Are Disney prices too high?

[Planogirl]

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Hi there

Well again this is apples and oranges. You are comparing a very posh expensive resort for 5 adults in a condo. My price comparison was in a moderate for 4 people. Now if I wanted to use a villa such as the Grand Flordian villa then we are looking at approximately $1800.00 a night for 7 nights which would equate to $12,600.00 for the resort only plus air plus tickets plus food plus misc.

That comparison is just as beside the point as those that talk about going to a sporting event or musical. I could relate if you go to those for a whole week each and every day.

 

[brunette8706]

That comparison is just as beside the point as those that talk about going to a sporting event or musical. I could relate if you go to those for a whole week each and every day.

Hi there! Yes I totally agree Planogirl!

 

[Danman]

That comparison is just as beside the point as those that talk about going to a sporting event or musical. I could relate if you go to those for a whole week each and every day.

And if you do compare to events like these, they make Disney look like a bargain. But that is just me

 

[hookedonears]

*******

Hi there

Well again this is apples and oranges. You are comparing a very posh expensive resort for 5 adults in a condo. My price comparison was in a moderate for 4 people. Now if I wanted to use a villa such as the Grand Flordian villa then we are looking at approximately $1800.00 a night for 7 nights which would equate to $12,600.00 for the resort only plus air plus tickets plus food plus misc.

I wouldn't quite say it was "Posh". I would say our ski trip to Deer Valley, UT and Lake Louise, CAN, was much nicer. Vail, CO is not Aspen, CO. It's nice but not "Posh". And $750 a night for a Condo the week after Christmas, in a nice Ski Resort does not get you that much. Also there were 4 adults, well 2 adults and 2-14 year old kids.

 

[JimmyV]

The biggest issue with the parks, in my eyes, is they are too popular. Over crowded. If Disney increases the spend per guest and makes the same revenue with fewer guests and less overhead, that seems pretty smart from a business perspective.

I agree 100% with this. And I think this is what has many people grumbling. I liken it to a public golf course converting to a private country club. No more $40 greens fees. Instead, $5,000 annual dues. Fewer people playing. No more 5 hour rounds of golf. Less wear and tear on the course. And all of this is a good thing if you are one of the people who can pony up the annual dues, and it is a terrible thing if you are one of the people left on the wrong side of the guardhouse gate. I think that many people are starting to perceive their favorite vacation destination as becoming more like a private club. There was a time, (pre-internet), when we would never have had a discussion about how WDW is a "luxury" and how "not everyone deserves to go", or how "it is not for everyone". This is not to say that there weren't people with so little money that they could not or would not go. That will always be the case with everything. But there is a big difference between something being unaffordable to the bottom 20% of the income strata, and something being a "luxury good". Flash forward to this thread and people seem to be conceding that a vacation to WDW is indeed a luxury good. Just like the public golf course that has become a private club. Is it wrong? No. Is it bad business? Probably not. Might it actually enhance the experience of the people who continue to go? Perhaps. But none of this washes away the feeling of ill will that many have toward the whole approach.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

At the end of the day, we all have a choice where to spend our vacation dollars. One of the most powerful tools you have as a consumer is your pocketbook. If you object to the price of something, don't buy it. If enough people agree with you and do the same, things will change. If the majority of people do not agree with your view, you still have a choice as to where to spend your money.

I choose to spend some of my discretionary income at Disneyword because it's my happy place. Until that changes, I'll continue to spend money there.

Curious post.

The reason I posted real world experiences was to refute the idea that Disney's prices are in line with other premium brand experiences. Where folks actually vacation is irrelevant.

I promise the JW Marriott Orlando and adjoining Ritz-Carlton are premium brand hotels, set on a lake in a golf course. Amenities include a lazy river, multiple pools, and all day activities: crafts, nature tours, games, even an onsite FARM! Seriously, the place has a farm to table restaurant. Which place at WDW has a house made pizza with farm fresh tomato and basil for $14? How about gelato made with farm fresh blood oranges for $4 in a table service setting?

