Article on WDW considering a "demand pricing plan"

[lockedoutlogic]

You'd be surprised at how very accurate it is. ALL employers have the legal right to dictate when a person takes their vacation time, and I think it's happening with increasing frequency. Where we live, in a fairly industrial area, they have designated shut down times, and that's that - THAT is your vacation. Around here, shut down is typically the two weeks of Christmas or two weeks in the summer. Too bad, so sad if you don't like it. So you have those people.

Then as you said there's the seasonal workers.

Then you have the places where vacation slots are chosen based on various methods - seniority, first come first serve, a pool, etc... So, you're left with what you get.

Then there's anyone that works in the school system (public, private, college, university etc), plus families who have children in upper grades where taking them out for a week or two is either a) not allowed or b) too disruptive to their education, or even families that just aren't allowed vacation in any grade as an excused absence. That is a huge number right there, considering in the US alone, there's roughly 3,000,000 K-12 teachers, and over 17,000,000 high school students.

And of course, then there's the college and university students themselves.

Excellent summary...

I do disagree on the "can't miss school" for the average kid (not employees)...

If anybody's school says your kid can't miss school or they won't get into Harvard, they are:
A. Lying
B. Wound too tight to live a happy, productive life.

The myth that somehow if somebody in 11th grade misses 3 days then they won't become billionaires is laughable.

 

[epcotty]

Generally I agree with you...but I have to step off the train here.

If you read the multiple biographies of walt e Disney (and I have)...there is really no indication that he was concerned with "affordability". He was a slavedriver in some ways with his people...but also took care of them. And he loved putting on theater/show so much with his movies, shows, and parks that he wouldn't really tolerate budgets...
...but those things don't translate to a care for people's wallets.

Disney's marketing has been 99% consistent...they push "experiences" in ads and materials about their parks - not affordability.
I found it shocking when they ran a tv ad during the housing crash where the parents were pricing out a trip online and the mom says "$1600...we can afford that!!"

It was shocking because it was so out of pattern.

Disney parks were built for everyone - who could pay. That has never not been the case.

So when people say "I'm done if they do ____" or "it's getting too expensive for us" - even though i agree with the sentiment many times - it's not out of character for TWDC.

People get priced out everyday for a variety of reasons and have since day one.

You know how not to get priced out? Hold the line...reject the silly cash grabs. Stop booking chef mickeys at $40 a head for breakfast...never book a $60 dessert buffet for "WISHES" (it's really old)...don't pay $450 at art of animation...don't pay $75 for a "special" Halloween or Christmas party that's run 45 days each year.

Reject and they as a business will be forced to respond. Park revenue is more important now than ever. We got em right where we want 'em.

The proof that the current management is a lot more greedy is in the history as the price increases have outpaced inflation a lot more in the past 10 years than ever before

 

[lockedoutlogic]

The "blame" Disney for higher prices during busy period is laughable at best.

Disney theme park tickets are about the only piece of the equation that isn't higher. Plane flights? Higher. Gas prices? Higher. Hotel rooms? Higher. Even food is higher in vacation destination during peak periods.

Why oh why is it a shock that Disney theme park tickets wouldn't follow this model? I'm not being callous or stating too bad... I'm just shocked at the willingness to blame Disney *if* they do this... when EVERY other piece of a peak vacation is already demand priced. I guess it is a case of shame on Disney for waiting too long to do this.

All excellent points.

The "solution" to escalating prices is simple: don't go!!

Put the pipe down

 

[rteetz]

No.
Yes.

If you pay $25 per day for an extra 3 FPs per day wouldn't that cost you more than a one time $50 add on to a park ticket? Unless of course you are only going for 1-2 days.

 

[epcotty]

Agree...it's amazing how often people put "just open a new park" as a feasible plan.

The economics and longterm
Realities of new parks are staggering...it's not like putting in a new dumbo spinner.

The reality is this:
Mk - 1971
Epcot - 1982
Studios - 1989
AK - 1998

What year is it? Anything going on?

Look at the pattern...there's a key statistic hidden in there that explains everything.

On another note: how's that monorail expansion through the swan and dolphin coming?

