DISNEY if you don't want the average Joe to stay at the parks just say so...

[mom2rtk]

The average joe makes up most of their loyal, repeat business. It is sheer hubris to take your best customers for granted, or risk pissing them off. Of course, this company is so successful that hubris in inevitable. A little humility and gratitude would do them a world of good.

Personally, I understand the price increases. That's another thing that is inevitable, given the crowds hitting the parks all year long. How else can you keep the crowding from getting even worse?

But cutting the quality of food while charging more and more for it...cutting staff and hours of operation during boom times...overseeing a decline in service at their overpriced resorts...adding umpteen upcharge special events, so that we really have to pay for the best spots for the parade or fireworks...it all gets increasingly ridiculous.

Normally, these are the actions of a company that is struggling and in survival mode. But Disney isn't struggling, it's booming. At least, the parks division sure is. So the company has apparently decided to compensate for their overseas blunders and declining media profits by squeezing their guests and workforce for every possible last dime. Peter is getting mugged to pay Paul.

The whole thing is pretty shameful and disgusting.

Very well put!

 

[mom2rtk]

It's not really even about just one price hike here or there. It's the overall sense of where things are headed. Disney didn't used to nickle and dime you. It wasn't 'all inclusive' necessarily, but you felt like that money you were dishing out for a room or tickets was worth it for all the 'perks'. Now they want to charge you more for those perks, on top of higher prices. Now they want to charge you depending on what time of year it is. Next they'll want to charge you for better parking, park transportation, etc. All these things that were 'features' that you were willing to subsidize with your expensive tickets or stay at an onsite hotel are being taken out and slapped with a separate price tag. It's no good and it makes Disney feel like a carnival or two-bit tourist trap.

They're on it.

http://www.disboards.com/threads/premium-parking.3491064/

 

[cabanafrau]

I think, in South America, Brasil or Argentina would work out quite well...

Apparently Disney can't even afford the irons they have in the fire now. I shudder to think of the cuts if they were trying to build another resort elsewhere.

WDW may suffer yet more cuts and price increases if the Brazilian economy continues to struggle and those visitors don't come in large numbers like the past several years.

 

[Praying Colonel]

They're on it.

http://www.disboards.com/threads/premium-parking.3491064/

Oy...

This company....

 

[pumpkinhead10a]

Guys thanks for all the comments..no this thread will not affect Disney's decisions, they just don't care it's about what we think, it's the extra $'s spent per guest they want and what income levels spends the most ..as retail it's all about the extra $ in the basket! Disney used too be a good valve for your buck, now they are becoming a nickel and dime operation. So lets keep talking look forward to reading all comment and even from Disney themselves!
thanks
mike

 

[starjazz]

On a good note, I noticed there wasn't a ticket price increase in 2015. And in 2016, if you go during the slower season, there STILL was no ticket price increase.

 

[ITALIANNYC]

So you actually think this is going to control crowds when 80 percent of their customers are families with children who can only take off around the same time each year.

Its a cash grab. Plain and simple

 

[wdw71]

On a good note, I noticed there wasn't a ticket price increase in 2015. And in 2016, if you go during the slower season, there STILL was no ticket price increase.

They increased prices in February 2015. That was when it jumped to $105 for a one day ticket to MK
Past increase dates per mousesavers
August 5 2010 June 12 2011
June 3 2012 June 2 2013
February 23 2014 February 22 2015
February 28 2016

 

[larryz]

They increased prices in February 2015. That was when it jumped to $105 for a one day ticket to MK
Past increase dates per mousesavers
August 5 2010 June 12 2011
June 3 2012 June 2 2013
February 23 2014 February 22 2015
February 28 2016

Don't forget the AP price increase in October...

 

[scrapquitler]

Guys thanks for all the comments..no this thread will not affect Disney's decisions, they just don't care it's about what we think, it's the extra $'s spent per guest they want and what income levels spends the most ..as retail it's all about the extra $ in the basket! Disney used too be a good valve for your buck, now they are becoming a nickel and dime operation. So lets keep talking look forward to reading all comment and even from Disney themselves!
thanks
mike

They'll keep doing it until the crowd level starts to decrease. So far, the price increases haven't made the parks seem any emptier.

 

[mom2rtk]

They'll keep doing it until the crowd level starts to decrease. So far, the price increases haven't made the parks seem any emptier.

The way MM+ is allowing them to staff down during anticipated lower crowd times, I doubt the parks will ever feel emptier, even when attendance dips.

I believe this was the primary goal of MM+.... to have the data needed to "right size" their staff every day of the year. Selling magic bands is nice, tapping to pay probably brings in a little more money, but the data to cut more staff is where the system will pay for itself. And that's why anecdotal stories and wait times will be useless to give any of us an idea of how busy the parks really are.

