Disney pricing the middle class out

[CdnKayDee]

Middle Class Hmmm what is that. A new car maybe 2 a new house iphones for everyone cable internet netflix movies out a cabin and a boat. Wii Xbox 3 TVs. Supper out for Mothers day Fathers Day Birthdays Gramma Grampa Kids Birthdays the list just goes on. More like the Middle class has priced themselves out.

 

[minnie-apple-mouse]

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.

Not my point.

Expedia was searched for early Oct, results were $710 for GF and around $200 for mods, but left out $98 values-unless those aren't good enough for the middle class to afford a Disney trip.

 

[Dismom820]

i think sometimes people forget about the option to make payments…thats the only way i'm able to take my child every year…i'm a single mom, and no i cannot afford a disney trip by just paying for it straight out…but disney allows you to make payments on your trip…which is in my opinion, the best thing ever! i chose value resorts because they are cheapest, and I'm sure if i wanted to budget a little more, i could even do a moderate resort, but honestly, we only spend enough time to sleep in our rooms, we stay gone all the time while we're at disney…to us, park time is the most important, so as far as i'm concerned, i don't care what my resort or room is, give me a bed and a shower and I'm good! hahaha maybe, when my daughter is older and she's more into just relaxing, we'll choose a different type resort…but seriously, i don't mind the increase or whatever else is going on with prices, just keep the option to make payments and I'm all set! we book over a year in advance so we have PLENTY time to pay it off!

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

Middle Class Hmmm what is that. A new car maybe 2 a new house iphones for everyone cable internet netflix movies out a cabin and a boat. Wii Xbox 3 TVs. Supper out for Mothers day Fathers Day Birthdays Gramma Grampa Kids Birthdays the list just goes on. More like the Middle class has priced themselves out.

Most middle class people I know don't have a cabin or a boat. Are you saying that people shouldn't go out to eat?

Not my point.

Expedia was searched for early Oct, results were $710 for GF and around $200 for mods, but left out $98 values-unless those aren't good enough for the middle class to afford a Disney trip.

Maybe I misunderstood your post and we're talking about two different things. My point is that soon there won't be anymore value rooms available for less than $100.

 

[minnie-apple-mouse]

Maybe I misunderstood your post and we're talking about two different things. My point is that soon there won't be anymore value rooms available for less than $100.

Correct, you misunderstood.

Leaving off $98 values on a thread about pricing out the middle class was what I was pointing out.

 

[Planogirl]

Not my point.

Expedia was searched for early Oct, results were $710 for GF and around $200 for mods, but left out $98 values-unless those aren't good enough for the middle class to afford a Disney trip.

Some of us don't like the values, at least not those we've tried. That has nothing to do with being middle class but is just a preference. I'd rather stay at nicer hotels offsite for the same amount.

I suppose that we could give Pop a chance though....

 

[pmaurer74]

We have done to WDW 8 times in 5 years and in that time we are having to changes things every year to fit the original budget... less price room categories, fewer nights, etc. Now I am wanting to get a DVC to help curb that but the MFs go up every year and food and ticket prices so I am not sure. Now I find I am paying more just to watch a parade in the shade or fireworks with dessert to avoid the crowds or even holiday events. WDW has found a way to enteric you to spend more for convenience. I will say though that just yesterday I priced out 3 nights at Hershey Park and Williamsburg and they were both around $500 per night for my family.... that is comparable to WDW. My thoughts were though "do they think they are WDW? Why these prices?" So this is why we keep going back to WDW instead of these other places because I am happier there, my kids are happier there and I feel there is more value for the $ there.... for now. I really do wish the had something like an Orlando flex ticket that included all the major parks in the area.

 

[TwoMisfits]

You can do WAY better in Williamsburg per night than $500/night for a family, even on a very short stay...you can get a 2 park fun card (BG and Water Country USA) right now for $100/person to use every day for the rest of the summer. And you can get condos and timeshares cheaper than $200/night if you know where to look (and hotels most definitely). With $17/day to park, you'd looking at a 4 day trip, 3 night trip of $1075 or much less for a 4 person family (even an extra 4 days of food should only add $400 tops to those numbers and that's if you all do the BG meal deal). So, I'd reprice the short trip - it's not Disney, but for the "value" and for a short trip, Williamsburg can be a very nice place to visit (do 2 days in BG and 1 day at WC...if you wanna extend the vacation, then add on some historical sites)...

 

[minnie-apple-mouse]

Some of us don't like the values, at least not those we've tried. That has nothing to do with being middle class but is just a preference. I'd rather stay at nicer hotels offsite for the same amount.

I suppose that we could give Pop a chance though....

Oh no doubt. But IMO Disney is trying to price/offer some onsite hotel choices (at least certain times of the year) within reach of the middle class and below.

I don't think a Deluxe rate, or even a moderate rate should be the deciding factor for a family being able to afford/save for a Disney vacation. Same goes for tours/dessert parties/night parties.