I do think the current management has been lazy and cheap, if they had wanted to they could've opened a new park by now. New parks used to be opened with a lot more frequency

 

[rteetz]

Excellent summary...

I do disagree on the "can't miss school" for the average kid (not employees)...

If anybody's school says your kid can't miss school or they won't get into Harvard, they are:
A. Lying
B. Wound too tight to live a happy, productive life.

The myth that somehow if somebody in 11th grade misses 3 days then they won't become billionaires is laughable.

Some schools don't allow kids to miss for vacations thats just how it is but that depends on the school or school district. My district allows 10 days before it becomes a truency problem unless you have a medical type issue. My parents up until I got into high school were very strict about me not missing school. My sister had perfect attendance from kindergarten to 7th grade. I have no grade lower than a B with two AP classes this semester. I have never failed a class let alone get even a D.

 

[rteetz]

I do think the current management has been lazy and cheap, if they had wanted to they could've opened a new park by now. New parks used to be opened with a lot more frequency

But they don't need a new park yet, they just need to better utilize their other three parks. MK has nearly double the attendance of DHS.

 

[epcotty]

You have the power to change it...WITHHOLD your business until the pricing flatlines or adjusts to the market.

The real problem...is that Disney knows full well (because they're good at research) that 99 out of 100 people can't or won't say no. Once they're in the right mindset...they're coming.

I also wonder exactly how accurate "can only go certain times a year" is. Not specifically in your case - it just gets thrown out a lot and in more and more frequency.

Other than teachers and seasonal businesses...how big is this demographic truly?

Unless the kids are really young it's tough to take them out of school for any significant length of time without them having a boatload of work to make up later on

 

[rteetz]

Get ready, Get Set, Disneyland Shanghai is debuting with demand pricing its coming...

A Standard day is about $57 US dollars
A peak day is about $75 US dollars

 

[tlmadden73]

If you pay $25 per day for an extra 3 FPs per day wouldn't that cost you more than a one time $50 add on to a park ticket? Unless of course you are only going for 1-2 days.

I originally meant $50/per day premium price. So .. he is just taking the cheaper option.

PLUS . .I think it shows just how valuable Fast Passes are to people.

The more crowded the parks get, I am sure the more the "veterans" will do the extra MDE account to get those 3 extra Fast Passes a day. I know I am tempted to do that with my next trip.

Honestly, I think Disney should offer a 4th Fast Pass to all Resort guests and just ditch Extra Magic Hours. I think that would be a more popular perk (and from a marketing standpoint may be more of a selling point to get people to come on property than the EMH that probably most people don't utilize. (Either they aren't planning on going to the park that day or they don't want to get up early or stay up late).

 

[lockedoutlogic]

The proof that the current management is a lot more greedy is in the history as the price increases have outpaced inflation a lot more in the past 10 years than ever before

I agree the price increase since Iger have been off the charts...

The problem is that few back that stance. For every one that does...I get attacked by 20 that say it's somekind of "victory" of the free market...like Adam smith or Keynes.

It's just that people snort the dust to a level that isn't healthy and damages the powers of the consumer. There has to be a "no" to control prices. In Disneyland...after 5 years...try rejected California adventure. See what happens?

My issue is that it's wrong to Make the "good old days" comparison. They've always been staring at my - and your - wallets.

It had been more apparent under Iger. And in Orlando...which he doesn't seem to love at all by appearances...as opposed to his predecessor who LOVED it.

 

[rteetz]

Unless the kids are really young it's tough to take them out of school for any significant length of time without them having a boatload of work to make up later on

That is true but it really depends on the time of year and the kid. I missd 4 days in January. I asked for my work ahead of time, some teachers gave me things some did not. The stuff I got ahead of time I finished by the time I got back. The stuff I got after I finished within two days after I was back.

 

[epcotty]

You don't think I realize that? I am involved in every aspect of my trip planning. Yes I may not foot the bill but I know how much it cost and I try to help my family find the best price possible. This is unfortunate but how is it any different than a standard price increase? How is this different than what Disney already does with their hotels?

