Do You Think Non-Dis Vets are Beginning to Notice Penny-Pinching?

[HashberryOTG]

Not much they can do when they're told 'it's on tomorrows truck', just to find out that isn't true. This is happening, and is real, even for companies the size of Disney. No matter how big you are, it doesn't create solutions no matter how much $ you throw at it. They somewhat recently (couple of weeks) received a shipment of Christmas items they sold out of quickly over Christmas, to find out they had been sitting in a shipping container the entire time. I was told by a reliable source they kept being told 'it's coming, it will be there in time'. I imagine some Disney receiving depart was like.... now?? Gee, thanks.

I think it's fair to be frustrated, and every company is judged for things in their control or not. That's real also. The discount for no carrying case was in the very next day. I think they should have been able to run it up the chain until they got to someone allowed to ok making the discount manually, but I don't know the current limitations on discounts in their IT system to know if they even CAN anymore.

 

[Aluminum Falcon]

Not much they can do when they're told 'it's on tomorrows truck', just to find out that isn't true. This is happening, and is real, even for companies the size of Disney. No matter how big you are, it doesn't create solutions no matter how much $ you throw at it. They somewhat recently (couple of weeks) received a shipment of Christmas items they sold out of quickly over Christmas, to find out they had been sitting in a shipping container the entire time. I was told by a reliable source they kept being told 'it's coming, it will be there in time'. I imagine some Disney receiving depart was like.... now?? Gee, thanks.

I think it's fair to be frustrated, and every company is judged for things in their control or not. That's real also. The discount for no carrying case was in the very next day. I think they should have been able to run it up the chain until they got to someone allowed to ok making the discount manually, but I don't know the current limitations on discounts in their IT system to know if they even CAN anymore.

I think that’s a fair assessment

 

[k5xs]

I

would argue that they could have been undercharging back in the day, but that’s not really my point. No business raises prices based on inflation alone, they raise prices based on what they think they can get back. You don’t have to like it, I don’t love it either, paying less is always better for the consumer, but Disney has been raising prices above inflation for decades, (as you pointed out) and they have had NO problem filling their parks. Excuse the language, but why the hell would they change course now, because consumers don’t like price increases, isn’t a valid reason. Disney is a business first and foremost, and if they went to shareholder meetings telling everyone, we could charge more and get it, but we don’t think that’s fair, they would be taken to task. Disney will continue to charge more until people stop seeing the value in their product, if/ when that happens, they will either drop pricing, or try and add value to their product (ie. a5th gate), until that happens, they can and should charge more. Everyone’s personal feelings about this is garbage to Disney until they start seeing less crowds.

I agree that our carping--which I know I am doing--won't move Disney on any of this. As you say, it will be only when they see lower attendance that they will react.

I suppose they may have been undercharging at some point. But as far as I know the parks have over the years been reasonably profitable at those prices along the way. So they built a value equation that had pricing in what I would call an "average family affordable" level. WDC is free to change its pricing anytime it wants to, and so they have. What I think unfortunate, though, is that their recent hikes have moved them away from that affordable pricing. To their good fortune, there is still strong demand apparently, so this may be a good move corporately. But I wonder if they aren't destroying multi-generational goodwill in the process. I suppose time will tell.

And overall, I think in this economic/pandemic climate, I for one feel gouged. The pace of decreases in value coupled with increases in prices has been rapid, and it comes across as a straightforward try at "Let's see what the market will bear." That strikes me as a "guest" the antithesis of goodwill.

And to an even greater point, it seems awfully "un-magical."

 

[Aluminum Falcon]

I agree that our carping--which I know I am doing--won't move Disney on any of this. As you say, it will be only when they see lower attendance that they will react.

I suppose they may have been undercharging at some point. But as far as I know the parks have over the years been reasonably profitable at those prices along the way. So they built a value equation that had pricing in what I would call an "average family affordable" level. WDC is free to change its pricing anytime it wants to, and so they have. What I think unfortunate, though, is that their recent hikes have moved them away from that affordable pricing. To their good fortune, there is still strong demand apparently, so this may be a good move corporately. But I wonder if they aren't destroying multi-generational goodwill in the process. I suppose time will tell.

And overall, I think in this economic/pandemic climate, I for one feel gouged. The pace of decreases in value coupled with increases in prices has been rapid, and it comes across as a straightforward try at "Let's see what the market will bear." That strikes me as a "guest" the antithesis of goodwill.

And to an even greater point, it seems awfully "un-magical."

I think the market is dealing with huge demand coupled with limited products, that spells higher prices for less. It should work itself out over the next few years, but for now it’s what we’re in for.

I do always find it funny, that at the core of the “magic” is cost

 

[k5xs]

I think the market is dealing with huge demand coupled with limited products, that spells higher prices for less. It should work itself out over the next few years, but for now it’s what we’re in for.

I do always find it funny, that at the core of the “magic” is cost

Please don’t misrepresent what I posted.

I did not say the cost was not magical.

What I said was that a “whatever the market will bear” approach to pricing is.

 

[Aluminum Falcon]

Please don’t misrepresent what I posted.

I did not say the cost was not magical.

What I said was that a “whatever the market will bear” approach to pricing is.

I think I misread your original post, my mistake

 

[KYMickey]

You're justifying an act that I think some of us are getting fed up with. Guests are already paying outrageous prices for hotel rooms and I think you and I both know that. I, too, used to root for Disney and look the other way, but I'm beginning to get turned off by things that go beyond just cost. I shouldn't have to reserve a spot at a park so Disney can see how many CMs they need for that day. Not my problem. I shouldn't have to pre-order snacks or drinks or most QS meals....to me that is a spur of the moment vacation aspect. I am 25 years old. 25! I HATED being glued to my phone on my last trip in October, constantly checking to see when I could apply my next LL or when I needed to order my food by. I wanted to live in the moment....not the stress Disney was contributing to. I pay to ESCAPE stress, not be in it.

I couldn't agree more! A vacation is supposed to be just that, relaxation and doing what you want to do when you want to do it. Trying to plan a trip to Disney now is more work than work in many cases, you have to plan your strategy months in advance, nowhere you have to be when and like what you get when you get there instead of doing an alternative. It makes a vacation far from a vacation.

 

[closetmickey]

I remember Disney would replace your hat if you lost it on a ride or your balloon if it popped. Where did that customer service go? (Rhetorical question, I know where it went, to $hapek and friends )

Exactly. I’ll always remember when my daughter lost her sugar stick on Big Thunder and they gave her a credit to replace it at the candy store. So many magical moments never to be seen again…

 

[BrianL]

Exactly. I’ll always remember when my daughter lost her sugar stick on Big Thunder and they gave her a credit to replace it at the candy store. So many magical moments never to be seen again…

I'm curious why people say this? Is it policy now not to replace items like that? They never used to always do it, but CM's were empowered to make those calls. Has that changed? I had an experience back in October where it was a bit of a tough day - lost my phone, my buddy was having a bit of a diabetic sugar crash, and we were in Main Street Confectionary so he could buy a candy bar. The young lady at the counter picked up on our bit of frustration, asked how things were going, and tossed on a discount just to help us have a little bit better of an evening. She was awesome, and we did have a better evening - watched Enchantment AND HarmonioUS! And, less than 24 hours after I lost it, they even found my phone! It wasn't such a bad time.