Are Disney prices too high?

[snowwhite84]

It's a matter of perspective. Would $4 for a cocktail be reasonable to you? What about for someone living on an extremely tight income, for whom paying $4 for a drink is an extravagance?

I am in the same boat as a few others on this thread. I live in NYC, so a $13 cocktail at WDW is not crazy to me, that is what I pay where I live. In my day to day life, am I going to boycott social activities? No, I just make sure to pay my living expenses and then use disposable income for $13 drinks. What seems high to one person is not to another, and Disney has put plenty of thought into finding the sweet spot in pricing.

Price gouging seems an extreme accusation.

 

[snowwhite84]

That being said, food and water prices are the same as those at our local arena. And I just paid $150 per ticket for a Broadway show. Disney seems like a bargain.

I hear that. My husband, sister, parents and I saw Matilda over the weekend and paid $750 for the pleasure. And I'm pretty sure I'm the only one who even enjoyed it!

 

[manning]

They're high but you get what you pay for and compared to other vacation destinations, they're really pretty spot on. I think they charge more than they should for certain special events, but I don't have all of the information regarding the decisions to price things the way they do. Who are we to say what's priced too high when we don't know how much it costs to maintain a very clean and nice resort and offer the exceptional level of customer serviced that Disney is known for.

Get what you pay for? I remember back when you really got what you paid for. To a person CMs bent over backward to please you. Little by little things have been taken away. That's corporate America for you. What I'm hearing it sounds like more of Grumpy's relatives are being hired.

In reference to another poster
As far as the dessert parties, I'll take that money to Shula's and put it toward a good steak. Just the Bohemian in me. Every once in a while I oil the hinges on the pocket book. The squeak at times does get loud. LOL

 

[epcotty]

Yes, even punching in old ticket prices from even about 10 years ago into an inflation calculator shows that they've gone way beyond inflation (10 years ago the price was 59.75, 11 years ago it was 54.75). Even with going with the $2 a year increases they used to do before more recently (which still outpaced inflation) the price would now be $76.75, going from 11 years ago.

They feel they can do this but I do think that if they're too overconfident then they'll lose a lot of people who feel it's not worth it anymore or who feel it's too expensive. I would think a lot would be close to that point as it is. The high attendance now can be largely attributed to people who were saving during the recession (and likely people going now before they feel it'd be too expensive or not enough value).

That being said, not many people get 1 day passes and there are ways to get lower prices, although they seem to be getting rid of some of those now. Examples are getting rid of no expiration which always was possible to get until this year, and being a lot more rough on FL resident passes (no expiration was gone on that a few years ago, they now include blockout dates, no discount on 1 day, and only go up to 4 days).

As for resort pricing, as long as they don't go too high on the "value" resort prices people will feel the prices are ok enough probably. If they do maybe more will stay offsite.

I think as long as people feel they can get a decent price they'll still come, but I think Disney could be on a dangerously slippery slope if they become too overconfident, which they're starting to do in my opinion

 

[cfmarie79]

Yes but I'm okay with it. Keeps the riff raff out.

 

[epcotty]

Yes but I'm okay with it. Keeps the riff raff out.

I've always disliked that philosophy, Disney has typically been supposed to be a place most everyone can enjoy. Iger and his cronies' corporate greed is going against that. If they keep going this way too much they'll lose a lot of the middle class which has always been the bulk of people who go there

 

[snowwhite84]

Yes, even punching in old ticket prices from even about 10 years ago into an inflation calculator shows that they've gone way beyond inflation (10 years ago the price was 59.75, 11 years ago it was 54.75). Even with going with the $2 a year increases they used to do before more recently (which still outpaced inflation) the price would now be $76.75, going from 11 years ago.

They feel they can do this but I do think that if they're too overconfident then they'll lose a lot of people who feel it's not worth it anymore or who feel it's too expensive. I would think a lot would be close to that point as it is. The high attendance now can be largely attributed to people who were saving during the recession (and likely people going now before they feel it'd be too expensive or not enough value).

That being said, not many people get 1 day passes and there are ways to get lower prices, although they seem to be getting rid of some of those now. Examples are getting rid of no expiration which always was possible to get until this year, and being a lot more rough on FL resident passes (no expiration was gone on that a few years ago, they now include blockout dates, no discount on 1 day, and only go up to 4 days).

As for resort pricing, as long as they don't go too high on the "value" resort prices people will feel the prices are ok enough probably. If they do maybe more will stay offsite.

I think as long as people feel they can get a decent price they'll still come, but I think Disney could be on a dangerously slippery slope if they become too overconfident, which they're starting to do in my opinion

Well, for one, a $2 a year increase is not in line with inflation. Inflation is a 3% increase, which means a one day ticket today should be $83. A one day pass for any park besides MK is $97, so we are not miles off.

Also, I think arguments like "I used to pay X and get Y" are emotional arguments. Disney is a sophisticated company that puts plenty of energy into figuring out what they can charge to still pull in the maximum number of guests. As per capitalism, that figure they come up with is the experience's "worth," no matter what we might think here.

 

[epcotty]

Well, for one, a $2 a year increase is not in line with inflation. Inflation is a 3% increase, which means a one day ticket today should be $83. A one day pass for any park besides MK is $97, so we are not miles off.

Also, I think arguments like "I used to pay X and get Y" are emotional arguments. Disney is a sophisticated company that puts plenty of energy into figuring out what they can charge to still pull in the maximum number of guests. As per capitalism, that figure they come up with is the experience's "worth," no matter what we might think here.

