Does anyone else feel that Disney prices are getting OUTRAGEOUS!!!!

[PortieOwner]

Just wait for the next recession--they will be begging people to go to WDW (and slashing prices). It is interesting to compare prices--offsite Orlando hotels seem to be the same cost or cheaper than what I recall paying in the late 80s and early 90s for a room.

Regarding service, I was surprised when I went last year how good service still was (although I did find the bathrooms dirtier than they used to be).

Portie

 

[Elfstar]

I think we get our money's worth, I really do. And I enjoy the totally carefree feeling I have when I'm there but I think our trips will become less frequent now because I'd rather do a trip every three or four years and not have to pinch pennies than go every year and worry about what we spend. Besides, I'd like to see some of the world someday, too. I have a cousin in Australia I've never met, and I had some wonderful relatives from Belgium - they're all gone now but I'd love to see where they came from.

 

[Mickey&Donald]

Sure, Disney is expensive.. but so is going to the movies. Two tickets plus concessions can run you $40 when all is said and done, and that experience lasts only two hours!

DH and I differentiate between "expensive" and "Disney expensive" -- Disney expensive is worth every penny.

 

[MyGoofy26]

I'm just going to sit here and because someone finally took the heat off us Oil Companies!

LMAO my first thought was to compare it to the oil companies

Seriously though, yes prices are going up at Disney but so is every other popular vacation destination. People are now willing to blow money on these sorts of luxuries so they're taking us up on that. I don't see it as "unfair" because it's not something I *need* (well, emotionally I do, LOL. . . but as much as I'd like to think it is, it's not necessary to my survival) Take oil prices, I *need* gas to get back and forth to work. Rising costs of food, utilities, etc - those are things that yes, I could cut back on, but I still *need* them. Disney trips are a luxury and I *choose* to go as long as I can justify the cost at a given time. The prices may have put trips out of reach for some, but judging by their attendance they're not being so exhorbitant with their price hikes that it's not still accessable to a large number of people. As long as the "majority" can still afford and justify those costs, that's what Disney (and every other vacation destination) will charge.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I know some of you are going to say, if you can't afford it don't go. My husband and I are working people and are looking really forward to bringing our 3 year old twins on their first vacation and we are going to pay whatever they charge but the prices are so high and seem to be getting higher every year, especially the last few years. I have a 2004 guide book that say's that the adult buffet at Crystal Palace is $19.99 and I know this year it's $27 or $28. Doesn't this seem like a big jump for just 2 years? And now the ticket prices going up for the second time in 1 year, it just seems like greed from a big company. It's like they know people will pay it so they charge as much as they can get away with, it's just so frustrating. Anyone else feel this way? Linda

Lunch is only 20.99 for adults and breakfast is only 18.99.
Are you sure you weren't looking at lunch?
I don't find Disney prices to be all that high relative to what one would compare them to.
Ever priced a big league baseball game with seats behind the plate, plus Hotdoogs, Fries, and a Drink? Ever priced an NFL game with tix at even the 30 yard line and the same food? You'll find that Disney prices, once you do a little comparing, aren't all that bad. And if you go up to the restaurants at club level some of these stadiums have, the prices are way above the comparable Disney establishment.
On hotels, I can get Value on a 3a discount at $63 during Value season. Same thing in Gulf Shores was $91.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Dinner is 27.99...........http://allearsnet.com/menu/menu_cpd.htm

I find Disney a better value for goods received than most any other entertainment expense. All entertainment is very costly.

 

[marconat]

Good reading...

 

[kaabost]

I don't like to see Disney prices go up but I DO still think thay they are a good value. We all love the place so much because it offers ALOT. Well, that all costs money. And, don't forget, Disney is a for-profit company. Yeah, they're going to charge what they can get away with (and as mentioned earlier, their share holders appreciate that). To tell you the truth, I'm surprised that Disney doesn't cost more than it does. DH and I can go for a whole week staying onsite, with the dining plan, and park hoppers for under $2000. That's alot of money but not bad for EVERYTHING that we are getting!

 

[jlovesee]

First of all I whole heartedly agree about the Six Flags thing... a Six Flags Magic Mountain ticket is more expensive then a Disneyland ticket, go figure.
BTW stay as far away from Magic Mountain as you possibly can!

Anyways... I am a capitalism person, I read Ayn Rand, subscribe to those ideas, etc etc. However, I think there is a big difference between making a fair profit and gouging people in the back.

