Disney pricing the middle class out

[dlavender]

I would like to amend my earlier post. I noticed today that the September room discounts are available and the ASPR is at $78, very close to the price four years ago. I am happy to announce that I was wrong!

 

[NuttyDisneyDad]

No offense but if u dont like it then dont go.....im middle class and Disney could raise their rates for a 1 day park ticket to 200 and I would still go no questions asked. I drank the kool-aid long ago lol

 

[LadyDiznee123]

No offense but if u dont like it then dont go.....im middle class and Disney could raise their rates for a 1 day park ticket to 200 and I would still go no questions asked. I drank the kool-aid long ago lol

This is what I was saying in my post. People who want to go will go and if they have to save for it they will save for it.

 

[jimsanfilippo]

I understand that the cost of the Disney World experience has risen quite a bit faster than the rate of inflation, but WDW is constantly improving and adding new things. I think the author of the article either ignored that (along with rides costing additional monies after admission in 1971) or the article was purposely slanted in order to illicit an emotional response from the reader (so they would do things like post it on a Disney discussion board).

I also just can't get past this statement by a woman commenting after the article, "our family makes 6 figures (granted in a high cost of living area) and we can't afford a Disney vacation in Orlando. Even if we drive for two days and stay in a time share option. The price for admission, food, modest souvenirs, etc. is that expensive."

I'm sorry, but if you're making over $100,000 per year and want to go to WDW on a budget every 3-5 years it certainly should not be that big of a deal. You can easily keep the total cost under $3,000 for 5 days for a family of 4 by driving there (even if it takes two days each way as she states, which we personally do each time we go), staying off-property, buying your food off-property, getting discounted admission from a 3rd party, etc.

But sure, if you need to fly there and rent a SUV, stay on-property, go for 10 days during peak-season, eat 8 character meals, buy park-hopper passes with water park admissions directly from Disney, and spend $500 on souvenirs, then yes, you might not be able to afford it.

 

[TT77]

They would have to be crazy to intentionally try to price out the middle class, the All-Star and Value Resorts plus the meal plans are offered as an option to make a Disney vacation more affordable to a large cross section of people, and at the same time they are adding on more things like hard ticket late night events, $60 dessert parties and $2000 bungalows for people who want and don't mind paying for those perks

The ticket prices keep going up because they keep building more attractions. When The Magic Kingdom opened in 1971 it only had about 12 attractions, and there was no Space Mountain, Big Thunder, Splash, or Pirates on opening day. At the moment they're entering into a building boom, at all 4 parks, that's what the increased ticket prices are going towards. It's seriously annoying right now but when construction is complete the prices will level off or drop, they are already e-mailing out these surveys about new tiered ticket prices with different park hopper options, because they know if the middle class can't to go to Disney they will go out of business

 

[theyoungs07]

So according to these charts, I'm slightly above middle class...who knew, I guess my dad was right when he told me I should get to college and get a degree that would be able to support my family. Some definitely don't have this luxury, but I'm surprised by this data that I'm over that line for my state.

I have 8 kids, this past trip I paid for 6 of them. We go every other year and we save for it as a goal. We have primarily stayed offsite since lodging for 10 is crazy pricey without DVC. I don't feel that they are against us since we're offsite...once inside we are treated exactly the same as someone staying in one of their hotels. Once you are in the park, they don't care if you are in the GF or in the local HoJo. I can't really comment on FP+ as we did tack on 4 nights onsite in connecting rooms since we knew our window of doing so is quickly closing. We had 60 day selection, so it went fine.

I see a lot of people complaining about the economics of this, but they don't even think about market prices. Have any of you tried going to a local Six Flags lately? I can get a discounted price for my semi-local park for $55 a person, then if I want their fast-pass type thing it ranges between $35--$75(!) more per person. There is no comparison in what you get for your money. I suppose that means that the title should be "Vacation Spots are Pricing Out the Middle Class." We like to go to a waterpark/hotel every once in a while, but it costs my family $400 per day just for to stay and play, again, alot less bang for our buck. So we choose to eschew these types of trips and save for a longer period of time for WDW. We drive because 9*any number is more than driving.

Tickets are high, but I don't like to spend 4 days driving for a 5 day trip, so we get 10-day hoppers, they cost my family around $40 per person per day...not bad for our entertainment value.

