Anyone else think Disney is getting Greedy?

[mom2rtk]

YES!
Disney Adults at the age of 10 really always got my goat. So it is not one thing, but it is all the nickel and diming after that had turned me off big time.

I think having a child turn 10 is a tough bump in the road for many Disney fans. Especially those who don't eat much. How many of you wouldn't bat an eye at $60 chicken nuggets?

 

[fbb]

I think having a child turn 10 is a tough bump in the road for many Disney fans. Especially those who don't eat much. How many of you wouldn't bat an eye at $60 chicken nuggets?

People in that situation who 'need' the dining plan get what they deserve.

 

[mom2rtk]

People in that situation who 'need' the dining plan get what they deserve.

LOL, I paid out of pocket for that one. Definitely not worth 2 dining credits.

 

[fbb]

LOL, I paid out of pocket for that one. Definitely not worth 2 dining credits.

Those years from age 5 to 9 were great though. Our little Tasmanian Devil was the scourge of many a Disney buffet.

 

[mom2rtk]

Those years from age 5 to 9 were great though. Our little Tasmanian Devil was the scourge of many a Disney buffet.

So I can blame you? Kidding. We always get hosed on buffets. Heck, even my picky 19 year old gets hosed on the required meal plan at college.

 

[sethschroeder]

It's all about expectations and what you think you "deserve".

I could very easily go to a packer game spend money on gas and a $20 ticket for preseason and all my own food or at the same time go to a playoff game where my season tickets are like $200 a piece, drink packers shots at like $8-10 a piece, eat there brats that are like $8, use their parking for like $40, upgrade my seat to behind the packers bench for $2000 a piece, hire a limo to get to the game for $300 and pay over $6000 for 2 people at a game.

Are the Packers now greedy? No they are one of the most reasonable NFL teams around. I have had 2 brats inside Lambeau since I got my season tickets when I was 16.... You don't have to do anything in Disney, heck you get FP+ without having to pay like Universal!

Are some things more expensive than everyday life? Yes but you should expect it when your going to probably 1 of the top 5 vacation locations in the whole dang world.

It's like saying real estate agents are greedy for charging more for ocean front property in San Deigo than lake front property in Wisconsin... If you find it too expensive or Disney isn't investing enough back into the parks then don't go AND tell them why. Please read up first on how many construction projects are underway first though as well getting the title summer if construction by some on this board.

 

[apicozzi]

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?

If you don't already consider yourself "privileged" by being able to spend $12k on a family vacation, I feel very sorry for you.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

I'm always intrigued by the greed posts. Disney is a publicly traded company and Disney management has a duty to its shareholders to maximize profits so they can get the biggest return on investment. Yes, Iger has a sweet pay package, but he didn't give that to himself...the board did. And the board is set by the shareholders. The vast majority of Disney stock is held by institutional investors whose only goal is to make as much money from the stock as possible for their customers. Any of us who have a 401(k) that invests in a Vanguard or Fidelity fund is likely making money from Disney's "greed."

 

[TinkerElsasMom]

Disney is a corporation. This is what I dint get. They are allowed to charge whatever they want for their product. We as consumers, have a choice to purchase said product or not I've chosen to by the product. Of course they are going to offer extras so people spend ore money. If hi had more money to spend I'd be more than willing to spend it I saved for over a year to afford this trip and feel exceedingly privileged to be able to go. Im glad they offer more things, it gives me, as the consumer, more options to choose from. No company will ever succeed by giving its best stuff away for free.

 

[rainwatter]

Even though Disney does have a lot of pay-upgrades, it "felt" a lot less greedy than my first day at IA last month. DH had to stop by guest services to pick up our tix after buying online. The line was so slow and when it was finally his turn we found out why. For 10min the guest services person tried to hard sell him different up charges. We walk into the park and every gift shop had big "buy express pass here" signs. Several times in line a cm (?) told me "you can get out of this line and go buy an express pass, would like me to help you?" The worst was at lunch in HP. Getting in line, directed to register, and at register: "do you want to buy the meal plan?" three different times. Add in all the pay-to-play carnival type games and by the end I was exhausted from saying "no thank you, I do not want to buy that."

I liked IA, loved the HP section, can't WAIT to visit Diagon Ally, but was was still so happy to get back to less-greedy disney.

 

[Alice Royal]

If you don't already consider yourself "privileged" by being able to spend $12k on a family vacation, I feel very sorry for you.

Seriously! I will never understand why some people spend this much on Disney AT A TIME. Even if you're not a local it's possible to do Disney on much, much less if you really work hard to budget. Does that make Disney any less magical? Nope! You're still there. And if someone chooses to upgrade their experience, whatever, it's not like it's no longer Disney.

I literally spent MAYBE $600 on going to Disney once a WEEK this year. Bought AP at Florida rate before the price increase, always brought my own food (top tip, Disney does allow this), asked for gift cards when people wanted to give me birthday/Christmas presents, and always either rode the bus or rode with friends to get there. Not saying that's feasible for everyone, but let's see who's more 'privileged' now--the guy who spends $12K+400pp on those megatours that last a day, or little old me who can randomly decide on any day of the year that she feels like going to see some fireworks after classes get out? Hmm...

