Anyone else think Disney is getting Greedy?

[cmwade77]

Tours do more than just ride the rides, you will actually learn about the parks and get experiences that you can't get Otherwise, so no I don't see this as being greedy. This is just smart business.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

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?

No, you are not supposed to justify anything. I assume you are talking about Frozen. You do not NEED the package. You aren't missing anything much if you don't get it, except the convenience and the need to wait somewhat longer.

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.

Not correct. This is not happening "all over." and there are not hard ticket parties "everywhere." ADRs and FP+ might have been cancelled for the Villains event (one night only.) You couldn't even book FPs for the MK party nights so there's no reason for those to be cancelled. Some are having evening FPs cancelled for TSM in the summer but that is not because of a hard ticket party. It is because fireworks will be presented.

 

[jon18uk]

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.

I'm a Brit so my airline experiences may vary.. But I can still fly and get a blanket and a meal OR I can pay less and not get that. It's not that some airlines stopped giving me a meal, its other airlines came along witha cheaper offering, which many people like. But others are willing to pay the price for a better experience.
You can still stay in a Disney hotel with bars of soap, but they also now offer value hotels with a soap dispenser on the wall and your stay there is cheaper. Its not that some experiences have got vastly more expensive, its that there is new cheaper options.


Also on the Frozen reserved areas for the shows this summer, I think $59 is a decent price including 2 servings of refreshments/desserts. We did the Fantsmic dessert package at DLR and paid $59 for 1 plastic container of desserts and reserved seating. But it was a birthday treat so worth it to me.

 

[JimmyV]

Exactly where has this occurred?

Too many places to count.

 

[NavyDotz]

... 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.

▲THIS!


& thanks to the PP w/ the links w/ the add'l info.
After reading that is was $300 on top of your park-hopper!

& there was a link on another thread for a review of the SWW Feel the Force premium package from Kenny the Pirate that the A&E pkg is supposed to mirror - you might want to read that before taking the plunge w/ a purchase!

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Well, let's count them.

MK parties. Have been going on for MANY years and they are not an invention of the current WDW management. We do not even know if the park would have been open to the public much later on most party nights anyway.

SWW is not a hard ticket party.

Frozen is not a hard ticket party.

AK does not close earlier for Harambe Nights.

We're left with the Villains event, and Night of Joy. That is 3 days out of the year. Grad Nights are gone. Pirate and Princess party is gone.

Not counting private parties, unless the argument is that WDW should NEVER allow their parks to be rented out for private parties because it's just not fair. Which would put a standard on them that is way above that placed on other businesses.

 

[flicx]

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.

Nice post. I think Disney crossed that line years ago. Speaking of high CEO pays Iger made 53 million plus stock options a few years ago. That was shortly after they layed off quite a few front line employees. It turns my stomach. Making money and greed are two different things.

 

[smokeyblue]

I've been going to DL and WDW every year or two for 13 years now. IMO the experience has declined ever since I started going and the prices keep rising. We still have a really good time but I often don't feel I'm getting my money's worth. There will probably be a point where we decide to start going less often or take shorter trips.

Do I feel like Disney is being greedy? Yes, but no more than any other company that has to answer to its share holders. Do I want Disney to change the way the conduct business? Yes, I do. Do I blame them that they haven't? No I don't because they are just supplying what their customers are demanding.

 

[FLchick415]

I've never done any of these "extra" things (minus one MVMCP years ago) and I see no issue if people are willing to pay. It's not REQUIRED that you buy what Disney is selling.

 

[siskaren]

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.

I don't see how people could be getting ADRs cancelled if they're booking them for after 7 on a party night, because I don't think the system has any way of knowing if they have party tickets or not.

And I don't see how they could be booking FP+ for times later than the park is open.

 

[Beer Me]

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?

I don't plan on buying any extra packages or tours. I feel like what I'm already paying for, the resort, park hopper tix, restaurants, etc will be plenty for me and my family to enjoy our vacation. I honestly feel as privileged as I could be.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

I don't see how people could be getting ADRs cancelled if they're booking them for after 7 on a party night, because I don't think the system has any way of knowing if they have party tickets or not.

This is correct, they would be turned away at the restaurant. You are supposed to be notified at the time you book that you must have a party ticket to fulfill a reservation during the party time.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I get the whole capitalism argument, and sure, more power to them.

But does it annoy me? Yep.

The biggest example for me are the MK parties. I am not going to pay that price for a party (with my kids anyway lol). But that means I get kicked out at 7. And then on the other MK days, it's more crowded in the evenings. So even though I am choosing not to buy party tickets, the party itself is reducing my ticket value whether I like it or not.

I don't mind the dessert parties...they don't affect me, other than taking away that viewing space I guess.

The Frozen thing I don't get. I see the appeal of buying it, don't get me wrong, DHS is going to be nuts. But why not use the billion-dollar FP system to put FP on these things so the lines aren't crazy? Oh right, because that would cost them money to set up all of those FP categories when they can just charge for it.

Really character meals are in the same category when you think about it. If you have the money to spend, you can sit while the characters come to you instead of hoofing it all over and waiting in line. But they are expensive add-ons as well, I think we have just gotten used to them, unlike the newer events.

