Disney's Price Increases are obscene....

[bytheblood]

Originally Posted by DisLee View Post
WDSearcher



How many businesses do you own WDSearcher?

I own just one business. I've had to LOWER my prices over the last few years because my competitors are charging less. If I decided to RAISE my prices instead of lowering them, I'd be unemployed right now.


You can choose to believe it or not. But the price you charge for services and goods is DIRECTLY linked to the state of the economy.

I'm not the only one that has decided enough is enough. There are and will be many, many more to follow. It's a sign of the times we are living in.

Hmm - in Texas, the price of literally everything has gone up, yet quality, customer service and portion sizes have gone down. Sounds like the same complaints about Disney.

• A big mouth burger at Chili's used to be just that, not so much anymore, but the dinner is a few dollars more.
• My glass of tea at a restaurant is about 75 cents higher than it was in 2010, but it doesn't taste any better, the glass is the same size and I get the same number of refills.
• I pay more for gas (like the rest of the country), but I am not getting any further on a tank than I did before.
• The customer service at the grocery stores, Best Buy, restaurants, local shoppes, etc have gone downhill, but I am paying more for everything.

I don't really see Disney doing anything that is any different from the rest of the businesses in the US.

 

[vacationer1954]

As long as people are complaining about how long the lines are, Disney is not charging as much as they should for admission. They aren't running attractions part-time as much as Universal does, so the long lines show that the prices are worth it.

 

[kathy884]

This is just three years worth of data, but may be of interest. Attendance was pretty stready / relatively flat over these recession years (Something quite a few posters have alluded too)

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_amusement_park_attendance_figures

Wikipedia is using these source reports (e.g. link for 2010) and comment below comes from this
http://www.themeit.com/etea/2010Report.pdf

Comments of possible interest:
“The remarkable success of Universal Studios’ Wizarding World of Harry
Potter lifted attendance at Universal’s two parks in Orlando by more than 1.7
million visitors in 2010,” said Brian Sands, AICP, vice president, Economics
at AECOM. “Universal Studios Hollywood was also up significantly due
to the opening of King Kong 360 3-D. World of Color, at Disney California
Adventure, helped offset a mostly flat year for Disney parks. These are great
examples of how valuable strong content and excellent execution are for the
themed entertainment industry, in what remains a challenging economic
environment.”

Attendance numbers 2008 / 2009 / 2010

MK:
17,063,000
17,233,000
16,972,000

Epcot:
10,935,000
10,990,000
10,825,000

DHS:
9,608,000
9,700,000
9,603,000

AK:
9,540,000
9,590,000
9,686,000

 

[kathy884]

Oops duplicate post

 

[DisLee]

The price that I, and you, and any business can charge is directly linked to supply and demand and not to the state of the economy. While a weak economy can drive down demand if your customers do not have resources to acquire your product, a product that is still in demand can continue to charge a premium. A product with no demand cannot command a premium price even in a great economy.

As you have already back-tracked with your second sentence, you seem to understand exactly what I'm saying.

A weak economy WILL drive down demand. Let this soak in. The average American is earning LESS money and has LOST 35% of their net worth over the last 5 years.

Add to that, the last few years have seen RECORD foreclosures, RECORD unemployment and RECORD bankruptcies. Those are OBVIOUS signs of a weak economy.

Americans are hurting. As much as I hate to say it.

This economy may not have had an effect on you. But millions have lost their jobs, homes and life savings over the last few years.

 

[DisLee]

They need to drive down the number of day-trippers slightly to make room for the more valuable tourists, and they are doing it through yield management. They are making room for the family from Iowa who is going to spend $5,000 in a week rather than the five locals who will spend $30 each.

Soon, Disney will be pricing out the family from Iowa to make room for more Brazilians. According to you, that would be a good thing.

So you folks from Iowa better book your trips now.

 

[DisLee]

Hmm - in Texas, the price of literally everything has gone up, yet quality, customer service and portion sizes have gone down. Sounds like the same complaints about Disney.


