Anyone else think Disney is getting Greedy?

[jco_direwolf]

Right! And spending it on the company's projects. Roy had to reign him in a few times. A perfect balance between creativity and business. Similar to when Eisner was paired with Frank Wells.

I don't think there's that balance now in place at the top of the company.

For what it's worth. DisneyWar is an awesome book. Even if it was written prior to Eisner and Disney umm parting ways.

 

[nugov2]

The reality is they have been greedy from the start...hence the for profit status. I can't speak for the early years when Walt first started, but look at the place. They slap a bunch of paint on Motel 6 type accommodations and charge 3 times what any motel would just so that you can say you are on property. You really get very limited perks for that $$$, but people still spend the money because they want to have a piece of the WDW pie. How is that any different than this??? They are offering a service that some people will or won't want to spend the extra money for to get a little bigger piece.

 

[Spacepest]

Disney is a business and always has been about money. Disney wouldn't offer these services if people weren't willing to pay for them.

Also, Disney has always had tours and special events, it just seems that now with widespread use of the internet these events have become more visible.

Disney has always had after hours parties, its just many of them were private. Now anyone can go online and see posted park hours and guess when those parties are.

Before Disney shut down the animation part of their Florida parks, you could pay to go a on a special tour and have a Disney animator give your child drawing lessons. This was all pre internet, so its not something that many people knew about.

Heck, you can hire Mickey and Goofy to come play cards in your room if you're willing to spend the money Disney charges for its costumed cast members.

Lets be honest, Disney is a theme park and is all about entertainment for profit. Last time I checked, entertainment was a luxury item.

 

[johde]

When you compare Disney to any other themepark or amusement park, there are certain areas where Disney doesn't seem nearly as greedy.

1) Front of the line access. As much as everyone complains about FP+ it is currently the only "front of the line" system that is included with your admission price. At Universal you pay for "Express Passes" either directly or by booking a deluxe room onsite. At Sea World and Busch Gardens, you pay extra for a "Quick Quick" pass. At Kings Island, Cedar Point, Knotts Berry Farm etc. you pay extra for "Fast Lane" passes. At Six Flags, pay extra for a "Flash Pass".

2) Food and Beverages. Again, we all complain about Food prices and quality. But, again compared to other parks, Disney is a comparitive bargin.

Fish and Fries Columbia Harbor House (MK) - $7.99
Fish and Fries Leaky Couldron (USF) - $13.99

I don't know anything about the relative portions on each.

3) Admission. Yes with MK skirting close to $100 for admission I said it.

2004 - A person who wanted to go to Disney for 7 days and spend the whole day at a park paid $342, because they were forces to pay for park hopping, Water Park, and no expiration that they didn't use.

2014 - That same person is paying $324, because they could only buy the pieces they want. (Yes if you want park hopping, water parks and no expiration it is much higher). But, for a segment of the population prices that they are actually paying just now getting close to what they were paying 10 year ago for admission.

Every company decides on their mix of prices and services in an attempt to maximize profits. In my mind, it more often wondering if Disney is focusing too much on short term profit at the expense of long term success.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Has Disney pushed to see how much profit is possible off individual park goers? Yes.
Has Disney continued to progress back towards the path of "pay for what you want" rather than "all inclusive" when it comes to park tickets? Yes.
Could this backfire? Yes.

It's not a new trend for them - when they moved away from their original E ticket concept towards the all inclusive ticket in the 80's/90s, it became the Disney I loved. With the advent of the nighttime parties and then the "dessert parties/Fantasmic menus with reserved viewing", Disney had already started to progress back to a "pay for what you want" policy years ago. The Frozen event just pushes them much further in this direction, since it is really just a dessert party now with daytime fastpasses (for the 1st time) added to the normal nightly reserved viewing (x2).

 

[Suvadoo]

Disney is doing what any smart business would do, making money on marathons, parties, and premium tours. Do I resent it? Yes. Because every new fabulous experience Disney announces comes with a new big price tag. Also, they announce these new experiences fairly often.

On the other hand, new attractions for everyone to enjoy take forever to be built. The New Fantasyland was announced in 9/2009 and it was finally completed in 6/2014. Also, in my opinion it's a meh. The Be Our Guest Restaurant is popular and well themed, but this is because it's another place that generates revenue.
Avatarland was announced in 2011 and I wonder when they'll get around to completion.

I just feel that Disney is demanding more and more money for the same experiences every year. In the meantime, their advertising budget continues to increase.

