Disney has lost another family - do they care?

[tazadd0420]

Hi Amanda, we went in January, and we liked it. If you read this entire thread and other posts on the board, there are plenty of other people who like it. I freely acknowledge that there are people who don't like it, but their are plenty of us who don't fart pixie dust, yet still like FP+...

Agree. I also do not pass gas that includes pixie dust.. Multiple people love and hate FP+. So far pretty even to me.

 

[prudence64]

Agree. I also do not pass gas that includes pixie dust.. Multiple people love and hate FP+. So far pretty even to me.

I agree.ihavent tried it yet, but I see an even split between those who llike it and hate it. The hate it crowd might be more passionate though.

 

[Eeyore's My Favorite]

Hi Amanda, we went in January, and we liked it. If you read this entire thread and other posts on the board, there are plenty of other people who like it. I freely acknowledge that there are people who don't like it, but their are plenty of us who don't fart pixie dust, yet still like FP+...

We went in October, December & January. Love the FP+. There's a lot of us out there that like it.

 

[skater]

Would you be willing to pay less....say $130.00 a night, but with no magic express, no free transportation anywhere on the property, no free parking, no emh, and a lot less activities at the resorts?

What makes AoA poor value to me is that I can get two rooms at Pop for cheaper than a family suite. I love the resort itself and had a good rate for a LM room for one night in October. I just wouldn't pay the crazy rate for a suite at a value resort. For me, it has nothing to do with ME and free transportation. I'm staying at Pop in a week for around $100 a night, and I will still get all those perks.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

New fp system is horrible, can't imagine it will stick, have not heard anyone liking it.

I think it all depends on your touring style and priorities. Some folks are ride junkies (I put myself in this category). It was fun to see how many attractions could be done in a.day which meant cost per attraction was low. I trusted the system in Dec. Was at Pop and had FP+ only. I did not feel I was able to get as much done. I still had a great time it was just a lesser experience. I think the folks that don't like it are upset b/c something they loved is no longer in the same form.

Others love it b/c they weren't rope droppers and maybe never had the opportunity to FP_ a ride like TSM. Now they can. Others might be fine riding the 3 FP+ and a few other standby rides. Some folks have different thresholds of how long they are willing to wait for a ride. Some folks go often enough so if they aren't able to ride TT and Soarin' in the same trip it's OK. Unfortunately I don't get there often enough and I don't always know when next time will be.

 

[AthenaBolina]

What makes AoA poor value to me is that I can get two rooms at Pop for cheaper than a family suite. I love the resort itself and had a good rate for a LM room for one night in October. I just wouldn't pay the crazy rate for a suite at a value resort. For me, it has nothing to do with ME and free transportation. I'm staying at Pop in a week for around $100 a night, and I will still get all those perks.

We're staying at AOA in May and for us it was a good deal because we have four kids, who aren't old enough to be in a separate room. We got a military discount on a lion king suite!

 

[AmyB2006]

If FP+ is like a box of chocolates....

...then you never know what you're gonna get. Maybe one day you'll get TSMM maybe one day you'll get RnRC.

I'm sorry. Couldn't resist.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

What makes AoA poor value to me is that I can get two rooms at Pop for cheaper than a family suite. I love the resort itself and had a good rate for a LM room for one night in October. I just wouldn't pay the crazy rate for a suite at a value resort. For me, it has nothing to do with ME and free transportation. I'm staying at Pop in a week for around $100 a night, and I will still get all those perks.

That's what I don't get either. That a suite is more expensive than 2 rooms at Pop. 2 rooms at Pop can sleep 8 but the suite 6....confused! Depending on what happens with off site and ability to prebook, I might get suckered into 2 rooms instead of staying off site. I do not sure want to waste precious RD time standing in a kiosk line to get crappy leftovers.

 

[skater]

We're staying at AOA in May and for us it was a good deal because we have four kids, who aren't old enough to be in a separate room. We got a military discount on a lion king suite!