I don't really see Disney doing anything that is any different from the rest of the businesses in the US.

what color is the sky in your world?

Low prices help McDonald's beat profit expectations

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/22/us-mcdonalds-idUSTRE76L28Y20110722

Despite Rising Costs, Burger King Adds to Value Menu
"Unlike our competitors, Burger King Corp. is helping cash-strapped customers by adding to our BK Value Menu, not cutting back," said Russ Klein, Burger King's president-global strategy

http://adage.com/article/news/rising-costs-burger-king-adds-menu/130575/

Sam's Club New Lower Prices

http://www.samsclub.com/sams/shop/category.jsp?categoryId=3090101

The Home Depot Guaranteed Low Price
We've lowered prices on over a thousand items storewide.
Look for the "New Lower Price" icon.

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/catalog/servlet/ContentView?pn=PM_New_Lower_Price


Wal-Mart sharpens low-price focus

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/11/us-walmart-idUSTRE73A3E520110411

J.C. Penney slashing prices on all merchandise

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/story/2012-01-25/penneys-price-overhaul/52787388/1

Sears - Retail Competitors - Stores
If you find a lower price on an identical brand and model number currently available for sale at another local competitor's retail store, Sears will match that price and give you 10% of the difference.

http://www.sears.com/cspricematch/nb-100000000022522

LOWES - New Lower Price is just part of our ongoing commitment to give you even greater savings by lowering our Everyday Low Prices whenever we can.

http://www.lowes.com/cd_Everyday+Low+Prices_787241445_

Staples price–match guarantee.
How does Staples’ price–match guarantee work?
If you find a lower price on a new identical item, just show us the lower price when you buy the item at Staples and we will match the price

http://www.staples.com/sbd/content/help/using/general_match.html

 

[goofy4tink]

Opinions are open to interpretation. Facts are not. Keep defending with all your might. But you can't fight facts.

#1 - Prices at Disney have increased 32-42% over the last 7 years.

#2 - During these same 7 years, The average American's income has decreased and their net worth has decreased 35%!.


Keep telling yourself the increases are justified. Battle it out with anyone on here who dares to disagree. But at the end of the day, you'll still have to admit that price increases of 32-42% during a time when most American's have lost 35% of their net worth, is bad business.

I have to agree that costs have gone up, a lot, for WDW..and for everything involved with being at WDW. BUT..here's the rub. While Disney will never reduce their prices, for anything, they will put out those resort offers to entice people onsite. Back after 9/11, the cost to stay at WDW was really low....huge discounts on rooms. When the parks have fewer people in them, Disney lowers room rates. Pure and simple. When attendance is down, free dining comes out.
Disney knows full well what it's doing. I have gone to WDW as many as 4 times a year, from NE, over the past 5 years. Now? Not going to happen. I'll be lucky if I can get there once a year. And that's due to brand new tuition costs for my dd, rising airfare, and the addtl cost of park passes. It all adds up to just too much for me to spend and still take care of my dd's tuition costs.
But, I'm pretty sure there will be someone to take my place in WDW. Haven't yet noticed a huge downturn in attendance.

The DDP was $35/adults and $10:child in 2005. It included gratuity and an appetizer. FF to current prices, which will surely increase this fall, $52-54/adults and $15-16/child. The menu options are fewer and the quality has decreased.

And that is why I seldom get the ddp anymore. It used to be a good deal. Now, people tend to think of it as a convenience..prepaid food I guess. I did get the deluxe ddp last fall for our trip with another couple. But, we wanted to eat at a lot of 'nicer' places, so the deluxe plan made sense for us. Otherwise?? Nope, not buying the ddp ever again.

 

[GadgetRick]

Once again, this is not true. The US dollar is relatively strong at the moment, and is at or near 5-10 year highs against the Euro and Pound.

It's stronger than it's been in the last few years but far from strong.

Also, we're talking about increases over the last few years...when the dollar was amazingly weak...

 

[GadgetRick]

Universal increased first in Florida. I don't think it matters who is first, they both plan to increase prices, almost in collusion.