On the bright side, Las Vegas does the same thing to their customers. They upcharge for every experience and they are experiencing a considerable drop in tourism ( I think they're down by 23% in 2014 compared to 2013) Please don't blast me if my numbers are wrong, I don't feel like surfing the net for the precise info on the decline of LV.

So, I'm hoping the same thing happens to Disney. I know the people on the boards will continue to plan their trips. Lets face it we're pretty fanatical! But maybe the average park guest will decide that WDW is a big rip off when they compare it to other types of vacations. If one week at Disney costs the same as two weeks somewhere else, most people will choose to go elsewhere.

 

[ArwenMarie]

No I don't think Disney is getting greedy. I can spend 5 nights at a value resort, get the free counter DDP, eat breakfast in the room, and lunch/dinner out in the parks, drive to Disney with my family instead of flying and my main costs are disney tickets. At 5 nights I'm spending maybe 600 on the room for a family of 4, and tickets say 300pp so that's 1200....that's 1800 plus gas and incidentals. Anytime I can go somewhere with a family of 4 - for 5-7 nights and keep costs at under 3K- I'm HAPPY! That - to me- is very affordable. Disney can be really magical without spending 12K on a vacation. It's our choice to spend what we want to spend. Some people spend 2K, others spend 12. The fact that DW can be magical for ALL budgets is awesome!

I agree with this. I do like that you can have a great vacation on different budgets (including offsite lodging options as well)

 

[Tonyz]

I love how people are complaining that Disney is charging for parties and stuff... but still feel the need to buy up tickets for every special event WDW puts on.

It's Disney World... a capitalist mecca. This is nothing new. They put out a phenomenal product and people pay top dollar for it. I have no problem with it at all... and I'm a bonafied communist! (well, not really )

 

[Redcon1]

For what it's worth. DisneyWar is an awesome book. Even if it was written prior to Eisner and Disney umm parting ways.

Yes, I've read it. Great look into the business workings of the Eisner years.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Just got off the phone a few hours ago and booked the premium package. It is like a dessert party AND a couple for FP+ thrown in. I also rebooked a Fantasmic! package I had cancelled.

I've said from the beginning I would pay for extra FP+ . I also, pay for premium seating at the water parks, club level at the resorts, when they were younger I did the character meals, done Harambe nights and MVMCP.

There is a flip side to it however, I orginally cancelled my Fantasmic! package because I didn't want to chance coming back to DHS after a not so hot experience last time. So it lost value.

I may not be doing club level during peak again because if you want to be at the gate an hour before opening on EMH mornings it isn't open yet. So it lost value.

We haven't done MVMCP in years because it was so crowded it wasn't worth the extra money. So it lost value.

Everyone has their tipping point.

 

[W.E.D.]

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.

Oh snap! Nice rant!

 

[Suvadoo]

Right! And spending it on the company's projects. Roy had to reign him in a few times. A perfect balance between creativity and business. Similar to when Eisner was paired with Frank Wells.

I don't think there's that balance now in place at the top of the company.

I think Mr. Iger is interested in increasing the Disney Company's holdings: the purchases of Lucasfilm, Marvel, and Pixar. But I don't think he is really interested in US theme park investment. I think the US theme parks are treated like cash cows. Profits are funneled from the parks and into other parts of the corporation. I don't think of MDE as an improvement for guests, but a marketing tool for Disney.

 

[jco_direwolf]

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.

You are always told you need appropriate park admission for nights of the party its hard tickets for the party for days its regular park admission

 

[Suvadoo]

No I don't think Disney is getting greedy.

I can spend 5 nights at a value resort, get the free counter DDP, eat breakfast in the room, and lunch/dinner out in the parks, drive to Disney with my family instead of flying and my main costs are disney tickets.

At 5 nights I'm spending maybe 600 on the room for a family of 4, and tickets say 300pp so that's 1200....that's 1800 plus gas and incidentals.

Anytime I can go somewhere with a family of 4 - for 5-7 nights and keep costs at under 3K- I'm HAPPY! That - to me- is very affordable.

Disney can be really magical without spending 12K on a vacation. It's our choice to spend what we want to spend. Some people spend 2K, others spend 12. The fact that DW can be magical for ALL budgets is awesome!

But you are close enough to drive to WDW, there are a lot of people who aren't. So when you add airline tickets to the vacation on a budget it can be pretty expensive.

 

[fbb]

I think my father is nine feet tall. Don't blast me if he's not; I don't feel like calling him and asking him.