I will say this: I think you will love it! The grounds are beautiful. I'm glad you were able to get something that would work for your family. And in May, you'll be able to enjoy that cool pool.

 

[robinb]

What 50%? Are you asserting that 50% of WDW guests are non-resort, non-AP holders one-day passers? I can't agree there. I don't have the numbers, but I'd guess resort guests are about 70%, AP holders staying offsite are about 20%, off-siters buying day-passes via uctourist or other sites are about 5%, and local day-passers are about 5%.

I can tell you that over Christmas/New Years that I was shocked at (1) how few people had MBs on and (2) how many people were standing in line at AK to get their FP+ reservation. It was insane. I had always thought that the onsite guest was more represented, but I would say that maybe 20% of the people had MBs ... tops.

And, I would bet 95% of WDW's profit comes from the 70% resort guests. This is why every park is now bundling with resorts to offer resort experiences and trying to not just be a day-park.

I'm with you there. Over the past 6-months it has become clear that Disney is just not into us anymore where "us" is a combination of offsite guests, AP holders, frequent visitors & Florida residents. Their focus is on the "once in a lifetime" onsite visitor with deep pockets.

 

[AmyB2006]

I can tell you that over Christmas/New Years that I was shocked at (1) how few people had MBs on and (2) how many people were standing in line at AK to get their FP+ reservation. It was insane. I had always thought that the onsite guest was more represented, but I would say that maybe 20% of the people had MBs ... tops.

I'm with you there. Over the past 6-months it has become clear that Disney is just not into us anymore where "us" is a combination of offsite guests, AP holders, frequent visitors & Florida residents. Their focus is on the "once in a lifetime" onsite visitor with deep pockets.

But don't forget about the vacation club properties popping up everywhere. Another way to "lock you in" so to speak. LOL. Once you buy in, they have your money.

 

[Hisgirl]

I would say with the new system, and the crowds from South America, park hopper purchases will most likely go down. It just doesn't make sense to pay the extra hopper money and not be able to ride the good rides...unless you care to stand in a one hour line or more.

We won't be buying annual passes, or hoppers for that matter, any longer.

 

[rteetz]

New fp system is horrible, can't imagine it will stick, have not heard anyone liking it.

um well actually I've heard many people like it and it's been working so don't think its going anywhere sorry.

 

[rteetz]

I can tell you that over Christmas/New Years that I was shocked at (1) how few people had MBs on and (2) how many people were standing in line at AK to get their FP+ reservation. It was insane. I had always thought that the onsite guest was more represented, but I would say that maybe 20% of the people had MBs ... tops. I'm with you there. Over the past 6-months it has become clear that Disney is just not into us anymore where "us" is a combination of offsite guests, AP holders, frequent visitors & Florida residents. Their focus is on the "once in a lifetime" onsite visitor with deep pockets.

I actually strongly believe that there are quite a lot of off site or day guest visitors in WDW on a day. I also think it could be the even more day guests, APs, or off site guests than on site guests. Yes I will agree that disney makes more money off of resort guests because those guests are staying on property but not all the time. And of course like you said those once in a lifetime visitors are where they make the most money because they are willing to pay for it all.

 

[robinb]

But don't forget about the vacation club properties popping up everywhere. Another way to "lock you in" so to speak. LOL. Once you buy in, they have your money.

Until I sell it . I already sold one contract (at a profit, BTW) and am thinking about selling the rest. We can only go during super busy times because my DD is in high school and a swimmer (practices start mid-August) and I don't see things improving when she goes to college. I don't know if I can hold out until we are empty nesters to be able to go to WDW with FP+ and not feel like it's not a giant waste. And yes, we did experience FP+. It was wonderful as long as we could double dip.

