Anyone else think Disney is getting Greedy?

[DisUniversal]

Hate to burst your argument, but the price of gas 25 years ago was $1.12 a gallon. So we pay 300% more now than we did then for that too. Disney's inflation of prices is in line with the rest of America. They have added thihngs over the 25 years so that is not accurate - there are many things in the park for the admission price that they did add in 25 years.

Hate to burst your argument, but you can't single out gasoline and use it to justify the price increases at Disney. I could just as easily use a gallon of milk for the comparison. It probably averaged about $2.50 in 1990.

If you use the the official Department of Labor inflation calculator http://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm, you'd see that $31 in 1990 has the same buying power as $56.43 today, so....WDW price increases are coming very close to doubling the inflation rate. If you factor in that the $31 price in 1990 included tax, they've come even closer to doubling the inflation rate.

 

[tim123]

Hate to burst your argument, but you can't single out gasoline and use it to justify the price increases at Disney. I could just as easily use a gallon of milk for the comparison. It probably averaged about $2.50 in 1990.

If you use the the official Department of Labor inflation calculator http://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm, you'd see that $31 in 1990 has the same buying power as $56.43 today, so....WDW price increases are coming very close to doubling the inflation rate. If you factor in that the $31 price in 1990 included tax, they've come even closer to doubling the inflation rate.

In 1979 I stayed in season at the Poly and the Contemp for $69 and $79…using the same government inflation calendar thats $226 in todays dollars or 227% increase..the rack rate at the Poly is twice that in the off season…or 200+% above inflation…if you factor in in season rates?..well you get the picture.

 

[connie1042]

Add a backstage tour for Cirqu du Soleil. This is what I mean. It is like they are adding different things every week, that you can add on to your package.

 

[sydneysmom]

this thread kind of cracks me up. Is Disney being greedy? No, it's called Capitalism.... it's what built industry, and America, and provides many, many homes with salaries, pensions, 401K and the security of a job. I love how people can 'accuse' Disney of being greedy...... do you also accuse Apple, Facebook, Carnival Cruise Line, Google, General Motors, Gap and every other corporation in America with being too greedy? Because guess what? They're all for profit companies too... in order to make a profit, you have to charge for your product. If you find that the product is over priced or they are 'trying to make more of a profit', don't buy the product. Disney is doing what ANY successful business in America is doing.... capitalizing on the popularity of a product. The product is only profitable if the demand is high.

I also don't see that there's any 'criticism' for Disney putting millions and millions of dollars of that profit back into the parks developing new rides, upgrading the safety of rides, etc. I don't think they're all sitting around eating fat steaks just counting cash..... they do have some expenses as well.

It's funny how some people are so willing to slam capitalism as being so detrimental and so negative....as they're texting from their iPhone in McDonalds while wearing Adidas and Nike!!

 

[brunette8706]

this thread kind of cracks me up. Is Disney being greedy? No, it's called Capitalism.... it's what built industry, and America, and provides many, many homes with salaries, pensions, 401K and the security of a job. I love how people can 'accuse' Disney of being greedy...... do you also accuse Apple, Facebook, Carnival Cruise Line, Google, General Motors, Gap and every other corporation in America with being too greedy? Because guess what? They're all for profit companies too... in order to make a profit, you have to charge for your product. If you find that the product is over priced or they are 'trying to make more of a profit', don't buy the product. Disney is doing what ANY successful business in America is doing.... capitalizing on the popularity of a product. The product is only profitable if the demand is high.

I also don't see that there's any 'criticism' for Disney putting millions and millions of dollars of that profit back into the parks developing new rides, upgrading the safety of rides, etc. I don't think they're all sitting around eating fat steaks just counting cash..... they do have some expenses as well.

It's funny how some people are so willing to slam capitalism as being so detrimental and so negative....as they're texting from their iPhone in McDonalds while wearing Adidas and Nike!!

It's obvious you just don't get it. I personally am all for capitalism, but when disney charges exorbitant prices and quality and customer service go by the wayside then they are greedy. They will crowd more and more timeshares on Bay-lake than , let's say put more emphases on their rides and attractions in their theme parks.


There used to be this thing called "the Disney Difference" that disappeared a long time ago.

 

[JoeA]

Add a backstage tour for Cirqu du Soleil. This is what I mean. It is like they are adding different things every week, that you can add on to your package.

Should this be included in your magic ticket?