 

[Suvadoo]

Oh joy...a thread on complaining about Disney & the evils of Capitalism all in one place. Glad to see this is on the planning board helping people with their trips..

Its not just capitalism...its simple economics. Disney creates a supply for a demand. People want events like this and are willing to pay extra for them. Simple. If these special events dont sell or do not meet financial expectations then Disney will cancel them.

I've seen a lot of people call this a planning board, but it's called " Theme Parks and Strategies" And this thread is discussing theme parks, so what's the problem?

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

No I don't think Disney is getting greedy.

I can spend 5 nights at a value resort, get the free counter DDP, eat breakfast in the room, and lunch/dinner out in the parks, drive to Disney with my family instead of flying and my main costs are disney tickets.

At 5 nights I'm spending maybe 600 on the room for a family of 4, and tickets say 300pp so that's 1200....that's 1800 plus gas and incidentals.

Anytime I can go somewhere with a family of 4 - for 5-7 nights and keep costs at under 3K- I'm HAPPY! That - to me- is very affordable.

Disney can be really magical without spending 12K on a vacation. It's our choice to spend what we want to spend. Some people spend 2K, others spend 12. The fact that DW can be magical for ALL budgets is awesome!

 

[ldymcbth]

I agree that everyone has their tipping point. We did get the Frozen Premium package for our upcoming 2-day trip to MK/DHS, BUT, I cancelled a dinner ADR at DHS to sort of balance it out, and we are staying at a value resort (this will be our first time doing that.) So was I suckered into paying $300 more for the 6 of us to get essentially some desserts, 2 viewing areas, and a FP for the singalong? Yep. And it irks me.

More than that, though, it makes me sad for families for whom that is NOT an option. We are really lucky - my 2 kids have been on 2 Disney cruises and have been to DLR once and WDW gosh - 4 times? We can have the attitude (about non limited time events) that if we miss XYZ, we can always do it next time. But I know there are SO many families for whom WDW is a once in a lifetime trip, and it's expensive enough with adding all of the extras on.

In terms of on-site expense, we have season passes to a local theme park and the food prices are actually more expensive than WDW (and the food MUCH worse). Parking is more expensive. You can buy an all day fast pass for $30 per person. We get our money's worth from season passes b/c we live nearby and just go home for lunch, etc., but I hear from many visitors that they just feel they are being DRAINED of money all day long.

One of the reasons I've always loved Disney is because even though it is pricy, it FEELS worth it - the atmosphere, the CMs, the quality of things. And you don't feel like you have to shell out a bunch of extra cash to have fun. However, I think it will breed resentment when you start feeling upcharged to experience things like these premium packages.

And yes, I know that makes me sound like a hypocrite!

 

[tim123]

I agree that everyone has their tipping point. We did get the Frozen Premium package for our upcoming 2-day trip to MK/DHS, BUT, I cancelled a dinner ADR at DHS to sort of balance it out, and we are staying at a value resort (this will be our first time doing that.) So was I suckered into paying $300 more for the 6 of us to get essentially some desserts, 2 viewing areas, and a FP for the singalong? Yep. And it irks me.

More than that, though, it makes me sad for families for whom that is NOT an option. We are really lucky - my 2 kids have been on 2 Disney cruises and have been to DLR once and WDW gosh - 4 times? We can have the attitude (about non limited time events) that if we miss XYZ, we can always do it next time. But I know there are SO many families for whom WDW is a once in a lifetime trip, and it's expensive enough with adding all of the extras on.

In terms of on-site expense, we have season passes to a local theme park and the food prices are actually more expensive than WDW (and the food MUCH worse). Parking is more expensive. You can buy an all day fast pass for $30 per person. We get our money's worth from season passes b/c we live nearby and just go home for lunch, etc., but I hear from many visitors that they just feel they are being DRAINED of money all day long.

One of the reasons I've always loved Disney is because even though it is pricy, it FEELS worth it - the atmosphere, the CMs, the quality of things. And you don't feel like you have to shell out a bunch of extra cash to have fun. However, I think it will breed resentment when you start feeling upcharged to experience things like these premium packages.

And yes, I know that makes me sound like a hypocrite!

No you sound like an honest considerate person who is humble for your good fortune and aware and empathetic. You'd make a lousy CEO!

 

[surferdave]

Whichever way you respond to this, how does your position change if it's a different company, say AT&T or Verizon (we could easily have this conversation about them putting limits on data plans)? How is Disney different from the companies that everybody hates when they raise prices or reduce services?