BOMA -- You've got to be kidding me, right?

[CoolPool]

Perhaps OT...the huge increase in cruising in the last 10-15 years has impacted Disney. When I look at the majority of people taking family vacations it usually breaks down to Disney or cruising. Its obvious; Disney Cruise Line came fully into existence around the same time, but I'm not sure Disney really committed to cruising until 2007 when they finally ordered their own ships.

Cruising is all-inclusive (more or less). With the "free" dining, WDW also becomes all-inclusive (more or less).

Everybody complains how the "joy" of cruising has become so "packaged" too.

 

[NMW]

Lots of people like all-inclusive vacations. We have friends and family memebers that have done all-inclusive trips to Mexico and Aruba and they just rave about how incredible the all-inclusive thing was. They proceed to tell us how any alcoholic drink they wanted was included, plus the tips. How the staff at a all-inclusive Mexican resort filled the fridge with the kind of wine and champagne they requested-all "included" of course. They talk about how much food they ate and enjoyed. People love all-inclusive vacations.

I'm sure Disney knows this. The dining plans offer that, for a price. If anything, I think Disney will continue to add things to the plans to make them even more all-inclusive, like the wine package. I'm surprised that Disney has not included a package that includes other alcohol as well. I mean, it can't be that hard. Pretty much every restaurant now serves the exact same mixed drinks. They even have the same exact little drink books.

 

[brunette8706]

Gripe if you want, jsut hope your fair about it.
That you gripe about your local grocery store where you can't get a 1/2 gallon of ice cream anymore because it's .475 gal.
Or you can't get a 64oz of OJ instead it's 58oz.
oh and both cost more.

It's the reality of the world in a current decline.
Costs go up, prices go up too.

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Disney prices increases are not relevant with the cost of inflation. Your grocery store assessment is valid but Disney's price increases far OUTPACE the rate of inflation.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

*
Disney prices increases are not relevant with the cost of inflation. Your grocery store assessment is valid but Disney's price increases far OUTPACE the rate of inflation.

But, but, but that can't be because Disney is so magical special that they would never mistreat or gouge their beloved guests.

 

[brunette8706]

But, but, but that can't be because Disney is so magical special that they would never mistreat or gouge their beloved guests.

*
Hey Peter Pirate!

Right you are! LOL! Yeah, gouging is what they do when they charge very inflated prices for dining and MY BIGGEST pet PEEVE.....SURCHARGES! LOL Talk about gouging people.

brunette

 

[estherhead]

Personally, I think prices go up when people are willing to pay them. I think $40 is outrageous for a buffet. But I checked Las Vegas dinner buffets and they were priced $24.95-$85.00! Obviously I have nothing to compare quality since I haven't eaten the dinner Boma buffet nor any of the Vegas places. But dh & I have only been to Vegas once. We don't gamble and we felt price gouged left and right for every little thing. It was a waste for us. $200.00 tickets for lame seats at lame shows. More for quality shows and quality seats.

If the tables were empty, things would change. So I have to assume they aren't.

In reality, the world at large is not as smart as Disboarders. They assume Disney is expensive and just do whatever they want without looking too hard at prices. I've found there are a LOT of people with more money than sense.

I'm not defending Disney, I've said before they are a FOR PROFIT company and we lovers shouldn't forget that. But if the market weren't there, they couldn't charge what they charge.

As for cruises, I'm always annoyed at the "free-style" dining cruises are going to now where you have to pay stupid extra charges or eat the yucky free food. But business wise, people are dumb. They said, "It's so awesome! I got a week long cruise for $300!!!" and then happily ACTUALLY pay $1000 per week by doing all the upcharges and things that used to be included when cruises were $699.00 per week. It's all in the marketing. All in the marketing.

Love it or hate it, the market has changed and the changes are here to stay for the foreseeable future. This means DDP is here to stay. And the few Disboard haters won't change it. Money talks. And Disboarders know how to get the most out of Disney for the least amount of money. We are the coupon cutters of Disney.

Whenever I'm at the grocery store and the person in front of me spends $250.00 on non-sale name brand items I always want to kiss them. Their foolishness pays for my $75.00 cart full of the same stuff but on sale with coupons.

I feel the same way about people who pay $40.00 for Boma. Woohoo! I'll be going to Sci-Fi lunch with my TIW card.

 

[brunette8706]

Personally, I think prices go up when people are willing to pay them. I think $40 is outrageous for a buffet. But I checked Las Vegas dinner buffets and they were priced $24.95-$85.00! Obviously I have nothing to compare quality since I haven't eaten the dinner Boma buffet nor any of the Vegas places. But dh & I have only been to Vegas once. We don't gamble and we felt price gouged left and right for every little thing. It was a waste for us. $200.00 tickets for lame seats at lame shows. More for quality shows and quality seats.