 

[ChgoMusicGirl]

Just my two cents...my family of three went to WDW in June and it cost us roughly $3K ( including food and souvenirs, even 2 Vera Bradley bags!). We stayed for 10 days, at Pop, which is a value resort (we had Mickey soap and shampoo/conditioner, so much of it that we've been using it for 3 weeks since we've been home!), used points to pay for airfare on SW (where we got to check 2 bags and carry on another 2), we did fork over the $ for EBCI, we had one character breakfast at Tusker House, and ADRs at Kona, Sci Fi, and TRex.
We had a fabulous, magical, relaxing vacation. We can't wait to go back next year. We may try to budget for some additional extras, or we may not. I don't feel like we missed out by not paying for the extras, nor did I feel like we had less of an experience. I didn't feel forced or pressured into buying extra things by Disney, I think I got one or two emails informing me of special extras I could add in to my vacation, but that's really not bad.
Like PPs said, it's your choice what you pay for and sometimes you can't afford everything that someone else can or even that you want. Your trip is what you make it and it can be done on a budget...we could have had a slightly less expensive trip, but splurged on some nice souvenirs and meals.

 

[tim123]

I'm a Brit so my airline experiences may vary.. But I can still fly and get a blanket and a meal OR I can pay less and not get that. It's not that some airlines stopped giving me a meal, its other airlines came along witha cheaper offering, which many people like. But others are willing to pay the price for a better experience.
You can still stay in a Disney hotel with bars of soap, but they also now offer value hotels with a soap dispenser on the wall and your stay there is cheaper. Its not that some experiences have got vastly more expensive, its that there is new cheaper options.


Also on the Frozen reserved areas for the shows this summer, I think $59 is a decent price including 2 servings of refreshments/desserts. We did the Fantsmic dessert package at DLR and paid $59 for 1 plastic container of desserts and reserved seating. But it was a birthday treat so worth it to me.

Jet blue gives you free chips…ALL other American lines you pay for food except first class (domestic flight)…Jetblue gives you a free checked bag…Just about all other USA lines charge $25 bucks now.
I'm living here in Italy…Things haven't gotten so greedy here in Europe yet…but its coming…its not that I don't think free enterprise is the best alternative to socialism etc. ism is m's..its just that thats not really what we have here anymore if one is truly honest about how the system runs now..so thats why I have an issue with the praise Disney love it or leave it reaction by some posters here…Yes I love WDW..yes I go and yes I'm lucky I can afford the Poly…no I don't like the suits counting profit above good jobs, good historical maintenance, overbuilding DVC's and ruining the vibe (just my opinion)..and no I don't thing any CEO is worth 1000 times the average wage earner when historically the average was 45 to 1 for most of the preceding centuries…
Why is there no more Mickey soap at the Wilderness Lodge?
Answer:_____________________.!

 

[wilkeliza]

I get the whole capitalism argument, and sure, more power to them.

But does it annoy me? Yep.

The biggest example for me are the MK parties. I am not going to pay that price for a party (with my kids anyway lol). But that means I get kicked out at 7. And then on the other MK days, it's more crowded in the evenings. So even though I am choosing not to buy party tickets, the party itself is reducing my ticket value whether I like it or not.

The Frozen thing I don't get. I see the appeal of buying it, don't get me wrong, DHS is going to be nuts. But why not use the billion-dollar FP system to put FP on these things so the lines aren't crazy? Oh right, because that would cost them money to set up all of those FP categories when they can just charge for it.

.

Point 1: The parties are well know far in advance. It is your choice to go on a party day and not book a party ticket. Yes for whatever personal reason you may not like going on another day but Disney isn't saying this is the only day you can come you are. The crowds on other days being busier than party days isn't really true. I've been during many many MNSSHP and MVMP days and the party days and non-party days even out to about the same with 4-7 on party days being much much worse. Even Night of Joy is announced months in advance. Tickets went on sale in March for the August events and the line up was announce at least a month prior. Once again your choice to go during that time of the year.

Point 2: The Anna and Elsa package is actually more akin to a Fantasmic Dinning Package. The price includes a dessert party as well as the fireworks, dance party, and viewing of welcome "parade".

 

[ElizabethG]

I like the options. When I heard about the Frozen events at DHS, I thought it sounded great, but didn't know if I would attempt to see most of it because of crowds. So, I was excited about the premium package. Now I can watch the fireworks in a reserved area with desserts and adult beverages. For me, it is totally worth it. Thanks Disney!

I may cancel one of our ADRs to reduce overall costs. It is up to me how to spend my money at Disney.

 

[NYDisGuy]

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?

Welcome to life. You can't always have everything.

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

This is correct, they would be turned away at the restaurant. You are supposed to be notified at the time you book that you must have a party ticket to fulfill a reservation during the party time.

Simply not possible if you book an ADR at 180 and they announce a hard ticket event 100 days out like they did with Villains.

This is a problem with the reservation system and scheduling of events. They should never announce a hard ticket event inside of 180 days.

 

[DisUniversal]

I've been going to DL and WDW every year or two for 13 years now. IMO the experience has declined ever since I started going and the prices keep rising. We still have a really good time but I often don't feel I'm getting my money's worth. There will probably be a point where we decide to start going less often or take shorter trips.

Do I feel like Disney is being greedy? Yes, but no more than any other company that has to answer to its share holders. Do I want Disney to change the way the conduct business? Yes, I do. Do I blame them that they haven't? No I don't because they are just supplying what their customers are demanding.

Since I moved here nearly 25 years ago, the price of a single day ticket has gone from $31 to $99 (or $95)....that's over 300% price increase. Prices for annual passes have gone up the same percentage. They've added very little in that time with the exception of Animal Kingdom which is for the most part an overpriced zoo. Hopefully "Avatarland" will change that.

They may be supplying what their customers are demanding today, but I feel they are risking alienating a future generation of customers.