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

[EveDallas]

Im and "average joe" and i go twice a year, once for 6 days once for 3/4. Its about saving and planning ahead. People complaining about a small increase like this dont realize that they can literally cut eating out once or twice in a month and they will have the money. Its not that hard to save an extra $30/40 bucks



Cool, so you're ok with paying $155 bucks to visit Universal and finish in a day? Just saying. I love universal too, but come on, for an extra $50 you can visit two disney parks that take a day each.

If you think you can do Universal in a day, you're missing out on a lot. I could spend the better part of a day just taking in the details in Harry Potter. Believe me, I've been to Disney dozens of times - there is nothing there that compares to what Universal did with harry Potter.

 

[UncleMike101]

And I care what you think because?

I didn't say "I think you won't be missed"
I made a statement of fact.
"You won't be missed."
Live with it......

 

[EveDallas]

I didn't say "I think you won't be missed"
I made a statement of fact.
"You won't be missed."
Live with it......

Whatever dude. Keep throwing your money at Disney. Have fun paying for that China mess.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Most of the responses in this thread are emotional, not rational. I remember when Americans claimed that they were being forced to cancel their vacations because gas prices were too high. That was easily debunked by anyone with a calculator.

The reality - WDW has always been a very expensive vacation, but there were ways to do it for less money. Today WDW is a very expensive vacation, but there remain ways to do it for less money. Even with those less expensive options, some people are always going to be priced out.

I will continue to go to WDW - until I don't. When I don't, for whatever reason, I hope that I won't hold it against Disney. After decades of great memories, Disney owes me nothing. Those memories will be no less amazing then unless I make them so.

We can't control what Disney will or will not do here, but we can control our reaction.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Most of the responses in this thread are emotional, not rational. I remember when Americans claimed that they were being forced to cancel their vacations because gas prices were too high. That was easily debunked by anyone with a calculator.

The reality - WDW has always been a very expensive vacation, but there were ways to do it for less money. Today WDW is a very expensive vacation, but there remain ways to do it for less money. Even with those less expensive options, some people are always going to be priced out.

I will continue to go to WDW - until I don't. When I don't, for whatever reason, I hope that I won't hold it against Disney. After decades of great memories, Disney owes me nothing. Those memories will be no less amazing then unless I make them so.

We can't control what Disney will or will not do here, but we can control our reaction.

It has always been expensive. I never went as a kid, not once. I lived! And then I made up for it once I had my own money

But yeah, vacations are a luxury item, so be it. For me it's more about value once I decide to go.

 

[richkaryn]

This. Everywhere is expensive now. A one day trip to the local amusement park (not as magical for my kids as Disney) will cost my family $160 in admission, $20 in parking and $100 in terrible food. So almost $300 for the day, yes, cheaper than Disney, not cheap by any means and Disney has more for my kids to see and do and the food is much better. We do a lot of day trips as a family and $200-$300 is normal for our family of 4. While Disney was wuite a bit more, it was also more special. We stayed onsite, we didn't worry about transportation, etc. Disney feels like more of a vacation than our day trips and while I can't afford it every year, I don't mind saving up to go when I can.

Exactly! We didn't go to Disney last year because we went to Hawaii...(Not Aulani though). We visited 3 islands on our 10 day (+ 2 day travel back and forth) trip. Airfare alone was $1450/person not including baggage fees. Hotels anywhere from $150-600/night per room . Food was outrageous. Plus cost of any attractions we did....7 of us went and it was around $22000.
This year we are doing an Alaskan cruise (just 3 of us) the cruise itself was $6400, airfare for 3 $1500, 2 excursions brought us to another $1000......plus anything we buy while there.
so our $6200 Disney trip this fall looks cheap in comparison to our previous 2 vacations.

 

[Bullseye]

I understand the frustration. I've been going since the 70's, more so in the 90's and 00's; we're DVC members, stockholders, D23 members, everything. One thing I've come to understand is that Disney isn't the least bit concerned with us -they're always good to us and I can't remember ever not getting a room request or any request for that matter ...whether being a long time guest has had anything to do with that, who knows. But you(not you specifically, generally speaking) need to understand that there are new cycles of guests coming through all the time -20 somethings have kids, get hooked, the rest is history ...they're the new you. Experiencing the same feeling you first had -now, we all know it's not as good now as it it used to be( )but to them it's one of the best experiences they may have ever had ...their frame of reference is different. You could call it the circle of life. Disney knows this. So, we can accept what is handed to(or taken from) us or we can move on ...leaving space for all these new Disney fans.

Who is me? Wait a minute I thought I was me

Gan, I can't believe this post doesn't have more "likes!" It is wise and truthful .

