Greedy Drawf

[JasonMouse]

I don't care about the overpriced events where you are cattled into a roped off area and left to stand around with nothing to do, but the fact that they take up some prime locations that used to be open to all guests.

 

[maxiesmom]

I don't care about the overpriced events where you are cattled into a roped off area and left to stand around with nothing to do, but the fact that they take up some prime locations that used to be open to all guests.

Those locations have only existed for a very short period of time. And I think only one is used for the dessert party.

And what percentage of park guests can they hold? 1% maybe?

 

[Delirium]

How does spending $400 for this perk boarder on being irresponsible?

Okay. Let me rephrase that. For 99.9999% of the world's population, spending $400 on a dessert party to watch fireworks 'borders' on financial irresponsibility.

 

[zebrastreyepz]

Okay. Let me rephrase that. For 99.9999% of the world's population, spending $400 on a dessert party to watch fireworks 'borders' on financial irresponsibility.

Bwaahaahaa...seriously. We ain't in the 1% but I could do $400 for the dessert party if I chose to.

Why? Because when I bought my car, I said, "What's the cheapest one?"

When I bought my computer, I said, "What's the cheapest one?"

I bought two t-shirts for my upcoming trip today at Walmart that were under $20 for both. I buy almost all my clothes there.

We're headed to our second 10 day trip in 2 weeks this year with a 3rd one planned.

I make CHOICES that allow me to spend that $400 if I want to.

It's no one's BUSINESS how folks spend their money unless that person owes you some money.

 

[Farro]

Okay. Let me rephrase that. For 99.9999% of the world's population, spending $400 on a dessert party to watch fireworks 'borders' on financial irresponsibility.

Ridiculous. Those of us not in the 1% aren't allowed to splurge and have fun?
That sounds like a waste of a life!

 

[twoplustwins]

With a family of six, we do have to save and budget. That being said, I've been twice this year. We don't see a value in a party, because I'd rather use that money to stay another night or two.

I don't tell other people how to use their money. They've worked to earn it, so they can decide how to spend it.


Btw, what is a drawf?

 

[Elle23]

Btw, what is a drawf?

Ha ha!!!

I read it as Dwarf. I guess my brain has auto correct.

 

[Delirium]

It's no one's BUSINESS how folks spend their money unless that person owes you some money.

Never said it was my business. The whole premise of this thread is whether the increased number of up-charges Disney is employing is corporate greed or an enhanced customer experience.

I personally feel that a family of 5 could make better use of $400 than spending it on a dessert party, when they can watch the fireworks without that charge while standing 50 feet away. The benefit, in my opinion, does not warrant the cost. Others feel differently, and that's okay. Message boards benefit from people sharing different opinions.

 

[Allison]

Okay. Let me rephrase that. For 99.9999% of the world's population, spending $400 on a dessert party to watch fireworks 'borders' on financial irresponsibility.

You have me curious now. Do you think the extra money spent for that same family to stay at a deluxe instead of a moderate resort borders on financial irresponsibility? Or going to Hoop de Doo or buying park hoppers?


Feeling a family could make better use of funds is a course a valid personal opinion. Calling it bordering on financial irresponsibility is another thing.

 

[Westcoastwild]

You have me curious now. Do you think the extra money spent for that same family to stay at a deluxe instead of a moderate resort borders on financial irresponsibility? Or going to Hoop de Doo or buying park hoppers?


Feeling a family could make better use of funds is a course a valid personal opinion. Calling it bordering on financial irresponsibility is another thing.

That's what I'm wondering too.

I consider character dining and hotel or room upgrades "add ons" too. Park hoppers, the waterpark/golf ticket, boat and bike rentals...

They're all upcharges. Some I pay for and some I don't.

And then also, I camp because I like to camp and some people can't imagine doing without A/C so they don't camp...but I mean it didn't make my trip inherently worse than staying in a deluxe hotel. Just different. It didn't make me more financially responsible than the people who stayed deluxe.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Okay. Let me rephrase that. For 99.9999% of the world's population, spending $400 on a dessert party to watch fireworks 'borders' on financial irresponsibility.

So, wait... for all but 0.0001% of the population spending $400 on entertainment "borders on financial irresponsibility?!?! Really?!?!

What percentage of the people already IN WDW are being financially irresponsible for spending an extra $400 on entertainment?

What percentage of the people IN WDW are being financially irresponsible just for being there??

I'm a data person, so this is interesting...

 

[HopperFan]

That's what I'm wondering too.

I consider character dining and hotel or room upgrades "add ons" too. Park hoppers, the waterpark/golf ticket, boat and bike rentals...