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com...ices-single-park-offering-unlimited-admission

I'm not trying to defend Disney, I just don't agree with the person who said "But the price you charge for services and goods is DIRECTLY linked to the state of the economy". That's pretty rare, most businesses get away with increasing prices, how often do you see decreases in prices. Not anything I have bought recently.

You don't think Universal knows when Disney is going to increase prices? We know here and we're not in the business. Make no mistake, Universal, Seaword, etc. follow the Mouse, not the other way around...

 

[vicki_c]

I'll never say a business shouldn't raise prices occasionally but Disney has been raising prices just because they can rather than because of some specific need or reason.

This is the way for-profit business works. If you don't think that, I think you're being naive. Businesses may keep saying that they are raising prices because their costs are going up (and certainly that's a part of it I'm sure), but even without cost increases, a company that wants to increase their profits would be entirely foolish to not raise prices if they can command those prices. And they will continue to do so until they reach the point that it is not a benefit to them (decreased attendance for example). You seem to think that Disney should be altruistic.

 

[North of Mouse]

what color is the sky in your world?

Low prices help McDonald's beat profit expectations

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/22/us-mcdonalds-idUSTRE76L28Y20110722

Despite Rising Costs, Burger King Adds to Value Menu
"Unlike our competitors, Burger King Corp. is helping cash-strapped customers by adding to our BK Value Menu, not cutting back," said Russ Klein, Burger King's president-global strategy

http://adage.com/article/news/rising-costs-burger-king-adds-menu/130575/

Sam's Club New Lower Prices

http://www.samsclub.com/sams/shop/category.jsp?categoryId=3090101

The Home Depot Guaranteed Low Price
We've lowered prices on over a thousand items storewide.
Look for the "New Lower Price" icon.

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/catalog/servlet/ContentView?pn=PM_New_Lower_Price


Wal-Mart sharpens low-price focus

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/11/us-walmart-idUSTRE73A3E520110411

J.C. Penney slashing prices on all merchandise

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/story/2012-01-25/penneys-price-overhaul/52787388/1

Sears - Retail Competitors - Stores
If you find a lower price on an identical brand and model number currently available for sale at another local competitor's retail store, Sears will match that price and give you 10% of the difference.

http://www.sears.com/cspricematch/nb-100000000022522

LOWES - New Lower Price is just part of our ongoing commitment to give you even greater savings by lowering our Everyday Low Prices whenever we can.

http://www.lowes.com/cd_Everyday+Low+Prices_787241445_

Staples price–match guarantee.
How does Staples’ price–match guarantee work?
If you find a lower price on a new identical item, just show us the lower price when you buy the item at Staples and we will match the price

http://www.staples.com/sbd/content/help/using/general_match.html

I see what you are saying, but sometimes "lowering prices" are very little, but it gets your attention, meanwhile they are "raising prices" on other items. OR, like in groceries, raising or lowering prices just a little either way, but making boxes, bottles smaller (OJ, ice cream, etc.) But I know in our area (affected by economy, sure, but less than most areas) the "lower" prices are mostly headlines (and maybe a few cents) but trust me, in the long run they are going UP. I'm one of those that DO get my $$'s worth from our Disney vacation. I'm also a very careful spender elsewhere (sales, couponing, etc.) and don't fall for every gimmick that Disney offers. Have you priced the BBB that every little darling girl HAS to have (or rather Mommy) or the teas at GF? Not saying ALL do it, but I have heard more than one say "We can't afford it, but they are little just once, or-------fill in the blank. There are many other cost cutting areas that a lot of people don't want to cut out of their "perfect" vacation, but we have a completely wonderful time with just our admission tickets - so yes, we don't complain about their prices

 

[WDSearcher]

WDSearcher



How many businesses do you own WDSearcher?

I own just one business. I've had to LOWER my prices over the last few years because my competitors are charging less. If I decided to RAISE my prices instead of lowering them, I'd be unemployed right now.


You can choose to believe it or not. But the price you charge for services and goods is DIRECTLY linked to the state of the economy.