Yes, you absolutly do owe it to your shareholders to make a profit, and make a big one. Obviously Disney has been doing quite a good job at that as of recent. They have been bucking the industry trend, and that's great. Running a magazine about Theme Parks we NEED people to want to visit the parks!

However, huge gains in the short term can sometimes drastically hurt you in the long run. I have been saying this for the past few years since the pick up started. Be careful that you don't go all stir crazy and try to make as much money as possible, because when you loss your caution the floor CAN AND WILL fall out from under you.

You keep stabbing your guests in the back long enough and for enough money and people will wise up. People as a group are for the most part pretty... uh... like to leave their brain at home (I work at the local amusement park on the weekends believe me!) However, most people are pretty smart when it comes to their money. Disney starts raising a ticket price by $4, a dining plan by a $1, a hotel by $10 and so on... people will realize this and find a nice National Park to visit instead.

I also work for the telephone company and yes people do care about price increases of a $1 or so. I get people calling and screaming my head off about it all day (I work for AT&T, and the local park and write for a magazine yes I am insane)

Like it or not, prices everywhere are getting higher, and while most rich folks (those who can afford POLY Concierge Lagoon view thats you) don't feel it AS bad, us middle class folks arn't getting the raises, bonuses, stock options, and stock dividends like you do.

The cutting has to come from somewhere, and there will come a time when Disney will say uh oh... we need to maybe cool off these rate increases. Hopefully it won't be too late.

The amusement park industry is not composed of static bubbles, it is a whole continous machine, and when one part breakes down, sometimes the whole machine will come crashing down with it.

The downward slide of closing parks, closed parks and bulldozed parks of recent I believe are not isolated incidents. Neither is the fact that Cedar Point was practically forced to lower its ticket prices by $5 this year.


Jennifer

 

[disneycutie84]

I also understand the price increase. Although I have been going on day/short weekend trips to Disneyland here in CA & am used to paying less...I was pleasantly suprised about how affordable our May trip to WDW is going to be.
2,000 for 6 nights/7days, park hoppers, & airfare from San Diego. To me, thats not bad for a week long vacation.
Yeah, its not going to be something DBf and I will be doing each year, but its within reason for us.
For the disney experience, I think its acceptable. But, I do understand how some families may feel when they have to pay alot more to bring everyone along. Wish there was some way for every family in America to experience the magic, but that just isn't possible.

 

[CDSTapisRouge]

I guess this just validates the DVC selling point that room prices (and ticket prices too) will go up, but once you buy into DVC the room price is set. Man I love that DVC

My thoughts exactlly... Best purchase I ever made. No worries about the cost of the hotel... just gotta get the family together call MS and save for food, gifts and gas.... DVC the way to go

As far as the ticket prices going up... When I heard about it on the news, I said to my hubby that at this rate our son would be paying over $100 to go to Disney for one day with his friends when he is older... but as so many others have said, we will still go, there is just something about Disney that no one else can recreate (we however are cruise-a-holics so we split most of our time between DL and Cruisin)...

 

[snusnu]

One thing I've noticed about WDW is that they are always having specials in the off season. I just got an email code for $59 Value rooms in September, which us far cheaper than hotels you can find in major cities.

Prices are outrageous everywhere. The opera company in my city used to sell tickets for $25-150. Now, they're $45 (for horrendous seats) to $300. Part of that, though, has to do with the fact that the city bailed on their promise to help pay for the renovation of the new house, os prices had to be raised to compensate.

I would rather have Disney charge more and pay their employees a living wage than charge us less and pay their employees less and sacrifice service. This is not something I do every day or even every year, so the expense is worth it to me, especially the hotel room rates, which are comparable to hotel rates in large US and European cities.

 

[Aisling]

What's unfair?

The word fair means not excessive or extreme; just; equitable; reasonable. What is unfair is Disney charging an outrageous $500 a night for a room in the CR, a so-called deluxe hotel. Yes, we all know about profits and obligations to share-holders. But does the Disney organization really believe $500 a night is fair? I think not, but they do know they can get people to pay it. Ok, that's for another board.

I feel that ticket prices are not outrageous. You get so much for the price, the parks are wonderful. Many people feel the ouch when they buy tickets, but I believe you get your money's worth.

