Disney: Paying more and getting less!!!

[tinkerpea]

For us coming from the UK Disney prices are going to get to the point where they price us out!

After going every other yr as a child from 3-18 and then taking my own kids every other yr from 19-now 28 it's going to be devastating to get to that point as I've grown up with Disney

We usually have to go for at least 2/3 wk holidays just to justify the flight costs gone are the days where we could hop on a plane for less then £200 the cheapest flights around now are about £450 and that's only if you book right when they come out or very last minute going in-direct on a 14 hour flight!!
Free dining has really helped our family of 6 as the costs for food are insane, now it looks like they are doing away with the free DDP or at least only offering QS for deluxe and mods!
I'm happy to stay anywhere I can afford on site, we love pop and AOA and that's even after staying at AKL for 3wks and SSR so we will cut penny's where possible,
I would even stay off site at a DTD property or bonnet creek but my family LOVE the DDP and have even paid for it twice, " I know you can eat OOP cheaper" but my boys are now 7,7,10 and I don't want to deny them what they would like of the menu and they refuse to eat the kids meals ( who can blame them) lol so last trip we up graded them to the adult plan and I would go without doing that again.

We will always do are best to try and go every other yr for as long as the pocket allows, now that my mum is getting older she won't be coming with us so they will help make things slightly cheaper if we want to all cram in 1 room at POR

I just pray they don't put prices up much more or cut down on discounts too much,
Plus this whole fast pass + thing scares me!

 

[cvjw]

How can someone dislike not having APs on RFID cards? It's one time a day (maybe two) that you have to deal with that. I use my AP, gasp...paper, just yesterday and it took me the whole of 15 seconds to get through the nonexistent line...
Even worse, how can you already dislike the fastpass+?! It hasn't started yet!!

It might have taken you 15 seconds, but it took us much, much longer the 1st week of January. The line to get into DHS was all the way back to the bag check line for non RFID tickets, while there was no line for the RFID tickets. That doesn't seem fair to me - as we were staying onsite, and had tickets purchased from Disney - only they were AP's.

You are right, fast pass + hasn't started yet, but if it is rolled out the way it has been talked about, it will drastically alter the way we enjoy Disney. Once Disney takes away the things that we enjoy doing at Disney, there is no reason for us to keep going back.

 

[autismgoesdisney]

I LOVE Disney and we go once a year (we are all New Jerseyans!). However, I am not liking what I hear about the new Fastpass +. I have a feeling if its bad as we think it will be, we will take a few years off

 

[bwang123]

We aren't fans of the new fast pass system - it will really alter the way we tour Disney. Our boys like to ride the roller coasters over and over - that is some of our best memories at Disney, and what keeps us coming back. With the new system, it will be only one fastpass ride, and the rest standby.

the new fast pass system is implemented? please send me links to the new rules.

 

[flicx]

I'm beginning to feel the pinch myself. For over a decade I had stayed onsite, first as a DVC member, then in the WL (my favorite). But the prices have gone up so much recently I just can't justify it.

I was thinking I would maybe stay in a value for my next trip as it is just going to be me, but even they are over $100 a night in value season with a code! It was only a couple years ago when they were $69/night. And I look at the WL rates and think there is no way I could justify spending that kind of money for a hotel room.

Not to mention the price of food. A plain hamburger and fries for $10?!? Really?!?

I upgraded my tickets to an AP, so I will go once more to get the value from that. But I will probably stay off site, unless there is some serious discounting on WDW hotel rooms. Then take a break. I am finding I really enjoy cruising and have come across some great values. And I get to visit real foreign countries.

I have been saying the same thing for years. We used to stay athe polynesian in off season for 180.00, heck now the value resorts are closer to this than the deluxe. Prices have dobled on almost everyting in the past ten years. If this happens again in the next ten years only the wealthy will be vacationing at disney. Oh well ,we have cutback accordingly and will further if this continues.

 

[MacClemsons]

We are military and get to take advantages of military discounts. However, this year the offer is $184 for 4 day hopper plus waterpark. Military member can get 6 of these tix a year. Sounds good, but not compared to 2003 military offer. Military member got FREE 5 day hopper with water park. Up to 10 friends & family could get the 5 day hopper/water park tux for $99 each.

DDP in 2009 was $39.99.now it's 55.59 per night and they no longer offer salad/dessert with DDP. The Quick service dining plan is nearly $38 per night for an adult now.thats a HUGE increase in price.

 

[shan136]

I agree that there seems to be a steep increase this year in price. My husband and I prefer to be close to the parks, which is why we have chosen a Deluxe Epcot resort. We are not staying club level and are 2 adults and 1 child using the DDP and park hoppers for for 6 nights 7 days and our trip is just shy of $6,000 not including airfare. THAT IS INSANE. Our previous trip in 2011 was 30% cheaper, and we are not going during a "premium" time like Christmas or early summer.