Memories are worth more than money to me, we don't gain lasting memories from a McMansion or fancy cars or designer clothes for my kids. We make memories by getting away from hectic day-to-day life in the one place where everyone in my family (two adults, 8 kids from 13 down to infant) has a great time. I could maybe go cheaper and drive 15 hours, have my kids get out of the car and I can declare "Look kids, there's Mt Rushmore" than drag them back into the car and head home...but that's not the type of memories I choose to save up for. Time with kids while they are kids is worth so much to me.

This discussion reminds me of the many times we've heard other couples tell us "We wish I (the wife) could stay home, but we just can't afford it." But they can afford a $300k house and fancy cars, and a pool, and, and and... It's all about the life you choose and how you choose to live it. Own it, live it, enjoy it, just don't spend it blaming others for the things you can't seem to have. If someone is in the middle class and wants to get there, maybe only once, they'll get there...it's all about what you want and the sacrifices along the way to get there.

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

I would like to amend my earlier post. I noticed today that the September room discounts are available and the ASPR is at $78, very close to the price four years ago. I am happy to announce that I was wrong!

But if you look at newly released prices for 2016, those value seasons are getting shorter and shorter. Hotel rates for some dates in late summer and early Fall increased by as much as 17%

 

[Planogirl]

They would have to be crazy to intentionally try to price out the middle class, the All-Star and Value Resorts plus the meal plans are offered as an option to make a Disney vacation more affordable to a large cross section of people, and at the same time they are adding on more things like hard ticket late night events, $60 dessert parties and $2000 bungalows for people who want and don't mind paying for those perks

The ticket prices keep going up because they keep building more attractions. When The Magic Kingdom opened in 1971 it only had about 12 attractions, and there was no Space Mountain, Big Thunder, Splash, or Pirates on opening day. At the moment they're entering into a building boom, at all 4 parks, that's what the increased ticket prices are going towards. It's seriously annoying right now but when construction is complete the prices will level off or drop, they are already e-mailing out these surveys about new tiered ticket prices with different park hopper options, because they know if the middle class can't to go to Disney they will go out of business

A building boom at all 4 parks? They just built something at MK so I'll give you that one and something is happening at AK. All we have are rumors about DHS and a small overlay at Epcot, at least so far. That and a company making tons of money even without increasing ticket prices.

Disney did built a lot at one time but they've been pretty flat for quite a while now. I definitely hope that the DHS rumors are true because that park is a mess.

 

[crazy4wdw]

But if you look at newly released prices for 2016, those value seasons are getting shorter and shorter. Hotel rates for some dates in late summer and early Fall increased by as much as 17%

The room I have booked for this October at POR is $210/night without a discount. For the same week in October 2016, the rate jumps to $270/night. They have got to be kidding - $270/night for a moderate?

 

[dlavender]

The moderates have definitely gotten out of hand. Perhaps that is what the article is really pointing out. We did CBR two years ago with the in-laws and with discounting the price was in the $130s. This was a value season of course, but no way would I pay what they are charging these days, and especially 2016 rates. During our proposed trip this September, CSR rooms are around $150. Not too bad, just IMO not worth double a stay at POP or ASSR. I just don't see the value at >200 for those resorts/rooms. I am happy that they are keeping the values low, but I did notice that the value seasons are shrinking. Also, I cannot believe that they get >$160 for a value room during peak times. I understand supply and demand, and good for them, but $160, really? Sheesh! We will keep traveling during value seasons, and hopefully they remain!

 

[LadyDiznee123]

I too as well have to say that the moderates have gotten out of hand.

 

[Castle2Castle]

The room I have booked for this October at POR is $210/night without a discount. For the same week in October 2016, the rate jumps to $270/night. They have got to be kidding - $270/night for a moderate?

That caveat (bold) is pretty significant, though. Beyond the peak-season and off-season pricing that are more visible when looking at rooms on Disney's site, there are the less visible price discounts for certain memberships, groups and regions that not everybody will see or necessarily be eligible for. Even among the discounts with broad eligibility, not everyone will be so price sensitive as to keep an eye out for them.

