Anyone else think Disney is getting Greedy?

[smidgy]

You are correct. $785/night for 2BR Lake View (Couldn't get Theme Park View, curious to know what that would have been)

I don't know if it'
s too late, but did you look into renting DVC points? that is the way we stay at deluxe resorts for much cheaper.


have fun!

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

I'm not trying to pick a fight. I wouldn't stay in Jersey City or Secaucus. I haven't been to either locale but admit I'd be surprised if 5 stars properties were options (could be wrong).

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Both the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks stayed in Jersey City when playing for the Super Bowl. Fairly certain those accommodations were to the nines.

I don't know if it'
s too late, but did you look into renting DVC points? that is the way we stay at deluxe resorts for much cheaper.


have fun!

Oh man, it's truly a case of "If I knew then what I know now. We haven't done a full week long vacation in 10 years when we were Newlyweds in our 20s. Since then we've only done day trips when visiting family in FLA. so not a lot of planning went into those day trips. I booked everything, paid in full in advance and figured that was it. Later that week I posted on FB about going and one of my buddies texted me asking if I found this site yet. The first day I was here one of the top threads was "How much is your trip costing" I clicked on it and wanted to barf, lol. So many more savvy Disney vets here who know how to work every angle to have the best vacation at the lowest cost. Needless to say DIS will be my right hand man be next time I plan.

So yes Disney can be greedy, but in my case it's patrons can also be dumb

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

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 would say that if you are spending $12K, you are part of the privileged.

 

[CinqueTerre]

It boggles my mind that people stay next door to The Waldorf and sleep on double beds at CBR for the same price. I guess they get the Disney bus service.

I do get it. Many people, including yourself, equate Disney property as the proverbial holy grail. I just don't equate the difference, location wise, as being anything similar to the difference btw Manhattan and Jersey. Obviously just my opinion.

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Not just the bus service to the parks but free transport to the hotel and back to the airport. Extra Magic Hours + Free Dining (depending on when you go).

 

[k5thbeatle]

huh? you do realize that Disney is a business... and their main objective is to make money, right?

Disney's vision and mission may be changing with the times and capitalizing on what customers want but that's no different than ANY other business out there.

You, as the customer, have a choice! And that is the beauty of it... YOU can decide whether or not you pay for those items... Disney does not put a gun to your head

If you have a hard time not buying items Disney puts forth, that is an issue you need to manage yourself, not blame Disney!

If Disney's customer's have a change in heart and don't slurp up all the goodies at the price they charge, then Disney will change but for the most part, Disney's customer's are loyal brand users. If you don't like it, don't be a part of it it's really that easy...


And if the argument is about children... as parents, you need to encourage thinking outside the box and allow for your children to NOT always get what they want.... entitlement isn't a nice quality

Great response! Getting greedy?... or operating a business while wanting to maintain a profit in a continually rising cost to do business economy?

 

[flicx]

I was curious so I looked at the Universal web site. Do you know they actually charge people to visit the park!? Yup, pretty much the same price as Disney.

And I checked one hotel (Portofino) and it was pretty much the same price as Boardwalk! But if I didn't stay on-site I had to pay extra for Express Pass. EXTRA? And then, if I wanted to play on one of the rides I need a park hopper! Why, I shouldn't have to pay extra for anything!

I can't believe how greedy Universal has become since they have knocked off Disney as the King of the Mountain with that new Harry Potter thingamajig.

Universal has deluxe hotels available under 200 a night (with tax)certain times of the year. Can't say the same for Disney. Oh yeah they also have the express pass at that price too!

 

[DisUniversal]

I was curious so I looked at the Universal web site. Do you know they actually charge people to visit the park!? Yup, pretty much the same price as Disney.

But unlike Disney (at least lately), Universal provides a product that's worth the price of admission.

 

[mindygirl5238]

Welcome to the DIS folks. Where EVERY. SINGLE. WEEK. there is a thread like this, that has 1,454,467,897 posts in it, by two camps who are fiercely divided and are never going to convince the other that they are right. Can we all just agree to disagree on this subject, please?

 

[It's A Happy Day]

But unlike Disney (at least lately), Universal provides a product that's worth the price of admission.

I'm just gonna add "in your opinion" because I feel the same way about WDW as you apparently do about Universal. That is why BOTH Uni & WDW are making money... because people like different things and choose to spend their own money how they see fit. Are both expensive.... yes, so I guess they are both greedy

 

[Alice Royal]

Not just the bus service to the parks but free transport to the hotel and back to the airport. Extra Magic Hours + Free Dining (depending on when you go).

I had the privilege of staying at the Waldorf last year, with an EPCOT view, for around $300 a night. (DBF's mom was the one paying, not us...)

The transportation was honestly more reliable than Disney's (luxury coaches every half hour ON the DOT, from 1 hour before opening to 2 hours after close), the food both there and at the adjacent Hilton were incredible for half the price of some signatures on property, and as AP holders and locals we spend next to nothing on tickets or travel. EMH were not available to us, but so what? Plan well and you can still hit everything. We hit all four parks and most of the headliners in two days.

I honestly agree with PPs that you can find total blowout luxury both on and off-property for a fraction of what Disney's charging. Or, you can take the plunge and relocate like we did (luckily for us college provided the perfect opportunity) and pay MAYBE $1000/year per person to go once a WEEK. I'm not saying that's easy...but neither is sticking aside upwards of $10-15K on a super huge vacation or $30K on DVC, now, is it?

That being said, there will always be people who are willing to spend $800/night on the Poly or the GF...and it's their existence and greed, not Disney's, that drives prices. Business 101.