 

[rteetz]

I would say with the new system, and the crowds from South America, park hopper purchases will most likely go down. It just doesn't make sense to pay the extra hopper money and not be able to ride the good rides...unless you care to stand in a one hour line or more. We won't be buying annual passes, or hoppers for that matter, any longer.

I don't think South America crowds will go down because I don't think they will know much about the new system before they come thats why they will do what they have always done but park hoppers and stay at the value resorts. I can see park hoppers as a hole go done tho but not South America guests.

 

[flicx]

Well first off AoA is fairly new still only 1-2 years old. Also there is only one section of regular rooms in AoA the rest is all family suite which are more expensive. Disney is a for profit company if it wasn't about the money vacations wouldn't cost a dime. I don't think disney is being greedy they are going to keep playing with rising prices until people won't pay those prices anymore they haven't found that number yet. Universal does the same thing by raising prices pretty much every year. I know I'm going to get ridiculed for this but there was a time where FP wasn't a thing and everyone survived. Also more than half of the guests that entered WDW in a year did not use a single FP. In 2012 on my July trip I used one FP one that was it waited no longer than 50 minutes for a ride and that was for soarin that I had never done before. Disney isn't going to change until they start losing money and that isn't going to happen in the foreseeable future just because of FP+.

Funny if you read my post I said disney needs to make a profit. Universal prices at hotels are far more reasonable than Disney. Compare the deluxes sometime. You can still grab a room at a universal deluxe for under 150 with front of the line . Try and find a deluxe for under 150 a night at Disney. Lets just wait and see what this new system does to attendance. I'll say this and this is my opinion, Disney can't keep increasing prices the way the have the last decade, those rates are unsustainable, unless you want to turn it into a park for those making six digits a year!

 

[rteetz]

Until I sell it . I already sold one contract (at a profit, BTW) and am thinking about selling the rest. We can only go during super busy times because my DD is in high school and a swimmer (practices start mid-August) and I don't see things improving when she goes to college. I don't know if I can hold out until we are empty nesters to be able to go to WDW with FP+ and not feel like it's not a giant waste. And yes, we did experience FP+. It was wonderful as long as we could double dip.

but someone will always have that contract so they will make money off of it. I think a lot of people are frustrated frankly just due to the change. I think it is very possible to use 3 FPs a day I've done it plenty of times but I see where your coming from. The system will continue to change I can almost guarantee that. What and how it will change I don't know but it will its still "testing". The plus to this new system is will be easier for it to adapt to changes once it's fully implemented for everyone. I also don't understand how FP can just stop someone from going to disney just imagine if there was no FP I'm sure disney would still be doing well. After all they are one of the first people to do such a system and now everyone has something similar whether its free or pay for it as an extra thing. If this system becomes a great success you could very well see other theme parks use something similar as well. A ton of people didn't even know what legacy FP was so.

 

[rteetz]

Funny if you read my post I said disney needs to make a profit. Universal prices at hotels are far more reasonable than Disney. Compare the deluxes sometime. You can still grab a room at a universal deluxe for under 150 with front of the line . Try and find a deluxe for under 150 a night at Disney. Lets just wait and see what this new system does to attendance. I'll say this and this is my opinion, Disney can't keep increasing prices the way the have the last decade, those rates are unsustainable, unless you want to turn it into a park for those making six digits a year!

well thats a given that your not going to find a deluxe under even 200 at disney. As for price increases I still see disney playing with those numbers for a few more years at least. People haven't stopped paying yet so they're going to keep doing it. Once they find that breaking point they will stop.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Would you be willing to pay less....say $130.00 a night, but with no magic express, no free transportation anywhere on the property, no free parking, no emh, and a lot less activities at the resorts?

I pay about that/night for Shades of green, and have free transportation to Disney parks (SoG's shuttle, plus walking to the Polynesian for the monorail), don't care about free parking as we don't rent a car, we have EMH access, and there are plenty of things to do at the resorts (not that it matters, because we spend our time in the parks, not at the hotel).