Most of the responses in this thread are emotional, not rational. I remember when Americans claimed that they were being forced to cancel their vacations because gas prices were too high. That was easily debunked by anyone with a calculator.
The reality - WDW has always been a very expensive vacation, but there were ways to do it for less money. Today WDW is a very expensive vacation, but there remain ways to do it for less money. Even with those less expensive options, some people are always going to be priced out.
I will continue to go to WDW - until I don't. When I don't, for whatever reason, I hope that I won't hold it against Disney. After decades of great memories, Disney owes me nothing. Those memories will be no less amazing then unless I make them so. We can't control what Disney will or will not do here, but we can control our reaction.

Good Post! And for what it's worth I wouldn't come to the Disboards to complain and try to convince everyone to boycott Disney. I'd just move on.

 

[richkaryn]

Also, I never got to go as a child...so I made sure when I got married that we went once before we had kids. (my husband had been once when he was 4 -pre-Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom, and I doubt it was much of a trip knowing my in-laws, and again to 1 park for a day as part of a band trip in high school but never a full on Disney Vacation that he remembered). Our now 8 year old son has been 4 times in a 5 year span, 3 of those trips being within the same 18 month period. I remind him daily how fortunate he is, and that he has been more places in 8 years than most kids at his school (where I teach) will go in a lifetime. Many of them have never left our state, or even county. When I told him I never went to Disney as a child, he immediately replied with "Papa was mean not taking you to Disney." I explained to him that no, Papa wasn't mean, but my mother passed away when I was almost 9 and my sister had just turned 4. We had moved 1000 miles away from all our family just 6 months before my mother had been diagnosed with cancer, which took her life 5 short months later. Papa didn't have family close by so he had to pay someone to watch us during summers, etc so he could work. He also worked 2 jobs for as long as I can remember. But he did put in a pool for us so we had something to do in the summers. Disney just wasn't something he could ever make work, and that's ok. I grew up just fine without ever having been, and now that I have my own money and my husband has a great job that pays all our bills, I work so we can go to Disney or wherever we want on vacation. Would it have been fun to go as a child? I'm absolutely certain it would have been. Was it the end of the world when I didn't get to? No. In the town I grew up in, I honestly don't know many people who had been or went during our childhood, so I guess I didn't really know what I was missing. With all the technology (internet...another thing that didn't come along till I was in jr high or high school) these days, I think it's easier for kids (and others) to "see" what they are "Missing out on" and feel cheated if they can't afford to go.

 

[epcotty]

I watched the 1994 planing video last night for a good laugh and quite honestly.I thought the 1994 version of the parks looked more fun than what we have now. Sure the technology is infinitely better but the vibe I got the from the video was completely different. They seemed to impress on the potential guest that there was something for every wallet size and you didnt need a ton of extras. Now a days everything is premium and there seems to more emphasis on the deluxe resorts. Sure there are still basic experiences but it seems like everything is a money grab. I got the vibe from the 90's video that it was more about pleasing the guest than shaking them down for every last penny in their wallet.

Yes, I definitely miss the Disney I grew up with

 

[Boski]

Yes, I definitely miss the Disney I grew up with

The Disney you grew up is dead, long live the King.

 

[momimouse27]

Geez, I had a few complaints but reading this thread is depressing. There's stuff I'm not happy about, but after reading several pages of this(I just couldn't stomach the whole thing) I realize that I'm not unhappy enough to jump the ship completely. If I don't want to pay for tiered tickets, I'll just go in the off season or buy multi day. If I don't want to pay premium parking, I'll ride the tram, which I already enjoy. My disappointment mostly lies in areas that either aren't permanent or aren't even a reality yet-a 1/2 day park in DHS and the possibility of adding a resort fee. Customer service and cutting of CM's notwithstanding, I'll have to make judgement when the time comes. USF is definitely not for me, so that's not happening.

This is really depressing to me:
When I run the number$ with them and explain that they will have to plan their trips with a military like precision, that they will be in the Florida heat in long lines, eating low quality food and they will be paying premium prices, that they will be staying at very expensive hotels that no where near reflect the price paid per night except for the benefit of "Location" and they will be on the receiving end of disappearing customer service and Disney "Magic", they look at me like I am crazy. They can't believe that this is the Disney vacation that they are going to experience.

That is just way too negative, and ridiculously overstated. Just in case you're interested, Florida has always been hot and will continue to be hot, even though Disney tried changing that. There were long lines when my girls were children, in the 90's. I don't find the food to be low quality, and I just booked a Disney resort for less than $100 per night, which ended up being less than anything I found off property, saving me $$ on parking and resort fees I'd have experienced staying near Disney Springs.

