Disney email survey, Q about Disney being "Greedy"

[GatorChris]

Boy, this is touchy. While I'm a strong believer in supply and demand, I'd sure like a drop in prices at Disney. Or at least a stabilization. With two parks running near full nearly all the time, the last thing they need is StarWars Land. They need StarWars PARK. That's right, a third gate. My kids and I really want to go back, but with tickets continuing to go up and crowds making the experience less palatable, it's hard for my demand to reach their supply. Greedy? Not really. They're charging what they can get and cutting expenses they can get away with cutting. However, would I mark "yes" that they are greedy on a survey? If I thought it would stave off another $50 increase in APs, yip, I would. I guess prices need to get high enough and service levels low enough for a large percentage of people to stop coming.

 

[tarheelalum]

I guess prices need to get high enough and service levels low enough for a large percentage of people to stop coming.

With three price increases per year I don't think its going to take them very much longer to reach that point. Especially with the direction the economy is going.

 

[tlovesdis]

With three price increases per year I don't think its going to take them very much longer to reach that point. Especially with the direction the economy is going.

I don't know, the prices keep going up and DL is busier than ever!!! I don't see it slowing down any time soon, especially with SWL being built.

 

[RmeDad]

Merriam-Webster says:
Full Definition of greed

1. : a selfish and excessive desire for more of something (as money) than is needed

You can't apply the word GREED to a business, because you can't apply the word NEEDED!

If you don't like what they charge, DON'T GO! It is your option.

That said, I can see a diminishing occupancy of Deluxe resorts, as vacationers drop to Moderate accommodations to reduce their expenses.

 

[sherilaine]

Merriam-Webster says:
Full Definition of greed

1. : a selfish and excessive desire for more of something (as money) than is needed

You can't apply the word GREED to a business, because you can't apply the word NEEDED!

If you don't like what they charge, DON'T GO! It is your option.

That said, I can see a diminishing occupancy of Deluxe resorts, as vacationers drop to Moderate accommodations to reduce their expenses.

By this definition, since no one needs to go to Disneyland then one could say all visitors are greedy themselves?

I think greed, as being used in this discussion, is talking more than what is considered fair. Often though such greed is controlled through competition. If iPhones are too expensive then people buy alternative Smartphones of which there are several to choose - however, there is only one Disney - there are indeed many other sources of entertainment, but it's a very unique product and as such, the demand does not seem to be falling as the price inevitably rises.

 

[Lothlórien]

I'm not sure what they expect... lol. I didn't do the survey yet- I feel like it's a lot of time and I'm not sure of the value I get out of it, honestly. Do they change anything really based on responses?

They launched FP+ due to the survey, according to Disney. They said guest feedback is why they did it. Pants on fire.

 

[bwang123]

Do they change anything really based on responses?

Yes, or they wouldn't survey guests.

 

[realrellim]

The biggest problem I see is that Disneyland continues to market itself as this magical place for everyone, but it's priced itself far out of that market (even with deals like Costco Travel and all) while continuing to advertise like crazy to that same market who can't afford it anymore. Compare that to something like the Viking Cruises that were advertised on PBS before Downton Abbey. They were extraordinarily clear that these were luxury cruises for people who have a lot of money, so ok, fair enough. It may be fun to pretend that there's "no harm" in Disney charging as much as it wants and pricing people out (and hoping that more people are priced out), but then again, it's always been easier to be on the side of "I can afford this so too bad for you." Greed and self-interest are closely related, of course.

As far as the "comparable tickets" example goes, I had to chuckle at the Breckenridge example because I just bought one-day discounted lift tickets for our family for the nearby Loveland Ski area where the one-day price was $46. I'll get the same day of skiing for half the price. Sure, Loveland isn't as ritzy as Breckenridge, but it suits our budget and we'll have just as much fun. But there's only one Disneyland and one WDW without the option of scoring cheaper tickets like I did for skiing next week.

Remember, Walt Disney himself priced things so that guests would leave with a little money still in their pockets, in part because he thought it would encourage loyalty--and probably in no small part because the man himself had literally gone hungry when he was young and knew exactly what it was like to be poor. He was worried about being greedy and was more concerned about that than profit margins.

We don't live in that world anymore, but that doesn't mean that Disney can't be greedy. I think what it does mean is that some people don't want to feel badly about their own lofty financial situation, so they shout down anyone who suggests greed plays a role.

 

[Skiton]

The biggest problem I see is that Disneyland continues to market itself as this magical place for everyone, but it's priced itself far out of that market (even with deals like Costco Travel and all) while continuing to advertise like crazy to that same market who can't afford it anymore. Compare that to something like the Viking Cruises that were advertised on PBS before Downton Abbey. They were extraordinarily clear that these were luxury cruises for people who have a lot of money, so ok, fair enough. It may be fun to pretend that there's "no harm" in Disney charging as much as it wants and pricing people out (and hoping that more people are priced out), but then again, it's always been easier to be on the side of "I can afford this so too bad for you." Greed and self-interest are closely related, of course.

As far as the "comparable tickets" example goes, I had to chuckle at the Breckenridge example because I just bought one-day discounted lift tickets for our family for the nearby Loveland Ski area where the one-day price was $46. I'll get the same day of skiing for half the price. Sure, Loveland isn't as ritzy as Breckenridge, but it suits our budget and we'll have just as much fun. But there's only one Disneyland and one WDW without the option of scoring cheaper tickets like I did for skiing next week.

Remember, Walt Disney himself priced things so that guests would leave with a little money still in their pockets, in part because he thought it would encourage loyalty--and probably in no small part because the man himself had literally gone hungry when he was young and knew exactly what it was like to be poor. He was worried about being greedy and was more concerned about that than profit margins.

We don't live in that world anymore, but that doesn't mean that Disney can't be greedy. I think what it does mean is that some people don't want to feel badly about their own lofty financial situation, so they shout down anyone who suggests greed plays a role.

But I'm not sure your Loveland/Breck analogy applies, either. That's like comparing DL to Six Flags. If you want a day trip, Loveland and Breck both offer a fun day on the slopes for vastly different prices. If you want to ski for a long weekend, you're probably not going to spend it in Georgetown and drive to Loveland each day, you'll more likely pick Breck or Vail or Winter Park, where there's an actual town with lodging and shops and restaurants. And you'll pay for it, but it's a different experience.

When I think of Disney and greed, it's not about them charging more for ticket prices, it's about them offering less at the same time they're charging more. On Disney cruise lines, they've recently made changes to bring them "more in line with industry standards" (read: less) while at the same time hiking their prices, which are very much NOT "in line with industry standards." I'll pay the premium if I know I'm getting a superior experience. I start getting irritated and thinking Disney is greedy when they want more from me but want to give less back.