 

[Harvest02]

Sometimes, I wish we lived in Florida. Then at least we woudn't have airfare expense and we could get a Florida resident discount! LOL!!! Seriously, I do think their prices are outrageous, but not any worse than any other vacation. We went to Gulf Shores Alabama two summers ago for about a week, and spent about $2000(and that was just to lay on the beach plus we drove). We went to Disney in June and spent about $3500 total, which included airfare(for 4 people), park tickets, food, hotel, and miscellaneous. For all the entertainment, the price is really not bad. I am planning a trip for me and the kids next October, so hopefully airfare won't be too bad. We really wouldn't have the time to drive since our vacation will be not as long as the last one. My husband thinks Mickey is draining our wallet, but I will have two part time jobs this fall, so I am using the money from that to help pay for our trip. My kids love it so much, and they are only young once. Might as well enjoy it while we can!!!

 

[Groovee]

I find WDW fairly cheap. It's easier for us to get to Paris. For a 3 night stay there we are paying £1600 which is about $2928. We've pad £3732 for our 2 weeks to Florida including flights, disney hotel and car hire for the 2 weeks which is around $6866 (going on the exchange rate of £1 = $1.84.). We always find it expensive there compared to Port Aventura in Salou in Spain.

 

[The Sweetness]

If WDW employees are not seeing raises in pay, as WDW sees raises in profit, I am not so sure that that is fair. Unless, ofcourse, ALL WDW employees are being paid a living wage, instead of closer to min. wage. I am not sure which is true, but I fear it is the latter. Esp for non-tipped positions.

 

[funcinderella]

It doesn't surprise me that they're raising the prices. I've noticed it everywhere lately. I went to Charlie Brown's the other night and noticed they too had raised their menu prices. My electric bill last month was $ 350, when in 9 years living here it had never been higher than $240. The list goes on. And when you're only getting a 2% raise every year, this stuff is really starting to hurt. (And I work for a major pharmaceutical company, not a small business). I think I was raised in a generation that comes to expect 2 vacations a year and a lot of life's luxuries (I'm 35) and the tides are starting to turn where that's not going to be possible anymore. And I'm not liking it....

 

[tuckerkeys]

i live on long beach island, in new jersey. the houses here are rented weekly from saturday to saturday and coming for a vacation here is a tradition for most families. I just spoke with a woman who rented last week in the northeast heat wave. She had rented an oceanfront house, not modern by any standards just a normal, cape cod style home WITHOUT air conditioning for $5000.00 for the WEEK!!! she had a miserable time as it was 100 everyday here on the island, and a west wind brought FLYS onto the beach from the salt marshes in the bay. going to the beach for relief was miserable with dozens of flys at your feet. My first thought was 5000.00 would go a Long long way at WDW and we'd have an excellent time!!!! she could have saved money by renting a house off the water, but it was HER choice to do so, and i didn't feel bad for her one bit. SO, going to WDW can be expensive, but most people here on the Dis try to get the best price they can, and save all year for the cherished WDW trips!!! we ebay our way to WDW!!

 

[gems_smiling]

I do agree the prices are high however compared to the UK they are actually quite good for what you are getting. The tickets prices are much cheaper than theme park tickets in the UK. Here you can pay £29 ($55) per adult for a day at a theme park, and that doesn't include all magic of WDW. Our 14 day ultimate ticket for WDW is costing us £153 each, that is just £10.93 a day for all the theme parks and park hopping. So i do agree that the prices are starting to get high however compared to the UK, you get a lot more for your money.

 

[MyZoeJane]

If you "play" Disney right, it can be very affordable. By using leftover non exp. ticket days from January, we are going in a couple of months for 6 days for less than $1500! (Airfare, hotel, MNSSHP and dining included!) There are 3 of us.. our DD is 2, though. (Last time she'll go for free.. )

It's worth a couple of thousand dollars to me to have this experience with my family and we'll go again next year (and pay more).

But it steams me to no end to hear about "responsibility to shareholders" without even so much as a mention of "responsibility to employees." I am not aware of exactly how much the average CM makes at Disney World but if what I'm hearing is accurate, and that the wages are closer to the minimum end of the scale, then the prices that we pay to go to Disney become a more difficult pill for me to swallow.

I recently watched a special about the founder and CEO of Costco and was so happy to see how a company can invest so much into it's employees and STILL succeed. There's a lot about Disney that makes me sick when I think of it from only a "business practice" perspective. But I admit, I turn a blind eye to that and at times I feel guilty in doing so.

However, you can't ignore that Disney has a corner on a market that makes it difficult to resist. But if the quality of my trip begins to go down as the prices go up, then it wont be that difficult to resist anymore....