Yeah, if someone I asked framed their answer that way, then no way in the world would I go, and I'd assume it would be an awful trip. All in all, yeah, there's stuff I'm not happy about and I think someone at the top might need their head examined for some of the decisions they're making, but I don't find the changes to be deal breakers. It's certainly not like this poster has suggested!!

 

[k5thbeatle]

What do you want? Dilapidated parks that never change? Street people walking down Main Street, so Disney can say they welcome everyone? Do you want WDW to be run like the government? Pretty soon, the only people going would be street people. Quit blaming Disney. They are a business and have to be run like a business. They have to compete with an ever increasing stiff competition. Disney's cost to keep up with the Jones's goes up every year. Yes, fewer and fewer people can afford to go. If you want to put the blame somewhere, put it where it belongs. Having a completely flat economy over the last 7 years. Blame the drop in average salaries in this country over the last 7 years. Blame for the first time in history, over 50% of Americans are considered below middle class. Blame the economy where kids are having to live at home longer, because they can't find jobs. Blame the fact that people are working fewer hours than ever before, because full time jobs are becoming harder and harder to find and the vast majority of new jobs created, are low wage and part time. The blame should rest on the American people 7-1/2 years ago.

This!!! Well stated!

 

[Srbright]

It has always been expensive. I never went as a kid, not once. I lived! And then I made up for it once I had my own money

Same here. As a child I never went to Disney, or six flags or Bells amusement park. The most we ever got was a day at the traveling carnival. We make it a point specifically to go to Disney.

Stacy

 

[jade1]

Disney's profits are up, the parks are full, Disney Springs is full, even with all the construction people are flocking to WDW.

You had me at hello.

 

[kyomagi]

If you think you can do Universal in a day, you're missing out on a lot. I could spend the better part of a day just taking in the details in Harry Potter. Believe me, I've been to Disney dozens of times - there is nothing there that compares to what Universal did with harry Potter.

I have done both universal parks in a day. twice. Second time going through WW. Trust me, there is not a lot to miss out on. Both times we got there at the opening and left around 6ish.

 

[Ensusieasm]

Also, I never got to go as a child...so I made sure when I got married that we went once before we had kids. (my husband had been once when he was 4 -pre-Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom, and I doubt it was much of a trip knowing my in-laws, and again to 1 park for a day as part of a band trip in high school but never a full on Disney Vacation that he remembered). Our now 8 year old son has been 4 times in a 5 year span, 3 of those trips being within the same 18 month period. I remind him daily how fortunate he is, and that he has been more places in 8 years than most kids at his school (where I teach) will go in a lifetime. Many of them have never left our state, or even county. When I told him I never went to Disney as a child, he immediately replied with "Papa was mean not taking you to Disney." I explained to him that no, Papa wasn't mean, but my mother passed away when I was almost 9 and my sister had just turned 4. We had moved 1000 miles away from all our family just 6 months before my mother had been diagnosed with cancer, which took her life 5 short months later. Papa didn't have family close by so he had to pay someone to watch us during summers, etc so he could work. He also worked 2 jobs for as long as I can remember. But he did put in a pool for us so we had something to do in the summers. Disney just wasn't something he could ever make work, and that's ok. I grew up just fine without ever having been, and now that I have my own money and my husband has a great job that pays all our bills, I work so we can go to Disney or wherever we want on vacation. Would it have been fun to go as a child? I'm absolutely certain it would have been. Was it the end of the world when I didn't get to? No. In the town I grew up in, I honestly don't know many people who had been or went during our childhood, so I guess I didn't really know what I was missing. With all the technology (internet...another thing that didn't come along till I was in jr high or high school) these days, I think it's easier for kids (and others) to "see" what they are "Missing out on" and feel cheated if they can't afford to go.

When I was a kid there wasn't even a Disney World, and I turned out ok. But I'm making up for lost time now!

 

[Planogirl]

I have done both universal parks in a day. twice. Second time going through WW. Trust me, there is not a lot to miss out on. Both times we got there at the opening and left around 6ish.

So what? We easily spend three days at the Universal parks while DHS and Epcot are both half day parks for us. All this indicates is that we all have different tastes.

 

[UncleMike101]

When I was a kid there wasn't even a Disney World, and I turned out ok. But I'm making up for lost time now!

When I was a little kid there wasn't even a Disneyland!!

 

[Bullseye]

When I was a little kid there wasn't even a Disneyland!!

I see what you did there you're saying you are still a big kid at heart

 

[UncleMike101]

I see what you did there you're saying you are still a big kid at heart

Well........
I hope I never act my age.