This happens pretty much every weekend all around the country when retailers send out pamphlets of coupons to use at their store. If you're more price sensitive and have the time to invest, you can grab some pretty good savings in the store -- there has been at least one television show and numerous articles around extreme couponing for examples. Others who are less price sensitive may just grab a couple obvious ones, or not use them to their fullest extent; and others still just toss them in the bin for recycling.

Companies generally aren't going to turn down a higher price if and when they can get it. Pricing high from the outset with strategically placed discounts later -- some of which are informed by earlier sales at the higher price -- lets them grab more revenue where they can from the less price sensitive customers without necessarily pricing out an entire market segment with a single flat price increase.

 

[Planogirl]

So when is Value Season now?

I just priced the Disney resorts on Expedia for a week in early October and once I got past the $719 per night for the Grand Floridian (really?! ) I found the two PO resorts at around $195 and CBR at $247. People pay these prices though so Disney will charge these amounts.

For what it's worth, the Royal Pacific at Universal is $227.

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

That caveat (bold) is pretty significant, though. Beyond the peak-season and off-season pricing that are more visible when looking at rooms on Disney's site, there are the less visible price discounts for certain memberships, groups and regions that not everybody will see or necessarily be eligible for. Even among the discounts with broad eligibility, not everyone will be so price sensitive as to keep an eye out for them.

This happens pretty much every weekend all around the country when retailers send out pamphlets of coupons to use at their store. If you're more price sensitive and have the time to invest, you can grab some pretty good savings in the store -- there has been at least one television show and numerous articles around extreme couponing for examples. Others who are less price sensitive may just grab a couple obvious ones, or not use them to their fullest extent; and others still just toss them in the bin for recycling.

Companies generally aren't going to turn down a higher price if and when they can get it. Pricing high from the outset with strategically placed discounts later -- some of which are informed by earlier sales at the higher price -- lets them grab more revenue where they can from the less price sensitive customers without necessarily pricing out an entire market segment with a single flat price increase.

The point is that is a $60 increase, almost 30%. There might be a discount, but the discounts have also gotten smaller.

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

So when is Value Season now?

I just priced the Disney resorts on Expedia for a week in early October and once I got past the $719 per night for the Grand Floridian (really?! ) I found the two PO resorts at around $195 and CBR at $247. People pay these prices though so Disney will charge these amounts.

For what it's worth, the Royal Pacific at Universal is $227.

In 2016, instead of spending 9 nights in a moderate at WDW, we will probably spend 5 nights at Pop and the head over to Universal.

 

[minnie-apple-mouse]

So when is Value Season now?

I just priced the Disney resorts on Expedia for a week in early October and once I got past the $719 per night for the Grand Floridian (really?! ) I found the two PO resorts at around $195 and CBR at $247. People pay these prices though so Disney will charge these amounts.

For what it's worth, the Royal Pacific at Universal is $227.

The Values are $98 then-not too bad, we used to pay that for RPR.

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

So when is Value Season now?

I just priced the Disney resorts on Expedia for a week in early October and once I got past the $719 per night for the Grand Floridian (really?! ) I found the two PO resorts at around $195 and CBR at $247. People pay these prices though so Disney will charge these amounts.

For what it's worth, the Royal Pacific at Universal is $227.

Looking a Mousesavers 2016 rates for All Star Sport which is usually the cheapest of the Values. Value season is Jan 10-14 and Jan 18-Feb 6. No value season rates in late summer/ early Fall.

The Values are $98 then-not too bad, we used to pay that for RPR.

Rack rates for All Star Sports for the last two weeks of September and the first week in October 2016 are $127/$162 including taxes. At CBR it's $215/$252. Columbus Day Weekend rates are more expensive than Thanksgiving or the 4th of July.

 

[Planogirl]

We really need to try Pop Century. We didn't care for the Allstars at all so it's been difficult to give Pop a chance.

 

[rteetz]

We really need to try Pop Century. We didn't care for the Allstars at all so it's been difficult to give Pop a chance.

Pop is better. We stayed there the year it opened. I haven't been back since but we did like it.

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

We really need to try Pop Century. We didn't care for the Allstars at all so it's been difficult to give Pop a chance.

I went with All Stars cause they usually the cheapest. We've never stayed at one, but we really like Pop. On this trip we're spending one night at AoAto check it out, but I can't justify paying rack rate for a whole stay there.