I did see bar graphs showing how even at $2 a year it was outpacing inflation though. But $83, $76.75, close enough anyway. It's not an emotional argument, it's a rational argument with not wanting to pay too much for something or more than you think it'd be worth. Just the overall corporate greed is so much more than it was before Iger came along

 

[GaryDis]

Also, I think arguments like "I used to pay X and get Y" are emotional arguments.

I disagree. When they shrink the candy bar from 1oz to 0.9 oz, it's just as much a price increase as raising the price from $1 to $1.10 (ignoring the details of the math). People are willing to pay extra for quality. When the quality declines, they're getting less for their money.

 

[snowwhite84]

I did see bar graphs showing how even at $2 a year it was outpacing inflation though. But $83, $76.75, close enough anyway. It's not an emotional argument, it's a rational argument with not wanting to pay too much for something or more than you think it'd be worth. Just the overall corporate greed is so much more than it was before Iger came along

I hear what you're saying, I really do. My main point is that Disney doesn't come by these figures arbitrarily, and they are also not your local Mom and Pop store. I love the ideals behind Disney, but it is also a corporation, employing hundreds of thousands of people. I think they make these decisions based on what their median customer will spend.

And that's why I take umbrage with these "It's not worth it anymore" arguments. All that means, is that it is no longer worth it to that individual. That's what I meant by it being an emotional argument.

 

[GaryDis]

And that's why I take umbrage with these "It's not worth it anymore" arguments. All that means, is that it is no longer worth it to that individual. That's what I meant by it being an emotional argument.

That's not emotional. It's personal instead of market-wide, but that doesn't make it emotional.

 

[snowwhite84]

That's not emotional. It's personal instead of market-wide, but that doesn't make it emotional.

You're right, personal might be a better word than emotional.

 

[Minniesgal]

Well lets see attendance is up, footfall is up, resort occupancy is up and profits are up. Nope prices are not too high and most likely to increase.

 

[epcotty]

Everything being said, we do still go but if in the future it starts seeming like an unavoidable ripoff we might do other things instead

 

[Mom2darlingboys]

We like Disney. A lot. We used to love it. Not crazy about the direction they're heading, and with the continually climbing increases and overpriced events and extras.

Are they too expensive? Overall, I would say yes. Will I keep going? Yes, for the things that made me fall in love with the parks. But I absolutely agree we are getting less and less for our money, and that is not cool. While I resent the rising costs and slipping service and quality, I will continue to go until I can no longer justify it to myself.

I get that Disney is a big company with a need for shareholder return. But greed is greed, no matter how you slice it and I am sad that it doesn't look to be changing anytime soon.

So, yes, OP, I agree.

 

[gdrj]

Yes but I'm okay with it. Keeps the riff raff out.

Not sure if this is an attempt to flame or you truly feel this way. If you do feel this way, its a little bit sad.

To think that disposable income is a measurement of riff raff or undesirable is unfortunate. I enjoy seeing young families experience a magical day, interacting with a Character or just seeing the joy of a child. At no time do I ask myself about their background, education level, job, or income. Very possibly some of the rudest or mean spirited, or pretentious folks are ones with money who think they are deserving of all and have no empathy for the guests around them. Riff raff comes in all sizes, ethnicity, languages, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

 

[Boo Bear]

Get what you pay for? I remember back when you really got what you paid for. To a person CMs bent over backward to please you. Little by little things have been taken away. That's corporate America for you. What I'm hearing it sounds like more of Grumpy's relatives are being hired.

Perhaps the standard has changed since whenever "back when" was. I can certainly see how consumer reviews have changed since "back when" as well. Perhaps Grumpy's relatives are writing reviews on disboards, too. People are becoming more and more prone to complaining when things don't go exactly how they had hoped and creating a huge fuss about what they think is unfair. The longer that I participate in any form of Disney related social media, the more negative-centric it becomes. I can't speak for other people experiences, I can only speak for my own. Whenever I travel to Walt Disney World, I get exactly what I pay for.

 

[Boo Bear]

Not sure if this is an attempt to flame or you truly feel this way. If you do feel this way, its a little bit sad.

To think that disposable income is a measurement of riff raff or undesirable is unfortunate. I enjoy seeing young families experience a magical day, interacting with a Character or just seeing the joy of a child. At no time do I ask myself about their background, education level, job, or income. Very possibly some of the rudest or mean spirited, or pretentious folks are ones with money who think they are deserving of all and have no empathy for the guests around them. Riff raff comes in all sizes, ethnicity, languages, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Well said.

 

[snowwhite84]

Not sure if this is an attempt to flame or you truly feel this way. If you do feel this way, its a little bit sad.

To think that disposable income is a measurement of riff raff or undesirable is unfortunate. I enjoy seeing young families experience a magical day, interacting with a Character or just seeing the joy of a child. At no time do I ask myself about their background, education level, job, or income. Very possibly some of the rudest or mean spirited, or pretentious folks are ones with money who think they are deserving of all and have no empathy for the guests around them. Riff raff comes in all sizes, ethnicity, languages, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Agreed.

I can't speak for other people experiences, I can only speak for my own. Whenever I travel to Walt Disney World, I get exactly what I pay for.

Agreed

 

[smallworldnh]

Yes, they are very expensive - but you sure do get your money's worth! This is one of those vacations you just have to plan and save for, but it's well worth it!