 

[Suvadoo]

Even though Disney does have a lot of pay-upgrades, it "felt" a lot less greedy than my first day at IA last month. DH had to stop by guest services to pick up our tix after buying online. The line was so slow and when it was finally his turn we found out why. For 10min the guest services person tried to hard sell him different up charges. We walk into the park and every gift shop had big "buy express pass here" signs. Several times in line a cm (?) told me "you can get out of this line and go buy an express pass, would like me to help you?" The worst was at lunch in HP. Getting in line, directed to register, and at register: "do you want to buy the meal plan?" three different times. Add in all the pay-to-play carnival type games and by the end I was exhausted from saying "no thank you, I do not want to buy that."

I liked IA, loved the HP section, can't WAIT to visit Diagon Ally, but was was still so happy to get back to less-greedy disney.

Wow. I 've never been to Universal, but I am planning to go in April. I had never read/heard that they were constantly pushing their upgrades. I hate that!

 

[DisUniversal]

I'm always intrigued by the greed posts. Disney is a publicly traded company and Disney management has a duty to its shareholders to maximize profits so they can get the biggest return on investment. Yes, Iger has a sweet pay package, but he didn't give that to himself...the board did. And the board is set by the shareholders. The vast majority of Disney stock is held by institutional investors whose only goal is to make as much money from the stock as possible for their customers. Any of us who have a 401(k) that invests in a Vanguard or Fidelity fund is likely making money from Disney's "greed."

I have both Disney stock and the Fidelity fund which is the top holder of Disney stock in my 401K. Disney is far more than just Walt Disney World and I feel the later is very shortsighted lately and is focusing more on short term profits over future growth.

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

If you don't already consider yourself "privileged" by being able to spend $12k on a family vacation, I feel very sorry for you.

It's called saving for 3 years, a concept foreign to most Americans nowadays.

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

Wow. I 've never been to Universal, but I am planning to go in April. I had never read/heard that they were constantly pushing their upgrades. I hate that!

FWIW, I've been to Universal more times than I could possibly count and I've never had someone push a Meal Plan or Express Pass to me

 

[wilkeliza]

It's called saving for 3 years, a concept foreign to most Americans nowadays.

That is still 4K a year set aside untouched as life went on. If you can save 4K a year you are doing much better than a lot of families in the US.

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

That is still 4K a year set aside untouched as life went on. If you can save 4K a year you are doing much better than a lot of families in the US.

I would venture between movies, dinners, booze, maxed out cable packages etc. the average family can easily knock $300 of frivolous spending from their budget monthly. We made the decision to live without these things.

 

[DisneyGuy]

Compared to many places, the price of one day at a Disney park with everything that it includes, is reasonable. Rides, shows, parades, fireworks, and transportation to and from other parks (even for those who are not resort guests).

It doesn't ruin my enjoyment if someone paid extra to take a tour or attend a special party - if I wanted to, I'd cut something out (a sit down dinner, a character meal...) and do something else instead. You buy the extras you want and realize you can't have everything. It's really no different from anything else in life. You do what you can and if you want something special you work for it - but if it never happens you can still enjoy what you CAN do.

Can you imagine the crowds if every service and special activity or event was free? You know up front what your ticket includes - and if you don't like it then why go? and why does it matter if someone who you don't know and will never meet decides to add a VIP tour to their stay or attends a party? Good for them - doesn't change what is offered in the base ticket.

I actually traveled with someone who was annoyed at EVERYTHING Disney was selling - stuff that neither of us wanted or needed - after a few days of complaining I simply asked "Does it matter?" - the response - NOTHING. She saw about 30% of the parks and missed out on most due to complaining - Talk about not getting your moneys worth.

Yes, there's stores and yes they want to make a profit - can't imagine how else they are supposed to run the entire resort.

 

[wilkeliza]

I would venture between movies, dinners, booze, maxed out cable packages etc. the average family can easily knock $300 of frivolous spending from their budget monthly. We made the decision to live without these things.

Sorry my family didnt have any of that when I was growing up and my mom still could have put asidw 4K each year. I'm very fortunate as an adult now my experiences as a child made me strive to get a well paying job so I don't have to worry but there are many families still out there and more after the recession where it isnt simply going with out an extra but they would have to go with out foods, medical care, and a house to have an extra 4K each year.

 

[Planogirl]

Wow. I 've never been to Universal, but I am planning to go in April. I had never read/heard that they were constantly pushing their upgrades. I hate that!

We must not look like the right types because we are never bothered by anyone but the photographers and I feel sorry for them.

Seriously, this seems to happen everywhere nowadays and it is annoying. I can't hardly shop without someone offering me a credit card or "discount" or whatever. I will say that the themeparks, both Disney and Universal, seem to do the least of this.