It would be basically an excuse to do a huge price increase at certain times so it's the amount. Also with hotels it's much more commonly done

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Get ready, Get Set, Disneyland Shanghai is debuting with demand pricing its coming...

A Standard day is about $57 US dollars
A peak day is about $75 US dollars

China has absolutely nothing to do with Disney parks...

Which is my problem with their obsession with China in the first place - and always has been - misguided.

 

[Budshark]

Get ready, Get Set, Disneyland Shanghai is debuting with demand pricing its coming...

A Standard day is about $57 US dollars
A peak day is about $75 US dollars

Disneyland Paris is already demand pricing.

 

[rteetz]

I originally meant $50/per day premium price. So .. he is just taking the cheaper option.

PLUS . .I think it shows just how valuable Fast Passes are to people.

The more crowded the parks get, I am sure the more the "veterans" will do the extra MDE account to get those 3 extra Fast Passes a day. I know I am tempted to do that with my next trip.

Honestly, I think Disney should offer a 4th Fast Pass to all Resort guests and just ditch Extra Magic Hours. I think that would be a more popular perk (and from a marketing standpoint may be more of a selling point to get people to come on property than the EMH that probably most people don't utilize. (Either they aren't planning on going to the park that day or they don't want to get up early or stay up late).

I have never done any of those cheats. I like the 3 FP a day with the option for more. I plan around wait times and never wait more than 30-40 minutes a ride. People who go into a Disney vacation and think they aren't going to wait in lines have a problem. You often wait in lines in everyday life and those lines don't have FP.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

That is true but it really depends on the time of year and the kid. I missd 4 days in January. I asked for my work ahead of time, some teachers gave me things some did not. The stuff I got ahead of time I finished by the time I got back. The stuff I got after I finished within two days after I was back.

Isn't adjusting to schedules and scheduling additional work useful?

Cause that's EXACTLY like adult life.

I know mental breaks are important...because it's been proven in every psychological study ever conducted.

 

[rteetz]

China has absolutely nothing to do with Disney parks...

Which is my problem with their obsession with China in the first place - and always has been - misguided.

But it still shows they are thinking about it. Yes Shanghai isn't fully owned by Disney but they are involved in it. Hong Kong does not have demand pricing and that is in China and yes I know they are in two totally different areas but its still China. This is still a Disney park but its in China.

 

[mshanson3121]

Excellent summary...

I do disagree on the "can't miss school" for the average kid (not employees)...

If anybody's school says your kid can't miss school or they won't get into Harvard, they are:
A. Lying
B. Wound too tight to live a happy, productive life.

The myth that somehow if somebody in 11th grade misses 3 days then they won't become billionaires is laughable.

You're really simplifying this. No one is saying "you can't miss school or you won't get into Harvard." For starters, many schools do not allow vacation absences, Period. Second, it's not thinking that one Disney trip is going to prevent your child from being a billionaire. You're really being too flippant about this. It's about a student missing a week or more of teaching time, and when they come back, they have to work that much harder to make it up. Schools are cramming a lot more into a week of teaching, and there's also a lot more pressure, than when you or I went through. Heck, when I was 16, I missed a week or so of school due to surgery, and I really felt it when I went back, and it really increased the stress for me and the workload in trying to get caught back up - because even though I missed those 5 or 6 days and was behind, they were still moving ahead - and teachers today do not have the time to help you get caught up.

 

[epcotty]

I agree the price increase since Iger have been off the charts...

The problem is that few back that stance. For every one that does...I get attacked by 20 that say it's somekind of "victory" of the free market...like Adam smith or Keynes.

It's just that people snort the dust to a level that isn't healthy and damages the powers of the consumer. There has to be a "no" to control prices. In Disneyland...after 5 years...try rejected California adventure. See what happens?

My issue is that it's wrong to Make the "good old days" comparison. They've always been staring at my - and your - wallets.

It had been more apparent under Iger. And in Orlando...which he doesn't seem to love at all by appearances...as opposed to his predecessor who LOVED it.

Yeah I don't know how much it is a "victory" of the free market if the company wins but the customers have to pay much higher prices than they should