 

[DisUniversal]

this thread kind of cracks me up. Is Disney being greedy? No, it's called Capitalism.... it's what built industry, and America, and provides many, many homes with salaries, pensions, 401K and the security of a job. I love how people can 'accuse' Disney of being greedy...... do you also accuse Apple, Facebook, Carnival Cruise Line, Google, General Motors, Gap and every other corporation in America with being too greedy? Because guess what? They're all for profit companies too... in order to make a profit, you have to charge for your product. If you find that the product is over priced or they are 'trying to make more of a profit', don't buy the product. Disney is doing what ANY successful business in America is doing.... capitalizing on the popularity of a product. The product is only profitable if the demand is high.

I also don't see that there's any 'criticism' for Disney putting millions and millions of dollars of that profit back into the parks developing new rides, upgrading the safety of rides, etc. I don't think they're all sitting around eating fat steaks just counting cash..... they do have some expenses as well.

It's funny how some people are so willing to slam capitalism as being so detrimental and so negative....as they're texting from their iPhone in McDonalds while wearing Adidas and Nike!!

Apple still manages to release innovated products that are arguably the best in their class...every few years.

Facebook and Google don't charge me anything.

General Motors has FAR from tripled the prices of their cars in the past 25 years...in fact, they haven't even doubled. At the same time, GM somehow manages to have a product line which doesn't consist of about half the exact same models they were selling in 1990.

A Big Mac was $2.20 in 1990. I can get them for a little more than that today and for $2.00 on Monday's.

The issue I have is that Disney ISN'T "putting millions and millions of dollars of that profit back into the parks developing new rides"...at least not at WDW.

 

[DisneyGuy]

Add a backstage tour for Cirqu du Soleil. This is what I mean. It is like they are adding different things every week, that you can add on to your package.

Cirque isn't owned by Disney. Not sure if Disney would profit from the new tour. They have special tours in Las Vegas also where most of their permanent shows are located. Actually, VIP packages are standard and can range up to 2K at concerts for big artists - especially with a meet and greet.

 

[brunette8706]

Apple still manages to release innovated products that are arguably the best in their class...every few years.

Facebook and Google don't charge me anything.

General Motors has FAR from tripled the prices of their cars in the past 25 years...in fact, they haven't even doubled. At the same time, GM somehow manages to have a product line which doesn't consist of about half the exact same models they were selling in 1990.

A Big Mac was $2.20 in 1990. I can get them for a little more than that today and for $2.00 on Monday's.

The issue I have is that Disney ISN'T "putting millions and millions of dollars of that profit back into the parks developing new rides"...at least not at WDW.

. Well thought out post!

 

[EPCOTatNight]

Apple still manages to release innovated products that are arguably the best in their class...every few years.

Facebook and Google don't charge me anything.

General Motors has FAR from tripled the prices of their cars in the past 25 years...in fact, they haven't even doubled. At the same time, GM somehow manages to have a product line which doesn't consist of about half the exact same models they were selling in 1990.

A Big Mac was $2.20 in 1990. I can get them for a little more than that today and for $2.00 on Monday's.

The issue I have is that Disney ISN'T "putting millions and millions of dollars of that profit back into the parks developing new rides"...at least not at WDW.

But the filet o fish was a little more than $1. Now it's more than 3. A Big Mac is almost $4 in most of the country, including Mondays.

 

[sethschroeder]

Apple still manages to release innovated products that are arguably the best in their class...every few years.

Facebook and Google don't charge me anything.

General Motors has FAR from tripled the prices of their cars in the past 25 years...in fact, they haven't even doubled. At the same time, GM somehow manages to have a product line which doesn't consist of about half the exact same models they were selling in 1990.

A Big Mac was $2.20 in 1990. I can get them for a little more than that today and for $2.00 on Monday's.

The issue I have is that Disney ISN'T "putting millions and millions of dollars of that profit back into the parks developing new rides"...at least not at WDW.

Facebook and google sell all your information and actually own the rights to every picture you have uploaded. So while they don't charge money it's another fee you have to pay.

General Motors might have cars close to the same cost but they also last 1/10 the amount of time they used to. Hear about the latest recalls?

A Big Mac actually is over $4 on average
http://www.economist.com/content/big-mac-index

Also the one thing you should compare Disney to is other entertainment... Basic human needs like food and transportation track closer to any inflation than entertainment will. Check out sports player salaries lately? Is Peyton Manning that much better than Joe Montana or Bart Starr?

 

[luvthemouse71]

Lol!!

 

[sethschroeder]

Apple still manages to release innovated products that are arguably the best in their class...every few years.

Facebook and Google don't charge me anything.

