Anyone else think Disney is getting Greedy?

[ppiew]

Love the Magic Bands! I have used them 3 times now and it gets easier each time. sure makes better use of my time PLUS i go to lots of shows/events/rides i probably wouldn't have just as 'fillers' between fast passes. Takes a lot of time at first, but once you know what u are going to do - it is a breeze! Yes the company spend lots of bucks BUT think about it - they don't have to pay salaries, healthcare, pensions or other perqs to the MB's!!!!

 

[Patience]

This is my family. My kids wanted nothing in the way of souvenirs on our last trip. My dd 8 ended up getting a pick a pearl/ears/nightgown and my ds's 6 and 3 hats(one mickey and the other Captain America from Uni) and the 6 yr old did the build a lightsaber at DD...they really wanted nothing. The pick a pearl/lightsaber I'd even call more of an experience than gift since they built it/picked it. We went through every gift shop and they asked for nothing. They loved the extra experiences. Our next trip we for sure will do more of those...as far as more products...I wouldn't be surprised if they really got nothing. We'd pretty much all rather have experiences rather than material things.

This is us and probably many more like us. When we go on vacation, we have a fixed budget in mind and we stick to it. If we wanted to do the Frozen dessert party thing, we would cut something else out of the budget on that particular vacation: no souvenirs, eliminate a character buffet or two, no BBB, stay at a value maybe instead of a moderate. Disney is not getting any more of my money than I already planned to spend. I will just change the things I buy with my money, not the amount.

Edited to add that I would probably pay for the Frozen thing if we were going this summer (we're not) because our 7 year old daughter is a huge fan and I would just eliminate something else. We have yet to go to a special party at Disney however. We've never seen the value of the special parties for our family. I know others do.

 

[kaytieeldr]

The old fridges had to be replaced because they were a fire hazard.

EDIT: That was the moderates, if the values didn't have them before then never mind. Your point still stands though.

Refrigerators were in all resort guest rooms at least a year before the replacement occurred.

 

[kaytieeldr]

No. I do not think this should be included in your cirque du Soleil ticket. I am just saying they are on a roll, putting extras out there. I guess its good. It is a business. I would consider this a tour, not really an extra. But you know when you buy something like a toy or camera or just about anything, you have to buy the warranty? Remember when you bought something and the company stood behind it? Now you have to pay extra for it. I just don't think that is right.

Nobody has to buy a warranty. The item is covered for some period of time after purchase. Read the warranty that comes with the product.

 

[Suvadoo]

Love the Magic Bands! I have used them 3 times now and it gets easier each time. sure makes better use of my time PLUS i go to lots of shows/events/rides i probably wouldn't have just as 'fillers' between fast passes. Takes a lot of time at first, but once you know what u are going to do - it is a breeze! Yes the company spend lots of bucks BUT think about it - they don't have to pay salaries, healthcare, pensions or other perqs to the MB's!!!!

Obviously, you're one of the people who hasn't spent hours of your vacation time at GR trying to get glitches straightened out. I wonder what your attitude would be if your FP's disappeared!

I'm glad you love MB

 

[Angel Ariel]

Nobody has to buy a warranty. The item is covered for some period of time after purchase. Read the warranty that comes with the product.

I thinl the pp may be referring to things like geek squad protection (best buy),that extend a warranty beyond the generally short warranty the manufacturer offers.

 

[Kingdome8]

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!

Excellent point

We are going in September for 7 nights at port Orleans for 5 people and 5 day tickets with free meal and and memory make. 3400.
We drive so that saves us a lot. I like to drive.

Our trip to myrtle beach is 2700 just for the place. It's 3 bedrooms. So alittle more. But that doesn't even include food and entertainment.

 

[brunette8706]

It depends what you consider innovative. The new magic band system is innovative, efficient (theoretically) and different than the competition, but required millions in infrastructure spending. Is it a shiny new ride? No. But to say that rides are the only thing that can exciting or innovating about disney is looking at a micro picture. I think many people fail to realize that adding to or innovating an existing feature (even if it's not a ride) costs millions and is still moving the parks forward.