If the tables were empty, things would change. So I have to assume they aren't.

In reality, the world at large is not as smart as Disboarders. They assume Disney is expensive and just do whatever they want without looking too hard at prices. I've found there are a LOT of people with more money than sense.

I'm not defending Disney, I've said before they are a FOR PROFIT company and we lovers shouldn't forget that. But if the market weren't there, they couldn't charge what they charge.

As for cruises, I'm always annoyed at the "free-style" dining cruises are going to now where you have to pay stupid extra charges or eat the yucky free food. But business wise, people are dumb. They said, "It's so awesome! I got a week long cruise for $300!!!" and then happily ACTUALLY pay $1000 per week by doing all the upcharges and things that used to be included when cruises were $699.00 per week. It's all in the marketing. All in the marketing.

Love it or hate it, the market has changed and the changes are here to stay for the foreseeable future. This means DDP is here to stay. And the few Disboard haters won't change it. Money talks. And Disboarders know how to get the most out of Disney for the least amount of money. We are the coupon cutters of Disney.

Whenever I'm at the grocery store and the person in front of me spends $250.00 on non-sale name brand items I always want to kiss them. Their foolishness pays for my $75.00 cart full of the same stuff but on sale with coupons.

I feel the same way about people who pay $40.00 for Boma. Woohoo! I'll be going to Sci-Fi lunch with my TIW card.

*
Hi Esterhead-

What a great well thought out post, I appreciate your comments. I never knew that about the cruise? I thought the food was all included didn't know it was an upcharge.

thanks for posting!

 

[Planogirl]

Perhaps OT...the huge increase in cruising in the last 10-15 years has impacted Disney. When I look at the majority of people taking family vacations it usually breaks down to Disney or cruising. Its obvious; Disney Cruise Line came fully into existence around the same time, but I'm not sure Disney really committed to cruising until 2007 when they finally ordered their own ships.

Cruising is all-inclusive (more or less). With the "free" dining, WDW also becomes all-inclusive (more or less).

Everybody complains how the "joy" of cruising has become so "packaged" too.

One big difference IMO. It's impossible to go offsite to get more reasonably priced meals while on a cruise. It just seems that people don't want to when they're at WDW but they certainly have that option.

Interesting that so many people like all-inclusives though. I don't but I tend to be an aberration.

 

[estherhead]

*
Hi Esterhead-

What a great well thought out post, I appreciate your comments. I never knew that about the cruise? I thought the food was all included didn't know it was an upcharge.

thanks for posting!

Thanks . My dh and I went on a cruise last January, the first in a few years. Our options were Norwegian or RCCL. Norwegian was cheaper but had freestyle. When I added up the stuff we wanted to do & eat at it was more than the RCCL (which also has a few restaurants with fancier restaurants you have a cover charge for.) We had soooo much fun on RCCL and didn't pay for a single meal. Free dining, so to speak. But in reality, as some would point out on here, it wasn't free. I'm just a smart consumer.

NCL also now has 80% of the shows that have to be reserved pre-cruise on line. Like ADR's for the shows. If you don't you have to stand in line and hope to get one of the remaining 20% of lame seats. At least on their newest ship this is how it works. Not sure of other cruise lines. Only know these two because of dh & my cruise last January & my parents on NCL Epic this January. My mom has all her excursions, meals, and shows scheduled and the money for that and tips set aside. Not spontaneous anymore. Just like Disney World.

So it's clearly a trend. I think it might be the internet as well as the economy. Since most people book these trips on line they assume they'll be willing to plan & book everything for the entire trip online versus winging it.

And I'm sure real cruise goers will be able to correct my inaccuracies.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

One big difference IMO. It's impossible to go offsite to get more reasonably priced meals while on a cruise. It just seems that people don't want to when they're at WDW but they certainly have that option.

Interesting that so many people like all-inclusives though. I don't but I tend to be an aberration.

I have NEVER thought of you that way!

 

[Planogirl]

I have NEVER thought of you that way!

Ha!

I hope that there are cruises out there that don't require mega-planning. They might cost more but I hope that such a thing still exists.

 

[estherhead]

On our navigator of the seas cruise we didn't pay for any extra food and the only thing we planned was our afternoon nap. It made me a big Rccl fan!

 

[pumba]

this post was going way off topic.

ALot of off topic discussions...and cruises belong on the cruise board.....