From what I understand, the MK expansion is lackluster which is supposedly the big draw. We have committed to it for 2013 so we will be going, but I will be more critical about "value for the money". For 2014 we have priced out a 4 day/3 night stay at universal which seems to be a better deal.

 

[maxiesmom]

You have to spend your vacation dollars as you see fit. If that means going elsewhere, then I hope you have a wonderful time. It's a great big beautiful world out there to explore and enjoy.

Disney has never been our sole vacation destination. Just a regular one. And we will continue to visit it. Because we like it. And because it is actually one of the less expensive vacations that we take.

I really don't even mind if a lot of folks feel like you about WDW. That will mean less crowded parks for us when we're there. So it's all good.

Ditto.

And to the poster who said the new Fantasyland is lackluster, well, what many consider to be the biggest draw, the rollercoaster, isn't open yet. So I'm not surprised some find it lackluster.

 

[Hopefully]

You have to spend your vacation dollars as you see fit. If that means going elsewhere, then I hope you have a wonderful time. It's a great big beautiful world out there to explore and enjoy.

Disney has never been our sole vacation destination. Just a regular one. And we will continue to visit it. Because we like it. And because it is actually one of the less expensive vacations that we take.

I really don't even mind if a lot of folks feel like you about WDW. That will mean less crowded parks for us when we're there. So it's all good.

I agree completely. There is much to explore beyond Disney.
I also agree that Disney is one of our cheaper vacations each year.
And to the PP comparing prices to 2003 etc I ask
"Have you been to the grocery store lately, or filled your car with gas" . Everything is more expensive - seems that is the way it is in the world - not just Disney.
Good Luck

 

[abner1776]

It's interesting to read so many posts about the increased crowd levels and that there is just no more "down time" at WDW which I agree with because Disney has done a great job at marketing the "off seasons."
The DW and I did the behind the scenes tour at MK this past January and I asked our tour guide if there are any plans for a 5th park. He responded that nothing is in the works because when Disney opened AK it pulled so many people from the other 3 parks.
I wonder at what point will it take Disney to reconsider(assuming that what our tour guide said was "fact") their 5th park decision.

 

[akadada]

I agree completely. There is much to explore beyond Disney.
I also agree that Disney is one of our cheaper vacations each year.
And to the PP comparing prices to 2003 etc I ask
"Have you been to the grocery store lately, or filled your car with gas" . Everything is more expensive - seems that is the way it is in the world - not just Disney.
Good Luck

Inflation since 2003 has been approximately 2.4%

Day pass since 2003 has been approximately 5.5%

I can't find data on yty increases for hotel rooms except mousesavers assumes 3.2% when comparing DVC.

The point being: Factually Disney adjustments far exceed inflation, While the quality of the experience has decreased anecdotally for some. Myself included.

 

[maxiesmom]

Inflation since 2003 has been approximately 2.4%

Day pass since 2003 has been approximately 5.5%

I can't find data on yty increases for hotel rooms except mousesavers assumes 3.2% when comparing DVC.

The point being: Factually Disney adjustments far exceed inflation, While the quality of the experience has decreased anecdotally for some. Myself included.

Just curious, but you give the increase on a day pass as 5.5%. Is that a one day pass? What percent has a 7 day pass increased? I'm wondering if the increase is the same, higher, or lower.

I would also guess that the increase was deemed necessary to pay for the expansion of the Magic Kingdom. Leveling a bunch of buildings and building new ones can't be cheap. Not to mention most roller coasters cost a lot of money to engineer and build.

 

[kbelle8995]

I understand what the OP means. I live close but I'm going less. I have downsized considerable in the last 10 years. I was staying at moderates now I am either staying at a value or an off property hotel. I have downsized from annual to seasonal pass. I also go to more off property restaurants due to price and the decrease quality of food found on property. Since the dining plan was introduced the selection of menu items has become more limited.

I think if you live close such as in Florida. The Floridian discount helps a great deal, I wouldn't be able to go without it. I also don't go at peak times and have been enough that I understand the system.

I am on the fence on the RFID system.

 

[TeresaWen]

we too are going less...we retired in 2012 so we are traveling more and have seen what our money can get us at other resorts. Larger, more comfortable rooms, ocean views, having dinner when we want without having to plan 6 months out - hey we can take a last minute trip but with all the planning required now at Disney that is out of the question!

I so agree that the prices are getting to the point of making us question spending our vacation dollars at Disney when there is a whole big world out there. Trying out an all inclusive resort in the Caribbean for the first time shortly. For 8 nights in an ocean front SUITE with all unlimited drinks, snacks, and meals, it is costing us half of what just a room at Disney costs. Then add in the ever escalating ticket prices and food which for the most part is overpriced for the quality and atmosphere.

And I do feel like we are getting just a bit less every year. Not enough that someone new would notice but for those of us that have been fans for years you cannot compare Disney of today to the Disney of even just 5 or 6 years ago. So much taken away. Remember when they would NEVER do any kind of maintenance in the park during the day - it was all done at night and like MAGIC all was perfect in the morning.