Even Christmas week full rack a the Marriott is only $370 per night. (425 Sq feet, queen beds, turndown) compared to say, a garden wing room at CR for $626 (436 sq feet) or GF garden view (400 sq feet) for $761 per night. The Disney hotels are nearly double the price, and the rooms I quoted don't offer as nice a view at the Marriott. Add a WDW view and the crazy $ difference gets even worse. There are also a bunch of services I didn't include like full service spas.

Our actual cost to stay at the JW Marriott Easter week was 1/4 of what we'd have paid at CR, and 1/2 of a mermaid room at Art of Animation!

And that was this past year....

 

[mickeyluv'r]

that includes multiple rides on the coasters, walking around looking at stuff (Clydesdales!), riding the water rides (Pompeii, Le Scoot, Roman Rapids), taking time eating lunch, and even stopping to enjoy a street performance or other show.


Planning my upcoming trip, even without: 7DMT, BTMRR, Splash, Space, and about a half-dozen or more other rides, I'm having a hard time fitting everything I want to do into the 13 hours (split into two different days) that we'll be in the MK.

As normal theme parks go, BG:W is lovely. But it isn't a Disney theme park.

So MK is better because the lines are longer?

 

[ophelia2002]

Is WDW expensive? Yes. Is it a totally unique experience? Yes. I think that's why people are willing to pay. No one does it quite like Disney. I'm a huge theme park fan and I've been to many, all across the US and not one compares to WDW in terms of amenities, immersion into the theme, customer service, dining, and lodging. Are there things WDW cold improve upon? Of course, but by comparison (IMHO) WDW does it best so I am more than willing to pay. I do what I can to cut costs (i.e. bringing my own water bottles into the park, bringing snacks, etc.) but to me, it's all worth it.

 

[BeerMe]

I like it. I will continue to go.

 

[GPC0321]

Curious post.

The reason I posted real world experiences was to refute the idea that Disney's prices are in line with other premium brand experiences. Where folks actually vacation is irrelevant.

I promise the JW Marriott Orlando and adjoining Ritz-Carlton are premium brand hotels, set on a lake in a golf course. Amenities include a lazy river, multiple pools, and all day activities: crafts, nature tours, games, even an onsite FARM! Seriously, the place has a farm to table restaurant. Which place at WDW has a house made pizza with farm fresh tomato and basil for $14? How about gelato made with farm fresh blood oranges for $4 in a table service setting?

Even Christmas week full rack a the Marriott is only $370 per night. (425 Sq feet, queen beds, turndown) compared to say, a garden wing room at CR for $626 (436 sq feet) or GF garden view (400 sq feet) for $761 per night. The Disney hotels are nearly double the price, and the rooms I quoted don't offer as nice a view at the Marriott. Add a WDW view and the crazy $ difference gets even worse. There are also a bunch of services I didn't include like full service spas.

Our actual cost to stay at the JW Marriott Easter week was 1/4 of what we'd have paid at CR, and 1/2 of a mermaid room at Art of Animation!

And that was this past year....

That's great, but that doesn't mean other people aren't going to fork over the money to stay at GF or CR or wherever on property. For a lot of people that is part of the whole vacation, staying on Disney property in a Disney hotel. Those who can afford the deluxe/monorail loop resorts obviously don't think the prices are "too high" else they wouldn't be staying there.

I'm sure I could stay at a "nicer" hotel (the one you mentioned for instance) for less money than the CSR over Easter break next year, but guess what? I want to stay AT CSR. That's part of the vacation that I want, so the rate for staying there is budgeted into my vacation. I love that resort and I know I have X amount of money available for a vacation. It just so happens that a five-night stay at CSR with park tickets and eating on Disney property fits within my budget. If it didn't, I'd be doing something else.

The thing that gets under my skin about threads like this one and the many others that are griping about WDW is that for those of us who are happily spending our hard-earned money to vacation there, it's kind of irritating to read post after post that basically indicates the place is ripping everyone off. I came to this board because I am so excited about my upcoming trip and wanted a chance to join a community of people who also love WDW (I thought). Instead it seems every other thread is griping about how expensive it is, how the quality of everything from the food to the hotels pales in comparison to other places, and how FP+ and 180-day ADRs has basically ruined any chance of people having a decent vacation.