They're all upcharges. Some I pay for and some I don't.

And then also, I camp because I like to camp and some people can't imagine doing without A/C so they don't camp...but I mean it didn't make my trip inherently worse than staying in a deluxe hotel. Just different. It didn't make me more financially responsible than the people who stayed deluxe.

THIS

The one thing the guest has no control over is base ticket prices. Other than the random few dollars off, it is what it is. EVERYTHING else you have complete control over what you spend. At that point each guest has a budget and will select what their priorities are for their trip. For some it will be a deluxe resort and others offsite condo. For some it will be a Dining Plan and others will be breakfast in room and packed sandwiches. For some it will be Dessert Parties and others it will be a Mickey Bar. And it goes on and on. We all live differently and vacation differently. If no one buys Disney's add-ons, they will go away (and we've seen it) and if folks snap them up, they will continue.

First and foremost, Disney is a BUSINESS and their job is to constantly research, develop and market new products. As a stockholder I want them to squeeze every dollar out of each guest .......... but as a guest it is up to me to decide how much I will give them and ............ other than tickets I can control every bit of that. Disney World is a luxury vacation and by no means necessary to anyone's life (well you know what I mean) ........... if the price point no longer provides me with bang for my buck and enjoyment, I would move on.

So, wait... for all but 0.0001% of the population spending $400 on entertainment "borders on financial irresponsibility?!?! Really?!?!

What percentage of the people already IN WDWD are being financially irresponsible for spending an extra $400 on entertainment?

What percentage of the people IN WDW are being financially irresponsible just for being there??

I'm a data person, so this is interesting...

Given that Disney is an expensive, luxury vacation completely unnecessary to the function of life ......... we are ALL being financially irresponsible.

 

[stazmatic]

Disney's stock price is infinitely more impacted by opening new gates (like Shanghai) and upgrading the core of their existing gates (Pandora, Toy Story, and Star Wars) than it is by some dessert party upcharge.

And, yes, Disney can enhance the overall experience without upcharging. The Food & Wine Festival is perfect example. It's evolved over time to bring hundreds of thousand of extra visitors to WDW without a special upcharge, and without taking away anything from another segment of the customer base.

Edit: And Disney is not the only stock price that has increased significantly since 2010. Let's not overreact to what that means.

Have you been to Food & Wine? While it technically does not cost extra to be at Epcot during this time, they are certainly making a boat load of money. DH and I went for a weekend and spent more by ourselves than we have on longer trips with all of our kids.

I agree with a lot of the posters about being a choice between how you spend, not how much you spend. We wouldn't be on this board if we didn't get enjoyment from spending money at Disney. There are many different "upcharges" and we all get to pick what appeals to us, and what doesn't.
While you may find the dessert parties not worth it now, there may be a time later that you will be glad you have the option of a dessert party with guaranteed seats. Normally I don't enjoy spending a lot of money on bottled water, $3 is kinda crazy. After the Star Wars race in April I would have gladly paid $20 for one bottle of ice cold water, even though they offered warm bottled water for free. Any other time $20 would be laughable, but at that moment it would have been worth it for me.

 

[mamamelody2]

I have no problem with the "extra charge" offerings at Disney. They are not required, they are options. Last trip we did none. Next trip we are considering EMM and MVMCP. I would consider those a splurge, but we may do it. I really don't feel those offerings take much at all from the average park-goer, either.

I agree also with the PP that said those extras offer variety for those people that visit Disney often. That's not us, but that is a lot of people, and extra options are great.

A Disney trip of any kind is a luxury and I'm just going to be happy to be able to do it occasionally, while keeping in a budget. Others can come to Disney and pay 5X as much for a trip of the same length because they stay in a much nicer hotel, eat more expensive meals, and take part in a lot of those extras that have an upcharge. That is their choice and their right.

I admit, I do feel that a lot of the extras are quite overpriced, but they sell, so of course Disney will continue to offer it! We are in a free market system. That's how it works!

There's also a vast variety of options once you are there because there is a vast variety of people who are there. I could pay $0 for lunch if I pack one from home, or I could pay $100 for lunch at one of the signature restaurants. Because some people think $100 for lunch is ridiculous, should it not be offered? Of course not!

Okay, that was rambling...sorry about that...