 

[surferdave]

I had the privilege of staying at the Waldorf last year, with an EPCOT view, for around $300 a night. (DBF's mom was the one paying, not us...)

The transportation was honestly more reliable than Disney's (luxury coaches every half hour ON the DOT, from 1 hour before opening to 2 hours after close), the food both there and at the adjacent Hilton were incredible for half the price of some signatures on property, and as AP holders and locals we spend next to nothing on tickets or travel.

That does it, I'm in.

Take me to the Waldorf Astoria!

 

[jaykorf001]

Not just the bus service to the parks but free transport to the hotel and back to the airport. Extra Magic Hours + Free Dining (depending on when you go).

I admit none of that appeals to me but recognize it does to others. I'd always have a car and free dining would not work for my family at all. I've read on here that The Waldorf/Hilton have quite good bus service but cannot attest to that personally.

People definitely come at this with different perspectives.

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[jaykorf001]

Both the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks stayed in Jersey City when playing for the Super Bowl. Fairly certain those accommodations were to the nines.

In the interests of curiosity I googled Jersey City hotels. The Hyatt and Westin were the nicest. The football teams stayed there because the hotels were convenient to MetLife. I still don't see the correlation btw Jersey City vs Manhattan and Offsite Orlando vs Onsite Disney. Others do and that's certainly fine.

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[ArwenMarie]

I'm not trying to pick a fight. I wouldn't stay in Jersey City or Secaucus. I haven't been to either locale but admit I'd be surprised if 5 stars properties were options (could be wrong). I would, however, stay on or adjoining Disney property at The Waldorf or Four Seasons and gleefully pay less. I freely admit I do not see these you could stay in Jersey/Long Island/other borough examples as even remotely similar to the difference btw staying at The Waldorf/Four Seasons or the Poly/GF/CR from a location/feel perspective. If others do that's certainly fine. Different strokes. It boggles my mind that people stay next door to The Waldorf and sleep on double beds at CBR for the same price. I guess they get the Disney bus service.

I do get it. Many people, including yourself, equate Disney property as the proverbial holy grail. I just don't equate the difference, location wise, as being anything similar to the difference btw Manhattan and Jersey. Obviously just my opinion.

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Me? I don't see Disney property as the holy grail. We stay all over, including onsite, offsite and onsite Universal. But that doesn't mean that I can't see the reason that, let's say, the Contemporary or Beach Club can charge the rates they do based on the proximity to the parks. That was my point about location, location. Personally, my issue with the Disney Resorts is not the location, or even the perks even though I don't use them (transport, EMH) but rather the quality of the rooms and service. But that's JMO.

As far as Jersey City, that was just an example of how location does matter greatly in real estate, even a hotel rental. The hotels in JC do market to out-of-town tourists as a lower-cost alternative to the Manhattan hotels. And the train might be an easier ride than some of the bus routes at Disney. As another example of how location matters, if you move the Contemporary to where POP is and it wouldn't get anywhere near the rates it can parked right next to MK.

I see your point about the luxury hotels versus the Disney hotels (CBR vs. Waldorf, etc) but I guess Magical Express/onsite Disney bus transportation is a huge part of that, along with the package deals.

 

[kbelle8995]

But unlike Disney (at least lately), Universal provides a product that's worth the price of admission.

And their AP passes are much more reasonable economically.

 

[Goofyuk]

Hi Kaytieeldr!

Crazy isn't it? On again off again! That's ridiculous! This is what I'm talking about in regards to one being greedy and nickel and diming the guest. Two thumbs down, lol.

Surely it's just a case that certain food such as Crab legs are seasonal. Unless you want them dumbed down and frozen long term which means they're putting on a lesser meal?

 

[Quasialamodo]

Welcome to the DIS folks. Where EVERY. SINGLE. WEEK. there is a thread like this, that has 1,454,467,897 posts in it, by two camps who are fiercely divided and are never going to convince the other that they are right. Can we all just agree to disagree on this subject, please?

Shouldn't those Stormtroopers be beating a dead Taunton to death instead of a horse?

 

[CinqueTerre]

I admit none of that appeals to me but recognize it does to others. I'd always have a car and free dining would not work for my family at all. I've read on here that The Waldorf/Hilton have quite good bus service but cannot attest to that personally.

People definitely come at this with different perspectives.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

Just curious but why wouldn't free dining work for your family? Don't like free food?

 

[nancipants]

And their AP passes are much more reasonable economically.

I pay $19 a month for my Universal pass, which includes two theme parks and parking, and $45 for my Disney pass, which includes four theme parks, two water parks, and parking. I'm not sure how the prices are for non-residents. But either way it makes sense to pay more for a Disney annual pass when you are getting access to more theme parks. (And Disney seems to have more special events that aren't hard tickets, like Food and Wine, Flower and Garden, Star Wars Weekends, etc.)

Yes, I have annual passes for both Disney and Universal. It is possible to like both.

 

[brunette8706]

Surely it's just a case that certain food such as Crab legs are seasonal. Unless you want them dumbed down and frozen long term which means they're putting on a lesser meal?

*
Why would crab legs be seasonal? You're in the seafood state of Florida, lol. It's yet another way of taking a premiere food off the buffet and put more money in Disney's pockets, lol. They took the Prime Rib off of BOMA a while back and yet the price keeps going up. Back in 2006 BOMA used to cost $25.99 plus tax now it's between $38 and $42 withOUT the primerib.

I stayed at the Wynn Resort, Las Vegas which is truly a 5 star hotel. Their buffet was $36.99 and it was gourmet, which included sushi, crab legs and primerib.