 

[parkluvr]

I noticed that many of the people in this thread who are complaining about price increases coupled with the service decreases still have countdown tickers in their signatures. It's always "after this next trip we won't be going any more." Disney will continue to take more and give less until they feel the pain in their wallets. If you truly don't like what is happening cancel your reservations and don't make any more until things change for the better. I understand that it's not easy. I myself just cancelled a 5 night package at CSR for this June that we had following our RCCL cruise, after hearing about the recent service cuts. I sent Disney an email explaining the reason for cancelling and also detailed my frustrations to a representative that called about my email. I realize that in the grand scheme of things it means absolutely nothing to Disney, but if a lot more people did the same thing, they would have to take notice.

 

[mom2rtk]

I noticed that many of the people in this thread who are complaining about price increases coupled with the service decreases still have countdown tickers in their signatures. It's always "after this next trip we won't be going any more." Disney will continue to take more and give less until they feel the pain in their wallets. If you truly don't like what is happening cancel your reservations and don't make any more until things change for the better. I understand that it's not easy. I myself just cancelled a 5 night package at CSR for this June that we had following our RCCL cruise, after hearing about the recent service cuts. I sent Disney an email explaining the reason for cancelling and also detailed my frustrations to a representative that called about my email. I realize that in the grand scheme of things it means absolutely nothing to Disney, but if a lot more people did the same thing, they would have to take notice.

You should be careful making assumptions. I know a number of die hard Disney fans who have stopped going. I also know a number who used to visit several times a year and have cut back to once a year, or once every other year. Some of them committed on their trips over a year ago, well before this last round of cuts and price increases.

A ticker seldom tells a solid overall picture.

 

[parkluvr]

You should be careful making assumptions. I know a number of die hard Disney fans who have stopped going. I also know a number who used to visit several times a year and have cut back to once a year, or once every other year. Some of them committed on their trips over a year ago, well before this last round of cuts and price increases.

A ticker seldom tells a solid overall picture.

I'm not making assumptions. The point that I'm making is that rather than complaining, if people just started to say enough is enough and started cancelling reservations and going elsewhere, Disney would get the message that maybe they can't get away with anything they want to do.

 

[Planogirl]

I'm not making assumptions. The point that I'm making is that rather than complaining, if people just started to say enough is enough and started cancelling reservations and going elsewhere, Disney would get the message that maybe they can't get away with anything they want to do.

Part of the problem is that we don't really know what most visitors think now or will think later after all of this. Most here are pretty hardcore but I think that most travelers aren't so much. The question is when will they notice if they ever do and when will Disney's reputation suffer again if ever?

 

[dawgsgirl]

We have still been taking some Disney trips, but have changed how much money we give Disney. They get money for tickets and resort and not much more. We are their worst nightmare as customers. Breakfast is in the room. Eating off-site. QS in the park and sharing food. Free water. Going to the outlet store for Disney bling. Our trips are just as much fun and actually more relaxing. No ADR's to worry about. The next step is to move off-site. I am very reluctant to give Disney any more money than necessary.

 

[BabaBooeyNoin]

Disney is a corporation and business. They have a responsibility to their shareholders. They are in business to make a profit. They'll charge whatever the market will bear. Despite the price hikes, people still continue to flood the parks.

I don't like the price increases, high parking rates, expensive food/souvenirs, etc. It makes it prohibitive for many people to attend their parks.

 

[Bullseye]

The average American (who may or may not actually be named "Joe")...

Made 32,000 dollars last year, working a white collar job.

Did not earn a college degree.

Is married and will be divorced at some point in his/her life.

Owns a home in the suburbs.

Has a spouse who works (doubling that average salary, for the household).

And has one or two children.

Can this hypothetical "average" person afford a Disney vacation? It depends on their priorities. But, in 1971, 32,000 dollars translated to an annual salary of just 5,500 a year. And that dollar had to be stretched to support a larger family on just one paycheck. And this had to be accomplished without easy access to credit (many folks in the early 70s still didn't have credit cards). The average Joe in 1971 was most likely not hopping a plane to fly his family to Disney World.

We couldn't afford a Disney vacation when I was a kid in the 80's. The only friends I had who could afford it had wealthy parents. Disney's NEVER been for the "Average Joe"... but I'll bet it's never been easier for the Average Joe to find a way to swing it (second mortgage notwithstanding).

Disney is my favourite evil mega-corporation, but they are not - and never have been - a charity. No one is owed a Disney vacation. If they price themselves out of the market, then they will either correct course or go under, like any other corporation. Destroying wetlands in pursuit of profit is immoral. Raising prices in pursuit of profit is not.