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

And my parents may ask where the Disney of the 50's went.
Things need to change.
I may not like all the changes but at least I understand it.
I'm sure as heck not paying for a dessert party to view something like Illuminations. I've got my go to spot and I think its the best spot.
I'm also not gonna do a Fantasmic dining package because guess what? I don't care for Fantasmic.
If you don't want to pay for add ons then don't add on.
My family generally goes basic and have no regrets.
We only eat at multiple TS restaurants if we're on a dining plan if not we usually only do one.
We don't always get PH.
We don't bother with the water parks.
We usually stay at value resorts and have only stayed moderate a couple times.
We don't bring back a suitcase full of souvenirs.
In fact this past trip in April literally the only thing I bought was a pair of water shoes for $5 from Walmart.
There were only 2 things that I even really wanted. One was an Eiffel Tower with Chip and Dale climbing it which I decided I didn't need and the other was a grey sweatshirt with Spaceship Earth that was in rainbow colors and they didn't have my size.
I was very surprised a month later when my sister gave it to me in the right size on my birthday. She had gone a few days later and they had more in stock.

 

[amberpi]

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.

I'm sorry, I didn't realize there was a "core Disney customer." All those thousands I've given them and I thought they were providing a single, or almost all adults-only vacationers a great destination.

Its simple economics. Disney produces things that people want and they continue to do, the events that don't work (like Epcot after Hours which was fantastic!) get shelved. Simple really.

 

[amberpi]

Senior citizen couple, and we often travel with adult friends. This 4th of July trip (9 nights) we have booked the Crystal Palace area viewing of HEA, because usually we see the fireworks from TTOTW lounge which is available to DVC members, but the castle projections aren't viewable from there. We've booked a pontoon boat for the 3rd of July MK fireworks viewing. We've filled the boat with friends and "Disboard friends" we haven't yet met in person. Another new thing is eating at the Boathouse, and we are not sure we'll take the boat ride, but we probably will. Finally, 3 of us will be doing "Painting with a View" a $50 pp experience offering snacks, 1 glass of wine and a chance to paint some MK scene. This is offered to DVC members on Thursdays.

When we were raising our sons in the 1980's, we did special things with them, like HoopDeeDoo and Marshmallow Marsh. With our young grandchildren we did character meals and dessert parties. Now we are focusing on things we like to do, and Disney is giving us choices!

I'm not part of a couple or a senior - but can I hang with ya'll?

Seriously, love these points. WDW offers something for everyone. Walt himself said he was sunk if he went after the kids and not the adults

 

[SaintsManiac]

Okay. Let me rephrase that. For 99.9999% of the world's population, spending $400 on a dessert party to watch fireworks 'borders' on financial irresponsibility.

Why in the world do you feel it's ok to judge how other people spend their money? I really do not understand this logic.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

I continue to be shocked about how outraged people get about everything.

As so many have said, upcharge events are optional. You can go on a very enjoyable trip without doing any of them. No one is forcing anyone to do anything.

The amount of space taken up by the dessert party fireworks viewing areas are so minimal. Just stand somewhere else. It's fine. To this day I still don't know or care where the viewing section is. I see the shows on every trip. Literally has never impeded the enjoyment of my experience.

Do people have issues with concierge floors because they cost more, offer more amenities and take away available standard room space?

Do people have issues with first class on airplanes because it takes away from the number of available regular priced seats?

How about VIP tents at events that have better bathrooms and air conditioning?

You've always been able to pay more to sit closer at the Hoop de Doo. Is this taking away magic from people who don't want to pay extra to sit in front?

The dessert parties have many repeat guests. Further proof that while one might not find value in something, others might.

Upcharges exist everywhere in this world. Why not at WDW? It is absolutely no one's business to determine what is a responsible or irresponsible purchase. People find value in different things. Some families can afford things others can't. Disney is smart to offer a variety of experiences to suit different families needs and preferences.

I'm just still so amazed that the mere existence of upcharge experiences bothers so many!

 

[Sparkly]

Why in the world do you feel it's ok to judge how other people spend their money? I really do not understand this logic.

Because for some people, their way is the only way. It's like the people who insist you must get there at rope drop, or you must have the DDP, or you must spend every waking hour in the parks. Some people fail to grasp that each group has their own priority and budget. Some may pack sandwiches and stay at the all-stars. Others stay at the Poly and eat a signature dinner each and every night. Some even may stay offsite and eat offsite, shock horror!!!

If we stay at a cheap condo out in Kissimmee, only buy 5-day tickets, eat most of our dinners offsite and often at Golden Puke Bucket...I mean Corral, what's to stop us booking the dessert party one night for a special birthday? Or splashing out on top of a already expensive stay at the cars suites for a show stopper end of trip treat? Neither one is more or less financially irresponsible and both have given our family so many wonderful memories. You can't put a price on that.