I'm not the only one that has decided enough is enough. There are and will be many, many more to follow. It's a sign of the times we are living in.

I own one business as well -- although mine is a non-profit. My prices are actually quite in line with my consumers' net worth, since we rely on donations and other funding to a greater extent than for-profit businesses and often have to adjust pricing to fill seats or populate fundraisers.

However ... by your own definition here, you lowered your prices NOT because your customers' net worth changed. You lowered your prices because your COMPETITORS were charging less. If your competitors had held the line or had raised prices, chances are you'd have followed them, regardless of whether or not your customers had less money to spend or hadn't gotten big enough raises that year.

I never said that the prices charged for services and goods were not linked to the state of the economy. I said that Disney doesn't set its prices based on the individual American's net worth. They set their prices -- just as you do -- based on what their competitors are charging, because that is what the market will bear.

And again ... a vacation to Disney (or a vacation anywhere, really) is a luxury item. If it were a necessity, I would feel differently.

 

[Planogirl]

Don't all of these economic models really depend on what type of good is being offered? I don't think that you can compare food prices to WDW prices because one is a necessity but with a lot of competition while the other is a luxury with less competition. So while people have to buy food, there are a lot of food sources out there with someone like Wal-Mart likely helping to keep prices down. WDW only has a few themepark competitors and tends to lead the way so I don't see it as comparable.

I remember once hearing about the state of the boating industry when the economy really hit its low. Supposedly high end boats were still selling because the rich still had money to burn but the less costly boats that a regular Joe might buy weren't selling as quickly as before. So the rich were still able to go on as before but the middle class was having more difficulty. That tends to support the argument that Disney is focusing more heavily on those who are better off.

 

[GadgetRick]

I never said that the prices charged for services and goods were not linked to the state of the economy. I said that Disney doesn't set its prices based on the individual American's net worth. They set their prices -- just as you do -- based on what their competitors are charging, because that is what the market will bear.

Sorry but Disney doesn't follow anyone...certainly not their competitors. Their competitors follow what Disney does, especially with pricing.

 

[GadgetRick]

This is the way for-profit business works. If you don't think that, I think you're being naive. Businesses may keep saying that they are raising prices because their costs are going up (and certainly that's a part of it I'm sure), but even without cost increases, a company that wants to increase their profits would be entirely foolish to not raise prices if they can command those prices. And they will continue to do so until they reach the point that it is not a benefit to them (decreased attendance for example). You seem to think that Disney should be altruistic.

:::sigh:::

Thank you for the lesson in economics...

Yeah, I get that, however, when a company does something people don't like--and they complain or stop spending money with the company--a company (often times) listens. So, if enough people complain and/or (Gasp!) stop spending money on Disney, they will listen...

 

[flicx]

People on here also love to state how costs of everything else goes up.That just isn't true in whole. Seems to me gas which alot of people on here constantly say is going up has corrected and now is under 3.00 a gallon alot of places. If it stays there some grocery items will follow. Not to mention different crops and other food stuffs go up and down all the time. There is a one way trend at disney world. Prices going up, that is it. Not to mention in recent years the cut backs in sale percentages on rooms and other new regulations which have shortened value seasons and added premiums to stay over weekends.

 

[sbell111]

First, let me say that I'm no fan of paying more at WDW. That being said, Disney is a private company who's job is to increase revenues to stockholders. If they can charge more and still keep the parks/hotels/restaurants full, then that's what they should do.

 

[GadgetRick]

Seems to me gas which alot of people on here constantly say is going up has corrected and now is under 3.00 a gallon alot of places.

Where do YOU live? I'vr not seen sub-$3 gas in a looooong time.

btw, the average price of gas is currently $3.472.

Source

 

[sbell111]

:::sigh:::

Thank you for the lesson in economics...

Yeah, I get that, however, when a company does something people don't like--and they complain or stop spending money with the company--a company (often times) listens. So, if enough people complain and/or (Gasp!) stop spending money on Disney, they will listen...

This is certainly true. However, who's going to follow the OP's lead and stop going to WDW? Not me.