And calling for everyone to boycott Disney because you feel personally attacked by a price hike is... well, ludicrous. Buy the product, or not, as you choose. The free market will do as the free market does. Not only is Walt not rolling in his grave, but Roy may very well be nodding approvingly.

Good post, thanks for some salient points! When I was kid we went to Adventureland or Playland Park. When we DID go to Disney it was something special because we were regular Joes. It was magical then just like it is now.

Disney's profits are up, the parks are full, Disney Springs is full, even with all the construction people are flocking to WDW. NOW YOU ARE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO SQUEEZE MORE MONEY....poor.. poor Walt's dream is dead.....

You spent 2 billion on the herder program and with FP+ so you can control people's were about in the parks and they don't even realize that you are doing it . Brought in tier pricing so you can squeeze more money out of you guest on the busy days just because you can. Now you want to charge more as a resort fees, what next charge 20.00 more for the A rides, 10.00 to ride the Monorail, 15.00 to walk down Main street, 5.00 for the ferry. oops better not give you any more ideas.

Just flat out say it..YOU DON'T WANT THE AVERAGE JOE TO GO TO OUR PARKS... don't price them out and make them feel bad because they can't afford to go to Disney anymore ...have the guts and say we don't want you any more, we want people who spends lots more money in our parks. Even through the average Joe was the ones who made you what you are today and that your right as we are only the guest!

Guys the only way to be heard by Disney is too stop going to the parks, to their movies, stop watching ABC, tsn or anything that has the Disney name, it's time to be heard!!!! ( They know that's never going to happen )

Disney does need to make a profit but how much is the answer?????

IT'S UP TO YOU

So what you're saying is don't go to WDW anymore ... why wouldn't I? We've been going for eleven straight years and have had an awesome vacation every year. Do the prices go up? Yes they do just like the price of my flights, rental car, groceries, and offsite dining. This year we will pay $48 per person daily for full theme and water park access for nine days. That's still a darn good deal for a days entertainment despite how much of WDW is under construction trying to enhance the experience.

I don't look at MB as a herder program. I find the fact that I don't have dig in my pocket for a card, can make purchases, and open my room door from my wrist a convenience.

You're living in the past if think Walt's dream is dead. He died 50 years ago. His dream was to entertain and amaze. Does his company still do that? Yes they do! This isn't the good ole days. Fiscally, trying to compare it to them for any major organization is not realistic .

 

[skyyhiflygirl]

well, guess what. That's exactly how it worked when Disneyland and Disneyworld opened.
Except top rides are not called A, but E.
that's why headliners are called E-Tickets, because they used to require the use of a "E"
ticket from your ticket book.
it used to cost a A ticket to ride the main street vehicles, a C ticket for Dumbo, Peter Pan, among others

it would be back to the "good old days" where you paid for what you rode. That's how Walt started it. So you might be wrong in saying his dream is dead ... looks like it will pretty much come back to life ...

(not saying it would be good or I would like it, just saying what used to be)

pic courtesy of yesterland

Yes, but in those days, there was either no admission fee or only a $10-15 dollar fee to be admitted to the parks. If you didn't ride the rides, you didn't get charged extra. . .You could enjoy the magic of Disney without the costs of the rides.

 

[skyyhiflygirl]

Look, I get that Disney is a "for profit" organization and I get that they are trying to upgrade the consumer experience. These things I totally understand. I also understand that WDW and DLR are considered "treat" vacations. I get all that. I love going as much as the next guy. My problem is this. I just read a list of the new attractions, dining and entertainment that will become available to us in the next few years. 85% of those are dining venues. Only 15% fall into the attraction category. So. . .as I see it, you pay an exorbitant amount for your "B" listed motel (all-stars, pop century. . .etc) and then get tickets into the theme parks (which have gone up every year (including during the recessions of 1995 and 2008) and then find out that the new "stuff" at WDW is mostly overpriced restaurants with limited food offerings. Now, most of us watch Food Network or Cooking Channel so we know that fine dining is pricey, but when a counter service for two costs nearly 80 bucks, there is cause for a pause and to say darn, did I really spend that much for some bbq and a salad and fountain drinks? Then there is the cutting of service staff and lack of general cleanliness that used to be the signature stuff of going to Disney (i.e.; always very clean, CMs just the nicest of people, and fabulous service). I understand making a profit. But do they really like their regular customers talking about them this way? And maybe they don't care because the foreign soccer teams and the cheer squads will continue to make up the bulk of guests at the world. I, for one, am going in August because my son is going and wants me to join him and his family. However, I won't be subjecting my husband to this trip. Instead I am taking him to Italy for 1/8th of the cost (includes airfare, luxury hotel and rental car). At that price point, I can afford to eat in nice restaurants and just have fun.