 

[Planogirl]

Oh no doubt. But IMO Disney is trying to price/offer some onsite hotel choices (at least certain times of the year) within reach of the middle class and below.

I don't think a Deluxe rate, or even a moderate rate should be the deciding factor for a family being able to afford/save for a Disney vacation. Same goes for tours/dessert parties/night parties.

I agree with you. However I tell others to stay offsite so I'm not much use to Disney.

I would say that the other difficulties for many families are the passes and food. Those are whole other critters though.

 

[Annadesu]

Disney is not cheap, I will agree with that... many people can not afford to go. But my husband and I are not rich by any stretch of the imagination, and we're still going. It will take us a year of paying in small amounts to do it, but we can. We just have to watch our money until we go, and want it bad enough. lol I do feel for people struggling to pay, though.

 

[DebbieB]

There are deals out there. The Poly gets mentioned frequently, there have been posts where people got rooms for around $180 from "the agency that cannot be named on DIS boards". There's also renting DVC points, which many have discovered. Then there's DVC itself, those who invested in the first 10 to 15 years are sitting pretty now. Paid off and only paying dues. I bought in 1999, I would not be going twice a year if not for that.

If Disney was overpricing, their attendance would not be going up. As long as it's going up, what's the incentive to drop or maintain prices? I don't believe that only the rich are going to WDW.

 

[jimsanfilippo]

Yep, a great way to save money on resorts while still getting a better class of resort is to rent those DVC points! We're staying at Saratoga Springs for 7 nights (next week!) for $180/night because we rented points for $10.50/pt. They're charging $367/nt+tax for our dates at SSR otherwise. Our first 2 nights of the trip are at Pop Century for $176/nt (tax included).

This was our 4th time renting points and while a lot of people rent them out at $13-$15/pt you can find better bargains than that if you look hard enough. Twice we only paid $9/pt. The only down sides are 1) you usually have to rent them very close to your travel dates, no more than 2 months out to get the deals with people that have expiring points; 2) even if you go during a time of a free dining plan offer that will not pertain to you, so it really doesn't pay much to go during that offer.

We've gotten good at planning to stay off-property and booking a hotel that is free to cancel reservations and then trying to get cheap DVC points. It's worked all 4 times we've tried it.

 

[eXo]

When I was growing up in the 80's, Disney was a "once-in-a-youth" type of trip. I went when I was 5 and my brother (born a year later) never got to go at all.

From the perspective of a one time family trip, I'd say it is what it is.

Where it breaks down is when you have people who have made an annual event out of Disney World. I mean, have fun and go as often as you like - but I just never saw it as a repeated destination. I don't know if I am "middle-class" or not (it's a loaded word, considering politically there is no such thing as a 'lower-class' and 'upper-class' has somehow become synonymous with millionaires which would seem to suggest 95% of the country is 'middle-class', even though we all know this isn't true), but even with a great paying job and a wife who does well for herself as well - I don't considering Disney to be affordable as an annual or even semi-annual event. Maybe once every 5 years or so. Same reason i don't often go out at a steakhouse and order a $100 steak. While I *could* technically pay for it every week, it isn't sustainable or affordable to do so.

I'd argue consistently going to Disney was never meant to be sustainable. Doesn't really matter what I think though, because attendance is going up each year. So why anyone thinks people are getting "priced out" is beyond me. The numbers don't support that claim.

 

[minnie-apple-mouse]

i think sometimes people forget about the option to make payments…thats the only way i'm able to take my child every year…i'm a single mom, and no i cannot afford a disney trip by just paying for it straight out…but disney allows you to make payments on your trip…which is in my opinion, the best thing ever! i chose value resorts because they are cheapest,

Now I find I am paying more just to watch a parade in the shade or fireworks with dessert to avoid the crowds or even holiday events. WDW has found a way to enteric you to spend more for convenience. WDW instead of these other places because I am happier there, my kids are happier there and I feel there is more value for the $ there.... for now.

Disney is not cheap, I will agree with that... many people can not afford to go. But my husband and I are not rich by any stretch of the imagination, and we're still going. It will take us a year of paying in small amounts to do it, but we can. We just have to watch our money until we go, and want it bad enough.

There are deals out there. The Poly gets mentioned frequently, there have been posts where people got rooms for around $180 from "the agency that cannot be named on DIS boards". There's also renting DVC points, which many have discovered. Then there's DVC itself, those who invested in the first 10 to 15 years are sitting pretty now. Paid off and only paying dues. I bought in 1999, I would not be going twice a year if not for that.

If Disney was overpricing, their attendance would not be going up. As long as it's going up, what's the incentive to drop or maintain prices? I don't believe that only the rich are going to WDW.

Yep, a great way to save money on resorts while still getting a better class of resort is to rent those DVC points! We're staying at Saratoga Springs for 7 nights (next week!) for $180/night because we rented points for $10.50/pt. They're charging $367/nt+tax for our dates at SSR otherwise. Our first 2 nights of the trip are at Pop Century for $176/nt (tax included).