So what you are saying that as a consumer we should all flock to disney because they invented the magic band? Why don't they fix the attractions that are in the parks? Why don't they maintain the monorail system? Why don't they complete the Animal Kingdom with more premiere rides? I don't come to disney because they introduced magic bands.

Further, the magic bands were created to save them money, for Disney's benefit not the guest. Plus what I don't understand is why the guest has to pay $12.95 for each band.

 

[brunette8706]

Apple has massive overhead, yet they continue to innovate and come out with awesome new products.

Good businesses don't simply charge as much as possible for as little as possible and yet they manage to make a profit. It's that simple.

Yes Ferrari's are luxury cars. The problem lately is that Disney is charging Ferrari prices for a 15 year old Ford.

 

[Suvadoo]

I agree 100%

 

[brunette8706]

No. I do not think this should be included in your cirque du Soleil ticket. I am just saying they are on a roll, putting extras out there. I guess its good. It is a business. I would consider this a tour, not really an extra. But you know when you buy something like a toy or camera or just about anything, you have to buy the warranty? Remember when you bought something and the company stood behind it? Now you have to pay extra for it. I just don't think that is right.

I totally agree Connie.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I thinl the pp may be referring to things like geek squad protection (best buy),that extend a warranty beyond the generally short warranty the manufacturer offers.

Yes, I know what she meant. It's not just services like Geek Squad coverage. Products come with warranties. Buyers have the option to purchase extended warranties. Not must, simply may.

Exactly like the additional events, parties, tours, etc., offered by Disney. May purchase - not must purchase.

 

[brunette8706]

Love the Magic Bands! I have used them 3 times now and it gets easier each time. sure makes better use of my time PLUS i go to lots of shows/events/rides i probably wouldn't have just as 'fillers' between fast passes. Takes a lot of time at first, but once you know what u are going to do - it is a breeze! Yes the company spend lots of bucks BUT think about it - they don't have to pay salaries, healthcare, pensions or other perqs to the MB's!!!!

Per your last sentence- So you want to put people out of work by eliminating thousands of jobs?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Apple has massive overhead, yet they continue to innovate and come out with awesome new products.

Good businesses don't simply charge as much as possible for as little as possible and yet they manage to make a profit. It's that simple.

Yes Ferrari's are luxury cars. The problem lately is that Disney is charging Ferrari prices for a 15 year old Ford.

What innovation? Which awesome new products? According to a 2013 Money article, "Despite its reputation, Apple has rarely been in the business of creating entirely new markets. Apple didn't invent the PC, the MP3 player, the smartphone or the tablet."

 

[Disney Queenie]

Here is a good example of Disney Greed.
I was talking to a co-worker yesterday about this subject(because she loves Disney like me) She said she had her daughters dream wedding at Disney. The reception was at the danceroom near the boardwalk. Now keep in mind they had 70 guests, and paid over 200k (and they did not even get pics in front of the castle for the bride, due to some construction) Anyhoo, Disney had the gall to charge them for the fireworks that could be seen from Epcot!

Can you believe it? It is not like those fireworks were being Soset for them, they were going off anyways. I think, that is outrageous! If that is not greed, I do not know what is!

Within the last year, 3 people at work who are all diehard Disney fans have ALL decided it is time to take a break from Disney. Coincidence? Not!


At the end of our conversation, it was evident that we have both been slowly getting turned off by Disney. I have already started to plan my next trip and it is not at Disney. We are going up to the catskills. My kids have already stated that they would like to do a Non-Disney Florida trip after that Universal, Discovery Cove, Sea World and Bush Gardens. Momma is going to tak on 4 day non-Disney cruise (Disney cruises are just too costly)

So I think the impact is going to be gradual, but Disney chose to invest in this system. Really what did the consumer get. I had my credit card, room, and dining all on my card big deal it is now on a bracelet! Quite frankly not looking forward to wearing this in the august heat, would rather have a plastic ticket in my pocket. As someone stated the mickey bands are not why I would come to the park. It is the attractions. Disney chose to invest in making more money, not the parks. I would take the old fastpass system back in a heartbeat.

