERYONE at 7 or 8 on weekdays in the off season, maybe we got cheated on some Fridays. DHS would likely have closed at 8 on the night of the Villains event (that's short by an hour...but just one hour, and it's just one night...Universal closes the Studios park at 5 for Halloween Horror Night so it's not just Disney.)

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

Exactly where has this occurred?

Everywhere there is a hard ticket event. Look around the boards. You'll find people all over having ADRs and FP+ cancelled because the park is closing at 7 to non-ticketed peons.