Greedy Drawf

[Kellykins1218]

I beg to differ. While you don't have to choose to pay for a dessert party, $80 for a few pastries and a view of fireworks that you already paid for with your admission is a ripoff no matter how you look at it.

If you're a family of four, that's $320. No way can you say that someone is "cheap" for not wanting to spend that on top of what a Disney vacation costs without it.

In YOUR opinion it's a ripoff. Lots of people look at it and don't feel the same.

 

[Allison]

I beg to differ. While you don't have to choose to pay for a dessert party, $80 for a few pastries and a view of fireworks that you already paid for with your admission is a ripoff no matter how you look at it.

If you're a family of four, that's $320. No way can you say that someone is "cheap" for not wanting to spend that on top of what a Disney vacation costs without it.

I think the point people are trying to make is it is a ripoff to you no matter how you look at it. It is not a ripoff to others who feel the investment is worth it. People value and are willing to pay for different things. It doesn't make anybody wrong and it doesn't make Disney wrong.

Disney has a large menu of things people can pick and choose to purchase as part of their vacation starting with the resort type they stay at and the kind of tickets they buy. It goes on from there. Nobody is right or wrong with the choices they make. A ripoff to one person is a good choice for the next.

 

[randumb0]

Why do you care what others choose to do with their money?

 

[Amelia :)]

I'm always surprised when people forget Disney is a business.

Exactly! And when people forget the basic rules of supply and demand

 

[limabeanmom2003]

Perhaps the reason it bothers some is because it's just another example of division between the haves and the have nots. Disney is a business and like it or not this is the direction they are going in.

 

[Delirium]

Just because something doesn't work for you, is not your thing, or you are too cheap to pay for it, doesn't mean it is a ripoff.

There's a glimmer of valid reasoning in what you are saying, but the way you said it comes off as elitist. For many, it's not a matter of being 'cheap'. It's a matter of being financially responsible. $80 for a once in a lifetime dessert party for a single traveler is no big deal. $400 for the average family of 5 for the same party borders on being irresponsible.

So, yes, I can see where some question these upcharges because, historically, the core Disney customer was always the 'family' with young children, not the single traveler or the retired couple that can better able to afford to pay those prices.

 

[JerseyJanice]

I think the point people are trying to make is it is a ripoff to you no matter how you look at it. It is not a ripoff to others who feel the investment is worth it. People value and are willing to pay for different things. It doesn't make anybody wrong and it doesn't make Disney wrong.

Disney has a large menu of things people can pick and choose to purchase as part of their vacation starting with the resort type they stay at and the kind of tickets they buy. It goes on from there. Nobody is right or wrong with the choices they make. A ripoff to one person is a good choice for the next.

But thinking it's a ripoff does not make a person "too cheap." IMHO, no Disney vacation is a cheap one so I would not call anybody going there "cheap."

 

[maxiesmom]

Perhaps the reason it bothers some is because it's just another example of division between the haves and the have nots. Disney is a business and like it or not this is the direction they are going in.

A trip to Disney in itself is an example of division between the haves and the have nots. People seem to forget that.

My parents could not afford to take me to WDW growing up. They were lucky enough to be able to feed me hamburger helper and mock chicken legs. I waited until age 29 to pay for my own trip to WDW. A trip to WDW is a luxury!

 

[maxiesmom]

Oh, and while some feel the dessert parties are a ripoff, I was glad to pay it to give my dad a place to sit and enjoy the fireworks.

 

[Allison]

A trip to Disney in itself is an example of division between the haves and the have nots. People seem to forget that.

I agree.

 

[FigmentFinder]

Why do you care what others choose to do with their money?

I care deeply about how people spend their money, how much food they eat and where & when they sit on a bus.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I'm I the only one that thinks with the advent of all the extra cost of " add on " specialty services, price increases and the like, is making Disney seem greedy?
Seems like more & more things are becoming an " add on " I thought the days of ticket system were over. Want a good viewing of the fireworks? Sure pay $80 a person and we'll throw in a few snacks. Want to ensure you get a viewing of a show? Sure, make an advanced dinning reservation and pay for your family's character dinning experience & you get a so called " free " fast pass for the show.
I'm sure with in new renovations & installment of the gondola system we'll see a significant price point increase to certain " value & moderate " resorts.
Maybe I'm " wishing upon a star " here but I'm missing the Disney of the 90's where the " mouse " was king, not marvel, Star Wars and the like.

No one is forcing you to do those things. You can have every experience without paying the extra charges. We saved for our trip for 2 years, so we could stay deluxe. I buy our Disney shirts at Target and use the savings for a dessert party. Who cares? I work my butt off for the money.

Disney is a corporation. There are many different levels of entertainment and many ways to save if you do some research. If people want to book a special event to make it an extra special trip that's their business.

 

[NuJoy]

At Disney, as well as in life, if one wants to be treated special above the masses, one generally must pay a price. I understand that life rule and choose those things in which the cost is something I can live with after the fact. For what I get in return, personally, the dessert parties and other special events are worth the cost.

 

[DWillowBay]

It's a business...bottom line. They're in business...as am I...to make money. Hopefully, I (and they) offer a product that is so good that people want to buy it. NO pressure. No coercion. Just...do you want it and are you willing to pay for it?

 

[Mickeymouseisking]

You can get a good view of the fireworks and the shows without the upcharge, but you'll have to use a different currency - time. If you stake out a good place an hour/hour and a half before - you'll get a great place. Disney isn't denying any guest this experience. However, there are people who aren't interested in spending that time holding a great spot (or are unable to due to health issues or other circumstances) and would be interested in paying an up charge for that. With capitalism being alive and well, Disney supplies their demand! For one guest grabbing a spot early is worth it and time well spent, for another it's a waste of time. Same goes for money. As long as Disney is offering a product that doesn't detract from the experience of guests who chose not to partake, what do I care?