 

[Networth]

Plus what I don't understand is why the guest has to pay $12.95 for each band.

You don't, the plastic RFID tickets work fine. No one HAS to pay for bands.

 

[pbrim]

Walt wanted everyone to be able to come into the park thus the rather small entry fee but to ride rides you had to buy a book of tickets and each ride had a monetary value. E tickets were the most and the best rides. I'm sure a lot of little kids went to DL in the beginning and were told by their parents sorry you only get 2 E tickets but here are a bunch of the cheap ones.

We went in ticket days. There was a ticket book you bought that included your admission and a certain number of each type of tickets. (I think it was 3 or 4 E tickets in the book and about twice that number of rides.) You could buy extra books of each type but my parents couldn't afford that. There were not enough tickets to ride everything in the park so we pored over the maps in advance to decide what we wanted to ride and what we would have to skip this time. We never used all of the A tickets, which were things like the carousel and the Main Street trolley.

So even in the "good old days" of the early 60's there was still some serious planning to do!

 

[Networth]

Here is a good example of Disney Greed. I was talking to a co-worker yesterday about this subject(because she loves Disney like me) She said she had her daughters dream wedding at Disney. The reception was at the danceroom near the boardwalk. Now keep in mind they had 70 guests, and paid over 200k (and they did not even get pics in front of the castle for the bride, due to some construction) Anyhoo, Disney had the gall to charge them for the fireworks that could be seen from Epcot! Can you believe it? It is not like those fireworks were being Soset for them, they were going off anyways. I think, that is outrageous! If that is not greed, I do not know what is! Within the last year, 3 people at work who are all diehard Disney fans have ALL decided it is time to take a break from Disney. Coincidence? Not! At the end of our conversation, it was evident that we have both been slowly getting turned off by Disney. I have already started to plan my next trip and it is not at Disney. We are going up to the catskills. My kids have already stated that they would like to do a Non-Disney Florida trip after that Universal, Discovery Cove, Sea World and Bush Gardens. Momma is going to tak on 4 day non-Disney cruise (Disney cruises are just too costly) So I think the impact is going to be gradual, but Disney chose to invest in this system. Really what did the consumer get. I had my credit card, room, and dining all on my card big deal it is now on a bracelet! Quite frankly not looking forward to wearing this in the august heat, would rather have a plastic ticket in my pocket. As someone stated the mickey bands are not why I would come to the park. It is the attractions. Disney chose to invest in making more money, not the parks. I would take the old fastpass system back in a heartbeat.

I think your friend may be telling you fairly tails. I have been to 3 Disney weddings and even looked at one myself(no way, but that's another discussions). Your friend said they spent 200k for 70 guests that's roughly $2800 a head. Even with the largest wedding I was at in Disney they did not hit 200k and they had 230 guest, with plenty of extras (wedding pavilion, dinner in Epcot, characters at the wedding, stage coach etc). Also the up charge for fireworks was to have the music piped in to the reception space, not a charge for the actual fireworks. Just saying something doesn't add up with your friend.

 

[Disney Queenie]

I think your friend may be telling you fairly tails. I have been to 3 Disney weddings and even looked at one myself(no way, but that's another discussions). Your friend said they spent 200k for 70 guests that's roughly $2800 a head. Even with the largest wedding I was at in Disney they did not hit 200k and they had 230 guest, with plenty of extras (wedding pavilion, dinner in Epcot, characters at the wedding, stage coach etc). Also the up charge for fireworks was to have the music piped in to the reception space, not a charge for the actual fireworks. Just saying something doesn't add up with your friend.

NOPE, true she is as honest as the day is long but, this is the expected response from the DIS. If it is anything negative about Disney it must not be true

 

[JoeA]

NOPE, true she is as honest as the day is long but, this is the expected response from the DIS. If it is anything negative about Disney it must not be true

Well, if your friend said it then it must be true!

The pp was defending Disney, they countered with their own experience. Big difference. B