General Motors has FAR from tripled the prices of their cars in the past 25 years...in fact, they haven't even doubled. At the same time, GM somehow manages to have a product line which doesn't consist of about half the exact same models they were selling in 1990.

A Big Mac was $2.20 in 1990. I can get them for a little more than that today and for $2.00 on Monday's.

The issue I have is that Disney ISN'T "putting millions and millions of dollars of that profit back into the parks developing new rides"...at least not at WDW.

Facebook and google sell all your information and actually own the rights to every picture you have uploaded. So while they don't charge money it's another fee you have to pay.

General Motors might have cars close to the same cost but they also last 1/10 the amount of time they used to. Hear about the latest recalls?

A Big Mac actually is over $4 on average
http://www.economist.com/content/big-mac-index

Also the one thing you should compare Disney to is other entertainment... Basic human needs like food and transportation track closer to any inflation than entertainment will. Check out sports player salaries lately? Is Peyton Manning that much better than Joe Montana or Bart Starr?

 

[DisUniversal]

Facebook and google sell all your information and actually own the rights to every picture you have uploaded. So while they don't charge money it's another fee you have to pay.

General Motors might have cars close to the same cost but they also last 1/10 the amount of time they used to. Hear about the latest recalls?

A Big Mac actually is over $4 on average
http://www.economist.com/content/big-mac-index

Also the one thing you should compare Disney to is other entertainment... Basic human needs like food and transportation track closer to any inflation than entertainment will. Check out sports player salaries lately? Is Peyton Manning that much better than Joe Montana or Bart Starr?

Ok, so McDonald's prices doubled or close to doubled. That's roughly keeping pace with inflation, not exceeding it by 100%.

Lets compare to Entertainment. In 1990, the average price of a movie ticket was $4.23. It is now $7.96. An increase of about 88%.

As for Football...yes, maybe you can draw some similarities to Disney there. The owners and players get richer and the people going to the games pay many times more....for pretty much the exact same product. They both have someone obsessive, blindly loyal fans as well.

 

[surferdave]

As for Football...yes, maybe you can draw some similarities to Disney there. The owners and players get richer and the people going to the games pay many times more....for pretty much the exact same product. They both have someone obsessive, blindly loyal fans as well.

I pretty much blame Disney subsidiaries ABC & ESPN for that.

 

[wdw4rfam]

What exactly are you buying that is setting you back 12K? Do you have a small army going with you?

12K should buy the world at Disney.

I don't see that as crazy. We are spending $8500 on 11 days 13 with the drive. That's with driving gas, food, tips, souvenirs and tickets to universal and sea world too. And we are only staying moderate and have free dining. If I stayed deluxe mine would be that easily. We have no tours, parties or extras booked

 

[Planogirl]

You made it that far?

tim123, first - and please don't take this as me being snarky, but please consider using paragraphs in long posts. It really does make them easier to read. I am sure most people would agree.

With that said, comparing disasters and genetic modifications to having to pay extra for a premium seat at Frozen is well...a bit of bad analogy and we'll leave it at that.

We were thinking of going to see the new Transformers movie tonight and tickets are $17 each. SEVENTEEN DOLLARS! I can't help but to wonder if there is an "AMC" board out there with posts about their corporate greed!

You should go during matinees and avoid the snack bar. That's what we do and we save a ton of money.

It's obvious you just don't get it. I personally am all for capitalism, but when disney charges exorbitant prices and quality and customer service go by the wayside then they are greedy. They will crowd more and more timeshares on Bay-lake than , let's say put more emphases on their rides and attractions in their theme parks.


There used to be this thing called "the Disney Difference" that disappeared a long time ago.

I couldn't agree more. There is a marked difference between charging a fair price for a good product and charging as much as you can get away with for a product that keeps deteriorating.

 

[lustergirl]

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

Considering the fact that many Americans are living paycheck to paycheck because of a slow economy and poor wages this comment is pathetic.

Consider yourself one of the lucky ones to be able to afford such an expensive luxury.

You talk about spending 12 grand on a Disney vacation in one breath and complain in another about having to spend extra for something else Disney is offering. Not getting any sympathy from me

 

[mom2rtk]

You should go during matinees and avoid the snack bar. That's what we do and we save a ton of money.


I couldn't agree more. There is a marked difference between charging a fair price for a good product and charging as much as you can get away with for a product that keeps deteriorating.

As for the movies..... We paid $4 a head last weekend to see Maleficent.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I think value is the key...it's not about greed. It's about what you are getting for the money.

For us, relative to other vacations, the tickets are still a good value. Where we are seeing declining value is in the resorts and the food quality.