Perhaps the reason it bothers some is because it's just another example of division between the haves and the have nots. Disney is a business and like it or not this is the direction they are going in.

I apologize, but isn't that just life? There are families who can afford to eat at the restaurants in the park and there are families who pack sandwiches and make zero purchases in the parks (my family has been both over the years). Should there be no restaurants because not everyone can afford them so no one should get it? Or should Disney hand out free food so we all feel equal? As a kid, I absolutely loved the mustard and pastrami sandwiches my mom made for us when got back from the parks. I looked forward to it everyday. Who cared if someone else could afford a gourmet meal? How did that affect my vacation? All I wanted was to get back and have that delicious pastrami and mustard sandwich. I don't begrudge anyone for being able to afford something I can't. And I definitely don't begrudge a business for offering a product clients are interested in. As long as I'm not limited or treated like a lesser guest - why should I care?

 

[thevolcanogod]

For me it depends on the upcharge. I think the desert parties are a huge rip but gladly shelled out $200+ odd dollars for EMM. It's all about if it's worth it to you. $200 or even $500 is peanuts for some people. The $$ wasn't a huge deal to me but I do have a sense of thrift. I'm willing to pay for unique experiences. Drinks and deserts and a view of the fireworks doesn't make the cut. I was going to do the ROL dining package before I read that they sometimes don't even save you a seat if you show up at the last minute and I felt that was pretty poor.

 

[Planogirl]

I agree that Disney is a business but I'm a consumer and I see some of these extras as rip-offs too. However as long as people are willing to buy then Disney is certainly willing to sell. I expect that upsells will only increase.

I don't agree that this doesn't affect others. The larger number of parties makes MK less available to others. You could avoid that time of year but that isn't always possible and I say that as a happy party goer. The dessert parties often take up real estate that used to be open to all. It gets a little daunting when the park is already busy due to an early morning add-on. And so on.

They haven't reached my breaking point yet but I can see why others might be there or close. A lot of these things were free or much less expensive at one time and of course that would be frustrating for some people.

 

[wonderstruck88]

Aren't there seven, soon to be eight, movies about Star Tours?

I'm mixed about the upcharges. We can have plenty of fun using just our base ticket to visit one park per day. In other words, we don't need the upcharges. I've never been to a dessert party of a MNSSP or MVMCP, though I would consider them as a special treat when my son is a little older. Before DS was born, we found great value in the Candlelight Processional dinner packages-- not because it was a great price for dinner (the opposite is true), but because we often drove to WDW for the day just to see a particular narrator, and guaranteed seating allowed us to enjoy our day at the Epcot without spending it just camped out in line. I'm guessing the other upcharges exist because other people find value in them. If it gets to a point where it's impossible to enjoy WDW without a bunch of upcharges, then it will be time for us to find a new place for vacation.

THANK YOU. I literally choked on the water I was drinking at the Star Tours comment.


I agree with those who basically just feel that it depends on the family/person - this stuff is worth it to some people and not to others. For me, it's not worth it for an average trip, but there are exceptions - I paid a crazy amount for an Illuminations firework cruise on my honeymoon, for example, because it was a special occasion, I like having a front row view of it, and I'm sick of the cycle that always happens where I camp out way ahead of time and at the least second am being elbowed by rude people trying to squeeze me out of my spot. Similar for Fantasmic - normally I just get there way in advance and eat some quick service food while waiting for the show to start. But this is our first trip with kids, and getting the toddlers to cooperate through that sounds kind of unpleasant, so we're going to do a dinner package. So circumstances can change the value of these events.

 

[FCDub]

Want a car with leather seats? There's a charge for this.

Want to sit in first class? There's a charge for that, too.

These are EXTRAS. They're not denying anyone the opportunity to see fireworks because they didn't buy a special package. (This does not take into account hard-ticket parties, but nights when the fireworks are open with the park.) Shows and things with capacity are always subject to capacity.

 

[limabeanmom2003]

You can get a good view of the fireworks and the shows without the upcharge, but you'll have to use a different currency - time. If you stake out a good place an hour/hour and a half before - you'll get a great place. Disney isn't denying any guest this experience. However, there are people who aren't interested in spending that time holding a great spot (or are unable to due to health issues or other circumstances) and would be interested in paying an up charge for that. With capitalism being alive and well, Disney supplies their demand! For one guest grabbing a spot early is worth it and time well spent, for another it's a waste of time. Same goes for money. As long as Disney is offering a product that doesn't detract from the experience of guests who chose not to partake, what do I care?



I apologize, but isn't that just life? There are families who can afford to eat at the restaurants in the park and there are families who pack sandwiches and make zero purchases in the parks (my family has been both over the years). Should there be no restaurants because not everyone can afford them so no one should get it? Or should Disney hand out free food so we all feel equal? As a kid, I absolutely loved the mustard and pastrami sandwiches my mom made for us when got back from the parks. I looked forward to it everyday. Who cared if someone else could afford a gourmet meal? How did that affect my vacation? All I wanted was to get back and have that delicious pastrami and mustard sandwich. I don't begrudge anyone for being able to afford something I can't. And I definitely don't begrudge a business for offering a product clients are interested in. As long as I'm not limited or treated like a lesser guest - why should I care?

Don't apologize, you're correct! Disney offers a wide variety of experiences at different price points. As a consumer, you get to choose what you spend your money on. Shoot, I'd love to live in Golden Oak but I don't. That doesn't mean I don't think anyone else should get to do it.