Not relaxing any more with all the planning required and right not just not worth the money. Not saying never, just not every year anymore.

 

[gwmort]

Not necessarily because of the prices or changes, but we have also decided that we are going to go from an every year family to a once every third year family.

We're DVC, so instead of using our points every year, we'll bank a year then the following year borrow from the next and use 3 years of points in a single trip to stay longer in a nicer room each time we do go.

Its just been hitting me lately how few family vacations we have left before the kids grow up/out, and there are lots of other vacation experiences I want to have with them too.

 

[akadada]

Just curious, but you give the increase on a day pass as 5.5%. Is that a one day pass? What percent has a 7 day pass increased? I'm wondering if the increase is the same, higher, or lower.

I would also guess that the increase was deemed necessary to pay for the expansion of the Magic Kingdom. Leveling a bunch of buildings and building new ones can't be cheap. Not to mention most roller coasters cost a lot of money to engineer and build.

Allears had the data. No on one week, but remember the first few days of any pass make up the majority of cost.

 

[Stinky_Pete]

Inflation since 2003 has been approximately 2.4%

Day pass since 2003 has been approximately 5.5%

I can't find data on yty increases for hotel rooms except mousesavers assumes 3.2% when comparing DVC.

The point being: Factually Disney adjustments far exceed inflation, While the quality of the experience has decreased anecdotally for some. Myself included.

I agree.

You also have to take into account what you get for your ticket pricing. When I started going regularly, no-expiration was a given on most tickets, and hopping was included on a four day pass or longer. Then they decided to charge almost the same amount of money, but now give you the privilege of paying extra for those features if you wanted them. That was a huge effective cost increase to get what had been included automatically.

I remember when the "break even" point for an AP was more than 8 park days. So if you were going to be spending more than 8 days in the parks you might as well get an AP. What is it now? I think it's over ten days because you can't add any more than ten days to a MYW ticket.

And the dining plan? In 2008 they took away the appetizer and gratuity and lowered the price by a dollar to something like $37/night I think. Now look at the price! What is it for 2013? Almost $56/night?

Inflation has only been running around 2-ish percent per year over the past five years so you can't just blame it on "everything is more expensive!"

 

[SolitaryPhoenix]

I agree that the prices seem to have gone up and there's a little less 'magic' going on, but we still love it and will still go. We live less than an hour away, so the journey itself is neither long nor expensive, fortunately. Also, my family unit consists of me (50), DD16, and Mom (77). My nephew, 15, often joins us on trips and vacations. Mom loves Disney and intensely dislikes change. So our vacation plans, even just weekend jaunts, are very much dictated by doing the things she likes to do, frankly while she can really enjoy doing them - it sucks to say that or see it in black and white, but it's true. One of the things she doesn't want to change is trips to Disney. The other locations we'll be looking at for vacations in the next couple of years are to NY, which is our home state and where many of my mom's family still lives, and Colonial Williamsburg, which we've been to several times and Mom adores visiting; thankfully so do DD and myself!

 

[eliza61]

We cut back the last couple of years. for us it could be a few things.

1) we use to go annually so we maybe suffering burnout.
2) service has declined imo. don't know where else folks travel but sorry disneys service is not top notch especially for what they charge. In fact go down the street to the new Waldorf (which is some times cheaper than a disney deluxe) then let's talk quality.
3) My biggie is food. which I think anyone who has gone for a few years will agree has also gone down.

Maybe you just need a break. we still go but now we go for a few days, we always have a car so we can get 1 or 2 great meals offsite.

A couple of years ago we went to Paris for a few hundred bucks more. totally different experience and my kids had just as much fun (and food was 1000000X's better).

I love the mouse world but it's no longer the be all and end all of vacations for me.
This year we're doing London and Vegas.

It's a big world you can go other places and still love the mouseworld.

 

[dadddio]

It might have taken you 15 seconds, but it took us much, much longer the 1st week of January. The line to get into DHS was all the way back to the bag check line for non RFID tickets, while there was no line for the RFID tickets. That doesn't seem fair to me - as we were staying onsite, and had tickets purchased from Disney - only they were AP's.

That sounds like a bummer. However, it is almost certainly an issue that is going to be resolved super quickly.

You are right, fast pass + hasn't started yet, but if it is rolled out the way it has been talked about, it will drastically alter the way we enjoy Disney.

I choose not to assume that internet supposition is correct.

We are military and get to take advantages of military discounts. However, this year the offer is $184 for 4 day hopper plus waterpark. Military member can get 6 of these tix a year. Sounds good, but not compared to 2003 military offer. Military member got FREE 5 day hopper with water park. Up to 10 friends & family could get the 5 day hopper/water park tux for $99 each.

Not only does that discount sound good, but it is good. It's a little awesome that you used to be able to get free tickets, but they are now selling them to you for about half price. That is a very good deal that you should be thankful for.