I'm glad people can find alternatives to staying and eating on property. That's awesome. But suggesting that Disney's hotels and restaurants are ripping off everyone who stays and eats on site is kind of insulting to those of us who prefer to stay and eat on site. It may not be worth it to YOU to pay the prices to stay and eat at Disney, but it is worth it to US.

 

[larryz]

So, OP, as I see it, the true test of whether or not something is "too expensive" is when people stop buying it.

Clearly, that hasn't happened yet.

Disney is getting some unfavorable press about the price increase, but I'm not sure they're concerned. After all, to paraphrase Oscar Wilde, the only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about.

 

[monkyby87]

While I don't want to pay higher prices, I understand that Disney has to do something. Do they lower prices and encourage more people to come? No, that definitely doesn't help the overcrowding issue. Raising prices will bring in more money and perhaps encourage people to STOP coming at peak times. I support that decision. That's really the only solution to help overcrowding.

 

[brunette8706]

Does anyone know why the yellow monorail stopped running? They had to evacuate people from the monorail after 2 hours!

 

[starsweeper]

We've decided it's too expensive for what we get. We spent about $7500 for 6 people to rent an OKW 2-bedroom villa for 6 nights, 5 park day tickets and table service meals. We spent less than that this summer enjoying a 2-week road trip out west to The Badlands, Mt Rushmore, The Black Hills and a week at Yellowstone in a rented 6500 sq ft Montana lodge for 12 people. I love WDW but there's a big world out there and the increasing prices with decreasing value is making it easy to explore elsewhere. We've decided we won't return to WDW until late 2017. Can we afford to spend the money on WDW? Yes, but I also like to feel I'm getting the value I expected for the cost, and WDW isn't meeting that expectation anymore for the price we pay.

 

[dfb]

Are Disney prices too high? Yes, no, maybe!! Some are not phased at all, some people affected enough to reduce # of trips or stop going for a while and some are disgusted enough to never comeback. We got 34 pages on the boards to prove it.

I don't blame Disney for trying to increase it's revenue and don't fault guest for saying that's too expensive, I'm done!! That's the fine line every company/customer have to balance. Those checks and balances do exist and Disney like every company will feel the effects. Too much price increase for too long will result in fewer guest / spending resulting in price/experience/value adjustments and the cycle continues.

For me it is now too expensive. I got a trip in December and a trip in January, PAP expires end of Jan. and then I'll take a break, probably 2 maybe 3 years. I'll comeback if the value, for me, is there!

Of course the last time I was going to take a break, my daughter went to work at WDW as a CP and I made 5 trips that fall. Although my youngest son is CP eligible next year, I don't think he'll do it for 3 to 4 years?? We'll see!!!

 

[kmoore7]

A Disney vacation is expensive,yes. Gouging? Too strong a word, IMHO. Where I'm at, Hershey Park gouges you. The Jersey shore gouges you. Bang for the buck is how we vacation. A family of seven so that takes a lot of planning. For us, that means WDW, hands down. We don't get to go that often, but that makes when we go even more special. PP have mentioned when does it get too expensive? For us, that will never happen. Sad but true. That's my two cents.

 

[joannamet]

One of the best things about Disney is that you can spend a lot or a little. Yes, ticket prices are high but that's true of all types of entertainment and I still think you get a lot for your ticket money at Disney parks; rides, shows, fireworks, parades and a beautiful setting unlike anything else. If my husband's step-brother's baby-mama who has never worked a day in her life can afford a Disney vacation on her disability payments, I'm not really worried about the average American being priced out. (She bought a house, too. Its a strange world we live in.)

 

[Georgi Zhukov]

To me, WDW is expensive NOT because they gouge you with prices that are way too high - I've never personally been outraged by any of the individual prices. WDW is expensive because Disney is the absolute MASTER at "nickel-and-diming" you to death with all of the little extras. Balloons, pins, souvenirs, ride photos, and all of the other stuff that is almost impossible to resist - especially when you have children. This stuff really adds up over the course of a week and usually hits us hard. But we go every year (almost) with eyes wide open and still love it!