This was our 4th time renting points and while a lot of people rent them out at $13-$15/pt you can find better bargains than that if you look hard enough. Twice we only paid $9/pt.

When I was growing up in the 80's, Disney was a "once-in-a-youth" type of trip. I went when I was 5 and my brother (born a year later) never got to go at all.

From the perspective of a one time family trip, I'd say it is what it is.
but I just never saw it as a repeated destination.
I'd argue consistently going to Disney was never meant to be sustainable. Doesn't really matter what I think though, because attendance is going up each year. So why anyone thinks people are getting "priced out" is beyond me. The numbers don't support that claim.

IMO most of the "priced out" complaints are not just a WDW trip, but the upgraded WDW trip.

They "want" the mod or even deluxe resort, and a trip every year or even couple times per year, 7 to 10 day stays instead of 5, the hopper or AP, the MNSSHP or MVMCP, the dinner or drink or dessert or tour packages, the signature dining.

That does start to price out the middle class IMO. But not a regular WDW trip at a value or offsite.

 

[ArwenMarie]

When I was growing up in the 80's, Disney was a "once-in-a-youth" type of trip. I went when I was 5 and my brother (born a year later) never got to go at all.

From the perspective of a one time family trip, I'd say it is what it is.

Where it breaks down is when you have people who have made an annual event out of Disney World. I mean, have fun and go as often as you like - but I just never saw it as a repeated destination.

I think for a lot of people (most people I would bet), it's still as you describe. Where they go once during their children's childhoods but I don't think they give it much thought past that. Or maybe even two or three times as they try to take different kids at different ages. But that's it.

 

[Juliet25]

The moderates have definitely gotten out of hand.

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

IDK. Have you seen the price of the deluxes?!? Talk about out of hand! We're a family of 5, so my resort options are limited, but rack rate for a week at POR is $1676.25. At BC, it's $3580.91. We've stayed at both. I would prefer the BC, but not enough to spend an extra $1904.

As to the article itself, my family's as middle-middle class as you can get and we still manage to do Disney. Yes, it's expensive, but we do find that we get a lot of bang for the buck. We skip meals out, see movies on the cheap, and generally keep our entertainment expense low throughout the year so that we can do Disney. We looked into a cruise, but that's one experience we are definitely priced out of!

 

[rteetz]

IMO most of the "priced out" complaints are not just a WDW trip, but the upgraded WDW trip.

They "want" the mod or even deluxe resort, and a trip every year or even couple times per year, 7 to 10 day stays instead of 5, the hopper or AP, the MNSSHP or MVMCP, the dinner or drink or dessert or tour packages, the signature dining.

That does start to price out the middle class IMO. But not a regular WDW trip at a value or offsite.

Everyone's regular WDW trip is different there is no such thing as a regular trip. My regular trip is usually a week every two years in July. We have to stay in a room for five so that also adds more. Yes a five day trip with no dining, in the all stars, with no hopper is affordable for more but that's not a trip everyone can do or even wants to do. Going in the summer and during holidays is also going to increase the price but not everyone can go during other times of the year either.

 

[minnie-apple-mouse]

Everyone's regular WDW trip is different there is no such thing as a regular trip. My regular trip is usually a week every two years in July. We have to stay in a room for five so that also adds more. Yes a five day trip with no dining, in the all stars, with no hopper is affordable for more but that's not a trip everyone can do or even wants to do. Going in the summer and during holidays is also going to increase the price but not everyone can go during other times of the year either.

Exactly-Disney has no way to make everyone's trip preferences the same price (affordable). Guest "wants" or "needs" will change the cost of the visit.

Even your example shows just how the "discussion" of "pricing out the middle class" makes my point exactly.

Your going what..30 times over your lifetime? That's not exactly saving up for the WDW trip.

You "want" a hopper, you want longer than 5 days, you want onsite dining.

You "need" a room for 5 (for now I assume). Indeed that does add, but parties of 1 or 2 or even 3 still need/pay for a room for 4. And what about families of 6, 7, 11, 15? Should they have a value room available for them? Sometimes life is about choices.

You "need" to go in the summer (for now I assume), but over a lifetime for the "one WDW trip" most folks can plan when they prefer.

I "might" agree with a thread that says:

"Disney is pricing out the middle class for families of 5 that want to visit a full week every other year, stay onsite, with hoppers, onsite dining and visit in July".

But it would still depend what they do with their money the rest of the year, and if they fly etc.

 

[quagmire0]

Honestly, airfare is what really hurts us as a family, not the cost of going to Disney. If you just take tickets into consideration (we stay offsite, for way less and then have the option to eat for less as well), it's still a good value compared to what you get elsewhere. If Disney is pricing out the middle class, then the cruising industry has done that and then some.